Short communication: Use of calcium sulphate dihydrate as an alternative to the conventional use of aluminium sulphate in the primary treatment of wastewater

The application of calcium sulphate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O) as a coagulant-flocculant alternative to the conventional use of aluminium sulphate in the primary treatment of wastewater was evaluated using a jar test apparatus. Samples from the State Water Commission (CEA) in Queretaro, Mexico, were collected for the experiments. Turbidity and pH were measured before and after applying the calcium sulphate dihydrate (CaSO4.2H2O). Turbidity readings obtained for the doses of 4 gE.-1 of aluminium sulphate varied from 3.91 to 3.87. The corresponding water pH was 3.90, giving the water an acidic character. Use of aluminium sulphate in the clarification of wastewater, thus, has financial and environmental implications due to the need to raise the pH of the treated water to 6.5.8.5, the recommended optimum interval for the physical-chemical-biological removal of pollutants. By contrast, calcium sulphate di-hydrate (CaSO4E2H2O) (gypsum) doses of 1, 1.5 and 2 gE.-1 resulted in a pH of between 7.04 and 7.51 repeatedly. These findings suggest that the application of calcium sulphate di-hydrate (CaSO4.2H2O) as coagulant-flocculant, followed by the process of sedimentation, may be a suitable alternative for the clarification of wastewater. However, the turbidity reported for the same doses was 74.05, 80.5 and 74.5 NTU, respectively, well above the international standard of 5 NTU. The effect of gypsum on turbidity warrants further research

Identification and Characterization of Epithelial Cell-Derived Dense Bodies Produced upon Cytomegalovirus Infection

Dense bodies (DB) are complex, noninfectious particles produced during CMVinfection containing envelope and tegument proteins that may be ideal candidates as vaccines. Although DB were previously described in fibroblasts, no evidence of DB formation has been shown after propagating CMV in epithelial cells. In the present study, both fibroblast MRC-5 and epithelial ARPE-19 cells were used to study DB production during CMV infection. We demonstrate the formation of epithelial cell-derived DB, mostly located as cytoplasmic inclusions in the perinuclear area of the infected cell. DB were gradient-purified, and the nature of the viral particles was confirmed using CMV-specific immunelabeling. Epithelial cell-derived DB had higher density and more homogeneous size (200-300 nm) compared to fibroblast-derived DB (100-600 nm).In agreement with previous results characterizing DB from CMV-infected fibroblasts, the pp65 tegument protein was predominant in the epithelial cell-derived DB. Our results also suggest that epithelial cells had more CMV capsids in the cytoplasm and had spherical bodies compatible with nucleus condensation (pyknosis) in cells undergoing apoptosis that were not detected in MRC-5 infected cells at the tested time post-infection. Our results demonstrate the formation of DB in CMV-infected ARPE-19 epithelial cells that may be suitable candidate to develop a multiprotein vaccine with antigenic properties similar to that of the virions while not including the viral genome.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and University, Instituto de Salud Carlos III Grant/Award Numbers: PI17CIII-00014 (MPY110/18); PI20CIII-00009 (MPY303/20); DTS18CIII/00006 (MPY127/19). E.G-R is supported by the Sara Borrell Program (CD18CIII/00007), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. MJR is supported by the PTA Program (PTA2017-14233-I), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades.S

Interstitial Cells of Cajal and Enteric Nervous System in Gastrointestinal and Neurological Pathology, Relation to Oxidative Stress

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is organized into two plexuses-submucosal and myenteric-which regulate smooth muscle contraction, secretion, and blood flow along the gastrointestinal tract under the influence of the rest of the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are mainly located in the submucosa between the two muscle layers and at the intramuscular level. They communicate with neurons of the enteric nerve plexuses and smooth muscle fibers and generate slow waves that contribute to the control of gastrointestinal motility. They are also involved in enteric neurotransmission and exhibit mechanoreceptor activity. A close relationship appears to exist between oxidative stress and gastrointestinal diseases, in which ICCs can play a prominent role. Thus, gastrointestinal motility disorders in patients with neurological diseases may have a common ENS and central nervous system (CNS) nexus. In fact, the deleterious effects of free radicals could affect the fine interactions between ICCs and the ENS, as well as between the ENS and the CNS. In this review, we discuss possible disturbances in enteric neurotransmission and ICC function that may cause anomalous motility in the gut.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Análisis del consumo simultáneo de medicamentos y plantas medicinales en población española mayor de 65 años

Objetivos: Analizar el uso apropiado o inapropiado de la utilización conjunta de medicamentos y preparados de plantas medicinales que realiza la población mayor de 65 años en la provincia de Guadalajara (España). Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo, de corte transversal, realizado en Guadalajara (España) capital y provincia. La recogida de datos de los pacientes se efectuó durante los años 2012 y 2013. Siendo, por tanto, las variables dependientes usadas el porcentaje de consumo de Preparados de plantas medicinales y el porcentaje de consumo de medicamentos. La población diana fueron pacientes polimedicados mayores de 65 años, varones o mujeres, que residieran en sus casas o en Residencias de Ancianos y que voluntariamente decidieron participar en este trabajo. Resultados: Se incluyeron 384 pacientes, 129 fueron varones (33,60%). Consumieron plantas medicinales el 88,30%. Consumieron PCPM 183 (47,6%) y PIPM 339 que representó el 88,3%. Con consumo total de 852 infusiones al día, un promedio de 2,21 infusiones diarias. Se encontraron 22 asociaciones potencialmente peligrosas y 10 potencialmente beneficiosas. Conclusiones: Se ha puesto de manifiesto que ciertas asociaciones de planta-medicamento, pueden contribuir a mejorar la situación del paciente, pero también ha evidenciado la necesidad de una atención farmacéutica en el consumo de preparados de plantas medicinales en relación con la farmacoterapia que tiene prescrita, a fin de evitar combinaciones que pudieran reducir la eficacia de los tratamientos o incrementar el riesgo de otras alteraciones

Graft Risk Index After Liver Transplant: Internal and External Validation of a New Spanish Indicator

OBJECTIVES: Scarcity of liver grafts has led to the use of marginal donors, consequently increasing the number of complications posttransplant. To prevent this situation, several indicators have been developed. However, important differences remain among countries. Here, we compared an early-risk liver transplant indicator based on the Spanish Liver Transplant Registry, called the Graft Risk Index, versus the US donor risk index and the Eurotransplant donor risk index. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The new indicator was based on prospectively collected data from 600 adult liver transplants performed in our center. We considered 2 events to compare the indexes: graft survival and rejection-free graft survival, with Cox proportional regression for analyses. Power to predict graft survival was evaluated by calculating the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve. RESULTS: We found no differences between the US and Eurotransplant donor risk indexes in prediction of patients with and without early graft failure. With regard to early survival, only the Graft Risk Index allowed better survival discrimination, in which survival progressively decreased with values = 3 (with probability of graft survival at 1 month of 68%; 95% confidence interval, 46.2-82.5). This increase in risk was significant compared with the standard group (hazard ratio of 10.15; 95% confidence interval, C 3.91- 26.32; P < .001). We calculated powers of prediction of 0.52 (95% confidence interval, 0.43-0.62), 0.54 (95% confidence interval, 0.45-0.65), and 0.69 (95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.77) for donor risk index, Eurotransplant donor risk index, and early Graft Risk Index, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Neither the US donor risk index nor the Eurotransplant donor risk index was valid for our Spanish liver donation and transplant program. Therefore, an indicator to predict posttransplant graft survival that is adapted to our environment is necessary. This national Graft Risk Index can be a useful tool to optimize donor-recipient matchin

Análisis del impacto ambiental y económico vinculado a la energía fotovoltaica frente al uso de energías convencionales en el regadío

La energía fotovoltaica (fv) presenta un gran potencial para la agricultura en zonas con adecuados niveles de radiación. El principal inconveniente derivado de su uso como única fuente de energía radica en su dependencia de las variables climáticas. El desarrollo de sistemas de gestión inteligente del riego con energía fv minimiza este problema, consiguiendo satisfacer las necesidades del cultivo durante toda la campaña. Esto es posible gracias a la sincronización de la potencia fv generada con la demanda de potencia y tiempos de riego de la red. Así, el sistema resulta energéticamente independiente, lo que asegura una prácticamente nula emisión de contaminantes durante el periodo de funcionamiento, así como una evidente reducción en los costes de operación. Sin embargo, para valorar el impacto ambiental y económico vinculado a esta tecnología, es necesario contemplar los procesos de producción e instalación, así como los costes de inversión. Para ello, en este trabajo se ha llevado a cabo un análisis del ciclo de vida de un sistema de riego fv inteligente, comparándose además con las fuentes de energía tradicionalmente empleadas en riego. Se establecieron dos posibles escenarios: con y sin acceso a la red eléctrica, en los que el sistema de riego fv se evaluó frente al uso de un generador diésel y la red eléctrica, respectivamente, considerando una vida útil del proyecto de 30 años. El análisis de impacto ambiental se llevó a cabo siguiendo la metodología CML (Centre for Environmental Science- Leiden University), seleccionando 5 categorías de impacto como las más representativas: potencial de calentamiento global (Global Warming Potential- GWP), potencial de agotamiento de los recursos abióticos (Abiotic Resource Depletion Potential- ARDP), potencial de acidificación (Acidification Potential- AP), potencial de toxicidad humana (Human Toxicity Potential- HTP) y potencial de agotamiento de los recursos fósiles (Fuel Resources Depletion Potential- FRDP). Los resultados mostraron el riego fv como la opción con menor carga ambiental para todas las categorías, excepto para el ARDP, donde la demanda de materiales para la fabricación de los módulos solares y el inversor tuvo una importante repercusión. Por su parte, el sistema de riego fv presentó el mayor coste de inversión, aunque el menor coste total vinculado a toda la vida útil del proyecto, gracias al bajo coste asociado a la etapa de funcionamiento del sistema

Clinical experience with integrase inhibitors in HIV-2-infected individuals in Spain.

Background: HIV-2 is a neglected virus despite estimates of 1–2 million people being infected worldwide. The virus is naturally resistant to some antiretrovirals used to treat HIV-1 and therapeutic options are limited for patients with HIV-2. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analysed all HIV-2-infected individuals treated with inte- grase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) recorded in the Spanish HIV-2 cohort. Demographics, treatment modal- ities, laboratory values, quantitative HIV-2 RNA and CD4 counts as well as drug resistance were analysed. Results: From a total of 354 HIV-2-infected patients recruited by the Spanish HIV-2 cohort as of December 2017, INSTIs had been given to 44, in 18 as first-line therapy and in 26 after failing other antiretroviral regimens. After a median follow-up of 13 months of INSTI-based therapy, undetectable viraemia for HIV-2 was achieved in 89% of treatment-naive and in 65.4% of treatment-experienced patients. In parallel, CD4 gains were 82 and 126cells/mm3, respectively. Treatment failure occurred in 15 patients, 2 being treatment-naive and 13 treatment-experienced. INSTI resistance changes were recognized in 12 patients: N155H (5), Q148H/R (3), Y143C/G (3) and R263K (1). Conclusions: Combinations based on INSTIs are effective and safe treatment options for HIV-2-infected individ- uals. However, resistance mutations to INSTIs are selected frequently in failing patients, reducing the already limited treatment options

Decoration Increases the Conspicuousness of Raptor Nests

Avian nests are frequently concealed or camouflaged, but a number of species builds noticeable nests or use conspicuous materials for nest decoration. In most cases, nest decoration has a role in mate choice or provides thermoregulatory or antiparasitic benefits. In territorial species however, decorations may serve additional or complementary functions, such as extended phenotypic signaling of nest-site occupancy and social status to potential intruders. The latter may benefit both signaler and receiver by minimizing the risk of aggressive interactions, especially in organisms with dangerous weaponry. Support for this hypothesis was recently found in a population of black kites (Milvus migrans), a territorial raptor that decorates its nest with white artificial materials. However, the crucial assumption that nest decorations increased nest-site visibility to conspecifics was not assessed, a key aspect given that black kite nests may be well concealed within the canopy. Here, we used an unmanned aircraft system to take pictures of black kite nests, with and without an experimentally placed decoration, from different altitudes and distances simulating the perspective of a flying and approaching, prospecting intruder. The pictures were shown to human volunteers through a standardized routine to determine whether detection rates varied according the nest decoration status and distance. Decorated nests consistently showed a higher detection frequency and a lower detection-latency, compared to undecorated versions of the same nests. Our results confirm that nest decoration in this species may act as a signaling medium that enhances nest visibility for aerial receivers, even at large distances. This finding complements previous work on this communication system, which showed that nest decoration was a threat informing trespassing conspecifics on the social dominance, territory quality and fighting capabilities of the signaler