Surgical treatment of elephantiasis of the feet in congenital lymphedema to facilitate the use of a compression mechanism

The aim of the current study is to report on the minimal surgical treatment of elephantiasis of the feet to facilitate the use of compression mechanisms. The cases of two patients with congenital lymphedema that evolved to elephantiasis involving the feet are reported. Intensive treatment of the lymphedema was performed with a significant reduction in size thus allowing a better identification of the limits of tissue masses for the surgical approach. This reduction enabled primary suturing of the lesions to be carried out and fast healing of the wounds. The surgery greatly improved large deformities of the toes and feet and facilitated further treatment of the lymphedema using bandaging. Thus, the skin was preserved, there was a reduction in the size of the feet, and the patients were able to start wearing shoes

Emociones y voto a Vox en las elecciones generales españolas de abril y noviembre de 2019

El objetivo central de este artículo es poner de relieve la importancia del componente emocional en la explicación del apoyo electoral a la formación de extrema derecha Vox. Para ello, se analizan los componentes del voto a esta formación en las dos últimas elecciones generales —Congreso de los Diputados—, de abril y noviembre de 2019, prestando especial atención a los de carácter emocional (presencia e intensidad de distintos tipos de emociones en los votantes de Vox). Utilizamos una aproximación metodológica cuantitativa, a partir de datos de encuestas realizadas por el Equipo de Investigaciones Políticas (EIP) de la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. Los principales resultados presentados en este trabajo permiten concluir la existencia de un perfil altamente emocional entre los votantes de Vox, que se expresa en sentido positivo hacia su propio líder y su partido. Ese componente emocional también se manifiesta hacia los líderes y partidos con los que Vox contiende, si bien en sentido positivo hacia líderes y partidos de derecha y centro-derecha (PP y Ciudadanos) y en sentido negativo hacia los ubicados en la izquierda o el centro-izquierda (UP y PSOE). El análisis multivariante utilizado confirma, adicionalmente, la importancia que tuvo el componente emocional en la explicación del voto a Vox en los procesos electorales mencionados, componente expresado en el sentimiento de esperanza provocado por su líder, Santiago Abascal, y el de preocupación, generado por Pedro Sánchez entre los votantes de Vox.The main objective of this article is to highlight the importance of the emotional component in explaining the electoral support for a far-right party, such as Vox. To this aim, the components of the vote for this formation are analyzed, paying special attention to those of an emotional nature (presence and intensity of different types of emotions in Vox voters), in the last two general elections —Congress of Deputies—, of April and November 2019. We use a quantitative methodological approach, based on survey datasets produced by the Political Research Group (EIP) of the University of Santiago de Compostela. The main results presented in this work allow us to conclude the existence of a highly emotional profile among Vox voters, that is expressed in a positive sense towards their own leader and their party. This emotional component also mani-fests towards the leaders and parties that compete with Vox, although in a positive sense towards right and center-right leaders and parties (PP and Ciudadanos) and in a negative sense towards those located on the left or the center-left (UP and PSOE). Moreover, the multivariate analysis shows the relevance of the emotional component in the explanation of the vote for Vox in the electoral processes, expressed through feelings of hope triggered by its leader (Santiago Abascal) and feelings of fear triggered by the PSOE leader (Pedro Sánchez) among Vox voters

A brain-sparing diphtheria toxin for chemical genetic ablation of peripheral cell lineages.

Conditional expression of diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) is widely used for tissue-specific ablation of cells. However, diphtheria toxin (DT) crosses the blood-brain barrier, which limits its utility for ablating peripheral cells using Cre drivers that are also expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). Here we report the development of a brain-sparing DT, termed BRAINSPAReDT, for tissue-specific genetic ablation of cells outside the CNS. We prevent blood-brain barrier passage of DT through PEGylation, which polarizes the molecule and increases its size. We validate BRAINSPAReDT with regional genetic sympathectomy: BRAINSPAReDT ablates peripheral but not central catecholaminergic neurons, thus avoiding the Parkinson-like phenotype associated with full dopaminergic depletion. Regional sympathectomy compromises adipose tissue thermogenesis, and renders mice susceptible to obesity. We provide a proof of principle that BRAINSPAReDT can be used for Cre/DTR tissue-specific ablation outside the brain using CNS drivers, while consolidating the link between adiposity and the sympathetic nervous system

Two rapid assays for screening of patulin biodegradation

Artículo sobre distintos ensayos para comprobar la biodegradación de la patulinaThe mycotoxin patulin is produced by the blue mould pathogen Penicillium expansum in rotting apples during postharvest storage. Patulin is toxic to a wide range of organisms, including humans, animals, fungi and bacteria. Wash water from apple packing and processing houses often harbours patulin and fungal spores, which can contaminate the environment. Ubiquitous epiphytic yeasts, such as Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae strain LS11 which is a biocontrol agent of P. expansum in apples, have the capacity to resist the toxicity of patulin and to biodegrade it. Two non-toxic products are formed. One is desoxypatulinic acid. The aim of the work was to develop rapid, high-throughput bioassays for monitoring patulin degradation in multiple samples. Escherichia coli was highly sensitive to patulin, but insensitive to desoxypatulinic acid. This was utilized to develop a detection test for patulin, replacing time-consuming thin layer chromatography or high-performance liquid chromatography. Two assays for patulin degradation were developed, one in liquid medium and the other in semi-solid medium. Both assays allow the contemporary screening of a large number of samples. The liquid medium assay utilizes 96-well microtiter plates and was optimized for using a minimum of patulin. The semisolid medium assay has the added advantage of slowing down the biodegradation, which allows the study and isolation of transient degradation products. The two assays are complementary and have several areas of utilization, from screening a bank of microorganisms for biodegradation ability to the study of biodegradation pathways