Modelling the spatial distribution of cysts placed in a porpoise stomach using a Gibbs process

En un trabajo previo (Balaguer et al., 1992) los autores estudiaron la distribución espacial de los quistes en el estómago de la marsopa para contrastar su compatibilidad con la hipótesis de aleatoriedad espacial completa (AEC). El resultado condujo a rechazar la hipótesis señalando en la dirección de un patrón agregado, confirmando la sospecha inicial de los zoólogos. Este trabajo completa aquel estudio en la dirección que parece más coherente a sus autores: la de conjeturar un modelo puntual espacial con interacciones dos a dos (un proceso de Strauss) y estimar sus parámetros. Previamente se lleva a cabo el imprescindible desarrollo teórico poniendo el énfasis en los distintos métodos de estimación máximo-verosímil

A multi-scale area-interaction model for spatio-temporal point patterns

Models for fitting spatio-temporal point processes should incorporate spatio-temporal inhomogeneity and allow for different types of interaction between points (clustering or regularity). This paper proposes an extension of the spatial multi-scale area-interaction model to a spatio-temporal framework. This model allows for interactionbetween points at different spatio-temporal scales and for the inclusion of covariates. We present a simulation study and fit the new model to varicella cases registered during 2013 in Valencia, Spain

A multi-scale area-interaction model for spatio-temporal point patterns

Models for fitting spatio-temporal point processes should incorporate spatio-temporal inhomogeneity and allow for different types of interaction between points (clustering or regularity). This paper proposes an extension of the spatial multi-scale area-interaction model to a spatio-temporal framework. This model allows for interactionbetween points at different spatio-temporal scales and for the inclusion of covariates. We present a simulation study and fit the new model to varicella cases registered during 2013 in Valencia, Spain

Cyclooxygenase-2 Expression in Bladder Cancer and Patient Prognosis: Results from a Large Clinical Cohort and Meta-Analysis

Aberrant overexpression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) is observed in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). Studies evaluating COX2 as a prognostic marker in UCB report contradictory results. We determined the prognostic potential of COX2 expression in UCB and quantitatively summarize the results with those of the literature through a meta-analysis. Newly diagnosed UCB patients recruited between 1998–2001 in 18 Spanish hospitals were prospectively included in the study and followed-up (median, 70.7 months). Diagnostic slides were reviewed and uniformly classified by expert pathologists. Clinical data was retrieved from hospital charts. Tissue microarrays containing non-muscle invasive (n = 557) and muscle invasive (n = 216) tumours were analyzed by immunohistochemistry using quantitative image analysis. Expression was evaluated in Cox regression models to assess the risk of recurrence, progression and disease-specific mortality. Meta-hazard ratios were estimated using our results and those from 11 additional evaluable studies. COX2 expression was observed in 38% (211/557) of non-muscle invasive and 63% (137/216) of muscle invasive tumors. Expression was associated with advanced pathological stage and grade (p<0.0001). In the univariable analyses, COX2 expression - as a categorical variable - was not associated with any of the outcomes analyzed. As a continuous variable, a weak association with recurrence in non-muscle invasive tumors was observed (p-value = 0.048). In the multivariable analyses, COX2 expression did not independently predict any of the considered outcomes. The meta-analysis confirmed these results. We did not find evidence that COX2 expression is an independent prognostic marker of recurrence, progression or survival in patients with UCB.The work was partially supported by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain (G03/174, 00/0745, PI051436, PI061614 and G03/174); Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Cáncer- RD06/0020-RTICC; Consolider ONCOBIO; EU-FP6-STREP-37739-DRoP-ToP; EU-FP7-HEALTH-F2-2008-201663-UROMOL; EU-FP7-HEALTH-F2-2008-201333-DECanBio; USA-NIH-RO1-CA089715; and a PhD fellowship awarded to MJC from the ‘‘la Caixa’’ foundation, Spain, and a postdoctoral fellowship awarded to AFSA from the Fundación Científica de la AEC

Limited Ability to Activate Protein C Confers Left Atrial Endocardium A Thrombogenic Phenotype: A Role in Cardioembolic Stroke?

Background and Purpose—Atrial fibrillation is the most important risk factor for cardioembolic stroke. Thrombi form in the left atrial appendage rather than in the right. The causes of this different thrombogenicity are not well-understood. The goal herein was to compare the activation of the anticoagulant protein C and the thrombomodulin and endothelial protein C receptor/activated protein C receptor expression on the endocardium between right and left atria. Methods—We harvested the atria of 6 monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and quantified their ability to activate protein C ex vivo and we measured the thrombomodulin and endothelial protein C receptor expression by immunofluorescence. Results—We found the ability to activate protein C decreased by half (P 0.028) and there was lower expression of thrombomodulin in the left atrial endocardium than the right (52.5 19.9 and 72.1 18.8 arbitrary intensity units, mean standard deviation; P 0.028). No differences were detected in endothelial protein C receptor expression. Conclusions—Impaired protein C activation on the left atrial endocardium attributable to low thrombomodulin expression may explain its higher thrombogenicity and play a role in cardioembolic stroke

Morphotectonic interpretation of the Ibague fault for paleoseismological purposes

The Ibagué Fault is a WSW-ENE right-lateral strike-slip structure located in the central part of the Central Cordillera and in the middle of transverse shear zone that affects the Colombian Andes. Morphotectonic interpretations of the fault from satellite images allow us to propose the style of deformation and the kinematics of the structure. These structural characteristics together with geographical, geomorphologic, sedimentologic and climatic data are key elements for the right selection of a paleoseismical investigation site. The strand appears to be as a single line along the Ibagué Fan at regional scale. However, detailed studies shown several morphotectonic features characteristic of wrench tectonics. Riedel and en-echelon array indicate dextral displacements. Additionally, microtectonic data show a local stress tensor with a s1=311º/18 °±15 ° and a factor R=0,62, indicating a strike-slip regime, which is coherent with the observed geologic and morphotectonic features.&nbsp; La Falla Ibagué es una estructura de tipo transcurrente dextral que se extiende en dirección WSW-ENE y se encuentra ubicada en medio de una zona de cizalla transversal que afecta la parte central de la Cordillera Central de Los Andes Colombianos con dirección NEE. Utilizando imágenes de sensores remotos se realizó una interpretación morfotectónica de la falla, que permitió proponer la geometría de deformación y algunas características cinemáticas, conocimiento que, junto con datos geográficos, morfoclimáticos y sedimentológicos, es básico para la elección acertada de un sitio de trinchera de exploración paleosismológica. El trayecto de la falla a lo largo del Abanico de Ibagué se muestra regionalmente como un solo trazo, pero a mayor escala se observan numerosos y variados rasgos morfotectónicos característicos de fallamiento transcurrente, caracterizados por presentar un arreglo de cizallas Riedel dextrales y en echelon con saltos a la izquierda. Las mediciones microtectónicas en estaciones situadas a lo largo de la falla en el Abanico de Ibagué arrojaron un tensor de esfuerzos local, con un esfuerzo máximo horizontal (s1) de dirección 311º/18° +/- 15° y un factor de forma de R=0,62, que indican un régimen de esfuerzos de tipo transcurrente, resultado que es consecuente con las observaciones morfotectónicas y geológicas.&nbsp; &nbsp

Morphotectonic interpretation of the Ibague fault for paleoseismological purposes

The Ibagué Fault is a WSW-ENE right-lateral strike-slip structure located in the central part of the Central Cordillera and in the middle of transverse shear zone that affects the Colombian Andes. Morphotectonic interpretations of the fault from satellite images allow us to propose the style of deformation and the kinematics of the structure. These structural characteristics together with geographical, geomorphologic, sedimentologic and climatic data are key elements for the right selection of a paleoseismical investigation site. The strand appears to be as a single line along the Ibagué Fan at regional scale. However, detailed studies shown several morphotectonic features characteristic of wrench tectonics. Riedel and en-echelon array indicate dextral displacements. Additionally, microtectonic data show a local stress tensor with a s1=311º/18 °±15 ° and a factor R=0,62, indicating a strike-slip regime, which is coherent with the observed geologic and morphotectonic features.&nbsp; La Falla Ibagué es una estructura de tipo transcurrente dextral que se extiende en dirección WSW-ENE y se encuentra ubicada en medio de una zona de cizalla transversal que afecta la parte central de la Cordillera Central de Los Andes Colombianos con dirección NEE. Utilizando imágenes de sensores remotos se realizó una interpretación morfotectónica de la falla, que permitió proponer la geometría de deformación y algunas características cinemáticas, conocimiento que, junto con datos geográficos, morfoclimáticos y sedimentológicos, es básico para la elección acertada de un sitio de trinchera de exploración paleosismológica. El trayecto de la falla a lo largo del Abanico de Ibagué se muestra regionalmente como un solo trazo, pero a mayor escala se observan numerosos y variados rasgos morfotectónicos característicos de fallamiento transcurrente, caracterizados por presentar un arreglo de cizallas Riedel dextrales y en echelon con saltos a la izquierda. Las mediciones microtectónicas en estaciones situadas a lo largo de la falla en el Abanico de Ibagué arrojaron un tensor de esfuerzos local, con un esfuerzo máximo horizontal (s1) de dirección 311º/18° +/- 15° y un factor de forma de R=0,62, que indican un régimen de esfuerzos de tipo transcurrente, resultado que es consecuente con las observaciones morfotectónicas y geológicas.&nbsp; &nbsp

Association of increased fibrinogen concentration with impaired activation of anticoagulant protein C

BACKGROUND: Low levels of activated protein C (APC) are a risk factor for venous thrombosis. The mechanisms leading to interindividual differences in APC are not totally elucidated. Protein C is activated by the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. As thrombin binds to fibrinogen and thrombomodulin through a common region, it is conceivable that fibrinogen influences the activation of protein C. This would help to explain the association between high levels of fibrinogen and an increased thrombotic risk. METHODS: We analyzed the association between circulating APC levels and fibrinogen concentration in 382 healthy subjects. Subsequently, we studied the effect of increasing fibrinogen concentrations on the APC generation on cultured endothelial cells. RESULTS: An independent inverse association between circulating APC levels and fibrinogen was found [betacoefficient, -0.16; 95% confidence interval (95% CI) -0.26, -0.06; P = 0.001]. For each 100 mg dL(-1) increase in fibrinogen, the independent risk of having low APC levels (<0.7 ng mL(-1)) was almost three times higher (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.1, 7.2; P = 0.04). Accordingly, a notable association between increasing fibrinogen concentrations and the reduction in the thrombin-thrombomodulin dependent activation of protein C on endothelial cells was found (r = -0.57; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: We present evidence of an inverse association between circulating APC and fibrinogen levels. According to this finding together with the results of our in vitro experiments, we propose that the impairment in the generation of APC on endothelial cells constitutes a new prothrombotic mechanism of fibrinogen