High BDNF serum levels are associated to good cognitive functioning in bipolar disorder

Background: Neurotrophins such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), inflammation and oxidative damage may contribute to the pathophysiology of bipolar disorder (BD) in terms of illness activity. To date, there is a lack of studies linking the cognitive impairment observed in BD with these neurobiological mechanisms. This study aimed to investigate the role of these neurobiological factors in clinical and cognitive outcomes in a sample of bipolar individuals. Methods: We measured serum BDNF, cytokines and oxidative stress markers in a sample of 133 individuals: 52 euthymic bipolar patients, 32 manic patients and 49 healthy controls. They were all assessed with a comprehensive cognitive battery. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. Multiple linear regression models were built to study associations of neurotrophins and inflammatory and oxidative measures with cognitive functioning. Results: BDNF levels were decreased in euthymic (p = 0.039) and manic (p < 0.001) individuals. Conversely, inflammatory (interleukin 6 (IL-6)) (p = 0.019) and oxidative stress (p = 0.003) measures were increased in bipolar individuals compared to controls. BDNF levels were associated with executive functioning (β = 0.01, p = 0.02) and verbal memory (β = 0.013, p = 0.005), together with other demographic variables. In particular, verbal memory was also associated with obesity (β=-0.04, p = 0.005). Neither inflammatory markers, oxidative stress markers nor other relevant clinical variables showed any association with cognitive outcome. Conclusions: Of all the peripheral neurobiological factors analysed, BDNF was the only one significantly associated with cognitive dysfunction in bipolar disorder individuals. This study emphasizes the role of BDNF not only across mood phases but also in cognitive functioning

Anàlisi dels microorganismes declarats al Sistema de notificació microbiològica de Catalunya els anys 2016-2017

Declaracions microbiològiques; Notificació; Malalties infecciosesDeclaraciones microbiológicas; Notificación; Enfermedades infecciosasMicrobiological statement; Notification; Infectious diseasesIntroducció. El Sistema de notificació microbiològica de Catalunya (SNMC) des de l’any 2016 és un sistema de declaració microbiològica obligatori. L’SNMC forma part de la Xarxa de Vigilància Epidemiològica de Catalunya i recull les declaracions realitzades pels laboratoris dels casos confirmats dels microorganismes que causen patologia aguda amb transcendència en salut pública. Mètodes. S’ha realitzat una anàlisi descriptiva de les declaracions microbiològiques efectuades pels laboratoris participants a l’SNMC durant els anys 2016 i 2017, un cop efectuada la validació i depuració de les dades. Resultats i discussió. Es van enregistrar un total de 34.054 microorganismes l’any 2016 i 38.625 el 2017, cosa que representa un augment del 19,6% i 35,7%, respectivament, en relació amb el 2015, i del 56,6% i 77,6%, respecte al 2014. Les entitats clíniques més freqüents durant el 2016 van ser les infeccions de les vies respiratòries (39,2%), les infeccions de transmissió sexual (27,3%) i les enteritis (26,5%), i al 2017 van ser les infeccions de les vies respiratòries (33,3%), les infeccions de transmissió sexual (33,2%) i les enteritis (26,3%). El nombre de casos notificats de micobacteriosis i d’enteritis va disminuir en relació amb períodes anteriors (2013-2015) i les infeccions de transmissió sexual van augmentar i van igualar les infeccions de les vies respiratòries. Les infeccions de les vies respiratòries, les meningoencefalitis, les bacterièmies sense focus i el grup de les altres malalties infeccioses es mantenen relativament en percentatges similars en relació amb el període anterior (2014-2015). Conclusions. Durant el 2016 i el 2017 hi ha hagut un augment del nombre de microorganismes causants de malalties infeccioses confirmades respecte al 2014 i al 2015. Les infeccions de transmissió sexual han augmentat considerablement en els últims anys i l’any 2017 han assolit xifres idèntiques a les infeccions de les vies respiratòries.Introducción. El Sistema de notificación microbiológica de Cataluña (SNMC) desde el año 2016 es un sistema de declaración microbiológica obligatorio. El SNMC forma parte de la Red de Vigilancia Epidemiológica de Cataluña y recoge las declaraciones realizadas por los laboratorios de los casos confirmados de los microorganismos que causan patología aguda con trascendencia en salud pública. Métodos. Se ha realizado un análisis descriptivo de las declaraciones microbiológicas efectuadas por los laboratorios del SNMC durante los años 2016 y 2017, una vez realizada la validación y depuración de los datos. Resultados y discusión. Se registraron un total de 34.054 microorganismos en el año 2016 y 38.625 en el 2017, lo que representa un aumento del 19,6% y del 35,7%, respectivamente, en relación al 2015, y del 56,6% i 77,6%, respecto al 2014. Las entidades clínicas más frecuentes durante el 2016 fueron las infecciones de las vías respiratorias (39,2%), las infecciones de transmisión sexual (27,3%) y las enteritis (26,5%), y durante el 2017 fueron las infecciones de les vías respiratorias (33,3%), las infecciones de transmisión sexual (33,2%) y las enteritis (26,3%). Si bien el número de casos notificados de micobacteriosis y de enteritis va disminuyendo durante el período analizado en relación a períodos anteriores (2013- 2015), las notificaciones de infecciones de transmisión sexual continúan aumentando considerablemente, igualando a las infecciones de las vías respiratorias. Las infecciones de las vías respiratorias, las meningoencefalitis, las bacteriemias sin foco y el grupo de otras enfermedades infecciosas se mantienen relativamente en porcentajes similares en relación al período anterior (2014-2015). Conclusiones. Durante el 2016 y el 2017 ha habido un aumento en el número de microorganismos causantes de enfermedades infecciosas confirmadas respecto al 2014 y el 2015. Las infecciones de transmisión sexual han aumentado considerablemente en los últimos años, alcanzando en el año 2017 cifras idénticas a las infecciones de las vías respiratorias.Background. Since 2016 the Microbiological Reporting System of Catalonia (SNMC) is a mandatory microbiological reporting system. SNMC is part of the Epidemiological Surveillance Network of Catalonia, which collects reports by laboratories on confirmed cases of microorganisms causing acute disease that are relevant for public health. Methods. A descriptive analysis of microbiological reports made by SNMC health laboratories was carried out during the period 2016-2017, after verifying and cleansing data. Results and discussion. A total of 34,054 microorganisms were registered in 2016, and 38.625 microorganisms in 2017, which represents an increase of 19.6% and 35.7%, respectively in respect to 2015, and 56.6% and 77.6% with respect to 2014. During 2016, the most common clinical entities were respiratory infections (39.2%), sexually transmitted diseases (27.3%), and enteritis (26.5%), while during 2017 the most common ones were respiratory infections (33.3%), sexually transmitted diseases (33.2%), and enteritis (26.3%). Although the number of reported cases of mycobacterial infections and enteritis diminished across the period analysed and in comparison with previous analysis (2013-2015), the number of reports of sexually transmitted diseases continue to increase significantly, equalling respiratory infections. Respiratory infections, meningoencephalitis, bacteraemia of unknown origin, and other infection diseases remained in relatively similar percentages in comparison with previous years (2014-2015). Conclusions. During 2016 and 2017 there has been an increase in the number of microorganisms that cause confirmed infectious diseases, with respect to 2014 and 2015. Sexually transmitted infections have increased considerably in recent years, and 2017 have reached numbers to those of respiratory infections

Evaluation of turbulent dissipation rate retrievals from Doppler Cloud Radar

Turbulent dissipation rate retrievals from cloud radar Doppler velocity measurements are evaluated using independent, in situ observations in Arctic stratocumulus clouds. In situ validation data sets of dissipation rate are derived using sonic anemometer measurements from a tethered balloon and high frequency pressure variation observations from a research aircraft, both flown in proximity to stationary, ground-based radars. Modest biases are found among the data sets in particularly low- or high-turbulence regimes, but in general the radar-retrieved values correspond well with the in situ measurements. Root mean square differences are typically a factor of 4-6 relative to any given magnitude of dissipation rate. These differences are no larger than those found when comparing dissipation rates computed from tetheredballoon and meteorological tower-mounted sonic anemometer measurements made at spatial distances of a few hundred meters. Temporal lag analyses suggest that approximately half of the observed differences are due to spatial sampling considerations, such that the anticipated radar-based retrieval uncertainty is on the order of a factor of 2-3. Moreover, radar retrievals are clearly able to capture the vertical dissipation rate structure observed by the in situ sensors, while offering substantially more information on the time variability of turbulence profiles. Together these evaluations indicate that radar-based retrievals can, at a minimum, be used to determine the vertical structure of turbulence in Arctic stratocumulus clouds