Key Design Factors Affecting Microbial Community Composition and Pathogenic Organism Removal in Horizontal Subsurface Flow Constructed Wetlands

Water shortages in arid and semi-arid areas such as the Mediterranean have prompted a need for wastewater treatment and subsequent reuse. Reclamation can be achieved through conventional intensive systems or natural, ecologically engineered treatments such as horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) constructed wetlands...Fil: Morató Farreras, Jordi. Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya; EspañaFil: Codony, Francesc. Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya; EspañaFil: Sánchez Negrette, Olga. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Perez, Leonardo Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Química Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Química Rosario; ArgentinaFil: García, Joan. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Mas, Jordi. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona; Españ

Enhancement of rhizocompetence in pathogenic bacteria removal of a constructed wetland system

Preprin

Biofunctionalization of cork with Moringa oleifera seeds and use of PMA staining and qPCR to detect viability of Escherichia coli

Cork matrices biofunctionalized with Moringa oleifera seed extracts (MoSe) have potential for use as a biofilter with antibacterial properties to reduce waterborne pathogens. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cork biofunctionalized with active antimicrobial compounds of MoSe (f-cork) on the inhibition of Escherichia coli (InhEc). The LacZ gene from a strain of E. coli was used as the target sequence using viability quantification Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR) and differentiation of viable and dead bacteria through selective cell viability PMA staining. To perform this, a 27−4 fractional factorial design and a biofiltration system were used to evaluate the effect of the active protein in MoSe immobilized in granulated cork on InhEc. We found that the potential for antimicrobial activity increased with f-cork for an effective maximal bacterial reduction (99.99%; p < 0.05). The effect of f-cork functionalized with MoSe on E. coli viability was of 0.024% and 0.005% for the cells exposed to PMA, respectively, being the relevant conditions in treatment 2: (0 L/min) without aeration, (5%) MoSe and (5 mm) cork particle. In conclusion, the f-cork functionalized with MoSe presented biosorbent and antibacterial properties that effectively reduced the E. coli growth

Inhibition of tryptophan hydroxylases and monoamino oxidase-A by the proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole - in vitro and in vivo investigations

Serotonin (5-HT) is a hormone and neurotransmitter that modulates neural activity as well as a wide range of other physiological processes including cardiovascular function, bowel motility, and platelet aggregation. 5-HT synthesis is catalyzed by tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) which exists as two distinct isoforms; TPH1 and TPH2, which are responsible for peripheral and central 5-HT, respectively. Due to the implication of 5-HT in a number of pathologies, including depression, anxiety, autism, sexual dysfunction, irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and carcinoid syndrome, there has been a growing interest in finding modulators of these enzymes in recent years. We thus performed high-throughput screening (HTS) using a fluorescence-based thermal shift assay (DSF) to search the Prestwick Chemical Library containing 1,280 compounds, mostly FDA-approved drugs, for TPH1 binders. We here report the identification of omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, as an inhibitor of TPH1 and TPH2 with low micromolar potency and high selectivity over the other aromatic amino acid hydroxylases. The S-enantiomer of omeprazole, esomeprazole, has recently also been described as an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A), the main enzyme responsible for 5-HT degradation, albeit with lower potency compared to the effect on TPH1 and TPH2. In order to investigate the net effect of simultaneous inhibition of TPH and MAO-A in vivo, we administered high-dose (100 mg/kg) omeprazole to CD-1 mice for 4 days, after which the animals were subjected to the tail suspension test. Finally, central (whole brain) and peripheral (serum) 5-HT content was measured using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Omeprazole treatment significantly increased 5-HT concentrations, both in brain and in serum, and reduced the time spent immobile in the tail suspension test relative to vehicle control. Thus, the MAO-A inhibition afforded by high-dose omeprazole appears to overcome the opposing effect on 5-HT produced by inhibition of TPH1 and TPH2. Further modification of proton pump inhibitor scaffolds may yield more selective modulators of 5-HT metabolism

Ahora / Ara

La cinquena edició del microrelatari per l’eradicació de la violència contra les dones de l’Institut Universitari d’Estudis Feministes i de Gènere «Purificación Escribano» de la Universitat Jaume I vol ser una declaració d’esperança. Aquest és el moment en el qual les dones (i els homes) hem de fer un pas endavant i eliminar la violència sistèmica contra les dones. Ara és el moment de denunciar el masclisme i els micromasclismes començant a construir una societat més igualitària. Cadascun dels relats del llibre és una denúncia i una declaració que ens encamina cap a un món millor

KRAS Assessment Following ESMO Recommendations for Colorectal Liver Metastases. Is It Always Worth It?

Background: Genetic evaluation is essential in assessing colorectal cancer (CRC) and colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM). The aim of this study was to determine the pragmatic value of KRAS on oncological outcomes after CRLM according to the ESMO recommendations and to query whether it is necessary to request KRAS testing in each situation. Methods: A retrospective cohort of 126 patients who underwent surgery for hepatic resection for CRLM between 2009 and 2020 were reviewed. The patients were divided into three categories: wild-type KRAS, mutated KRAS and impractical KRAS according to their oncological variables. The impractical (not tested) KRAS group included patients with metachronous tumours and negative lymph nodes harvested. Disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS) and hepatic recurrence-free survival (HRFS) were calculated by the Kaplan&ndash;Meier method, and a multivariable analysis was conducted using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Results: Of the 108 patients identified, 35 cases had KRAS wild-type, 50 cases had a KRAS mutation and the remaining 23 were classified as impractical KRAS. Significantly longer medians for OS, HRFS and DFS were found in the impractical KRAS group. In the multivariable analyses, the KRAS mutational gene was the only variable that was maintained through OS, HRFS and DFS. For HRFS (HR: 13.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.35&ndash;100.62; p = 0.010 for KRAS), for DFS (HR: 10.06; 95% CI: 2.40&ndash;42.17; p = 0.002 for KRAS) and for OS (HR: 4.55%; 95% CI: 1.37&ndash;15.10; p = 0.013). Conclusion: Our study considers the possibility of unnecessary KRAS testing in patients with metachronous tumours and negative lymph nodes harvested. Combining the genetic mutational profile (i.e., KRAS in specific cases) with tumour characteristics helps patient selection and achieves the best prognosis after CRLM resection

Evolución y ventajas en la utilización de los abordajes mínimamente invasivos en la patología pancreática

La cirurgia mínimament invasiva; percutània, endoscòpica, laparoscòpica i robòtica aplicada a la patologia pancreàtica, té els seus orígens a finals del segle XX, principis del XXI. Inicialment d’una manera desconfiada, incrèdula i prudent es va anar introduint paulatinament en centres de referencia en cirurgia mínimament invasiva i especial dedicació a la cirurgia pancreàtica. En menys de 20 anys són desenes de centres en tot el món que no només realitzen totes les cirurgies pancreàtiques en la seva gran majoria mitjançant abordatges laparosòpic o robòtic, sinó que hi ha intervencions com la pancreatectomia distal o les enucleacions que són a dia d’avui, i en centres de referencia en cirurgia pancreàtica, el gold standard. La mateixa evolució ha desenvolupat la cirurgia relacionada amb la patologia pancreàtica benigna; la pancreatitis aguda greu. Es actualment una evidencia mèdica, que els pacients amb aquesta malaltia presenten millores en morbimortalitat després de ser intervinguts de manera mínimament invasiva. Tots els projectes d’aquesta tesi van néixer de la necessitat d’avaluar i millorar els nostres propis resultats tant en l’ús dels abordatges mínimament invasius en la pancreatitis aguda greu com en la realització de la duodenopancreatectomia cefàlica laparoscòpica. Actualment ambdós sectors de la cirurgia pancreàtica són en molts països realitzats de forma habitual mitjançant abordatges mínimament invasius, demostrant la seva viabilitat, factibilitat i millora, sempre i quan siguin realitzats en mans expertes i en centres especialitzats en cirurgia pancreàtica.La cirugía mínimamente invasiva; percutánea, endoscópica, laparoscópica y robótica aplicada a la patología pancreática, tiene sus orígenes a finales del siglo XX, principios del XXI. De una forma inicialmente más desconfiada, incrédula y prudente se fue introduciendo paulatinamente en centros referentes en cirugía mínimamente invasiva y especial dedicación a la cirugía pancreática. En menos de 20 años son decenas de centros en todo el mundo que no solo desarrollan todas las cirugías pancreáticas en su gran mayoría por abordaje laparoscópico o robótico, sino que hay intervenciones como la pancreatectomía distal, o las enucleaciones que son hoy día en centros referentes el gold standard. La misma evolución le ha sucedido a la cirugía que rodea a la patología benigna pancreática; la pancreatitis aguda grave. Es ya una evidencia médica, que los pacientes con esta patología presentan mejoras en morbimortalidad tras ser intervenidos de forma mínimamente invasiva. Todos los proyectos en esta tesis surgieron de la necesidad de evaluar y mejorar nuestros propios resultados tanto en el uso de los abordajes mínimamente invasivos en la pancreatitis aguda grave como en la realización de la duodenopancreatectomía cefálica laparoscópica. Actualmente ambos ámbitos de la cirugía pancreática son en muchos países reproducidos regularmente de forma mínimamente invasiva, demostrando su viabilidad, factibilidad y mejora, siempre en manos expertas y en centros especializados en cirugía pancreática.Minimally invasive surgery; percutaneous, endoscopic, laparoscopic and robotic applied to pancreatic pathology, has its origins in the late twentieth century, early twenty-first. In an initially more distrustful, incredulous and prudent way, it was gradually introduced in reference centers in minimally invasive surgery with special pancreatic surgery dedication. In less than 20 years there are dozens of centers around the world that not only develop all pancreatic surgeries mostly by laparoscopic or robotic approach, but currently there are also interventions such as distal pancreatectomy, or enucleations that become the gold standard procedure at referring centers. The same evolution has happened to the surgery that surrounds the benign pancreatic pathology; the severe acute pancreatitis. It is already a medical evidence that patients with this pathology present improvements in morbidity and mortality after being operated into a minimally invasive procedures. Every project in this thesis arose from the need to evaluate and improve our own results both, in the use of minimally invasive approaches in severe acute pancreatitis and in the performance of laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy. Currently, in many countries, both areas of pancreatic surgery are regularly reproduced in a minimally invasive approach, demonstrating their viability, feasibility and improvement, always in expert hands and in centers specialized in pancreatic surgery

Evolución y ventajas en la utilización de los abordajes mínimamente invasivos en la patología pancreática /

Departament responsable de la tesi: Departament de Cirurgia.Premi Extraordinari de Doctorat concedit pels programes de doctorat de la UAB per curs acadèmic 2019-2020La cirurgia mínimament invasiva; percutània, endoscòpica, laparoscòpica i robòtica aplicada a la patologia pancreàtica, té els seus orígens a finals del segle XX, principis del XXI. Inicialment d'una manera desconfiada, incrèdula i prudent es va anar introduint paulatinament en centres de referencia en cirurgia mínimament invasiva i especial dedicació a la cirurgia pancreàtica. En menys de 20 anys són desenes de centres en tot el món que no només realitzen totes les cirurgies pancreàtiques en la seva gran majoria mitjançant abordatges laparosòpic o robòtic, sinó que hi ha intervencions com la pancreatectomia distal o les enucleacions que són a dia d'avui, i en centres de referencia en cirurgia pancreàtica, el gold standard. La mateixa evolució ha desenvolupat la cirurgia relacionada amb la patologia pancreàtica benigna; la pancreatitis aguda greu. Es actualment una evidencia mèdica, que els pacients amb aquesta malaltia presenten millores en morbimortalitat després de ser intervinguts de manera mínimament invasiva. Tots els projectes d'aquesta tesi van néixer de la necessitat d'avaluar i millorar els nostres propis resultats tant en l'ús dels abordatges mínimament invasius en la pancreatitis aguda greu com en la realització de la duodenopancreatectomia cefàlica laparoscòpica. Actualment ambdós sectors de la cirurgia pancreàtica són en molts països realitzats de forma habitual mitjançant abordatges mínimament invasius, demostrant la seva viabilitat, factibilitat i millora, sempre i quan siguin realitzats en mans expertes i en centres especialitzats en cirurgia pancreàtica.La cirugía mínimamente invasiva; percutánea, endoscópica, laparoscópica y robótica aplicada a la patología pancreática, tiene sus orígenes a finales del siglo XX, principios del XXI. De una forma inicialmente más desconfiada, incrédula y prudente se fue introduciendo paulatinamente en centros referentes en cirugía mínimamente invasiva y especial dedicación a la cirugía pancreática. En menos de 20 años son decenas de centros en todo el mundo que no solo desarrollan todas las cirugías pancreáticas en su gran mayoría por abordaje laparoscópico o robótico, sino que hay intervenciones como la pancreatectomía distal, o las enucleaciones que son hoy día en centros referentes el gold standard. La misma evolución le ha sucedido a la cirugía que rodea a la patología benigna pancreática; la pancreatitis aguda grave. Es ya una evidencia médica, que los pacientes con esta patología presentan mejoras en morbimortalidad tras ser intervenidos de forma mínimamente invasiva. Todos los proyectos en esta tesis surgieron de la necesidad de evaluar y mejorar nuestros propios resultados tanto en el uso de los abordajes mínimamente invasivos en la pancreatitis aguda grave como en la realización de la duodenopancreatectomía cefálica laparoscópica. Actualmente ambos ámbitos de la cirugía pancreática son en muchos países reproducidos regularmente de forma mínimamente invasiva, demostrando su viabilidad, factibilidad y mejora, siempre en manos expertas y en centros especializados en cirugía pancreática.Minimally invasive surgery; percutaneous, endoscopic, laparoscopic and robotic applied to pancreatic pathology, has its origins in the late twentieth century, early twenty-first. In an initially more distrustful, incredulous and prudent way, it was gradually introduced in reference centers in minimally invasive surgery with special pancreatic surgery dedication. In less than 20 years there are dozens of centers around the world that not only develop all pancreatic surgeries mostly by laparoscopic or robotic approach, but currently there are also interventions such as distal pancreatectomy, or enucleations that become the gold standard procedure at referring centers. The same evolution has happened to the surgery that surrounds the benign pancreatic pathology; the severe acute pancreatitis. It is already a medical evidence that patients with this pathology present improvements in morbidity and mortality after being operated into a minimally invasive procedures. Every project in this thesis arose from the need to evaluate and improve our own results both, in the use of minimally invasive approaches in severe acute pancreatitis and in the performance of laparoscopic pancreatoduodenectomy. Currently, in many countries, both areas of pancreatic surgery are regularly reproduced in a minimally invasive approach, demonstrating their viability, feasibility and improvement, always in expert hands and in centers specialized in pancreatic surgery

Laparoscopic-adapted Blumgart pancreaticojejunostomy in laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic pancreaticoduodenectomy (LPD) is a complex procedure that is becoming increasingly popular among surgeons. Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) remains the most feared specific complication in reconstruction after PD. The Blumgart anastomosis (BA) has been established as one of the safest anastomosis for pancreas remnant reconstruction, with low rates of POPF and postoperative complications. The procedure for performing this anastomosis by laparoscopic approach has not been reported to date. METHODS: We describe our technique of LPD with laparoscopic-adapted BA (LapBA) and present the results obtained. A case-matched analysis with open cases of BA is also reported. RESULTS: Since February 2013 to February 2016, thirteen patients were operated of LapBA. An equivalent cohort of open PD patients was obtained by matching sex, ASA, pancreas consistency and main pancreatic duct diameter. Severe complications (grades III-IV) and length of stay were significantly lesser in LapBA group. No differences in POPF, readmission, reoperation rate and mortality were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The LapBA technique we propose can facilitate the pancreatic reconstruction after LPD. In this case-matched study, LPD shows superior results than open PD in terms of less severe postoperative complications and shorter length of stay. Randomized control trials are required to confirm these results

Key design factors affecting microbial community composition and pathogenic organism removal in horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetlands

Water shortages in arid and semi-arid areas such as the Mediterranean have prompted a need for wastewater treatment and subsequent reuse. Reclamation can be achieved through conventional intensive systems or natural, ecologically engineered treatments such as horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) constructed wetlands. Depending on wastewater type, some pathogenic microorganisms may be present and, therefore, wastewater reclamation processes with disinfection could be required (Asano and Levine, 1998). Thus, research into sewage treatment is needed in order to reduce risks associated with improper sanitation, particularly in terms of wastewater reuse for crop irrigation.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version