Agenesia de arteria pulmonar derecha en un neonato. La excepcionalidad del diagnóstico en período perinatal

Pulmonary artery agenesis is a congenital disorder that is usually linked to other congenital cardiac diseases, being infrequently found on an isolated manner. Although it can cause symptoms during childhood, pulmonary arteries isolated anomalies are frequently unnoticed until adolescence or early adulthood and for this reason, its perinatal diagnosis is quite unusual. A case of a newborn is presented in whom a computed tomography angiography (CTA) is performed to confirm the diagnosis of right pulmonary artery agenesis.La agenesia de arteria pulmonar es un trastorno congénito que normalmente se encuentra asociado a otros defectos cardiacos congénitos, siendo extraño que se presente de manera aislada. Aunque puede causar síntomas durante la infancia, las anomalías aisladas de las arterias pulmonares pasan con mucha frecuencia inadvertidas hasta la adolescencia o la edad adulta temprana y, por eso, su diagnóstico en período perinatal es muy poco frecuente. Se presenta el caso de un neonato al cual se le realiza una angiotomografía computarizada (angio TC) para la confirmación del diagnóstico de agenesia de la arteria pulmonar derecha

Executive summary of the Consensus Document of the Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC) and of the Spanish Association of Surgeons (AEC) in antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery

[ES] La profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía es una de las medidas más eficaces para la prevención de la infección de localización quirúrgica, aunque su uso es con frecuencia inadecuado, pudiendo incrementar el riesgo de infección, toxicidades y resistencias bacterianas. Debido al avance en las técnicas quirúrgicas y la emergencia de microorganismos multirresistentes las actuales pautas de profilaxis precisan ser revisadas. La Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas (SEIMC), conjuntamente con la Asociación Española de Cirujanos (AEC) ha revisado y actualizado las recomendaciones de profilaxis antimicrobiana para adaptarlas a cada tipo de intervención quirúrgica y a la epidemiología actual. En este documento se recogen las recomendaciones de los antimicrobianos utilizados en profilaxis en los diferentes procedimientos, las dosis, la duración, la profilaxis en huéspedes especiales, y en situación epidemiológica de multirresistencia, de tal forma que permitan un manejo estandarizado, un uso racional, seguro y efectivo de los mismos en la cirugía electiva.[EN] Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery is one of the most effective measures for preventing surgical site infection, although its use is frequently inadequate and may even increase the risk of infection, toxicities and antimicrobial resistance. As a result of advances in surgical techniques and the emergence of multidrug-resistant organisms, the current guidelines for prophylaxis need to be revised. The Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas (Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology) (SEIMC) together with the Asociación Española de Cirujanos (Spanish Association of Surgeons) (AEC) have revised and updated the recommendations for antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery to adapt them to any type of surgical intervention and to current epidemiology. This document gathers together the recommendations on antimicrobial prophylaxis in the various procedures, with doses, duration, prophylaxis in special patient groups, and in epidemiological settings of multidrug resistance to facilitate standardized management and the safe, effective and rational use of antibiotics in elective surgery

HLA-B*08 identified as the most associated MHC locus for anti-carbamylated protein antibody-positive/anti-CCP-negative rheumatoid arthritis

Objective: Previously, only the HLA-DRB1 alleles have been assessed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of the present study was to identify the key major histocompatibility complex (MHC) susceptibility factors showing a significant association with anti-carbamylated protein antibody-positive (anti-CarP+) RA. Methods: Analyses were restricted to RA patients who were anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody negative (anti-CCP-), because the anti-CCP status dominated the results otherwise. Therefore, we studied samples from 1,821 anti-CCP- RA patients and 6,821 population controls from Spain, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The genotypes for ~8,000 MHC biallelic variants were assessed by dense genotyping and imputation. Their association with the anti-CarP status in RA patients was tested with logistic regression and combined with inverse-variance meta-analysis. Significance of the associations was assessed according to a study-specific threshold of P < 2.0 × 10-5 . Results: The HLA-B*08 allele and its correlated amino acid variant Asp-9 showed a significant association with anti-CarP+/anti-CCP- RA (P < 3.78 × 10-7 ; I2 = 0). This association was specific when assessed relative to 3 comparator groups: population controls, anti-CarP-/anti-CCP- RA patients, and anti-CCP- RA patients who were positive for other anti-citrullinated protein antibodies. Based on these findings, anti-CarP+/anti-CCP- RA patients could be separated from other antibody-defined subsets of RA patients in whom an association with the HLA-B*08 allele has been previously demonstrated. No other MHC variant remained associated with anti-CarP+/anti-CCP- RA after accounting for the presence of the HLA-B*08 allele. Specifically, the reported association of HLA-DRB1*03 was observed at a level comparable to that reported previously, but it was attributable to linkage disequilibrium. Conclusion: These results identify HLA-B*08 carrying Asp-9 as the MHC locus showing the strongest association with anti-CarP+/anti-CCP- RA. This knowledge may help clarify the role of the HLA in susceptibility to specific subsets of RA, by shaping the spectrum of RA autoantibodies. © 2020, American College of Rheumatology

BiFiSo-CSIC: balance de una lucha multidisciplinar contra la pandemia

En marzo de 2020 se declaró el estado de emergencia en España a raíz de una pandemia causada por el virus llamado SARS-CoV-2. La enfermedad, denominada COVID-19, produce una gran letalidad en personas de edad avanzada. Estas excepcionales circunstancias dictaron medidas inéditas en nuestro país: confinamiento domiciliario, cierre de colegios y comercios no esenciales. El Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) reaccionó de inmediato: recién iniciado el confinamiento todos los investigadores de esta institución fueron convocados para dedicar parte de su tiempo a investigar sobre la pandemia. La respuesta fue instantánea y personas de todas las áreas de investigación se brindaron a contribuir con su granito de arena. Lo que al principio iba a suponer una media del 20% del tiempo de cada investigador pasó a ocupar toda la jornada: y así hasta hoy. En este contexto surge el proyecto BiFiSo, en el cual desde la biología, la filosofía o la antropología hemos estudiado y explicado la pandemia, complementando mutuamente la visión de nuestras respectivas especialidades.Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas aporta financiación como institución fundacional de The Conversation ES. Universidad de Málaga aporta financiación como institución colaboradora de The Conversation ES.Peer reviewe

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

La renovación de la palabra en el bicentenario de la Argentina : los colores de la mirada lingüística

El libro reúne trabajos en los que se exponen resultados de investigaciones presentadas por investigadores de Argentina, Chile, Brasil, España, Italia y Alemania en el XII Congreso de la Sociedad Argentina de Lingüística (SAL), Bicentenario: la renovación de la palabra, realizado en Mendoza, Argentina, entre el 6 y el 9 de abril de 2010. Las temáticas abordadas en los 167 capítulos muestran las grandes líneas de investigación que se desarrollan fundamentalmente en nuestro país, pero también en los otros países mencionados arriba, y señalan además las áreas que recién se inician, con poca tradición en nuestro país y que deberían fomentarse. Los trabajos aquí publicados se enmarcan dentro de las siguientes disciplinas y/o campos de investigación: Fonología, Sintaxis, Semántica y Pragmática, Lingüística Cognitiva, Análisis del Discurso, Psicolingüística, Adquisición de la Lengua, Sociolingüística y Dialectología, Didáctica de la lengua, Lingüística Aplicada, Lingüística Computacional, Historia de la Lengua y la Lingüística, Lenguas Aborígenes, Filosofía del Lenguaje, Lexicología y Terminología

Taking a look into the orbit of mammalian carnivorans

In this study, we explore the relationship between orbit anatomy and different ecological factors in carnivorous mammals from a phylogenetic perspective. We calculated the frontation (α), convergence (β), and orbitotemporal (Ω) angles of the orbit from 3D coordinates of anatomical landmarks in a wide sample of carnivores with different kinds of visual strategy (i.e. photopic, scotopic, and mesopic), habitat (i.e. open, mixed, and closed), and substrate use (i.e. arboreal, terrestrial, and aquatic). We used Bloomberg's K and Pagel's λ to assess phylogenetic signal in frontation, convergence, and orbitotemporal angles. The association of orbit orientation with skull length and ecology was explored using phylogenetic generalized least squares and phylogenetic manova, respectively. Moreover, we also computed phylomorphospaces from orbit orientation. Our results indicate that there is not a clear association between orbit orientation and the ecology of living carnivorans. We hypothesize that the evolution of the orbit in mammalian carnivores represents a new case of an ecological bottleneck specific to carnivorans. New directions for future research are discussed in light of this new evidence

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Pericardial Effusion and Cardiac Tamponade

Pericardial effusion (PEff) is defined by an increase in the physiological amount of fluid within the pericardial space. It can appear following different medical conditions, mainly related to inflammation and cardiac surgery. Cardiac tamponade is a critical condition that occurs after sudden and/or excessive accumulation of fluid in the pericardial space that restricts appropriate filling of the cardiac chambers disturbing normal hemodynamics and ultimately causing hypotension and cardiac arrest. It is, therefore, a life-threatening condition that must be diagnosed as soon as possible for correct treatment and management. Echocardiographic evaluation of PEff is paramount for timely and appropriate diagnosis and management. A structured echocardiographic approach including two-dimensional, M-mode, and Doppler echocardiographic evaluation assessing (i) quantity and quality of pericardial fluid, (ii) collapse of cardiac chambers, (iii) respiratory variation of the ventricular diameters, (iv) inferior vena cava collapsibility, and (v) flow patterns in atrioventricular valves should give the bedside clinician the necessary information to appropriately manage PEff. Here, we review these key echocardiographic signs that will ensure an appropriate assessment of a patient with PEff and/or cardiac tamponade

Recycling of low-density polyethylene waste to produce eco-friendly gypsum composites

Over 367 million metric tons of plastic were produced worldwide in 2020. Within the most consumed standard plastics, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) is the second resin most demanded in Europe. Far from reducing its consumption, this continues to grow despite environmental impact. Due to the low recycling rate of LDPE waste (~35%), coming mainly from post-consumer packaging and lightweight bags, most parts of this waste end up in the environment. As an alternative to restrained governmental steps, i.e. extra taxes to reduce single-use plastic consumption, new solutions for the recycling and reuse of plastic waste are being developing from different economic sectors. Because of the worldwide significance of the construction sector, which has a large consumption of natural resources and production of waste, this sector plays a critical role within the new models of circular economy. In light of this, and committed to the sustainable development goals adopted by the United Nations, the present work intends to determine the feasibility of using LDPE waste sourced from plastic bags to produce eco-friendly gypsum-based composites. Four replacement levels of plastic waste were chosen for analysis – 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, 5% by weight of gypsum. The experimental campaign consisted of analysing the resulting compounds based on density, mechanical behaviour (flexural and compressive strength), as well as evaluating their water absorption by capillary action and adsorption by exposing them to continuous moisture. Comparing this to the control material, lighter composites with a decrease of mechanical strength were obtained. However, all the values of flexural and compressive strength exceeded the minimums established by standard. Also, the LDPE-containing composites presented lower water absorption and adsorption capacity (up to ~50% when compared to the control material). So it could be inferred that the waste material can be considered as a viable partial substitute to the current commercial gypsum for the manufacturing of gypsum products, i.e. plasterboards

Targeting FOXP3 Tumor-Intrinsic Effects Using Adenoviral Vectors in Experimental Breast Cancer

The regulatory T cell master transcription factor, Forkhead box P3 (Foxp3), has been detected in cancer cells; however, its role in breast tumor pathogenesis remains controversial. Here we assessed Foxp3 tumor intrinsic effects in experimental breast cancer using a Foxp3 binder peptide (P60) that impairs Foxp3 nuclear translocation. Cisplatin upregulated Foxp3 expression in HER2+ and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. Foxp3 inhibition with P60 enhanced chemosensitivity and reduced cell survival and migration in human and murine breast tumor cells. We also developed an adenoviral vector encoding P60 (Ad.P60) that efficiently transduced breast tumor cells, reduced cell viability and migration, and improved the cytotoxic response to cisplatin. Conditioned medium from transduced breast tumor cells contained lower levels of IL-10 and improved the activation of splenic lymphocytes. Intratumoral administration of Ad.P60 in breast-tumor-bearing mice significantly reduced tumor infiltration of Tregs, delayed tumor growth, and inhibited the development of spontaneous lung metastases. Our results suggest that Foxp3 exerts protumoral intrinsic effects in breast cancer cells and that gene-therapy-mediated blockade of Foxp3 could constitute a therapeutic strategy to improve the response of these tumors to standard treatment