Espondilitis tuberculosa no es una metástasis vertebral: diagnóstico diferencial y tratamiento quirúrgico. A propósito de un caso

Presentamos el caso de una paciente con dorsalgia y clínica neurológica de varios meses de evolución que ante las pruebas de imagen fue erróneamente diagnosticada de metástasis vertebral sin confirmación previa con biopsia. El deterioro progresivo neurológico y las nuevas pruebas de imagen confirmaron el diagnóstico de tuberculosis vertebral. La paciente fue tratada mediante curetaje, desbridamiento, fusión intersomática y osteosíntesis anterior además del tratamiento médico. Hubo una recuperación neurológica de la función sensitiva, motora y esfinteriana prácticamente completa al mes de la intervención. Tras 20 meses de evolución la paciente está asintomática sin evidencia de progresión de la enfermedadWe report a patient with back pain and neurological symptoms several months of evolution to the test image was wrongly diagnosed with spinal metastases without prior confirmation with biopsy. The progressive deterioration of neurological and new imaging confirmed the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis. The patient was treated by curettage, debridement, anterior interbody fusion and internal fixation in addition to medical treatment. There neurological recovery of sensory function, motor and sphincter almost complete month after the intervention. After 20 months of evolution, the patient is asymptomatic without evidence of disease progressio

Intra-sexual competition alters the relationship between testosterone and ornament expression in a wild territorial bird

Open Access funded by Natural Environment Research Council Under a Creative Commons licensePeer reviewedPublisher PD

Determinación paramétrica de los ejes de rotación de las articulaciones interfalángicas de los dedos

Comunicación presentada en el XXI Congreso Nacional de Ingeniería Mecánica, celebrado en Elche en Noviembre de 2016.Los ejes de rotación de las articulaciones interfalángicas de los dedos son aproximadamente paralelos a los pliegues de flexión. Sin embargo, los modelos biomecánicos y ergonómicos existentes suelen considerar ejes de rotación paralelos entre sí y perpendiculares a los ejes longitudinales de las falanges. Recientemente se han utilizado técnicas de resonancia magnética para determinar su ubicación, pero su uso de forma extensiva supone riesgos, y no está disponible en todos los laboratorios. En este trabajo se estudia el uso de marcadores reflectantes sobre la piel para localizar los ejes de rotación de las articulaciones interfalángicas de los dedos, y se estudia su posible presentación paramétrica. Para ello, se localizaron los ejes de rotación de 30 sujetos con tamaños de mano representativos de la población española, mediante el seguimiento de 12 marcadores (3 de referencia y 9 de seguimiento) sobre cada dedo. En cada articulación se definieron los sistemas de coordenadas en los segmentos proximal y distal a partir de los marcadores de referencia. La localización de los ejes de rotación se describió mediante las coordenadas de la intersección del eje con el plano sagital (Px y Py) y las inclinaciones con respecto de los planos frontal y transversal ( f y t) de cada dedo. Estos 4 parámetros se obtuvieron de comparar, mediante un método evolutivo de optimización, las matrices de transformación experimentales entre los segmentos proximal y distal, con las analíticas, en un registro dinámico de flexión/extensión. Los valores medios obtenidos para las inclinaciones con los planos frontal y transversal resultaron ser menores de 11 y 4 grados, respectivamente, con una dispersión (8 y 4 grados) que, aun siendo moderada, no permitió obtener datos con suficiente precisión para la mejora de los modelos biomecánicos existentes. Mediante análisis jerárquicos se comprobó que esta dispersión se debe en parte a la variabilidad anatómica entre sujetos. Los resultados en cuanto a localización fueron más fiables, habiendo identificado correlación de Pearson significativa de la profundidad a la que se encuentra el eje con el grosor de la articulación (43% a 52% del grosor), y correspondiendo el posicionamiento longitudinal con el de los marcadores utilizados

Comportamiento de las precipitaciones (1921/2000) en el este de la provincia de La Pampa (Argentina)

The productive structure of the eastern region of La Pampa historically can be characterized as mixed agriculture, however, during the past two decades the area or summer crops expanded. Some studies show that the rainfall regime also varied during the same time span. This induced us lo think that there might be a causal relationship between the change in rainfall and the observed trend in the productive system. Therefore, a study or the rainfall variations during the time period 1921 to 2001 was conducted in order to evaluate their possible influence. The study area was divided into three zones: north, south and center. It was found that in all three zones the total annual rainfall during the growing season showed a positive trend. The highest proportion of rainfall increase was concentrated in the three summer months (EFM), while the lowest proportion corresponded to the winter months (JAS). During the studied period (1921 / 2001} all three zones presented a long cycle with humid and dry phases, separated by intermediate phases during the following time spans: 1) at the beginning of the evaluated period we observed the end of a transition phase from humid to dry. 2) A dry phase from 1930 to the end or the 940 decade. 3) A transition phase dry/humid between 1950 and the mid 70ties. 4) A humid phase which began in the 1970ties and had its climax during the 1990 decade, with posterior stabilization. These characteristics influence significantly on the regional production pattern, favoring summer crops. However, it should be taken into account that these changes might be reversible and since the region is a transition between the humid climates further east and the semiarid west, it present high vulnerability to the rainfall variations. This implies that precautions have to be taken for an eventual return to a period of lower rainfall.La región oriental de La Pampa se caracterizó históricamente por una estructura productiva agropecuaria mixta. Durante las últimas décadas comienza a expandirse el área de cultivos de verano. Existen estudios que demuestran variaciones en el régimen hídrico durante el mismo periodo. Esto induce a pensar que existe una relación causal entre el cambio operado en el régimen de precipitaciones y los cambios observados en los sistemas productivos. Por esta causa se realizó un estudio del comportamiento de las precipitaciones a fin de evaluar la influencia de este proceso durante el período 1921/2000. El área estudiada se dividió en tres zonas: norte, centro y sur. Se comprobó que en las tres zonas analizadas en sus totales anuales por campaña agrícola (julio a junio), la tendencia de la precipitación es positiva. El trimestre estival (EFM) en todas las zonas concentró la mayor proporción de aumento de lluvias, en tanto que la menor se ubicó en el trimestre invernal (JAS), En el período evaluado (1921/2000) pudo comprobarse que las tres zonas estudiadas presentan un ciclo de larga duración con fases húmedas y secas, separadas por fases de transición que se extendieron aproximadamente durante los siguientes períodos: 1 ) Final de la fase de transición húmeda/seca al comienzo del período evaluado. 2) Fase seca desde mediados de la década de 1930 hasta fines de la década de 1940. 3) Fase de transición seca/húmeda entre comienzos de la década de 1950 y mediados de la década de 1970. 4) Fase húmeda a partir de mediados de la década de 1970 que alcanza su máximo en la década de 1990 y parecería estabilizarse posteriormente. Estas características inciden significativamente en el patrón productivo regional, favoreciendo a los cultivos estivales. No obstante, debe tenerse en cuenta que dichos cambios pueden ser reversibles y por tratarse de una franja da transición entre el clima húmedo de la región oriental y el clima semiárido de la región occidental de Argentina, la misma presenta una alta vulnerabilidad a las variaciones en el régimen de precipitaciones, debiendo preverse las consecuencias que traería aparejado el retorno a períodos de bajas precipitaciones

Caracterización agro climática de las heladas en el este de la provincia de La Pampa (Argentina)

The objective of the present study was to obtain a precise evaluation of the frost regime in the eastern part of La Pampa Province. Oaily data set of minimum temperatures (1,50 and 0,05 m above ground level) at General Pico, Anguil, General Acha and Bordenave were used for the period from 1973 to 1998. Means and variability for medium date of first and last frost were calculated and used to construct the respective maps. Determination of extreme frost dates, medium frost free and frost period, winter harshness and danger indexes was effected. A marked increase in the bharshness of the agroclimatic frost regime was observed in a Northeast to Southwest direction. The indexes of danger (ICK) of autumn and spring frost marked a significant increase in the risk level in the south-western direction of the region.El objetivo de este estudio fue lograr una precisa evaluación del régimen de heladas del Este de la provincia de La Pampa. Se emplearon registros diarios de temperatura mínima para las alturas de 1,50 m. en abrigo meteorológico y 0,05 m. sobre el nivel del suelo de las localidades de General Pico, Anguil, General Acha y Bordenave (período 1973/1998). Se calcularon los promedios y variabilidad de las fechas medias de primeras y últimas heladas, lo que permitió trazar los mapas pertinentes. Se determinaron fechas extremas, período medio libre de heladas y con heladas, la rigurosidad del invierno y los índices de peligrosidad. Se observó que la rigurosidad del régimen agroclimático de heladas aumenta marcadamente de Nordeste a Sudoeste. Los índices de peligrosidad (ICK) de heladas otoñales y primaverales acusan un significativo incremento en el nivel de riesgo a medida que se avanza hacia el sudoeste de la región

Early socialization and environmental enrichment of lactating piglets affects the caecal microbiota and metabolomic response after weaning

The aim of this study was to determine the possible impact of early socialization and an enriched neonatal environment to improve adaptation of piglets to weaning. We hypothesized that changes in the microbiota colonization process and in their metabolic response and intestinal functionality could help the animals face weaning stress. A total of 48 sows and their litters were allotted into a control (CTR) or an enriched treatment (ENR), in which piglets from two adjacent pens were combined and enriched with toys. The pattern of caecal microbial colonization, the jejunal gene expression, the serum metabolome and the intestinal physiology of the piglets were assessed before (-2 d) and after weaning (+ 3d). A differential ordination of caecal microbiota was observed after weaning. Serum metabolome suggested a reduced energetic metabolism in ENR animals, as evidenced by shifts in triglycerides and fatty acids, VLDL/LDL and creatine regions. The TLR2 gene showed to be downregulated in the jejunum of ENR pigs after weaning. The integration of gene expression, metabolome and microbiota datasets confirmed that differences between barren and enriched neonatal environments were evident only after weaning. Our results suggest that improvements in adaptation to weaning could be mediated by a better response to the post-weaning stress.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Environmental variables, habitat discontinuity and life history shaping the genetic structure of Pomatoschistus marmoratus

Coastal lagoons are semi-isolated ecosystems exposed to wide fluctuations of environmental conditions and showing habitat fragmentation. These features may play an important role in separating species into different populations, even at small spatial scales. In this study, we evaluate the concordance between mitochondrial (previous published data) and nuclear data analyzing the genetic variability of Pomatoschistus marmoratus in five localities, inside and outside the Mar Menor coastal lagoon (SE Spain) using eight microsatellites. High genetic diversity and similar levels of allele richness were observed across all loci and localities, although significant genic and genotypic differentiation was found between populations inside and outside the lagoon. In contrast to the FST values obtained from previous mitochondrial DNA analyses (control region), the microsatellite data exhibited significant differentiation among samples inside the Mar Menor and between lagoonal and marine samples. This pattern was corroborated using Cavalli-Sforza genetic distances. The habitat fragmentation inside the coastal lagoon and among lagoon and marine localities could be acting as a barrier to gene flow and contributing to the observed genetic structure. Our results from generalized additive models point a significant link between extreme lagoonal environmental conditions (mainly maximum salinity) and P. marmoratus genetic composition. Thereby, these environmental features could be also acting on genetic structure of coastal lagoon populations of P. marmoratus favoring their genetic divergence. The mating strategy of P. marmoratus could be also influencing our results obtained from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Therefore, a special consideration must be done in the selection of the DNA markers depending on the reproductive strategy of the species

Significance of K-Ar dating of very low-grade metamorphism in Triassic-Jurassic pelites from the Coastal Range of central Chile

El artículo original ha sido publicado por la Mineralogical Society disponible en: http://www.minersoc.org/pages/e_journals/clay.htmlK-Ar isotopic dating of very low-grade metamorphism affecting Triassic-Jurassic rocks in the Coastal Range of central Chile was carried out on whole rocks and their <2 mm size fractions. In the study area, a regional-burial low-grade metamorphism at anchizone conditions (T ≤ 190ºC) and low-pressure conditions (P ≥1.3 kbar) has been described. Observed temperatures are related to a contact metamorphism produced by nearby Jurassic intrusions, with a P-T estimate at the immediate contact zone of ~650-690ºC and 4 kbar. The whole-rock K-Ar age of 174?5 Ma is interpreted as belonging to the contact metamorphism due to the intrusion of Jurassic plutons (165±5 Ma to 175±5 Ma). A time-interval of ~20 Ma between the diagenesis (206 Ma) and the anchizonal very low-grade metamorphism (181-184 Ma) is obtained, and a rate of subsidence of ~120 m/Ma is proposed for these Triassic-Jurassic basins. A thermal influence on the burial, very low-grade, regional metamorphism is invoked.Departamento de Mineralogía y Petrologí

Neurotoxicity of prion peptides mimicking the central domain of the cellular prion protein

The physiological functions of PrP(C) remain enigmatic, but the central domain, comprising highly conserved regions of the protein may play an important role. Indeed, a large number of studies indicate that synthetic peptides containing residues 106-126 (CR) located in the central domain (CD, 95-133) of PrP(C) are neurotoxic. The central domain comprises two chemically distinct subdomains, the charge cluster (CC, 95-110) and a hydrophobic region (HR, 112-133). The aim of the present study was to establish the individual cytotoxicity of CC, HR and CD. Our results show that only the CD peptide is neurotoxic. Biochemical, Transmission Electron Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy experiments demonstrated that the CD peptide is able to activate caspase-3 and disrupt the cell membrane, leading to cell death

A DFT study of addition reaction between fragment ion (CH2) units and fullerene (C60) molecule

The theoretical study of the interaction between CH2 and fullerene (C60) suggests the existence of an addition reaction mechanism; this feature is studied by applying an analysis of electronic properties. Several different effects are evident in this interaction as a consequence of the particular electronic transfer which occurs during the procedure. The addition or insertion of the methylene group results in a process, where the inclusion of CH2 into a fullerene bond produces the formation of several geometric deformations. A simulation of these procedures was carried out, taking advantage of the dynamic semi-classical Born-Oppenheimer approximation. Dynamic aspects were analyzed at different speeds, for the interaction between the CH2 group and the two bonds: CC (6, 6) and CC (6, 5) respectively on the fullerene (C60) rings. All calculations which involved electrons employed DFT as well as exchange and functional correlation. The results indicate a tendency for the CH2 fragment to attack the CC (6, 5) bond