Quick Analysis of Organic Amendments via Portable X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry

The determination of heavy metals in soils and organic amendments, such as compost, manure, biofertilizer, and sludge, generally involves the digestion of samples with aqua regia, and the determination of those in the solution using various techniques. Portable X-ray fluorescence (PXRF) has many advantages in relation to traditional analytical techniques. However, PXRF determines the total elemental content and, until now, its use for the analysis of organic amendments has been limited. The objective of this work is the calibration of a PXRF instrument to determine the aqua regia-soluble elemental contents directly in solid samples of organic amendments. Our proposal will avoid the digestion step and the use of other laboratory techniques. Using a training set of samples, calibration functions were obtained that allow the determination of the aqua regia-soluble contents from the PXRF readings of total contents. The calibration functions (obtained by multiple linear regression) allowed the quantitative determination of the aqua regia-soluble contents of Fe, K, P, S, Zn, Cu, Pb, Sr, Cr, and Mn, as well as the organic matter content and a semi-quantitative assessment of Al, Ca, V, Ba, Ni, and As contents. The readings of Si, Fe, Al, Ca, K, or S were used as correction factors, indicating that the calibrations functions found are truly based on the chemical composition of the sample matrix. This study will allow a fast, cheap, and reliable field analysis of organic amendments and of other biomass-based materials.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, and the European Regional Development Fund, European Union, (AEI/FEDER, UE), grant number CGL2016-78937-R

La formetría aplicada a las deformidades de la columna.

La forma de la espalda es un factor importante en la evaluación clínica de varias afecciones de la columna, en particular de la escoliosis. Se describe un método de análisis de la forma de la superficie de la espalda que fue ideado para conocer la mayoría de los parámetros necesarios para evaluar el progreso de la enfermedad en tanto afecte a la forma del cuerpo. La medición de la forma de la superficie de la espalda y de las marcas anatómicas manuales se analizan a través de un sistema de ordenador-monitor en el que se escanea el plano de luz incidente sobre la espalda y desde topografía moiré. Las marcas anatómicas se llevan a cabo para definir los planos de referencia desde los cuales se comparan sucesivos análisis. Este método se emplea para estimar los ángulos de las vértebras límites y los ángulos de Cobb. Las secciones laterales muestran la cifosis y lordosis. Para los resultados se han llevado a cabo correlaciones de la asimetría lateral de la forma de la superficie con el ángulo de Cobb medido mediante radiografía. Las mediciones se llevaron a cabo en tres grupos de pacientes (47 pacientes en total). El rango osciló entre r=0.66 a r=0.88, para una p<0.001. El análisis de los resultados podría reducir en un futuro los exámenes con rayos X en el evolutivo, por lo evidenciado cuantitativamente y con inocuidad total tanto en la asimetría lateral como en la deformidad en el plano transverso.Peer Reviewe

Evaluation and optimization of the Sysmex UF1000i system for the screening of urinary tract infection in primary health care elderly patients

Objective Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a common problem in the elderly population. Urine culture is still considered the "gold standard" to diagnose infection in this population. However, urine cultures are laborious and costly, and most samples will yield no growth. Methods An evaluation was made of the Sysmex UF-1000i flow cytometer as a screening tool for UTI in an elderly population older than 65 years who lived in the community, using 346 urine samples submitted for culture. Results The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis showed a significant difference (P < 0.01) between 0.98 bacteria area under the curve value and 0.82 of white blood cells (WBC). The combination of both counts for screening did not show any improvement in specificity or sensitivity. According to our data, the use of a single cut-off point of 200 bacteria/μL is suggested, in which the sensitivity and specificity were 99.11% and 91.59%, respectively, with a NPV of 99.49%. Moreover, this cut-off value could avoid 60.24% of the samples to be cultured, with a minimal false negative results rate of 0.87%. Conclusions The stratification of age groups stratification helps in selecting a more adjusted Sysmex UF1000i cut-off limit, leading to an improvement in the screening parameters that would imply a better management of these infections, as well as a high reduction in the workload and cost savings

Abordaje transvasto mínimamente invasivo versus abordaje parapatelar medial convencional en la artroplastia total de rodilla en pacientes con gonartrosis: estudio prospectivo comparativo no randomizado

Objetivos: valorar y comparar los resultados a corto plazo de la artroplastia total de rodilla realizada mediante dos vías de abordaje. Material y métodos: estudio prospectivo comparativo que compara abordaje parapatelar medial (24 pacientes) y transvasto mínimamente invasivo (25 pacientes) en artroplastia total de rodilla. Se incluyeron pacientes con gonartrosis grado IV de la clasificación de Kellgren-Lawrence y se excluyeron aquellos menores de 50 años, deformidad en varo (> 15º) o valgo (> 10º), artrosis postraumática, artritis reumatoide, cirugías de revisión, osteotomías correctoras previas, IMC > 40 kg/m2, infección activa local o sistémica y/o deterioro mental. Resultados: se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en dolor del primer y segundo día postoperatorios a favor del abordaje mínimamente invasivo (1º día: 3,8 ± 2,5 vs. 6,7 ± 2,1; p< 0,001. 2º día: 3 ± 2,1 vs. 6 ± 2; p< 0,001). Conclusiones: no existen diferencias relevantes entre ambos abordajes, por lo que se recomienda la utilización del abordaje con el que el cirujano se encuentre más cómodo y familiarizadoAim: Assess and compare short-term outcomes of total knee arthroplasty performed using two surgical approaches. Material and methods: a prospective study with 49 patients comparing medial parapatellar approach (24 patients) and minimally invasive trans-vastus access (25 patients) in total knee replacement. The patients included suffered knee osteoarthritis grade IV the Kellgren-Lawrence’s classification. Exclusion criteria were age under 50 years, large axial deformity (varus deformity > 15° or valgus > 10°), posttraumatic osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, revision surgeries, previous osteotomies, BMI> 40 kg/m2 and of course local or systemic active infection and mental impairment. Results: statistically significant differences were found for pain in first and second postoperative days for the minimally invasive approach (1st day: 3.8 ± 2.5 vs. 6.7 ± 2.1; p <0.001. 2nd day: 3 ± 2.1 vs. 6 ± 2; p <0.001). Conclusions: there are not significant differences between mini and standard approaches in knee replacement, so decision about which access to use in knee reconstruction surgery depends on surgeon’s preferences

Enfermedades congénitas e identificación

X Congreso Nacional de Paleopatología. Univesidad Autónoma de Madrid, septiembre de 200

Paleopatología dental de siete cabezas egipcias momificadas del Museo de Antropología Forense de la Univ. Complutense de Madrid

X Congreso Nacional de Paleopatología. Univesidad Autónoma de Madrid, septiembre de 200

Application of a Microalgal Peptide-Enriched Extract as Media Component in E. coli Culture

This study evaluated the feasibility of applying a microalgal peptide-enriched extract, obtained through a sequential alkaline and enzymatic method, as a fundamental media component in Escherichia coli culture. The results demonstrated that the extract is viable as the primary nutrient source for E. coli cultures (wild type), even as a complete substitute for the widely used Luria-Bertani (LB) medium, using an extract dilution of 1:3. Its application in a proportion carbon limiting (dilution 1:7), with glycerol supplementation at the early stationary phase, improved the nutrient use efficiency and controlled the undesirable acetate production. Furthermore, this last strategy applied in an E. coli mutant (M4-Delta iclR) enhanced the production of succinate by 67.3% compared with the M9 medium. The innovative approach proposed in this study opens a wide range of applications and studies related to the production of bio-compounds through diverse microorganisms

Pyrogenic organic matter from palaeo-fires during the Holocene: A case study in a sequence of buried soils at the Central Ebro Basin (NE Spain)

We studied the fire record and its environmental consequences during the Holocene in the Central Ebro Basin. This region is very sensitive to environmental changes due to its semiarid conditions, lithological features and a continuous human presence during the past 6000 years. The study area is a 6 m buried sequence of polycyclic soils developed approximately 9500 years ago that is exceptionally well preserved and encompasses four sedimentary units. The content and size distribution of macroscopic charcoal fragments were determined throughout the soil sequence and the analysis of the composition of charcoal, litter and sediments via analytical pyrolysis (Py-GC/MS). The high amount of charcoal fragments recovered in most horizons highlights the fire frequencies since the beginning of the Neolithic, most of which were probably of anthropogenic origin. In some soil horizons where charcoal was not found, we detected a distribution pattern of lipid compounds that could be related to biomass burning. On the other hand, the low number of pyrolysates in the charcoal could be attributed to high-intensity fires. No clear pattern was found in the composition of pyrolysates related to the age of sediments or vegetation type. The most ancient soil (Unit 1) was the richest in charcoal content and contains a higher proportion of larger fragments (>4 mm), which is consistent with the burning of a relatively dense vegetation cover. This buried soil has been preserved in situ, probably due to the accumulation of sedimentary materials because of a high-intensity fire. In addition, the pyrogenic C in this soil has some plant markers that could indicate a low degree of transformation. In Units 2–4, both the amount of charcoals and the proportions of macrofragments >4 mm are lower than those in Unit 1, which coincides with a more open forest and the presence of shrubs and herbs. The preservation of this site is key to continuing with studies that contribute to a better assessment of the consequences of future disturbances, such as landscape transformation and climate change

Effect of chestnut flour and probiotic microorganism on the functionality of dry-cured meat sausages

The meat industry has made efforts to develop meat and meat products with functional ingredients to prevent the risk of disease and to promote health conditions. Therefore, the aim of the present work was to study the combined use of the probiotic strain, Lactobacillus plantarum, and potential prebiotic chestnut flour in Spanish dry-cured sausage (Longaniza de Pascua). Chestnut flour and the probiotic strain improved LAB counts on Longaniza de Pascua without modifying product flavour. Chestnut flour had a significant effect on pH decrease and residual nitrite values, but lipid oxidation values were increased. The symbiotic meat product could be considered a healthy matrix as a probiotic carrier.Fil: Sirini, Noelí Estefanía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Roldán, A.. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; EspañaFil: Lucas González, R.. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; EspañaFil: Fernández López, J.. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; EspañaFil: Viuda Martos, M.. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; EspañaFil: Pérez Álvarez, J.A.. Universidad de Miguel Hernández; EspañaFil: Frizzo, Laureano Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Rosmini, Marcelo Raul. Universidad Nacional del Litoral; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin