Mnemosyne. Un Trauerspiel moderno da Amburgo. In bianco e nero

Warburg’s inquiry does not oppose Renaissance to Baroque; on the contrary the Renaissance shows here the features of those melancholy which for Benjamin belongs to the seventeen-century “Trauerspiel”. The melancholy constellation of the past, the mirror in which – both for Benjamin and for Warburg – actuality looks at itself, is enlightened in Benjamin by a redemption spark that is denied to Warburg. The set of photographic fragments to which, like a modern “Trauerspiel”, the “Mnemosyne Atlas” reduces the world does’t admit indeed any transcendence

Under a Starry Vault. Warburg, Jung and the Renaissance of Ancient Paganisms at the Beginning of the 20th Century

The paper tackles the controversial question of the affinities between the work of Aby Warburg and Carl Gustav Jung. Instead of focussing her interest exclusively on the concepts of collective memory and primordial images, though, the author critically compares the different ways Warburg and Jung looked at the renaissance of ancient practices of Paganism at the beginning of the Twentieth century, and questions the extent to which the cultural crisis heralded by Modernity, and the challenges brought about by secularisation influenced their reading of the revivals

Effects of weight loss while feeding a moderate-protein, high-fiber diet on body composition, voluntary physical activity, and blood metabolite profiles in overweight cats

Obesity is a major nutritional disorder in cats and is associated with several comorbidities and reduced life span. The primary objectives of this study were to determine the effects of feeding a moderate-protein, high-fiber diet on BW loss, voluntary physical activity levels, body composition, and blood metabolite profiles in overweight cats. During a 4-wk baseline period, 8 adult neutered male domestic shorthair cats (mean BW = 7.7±0.4 kg, mean BCS = 7.6/9) were fed to maintain BW. For 18 wk following baseline, food intake was adjusted to allow cats to lose weight at a rate of ~1.5% BW/wk. Cats were group-housed for 20 h/d and individually housed for two, 2-h periods each day for feedings. Daily food intake, twice-weekly BW, and weekly BCS were recorded throughout the study. Voluntary physical activity was measured over a 7-d period at wk 0, 6, 12, and 18 using Actical® activity monitors. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scans were taken at wk 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 to estimate body composition. Overnight fasted blood samples were collected at wk 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 16. The University of Illinois Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee approved all procedures. As expected, mean BW (7.7±0.4 vs. 6.2±0.4 kg) and mean BCS (7.6 vs. 6.0) decreased (P < 0.05) from wk 0 to wk 18. The NRC (2006) maintenance energy requirement (MER) for overweight cats is 130(BWkg0.40). In comparison, the mean MER during baseline in our study was 113(BWkg0.40). Throughout wk 1-4, 5-8, and 9-18, the energy levels to sustain weight loss were 76, 64, and 57% of baseline MER, respectively, demonstrating how restrictive feeding must be for consistent weight loss. Mean fat mass was decreased (P < 0.001) at wk 8, 12, and 16 (2417 , 2097 , and 1810 g, respectively) versus wk 0 (2924 g); therefore, body fat percentage also was decreased (P < 0.05) at wk 8, 12, and 16 (36.8, 34.0, 30.7%, respectively) versus wk 0 (40.9%). Mean lean body mass was lower (P < 0.01) at wk 12 and 16 (3671 and 3664 g, respectively) versus wk 0 (3865 g). Importantly, lean body mass percentage was increased (P < 0.05) at wk 8, 12, and 16 (61.5, 64.4, and 67.6%) versus wk 0 (57.6%). Mean daily activity tended to be higher (P = 0.061) at wk 12 vs. wk 0. The mean light:dark ratio of activity was increased ( P <0.05) at wk 18 vs wk 0, 6, and 12. Except for elevated mean creatinine (P < 0.05) during weight loss, all blood metabolites remained within reference ranges. Mean triglyceride concentrations were decreased (P < 0.05) throughout the weight loss phase. Using non-targeted gas chromatography, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry, a total of 535 named biochemicals were identified, with up to 269 metabolites altered (P- and q- values < 0.05) at any time point. Principal component analysis showed a continual shift in metabolite profile as weight loss progressed. Components 1 and 2 explained 14.3% and 10.3% of the variability, respectively. There was a significant and dramatic reduction of bile acids (cholate; taurocholate; deoxycholate) with weight loss. A reduction in numerous non-esterfied fatty acids (NEFA) and an increase in ketones (acetoacetate; 3-hydroxybutryate) and monoglycerides suggested a shift toward lipolysis and hepatic NEFA oxidation. Decreased markers of inflammation and oxidative stress were indicated by reduced pro-inflammatory oxylipids, eicosanoids, and oxidized biomarkers following weight loss. Mevalonate was decreased (P < 0.05) after wk 8 compared to baseline, which agrees with the reduced bile acids without altering cholesterol concentration. In conclusion, restricted feeding of a moderate-protein, high-fiber diet is a safe and effective means for weight loss in cats, leading to increased physical activity and reduced blood triglycerides. Global metabolomics identified biomarkers of reduced food intake, weight loss, and/or altered metabolism. Based on our data, the current NRC (2006) MER estimates for cats appear to be too high and should be reconsidered

ceftobiprole for the treatment of infective endocarditis a case series

Abstract Objectives Ceftobiprole is a relatively new cephalosporin with broad-spectrum activity and good tolerability. Despite its promising characteristics, to our knowledge, only two case reports, previously published also by some of us, is available concerning its administration for the treatment of infective endocarditis. Hereby we report our experience in this field. Methods All the patients with infective endocarditis treated with ceftobiprole were enrolled. Results 12 cases of endocarditis were treated with ceftobiprole, 11/12 in combination with daptomycin and 1/12 as monotherapy. Gram-positive bacteria were isolated in 12/12 patients; 3 cases were polymicrobial. Cure rate was 83% (10/12 patients). In 9/12 (75%) cases, patients were switched to ceftobiprole following failure of previous antimicrobial regimen. In 3/3 patients in which ceftobiprole was administered because of persistently positive blood culture, bacteraemia clearance was rapidly achieved. Conclusions Ceftobiprole, especially in combination, could be a promising alternative treatment for infective endocarditis

Inteligencia emocional y calidad de vida en período de aislamiento social, preventivo y obligatorio durante la pandemia por COVID-19

Our goal is to describe the levels of the variables Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Quality of Life (QoL) in subjects affected by the context of Social, Preventive and Mandatory Isolation decreed on March 20 in Argentina during the COVID-19 pandemic, evaluate if there are significant relationships between them and analyze if they present differences based on sociodemographic variables such as: age and gender. We worked with a sample made up of 923 female and male people over 18 years of age from the general population. An ad-hoc sociodemographic questionnaire, the Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) instrument, and the Multicultural Quality of Life Index (MQLI) were used for data collection. The sample was contacted online from March 29 to July 6, 2020. The results showed that the correlation between the variable IE and CV was significant. The dimensions of these variables presented weak relationship strength with each other except Emotional Attention that only significantly correlated with a strong link strength with the variables Spiritual Fullness and Social Support as well as with Interpersonal Functioning, this time with moderate link strength. The levels of the CV variable are described as good in most of the subjects in the sample. EI levels are described as adequate for both genders in almost all subscales, presenting a difference for the gender in Emotional Clarity, resulting little for the male and adequate for the female, thus corroborating the hypotheses raised. Regarding the link between the EI and QOL variables based on the sociodemographic variables, significant differences were obtained in groups, being those between 71 and 80 years old, who do not consume psychoactive substances underwritten by a professional, and those who have a recreational containment network who obtained higher scores. In conclusion the results suggest that, although associations were found, longitudinal studies are necessary to consider the different phases of quarantineSe propuso describir los niveles de las variables inteligencia emocional (IE) y calidad de vida (CV) en sujetos afectados por el contexto del aislamiento social, preventivo y obligatorio en Argentina a raíz de la pandemia por COVID-19, evaluar si existen relaciones significativas entre ellas y analizar si presentan diferencias en función de variables sociodemográficas. Se trabajó con una muestra conformada por 923 personas de géneros femenino y masculino, mayores de 18 años, de población general. Para el relevamiento de datos se utilizó un cuestionario sociodemográfico confeccionado ad hoc, la Trait Meta-Mood Scale (TMMS-24) —una escala para evaluar la inteligencia emocional percibida— y el Multicultural Quality of Life Index (MQLI), o índice multicultural de calidad de vida. La muestra fue contactada virtualmente entre el 29 de marzo y el 6 de julio de 2020. Los resultados arrojaron que la correlación entre las variables IE y CV fue significativa. Las dimensiones de dichas variables presentaron una fuerza de relación débil entre sí, exceptuando atención emocional, que correlacionó con una fuerza de vínculo fuerte con plenitud espiritual y apoyo social-emocional, y moderadamente con funcionamiento interpersonal. Los niveles de la variable CV se describen como buenos para la mayoría de los sujetos de la muestra. Los niveles de IE se describen como adecuados para ambos géneros en casi todas las subescalas exceptuando la dimensión claridad emocional, resultando poca para el masculino y adecuada para el femenino. Respecto al vínculo de IE y CV en función de variables sociodemográficas, se obtuvieron diferencias significativas entre grupos; y el grupo etario 71-80 años, quienes no consumen sustancias psicoactivas suscriptas por un profesional y los que poseen una red de contención recreativa obtuvieron mayores puntuaciones. En conclusión, si bien se encontraron asociaciones, los resultados sugieren la necesidad de estudios longitudinales que contemplen las diferentes fases de la cuarenten

D-Dimer as Biomarker for Early Prediction of Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Severe Invasive Infections Due to Streptococcus Pneumoniae and Neisseria Meningitidis

Sepsis is defined as life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to infection; no current clinical measure adequately reflects the concept of dysregulated response. Coagulation plays a pivotal role in the normal response to pathogens (immunothrombosis), thus the evolution toward sepsis-induced coagulopathy could be individuate through coagulation/fibrinolysis-related biomarkers. We focused on the role of D-dimer assessed within 24 h after admission in predicting clinical outcomes in a cohort of 270 patients hospitalized in a 79 months period for meningitis and/or bloodstream infections due to Streptococcus pneumoniae (n = 162) or Neisseria meningitidis (n = 108). Comparisons were performed with unpaired t-test, Mann-Whitney-test or chi-squared-test with continuity correction, as appropriate, and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed with Bayesian model averaging. In-hospital mortality was 14.8% for the overall population, significantly higher in S. pneumoniae than in N. meningitidis patients: 19.1 vs. 8.3%, respectively (p = 0.014). At univariable logistic regression analysis the following variables were significantly associated with in-hospital mortality: pneumococcal etiology, female sex, age, ICU admission, SOFA score, septic shock, MODS, and D-dimer levels. At multivariable analysis D-dimer showed an effect only in N. meningitidis subgroup: as 500 ng/mL of D-dimer increased, the probability of unfavorable outcome increased on average by 4%. Median D-dimer was significantly higher in N. meningitidis than in S. pneumoniae patients (1,314 vs. 1,055 ng/mL, p = 0.009). For N. meningitidis in-hospital mortality was 0% for D-dimer 7,000 ng/mL. Kaplan-Meier analysis of in-hospital mortality showed for N. meningitidis infections a statistically significant difference for D-dimer >7,000 ng/mL compared to values <500 ng/mL (p = 0.021) and 500\u20133,000 ng/mL (p = 0.002). For S. pneumoniae the mortality risk resulted always high, over 10%, irrespective by D-dimer values. In conclusion, D-dimer is rapid to be obtained, at low cost and available everywhere, and can help stratify the risk of in-hospital mortality and complications in patients with invasive infections due to N. meningitidis: D-dimer <500 ng/mL excludes any further complications, and a cut-off of 7,000 ng/mL seems able to predict a significantly increased mortality risk from much <10% to over 25%

Dendrodendritic synapses in the mouse olfactory bulb external plexiform layer

Odor information relayed by olfactory bulb projection neurons, mitral and tufted cells (M/T), is modulated by pairs of reciprocal dendrodendritic synaptic circuits in the external plexiform layer (EPL). Interneurons, which are accounted for largely by granule cells, receive depolarizing input from M/T dendrites and in turn inhibit current spread in M/T dendrites via hyperpolarizing reciprocal dendrodendritic synapses. Because the location of dendrodendritic synapses may significantly affect the cascade of odor information, we assessed synaptic properties and density within sublaminae of the EPL and along the length of M/T secondary dendrites. In electron micrographs the M/T to granule cell synapse appeared to predominate and was equivalent in both the outer and inner EPL. However, the dendrodendritic synapses from granule cell spines onto M/T dendrites were more prevalent in the outer EPL. In contrast, individual gephyrin-immunoreactive (IR) puncta, a postsynaptic scaffolding protein at inhibitory synapses used here as a proxy for the granule to M/T dendritic synapse was equally distributed throughout the EPL. Of significance to the organization of intrabulbar circuits, gephyrin-IR synapses are not uniformly distributed along M/T secondary dendrites. Synaptic density, expressed as a function of surface area, increases distal to the cell body. Furthermore, the distributions of gephyrin-IR puncta are heterogeneous and appear as clusters along the length of the M/T dendrites. Consistent with computational models, our data suggest that temporal coding in M/T cells is achieved by precisely located inhibitory input and that distance from the soma is compensated for by an increase in synaptic density.Fil: Bartel, Dianna L.. University Of Yale. School Of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Rela, Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Hsieh, Lawrence. University Of Yale. School Of Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Greer, Charles A. . University Of Yale. School Of Medicine; Estados Unido