Using Sewage-Sludge Ash as Filler in Bituminous Mixes

In this study, the behavior of bituminous mixes made with sewage sludge ash (SSA) as mineral filler was investigated. The behavior of these mixes was evaluated with the Cantabro, indirect tensile strength, water sensitivity, permanent deformation, and resilient modulus tests. The results show that SSA waste may be used in bituminous mixes at approximately 2–3% weight percent, maintaining adequate levels of cohesion and adhesion in the mixtures, which is comparable to mixtures made with active fillers such as hydrated lime and cement. Moreover, its use does not increase permanent deformations. However, the resilient modulus test gave slightly lower results for mixes made with SSA than for mixtures made with other fillers. It may be concluded that SSA waste may be used as a filler for bituminous mixes with better results than for mixes made with limestone fillers and with similar results for mixes made with other fillers such as hydrated lime and cement.This work has been financed by the University of Alicante through projects VIGROB-256 and GRE10-28 and by the Valencian Provincial government through Project GV/2012/113

Susceptibilidad a movimientos de ladera inducidos por terremotos en Alcoy (Alicante) y sectores adyacentes

We present an approach developed to estimate the seismically-induced landslide susceptibility of the Alcoy (Alicante) area. It combines the Newmark's method of evaluation of slope stability with a seismic hazard study o f the region through a GIS. The obtained results show that the distribution of susceptible areas is closely related to the position of river valleys, specially the Molinar and Serpis rivers. Due to Alcoy city has developed around these rivers, some zones of the city show moderate to high susceptibility, which is in accordance with historical data which describe the occurrence of seismically-induced landslides along these valleys. The results emphasize areas of susceptibility that actually are being occupied, thus pointing out the necessity of incorporating this information into the land use planning.Este trabajo ha sido financiado por el proyecto CTI-DIB/2002/177

Guidelines for biomarker testing in advanced colorectal carcinoma. A National Consensus of the Spanish Society of Pathology and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology

Este documento de consenso nace como una iniciativa conjunta de la Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica (SEAP) y de la Sociedad Española de Oncología Médica (SEOM) y propone recomendaciones diagnósticas y terapéuticas para el manejo del paciente con cáncer colorrectal (CCR) hereditario, localizado y avanzado basadas en la evidencia científica que existe en la actualidad sobre el uso de biomarcadores. Por tanto, este documento supone una oportunidad para mejorar la eficiencia de la actividad asistencial y la utilización de recursos, lo que redundará en un beneficio para estos pacientes. Con los datos disponibles en la actualidad, este grupo de expertos recomienda que en los pacientes con CCR localizado se determine la inestabilidad de microsatélites, ya que es un factor predictivo relevante para decidir el tratamiento adyuvante. Sin embargo, aunque las firmas de expresión genética ColoPrint® y Oncotype Dx® han demostrado tener valor pronóstico, no existe todavía consenso sobre su uso en la práctica clínica. En cuanto al CCR avanzado, la determinación del estado mutacional de KRAS es indispensable antes de administrar un tratamiento con anti-receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico (EGFR), como cetuximab y panitumumab. Sin embargo, la determinación de otros biomarcadores, como las mutaciones de BRAF, EGFR, PI3K y PTEN, no debe llevarse a cabo de forma rutinaria, ya que hoy por hoy no influye en la planificación del tratamiento. Otros aspectos importantes que incluye son los requisitos organizativos y los controles de calidad que deben existir para la adecuada determinación de estos biomarcadores, así como las implicaciones legales que se deben tener en cuenta

Prevalence of Lynch Syndrome among Patients with Newly Diagnosed Endometrial Cancers

Background: Lynch syndrome (LS) is a hereditary condition that increases the risk for endometrial and other cancers. The identification of endometrial cancer (EC) patients with LS has the potential to influence life-saving interventions. We aimed to study the prevalence of LS among EC patients in our population. Methods: Universal screening for LS was applied for a consecutive series EC. Tumor testing using microsatellite instability (MSI), immunohistochemistry (IHC) for mismatch-repair (MMR) protein expression and MLH1-methylation analysis, when required, was used to select LS-suspicious cases. Sequencing of corresponding MMR genes was performed. Results: One hundred and seventy-three EC (average age, 63 years) were screened. Sixty-one patients (35%) had abnormal IHC or MSI results. After MLH1 methylation analysis, 27 cases were considered suspicious of LS. From these, 22 were contacted and referred for genetic counseling. Nineteen pursued genetic testing and eight were diagnosed of LS. Mutations were more frequent in younger patients (<50 yrs). Three cases had either intact IHC or MSS and reinforce the need of implement the EC screening with both techniques. Conclusion: The prevalence of LS among EC patients was 4.6% (8/173); with a predictive frequency of 6.6% in the Spanish population. Universal screening of EC for LS is recommended.This study was supported by Conselleria Sanidad Comunidad Valenciana, Spain (AP/177/10) (http://www.san.gva.es/); Biomedical Research Foundations of the Alicante University Hospital (PI14/2006 and NI02/2011) (http://www.dep19.san.gva.es/); and the Elche University Hospital, Spain (FIBElx-CO11/03) (http://www.dep20.san.gva.es/)

Case-control study for colorectal cancer genetic susceptibility in EPICOLON: previously identified variants and mucins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in developed countries. Familial aggregation in CRC is also important outside syndromic forms and, in this case, a polygenic model with several common low-penetrance alleles contributing to CRC genetic predisposition could be hypothesized. Mucins and GALNTs (N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase) are interesting candidates for CRC genetic susceptibility and have not been previously evaluated. We present results for ten genetic variants linked to CRC risk in previous studies (previously identified category) and 18 selected variants from the mucin gene family in a case-control association study from the Spanish EPICOLON consortium.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CRC cases and matched controls were from EPICOLON, a prospective, multicenter, nationwide Spanish initiative, comprised of two independent stages. Stage 1 corresponded to 515 CRC cases and 515 controls, whereas stage 2 consisted of 901 CRC cases and 909 controls. Also, an independent cohort of 549 CRC cases and 599 controls outside EPICOLON was available for additional replication. Genotyping was performed for ten previously identified SNPs in <it>ADH1C</it>, <it>APC</it>, <it>CCDN1</it>, <it>IL6</it>, <it>IL8</it>, <it>IRS1</it>, <it>MTHFR</it>, <it>PPARG</it>, <it>VDR </it>and <it>ARL11</it>, and 18 selected variants in the mucin gene family.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>None of the 28 SNPs analyzed in our study was found to be associated with CRC risk. Although four SNPs were significant with a <it>P</it>-value < 0.05 in EPICOLON stage 1 [rs698 in <it>ADH1C </it>(OR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.06-2.50, <it>P</it>-value = 0.02, recessive), rs1800795 in <it>IL6 </it>(OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.10-2.37, <it>P</it>-value = 0.01, recessive), rs3803185 in <it>ARL11 </it>(OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.17-2.15, <it>P</it>-value = 0.007, codominant), and rs2102302 in <it>GALNTL2 </it>(OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.00-1.44, <it>P</it>-value = 0.04, log-additive 0, 1, 2 alleles], only rs3803185 achieved statistical significance in EPICOLON stage 2 (OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.06-1.69, <it>P</it>-value = 0.01, recessive). In the joint analysis for both stages, results were only significant for rs3803185 (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.00-1.25, <it>P</it>-value = 0.04, log-additive 0, 1, 2 alleles) and borderline significant for rs698 and rs2102302. The rs3803185 variant was not significantly associated with CRC risk in an external cohort (MCC-Spain), but it still showed some borderline significance in the pooled analysis of both cohorts (OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.98-1.18, <it>P</it>-value = 0.09, log-additive 0, 1, 2 alleles).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>ARL11</it>, <it>ADH1C</it>, <it>GALNTL2 </it>and <it>IL6 </it>genetic variants may have an effect on CRC risk. Further validation and meta-analyses should be undertaken in larger CRC studies.</p

Risk of Cancer in Cases of Suspected Lynch Syndrome Without Germline Mutation

Background & Aims: Colorectal cancers (CRCs) with microsatellite instability (MSI) and a mismatch repair (MMR) immunohistochemical deficit without hypermethylation of the MLH1 promoter are likely to be caused by Lynch syndrome. Some patients with these cancers have not been found to have pathogenic germline mutations and are considered to have Lynch-like syndrome (LLS). The aim of this study was to determine the risk of cancer in families of patients with LLS. Methods: We studied a population-based cohort of 1705 consecutive patients, performing MSI tests and immunohistochemical analyses of MMR proteins. Patients were diagnosed with Lynch syndrome when they were found to have pathogenic germline mutations. Patients with MSI and loss of MSH2 and/or MSH6 expression, isolated loss of PMS2 or loss of MLH1 without MLH1 promoter hypermethylation, and no pathogenic mutation were considered to have LLS. The clinical characteristics of patients and the age- and sex-adjusted standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of cancer in families were compared between groups. Results: The incidence of CRC was significantly lower in families of patients with LLS than in families with confirmed cases of Lynch syndrome (SIR for Lynch syndrome, 6.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.58–9.54; SIR for LLS, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.16–3.56; P < .001). However, the incidence of CRC was higher in families of patients with LLS than in families with sporadic CRC (SIR for sporadic CRC, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.27–0.79; P < .001). Conclusions: The risk of cancer in families with LLS is lower that of families with Lynch syndrome but higher than that of families with sporadic CRC. These results confirm the need for special screening and surveillance strategies for these patients and their relatives.This work was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI-080726, INT-09/208, and PI11/026030), the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria/FEDER (PS09/02368, 10/00384, 10/00918, 11/00219, and 11/00681), Fundació Olga Torres (CRP) and FP7 CHIBCHA Consortium (SCB and ACar), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (SAF2010-19273), and Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (2009 SGR 849). SCB is supported by a contract from the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (CP03-0070). CIBERER and CIBERehd are funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Una evaluación de las temperaturas medias seculares durante el último milenio a partir de las desviaciones del gradiente geotérmico

Mediante una ligera modificación de las ecuaciones propuestas por Cermak (1971), con la que se filtra el «ruido de fondo» en las desviaciones de los gradientes, se determinan las temperaturas medias seculares entre los siglos XI y XIX, inclusives, a partir de los registros de Birch (1948) en las minas del Calumet (Illinois). Se detecta el Pequeño Óptimo Climático en el siglo XII y la culminación de la Pequeña Edad del Hielo en el XIV. Algunas diferencias con los resultados obtenidos por Cermak para Kapuskasing (Canadá) pueden interpretarse en función del cambio de latitud y del índice de continentalidad entre las estaciones de registro

Eastern end of the Cádiz-Alicante fault system

Se estudia la incidencia del sistema de fractura Cádiz-Alicante sobre la morfología del sector comprendido entre el Cabo de las Huertas y el Sur de Torrevieja. El deslizamiento del bloque meridional hacia el SW, iniciado en el Mioceno y activo hasta hoy, ha creado un sistema de fosas y horsts en parte ocultos por una cobertera en la que se desarrollan pliegues de consolidación y gravitacionales que hasta la fecha habían sido interpretados como pruebas de una compresión en sentido Norte-Sur.We are studying the «Cádiz-Alicante Fault System» incidence about the morphology of the sector between the Cabo de las Huertas and the Suth of Torrevieja. The slip of the southern block towards the SW, initiated in the Upper Miocene an active until today, has created a system of grabens and horsts in part hidden by a watchcare in which develops gravitational folds that until this date they had been interpreted like evidence of a North South orientated compression