17 research outputs found

    Symbiosis at its limits: ecophysiological consequences of lichenization to the genus Prasiola in Antarctica

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    Lichens represent a symbiotic relationship between at least one fungal and one photosynthetic partner. The association between the lichen-forming fungus Mastodia tessellata (Verrucariaceae) and different species of Prasiola (Trebouxiophyceae) has an amphipolar distribution and represents a unique case study for the understanding of lichen symbiosis because of the macroalgal nature of the photobiont, the flexibility of the symbiotic interaction and the co-existence of free-living and lichenized forms in the same microenvironment. In this context, we aimed to (1) characterize the photosynthetic performance of co-occurring populations of free-living and lichenized Prasiola and (2) assess the effect of the symbiosis on water relations in Prasiola, including its tolerance of desiccation and its survival and performance under sub-zero temperatures

    Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

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    PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

    Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

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    PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

    Los nuevos movimientos religiosos en Cuba

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    El equipo multidisciplinario que conforma el Departamento de Estudios Sociorreligiosos, del Centro de Investigaciones Psicológicas y Sociológicas, y colaboradores, ponen a disposición de estudiosos, investigadores, académicos, religiosos e interesados en la temática, tres años de trabajo investigativo para lograr un acercamiento a algunas de las variaciones que se han operado en el campo religioso cubano en lo que va de siglo XXI. Aunque el resultado de la investigación que da pie a esta obra se centra, esencialmente, en el surgimiento y desarrollo de los nuevos movimientos religiosos vinculados al escenario protestante, la ola de transformaciones se ha desarrollado de un modo más o menos profundo en todas las expresiones religiosas en el país, a lo que se hace alusión en el texto, con la finalidad de mostrar un abanico más acabado y abarcador del contexto religioso nacional

    [18F]Amylovis as a potential PET probe for β-Amyloid plaque: synthesis, in silico, in vitro and in vivo evaluations

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    [Background] Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Neuroimaging methods have widened the horizons for AD diagnosis and therapy. The goals of this work are the synthesis of 2-(3-fluoropropyl)-6-methoxynaphthalene (5) and its [18F]-radiolabeled counterpart ([18F]Amylovis), the in silico and in vitro comparative evaluations of [18F]Amylovis and [11C]Pittsburg compound B (PIB) and the in vivo preclinical evaluation of [18F]Amylovis in transgenic and wild mice. [Methods] Iron-catalysis cross coupling reaction, followed by fluorination and radiofluorination steps were carried out to obtain 5 and 18F-Amylovis. Protein/Aß plaques binding, biodistribution, PET/CT Imaging and immunohistochemical studies were conducted in healthy/transgenic mice. [Results] The synthesis of 5 was successful obtained. Comparative in silico studies predicting that 5 should have affinity to the Aβ-peptide, mainly through π-π interactions. According to a dynamic simulation study the ligand-Aβ peptide complexes are stable in simulation-time (ΔG = -5.31 kcal/mol). [18F]Amylovis was obtained with satisfactory yield, high radiochemical purity and specific activity. The [18F]Amylovis log Poct/PBS value suggests its potential ability for crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB). According to in vitro assays, [18F]Amylovis has an adequate stability in time. Higher affinity to Aβ plaques were found for [18F]Amylovis (Kd 0.16 nmol/L) than PIB (Kd 8.86 nmol/L) in brain serial sections of 3xTg-AD mice. Biodistribution in healthy mice showed that [18F]Amylovis crosses the BBB with rapid uptake (7 %ID/g at 5 min) and good washout (0.11±0.03 %ID/g at 60 min). Comparative PET dynamic studies of [18F]Amylovis in healthy and transgenic APPSwe/PS1dE9 mice, revealed a significant high uptake in the mice model. [Conclusion] The in silico, in vitro and in vivo results justify that [18F]Amylovis should be studied as a promissory PET imaging agent to detect the presence of Aβ senile plaques.This project was sponsored by Fondo Financiero de Ciencia e Innovación (FONCI) of Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment of Cuba (CITMA) Also, the present work was supported by the project I-LINK+ 0965 of the Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Spain, and Cuba's National Science and Technology Program (PNCT, 31200).Peer reviewe
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