Magnetic Field as a Characterization of Wide and Narrow Spaces in a Real Challenging Scenario Using Dynamic Time Warping

Ponencia presentada en 2018 International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation (IPIN), 24-27 Sept. 2018This paper presents a study of indoor positioning in public zones of the Parc Taulí Hospital in Sabadell. It is a challenging scenario because: (1) it combines wide spaces with middle sized and narrow spaces; (2) it is a shielded zone where no signals are available, and therefore, no WiFi signal can be used for positioning; and (3) it is not possible to deploy beacons for positioning. The goal of this work is to test whether it is possible to get indoor positioning in a real and challenging scenario by using only the magnetic field. The positioning precision requires to locate the part of the hospital where the user is. The proposed solution defines “virtual corridors” to improve positioning in wide areas. To validate the work, magnetic field data have been recorded from the scenario, using different smartphones and by different persons. The obtained magnetic data curves have been compared by using dynamic time warping distance. Results show that it is possible to characterize every path with the magnetic field. The main contributions of the present paper are: (1) defining “virtual corridors” as a way to position using magnetic field in 2D spaces; and (2) showing that even in wide spaces, like the hall of a hospital, it is possible to find magnetic anomalies linked to positions

Factores predictivos de fenómeno de Raynaud secundario en una primera visita

Introducción. El fenómeno de Raynaud es uno de los principales motivos de consulta en una unidad de enfermedades autoinmunes. Las zonas típicamente afectadas son los dedos de las manos y de los pies. La forma de presentación clásica consiste en cambios en la coloración de los dedos en tres fases secuenciales: palidez, cianosis y eritema. La mayoría son de origen primario. Sin embargo, en algunos casos este fenómeno es secundario a una enfermedad sistémica, generalmente de origen autoinmune, como la esclerodermia. Hipótesis y objetivos. Existen ciertos datos clínicos en los pacientes diagnosticados de fenómeno de Raynaud que pueden hacernos sospechar de enfermedad secundaria ya en una primera visita médica especializada. El objetivo principal del estudio consiste en definir alguno de estos factores predictivos de Raynaud secundario. Material y métodos. Estudio analítico, observacional, longitudinal y retrospectivo. Se recogen pacientes de la base de datos de la Unidad de Enfermedades Autoinmunes Sistémicas del servicio de Medicina Interna del H.U. Miguel Servet de Zaragoza atendidos en una primera visita por fenómeno de Raynaud a estudio, durante los años 2016, 2017 y 2018. Las variables estudiadas como posibles predictores de Raynaud secundario son: artralgias o artritis, “dedo en salchicha”, afectación de pies, afectación del pulgar, úlceras digitales, esclerodactilia, afectación cutánea, xerostomía o xeroftalmia y “livedo reticularis”. Los datos se analizaron en el programa estadístico SPSS Statistics. Resultados. Las variables que demostraron significación estadísticas entre los dos grupos de Raynaud fueron el “dedo en salchicha” (p=0.044), las úlceras digitales (p=0.001) y la esclerodactilia (p=0.00). Conclusiones. El “dedo en salchicha”, la esclerodactilia y las úlceras digitales constituyen factores predictivos de Raynaud secundario.<br /

Escoliosis congénitas causadas por hemivertebras

Presentamos un estudio retrospectivo de 26 pacientes diagnosticados de escoliosis congénitas causadas por hemivertebras, liemos analizado la evolución de las curvas según el tipo de hemivértebra, su localización y el tratamiento recibido. Se han obtenido los peores resultados en las niñas, cuando el diagnóstico se realizó después de los 10 años de edad, en las curvas localizadas en la región toracolumbar, en las hemivértebras múltiples y, dentro de ellas, en las unilaterales segmentadas no adyacentes y en los pacientes tratados ortopédicamente.A retrospective study of 26 patients with congenital scoliosis due to hemivertebra was conducted. Curve progression was analysed regarding the type of hemivertebra, its localization, and the applied treatment. The worst results were found in girls, in cases who were diagnosed with more than to years of age, in thoraco-lumbar curves, in multiple hemivertebra, especially in non-adjacent segmented unilateral hemivertebra and, finally, in patients treated with orthopaedic methods

Multiphoton imaging of melanoma 3D models with plasmonic nanocapsules

We report the synthesis of plasmonic nanocapsules and the cellular responses they induce in 3D melanoma models for their perspective use as a photothermal therapeutic agent. The wall of the nanocapsules is composed of polyelectrolytes. The inner part is functionalized with discrete gold nanoislands. The cavity of the nanocapsules contains a fluorescent payload to show their ability for loading a cargo. The nanocapsules exhibit simultaneous two-photon luminescent, fluorescent properties and X-ray contrasting ability. The average fluorescence lifetime (τ) of the nanocapsules measured with FLIM (0.3 ns) is maintained regardless of the intracellular environment, thus proving their abilities for bioimaging of models such as 3D spheroids with a complex architecture. Their multimodal imaging properties are exploited for the first time to study tumorspheres cellular responses exposed to the nanocapsules. Specifically, we studied cellular uptake, toxicity, intracellular fate, generation of reactive oxygen species, and effect on the levels of hypoxia by using multi-photon and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Because of the high X-ray attenuation and atomic number of the gold nanostructure, we imaged the nanocapsule-cell interactions without processing the sample. We confirmed maintenance of the nanocapsules’ geometry in the intracellular milieu with no impairment of the cellular ultrastructure. Furthermore, we observed the lack of cellular toxicity and no alteration in oxygen or reactive oxygen species levels. These results in 3D melanoma models contribute to the development of these nanocapsules for their exploitation in future applications as agents for imaging-guided photothermal therapy. Statement of Significance: The novelty of the work is that our plasmonic nanocapsules are multimodal. They are responsive to X-ray and to multiphoton and single-photon excitation. This allowed us to study their interaction with 2D and 3D cellular structures and specifically to obtain information on tumor cell parameters such as hypoxia, reactive oxygen species, and toxicity. These nanocapsules will be further validated as imaging-guided photothermal probe

Novel anti-invasive properties of a Fascin1 inhibitor on colorectal cancer cells

Tumor invasion and metastasis involve processes in which actin cytoskeleton rearrangement induced by Fascin1 plays a crucial role. Indeed, Fascin1 has been found overexpressed in tumors with worse prognosis. Migrastatin and its analogues target Fascin1 and inhibit its activity. However, there is need for novel and smaller Fascin1 inhibitors. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of compound G2 in colorectal cancer cell lines and compare it to migrastatin in in vitro and in vivo assays. Molecular modeling, actin-bundling, cell viability, inmunofluorescence, migration, and invasion assays were carried out in order to test anti-migratory and anti-invasive properties of compound G2. In addition, the in vivo effect of compound G2 was evaluated in a zebrafish model of invasion. HCT-116 cells exhibited the highest Fascin1 expression from eight tested colorectal cancer cell lines. Compound G2 showed important inhibitory effects on actin bundling, filopodia formation, migration, and invasion in different cell lines. Moreover, compound G2 treatment resulted in significant reduction of invasion of DLD-1 overexpressing Fascin1 and HCT-116 in zebrafish larvae xenografts; this effect being less evident in Fascin1 known-down HCT-116 cells. This study proves, for the first time, the in vitro and in vivo anti-tumoral activity of compound G2 on colorectal cancer cells and guides to design improved compound G2-based Fascin1 inhibitors. Key messages center dot Fascin is crucial for tumor invasion and metastasis and is overexpressed in bad prognostic tumors. center dot Several adverse tumors overexpress Fascin1 and lack targeted therapy. center dot Anti-fascin G2 is for the first time evaluated in colorectal carcinoma and compared with migrastatin. center dot Filopodia formation, migration activity, and invasion in vitro and in vivo assays were performed. center dot G2 blocks actin structures, migration, and invasion of colorectal cancer cells as fascin-dependent.Peer reviewe

New role of the antidepressant imipramine as a Fascin1 inhibitor in colorectal cancer cells

Colorectal cancer: Antitumor antidepressant The antidepressant drug imipramine can block the activity of a protein that contributes to the progression of certain aggressive tumors. Serrated adenocarcinoma (SAC) is a form of colorectal cancer with a poor prognosis. A key factor in SAC development is the overexpression of the protein fascin1, which promotes the formation of structures that help cancer cells move around, thereby leading to metastasis. Pablo Conesa-Zamora at Santa Lucia University Hospital in Cartagena, Horacio Perez-Sanchez at the Universidad Catolica de Murcia in Guadalupe, Spain, and coworkers demonstrated that imipramine shows promise in binding to fascin1 and blocking its activity. The team analyzed over 9500 compounds as potential fascin1 blockers, identifying imipramine as a possible option. In tests on human tissues and in vivo studies using zebrafish, the drug reduced cancer invasion and metastasis. Serrated adenocarcinoma (SAC) is more invasive, has worse outcomes than conventional colorectal carcinoma (CRC), and is characterized by frequent resistance to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and overexpression of fascin1, a key protein in actin bundling that plays a causative role in tumor invasion and is overexpressed in different cancer types with poor prognosis. In silico screening of 9591 compounds, including 2037 approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was performed, and selected compounds were analyzed for their fascin1 binding affinity by differential scanning fluorescence. The results were compared with migrastatin as a typical fascin1 inhibitor. In silico screening and differential scanning fluorescence yielded the FDA-approved antidepressant imipramine as the most evident potential fascin1 blocker. Biophysical and different in vitro actin-bundling assays confirm this activity. Subsequent assays investigating lamellipodia formation and migration and invasion of colorectal cancer cells in vitro using 3D human tissue demonstrated anti-fascin1 and anti-invasive activities of imipramine. Furthermore, expression profiling suggests the activity of imipramine on the actin cytoskeleton. Moreover, in vivo studies using a zebrafish invasion model showed that imipramine is tolerated, its anti-invasive and antimetastatic activities are dose-dependent, and it is associated with both constitutive and induced fascin1 expression. This is the first study that demonstrates an antitumoral role of imipramine as a fascin1 inhibitor and constitutes a foundation for a molecular targeted therapy for SAC and other fascin1-overexpressing tumors.Peer reviewe

Development and validation of a high-density SNP genotyping array for African Oil Palm

High-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping arrays are powerful tools that can measure the level of genetic polymorphism within a population. To develop a whole-genome SNP array for oil palms, SNP discovery was performed using deep resequencing of eight libraries derived from 132 Elaeis guineensis and Elaeis oleifera palms belonging to 59 origins, resulting in the discovery of >3 million putative SNPs. After SNP filtering, the Illumina OP200K custom array was built with 170 860 successful probes. Phenetic clustering analysis revealed that the array could distinguish between palms of different origins in a way consistent with pedigree records. Genome-wide linkage disequilibrium declined more slowly for the commercial populations (ranging from 120 kb at r2 = 0.43 to 146 kb at r2 = 0.50) when compared with the semi-wild populations (19.5 kb at r2 = 0.22). Genetic fixation mapping comparing the semi-wild and commercial population identified 321 selective sweeps. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) detected a significant peak on chromosome 2 associated with the polygenic component of the shell thickness trait (based on the trait shell-to-fruit; S/F %) in tenera palms. Testing of a genomic selection model on the same trait resulted in good prediction accuracy (r = 0.65) with 42% of the S/F%variation explained. The first high-density SNP genotyping array for oil palm has been developed and shown to be robust for use in genetic studies and with potential for developing early trait prediction to shorten the oil palm breeding cycle

First month prednisone dose predicts prednisone burden during the following 11 months: An observational study from the RELES cohort

Aim: To study the influence of prednisone dose during the first month after systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis (prednisone-1) on glucocorticoid burden during the subsequent 11 months (prednisone-2–12). Methods: 223 patients from the Registro Español de Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico inception cohort were studied. The cumulative dose of prednisone-1 and prednisone-2–12 were calculated and recoded into a four-level categorical variable: no prednisone, low dose (up to 7.5 mg/day), medium dose (up to 30 mg/day) and high dose (over 30 mg/day). The association between the cumulative prednisone-1 and prednisone-2–12 doses was tested. We analysed whether the four-level prednisone-1 categorical variable was an independent predictor of an average dose >7.5 mg/day of prednisone-2–12. Adjusting variables included age, immunosuppressives, antimalarials, methyl-prednisolone pulses, lupus nephritis and baseline SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI). Results: Within the first month, 113 patients (51%) did not receive any prednisone, 24 patients (11%) received average low doses, 46 patients (21%) received medium doses and 40 patients (18%) received high doses. There was a strong association between prednisone-1 and prednisone-2–12 dose categories (p7.5 mg/day, while patients receiving low-dose prednisone-1 were not (adjusted OR 1.4, 95% CI 0. 0.38 to 5.2). If the analysis was restricted to the 158 patients with a baseline SLEDAI of =6, the model did not change. Conclusion: The dose of prednisone during the first month after the diagnosis of SLE is an independent predictor of prednisone burden during the following 11 months