Angina bullosa hemorrhagica an enigmatic oral disease

Angina bullosa hemorrhagica (ABH) is an enigmatic oral disorder described for the first time by Badham in 1967 to define blisters with a hematic content in the oral cavity and oropharynx unrelated to any hematological, dermatological or systemic disease. The ABH is an uncommon disease of the oral cavity distinctively affecting adults, with the highest incidence over the 5th decade of life. This process is considered nowadays to have a multifactorial etiopathogenesis, where mild oral traumatisms can trigger the blisters in susceptible individuals. Certain association on the onset of the lesion with the chronic use of inhaled steroids and, more controversially, with triggering systemic disorders, such as, diabetes or hypertension has been described. Characteristically, the ABH blisters are acute and are located on the lining mucosa, more frequently on the soft palate. Usually, the lesions are solitary and rupture easily, resulting in a superficial ulceration that heals quickly without scarring. The histopathological analysis shows a subepithelial blister containing blood and direct immunofluorescence on the epithelium is negative. The differential diagnosis should consider all oral vesiculobullous disorders with hematic content, including mucocutaneos, hematological or cystic pathology. The diagnosis of ABH is clearly clinical, although the biopsy might be helpful on atypical or abnormally recurrent cases. The general prognosis of ABH is good and the treatment is symptomatic. Although it is an uncommon disease, the angina bullosa hemorrhagica should be considered in the differential diagnosis of oral vesiculo-bullous processes. Acknowledging this entity will help in differentiating it from important mucocutaneous and hematological diseases such as pemphigus vulgaris, mucous membrane pemphigoid or coagulation disorders. In this review we analyze the main etiopathogenic, clinicopathological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this enigmatic oral condition.peer-reviewe

Geodetic network design and strategies followed for drilling a 25 km tunnel for high speed railway in Spain

During the last years several large high-speed railway tunnels have been built in Spain. To solve these projects, technical and scientific problems have been solved from the geodetic and surveying point of view. These studies have allowed us to set a methodology that optimizes the performance of this kind of works in the world of Civil Engineering. We have applied our studies to the Tunnels of Pajares that are the second longest ones in Spain with a total longitude of about 25 km. The studies summarize the design of the geodetic networks to support the guidance of the TBMs used as well as the election of the observations to be done, the instrumental to be used and the observation and computation procedures to be followed. A special emphasis has been taken into account for the treatment of the uncertainty of the coordinates, displacements and breakthrough obtained during the drilling tasks. The article shows the results obtained and the conclusions that can be followed in order to successfully complete a similar project

DmeRF system is required for nickel and cobalt resistance in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae.

A member of the Cation Diffusion Facilitator (CDF) family with high sequence similarity to DmeF (Divalent metal efflux) from Cupridavirus metallidurans was identified in Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae UPM1137. The R. leguminosarum dmeF mutant strain was highly sensitive to Co2+ and moderately sensitive to Ni2+, but its tolerance to other metals such as Zn2+, Cu2+ or Mn2+ was unaffected. An open reading frame located upstream of R. leguminosarum dmeF, designated dmeR, encodes a protein homologous to the nickel and cobalt regulator RcnR from E.coli. Expression of the dmeRF operon was induced by nickel and cobalt ions in free-living cells, likely by alleviating DmeR-mediated transcriptional repression of the operon

High-oxygen-barrier multilayer films based on polyhydroxyalkanoates and cellulose nanocrystals

This study reports on the development and characterization of organic recyclable high-oxygen-barrier multilayer films based on different commercial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) materials, including a blend with commercial poly(butylene adipate-co-terephthalate) (PBAT), which contained an inner layer of cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and an electrospun hot-tack adhesive layer of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) derived from cheese whey (CW). As a result, the full multilayer structures were made from bio-based and/or compostable materials. A characterization of the produced films was carried out in terms of morphological, optical, mechanical, and barrier properties with respect to water vapor, limonene, and oxygen. Results indicate that the multilayer films exhibited a good interlayer adhesion and contact transparency. The stiffness of the multilayers was generally improved upon incorporation of the CNC interlayer, whereas the enhanced elasticity of the blend was reduced to some extent in the multilayer with CNCs, but this was still much higher than for the neat PHAs. In terms of barrier properties, it was found that 1 µm of the CNC interlayer was able to reduce the oxygen permeance between 71% and 86%, while retaining the moisture and aroma barrier of the control materials.This research work was funded by the H2020 EU project YPACK (reference number 773872) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICI) project RTI2018-097249-B-C21.Beatriz Melendez-Rodriguez would like to acknowledge the MICI for her FPI fellowship (BES-2016-077972) and Sergio Torres-Giner for his MICI Juan de la Cierva–Incorporación contract (IJCI-2016-29675). The authors would also like to acknowledge the Unidad Asociada in Polymer Technology, joint unit IATA(CSIC)-UJI

Identificación y caracterización funcional de sistemas génicos implicados en la homeostasis de níquel en Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae

La homeostasis de metales como níquel, cobalto, cobre o zinc es un proceso delicado en procariotas. Estos metales de transición son, por un lado imprescindibles para el mantenimiento del metabolismo celular, pero por otro muy tóxicos a elevadas concentraciones. Por este motivo, los microorganismos han desarrollado mecanismos para regular su concentración intracelular, tales como bombas de flujo de metales, secuestradores intra y extracelulares o enzimas detoxificadoras

Integrated Management of Multiple Sclerosis Spasticity and Associated Symptoms Using the Spasticity-Plus Syndrome Concept: Results of a Structured Specialists’ Discussion Using the Workmat® Methodology

Esclerosi múltiple; Espasticitat; CannabinoidesMúltiple esclerosis; Espasticidad; CannabidiolMultiple sclerosis; Muscle spasticity; CannabidiolBackground: Multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment has radically improved over the last years; however, MS symptom management is still challenging. The novel Spasticity-Plus syndrome was conceptualized to frame several spasticity-related symptoms that can be addressed together with broad-spectrum medication, such as certain cannabinoid-based drugs. The aim of this project was to gain insight into Spanish neurologists' clinical experience on MS spasticity and associated symptoms, and to assess the acknowledgment and applicability of the Spasticity-Plus syndrome concept in patients with MS. Methods: Ten online meetings were conducted using the Workmat® methodology to allow structured discussions. Fifty-five Spanish neurologists, experts in MS management, completed and discussed a set of predefined exercises comprising MS symptom assessment and its management in clinical practice, MS symptoms clustering in clinical practice, and their perception of the Spasticity-Plus syndrome concept. This document presents the quantitative and qualitative results of these discussions. Results: The specialists considered that polytherapy is a common concern in MS and that simplifying the management of MS spasticity and associated manifestations could be useful. They generally agreed that MS spasticity should be diagnosed before moderate or severe forms appear. According to the neurologists' clinical experience, symptoms commonly associated with MS spasticity included spasms/cramps (100% of the specialists), pain (85%), bladder dysfunction (62%), bowel dysfunction (42%), sleep disorders (42%), and sexual dysfunction (40%). The multiple correspondence analysis revealed two main symptom clusters: spasticity-spasms/cramps-pain, and ataxia-instability-vertigo. Twelve out of 16 symptoms (75%) were scored >7 in a 0-10 QoL impact scale by the specialists, representing a moderate-high impact. The MS specialists considered that pain, spasticity, spasms/cramps, bladder dysfunction, and depression should be a treatment priority given their frequency and chance of therapeutic success. The neurologists agreed on the usefulness of the new Spasticity-Plus syndrome concept to manage spasticity and associated symptoms together, and their experience with treatments targeting the cannabinoid system was satisfactory. Conclusions: The applicability of the new concept of Spasticity-Plus in MS clinical practice seems possible and may lead to an integrated management of several MS symptoms, thus reducing the treatment burden of disease symptoms.The study was funded by an investigational grant from Almirall S

Barrier biopaper multilayers obtained by impregnation of electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) with protein and polysaccharide hydrocolloids

[EN] Multilayer biopapers composed of two electrospun layers of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) were impregnated, at the inner side of one of the layers, with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and their composites with hydrocolloids, to develop high-barrier fully biobased structures. The study aimed for the first time at comparing the impregnation of electrospun fibers with several biopolymer solutions. Thus, neat CNCs, and CNCs mixed as a minor fraction, that is, 2 wt%, with gelatin (GE), agar (AG), xanthan gum (XG), and gum arabic (GA) were assessed in their potential to improve the barrier properties of PHBV. Glycerol plasticizer was added to the composite formulations. The impregnated electrospun multilayer mats were subsequently annealed, below the PHBV melting point, to yield continuous films by an interfiber coalescence process, so-called biopapers, and thereafter characterized to evaluate their potential for high barrier food packaging applications. The morphological characterization revealed good interlayer adhesion, more noticeably for those containing CNCs and their nanocomposites with AG and XG. From their mechanical response, it was inferred that the material behavior was governed mainly by the rigidity of the PHBV substrates, and this could not be significantly improved by impregnation with any of the various hydrocolloids. Whereas the water vapor barrier was not seen to improve in any of the samples, the barrier to the organic vapor limonene, used as a standard for aroma barrier, was however improved in the samples impregnated with AG and XG composites. Interestingly, the oxygen barrier properties were significantly improved but only by impregnation with pure CNCs. This study reports for the first time a scalable impregnation technology approach to produce fully biobased barrier multilayers.This research work was funded by the H2020 EU project USABLE PAKAGING (reference number 836884) and by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICI) project RTI2018-097249-B-C21. Ms. Beatriz Melendez-Rodriguez would like to acknowledge the MICI for her FPI fellowship (BES-2016-077972) and Dr. Torres-Giner for his MICI Juan de la Cierva¿Incorporacion contract (IJCI-2016-29675). The authors would also like to acknowledge the Unidad Asociada IATA (CSIC)-UJI in Polymer Technology.Melendez-Rodriguez, B.; M'bengue, M.; Torres-Giner, S.; Cabedo, L.; Prieto, C.; Lagaron, JM. (2021). Barrier biopaper multilayers obtained by impregnation of electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) with protein and polysaccharide hydrocolloids. Carbohydrate Polymer Technologies and Applications. 2:1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpta.2021.100150S19

(Position Paper) Characterizing the Behavior of Small Producers in Smart Grids:A Data Sanity Analysis

Renewable energy production throughout low-voltage grids has gradually increased in electrical distribution systems, therefore introducing small energy producers - prosumers. This paradigm challenges the traditional unidirectional energy distribution flow to include disperse power production from renewables. To understand how energy usage can be optimized in the dynamic electrical grid, it is important to understand the behavior of prosumers and their impact on the grid’s operational procedures. The main focus of this study is to investigate how grid operators can obtain an automatic data-driven system for the low-voltage electrical grid management, by analyzing the available grid topology and time-series consumption data from a real-life test area. The aim is to argue for how different consumer profiles, clustering and prediction methods contribute to the grid-related operations. Ultimately, this work is intended for future research directions that can contribute to improving the trade-off between systematic and scalable data models and software computational challenges.This work is financially supported by the Danish project RemoteGRID, which is a ForskEL program under Energinet.dk with grant agreement no. 2016-1-12399.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

The Amazing Power of Cancer Cells to Recapitulate Extraembryonic Functions: The Cuckoo's Tricks

Inflammation is implicated in tumor development, invasion, and metastasis. Hence, it has been suggested that common cellular and molecular mechanisms are activated in wound repair and in cancer development. In addition, it has been previously proposed that the inflammatory response, which is associated with the wound healing process, could recapitulate ontogeny through the reexpression of the extraembryonic, that is, amniotic and vitelline, functions in the interstitial space of the injured tissue. If so, the use of inflammation by the cancer-initiating cell can also be supported in the ability to reacquire extraembryonic functional axes for tumor development, invasion, and metastasis. Thus, the diverse components of the tumor microenvironment could represent the overlapping reexpression of amniotic and vitelline functions. These functions would favor a gastrulation-like process, that is, the creation of a reactive stroma in which fibrogenesis and angiogenesis stand out