Analysis of the Lepton Mixing Matrix in the Two Higgs Doublet Model

In the theoretical framework of Two Higgs Doublet Model (2HDM) plus three right-handed neutrinos we consider a universal treatment for the mass matrices, aside from that the active neutrinos acquire their small mass through the type-I seesaw mechanism. Then, as long as a matrix with four-zero texture is used to represent the right-handed neutrinos and Yukawa matrices, we obtain a unified treatment where all fermion mass matrices have four-zero texture. We obtain analytical and explicit expressions for the lepton flavour mixing matrix PMNS in terms of fermion masses and parameters associated with the 2HDM-III. Further, we compare these expressions of the PMNS matrix with the most up to date values of masses and mixing in the lepton sector, via a likelihood test. We find that the analytical expressions that we derived reproduce remarkably well the most recent experimental data of neutrino oscillations

Using pyrosequencing to shed light on deep mine microbial ecology

BACKGROUND: Contrasting biological, chemical and hydrogeological analyses highlights the fundamental processes that shape different environments. Generating and interpreting the biological sequence data was a costly and time-consuming process in defining an environment. Here we have used pyrosequencing, a rapid and relatively inexpensive sequencing technology, to generate environmental genome sequences from two sites in the Soudan Mine, Minnesota, USA. These sites were adjacent to each other, but differed significantly in chemistry and hydrogeology. RESULTS: Comparisons of the microbes and the subsystems identified in the two samples highlighted important differences in metabolic potential in each environment. The microbes were performing distinct biochemistry on the available substrates, and subsystems such as carbon utilization, iron acquisition mechanisms, nitrogen assimilation, and respiratory pathways separated the two communities. Although the correlation between much of the microbial metabolism occurring and the geochemical conditions from which the samples were isolated could be explained, the reason for the presence of many pathways in these environments remains to be determined. Despite being physically close, these two communities were markedly different from each other. In addition, the communities were also completely different from other microbial communities sequenced to date. CONCLUSION: We anticipate that pyrosequencing will be widely used to sequence environmental samples because of the speed, cost, and technical advantages. Furthermore, subsystem comparisons rapidly identify the important metabolisms employed by the microbes in different environments

CAST constraints on the axion-electron coupling

In non-hadronic axion models, which have a tree-level axion-electron interaction, the Sun produces a strong axion flux by bremsstrahlung, Compton scattering, and axio-recombination, the "BCA processes." Based on a new calculation of this flux, including for the first time axio-recombination, we derive limits on the axion-electron Yukawa coupling g_ae and axion-photon interaction strength g_ag using the CAST phase-I data (vacuum phase). For m_a < 10 meV/c2 we find g_ag x g_ae< 8.1 x 10^-23 GeV^-1 at 95% CL. We stress that a next-generation axion helioscope such as the proposed IAXO could push this sensitivity into a range beyond stellar energy-loss limits and test the hypothesis that white-dwarf cooling is dominated by axion emission

Minor malformations and other morphological abnormalities in series of fetal and perinatal necropsies in Bogota

OBJETIVO: Revisar las definiciones de los cambios morfológicos y clasificaciones de las alteraciones observadas en necropsias fetales y neonatales y analizar su relación con la causa de muerte y los demás padecimientos fetales y maternos conocidos. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional y descriptivo de necropsias fetales y perinatales para detallar las características anatómicas de fetos y recién nacidos excluidas de los criterios de normalidad y su correlación con los factores placentarios, las condiciones clínicas maternas, y los desenlaces fetales y del recién nacido. RESULTADOS: En 87 necropsias perinatales se observó predominio de los hallazgos de malformaciones en el sexo femenino, en madres entre 18 y 35 años y en individuos con maceración severa. Las malformaciones mayores más frecuentes ocurrieron en la cara, el abdomen y el esqueleto. En las malformaciones menores predominaron las esqueléticas (clinodactilia (36.75%), braquidactilia (23.52%), brecha de la separación entre el primer y segundo dedos del pie (Sandal gap) (14.7%); faciales (puente nasal deprimido (58.24%), glosoptosis (16.64%) hipertelorismo (8.32%)) y de cuello (alado (31.25%), corto (37.5%) y elongado (18.75%)). Como rupturas se encontraron bandas amnióticas que abarcaban amplios segmentos (2.29%). La deformidad más frecuente fue el pie en equino varo (6.89%). CONCLUSIÓN: En nuestra observación interdisciplinaria enfocada a las muertes perinatales se encontró relación entre cromosomopatía y aborto retenido. Los cambios morfológicos más frecuentes correspondieron a malformaciones menores. Todo cambio en la morfología de un recién nacido o de un feto puede ser la clave del diagnóstico principal, por ello deben reconocerse y distinguirse entre sí para orientar el futuro obstétrico de las familias, brindar consejería genética y lograr que trasciendan a la salud pública.1-10BACKGROUND: During autopsy morphological abnormalities should be classified in major or minor malformations, disruptions, sequences, deformities, trauma, changes attributable to fixation, intrauterine death, or manipulation, among others. Appropriate counseling in genetics and obstetrics is going to depend on this approach. In the current study we want to know the frequencies of morphological changes and their association with clinical presentations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational descriptive study carried out on consecutive perinatal autopsies product from natural deaths in which morphological changes were classified. RESULTS: In 87 perinatal autopsies a female predominance was observed, as well as a major occurrence in mothers between 18 and 35 years and in individuals with severe maceration. The most frequent major malformations were found in the face, abdomen and skeleton. Among minor malformations, the skeletal ones were the most predominant (clinodactyly (36.75%), brachydactyly (23.52%), sandal gap (14.7%)); followed by facial anomalies (depressed nasal bridge (58.24%), glossoptosis (16.64%), hypertelorism (8.32%); and, neck defects (winged neck (31.25%), short (37.5%), elongated (18.75%). Among disruptions, amniotic bands were found covering large segments (2.29%). The most frequent deformity was equinovarus foot (6.89%). CONCLUSIONS: In the present interdisciplinary observation focused on perinatal deaths, a relation between cromosomopathies and severe maceration was identified. The most frequent morphological features corresponded to minor malformations. Any change in the morphology of a newborn or a fetus may be the key to the main diagnosis. For this reason, morphological changes must to be recognized and distinguished among them to guide the reproductive future of the families, provide genetic counseling and achieve a positive impact on public health

Perfil de pacientes hematológicos atendidos en un servicio de urgencias hospitalario

Poster [PC-355] Introducción: Durante los últimos años existe un aumento progresivo en la demanda de asistencia en los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios (SUH), tanto generales como pediátricos. Los pacientes hematológicos presentan numerosos episodios clínicos que precisan valoración clínica urgente y dada la facilidad de acceso a los SUH emplean este medio. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo observacional de las urgencias en pacientes con patología hematológica atendidas en el Servicio de Urgencias del Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet de Zaragoza (Hospital de tercer nivel). Periodo de estudio (Enero 2017-Diciembre 2017). Criterios de inclusión: Paciente: s con diagnóstico hematológico según la clasificación CIE-9 en el informe de alta de urgencias. Grupo de pacientes adultos (> 14 años): atendidos en el Hospital General, y grupo de pacientes pediátricos (< 14 años): atendidos en el Hospital Infantil. Variables analizadas: edad, sexo, grupo de patología y nivel de triaje. Datos recogidos a través del registro derivado de la Base de Datos generada por el aplicativo informático “Puesto Clínico Hospitalario de Urgencias”, que da soporte a la actividad asistencial de los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios de Aragón. Se obtuvo autorización correspondiente del centro y del SUH para el acceso a los datos informáticos. Resultados: Muestra total de 2193 pacientes: 1928 en el grupo de adultos y 265 en el grupo pediátrico. En el grupo de adultos la edad media de consulta en SUH fue de 71, 4 años (DE: 18.10), siendo el subgrupo de 81-90 años el que más frecuentemente acude (31.74%). En la población infantil la edad media de consulta fue de 6, 39 años (DE: 4.54), siendo entre los 0-2 años la edad que más frecuenta Urgencias (19.62%). Respecto a la distribución según sexo, el 55% de las consultas son realizadas por mujeres y el 45% por hombres. Sin embargo, en la población infantil el 52% de las consultas son realizadas por niños y el 48% por niñas. En el análisis según grupo de enfermedad: el grupo pediátrico consulta más frecuentemente por enfermedades de hemostasia (47.17%), mientras que los adultos consultan más por enfermedades de serie roja (61.28%). En ambos grupos, las consultas realizadas en Urgencias son de gran complejidad con una prioridad elevada de asistencia. El 93% de la patología en adultos y el 71% de la patología infantil hematológica es triada con niveles I-III de urgencia y tiempos asistenciales reducidos. Conclusiones: El comportamiento de las enfermedades hematológicas varía en función de la edad, el sexo y el tipo de enfermedad. La patología hematológica tiene un gran impacto dentro de los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios, dado que estos pacientes presentan un perfil complejo que requerirá diagnóstico y tratamiento rápido por la gravedad del tipo de complicaciones que asocian. En consonancia con la población envejecida, los pacientes que más demandan la atención en Urgencias y de forma repetida, son adultos muy mayores (81-90 años) pudiéndose plantear circuitos de asistencia urgente diferentes para estos pacientes

Long-term follow-up of certolizumab pegol in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases: multicentre study of 80 patients

ObjectivesTo evaluate effectiveness and safety of certolizumab pegol (CZP) in uveitis due to immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMID).MethodsMulticentre study of CZP-treated patients with IMID uveitis refractory to conventional immunosuppressant. Effectiveness was assessed through the following ocular parameters: best-corrected visual acuity, anterior chamber cells, vitritis, macular thickness and retinal vasculitis. These variables were compared between the baseline, and first week, first, third, sixth months, first and second year.ResultsWe studied 80 (33 men/47 women) patients (111 affected eyes) with a mean age of 41.6 +/- 11.7 years. The IMID included were: spondyloarthritis (n=43), Behcet's disease (n=10), psoriatic arthritis (n=8), Crohn's disease (n=4), sarcoidosis (n=2), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n=1), reactive arthritis (n=1), rheumatoid arthritis (n=1), relapsing polychondritis (n=1),ConclusionsCZP seems to be effective and safe in uveitis related to different IMID, even in patients refractory to previous biological drugs

Statistical Anisotropy from Anisotropic Inflation

We review an inflationary scenario with the anisotropic expansion rate. An anisotropic inflationary universe can be realized by a vector field coupled with an inflaton, which can be regarded as a counter example to the cosmic no-hair conjecture. We show generality of anisotropic inflation and derive a universal property. We formulate cosmological perturbation theory in anisotropic inflation. Using the formalism, we show anisotropic inflation gives rise to the statistical anisotropy in primordial fluctuations. We also explain a method to test anisotropic inflation using the cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB).Comment: 32 pages, 5 figures, invited review for CQG, published versio

Metabolomics Reveals Reduction of Metabolic Oxidation in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome after Pioglitazone-Flutamide-Metformin Polytherapy

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a variable disorder characterized by a broad spectrum of anomalies, including hyperandrogenemia, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, body adiposity, low-grade inflammation and increased cardiovascular disease risks. Recently, a new polytherapy consisting of low-dose flutamide, metformin and pioglitazone in combination with an estro-progestagen resulted in the regulation of endocrine clinical markers in young and non-obese PCOS women. However, the metabolic processes involved in this phenotypic amelioration remain unidentified. In this work, we used NMR and MS-based untargeted metabolomics to study serum samples of young non-obese PCOS women prior to and at the end of a 30 months polytherapy receiving low-dose flutamide, metformin and pioglitazone in combination with an estro-progestagen. Our results reveal that the treatment decreased the levels of oxidized LDL particles in serum, as well as downstream metabolic oxidation products of LDL particles such as 9- and 13-HODE, azelaic acid and glutaric acid. In contrast, the radiuses of small dense LDL and large HDL particles were substantially increased after the treatment. Clinical and endocrine-metabolic markers were also monitored, showing that the level of HDL cholesterol was increased after the treatment, whereas the level of androgens and the carotid intima-media thickness were reduced. Significantly, the abundance of azelaic acid and the carotid intima-media thickness resulted in a high degree of correlation. Altogether, our results reveal that this new polytherapy markedly reverts the oxidant status of untreated PCOS women, and potentially improves the pro-atherosclerosis condition in these patients