Thrombospondin-1 serum levels do not correlate with pelvic pain in patients with ovarian endometriosis

Objetive: Thrombospondin-1 serum levels is correlate with pelvic pain in patients with ovarian endometriosis. Patients: Thrombospondin-1 serum levels were prospectively analysed in 51 patients (group A asymptomatic patients or patients presenting mild dysmenorrhea and women comprised group B severe dysmenorrhea and/or chronic pelvic pain and/or dyspareunia) who underwent surgery for cystic ovarian endometriosis to asses whether a correlation exists among thrombospondin-1 serum levels and pelvic pain. Results: From 56 patients, five cases were ultimateley excluded, because the histological diagnosis was other than cystic ovarian endometriosis (2 teratomas and 3 haemorragic cysts). The mean thrombospondin-1 serum levels in group A was 256,69 pg/ml_+37,07 and in group B was 291,41 pg/ml + 35,59. Conclusion: Pain symptoms in ovarian endometriosis is not correlated with thrombospondin-1 serum levels

Endometriosis in a postmenopausal woman without previous hormonal therapy: a case report

Introduction The prevalence of pelvic endometriosis is high, affecting approximately 6% to 10% of women of reproductive age. Although endometriosis has been associated with the occurrence of menstrual cycles, it can affect between 2% to 5% of postmenopausal women. Case presentation We present a case of ovarian endometriosis in a 62-year-old Spanish Caucasian woman with no previous use of hormonal therapy and no history of endometriosis or infertility. Conclusion Although the reported situation is rare, it is important to be aware of endometriosis after the menopause: post-menopausal endometriosis confers a risk of recurrence and malignant transformation

New educative methods in the usage of audiovisual content in mobiles

[EN] The paper proposes new paradigms in education regarding usage of audiovisual contents adapted to mobile devices, under the perspective of changes in the conventional learning process through the web from student side. The knowledge of the educational design processes by professors, a concept known as m-learning, will allow to demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages under the student¿s perspective. These constraints are focused, firstly on adapting contents and, more specifically, on the real technical implementation of audiovisual contents and the mechanism and interaction processes. On the other hand, it is important to emphasize advances in new digital formats relating to the new generation mobile phones, which allow to integrate contents in the learning process, ubiquitous learning. Finally, considerations and conclusions addressed to the educators who would like to adapt traditional contents to the new tools and formats will be established.Magal Royo, T.; Tortajada Montañana, I.; Giménez López, JL.; Giménez Alcalde, F. (2010). New educative methods in the usage of audiovisual content in mobiles. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciencies. 2(2):4492-4496. doi:10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.718S449244962

SNP rs403212791 in exon 2 of the MTNR1A gene is associated with reproductive seasonality in the Rasa aragonesa sheep breed

The aim of this study was to characterize and identify causative SNPs in the MTNR1A gene responsible for the reproductive seasonality traits in the Rasa aragonesa sheep breed. A total of 290 ewes (155, 84 and 51 mature, young and ewe lambs, respectively) from one flock were controlled from January to August. The following three reproductive seasonality traits were considered: the total days of anoestrus (TDA) and the progesterone cycling months (P4CM); both ovarian function seasonality traits based on blood progesterone levels; and the oestrus cycling months (OCM) based on oestrous detection, which indicate behavioural signs of oestrous. We have sequenced the total coding region plus 733 and 251 bp from the promoter and 3'-UTR regions, respectively, from the gene in 268 ewes. We found 9 and 4 SNPs associated with seasonality traits in the promoter (for TDA and P4CM) and exon 2 (for the three traits), respectively. The SNPs located in the gene promoter modify the putative binding sites for various trans-acting factors. In exon 2, two synonymous SNPs affect RFLP sites, rs406779174/RsaI (for the three traits) and rs430181568/MnlI (for OCM), and they have been related with seasonal reproductive activity in previous association studies with other breeds. SNP rs400830807, which is located in the 3'-UTR, was associated with the three traits, but this did not modify the putative target sites for ovine miRNAs according to in silico predictions. Finally, the SNP rs403212791 (NW_014639035.1: g.15099004G > A), which is also associated with the three seasonality phenotypes, was the most significant SNP detected in this study and was a non-synonymous polymorphism, leading a change from an Arginine to a Cysteine (R336C). Haplotype analyses confirmed the association results and showed that the effects found for the seasonality traits were caused by the SNPs located in exon 2. We have demonstrated that the T allele in the SNP rs403212791 in the MNTR1A gene is associated with a lower TDA and higher P4CM and OCM values in the Rasa Aragonesa breed

Multimodal interaction on english testing academic assessment

[EN] Multimodal interaction methods applied to learning environments of the English language will be a line for future research from the use of adapted mobile phones or PDAs. Today's mobile devices allow access and data entry in a synchronized manner through different channels. At the academic level we made the first analysis of English language learning on a multimodal experimental platform. The research will evaluate the impact of college students use for future online applications aimed at improving language skills through self-learning. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd. Selection and/or peer review under responsibility of Prof. Dr. Huseyin UzunboyluThis work was carried out through research conducted in the project: "Analysis and verification of adaptation and accessible multimodal interaction for language examinations on mobile devices". It has been funded by the Universitat Politècnica de València as part of the program: "Projects for new lines in multidisciplinary research PID-05-10".Magal Royo, T.; Giménez López, JL.; García Laborda, J. (2012). Multimodal interaction on english testing academic assessment. Procedia Social and Behavioral Sciences. 46:5824-5827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.06.522S582458274

Loop Groups, Kaluza-Klein Reduction and M-Theory

We show that the data of a principal G-bundle over a principal circle bundle is equivalent to that of a \hat{LG} = U(1) |x LG bundle over the base of the circle bundle. We apply this to the Kaluza-Klein reduction of M-theory to IIA and show that certain generalized characteristic classes of the loop group bundle encode the Bianchi identities of the antisymmetric tensor fields of IIA supergravity. We further show that the low dimensional characteristic classes of the central extension of the loop group encode the Bianchi identities of massive IIA, thereby adding support to the conjectures of hep-th/0203218.Comment: 26 pages, LaTeX, utarticle.cls, v2:clarifications and refs adde

Triage for surgical management of ovarian tumors in asymptomatic women: assessment of an ultrasound-based scoring system.

OBJECTIVES: To prospectively evaluate an ultrasound-based scoring system as a method for triaging asymptomatic women presenting with an adnexal mass for surgical treatment. METHODS: Two hundred and four adnexal masses in 189 asymptomatic women undergoing elective surgical treatment at our institution were included in this prospective study. Patients were evaluated by transvaginal power Doppler ultrasound imaging before surgery. Patients were classified as low risk or high risk for malignancy according to an ultrasound-based scoring system. Women with a low risk for malignancy were scheduled for laparoscopy and patients with a high risk for malignancy were scheduled for laparotomy. However, patients classified as low risk by the ultrasound scoring system, but with a tumor size >or= 10 cm or clinical suspicion of pelvic adhesions, were instead considered to be at intermediate risk and were scheduled for laparotomy. Some patients classified as high risk were scheduled for an operative laparoscopy by an expert in gynecological oncology. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-four (65.7%) masses were considered to be low risk and were treated by a laparoscopically guided procedure. All these tumors were benign. Forty-seven (23%) masses were classified as high risk, of which 39 tumors were malignant and eight benign. Twenty-three (11.3%) tumors were considered to be intermediate risk and were scheduled for primary laparotomy. In this group, 21 (91.3%) tumors proved to be benign and two (8.7%) were malignant. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-based triage of asymptomatic women diagnosed with a persistent adnexal mass is effective for selecting the surgical approach

Neuritis óptica en pediatría: Experiencia en 27 años y protocolo de actuación

Introducción y objetivos: Se presenta nuestra experiencia en neuritis óptica (ON) y se elabora un protocolo diagnóstico-terapéutico, que contempla descartar otras causas, principalmente infecciosas y se elabora una hoja informativa para padres. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de los pacientes con ON en 27 años (1990-2017). Revisión de evidencia científica para elaboración del protocolo y hoja informativa. Resultados: En nuestra sección de neuropediatría se valoraron 20.744 niños en 27 años, 14 con ON: 8 ON aisladas, una esclerosis múltiple (EM), un episodio clínicamente aislado (CIS), 3 encefalomielitis agudas diseminadas y un paciente con ON aislada que el año anterior había sufrido una encefalomielitis aguda diseminada. Edades entre 4-13 años, 50% varones. Mayores de 10 años, 8 pacientes: 7 ON aisladas y un EM. Bilaterales 9, retrobulbares 3. Resonancia magnética cerebral normal en 7, solo afectación del nervio óptico en 2 y con desmielinización del SNC en 5 casos. Recibieron corticoterapia 13/14. Un caso vacunado de meningococo-C el mes anterior. Todos evolucionaron favorablemente, salvo la EM. Se presentan el protocolo y la hoja de información. Conclusiones: Habitual curso favorable. En niños a partir de 10 años, con factores de riesgo de desarrollar EM o neuromielitis óptica (presencia de hiperseñales en RM cerebral, bandas oligoclonales, anti-NMO, recurrencia de ON), se consensúa con Neurología el inicio de tratamiento inmunomodulador. Utilidad del protocolo para la toma de decisiones diagnósticas, de seguimiento y tratamiento, de una patología poco frecuente pero con posibles repercusiones importantes. Importancia de la protocolización y hojas informativas. Introduction and objective: In this article, we present our experience on optic neuritis (ON) and provide a diagnostic/therapeutic protocol, intended to rule out other aetiologies (particularly infection), and a fact sheet for parents. Material and methods: We conducted a descriptive, retrospective study of patients with ON over a 27-year period (1990-2017). A review of the available scientific evidence was performed in order to draft the protocol and fact sheet. Results: Our neuropaediatrics department has assessed 20, 744 patients in the last 27 years, of whom 14 were diagnosed with ON: 8 had isolated ON, 1 had multiple sclerosis (MS), 1 had clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), 3 had acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, and 1 had isolated ON and a history of acute disseminated encephalomyelitis one year previously. Patients’ age range was 4-13 years; 50% were boys. Eight patients were aged over 10: 7 had isolated ON and 1 had MS. Nine patients had bilateral ON, and 3 had retrobulbar ON. MRI results were normal in 7 patients and showed involvement of the optic nerve only in 2 patients and optic nerve involvement + central nervous system demyelination in 5. Thirteen patients received corticosteroids. One patient had been vaccinated against meningococcus-C the previous month. Progression was favourable, except in the patient with MS. A management protocol and fact sheet are provided. Conclusions: ON usually has a favourable clinical course. In children aged older than 10 years with risk factors for MS or optic neuromyelitis (hyperintensity on brain MRI, oligoclonal bands, anti-NMO antibody positivity, ON recurrence), the initiation of immunomodulatory treatment should be agreed with the neurology department. The protocol is useful for diagnostic decision-making, follow-up, and treatment of this rare disease with potentially major repercussions. The use of protocols and fact sheets is important

Investigation of conduction band structure, electron scattering mechanisms and phase transitions in indium selenide by means of transport measurements under pressure

In this work we report on Hall effect, resistivity and thermopower measurements in n-type indium selenide at room temperature under either hydrostatic and quasi-hydrostatic pressure. Up to 40 kbar (= 4 GPa), the decrease of carrier concentration as the pressure increases is explained through the existence of a subsidiary minimum in the conduction band. This minimum shifts towards lower energies under pressure, with a pressure coefficient of about -105 meV/GPa, and its related impurity level traps electrons as it reaches the band gap and approaches the Fermi level. The pressure value at which the electron trapping starts is shown to depend on the electron concentration at ambient pressure and the dimensionality of the electron gas. At low pressures the electron mobility increases under pressure for both 3D and 2D electrons, the increase rate being higher for 2D electrons, which is shown to be coherent with previous scattering mechanisms models. The phase transition from the semiconductor layered phase to the metallic sodium cloride phase is observed as a drop in resistivity around 105 kbar, but above 40 kbar a sharp nonreversible increase of the carrier concentration is observed, which is attributed to the formation of donor defects as precursors of the phase transition.Comment: 18 pages, Latex, 10 postscript figure

Distribution and outcomes of a phenotype-based approach to guide COPD management: Results from the CHAIN cohort

Rationale: The Spanish guideline for COPD (GesEPOC) recommends COPD treatment according to four clinical phenotypes: non-exacerbator phenotype with either chronic bronchitis or emphysema (NE), asthma-COPD overlap syndrome (ACOS), frequent exacerbator phenotype with emphysema (FEE) or frequent exacerbator phenotype with chronic bronchitis (FECB). However, little is known on the distribution and outcomes of the four suggested phenotypes. Objective: We aimed to determine the distribution of these COPD phenotypes, and their relation with one-year clinical outcomes. Methods: We followed a cohort of well-characterized patients with COPD up to one-year. Baseline characteristics, health status (CAT), BODE index, rate of exacerbations and mortality up to one year of follow-up were compared between the four phenotypes. Results: Overall, 831 stable COPD patients were evaluated. They were distributed as NE, 550 (66.2%); ACOS, 125 (15.0%); FEE, 38 (4.6%); and FECB, 99 (11.9%); additionally 19 (2.3%) COPD patients with frequent exacerbations did not fulfill the criteria for neither FEE nor FECB. At baseline, there were significant differences in symptoms, FEV1 and BODE index (all p<0.05). The FECB phenotype had the highest CAT score (17.1±8.2, p<0.05 compared to the other phenotypes). Frequent exacerbator groups (FEE and FECB) were receiving more pharmacological treatment at baseline, and also experienced more exacerbations the year after (all p<0.05) with no differences in one-year mortality. Most of NE (93%) and half of exacerbators were stable after one year. Conclusions: There is an uneven distribution of COPD phenotypes in stable COPD patients, with significant differences in demographics, patient-centered outcomes and health care resources use