PCUMex survey: Controversies in the management of prostate cancer among Mexican urologists

AbstractBackgroundProstate cancer is the first cause of mortality related to malignancy in Mexican men. Common clinical practice has to be evaluated in order to gain a picture of reality apart from the guidelines.AimTo analyze clinical practice among urologists in Mexico in relation to prostate cancer management and to compare the results with current recommendations and guidelines.MethodsWe collected the data from 600 urologists, members of the Sociedad Mexicana de Urología, who were invited by email to answer a survey on their usual decisions when managing controversial aspects of prostate cancer patients.ResultsQuinolones were the most common antibiotic used as prophylaxis in prostate biopsy (75.51%); 10–12 cores were taken in more than 65% of prostate biopsies; and 18.27% of the participants performed limited pelvic lymphadenectomy. Treatment results showed that 10.75% of the urologists surveyed preferred radical prostatectomy as monotherapy in high-risk patients with extraprostatic extension and 60.47% used complete androgen deprivation in metastatic prostate cancer.ConclusionsThere are many areas of opportunity for improvement in our current clinical practice for the management of patients with prostate cancer

Short communication. Toxicity of emamectin benzoate to adults of Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter, Macrolophus pygmaeus (Rambur) and Diglyphus isaea Walker on tomato plants. Semi-field studies.

Whiteflies, the tomato borer and leafminers are among the major pests of greenhouse tomatoes in Spain. Macrolophus pygmaeus (Heteroptera, Miridae) and Nesidiocoris tenuis are polyphagous predators of whiteflies, the tomato borer and other pests. Diglyphus isaea (Hymenoptera, Eulophidae) is an ectoparasite of leafminers. These three natural enemies are commonly released in the commercial horticultural greenhouses of south-eastern Spain. Emamectin benzoate is a new semi-synthetic derivative of the avermectin B1 developed for Lepidoptera pest control in vegetable crops, with requested inclusion in annex I of the EU directive 91/414/EEC. As for any new insecticide that is being introduced for its use in protected tomato, it is critical to understand the level of compatibility of emamectin in front of those major biological control agents. Potted tomato plants kept in a greenhouse were sprayed with the highest recommended field rate of emamectin benzoate (14.25 mg L –1 ), and the toxicity of fresh and 7-day-old residues to adults of the three biological control agents were studied to ascertain their compatibility. The results demonstrated the compatibility of both fresh and 7-day-old residues with the three species of natural enemies

High-quality intake of carbohydrates is associated with lower prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis in femoral arteries: The AWHS study

Background and aims: High-quality of the carbohydrates consumed, apart from their total amount, appear to protect from cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the relationship between the quality of carbohydrates and the early appearance of atherosclerosis has not yet been described. Our objective was to estimate the association between the quality of dietary carbohydrates and subclinical atherosclerosis in femoral and carotid arteries. Methods: Cross-sectional study of femoral and carotid atherosclerosis assessed using ultrasounds of 2074 middle-aged males, 50.9 (SD 3.9) years old, with no previous CVD, and pertaining to the Aragon Workers’ Health Study (AWHS) cohort. Food frequency questionnaires were used to calculate a carbohydrate quality index (CQI) defined as: consumption of dietary fiber, a lower glycemic index, the ratio of whole grains/total grains, and the ratio of solid carbohydrates/total carbohydrates. The presence of plaques across four CQI intervals was studied using adjusted logistic regression models. Results: The CQI showed a direct inverse association with subclinical atherosclerosis in femoral territories. Participants with a higher consumption of high-quality carbohydrates (13–15 points) were less likely to have femoral plaques when compared with participants in the lowest index interval (4–6 points) (OR = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.39, 0.89; p = 0.005). No association was found between the CQI and the presence of subclinical atherosclerosis in carotid territories. A lower consumption of high-quality carbohydrates tended to be associated with a greater atherosclerosis extension, considered as the odds for having more affected territories (p = 0.011). Conclusions: Among middle-aged males, a high-quality intake of carbohydrates is associated with a lower prevalence of femoral artery subclinical atherosclerosis when compared with a lower consumption. Thus, indicating an early relationship between the quality of carbohydrates and the development of CVD. © 2021 The Author(s

A multilayer service data acquisition and operation system for oceanographic ships and instrumentation networks

A new Data Acquisition and Operation System for Oceanographic ships and Instrumentation Networks has been developed by the Marine Technology Unit of the Spanish Research Vessels for their networked remote acquisition platforms. The new system built over LABVIR project background follows a Service Oriented Architecture to allow expandable access to acquired data in real time and to archived data. Several Data layers are implemented to allow data access from the more common tools and formats used in marine sciences.Peer Reviewe

In vitro collecting techniques for germplasm conservation

During the early 1980s, while searching for ways to more fully utilize the techniques of plant biotechnology, IPGRI (the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute, then the International Board of Plant Genetic Resources, IBPGR) suggested that germplasm be collected by means of in vitro methods. Between 1990 and today, research in this area has been performed by different groups, leading to the development and/or optimization of in vitro collecting techniques for various additional species including coconut, taro, tropical rainforest tree species and wild and endangered species. This technical bulletin comprises three separate parts. The first part (theoretical background to in vitro collecting), consists of three chapters regarding the rationale behind the development of in vitro collecting and its potential for the conservation of crops and wild or endangered species and the control of contamination, a critically important step which conditions the successful development of any in vitro collecting protocol. The second part (case studies) comprises nine chapters, each describing the work performed for the development of in vitro protocols for a particular species or group of species. The protocols described can be applied directly for collecting germplasm of any of the species concerned. However, circumstances will differ from one collecting mission to the next and it can be expected that these protocols will have to be adapted to these circumstances. Therefore, the aim of these chapters is to illustrate the range of protocols, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, which can be developed for in vitro collecting germplasm of a given species and to highlight the critical steps of such protocols. Such information should be used by the readers as a guide for the development of protocols for the species of their own interest. The last part (prospects) consists of a single chapter which analyses the future of in vitro collecting for improving the conservation and use of plant genetic resources. This technical bulletin includes references up to 2001. It includes both theoretical and practical aspects, aims to provide a resource for those wishing to understand the basic concepts of adapting plant tissue culture methods to field collecting

Combining multi-omics and drug perturbation profiles to identify novel treatments that improve disease phenotypes in spinal muscular atrophy [preprint]

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by loss of survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. While SMN restoration therapies are beneficial, they are not a cure. We aimed to identify novel treatments to alleviate muscle pathology combining transcriptomics, proteomics and perturbational datasets. This revealed potential drug candidates for repurposing in SMA. One of the lead candidates, harmine, was further investigated in cell and animal models, improving multiple disease phenotypes, including SMN expression and lifespan. Our work highlights the potential of multiple, parallel data driven approaches for development of novel treatments for use in combination with SMN restoration therapies

Effects of heat waves and light deprivation on giant kelp juveniles (Macrocystis pyrifera, Laminariales, Paeophyceae

Due to climate change, the incidence of marine heat waves (MHWs) has increased, yet their effects on seaweeds are still not well understood. Adult sporophytes of Macrocystis pyrifera, the species forming the iconic giant kelp forests, can be negatively affected by thermal stress and associated environmental factors (e.g., nutrient depletion, light deprivation); however, little is known about the tolerance/vulnerability of juvenile sporophytes. Simultaneously to MHWs, juveniles can be subjected to light limitation for extended periods of time (days–weeks) due to factors causing turbidity, or even because of shading by understory canopyforming seaweeds. This study evaluated the effects of a simulated MHW (24°C, 7 d) in combination (or not) with light deprivation, on the hotosynthetic capacities, nutrient uptake, and tissue composition, as well as oxidative stress descriptors of M. pyrifera juvenile sporophytes (single blade stage, up to 20 cm length). Maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) decreased in juveniles under light at 24°C, likely reflecting some damage on the photosynthetic apparatus or dynamic photoinhibition; however, no other sign of physiological alteration was found in this treatment (i.e., pigments, nutrient reserves and uptake, oxidative stress). Photosynthetic capacities were maintained or even enhanced in plants under light deprivation, likely supported by photoacclimation (pigments increment); by contrast, nitrate uptake and internal storage of carbohydrates were strongly reduced, regardless of temperature. This study indicated that light limitation can be more detrimental to juvenile survival, and therefore recruitment success of M. pyrifera forests, than episodic thermal stress from MHWs.En prensa2,23