Seizure detection with automated EEG analysis: a validation study focusing on periodic patterns.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an automated seizure detection (ASD) algorithm in EEGs with periodic and other challenging patterns. METHODS: Selected EEGs recorded in patients over 1year old were classified into four groups: A. Periodic lateralized epileptiform discharges (PLEDs) with intermixed electrical seizures. B. PLEDs without seizures. C. Electrical seizures and no PLEDs. D. No PLEDs or seizures. Recordings were analyzed by the Persyst P12 software, and compared to the raw EEG, interpreted by two experienced neurophysiologists; Positive percent agreement (PPA) and false-positive rates/hour (FPR) were calculated. RESULTS: We assessed 98 recordings (Group A=21 patients; B=29, C=17, D=31). Total duration was 82.7h (median: 1h); containing 268 seizures. The software detected 204 (=76.1%) seizures; all ictal events were captured in 29/38 (76.3%) patients; in only in 3 (7.7%) no seizures were detected. Median PPA was 100% (range 0-100; interquartile range 50-100), and the median FPR 0/h (range 0-75.8; interquartile range 0-4.5); however, lower performances were seen in the groups containing periodic discharges. CONCLUSION: This analysis provides data regarding the yield of the ASD in a particularly difficult subset of EEG recordings, showing that periodic discharges may bias the results. SIGNIFICANCE: Ongoing refinements in this technique might enhance its utility and lead to a more extensive application

Statins are associated with decreased mortality risk after status epilepticus.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Statins display anti-inflammatory and anti-epileptogenic properties in animal models, and may reduce the epilepsy risk in elderly humans; however, a possible modulating role on outcome in patients with status epilepticus (SE) has not been assessed. METHODS: This cohort study was based on a prospective registry including all consecutive adults with incident SE treated in our center between April 2006 and September 2012. SE outcome was categorized at hospital discharge into 'return to baseline', 'new disability' and 'mortality'. The role of potential predictors, including statins treatment on admission, was evaluated using a multinomial logistic regression model. RESULTS: Amongst 427 patients identified, information on statins was available in 413 (97%). Mean age was 60.9 (±17.8) years; 201 (49%) were women; 211 (51%) had a potentially fatal SE etiology; and 191 (46%) experienced generalized-convulsive or non-convulsive SE in coma. Statins (simvastatin, atorvastatin or pravastatin) were prescribed prior to admission in 76 (18%) subjects, mostly elderly. Whilst 208 (50.4%) patients returned to baseline, 58 (14%) died. After adjustment for established SE outcome predictors (age, etiology, SE severity score), statins correlated significantly with lower mortality (relative risk ratio 0.38, P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: This study suggests for the first time that exposure to statins before an SE episode is related to its outcome, involving a possible anti-epileptogenic role. Other studies are needed to confirm this intriguing finding

Asociación micorrízica entre Moringa oleífera Lam y el Glomus fasciculatum

The mycorrhizal association of forest plant Moringa oleifera Lam and the theme of mutualism in conditions of low fertility soils. To evaluate whether the AMF Glomus fasciculatum establishes mycorrhizal associations with this plant, an experiment was carried out on a chess design with two variants and three replications at Pinar del Rio Biofactory, nearby the Provincial Delegation of the Ministry of Agriculture, at Hermanos Cruz neighbourhood. As a result of the analysis performed in the microbiology laboratory of the University, it was found that there exists and mycorrhizal association between the plant and the fungus, so it is found that the species Moringa oleifera Lam is included between 95-96% of the plant species that establish association with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi.La asociación micorrízica de la planta forestal Moringa oleífera Lam es un tema muy poco estudiado. Menos aún se ha trabajado este mutualismo en condiciones de árbol fuera del bosque (AFB) con esta especie en suelos de baja fertilidad. Para evaluar si el HMA Glomus fasciculatum establece micorrización con esta planta, se montó un experimento en diseño de ajedrez con dos variantes y tres réplicas, en la Biofábrica de Pinar del Río, aledaña a la Delegación Provincial del Ministerio de la Agricultura, en el Reparto Hermanos Cruz de la Capital Provincial. Como resultado de los análisis realizados en el laboratorio de microbiología de la Universidad, se pudo comprobar que existe asociación micorrízica entre la planta y el hongo, por lo que se comprueba que la especie Moringa oleífera Lam está incluida entre el 95-96 % de las especies vegetales que establecen asociación con los hongos micorrizógenos arbusculares

Influência da dispersao da refratariedade atrial e do distúrbio da conduçao atrial na induçao de fibrilaçao ou flutter atrial em indivíduos com síndrome de Wolff-Parkinson-White*,**

Para avaliar a influência da dispersao da refratariedade atrial e distúrbio da conduçao atrial na induçao de fibrilaçao ou flutter atrial na síndrome de Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) , revimos os resultados de estudo eletrofisiológico de36 indivíduos, portadores desta síndrome, sem cardiopatia orgânica, consecutivamente avaliados em nossa instituiçao. A populaçao foi dividida em dois grupos: grupo A, 13 indivíduos (36%) com fibrilaçao ou flutter atrial induzido e, grupo B, 23 indivíduos (64%) sem estas arritmias induzidos artificialmente. Nao houve diferença estatisticamente significativa, comparando-se grupo A versus grupo B, com relaçao aos seguintes parâmetros: idade (34±14 vs., 33±14a, p = 0,85); intervalo PA (34±6 vs., 33±6 ms, p = 0,75); intervalo AD-AE (69±12 vs., 70±6 ms, p = 0,83); período refratário efetivo atrial direito (207±41 vs., 212±45, P = 0,74) e esquerdo (226±36 vs., 226±35 ms, p = 1,00); período refratário efetivo anterógrado da via acessória (319±1 06 vs., 301 ±63 ms, p = 0,52); tempo de conduçao sino-atrial (164±36 VS., 157±38 ms, p = 0,59) etempo de recuperaçao sinusal corrigido (249±71 vs., 212±61 ms, p = 0,10). A dispersao da refratariedade atrial isolada ou associada a distúrbio da conduçao atrial foi observada em 22 indivíduos (61 %) e, destes, 9 (41 %) tinham fibrilaçao ou flutter atrial induzido artificialmente; em 14 indivíduos (39%) controles, 4 (29%) tinham tais arritmias induzidas (x2 = 0,58, P = 0,74). Concluindo, a dispersao da refratariedade atrial e/ou distúrbio da conduçao atrial nao identificou indivíduos com WPW com maior propensao à induçao de fibrilaçao ou flutter atrial durante estudo eletrofisiológico

[Vuelta Ciclista a Asturias 1976] [Material gráfico]

Contiene fotografías pertenecientes al archivo fotográfico del diario "Región", publicadas entre 1968 y 1977, aunque la mayoría de ellas se publicaron en junio de 1976Algunas no indican autoría. El resto de las fotografías firmadas por Ángel Ricardo (Oviedo), Información Gráfica Sierra (Oviedo), Foto Marcos (Avilés) y Rubio Fotógrafo (Oviedo

Search for supersymmetry in events with b-quark jets and missing transverse energy in pp collisions at 7 TeV

Results are presented from a search for physics beyond the standard model based on events with large missing transverse energy, at least three jets, and at least one, two, or three b-quark jets. The study is performed using a sample of proton-proton collision data collected at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2011. The integrated luminosity of the sample is 4.98 inverse femtobarns. The observed number of events is found to be consistent with the standard model expectation, which is evaluated using control samples in the data. The results are used to constrain cross sections for the production of supersymmetric particles decaying to b-quark-enriched final states in the context of simplified model spectra.Comment: Submitted to Physical Review

Ibero-American Consensus on Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners: Safety, Nutritional Aspects and Benefits in Food and Beverages

International scientific experts in food, nutrition, dietetics, endocrinology, physical activity, paediatrics, nursing, toxicology and public health met in Lisbon on 2-4 July 2017 to develop a Consensus on the use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) as substitutes for sugars and other caloric sweeteners. LNCS are food additives that are broadly used as sugar substitutes to sweeten foods and beverages with the addition of fewer or no calories. They are also used in medicines, health-care products, such as toothpaste, and food supplements. The goal of this Consensus was to provide a useful, evidence-based, point of reference to assist in efforts to reduce free sugars consumption in line with current international public health recommendations. Participating experts in the Lisbon Consensus analysed and evaluated the evidence in relation to the role of LNCS in food safety, their regulation and the nutritional and dietary aspects of their use in foods and beverages. The conclusions of this Consensus were: (1) LNCS are some of the most extensively evaluated dietary constituents, and their safety has been reviewed and confirmed by regulatory bodies globally including the World Health Organisation, the US Food and Drug Administration and the European Food Safety Authority; (2) Consumer education, which is based on the most robust scientific evidence and regulatory processes, on the use of products containing LNCS should be strengthened in a comprehensive and objective way; (3) The use of LNCS in weight reduction programmes that involve replacing caloric sweeteners with LNCS in the context of structured diet plans may favour sustainable weight reduction. Furthermore, their use in diabetes management programmes may contribute to a better glycaemic control in patients, albeit with modest results. LNCS also provide dental health benefits when used in place of free sugars; (4) It is proposed that foods and beverages with LNCS could be included in dietary guidelines as alternative options to products sweetened with free sugars; (5) Continued education of health professionals is required, since they are a key source of information on issues related to food and health for both the general population and patients. With this in mind, the publication of position statements and consensus documents in the academic literature are extremely desirable

Izaña Atmospheric Research Center. Activity Report 2015-2016

This report is a summary of the many activities at the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center to the broader community. The combination of operational activities, research and development in state-of-the-art measurement techniques, calibration and validation and international cooperation encompass the vision of WMO to provide world leadership in expertise and international cooperation in weather, climate, hydrology and related environmental issues