Correction to: The Dead-Alive Physicist Experiment: A Case-Study Against the Hypothesis that Consciousness Causes the Wave-Function Collapse in the Quantum Mechanical Measurement Process

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Roles and Clinical Applications of OPG and TRAIL as Biomarkers in Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the major cause of death and premature disability in Western societies. Assessing the risk of CVD is an important aspect in clinical decision-making. Among the growing number of molecules that are studied for their potential utility as CVD biomarkers, a lot of attention has been focused on osteoprotegerin (OPG) and its ligands, which are receptor activator of nuclear factor \u3baB ligand (RANKL) and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand. Based on the existing literature and on our experience in this field, here we review what the possible roles of OPG and TRAIL in CVD are and their potential utility as CVD biomarkers

Raven’s progressive matrices, parallel form: reliability, differences between sexes and test-retest learning

El Test de Matrices Progresivas de Raven es de frecuente empleo. El aprendizaje de sus respuestas produciría diagnósticos equivocados. El objetivo de este trabajo es estudiar la confiabilidad del uso de la Escala Paralela, como prueba intercambiable con la Escala General, la diferencia entre sexos y la influencia del aprendizaje test-retest, aportando a los profesionales otra herramienta de evaluación psicológica.Raven’s Progressive Matrices are frequently used. Learning its answers could lead to misdiagnosis. This work aims to study the reliability of Raven’s Progressive Matrices’ Parallel form, as an interchangeable alternative to this test’s Classic form, differences between sexes and the influence of test-tretest learning, in order to provide professionals with a new tool for psychological assessment. A descriptive-correlational study was made, using the equivalent-forms model.Facultad de Psicologí

Anatomía comparada en cuatro helechos Cheilantoideos

Background and aims: Some species of Cheilanthoid ferns are characterized by show adaptations to xeric habitats. Furthermore, presents the peculiarity of the roll their blades under drought stress and when conditions are optimal they expand again. The aims of this work are provide morpho-anatomical information of the leaves and relate with the environmental conditions in which grow. M&M: The fronds? morpho-anatomy of four species (Adiantopsis radiata, Cheilanthes glauca, Doryopteris concolor and D. pentagona) were analyzed through light microscopy. Also, the stomatal density and stomatal index were obtained. Results: Homogenous mesophyll was observed in D. pentagona. Adiantopsis radiata, C. glauca and D. concolor showed dorsiventral heterogeneous mesophyll. All species studied showed hypostomatic leaf, with anomocytic stomata. The stomatal index observed was between 9.1% (A. radiata) and 14.1% (D. concolor), and the range of stomata density varied between 39.7 (D. pentagona) and 57.8 (D. concolor). Conclusions: The mesophyll observed in A. radiata, and D. pentagona responds to a mesophytic environment. Doryopteris concolor was reported as a facultative epiphyte, and its dorsiventral heterogeneous mesophyll would be an advantage in this habitat. Cheilanthes glauca has xeromorphic and mesomorphic features, probably resulting from water availability during the different seasons. We porpose as hypothesis that the thickening of the anticlinal walls of epidermal cells could be involved in the leaf movements.Introducción y objetivos: Algunas especies de helechos cheilanthoideos son caracterizados por presentar adaptaciones a hábitats xéricos. Además, presentan la particularidad de enrollar sus láminas frente a condiciones de stress hídrico. Sin embargo, al retornar las condiciones ambientales óptimas las láminas se vuelven a expandir. El objetivo de este trabajo es proporcionar información morfo-anatómica de las frondes y asociar estructuras anatómicas a estos movimientos foliares. M&M: Se estudiaron mediante microscopía óptica y electrónica de barrido la morfo-anatomía de las frondes de cuatro especies: Adiantopsis radiata, Cheilanthes glauca, Doryopteris concolor, y D. pentagona. Además, se analizó la densidad de los estomas y se calculó el índice estomático. Resultados: Se observó mesófilo homogéneo en A. radiata y D. pentagona. Cheilanthes glauca y Doryopteris concolor presentaron mesófilo heterogéneo dorsiventral. Todas las especies mostraron hojas hipoestómaticas y estomas de tipo anomocítico. El índice estomático osciló entre 9,1% (A. radiata) y 14,1% (D. concolor) y el rango de densidad de los estomas fue de 39,7 (D. pentagona) y 57,8 (D. concolor). Conclusiones: El mesófilo observado en A. radiata y D. pentagona refleja la especialización para habitar ambientes mesófilos. El mesófilo heterogéneo dorsiventral de Doryopteris concolor podría ser una ventaja para su hábito epifítico facultativo. Cheilanthes glauca tiene características xeromorfas y mesomorfas, probablemente como resultado de la disponibilidad de agua en el ambiente durante las diferentes estaciones. Se propone como hipótesis que el engrosamiento de las paredes anticlinales de las células epidérmicas podría estar involucrados en los movimientos de las láminas.Fil: Dematteis, Bruno. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Solis, Stella Maris. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Yesilyurt, Jovita C.. Natural History Museum; Reino UnidoFil: Meza Torres, Esteban Ismael. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste; Argentin

Meta-analysis on the effect of mild primary hyperparathyroidism and parathyroidectomy upon arterial stiffness

CONTEXT: current data about the cardiovascular manifestations of mild primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) are often conflicting. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the gold-standard method for assessing aortic stiffness, which predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.OBJECTIVE: Primary outcomes were to investigate if mild pHPT was associated with higher PWV and if parathyroidectomy (PTX) reduced PWV in mild pHPT. Secondary outcome was to investigate blood pressure changes after PTX.DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library.STUDY SELECTION: Eligible studies included reports of PWV in patients with mild pHPT and controls, or in patients with mild pHPT before and after PTX.DATA EXTRACTION: Two investigators independently identified eligible studies and extracted data. Pooled mean difference (MD) was the summary effect measure. Data were presented in forest plots with outlier and influential case diagnostics.DATA SYNTHESIS: Nine observational studies and one RCT were selected, including 433 patients with mild pHPT, 171 of whom underwent PTX, and 407 controls. PWV was significantly higher in mild pHPT as compared to controls (MD=1.18, 0.67 to 1.68, p<0.0001). Seven studies evaluated the effect of PTX on PWV. PTX significantly reduced PWV (MD= -0.48, -0.88 to -0.07, p=0.022).CONCLUSION: Aortic stiffness is increased in patients with mild pHPT, supporting the notion that also mild pHPT is associated with adverse cardiovascular manifestations. PTX significantly reduced arterial stiffness in mild pHPT, indicating that the benefit of PTX over cardiovascular manifestations should not be dismissed but it deserves further studies

Radiofrequency ablation for benign thyroid nodules

Benign thyroid nodules are an extremely common occurrence. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is gaining ground as an effective technique for their treatment, in case they become symptomatic. Here we review what are the current indications to RFA, its outcomes in terms of efficacy, tolerability, and cost, and also how it compares to the other conventional and experimental treatment modalities for benign thyroid nodules. Moreover, we will also address the issue of treating with this technique patients with cardiac pacemakers (PM) or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), as it is a rather frequent occurrence that has never been addressed in detail in the literature

Full-Thickness Skin Burn Caused by Radiofrequency Ablation of a Benign Thyroid Nodule

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A case report of hyponatremia after surgery for Conn's adenoma

Primary aldosteronism (PA), also known as Conn's syndrome, is a frequent cause of secondary hypertension. If PA is due to a documented unilateral adrenal adenoma, adrenalectomy is the treatment of choice. Endocrine Society guidelines suggest monitoring potassium after adrenalectomy, while there is no mention of sodium disorders after surgery. Here we report the case of a patient with Conn's syndrome who developed hyponatremia after surgery. This was an unexpected event in the course of the treatment, which sheds light on the fact that low levels of aldosterone strongly influence sodium concentration, and advises clinicians to monitor sodium after adrenalectomy