Bioethics for Biotechnologists: From Dolly to CRISPR

Abstract: Bioethics, as a discipline, has developed mainly, but not exclusively, around themes of moral importance for the medical practice, such as abortion and euthanasia, a never ending discussion that has been shaped by social mores and influenced by scientific and technological advance. However, in the past 20 years an important shift has been taking place, one where bioethical issues and their discussion are starting to being driven by the so-called emerging biotechnologies, from cloning to genome sequencing and editing. If Bioethics is concerned with human beings, and their interaction with other living beings and the environment, it makes sense for Biotechnology, by definition the use of living systems or organisms to develop products, to become an important, if not the most important, source of bioethical conflicts in modern era and for future society. As Biotechnology keeps expanding and becomes entangled in everyday life, so does the need for ethical competent biotechnologists, with competencies built not only on ethical principles but also on a realistic grasp of the impact these technologies could have on human society and the world we inhabit. Keywords: Biotechnology, genome editing, animal cloning, ethics, fairness, biothreats, biosafety, biosecurit

The ceramide synthase subunit lac1 regulates cell growth and size in fission yeast

Cell division produces two viable cells of a defined size. Thus, all cells require mechanisms to measure growth and trigger cell division when sufficient growth has occurred. Previous data suggest a model in which growth rate and cell size are mechanistically linked by ceramide-dependent signals in budding yeast. However, the conservation of mechanisms that govern growth control is poorly understood. In fission yeast, ceramide synthase is encoded by two genes, Lac1 and Lag1. Here, we characterize them by using a combination of genetics, microscopy, and lipid analysis. We showed that Lac1 and Lag1 co-immunoprecipitate and co-localize at the endoplasmic reticulum. However, each protein generates different species of ceramides and complex sphingolipids. We further discovered that Lac1, but not Lag1, is specifically required for proper control of cell growth and size in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We propose that specific ceramide and sphingolipid species produced by Lac1 are required for normal control of cell growth and size in fission yeast.Junta de Andalucía P18-FRJ1132Universidad de Sevilla VIPPIT-2020-I.5Japan Society for the Promotion of Science JP19H02922, JP21K19088Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades BFU2017-89700-

Efficacy of short-course colchicine treatment in hospitalized patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 pneumonia and hyperinflammation: a randomized clinical trial

Artículo escrito por un elevado número de autores, solo se referencian el que aparece en primer lugar, el nombre del grupo de colaboración, si lo hubiere, y los autores pertenecientes a la UAMSome patients with COVID-19 pneumonia develop an associated cytokine storm syndrome that aggravates the pulmonary disease. These patients may benefit of anti-inflammatory treatment. The role of colchicine in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and established hyperinflammation remains unexplored. In a prospective, randomized controlled, observer-blinded endpoint, investigator-initiated trial, 240 hospitalized patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and established hyperinflammation were randomly allocated to receive oral colchicine or not. The primary efficacy outcome measure was a composite of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (CPAP or BiPAP), admission to the intensive care unit, invasive mechanical ventilation requirement or death. The composite primary outcome occurred in 19.3% of the total study population. The composite primary outcome was similar in the two arms (17% in colchicine group vs. 20.8% in the control group; p = 0.533) and the same applied to each of its individual components. Most patients received steroids (98%) and heparin (99%), with similar doses in both groups. In this trial, including adult patients with COVID-19 pneumonia and associated hyperinflammation, no clinical benefit was observed with short-course colchicine treatment beyond standard care regarding the combined outcome measurement of CPAP/BiPAP use, ICU admission, invasive mechanical ventilation or deat

Adynaton 5

Revista de narrativa y poesía escrita en los talleres literarios de CETYS Universidad."Adynaton" es una revista del Círculo de Letras de CETYS Universidad

Electrofisiología y Estimulación Cardiaca. Estudio MAREC, diagnóstico de la situación de Enfermería en España

Introduction. The MAREC study examines human resources and the distribution of healthcare resources to identify the competencies and degree of autonomy of nursing staff in arrhythmia units, as well as the shortcomings and possible improvement measures in this area. Material and method. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study, carried out between April and August 2018 in Spanish public, private and subsidized hospitals that provide services in different areas across Spain. A total of 853 questions were included and analyzed using the statistical package STATA 12. Results and Discussion. 69 centers with electrophysiology departments responded, representing 82.1% of the total. The mean number of electrophysiology units in relation to the population by CCAA was 1.48. Regarding hierarchical rank, 69.6% are considered a unit, 27.5% a section and the remaining 2.9% service. 81.2% of the centers have a specific room for electrophysiology: in most cases (67.9%) a single room (76.8% accredited). They have an average of 3 full-time nurses. Although 81.2% of the centers have a specific room for electrophysiology, 63.8% of these share the staff with other units. Conclusions. This analysis of arrhythmia units highlights enormous variability across different parts of the country. Nurses have acquired an increasing autonomy and capacity and, as we have seen, require a training plan more oriented towards advanced accreditation.Introducción. El estudio MAREC estudia los recursos humanos y la distribución de recursos asistenciales para identificar las competencias y el grado de autonomía de las enfermeras, así como las carencias y las posibles medidas de mejora en las distintas áreas. Material y método. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo, transversal, realizado entre abril y agosto de 2018 en hospitales públicos, privados y concertados españoles que prestaban servicios en las distintas áreas. Se incluyó un total de 853 preguntas, de forma telemática, analizados con el paquete estadístico STATA 12. Resultados y discusión. Contestaron 69 centros del área de Electrofisiología que representan el 82,1% del total. La media de unidades de Electrofisiología en relación con la población por comunidades autónomas es de 1,48. En cuanto a rango jerárquico el 69,6% están consideradas unidad, el 27,5% sección y el 2,9% restante, servicio. El 81,2% de los centros cuentan con sala específica para electrofisiología y en la mayoría de los casos (67,9%) se trata de una única sala (76,8% acreditados). Cuentan con una media de 3 enfermeras a tiempo completo. 81,2% de los centros poseen sala específica para electrofisiología, pero un 63,8% comparten el personal con otras unidades. Conclusiones. El análisis que hemos visto de las unidades de arritmias estudiadas demuestra una enorme variabilidad entre los distintos territorios del país. Las enfermeras han adquirido una autonomía y capacitación cada vez más específica y que como hemos visto requiere un plan formativo más orientado a la acreditación avanzada

A Neural Network Approach for Forestal Fire Risk Estimation

Abstract. This paper describes an intelligent system for the prediction of forest fire risk in Galicia, a region in north-west Spain. The system has been designed to calculate a risk fire index for each of the 360 squares of 10x10 kms into which the area map has been divided digitally. In our research, the problem was approached using a feedforward neural network. The information used to train the network was gathered at five meteorological stations on a daily basis from 1985 to 1999, and consisted of basically meteorological data, namely temperature, humidity and rainfall, in conjunction with previous fire records for the areas represented by squares. Network topologies were tested using 125,156 training data and validated over 13,906 test samples, and that achieving the best performance was the 6-9-1 topology. Finally, our results indicate that the system performs satisfactorily, with a sensitivity of 0.857 and a specificity of 0.768

Manejo contemporáneo de la disección coronaria espontánea

Introduction and objectives: Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a rare but increasingly recognized cause for acute coronary syndrome. The optimal management and treatment of SCAD is still unknown. Methods: Data analysis of a prospective protocol including centralized care management of a consecutive series of patients with SCAD diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2018. Major adverse cardiovascular events included all-cause mortality, new myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, ventricular arrhythmia, heart failure or stroke. Results: A total of 33 consecutive patients were included (41 lesions). Intravascular imaging modalities were used to confirm the diagnosis in 42% patients. None of the patient showed images of thrombus formation in the true lumen. Conservative treatment was the initial approach in most of the cases (82%). No deaths were reported during the index admission, but 15% experienced major adverse cardiovascular events. The coronary computed tomography angiography performed in 58% of patients during the admission identified SCADs in 79% of the patients. Most of the patients managed with conservative treatment received only 1 antiplatelet agent for a limited period of time (17 months [9-35]). During a median clinical follow-up of 33 months [13-49], 82% of patients did not have any adverse events. The angiographic surveillance obtained in 48% of patients at the 6-month follow-up confirmed the complete healing of the SCAD image in 86% of the patients. The screening for extracoronary vascular findings (97% of patients) resulted in a high prevalence of abnormalities (59%). Conclusions: The unrestricted use of intravascular imaging modalities showed no thrombus in the true lumen of patients with SCAD. In patients managed with conservative treatment, a limited course of antiplatelet monotherapy is safe and provides good clinical outcomes. Performing a coronary computed tomography angiography in the acute phase of SCAD is useful at the follow-up. The screening for extracoronary vascular findings confirmed a high prevalence of abnormalities.Introducción y objetivos: La disección coronaria espontánea (DCE) constituye una causa infrecuente, pero cada vez más reconocida, de síndrome coronario agudo. La actitud diagnóstico-terapéutica idónea sigue sin esclarecerse. Métodos: Análisis del seguimiento prospectivo y centralizado de una serie de pacientes consecutivos diagnosticados de DCE desde enero de 2010 hasta diciembre de 2018. Se definió evento cardiovascular adverso mayor como la aparición de muerte de cualquier causa, reinfarto no mortal, revascularización no planificada, arritmia ventricular, insuficiencia cardiaca o ictus. Resultados: Se incluyó a 33 pacientes con DCE (41 lesiones). En el 42% se realizó un estudio con imagen intracoronaria para confirmar el diagnóstico, sin identificar trombo en la luz verdadera en ninguno de ellos. En la mayoría de los casos (82%) se eligió un tratamiento médico conservador. Ningún paciente falleció durante el ingreso, pero el 15% presentó algún evento mayor. En el momento agudo se realizó tomografía computarizada coronaria al 58% de los pacientes y se identificó la DCE en el 79% de los casos. La mayoría de los pacientes con tratamiento conservador recibieron antiagregación simple un tiempo limitado (17 meses [9-35]). Con una mediana de seguimiento de 33 meses [13-49], el 82% no sufrió ningún evento adverso. Al 48% se les realizó control angiográfico a los 6 meses, que mostró resolución en el 86% de los casos. El cribado de anomalías vasculares extracoronarias se realizó en el 97% de los pacientes y se hallaron alteraciones en el 59%, incluyendo 3 pacientes con aneurisma intracraneal. Conclusiones: En esta serie, con una amplia utilización de imagen intracoronaria, no se ha identificado trombo en la luz verdadera en ningún caso de DCE. En los pacientes tratados de forma conservadora, la monoterapia antiagregante es segura y se asocia a buenos resultados clínicos. La tomografía computarizada coronaria durante el ingreso es útil en el seguimiento. El cribado sistemático de anomalías vasculares extracoronarias revela una alta prevalencia de alteraciones

Clinical features and radiological manifestations of COVID-19 disease

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was discovered after unusual cases of severe pneumonia emerged in December 2019 in Wuhan Province (China). Coronavirus is a family of single-stranded RNA viruses. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted from person to person. Although asymptomatic individuals can transmit the virus, symptomatic patients are more contagious. The incubation period ranges from 3-7 d and symptoms are mainly respiratory, including pneumonia or pulmonary embolism in severe cases. Elevated serum levels of interleukins (IL)-2, IL-6, IL-7 indicate the presence of cytokine release syndrome, which is associated with disease severity. The disease has three main phases: Viral infection, pulmonary involvement, and hyperinflammation. To date, no treatment has proved to be safe or effective. Chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) are the primary imaging tests for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia, follow-up, and detection of complications. The main radiological findings are ground-glass opacification and areas of consolidation. The long-term clinical course is unknown, although some patients may develop pulmonary fibrosis. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) is useful to assess pulmonary involvement, to define the affected areas, and to assess treatment response. The pathophysiology and clinical course of COVID-19 infection remain poorly understood. However, patterns detected on CT and PET-CT may help to diagnose and guide treatment. In this mini review, we analyze the clinical manifestations and radiological findings of COVID-19 infection.Sin financiaciónNo data 2020UE