Investigating the Role of Micromammals in the Ecology of Coxiella burnetii in Spain

Coxiella burnetii, the causal agent of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis, is a zoonotic infectious bacterium with a complex ecology that results from its ability to replicate in multiple (in)vertebrate host species. Spain notifies the highest number of Q fever cases to the ECDC annually and wildlife plays a relevant role in C. burnetii ecology in the country. However, the whole picture of C. burnetii hosts is incomplete, so this study seeks to better understand the role of micromammals in C. burnetii ecology in the country. Spleen samples from 816 micromammals of 10 species and 130 vaginal swabs from Microtus arvalis were analysed by qPCR to detect C. burnetii infection and shedding, respectively. The 9.7% of the spleen samples were qPCR positive. The highest infection prevalence (10.8%) was found in Microtus arvalis, in which C. burnetii DNA was also detected in 1 of the 130 vaginal swabs (0.8%) analysed. Positive samples were also found in Apodemus sylvaticus (8.7%), Crocidura russula (7.7%) and Rattus rattus (6.4%). Positive samples were genotyped by coupling PCR with reverse line blotting and a genotype II+ strain was identified for the first time in one of the positive samples from M. arvalis, whereas only partial results could be obtained for the rest of the samples. Acute Q fever was diagnosed in one of the researchers that participated in the study, and it was presumably linked to M. arvalis handling. The results of the study are consistent with previous findings suggesting that micromammals can be infected by C. burnetii. Our findings additionally suggest that micromammals may be potential sources to trace back the origin of human Q fever and animal Coxiellosis cases in Europe.This work was supported by grants CGL2011-30274 and CGL2015-71255-P of the Spanish Ministry for the Science and Innovation (MCI), and by the ‘Fundación BBVA’ Research Project TOPIGEPLA (2014 call). This is also a contribution to MCI-funded projects CGL2017-89866-R and E-RTA-2015-0002-C02-02. D.G.-B. was funded by MCI through Juan de la Cierva (FJCI-2016-27875) and ‘Sara Borrell’ (CD19CIII/00011) postdoctoral fellowships. GREFA provided partial financial support and invaluable logistic and workforce support for samplings in NW Spain, along with many students and staff from UAM.S

Indications and practical application of strategies in the endovascular management of intracranial aneurysms

The occlusion of intracranial aneurysms is more successful and stable by properly planning the approach and application of endovascular techniques. The next step is a relentless analysis of the different indications of endovascular treatment, tailoring a strategy suitable for the specific case, and making more rational choices for the management of aneurysms. Indications and strategies according to the analysis of the aneurysmal complex are given, as well as pros and cons of the endovascular technique according to different anatomical locations.       &nbsp

Ten-year follow-up of giant basilar aneurysm treated by sole stenting technique: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>The sole stenting technique has emerged as a new tool for the management of intracranial aneurysms. However, several concerns have emerged about the long-term behavior of intracranial stents, particularly their safety and efficacy.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the first case of an intracranial aneurysm intentionally treated with the sole stenting technique. After ten years of clinical and imaging follow-up, the lesion has healed and no intrastent stenosis is observed.</p> <p>Several issues concerning this technique are discussed. For instance, the modification of the angle and intra-aneurysmal thrombosis may account as positive effects; negative outcomes include in-stent thrombosis or stenosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This case report, involving a long clinical and imaging follow-up, provides an example of the effectiveness, safety, durability and simplicity of the sole stenting technique in the management of intracranial aneurysms.</p

Intravascular tissue reactions induced by various types of bioabsorbable polymeric materials: correlation between the degradation profiles and corresponding tissue reactions

Several different bioabsorbable polymeric coil materials are currently used with the goal of improving treatment outcomes of endovascular embolization of intracranial aneurysms. However, little is known about the correlation between polymer degradation profiles and concomitant tissue responses in a blood vessel. The authors describe in vitro degradation characteristics of nine different polymeric materials and their corresponding tissue responses induced in rabbit carotid arteries. Mass loss and molecular weight loss of nine commercially available bioabsorbable sutures were evaluated in vitro up to16 weeks. The same nine materials, as well as platinum coils, were implanted into blind-end carotid arteries (n = 44) in rabbits, and their tissue reactions were evaluated histologically 14 days after the implantation. Five of the nine polymers elicited moderate to strong tissue reactions relative to the remaining materials. While polymer mass loss did not correlate with their histologic findings, polymers that showed a faster rate of molecular weight loss had a tendency to present more active tissue reactions such as strong fibrocellular response around the implanted material with a moderate inflammatory cell infiltration. Maxon exhibited the fastest rate of molecular weight loss and poly-l-lactic acid the slowest. The rate of molecular weight loss may be an important factor that is associated with the degree of bioactivity when bioabsorbable polymers are implanted into blood vessels. For further quantitative analysis, additional experiments utilizing established aneurysm models need to be conducted

Wikipedia como herramienta de aprendizaje en el EEES en la docencia de la lengua española en la educación primaria

Memoria ID12-0109. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2012-2013

Noise Reduction Properties of an Experimental Bituminous Slurry with Crumb Rubber Incorporated by the Dry Process

Nowadays, cold technology for asphalt pavement in the field of road construction is considered as an alternative solution to conventional procedures from both an economic and environmental point of view. Among these techniques, bituminous slurry surfacing is obtaining an important role due to the properties of the obtained wearing course. The functional performance of this type of surfaces is directly related to its rough texture. Nevertheless, this parameter has a significant influence on the tire/road noise generation. To reduce this undesirable effect on the sound performance, new designs of elastic bituminous slurries have been developed. Within the FENIX project, this work presents the acoustical characterization of an experimental bituminous slurry with crumb rubber from wasted automobile tires incorporated by the dry process. The obtained results show that, under controlled operational parameters, the close proximity sound levels associated to the experimental slurry are considerably lower than those emitted by a conventional slurry wearing course. However, after one year of supporting traffic loads and different weather conditions, the evaluated bituminous slurry, although it conserves the original noise reduction properties in relation to the conventional one, noticeably increases the generated sound emission. Therefore, it is required to continue improving the design of experimental surfaces in order to enhance its long-term performance

Transcriptional analysis of multigene family 110 of African swine fever virus.

A transcriptional analysis of the 3.2-kb region of the African swine fever virus genome containing the five members of the multigene family 110 is presented. The mRNAs corresponding to the genes studied have short leader sequences with no intervening AUG codons before the translational start site, and their 3' ends map within a conserved sequence motif formed by a stretch of seven or more consecutive thymidylate residues. The possible role of this sequence as a signal for the 3'-end formation of African swine fever virus mRNAs is discussed. While four of the genes studied are actively transcribed from the beginning of the infection until the onset of virus DNA replication, the transcription of one of the members of the multigene family 110, the L270 gene, is silenced at an earlier time. A detailed analysis, including in vitro translation of mRNAs isolated from infected Vero cells, revealed that the L270 gene belongs to a small subset of early genes, designated immediate early, whose transcription is silenced before the onset of virus DNA replication. The transcriptional data obtained enabled us to generate the first detailed transcriptional map of a region of the African swine fever virus genome, thus opening the possibility of studying the cis-acting sequences involved in transcriptional control of the viral genes

Creation of Transcatheter Aortopulmonary and Cavopulmonary Shunts Using Magnetic Catheters: Feasibility Study in Swine

Surgical shunts are the basic form of palliation for many types of congenital heart disease. The Glenn shunt (superior cavopulmonary connection) and central shunt (aortopulmonary connection) represent surgical interventions that could potentially be accomplished by transcatheter techniques. We sought to investigate the efficacy of using neodymium iron boron (NdFeB) magnetic catheters to create transcatheter cavopulmonary and aortopulmonary shunts. NdFeB magnets were machined and integrated into catheters. “Target” catheters were placed in the pulmonary arteries (PAs), and radiofrequency “perforation” catheters were placed in either the descending aorta (DAo) for central shunts or the superior vena cava (SVC) for Glenn shunts. The magnet technique or “balloon target” method was used to pass wires from the DAo or the SVC into the PA. Aortopulmonary and cavopulmonary connections were then created using Atrium iCAST covered stents. Magnet catheters were used to perforate the left pulmonary artery from the DAo, thereby establishing a transcatheter central shunt. Given the orientation of the vasculature, magnetic catheters could not be used for SVC-to-PA connections; however, perforation from the SVC to the right pulmonary artery was accomplished with a trans-septal needle and balloon target. Transcatheter Glenn or central shunts were successfully created in four swine