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Information on the Colletotrichumspecies associated with Citrus anthracnose was lacking. Surveys were conducted from January 2012 to February 2013 on different citrus species and varieties orchards in the Cap-Bon region (Tunisia) to investigate the prevalence of Colletotrichumspecies. Typical anthracnose symptoms such as dieback and wither-tip of twigs were noticed. The fungi associated with anthracnose were isolated and studied. Morphological features (mycelial and sporulation characterization), molecular identification by using ITS1 and ITS2 primers were done along with pathogenicity test monosporic cultures. Eight Colletotrichumisolates were collected from infected fruits, leaves and twigs and were identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides(seven isolates) and Colletotrichum fructicola(one isolate). All eight Colletotrichumisolates were pathogenic on Thomson, Malti and Meski orange varieties, Lunari lemon variety and sweet lime Bergamot detached fruit and leaves. This investigation revealed the prevalence, for the first time of C. fructicola, on Citrus in Tunisia.

We provide a unified approach that encompasses some integral formulas for functions of the visual angle of a compact convex set due to Crofton, Hurwitz and Masotti. The basic tool is an integral formula that also allows us to integrate new functions of the visual angle. Also, we establish some upper and lower bounds for the considered integrals, generalizing, in particular, those obtained by Santaló for Masotti’s integral.

We provide a unified approach that encompasses some integral formulas for functions of the visual angle of a compact convex set due to Crofton, Hurwitz and Masotti. The basic tool is an integral formula that also allows us to integrate new functions of the visual angle. Also, we establish some upper and lower bounds for the considered integrals, generalizing, in particular, those obtained by Santaló for Masotti's integral.

Screening colonoscopy with polipectomy reduces colonorectal cancer incidence and mortality. An adequate bowel cleansing is one of the keys to achieving best results with this technique. Oral sodium phosphate solution (OSP) had a widespread use in the 90s decade. Its efficacy was similar to polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution, but with less cost and convenient administration. Series of patients with acute renal failure due to OSP use have been reported. However, large cohorts of patients found no difference in the incidence of renal damage between these two solutions.

Screening colonoscopy with polipectomy reduces colonorectal cancer incidence and mortality. An adequate bowel cleansing is one of the keys to achieving best results with this technique. Oral sodium phosphate solution (OSP) had a widespread use in the 90s decade. Its efficacy was similar to polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution, but with less cost and convenient administration. Series of patients with acute renal failure due to OSP use have been reported. However, large cohorts of patients found no difference in the incidence of renal damage between these two solutions.

Abstract: The short-term effects of forest overstory reduction and slash mulching on ground vegetation were analysed in a Mediterranean Aleppo pine reforested woodland on degraded agricultural land in south-east Spain. This sort of practice is becoming common in the Mediterranean basin to guard against forest fires, but very few attempts have been made to analyse its effect upon biodiversity. The data concerning floristic richness and above-ground biomass of species were measured as dependent variables in 0.5 × 0.5 m quadrats in an overstory reduction versus control area (treatment factor) during the spring of 2006. The data were analysed by ANCOVA, in which slash-mulch weight was introduced as covariate. Relationships between dependent variables and slash-mulch weight were examined using linear regression, and variations in floristic composition were ascertained by means of principal component analysis (PCA). A total of 32 ruderal herbaceous species were recorded, none of which was exotic. In spite of some methodological constraints (i.e. low number of samples and data from a non-replicated case study), the results of our study point to the conclusion that most of these species were found more frequently in the overstory-reduction treatment compared to the control area, and that only a few species clearly preferred the control treatment. In general, overstory reduction led to a significant increase both in floristic richness and above-ground biomass. Slash mulching, on the other hand, encouraged the appearance of a greater quantity of above-ground biomass (in different ways depending upon treatment), although species richness did not improve, even to the extent of declining in the control area. On the basis of our findings, overstory reduction seems to increase species richness and productivity in dense Mediterranean afforestations on degraded agricultural land, at least in the short-term. Large quantities of mulch accompanied by high tree density would seem not to favour species richness.

AbstractWe present the testing of a high-density magnetite concrete [commercially available under the name Hormirad™, developed by the Spanish company Construcciones Tecnicas de Radioterapia, S.L. (CT-RAD)] as neutron shielding material. The purpose of this work was to characterize the material behavior against neutrons, as well as to test different mixings including boron compounds in an effort to improve neutron shielding efficiency. Hormirad™ slabs of different thicknesses were exposed to a 241Am-Be neutron source under controlled conditions. The original mix, which includes a high fraction of magnetite, was then modified by adding different proportions of anhydrous borax (Na2B4O7). Looking for a comparison, the same experiment was repeated with slabs of ordinary concrete (HA-25) used to shield medical accelerator facilities. In parallel to the experiments, Monte Carlo calculations were performed with MCNP5, with some differences found with regard to the experiments, attributable to uncertainties in the elemental composition of the samples tested. Tenth-value layers have been determined for the different types of concrete tested for the 241Am-Be neutron source. The results show an advantageous behavior of the Hormirad™ when comparing it with ordinary concrete. Although borated concretes show a small improvement in neutron attenuation when they are compared with Hormirad™ alone, the resulting reduction in density and structural properties makes them less practical.

AbstractUsing Monte Carlo methods the response matrix of a Bonner sphere spectrometer with a 6LiI scintillator has been calculated. The response functions were calculated for the bare detector and for polyethylene spheres 5.08, 7.62, 12.7, 20.32, 25.4, and 30.48 cm in diameter. Twenty-three beams of monoenergetic neutrons were used as sources in the energy interval from 0.025 eV to 100 MeV. The response functions were interpolated to energy points of those calculated in earlier literature works and compared with two response functions reported in the literature; good agreement was found from this comparison. The main differences were found for neutrons with energies higher than 20 MeV and, to a minor extent, for low-energy neutrons as well. These differences are mainly attributed to the cross-section libraries utilized in the different studies.

AbstractBackground: Nosocomial transmission of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in hemodialysis (HD) units is well established. In units with a high prevalence of HCV infection, the implementation of universal precautionary measures may not suffice in order to decrease the incidence and prevalence of HCV. In this setting strict isolation practices can be useful in order to achieve this goal. Methods: The incidence and prevalence of HCV infection amongst all HD and peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients from the province of Albacete, Spain, have been studied from 1992 to 2003.Through the 1993–1995 period chronic HD patients were treated either in a room exclusively for HCV– patients or in a room shared by HCV+ and HCV– patients. Complete separation of HCV+ and HCV– patients was implemented in 1995. Acute patients have been separated since 1992. The implementation of universal precautions was applied throughout the period. Results: There has not been a single seroconversion in the rooms where only HCV– patients were dialyzed during the 11 years of follow-up. There were two seroconversions in the rooms shared for 3 years by both HCV+ and HCV– patients. In 1995 the prevalence of HCV+ cases in HD and PD was 21.6 and 23.2%, respectively. Since then it has decreased steadily and in parallel for both therapies, and the current prevalence is 6.8% in HD and 5.7% in PD. Conclusions: In HD units with a high prevalence of HCV+ patients, strict isolation in combination with implementation of universal prevention measures can eliminate nosocomial transmission and obtain a long-term reduction in prevalence.Copyright © 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel

Development of tuberculosis infection in a renal transplant patient is infrequent in Spain, although the prevalence is higher than in the general population. These patients usually receive calcineurin inhibitors as the main component of their immunosuppressive treatment. The metabolism of these drugs, whether cyclosporine or tacrolimus, involves cytochrome P-450 3A. Rifampin, a widely used agent in the treatment of tuberculosis, is also an important inducer of cytochrome P-450 3A metabolism and has the capacity to decrease serum levels of the calcineurin inhibitors. This metabolic interaction makes pharmacologic management of tuberculosis-infected transplant patients more complex and can result in a higher risk of acute rejection caused by decreased levels of the immunosuppressant in the blood. The authors present a case of a renal transplant patient with a soft tissue infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosiswho was treated with rifabutin instead of rifampin, with excellent results in terms of graft survival and overall survival. The use of rifabutin allowed the authors to achieve better control of circulating immunosuppressant levels and a lower probability of acute graft rejection.

Abstract: Pythium catenulatum, P. diclinum and P. paroecandrum, as well as asexual forms with filamentous sporangia were isolated from irrigation water in the Poniente region of Almería (south-eastern Spain). The taxonomic and morphological details of these fungal isolates are described. P. catenulatum and P. diclinumare new reports to Spain.

It is known that the limit Area/Length for a sequence of convex sets expanding over the whole hyperbolic plane is less than or equal 1, and exactly 1 when the sets considered are convex with respect to horocycles. We consider geodesics and horocycles as particular cases of curves of constant geodesic curvature λ with 0 ≥ λ ≤ 1 and we study the above limit Area/Length as a function of the parameter λ.

In 24 diabetic patients with advanced renal failure (creatinine clearance [CCr] < 35 mL/min), we prospectively studied serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels, the possible relationship with urinary protein excretion, and the effects of pentoxifylline (PTF) administration. PTF (400 mg daily) was administered for 6 months to 14 patients, and the results were compared with data from a control group (n = 10). Baseline parameters were similar in both groups. At the end of the study, urinary protein excretion and serum TNF-α decreased in the active group from 2.7 (1.2 to 5.8) g/d and 569 ± 285 pg/mL to 1.1 (0.3 to 4.0) g/d and 329 ± 232 pg/mL, respectively (P< 0.001). By contrast, proteinuria and TNF-α did not change in the control group. Regression analysis showed a significant correlation between proteinuria and serum TNF-α both at basal (r= 0.55) and at the sixth month (r= 0.57). Furthermore, the reduction of urinary protein excretion was strongly correlated with the decrease of TNF-α (r= 0.72, P< 0.01). Serum Cr and CCrremained stable in both groups during the study. Our findings suggest that cytokines might play a role in renal damage in diabetic nephropathy. PTF is effective in reducing proteinuria in diabetic patients with advanced renal failure. The anticytokine activity of PTF may be a further explanation for this antiproteinuric effect.

Abstract: To date, the magnitude, causes, and factors that govern urea rebound are not clearly defined. This study was undertaken to determine the possible influence of the biocompatibility of dialyzer membrane on urea rebound and to assess the participation of rebound in the calculation of Kt/V‐urea by different methods. Blood urea samples were obtained before, and at 2, 30, and 60 min posthemodialysis in 8 patients undergoing dialysis with 2 different membranes, Cuprophan and polyacrylonitrile (24 sessions with each membrane). Urea rebound was documented in all patients. The degree of rebound was large,20%, and it was achieved within 30 min after the end of dialysis. Urea rebound was observed with both Cuprophan and polyacrylonitrile membranes, without significant differences. Kt/V‐urea significantly decreased (p < 0.001) by all methods when urea rebound was incorporated. We conclude that urea rebound is clinically very important and is not influenced by the biocompatibility of the dialyzer membrane. This phenomenon must be taken into account in the calculation of Kt/V; otherwise, it might be overestimated.

The observation that some subjects with low PTH had elevated plasma magnesium (Mg) levels prompted us to analyze in 41 patients on maintenance hemodialysis for 44 ± 36 months, their serum Mg concentrations, and the relationship between plasma Mg and PTH levels. The mean serum Mg concentration was 2.4 ± 0.2 mg/dl. Twenty-four out of the 41 subjects (58.5%) had hypermagnesemia (serum Mg above 2.5 mg/dl). Patients were classified into 3 groups according to their PTH level: Group A, low PTH (below I20pg/ml): group B, adequate PTH (120–250 pg/ml); and group C, high PTH (above 250 pg/ml). There were no differences among groups according to number of subjects, age, sex, time on dialysis, renal disease, serum calcium, phosphorus, bicarbonate, vitamin D or aluminum concentrations. Doses of calcium carbonate and aluminum hydroxide were also similar in all groups. Curiously, although the differences were not statistically significant, the total cumulative intake of calcium and aluminum were less in group A than in the other groups. Interestingly, patients with low PTH had a significantly higher serum Mg concentration than patients with adequate or high PTH (2.8 ± 0.2 mg/dl vs 2.3 ± 0.1 mg/dl and 2.2 ± 0.1 mg/dl, respectively, p< 0.01). Moreover, regression analysis showed a negative linear correlation between serum PTH level and plasma Mg concentration (r= -0.6059, p< 0.001). Based on these findings, chronic hypermagnesemia could have a suppressive effect on PTH secretion, and it could be a risk factor for the development of adynamic bone disease in dialysis patients.