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Villarrica Volcano is an active ice-covered volcano in southern Chile (2847 m a.s.l., 39°25’12’’ S, 71°56’27’’W), with a current glacier extent of 23.6 km2. To investigate meteorological conditions and the impact of ongoing climatic warming on glacier melt, an automatic weather station (AWS) was installed at 1900 m a.s.l. on a tephra-covered surface in the glacier ablation zone in December 2019, providing continuous measurements of meteorological variables and tephra temperatures. To give further insight into the turbulent fluxes of sensible and latent heat at the glacier surface, an eddy covariance system, consisting of a parallel-mounted 3D sonic anemometer and krypton hygrometer, was deployed over tephra and snow surfaces close to the AWS between 12-16 January 2023. During the summer, snow and ice are subject to intense insolation and positive air temperatures, with high melt rates further amplified by surface darkening from windblown low-albedo tephra. In contrast, ice beneath extensive areas of tephra cover in the lower ablation zone is effectively insulated, with much lower ablation rates. Both tephra and snow exhibit predominantly negative latent heat fluxes, indicating surface water evaporation, with notably high magnitude and variable fluxes at the tephra site during the afternoon when surface temperature exceeds 35°C. The snow site is predominantly a sink of atmospheric sensible heat, due to positive air temperatures, while the tephra site alternates between positive and negative sensible heat fluxes, determined by high daytime and low night-time surface temperature, respectively. These measurements will be used to inform approaches to modelling the turbulent fluxes., The 28th IUGG General Assembly (IUGG2023) (Berlin 2023)

Acute on chronic liver failure is an increasingly recognized syndrome characterized by acute decompensation of chronic liver disease associated with organ failure and high short-term mortality. ACLF is frequent, affecting between 24 and 40% of patients admitted for complications of cirrhosis. Sepsis, active alcoholism, and relapse of chronic viral hepatitis are the most frequent precipitating factors. However, in up to 40%–50% of the cases of ACLF have no identifiable trigger. The stage of severity of Acute on chronic liver failure is very important because it allows us to stratify patients according to their prognosis, evaluate therapeutic response, determine transplant urgency, deciding intensive care unit admission, and also have a basis on which to decide therapeutic futility.

Objective:Describe the treatment of the patient with atherogenic dyslipidaemia (AD) in routine Primary Care clinical practice. Methodology:Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study based on a structured questionnaire. The content of the questionnaire was based on a review of the literature and was validated by 3 AD experts. It included 23 questions and was addressed to primary care physicians. This sub study will analyze questions related to the treatment of AD. Results:A total of 1,029 Primary Care physicians (67.06% men) participated in the study. Most work in urban areas (55.9%) and attended to a mean of 79.9 (SD: 89.85) patients with AD per month. Most (95.63%) considered that the first step in treatment is lifestyle modification. For the AD approach associated with obesity in primary prevention, 74% of the participants advised lifestyle modifications and in turn evaluated the need for pharmacological treatment. In patients with moderate elevations of LDL-C and DA treated with statins, 90% of doctors associated fibrates. In these patients, 93% agreed or fully agreed that fenofibrate is the most appropriate fibrate for their combination with statins. 19% consider the genfibrocil association. In patients in secondary prevention and AD, treated with statins with LDL-C in therapeutic objectives, the majority of participants (94.46%) added a fibrate and 70% combined statins and fibrates from the start of treatment. Conclusions:Although the level of inculcation of knowledge about the therapeutic management of AD is highly acceptable in some cases, there are parts that need to be modified, especially the poor association of statins with genfibrocil.

This paper analyses the burgeoning impulse, in the main cultural districts of Bordeaux and Nantes, of participative and collaborative art practices. Such adjectives are not synonymous but, true enough, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate these two categories of relational art; moreover, co-working spaces could literally be considered another kind of collaboration process. All in all, beyond terminology matters, the aim of this essay is to point out the flourishing of combined official and community-based initiatives. A model of arts-led urban revitalisation seeking greater involvement of the local ecosystem shaping a “cultural district”, as alternative to the paradigm of the singular institutional trigger worldly identified with the Guggenheim-Bilbao. Nowadays there are many counter-examples in Bilbao and in French cities on the Bay of Biscay. Este artículo analiza el prolífico impulso en los principales distritos culturales de Burdeos y Nantes del arte participativo y colaborativo. Tales adjetivos no son sinónimos, pero es cierto que a veces es difícil diferenciar estas dos categorías de arte relacional; por otro lado, los espacios de co-working podrían ser designados, al pie de la letra, como otro tipo de proceso de co-laboración. Con todo, más allá de la terminología, lo que pretende esta reflexión es constatar el florecimiento de iniciativas oficiales y de base comunitaria combinadas. Un modelo de revitalización urbana a través de las artes con mayor involucración del ecosistema local formando un “distrito cultural”, como alternativa frente al paradigma del singular detonante institucional mundialmente identificado con el Guggenheim-Bilbao. Hoy día no faltan los contraejemplos bilbaínos y en ciudades francesas del golfo de Vizcaya.

Aim: To assess the prevalence of malnutrition, frailty, and sarcopenia and the relationships between them in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of the prevalence, determinants, and associations between malnutrition (GLIM 2019 criteria), sarcopenia (SARC-F scale, dynamometry, and calf circumference), and frailty (FRAIL scale) upon discharge following hospitalization for COVID 19. Results: A total of 101 patients (67.3% men, mean age 66.3 years) were recruited. Malnutrition was diagnosed in 49.5%, sarcopenia in 32.7%, and frailty in 28.7% of patients. Of the patients with malnutrition, 48% were also sarcopenic, and 42% were frail. There was a significant association between malnutrition and the severity of pneumonia according to the CURB-65 scale (odds ratio [OR] 2.61, p = 0.036), between sarcopenia and a Barthel score lower than 60 points (OR 29.52, p < 0.001), and between frailty and both a Barthel score lower than 60 points (OR 32.27, p < 0.001) and a length of hospital stay of over 30 days (OR 9.11, p = 0.008). Conclusions: Malnutrition, sarcopenia, and frailty are prevalent and interrelated entities in patients hospitalized for acute SARS CoV-2 infection, especially in patients with greater baseline functional impairment prior to admission and a higher infection severity.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze whether subgroups of immunosuppressive (IS) medications conferred different outcomes in COVID-19. Methods: The study involved a multicenter retrospective cohort of consecutive immunosuppressed patients (ISPs) hospitalized with COVID-19 from March to July, 2020. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. A propensity score-matched (PSM) model comparing ISP and non-ISP was planned, as well as specific PSM models comparing individual IS medications associated with mortality. Results: Out of 16 647 patients, 868 (5.2%) were on chronic IS therapy prior to admission and were considered ISPs. In the PSM model, ISPs had greater in-hospital mortality (OR 1.25, 95% CI 0.99-1.62), which was related to a worse outcome associated with chronic corticoids (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.43-2.49). Other IS drugs had no repercussions with regard to mortality risk (including calcineurin inhibitors (CNI); OR 1.19, 95% CI 0.65-2.20). In the pre-planned specific PSM model involving patients on chronic IS treatment before admission, corticosteroids were associated with an increased risk of mortality (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.43-3.82). Conclusions: Chronic IS therapies comprise a heterogeneous group of drugs with different risk profiles for severe COVID-19 and death. Chronic systemic corticosteroid therapy is associated with increased mor-tality. On the contrary, CNI and other IS treatments prior to admission do not seem to convey different outcomes. (C) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases.

CD19-directed immunotherapies have revolutionized the treatment of advanced B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Despite initial impressive rates of complete remission (CR) many patients ultimately relapse. Patients with B-ALL successfully treated with CD19-directed T cells eventually relapse, which, coupled with the early onset of CD22 expression during B-cell development, suggests that preexisting CD34+CD22+CD19− (pre)-leukemic cells represent an “early progenitor origin-related” mechanism underlying phenotypic escape to CD19-directed immunotherapies. We demonstrate that CD22 expression precedes CD19 expression during B-cell development. CD34+CD19−CD22+ cells are found in diagnostic and relapsed bone marrow samples of ∼70% of patients with B-ALL, and their frequency increases twofold in patients with B-ALL in CR after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. The median of CD34+CD19−CD22+ cells before treatment was threefold higher in patients in whom B-ALL relapsed after CD19-directed immunotherapy (median follow-up, 24 months). Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis in flow-sorted cell populations and xenograft modeling revealed that CD34+CD19−CD22+ cells harbor the genetic abnormalities present at diagnosis and initiate leukemogenesis in vivo. Our data suggest that preleukemic CD34+CD19−CD22+ progenitors underlie phenotypic escape after CD19-directed immunotherapies and reinforce ongoing clinical studies aimed at CD19/CD22 dual targeting as a strategy for reducing CD19− relapses. The implementation of CD34/CD19/CD22 immunophenotyping in clinical laboratories for initial diagnosis and subsequent monitoring of patients with B-ALL during CD19-targeted therapy is encouraged., The work in P.M. and C.B.’s Laboratory was supported by the European Research Council (CoG-2014-646903, PoC-2018-811220) and the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2016-80481R, PID2019-108160RB-I00) (P.M.); the ISCIII (ISCIII/FEDER, PI17/01028 and PI20/00822), the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC), and the FERO Foundation (C.B.). P.M. and J.M.R. acknowledge the support of ISCIII-RICORS within the Next Generation EU program (Plan de Recuperación, Transformación y Resiliencia). N.E. is supported by Cancer Research UK and a Children and Young People’s Cancer Innovation Award (DRCPGM\100058). A.R. is supported by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Career Development Fellowship (216632/Z/19/Z). A.O. was supported by ISCIII (PI19/011183). F.S. was supported by AGAUR/Generalitat de Catalunya (SGR288). The single-cell transcriptomic analysis was supported by MRC Discovery award MRCDA 0816-11 and the MRC WIMM Single Cell Facility and MRC-funded Oxford Consortium for Single-Cell Biology (MR/M00919X/1) provided assistance.

Lifting-line based solvers could supersede the blade element momentum (BEM) method as the industry standard in the near future as rotor sizes of modern wind turbines and computational resources continue to increase. A comparison study between both methods is presented where the IEA 10 MW wind turbine is evaluated in the aero-servo-elastic simulation tool QBlade, comparing the lifting-line free vortex wake method to an unsteady blade element momentum solver. Besides the baseline rotor of the IEA 10 MW turbine, the comparison includes several blade tip extensions, including a swept and a dihedral geometry, to further differentiate capabilities between both methods in aerodynamically complex flow fields. As a reference serve results from equivalent simulations performed with multiple fidelity solvers of the simulation tool HAWC2. Results of a rigid load case demonstrate considerable improvement regarding the aerodynamic accuracy of lifting-line based methods in below rated conditions over BEM codes. The aerodynamic loads on geometrically complex tip extensions in steady conditions prove good capabilities of lower fidelity codes to predict out-of-plane bend shapes but also clear limitations regarding loads on swept geometries. A quasi-steady aeroelastic load case further demonstrates the capability of both QBlade codes to produce comparable results to similar fidelity solvers of the HAWC2 tool on an integral level. A detailed comparison in the time domain shows a larger dependency of the results on the type of structural solver that is used in contrast to the fidelity level of the aerodynamic method.

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has led to an unprecedented situation, with population lockdowns, congestion of healthcare resources, cancellation of scheduled surgical activity, fear of contagion, and delays in patient care. The objective of this study was to analyze its impact on pediatric surgical activity at a reference healthcare facility.A comparative study of activity in the pediatric surgery environment at a Spanish reference healthcare facility was carried out. It included outpatient consultations, scheduled surgeries, and activity at the emergency department during the lockdown period in Spain (March-May 2020) vs. the same 2019 period. Number of consultations and surgeries, type of surgery performed and/or cancelled, and stage of the pathologies treated were collected.A 98% decrease in scheduled surgeries, an 84% decrease in healthcare burden from the pediatric emergency department, a 55.24% decrease in urgent surgeries, an 82% decrease in outpatient activity at external consultations, and a 94% decrease in inter-hospital referrals, along with a 66% increase in urgent pathology severity, were found.The COVID-19 pandemic cancelled virtually all pediatric surgery activity, which caused treatment delays in severe pathologies and increased morbidity in regular urgent procedures.La pandemia surgida como consecuencia del virus SARS-CoV-2 ha provocado una situación inaudita, el confinamiento de la población, el colapso de los recursos sanitarios, la suspensión de la actividad programada en los servicios quirúrgicos, el miedo al contagio y la demora en la atención de pacientes. El objetivo es analizar el impacto de esta situación en la actividad del Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica de un centro de referencia.Se ha realizado un estudio comparativo de la actividad realizada en el ámbito de Cirugía Pediátrica de un centro de referencia español, incluyendo consultas ambulatorias, cirugía programada y actividad en urgencias durante el periodo de confinamiento (marzo-mayo 2020) frente al mismo periodo de tiempo en 2019. Se recogen el número de consultas e intervenciones, el tipo de cirugía practicada y/o anulada y el grado de evolución de las patologías atendidas.Se ha registrado un descenso del 98% de las cirugías programadas, del 84% de la presión asistencial desde urgencias pediátricas, un 55,24% menos de cirugías urgentes y un 82% la actividad ambulatoria en Consultas Externas. Se ha registrado un descenso en los traslados interhospitalarios del 94% y un incremento del 66% de la gravedad de la patología urgente.La pandemia por COVID-19 ha supuesto la anulación de la práctica totalidad de la actividad del Servicio de Cirugía Pediátrica, con la consiguiente demora en el tratamiento de patologías graves y un aumento en la morbilidad de procesos urgentes habituales.

Childhood adversity (CA) is one of the strongest predictors of poor mental health in adolescents. CA is thought to contribute to mental health vulnerability by increased sensitivity to social rejection in later life. Here, we examined whether in a CA vulnerable group friendship quality at age 14 contributes to resilient functioning by age 24 through reducing emotional and neural stress responses to social rejection. Sixty-six participants aged 24 and from a prospective cohort study (ROOTS, N = 1238) underwent brain imaging while playing Cyberball. Resilient functioning at age 24 was quantified as ‘psychological functioning that was better than in others with similar CA experiences’. We found that friendship quality at 14 years predicted stronger emotional changes and increased dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (DMPFC) responses to peer rejection. Resilient functioning per se was associated with similar increased emotional and DMPFC responses. Exploratory mediation analyses showed that friendship quality predicted resilient functioning through increased emotional responses at the end of the assessment day. Our findings suggest that friendship quality at age 14 contributes to resilient functioning at age 24 by increasing sensitivity to positive experiences and improving brain activity thought to represent emotion regulation in response to negative social experiences in early adulthood.

Glioblastoma (GB) is the most aggressive form of glioma and is characterized by poor prognosis and high recurrence despite intensive clinical interventions. To retrieve the key factors underlying the high malignancy of GB with potential diagnosis utility, we combined the analysis of The Cancer Gene Atlas and the REMBRANDT datasets plus a molecular examination of our own collection of surgical tumor resections. We determined a net reduction in the levels of the non-canonical histone H3 variant H3.3 in GB compared to lower-grade astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas with a concomitant increase in the levels of the canonical histone H3 variants H3.1/H3.2. This increase can be potentially useful in the clinical diagnosis of high-grade gliomas, as evidenced by an immunohistochemistry screening of our cohort and can be at least partially explained by the induction of multiple histone genes encoding these canonical forms. Moreover, GBs showing low bulk levels of the H3.1/H3.2 proteins were more transcriptionally similar to low-grade gliomas than GBs showing high levels of H3.1/H3.2. In conclusion, this study identifies an imbalanced ratio between the H3 variants associated with glioma malignancy and molecular patterns relevant to the biology of gliomas, and proposes the examination of the H3.3 and H3.1/H3.2 levels to further refine diagnosis of low- and high-grade gliomas in future studies.

Scientific societies have provided guidelines to reduce PSA-specific harms. We studied the potential non-compliance of PSA testing with current guidelines in general practice. A cross-sectional study of a random sample of 1291 patients with a PSA test was performed between January and April 2018 in primary health care. Patients with a previous prostate cancer diagnosis or those who were being followed-up for previous high PSA values were excluded. Two independent researchers classified whether each test was potentially non-compliant with recommendations. We estimated frequencies of potentially non-compliant PSA determinations and calculated prevalence ratios (PR) to assess their relationship with possible explanatory variables. A total of 66% (95% CI: 62-69%) of PSA requests in asymptomatic patients were potentially non-compliant with the current guideline. This was associated with having a previous diagnosis of neoplasm (PR adjusted by age and life expectancy: 1.18; 95% CI: 1.02-1.37) as well as being a current consumer of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs (PR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.67-0.97). Real world data shows that patients are still frequently exposed to overdiagnosis risk with a PSA potentially non-compliant with recommendations. Patients diagnosed with another neoplasm or non-consumers of toxic substances were more exposed, probably due to increased contact with doctors or health-seeking behaviour.

Nuss procedure is a safe surgery but not exempt from complications. Clavien-Dindo classification (1992) allows complications of any surgery to be recorded. Our objective was to prove its applicability in the study of Nuss procedure complications.We present a retrospective series of PE patients undergoing surgery from January 2010 to January 2018. Nuss procedure associated morbidity prior to bar removal was studied. Complications were stratified according to Clavien-Dindo classification.A total of 31 patients were included. Mean age was 14.67 years (4-27 years), with a mean Haller index of 6.06 (3.35-14.14) and a mean correction index of 41.2% (16-87%). Clavien-Dindo classification I-IIIb mild complications were recorded in 35.48% of patients. Seroma was found in 4 patients (12%), of whom 1 had superinfection and 1 had wound dehiscence. In 6 patients, bar and/or stabilizer mobilization was noted, and in 1 patient, postoperative acute pulmonary edema (3%) was observed. Of the 11 patients with complications, only 6 required re-intervention -5 as a result of prosthesis mobilization, and 1 as a result of infection not resolved with intravenous antibiotic therapy.Clavien-Dindo classification is being increasingly used as a way of unifying surgical complication criteria by comparing results. Our study demonstrated that such classification is a feasible and reproducible method when it comes to reflecting Nuss procedure morbidity and comparing it with other groups.La intervención de Nuss es una cirugía segura pero no está exenta de complicaciones. La clasificación de Clavien-Dindo (1992) permite registrar complicaciones de cualquier operación. Nuestro objetivo es demostrar la aplicabilidad de dicha clasificación para el estudio de las complicaciones de la cirugía de Nuss.Presentamos una serie retrospectiva de pacientes afectos de PE intervenidos entre enero 2010 y enero 2018 y su morbilidad asociada a la cirugía de Nuss hasta la retirada de la barra. Dichas complicaciones se agruparán mediante la clasificación de Clavien-Dindo.Se recogen un total de 31 pacientes. La media de edad fue 14,67 años (4-27 años), con una media de índices de Haller de 6,06 (3,35-14,14) y una media de índices de corrección de 41,2% (16-87%). Se observaron complicaciones leves I-IIIb de la clasificación de Clavien-Dindo en el 35,48% de los pacientes. Se constató seroma en 4 pacientes (12%), de los cuales 1 presentó sobreinfección y otro, dehiscencia de herida. En 6 pacientes se observó movilización de la barra y/o estabilizador y en 1 paciente, edema agudo de pulmón postoperatorio (3%). De los 11 pacientes que presentaron complicaciones, solo 6 requirieron reintervención: 5 de ellos por movilización de la prótesis y uno por infección no resuelta con antibioterapia endovenosa.La clasificación de Clavien-Dindo se emplea cada vez más como una forma de unificar los criterios de las complicaciones quirúrgicas permitiendo comparar los resultados obtenidos. Comprobamos que es perfectamente factible y reproducible para reflejar la morbilidad del procedimiento quirúrgico de Nuss y poder compararla con otros grupos.

CIES2020 - XVII Congresso Ibérico e XIII Congresso Ibero-americano de Energia Solar RESUMEN: En este trabajo se presenta la modelación y simulación de un enfriador híbrido compresión/absorción alimentado por un concentrador solar de disco parabólico. El enfriamiento producido por este sistema se utiliza para aire acondicionado de una vivienda. El estudio fue realizado mediante balances de energía y de masa, en cada componente de los sistemas de refrigeración y del sistema solar. La transferencia de calor por convección y por radiación también fueron considerados. Los resultados muestran que la carga proporcionada por el sistema de compresión es 20% mayor que el alimentado por el sistema de absorción. Aunque el sistema de absorción opera al 40% de la carga total requerida en el espacio a condicionar, requiere en torno a 40% más energía térmica que el sistema de compresión. Pueden obtenerse temperaturas cercanas a 1050 °C y 400 °C con relación de concentración de 20 y radiación solar de 600W/m2 respectivamente. La eficiencia del colector solar es 0.4 (40%) cuando la temperatura exterior es 35 °C a baja radiación de 200 W/m2. RESUMO: This paper presents the modeling and simulation of a compression/absorption hybrid chiller driven by a solar dish collector. The cooling produced by this system is used for air conditioning in a home. The study was carried out using energy and mass balances in each component of the cooling systems and the solar system. Convection and radiation heat transfer were also considered. The results show that the load provided by the compression system is 20% greater than that fed by the absorption system. Although the absorption system operates at 40% of the total load required in the space to be conditioned, it requires around 40% more thermal energy than the compression system. Temperatures close to 1050 °C and 400 °C can be obtained in concentration ratio of 20 and solar radiation of 600W/m2 respectively. Efficiency of the solar collector is 0.4 (40%) when the outdoor temperature is 35 °C at a low radiation of 200 W/m2. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of tobacco consumption on paternity rates in men with a history of cryptorchidism. To compare the paternity rates between formerly unilateral, bilateral cryptorchid smokers, and nonsmokers. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of 153 men who had undergone orchiopexy between 1961 and 1985 at the Miguel Servet University Hospital (116 unilateral and 37 bilateral) and a control group of 100 men were evaluated by review of medical records and a questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 197 men filled the questionnaire (76.7%). There was no difference in paternity rates between smokers compared to nonsmokers (P = 0.21). In the unilateral cryptorchid men (ULC) group, there is no difference in paternity rates when compared with the controls (P = 0.079) or when comparing ULC smokers to ULC nonsmokers (P = 0.35). In the bilateral cryptorchid men (BLC) group, there is no difference in paternity rates when compared to controls (P = 0.075) or when comparing BLC smokers to BLC nonsmokers (P = 0.36). When comparing according to consumption, there is no difference between mild, moderate or heavy smoker cases and controls. CONCLUSION: There is no difference in paternity rates between men with a history of cryptorchidism that consume tobacco compared to nonsmokers or controls. More studies are needed to determine the impact of tobacco consumption in formerly cryptorchid men.

Introducción: Cuando se sospecha que estamos ante una cefalea secundaria y se deriva un paciente a Urgencias o a la consulta de Neurología es importante saber qué exploraciones complementarias son oportunas hacer en cada caso, además de saber posteriormente cuál es el circuito adecuado que ha de seguir el paciente. Por este motivo, el Grupo de Estudio de Cefaleas de la Sociedad Española de Neurología (GEC-SEN) ha decidido crear unas recomendaciones consensuadas que establezcan un protocolo de derivación de pacientes con cefalea y/o neuralgias craneofaciales. Desarrollo: Se ha contactado con neurólogos jóvenes con interés y experiencia en cefalea y con la Junta Directiva del GECSEN han desarrollado este documento que, por razones prácticas, se ha dividido en 2 artículos. El primero centrado en las cefaleas primarias y neuralgias craneofaciales, y este centrado en las cefaleas secundarias y otros dolores craneofaciales. El enfoque es práctico, con tablas que resumen los criterios de derivación con exploraciones complementarias y otros especialistas a los que derivar, para que sea útil y facilite su uso en nuestra práctica asistencial diaria. Conclusiones: Esperamos ofrecer una guía y herramientas para mejorar la toma de decisiones ante un paciente con cefalea valorando exploraciones a priorizar y que circuitos seguir para así evitar la duplicación de consultas y retrasos en el diagnóstico y en el tratamiento Introduction: When secondary headache is suspected and the patient is referred to the emergency department or to the outpatient neurology clinic, it is important to know which arethe appropriate complementary examinations to perform and the suitable referral pathway forpatients to follow.In order to establish recommendations on this matter, the Spanish Society of Neurology’sHeadache Study Group (GECSEN) has decided to issue a series of agreed recommendationsconstituting a referral protocol for patients with headache and/or craniofacial neuralgias. Development: Young neurologists with an interest and experience in headache were invitedto draft a series of practical guidelines in collaboration with GECSEN’s Executive Committee.For practical reasons, the document was divided into 2 articles: the first focuses on primaryheadaches and craniofacial neuralgias and this second article on secondary headaches and othercraniofacial pain. In order for the recommendations to be helpful for daily practice, they followa practical approach, with tables summarising referral criteria, examinations to be performed,and referral to other specialists.Conclusions: We hope to offer a guide and tools to improve decision-making regarding patientswith headache, identifying complementary tests to prioritise and referral pathways to be followed, in order to avoid duplicated consultations and delayed diagnosis and treatment.

Treatment of pediatric acute leukemia might involve combined therapies targeting the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3) receptor (i.e. quizartinib - AC220) and nucleotide metabolism (cytarabine - AraC). This study addressed the possibility of FLT3 modulating nucleoside salvage processes and, eventually, cytarabine action. Bone marrow samples from 108 pediatric leukemia patients (B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, BCP-ALL: 83; T-ALL: 9; acute myeloid leukemia, AML: 16) were used to determine the mRNA expression levels of FLT3, the cytarabine activating kinase dCK, and the nucleotidases cN-II and SAMHD1. FLT3 mRNA levels positively correlated with dCK, cN-II and SAMHD1 in the studied cohort. FLT3 inhibition using AC220 promoted the expression of cN-II in MV4-11 cells. Indeed, inhibition of cN-II with anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid (AdiS) further potentiated the synergistic action of AC220 and cytarabine, at low concentrations of this nucleoside analog. FLT3 inhibition also down-regulated phosphorylated forms of SAMHD1 in MV4-11 and SEM cells. Thus, inhibition of FLT3 may also target the biochemical machinery associated with nucleoside salvage, which may modulate the ability of nucleoside-derived drugs. In summary, this contribution highlights the need to expand current knowledge on the mechanistic events linking tyrosine-kinase receptors, likely to be druggable in cancer treatment, and nucleotide metabolism, particularly considering tumor cells undergo profound metabolic reprogramming.

Primary palmar hyperhidrosis is a pathology that begins during childhood and can represent a significant reduction in the quality of life of adolescents. The current treatment of choice is thoracoscopic sympathicolysis. The aim of our study is to evaluate the results of surgery in paediatric patients.Retrospective study of patients with primary palmar or palmo-axillary hyperhidrosis who underwent thoracoscopic sympathicolysis in our hospital during the last 5 years.We operated and included in the study 28 patients, 10 men and 18 women. Mean age was 13.8 (8-18) years. Bilateral thoracoscopic sympatholysis was performed with monopolar cautery, between T2-T4 ribs. Mean operative time was 63 minutes and mean hospitalisation time was 1.1 days. The incidence on intraoperative complications was zero. 2 patients presented postoperative subcutaneous emphysema. There were no other postoperative complications. 1 patient presented partial recurrence. In all the rest, sweating completely disappeared and they were totally satisfied with the surgery (96.42%). Temporary compensatory sweating appeared in 57.14% of the cases, a collateral effect that did not change their level of satisfaction.Palmar hyperhidrosis can be a major problem for socialization and quality of life for the child or adolescent who suffers it. Thoracoscopic sympatholysis in the pediatric patient is an effective treatment, highly resolutive and with low morbidity. Despite compensatory sweating, patients are highly satisfied with the results of surgical treatment.La hiperhidrosis primaria palmar es una patología que comienza ya en la niñez y puede representar una importante reducción de la calidad de vida del adolescente. El tratamiento de elección actual es la simpaticolisis toracoscópica. El objetivo de nuestro estudio es evaluar los resultados de la cirugía en pacientes pediátricos.Hemos estudiado retrospectivamente los pacientes diagnosticados de hiperhidrosis palmar y/o palmoaxilar que han sido tratados en nuestro centro durante los últimos 5 años.En este periodo han sido tratados 28 pacientes (10 varones y 18 mujeres), con una edad media de 13,8 años (8-18 años). La simpaticolisis toracoscópica bilateral se practicó, con monopolar, entre los niveles T2-T4 con un tiempo quirúrgico medio de 63 minutos. La estancia media fue de 1,1 días. No se registraron neumotórax ni otras complicaciones intraoperatorias. Dos casos presentaron enfisema subcutáneo postoperatorio. No hubo otras complicaciones postoperatorias. Excepto un caso de recurrencia parcial, en el resto de pacientes la sudoración desapareció por completo y quedaron totalmente satisfechos con la cirugía (96,42%). Apareció sudoración compensatoria transitoria en el 57,14% de los casos, efecto colateral que no modificó su nivel de satisfacción.La hiperhidrosis palmar puede ser un problema importante para la sociabilización y la calidad de vida del niño o adolescente que la padece. La simpaticolisis toracoscópica en el paciente pediátrico es un tratamiento efectivo, altamente resolutivo y de escasa morbilidad. A pesar de la sudoración compensatoria, los pacientes están altamente satisfechos con los resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico.

Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) had emerged as promising drugs in leukaemia, but their toxicity due to lack of specificity limited their use. Therefore, there is a need to elucidate the role of HDACs in specific settings. The study of HDAC expression in childhood leukaemia could help to choose more specific HDACi for selected candidates in a personalized approach. We analysed HDAC1-11, SIRT1, SIRT7, MEF2C and MEF2D mRNA expression in 211 paediatric patients diagnosed with acute leukaemia. There was a global overexpression of HDACs, while specific HDACs correlated with clinical and biological features, and some even predicted outcome. Thus, some HDAC and MEF2C profiles probably reflected the lineage and the maturation of the blasts and some profiles identified specific oncogenic pathways active in the leukaemic cells. Specifically, we identified a distinctive signature for patients with KMT2A (MLL) rearrangement, with high HDAC9 and MEF2D expression, regardless of age, KMT2A partner and lineage. Moreover, we observed an adverse prognostic value of HDAC9 overexpression, regardless of KMT2A rearrangement. Our results provide useful knowledge on the complex picture of HDAC expression in childhood leukaemia and support the directed use of specific HDACi to selected paediatric patients with acute leukaemia.

RESUMEN El neumoperitoneo en niños puede deberse a causas que no requieran cirugía urgente, como maniobras de reanimación cardiopulmonar, patología respiratoria grave o ventilación mecánica. Intervenir en estos casos podría, incluso, empeorar el pronóstico. Presentamos el caso clínico de un lactante varón, exprematuro, con antecedente al nacer de enterocolitis necrotizante y perforación ileal, que precisó laparotomía y resección intestinal en dos ocasiones y que desarrolló un microcolon por desuso secundario. A los seis meses, tras iniciar alimentación oral exclusiva, presentó distensión abdominal con extensa neumatosis intestinal y neumoperitoneo en las radiografías. Su aspecto era bueno con tránsito intestinal conservado y ausencia de peritonitis. El paciente se mantuvo a dieta absoluta con antibioterapia endovenosa, sondaje nasogástrico y nutrición parenteral. La evolución fue favorable, reiniciando la alimentación oral a los siete días del ingreso. La existencia de un neumoperitoneo no siempre obliga a realizar una laparotomía, y la valoración global del enfermo por un equipo multidisciplinar puede evitar tratamientos agresivos innecesarios.

To analyze functional outcomes of patients operated for Hirschsprung's disease (HD).Retrospective study of patients with HD (2000-2014). We analyzed surgical technique, age at diagnostic and treatment, amount of resected bowel, complications and their influence on functional outcomes.Of the 44 diagnosed with HD, 37 were operated in our center. Men 29 (78.4%). With associated pathology 7 (18.9%), and 5 (13.5%) made their debut with enterocolitis. Diagnostic average age 1.04 (0.0 to 7.1 years) and operation average age 1.4 (0.3 to 9.3 years). We did transanal endorectal pull-through (TERPT) in 17 (45.9%) patients and transabdominal approach (TAB) in 20 (54.1%). Received postoperative dilations 8 (21.6%) patients. Functional outcomes were evaluated at an average age of 9.6 (4.7-15.7years) incontinence/soiling were found in 6/28 (21.4%) and constipation in 5/28 (17.9%). The highest rate of incontinence/ soiling was present in 41.7 % TERPT vs. 6.2% TAB (p= 0,036). However, the average age at follow-up in patients with incontinence/soiling was 5.9 ± 1.3 years old, less than the 10,6 ± 3.2 years in the ones without incontinence/soiling (p 0,001). We found that the 5 cases of constipation arose in patients with TAB (p= 0, 044), and likewise all were operated under 1 year of age.Despite the well known benefits of the TERPT over the TAB, we found a greater degree of incontinence/soiling in the TERPT, which could be explained by a less follow up, since incontinence/soiling improves with age. On the other hand there is a higher rate of constipation in the TAB that lasts in time.Analizar resultados funcionales de pacientes operados por enfermedad de Hirschsprung (EH).Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con EH (2000-2014). Se analizó técnica quirúrgica, edad diagnóstica y de tratamiento, cantidad de intestino resecado, complicaciones y su influencia sobre resultados funcionales.De los 44 diagnosticados con EH se operaron en nuestro centro 37. Varones 29 (78,4%). Con patología asociada 7 (18,9%), y 5 (13,5%) debutaron con enterocolitis. Edad media diagnóstica 1,04 (rango: 0,01-7,1 años) y de intervención 1,4 (0,3-9,3 años). A 17 (45,9%) se realizó descenso endorectal trans-anal (DERTA) y a 20 (54,1%) descenso trans-abdominal (DTA). Recibieron dilataciones postquirúrgicas 8 (21,6%). Los resultados funcionales se valoraron a una edad media de 9,6 (4,7-15,7 años) encontrando incontinencia/encopresis en 6/28 (21,4%) y estreñimiento en 5/28 (17,9%). El mayor índice de incontinencia/encopresis se presentó en los DERTA 41,7% vs 6,2% DTA (p= 0,036); sin embargo, la edad media al seguimiento en pacientes con incontinencia/encopresis fue menor 5,9 ± 1,3 años vs 10,6 ± 3,2 años en los que no la presentan (p 0,001). Encontramos que los 5 casos de estreñimiento se presentaron en pacientes con DTA (p= 0,044) y, así mismo, todos operados ≤ 1 año de edad.A pesar de los ya comprobados beneficios del DERTA sobre el DTA, hemos encontrado un mayor grado de incontinencia/encopresis en el DERTA, que podría estar explicado por el menor tiempo de seguimiento, dado que la incontinencia/encopresis mejora con la edad. Por el contrario, hay un mayor índice de estreñimiento en el DTA que se prolonga en el tiempo.

Breast cancer is a prevalent disease affecting all areas of patients' lives. Therefore, family physicians ought to know thoroughly this pathology to optimize the health care services for these patients making the best use of available resources. A series of five articles on breast cancer is presented below. It is based on a review of the scientific literature over the last ten years. In this final section, the social, psychological, occupational and family issues related to the disease will be reviewed, as well as presenting some special situations of breast cancer, including breast cancer in men, during pregnancy and last stages of life. This summary report aims to provide a current and practical review about this disease, providing answers to family doctors and helping them to be by the patients for their benefit throughout their illness.

Las plantas de la familia Cactaceae tienen caracteristicas morfologicas y fisiologicas, como tallos suculentos, espinas, que les permiten reducir la transpiracion y son auxiliares en la economia de agua, y el metabolismo acido del tipo de las Crasulaceas (MAC), que les han permitido adaptarse a ambientes aridos. Ferocactus histrix es una cactacea globosa y F. pilosus tiene tallo columnar, ambas especies estan en la norma NOM-059-SEMARNAT 2010, en la categoria de riesgo “Sujetas a proteccion especial”. Su fisiologia se conoce parcialmente. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto del riego y su restriccion en el potencial de agua (Ψ A ) del parenquima y clorenquima y en los cambios de su acidez diurna y nocturna de plantas de Ferocactus pilosus y F. histrix . La hipotesis fue que la planta regula positivamente el Ψ A de sus tejidos y mantiene los patrones diurnos y nocturnos de acidez, tipicos MAC independientemente de la suspension de riego. Plantas, de cada especie, se mantuvieron con riego semanal o sin el por un ano. El estudio se realizo con un diseno experimental completamente al azar. La unidad experimental fue una planta y cuatro unidades se evaluaron cada 4 h por 24 h, a los 3, 6 y 12 meses. El Ψ A se midio en parenquima y clorenquima. La acidez de los tejidos se cuantifico por valoracion con NaOH. El Ψ A del parenquima fue el mas afectado por la ausencia de riego y a los 12 meses alcanzo -3.23 y -9.29 MPa en F. histrix y F. pilosus ; el contenido nocturno y diurno de acido malico del clorenquima y parenquima de F. histrix disminuyo (45 y 28% y 33 y 35%); en F. pilosus disminuyo en ambos tejidos (81% en ambas fases y 68.18 y 90.47% en la nocturna). La suspension de riego por 3, 6 y 12 meses afecto diferente la acumulacion de acido malico en el ciclo de 24 h de los tejidos de Ferocactus , y disminuyo la produccion de acido malico conforme el aumento el tiempo sin riego. Ambas especies toleraron 12 en esta condicion y reactivaron su crecimiento con el riego posterior.

This study provides a preliminary analysis of the international profiles in collaboration and mobility using the seven countries indicated in the US executive order of January 27, 2017. The objective of this research is to analyze the flow of knowledge between countries and the relative importance of specific countries in order to inform evidence-based science policy. The work serves as a proof-of-concept of the utility of asymmetry and affinity indexes for collaboration and mobility. Comparative analyses of these indicators can be useful for informing immigration policies and motivating collaboration and mobility initiatives. Our analysis reinforces many of the established understandings of collaboration and mobility relationships—emphasizing the importance of geographic and cultural similarities. The analysis also explores the varied lenses on the importance of particular countries, when viewed from egocentric and relational perspectives. Our analysis suggests that comparisons of collaboration and mobility from an affinity perspective can identify gaps for mobility initiatives, given established scientific relationships. This approach can inform international immigration policies, but can also serve to identify potential partnerships at other levels of analysis (e.g., institutional, sectoral, or by state/province)., Financial support from Mobility Program ‘Salvador de Madariaga 2016’ and State Programme of Research, Development and Innovation oriented to the Challenges of the Society (CSO2014-57770-R) funded by the Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness of Spain and the Science of Science Innovation and Policy program of the National Science Foundation in the United States (NSF #1561299).

FLT3 abnormalities are negative prognostic markers in acute leukemia. Infant leukemias are a subgroup with frequent MLL (KMT2A) rearrangements, FLT3 overexpression and high sensitivity to cytarabine, but dismal prognosis. Cytarabine is transported into cells by Human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter-1 (hENT1, SLC29A1), but the mechanisms that regulate hENT1 in acute leukemia have been scarcely studied.We explored the expression and functional link between FLT3 and main cytarabine transporters in 50 pediatric patients diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and MLL rearrangement (ALL-MLL+) and other subtypes of leukemia, and in leukemia cell lines.A significant positive correlation was found between FLT3 and hENT1 expression in patients. Cytarabine uptake into cells was mediated mainly by hENT1, hENT2 and hCNT1. hENT1-mediated uptake of cytarabine was transiently abolished by the FLT3 inhibitor PKC412, and this effect was associated with decreased hENT1 mRNA and protein levels. Noticeably, the cytotoxicity of cytarabine was lower when cells were first exposed to FLT3 inhibitors (PKC412 or AC220), probably due to decreased hENT1 activity, but we observed a higher cytotoxic effect if FLT3 inhibitors were administered after cytarabine.FLT3 regulates hENT1 activity and thereby affects cytarabine cytotoxicity. The sequence of administration of cytarabine and FLT3 inhibitors is important to maintain their efficacy.

Los resultados de producción de biomasa, tanto de parte aérea como de raíz, nos muestran las distintas preferencias por una u otra fuente [(nitrato (NO3 -) o amonio(NH4 +)] de nitrógeno (N), así como La influencia de la fuente de N en la respuesta a la dosis (2 mM vs. 0,2 mM) en la zona radicular: Amaranthus viridis y Chenopodium album prefieren el NO3- y no responden a la dosis de NH4+, Conyza bonaeriensis y Solanum nigrum también prefieren NO3- pero responden a la dosis de NH4+, mientras que Sonchus oleraceus prefiere el NH4+ y no responde a la dosis de NO3 -. Igualmente, la fuente de N, y no sólo la dosis de N, tiene una gran repercusión en la relación carbono/nitrógeno (C/N) tanto de la parte aérea como de la raíz. El conjunto de los resultados sugiere que el manejo de la fuente de N en los sistemas agrícolas podría ayudar al manejo de las malas hierbas y con ello a su control, en pro de hacer una mejor optimización de los recursos. The results of biomass production both in terms of shoot and root, show distinct plants preferences for the nitrogen source; Amaranthus viridis and Chenopodium album prefers NO3 - and does not respond to the dose of NH4 +, Conyza bonaeriensis and Solanum nigrum also prefers NO3 - but respond to the dose of NH4 +, and finally Sonchus oleraceus prefers NH4 + over NO3 - and does not respond to the dose of NO3 -. Here, we also show that the source of N has a major role in plant N and C concentration. Overall, these results indicate that N fertilization (source and dose) may be a tool for the management of weeds in agricultural system where the farmer has control over the source of N applied.

An analytical method for the determination of free amino acids in ciders is reported. It is based on high-performance liquid chromatography with an automatic precolumn derivatization with o-phthaldehyde and 3-mercaptopropionic acid and diode array detection. The method was applied to monitor the amino acids during second fermentation of sparkling ciders. This paper reports the influence of yeast strains and aging time on the amino acid composition of sparkling ciders. The application of principal component analysis enables the ciders to be differentiated on the basis of the two factors considered (yeast strain and aging time). The first principal component, which accounts for 58% of the total variance, achieved the separation according to aging time with serine, glycine, alanine, valine, ornithine, leucine, and lysine as the most important variables. The second principal component, accounting for 28% of the explained variance, is closely related to aspartic acid and asparagine and separates the samples according to the yeast strain.

Se revisaron 55 expedientes de niños con dificultades en el proceso de lecto-escritura. Se establecieron factores de riesgo perinatal, presencia y severidad de dificultades en el aprendizaje de la lecto-escritura. El 85% de niños con factores de riesgo perinatal presentaron dificultades en el proceso de la lecto-escritura. La detección temprana de factores de riesgo perinatal y establecimiento de estrategias de intervención oportuna contribuirán a la disminución de secuelas en etapas escolares.

The ideal duration of postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis in heart surgery is unknown. The most recent guidelines recommend a decrease in prophylaxis time to decrease the emergence of multiresistant germs. However, compliance with these recommendations is scant. Our aim was to determine whether a decrease in prophylaxis time entails an increase in the infection rate. A retrospective study was performed between September 2003 and March 2006, including all patients of ages between 1 day and 14 years who were admitted to the intensive care unit after heart surgery. Patients being treated for an infection at the time of surgery were excluded. The appearance of nosocomial infection, localisation, and the causative agent, if isolated, were included; demographic and clinical analytical variables, duration and type of antibiotic prophylaxis, and duration of other invasive devices were also included. Standard analysis and multivariable logistical regression were performed. 194 patients were included in the study. The median duration of antibiotic prophylaxis was 72 h (range 24 to 176), with the most-used prophylaxis regimen being second-generation cephalosporins plus aminoglycosides. The incidence of nosocomial infection, mainly bacteraemia, was 11.9%. The type of antibiotic therapy used for prophylaxis did not affect the incidence of infection. In the multivariable logistical regression, only prolongation of antibiotic prophylaxis >48 h, central venous access maintenance time, and intubation increased the infection rate. The suspension of antibiotic prophylaxis in the 48 h after surgery in pediatric patients undergoing heart surgery does not increase the incidence of nosocomial infection. According to our results, prolongation of prophylaxis >48 h increases the infection rate.

Antecedentes: La frecuencia de tumores en pacientes con trasplante renal (TR) está aumentando. El carcinoma de células renales (CCR) en riñones nativos es uno de los más frecuentes y su evolución puede ser más agresiva que en la población general. Objetivo: Evaluar la incidencia y pronóstico del CCR en los pacientes sometido a a trasplante renal de nuestra unidad. Métodos: Desde enero de 1997 hasta diciembre de 2009 se realizaron en nuestro hospital 683 TR. Para la detección precoz de esta patología, en todos los pacientes sometidos a trasplante realizamos una ecografía abdominal anual de forma sistemática. Los casos sospechosos se confirmaron con tomografía computarizada (TC) antes de proceder a la nefrectomía. Resultados: Por sospecha de CCR se realizaron 14 nefrectomías radicales en 12 pacientes. En 11 nefrectomías (correspondientes a 9 pacientes), el diagnóstico anatomopatológico fue de CCR (incidencia del 1,5%). Todos fueron diagnosticados en estadio T1N0M0. En los tres pacientes restantes, en los que no se detectó tumor, el diagnóstico fue de quiste renal complicado en el contexto de poliquistosis hepatorrenal. En los pacientes con CCR, el tiempo en diálisis antes del diagnóstico fue de 36,7 ± 24,3 meses y el intervalo entre el TR y el diagnóstico fue de 39 ± 25,8 meses. Tras un seguimiento medio de 58,6 ± 38,6 meses, la evolución en todos ha sido excelente, sin recurrencia del tumor. Conclusiones: La realización de ecografías anuales permite un diagnóstico precoz del CCR. El tratamiento de esta patología en estadios iniciales se asocia con un excelente pronóstico en los pacientes con TR.

Introducción: El envejecimiento de la población representa uno de los retos más importantes desde el punto de vista biosanitario. Objetivo: Valorar el estado nutricional de las personas de 65 y más años de Cantabria. Métodos: Un total de 1605 personas fueron evaluadas por medio del MNA; a) en atención primaria (59,9% en la consulta y 4,7% en domicilios) y, b) en residencias de ancianos (35,4%). Resultados: La puntuación nutricional (PN) obtenida de la suma de los ítems del MNA fue 23,4 ± 4,1 para las mujeres y 24,4 ± 4 en los varones (p < 0,001). Destaca el hecho de que el 22,3% de las personas estudiadas en residencias está malnutrida o en riesgo de malnutrición, frente al 14,2% de las que acuden a consulta, y sólo el 3,3% de las estudiadas en su domicilio. La correlación entre los valores de la PN y la apreciación subjetiva del estado de nutrición mostró un valor elevado (0,65). Destacamos la correlación negativa (-0,53) entre los valores del IMC y la incidencia de lesiones cutáneas. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados indican la importancia de la identificación de la desnutrición o su riesgo, en personas mayores, por las consecuencias negativas que presenta este estado carencial.

In recent years the aquaculculture of turbot (Psetta maxima) is affected by various emerging parasitic diseases that affect productivity. In this paper we describe a new sepecies of coelozoic myxosporean Sinuolinea psettae n. sp. in turbot and could become a new problem for its culture.

In a knowledge-based content adaptation framework, video adaptation can be performed in a series of steps, named conversions. The high-level decision phase in such a framework occasionally encounters several feasible parameter values of a specific conversion. This paper proposes to transfer further decisions to a low-level phase that decides which parameters maximise the quality of the adaptation. Particularly when more than one solution are available, an innovative quality measure is used for selecting the best values for the parameters among the set of values that fulfil the adaptation constraints in the case of scalable video.

5 pages and 4 figures.-- PACS numbers: 85.35.Ds,73.63.-h,74.78.Na, We show that the voltage drop of specially prepared normal-superconducting-normal nanostructures show quantum Andreev oscillations as a function of magnetic field or input current. These oscillations are due to the interference of the electron wave function between the normal parts of the structure that act as reflective interfaces, i.e. our devices behave as a Fabry-Perot interferometer for conduction electrons. The observed oscillations and field periods are well explained by theory., This work was done with the support of a HBFG-grant no. 036-371, the Spanish CACyT and Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia.

High resolution magnetoresistance data in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite thin samples manifest non-homogenous superconductivity with critical temperature $T_c \sim 25 $K. These data exhibit: i) hysteretic loops of resistance versus magnetic field similar to Josephson-coupled grains, ii) quantum Andreev's resonances and iii) absence of the Schubnikov-de Haas oscillations. The results indicate that graphite is a system with non-percolative superconducting domains immersed in a semiconducting-like matrix. As possible origin of the superconductivity in graphite we discuss interior-gap superconductivity when two very different electronic masses are present., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

Transparency of the interface between two metals is discussed in a frame of the quasiclassical theory. It is shown that the Kupriyanov-Lukichev expression for the boundary resistivity of the interface is essentially based on the approximation of the single-channel Landauer conductance. In the results, a systematic discrepancy between the theory and experiments on the superconducting proximity effect is observed. We propose a multi-channel derivation of the boundary conditions, and deduce a new quasiclassical expression for the boundary resistivity which provides better matching with the experimental data. Applied to the ferromagnetic metal-non-magnetic metal contacts the multi-channel quasiclassical approach offers a simple (compared to the numerical band-structure calculations) approach to estimate the magnitude and sign of the spin-asymmetry of the boundary resistance. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

BACKGROUND: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in many diseases and aging. Scavenging enzymes represent one of several natural defence mechanisms against ROS-induced damage. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase are enzymes that are involved in antioxidant defence. Burnout is a syndrome of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. OBJECTIVES: To determine the activity of two antioxidant enzymes, SOD and catalase, and their variation according to demographic and occupational variables in workers of a prehospitalary emergency service, and to analyse the relationship between antioxidant enzyme activities and burnout 111 healthy workers of a prehospitalary emergency service were surveyed. METHODS: SOD activity was analysed by the Minami and Yoshikawa method. Catalase activity was measured by the method of Aebi. To measure burnout, the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used. RESULTS: No significant variations with respect to sex were detected in SOD and catalase activities and levels of burnout. Significant differences in SOD activity between the control group and workers of a prehospitalary emergency service (P

Trabajo presentado en la 3ª Conferencia de Dispositivos Electrónicos, celebrada en Granada (España), los días 15 y 16 de febrero de 2001