Search

[Display omitted] • Intra-seasonal fruit waste generation requires digesters with feeding flexibility. • Feeding frequency effect was tested in four semicontinuous reactors for over 350 d. • Process resilience to variations in feeding frequency shown in methane production. • Reactors failed at high organic loading rates due to insufficient alkalinity. • Feeding frequency did not change the main methanogenic and bacterial genera. On-site anaerobic digesters for small agricultural farms typically have feeding schedules that fluctuate according to farm operations. Shocks in feeding, particularly for putrescible waste can disrupt the stable operation of a digester. The effect of intermittent feeding on the anaerobic digestion of rejected raspberries was investigated in four 3L reactors operated in semicontinuous mode for 350 days at 38 °C with a hydraulic retention time of 25 days and an organic loading rate (OLR) of 1gVS/L/d. During the acclimatisation period (147 days) the organic loading was 5 feeds per week. The feeding regime of two reactors was then changed while maintaining the same OLR and HRT to one weekly feed event in one reactor and 3 equal feeds per week in another. The feeding regime did not significantly affect specific methane yield (369 ± 47 L/kgVS on average) despite very different weekly patterns in methane production. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) comprised >83 % of the organics in the effluent, while the rest included non-inhibitory concentrations of phenolic compounds (515–556 mg gallic acid/L). The microbial composition and relative abundance of predominant groups in all reactors were the archaeal genera Methanobacterium and Methanolinea and the bacterial phyla Bacteridota and Firmicutes. Increasing the OLR to 2gVS/L/d on day 238 resulted in failure of all reactors, attributed to the insufficient alkalinity to counterbalance the VFA produced, and the pH decrease below 6. Overall results suggests that optimal digestion of raspberry waste is maintained despite variations in feeding frequency, but acidification can occur with OLR changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia is associated with poor prognosis in adult oncologic patients, with little evidence of this association in pediatric population, including hepatoblastoma. Retrospective study in patients with hepatoblastoma, divided into those with or without sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was assessed by measuring psoas muscle area (PMA) at L4-L5 level on the CT/MR and defined as z-score values ≤ 2. Relapse and mortality were analyzed. Twenty-one patients (57.1% male) were included, with median age 35.7 months (IQR: 23.5–58.5). Seven (33.3%) had sarcopenia on initial studies compared to 14 (66.7%) who did not. No differences were found between groups in age, weight, PRETEXT, surgical treatment or. α-fetoprotein levels. Sarcopenia was associated with a higher rate of metastases at diagnosis (49.2% vs 0.0%; p = 0.026) and surgical complications (57.1% vs 21.4%, p = 0.047). After a median follow-up of 65.1 months (1.7–144.8), 2 patients (28.6%) had tumor relapse in sarcopenic group compared to 1 (7.1%) in non-sarcopenic group. Two patients died in sarcopenic group and 1 in non-sarcopenic group. Median event-free survival (EFS) was lower in sarcopenic group (100.38 ± 25.63 vs 118.91 ± 11.52 months) as well as overall survival (OS) (101.72 ± 24.86 vs 121.78 ± 8.75 months) with no statistical significance. Five-year EFS was also lower in sarcopenic group (71% vs 93%) as well as 5-year OS (71% vs 87%). Sarcopenia at diagnosis was associated with a higher rate of metastases and surgical complications in hepatoblastoma. Our data shows the first evidence of its role as a possible poor prognostic factor, influencing survival and risk of relapse. II. Original article. Retrospective study • What is currently known about this topic? Sarcopenia has been associated with bad outcomes in adult patients with cancer. It has been described as a prognostic factor for neuroblastoma and hematological malignancies. • What new information is contained in this article? Sarcopenia at diagnosis of hepatoblastoma is associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. These patients have worse outcomes in terms of OS and EFS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous performance of artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) placement and bladder augmentation (BA) in patients with neuropathic bladder is currently controversial. The aim of this study is to describe our very long-term results after a median follow-up of 17 years. A retrospective single-center case-control study was performed in patients with neuropathic bladder treated in our institution between 1994 and 2020, in whom AUS placement and BA were performed simultaneously (SIM group) or sequentially at different times (SEQ group). Demographic variables, hospital length of stay (LOS), long-term outcomes and postoperative complications were compared between both groups. A total of 39 patients (21 males, 18 females) were included, with a median age of 14.3 years. BA and AUS were performed simultaneously at the same intervention in 27 patients, and sequentially in different interventions in 12 cases, with a median of 18 months between both surgeries. No demographics differences were observed. SIM group had a shorter median LOS when compared to SEQ group, considering the two sequential procedures (10 vs. 15 days; p = 0.032). Median follow-up was 17.2 years (interquartile range 10.3–23.9). Four postoperative complications were reported, 3 patients in SIM group and 1 case in SEQ group, with no statistically significant differences between them (p = 0.758). Adequate urinary continence was achieved in more than 90% of patients in both groups. There are scarce recent studies comparing the combined performance of simultaneous or sequential AUS and BA in children with neuropathic bladder. The results of our study show a much lower postoperative infection rate than previously reported in the literature. It is a single-center analysis with a relatively small sample of patients although it is among the largest series published so far, and presents the longest long-term follow-up with more than 17 years of median follow-up time. Simultaneous BA and AUS placement appears safe and efficacious in children with neuropathic bladder, with shorter LOS and no differences in postoperative complications or long-term outcomes when compared to performing the two procedures sequentially at different times. Summary Table Summary Table SIM group (n = 27) SEQ group (n = 12) P-value Long-term urinary continence; n (%) 25 (92.6) 11 (91.7) 0.582 Mechanical complications (balloon rupture); n(%) 5 (18.5) 2 (16.7) 0.542 Sphincter life (years); median (Q1-Q3) 15.1 (1.7) 14.5 (2.1) 0.125 Non-mechanical complications; n(%) 3 (11.1) 1 (8.3) 0.758 • Bladder neck perforation 1 (3.7) 1 (8.3) • Vulvar labium erosion 1 (3.7) – • Bowel obstruction 1 (3.7) – [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.10.006 Byline: Lucia Guerrero (a), Raquel Marco-Ferreres (a), Antonio L. Serrano (b), Juan J. Arredondo (a), Margarita Cervera (a) Keywords: Paired enhancers; Secondary enhancers; Fine-tuning gene-transcription control; Global transcription regulation; Mouse fast, slow and cardiac Troponin I genes Abstract: Although tight quantitative control of gene expression is required to ensure that organs and tissues function correctly, the transcriptional mechanisms underlying this process still remain poorly understood. Here, we describe novel and evolutionary conserved secondary enhancers that are needed for the regulation of the expression of Troponin I genes. Secondary enhancers are silent when tested individually in electroporated muscles but interact with the primary enhancers and are required to precisely control the appropriate timing, the tissue and fibre specificity, and the quantitative expression of these genes during muscle differentiation. Synergism is completely dependent of the fully conserved MEF2 site present on the primary enhancers core of skeletal muscle Troponin I genes. Thus, while each of these paired enhancers has a different function, the concerted action of both is crucial to recapitulate endogenous gene expression. Through comparative genomics, we predict that this mechanism has also arisen in other mammalian muscle genes. Our results reveal the existence of a novel mechanism, conserved from flies to mammals, to fine-tune gene expression in each muscle and probably other tissues. Author Affiliation: (a) Departamento de Bioquimica & Instituto Investigaciones Biomedicas, Facultad de Medicina, UAM-CSIC, Spain (b) Departament de Ciencies Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Centro de Investigacion Biomedica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Dr. Aiguader 88, E-08003 Barcelona, Spain Article History: Received 17 April 2009; Revised 15 September 2009; Accepted 3 October 2009

Some evidence suggests that teeth treated with endodontic surgery and considered to have healed over the short term are seen to relapse when evaluated again after 3 or more years. However, long-term evidence is limited. This study compares healing after endodontic microsurgery over long-term (5–9 years) vs middle-term (1–4 years) follow-up and assesses the influence of different healing predictors over time. A retrospective study was made, comparing the endodontic microsurgery healing rates after 1–4 vs 5–9 years of follow-up. Healing was assessed based on clinical and radiographic parameters. Simple binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the influence of patient age and gender, the type of tooth, previous radiographic lesion size, apical extent of previous root canal filling, the presence of a post, type of restoration, and interproximal bone level upon the endodontic microsurgery healing rate. A sensitivity analysis was used excluding cases of vertical root fracture. Two calibrated observers independently evaluated the periapical radiographs. A total of 332 patients (60% women and 40% men) were included in the study. Of the 332 analyzed teeth, 198 were subjected to middle-term follow-up (1–4 years), with a healing rate of 86.9%, while 134 were subjected to long-term follow-up (5–9 years), with a healing rate of 67.2%. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of gender, age, type of tooth, size of the lesion, apical extent of previous root canal filling, presence of a post, or type of restoration. The regression models identified 2 statistically significant associations: cohort and interproximal bone level (P <.05). A success rate of 86.9% was recorded after 1-4 years of follow-up, vs 67.2% after 5–9 years. Excluding cases of vertical root fractures, in the shortest follow-up cohort (1–4 years), the healing rate was 92.5%, vs 82.6% in the cohort with longer follow-up (5–9 years). The prognosis was influenced by the crestal bone level in relation to the cementoenamel junction of the tooth, being significantly poorer when probing depth was >3 mm mesial or distal to the treated tooth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: An analysis was made of the association between the endoscopic findings of the sectioned root end surface and healing of the lesion 1 year after periapical surgery, although no studies appear to have analyzed them in relation to healing after periapical surgery.Methods: A retrospective cohort study was made of patients subjected to periapical surgery between 2011 and 2019. After apicoectomy, the root end surface was examined, evaluating the number of canals, isthmuses, dentin cracks and craze lines, opaque dentin, and gaps between the filling material and the root canal wall. An analysis (using Generalized Estimating Equation models) was made of the association between the endoscopic findings and healing evaluated by von Arx and Kurt criteria and the modified PENN 3D criteria. The possible influence of patient age and gender and the type of tooth involved on healing was evaluated.Results: A total of 108 patients (114 teeth and 128 roots) were subjected to periapical surgery. Two or more canals were detected in 27.3% of the roots (8.6% not subjected to orthograde filing), and isthmuses were identified in 18%, craze lines in 7%, cracks in 3.1%, opaque dentin in 69.5%, and gaps in 53.1% of the roots. The healing rate at 1 year according to the criteria of von Arx and Kurt was 95.4% versus 82.2% according to the modified PENN 3D criteria. Failure was more common in roots with cracks, although statistical significance was not reached (odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 0.20 [0.01 to 4.04]; P = .200). The rest of the endoscopic findings as well as patient age and gender and the type of tooth did not influence healing (P > .05).Conclusions: In the present sample, no statistically significant associations were observed between the endoscopic and healing at 1 year after periapical surgery. Failure was more common in roots with cracks, however. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was performed of the healing rate of teeth subjected to endodontic microsurgery after a minimum follow-up of 5 years with an analysis of the influence of different pre- and postoperative factors on the outcome. This was a retrospective study of patients subjected to endodontic microsurgery with the use of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) for retrograde filling between January 2011 and December 2015. In patients with multiple treated teeth, only 1 random tooth was selected for the statistical analysis. Clinical and radiographic parameters were used to assess healing. Simple binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the influence of patient age and sex, the type of tooth, prior radiographic lesion size, the presence of a post, the type of restoration, and the apical extent of prior filling of the root canal on the endodontic microsurgery success rate. Two calibrated observers evaluated the periapical radiographs on an independent basis. A total of 111 patients (63.1% women and 36.9% men) were included in the study. Of the 111 teeth analyzed, 90 were classified as healed (mean healing rate = 81.1%). Patient age and sex, the presence of a post, the type of tooth, the type of restoration, and the apical extent of prior filling of the root canal had no significant impact on the outcome. Large lesions (>5 mm) were associated with a lower healing rate than smaller lesions, although the difference was not significant. Anterior teeth had a significantly higher healing rate (93.8% maxillary and 100% mandibular) than molars (70.8% maxillary and 57.1% mandibular) (P <.05). The differences between the anterior teeth and the molars were statistically significant. The mean healing rate of teeth subjected to endodontic microsurgery was 81% after 5–9 years of follow-up. The success rate was lower for upper and lower molars than for teeth in the anterior zone, although the sample was small and further studies are needed to establish whether the type of tooth influences the treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monoterpenes are antimicrobial compounds widely distributed in vegetable biomass, whose inhibitory potential for anaerobic digestion is underestimated. In this research, the toxic effect of limonene and fenchone, two of the main monoterpenes present in vegetable biomasses, and those of 4-terpineol, α-terpineol, and p -cymene, compounds described as main metabolites of limonene degradation, have been assessed. Methane production was totally inhibited at dosed of 1000 mg L−1 of fenchone and limonene and at 600 mg L−1 of p -cymene and 4-terpineol. Based on the methane production rate, the inhibition followed the next trend: α-terpineol < < fenchone < limonene ≈ p -cymene < 4-terpineol. Regardless of dosed concentration, monoterpenes were mostly degraded at the end of the experiment (>85%), except p -cymene at 600 mg L−1. Therefore, monoterpenes could entail a high risk of inhibition that can be aggravated by the difficulty to accurately follow their concentration and by the scarce information on their effect on anaerobic process. • Toxicity for AD of monoterpenes and their degradation metabolites was evaluated. • Fenchone degradation did not generate inhibition by secondary metabolites. • Limonene metabolites can present toxicity at lower concentrations than limonene. • Determined inhibitory potential: α-terpineol<

• Long-term semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of pretreated OMSW was evaluated. • Loadings higher that 1 g VS/(L·d) should be taken with care when feeding OMSW. • Valuable phenol liquor, methane and digestate are obtained in the proposed system. • The system is profitable with phenol price of 52 €/kg, 90% lower than actual price. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of a thermal pre-treatment of olive mill solid waste (OMSW) and phenol extraction process on the semi-continuous anaerobic digestion of this pre-treated waste during a prolonged operational period (275 days) in order to assess the organic loading rates (OLR) of 1 ad 2 g Volatile Solids (VS)/(L·d). The anaerobic digestion of thermally pre-treated and de-phenolized OMSW was stable at an OLR of 1 g VS/(L·d), which permitted a specific production rate of 172 ± 60 mL CH 4 /(g VS·d). However, the system was not able to operate at an OLR of 2 g VS/(L·d), which resulted in the total failure of the process. Regardless of the applied OLR, the phenolic compounds were effectively degraded and the inhibition thresholds were not reached. The inhibition of the anaerobic digestion process at an OLR of 2 g VS/(L·d) was probably due to the overloading of the system, indicated by the accumulation of organic matter and volatile fatty acids. The operation of the anaerobic digester under stable conditions allowed for high profitability for the proposed bio-refinery concept, which would still be profitable at a phenol extract price above 51.8 €/kg, which is 90% lower than the current price of 520 €/kg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A systematic experimental study of the generation of Optical Frequency Combs (OFCs) by gain switching two types of edge emitting semiconductor lasers (Distributed Feedback and Discrete Mode) is presented. High resolution spectral measurements together with linewidth characterization and the analysis of the temporal profiles and the radio-frequency spectra are used to evaluate the evolution of the quality of the OFCs, as a function of the driving conditions. Different types of emission spectra are identified. The physical origin of the OFC properties is discussed. The results indicate that the driving conditions rather than the device properties determine the OFC quality. The optical injection is demonstrated to either improve or deteriorate the quality of the OFCs generated by gain switching, depending on the injection conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Española de Cardiología (18855857) is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Aeromonas sp. AMG272 is a Gram-negative bacterium that has been isolated from agricultural soil and studied for its plant growth-promoting activities. Structures of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of the AMG272 lipopolysaccharide and its capsular polysaccharide were elucidated using GLC-MS and NMR spectroscopy. The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide, →4)-α -l- Rha p -(1 → 3)-β -d- Glc p NAc-(1→, has been found in other Aeromonas strains and related bacteria, whereas the structure of the capsular polysaccharide has not been reported before: →6)[β- d -Fuc p 3NAc4Ac-(1 → 3)]-α -d- Glc p NAc-(1 → 4)-α -d- Gal p -(1 → 3)-α -d- Gal p NAc-(1 → 4)-α -d- Gal p -(1 → . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]