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Heat stress in hyper-prolific lactating sows is recognised as a factor reducing feed intake, milk production, and welfare, with significant losses in farm productivity. Individual capacities for body thermoregulation during environmental hyperthermia determine the adaptation of the animal during long and recurrent events. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of attenuated total reflectance (ATR) mid infrared (MIR) spectroscopy as a high-throughput method to identify markers of stress in plasma and milk collected from lactating sows under heat stress conditions fed with two levels of protein in the diet defined as low (16%) and standard (20%). The MIR spectra were analysed using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and principal component analysis and validated using cross-validation. The results obtained indicated that MIR spectroscopy, in combination with chemometrics, was able to identify changes in the spectra associated with heat stress in wavenumbers corresponding with amide groups (proteins) (highest loadings observed in the regions between1065 and 1635 cm−1), lipids and unsaturated fatty acids (regions between 1746 and 3063 cm−1), lipo-polysaccharides (in 1247 cm−1) and carbohydrates (around the region1050 cm−1). These results also indicated that the information provided by these wavenumbers can be used as metabolic markers of the adaptation of the sows to hyperthermia. It was concluded that MIR spectroscopy is a rapid and inexpensive tool capable of detecting and evaluating the main biochemical changes of hyperthermia on lactating sows, facilitating the development of palliative management strategies such as dietary manipulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spergularia rubra (L.) J. Presl & C. Presl has a mycorrhizal resistance that leads to increased uranium uptake. The results show that 35% of the 238U is retained in the carbonate fraction and 59% in the residual or non-reactive fraction. 226Ra shows a different pattern with an average association of 19% in the organic matter fraction, 10% in the carbonate compounds and the remaining 71% in the residual fraction. The relationships between the activity concentrations of 238U and 226Ra in the soil fractions and in Spergularia were found to be statistically representative of the carbonate and organic matter fractions, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patients living with and beyond breast cancer frequently exhibit several side effects that can impact quality of life and physical functioning way beyond diagnosis and cancer therapies. Traditional on-land exercise has shown to be effective in reducing several symptoms of BC but little is known about the role of water-based exercise in improving physical and psychological well-being. Objectives: To compare land- vs. water-based exercise training for BC survivors to improve Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), cancer-related fatigue (CRF), physical functioning, body composition and physical activity in patients with BC. Methods: A randomised, parallel group (1:1) controlled trial was conducted between 2020 and 2022. Patients were randomly allocated to complete a similar exercise training twice weekly during 12 weeks either on land (LG) using traditional gym equipment or in a swimming pool (WG) using body-weight exercises and water-suitable accessories. Both groups were supervised and monitored by an experienced physiotherapist. Main outcome was HRQoL (EORTC QLQ C30 and B23 module) and CRF measured with the Piper Scale. Secondary variables included functional capacity with the 6 Minutes Walking Test (6MWT), upper and lower body strength (handgrip strength and 30″ Sit-to-Stand (STS) test), body composition and objectively measured physical activity. Results: 28 patients were assessed and randomised during the study period. One patient did not receive the allocated intervention due to skin issues and one patient was dropped out during the intervention. A significant effect of time was found for both symptom severity (F(2,52) = 6.46, p = 0.003) and overall functioning (F1.67,43.45 = 5.215, p =0.013) but no interaction was found between group and time. No effects were reported for CRF. Similar findings were reported for functional capacity (time effect F1.231,32.019 = 16.818, p < 0.001) and lower body strength (time effect F2,52 = 15.120, p < 0.001) as well as fat mass (time effect F2,52 = 4.38, p = 0.017). Notably, a significant time per group interaction was reported for physical activity (F2,52 = 6.349, p =0.003) with patients in the WG significantly improving PA levels over time while patients in the LG exhibited a marked decreased. Conclusions: Exercise training either in water or on land can decrease symptom severity and improve functionality and body composition. Water-based training seems more effecting than land-based exercise to improve physical activity patterns over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiological characterization of soil contaminated with natural radionuclides enables the classification of the area under investigation, the optimization of laboratory measurements, and informed decision-making on potential site remediation. Neural networks (NN) are emerging as a new candidate for performing these tasks as an alternative to conventional geostatistical tools such as Co-Kriging. This study demonstrates the implementation of a NN for estimating radiological values such as ambient dose equivalent (H*(10)), surface activity and activity concentrations of natural radionuclides present in a waste dump of a Cu mine with a high level of natural radionuclides. The results obtained using a NN were compared with those estimated by Co-Kriging. Both models reproduced field measurements equivalently as a function of spatial coordinates. Similarly, the deviations from the reference concentration values obtained in the output layer of the NN were smaller than the deviations obtained from the multiple regression analysis (MRA), as indicated by the results of the root mean square error. Finally, the method validation showed that the estimation of radiological parameters based on their spatial coordinates faithfully reproduced the affected area. The estimation of the activity concentrations was less accurate for both the NN and MRA; however, both methods gave statistically comparable results for activity concentrations obtained by gamma spectrometry (Student's t-test and Fisher's F-test). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work describes the grafting of a polymer-metal chelate (PMC) from mesoporous silica (SBA-15) via the Surface Initiated-Atom Transfer Radical Polymerization (SI-ATRP). SBA-15 was silylated by 2-bromo-2-methyl-N-(3-(trimethoxysilyl)propanamide (BTPAm) to give the surface-anchored ATRP initiator. The monomer, N-(4-(5-(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)phenyl)acrylamide (POPA), was polymerized from the SBA-15 surface via the ATRP approach to give poly(POPA)-g-SBA-15. The grafted chelating polymer ligand (CPL) was treated with an ethanolic solution of PdCl2 to afford the SBA-15 grafted PMC, poly(POPA)-g-SBA-15-Pd(II). The grafted PMC was characterized by FT-IR, CP/MAS 13C NMR, thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) corroborated that the major palladium species have the (+2) oxidation state. The catalytic activity of the grafted PMC was examined in the Heck reaction between haloarenes and olefins after establishing the optimal reaction conditions. Interestingly, chloroarenes exhibited enhanced activities than bromoarenes. Their activity was comparable to iodoarenes. The excellent recyclability of the catalyst was shown by negligible deactivation over six runs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Malaria remains a significant global health challenge with emerging resistance to current treatments. Plasmodium falciparum glutathione reductase (PfGR) plays a critical role in the defense mechanisms of malaria parasites against oxidative stress. In this study, we investigate the potential of targeting PfGR with conventional antimalarials and dual drugs combining aminoquinoline derivatives with GR inhibitors, which reveal promising interactions between PfGR and studied drugs. The naphthoquinone Atovaquone demonstrated particularly high affinity and potential dual-mode binding with the enzyme active site and cavity. Furthermore, dual drugs exhibit enhanced binding affinity, suggesting their efficacy in inhibiting PfGR, where the aliphatic ester bond (linker) is essential for effective binding with the enzyme's active site. Overall, this research provides important insights into the interactions between antimalarial agents and PfGR and encourages further exploration of its role in the mechanisms of action of antimalarials, including dual drugs, to enhance antiparasitic efficacy. Methods: The drugs were tested as PfGR potential inhibitors via molecular docking on AutoDock 4, which was performed based on the preoptimized structures in HF/3-21G-PCM level of theory on ORCA 5. Drug-receptor systems with the most promising binding affinities were then studied with a molecular dynamic's simulation on AMBER 16. The molecular dynamics simulations were performed with a 100 ns NPT ensemble employing GAFF2 forcefield in the temperature of 310 K, integration time step of 2 fs, and non-bond cutoff distance of 6.0 Å. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer cells exhibit distinct metabolic activities and nutritional dependencies compared to normal cells. Thus, characterization of nutrient demands by individual tumor types may identify specific vulnerabilities that can be manipulated to target the destruction of cancer cells. We find that MYC-driven liver tumors rely on augmented tryptophan (Trp) uptake, yet Trp utilization to generate metabolites in the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway is reduced. Depriving MYC-driven tumors of Trp through a No-Trp diet not only prevents tumor growth but also restores the transcriptional profile of normal liver cells. Despite Trp starvation, protein synthesis remains unhindered in liver cancer cells. We define a crucial role for the Trp-derived metabolite indole 3-pyruvate (I3P) in liver tumor growth. I3P supplementation effectively restores the growth of liver cancer cells starved of Trp. These findings suggest that I3P is a potential therapeutic target in MYC-driven cancers. Developing methods to target this metabolite represents a potential avenue for liver cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The synthesis and characterization of a new bis(NHC)-Pd(II) catalyst supported on magnetic SBA-15 (Fe3O4@SiO2-SBA) were reported. Magnetic SBA-15 was sequentially treated with (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES), cyanuric chloride (CC), imidazole, and 2-bromopyridine. The modified magnetic particles were then further reacted with trans-Pd(Cl)2(SMe2)2 complex to give Fe3O4@SiO2-SBA-AP-CC-bis(NHC)-Pd(II) as a supported bis(NHC) complex. The obtained material was characterized by common spectroscopic methods. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the interaction of some imine nitrogens with palladium atoms. The prepared catalyst was applied in the hydrodehalogenation of aryl halides. The effects of reaction parameters were investigated to establish the optimal reaction conditions. The catalyst was magnetically separated and reused seven times without significant catalyst deactivation and Pd leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The evaluation of nanofibrous membranes based on polymeric blends of carboxymethyl-cellulose/silver-nanoparticle (CMC–AgNP) composite and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as suitable scaffolds for tissue engineering applications is reported. The membranes were prepared using a method that involved the synthesis of CMC–AgNP composite, followed by the preparation of polymeric blends with PVA and their electrospinning. According to our experimental results, the mean diameter of the nanofibers decreases from 335.8 to 210.1 nm as the weight content of CMC–AgNP in the polymeric blends increases. This variation in the mean diameter of the nanofibers is related to the increase of the viscosity, from 221.8 to 410 mPa·s, and conductivity, from 1.1 to 2.9 mS/cm, of the electrospun blends. In addition, we observed that the CMC and PVA molecules interact through either acetal bridges or hydrogen bonds. These interactions, along with the variation in the mean diameter of the nanofibers, modify the tensile strength, strain at break and Young's modulus of the CMC–AgNP/PVA membranes. Specifically, the stiffness of the membranes is enhanced as the weight content of CMC–AgNP increases, resulting in appropriate mechanical properties for their application as tissue engineering scaffolds. Likewise, we detected that the proliferation of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria on the surface of the membranes is avoided. Moreover, these membranes do not induce significant toxicity in Schwann cell cultures even after 5 days of incubation. Furthermore, they provide a suitable environment for the cell anchoring and proliferation, suggesting that the nanofibrous CMC–AgNP/PVA membranes could be utilized as scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, we report the anchoring of a bis(oxime palladacycle) adduct on magnetic mesoporous silica (Fe3O4@SBA-15). Magnetic mesoporous silica was successively treated with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES), cyanuric chloride (CC), and 4-hydroxyacetophenone oxime-derived palladacycle to give Fe3O4@SBA-AP-CC-bis(oxime palladacycle). The obtained nano-catalyst was characterized by FT-IR spectroscopy, CP MAS 13C NMR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area measurement (SBET) and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). X‐Ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) corroborated the (+ 2) oxidation number for palladium. The catalytic potential of Fe3O4@SBA-AP-CC-bis(oxime palladacycle) was explored in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction. The effects of different reaction conditions, including the solvent, the base, temperature, and palladium content, were studied in detail. The N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solvent, 0.5 mol% of the Pd-catalyst, the NaOAc base, and the reaction temperature of 120 °C, provided the best conditions for the Heck cross-coupling reaction. The catalyst showed a wide substrate scope, including aryl halides (I, Br, Cl) and olefins, in the Mizoroki–Heck reaction, using low catalyst loadings viz., Pd 0.09 mol%. The bis(oxime palladacycle) enjoys easy magnetic separation, stability, and recyclability over five runs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The market for gluten-free products is increasing with an estimated 7.6% annual growth rate from 2020 to 2027. It has been reported that most gluten-free products, such as bread, cookies, and pasta, contain great amounts of simple carbohydrates and are low in fiber and protein, affecting people's health. Pulses such as common beans, chickpeas, lentils, and peas have been studied as an alternative for developing gluten-free products because of their high protein and fiber content. In addition, they contain bioactive compounds with nutraceutical properties, such as phenolics, saponins, dietary fiber, and resistant starch, among others. Most studies carried out with pulses in vitro and in vivo have displayed health benefits, proving that pulse-based food products are better than their counterparts, even those containing wheat, with proper sensory acceptance. This work reviews pulse's nutritional and nutraceutical properties to promote the development and consumption of gluten-free products and improve their formulations to promote people's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shark depredation is a complex social-ecological issue that affects a range of fisheries worldwide. Increasing concern about the impacts of shark depredation, and how it intersects with the broader context of fisheries management, has driven recent research in this area, especially in Australia and the United States. This review synthesises these recent advances and provides strategic guidance for researchers aiming to characterise the occurrence of depredation, identify the shark species responsible, and test deterrent and management approaches to reduce its impacts. Specifically, the review covers the application of social science approaches, as well as advances in video camera and genetic methods for identifying depredating species. The practicalities and considerations for testing magnetic, electrical, and acoustic deterrent devices are discussed in light of recent research. Key concepts for the management of shark depredation are reviewed, with recommendations made to guide future research and policy development. Specific management responses to address shark depredation are lacking, and this review emphasizes that a "silver bullet" approach for mitigating depredation does not yet exist. Rather, future efforts to manage shark depredation must rely on a diverse range of integrated approaches involving those in the fishery (fishers, scientists and fishery managers), social scientists, educators, and other stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to compare group B Streptococcus (GBS) infection incidence in HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) and HIV-unexposed (HU) infants in a Spanish cohort. We conducted a retrospective study in 5 hospitals in Madrid (Spain). Infants ≤ 90 days of life with a GBS infection were included from January 2008 to December 2017. Incidence of GBS infection in HEU and HU children was compared. HEU infants presented a sevenfold greater risk of GBS infection and a 29-fold greater risk of GBS meningitis compared to HU, with statistical significance. Early-onset infection was tenfold more frequent in HEU children, with statistical significance, and late-onset infection was almost fivefold more frequent in the HUE infants' group, without statistical significance. Conclusion: HEU infants presented an increased risk of GBS sepsis and meningitis. One in each 500 HEU infants of our cohort had a central nervous system infection and 1 in each 200, a GBS infection. Although etiological causes are not well understood, this should be taken into account by physicians when attending this population. What is Known: • HIV-exposed uninfected infants are at higher risk of severe infections. • An increased susceptibility of these infants to group B Streptococcus infections has been described in low- and high-income countries, including a higher risk of meningitis in a South African cohort. What is New: • Group B Streptococcal meningitis is more frequent in HIV-exposed uninfected infants also in high-income countries. • Physicians should be aware of this increased risk when attending these infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A thin-layer chromatography method for the separation and in situ densitometric quantitation of total capsaicinoids from dried Habanero pepper pods was developed, following selected guidelines from the International Council for Harmonisation. The method was sensitive enough to detect and quantify 0.5 and 0.75 μg of total capsaicinoids, respectively, from minimal amounts of plant tissue and little sample processing. Method displayed precision, with under 5% variation both at intra- and inter-day analysis; accuracy, as comparable results were obtained using other validated methods; and robustness, estimated by modifying analysis conditions. Due to its simple execution, up to 20 analyses could be performed from beginning to end in less than two hours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Biological soil crusts (BSC) are key drivers of ecosystem functioning in drylands. Yet understanding their composition/function relationship is still limited due to the poor knowledge about their variability, particularly in terms of small-scale microhabitat differences. Methods: We investigated how changes in BSC community composition (species identity and cover) affect surrogates of soil functions, such as soil erosion resistance, water dynamics and nutrient cycling, in vegetated mound and intermound microhabitats on a semi-arid shrubland of Argentina. We used a correlative approach to evaluate the composition/function relationship, and we compiled information available in the literature about species functional traits to explain the observed patterns. Results: Most BSC species were present in both vegetated mounds and intermounds, and variations in community composition between microhabitat were mainly related to differences in the relative cover of each species. BSC cover improved soil surface stability in both microhabitat, irrespective of the community composition. However, soil functions related to nutrient cycling and water dynamics were correlated to changes in BSC composition, varying in dependence of the cover of species of lichens and mosses characterized by different morphological, anatomical and physiological traits. Most community composition/function relationships did not differ between microhabitat. Conclusion: Our results provide novel evidence that changes in BSC species and functional groups create soil heterogeneity in key soil properties and processes, and those effects are no context-dependent in terms of microhabitat. We identified some functional attributes of the species that may deserve greater attention for improving BSC functional-trait analyses in diverse natural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article analyzes the main determinants of changes in subjective well-being over time in Germany distinguishing between long-term and short-term changes. Our findings for the long term indicate that social capital and values and cultural dimensions have the greatest capacity to predict changes in subjective well-being. Likewise, the correlation between economic resources and subjective well-being is weaker due to the small increase registered in household income and because people compare their income with those who are better off and feel envy. In the short term, economic resources have the highest capacity to predict both improvements (ups) and declines (downs) in subjective well-being. Finally, we also suggest that, whenever information is available, personality traits should be taken into account in the analysis of changes in subjective well-being over time in order to achieve more reliable estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The description of interaction phenomenology between magnetic and luminescent phases in multimodal hybrid nanostructures (MHNs) based on magnetite nanoparticles (mNPs) assembled into templates of a luminescent conjugated polymer (LCP) with oxime groups (TUTM) is reported. The MHNs were obtained from the combination of mNPs and TUTM, which were previously synthesized in a separated way, following chemical routes. These MHNs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy techniques, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, as well as magnetic and magneto-optical measuring. The experimental evidence shows the formation of nanoparticle assemblies into the LCP. This is related with the fact that mNPs are immobilized in the TUTM by coordination bonds between oxime groups and Fe2+ or Fe3+ cations at their surface. Moreover, these coordination bonds promote the photoinduced electron transfer from lowest unoccupied molecular orbital of TUTM to the unfilled d orbitals of Fe2+ or Fe3+ in mNPs that leads to the fluorescence quenching of the LCP. Likewise, they provoke the formation of a new non-fluorescent complex, which gives arise a static quenching of the luminescent phase. In addition, the mNPs assembling induces the exchange coupling among nanoparticles that diminishes the effective anisotropy of the magnetic phase. Moreover, it was observed that the magnetic hardness of the MHNs decreases in the presence of light stimulus. This is related with the photoinduced electrons transfer between phases. Accordingly, the spin of those electrons could contribute to the antiparallel alignment in the magnetic phase, softening the response of MHNs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Importance: Altough disease-modifying factors such as malnutrition and diet have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD), little is known about the effects of pharmacological therapies on the nutritional status of AD patients. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status, prealbumin, and albumin serum levels and several anthropometric measurements in patients with probable moderate-stage AD, with and without rivastigmine drug treatment. Study design: A cross-sectional study. Setting and participants: 34 patients were included, 17 with rivastigmine treatment and 17 without pharmacological treatment, over 60 years of both sexes. Measurements: The nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Albumin and prealbumin (transthyretin) levels and anthropometric evaluation were assessed using standard methods. Results: A polarity of malnutrition was detected in the untreated group. According to the MNA survey, the risk of malnutrition is higher without rivastigmine treatment (p = 0.0001). There are a less loss of appetite, less psychological stress, greater mobility and independence in those patients receiving rivastigmine (p = 0.003, 0.008, 0.016 and 0.018, respectively). The body mass index does not show a statistical difference, however, categorizing it for older adults, this index was improved in those receiving rivastigmine (p = 0.016). The serum levels of albumin and prealbumin showed no significant statistical difference between the groups. Conclusions: Rivastigmine treatment shows a protective effect on malnutrition in patients with moderate-stage AD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study evaluated the effectiveness of class II restorations, in permanent teeth, through the ART technique in comparison to composite resin. Materials and methods: Participants (154), aged 8 to 19 years, with good general health, with class II cavities in permanent teeth, and without pulp involvement and tooth pain were included in this parallel and randomized clinical trial. The Ethics Committee approval number was CAAE: 24012913.0.1001.5417. Seventy-seven restorations were made with each restorative material (Equia Fil-GC Corporation and Z350-3M). Evaluations occurred at 6 and 12 months by the criteria of ART and the USPHS modified. Data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney, chi-square, Fisher's exact, chi-square tests with linear trend and logistic regression by enter method (p < 0.050). The Kaplan-Meier test evaluated the survival rates of the restorations. The log-rank test compared the survival curves. Results: Regardless of the evaluation criteria used, the success rates of ART restorations were 98.7% (6 months) and 95.8% (12 months) and for composite resins were 100% (6 months) and 98.7% (12 months), with no statistical difference of restoration groups (p > 0.050). Survival rates for restorations, regardless of the evaluation criteria used, are the same as the success rates, with the exception of ART restorations at 12 months of follow-up (94.8%). Conclusion: No differences in the success rates of class II restorations of ART compared to resin composite, in permanent teeth, were observed after 12 months. Clinic significant: HVGIC can safely be used to restore proximal cavities in permanent teeth up to 12 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effect of ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) combined with stirring and conventional technique of maceration of wild bilberry juice by-products has been studied. Juice by-products were subjected to conventional maceration by stirring, and ultrasound probe using four different ultrasonic intensities (4.4, 9.4, 13.4 and 16.7 W cm− 2). The anthocyanins and flavonol profile of the obtained extracts were studied by HPLC-DAD. UAE resulted in a decrease of monomeric anthocyanins. However, the total phenolic compounds was higher when ultrasound was used and the extracts obtained with this "green" technology were more antioxidants than the extracts obtained by conventional maceration. Lab parameters and absorbances at 420 and 520 nm showed greater recovery of yellow and red compounds when the ultrasonic intensity was higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism of four to sixfold. Cancer-related interventions such as chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and indwelling central venous catheters also increase the risk of venous thromboembolism. Low molecular weight heparin for at least 3–6 months is the current standard of care for the treatment of cancer associated venous thromboembolism. Anticoagulation should be continued as long as the cancer is active. Over the past few years, direct oral anticoagulants have emerged, including one direct thrombin inhibitor (dabigatran etexilate) and three factor Xa inhibitors (apixaban, edoxaban and rivaroxaban). In the randomized controlled trials comparing direct oral anticoagulants with vitamin K antagonists, the direct oral anticoagulants all provide non-inferior in prevention of thromboembolic events in patients with atrial fibrillation, for the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and in acute coronary syndrome. In people with cancer, these drugs have emerged as attractive alternatives for the treatment of venous thromboembolism with the potential to overcome the limitations of low molecular weight heparin. Randomized controlled studies comparing direct oral anticoagulants to low molecular weight heparin in cancer patients are still limited and direct oral anticoagulants are not recommended for the treatment of cancer associated venous thromboembolism yet. However, new emerging data are supporting the use of direct oral anticoagulants in cancer-associated thrombosis. Here, we review recent data on the evidence related to the efficacy and safety of direct oral anticoagulants for the treatment of venous thromboembolism in patients with cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work proposes a method for gamma background subtraction by combining several background spectra acquired during short-term measurements (100,000 s). A dedicated Visual Basic code has been developed, that performs an energy correction due to gain drifts, via interpolation of the counts, and finally a summation of several background spectra. Three interpolations were tested: linear, quadratic and cubic, from which the linear was selected after checking the Gaussian fit and accuracy of the areas of the resulting photopeaks. The activity concentration results using the proposed algorithm in two intercomparable exercises and different matrices showed the reproducibility of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The town of Adra (Almeria Province, South-Eastern Spain) has been seriously affected by historical damaging earthquakes in 1487, 1522, two in 1804 and in 1910 with epicentres offshore in the Alboran Sea that reached onshore an estimated maximum intensity of VIII, IX, VIII, VIII-IX and VII-VIII, respectively. Additionally, in the instrumental period, several seismic series near the city affected it with moderate structural damages like the recent one of 1993-1994, when two main earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 and 4.9 cause serious damage in mid-rise reinforced concrete buildings sited on soft soils. Consequently, the town can be affected by moderate to destructive earthquakes, so this paper provides an initial assessment of the potential impact and the consequences (in terms of structural damage, economic and human losses) if the 1910 Adra earthquake hit the city again. The results point out that buildings damage are mainly concentrated in the soft soils areas of the city and that the non-engineered buildings, especially the oldest one, have the highest vulnerability, and therefore, the structural damage is higher, while seismically designed structures show a better behaviour showing less damage. Additionally, mid- and high-rise buildings have more extensive damage than low-rise buildings. Besides, the reinforced concrete buildings with waffled-slab floors, built previously to the first Spanish seismic code (NCSE-94), show, also, important damage. In summary, we have obtained that 474 ± 160 and 973 ± 78 buildings will be affected by complete and extensive damage, respectively, that is around 40% of the buildings in the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degradation of bisphenol A (BPA, 0.5 L, 30 mg L) was studied by photo-Fenton treatment, while Fenton reagents were variables. The efficiency of the degradation process was evaluated by the reduction of total organic carbon (TOC), the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and toxicity. For toxicity analysis, bacterial methods were found infeasible, but the in vitro assay of VERO cells culture was successfully applied. Experiments according to a 2 design of experiments (DOE) with star points and three center points for statistical validity allowed selecting those process conditions (Fe(II) and HO load) that maximized the process performance. Photo-Fenton process effectively eliminated BPA and partly degraded its by-products (residual TOC <15 %) under substoichiometric HO dose (100.62 mg L) and at least 4 mg L Fe(II), after a 90-min treatment. All treated samples were at least partially biodegradable. The cytotoxic concentration (LD) of BPA for VERO cells was 7 mg L. With small HO amount (15.24 mg L), only low BPA mineralization (TOC = 92 %) was attained. Toxicity was also detected to 50 % of cellular mortality even at long reaction times. However, 40.25 mg L of HO decreased residual TOC to 70 % while cell mortality decreased down to 25 %. With more HO, the residual TOC decreased down to 15 % but cell mortality remained within the 20-25 % level. Photo-Fenton increased the biodegradability and reduced the toxicity of the studied sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) classification considers SCr values, urea and urine output in order to improve timely diagnose ARF and improve patient prognosis by early treatment. Preoperative levosimendan is a new way for cardiac and kidney protection, we try to evaluate this drug in fifteen patients comparing values of AKIN scale parameters pre and post cardiac surgery in patients with right ventricle dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence for the effectiveness of linezolid in neurosurgical infections (NSIs) is growing. The comfortable oral dosage and tolerance of linezolid opens the possibility for sequential antimicrobial treatment (SAT) in stable patients after a period of intravenous treatment. Methods: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of SAT with oral linezolid in patients with NSI and to analyse the cost implications, an observational, non-comparative, prospective cohort study was conducted on clinically stable consecutive adult patients at the Neurosurgical Service. Following intravenous treatment, patients were discharged with SAT with oral linezolid. Results: A total of 77 patients were included. The most common NSIs were: 41 surgical wound infections, 20 subdural empyemas, 18 epidural abscesses, and 16 brain abscesses. Forty-four percent of patients presented two or more concomitant NSIs. Aetiological agents commonly isolated were: Propionibacterium acnes (36 %), Staphylococcus aureus (23 %), Staphylococcus epidermidis (21 %) and Streptococcus spp. (13 %). The median duration of the SAT was 15 days (range, 3-42). The SAT was interrupted in five cases due to adverse events. The remainder of the patients were cured at the end of the SAT. A total of 1,163 days of hospitalisation were saved. An overall cost reduction of €516,188 was attributed to the SAT. Eight patients with device infections did not require removal of the device, with an additional cost reduction of €190,595. The mean cost saving per patient was €9,179. Conclusions: SAT with linezolid was safe and effective for the treatment of NSI. SAT reduces hospitalisation times, which means significant savings of health and economic resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common hair disorder. Finasteride and minoxidil have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of AGA. However, some side effects have been related to the intake of these drugs. Recently, plasma rich in growth factors has emerged as a safe alternative for the management of pattern hair loss. The purposes of the present study are to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of plasma rich in growth factors (PRGFs) versus topical minoxidil treatment in AGA-affected patients. Methods: Following a retrospective case control design, 379 patients treated with either PRGF or minoxidil were included in this study. Diagnostic trichograms at baseline and 4 months after treatment were performed with the aim of analyzing the anagen/telogen hair change improvement. Results: PRGF-treated patients showed higher anagen hair increase improvement compared to minoxidil-treated ones (6.9 ± 0.4 and 4.6 ± 0.5 %, respectively) ( p < 0.05). Telogen hair decrease improvement was also higher in PRGF group (5.7 ± 0.3 and 2.6 ± 0.5 %, respectively) ( p < 0.05). Global photographs showed an overall volume and quality hair improvement for both treatments. No adverse effects were reported. Conclusions: This retrospective study shows that PRGF is a safe and effective treatment for AGA and evidences that PRGF exerts improved anagen/telogen results than topical minoxidil. Level of evidence: Level IV, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of wind erosion on soil productivity was studied applying fan-forced wind in a wind tunnel located in the Campo de Nijar area in SE Spain where the main crops are cereals. Wind erosion is highly variable depending on the type of soil (aric-haplic Calcisols, aric-calcaric Cambisols or aric-calcic Luvisols, according to IUSS Working Group WRB, 2014) and the time elapsed since the last tillage. This is because of the formation of a physical crust after tillage, which protects the soil from wind. Crusting in our area is favored by the strong effect of dew, which makes crust form in from eight to ten days. Nutrient losses from wind involve an additional cost in fertilization for a crop to be economically viable. The repeated measures ANOVA shows that very fine sand and coarse silt are the fractions most susceptible to loss due to the effect of wind. The same statistical analysis shows that the smallest differences in fertility appear in OC and K2O, increasing in N and P2O5. Based on experimental data, we calculated the approximate cost of restoring organic matter, N, P2O5 and K2O losses to the soil proportional to wind erosion, on the base of mineral fertilizers usually employed and average prices. This does not include the contribution to maintaining short and long-term productivity and soil fertility required for growing, or natural contributions from wind deposits and runoff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is in the frame of the cooperative line that several Spanish Universities and other foreign partners started with the Haitian government in 2010. According to our studies (Benito et al. in An evaluation of seismic hazard in La Hispaniola, after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, 33rd General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission, Moscow, Russia, ) and recent scientific literature, the earthquake hazard in Haiti remains high (Calais et al. in Nat Geosci 3:794-799, ). In view of this, we wonder whether the country is currently ready to face another earthquake. In this sense, we estimated several damage scenarios in Port-au-Prince and Cap-Haitien associated to realistic possible major earthquakes. Our findings show that almost 50 % of the building stock of both cities would result uninhabitable due to structural damage. Around 80 % of the buildings in both cities have reinforced concrete structure with concrete block infill; however, the presence of masonry buildings becomes significant (between 25 and 45 % of the reinforced concrete buildings) in rural areas and informal settlements on the outskirts, where the estimated damage is higher. The influence of the soil effect on the damage spatial distribution is evident in both cities. We have found that the percentage of uninhabitable buildings in soft soil areas may be double the percentage obtained in nearby districts located in hard soil. These results reveal that a new seismic catastrophe of similar or even greater consequences than the 2010 Haiti earthquake might happen if the earthquake resilience is not improved in the country. Nowadays, the design of prevention actions and mitigation policies is the best instrument the society has to face seismic risk. In this sense, the results of this research might contribute to define measures oriented to earthquake risk reduction in Haiti, which should be a real priority for national and international institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volcanic eruptions discharge massive amounts of ash and pumice that decrease light penetration in lakes and lead to concomitant increases in phosphorus (P) concentrations and shifts in soluble C/P ratios. The consequences of these sudden changes for bacteria community composition, metabolism, and enzymatic activity remain unclear, especially for the dynamic period immediately after pumice deposition. Thus, the main aim of our study was to determine how ambient bacterial communities respond to pumice inputs in lakes that differ in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and P concentrations and to what extent these responses are moderated by substrate C/P stoichiometry. We performed an outdoor experiment with natural lake water from two lakes that differed in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration. We measured nutrient concentrations, alkaline phosphatase activity (APA), and DOC consumption rates and assessed different components of bacterial community structure using next-generation sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. Pumice inputs caused a decrease in the C/P ratio of dissolved resources, a decrease in APA, and an increase in DOC consumption, indicating reduced P limitation. These changes in bacteria metabolism were coupled with modifications in the assemblage composition and an increase in diversity, with increases in bacterial taxa associated with biofilm and sediments, in predatory bacteria, and in bacteria with gliding motility. Our results confirm that volcanic eruptions have the potential to alter nutrient partitioning and light penetration in receiving waterways which can have dramatic impacts on microbial community dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a common hair disorder that affects both men and women all over the world. Although it is far from being a life-threatening disease, the psychosocial impact of AGA can provoke stress and a significant decrease in life quality. The objective of this retrospective study is to investigate the safety and efficacy of autologous plasma rich in growth factors (PRGF) for the treatment of AGA. Methods: One hundred patients were included in this study. They followed two intradermal cycles of PRGF every 4 weeks. Macrophotographs and trichograms were performed at baseline and at 4 months after the first treatment in order to evaluate the overall improvement and determine the anagen/telogen hair ratio, respectively. Results: Patients showed an overall increase in hair density. Trichogram analysis showed that anagen hair follicles increased significantly at 6.2 percentage points ( p < 0.05) comparing to baseline levels, while a decrease of 5.1 points ( p < 0.05) was observed among telogen ones. No adverse effect was reported by any patient. Conclusions: Although more randomized clinical studies are needed, our data suggest that PRGF has a positive therapeutic effect on androgenetic alopecia showing no adverse effects related to the treatment protocol. Level of Evidence: Level III, therapeutic study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Breast cancer is the most frequent neoplasia in women and is responsible for approximately 13.8% of deaths per year for this gender. It has been suggested that JAK2, STAT3, and NF-κB gene expression is involved in this type of cancer. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of bistriazole in these signaling pathways in patients with breast cancer and benign mammary lesions. The inhibitory concentration 50 of bistriazole was calculated in cell cultures of patients with benign lesions, Probit = 4.6 μM with IC = 95%. The study was performed by examining 63 women who submitted to mammary biopsies. Biopsies of the mammary lesions were performed, gene expression was determined, and cells were cultured in the presence of 4.6 μM bistriazole. We found that breast cancer is related to age greater than 50 ( P ≤ 0.01), being overweight ( P ≤ 0.023) and having a waist circumference larger than 80 cm ( P ≤ 0.01). The gene expression of JAK2, STAT3, and NF-κB was higher in groups of patients with breast cancer, while SOCS3 expression was lower. After being exposed to bistriazole, the expression of JAK2 and STAT3 decreased, and the expression of SOCS3 and NF-κB increased. In conclusion, this molecule in development has an effect on the gene expression of JAK3 and STAT3; nevertheless, the lack of change in NF-κB indicates that it is not a regulator of inflammation, and therefore, more studies should be performed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The series of polycrystalline heteronuclear complexes, BiNd[Fe(CN)]·4HO (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.3), was successfully synthesized and characterized, by means of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and infrared spectroscopy. The thermal behaviour was studied by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis. The crystal structure of the complexes was refined by Rietveld analysis. It was found that they crystallized in the orthorhombic crystal system, space group Cmcm. The lattice parameters and unit cell volume decrease with an increase in Nd concentration. In order to obtain the oxides BiNdFeO, the thermal decomposition of the inorganic complexes, BiNd[Fe(CN)]·4HO, has been investigated. By Rietveld analysis of PXRD data, the synthesis of the oxides was confirmed, evidencing in the series, a gradual change in crystal structure from rhombohedra to triclinic. Furthermore, with an increase in Nd content in BiNdFeO oxides, impurity phases, such as BiO, BiFeO and BiFeO associated with the synthesis of BiFeO, are reduced. The morphology and chemical composition were investigated by microscopy electronic scattering and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The electrical and magnetic properties have been determined to characterize the obtained oxides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 243 clinical isolates of the Mycobacterium genus were studied, 143 and 100 using two protocols (Protocol v2 and Protocol v3, respectively) provided by the manufacturer. The overall correlation of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) with the standard identification methods was 63.8 %. The rate of misidentification was 3.2 %, mainly affecting very close species. In Protocol v2, the correlation was 57.3 %, being greater in solid than in liquid media (71.7 % vs. 44.7 %, p < 0.05). Albeit not significant, a trend to a greater correlation for M. tuberculosis complex compared to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) (63.6 % vs. 55.5 %) was observed. In Protocol v3, the correlation was 73 %, with no significant differences between solid and liquid media (70.8 % vs. 75 %). In conclusion, MALDI-TOF MS may play a role in identifying mycobacterial species isolated from clinical samples, being faster than sequencing and hybridization-based techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective and design: Carrageenan-induced paw edema has been described as a local and acute inflammatory process. In fact, little is known about the time course and systemic changes following a carrageenan injection. In this study, we examine the systemic changes that follow carrageenan injection in the paw. Methods: Acute inflammation was produced by subplantar injection of carrageenan in a hind paw of Sprague-Dawley rats. Saline was used in control rats. Paw volume was measured with a plethysmometer. The hot plate latency test was used to quantify antinociception. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured with a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Fibrinogen concentration was measured using the gravimetric method. Lung morphometric analysis was performed using an image processing package. Lungs and paws were also examined for tissue factor (TF) and proinflammatory cytokines expression by immunohistochemistry. Results: We found diverse systemic changes including increased levels of acute phase proteins, such as CRP and fibrinogen, and a lung inflammatory process characterized by lung edema, fibrin deposition, and leukocyte infiltration. An elevated expression of TF, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα, was observed in paw and lung tissue sections by immunohistochemical methods. Conclusion: This study provides new evidence that a local carrageenan injection induces a systemic response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some patients with epithelial-cell cancers develop leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LC), a severe complication difficult to diagnose and with an adverse prognosis. This study explores the contribution of flow cytometry immunophenotyping (FCI) to the diagnosis and prognosis of LC. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from patients diagnosed with LC were studied using FCI. Expression of the epithelial-cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was the criterion used to identify the epithelial cells. To test the diagnostic precision, 144 patients (94 diagnosed with LC) were included. The prognostic value of FCI was evaluated in 72 patients diagnosed with LC and eligible for therapy. Compared with cytology, FCI showed greater sensitivity and negative predictive value (79.79 vs. 50 %; 68.85 vs. 51.55 %, respectively), but lower specificity and positive predictive value (84 vs. 100 %; 90.36 vs. 100 %, respectively). The multivariate analysis revealed that the percentage of CSF EpCAM+ cells predicted an increased risk of death (HR: 1.012, 95 % CI 1.000-1.023; p = 0.041). A cut-off value of 8 % EpCAM+ cells in the CSF distinguished two groups of patients with statistically significant differences in overall survival (OS) (p = 0.018). This cut-off value kept its statistical significance regardless of the absolute CSF cell-count. The FCI study of the CSF improved the sensitivity for diagnosing LC, but refinement of the technique is needed to improve specificity. Furthermore, quantification of CSF EpCAM+ cells was revealed to be an independent prognostic factor for OS in patients with LC eligible for therapy. An 8 % cut-off value contributed to predicting clinical evolution before initiation of therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Hip fracture incidence in the Canaries was studied in two 5-year periods (1989-1993 and 2008-2011). The incidence in 2007-2011 was 24 % higher than in 1989, but did not differ between 2007-2011 and 1993. These findings suggest a trend to stabilize the incidence of hip fracture. Introduction: A dramatic increase in hip fractures between 1988 and 2002 was reported in Northern Spain. We performed the present study in Gran Canaria, the Canary Islands, to compare changes in the incidence of hip fracture between 1989-1993 and 2007-2011. Methods: We recorded every osteoporotic hip fracture admitted to any hospital in Gran Canaria in the population 50 years of age or older. Results: In 1989-1993, we collected 1175 hip fractures (72 % women; mean age 78.2 ± 9.9 years), and the total incidence rate was 152.1 cases/100,000 population/year. In 2007-2011, we collected 2222 hip fracture cases (71 % women; mean age 79 ± 9.8 years). The total incidence was 180.9/100,000/year. A Poisson model showed that the incidence of fractures increased by 7.1 % (95 % CI = 3.1 %; 11.8 %) each year in 1989-1993, while there was no statistically significant variation ( p = 0.515) during the period 2007-2011. The incidence in 2007-2011 was 24 % higher than in 1989 (first year in the first period) but did not differ between 2007-2011 and 1993 (the last year of the first period). Incidence rates were 76.7 % (95 % CI = 63.9 %; 90.5 %) higher in women than in men, but the female/male ratio remained unchanged. The age-adjusted incidence of hip fractures increased by 7.3 % each year from 1989 to 1993. The proportions of trochanter and cervical fractures were similar in the two time periods, but the mean hospital stay was reduced from 11 days in 1989-1993 to 7 days in 2007-2011. Conclusions: These findings suggest a trend to stabilize the incidence of hip fracture in the Canary Islands due to a decrease in men, while in women, the incidence increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]