Título del artículo:

Copper Recovery from PCBs by Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans: Toxicity of Bioleached Metals on Biological Activity

Abstract: The suitability and limits of bioleaching for copper recovery from printed circuits boards has been stated with new strategies and methodologies. The process has been tested using a continuous column reactor simulating those conditions found at industrial scale. The new strategy developed improved the kinetic reaction rate and overcomes transport limitations for the leaching solution, thus improving copper recoveries from 50 to 80% in only 6 h. This drastically reduced the time required by previous studies to achieve the same copper recovery. Inhibition effects of the biological process due to the release of metals from e-waste has been identified by means of microrespirometric monitoring tests. This systematic study allowed identifying that nickel, copper and aluminum impact the microorganisms’ activity, inactivating them in specific scenarios (depending on the concentration and the time exposed). Including the time exposure as variable, this work demonstrated that metal concentrations that have been reported as non-toxic to microorganisms, resulted toxic when the required leaching contact time was considered. Besides high iron concentrations also produce inhibitory effect on the microorganisms’ growth, despite being the energy source for their metabolism. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].

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Waste and Biomass Valorization

Título del artículo:

Facing cardiovascular risk in Ibero-America

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Revista Espanola de Cardiologia

Título del artículo:

Hydrogen production from palm kernel shell: Kinetic modeling and simulation

The hydrogen production process from palm kernel shell (PKS) is modeled and simulated by a steady-state gasification system using Aspen PLUS®. The kinetic parameters of the gasification are determined by employing thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) using two gasifying agents (CO2 and steam) and applying three semi-empirical kinetic models to interpret the experimental results (linear model, grain model, and volumetric model). The process was subjected to different temperatures (750–950 °C) and different compositions of the steam/biomass ratio (S/B) (0–2.5). It is obtained that the linear model and the grain model have the best R2 with the gasification results of the PKS with steam (0.966) and CO2 (0.965), respectively. The steam reaction kinetic parameters obtained were E=125.79KJ/mol and A=26.23s−1, and for the reaction with CO2, they were E=99.87KJ/mol andA=6.3s−1. The production yield of H2 (109 g H2/PKS kg) is reached at the highest temperature (950 °C) and the lowest S/B ratio (0). It is concluded that the model can predict with greater precision the hydrogen composition in the syngas, with a 0.135 mean square error, compared to other authors that present a 0.282 mean square error.

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International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

Título del artículo:

Ketogenic diets as treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus

During the last decades, several interventions for the management of overweight and obesity have been proposed. Among diets, the first studies focused on the effect of water only and total fasting diets with or without proteins. Unfortunately, they were found to be associated with adverse events which lead to the abandon of these strategies. Interestingly, despite the radical approach, total fasting was effective and generally well tolerated. A strict connection between protein-calorie malnutrition and increased in morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients was found at that time. Then, the seminal works of Blackburn and his collaborators lead to the introduction of the protein-sparing modified fast. Encouraged by the early results using this intervention, diets evolved to the current very-low-calorie ketogenic diets (VLCKD). In the present review, results of studies on the VLCKDs are presented and discussed, with a particular reference to the protocolled VLCKD. Also, a recent proposal on the nomenclature on the ketogenic diets is reported. Available evidence suggests VLCKDs to be effective in achieving a rapid and significant weight loss by means of an easily reversible intervention which could be repeated, if needed. Muscle mass and strength are preserved, resting metabolic rate is not impaired, hunger, appetite and mood are not worsened. Symptoms and abnormal laboratory findings can be there, but they have generally been reported as of mild intensity and transient. Preliminary studies suggest VLCKDs to be a potential game-changer in the management of type 2 diabetes too. Therefore, VLCKDs should be considered as an excellent initial step in properly selected and motivated patients with obesity or type 2 diabetes, to be delivered as a part of a multicomponent strategy and under strict medical supervision.

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Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

Título del artículo:

Position statement of the Interamerican Society of Cardiology (IASC) on the current guidelines for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of arterial hypertension 2017–2020

Objectives: As an Inter-American Society we are convinced of the need to standardize the steps in which we diagnose, evaluate, treat and control hypertension, establishing guidelines and rules that should be adopted in all countries of Latin America, aimed at standardizing management and control of CV risk in order to achieve a substantial decrease in CV events. Methods: In the last four years important international guidelines for the diagnosis, management, treatment and control of arterial hypertension have been published. In America, mostly in mid- and low-income countries, hypertension is a major problem of public health, being the most important cardiovascular risk factor due to its great population impact. Therefore, it is crucial to dedicate all the possible efforts to increase substantially the number of hypertensive patients diagnosed in a given area, and to improve the percentage of controlled patients. This is a major necessity in order to reduce the morbidity and mortality for CVD in the Latin American region, although no guidelines takes the Latin American populations into account, and much less standardizes their diagnosis and management. Conclusions: The Inter-American Society of Cardiology suggest the use of the blood pressure classification of the Latin American Society of Hypertension (LASH) and recommends the use of the SCORE System to stratify the global CV risk because this system has the capability to adapt the global risk by means of a correcting factor based on the ethnicity of the different native populations in America.

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International Journal of Cardiology: Hypertension

Título del artículo:

Cross-frequency phase-amplitude coupling between hippocampal theta and gamma oscillations during recall destabilizes memory and renders it susceptible to reconsolidation disruption

Avoidance memory reactivation at recall triggers theta-gamma hippocampal phase amplitude coupling (hPAC) only when it elicits hippocampus-dependent reconsolidation. However, it is not known whether there is a causal relationship between these phenomena. We found that in adult male Wistar rats, silencing the medial septum during recall did not affect avoidance memory expression or maintenance but abolished hPAC and the amnesia caused by the intrahippocampal administration of reconsolidation blockers, both of which were restored by concomitant theta burst stimulation of the fimbria-fornix pathway. Remarkably, artificial hPAC generated by fimbria-fornix stimulation during recall of a learned avoidance response naturally resistant to hippocampus-dependent reconsolidation made it susceptible to reactivation-dependent amnesia. Our results indicate that hPAC mediates the destabilization required for avoidance memory reconsolidation and suggest that the generation of artificial hPAC at recall overcomes the boundary conditions of this process.

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Journal of Neuroscience

Título del artículo:

Post-consumption foamed polystyrene coatings for surface tension modification

Foamed polystyrene, commercially known as Icopor, occupies a very important place in the transport systems, and conservation of freight and food, but it is also one of the main polymeric pollutants, due to its low biodegradability, and low reuse. Polystyrene has in its structure aromatic and aliphatic functional groups, which have a high hydrophobicity, which makes them candidates as modifiers of permeability and surface properties, although for this purpose the implementation of solvents is also required. In the following work, polystyrene residues for domestic and food use were used to obtain coatings, which allow surface tension to be modified, on surfaces with high water permeability. For this purpose, the polymeric residue was dissolved in organic type solvents, generating a varnish, which was used to coat the study surface, from which the surface tension with respect to water was previously known by analysing the contact angle; to be compared with those obtained after coating, resulting in an increase in the contact angle, which indicates an increase in surface tension, conferred on the new surface hydrophobicity.

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Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Título del artículo:

Geological and physical-chemistry characterization of asphaltite from Colombian Middle Magdalena region

The massive consumption of fossil hydrocarbons and the absence of new conventional oil reserves, research on unconventional resources is prevalent. The Asphaltite is a substance with high energy value thanks to its composition of high molecular weight hydrocarbons, becomes an energy alternative in the future. In Middle Magdalena region of Colombia, Luna formation emerges with its members Salada, Pujamana, and Galembo of Upper Cretaceous age, which contains a deposit of this type of substances, which can become an economic and energy engine for the region. A representative sample of this asphaltite was taken in the Galembo Member (Top of Luna formation) and a geological description was made about its formation and occurrence in the area. The solubility of asphaltite was evaluated in two characteristic solvents for hydrocarbons, toluene and heptane, the first of aromatic character, with which it was possible to solubilize probably corresponding to the light fractions, while solubilization with heptane generated a precipitate Asphaltene, a nature that was corroborated by tests of visible infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy, additionally an elementary analysis was performed to determine the concentrations of carbon, hydrogen, sulphur and oxygen. Finally, by means of thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry an analysis was carried out to evaluate its energy potential, according to the results obtained, asphaltite samples are a promising energy resource.

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Journal of Physics: Conference Series

Título del artículo:

Estimation of the potential for bioethanol production from the residues of cacao husks in Ecuador

In this study, the theoretically obtainable bioethanol production potential is estimated from the use of cacao residues in Ecuador, through the formulation of a mathematical model of the acid hydrolysis in cellulose of cacao husks and its conversion to ethanol by fermentation. Methodologically, the study was based on official documentation on the national and provincial amount of residual biomass of this crop, and on a kinetic model adapted to the case under study. An amount of 8.28 Mml of bioethanol was obtained, whose mixture with extra gasoline, at a ratio of 5:95 v/v, results in the Ecopaís E5C gasoline. Production of 166 Mml of E5C was estimated, corresponding to 10 % of the national production for the year 2017 and 56 % of the production for the year 2014, year in which the residual biomass of cacao was estimated. The coastal region contributes with 71 % of the national bioethanol and E5C production, led by the province of Guayas, in which E5 gasoline represents 25 % of its consumption in 2017. It is concluded that this production route of bioethanol is an attractive diversification option of the current production route based on the cultivation of sugarcane, adding value to residual biomass that is currently discarded. The theoretical results constitute the basis for more detailed studies in those provinces that combine a high potential for cacao residues and increasing consumption of E5 but must be complemented with experimental research to corroborate their validity and provide elements that determine the viability of the bioethanol production route studied.

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Ciencia Tecnologia Agropecuaria

Título del artículo:

Physical activity in adults: recommendations, determinants and measurement

Introduction: Several studies have shown the potential benefits of the practice of Physical Activity (PA) over the years; however, some modulators known as determinants that modify its practice have also been identified. Objective: To gather and summarize available information on the importance of physical activity, its definition, determinants and evaluation methods in adults, as well as to establish the development of recommendations over time. Material and Methods: A search was made in different databases using search terms of physical activity, recommendations, and determinants in both English and Spanish during the period between 1996 and 2019. Articles related to adults were included and those about children and adolescents were excluded. Development: The recommendations have evolved from 1978 when the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) established very general specifications such as PA practices from 3 to 5 days per week at an intensity between 60% and 90% Heart Rate Reserve (HRR) until the most recent recommendations made by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2018. Objective and subjective criteria are among the evaluation methods. Conclusions: Regular PA practice is an efficient strategy to reduce the risk factors associated with Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Likewise, subjective and objective criteria are identified for its evaluation. The recommendations have evolved from 1978 to 2018 establishing that adults should be involved in PA from 150 to 300 minutes per week.

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Revista Habanera de Ciencias Medicas

Título del artículo:

Toxoplasma gondii in small ruminants in northeastern areas of Colombia: Seroprevalence and risk factors

Sheep and goats are susceptible to infections with Toxoplasma gondii and could play an important role in the transmission of the zoonotic parasite to human. We conducted a cross sectional study to estimate the seroprevalence and to assess the risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity in small ruminants under traditional husbandry systems. This study was carried out from November 2015 to April 2016 in randomly selected small ruminants (n = 1038) from 48 farms located in Colombia, in the departments of northern Cesar in the north and La Guajira in the south. An indirect ELISA was used to detect IgG antibodies to T. gondii in the animals. A standardized questionnaire was used to obtain information on putative risk factors. We conducted the association analyses by using univariable and multivariate logistic regression and report odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (C.I). The overall seroprevalence in small ruminants was 23.5% (C.I: 21–26.2%). Sheep showed a higher seroprevalence (25.1% C.I: 22.4–28.6%) than goats (18.4% C.I: 22.4–28.6%). The association analysis recognized as risk factors for T. gondii seropositivity farming pigs in addition to small ruminants (OR = 1.96 C.I: 1.414–2.743), the inexistence of manure heap (OR = 2.254 C.I: 1.480–3.433) and drinking water from locally aqueducts (OR = 1.489 C.I: 1.006–2.204). The results of the study confirmed that exposure to T. gondii is common in sheep and goats in dry Caribbean regions of Colombia.

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Parasite Epidemiology and Control

Título del artículo:

Emerging approaches since design for theorization and creation of transmedia experiences: Approximation to meta-analysis of scientific publications

The main objective of this document is to identify the existence of predominant and emerging approaches in the design of transmedia experiences, in order to contribute from different perspectives to the transmedia concept from the modes of involvement of audiences. The bibliometric analysis is done of a total of 559 articles consolidated from the literature search carried out in WoS on the ISI Web of Knowledge platform (Thomson Reuters) and SCImago Research Group (Scopus). For the observation window 2008-2019, the indicators are analyzed: diachronic productivity, author productivity, citations and content. In the results, an exponential growth of the publications is observed until its peak in 2016, as well as its subsequent stability; similarly, the creation of author networks for collaborative production and the achievement of common goals is evident; and a tendency to cite the conventional literature existing outside the sample documents is also identified. The conclusions establish the interest of the academic community for the design of transmedia experiences and the participation of audiences as content that is transversal to the sample and not as a central theme of study.

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Arte, Individuo y Sociedad

Título del artículo:

Methodological proposal for the construction and selection of digital high-precision elevation models

Digital Elevation Models improve accuracy in terrain analysis. This work compared different interpolation methods using statistical criteria in a topographic survey of 339 points raised with a total station in the “San Juan de Lagunillas” area (Venezuela). The existence of a significant trend process with spatial autocorrelation modeled by an isotropic Gaussian semivariogram was documented. The kriging allowed to obtain residuals less than a minimum tolerable error equal to 0.1 m. The residual kriging was the best evaluated in cross validation with exclusion (absolute mean error of 0.71 m). The disjunctive kriging showed a lower error average but a wider error range and the highest mean absolute error (12.8 m). The other kriging showed mean error variance greater than 1.3 m and absolute minimum errors greater than 0.85 m. Due to the high dependence on the model specification form, graphics are recommended for a better fit.

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Colombia Forestal

Título del artículo:

COVID-19 is a new disease caused by the beta coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.

The first registers of atypical pneumonia were reported in China by the end of December 2019. The disease was rapidly disseminated in the entire world. The spectrum of the clinical manifestations is large going from individuals without any symptoms to those who develop multisystem disease and death. It has been demonstrated that hypertension and diabetes are more frequent in people with COVID-19 and the presence of diabetes is associated with an increased risk of more severe disease and higher mortality. In the present article, we review the possible mechanism why the diabetes patients have an increased risk of mortality by COVID-19 and recommend preventive actions that must be implemented in the general population and particularly in individuals with diabetes.

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Gaceta Medica de Caracas

Título del artículo:

Frequency-Dependent Effects of Exhalatory-Gated Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Cardiac Autonomic Regulation in Hypertension

The objective of this study was to determine potential effects of respiratory-gated auricular vagal afferent nerve stimulation (RAVANS) on cardiovagal activity in hypertensive patients. Twenty hypertensive subjects (54.55\\pm 6.23 years; 12 females) underwent five randomized sessions of RAVANS at frequencies of 0, 2, 10, 25, and 100 Hz. Continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) and pulse rate signals were collected during 10-minute baseline, 30-minute stimulation, and 10-minute recovery periods using a Grass LP511 AC amplifier and piezo device. LabChart was used to acquire ECG and pulse signals and to process heart rate variability (HRV) indices. A significant increase in high frequency (HF) power (%) was observed during the RAVANS-100 Hz session from baseline to recovery l{n}=0.039) when compared to sham, adjusting for sex and baseline values. HRV evaluation for other frequencies did not yield significant results. These results suggest that RAVANS has a frequency-dependent effect on the modulation of cardiovagal activity (HF-HRV) in hypertension.

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2020 11th Conference of the European Study Group on Cardiovascular Oscillations: Computation and Modelling in Physiology: New Challenges and Opportunities, ESGCO 2020

Título del artículo:

Complex ecological interactions across a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Eastern Colombia: novel description of Leishmania species, hosts and phlebotomine fauna

This study aimed to analyse the patterns of diversity, blood sources and Leishmania species of phlebotomines in a focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Arboledas, Eastern Colombia. In total, 1729 phlebotomines were captured in two localities (62.3% Siravita and 37.7% Cinera) and five environments of Norte de Santander. We identified 18 species of phlebotomines: Pintomyia ovallesi (29.8%), Psychodopygus davisi (20.3%), Pi. spinicrassa (18.5%) and Lutzomyia gomezi (15.8%) showed the highest abundance. Species diversities were compared between Cinera (15.00) and Siravita (20.00) and among five microenvironments: forest remnants (19.49), coffee plantations (12.5), grassland (12.99), cane plantations (11.66) and citrus plantations (12.22). Leishmania DNA was detected in 5.8% (80/1380) of females, corresponding mainly to Pi. ovallesi (22/80; 27.2%), Lu. gomezi (17/80; 21.3%) and Pi. spinicrassa (11/80; 13.8%). Leishmania species were 63.1% L. braziliensis, 18.5% L. panamensis, 13.2% L. infantum and 6.1% L. amazonensis. The most frequent feeding sources were Homo sapiens (50%), Bos taurus (13.8%) and Canis lupus familiaris (10.3%). This focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis has a high diversity of Leishmania-carrying phlebotomines that feed on domestic animals. The transmission of leishmaniasis to human hosts was mainly associated with Lu. gomezi, Pi. ovallesi and L. braziliensis.

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Royal Society Open Science

Título del artículo:

Association of nut intake with risk factors, cardiovascular disease, and mortality in 16 countries from 5 continents: Analysis from the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study

Background: The association of nuts with cardiovascular disease and deaths has been investigated mostly in Europe, the USA, and East Asia, with few data available from other regions of the world or from low- and middle-income countries. Objective: To assess the association of nuts with mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: The Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology study is a large multinational prospective cohort study of adults aged 35-70 y from 16 low-, middle-, and high-income countries on 5 continents. Nut intake (tree nuts and ground nuts) was measured at the baseline visit, using country-specific validated FFQs. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality or major cardiovascular event [nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), stroke, or heart failure]. Results: We followed 124,329 participants (age = 50.7 y, SD = 10.2; 41.5% male) for a median of 9.5 y. We recorded 10,928 composite events [deaths (n = 8,662) or major cardiovascular events (n = 5,979)]. Higher nut intake (>120 g per wk compared with <30 g per mo) was associated with a lower risk of the primary composite outcome of mortality or major cardiovascular event [multivariate HR (mvHR): 0.88; 95% CI: 0.80, 0.96; P-trend = 0.0048]. Significant reductions in total (mvHR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.87; P-trend <0.0001), cardiovascular (mvHR: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.56, 0.92; P-trend = 0.048), and noncardiovascular mortality (mvHR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.70, 0.96; P-trend = 0.0046) with a trend to reduced cancer mortality (mvHR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.65, 1.00; P-trend = 0.081) were observed. No significant associations of nuts were seen with major CVD (mvHR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.81, 1.02; P-trend = 0.14), stroke (mvHR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.84, 1.14; P-trend = 0.76), or MI (mvHR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.72, 1.04; P-trend = 0.29). Conclusions: Higher nut intake was associated with lower mortality risk from both cardiovascular and noncardiovascular causes in low-, middle-, and high-income countries.

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American Journal of Clinical Nutrition

Título del artículo:

The Effects of Maintenance Cardiac Rehabilitation: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Purpose: Maintenance cardiac rehabilitation (M-CR) programs aim to preserve the health benefits achieved during phase II cardiac rehabilitation (CR). The aim of this study was to establish the effects of M-CR on functional capacity, quality of life, risk factors, costs, mortality, and morbidity, among other outcomes. Methods: Scopus, ISI Web of Science, PubMed, Embase & Embase classic OVID, and Lilacs were searched. Randomized controlled trials, published between 2000 and 2016, on the effects of M-CR in patients with cardiovascular disease, who had graduated from CR, having a control or comparison arm were included. Citations were processed by two authors, independently. Methodological quality was assessed using PEDro, and level of evidence graded with the Scottish scale. Outcomes were qualitatively synthesized. Results: The searches retrieved 1901 studies with 26 articles meeting inclusion criteria (3752 participants). Some trials tested M-CR in nonclinical settings, and others used resistance or high-intensity interval training. The methodological quality of 11 articles was good, with a level of evidence (1+) and a grade B recommendation. Results showed M-CR resulted in increased or maintained functional capacity, quality of life, and physical activity levels, when compared with the control. No adverse events were reported. Few studies assessed rehospitalizations and mortality. Conclusion: Quality of included trials was low because it is not possible to double-blind in M-CR trials and also due to the heterogeneity of M-CR interventions. Understanding, availability, and use of M-CR programs should be increased.

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Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention

Título del artículo:

Effect of dulaglutide on cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes: an exploratory analysis of the REWIND trial

Background: Diabetes is an independent risk factor for cognitive impairment. We aimed to investigate the association between the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist dulaglutide and cognitive impairment as an exploratory analysis within the Researching Cardiovascular Events With a Weekly Incretin in Diabetes (REWIND) trial. Methods: REWIND is a randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trial at 371 sites in 24 countries. We included men and women (aged ≥50 years) with either established or newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes and additional cardiovascular risk factors, glycated haemoglobin of up to 9·5% (80 mmol/mol) on a maximum of two oral glucose-lowering drugs with or without basal insulin, and a body-mass index of at least 23 kg/m2. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1) subcutaneous injections once a week of either dulaglutide (1·5 mg) or an equal volume of matching placebo. Randomisation was done using a computer-generated code with stratification by site. Participants and all study personnel were masked to treatment allocation until the database was locked. Participants were followed up at least every 6 months for the composite primary outcome of stroke, myocardial infarction, or death from cardiovascular or unknown causes. Cognitive function was assessed at baseline and during follow-up using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST). We present here the exploratory primary cognitive outcome, which was the first occurrence of a follow-up score on MoCA or DSST that was 1·5 SDs or more below the baseline mean score in the participant\'s country. All analyses were done using an intention-to-treat approach. The REWIND trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01394952. Findings: Between Aug 18, 2011, and Aug 14, 2013, 9901 participants were randomly assigned to either dulaglutide (n=4949) or placebo (n=4952). During median follow-up of 5·4 (IQR 5·1–5·9) years, 8828 participants provided a baseline and one or more follow-up MoCA or DSST scores, of whom 4456 were assigned dulaglutide and 4372 were assigned placebo. The cognitive outcome occurred in 4·05 per 100 patient-years in participants assigned dulaglutide and 4·35 per 100 patient-years in people assigned placebo (hazard ratio [HR] 0·93, 95% CI 0·85–1·02; p=0·11). After post-hoc adjustment for individual standardised baseline scores, the hazard of substantive cognitive impairment was reduced by 14% in those assigned dulaglutide (HR 0·86, 95% CI 0·79–0·95; p=0·0018). Interpretation: Long-term treatment with dulaglutide might reduce cognitive impairment in people with type 2 diabetes. Further studies of this drug focused on brain health and cognitive function are clearly indicated. Funding: Eli Lilly and Company.

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The Lancet Neurology

Título del artículo:

Stimulus frequency modulates brainstem response to respiratory-gated transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation

Background: The therapeutic potential of transcutaneous auricular VNS (taVNS) is currently being explored for numerous clinical applications. However, optimized response for different clinical indications may depend on specific neuromodulation parameters, and systematic assessments of their influence are still needed to optimize this promising approach. Hypothesis: We proposed that stimulation frequency would have a significant effect on nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) functional MRI (fMRI) response to respiratory-gated taVNS (RAVANS). Methods: Brainstem fMRI response to auricular RAVANS (cymba conchae) was assessed for four different stimulation frequencies (2, 10, 25, 100 Hz). Sham (no current) stimulation was used to control for respiration effects on fMRI signal. Results: Our findings demonstrated that RAVANS delivered at 100 Hz evoked the strongest brainstem response, localized to a cluster in the left (ipsilateral) medulla and consistent with purported NTS. A co-localized, although weaker, response was found for 2 Hz RAVANS. Furthermore, RAVANS delivered at 100 Hz also evoked stronger fMRI responses for important monoamine neurotransmitter source nuclei (LC, noradrenergic; MR, DR, serotonergic) and pain/homeostatic regulation nuclei (i.e. PAG). Conclusion: Our fMRI results support previous localization of taVNS afference to pontomedullary aspect of NTS in the human brainstem, and demonstrate the significant influence of the stimulation frequency on brainstem fMRI response.

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Brain Stimulation

Título del artículo:

Endometrial and decidual stromal precursors show a different decidualization capacity

Endometrial stromal cells (EnSCs) and decidual stromal cells (DSCs) originate from fibroblastic precursors located around the vessels of the human nonpregnant endometrium and the pregnant endometrium (decidua), respectively. Under the effect of ovarian or pregnancy hormones, these precursors differentiate (decidualize), changing their morphology and secreting factors that appear to be essential for the normal development of pregnancy. However, the different physiological context - that is, non-pregnancy vs pregnancy - of those precursors (preEnSCs, preDSCs) might affect their phenotype and functions. In the present study, we established preEnSC and preDSC lines and compared the antigen phenotype and responses to decidualization factors in these two types of stromal cell line. Analyses with flow cytometry showed that preEnSCs and preDSCs exhibited a similar antigen phenotype compatible with that of bone marrow mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. The response to decidualization in cultures with progesterone and cAMP was evaluated by analyzing changes in cell morphology by microscopy, prolactin and IL-15 secretion by enzyme immunoassay and the induction of apoptosis by flow cytometry. In all four analyses, preDSCs showed a significantly higher response than preEnSCs. The expression of progesterone receptor (PR), protein kinase A (PKA) and FOXO1 was studied with Western blotting. Both types of cells showed similar levels of PR and PKA, but the increase in PKA RI subunit expression in response to decidualization was again significantly greater in preDSCs. We conclude that preEnSCs and preDSCs are equivalent cells but differ in their ability to decidualize. Functional differences between them probably derive from factors in their different milieus.

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Reproduction

Título del artículo:

Long-term exposure to outdoor and household air pollution and blood pressure in the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiological (PURE) study

Exposure to air pollution has been linked to elevated blood pressure (BP) and hypertension, but most research has focused on short-term (hours, days, or months) exposures at relatively low concentrations. We examined the associations between long-term (3-year average) concentrations of outdoor PM2.5 and household air pollution (HAP) from cooking with solid fuels with BP and hypertension in the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study. Outdoor PM2.5 exposures were estimated at year of enrollment for 137,809 adults aged 35–70 years from 640 urban and rural communities in 21 countries using satellite and ground-based methods. Primary use of solid fuel for cooking was used as an indicator of HAP exposure, with analyses restricted to rural participants (n = 43,313) in 27 study centers in 10 countries. BP was measured following a standardized procedure and associations with air pollution examined with mixed-effect regression models, after adjustment for a comprehensive set of potential confounding factors. Baseline outdoor PM2.5 exposure ranged from 3 to 97 μg/m3 across study communities and was associated with an increased odds ratio (OR) of 1.04 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.07) for hypertension, per 10 μg/m3 increase in concentration. This association demonstrated non-linearity and was strongest for the fourth (PM2.5 > 62 μg/m3) compared to the first (PM2.5 < 14 μg/m3) quartiles (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.10, 1.69). Similar non-linear patterns were observed for systolic BP (β = 2.15 mmHg, 95% CI: −0.59, 4.89) and diastolic BP (β = 1.35, 95% CI: −0.20, 2.89), while there was no overall increase in ORs across the full exposure distribution. Individuals who used solid fuels for cooking had lower BP measures compared to clean fuel users (e.g. 34% of solid fuels users compared to 42% of clean fuel users had hypertension), and even in fully adjusted models had slightly decreased odds of hypertension (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.88, 0.99) and reductions in systolic (−0.51 mmHg; 95% CI: −0.99, −0.03) and diastolic (−0.46 mmHg; 95% CI: −0.75, −0.18) BP. In this large international multi-center study, chronic exposures to outdoor PM2.5 was associated with increased BP and hypertension while there were small inverse associations with HAP.

Acerca de la revista donde se publicó este artículo:

Environmental Pollution

Título del artículo:

Physical fitness characteristics of Omani primary school children according to body mass index

BACKGROUND: There is evidence that children with high cardiorespiratory fitness and normal body mass index (BMI) have less risk of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), however limited research was undertaken in Omani children. Therefore the aims of the present study were to describe body composition and physical fitness of a large cohort of Omani school children of both genders, and to investigate the effects of weight status on physical fitness. METHODS: Three hundred and fourteen Omani school children aged 9 to 10 years old took part in anthropometric assessments, body composition and fitness tests, including handgrip strength, the basketball chest pass, broad jump, 20-m sprint, four 10-m shuttle agility, 30-s sit-up, and multistage fitness test (MSFT). RESULTS: Obese boys and girls performed worse than normal-weight children in sprint, agility and endurance. In addition, fitness measures in the overweight group and underweight groups were not significantly different from other groups, except a better handgrip strength and poorer MSFT in overweight compared to normal weight girls, and poorer agility performance in underweight girls compared to the three other groups. CONCLUSIONS: Most fitness measures are lower in obese Omani children, which suggests that they will be more at risk of developing NCDs later in life.

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Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness

Título del artículo:

Pedophilia, substance-use disorder, and intellectual disability: A case report

Objective: To present a case of pedophilic disorder associated to intellectual disability and substance-use disorder (SUD). Background: Pedophilic disorders often appear in comorbidity with other mental disorders. Case description: A 21-year-old man is hospitalized in an addictive behavior unit, with a history of SUD, an exclusive sexual preference for boys aged 12 or under, associated to interpersonal problems with borderline Intelligence Quotient score, and failure in global functioning. Discussion: The article analyses the criteria related to pedophilic disorder, the difficulties in its diagnosis, the clinical implications of the comorbidity with intellectual disability and SUD. Conclusions: It is important to differentiate between pedophilic disorder, SUD, and intellectual disability. An active search for deviant sexual behavior is recommended in patients with dual diagnosis.

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Addictive Disorders and their Treatment

Título del artículo:

Cross-tolerance between nitric oxide synthase inhibition and atypical antipsychotics modify nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase activity in mouse lateral striatum

Previous research indicates that the subchronic administration of NG-nitro-l-arginine (l-NOARG) produces tolerance to haloperidol-induced catalepsy in Swiss mice. The present study aimed to further investigate whether intermittent subchronic systemic administration of l-NOARG induces tolerance to the cataleptic effects of haloperidol as well as olanzapine or clozapine (Clz) in C57Bl mice after subchronic administration for 5 consecutive days. Striatal FosB protein expression was measured in an attempt to gain further insights into striatal mechanisms in antipsychotic-induced extrapyramidal symptoms side effects. An nicotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase histochemical reaction was also used to investigate whether tolerance could induce changes in the number of nitric oxide synthase-active neurons. Subchronic administration of all antipsychotics produced catalepsy, but cross-tolerance was observed only between l-NOARG (15 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) and Clz (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). This cross-tolerance effect was accompanied by decreased FosB protein expression in the dorsal striatum and the nucleus accumbens shell region, and reduced icotinamide-adenine-dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase activity in the dorsal and ventral lateral striatum. Overall, these results suggest that interference with the formation of nitric oxide, mainly in the dorsal and ventral lateral-striatal regions, appears to improve the cataleptic effects induced by antipsychotics acting as antagonists of low-affinity dopamine D2 receptor, such as Clz.

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Behavioural Pharmacology