Arthrocnemum Moq.: Unlocking Opportunities for Biosaline Agriculture and Improved Human Nutrition.

(1) Background: This study provides novel insights into the elemental content and biomineralization processes of two halophytic species of the genus Arthrocnemum Moq. (A. macrostachyum and A. meridionale). (2) Methods: Elemental content was analyzed using ICP-MS, while biominerals were detected through electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and X-ray diffraction. (3) Results: The elemental content showed significant concentrations of macronutrients (sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium) and micronutrients, especially iron. Iron was consistently found as ferritin in A. macrostachyum chloroplasts. Notably, A. macrostachyum populations from the Center of the Iberian Peninsula exhibited exceptionally high magnesium content, with values that exceeded 40,000 mg/kg d.w. Succulent stems showed elemental content consistent with the minerals identified through X-ray diffraction analysis (halite, sylvite, natroxalate, and glushinskite). Seed analysis revealed elevated levels of macro- and micronutrients and the absence of heavy metals. Additionally, the presence of reduced sodium chloride crystals in the seed edges suggested a mechanism to mitigate potential sodium toxicity. (4) Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of Arthrocnemum species as emerging edible halophytes with nutritional properties, particularly in Western European Mediterranean territories and North Africa. They offer promising prospects for biosaline agriculture and biotechnology applications.

Seed priming to optimize germination in Arthrocnemum Moq.

BACKGROUND: Seed germination and seedling growth constitute the first stage of a plant's life cycle for crop establishment. Arthrocnemum Moq. is a halophyte of the subfamily Salicornioideae (Amaranthaceae), which could be recognized in the foreseeable future as an emerging candidate in applied biosaline agricultural programs, mainly due to the large biomass it represents in coastal and inland saltmarshes, in addition to its interesting nutritional and pharmacological properties. However, to ensure their subsequent use as a crop, it is necessary to optimize their germination through appropriate seed priming treatments. The main goal of this work was to seek the optimization of Arthrocnemum germination process using different pretreatments: exposure to sodium chloride (100 to 1200 mM) in the dark and its subsequent transferred to distilled water separately and together with the combination of pH (5, 7, 9), salinity (0, 100, 200 mM NaCl), and iron conditions (0, 200, 400 µM FeSO4). The experiments were tested on six samples of two different species: A. meridionale (from Tunisia) and A. macrostachyum (from Spain). RESULTS: Salinity priming of seeds for 15 days in darkness improved germination percentages by almost 25% at 600 mM NaCl, in both Tunisian and Spanish species. However, keeping seeds at different salt concentrations for 30 days produced higher improvement percentages at lower concentrations in A. meridionale (100-200 mM NaCl), while in A. macrostachyum the highest improvement percentages were obtained at 600 mM NaCl (percentage improvement of 47%). When the dark time period is reduced to 5 days at higher salt concentrations, the greater germination percentages were reached in all the samples at the concentration of 800 mM NaCl, increasing the improvement of germination between 17 and 50%. Finally, the conditions of pH = 7, pretreatment in darkness at 800 mM NaCl and 400 µM or iron, turned out to be an effective medium for seed germination. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, before using Arthrocnemum seeds in applied biotechnological programs, a seed priming treatment based on prior exposure to high salt concentrations (600-1000 mM NaCl) is recommended in order to maximize germination percentages.

Bioactive Compounds in Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve: A Mediterranean Edible Euhalophyte.

Many halophytes have great nutritional and functional potential, providing chemical compounds with biological properties. Salicornia patula Duval-Jouve is a common euhalophyte from saline Mediterranean territories (Spain, Portugal, France, and Italy). In the present work we quantified for the first time the bioactive compounds in S. patula (total phenolic compounds and fatty acids), from Iberian Peninsula localities: littoral-coastal Tinto River basin areas (southwest Spain, the Huelva province), and mainland continental territories (northwest and central Spain, the Valladolid and Madrid provinces). Five phenolic acids including caffeic, coumaric, veratric, salicylic, and transcinnamic have been found with differences between mainland and coastal saltmarshes. S. patula contain four flavonoids: quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, kaempferol/luteolin, apigenin 7-glucoside, and pelargonidin-3-O-rutinoside. These last two glycosylated compounds are described for the first time in this genus of Chenopodiaceae. The fatty acid profile described in S. patula stems contains palmitic, oleic, and linoleic acids in high concentrations, while stearic and long-chain fatty acids were detected in low amounts. These new findings confirm that S. patula is a valuable source of bioactive compounds from Mediterranean area.

Adapting a porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) oral fluid antibody ELISA to routine surveillance.

Distinct from tests used in diagnostics, tests used in surveillance must provide for detection while avoiding false alarms, i.e., acceptable diagnostic sensitivity but high diagnostic specificity. In the case of the reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), RNA detection meets these requirements during the period of viremia, but antibody detection better meets these requirements in the post-viremic stage of the infection. Using the manufacturer's recommended cut-off (S/P ≥ 0.4), the diagnostic specificity of a PRRSV oral fluid antibody ELISA (IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., Westbrook, ME, USA) evaluated in this study was previously reported as ≥ 97 %. The aim of this study was to improve its use in surveillance by identifying a cut-off that would increase diagnostic specificity yet minimally impact its diagnostic sensitivity. Three sample sets were used to achieve this goal: oral fluids (n = 596) from pigs vaccinated with a modified live PRRSV vaccine under experimental conditions, field oral fluids (n = 1574) from 94 production sites of known negative status, and field oral fluids (n = 1380) from 211 sites of unknown PRRSV status. Based on the analysis of samples of known status (experimental samples and field samples from negative sites), a cut-off of S/P ≥ 1.0 resulted in a diagnostic specificity of 99.2 (95 % CI: 98.8, 99.7) and a diagnostic sensitivity of 96.5 (95 % CI: 85.2, 99.2). Among 211 sites of unknown status, 81 sites were classified as antibody positive using the manufacturer's cut-off; 20 of which were reclassified as negative using a cut-off of S/P ≥ 1.0. Further analysis showed that these 20 sites had a small proportion of samples (18.0 %) with S/P values just exceeding the manufacturer's cut-off (x̄ = 0.5). Whereas the remainder of positive sites (n = 61) had a high proportion of samples (76.3 %) with high S/P values (x̄ = 6.6). Thus, the manufacturer's cut-off (S/P ≥ 0.4) is appropriate for diagnostic applications, but a cut-off of S/P ≥ 1.0 provided the higher specificity required for surveillance. A previously unreported finding in this study was a statistically significant association between unexpected reactors and specific production sites and animal ages or stages. While beyond the scope of this study, these data suggested that certain animal husbandry or production practices may be associated with non-specific reactions.

Enhanced Osteogenic Potential of Phosphonated-Siloxane Hydrogel Scaffolds.

In a material-guided approach, instructive scaffolds that leverage potent chemistries may efficiently promote bone regeneration. A siloxane macromer has been previously shown to impart osteoinductivity and bioactivity when included in poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEG-DA) hydrogel scaffolds. Herein, phosphonated-siloxane macromers were evaluated for enhancing the osteogenic potential of siloxane-containing PEG-DA scaffolds. Two macromers were prepared with different phosphonate pendant group concentrations, poly(diethyl(2-(propylthio)ethyl)phosphonate methylsiloxane) diacrylate (PPMS-DA) and 25%-phosphonated analogue (PPMS-DA 25%). Macroporous, templated scaffolds were prepared by cross-linking these macromers with PEG-DA at varying mol % (15:85, 30:70, and 45:55 PPMS-DA to PEG-DA; 30:70 PPMS-DA 25% to PEG-DA). Other scaffolds were also prepared by combining PEG-DA with PDMS-MA (i.e., no phosphonate) or with vinyl phosphonate (i.e., no siloxane). Scaffold material properties were thoroughly assessed, including pore morphology, hydrophobicity, swelling, modulus, and bioactivity. Scaffolds were cultured with human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (normal media) and calcium deposition and protein expression were assessed at 14 and 28 days.

Spatially Controlled Templated Hydrogels for Orthopedic Interfacial Tissue Regeneration.

Scaffolds that recapitulate the spatial complexity of orthopedic interfacial tissues are essential to their regeneration. This requires a method to readily and flexibly produce scaffolds with spatial control over physical and chemical properties, without resulting in hard interfaces. Herein, we produced hydrogel scaffolds with spatially tunable arrangements and chemistries (SSTACs). Using solvent-induced phase separation/fused salt templating (SIPS/salt), scaffold elements are initially prepared with a tunable pore size and with one or more UV-reactive macromers. After trimming to the desired dimensions, these are physically configured and fused together to form the SSTACs. Using this method, three SSTAC designs were prepared, including one that mimicked the osteochondral interface. Bright-field/fluorescent microscopy revealed spatial control of pore size and chemical composition across a relatively smooth and integrated interface, regardless of layer composition. An interface formed by a SSTAC was determined to withstand a similar shear force to an analogous scaffold with no interface.

In silico ischaemia-induced reentry at the Purkinje-ventricle interface.

AIMS: This computational modelling work illustrates the influence of hyperkalaemia and electrical uncoupling induced by defined ischaemia on action potential (AP) propagation and the incidence of reentry at the Purkinje-ventricle interface in mammalian hearts. METHODS AND RESULTS: Unidimensional and bidimensional models of the Purkinje-ventricle subsystem, including ischaemic conditions (defined as phase 1B) in the ventricle and an ischaemic border zone, were developed by altering several important electrophysiological parameters of the Luo-Rudy AP model of the ventricular myocyte. Purkinje electrical activity was modelled using the equations of DiFrancesco and Noble. Our study suggests that an extracellular potassium concentration [K(+)]o >14 mM and a slight decrease in intercellular coupling induced by ischaemia in ventricle can cause conduction block from Purkinje to ventricle. Under these conditions, propagation from ventricle to Purkinje is possible. Thus, unidirectional block (UDB) and reentry can result. When conditions of UDB are met, retrograde propagation with a long delay (320 ms) may re-excite Purkinje cells, and give rise to a reentrant pathway. This induced reentry may be the origin of arrhythmias observed in phase 1B ischaemia. CONCLUSION: In a defined setting of ischaemia (phase 1B), a small amount of uncoupling between ventricular cells, as well as between Purkinje and ventricular tissue, may induce UDBs and reentry. Hyperkalaemia is also confirmed to be an important factor in the genesis of reentrant rhythms, since it regulates the range of coupling in which UDBs may be induced.

[Descriptive study of the use of DMARD in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or persistent arthritis who start drug treatment in Spain (FIRST)]. / Estudio descriptivo de la utilización de los FAMES en los pacientes con artritis reumatoide o artritis persistente que inician tratamiento farmacológico en España. (ESTUDIO FIRST).

INTRODUCTION: Rheumatoid arthritis is clinically very heterogeneous and variable in its progression, and no one treatment works the same for all patients, as this will depend on the clinical course and specific situations. OBJECTIVE: To describe the treatment with DMARDs established for the first time in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or persistent arthritis (PA) in routine clinical practice in Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Epidemiological, cross-sectional, uncontrolled, multicenter study in 15 regions of Spain during a period of five months (July to November 2006). We included patients of both genders, aged 18 years and diagnosed with RA according to ACR criteria or PA defined as any arthritis (oligoarthritis or polyarthritis) lasting ≥12 weeks, which would be given DMARD to treat their disease. RESULTS: 1079 patients were recruited, 915 analyzed (33% ♂/♀ 67%) meeting all the criteria required to be evaluated in the study. Mean age of patients was 54.6 (SD=15.4) years. The mean time from onset of symptoms until the 1st visit with the rheumatologist was 6.3 (11.3) months and the time from the 1st visit with the rheumatologist and the start of treatment was 4 (13.5) months. Of the patients tested, 96.7% was treated with at least one DMARD, 62.1% were given NSAIDs, corticosteroids to 59.2% and 3.8% biological therapy. In patients who received DMARDs, 90.3% received treatment with a single DMARD, 9.5% with 2 DMARDs and 0.2% with three DMARDs. In polytherapy, the DMARDs that are most often administered together were MTX + hydroxychloroquine (4.8%), MTX + leflunomide (2.0%) and MTX + sulfasalazine (1.5%). The most frequently used DMARD in monotherapy was MTX (81.3%), followed by leflunomide (4.1%) and hydroxychloroquine (3.2%). In 89.6%, the treatment of first choice was adequate according to the SER. CONCLUSION: The most common pattern of initial treatment of RA is MTX monotherapy. Treatment of RA by rheumatologists has been homogenized in recent years.

Efectos de un programa de estimulación cognitiva en la memoria operativa en pacientes con deterioro cognitivo leve amnésico / Effects of a cognitive stimulation program in working memory in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Introducción: El deterioro cognitivo leve (DCL) es una condición intermedia entre el envejecimiento normal y la demencia. Este estudio propone la aplicación de un programa de estimulación cognitiva multifactorial (PECM), para establecer la naturaleza de los cambios que se pudieran inducir en la memoria operativa (MO) de un grupo de mujeres mayores con DCL de tipo amnésico (DCL-A). Pacientes y Métodos: Se seleccionó a conveniencia una muestra de 7 mujeres con diagnóstico de DCL-A, a quienes se les hizo mediciones neuropsicológicas y de MO antes y después de 24 sesiones de un PECM, de una hora cada una, con una frecuencia de tres veces por semana. Para medir la MO se uso la batería para la evaluación de la memoria operativa de Pickering, Baqués y Gathercole. Resultados: Se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p<0.05) y clínicamente importantes (TE>0.75), en componentes de la MO, especialmente de la agenda visoespacial (AV) y del ejecutivo central (EC). Conclusiones: Un PECM mejora los componentes de la AV y del EC de la MO en mujeres con DCL-A. Hay una tendencia similar en el bucle fonológico, pero el tamaño pequeño de la muestra no pudo descartar la hipótesis nula.

Introduction: Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is considered as an intermediate status between normal aging and dementia. This study proposes the administration of a program of cognitive multifactor stimulation (PCMS), toestablish the changes on Working Memory (WM) in an elderly female group with amnesic type MCI (A-MCI). Patients and Methods: A sample of seven females over sixty years old with A-MCI, which were assessed for neuropsychological function and WM, before and after a 24 sessions of one hour PCMS, three times per week. To measure WM was used the Pickering, Baqués and Gathercole’ s battery. Results: Statistically significant differences (p < 0,05) and clinically important findings (effect sizes > 0,75) on WM components, specially on visual loop (VL) and central executive (CE). Conclusion: A PCMS improved the VL and CE components of WM in seven elderly females with AMCI. The phonologic loop had a similar tendency, but the small sample size did not allow rejecting the null hypothesis.

[Influence of health centers and social class in the prevalence of breast feeding]. / Influencia de los centros de salud y la clase social en la prevalencia de la lactancia materna.

AIMS: To find out the prevalence of breastfeeding in the Health District of Córdoba, taking into account the basic health areas it is composed of; to find out if breastfeeding is less frequent in lower social classes than in high ones and the influence of health centers on breastfeeding. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. Home survey. SITE: Health District of Córdoba, urban area. SUBJECTS: 1, 3, 6 months old babies taken from the computerized newborn register of the Health District of Córdoba. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Age of the babies; breastfeeding, social class, primary care model (basic health areas attended by Health Centers or not attended by Health Centers), weight at birth, parents' jobs, pregnancy control, maternal education and number of visits. 77.2% of the mothers start breastfeeding. 51.7% of one month-old babies are breastfed. One out of four three-month-old babies are breastfed and one out of ten six-month-old babies are breastfed. Low weight at birth has a negative influence on breastfeeding. The prevalence of breastfeeding is higher in favoured classes, and in the basic health areas attended by health centers. The rest of variables analyzed are not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The health centers improve the prevalence and duration of breastfeeding.

[Non-stenotic anterior urethral lesions. Diagnosis by echographic urethrography]. / Lesiones de uretra anterior no estenóticas. Diagnóstico por uretrografía ecográfica.

The results of a study using sonographic urethrography, radiologic retrograde urethrography and urethroscopy to evaluate 11 different types of non-stenotic lesions of the urethra are presented. Sonographic urethrography accurately diagnosed all of the findings and radiologic retrograde urethrography had 7 false negatives. Based on the foregoing results, we advocate the use of sonographic urethrography as a valid alternative in the evaluation of non-stenotic urethral lesions.

[Hydraulic dilatation of urethral stenosis controlled with ultrasonography. A new approach]. / Dilatación hidráulica de estenosis de uretra bajo control ecográfico. Un nuevo enfoque.

The present study describes the ultrasound control of water dilatation for urethral stenosis. In our view, the door is open to future developments of water dilatation protocols for urethral strictures.

[Normal echographic anatomy of the penis and the perineum]. / Anatomía ecográfica normal del pene y del periné.

Sonourethrography has recently become available for evaluating the urethra. To perform this procedure correctly, precise knowledge of the ultrasound anatomy of the penis and perineum is required. Sixty-one males were studied using the 7.5 Mhz ultrasound transducer. During sonographic evaluation the site where the suspensory ligament of the penis is attached must be identified routinely. The nothc of the compressor nudae muscle in the posterior bulbous urethra can be visualized occasionally. The origin of the membranous urethra and urogenital diaphragm can be identified upon visualizing the entire urethral bulb and the cavernous bulb muscle.

[Diagnostic efficacy of echographic urethrography in the study of urethral stenosis. Comparison with radiologic retrograde urethrography]. / Eficacia diagnóstica de la uretrografía ecográfica en el estudio de estenosis uretrales. Comparación con la uretrografía retrógrada radiológica.

Presentation of the first study on the diagnostic efficacy in the study of stenosis with ultrasound urethrography (U.U.) as compared to X-ray retrograde urethrography (X.R.U.). Sensitivity of U.U. in anterior bulbar urethra is, in general, higher than that of X.R.U. (100 U.U. > 88 X.R.U.) while X.R.U. specificity is higher in the posterior bulbar urethra (100 X.R.U. > 97 U.U.). In penile urethra both techniques showed a 100% diagnostic efficacy. Stenosis located in the posterior bulbar urethra are the most difficult to diagnose with ultrasound techniques.

[Ultrasonic retrograde urethrography. Technique. Comparison with radiologic retrograde urethrography]. / Uretrografía retrógrada ecográfica. Técnica de realización. Comparación con la uretrografía retrógrada radiológica.

Using ultrasound scan urethrography (U.S.U.) and radiological retrograde urethrography (R.U.), the anterior urethra has been studied in 61 males in an attempt to establish the best technique to perform U.S.U. and to compare it, from the technical point of view, with R.U. U.S.U. should be made retrogradely filling the urethra with a saline solution, under direct ultrasound guidance, which allows to see the anterior urethra, from the syringe come introduced into the glandular urethra up to the urogenital diaphragm and the beginning of the membranous urethra. Overall, U.S.U. is faster to perform than R.U., nine times cheaper, more comfortable for the patient, and there is no risk of exposure to irradiation or radiological markers.