Déjà vu: a reappraisal of the taphonomy of quarry VM4 of the Early Pleistocene site of Venta Micena (Baza Basin, SE Spain).

Venta Micena, an Early Pleistocene site of the Baza Basin (SE Spain), preserves a rich and diverse assemblage of large mammals. VM3, the main excavation quarry of the site, has been interpreted as a den of the giant hyaena Pachycrocuta brevirostris in the plain that surrounded the Baza palaeolake. Taphonomic analysis of VM3 has shown that the hyaenas scavenged the prey previously hunted by the hypercarnivores, transported their remains to the communal den, and consumed the skeletal parts according to their marrow contents and mineral density. In a recent paper (Luzón et al. in Sci Rep 11:13977, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-93261-1 , 2021), a small sample of remains unearthed from VM4, an excavation quarry ~ 350 m distant from VM3, is analysed. The authors indicate several differences in the taphonomic features of this assemblage with VM3, and even suggest that a different carnivore could have been the agent involved in the bone accumulation process. Here, we make a comparative analysis of both quarries and analyse more skeletal remains from VM4. Our results indicate that the assemblages are broadly similar in composition, except for slight differences in the frequency of megaherbivores, carnivores and equids according to NISP values (but not to MNI counts), the degree of bone weathering, and the intensity of bone processing by the hyaenas. Given that VM4 and VM3 were not coeval denning areas of P. brevirostris, these differences suggest that during the years when the skeletal remains were accumulated by the hyaenas at VM3, the rise of the water table of the Baza palaeolake that capped with limestone the bones was delayed compared to VM4, which resulted in their more in-depth consumption by the hyaenas.

The earliest cut marks of Europe: a discussion on hominin subsistence patterns in the Orce sites (Baza basin, SE Spain).

Ancient evidence of human presence in Europe is recorded in several Early Pleistocene archaeopalaeontological sites from Spain, France and Italy. This is the case of Barranco León (BL) and Fuente Nueva-3 (FN-3), two localities placed near the town of Orce (depression of Baza and Guadix, SE Spain) and dated to ~1.4 Ma. At these sites, huge assemblages of Oldowan tools and evidence of defleshing, butchering and marrow processing of large mammal bones have been recovered together with a deciduous tooth of Homo sp. in the case of level BL-D. In this study, we: (i) describe in detail the anthropic marks found in the bone assemblages from these sites; (ii) analyse patterns of defleshment, butchery and marrow processing, based on the modifications identified in the cortical surface of the fossils; and (iii) discuss on the subsistence strategies of the first hominins that inhabited the European subcontinent during Early Pleistocene times.

Renal Transplant Immunosuppression in Patients With Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome: Four Case Reports.

A high rate of recurrence has been described in atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome renal transplant recipients, favored by certain immunosuppressant drugs that can induce complement activation. We present four case series in which three patients were diagnosed pretransplantation and a fourth who had onset in the very early post-transplantation period. The patients received different immunosuppression schedules, and all had improvement after more than 2-years. We suggest the need to stratify the risk of atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome recurrence using genetic studies and the available drugs as the main factors that allow graft survival improvement today.

Phenotypic Resistance to Disinfectants and Antibiotics in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Pigs.

The aim of this research was to study the phenotypic resistances to disinfectants and antibiotics in strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) obtained from Canary black pigs. Analyses were performed on 54 strains of MRSA, isolated in Canary black pigs from the province of Tenerife (Spain); all of them carried the mecA gene. The strains were isolated by means of nasal swab samples of healthy pigs, collected under veterinarian supervision. Bactericidal activity of antiseptics and disinfectants was tested by means of the dilution-neutralization method. Susceptibility to the disinfectants glutaraldehyde, peracetic acid and silver nitrate was assessed, as well as to the antiseptics chlorhexidine, benzalkonium chloride and povidone iodine. Susceptibility to a wide array of antibiotics representing the main groups was determined by means of the disc diffusion method. All the strains demonstrated susceptibility to the disinfectants tested at the recommended concentration, and even to dilutions equal to or lesser than 1/16. The most effective antiseptic and disinfectant were, respectively, chlorhexidine and silver nitrate. With regard to the antibiotics, the strains proved to be multiresistant. All presented phenotypic resistance to the ß-lactam antibiotics ampicillin, penicillin and cefoxitin, as well as to numerous aminoglycosides, tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. It was also observed that 61.1% of the strains were carriers of plasmids. Our results underline that in the strains such as MRSA, which show multiple resistances to antibiotics, the antiseptics and disinfectants show great efficacy. Moreover, as other authors also suggest, for the treatment and prevention of infections caused by MRSA, the use of ß-lactam and aminoglycoside antibiotics may be less effective.

Study of the hormetic effect of disinfectants chlorhexidine, povidone iodine and benzalkonium chloride.

The study of the dose-response relationship of disinfectants is of great importance in treating infection, the objective being to use concentrations above the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC). Below these concentrations, the bacteriostatic or bactericidal effect may be insufficient. Moreover, at low concentrations, a hormetic effect may be observed, producing a stimulation of growth instead of inhibitory action. Hormesis is not well known in the context of antimicrobial substances. This study investigates the possible existence of a hormetic effect in three commonly used antiseptics-chlorhexidine digluconate, povidone iodine and benzalkonium chloride-on strains of reference of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Growth curves were determined for different concentrations of the disinfectants. The variables studied-concentration of disinfectant, instantaneous growth rate and number of generations-were analysed using linear, quadratic and cubic models to adjust for the variables. The three disinfectants tested show a significant hormetic effect with P. aeruginosa and a less significant effect with S. aureus. These findings point to a dose-response effect that is not linear at low concentrations, while hormetic effects observed at some low concentrations result in greater bacterial growth. In infected wounds, materials or surfaces where microorganisms may occupy zones of difficult access for a disinfectant, the hormetic effect may have important consequences.

Specificity of the neutralizers as the cause of errors in evaluating disinfectant efficacy: an assessment of triclosan.

UNLABELLED: One of the most commonly used methods for assessing disinfectants in vitro is the dilution-neutralization test. Although it is known that using an effective neutralizer is essential for obtaining reliable results, in the case of disinfectants like triclosan, whose neutralization is more complicated, an adequate neutralizer is not always used. Here, we compare the efficacy of different neutralizers described previously, and others that have been modified, against several antiseptic formulations of triclosan. The strains of reference used were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The solutions of antiseptic were triclosan 2% aqueous solution, and three alcoholic solutions containing 2, 0·068 and 0·5% triclosan, respectively. In the dilution-neutralization test, six neutralizers with different degrees of complexity were assayed. Our results show that the antiseptic solutions studied are effective against the strains of reference, with the exception of triclosan 2% aqueous solution against Ps. aeruginosa. Most neutralizers proved ineffective, depending on the antiseptic solution and the bacterial species, particularly in the case of Staph. aureus. These findings confirm a need to test every neutralizer specifically for each disinfectant, at the maximum concentration used, and for every specific bacterial strain. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The choice of an adequate neutralizing agent is essential for obtaining precise results in the evaluation of disinfectants using the dilution-neutralization method. In this study, we show that the neutralization of triclosan and some of its commercial solutions is not a simple task, requiring complex neutralizers. Moreover, the action of the neutralizer is shown to depend on the micro-organism tested. Specificity in view of the disinfectant and the micro-organism calls for performing the neutralizing assay in each particular case of application of the dilution-neutralization method. We also demonstrate that some of the neutralizers described for triclosan in previous studies are not sufficiently effective.

Levels of HSP70 in HIV(+) patients in different viroimmunological states.

The aim of the study was to establish an association between the viroimmunological status of HIV positive patients and their levels of the 70-kD heat shock protein (Hsp70). The longitudinal retrospective case study involved 61 patients at the University Hospital in Granada (Spain) from 1999 to 2002. Twenty-five patients were viroimmunologically stable, while the other 36 patients had suffered virological failure. A minimum of three blood samples were taken at intervals of at least 3 months for the patients who were stable virologically and immunologically, whereas four samples were taken for the virological failure group: two previous to the onset of virological failure, a third corresponding to the time of virological failure, and a fourth at least 3 months after remission of virological failure. Blood samples were also obtained from 20 healthy control subjects; Hsp70 levels in all were determined by enzyme immunoassay. The mean concentration of Hsp70 was 145.4 ng/ml in the HIV-infected patients as opposed to 72.1 ng/ml in the controls. While the viroimmunologically stable group showed levels similar to those of the controls (66.5 ng/ml), the mean value of Hsp70 in the virological failure group was nearly four times as high (249.1 ng/ml), yet this difference was not statistically significant. The patients treated with reverse transcriptase inhibitors were found to have significantly higher levels of Hsp70 than the other subjects. The transformed variable Hsp70/CD4(+) presents less variability than the Hsp70 value itself, giving a higher degree of statistical significance, and may be considered a useful parameter for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic management of HIV positive patients.

[Acute obstructive renal failure secondary to retroperitoneal mass]. / Fracaso renal agudo obstructivo por masa retroperitoneal.

The acute renal failure is a grave pathology, of rapid establishment and relatively frequent in the hospital environment. We can describe three etiological groupS, which are responsible for it, amongst which are emphasized the pre-renal reasons. The obstructive pathology, of minor incidence, increases with the age. It is described the case of a 67-yr-old patient who was admitted in the Nephrology Service because of abrupt decline of the renal function. Among the initial symptoms, he presented arterial hypertension (190/90) and preserved diuresis. Blood analysis: urea 199 mg/dl, creatinine 7.7 mg/dl, without proteinuria. Sonography reported a bilateral ureteral hydronephrosis with simple cyst of possible ischemic origin. In view of the absence of previous biochemical data of renal failure, we considered possible reasons which start with an acute pattern. In initial evaluation, pre-renal etiology was not seen (high blood pressure, right cardiac systole function). The absence of prostatic syndrome and sonography discovery did not justify a diagnosis of urinary tract obstruction. Finally, abdominal-pelvic scan showed a periaortic retroperitoneal mass which included both ureters and appeared to trigger the obstruction. Combined efforts were pursued with the Urology Service, which implanted a bilateral "double J" catheter and later operated surgically on the patient, carrying out an alternating ureterolysis of both ureters. The biopsy manifested a retroperitoneal fibrosis, and the renogram showed a residual renal function of 20% in the right kidney and 80% in the left kidney. Due to the failure of the previous measures and as a last therapeutic recourse when one year had passed from the diagnosis, a continuous regimen with tamoxifen (anti-estrogen drug) in dose of 20 mg/dl each 12 hours was started, which began a progressive remission in the size of the observed mass by scan (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR). The treatment was completed during 12 months and in this time, the levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were reduced gradually too. Finally, at the end of the treatment, the magnetic resonance demonstrate the complete disappearance of the fibrosis.

Evaluation of microbiological and physicochemical indicators for wastewater treatment.

The quality control of wastewater treatments was monitored using selected novel and classical physicochemical and microbiological indicators, and the associations of the treatments with the effluents was analyzed. The microbiological indicators monitored were heterotrophic plate count (HPC), total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), fecal streptococci (FS), sulfite-reducing clostridia (SRC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella spp. The stages of wastewater treatment also were evaluated through determination of ammonia; biological oxygen demand (BOD(5)); chemical oxygen demand (COD); chloride; conductivity; suspended dissolved and total solids; fats; nitrate, nitrite, and total nitrogen; pH; phosphate and total phosphorus. Additional indicators included the Escherichia coli growth inhibition (IGEC) bioassay for assessing whole effluent toxicity, spectral determinations between wavelengths (lambda) 190-650 nm, and total (TP) and soluble (SP) protein contents. Of the more common physicochemical parameters, only BOD(5), COD, suspended and total solids, and fats showed a statistically significant reduction between raw water and effluent; for the microbiological indicators, significant reduction was seen only for HPC, FC, and Ps. aeruginosa. We suggest that determinations of Ps. aeruginosa be commonly used as an indicator of wastewater quality. Spectral analysis--most notably the values of absorbance at 225, 255, and 295 nm-revealed a statistically significant correlation with several physicochemical parameters. Statistical analysis of SP and TP values showed them to be good indicators of contamination. The quantitative study of Salmonella spp. and the results of the IGEC bioassay show the need for close control of infectious and toxic risks in wastewater and effluents.

Efficacy of some neutralizers in suspension tests determining the activity of disinfectants.

The ability of six mixtures to neutralize glutaraldehyde, o-phthalaldehyde and peracetic acid was tested using four reference strains: Pseudomonas aeruginosa CIP A22, Escherichia coli CIP 54127, Staphylococcus aureus CIP 53154, and Enterococcus faecium CIP 5855. Glutaraldehyde was the hardest to neutralize, and peracetic acid the easiest. The most effective mixture was Tween 80 with sodium bisulphate, sodium thioglycolate, lecithin and cysteine, and the least effective was Tween 80, lecithin and histidine. The efficacy of the neutralizers may indicate a propensity loss of activity from interfering substances when disinfectants are used in practice.

In vitro toxicity of several dithiocarbamates and structure-activity relationships.

Dithiocarbamates (DTCs) are chemicals featuring a great chelating capacity. The toxicological study of DTCs is very important in view of their relatively simple synthesis and wide array of sanitary and industrial applications. In this study, the toxicity of some of the more recently synthesized DTCs is determined using an extremely simple bioassay, described in previous studies, based on the inhibition of growth of Escherichia coli (IGEC). The lowest-observed-effect concentration (LOEC), the median effective concentration (EC(50)) and no-observed-effect concentration (NOEC) of the following sodium dithiocarbamates was determined: N-benzyl-N-methyldithiocarbamate x 2H(2)O, N-benzyl-N-isopropyldithiocarbamate x 3H(2)O, N-benzyl-N-ethyldithiocarbamate x 2H(2)O, N-butyl-N-methyldithiocarbamate x 2H(2)O, N,N-dibenzyldithiocarbamate x 2H(2)O and N-benzyl-2-phenethyldithiocarbamate x 4H(2)O. Our results showed N,N-dibenzyl-DTC to be the least toxic of the tested substances, with an EC(50) value of 1,269.9 micro g ml(-1), whereas N-butyl-N-methyl-DTC and N-benzyl-N-methyl-DTC, with respective EC(50) values of 14.9 micro g ml(-1) and 23.5 micro g ml(-1), were the most toxic. Regression analysis showed, through exponential models, that the degree of toxicity of this group of substances correlated with the molecular weight of the compound, the molecular weight of the smallest chemical radical linked to the dithiocarbamate group and the number of benzene rings present in the molecule. The consideration of these models allows us to establish that in general terms the toxicity of DTCs decreases exponentially with a greater molecular weight and the number of benzene rings.

[Efficiency of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis]. / Eficacia de la ecografía en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda.

UNLABELLED: Importance of the problem. Atypical or precocious presentation of acute appendicitis in children causes false diagnosis. OBJECTIVES: To determine internal and external validity of ultrasonography for confirmation diagnosis of acute appendicitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with suspicious acute appendicitis treated in 1998. They have been classified into two groups. Group 1: patients with appendicitis; Group 2: patients with non-specific abdominal pain. MATERIAL: Ultrasonography equipment (5 and 7.5 MHz). METHOD: Ultrasonography has been considered as positive when 3 or more of the typical signs of appendicitis have been detected. Analysis unit: positivity of the test and presence or absence of illness confirmed by histologic analysis of the appendix obtained through laparotomy. RESULTS: Number of patients selected for the work: 139. Middle age: 8 years-old (range: 2 to 14 years); 75% were males, 25% females. Patients included in group 1: 42; patients included in group 2:97. False positive rate was 12.23%, while false negative rate was 7.19%. Sensibility was 76%, specificity was 82%, positive predictive value was 65%, negative predictive value was 88% and precision was 80%. Odds-ratio pre-test: 0.43; Odds-ratio post-test: 0.64. CONCLUSIONS: Probability of accuracy diagnosis is duplicated by ultrasonography. Liability of the test is diminished by variability due to observer.

[Costal osteolysis due to a giant arteriosclerotic aneurysm of the ascending thoracic aorta]. / Osteólisis costal por un aneurisma arteriosclerótico gigante de la aorta torácica ascendente.

In this case report the patient had a giant saccular aneurysm caused by arteriosclerosis, located in the ascending aorta and protruding through the anterior thoracic wall, with osteolysis of the two adjacent ribs. Costal involvement in arteriosclerotic aneurysms has not been described in the literature. We review the incidence, types and clinical signs of aneurysms of the ascending aorta, emphasizing the complications caused by arteriosclerotic aneurysms.

Stress protein synthesis, a potential toxicity marker in Escherichia coli.

Various chemicals were tested in Escherichia coli for the ability to modify the cellular growth rate and to induce the synthesis of heat shock and stress proteins. The toxicity of chemicals as observed by modification of the growth rate depended on concentration and duration of treatment, except for thiram. In this last case, no modification was observed up to a concentration of 10 micrograms.ml-1. In contrast, all toxicants tested enhanced the synthesis of heat shock and stress proteins. The stress response was similar but not identical. Heat shock proteins and stress proteins appear to be a more sensitive toxicity marker than growth inhibition. Suggestions for the use of stress proteins as a practical bioassay are made.

Environmental and biological monitoring of workers exposed to inorganic lead.

A total of 20 workers who were exposed to inorganic lead in two local firms (M and N) were studied. Lead concentrations in the air (PbA) at firm M exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) of 0.150 mg/m3 established by Spanish and EC legislation, while atmospheric lead at firm N exceeded the action level of 0.075 mg/m3. In the same population, biological exposure indices (BEI) were also determined; these included lead in whole blood (PbB), erythrocyte activity of aminolevulinic acid (ALA-D), urinary excretion of aminolevulinic acid (ALA-U) and zinc protoporphyrin (ZPP). The relationship between the exposure parameters (PbA, PbB) and the biological activity indices (ALA-D, ALA-U, ZPP) were analysed statistically in order to obtain levels of significance, coefficients of correlation and regression equations. The high coefficients of correlation found confirm the usefulness of BEI in evaluating exposure to lead fumes and lead dust.

Proposal and application of an ecotoxicity biotest based on Escherichia coli.

The authors propose the use of an ecotoxicity biotest based on Escherichia coli for the sanitary control of water. The sensitivity of the proposed model was evaluated using a group of representative toxicants, and its response (synergism, additive or antagonism) to toxicants was observed. Finally, the biotest was applied to 124 water samples from rivers, underground sources, drinking water and wastewater. The results of the biotest were compared with the sanitary classification of the waters.

The effect of 2,4-dichlorophenol on growth and plasmidic beta-lactamase activity in Escherichia coli.

The toxic effects of 2,4-dichlorophenol on two strains of Escherichia coli harbouring plasmids with beta-lactamase activity were studied. The toxicant had a significant effect on growth at concentrations of 12 micrograms ml-1 for the JA 221 (pBR322) strain, as well as at 24 micrograms ml-1 for the J5-3 (RP4) strain. beta-Lactamase production was affected at concentrations of 96 micrograms ml-1 in both strains. However, beta-lactamase production does not seem to constitute a reliable toxicity test in view of its variability and relatively low sensitivity.