Reuse of sustainable materials for xylenol orange dye and copper (II) ion ammoniacal removal.

Water pollution caused by heavy metals and organic compounds is an environmental problem with negative impact, making the restoration of water quality a priority. In this paper, the adsorption of xylenol orange dye (XO) on vitreous tuff mineral (VT) was studied. It was established that the adsorption capacity of VT was 45.17 mg/g. The removal was carried out by interactions between active sites on the surface of the material and the functional groups of the dye. The solid waste obtained from this process (VTXO) was reused as adsorbent material for Cu removal in the form of the complex Cu-NH3 because this process was done in an ammoniacal medium. It was found that the adsorption capacity of this new material was 33.09 mg/g. In a previous research, VT mineral was used to remove crystal violet (CV) instead of XO. The solid waste of this last process (VTCV) was also applied for Cu-NH3 removal, in order to compare the adsorption capacity of VT after the adsorption of two different kinds of dyes. The adsorption capacity of VTXO was lower than that of VTCV (71.23 mg/g). In both processes, adsorption kinetic was well described by a chemical adsorption onto a heterogeneous surface. The equilibrium time for XO removal was 50 min and 80 min for Cu-NH3. The experimental design stated that the maximum adsorption capacity was reached when the initial concentration was 6400 mg/L and the solid-liquid ratio was 10 g/L. The system that requires the least amount of adsorbent was the counter flow batch. Finally, it was possible to estimate the behavior of the system on a higher scale. This research provides an efficient and economical alternative to treat water contaminated with dyes and cooper in an ammoniacal medium using the same material in both processes, one after the other.

Entoepidemiology of Chagas disease in the Western region of the State of São Paulo from 2004 to 2008, and cytogenetic analysis in Rhodnius neglectus (Hemiptera, Triatominae).

To complement the epidemiological data and assist in the prophylaxis of Chagas disease in the State of São Paulo, we examined entomological lifting conducted in 40 municipalities of the Western region of the state from 2004 to 2008, highlighted the main vector species in this region, and reanalyzed the cytogenetic characteristics of Rhodnius neglectus from 3 different Brazilian states (Formoso/GO, Frutal/MG, Guaíra/SP, and Pitangueiras/SP). The municipalities of Castilho and Santo Antônio do Acaranguá registered the highest relative amounts of notifications. The main species notified in Western São Paulo were Triatoma sordida and R. neglectus. We collected a large number of T. sordida in 2005 and noted the absence of notification of infected insects in 2008. We observed no variation in chromosomal characteristics of R. neglectus of different states. These data are complementary to the survey presented from 1990 to 1999, as the vector species were the same (T. sordida and R. neglectus), with emphasis on T. sordida. We corroborate the future colonization domiciliary initially proposed for T. sordida in the region and underscore the importance of vector control programs in the prophylaxis of Chagas disease. Furthermore, we observed that the populations of R. neglectus in Brazil showed no intraspecific variation and we corroborated the chromosomal patterns originally described. These data are important for understanding the evolution of these hematophagous insects, which are vectors of Chagas disease.

Efficient removal of crystal violet dye from aqueous solutions by vitreous tuff mineral.

Textural, structural and morphological characteristics of the vitreous tuff were determined by means of several physicochemical techniques. The nitrogen adsorption isotherm at 77 K was fitted with the Brunnauer-Emmet-Teller model and together with the results of the average pore distribution showed a mesoporous material. Samples of vitreous tuff were used as adsorbent to study the removal of crystal violet from aqueous solution. The presence of -OH moieties in the material seems to be responsible for the removal of the dye showing that vitreous tuff can be used as an organic dye adsorbent material. The pseudo-second-order model was the best fit model for describing the sorption process of crystal violet; intraparticle diffusion being the controlling step in the process. The experimental adsorption isotherm was fitted with Langmuir, Freundlich and Langmuir-Freundlich models, showing better correlation with the second one. The adsorption capacity was 170.01 mg/g, being among the highest compared with other inorganic and organic common sorbent materials. The design of single stage of the adsorber can predict the behaviour to potential scale up. This mineral has a very good potential as an adsorbent material for organic dyes.

Genetic structure of Aedes aegypti populations determined using pairwise comparisons.

The biological characteristics of Aedes aegypti (Diptera, Culicidae), which is a vector of dengue and yellow fever, make this organism a good model for studying population structure and the events that may influence it under the effect of human activity. We assessed the genetic variability of five A. aegypti populations using RAPD-PCR technique and six primers. Four populations were from Brazil and one was from the USA. A total of 165 polymorphic DNA loci were generated. Considering the six primers and the five populations, the mean value of inter-population genetic diversity (Gst) was 0.277, which is considered high according to the Wright classification. However, pairwise comparisons of the populations gave variable Gst values ranging from 0.044 to 0.289. This variation followed the population's geographic distance to some extent but was also influenced by human activity. The lowest Gst values were obtained in the comparison of populations from cities with intensive commercial and medical contacts. These mosquito populations were previously classified as insecticide resistant, susceptible, or with decreased susceptibility; this parameter apparently had an effect on the Gst values obtained in the pairwise comparisons.

Quality indicators and excellence requirements for a multidisciplinary lung cancer tumor board by the Spanish Lung Cancer Group.

Multidisciplinary care is needed to decide the best therapeutic approach and to provide optimal care to patients with lung cancer (LC). Multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) are optimal strategies for the management of patients with LC and have been associated with better outcomes, such as an increase in quality of life and survival. The Spanish Lung Cancer Group has promoted this review about the current situation of the existing national LC-MDTs, which also offers a set of excellence requirements and quality indicators to achieve the best care in any patient with LC. Time and sufficient resources; leadership; administrative and institutional support; and recording of activity are key factors for the success of LC-MDTs. A set of excellence requirements in terms of staff, resources and organization of the LC-MDT have been proposed. At last, a list of quality indicators has been agreed to achieve and measure the performance of current LC-MDTs.

SEOM clinical guidelines for the treatment of malignant pleural mesothelioma (2020).

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive tumour with dismal prognosis arising in the pleura and associated with asbestos exposure. Its incidence is on the rise worldwide. In selected patients with early-stage MPM, a maximal surgical cytoreduction in combination with additional antitumour treatment may be considered in selected patients assessed by a multidisciplinary tumor board. In patients with unresectable or advanced MPM, chemotherapy with platinum plus pemetrexed is the standard of care. Currently, no standard salvage therapy has been approved yet, but second-line chemotherapy with vinorelbine or gemcitabine is commonly used. Novel therapeutic approaches based on dual immunotherapy or chemotherapy plus immunotherapy demonstrated promising survival benefit and will probably be incorporated in the future.

SEOM clinical guidelines for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (2018).

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for up to 85% of all lung cancers. The last few years have seen the development of a new staging system, diagnostic procedures such as liquid biopsy, treatments like immunotherapy, as well as deeper molecular knowledge; so, more options can be offered to patients with driver mutations. Groups with specific treatments account for around 25% and demonstrate significant increases in overall survival, and in some subgroups, it is important to evaluate each treatment alternative in accordance with scientific evidence, and even more so with immunotherapy. New treatments similarly mean that we must reconsider what should be done in oligometastatic disease where local treatment attains greater value.

First Report of Root and Crown Necrosis of Bean Caused by Pythium aphanidermatum in Spain.

Adult bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris cv. Festival) growing in a commercial greenhouse in southeastern Spain developed symptoms of root necrosis, necrotic streaks on the basal stems, and plant wilt. A Pythium sp. was isolated consistently from roots and basal stems on selective agar (P5ARP). Single-hyphal transfers produced intercalary antheridia, oogonia (23 to 26 µm in diameter), oospores (18 to 20 µm in diameter), and zoospores in toruloid sporangia. Cardinal temperatures were a minimum of 10°C, an optimum of 28 to 34°C, and a maximum of 40°C. Daily growth rate on corn meal agar at 25°C was 15 mm. The internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS 1) rDNA sequence of the isolate matched the sequences of Pythium aphanidermatum in GenBank. The sequence of isolate Py-294 was deposited in GenBank, Accession No. AM396563. This isolate was identified as P. aphanidermatum on the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics (1) and the ITS rDNA sequence. To fulfill Koch's postulates, 50 ml of inoculum of isolate Py-294 was used to inoculate bean plants (cvs. Donna and Emerite) at the five-leaf stage. The inoculum was prepared by homogenizing 2-week-old potato dextrose agar-petri plate cultures in 300 ml of distilled water. The plants were maintained in a greenhouse at temperatures of 18.8 to 30.3°C. Irrigation water had an electric conductivity of 0.5 to 0.6 dS·m-1 while the nutrient solution had 1.9 to 2.1 dS·m-1. Two months after sowing, 35.4 and 100% of cvs. Donna and Emerite, respectively, developed root necrosis, while control plants grown in bags containing noninoculated perlite remained healthy. The pathogen was reisolated from roots and basal stems of symptomatic plants. The test was repeated with similar results. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. aphanidermatum as the causal agent of root and crown necrosis of adult bean plants in Spain. Reference: (1) A. J. Van der Plaats-Niterink. Stud. Mycol. 21:242, 1981.

Pythium solare sp. nov., a new pathogen of green beans in Spain.

A new disease causing wilt and death of adult plants of Phaseolus vulgaris was discovered in plastic-house crops of southeast Spain in 2004. The causal agent was shown to be a Pythium species with a unique type of oogonium ornamentation different from any of the described species. Zoospores were not observed, but globose or subglobose hyphal swellings, intercalary or terminal, were frequently found. Moreover, the ribosomal ITS region showed a unique sequence, significantly different (>14%) from any other known species of Pythium. This paper describes and illustrates the morphology of the new Pythium species and its pathogenicity to green beans. Its taxonomic position and phylogenetic relationships with other Pythium species are discussed.

Evaluation of suicide risk in children: psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Risk of Suicide Questionnaire (RSQ).

INTRODUCTION: Risk of Suicide Questionnaire (RSQ) is a useful self-administered tool to assess suicide risk among children. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to translate RSQ into Spanish and determine its validity and reliability among Mexican children. METHOD: After a culturally sensitive RSQ items translation, all fifth and sixth grade elementary school students of both genders, from a private educational Institution in Guadalajara (Mexico) whose parents gave informed consent to participate, completed the RSQ Spanish version and the Beck's Depression and Hopelessness Inventories. The parents of the children who had a suicide risk were contacted and invited to come with their child to a subsequent appointment for evaluation and free treatment in the Jalisciense Mental Health Institute. For correlation analysis, item number 9 related to suicide was eliminated. RESULTS: A total sample of 88 students participated. Their mean age was 11.23 +- 0.78 years old, and 55.7 % were male. Mean total scales were as follows: RSQ: 8.3 +- 9.05; depression: 7.4 +- 6.7, and hopelessness: 18 +- 3.3. Cronbach's alpha for RSQ was 0.68. Intra class coefficients correlations between RSQ and depression and hopelessness inventories were 0.74 and 0.52, respectively. Only one of the 56 minors considered to have a certain suicide risk (n=56) came to a professional evaluation with their parents. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish version of the RSQ showed adequate validity and reliability in Mexican students.

The CD3-gamma delta epsilon transducing module mediates CD38-induced protein-tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in Jurkat T cells.

We have examined the ability of the CD3-gamma delta epsilon and CD3-zeta signaling modules of the T cell receptor (TCR) to couple CD38 to intracellular signaling pathways. The results demonstrated that in TCR+ T cells that express the whole set of CD3 subunits CD38 ligation led to complete tyrosine phosphorylation of both CD3-zeta and CD3-epsilon polypeptide chains. In contrast, in TCR+ cells with a defective CD3-zeta association CD38 engagement caused tyrosine phosphorylation of CD3-epsilon but not of CD3-zeta. Despite these differences, in both cell types CD38 ligation resulted in protein-tyrosine kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. However, in cells expressing chimerical CD25-zeta or CD25-epsilon receptors or in a TCR-beta- Jurkat T cell line, CD38 ligation did not result in tyrosine phosphorylation of the chimeric receptors, or CD3 subunits, or protein-tyrosine kinase or mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. In summary, these results support a model in which CD38 transduces activating signals inside the cell by means of CD3-epsilon and CD3-zeta tyrosine phosphorylation. Moreover, these data identify the CD3-gamma delta epsilon signaling module as a necessary and sufficient component of the TCR/CD3 complex involved in T cell activation through CD38.