First modern human settlement recorded in the Iberian hinterland occurred during Heinrich Stadial 2 within harsh environmental conditions.

As the south-westernmost region of Europe, the Iberian Peninsula stands as a key area for understanding the process of modern human dispersal into Eurasia. However, the precise timing, ecological setting and cultural context of this process remains controversial concerning its spatiotemporal distribution within the different regions of the peninsula. While traditional models assumed that the whole Iberian hinterland was avoided by modern humans due to ecological factors until the retreat of the Last Glacial Maximum, recent research has demonstrated that hunter-gatherers entered the Iberian interior at least during Solutrean times. We provide a multi-proxy geoarchaeological, chronometric and paleoecological study on human-environment interactions based on the key site of Peña Capón (Guadalajara, Spain). Results show (1) that this site hosts the oldest modern human presence recorded to date in central Iberia, associated to pre-Solutrean cultural traditions around 26,000 years ago, and (2) that this presence occurred during Heinrich Stadial 2 within harsh environmental conditions. These findings demonstrate that this area of the Iberian hinterland was recurrently occupied regardless of climate and environmental variability, thus challenging the widely accepted hypothesis that ecological risk hampered the human settlement of the Iberian interior highlands since the first arrival of modern humans to Southwest Europe.

Effects of a respiratory functional training program on pain and sleep quality in patients with fibromyalgia: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of 8-week respiratory functional training program on pain tolerance, sleep, and urinary antioxidant and cortisol levels in 18 patients with fibromyalgia. METHODS: Participants underwent a 12-week intervention: 4 weeks as control and 8 weeks of breathing exercises. Pain tolerance assay was done by using an algometer, whereas sleep quality was evaluated by actigraphy and by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Cortisol and antioxidant levels were determined using commercial assay kits. RESULTS: Increases in the pain tolerance threshold were detected in the occiput point after one month of intervention as well as in the low cervical and second rib points after one and two months. Actigraphy revealed a decrease in sleep latency, whereas sleep questionnaire showed improvements in sleep quality, sleep duration and sleep efficiency. No changes in cortisol and antioxidant levels were detected. CONCLUSION: The 8-week breathing exercise intervention reduced pain and improved sleep quality.

Alternativa terapéutica para el retinoblastoma: quimioterapia intraarterial con melfalán / Alternative treatment for retinoblastoma: Intra-arterial chemotherapy with melphalan

CASO CLÍNICO: Un lactante de 10 meses fue remitido para estudio de leucocoria izquierda de un mes de evolución. En la exploración se detectó un retinoblastoma que ocupaba el área macular. Fue tratado con quimioterapia intraarterial con 6 mg de melfalán, sin requirir posteriores intervenciones para el control de la enfermedad. DISCUSIÓN: El melfalán es un agente quimioterápico muy efectivo, con uso limitado por la toxicidad sistémica que genera. La quimioterapia intraarterial permite la liberación selectiva en la arteria oftálmica, lo que limita la toxicidad sistémica. Esta combinación de eficacia, seguridad y precisión la hacen una alterativa terapéutica atractiva para el manejo del retinoblastoma

CASE REPORT: A 10-month old infant was referred for the study of a leukocoria of the left eye of one month onset. On examination, a retinoblastoma occupying the macular area was detected. Treatment with intra-arterial chemotherapy (melphalan 6 mg) was performed, with no further intervention required for disease control. DISCUSSION: Melphalan is an effective chemotherapeutic agent. However, its use is limited by the systemic toxicity that may occur. Intra-arterial chemotherapy allows the selective release of melphalan into the ophthalmic artery, thus limiting its systemic toxicity. This combination of efficiency, safety and accuracy makes it an attractive therapeutic alternative for the management of retinoblastoma

Real-time PCR detection chemistry.

Real-time PCR is the method of choice in many laboratories for diagnostic and food applications. This technology merges the polymerase chain reaction chemistry with the use of fluorescent reporter molecules in order to monitor the production of amplification products during each cycle of the PCR reaction. Thus, the combination of excellent sensitivity and specificity, reproducible data, low contamination risk and reduced hand-on time, which make it a post-PCR analysis unnecessary, has made real-time PCR technology an appealing alternative to conventional PCR. The present paper attempts to provide a rigorous overview of fluorescent-based methods for nucleic acid analysis in real-time PCR described in the literature so far. Herein, different real-time PCR chemistries have been classified into two main groups; the first group comprises double-stranded DNA intercalating molecules, such as SYBR Green I and EvaGreen, whereas the second includes fluorophore-labeled oligonucleotides. The latter, in turn, has been divided into three subgroups according to the type of fluorescent molecules used in the PCR reaction: (i) primer-probes (Scorpions, Amplifluor, LUX, Cyclicons, Angler); (ii) probes; hydrolysis (TaqMan, MGB-TaqMan, Snake assay) and hybridization (Hybprobe or FRET, Molecular Beacons, HyBeacon, MGB-Pleiades, MGB-Eclipse, ResonSense, Yin-Yang or displacing); and (iii) analogues of nucleic acids (PNA, LNA, ZNA, non-natural bases: Plexor primer, Tiny-Molecular Beacon). In addition, structures, mechanisms of action, advantages and applications of such real-time PCR probes and analogues are depicted in this review.

Effects of pomegranate seed oil on glucose and lipid metabolism-related organs in rats fed an obesogenic diet.

Studies conducted in mice have revealed positive effects of punicic acid (PUA). The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of PUA on fat accumulation and glycemic control in rats fed an obesogenic diet. Rats were randomly divided into two groups: control group and PUA group (diet supplemented with 0.5% PUA). No changes were observed in adipose tissue weights. The glucose tolerance test showed that the glycemic value in the PUA group had decreased significantly at the final time (120 min) (-19.3%), as had fructosamine levels (-11.1%). However, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR) showed that insulin resistance did not improve. No changes were observed in the liver, skeletal muscle composition, or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) activation. Low levels (mg/g tissue) of PUA (0.04 ± 0.01 in both tissues) and higher levels of cis-9,trans-11 conjugated linoleic acid (0.31 ± 0.08 in liver, 0.52 ± 0.11 in muscle) were found. PUA supplementation induced hypoplasia (-16.1%) due to the antiproliferative effect on hepatocytes. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 0.5% PUA did not lead to decreased fat accumulation in adipose tissue, liver, or skeletal muscle, or to improved glycemic control. The hypoplasia induced in liver is a negative effect that should be considered before proposing PUA as a functional ingredient.

Primera manifestación oftalmológica de una sepsis por Klebsiella. Importancia de la sospecha diagnóstica precoz / Endogenous endophthalmitis as a first clinical manifestation of Klebsiella sepsis. The importance of an early diagnosis

Caso clínico: Paciente diabético que desarrolla una uveítis unilateral con un foco de coriorretinitis en el ojo derecho asociada a fiebre y disminución de la visión. Sospechándose una endoftalmitis endógena se realizaron pruebas complementarias encontrándose abscesos hepáticos con biopsia positiva para Klebsiella. La afectación ocular se fue resolviendo gracias a antibioticoterapia intravenosa y al drenaje percutáneo de los abscesos. Conclusión: La endoftalmitis endógena por Klebsiella es un hallazgo poco frecuente con consecuencias graves. Un diagnóstico y un tratamiento antibioticoterápico tempranos pueden mejorar el cuadro aunque la visión resultante suele ser pobre(AU)

Case report: A diabetic patient who developed a unilateral uveitis with a chorioretinitis patch in his right eye associated with decreased visual acuity and fever. Endogenous endophthalmitis was suspected and complementary tests were performed, finding hepatic abscesses with Klebsiella isolation in the biopsy. The ocular disorder slowly improved with intravenous therapy and guided percutaneous liver drainage. Conclusion: Endogenous Klebsiella endophthalmitis is an uncommon condition with severe complications. An early diagnosis and aggressive antibiotic therapy can ameliorate the final course but the visual outcome still remains poor(AU)

[Serous otitis media and allergy in our health district]. / Otitis media serosa y alergia en nuestra área sanitaria.

UNLABELLED: We studied the role of allergic diseases in patients with otitis media with effusion (OME). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 40 patients diagnosed with OME in the Otorhinolaryngology Service in 2001 were referred to the Allergy Unit for evaluation. The patients were assessed through anamnesis, prick test and specific IgE determination for the allergens in our area. RESULTS: In 72 % of the patiens allergologic study was negative. One patient had perennial rhinitis with sensitization to house dust mites and another had seasonal rhinitis with sensitization to Gramineae pollen. Five patients showed high total IgE. Two patients had positive skin prick test and specific IgE to Gramineae pollen but were asymptomatic and a further two patients had negative anamnesis and specific IgE to Gramineae and olive pollen, respectively. CONCLUSION: Allergic disease does not cause OME except in some patients with allergic rhinitis.

Otitis media serosa y alergia en nuestra área sanitaria / Serous otitis media and allergy in our health district

Hemos estudiado la incidencia de enfermedades alérgicas en los pacientes con otitis media con derrame (OME). Material y métodos: Los 40 pacientes diagnosticados de otitis media con derrame durante el año 2001 en el Servicio de ORL fueron remitidos a la Unidad de Alergología para su valoración. Esta se realizó mediante anamnesis, prick test IgE específica para los alergenos de nuestra zona. Resultados: en el 72 por ciento de los pacientes el estudio alergológico fue negativo. Un paciente tenía rinitis perenne con sensibilización a ácaros y otro rinitis estacional con sensibilidad a polen de grammíneas. Cinco con igE total alta. En dos pacientes el prick test e IgE específica fueron positivos a polen de gramíneas pero están asintomáticos y otros dos también con anamnesis negativa y exclusivamente IgE específica positiva a polen de gramíneas y olivo respectivamente. Conclusión: La enfermedad alérgica no es causa de OME excepto en algunos enfermos con rinitis alérgica (AU)

We studied the role of allergic diseases in patients with otitis media with effusion (OME). Material and methods. The 40 patients diagnosed with OME in the Otorhinolaryngology Service in 2001 were referred to the Allergy Unit for evaluation. The patients were assessed through anamnesis, prick test and specific IgE determination for the allergens in our area. Results. In 72 % of the patiens allergologic study was negative. One patient had perennial rhinitis with sensitization to house dust mites and another had seasonal rhinitis with sensitization to Gramineae pollen. Five patients showed high total IgE. Two patients had positive skin prick test and specific IgE to Gramineae pollen but were asymptomatic and a further two patients had negative anamnesis and specific IgE to Gramineae and olive pollen, respectively. Conclusion: Allergic disease does not cause OME except in some patients with allergic rhinitis (AU)

Effects of faba bean tannins on the growth and histological structure of the intestinal tract and liver of chicks and rats.

1. Diets containing a freeze-dried tannin extract from faba beans (Vicia faba L.) at concentrations of 0, 8 and 16 g/kg were fed to growing chicks and rats. 2. Chicks fed on the tannin-containing diets exhibited a high mortality and significant decreases in body-weight as well as lower food intakes and higher food intake:weight gain ratios (P < 0.01). In rats there was no mortality but the growth and food intake were adversely affected (P < 0.05). 3. Histological changes occurred in the ileal mucosa of chicks. Atrophy and shortening of villi with distortion of their architecture were observed. Similar histological disorders but less pronounced were also found in rats. 4. Histopathology of the liver of both chicks and rats showed an hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes, clearly more severe in the former than in the latter.

The utilization of raw and autoclaved faba beans (Vicia faba L., var. minor) and faba bean fractions in diets for growing boiler chickens.

The effects of the inclusion of raw and autoclaved whole faba beans (Vicia faba; RFB and AFB respectively) or faba bean fractions (cotyledons and hulls) in diets for growing broiler chickens (0-4 weeks of age) on performance, intestinal physiology and jejunal histological structure have been studied in three experiments. Significant decreases in body-weight as well as lower food consumption and higher food intake:weight gain ratio were observed in those animals fed on diets containing 250, 350 and 500 RFB/kg in the diet. Birds fed on AFB diets (500 g/kg) had significantly greater body-weights than chicks fed on RFB or raw faba bean cotyledons (RC). Significant increases in the relative lengths of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and caeca, pancreas relative weight, and intestinal transit time of birds fed on diets containing 250, 350 and 500 g RFB/kg compared with control birds were observed. Including AFB (500 g/kg) in the diet significantly increased body-weight and significantly decreased pancreas weight compared with RFB (500 g/kg)-fed birds. The inclusion of RFB hulls had no effect on these variables. Dehulling or autoclaving of faba beans, or both, proved to have no significant effect on relative lengths of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and caeca, nor on caecal volatile fatty acid concentration in birds fed on 500 g faba beans/kg diet. Electron microscopy of the jejunal mucosa revealed discrete hyperplasia of polysomes and mitochondrial swelling in those animals fed on AFB (500 g/kg) or AC (426.4 g/kg). Pronounced strangulations were also observed along the microvilli, whose length was similar to that of control birds. The inclusion of RFB hulls, either autoclaved or raw, led to no ultrastructural changes in the enterocytes, as detected by electron microscopy. Birds fed on diets containing the cotyledons of RFB (RC, 426.4 g/kg) rather than whole RFB showed the same ultrastructural disorders as RFB (500 g/kg)-fed birds. The present study shows that factors other than those usually claimed, i.e. protease inhibitors, phytates, tannins and lectins, may be contributing to the low nutritional value of V. faba seeds for growing chickens.

Histological alterations to the pancreas and the intestinal tract produced by raw faba bean (Vicia faba L. minor) diets in growing chicks.

1. Inclusion of raw faba bean (Vicia faba L., minor) in the diet of growing chickens was shown to affect the performance of the birds and to produce a significant increase in the relative weight of the pancreas. This was attributable to dietary trypsin inhibitors. 2. Trypsin inhibitors also produced degenerative changes in pancreatic acinar cells. These were observed by light and electron microscopy. 3. Progressive cytopathological changes were observed in the intestinal tract. The duodenum, jejunum and ileum were altered, with extensive erosion, shortening and atrophy of microvilli. 4. The results endorsed previous findings obtained using different legume seed lines (Phaseolus spp). Faba bean produced similar local reactions in the pancreas and the intestine. This may be caused by the presence of lectins in the seeds.