Attenuation mechanisms and key parameters to enhance treatment performance in vegetation filters: A review.

In times when environmental concerns are on the rise and the search of ways to reduce waste generation and to create a circular economy is booming, Nature Based Solutions (NBSs) play a very important role. Vegetation Filters (VFs) are a type of Land Application System (LAS) in which wastewater is used to irrigate a forestry plantation to treat the water and produce biomass. VFs show multiple benefits that render this technology a suitable solution for wastewater treatment, especially for scattered populations or isolated buildings that lack of connection to sewer systems. This review aims to provide a comprehensive state of the art of VF implementation, highlighting the do's and don'ts for a successful performance focusing on those factors that are essential to water treatment. Results show that VFs have a great treatment capacity when all involving factors are considered, and their efficiency tends to increase with time, as the VF develops and "gets older". Indeed, the presence of fine-textured soils, the selection of a proper vegetation species, the use of pre-treated wastewater and a water balance-based irrigation schedule alternating wetting and -drying cycles are all factors that help to achieve the best performance. However, it is necessary to design and follow a simple but rigorous operation and maintenance schedule to avoid system failure, which could lead to NO3-N leaching towards groundwater.

Stem cell-like transcriptional reprogramming mediates metastatic resistance to mTOR inhibition.

Inhibitors of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) are currently used to treat advanced metastatic breast cancer. However, whether an aggressive phenotype is sustained through adaptation or resistance to mTOR inhibition remains unknown. Here, complementary studies in human tumors, cancer models and cell lines reveal transcriptional reprogramming that supports metastasis in response to mTOR inhibition. This cancer feature is driven by EVI1 and SOX9. EVI1 functionally cooperates with and positively regulates SOX9, and promotes the transcriptional upregulation of key mTOR pathway components (REHB and RAPTOR) and of lung metastasis mediators (FSCN1 and SPARC). The expression of EVI1 and SOX9 is associated with stem cell-like and metastasis signatures, and their depletion impairs the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. These results establish the mechanistic link between resistance to mTOR inhibition and cancer metastatic potential, thus enhancing our understanding of mTOR targeting failure.

Growth of four tropical tree species in petroleum-contaminated soil and effects of crude oil contamination.

Under greenhouse conditions, we evaluated establishment of four tree species and their capacity to degrade crude oil recently incorporated into the soil; the species were as follows: Cedrela odorata (tropical cedar), Haematoxylum campechianum (tinto bush), Swietenia macrophylla (mahogany), and Tabebuia rosea (macuilis). Three-month-old plants were planted in soil with three treatments of heavy petroleum and a control (C0 0 mg kg-1; C1 18,000 mg kg-1; C2 31,700 mg kg-1; C3 47,100 mg kg-1) with four repetitions per treatment and species; the experiment was carried out for 245 days. Height and biomass of all species significantly diminished as petroleum concentration increased, although plant survival was not affected. The quantity of colony-forming units (CFU) of rhizospheric bacteria varied among tree species and treatments; petroleum stimulated bacterial CFU for S. macrophylla. The number of fungi CFU for S. macrophylla and T. rosea was significantly greater in C0 than in soil with petroleum, but among species and among different concentrations, no significant differences were found. The greatest percentage of total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) degradation was found in C1 for soil without plants (45 %). Differences from the remaining treatments (petroleum concentrations in soil and plant species) were not significant (P < 0.05). Among all trees, H. campechianum had the greatest TPH degradation (32.5 % in C2). T. rosea (C1) and H. campechianum (C2) resulted in petroleum degradation at levels ranging from 20.5 to 32.5 %. On the basis of this experiment, the tree species used did not improve TPH degradation. However, all of them showed high rates of survival and vigor. So, as tree species provide goods and services, experiments with inoculation of hydrocarbonclastic microorganisms, addition of fertilizers, and mixture of tree and grasses are recommended.

Estudio de cohortes comparando fotovaporización prostática con láser XPS 180 W y HPS 120 W / Cohort study comparing prostate photovaporisation with XPS 180 W and HPS 120 W laser

Introducción y objetivo: La fotovaporización prostática con láser Greenlight, para el tratamiento quirúrgico de la hiperplasia benigna de próstata ha evolucionado rápidamente hasta el nuevo XPS 180 W. Demostramos anteriormente la eficacia y seguridad con el HPS 120 W. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido evaluar los resultados funcionales y de seguridad, con un año de seguimiento, de la fotovaporización mediante el XPS 180 W comparándolo con su predecesor. Material y métodos: Estudio de cohortes sobre una serie de 191 pacientes consecutivos sometidos a fotovaporización entre 01/2008 y 05/2013. Los criterios de inclusión fueron un IPSS >15 tras fracaso médico, un volumen prostático < 80cc y un flujo máximo <15 ml/s. Se evaluaron variables preoperatorias, intraoperatorias (energía empleada, tiempo de láser y tiempo total de la cirugía), complicaciones, horas de sonda, estancia y resultados funcionales (flujo máximo, IPSS, PSA y volumen prostático) a 3, 6 y 12 meses. Se analiza la homogeneidad en las características preoperatorias de los dos grupos mediante técnicas de análisis univariante. Los resultados funcionales postoperatorios se evalúan mediante análisis de la varianza de medidas repetidas con modelos mixtos. Resultados: Se realizaron 109 (57,1%) procedimientos mediante HPS 120 W y 82 (42,9%) mediante XPS. No se encontraron diferencias entre las características preoperatorias. Se observaron diferencias significativas tanto en el tiempo quirúrgico como en el tiempo efectivo de láser a favor del sistema XPS, siendo esta ventaja de un 11% (48 ± 15,7 vs. 53,8 ± 16,2, p < 0,05), y de un 9% (32,8 ± 11,7 vs. 36 ± 11,6, p < 0,05), respectivamente. En el resto de los parámetros analizados no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Conclusión: Las mejorías técnicas del sistema XPS 180 W permiten reducir el tiempo quirúrgico manteniendo el perfil de seguridad y eficacia que ofrecía el sistema HPS 120 W con unos resultados totalmente superponibles con un año de seguimiento

Introduction and objective: Prostate photovaporisation with Greenlight laser for the surgical treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia has rapidly evolve to the new XPS 180 W. We have previously demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the HPS 120 W. The aim of this study was to assess the functional and safety results, with a year of follow-up, of photovaporisation using the XPS 180 W laser compared with its predecessor. Material and methods: A cohort study was conducted with a series of 191 consecutive patients who underwent photovaporisation between 1/2008 and 5/2013. The inclusion criteria were an international prostate symptom score (IPSS) >15 after medical failure, a prostate volume < 80 cc and a maximum flow <15 mL/s. We assessed preoperative and intraoperative variables (energy used, laser time and total surgical time), complications, catheter hours, length of stay and functional results (maximum flow, IPSS, prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume) at 3, 6 and 12 months. We analysed the homogeneity in preoperative characteristics of the 2 groups through univariate analysis techniques. The postoperative functional results were assessed through an analysis of variance of repeated measures with mixed models. Results: A total of 109 (57.1%) procedures were performed using HPS 120 W, and 82 (42.9%) were performed using XPS. There were no differences between the preoperative characteristics. We observed significant differences both in the surgical time and effective laser time in favour of the XPS system. This advantage was 11% (48 ± 15.7 vs. 53.8 ± 16.2, p< .05) and 9% (32.8 ± 11.7 vs. 36 ± 11.6, p< .05), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the rest of the analysed parameters. Conclusion: The technical improvements in the XPS 180 W system help reduce surgical time, maintaining the safety and efficacy profile offered by the HPS 120 W system, with completely superimposable results at 1 year of follow-up

Cohort study comparing prostate photovaporisation with XPS 180W and HPS 120W laser.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Prostate photovaporisation with Greenlight laser for the surgical treatment of benign prostate hyperplasia has rapidly evolve to the new XPS 180W. We have previously demonstrated the safety and efficacy of the HPS 120W. The aim of this study was to assess the functional and safety results, with a year of follow-up, of photovaporisation using the XPS 180W laser compared with its predecessor. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cohort study was conducted with a series of 191 consecutive patients who underwent photovaporisation between 1/2008 and 5/2013. The inclusion criteria were an international prostate symptom score (IPSS) >15 after medical failure, a prostate volume <80 cm(3) and a maximum flow <15 mL/s. We assessed preoperative and intraoperative variables (energy used, laser time and total surgical time), complications, catheter hours, length of stay and functional results (maximum flow, IPSS, prostate-specific antigen and prostate volume) at 3, 6 and 12 months. We analysed the homogeneity in preoperative characteristics of the 2 groups through univariate analysis techniques. The postoperative functional results were assessed through an analysis of variance of repeated measures with mixed models. RESULTS: A total of 109 (57.1%) procedures were performed using HPS 120W, and 82 (42.9%) were performed using XPS. There were no differences between the preoperative characteristics. We observed significant differences both in the surgical time and effective laser time in favour of the XPS system. This advantage was 11% (48 ± 15.7 vs. 53.8 ± 16.2, p<.05) and 9% (32.8 ± 11.7 vs. 36 ± 11.6, p<.05), respectively. There were no statistically significant differences in the rest of the analysed parameters. CONCLUSION: The technical improvements in the XPS 180W system help reduce surgical time, maintaining the safety and efficacy profile offered by the HPS 120W system, with completely superimposable results at 1 year of follow-up.

Effect of omega-3 dietary supplements with different oxidation levels in the lipidic profile of women: a randomized controlled trial.

The oxidation level of omega-3 fatty acid supplements commercialized in capsules may be a risk to consumers' health. For this purpose, we have designed a single-blind, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial in which 52 women participated. Volunteers were randomly distributed into three groups consuming: (1) less oxidized oil pills, (2) highly oxidized oil pills and (3) no capsules. All groups consumed a fish-rich diet. Circulating glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were determined at the beginning and end (30 days) of the study. As a result, the ingestion of less oxidized ω-3 supplements reduced circulating triglyceride and cholesterol levels, as opposed to the highly oxidized omega-3 capsules, which had a negative effect on cholesterol levels. In conclusion, the level of oxidation of the supplements is a key factor in controlling circulating lipid profile. Therefore, manufacturers must pay attention to the quality of the prime product prior to encapsulation.

Hypothalamic vasopressin system regulation by maternal separation: its impact on anxiety in rats.

Maternal separation (MS) has been used to model the causal relationship between early life stress and the later stress-over-reactivity and affective disorders. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is among several factors reported to be abnormal. The role of AVP on anxiety is still unclear. In order to further investigate this causal relationship and its possible role in anxiogenesis, male rat pups were separated from their dams for 3h daily (3 hMS) from post-natal day (PND) 2 to PND15. Fos expression in AVP+ neurons in the hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic nuclei (SON) triggered by 3 hMS, and AVP-mRNA expression, were examined at PND10 and PND21 respectively, whereas AVP-mRNA expression, PVN and SON volumes and plasma AVP concentration were assessed in adulthood. Elevated plus maze test (EPM) and Vogel conflict test (VCT) were also performed to evaluate unconditioned and conditioned anxious states at PND70-75. At PND10, a single 3hMS event increased Fos expression in AVP+ neurons fourfold in PVN and six to twelvefold in SON. AVP-mRNA was over-expressed in whole hypothalamus, PVN and SON between 122% and 147% at PND21 and PND63. Volumes of AVP-PVN and AVP-SON measured at PND75 had marked increases as well as AVP plasma concentration at 12h of water deprivation (WD). MS rats demonstrated a high conditioned anxious state under VCT paradigm whereas no difference was found under EPM. These data demonstrate direct relationships between enhanced AVP neuronal activation and a potentiated vasopressin system, and this latter one with high conditioned anxiety in MS male rats.

A multi-channel stimulator and electrode array providing a rotating current whirlpool for electrical stimulation of wounds.

When electrical stimulation is used on wounds, the electrical current has difficulty penetrating areas where there is necrotic tissue. Further, for an irregularly shaped wound, current distribution is poor in some areas of the wound since conventional two-electrode delivery systems provide the greatest current in a line directly between the electrodes. A new stimulator and electrode system is described which uses three electrodes spaced around a wound to disperse current more evenly. The stimulator senses tissue impedance and then redirects current by altering its Thevenin's output impedance for each electrode; each of the three electrodes becomes the active one in sequence while the remaining are the sink electrodes. Eight subjects were examined to test the stimulator. Electrical stimulation was applied to the skin above the quadriceps muscle at currents of 15 mA in six subjects without wounds and in two subjects with wounds. The relationship between electrode position and current dispersion on the skin was examined with a two-electrode vs. a three-electrode system to set stimulation parameters for the computer. The results showed that the three-electrode system could (1) detect areas of the skin with high impedance; (2) compensate by altering the Thevenin's output impedance at each of the three electrodes to shift current to high impedance areas; (3) provide uniform current across the skin as assessed by skin current and blood flow measurements with a laser Doppler flow imager.

Farmacología en atención estomatológica en menores de 19 años / Presence of Pharmacology in stomatologic care in children aged under 19

Se presenta una revisión bibliográfica actualizada basada en evidencias científicas del uso de antimicrobianos, antiinflamatorios, analgésicos, antisépticos bucales y medicina natural y tradicional en estomatología, realizada por Medline, Doyma y otras fuentes bibliográficas. Se reporta que más de la mitad de la población mundial consume en un momento de su vida algunos de estos fármacos, indicados por diferentes patologías de orígenes infecciosos, inflamatorios, incluso como tratamiento prevenivos y preoperatorios. La edad pediátrica constituye un grupo de difícil manejo terapéutico dada la inmadurez física, fisiológica (sistema pulmonar, cardiovascular, inmunológico y metabólico) y emocional, lo que exige que el uso de estas drogas requieren un conocimiento actualizado por parte del personal médico. En tal sentido, presentamos una revisión con el objetivo de exponer lo más actual sobre el uso de antibióticos, antiinflamatorios, analgésicos y antisépticos bucales en cuanto a farmacología para estomatólogos generales que brindan atención a menores de 19 años con afecciones estomatológicas(AU)

A updated bibliographic review is presented based on scientific evidences on use of antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory, analgesics agents, oral antiseptics and natural and folk medicine in Stomatology, performed by Medline Doyma, and other bibliographic sources. Authors reports that more than half of world population, in any moment of its life, has been a consumer of these drugs, prescribed from different pathologies of infectious, inflammatory nature, even as a preventive preoperative treatment. Pediatric age is a difficult therapeutic management group due to physical, physiological ( pulmonary, cardiovascular, immunologic, and metabolic system) and emotional immaturity, requiring that medical staff must to have a updated knowledge on use of these drugs. In this context, we presented a revision to expose the more updated features on use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and oral antiseptics, as for a Pharmacology for general stomatologists giving care to children ages under 19 presenting with stomatologic affections(AU)

Farmacología en atención estomatológica en menores de 19 años / Presence of Pharmacology in stomatologic care in children aged under 19

Se presenta una revisión bibliográfica actualizada basada en evidencias científicas del uso de antimicrobianos, antiinflamatorios, analgésicos, antisépticos bucales y medicina natural y tradicional en estomatología, realizada por Medline, Doyma y otras fuentes bibliográficas. Se reporta que más de la mitad de la población mundial consume en un momento de su vida algunos de estos fármacos, indicados por diferentes patologías de orígenes infecciosos, inflamatorios, incluso como tratamiento prevenivos y preoperatorios. La edad pediátrica constituye un grupo de difícil manejo terapéutico dada la inmadurez física, fisiológica (sistema pulmonar, cardiovascular, inmunológico y metabólico) y emocional, lo que exige que el uso de estas drogas requieren un conocimiento actualizado por parte del personal médico. En tal sentido, presentamos una revisión con el objetivo de exponer lo más actual sobre el uso de antibióticos, antiinflamatorios, analgésicos y antisépticos bucales en cuanto a farmacología para estomatólogos generales que brindan atención a menores de 19 años con afecciones estomatológicas(AU)

A updated bibliographic review is presented based on scientific evidences on use of antimicrobials, anti-inflammatory, analgesics agents, oral antiseptics and natural and folk medicine in Stomatology, performed by Medline Doyma, and other bibliographic sources. Authors reports that more than half of world population, in any moment of its life, has been a consumer of these drugs, prescribed from different pathologies of infectious, inflammatory nature, even as a preventive preoperative treatment. Pediatric age is a difficult therapeutic management group due to physical, physiological ( pulmonary, cardiovascular, immunologic, and metabolic system) and emotional immaturity, requiring that medical staff must to have a updated knowledge on use of these drugs. In this context, we presented a revision to expose the more updated features on use of antibiotics, anti-inflammatory, and oral antiseptics, as for a Pharmacology for general stomatologists giving care to children ages under 19 presenting with stomatologic affections(AU)

Epistaxis: consideraciones generales y manejo clínico / Epistaxis: general considerations and clinical management

La epistaxis es un signo clínico extremadamente frecuente y una preocupación constante para el médico en los servicios de urgencia, pudiendo presentarse tanto en niños como en adultos, con una mayor incidencia entre los 10 y 13 años, y en la población mayor de 50. La importancia deriva de su frecuencia y de su potencial gravedad, ya que puede llevar a alteraciones hemodinámicas, que requieren incluso hospitalización. De ahí, la necesidad de conocer la irrigación nasal y los diferentes métodos para cohibir todo tipo de hemorragia, siendo además importante tratar de buscar la causa que la produce, para asegurar un tratamiento eficaz. En este artículo se presenta su clasificación y se explican algunos procedimientos para solucionar el problema, no olvidando que se trata de un signo y no de una enfermedad.

A mechanistic approach to the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of sesquiterpenoid compounds isolated from Inula viscosa.

The present study was designed to examine the anti-inflammatory activity of the sesquiterpenoids ilicic acid and inuviscolide, isolated from Inula viscosa, on cell degranulation, leukotriene biosynthesis, neurogenic drive and glucocorticoid-like interactions. Swiss female mice were used to measure the ear oedema induced by phorbol esters or ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP), and the paw oedema induced by phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)) or serotonin. Drug treatment consisted of one topically-applied dose in the ear models and a subcutaneous or intraperitoneal injection in the paw models. Quantitative analysis of leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) formation was performed on rat peritoneal neutrophils by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The lactone inuviscolide reduced the PLA(2)-induced oedema (ID(50): 98 micromol/kg). The effect on serotonin-induced oedema was not changed by modifiers of the glucocorticoid response. Ilicic acid showed minor in vivo effects, but was slightly more potent than inuviscolide on the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) acute oedema test (ID(50): 0.650 micromol per ear). Inuviscolide reduced LTB(4) generation in intact cells, with an IC(50) value of 94 microM. On the basis of the reported results, inuviscolide is the main anti-inflammatory sesquiterpenoid from Inula viscosa, and may act by interfering with leukotriene synthesis and PLA(2)-induced mastocyte release of inflammatory mediators.

A new efficient method for 3D registration using human brain atlases.

In this article a new efficient method in deformable brain atlases is proposed. To achieve this goal we use the composition of two applications, an affine transformation and other one. In this second application we have used three different approaches. One approach that has been used and two new approaches. We use a set of points to be identified both in brain atlas and in patient's brain for registration. The three approach present an advantage: the mathematical solution obtained makes it to be very fast, almost immediate. Several results have been obtained and they have been classified as very satisfactory by the neurosurgeons that have tested our system.

Liver function and HIV-1 infection.

AIDS: Persons with HIV may have previous or concurrent liver impairment as a result of injection drug use, hepatitis, alcohol abuse, and damage from medications. Additional stress is placed on the liver by low-grade opportunistic infections and hemophilia. It is especially important that persons with HIV care for their liver to help this organ remain physiologically normal during chronic and acute management of HIV infection. Although modern pharmaceutical medicine does not provide liver tonics or supportives, herbal medicines have been used to ease liver stress for ages. Readily available liver protectants and their actual mechanism of action, including thioctic acid, glycyrrhizin, and Silybum marianum, are described.^ieng

Melatonin inhibits the proliferation of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro.

The possible antiproliferative effect of melatonin on retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro was investigated. Bovine RPE cells cultured in Ham's F12 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum had a nuclear density of 73.6 +/- 6.1 nuclei/mm2 at 72 h after seeding. The nuclear density at this time-point was doubled if either 50 or 100 ng/ml human epidermal growth factors (hEGF) was added to the culture medium. When these hEGF-stimulated cells were treated with melatonin from 10 to 500 pg/ml, the proliferation was suppressed with a dose-response relationship. At 250 and 500 pg/ml melatonin, the nuclear densities of the melatonin-treated cells were similar to those of the control cells. Using mitotically active SV-40 transformed human fetal RPE cells cultured in a serum-free medium, melatonin was also shown to be antiproliferative. In the presence of 500 pg/ml melatonin, the proliferation of these cells was inhibited to 77% as compared to the control. These results were further supported by the reduced [H3]thymidine uptake in the melatonin-treated cells. We propose that melatonin, at physiologic concentrations, has an antiproliferative effect, and that cultured RPE cells stimulated to proliferate by either hEGF treatment or SV-40 transfection are responsive to melatonin. Melatonin may either inhibit mitosis in actively dividing cells or modulate hEGF action.