The aquaculture supply chain in the time of covid-19 pandemic: Vulnerability, resilience, solutions and priorities at the global scale.

The COVID-19 global pandemic has had severe, unpredictable and synchronous impacts on all levels of perishable food supply chains (PFSC), across multiple sectors and spatial scales. Aquaculture plays a vital and rapidly expanding role in food security, in some cases overtaking wild caught fisheries in the production of high-quality animal protein in this PFSC. We performed a rapid global assessment to evaluate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related emerging control measures on the aquaculture supply chain. Socio-economic effects of the pandemic were analysed by surveying the perceptions of stakeholders, who were asked to describe potential supply-side disruption, vulnerabilities and resilience patterns along the production pipeline with four main supply chain components: a) hatchery, b) production/processing, c) distribution/logistics and d) market. We also assessed different farming strategies, comparing land- vs. sea-based systems; extensive vs. intensive methods; and with and without integrated multi-trophic aquaculture, IMTA. In addition to evaluating levels and sources of economic distress, interviewees were asked to identify mitigation solutions adopted at local / internal (i.e., farm-site) scales, and to express their preference on national / external scale mitigation measures among a set of a priori options. Survey responses identified the potential causes of disruption, ripple effects, sources of food insecurity, and socio-economic conflicts. They also pointed to various levels of mitigation strategies. The collated evidence represents a first baseline useful to address future disaster-driven responses, to reinforce the resilience of the sector and to facilitate the design reconstruction plans and mitigation measures, such as financial aid strategies.

Diagnostic challenges in von Willebrand disease. Report of two cases with emphasis on multimeric and molecular analysis.

Identification of qualitative variants of von Willebrand disease (VWD) can be a diagnostic challenge because of discrepant results obtained in the multiple laboratory tests available for its appropriate classification. We report two cases of infrequent inherited variants of VWD with unclear preliminary results with the test panel available at the time of first consultation and that were finally diagnosed as a VWD type 2A/IID with a c.8318 G > C, p.Cys2773Ser mutation and a VWD type 2M with c.4225 T > G, p.Val1409Phe mutation, respectively. The description of these two cases highlights that despite the limited diagnostic panel for the evaluation of von Willebrand Factor (VWF) functionality, the multimeric analysis and genetic family studies were fundamental tools to achieve the final diagnosis.

Physicochemical and microbiological stability of two news oral liquid formulations of clonidine hydrochloride for pediatric patients.

Pediatric patients present changing physiological features. Because of the lack of land suitable for commercial management, pediatric specialties very often need to prepare extemporaneous formulations to improve the dosage and administration of drugs for children. Oral liquid formulations are the most suitable for pediatric patients. Clonidine is widely used in the pediatric population for opioid withdrawal, hypertensive crisis, attention deficit disorders and hyperactivity syndrome, and as an analgesic in neuropathic cancer pain. The objective was to study the physicochemical and microbiological stability and determine the shelf life of an oral solution containing 20 µg/mL clonidine hydrochloride in different storage conditions (5 ± 3 °C, 25 ± 3 °C, and 40 ± 2 °C). Using raw material with excipients safe for all pediatric age groups, two oral liquid formulations of clonidine hydrochloride were designed (with and without preservatives). Solutions stored at 5 ± 3 °C (with and without preservatives) were physically and microbiologically stable for at least 90 days in closed containers and for 42 days after opening. Two oral solutions of clonidine hydrochloride 20 µg/mL were developed for pediatric use from raw materials that are readily available and easy to process, containing safe excipients that are stable over a long period of time.

Using submersible fluorescence sensors to track the removal of organic matter in decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) in real time.

Decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) using anaerobic treatment are increasingly being considered for wastewater treatment with options for non-potable water reuse at the community scale. One challenge for ensuring performance and reliability of DEWATS is the lack of suitable on-site sensors to monitor failure or contamination events. In this study, the aim was to use in situ fluorescence sensors to track the performance of a DEWATS, consisting of an anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) coupled to anaerobic filter (AF) and constructed wetland (CW) treatment processes. A submersible in situ fluorometer equipped with tryptophan (TRP) and chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) sensors was deployed in each chamber of the ABR-AF-CW system, and results showed that TRP fluorescence was preferentially removed over CDOM fluorescence throughout the system. Significant relationships between TRP fluorescence and chemical oxygen demand (COD) also suggested that TRP fluorescence could be used as a surrogate for COD and soluble COD concentrations. Strong agreement between results obtained from the 1D in situ fluorometer and those obtained from a 3D benchtop fluorometer lends further support to the use of in situ fluorescence sensors to track DEWATS performance.

Variability in in vitro fertilization outcomes of prepubertal goat oocytes explained by basic semen analyses.

This work analyses the changes that caprine spermatozoa undergo during in vitro fertilization (IVF) of in vitro matured prepubertal goat oocytes and their relationship with IVF outcome, in order to obtain an effective model that allows prediction of in vitro fertility on the basis of semen assessment. The evolution of several sperm parameters (motility, viability and acrosomal integrity) during IVF and their relationship with three IVF outcome criteria (total penetration, normal penetration and cleavage rates) were studied in a total of 56 IVF replicates. Moderate correlation coefficients between some sperm parameters and IVF outcome were observed. In addition, stepwise multiple regression analyses were conducted that considered three grouping of sperm parameters as potential explanatory variables of the three IVF outcome criteria. The proportion of IVF outcome variation that can be explained by the fitted models ranged from 0.62 to 0.86, depending upon the trait analysed and the variables considered. Seven out of 32 sperm parameters were selected as partial covariates in at least one of the nine multiple regression models. Among these, progressive sperm motility assessed immediately after swim-up, the percentage of dead sperm with intact acrosome and the incidence of acrosome reaction both determined just before the gamete co-culture, and finally the proportion of viable spermatozoa at 17 h post-insemination were the most frequently selected sperm parameters. Nevertheless, the predictive ability of these models must be confirmed in a larger sample size experiment.

The contribution of different sperm parameters to better explain ram semen cryoresistance.

In order to determine an effective procedure for explaining ram sperm cryoresistance and develop a new model for breeders classification, a retrospective study was conducted using sperm analysis data obtained over two consecutive years from a total of 82 sessions of ram semen cryopreservation. In each session, fresh ejaculates from eight males were collected via artificial vagina, pooled and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapors. After thawing, a total of 19,084 sperm tracks and 11,319 morphometric measurements were analysed. Clustering analyses were applied to establish motile and morphometric sperm subpopulations. Additionally, plasma and acrosome membrane integrity, as well mitochondrial activity using flow cytometry immediately after sperm thawing and following hypoosmotic shock test (HOST) was assessed. To develop a Ram Sperm Cryoresistance Index, Principal Component Analyses (PCA) using 22 variables were conducted. In the first PCA, the parameters that best explain cryoresistance include total motility (TM), motile subpopulation 2 (motSP2, which groups slow, very linear spermatozoa with low lateral head displacement), morphometric subpopulation 1 (morphSP1, grouping spermatozoa with the smallest head size and lowest shape values), sperm plasma membrane integrity immediately after thawing and following hypoosmotic shock test. These parameters collectively account for 77.34 % of the accumulated variance. To emphasize their importance, a second PCA was performed, revealing significant higher weighting coefficients for the quantity (TM) and quality (motSP2) of sperm movement after thawing, compared to the head size and shape of the thawed sperm (morphSP1). Furthermore, HOST Viability played a more decisive role than what was observed under isotonic conditions.

Demographic, clinical and microbiological characteristics of the first 30 human monkeypox confirmed cases attended in a tertiary hospital in Madrid (Spain), during the May-June 2022 international outbreak.

The present outbreak of Human Monkeypox (HMPX) that has begun in May 2022 and has spread across all continents in less than two months has qualitative and quantitative characteristics that make it different from the pattern of human disease previously caused by this virus. It has spread with enormous ease, affects almost exclusively adults, behaves as a sexually transmitted disease and focuses on very specific groups and transmission conditions. The high incidence in the city of Madrid in males that have sex with males (MSM) has allowed us to observe and report the experience with the first 30 cases diagnosed in our institution. Patients presented with febrile symptoms, genital and paragenital skin lesions reminiscent of smallpox, but less extensive and severe. The disease may also cause proctitis, pharyngitis and perioral lesions. The PCR test for diagnostic confirmation has been shown to be very sensitive and effective, not only in skin lesions but also in blood and other fluids such as pharyngeal, rectal exudates and blood. A very high proportion of patients with HMPX also have other sexually transmitted diseases that must be actively detected in this context. The spontaneous evolution of our patients has been good and hospitalization has been practically unnecessary. Transmission to non-sexual cohabitants and health personnel has been nonexistent and the lesions have disappeared in less than 30 days without leaving sequelae and no need for specific antiviral treatment.

Sexually transmitted infections in Spain: Current status.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) are a major public health problem. The problems inherent to their diagnosis, treatment and prevention have to do not only with their nature, but also with organizational issues and overlapping competencies of the different health authorities in Spain. The real situation of STI in Spain, at present, is poorly known. For this reason, the Scientific Committee on COVID and Emerging Pathogens of the Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Madrid (ICOMEM) has formulated a series of questions on this subject which were distributed, not only among the members of the Committee, but also among experts outside it. The central health authorities provide very high and increasing figures for gonococcal infection, syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis infection and lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV). Both HIV infection and Monkeypox are two important STI caused by viruses in our environment, to which it should be added, mainly, Herpes simplex virus (HSV) and Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Emerging microorganisms such as Mycoplasma genitalium pose not only pathogenic challenges but also therapeutic problems, as in the case of N. gonohrroeae. The pathways that patients with suspected STI follow until they are adequately diagnosed and treated are not well known in Spain. Experts understand that this problem is fundamentally managed in public health institutions, and that Primary Care and Hospital Emergency Services, together with some institutions that deal monographically with this problem, are the recipients of most of these patients. One of the most serious difficulties of STI lies in the availability of the microbiological tests necessary for their diagnosis, particularly in this era of outsourcing of microbiology services. Added to this is the increased cost of implementing the latest generation of molecular techniques and the difficulties of transporting samples. It is clear that STI are not diseases to which the entire population is equally exposed and it is necessary to have a better knowledge of the risk groups where to focus the necessary interventions adapted to their characteristics. It should not be forgotten that STI are also a problem in the pediatric age group and that their presence can be a marker of sexual abuse with all that this implies in terms of health care and medicolegal activity. Finally, STI are infections that are associated with a high cost of care for which we have very little information. The possibility of expanding the automatic performance of laboratory tests for STI surveillance through laboratory routines is encountering ethical and legal problems that are not always easy to solve. Spain has created a ministerial area of specific attention to STI and there are plans to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of these problems, but we still lack the necessary evidence on their impact. We cannot forget that these are diseases that transcend the individual and constitute a Public Health problem.

ADENI-UCI study: Analysis of non-income decisions in ICU as a measure of limitation of life support treatments.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the variables associated with ICU refusal decisions as a life support treatment limitation measure. DESIGN: Prospective, multicentrico. SCOPE: 62 ICU from Spain between February 2018 and March 2019. PATIENTS: Over 18 years of age who were denied entry into ICU as a life support treatment limitation measure. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN INTEREST VARIABLES: Patient comorities, functional situation as measured by the KNAUS and Karnosfky scale; predicted scales of Lee and Charlson; severity of the sick person measured by the APACHE II and SOFA scales, which justifies the decision-making, a person to whom the information is transmitted; date of discharge or in-hospital death, destination for hospital discharge. RESULTS: A total of 2312 non-income decisions were recorded as an LTSV measure of which 2284 were analyzed. The main reason for consultation was respiratory failure (1080 [47.29%]). The poor estimated quality of life of the sick (1417 [62.04%]), the presence of a severe chronic disease (1367 [59.85%]) and the prior functional limitation of patients (1270 [55.60%]) were the main reasons for denying admission. The in-hospital mortality rate was 60.33%. The futility of treatment was found as a risk factor associated with mortality (OR: 3.23; IC95%: 2.62-3.99). CONCLUSIONS: Decisions to limit ICU entry as an LTSV measure are based on the same reasons as decisions made within the ICU. The futility valued by the intensivist is adequately related to the final result of death.

Proof-of-concept trial on the efficacy of sodium tungstate in human obesity.

AIM: Considering the poor long-term success of current dietary and pharmacological interventions, we aimed to evaluate the potential effect of sodium tungstate in the treatment of grade I and II obesity (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00555074). METHODS: Prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, proof-of-concept study was carried out. Following a 2-week lead-in period, 30 obese (body mass index, BMI 30.0-39.9 kg/m(2)), non-diabetic subjects were randomized to receive either sodium tungstate (100 mg bid) or placebo for 6 weeks. The primary study endpoint was the absolute change in body weight relative to the time of randomization. RESULTS: Treatment with sodium tungstate [-0.135 ± 0.268 kg (95% CI -0.686 to +0.416 kg)] was not associated with a significant weight loss compared to placebo [-0.063 ± 0.277 kg (95% CI -0.632 to +0.507 kg)] (p = 0.854). Likewise, treatment with sodium tungstate was not associated with significant changes in fat mass (DEXA), resting energy expenditure (indirect calorimetry) or caloric consumption (3-day food records). CONCLUSION: Our data do not support sodium tungstate as a pharmacological agent in the treatment of human obesity.

The influence of sperm concentration, length of the gamete co-culture and the evolution of different sperm parameters on the in vitro fertilization of prepubertal goat oocytes.

The aims of the present study were: (1) to evaluate the influence of sperm concentration (ranging from 0.5 × 10(6) to 4 × 10(6) spermatozoa/ml) and length of the gamete co-incubation time (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 16, 20, 24 or 28 h) on in vitro fertilization (IVF), assessing the sperm penetration rate; (2) to investigate the kinetics of different semen parameters as motility, viability and acrosome status during the co-culture period; and (3) to analyse the effect of the presence of cumulus-oocytes complexes (COCs) on these parameters. To achieve these objectives, several experiments were carried out using in vitro matured oocytes from prepubertal goats. The main findings of this work are that: (1) in our conditions, the optimum sperm concentration is 4 × 10(6) sperm/ml, as this sperm:oocyte ratio (approximately 28,000) allowed us to obtain the highest penetration rate, without increasing polyspermy incidence; (2) the highest percentage of viable acrosome-reacted spermatozoa is observed between 8-12 h of gamete co-culture, while the penetration rate is maximum at 12 h of co-incubation; and (3) the presence of COCs seems to favour the acrosome reaction of free spermatozoa on IVF medium, but not significantly. In conclusion, we suggest that a gamete co-incubation for 12-14 h, with a concentration of 4 × 10(6) sperm/ml, would be sufficient to obtain the highest rate of penetration, reducing the exposure of oocytes to high levels of reactive oxygen species produced by spermatozoa, especially when a high sperm concentration is used to increase the caprine IVF outcome.

ADENI-UCI Study: Analysis of non-income decisions in ICU as a measure of limitation of life support treatments. / Estudio ADENI-UCI: Análisis de las decisiones de no ingreso en UCI como medida de limitación de los tratamientos de soporte vital.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the variables associated with ICU refusal decisions as a life support treatment limitation measure. DESIGN: Prospective, multicentrico SCOPE: 62 ICU from Spain between February 2018 and March 2019. PATIENTS: Over 18 years of age who were denied entry into ICU as a life support treatment limitation measure. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN INTEREST VARIABLES: Patient comorities, functional situation as measured by the KNAUS and Karnosfky scale; predicted scales of Lee and Charlson; severity of the sick person measured by the APACHE II and SOFA scales, which justifies the decision-making, a person to whom the information is transmitted; date of discharge or in-hospital death, destination for hospital discharge. RESULTS: A total of 2312 non-income decisions were recorded as an LTSV measure of which 2284 were analyzed. The main reason for consultation was respiratory failure (1080 [47.29%]). The poor estimated quality of life of the sick (1417 [62.04%]), the presence of a severe chronic disease (1367 [59.85%]) and the prior functional limitation of patients (1270 [55.60%]) were the main reasons for denying admission. The in-hospital mortality rate was 60.33%. The futility of treatment was found as a risk factor associated with mortality (OR: 3.23; IC95%: 2.62-3.99). CONCLUSIONS: Decisions to limit ICU entry as an LTSV measure are based on the same reasons as decisions made within the ICU. The futility valued by the intensivist is adequately related to the final result of death.

The unique branching patterns of Deinococcus glycogen branching enzymes are determined by their N-terminal domains.

Glycogen branching enzymes (GBE) or 1,4-alpha-glucan branching enzymes (EC 2.4.1.18) introduce alpha-1,6 branching points in alpha-glucans, e.g., glycogen. To identify structural features in GBEs that determine their branching pattern specificity, the Deinococcus geothermalis and Deinococcus radiodurans GBE (GBE(Dg) and GBE(Dr), respectively) were characterized. Compared to other GBEs described to date, these Deinococcus GBEs display unique branching patterns, both transferring relatively short side chains. In spite of their high amino acid sequence similarity (88%) the D. geothermalis enzyme had highest activity on amylose while the D. radiodurans enzyme preferred amylopectin. The side chain distributions of the products were clearly different: GBE(Dg) transferred a larger number of smaller side chains; specifically, DP5 chains corresponded to 10% of the total amount of transferred chains, versus 6.5% for GBE(Dr). GH13-type GBEs are composed of a central (beta/alpha) barrel catalytic domain and an N-terminal and a C-terminal domain. Characterization of hybrid Deinococcus GBEs revealed that the N2 modules of the N domains largely determined substrate specificity and the product branching pattern. The N2 module has recently been annotated as a carbohydrate binding module (CBM48). It appears likely that the distance between the sugar binding subsites in the active site and the CBM48 subdomain determines the average lengths of side chains transferred.

Apigenin inhibits platelet adhesion and thrombus formation and synergizes with aspirin in the suppression of the arachidonic acid pathway.

Previous studies using washed platelets demonstrated that certain flavonoids inhibit platelet function through several mechanisms including blockade of TxA(2) receptors (TPs). We aimed to analyze the binding capacity of flavonoids to TPs in platelet rich plasma (PRP), investigated their effect in flowing blood, and evaluated the ability of apigenin to improve the efficacy of aspirin in the inhibition of platelet aggregation. The binding of flavonoids to TPs in PRP was explored using binding assays and the TP antagonist [ (3)H]SQ29548. Effects of flavonoids on platelet adhesion were assessed using arterial subendothelium with annular plate perfusion chambers, and global evaluation of apigenin on high-shear-dependent platelet function was determined by the PFA-100. To evaluate the ability of apigenin to potentiate the effect of aspirin, arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation was measured prior to and after consumption of subaggregatory doses of aspirin in the presence or absence of apigenin. Binding assays revealed that apigenin was an efficient competitor of [ (3)H]SQ29548 binding to PRP ( K i = 155.3 +/- 65.4 microM), and perfusion studies showed that apigenin, genistein, and catechin significantly diminished thrombus formation when compared to control (26.2 +/- 3.8, 33.1 +/- 5.2, and 26.2 +/- 5.2 vs 76.6 +/- 2.6%, respectively; p < 0.05). Apigenin, similarly to the TP antagonist SQ29548, significantly prolonged collagen epinephrine-induced PFA-100 closure time in comparison to the control and, when added to platelets that had been exposed in vivo to aspirin, potentiated its inhibitory effect on platelet aggregation. The inhibitory effect of some flavonoids in the presence of plasma, particularly apigenin, might in part rely on TxA(2) receptor antagonism. There is a clear increase in the ex vivo antiplatelet effect of aspirin in the presence of apigenin, which encourages the idea of the combined use of aspirin and certain flavonoids in patients in which aspirin fails to properly suppress the TxA(2) pathway.

[Chemosensitivity test on brain tumors]. / Ensayos de quimiosensibilidad en cultivos primarios de tumores cerebrales.

UNLABELLED: During last 50 years chemotherapy has played a very important part in the cancer treatment. However, success or failures of news drugs in one particular cancer its difficult to predict. In vitro chemosensitivity is an attractive method for knowing about responses of a tumor to ChT treatment and assess the best dose in the patient with cancer. OBJECTIVE: To know brain tumors sensitivity against antineoplastic drugs. METHODS: Five different drugs (carmustin, camptotecin, taxol, hydroxyurea and tamoxifen) were tested on short-term cultures from 7 patients with Glioblastoma multiforme, 15 patients with meningiomas and one patient with meduloblastoma. For testing chemosensitivity we used MTT assay, and we measured optic density by spectophotometry to 450 nm. RESULTS. A total of 49 measurement were done, getting 44 valid dose-result curves. For each drug we used from 10-2 M to 10-12 M gap, and IC50 result was representative of tumor sensitivity to the drug. CONCLUSION: our data support MTT assays like valid method for measuring in vitro chemosensitivity in brain tumors to news drugs.

[Remote cerebellar hemorrhage after lumbar spinal fluid drainage. Report of two cases and literature review]. / Hematomas de cerebelo como complicación de drenaje lumbar. Presentación de dos casos y revisión de la literatura.

Remote cerebellar hematoma, a cerebellar hematoma occurring after performing a surgical procedure in an anatomical distant area from the cerebellum, is a rare complication. It has been reported after supratentorial surgery and, less often, after spinal surgery with dural opening with important loss of cerebrospinal fluid. We report the occurrence of remote cerebellar hemorrhage after lumbar spinal fluid drainage in two patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus. They were managed conservatively with good outcome. We review the pathologic mechanism, diagnostic procedures, management and prognosis of remote cerebellar hemorrhage.