Airborne Bacterial Community Composition According to Their Origin in Tenerife, Canary Islands.

Microorganisms are ubiquitous in the environment, and the atmosphere is no exception. However, airborne bacterial communities are some of the least studied. Increasing our knowledge about these communities and how environmental factors shape them is key to understanding disease outbreaks and transmission routes. We describe airborne bacterial communities at two different sites in Tenerife, La Laguna (urban, 600 m.a.s.l.) and Izaña (high mountain, 2,400 m.a.s.l.), and how they change throughout the year. Illumina MiSeq sequencing was used to target 16S rRNA genes in 293 samples. Results indicated a predominance of Proteobacteria at both sites (>65%), followed by Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. Gammaproteobacteria were the most frequent within the Proteobacteria phylum during spring and winter, while Alphaproteobacteria dominated in the fall and summer. Within the 519 genera identified, Cellvibrio was the most frequent during spring (35.75%) and winter (30.73%); Limnobacter (24.49%) and Blastomonas (19.88%) dominated in the summer; and Sediminibacterium represented 10.26 and 12.41% of fall and winter samples, respectively. Sphingomonas was also identified in 17.15% of the fall samples. These five genera were more abundant at the high mountain site, while other common airborne bacteria were more frequent at the urban site (Kocuria, Delftia, Mesorhizobium, and Methylobacterium). Diversity values showed different patterns for both sites, with higher values during the cooler seasons in Izaña, whereas the opposite was observed in La Laguna. Regarding wind back trajectories, Tropical air masses were significantly different from African ones at both sites, showing the highest diversity and characterized by genera regularly associated with humans (Pseudomonas, Sphingomonas, and Cloacibacterium), as well as others related to extreme conditions (Alicyclobacillus) or typically associated with animals (Lachnospiraceae). Marine and African air masses were consistent and very similar in their microbial composition. By contrast, European trajectories were dominated by Cellvibrio, Pseudomonas, Pseudoxanthomonas, and Sediminibacterium. These data contribute to our current state of knowledge in the field of atmospheric microbiology. However, future studies are needed to increase our understanding of the influence of different environmental factors on atmospheric microbial dispersion and the potential impact of airborne microorganisms on ecosystems and public health.

Pushing the analytical limits: new insights into complex mixtures using mass spectra segments of constant ultrahigh resolving power.

A new strategy has been developed for characterization of the most challenging complex mixtures to date, using a combination of custom-designed experiments and a new data pre-processing algorithm. In contrast to traditional methods, the approach enables operation of Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) with constant ultrahigh resolution at hitherto inaccessible levels (approximately 3 million FWHM, independent of m/z). The approach, referred to as OCULAR, makes it possible to analyze samples that were previously too complex, even for high field FT-ICR MS instrumentation. Previous FT-ICR MS studies have typically spanned a broad mass range with decreasing resolving power (inversely proportional to m/z) or have used a single, very narrow m/z range to produce data of enhanced resolving power; both methods are of limited effectiveness for complex mixtures spanning a broad mass range, however. To illustrate the enhanced performance due to OCULAR, we show how a record number of unique molecular formulae (244 779 elemental compositions) can be assigned in a single, non-distillable petroleum fraction without the aid of chromatography or dissociation (MS/MS) experiments. The method is equally applicable to other areas of research, can be used with both high field and low field FT-ICR MS instruments to enhance their performance, and represents a step-change in the ability to analyze highly complex samples.

Transoral CO2 laser surgery for supraglottic cancer.

There are several therapeutic options for laryngeal cancer, including those that provide a functional preservation without worsening the oncological results, such as transoral laser microsurgery (TLM). The aim of this study was to analyze both oncological and functional results of TLM in supraglottic cancer. We studied 49 consecutive patients with a primary supraglottic carcinoma who underwent a TLM between the years 1999 and 2009. Nineteen patients were classified as stage I-II and 30 as stage III-IV disease. Forty-five patients underwent also neck dissection. Thirteen patients received postoperative radiotherapy. The minimum follow-up was 24 months. Three- and five-year disease-specific survival rate was 93.2 and 82.2 %, respectively. Of the patients, 36.7 % had some complication after surgery, aspiration being the most frequent (16.32 %). Of the 43 patients who were alive, 39 (91 %) without evidence of disease 3 years after diagnosis had a functional larynx. Our results suggest that TLM is a safe and effective treatment for supraglottic cancer, with a low morbidity rate and excellent functional results.

Dimensional quantification of embedded voids or objects in three dimensions using X-ray tomography.

Scientific digital imaging in three dimensions such as when using X-ray computed tomography offers a variety of ways to obtain, filter, and quantify data that can produce vastly different results. These opportunities, performed during image acquisition or during the data processing, can include filtering, cropping, and setting thresholds. Quantifying features in these images can be greatly affected by how the above operations are performed. For example, during binarization, setting the threshold too low or too high can change the number of objects as well as their measured diameter. Here, two facets of three-dimensional quantification are explored. The first will focus on investigating the question of how many voxels are needed within an object to have accurate geometric statistics that are due to the properties of the object and not an artifact of too few voxels. These statistics include but are not limited to percent of total volume, volume of the individual object, Feret shape, and surface area. Using simple cylinders as a starting point, various techniques for smoothing, filtering, and other processing steps can be investigated to aid in determining if they are appropriate for a specific desired statistic for a real dataset. The second area of investigation is the influence of post-processing, particularly segmentation, on measuring the damage statistics in high purity Cu. The most important parts of the pathways of processing are highlighted.

Profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía otorrinolaringológica / Antibiotic prophylaxis in otolaryngologic surgery

Desde principios de los años ochenta, numerosos ensayos clínicos han demostrado una reducción significativa en la incidencia de infección en la cirugía limpia-contaminada de la vía aerodigestiva superior debido al uso de antibióticos; sin embargo, no hay consenso sobre las pautas idóneas. Tampoco existe una pauta universalmente aceptada en la reconstrucción con colgajos. En la cirugía otológica, la rinológica, la amigdalectomía, la implantación coclear y la cirugía láser laringofaríngea, el uso de antibióticos perioperatorios depende frecuentemente de preferencias personales e institucionales, y no de la evidencia existente. Revisamos de forma crítica los ensayos clínicos disponibles sobre diversas técnicas quirúrgicas otorrinolaringológicas, evaluando distintos antibióticos, duración del tratamiento o vía de administración. No existen ensayos clínicos sobre la cirugía láser laringofaríngea. Tampoco hay ensayos clínicos sobre implantación coclear y los procedimientos neuroquirúrgicos limpios-contaminados, si bien en estos supuestos se recomienda la profilaxis antibiótica (AU)

Since the beginning of the 80s, numerous clinical trials have shown a significant reduction in the incidence of infections in clean-contaminated upper respiratory tract surgery, due to perioperative use of antibiotics; however, there is no consensus about the best antibiotic protocol. Moreover, there are no universally accepted guidelines about flap reconstructive procedures. In otological and rhinological surgery, tonsillectomy, cochlear implant and laryngo-pharyngeal laser surgery, the use of antibiotics frequently depends on institutional or personal preferences rather than the evidence available. We reviewed clinical trials on different otorhinolaryngological procedures, assessing choice of antibiotic, length of treatment and administration route. There are no clinical trials for laryngo-pharyngeal laser surgery. Nor are there clinical trials on implant cochlear surgery or neurosurgical clean-contaminated procedures, but in these circumstances, antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended (AU)

Antibiotic prophylaxis in otolaryngologic surgery.

Since the beginning of the 80s, numerous clinical trials have shown a significant reduction in the incidence of infections in clean-contaminated upper respiratory tract surgery, due to perioperative use of antibiotics; however, there is no consensus about the best antibiotic protocol. Moreover, there are no universally accepted guidelines about flap reconstructive procedures. In otological and rhinological surgery, tonsillectomy, cochlear implant and laryngo-pharyngeal laser surgery, the use of antibiotics frequently depends on institutional or personal preferences rather than the evidence available. We reviewed clinical trials on different otorhinolaryngological procedures, assessing choice of antibiotic, length of treatment and administration route. There are no clinical trials for laryngo-pharyngeal laser surgery. Nor are there clinical trials on implant cochlear surgery or neurosurgical clean-contaminated procedures, but in these circumstances, antibiotic prophylaxis is recommended.

Class distinction between follicular adenomas and follicular carcinomas of the thyroid gland on the basis of their signature expression.

BACKGROUND: Nodules of the thyroid gland are observed frequently in patients who undergo ultrasound studies. The majority of these nodules are benign, corresponding to goiters or adenomas, and only a small fraction corresponds to carcinomas. Among thyroid tumors, the diagnosis of follicular adenocarcinomas by preoperative fine-needle aspiration biopsy is a major challenge, because it requires inspection of the entire capsule to differentiate it from adenoma. Consequently, large numbers of patients undergo unnecessary thyroidectomy. METHODS: Using data from gene expression analysis, the authors applied Fisher linear discriminant analysis and searched for expression signatures of individual samples of adenomas and follicular carcinomas that could be used as molecular classifiers for the precise classification of malignant and nonmalignant lesions. RESULTS: Fourteen trios of genes were described that fulfilled the criteria for the correct classification of 100% of samples. The robustness of these trios was verified by using leave-1-out cross-validation and bootstrap analyses. The results demonstrated that, by combining trios, better classifiers could be generated that correctly classified >92% of samples. CONCLUSIONS: The strategy of classifiers based on individual signatures was a useful strategy for distinguishing between samples with very similar expression profiles.

Expression profile of malignant and non-malignant diseases of the thyroid gland reveals altered expression of a common set of genes in goiter and papillary carcinomas.

Using cDNA microarrays with 3800 cDNA fragments, we determined the expression profile of normal thyroid tissue, goiter, adenoma and papillary carcinoma (10 samples from each class). After background correction and statistical analysis, we identified a set of 160 genes as being differentially expressed in all pair-wise comparisons. Here we demonstrate that, at least on the basis of these differentially expressed genes, a positive correlation between goiter and papillary carcinomas could be observed. We identified a common set of genes whose expression is diminished in both goiter and papillary carcinomas as compared to normal thyroid tissue. Moreover, no genes with inverse correlation in samples from goiter and papillary carcinomas could be detected. Using Real-Time PCR and/or tissue microarrays, we confirmed the altered expression of some of the identified genes. Of notice, we demonstrate that the reduced mRNA levels of p27(kip1) observed in papillary carcinomas as compared to either goiter or normal thyroid tissues (P<0.001) is accompanied by an altered protein distribution within the cell. In papillary carcinomas, P27(KIP1) is preferentially cytoplasmic as opposed to goiter or normal thyroid tissue, where P27(KIP1) is preferentially located in the nucleus. The exploitation of the data presented here could contribute to the understanding of the molecular events related to thyroid diseases and gives support to the notion that common molecular events might be related to the frequent observation of areas of papillary carcinomas in the gland of patients with goiter.

UV index experimental values during the years 2000 and 2001 from the Spanish broadband UV-B radiometric network.

An analysis is made of experimental ultraviolet erythemal solar radiation data measured during the years 2000 and 2001 by the Spanish UV-B radiation evaluation and prediction network. This network consists of 16 Robertson-Berger type pyranometers for evaluating solar erythemal radiation and five Brewer spectroradiometers for evaluating the stratospheric ozone. On the basis of these data the Ultraviolet Index (UVI) was evaluated for the measuring stations that are located either in coastal regions or in the more densely populated regions inland on the Iberian Peninsula. It has been checked that in most cases the maximum irradiance values corresponded to solar noon, although there were exceptions that could be explained by cloudiness. The maximum experimental values of the UVI were around 9 during the summer, though frequently passing this value at the inland measurement stations. The annual accumulated dose of irradiation on a horizontal plane has also been studied, as well as the evolution through the year in units of energy, standard erythemal doses and minimum erythemal doses, according to different phototypes.