Long-term acute infections during a bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) outbreak in dairy farm from Galicia (NW Spain).

An observational study describes an outbreak of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in a dairy herd in Spain. The herd was subjected to a voluntary control program. In a sampling carried out in June 2020, bulk tank milk antibody levels increased compared to the previous sampling. Additionally, serum samples from 4 young heifers also tested positive for antibodies. Since the results were consistent with a recent infection, we proceeded to detect possible persistently infected (PI) animals using antigen ELISA (on serum/ear-notch samples), following the program guidelines. From this moment on, 42 animals tested positive for BVDV antigen, of which 17 were under typical acute infection (AI), 13 were deemed as PI, and eight died early on the farm before having information to determine their status. The remaining 4 showed intriguing test results consistent with a long-term AI since they tested BVDV positive in at least two antigen tests more than 3 weeks apart. Thus, one animal was positive until 80 days of age in serum, and others even for longer periods in ear-notch samples, until they finally tested negative for BVDV. Based on these results, longer follow-up may be necessary in BVDV positive animals to accurately confirm persistent infection.

Machine learning model to predict vehicle electrification impacts on urban air quality and related human health effects.

Air pollution is a prevailing environmental problem in cities worldwide. The future vehicle electrification (VE), which in Europe will be importantly fostered by the ban of thermal engines from 2035, is expected to have an important effect on urban air quality. Machine learning models represent an optimal tool for predicting changes in air pollutants concentrations in the context of future VE. For the city of Valencia (Spain), a XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting package) model was used in combination with SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis, both to investigate the importance of different factors explaining air pollution concentrations and predicting the effect of different levels of VE. The model was trained with 5 years of data including the COVID-19 lockdown period in 2020, in which mobility was strongly reduced resulting in unprecedent changes in air pollution concentrations. The interannual meteorological variability of 10 years was also considered in the analyses. For a 70% VE, the model predicted: 1) improvements in nitrogen dioxide pollution (-34% to -55% change in annual mean concentrations, for the different air quality stations), 2) a very limited effect on particulate matter concentrations (-1 to -4% change in annual means of PM2.5 and PM10), 3) heterogeneous responses in ground-level ozone concentrations (-2% to +12% change in the annual means of the daily maximum 8-h average concentrations). Even at a high VE increase of 70%, the 2021 World Health Organization Air Quality Guidelines will be exceeded for all pollutants in some stations. VE has a potentially important impact in terms of reducing NO2-associated premature mortality, but complementary strategies for reducing traffic and controlling all different air pollution sources should also be implemented to protect human health.

Quantitative risk assessment of introduction of BVDV and BoHV-1 through indirect contacts based on implemented biosecurity measures in dairy farms of Spain.

A stochastic quantitative risk assessment model was developed to estimate the annual probability of introduction of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) on 127 dairy farms through indirect contacts. Vehicles transporting calves, cattle to slaughterhouse, dead animals, and mixture of feed, as well as visits by veterinarians and hoof trimmers, farm workers and contacts with neighbors were considered in the model. Data from biosecurity questionnaires of each farm, scientific literature and expert opinion from field veterinarians, animal vehicle drivers, hoof trimmers and personnel from rendering transport companies were used to estimate values for input parameters. Results showed that the annual probability of introducing BVDV or BoHV-1 through indirect contacts was very heterogeneous. The overall distribution of median values for each farm ranged from 0.5 to 14.6% and from 1.0 to 24.9% for BVDV and BoHV-1, respectively. The model identified that providing protective clothing and boots to visits, not allowing the animal vehicle driver to come into contact with animals present on the farm and ensuring that calf vehicles arrived empty, were the measures with the highest impact on the probability of infection for most farms. This model could be a useful tool to show the impact of the measures to farmers and veterinarians, thus increasing their awareness on biosecurity. In addition, it could support decision making on which measures should be prioritized in dairy cattle herds to reduce the probability of introduction of diseases.

Efectividad del programa SolSano en los hábitos, conocimientos y actitudes en materia de fotoprotección de los universitarios / Effectiveness of SolSano Program on Sun Protection Habits, Knowledge, and Attitudes Among University Students

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: El proyecto SolSano es un proyecto educativo escolar que se realiza en Aragón desde el año 2000 y que ha demostrado promover hábitos de protección solar y aumentar conocimientos en los niños a corto plazo. El objetivo de este estudio es valorar la efectividad del programa SolSano a largo plazo. SUJETOS Y MÉTODOS: Estudio analítico observacional de cohortes retrospectivo realizado en alumnos de la Universidad de Zaragoza durante el curso 2015-2016. El instrumento de valoración fue un cuestionario validado y adaptado para nuestro objetivo al que accedían a través de Internet. Se realizó una descripción univariante, así como un análisis bivariante y multivariante para estudiar las diferencias entre los participantes que habían estudiado Educación Primaria en un centro escolar donde se realizaba SolSano o no. RESULTADOS: Trescientos veinticuatro estudiantes universitarios participaron. La edad media fue 22,9 años, un 78% de respuestas procedieron de mujeres. El 44% había acudido a un centro donde se realizó el programa SolSano. El 50,5% de los estudiantes habían sufrido 1 o 2 quemaduras solares el verano anterior. Solo se observaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en algunos aspectos entre los que asistieron a centros educativos donde se desarrolló el programa SolSano y los que asistieron a otros centros. CONCLUSIÓN: Es el primer estudio para valorar la efectividad de un programa educativo escolar en materia de fotoprotección a largo plazo (15 años). La falta de continuidad del programa en la adolescencia y la existencia de campañas de fotoprotección fuera de la escuela son posibles causas de la ausencia de diferencias en nuestra muestra

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The SolSano (HealthySun) project is a primary school sun education program that has been running in Aragon, Spain, since 2000. In the short term, it has proven to be effective at promoting sun protection behaviors and heightening awareness in childhood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the SolSano program. Participants and methods: Retrospective, observational, analytical, cohort study of students at the University of Zaragoza between 2015 and 2016. The students answered a previously validated, purpose-designed, online questionnaire. We calculated descriptive statistics for all variables and performed bivariate and multivariate analyses to test for differences between students who had attended a primary school that ran the SolSano program and those who had not. RESULTS: Data for 324 students were analyzed. Mean age was 22.9 years and 78% of the respondents were women. In total, 44% of the students had participated in the SolSano program at primary school. Half of the respondents (50.5%) had experienced 1 or 2 sunburn episodes the previous summer. Significant differences were only observed for some aspects addressed by the questionnaire between SolSano participants and nonparticipants. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate the long-term effectiveness (15 years) of a primary school sun protection program. The absence of significant differences in our sample might be explained by non-continuation of the program into adolescence and the existence of sun protection campaigns outside the school

Development of a quantitative risk assessment of bovine viral diarrhea virus and bovine herpesvirus-1 introduction in dairy cattle herds to improve biosecurity.

A quantitative risk assessment model was developed to estimate the annual probability of introducing bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) at the farm level through animal movements. Data from 2017 official animal movements, biosecurity questionnaires, scientific literature, and expert opinion from field veterinarians were taken into consideration for model input parameters. Purchasing or introducing cattle, rearing replacement heifers offsite, showing cattle at competitions, sharing transport vehicles with other herds, and transporting cattle in vehicles that have not been cleaned and disinfected were considered in the model. The annual probability of introducing BVDV or BoHV-1 through infected animals was very heterogeneous between farms. The median likelihoods of BVDV and BoHV-1introduction were 12 and 9%, respectively. Farms that purchased cattle from within their region (i.e., local movements) and shared transport with other farms had a higher probability for BVDV and BoHV-1 introduction. This model can be a useful tool to support decision-making on biosecurity measures that should be prioritized to reduce the probability of introduction of these 2 diseases in dairy herds.

Effectiveness of SolSano Program on Sun Protection Habits, Knowledge, and Attitudes Among University Students. / Efectividad del programa SolSano en los hábitos, conocimientos y actitudes en materia de fotoprotección de los universitarios.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The SolSano (HealthySun) project is a primary school sun education program that has been running in Aragon, Spain, since 2000. In the short term, it has proven to be effective at promoting sun protection behaviors and heightening awareness in childhood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of the SolSano program. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: Retrospective, observational, analytical, cohort study of students at the University of Zaragoza between 2015 and 2016. The students answered a previously validated, purpose-designed, online questionnaire. We calculated descriptive statistics for all variables and performed bivariate and multivariate analyses to test for differences between students who had attended a primary school that ran the SolSano program and those who had not. RESULTS: Data for 324 students were analyzed. Mean age was 22.9 years and 78% of the respondents were women. In total, 44% of the students had participated in the SolSano program at primary school. Half of the respondents (50.5%) had experienced 1 or 2 sunburn episodes the previous summer. Significant differences were only observed for some aspects addressed by the questionnaire between SolSano participants and nonparticipants. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to evaluate the long-term effectiveness (15 years) of a primary school sun protection program. The absence of significant differences in our sample might be explained by non-continuation of the program into adolescence and the existence of sun protection campaigns outside the school.

On the origin of the highest ozone episodes in Spain.

The 2000-2015 occurrences of the highest ozone (O3) pollution episodes in Spain were evaluated to investigate their origin. To this end, data series available for urban and regional background (UB and RB), traffic (TR) and industrial (IN) sites were analysed separately and intercompared. Results evidenced that during these 16years mean O3 levels in the RB sites did not change significantly, and remained constantly high. However, there is a clear increase at the TR and UB sites. Although sensitivity analysis is needed to interpret the cause of this increasing trend, this might be caused probably by the lower O3 titration intensity due to the preferential abatement of NO vs NO2, as supported from the neutral trend of OX (NO2+O3) at these sites. We found that the exceedances of the hourly information threshold for O3 (>180µg/m3) are recorded mostly at UB and IN sites located in seven areas of Spain (specific hotspots or at the tail end of large urban plumes), and that these increased during summer heatwaves (i.e. 2003 and 2015). Although the external contribution of regional-to-subcontinental transported O3 might be relevant during the highest O3 episodes in the Western Mediterranean, our results evidenced that in the above specific areas, regional-local O3 production decisively contributes to the exceedances of the information threshold. Also that the human protection threshold and the AOT40 are more frequently exceeded in the Central, Southern and Mediterranean sides of the Iberian Peninsula. The design of effective episode abatement measures is quite complex in those conditions, due to both the nonlinearity of the chemical processes of O3 formation and destruction, and to the interplay with the complex meteorological setting, causing frequent recirculation and in situ aging of air masses. However, the combination of meteorological forecasting of the main recirculation processes and sensitivity analysis of NOX/VOC emission abatement measures might be powerful tools to evaluate the effectiveness of potential O3 mitigation strategies. Finally we would like to highlight that the current UB, RB, IN and TR classification (somewhat subjective) is not adequate to interpret the origin of O3 exceedances in complex areas of Southern Europe. Thus, a UB station recording exceedances, and located in a small city in the tail end of an urban plume of a large city, receives not only the contribution from its own UB, but mainly from the specific high O3 RB caused by the urban plume transport.

LACTIC ACIDOSIS: A RARE MANIFESTATION OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA INTOXICATION.

Synthetic cannabinoids are designer drugs that mimic the effect of cannabis, which has become popular with young drug users. These drugs have a similar chemical structure and pharmacologic effects as marijuana, but seem to be more potent. These substances have been banned by the US Drug Enforcement Agency in 2010. Prior to 2010, these drugs were perceived as "safer" by the general population. Synthetic cannabinoids cause effects similar to marijuana making the subjects euphoric. However, they act as full, rather than partial, agonist at the receptor sites causing more severe side effects such as severe agitation, seizures, acute renal failure, and lactic acidosis.

Aracnoiditis lumbosacra secundaria a derivación lumboperitoneal / Lumbosacral arachnoiditis secondary to a lumboperitoneal shunt

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Meningiomas of the lateral ventricles. A review of 10 cases.

BACKGROUND: Intraventricular meningiomas are rare tumours that represent about 2% of all intracranial meningiomas, and represent one of the most challenging problems in neurosurgery. They are located deep within the brain and often are sizable and highly vascular. We report on a series of 10 meningiomas of the lateral ventricles treated at our institution during the last 28 years. PATIENTS: Ten patients (6 women, 4 men; mean age 41.6 yrs) were admitted to our medical center between 1978-2005 with meningioma of the lateral ventricles. Headache was the first symptom in 8 cases and ocular signs were present in 5 patients. RESULTS: Seven tumours were located in the right ventricle (70%) ranging in size from 2-8 cm, with 7 tumours larger than 3 cm in diameter. Nine patients underwent surgery with total excision in 8 cases and subtotal in the other; the remaining patient only received radiosurgery. CONCLUSIONS: Total resection is the gold standard for treatment which was possible in all but one of the cases undergoing surgery.

Meningiomas of the lateral ventricles. A review of 10 cases

Background. Intraventricular meningiomas arerare tumours that represent about 2% of all intracranialmeningiomas, and represent one of the most challengingproblems in neurosurgery. They are locateddeep within the brain and often are sizable and highlyvascular. We report on a series of 10 meningiomas of thelateral ventricles treated at our institution during thelast 28 years.Patients. Ten patients (6 women, 4 men; mean age41.6 yrs) were admitted to our medical center between1978-2005 with meningioma of the lateral ventricles.Headache was the first symptom in 8 cases and ocularsigns were present in 5 patients.Results. Seven tumours were located in the rightventricle (70%) ranging in size from 2-8 cm, with 7tumours larger than 3 cm in diameter. Nine patientsunderwent surgery with total excision in 8 cases andsubtotal in the other; the remaining patient only receivedradiosurgery.Conclusions. Total resection is the gold standard fortreatment which was possible in all but one of the casesundergoing surgery (AU)

Introducción. Los meningiomas intraventricularesson neoplasias poco frecuentes que constituyen alrededordel 2% de todos los meningiomas intracraneales.Pacientes y métodos. Revisamos 10 pacientes (6mujeres, 4 varones; media de edad: 41.6 años) diagnosticados en nuestro servicio de neurocirugía entre 1978-2005 de meningioma de ventrículo lateral.Resultados. El síntoma de debut fue la cefalea en 8casos y en 5 pacientes existían alteraciones oculares.Siete tumores estaban localizados en el ventrículo derecho(70%) con un tamaño que oscilaba entre 2 y 8 cm.;7 tumores tenían más de 3 cm. de diámetro. Se intervinoquirúrgicamente a 9 pacientes consiguiéndose unaextirpación completa en 8 casos y subtotal en el otro;el paciente restante fue tratado mediante radiocirugíaestereotáctica.Conclusiones. La resección completa es el tratamientoidóneo en los meningiomas intracraneales, queexceptuando un caso fue posible en todos nuestrospacientes operados (AU)

[Bilateral thalamic tumours. Three case reports and a review of the literature]. / Tumores talámicos bilaterales. Presentación de tres casos y revisión de la bibliografia.

INTRODUCTION: Thalamic tumours account for approximately 1% to 5% of all brain tumours, and are usually unilateral astrocytoma and frequently affect children. Bilateral thalamic tumours are very rare neoplasm, yet their actual incidence is unknown. AIMS: To report three children with bilateral thalamic tumours diagnosed in a 20 years period and to review the previously reported cases. CASE REPORTS: Here we report three children with bilateral thalamic tumours and review the previously reported cases diagnosed by angiography, computed tomography, and or magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty-six patients with bilateral thalamic tumours were analysed (13 children and 13 adults). Symptoms of mental impairment were present in 13 cases (50%) and sings of intracranial hypertension in 7 (26.9%). The pathology was confirmed in 22 patients (12 low grade gliomas and 10 high grade gliomas). In paediatric age there was a slight preponderance of low grade gliomas (7/12). The mean survival is 12.3 months (range: 7-36 months). CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral thalamic tumours are exceptional and have radiological and clinical features that differ from those of unilateral thalamic tumours. Today, the main role of surgery is still to obtain a histological diagnosis. The outcome of treatment for bilateral thalamic tumours remains poor, with only 7.6% of all patients surviving for more 12 months.

Tumores talámicos bilaterales. Presentación de tres casos y revisión de la bibliografía / Bilateral thalamic tumours three case reports and a review of the literature

Los tumores talámicos constituyen entre el 1 y el 5% de todos los procesos expansivos intracraneales,con frecuencia son de localización unilateral y tienen una mayor incidencia en la infancia. Los tumores talámicos bilaterales son excepcionales y su incidencia exacta no ha sido bien establecida hoy en día. Objetivos. Se presentan tres casos de tumorestalámicos bilaterales en niños y se analizan los casos publicados previamente. Casos clínicos. Se presentan tres casos de tumores talámicos bilaterales en edad pediátrica atendidos en un período de 20 años. Asimismo, se realiza una revisión de los casospublicados y diagnosticados mediante angiografía, tomografía computarizada o resonancia magnética. De la revisión de la bibliografía se analizan 26 casos de tumores talámicos bilaterales (13 niños y 13 adultos). Los síntomas predominantes fueron alteración cognitiva en 13 casos (50%) y signos de hipertensión intracraneal en 7 (26,9%). La histología fue confirmada en 22 casos (12 gliomas de bajo grado y 10 de alto grado); en la edad pediátrica existe un ligero predominio de los gliomas de bajo grado (7 a 12). La supervivencia media fue de 12,3 meses (rango: 7-36 meses). Conclusiones. Las neoplasias bitalámicas representan un grupo tumoral con características clínicas y radiológicas diferentes a los tumores unilaterales. La cirugía desempeñaun papel secundario en su tratamiento y se ciñe únicamente a la práctica de una biopsia con objetivo diagnóstico. El pronóstico es malo y sólo el 7,6% de los pacientes sobrevive más de 12 meses

Thalamic tumours account for approximately 1% to 5% of all brain tumours, and are usually unilateralastrocytoma and frequently affect children. Bilateral thalamic tumours are very rare neoplasm, yet their actual incidence is unknown. Aims. To report three children with bilateral thalamic tumours diagnosed in a 20 years period and to review the previously reported cases. Case reports. Here we report three children with bilateral thalamic tumours and review the previouslyreported cases diagnosed by angiography, computed tomography, and or magnetic resonance imaging. Twenty-sixpatients with bilateral thalamic tumours were analysed (13 children and 13 adults). Symptoms of mental impairment were present in 13 cases (50%) and sings of intracranial hypertension in 7 (26.9%). The pathology was confirmed in 22 patients (12 low grade gliomas and 10 high grade gliomas). In paediatric age there was a slight preponderance of low grade gliomas(7/12). The mean survival is 12.3 months (range: 7-36 months). Conclusions. Bilateral thalamic tumours are exceptional and have radiological and clinical features that differ from those of unilateral thalamic tumours. Today, the main role of surgery is still to obtain a histological diagnosis. The outcome of treatment for bilateral thalamic tumours remains poor, with only 7.6% of all patients surviving for more 12 months

Quiste epidermoide del IV ventrículo / Epidermoid cyst of the IV ventricle

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The Camino intracranial pressure device in clinical practice. Assessment in a 1000 cases.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring has become standard in the management of neurocritical patients. A variety of monitoring techniques and devices are available, each offering advantages and disadvantages. Analysis of large populations has never been performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective study was designed to evaluate the Camino fiberoptic intraparenchymal cerebral pressure monitor for complications and accuracy. RESULTS: Between 1992-2004 one thousand consecutive patients had a fiberoptic ICP monitor placed. The most frequent indication for monitoring was severe head injury (697 cases). The average duration of ICP monitoring was 184.6 +/- 94.3 hours; the range was 16-581 hours. Zero drift (range, -17 to 21 mm Hg; mean 7.3 +/- 5.1) was recorded after the devices were removed from 624 patients. Mechanical complications such as: breakage of the optical fiber (n = 17); dislocations of the fixation screw (n = 15) or the probe (n = 13); and failure of ICP recording for unknown reasons (n = 4) were found in 49 Camino devices. CONCLUSIONS: The Camino ICP sensor remains one of the most popular ICP monitoring devices for use in critical neurosurgical patients. The system offers reliable ICP measurements in an acceptable percentage of device complications and the advantage of in vivo recalibration. The incidence of technical complications was low and similar to others devices.

[A new device for vitreous biopsy]. / Nuevo dispositivo para biopsias vítreas.

PURPOSE/METHODS: Description of a simply-made device for obtaining vitreous biopsies. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: This new device allows the surgeon to control aspiration, thereby enabling the obtention of many vitreous biopsies both diluted and undiluted.

Implications on human fertility of the 677C-->T and 1298A-->C polymorphisms of the MTHFR gene: consequences of a possible genetic selection.

Mutant alleles with the 677C-->T and 1298A-->C polymorphisms of the MTHFR gene, and consequent lower methylentetrahydrofolate reductase enzyme activity, have been related to higher plasma homocysteine levels, which are associated with cardiovascular diseases. We assessed the genotype frequencies, degrees of fertility and homocysteine levels, and discuss a possible genetic selection for the gene polymorphisms studied. A total of 1777 subjects (897 women and 880 men), divided into four age groups, were genotyped by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism. The total homocysteine concentration in plasma was determined by fluorescence polarization immunoassay. Based on random pairs and linkage disequilibrium of the two polymorphisms, we estimated the rate of fetal non-viability according to the combinations of these two polymorphisms to be 4.63% for the group >24 years old and 6.31% for the group <24 years old. We detected an increased frequency of mutant alleles in the youngest age group, coincident with a generally increased folate intake by pregnant women in Spain. The genetic selection detected leads to an increase in mutated individuals, the number of whom could increase four-fold over the next 75 years. Although generally reduced in the younger age groups, the homocysteine plasma levels were shown to increase in individuals according to the number of mutations, especially those of the 677T allele.