Influence of vegetation and substrate type on removal of emerging organic contaminants and microbial dynamics in horizontal subsurface constructed wetlands.

Constructed wetlands (CWs) offer an efficient alternative technology for removing emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) from wastewater. Optimizing CW performance requires understanding the impact of CW configuration on EOC removal and microbial community dynamics. This study investigated EOC removal and microbial communities in horizontal subsurface flow (HSSF) CWs over a 26-month operational period. Comparison between tuff-filled and gravel-filled CWs highlighted the superior EOC removal in tuff-filled CWs during extended operation, likely caused by the larger surface area of the tuff substrate fostering microbial growth, sorption, and biodegradation. Removal of partially positively charged EOCs, like atenolol (29-98 %) and fexofenadine (21-87 %), remained constant in the different CWs, and was mainly attributed to sorption. In contrast, removal rates for polar non-sorbing compounds, including diclofenac (3-64 %), acyclovir (9-85 %), and artificial sweeteners acesulfame (5-60 %) and saccharin (1-48 %), seemed to increase over time due to enhanced biodegradation. The presence of vegetation and different planting methods (single vs. mixed plantation) had a limited impact, underscoring the dominance of substrate type in the CW performance. Microbial community analysis identified two stages: a startup phase (1-7 months) and a maturation phase (19-26 months). During this transition, highly diverse communities dominated by specific species in the early stages gave way to more evenly distributed and relatively stable communities. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes remained dominant throughout. Alphaproteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Planctomycetes, Salinimicrobium, and Sphingomonas were enriched during the maturation phase, potentially serving as bioindicators for EOC removal. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the pivotal role of substrate type and maturation in the removal of EOCs in HSSF CW, considering the complex interplay with EOC physicochemical properties. Insights into microbial community dynamics underscore the importance of taxonomic and functional diversity in assessing CW effectiveness. This knowledge aids in optimizing HSSF CWs for sustainable wastewater treatment, EOC removal, and ecological risk assessment, ultimately contributing to environmental protection.

Comparison of the Declared Nutrient Content of Plant-Based Meat Substitutes and Corresponding Meat Products and Sausages in Germany.

Plant-based meat substitutes (PBMS) are becoming increasingly popular due to growing concerns about health, animal welfare, and environmental issues associated with animal-based foods. The aim of this study was to compare the declared energy and nutrient contents of PBMS with corresponding meat products and sausages available on the German market. Mandatory nutrition labelling data of 424 PBMS and 1026 meat products and sausages, surveyed in 2021 and 2020, respectively, as part of the German national monitoring of packaged food were used to test for differences in energy and nutrient contents. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to describe characteristics in the energy and nutrient contents. The comparison showed that most of the PBMS subcategories had significantly lower contents of fat and saturated fat but higher contents of carbohydrate and sugar than corresponding meat subcategories. For salt, the only striking difference was that PBMS salamis had lower salt content than meat salamis. Overall, the PCA revealed protein as a main characteristic for most PBMS categories, with the protein content being equivalent to or, in most protein-based PBMS, even higher than in the corresponding meat products. The wide nutrient content ranges within subcategories, especially for salt, reveal the need and potential for reformulation.

A randomized, parallel group, pragmatic comparative-effectiveness trial comparing medication-assisted treatment induction methods in primary care practices: The HOMER study protocol.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) represents a public health crisis in the United States. Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) with buprenorphine in primary care is a proven OUD treatment strategy. MOUD induction is when patients begin withdrawal and receive the first doses of buprenorphine. Differences between induction methods might influence short-term stabilization, long-term maintenance, and quality of life. This paper describes the protocol for a study designed to: (1) compare short-term stabilization and long-term maintenance treatment engagement in MOUD in patients receiving office, home, or telehealth induction and (2) identify clinically-relevant practice and patient characteristics associated with successful long-term treatment. The study design is a randomized, parallel group, pragmatic comparative effectiveness trial of three care models of MOUD induction in 100 primary care practices in the United States. Eligible patients are at least 16 years old, have been identified by their clinician as having opioid dependence and would benefit from MOUD. Patients will be randomized to one of three induction comparators: office, home, or telehealth induction. Primary outcomes are buprenorphine medication-taking and illicit opioid use at 30, 90, and 270 days post-induction. Secondary outcomes include quality of life and potential mediators of treatment maintenance (intentions, planning, automaticity). Potential moderators include social determinants of health, substance use history and appeal, and executive function. An intent to treat analysis will assess effects of the interventions on long-term treatment, using general/generalized linear mixed models, adjusted for covariates, for the outcomes analysis. Analysis includes practice- and patient-level random effects for hierarchical/longitudinal data. No large-scale, randomized comparative effectiveness research has compared home induction to office or telehealth MOUD induction on long-term outcomes for patients with OUD seen in primary care settings. The results of this study will offer primary care providers evidence and guidance in selecting the most beneficial induction method(s) for specific patients.

Sigma 1 receptor activation improves retinal structure and function in the RhoP23H/+ mouse model of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of devastating inherited retinal diseases that leads to visual impairment and oftentimes complete blindness. Currently no cure exists for RP thus research into prolonging vision is imperative. Sigma 1 receptor (Sig1R) is a promising small molecule target that has neuroprotective benefits in retinas of rapidly-degenerating mouse models. It is not clear whether Sig1R activation can provide similar neuroprotective benefits in more slowly-progressing RP models. Here, we examined Sig1R-mediated effects in the slowly-progressing RhoP23H/+ mouse, a model of autosomal dominant RP. We characterized the retinal degeneration of the RhoP23H/+ mouse over a 10 month period using three in vivo methods: Optomotor Response (OMR), Electroretinogram (ERG), and Spectral Domain-Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT). A slow retinal degeneration was observed in both male and female RhoP23H/+ mice when compared to wild type. The OMR, which reflects visual acuity, showed a gradual decline through 10 months. Interestingly, female mice had more reduction in visual acuity than males. ERG assessment showed a gradual decline in scotopic and photopic responses in RhoP23H/+ mice. To investigate the neuroprotective benefits of Sig1R activation in the RhoP23H/+ mouse model, mutant mice were treated with a high-specificity Sig1R ligand (+)-pentazocine ((+)-PTZ) 3x/week at 0.5 mg/kg and examined using OMR, ERG, SD-OCT. A significant retention of visual function was observed in males and females at 10 months of age, with treated females retaining ∼50% greater visual acuity than non-treated mutant females. ERG revealed significant retention of scotopic and photopic b-wave amplitudes at 6 months in male and female RhoP23H/+ mice treated with (+)-PTZ. Further, in vivo analysis by SD-OCT revealed a significant retention of outer nuclear layer (ONL) thickness in male and female treated RhoP23H/+ mice. Histological studies showed significant retention of IS/OS length (∼50%), ONL thickness, and number of rows of photoreceptor cell nuclei at 6 months in (+)-PTZ-treated mutant mice. Interestingly, electron microscopy revealed preservation of OS discs in (+)-PTZ treated mutant mice compared to non-treated. Taken collectively, the in vivo and in vitro data provide the first evidence that targeting Sig1R can rescue visual function and structure in the RhoP23H/+ mouse. These results are promising and provide a framework for future studies to investigate Sig1R as a potential therapeutic target in retinal degenerative disease.

Protein fractionation and shotgun proteomics analysis of enriched bacterial cultures shed new light on the enzymatically catalyzed degradation of acesulfame.

The removal of organic micropollutants in municipal wastewater treatment is an extensively studied field of research, but the underlying enzymatic processes have only been elucidated to a small extent so far. In order to shed more light on the enzymatic degradation of the artificial sweetener acesulfame (ACE) in this context, we enriched two bacterial taxa which were not yet described to be involved in the degradation of ACE, an unknown Chelatococcus species and Ensifer adhaerens, by incubating activated sludge in chemically defined media containing ACE as sole carbon source. Cell-free lysates were extracted, spiked with ACE and analyzed via target LC-MS/MS, demonstrating for the first time enzymatically catalyzed ACE degradation outside of living cells. Fractionation of the lysate via two-dimensional fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) succeeded in a partial separation of the enzymes catalyzing the initial transformation reaction of ACE from those catalyzing the further transformation pathway. Thereby, an accumulation of the intermediate transformation product acetoacetamide-n-sulfonic acid (ANSA) in the ACE-degrading fractions was achieved, providing first quantitative evidence that the cleavage of the sulfuric ester moiety of ACE is the initial transformation step. The metaproteome of the enrichments was analyzed in the FPLC fractions and in the unfractionated lysate, using shotgun proteomics via UHPLC-HRMS/MS and label-free quantification. The comparison of protein abundances in the FPLC fractions to the corresponding ACE degradation rates revealed a metallo-ß-lactamase fold metallo-hydrolase as most probable candidate for the enzyme catalyzing the initial transformation from ACE to ANSA. This enzyme was by far the most abundant of all detected proteins and amounted to a relative protein abundance of 91% in the most active fraction after the second fractionation step. Moreover, the analysis of the unfractionated lysate resulted in a list of further proteins possibly involved in the transformation of ACE, most striking a highly abundant amidase likely catalyzing the further transformation of ANSA, and an ABC transporter substrate-binding protein that may be involved in the uptake of ACE into the cell.

Compartmentalization and regulation of GTP in control of cellular phenotypes.

Genetic or pharmacological inhibition of enzymes involved in GTP biosynthesis has substantial biological effects, underlining the need to better understand the function of GTP levels in regulation of cellular processes and the significance of targeting GTP biosynthesis enzymes for therapeutic intervention. Our current understanding of spatiotemporal regulation of GTP metabolism and its role in physiological and pathological cellular processes is far from complete. Novel methodologies such as genetically encoded sensors of free GTP offered insights into intracellular distribution and function of GTP molecules. In the current Review, we provide analysis of recent discoveries in the field of GTP metabolism and evaluate the key enzymes as molecular targets.

Valoración del strain auricular izquierdo en competidores de ultramaratón ¿Se extiende la fatiga cardíaca a todas las estructuras miocárdicas? / Evaluation of the left atrium strain in ultramarathon competitors. Does cardiac fatigue extend to all myocardial structures?

Resumen Introducción: La aurícula izquierda cumple varias funciones durante el ciclo cardíaco (reservorio, conducción y contracción), que podrían verse afectadas por la remodelación fisiológica al igual que por el estrés inducido por el ejercicio intenso (carreras de ultra-trail de montaña). Objetivo: Valorar si las adaptaciones fisiológicas de la aurícula izquierda al deporte (aumento del volumen auricular), así como el estrés inducido por las competiciones de ultramaratón, influyen en la función auricular izquierda estimada por strain auricular realizado mediante speckle tracking. Método: Fueron evaluados 28 participantes antes y después del ejercicio (en el transcurso de 1 hora posterior al esfuerzo de carreras de ultra-trail) utilizando ecocardiografía Doppler y nuevas técnicas ecocardiográficas (posprocesamiento). Se excluyeron cinco deportistas: dos por regular ventana ecocardiográfica que no permitía visualizar correctamente el borde endomiocárdico y tres por no finalizar la carrera. Se realizaron estadística descriptiva convencional, análisis comparativo para datos pareados mediante test t de Student y correlación de Pearson para valorar factores que influyeran en las alteraciones detectadas. Resultados La mediana de edad de los competidores fue de 38 ± 9 años, con predominancia del sexo masculino (n = 17, 65%). En el ecocardiograma basal se encontró una media de volumen auricular izquierdo de 33 ± 7 ml/m2 (min. 21 ml/m2, max. 47 ml/m2), con strain auricular izquierdo basal promedio del 31%. En la evaluación tras el esfuerzo se observó una disminución no significativa del volumen auricular izquierdo, que mantuvo el strain auricular e incluso aumentó su deformación, como en el caso de las mujeres evaluadas. Conclusiones: A diferencia de lo observado en otros parámetros de función ventricular tras un esfuerzo, el strain auricular no se ve afectado por la fatiga cardíaca.

Abstract Introduction: The left atrium fulfills several functions during the cardiac cycle (reservoir, conduction and contraction) that could be affected by physiological remodeling as well as by stress induced by intense exercise (ultra-mountain trail races). Objective: To assess whether the physiological adaptations of the left atrium to sport (increase in atrial volume) as well as the stress induced by ultramarathon competitions influence left atrial function estimated by atrial strain performed by speckle tracking. Method: 28 participants were evaluated pre and post exercise, using Doppler echocardiography and new echocardiographic techniques. Conventional descriptive statistics, comparative analysis were performed for paired data using the t test and Pearson correlation to assess factors that influence the detected alterations. Results: The median age of the competitors was 38 ± 9 years with a predominance of males (n = 17, 65%). In the basal echocardiogram, we found an average left atrial volume of 33 ± 7 ml/m2 (min. 21 ml/m2, max. 47 ml/m2), with an average baseline left atrial strain of 31%. In the post-effort evaluation, a non-significant decrease in left atrial volume was observed, maintaining atrial strain and even increasing its deformation, as in the case of the women evaluated. Conclusions: Unlike what was observed in other parameters of ventricular function after effort, atrial strain is not affected by cardiac fatigue.

Phosphorylation of guanosine monophosphate reductase triggers a GTP-dependent switch from pro- to anti-oncogenic function of EPHA4.

Signal transduction pathways post-translationally regulating nucleotide metabolism remain largely unknown. Guanosine monophosphate reductase (GMPR) is a nucleotide metabolism enzyme that decreases GTP pools by converting GMP to IMP. We observed that phosphorylation of GMPR at Tyr267 is critical for its activity and found that this phosphorylation by ephrin receptor tyrosine kinase EPHA4 decreases GTP pools in cell protrusions and levels of GTP-bound RAC1. EPHs possess oncogenic and tumor-suppressor activities, although the mechanisms underlying switches between these two modes are poorly understood. We demonstrated that GMPR plays a key role in EPHA4-mediated RAC1 suppression. This supersedes GMPR-independent activation of RAC1 by EPHA4, resulting in a negative overall effect on melanoma cell invasion and tumorigenicity. Accordingly, EPHA4 levels increase during melanoma progression and inversely correlate with GMPR levels in individual melanoma tumors. Therefore, phosphorylation of GMPR at Tyr267 is a metabolic signal transduction switch controlling GTP biosynthesis and transformed phenotypes.

Synthetic Image Rendering Solves Annotation Problem in Deep Learning Nanoparticle Segmentation.

Nanoparticles occur in various environments as a consequence of man-made processes, which raises concerns about their impact on the environment and human health. To allow for proper risk assessment, a precise and statistically relevant analysis of particle characteristics (such as size, shape, and composition) is required that would greatly benefit from automated image analysis procedures. While deep learning shows impressive results in object detection tasks, its applicability is limited by the amount of representative, experimentally collected and manually annotated training data. Here, an elegant, flexible, and versatile method to bypass this costly and tedious data acquisition process is presented. It shows that using a rendering software allows to generate realistic, synthetic training data to train a state-of-the art deep neural network. Using this approach, a segmentation accuracy can be derived that is comparable to man-made annotations for toxicologically relevant metal-oxide nanoparticle ensembles which were chosen as examples. The presented study paves the way toward the use of deep learning for automated, high-throughput particle detection in a variety of imaging techniques such as in microscopies and spectroscopies, for a wide range of applications, including the detection of micro- and nanoplastic particles in water and tissue samples.

Regulation of local GTP availability controls RAC1 activity and cell invasion.

Physiological changes in GTP levels in live cells have never been considered a regulatory step of RAC1 activation because intracellular GTP concentration (determined by chromatography or mass spectrometry) was shown to be substantially higher than the in vitro RAC1 GTP dissociation constant (RAC1-GTP Kd). Here, by combining genetically encoded GTP biosensors and a RAC1 activity biosensor, we demonstrated that GTP levels fluctuating around RAC1-GTP Kd correlated with changes in RAC1 activity in live cells. Furthermore, RAC1 co-localized in protrusions of invading cells with several guanylate metabolism enzymes, including rate-limiting inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase 2 (IMPDH2), which was partially due to direct RAC1-IMPDH2 interaction. Substitution of endogenous IMPDH2 with IMPDH2 mutants incapable of binding RAC1 did not affect total intracellular GTP levels but suppressed RAC1 activity. Targeting IMPDH2 away from the plasma membrane did not alter total intracellular GTP pools but decreased GTP levels in cell protrusions, RAC1 activity, and cell invasion. These data provide a mechanism of regulation of RAC1 activity by local GTP pools in live cells.

Micropollutant transformation and taxonomic composition in hybrid MBBR - A comparison of carrier-attached biofilm and suspended sludge.

The suspended sludge and carrier-attached biofilms of three different hybrid moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) systems were investigated with respect to their transformation potential for a broad range of micropollutants (MPs) as well as their microbial community composition. For this purpose, laboratory-scale batch experiments were conducted with the separated suspended sludge and the carrier-attached biofilm of every system in triplicate. For all batches the removal of 31 MPs as well as the composition of the microbial community were analyzed. The carrier-attached biofilms from two hybrid MBBR systems showed a significant higher overall transformation potential in comparison to the respective suspended sludge. Especially for the MPs trimethoprim, diclofenac, mecoprop, climbazole and the human metabolite 10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxycarbamazepine consistently higher pseudo-first-order transformation rates could be observed in all three systems. The analysis of the taxonomic composition revealed taxa showing higher relative abundances in the carrier-attached biofilms (e. g. Nitrospirae and Chloroflexi) and in the suspended biomasses (e. g. Bacteroidetes and Betaproteobacteria). Correlations of the biodiversity indices and the MP biotransformation rates resulted in significant positive associations for 11 compounds in suspended sludge, but mostly negative associations for the carrier-attached biofilms. The distinct differences in MP removal between suspended sludge and carrier-attached biofilm of the three different MBBR systems were also reflected by a statistically significant link between the occurrence of specific bacterial taxa (Acidibacter, Nitrospira and Rhizomicrobium) and MP transformation rates of certain MPs. Even though the identified correlations might not necessarily be of causal nature, some of the identified taxa might serve as suitable indicators for the transformation potential of suspended sludge or carrier-attached biofilms.

Sodium borohydride and thiol mediated nitrite release from nitroaromatic antibiotics.

Nitroaromatic antibiotics are used to treat a variety of bacterial and parasitic infections. These prodrugs require reductive bioactivation for activity, which provides a pathway for the release of nitrogen oxide species such as nitric oxide, nitrite, and/or nitroxyl. Using sodium borohydride and 2-aminoethanol as model reductants, this work examines release of nitrogen oxide species from various nitroaromatic compounds through several characterization methods. Specifically, 4- and 5-nitroimidazoles reproducibly generate higher amounts of nitrite (not nitric oxide or nitroxyl) than 2-nitroimidazoles during the reaction of model hydride donors or thiols. Mass spectrometric analysis shows clean formation of products resulting from nucleophile addition and nitro group loss. 2-Nitrofurans generate nitrite upon addition of sodium borohydride or 2-aminoethanethiol, but these complex reactions do not produce clean organic products. A mechanism that includes nucleophile addition to the carbon ßto the nitro group to generate a nitronate anion followed by protonation and nitrous acid elimination explains the observed products and labeling studies. These systematic studies give a better understanding of the release mechanisms of nitrogen oxide species from these compounds allowing for the design of more efficient therapeutics.

The fatty acid elongase ELOVL6 regulates bortezomib resistance in multiple myeloma.

Resistance to the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (BTZ) represents a major obstacle in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM). The contribution of lipid metabolism in the resistance of MM cells to BTZ is mostly unknown. Here we report that levels of fatty acid elongase 6 (ELOVL6) were lower in MM cells from BTZ-nonresponsive vs BTZ-responsive patients and in cultured MM cells selected for BTZ resistance compared with parental counterparts. Accordingly, depletion of ELOVL6 in parental MM cells suppressed BTZ-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and cytotoxicity, whereas restoration of ELOVL6 levels in BTZ-resistant MM cells sensitized them to BTZ in tissue culture settings and, as xenografts, in a plasmacytoma mouse model. Furthermore, for the first time, we identified changes in the BTZ-induced lipidome between parental and BTZ-resistant MM cell lines underlying a functional difference in their response to BTZ. We demonstrated that restoration of ELOVL6 levels in BTZ-resistant MM cells resensitized them to BTZ largely via upregulation of ELOVL6-dependent ceramide species, which was a prerequisite for BTZ-induced ER stress and cell death in these cells. Our data characterize ELOVL6 as a major clinically relevant regulator of MM cell resistance to BTZ, which can emerge from the impaired ability of these cells to alter ceramide composition in response to BTZ.

Diferencias de sexo entre deportistas de ultramaratón preesfuerzo y posesfuerzo / Sex differences between pre and post effort ultra marathon athletes

RESUMEN Introducción: La presencia de mujeres en las competencias de ultramaratón se observa cada vez con más frecuencia. Las adaptaciones fisiológicas y la respuesta al máximo esfuerzo se diferencian influenciados por el sexo. Objetivos: Evaluar las diferencias observadas en los deportistas de ultramaratón o ultratrail (carreras de montaña de más de 42 km) en reposo (adaptaciones fisiológicas) y en el posesfuerzo (fatiga cardíaca inducida por el ejercicio [FCIE]), estratificado por parámetros de entrenamiento. Material y métodos: Se reclutaron veinticinco deportistas (mujeres n 6) que participaron de la carrera cruce Mendoza (55 km en montaña); fueron evaluados antes y después de la finalización de la carrera mediante ecocardiografía Doppler y técnicas de deformación miocárdica (posprocesamiento). Mediante relojes deportivos se documentaron parámetros durante el entrenamiento y la carrera. Se realizó extracción de sangre posesfuerzo inmediato para documentar variables asociadas con fatiga cardíaca. Resultados: Completaron la carrera 24 deportistas, 19 hombres (42 ± 12 años) y 5 mujeres (38 ± 4 años). Las mujeres presentaban parámetros similares de entrenamiento y completaron la prueba sin diferencia en tiempos respecto a los hombres. Se observó disminución de los parámetros de función miocárdica izquierda (fatiga cardíaca inducida por el ejercicio) en el 50% de los hombres y el 5% de las mujeres. Conclusiones: A pesar de no encontrar diferencias en las características del entrenamiento, se observó en las mujeres menos adaptación fisiológica basal y menor incidencia de fatiga cardíaca inducida por el ejercicio.

ABSTRACT Introduction: the presence of women in ultramarathon competitions is observed with increasing frequency. Physiological adaptations and response to maximum effort are differentiated influenced by sex. Objectives: to evaluate the differences observed in ultramarathon or ultratrail athletes (mountain races over 42 km) at rest (physiological adaptations) and at post-effort (exercise-induced cardiac fatigue-FCIE), stratified by training parameters. Material and methods: twenty-five athletes (women n 6) who participated in the Mendoza crossing race (55 km in the mountains) were recruited, being evaluated before and after the end of the race using Doppler echocardiography and myocardial deformation techniques (post-processing). Through sports watches, parameters during training and running are documented. Immediate post-effort blood collection was performed to document variables associated with cardiac fatigue. Results: 24 athletes completed the race, 19 men (42 ± 12 years) and 5 women (38 ± 4 years). The women presented similar training loads and completed the test with no difference in time compared to the men. Decreased left myocardial function parameters (exercise-induced cardiac fatigue) were observed in 50% of men and 5% of women. Conclusions: Despite not finding differences in training characteristics, less baseline physiological adaptation and a lower incidence of exercise-induced cardiac fatigue were observed in women.

Electrocardiografía en chequeo médico precompetitivo: subanálisis de un registro unicéntrico prospectivo / Electrocardiography in pre-competitive medical fit: Subanalysis of a prospective single-center registry

Resumen Introducción: La interpretación del electrocardiograma del deportista muchas veces se ve complicada por los cambios producidos por el entrenamiento prolongado. Objetivos: Comparar la aplicación de los criterios de Seattle para valoración electrocardiográfica en deportistas en un grupo de cardiólogos del instituto de Cardiología y medicina del deporte, contra un profesional especializado en electrocardiografía del deportista, bajo los mismos criterios. Material y métodos: Sobre una base de datos prospectiva de pacientes que concurrieron al centro de medicina del deporte entre junio de 2017 y enero de 2018 para realización de apto físico, se incluyeron para el análisis 499 electrocardiogramas. Siete cardiólogos del Instituto de deportes (IW) valoraron los electrocardiogramas como "normales"; "alteraciones normales" o "alteraciones dudosas o anormales" (que requirieron más estudios en el seguimiento) conociendo los antecedentes del paciente al igual que los estudios realizados y la valoración cruzada de los electrocardiogramas dentro del instituto. Un cardiólogo del cuerpo médico de Boca Juniors especializado en electrocardiografía del deportista (FR) valoró los 499 electrocardiogramas de manera ciega (sin conocer los datos demográficos de los pacientes o los antecedentes patológicos) utilizando los mismos criterios. Resultados: De un total de 499 electrocardiogramas, 448 (89%) fueron interpretados como normales por el especialista en electrocardiografía del deporte vs. 459 (91%) por los cardiólogos del instituto de deporte. Respecto a alteraciones normales, 21 (4%) electrocardiogramas fueron considerados como alteraciones normales para el especialista en electrocardiografía vs. 23 (4%) por el instituto de deportes. 30 (6%) electrocardiogramas presentaron alteraciones dudosas o anormales para el especialista vs. 17 (3%) para el instituto de deporte. Conclusiones: La interpretación electrocardiográfica puede presentar variaciones de un centro a otro a pesar de utilizar criterios estandarizados. Es probable que la evaluación clínica influencie los resultados.

Abstract Introduction: The interpretation of the athlete's electrocardiogram is often complicated by the changes produced by prolonged training. Objective: To compare the application of Seattle criteria for electrocardiographic assessment in a group of cardiologists against a professional specialized in electrocardiography of the athlete under the same criteria. Material and methods: On a prospective database of recreational athletes who attended between June 2017 and January 2018 to perform physical fitness, 499 electrocardiograms were included for the analysis. Seven cardiologists from the Sports Institute (IW) rated the electrocardiograms as "normal"; "Normal alterations" or "dubious or abnormal alterations" knowing the patient's background as well as the studies performed. A cardiologist from the Boca Juniors medical team specialized in sportsman's electrocardiography (RF) assessed the 499 electrocardiograms blindly (without knowing the demographic data of the patients or the pathological background) using the same criteria. Results: Out of a total of 499 electrocardiograms, 448 (89%) were interpreted as normal by the sports electrocardiography specialist vs 459 (91%) by the cardiologists of the sports institute. Regarding normal alterations, 21 (4%) electrocardiograms were considered normal alterations for the electrocardiography specialist vs 23 (4%) by the sports institute. 30 (6%) electrocardiograms showed doubtful or abnormal alterations for the specialist vs 17 (3%) for the sports institute. Conclusions: The electrocardiographic interpretation can present variations from one center to another despite using standardized criteria. It is likely that the clinical evaluation.

Exercise-Induced Cardiac Fatigue in Recreational Ultramarathon Runners at Moderate Altitude: Insights From Myocardial Deformation Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Controversy exists on the actual occurrence of exercise-induced cardiac fatigue (EICF) with ultraendurance exercise, as well as on whether factors such as age or training status might predispose to this condition. The present study aimed to assess the occurrence of EICF among recreational ultramarathon runners, as well as to determine potential predictive factors. METHODS: Nineteen male recreational runners (42 ± 12yrs) participated in a 55-km trial race at moderate altitude (1,800-2,500 m). Participants were evaluated before and after the race using Doppler echocardiography and myocardial deformation analysis. EICF was determined as a reduction >5% of either left ventricular global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) or right ventricular free wall strain (RVFWS). Demographical (age, body mass index), training (training experience, volume and intensity), competition (finishing time, relative intensity) and biochemical variables (blood lactate, creatine kinase [CK] and CK-MB) were assessed as predictors of EICF. RESULTS: A significant reduction in LVGLS (20.1 ± 2.1% at baseline vs. 18.8 ± 2.4% at post-race, p = 0.026), but not in RVFWS (27.4 ± 7.0 vs. 24.6 ± 5.3%, p = 0.187), was observed after the race. EICF was present in 47 and 71% of the participants attending to the decrease in LVGLS and RVFWS, respectively. No associations were found between any of the analyzed variables and EICF except for age, which was associated with the magnitude of decrement of RVFWS (r = 0.58, p = 0.030). CONCLUSIONS: Ultramarathon running at moderate altitude seems to induce EICF in a considerable proportion of recreational athletes.

Fate and removal of bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in horizontal subsurface constructed wetlands: Effect of mixed vegetation and substrate type.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of cropping method and substrate type on the fate and the removal of bacterial and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) indicators from primary wastewater by constructed wetlands (CWs) during startup and maturation stages. Four small-scale CWs differing in their plantation pattern (monoculture vs. polyculture) and substrate type were constructed and operated under field conditions. While for bacteria, the greatest impact of the cropping method and substrate type on removal was during the startup stage rather than the maturation stage, for ARGs, such impact was significant at both stages. During startup, the removal efficiencies of heterotrophic bacteria, fecal coliforms, E. coli, 16S rRNA genes and lacZ increased with the operation time. At maturation, the removal efficiencies were constant and were within the range of 89.2-99.4%, 93.7-98.9%, 89-98.8%, 94.1-99.6% and 92.9-98.7%, respectively. The removal efficiencies of intl1, tetM, intl1, sul1, ermB and total ARGs were also increased with the operation time. However, they were ARG type and configuration-dependent; at maturation they ranged between 50.7%-89.4%, 85.9%-97%, 49.6%-92.9%, 58.2%-96.7% and 79.9-94.3%, respectively. The tuff-filled serially planted CW was also the only one capable of removing these genes at similar high efficiency. Metagenomic analysis showed that none of the ARGs was among the most common ARGs in water and biofilm samples; rather most ARGs belonged to bacterial efflux transporter superfamilies. Although ARGs were removed, they were still detected in substrate biofilm and their relative concentrations were increased in the effluents. While the removal of both bacteria and ARGs was higher during summer compared to winter, the season had no effect on the removal pattern of ARGs. Hence, combination of the serial plantation with substrate having high surface area is a potential strategy that can be used to improve the performance of CWs.

Impacto psicosocial de la pandemia por COVID-19 en adultos de Buenos Aires / Psychosocial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Adult Population of Buenos Aires

RESUMEN Introducción: En marzo de 2020, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró a la enfermedad SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus, una pandemia. Desde ese momento, se lleva a cabo un experimento psicológico notablemente grande en el mundo: el aislamiento social. Objetivos: Analizar la repercusión del aislamiento social sobre los hábitos saludables y algunos aspectos psicosociales y conductuales durante el confinamiento y las restricciones impuestas por la pandemia en el área metropolitana de Buenos Aires (AMBA). Material y métodos: Se confeccionó una encuesta y se convocó por redes sociales (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, e-mail) a que la respondieran en forma anónima todos excepto el personal médico. Resultados: Tras 7 días de enviado el correspondiente enlace, habían contestado la encuesta 2912 personas; el 48,2% de ellas tenía entre 40 y 60 años y en su mayoría eran mujeres. El 43,53% percibieron modificaciones en sus hábitos de vida, como el aumento en las horas frente a dispositivos electrónicos, que se duplicó en la cuarentena. Esto se acompañó de mayor sedentarismo: el 83,5% hacía ejercicio antes de la pandemia, pero solo el 6,4% mantuvo la cantidad de horas semanales de ejercicio que hacía antes del aislamiento. El 43,52% presentó alteración en sus hábitos alimenticios y el 41% refirió síntomas compatibles con depresión, ansiedad, tristeza, falta de voluntad o desesperanza. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio sugiere que el bienestar psicológico y los hábitos saludables son amenazados por el confinamiento establecido para contener la transmisión de COVID-19, por lo que es preciso implementar medidas para prevenir consecuencias en nuestra población.

ABSTRACT Background: In March 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus a pandemic, and since then a remarkably large psychological experiment has been carried out in the world: social isolation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of social isolation on healthy habits and psychosocial and behavioral aspects during the confinement and restrictions imposed by the pandemic in the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires (AMBA). Methods: An anonymous survey, excluding medical personnel, was carried out through social networks (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and e-mail). Results: Within 7 days of sending the link 2,912 people answered the survey. Age was between 40 and 60 years in 48.2% of participants, with a predominance of women. In 43.53% of cases, respondents perceived changes in their lifestyle, such as a twofold increase of hours in front of electronic devices during quarantine. This was accompanied by a more sedentary lifestyle, since 83.5% exercised before the pandemic but only 6.4% maintained the prior hours of weekly physical activity. Altered eating habits was reported by 43.52% of participants and 41% referred symptoms compatible with depression, anxiety, sadness, unwillingness or hopelessness. Conclusions: Our study suggests that psychological wellbeing and healthy habits are threatened by confinement in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, so it is necessary to implement measures to prevent consequences in our population.

Aspectos psicosociales de la pandemia COVID-19 en la población de la ciudad de Mendoza / Psychosocial aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Mendoza population

RESUMEN Introducción: En marzo de 2020 la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró a la enfermedad SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus una pandemia; desde ese momento se lleva a cabo un experimento psicológico notablemente grande en el mundo: el aislamiento social. Objetivos: Analizar los aspectos psicosociales del confinamiento y las restricciones impuestas por la pandemia en la ciudad de Mendoza (Argentina). Material y métodos: Mediante la utilización de las redes sociales (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, e-Mail) se realizó de manera anónima por medio de un formulario, una encuesta diseñada para valorar los aspectos psicosociales y conductuales del confinamiento obligatorio por la situación de pandemia, y cómo afectó a la población. Fue realizada en la ciudad de Mendoza capital y gran Mendoza utilizando la población que asiste al instituto de cardiología y medicina del deporte. Resultados: Contestaron la encuesta 915 personas en 10 días de enviado el link; el 49% de los participantes se encontraba entre los 20 y 40 años y la mayoría eran mujeres. El 80,7% de la población encuestada realizó ejercicio durante el tiempo de confinamiento, pero solo el 3,8% mantuvo la cantidad de horas previas de ejercicio semanal. El 44% de las personas aumentó el tiempo que pasaba frente a una pantalla y el 61% alteró sus hábitos alimentarios saludables. Al menos el 60% de la población encuestada refirió síntomas compatibles con depresión, ansiedad, tristeza, falta de voluntad o desesperanza. Conclusiones: El tiempo de confinamiento sin permitir actividades al aire libre, a pesar de la prohibición de contacto social, se asocia con cambios en el estilo de vida saludable.

ABSTRACT Background: In March 2020 the World Health Organization (WHO) declared SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus disease a pandemic, and since then the largest psychological experiment in the world is being carried out: social isolation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the psychosocial aspects of confinement and the restrictions imposed by the pandemic in the city of Mendoza, Argentina Methods: An anonymous survey using social networks (WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and e-mail) was designed to assess the psychosocial and behavioral aspects of mandatory confinement due to the pandemic and its impact in the population that attends the Institute of Cardiology and Sports in the city of Mendoza and Greater Mendoza. Results: The survey was answered by 915 persons within 10 days of sending the link; 49% of participants were between 20 and 40 years old with a majority of female gender. In 80.7% of cases they performed physical exercise during the confinement, but only 3.8% maintained the previous number of hours of weekly activity, 44% increased their time in front of a screen and 61% altered their healthy eating habits. At least 60% of the surveyed population reported symptoms compatible with depression: anxiety, sadness, unwillingness or hopelessness. Conclusions: Confinement without allowing outdoor activities, notwithstanding the proscription of social contact, is associated with changes in healthy lifestyle.