[Prevalence, knowledge and control of arterial hypertension in vulnerable neighborhoods of Argentina: A Cross-sectional Study]. / Estudio de prevalencia, conocimiento y control de la hipertensión arterial en barrios vulnerables de Argentina.

INTRODUCTION: Hypertension (HTN) represents the primary individual risk factor, contributing significantly to the global burden of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). In our country, epidemiological research has highlighted substantial variations in the prevalence of these risk factors across different populations. However, there is a lack of epidemiological studies assessing exclusive cardiovascular risk factors within vulnerable neighborhoods characterized by extremely limited economic resources, sociocultural challenges, and inadequate healthcare access. METHODS: A multicenter cross-sectional observational study was conducted among individuals residing in economically deprived and marginalized communities, including informal settlements and underprivileged neighborhoods. Simple random sampling of households was employed. Blood pressure measurements, anthropometric assessments, and epidemiological, economic, and sociocultural questionnaires were administered. Results encompass prevalence rates, awareness levels, and blood pressure control across diverse regions. Logistic regression was utilized to identify independent variables influencing primary outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 989 participants were analyzed. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 48.2%. About 82% had a body mass index (BMI) >25. Approximately 45.3% had less than 6 years of formal education. Independent association was established between education levels below 6 years and higher hypertension prevalence. Among hypertensive individuals, 44% were unaware of their condition, with only 17.2% achieving control, correlated with having health insurance and a higher educational background. Merely 24% were receiving combined therapy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of hypertension within vulnerable neighborhoods is alarmingly high, surpassing rates in other social strata. Knowledge, treatment, and control levels of hypertension are suboptimal, comparable to other populations. Inadequate use of combination therapy was observed. This study underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions addressing cardiovascular risk factors in poor areas to mitigate the burden of CVD.

Cholangioscopy under direct visualization: skill progress during a dedicated Image-Guided Surgery Course.

AIMS: Training programs are essential to introduce new methods for bile duct clearance. Visual examination via cholangioscopy is ideal to diagnose and treat biliary tract diseases such as cancer and choledocholithiasis. However, surgeons rarely use cholangioscopes. Specific training is required to master laparoscopic and percutaneous cholangioscopy. This study aims to assess skill acquisition and retention during cholangioscopy training in the Image-Guided Therapies Masterclass. METHODS: This prospective study enrolled 17 physicians undergoing training in interventional treatments of biliary diseases. A novel disposable cholangioscope and access kit were used with a biliary tract model including two simulated common bile duct (CBD) stones. The curriculum required visualization of all critical structures before removal of one stone with a Dormia basket. After informed consent, demographic data and time to exercise completion were recorded on each of two subsequent training days. Task-specific questions were measured at the completion of training using a Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree, 1-5 points). RESULTS: All participants successfully completed the task (6F/11 M, age 36 ± 5 years; 13 surgeons, 4 interventional radiologists; median experience with percutaneous procedures 2 years, range 0-20). Significant improvement in mean task completion time was observed (day 1: 172 ± 59 s, day 2: 89 ± 45 s; P < 0.0001). All task-specific questions were answered with a median rating of 5/5: "The platform facilitates cholangioscopy" and "This training method accelerates gain in proficiency and is useful for residents/fellows" (IQR 5-5), "This platform is useful to measure the proficiency level" and "There is an application for simulation in percutaneous surgery training" (IQR 4.5-5), "The platform is user-friendly" and "The model quality recreates realistic scenarios" (IQR 4-5). CONCLUSION: Cholangioscopic bile duct exploration and stone retrieval were achieved by all participants using a dedicated training program and physical simulator. Significant skill progress was observed during 2 days of dedicated training.

Percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy for benign and malignant biliary disease using a novel short single-operator cholangioscope.

BACKGROUND: The length of conventional single-use cholangioscopes poses a challenge for percutaneous or laparoscopic approaches for direct visualization of the biliary tract. The aim of this retrospective observational clinical study was to assess the use of a dedicated percutaneous short single-operator cholangioscope (PSSOC) for diagnosis and treatment of benign or malignant biliary diseases. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a prospectively maintained database including all consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous transhepatic cholangioscopy with the PSSOC between 06/2021 and 01/2023. RESULTS: Forty patients were included (22F/18 M, age 58.7 ± 16.7 years). The diagnostic and therapeutic management plan was based on procedural findings. Indications were bile duct obstruction associated with complex anatomy (n = 13), choledocholithiasis (n = 11), suspected malignant stenosis of the biliary tract (n = 11), biliary stent placement (n = 2) and removal (n = 1), and failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (n = 2). The cholangioscopies were diagnostic (n = 5), therapeutic (n = 20) or both simultaneously (n = 15). The most frequent procedures were electrohydraulic lithotripsy (n = 25) and biopsy sampling (n = 12). Complications occurred in 7 cases (17.5%), including cholangitis (n = 4, B2), pleural perforation (n = 1, B2), portal bleeding (n = 1, B3), and Tako-Tsubo syndrome (n = 1, B3), classified according to the Society of Interventional Radiology classification. Intraprocedural visual diagnosis was confirmed by the histopathologic result in 11/12 patients in which biopsies were performed (91.7%). PSSOC was relevant to avoid surgery in 2 patients (5%) with indeterminate strictures, allowing to rule out malignancy and treat the lithiasis. CONCLUSIONS: Direct visualization of the biliary tract enabled targeted biopsies for histopathological diagnosis. The visual and histopathological diagnoses were concordant in all but one case. Percutaneous cholangioscopy with a dedicated PSSOC allows to optimize identification and treatment of complex biliary disease including biliary lithiasis while assessing bile duct patency. The clinical use of the novel PSSOC system was safe and effective and could prevent surgical exploration in select patients.

Physiotherapy applied to palliative care patients: a descriptive practice-based study.

BACKGROUND: Over the last few years, the presence of physiotherapists in Palliative Care Units (PCU) has considerably grown based on evidence from studies supporting the use of non-pharmacological measures as part of Palliative Care (PC) treatments. However, more accumulated data are needed to definitively establish its added value. The present study describes the type of patients receiving physiotherapy in a PCU and the benefits obtained in relation to their degree of functional dependence. METHODS: An observational, prospective, descriptive, practice-based study was undertaken involving patients admitted to the PCU of Fundación Instituto San José (Madrid, Spain), who according to the PCU´s clinical practice, met the criteria for physiotherapy intervention. Daily clinical practice was unchanged for study reasons. Participants were assessed prior to initiating and at the end of the physiotherapy program using the following standard scales: the Barthel Index, the Functional Ambulation Categories scale, the Palliative Performance Scale, and the Braden scale. A descriptive analysis was performed and scale scores prior to and after treatment were compared using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significance was set at 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 63 patients were included (mean age 71.98 ± 12.72; 61.9% males). Fifty-eight patients (92.1%) were oncological patients; of them, 35 (60.3%) had metastases. Prior to treatment, 28 (44.4%) participants had total dependence according to the Barthel index, and 37 (58.7%) were non-functional ambulator according to the FAC scale. At the end of treatment, the number of patients with total dependence decreased to 15 (23.8%) and those non-functional ambulator to 12 (19.0%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients who benefited from physical therapy during their admission to our PCU were predominantly males with oncological processes, mainly lung cancer. PC including physiotherapy improved their functionality, independence and skills for activities of daily living in this sample of PCU patients.

Clinical practice guidelines on leptospirosis in children 2019

Executive Summary@#Leptospirosis is a disease prevalent mostly in tropical and subtropical countries. Its potential to be a concerning problem emerges with the onset of the rainy season, as flooding and heavy rainfall facilitate disease epidemics. Among those at risk of contracting the disease are field workers, veterinarians, sewer workers, military personnel and those who swim or wade in contaminated waters. In the absence of an existing evidence-based guideline for the pediatric age group, this first edition hopes to standardize approach to diagnosis, antibiotic management, and prevention of leptospirosis. The intended users are primary care physicians, family medicine physicians, pediatricians, and other healthcare workers involved in the management of leptospirosis in children. Ten priority questions were identified by a group of experts composed of an oversight committee, a guideline writing panel, and a technical review committee. The GRADE methodology was used to determine the quality of evidence of each recommendation. The draft recommendations (summarized below) were finalized after these were presented to and voted on by a panel of stakeholders.

Adsorption of Metals on (100) Metallic Surfaces: Monte Carlo Simulations and Geometrical Phase Transitions.

Adsorption and continuous phase transitions (percolation) of metals on (100) metallic surfaces are studied by means of Monte Carlo simulations and the finite-size scaling theory. The studied systems are Ag/Au(100), Au/Ag(100), Ag/Pt(100), and Pt/Ag(100), and the embedded atom method (EAM) is employed for energy calculations. Pairwise interactions are also considered for comparative purposes. The study of critical exponents reveals that these systems belong to the same universality as random sequential adsorption (RSA). For the four systems studied, and the two kinds of interactions considered, phase diagrams of percolation threshold, θc, as a function of temperature are presented. In all cases, and for all temperatures, θc is always below the value corresponding to RSA, as expected for attractive interactions, and it tends to that value as T → ∞. At intermediate temperatures, a particular behavior is found for EAM interactions.

Cetylpyridinium Chloride Mouthwash to Reduce Shedding of Infectious SARS-CoV-2: A Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial.

The airborne transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) via respiratory fluids and droplets suggests that mouthwashes containing substances with virucidal activity can help reduce viral spread. We conducted a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial to assess the virucidal activity of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) mouthwashes. Outpatients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection with or without symptoms were randomized to perform washes and gargles for 1 min with 15 mL of either colored distilled water or 0.07% CPC (Vitis CPC Protect) mouthwash. The study outcomes were the SARS-CoV-2 log10 viral RNA load and the nucleocapsid protein levels, both in saliva at 1 and 3 h after the intervention. In total, 118 patients were enrolled and randomized (mean [SD], age 46 [14] y). Thirteen of 118 participants (11%) did not complete follow-up or had insufficient sample volume for testing and were excluded from the analysis. The assessment of the viral load showed no significant differences between groups at any of the investigated points. However, the levels of SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein of lysed viruses were significantly higher in the CPC group compared with the control group at 1 h (adjusted difference 269.3 pg/mL; 95% confidence interval [CI], 97.1-441.5) and at 3 h postintervention (561.1 pg/mL; 95% CI, 380.0-742.2). In nonhospitalized patients with asymptomatic or mild symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection, a 0.07% CPC mouthwash, compared to placebo, was associated with a significant increase of nucleocapsid protein levels in saliva, indicating enhanced disruption of viral particles.

Decreased mortality among patients with catheter-related bloodstream infections at Catalan hospitals (2010-2019).

BACKGROUND: The incidence of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs) has fallen over the last decade, especially in intensive care units (ICUs). AIM: To assess the existence of concomitant trends in outcomes and to analyse the current risk factors for mortality. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective cohort study was conducted at 24 Catalan hospitals participating in the Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections in Catalonia (VINCat). All hospital-acquired CRBSI episodes diagnosed from January 2010 to December 2019 were included. A common protocol including epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological data was prospectively completed. Mortality at 30 days after bacteraemia onset was analysed using the Cox regression model. FINDINGS: Over the study period, 4795 episodes of CRBSI were diagnosed. Among them, 75% were acquired in conventional wards and central venous catheters were the most frequently involved (61%). The 30-day mortality rate was 13.8%, presenting a significant downward trend over the study period: from 17.9% in 2010 to 10.6% in 2019 (hazard ratio (HR): 0.95; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92-0.98). The multivariate analysis identified age (HR: 1.03; 95% CI: 1.02-1.04), femoral catheter (1.78; 1.33-2.38), medical ward acquisition (2.07; 1.62-2.65), ICU acquisition (3.45; 2.7-4.41), S. aureus (1.59; 1.27-1.99) and Candida sp. (2.19; 1.64-2.94) as risk factors for mortality, whereas the mortality rate associated with episodes originating in peripheral catheters was significantly lower (0.69; 0.54-0.88). CONCLUSION: Mortality associated with CRBSI has fallen in recent years but remains high. Intervention programmes should focus especially on ICUs and medical wards, where incidence and mortality rates are highest.

Uveitis intermedia as the initial presentation of a primary lymphoma of the central nervous system.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is one of the most infrequent brain tumours, accounting for 3% of primary central nervous system neoplasms. In addition to its low prevalence, clinical presentation is usually nonspecific, leading to diagnostic delay. Intraocular involvement occurs in 15% of cases, and disease onset in this location is even rarer. We present a case of a patient with intermediate uveitis as the first clinical manifestation of this neoplasm.

Uveítis intermedia como presentación inicial de un linfoma primario del sistema nervioso central / Uveitis intermedia as the initial presentation of a primary lymphoma of the central nervous system

El linfoma primario del sistema nervioso central (LPSNC) es una de las neoplasias cerebrales más infrecuentes, representando el 3% de los tumores primarios en dicha localización. Sumado a su baja prevalencia, las manifestaciones clínicas de esta patología son poco específicas, por lo que es común el retraso diagnóstico de esta entidad. El compromiso intraocular relacionado al LPSNC ocurre sólo en un 15% de los casos, siendo aún más inusual que dicha topografía se presente como debut en esta enfermedad. Presentamos el caso clínico de una paciente con uveítis intermedia como primera manifestación clínica de esta neoplasia (AU)

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is one of the most infrequent brain tumours, accounting for 3% of primary central nervous system neoplasms. In addition to its low prevalence, clinical presentation is usually nonspecific, leading to diagnostic delay. Intraocular involvement occurs in 15% of cases, and disease onset in this location is even rarer. We present a case of a patient with intermediate uveitis as the first clinical manifestation of this neoplasm (AU)

Is it Possible to Assess the Two-Domain Definition of the Broad Autism Phenotype Using the Available Measurement Tools?

Although, the operationalization of the autism spectrum disorder has been updated around two domains, the broad autism phenotype (BAP) one has not. Additionally, the items of the three common BAP measures, the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ), the Autism Quotient, and the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), remain organized around a non-consensual number of factors. We explored whether the items of these measures matched with the two-domain operationalization through a parallel analysis, which has suggested two main components, and two expert judgments which have assessed item wording, relevance, and construct representativeness. A remaining pool of 48 BAP-relevant items suggested a possible under-representation of two subdomains. Despite the relevance of all the BAPQ items, only the SRS ones tapped in all subdomains.

Comparative pangenomic analyses and biotechnological potential of cocoa-related Acetobacter senegalensis strains.

Acetobacter senegalensis belongs to the group of acetic acid bacteria (AAB) that present potential biotechnological applications, for production of D-gluconate, cellulose and acetic acid. AAB can overcome heat and acid stresses by using strategies involving the overexpression of heat-shock proteins and enzymes from the complex pyrroquinoline-ADH, besides alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH). Nonetheless, the isolation of A. senegalensis and other AAB from food may be challenging due to presence of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) cells and due to uncertainties about nutritional requirements. To contribute for a better understanding of the ecology of AAB, this paper reports on the pangenome analysis of five strains of A. senegalensis recently isolated from a Brazilian spontaneous cocoa fermentation. The results showed biosynthetic clusters exclusively found in some cocoa-related AAB, such as those related to terpene pathways, which are important for flavour development. Genes related to oxidative stress were conserved in all the genomes, with multiple clusters. Moreover, there were genes coding for ADH and putative ABC transporters distributed in core, shell and cloud genomes, while chaperonin-encoding genes were present only in the core and soft-core genomes. Regarding quorum sensing, a response regulator gene was in the shell genome, and the gene encoding for acyl-homoserine lactone efflux protein was in the soft-core genome. There were quorum quenching-related genes, mainly encoding for lactonases, but also for acylases. Moreover, A. senegalensis did not have determinants of virulence or antibiotic resistance, which are good traits for strains intended to be applied in food fermentation.

Optimization and validation of a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for the determination of glyphosate in human urine after pre-column derivatization with 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl chloride.

In 2015, glyphosate was classified as "Group 2A - probably carcinogenic to humans" by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Therefore, public concerns about the environmental and health risks of this substance have rapidly increased. Considering its toxicokinetic characteristics, urinary levels of glyphosate could be a powerful tool for human biomonitoring. Nevertheless, the physicochemical properties of this molecule and the complexity of the matrix make this purpose particularly challenging. In order to solve this problem, the presented study describes a simple LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of glyphosate in human urine after pre-column derivatization with FMOC-Cl. Method development was focused on the optimization of the derivatization reaction in human urine, adjusting critical variables such as pH of borate buffer, FMOC-Cl concentration and derivatization time. Besides, chromatographic separation and spectrometric parameters were also established. The analytical method was fully validated according international guidelines for selectivity, carry over, linearity, accuracy, precision, lower limit of quantitation, matrix effect and stability under different conditions. All performance parameters were within the acceptance criteria. In addition, the method was successfully applied to 52 urine samples obtained from exposed subjects from northern Argentina, laying the foundation for future epidemiological studies.

Uveitis intermedia as the initial presentation of a primary lymphoma of the central nervous system. / Uveítis intermedia como presentación inicial de un linfoma primario del sistema nervioso central.

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is one of the most infrequent brain tumours, accounting for 3% of primary central nervous system neoplasms. In addition to its low prevalence, clinical presentation is usually nonspecific, leading to diagnostic delay. Intraocular involvement occurs in 15% of cases, and disease onset in this location is even rarer. We present a case of a patient with intermediate uveitis as the first clinical manifestation of this neoplasm.

Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives isolated from hempseed and their effects on central nervous system enzymes.

New neuroprotective treatments of natural origin are being investigated. Both, plant extracts and isolated compounds have shown bioactive effects. Hempseed is known for its composition of fatty acids, proteins, fibre, vitamins, as well as a large number of phytochemical compounds. After a defatting process of the seeds, hydroxycinnamic acids and its amine derivatives are the majoritarian compounds in an ethyl acetate fraction (EAF). In the present study, we investigated in vitro effect on neuronal enzymes: MAO-A, MAO-B, tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase. Besides, the effect of EAF on striatal biogenic amines in mice was evaluated. Both, EAF and isolated compounds (N-trans-caffeoyltyramine and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine), showed inhibitory action on MAO-A, MAO-B and tyrosinase. Furthermore, an increasing of biogenic amines was observed in the corpus striatum of the mice, after administration of EAF. These findings show that EAF and the hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives may represent a potential treatment in degenerative neuronal diseases.

Microcirugía endodóntica con planificación digital y guía quirúrgica: caso clínico / Endodontic microsurgery with digital planning and surgical guide: a clinical case

La microcirugía endodóntica (MCE) es una alternativa al tratamiento no quirúrgico de la periodontitis apical persistente. Por su evolución junto a los avances tecnológicos, la incorporación de la tomografía computarizada de haz cónico (CBCT), la tecnología de impresión tridimensional (3D) y las guías quirúrgicas diseñadas con software asistido por computadora, han permitido implementar la planificación digital llevada a cabo en el acto quirúrgico. El objetivo de este informe es describir un caso clínico de MCE guiada, con un protocolo de diseño digital y el uso de una guía quirúrgica impresa en resina biocompatible, diseñada con precisión de acuerdo con las mediciones de CBCT preoperatorias. Se diseñó un kit de trefinas con "sleeves" (Neokings) para realizar la osteotomía y resección de los últimos 3 mm apicales direccionados por la guía quirúrgica. La tabla cortical intacta se recuperó y se utilizó como injerto junto con plasma rico en fibrina. La guía de cirugía apical permite al profesional lograr ubicar con precisión los tejidos objetivos de la cirugía y acortar el tiempo del procedimiento. Un control CBCT inmediato mostró la planificación exacta en 3D del sitio quirúrgico (AU)

Prevalencia e importancia de micobacterias no tuberculosas en pacientes adultos con fibrosis quística en un hospital de Madrid / Prevalence and importance of non-tuberculous mycobacteria in adult patients with cystic fibrosis in a hospital in Madrid

INTRODUCCIÓN: El papel de las micobacterias no tuberculosas (MNT) en los pacientes con fibrosis quística (FQ) está, en ocasiones, en controversia. El objetivo del trabajo es evaluar la prevalencia y las características clínicas/microbiológicas de pacientes adultos con FQ colonizados con MNT, destacando Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus). MÉTODOS: Se ha realizado un estudio retrospectivo en 92 pacientes adultos con FQ en el que se diferenció: grupo control, 64 pacientes no colonizados por MNT, y grupo a estudio, 28 pacientes colonizados por MNT. Se han analizado variables como la edad, mutación F508del, función pulmonar, afectación pancreática, tinción de auramina y recolonizaciones entre ambos grupos. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia de MNT encontrada ha sido 30,4%. La MNT más prevalente fue Mycobacterium avium complex seguida por M. abscessus. Para M. abscessus, en el estudio comparativo con pacientes colonizados por otras MNT, se obtuvieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las variables de edad. DISCUSIÓN: Hemos encontrado alta prevalencia de MNT en pacientes adultos con FQ y relacionamos la aparición de M. asbcessus con edades inferiores a 30 años y F508del. Con el fin de conocer mejor el papel patógeno de las MNT, especialmente de M. asbcessus, se requieren estudios multicéntricos en población con FQ

INTRODUCTION: The role of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) among cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, on occasion, remains unknown. The aim of our study is to evaluate the prevalence and clinical/microbiological characteristics of CF adult patients colonized by NTM, highlighting Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus). METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted with 92 CF adult patients: including a control group of 64 patients, not colonized by NTM, and a study group of 28 patients, colonized by NTM. We have analyzed variables such as age, F508del mutation, lung function, pancreatic involvement, auramine staining and co-colonizations between both groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of NTM found was 30.4%. The most prevalent was Mycobacterium avium complex followed by M. abscessus. For M. abscessus, in the comparative study with patients colonized by other NTM, significant results were obtained for variables age. DISCUSSION: We have found a high prevalence of NTM among adult patients with CF, and we associated the presence of M. asbcessus with ages less than 30 years and F508del. Due to the pathogenic role of NTM, especially M. asbcessus, multicenter studies are required within the population suffering from CF

Galgo: a bi-objective evolutionary meta-heuristic identifies robust transcriptomic classifiers associated with patient outcome across multiple cancer types.

MOTIVATION: Statistical and machine-learning analyses of tumor transcriptomic profiles offer a powerful resource to gain deeper understanding of tumor subtypes and disease prognosis. Currently, prognostic gene-expression signatures do not exist for all cancer types, and most developed to date have been optimized for individual tumor types. In Galgo, we implement a bi-objective optimization approach that prioritizes gene signature cohesiveness and patient survival in parallel, which provides greater power to identify tumor transcriptomic phenotypes strongly associated with patient survival. RESULTS: To compare the predictive power of the signatures obtained by Galgo with previously studied subtyping methods, we used a meta-analytic approach testing a total of 35 large population-based transcriptomic biobanks of four different cancer types. Galgo-generated colorectal and lung adenocarcinoma signatures were stronger predictors of patient survival compared to published molecular classification schemes. One Galgo-generated breast cancer signature outperformed PAM50, AIMS, SCMGENE and IntClust subtyping predictors. In high-grade serous ovarian cancer, Galgo signatures obtained similar predictive power to a consensus classification method. In all cases, Galgo subtypes reflected enrichment of gene sets related to the hallmarks of the disease, which highlights the biological relevance of the partitions found. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The open-source R package is available on www.github.com/harpomaxx/galgo. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Synthesis, characterization and kinetic study of silver and gold nanoparticles produced by the archaeon Haloferax volcanii.

AIMS: To evaluate the ability of the haloarchaeon Haloferax volcanii to produce Ag and Au nanoparticles (NPs) and to characterize the obtained material in order to find relevant properties for future potential applications. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nanoparticles were produced by incubating H. volcanii cells with the corresponding metal salt. In the presence of precursor salts, cultures evidenced a colour change associated to the formation of metallic nanostructures with plasmonic bands located in the visible range of the spectrum. X-ray fluorescence analysis confirmed the presence of Ag and Au in the NPs which were spherical, with average sizes of 25 nmol l-1 (Ag) and 10 nmol l-1 (Au), as determined by electronic microscopy. Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy indicated that both types of NPs showed a stable protein capping. Ag NPs evidenced antibacterial activity and Au NPs improved the specificity of polymerase chain reaction reactions. Au and Ag NPs were able to reduce 4-nitrophenol when incubated with NaBH4 . CONCLUSIONS: Haloferax volcanii is able to synthesize metallic NPs with interesting properties for technological applications. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our data demonstrate the ability of H. volcanii to synthesize metal NPs and constitutes a solid starting point to deepen the study and explore novel applications.