Non-Destructive and Non-Invasive Approaches for the Identification of Hydroxy Lead-Calcium Phosphate Solid Solutions ((PbxCa1-x)5(PO4)3OH) in Cultural Heritage Materials.

Lead-calcium phosphates are unusual compounds sometimes found in different kinds of cultural heritage objects. Structural and physicochemical properties of this family of materials, which fall into the hydroxypyromorphite-hydroxyapatite solid solution, or (PbxCa1-x)5(PO4)3OH, have received considerable attention during the last few decades for promising applications in different fields of environmental and material sciences, but their diagnostic implications in the cultural heritage context have been poorly explored. This paper aims to provide a clearer understanding of the relationship between compositional and structural properties of the peculiar series of (PbxCa1-x)5(PO4)3OH solid solutions and to determine key markers for their proper non-destructive and non-invasive identification in cultural heritage samples and objects. For this purpose, a systematic study of powders and paint mock-ups made up of commercial and in-house synthesized (PbxCa1-x)5(PO4)3OH compounds with a different Pb2+/Ca2+ ratio was carried out via a multi-technique approach based on scanning electron microscopy, synchrotron radiation-based X-ray techniques, i.e., X-ray powder diffraction and X-ray absorption near edge structure spectroscopy at the Ca K- and P K-edges, and vibrational spectroscopy methods, i.e., micro-Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The spectral modifications observed in the hydroxypyromorphite-hydroxyapatite solid solution series are discussed, by assessing the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed techniques and by providing reference data and optimized approaches for future non-destructive and non-invasive applications to study cultural heritage objects and samples.

Comparación de escalas pronósticas en pacientes mayores de 65 años intervenidos de meningioma intracraneal. Nuestra experiencia entre 2002-2012 y revisión de la literatura / Comparison of intracranial meningioma outcome scales in operated patients older than 65 years old. Our experience between 2002-2012 and a literature review

Objetivo: Los meningiomas son los tumores intracraneales más frecuentes en el anciano. Su incidencia aumenta con la edad, por ello cada vez son diagnosticados con más frecuencia al incrementar la esperanza de vida. En nuestra muestra comparamos 4 escalas pronósticas: Clinical-Radiologic Grading System, Geriatric Scoring System, SKALE (Sexo, Karnofsky, ASA, localización y edema) y la escala de Charlson para analizar qué pacientes pueden beneficiarse de una cirugía. Material y métodos: Se realiza un análisis retrospectivo de 52 pacientes de edad mayor o igual a 65 años intervenidos en nuestro hospital desde el 2002 al 2012. Se recogen variables individuales y se aplican las 4 escalas buscando relación de ambos grupos con la mortalidad a los 3 meses y al año. Se utilizan los puntos de corte de cada una de las escalas y se determinan los valores predictivos positivo y negativo. Resultados: De las 4 escalas, solo la Clinical-Radiologic Grading System y la SKALE presentaron resultados estadísticamente significativos al analizar la mortalidad anual con los puntos de corte. Ninguna mostró relación con la mortalidad a los 3 meses. Sexo, edema, clínica previa y localización del tumor, no presentaron una relación estadísticamente significativa con la mortalidad. En cambio edad, tamaño y Karnofsky previo se correlacionaron significativamente con el pronóstico. Conclusión: Las escalas SKALE y Clinical-Radiologic Grading System son herramientas de fácil manejo que pueden ofrecer una visión orientativa sobre qué pacientes ancianos pueden beneficiarse de un tratamiento quirúrgico. Sin embargo, continúa teniendo gran importancia el análisis individualizado del paciente y la experiencia del neurocirujano

Objective: Meningioma is the most common intracranial tumor in the elderly. Its incidence rate increases with age; so as life expectancy increases, meningiomas are diagnosed more frequently. A comparison is made between 4 outcome scales in this study: Clinical-Radiological Grading System, Geriatric Scoring Scale, SKALE (Sex, Karnofsky, ASA, localization and edema), and the Charlson score, to analyze which patients could benefit from surgery. Materials and methods: A total of 52 patients of 65 years and older operated in our hospital between 2002 and 2012 were identified, and a retrospective analysis was performed. All individual variables were collected and applied the scales to see their relationship with 3 month and annual mortality. The critical values of each scale were applied and their positive and negative predictive values were calculated. Results: From the four scales, only the Clinical-Radiological Grading System and the SKALE had a significant statistical result when annual mortality was analyzed. None of them were associated with 3 month mortality. There was no statistically significant association between mortality and sex, edema, previous clinical history, and tumor location. But there was an association with age, tumor size and previous Karnofsky. Conclusion: The SKALE and the Clinical-Radiological Grading System are easy tools that can give an insight as regards patients who can benefit from a surgical treatment. Nevertheless, individualized patient analysis and neurosurgeon experience still have great importance

[Comparison of intracranial meningioma outcome scales in operated patients older than 65 years old. Our experience between 2002-2012 and a literature review]. / Comparación de escalas pronósticas en pacientes mayores de 65 años intervenidos de meningioma intracraneal. Nuestra experiencia entre 2002-2012 y revisión de la literatura.

OBJECTIVE: Meningioma is the most common intracranial tumor in the elderly. Its incidence rate increases with age; so as life expectancy increases, meningiomas are diagnosed more frequently. A comparison is made between 4 outcome scales in this study: Clinical-Radiological Grading System, Geriatric Scoring Scale, SKALE (Sex, Karnofsky, ASA, localization and edema), and the Charlson score, to analyze which patients could benefit from surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 52 patients of 65 years and older operated in our hospital between 2002 and 2012 were identified, and a retrospective analysis was performed. All individual variables were collected and applied the scales to see their relationship with 3 month and annual mortality. The critical values of each scale were applied and their positive and negative predictive values were calculated. RESULTS: From the four scales, only the Clinical-Radiological Grading System and the SKALE had a significant statistical result when annual mortality was analyzed. None of them were associated with 3 month mortality. There was no statistically significant association between mortality and sex, edema, previous clinical history, and tumor location. But there was an association with age, tumor size and previous Karnofsky. CONCLUSION: The SKALE and the Clinical-Radiological Grading System are easy tools that can give an insight as regards patients who can benefit from a surgical treatment. Nevertheless, individualized patient analysis and neurosurgeon experience still have great importance.

Variation in lipid extractability by solvent in microalgae. Additional criterion for selecting species and strains for biofuel production from microalgae.

The lipid extractability of 14 microalgae species and strains was assessed using organic solvents (methanol and chloroform). The high variability detected indicated the potential for applying this parameter as an additional criterion for microalgae screening in industrial processes such as biofuel production from microalgae. Species without cell walls presented higher extractability than species with cell walls. Analysis of cell integrity by flow cytometry and staining with propidium iodide showed a significant correlation between higher resistance to the physical treatments of cell rupture by sonication and the lipid extractability of the microalgae. The results highlight the cell wall as a determining factor in the inter- and intraspecific variability in lipid extraction treatments.

Tumor de células gigantes de raquis lumbar. Caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Giant cell tumor of the lumbar spine. Case report and review of the literature

Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente con dolor lumbar crónico irradiado a muslo izquierdo, diagnosticado por neuroimagen de lesión lítica en cuerpo vertebral de L1. Se realizó biopsia transpedicular que confirmó el diagnóstico de tumor de células gigantes. Fue intervenido quirúrgicamente mediante vertebrectomía L1 e implantación de cilindro de titanio sustitutivo por vía anterior y, a continuación, extirpación de arco posterior de L1 e implante de tornillos pediculares por vía posterior. El tumor de células gigantes es un tumor óseo primario benigno poco frecuente, de comportamiento agresivo localmente y con potencial capacidad de diseminación a distancia, generalmente a nivel pulmonar. A pesar de afectar más frecuentemente a los huesos largos, alrededor del 10% se localizan en el raquis. Con el objetivo de minimizar el riesgo de recurrencia, el tratamiento de elección es el quirúrgico

We report the case of a 32-year-old patient complaining of chronic low back pain radiating to his left thigh. His MRI showed a lytic L1 vertebral body injury. A transpedicular biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of giant cell tumor. He underwent a L1 vertebrectomy and vertebral body replacement with a titanium cylinder using anterior approach, followed by the removal of the L1 posterior arch and the placement of pedicle screws through a posterior approach. The giant cell tumor is a rare benign primary bone tumor that can be locally aggressive and can potentially spread to other areas, usually to the lungs. Although it most frequently affects long bones, approximately 10% of tumors are located in the spine. To minimise the risk of recurrence, the elective management option is surgery

[Giant cell tumor of the lumbar spine. Case report and review of the literature]. / Tumor de células gigantes de raquis lumbar. Caso clínico y revisión de la literatura.

We report the case of a 32-year-old patient complaining of chronic low back pain radiating to his left thigh. His MRI showed a lytic L1 vertebral body injury. A transpedicular biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of giant cell tumor. He underwent a L1 vertebrectomy and vertebral body replacement with a titanium cylinder using anterior approach, followed by the removal of the L1 posterior arch and the placement of pedicle screws through a posterior approach. The giant cell tumor is a rare benign primary bone tumor that can be locally aggressive and can potentially spread to other areas, usually to the lungs. Although it most frequently affects long bones, approximately 10% of tumors are located in the spine. To minimise the risk of recurrence, the elective management option is surgery.

Chromosomal abnormalities in human glioblastomas: gain in chromosome 7p correlating with loss in chromosome 10q.

Various genomic alterations have been detected in glioblastoma. Chromosome 7p, with the epidermal growth factor receptor locus, together with chromosome 10q, with the phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted in chromosome 10 and deleted in malignant brain tumors-1 loci, and chromosome 9p, with the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A locus, are among the most frequently damaged chromosomal regions in glioblastoma. In this study, we evaluated the genetic status of 32 glioblastomas by comparative genomic hybridization; the sensitivity of comparative genomic hybridization versus differential polymerase chain reaction to detect deletions at the phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted in chromosome 10, deleted in malignant brain tumors-1, and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A loci and amplifications at the cyclin-dependent kinase 4 locus; the frequency of genetic lesions (gain or loss) at 16 different selected loci (including oncogenes, tumor-suppressor genes, and proliferation markers) mapping on 13 different chromosomes; and the possible existence of a statistical association between any pair of molecular markers studied, to subdivide the glioblastoma entity molecularly. Comparative genomic hybridization showed that the most frequent region of gain was chromosome 7p, whereas the most frequent losses occurred on chromosomes 10q and 13q. The only statistically significant association was found for 7p gain and 10q loss.

Screening of antimicrobial activities in red, green and brown macroalgae from Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

Extracts from 44 species of seaweed from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain) were screened for the production of antibacterial and antifungal compounds against a panel of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, mycobacteria, yeasts and fungi. A total of 28 species displayed antibacterial activity, of which six also showed antifungal activity. Asparagopsis taxiformis and Cymopolia barbata were the species with the strongest activities against the broadest spectrum of target microorganisms. All the species with antibacterial activity were active against gram-positive bacteria, whereas only two species, A. taxiformis and Osmundea hybrida, were active against mycobacteria. The production of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial activities by the macroalgae was also studied under different conditions, although no common trend for bioactivity was observed (AU)

No disponible