Rhizospheric Organic Acids as Biostimulants: Monitoring Feedbacks on Soil Microorganisms and Biochemical Properties.

The biostimulant potential of three different organic acids (OAs) present in the rhizosphere, specifically lactic, oxalic, and citric acids, have been studied. The results showed a rapid and complete metabolism of these three acids with soil microorganisms using them as a source of carbon and energy. Biostimulation was confirmed by soil biochemical studies which showed an increase in enzymatic activities, such as dehydrogenase and phosphatase, lactic and citric acids being those that produced the greatest biostimulation. With regard to microbiota composition, amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene showed changes in the structure of soil microbial communities. Applying OAs produced a decrease in richness and diversity indices, inducing specific changes in the structure of the microbiological communities. Applying lactic acid induced rapid changes in microbiota composition at both phylum and family taxonomic levels, favoring the proliferation of microorganisms involved in its degradation and soil fertility, such as the genus Bacillus and the family Micrococcaceae. Once the lactic acid was degraded, the biodiversity tended to return to similar phyla, but specific distinctive families and genera remained, leaving a pattern of induction of taxa described as plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), such as the Sinorhizobium and Lysobacter genera, and the Pseudomonaceae family. Similar behavior was found with citric acid, which favored the proliferation and dominance of microorganisms of the Clostridiaceae family, involved in its degradation, as well as microorganisms of both the Micrococcaceae and Pseudomonadaceae families which were found on day 7, leaving a similar pattern of induction as that found after the mineralization of lactic acid. On the other hand, oxalic acid induced long-lasting changes in the bacterial community composition. This was characterized by an increase in the proportion of the Burkholderiales order, which includes microorganisms involved in the degradation of this acid and microorganisms described as PGPB. This study presents evidence supporting the use of OAs as potential soil fertility inducers, due both to their effects in enhancing the dominance of taxa described as PGPB and to their stimulating soil microbial activity.

Immune Complex Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis Associated with Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts in Alcoholic Cirrhosis: Two Case Reports.

OBJECTIVE: To report on 2 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis who were treated with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) placement. CLINICAL PRESENTATION AND INTERVENTION: The 2 patients had a history of alcoholic cirrhosis, and TIPS surgery was performed on them. In both cases, 4 months after TIPS placement, proteinuria was observed along with histological alterations characteristic of immune complex membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN). CONCLUSION: The TIPS in one patient was successful without immediate complications, while the other patient was referred for a combined liver-kidney transplant. In both cases, immune complex MPGN might have developed after TIPS placement probably due to a reduced immune complex clearance.

Membranous glomerulonephritis and cellular crescents induced by levamisole-adulterated cocaine abuse: a case report.

Levamisole is illicitly employed as a cocaine adulterant. The consumption of levamisole-adulterated cocaine can provoke anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated syndromes. Patients carrying an HLAB27 allele are known to be at higher risk of developing agranulocytosis when treated with levamisole. Likewise, patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and internal organ involvement have typically been exposed to offending agents for prolonged periods of time, often on the order of years. Here, we report an unusual case of a patient in which kidney biopsy showed membranous glomerulonephritis with cellular crescents associated with levamisole-contaminated cocaine use.

Effects of mefenoxam fungicide on soil biochemical properties.

We studied the effect of mefenoxam on soil biochemical properties. Soil was mixed with three rates of mefenoxam (0.5, 1 and 2 L ha(-1)) and incubated for 83 days. Fungicide was applied to the soil four times during the experiment, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Soil ergosterol, dehydrogenase, urease, ß-glucosidase, and phosphatase activities were measured during the experiment. Compared to controls, soils with the highest doses of mefenoxam demonstrated decreased ergosterol and dehydrogenase activities by 81 and 27 %, respectively; whereas, urease, ß-glucosidase, and phosphatase activities increased. These results suggest that mefenoxam may possibly have consequences for agronomic crop production due to the negative effect on soil fungal populations and stimulation of the growth of soil bacterial activity.

Crecer cuidando. El rol cuidador en las hijas de madres dependientes / Growing up taking care. The caregiver role in daughters with dependent mothers

En España, el modelo social de cuidados y atención a personas en estado de dependencia tiene un claro componente familiar. En este ámbito la cuidadora principal es una figura clave, ya que asume la responsabilidad y el complicado cuidado de la persona dependiente. Las cuidadoras familiares deben afrontar una gran cantidad de tareas y decisiones difíciles, lo que las pone en una situación de alta vulnerabilidad, estrés e incertidumbre que merecen especial atención en la asistencia sanitaria. Desde esta perspectiva, se plantea como objetivo de estudio describir el tipo de afrontamiento que realizan las cuidadoras familiares de pacientes en estado de dependencia severa que no presentan sobrecarga en su rol cuidador, tomando como base para ello la comprensión profunda del significado que posee el cuidado natural para estas personas. Para abordar el objetivo de estudio se hizo uso del relato biográfico; en concreto, se siguió la metodología planteada por Amezcua y Hueso. El análisis de datos muestra la toma de decisiones familiar de forma compartida, el mantenimiento de los roles materno-filial y la reciprocidad como elementos integrantes y básicos del cuidado natural. La participante realiza un cuidado singular y humanizado dirigido a las necesidades concretas de su madre, relacionando la historia de vida, el entorno familiar, social y cultural (AU)

In Spain, the social model of cares and attention to dependent people has got a clear family component. Within this sphere, the main caregiver is a key figure since she assumes the responsibility and the complicated attendance of the dependent person. These caregivers must face up to a great deal of tasks and difficult decisions that put them in a situation of high vulnerability, stress and uncertainty that deserves a special attention in the medical care field. From this point of view, the aim of this study is, on the one hand, the deep understanding of the natural care and, on the other hand, to describe how these relatives that take care of highly dependent patients, but do not feel overloaded with their role, face up to the situation. In order to tackle the aim of the research conducted biographical method. In particular, a biographical account was carried out following, in their construction, the methodology proposed by Amezcua and Hueso. The data analysis shows the shared decision-making of the family, the preservation of the mother-daughter roles and the reciprocity as the integrating and basic elements of the natural care. The participant accomplishes her caregiver role in a singular and humanized way; her cares were aimed at her mother´s concrete needs, linking, this way, the story of her life to the social, cultural and family environment (AU)

Mastectomía por fibroadenoma gigante juvenil recidivante / Mastectomy due to recurrent juvenile giant fibroadenoma

Los fibroadenomas son las lesiones mamarias más frecuentes durante la adolescencia. Se habla de «fibroadenoma gigante» cuando alcanza un tamaño mayor de 5cm o un peso superior a 500g. Su tratamiento consiste en la tumorectomía, siendo necesaria excepcionalmente la mastectomía. En ocasiones resulta complicada su diferenciación histológica con el tumor filodes, lesión mamaria benigna muy recidivante que raramente evoluciona como maligna. Presentamos el caso de una paciente diagnosticada de fibroadenoma gigante a los 17 años y sometida a cinco intervenciones por sucesivas recidivas tumorales, con resultado final de la realización de una mastectomía. En dos ocasiones la lesión fue catalogada como tumor filodes borderline. Consideramos de interés su presentación por su excepcional evolución y como ejemplo de la dificultad de las indicaciones quirúrgicas en determinadas lesiones mamarias benignas de difícil diagnóstico anatomopatológico (AU)

Fibroadenomas are the most common breast lesions in adolescents. The term “giant fibroadenoma” is used when the tumor reaches a size of more than 5cm or weighs more than 500g. Treatment consists of tumorectomy or, in a very few cases, mastectomy. The histological differential diagnosis between fibroadenoma and phyllodes tumor, a highly recurrent and usually benign lesion, is sometimes difficult. We present the case of a 17-year-old patient diagnosed with a giant fibroadenoma, who underwent five interventions due to multiple tumoral recurrences, with the final result of a mastectomy. The lesion was twice diagnosed as a borderline phyllodes tumor. The interest of this case lies in its exceptional clinical course. This case also illustrates the difficulty of surgical indication in some benign breast lesions with difficult histological diagnosis (AU)

Effects of Prochloraz fungicide on soil enzymatic activities and bacterial communities.

We studied in the laboratory the effect of Prochloraz fungicide on the biological properties (soil enzymatic activities and soil bacterial communities) of a Plaggic Anthrosol. Five hundred grams of soil (<2mm) was mixed with three dosages of Prochloraz (1, 2, and 4 l ha(-1)) for 83 days. A non-Prochloraz polluted soil was used as control. Following commercial recommendations, fungicide was applied four times during the incubation experiment. For all treatments, the soil ergosterol and levels of dehydrogenase, urease, ß-glucosidase, and phosphatase activity were measured at nine different times (0, 1, 21, 22, 41, 42, 62, 63, and 83 days). The 16S rDNA-DGGE profiles in all treatments were determined at the beginning and end of the incubation period. At the end of the experiment, a significant decrease in ergosterol by 72.3%, 80.8%, and 83.1%, compared with control soil, was observed when 1, 2, and 4 l ha(-1), respectively, was added. Soil enzymatic activities increased when the Prochloraz applied to the soil increased, possibly because the fungicide is used by bacterial communities as a source of energy and nutrients. The 16S rDNA-DGGE profiles indicated that the fungicide did not negatively affect soil bacterial biodiversity. These results suggested that the fungicide Prochloraz has a very interesting agronomic effect, possibly due to the negative effect on soil fungal population stimulating the growth of soil bacterial activity.

Enzymatic vegetable organic extracts as soil biochemical biostimulants and atrazine extenders.

The purpose of this study was to gather information on the potential effects of organic biostimulants on soil activity and atrazine biodegradation. Carob germ enzymatic extract (CGEE) and wheat condensed distiller solubles enzymatic extract (WCDS-EE) have been obtained using an enzymatic process; their main organic components are soluble carbohydrates and proteins in the form of peptides and free amino acids. Their application to soil results in high biostimulation, rapidly increased dehydrogenase, phosphatase and glucosidase activities, and an observed atrazine extender capacity due to inhibition of its mineralization. The extender capacity of both extracts is proportional to the protein/carbohydrate ratio content. As a result, these enzymatic extracts are highly microbially available, leading to two independent phenomena, fertility and an atrazine persistence that is linked to increased soil activity.

Relationships between biological and chemical parameters on the composting of a municipal solid waste.

The aim of this work was to study the combined relationships between biological and chemical parameters with the humification index (HI) and degree of polymerisation (DP) during the composting of a municipal solid waste. During the composting, biological parameters increased during the first 15 days. After the second week, the dehydrogenase, urease, beta-glucosidase, phosphatase and arylsulphatase activities decreased 64%, 50.1%, 49.6%, 24.1% and 58.3%, respectively, compared with their initial values, possibly due to the decreasing of the water-soluble carbon content (WSC). The WSC contents decreased possibly due to the degradation of the microorganisms as carbon and energy sources. The HI increased (66% compared to the initial values) indicating an increase in the structural complexity of the humic substances. The factorial analysis indicates a relationship between the biological properties, WSC and HI and DP. The linear regression analysis indicates the high correlation coefficients found between the HI and DP with chemical and biological properties, and therefore, it can be concluded that combination of chemical and biological parameters can be used to determine the compost maturity.