Endemic species may have complex histories: within-refugium phylogeography of an endangered Iberian vole.

Glacial refugia protected and promoted biodiversity during the Pleistocene, not only at a broader scale, but also for many endemics that contracted and expanded their ranges within refugial areas. Understanding the evolutionary history of refugial endemics is especially important in the case of endangered species to recognize the origins of their genetic structure and thus produce better informed conservation practices. The Iberian Peninsula is an important European glacial refugium, rich in endemics of conservation concern, including small mammals, such as the Cabrera vole (Microtus cabrerae). This near-threatened rodent is characterized by an unusual suite of genetic, life history and ecological traits, being restricted to isolated geographic nuclei in fast-disappearing Mediterranean subhumid herbaceous habitats. To reconstruct the evolutionary history of the Cabrera vole, we studied sequence variation at mitochondrial, autosomal and sex-linked loci, using invasive and noninvasive samples. Despite low overall mitochondrial and nuclear nucleotide diversities, we observed two main well-supported mitochondrial lineages, west and east. Phylogeographic modelling in the context of the Cabrera vole's detailed fossil record supports a demographic scenario of isolation of two populations during the Last Glacial Maximum from a single focus in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula. In addition, our data suggest subsequent divergence within the east, and secondary contact and introgression of the expanding western population, during the late Holocene. This work emphasizes that refugial endemics may have a phylogeographic history as rich as that of more widespread species, and conservation of such endemics includes the preservation of that genetic legacy.

Estimation of body fluids with bioimpedance spectroscopy: state of the art methods and proposal of novel methods.

Determination of body fluids is a useful common practice in determination of disease mechanisms and treatments. Bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) methods are non-invasive, inexpensive and rapid alternatives to reference methods such as tracer dilution. However, they are indirect and their robustness and validity are unclear. In this article, state of the art methods are reviewed, their drawbacks identified and new methods are proposed. All methods were tested on a clinical database of patients receiving growth hormone replacement therapy. Results indicated that most BIS methods are similarly accurate (e.g. < 0.5 ± 3.0% mean percentage difference for total body water) for estimation of body fluids. A new model for calculation is proposed that performs equally well for all fluid compartments (total body water, extra- and intracellular water). It is suggested that the main source of error in extracellular water estimation is due to anisotropy, in total body water estimation to the uncertainty associated with intracellular resistivity and in determination of intracellular water a combination of both.

Robustness study of the different immittance spectra and frequency ranges in bioimpedance spectroscopy analysis for assessment of total body composition.

The estimation of body fluids is a useful and common practice for assessment of disease status and therapy outcomes. Electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy (EBIS) methods are noninvasive, inexpensive and efficient alternatives for determination of body fluids. One of the main source of errors in EBIS measurements in the estimation of body fluids is capacitive coupling. In this paper an analysis of capacitive coupling in EBIS measurements was performed and the robustness of the different immittance spectra against it tested. On simulations the conductance (G) spectrum presented the smallest overall error, among all immittance spectra, in the estimation of the impedance parameters used to estimate body fluids. Afterwards the frequency range of 10-500 kHz showed to be the most robust band of the G spectrum. The accuracy of body fluid estimations from the resulting parameters that utilized G spectrum and parameters provided by the measuring device were tested on EBIS clinical measurements from growth hormone replacement therapy patients against estimations performed with dilution methods. Regarding extracellular fluid, the correlation between each EBIS method and dilution was 0.93 with limits of agreement of 1.06 ± 2.95 l for the device, 1.10 ± 2.94 l for G [10-500 kHz] and 1.04 ± 2.94 l for G [5-1000 kHz]. Regarding intracellular fluid, the correlation between dilution and the device was 0.91, same as for G [10-500 kHz] and 0.92 for G [5-1000 kHz]. Limits of agreement were 0.12 ± 4.46 l for the device, 0.09 ± 4.45 for G [10-500 kHz] and 0.04 ± 4.58 for G [5-1000 kHz]. Such close results between the EBIS methods validate the proposed approach of using G spectrum for initial Cole characterization and posterior clinical estimation of body fluids status.

Toxins as Weapons: A Historical Review.

This review article summarizes the use of toxins as weapons dating from the First World War until today, when there is a high concern of possible terrorist attacks with weapons of mass destruction. All through modern history, military programs and terrorist groups have favored toxins because of their high toxicity. However, difficulties of extraction or synthesis, as well as effective dissemination to cause a large number of casualties, have been the most important drawbacks. Special emphasis is focused on ricin and botulinum toxin, the most important toxins that have attracted the attention of military programs and terrorist groups. Other toxins like trichothecenes, saxitoxin, and Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) are also discussed. A short section about anthrax is also included: Although Bacillus anthracis is considered a biological weapon rather than a toxin weapon, it produces a toxin that is finally responsible for the anthrax disease.

Envenenamiento por mordedura de Vipera palaestinae (Werner, 1938) / Envenomations by Vipera palaestinae bites (Werner, 1938)

Vipera palaestinae (Werner, 1938) es una de las serpientes venenosas presentes en Oriente Próximo, incluido el sur del Líbano donde las Fuerzas Armadas españolas tienen desplegadas tropas que forman parte de la Fuerza Interina de las Naciones Unidas en el Líbano (UNIFIL) en la Operación Libre Hidalgo (L/H). En el presente trabajo se revisan los componentes del veneno de esta serpiente, así como la clínica y el tratamiento de los efectos tóxicos causados por su mordedura venenosa (AU)

Vipera palaestinae (Werner, 1938) is one of the dangerous venomous snakes present in the Middle East, including the south of Lebanon where the Spanish Armed Forces have deployed troops as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in Operation Libre Hidalgo (L/H). This article reviews the different components present in the venom, as well as the clinical signs and treatment of the toxicological effects caused by its venomous bite (AU)

Toxicología cutánea y sistémica de los agentes vesicantes de guerra / Cutaneous and systemic toxicology of vesicants used in warfare

Los agentes vesicantes constituyen un grupo de agentes químicos de guerra cuyo principal representante es la iperita, también conocida como gas mostaza. Las ampollas que aparecían en los intoxicados por iperita en combate durante la Primera Guerra Mundial hicieron que a todos los agentes incluidos en este grupo se les denomine hoy en día agentes «vesicantes». Sus efectos se producen fundamentalmente por la acción local de la forma líquida o del vapor sobre la piel, los ojos y el tracto respiratorio. Sin embargo, la gran capacidad de absorción de la forma líquida a través de la piel o de la forma de vapor tras la inhalación puede dar lugar a efectos sistémicos importantes. Desde nuestra experiencia y tras una revisión de la literatura médica, en el presente trabajo se analizan estos efectos, el tratamiento de las intoxicaciones y las secuelas a largo plazo (AU)

Vesicants are a group of chemicals used in warfare. The most representative agent is yperite, also known as mustard gas. The blisters that appeared on those exposed to yperite during combat in the First World War are responsible for the current name-vesicants-for this group of chemicals. Their affects are produced mainly through localized action of liquid or vapor forms on the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. However, the high absorption of the liquid form through the skin or the vapor form on inhalation may cause substantial systemic effects. Here we analyze these effects, treatment of intoxication, and long-term sequelae, drawing on our experience and a review of the literature (AU)

[Cutaneous and systemic toxicology of vesicants used in warfare]. / Toxicología cutánea y sistémica de los agentes vesicantes de guerra.

Vesicants are a group of chemicals used in warfare. The most representative agent is yperite, also known as mustard gas. The blisters that appeared on those exposed to yperite during combat in the First World War are responsible for the current name--vesicants--for this group of chemicals. Their affects are produced mainly through localized action of liquid or vapor forms on the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract. However, the high absorption of the liquid form through the skin or the vapor form on inhalation may cause substantial systemic effects. Here we analyze these effects, treatment of intoxication, and long-term sequelae, drawing on our experience and a review of the literature.

Analysis of the mouse high-growth region in pigs.

In the mouse, homozygous animals for the high growth mutation show a 30-50% increase in growth without becoming obese. This region is homologous to the distal part of pig chromosome 5 (SSC5). A previous genome scan detected several quantitative trait loci (QTL) in this region for body composition and meat quality using a three generation Berkshire x Yorkshire resource family. In this study, the effects on swine growth, fat and meat quality traits of three genes previously identified within the mouse high growth region were analysed. The genes studied were CASP2 and RIPKI domain containing adaptor with death domain (CRADD), suppressor of cytokine signalling 2 (SOCS2) and plexinC1 (PLXNC1). In addition, the influence of two other genes located very close to this region, namely the plasma membrane calcium-transporting ATPase 1 (ATP2B1) and dual specificity phosphatase 6 (DUSP6) genes, was also investigated. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were identified and used to map these genes to the QTL region on SSC5. Results indicate significant associations between these genes and several phenotypic traits, including fat deposition and growth in pigs. The present study suggests associations of these genes with swine fat and growth related traits, but further studies are needed in order to clearly identify the genes involved in the regulation of the QTL located on SSC5.

Actuación sanitaria en atentados terroristas con agentes químicos de guerra: más de diez años después de los atentados con sarín en Japón (1ª parte) / Medical support in terrorist attacks with chemical warfare agents: over ten years since the sarin terrorist attacks in Japan (Part 1)

Tras los atentados del 11 de septiembre de 2001 en EE.UU. y, sobre todo, desde los envíos de sobres con esporas de carbunco, existe una alta percepción del riesgo sobre posibles atentados con armas de destrucción masiva por grupos asociados a la red terrorista Al Qaeda. Esto ha llevado a que el personal sanitario extrahospitalario y hospitalario se interese sobre cómo debería ser su actuación en este tipo de incidentes. En el caso particular de los agentes químicos de guerra la base de la actuación sanitaria son las lecciones aprendidas por el personal sanitario que participó en los atentados terroristas con sarín que tuvieron lugar en Japón en 1994 y 1995. El presente trabajo intenta profundizar en estas lecciones aprendidas hace ya más de diez años, teniendo en cuenta que será cada servicio y organización sanitaria el que deberá adaptarlas a su situación y características particulares (AU)

After the September 11 (2001) terrorist attacks in the USA and the subsequent mailing of letters contaminated with B. anthracisspores, a high perception of risk has become noticeable regarding the possibility of attacks with weapons of mass desctruction, particularly by groups associated to the Al Qaeda terror network. For this reason, the medical personnel –both extra- and intrahospitalary– has become concerned about how to act and perform in this type of events. In the case of chemical warfare agents, the guiding principles of medical support are based on the experiences and on the lessons learned by the personnel that dealt (..) (AU)

Actuación sanitaria en atentados terroristas con agentes químicos de guerra: más de diez años después de los atentados con sarín en Japón (2ª parte) / Medical support in terrorist attacks with chemical warfare agents: over ten years since the sarin terrorist attacks in Japan (Part 2)

Tras los atentados del 11 de septiembre de 2001 en EE.UU. y, sobre todo, desde los envíos de sobres con esporas de carbunco, existe una alta percepción del riesgo sobre posibles atentados con armas de destrucción masiva por grupos asociados a la red terrorista Al Qaeda. Esto ha llevado a que el personal sanitario extrahospitalario y hospitalario se interese sobre cómo debería ser su actuación en este tipo de incidentes. En el caso particular de los agentes químicos de guerra la base de la actuación sanitaria son las lecciones aprendidas por el personal sanitario que participó en los atentados terroristas con sarín que tuvieron lugar en Japón en 1994 y 1995. El presente trabajo intenta profundizar en estas lecciones aprendidas hace ya más de diez años, teniendo en cuenta que será cada servicio y organización sanitaria el que deberá adaptarlas a su situación y características particulares (AU)

After the September 11 (2001) terrorist attacks in the USA and the subsequent mailing of letters contaminated with B. anthracisspores, a high perception of risk has become noticeable regarding the possibility of attacks with weapons of mass destruction, particularly by groups associated to the Al Qaeda terror network. For this reason, the medical personnel –both extra- and intrahospitalary– has become concerned about how to act and perform in this type of events. In the case of chemical warfare agents, the guiding principles of medical support are based on the experiences and on the lessons learned by the personnel that dealt with the sarin terrorist attacks in Japan in1994 and 1995. The present paper aims at delving deeper into these lessons and findings of over ten years ago, bearing in mind that any and every medical service and organisation should adapt them to their particular environment, situation and characteristics (AU)

¿Utilizó España agentes biológicos en la Conquista de América? / Dis biological weapons were employed by spain when the conquest of America?

La acusación de haber empleado viruela en la conquista de América ha sobrepasado los límites de la historia contribuyendo al desarrollo de la leyenda negra antiespañola de acuerdo a los intereses de los autores; este hecho es aún hoy en día fácilmente comprobable en numerosos libros y documentos, no escapando de este hecho el quinto centenario de la conquista de América. En contraposición a estas versiones de difícil justificación, autores españoles y americanos han confirmado la aparición de la viruela y otras enfermedades como consecuencia del intercambio epidemiológico entre distintas razas a utilización. Epidemiológicamente estos hechos se explican como el primer contacto de los gérmenes causantes de enfermedad como nuevos hospedadores, sin capacidad de defensa contra el agresor, con medidas higiénicas más o menos deficientes y sistemas de vida distintos a los que habían introducido las distintas enfermedades en su medio ambiente. Está demostrado científicamente que la primera epidemia masiva que asoló el Nuevo Mundo fue la gripe, y luego años más tarde el sarampión, la viruela, así como otras enfermedades. Razón por la cual, resulta curioso que la acusación de haber empleado viruela con fines militares haya sobrepasado el filtro de la historia y el llamado espíritu científico que se supone debe prevalecer en todo documento científico modificando la cruda realidad a oscuros intereses lo cual, debe hacernos pensar en un interés par continuar el mito y acallar o enmascarar hechos documentados de guerra biológica por parte de otros países. En conclusión, no hay evidencia documental de la utilización de agentes biológicos en la conquista de América, pero entonces ¿por qué se pueden seguir leyendo documentos donde se dice que España utilizó agentes biológicos en la conquista de América?

The smallpox employment accusation in the Conquest of America has exceeded the limits of the History, contributing to the black legend development against Spain, according to the interest of some authors; this fact is easy to check in many books and papers today, including the fifth centenary from the discovery of america. Contradicting these versions, difficult to justify other american and spanish authors confirmed that smallpox outbreak and other diseases were due to the to the natural epidemiological exchange between different races and people. Such facts are epidemiologically revealed with the first contact of new germs with new hosts, without capability of protection against the aggressive agent, with the more or less poor hygienic measures and different way of life, refered to those that introduced the diverse diseases in their element. It is scientifically proved that the first massive outbreak in the New world was Influenza, and years later measles, smallpox and other pathologies. That´s the reason why it seems to be curious that the impeachment of the biological weapons military use has exceeded the filter of the history and the scientific supposed does not appear in some document, modifying the crude reality for dark interest; so we must suspect and interest for the continuity of the myth, silencing documented facts of biological war executed by other countries. In conclusion, there is no documented evidence about the use of biological agents in the conquest of america, but then...why can be read documents telling that Spain used biological weapons in the conquest of America yet?

Problemática de la coadministración del repelente de insectos DEET y bromuro de piridostigmina en el pretratamiento de las intoxicaciones por agentes neurotóxicos de guerra / Problems form deet insect repellent and pyridostigmine bromide nerve agent pretreatment coexposure

DEET sigue siendo considerado el más eficaz de los repelentes de insectos disponibles, tanto por su espectro de acción como por la duración del efecto. El pretratamiento con bromuro de piridostigmina (BP) es el pretratamiento de las intoxicaciones por agentes neurotóxicos de guerra implantado en la mayoría de las Fuerzas Armadas de las naciones de la OTAN. Las asociación DEET-BP ha sido estudiada como factor causal de las neuropatías que padecen algunos veteranos de la primera Guerra del Golfo Pérsico y si bien a fecha de hoy no se ha demostrado esta relación, distintos estudios in vivo en modelos animales indican un efecto tóxico potenciado al coadministrar ambas sustancias. Por este motivo se recomiendan alternativas al DEET durante el período de pretratamiento con BP, sobre todo las de tipo pasivo, ya que no hay estudios de interacción toxicológica entre el BP y otros repelentes (AU)

DEET is the most effective insect repellent currently available, as a consequence of its broad action spectrum an long lasting effect. Nerve agent pretreatment with pyridostigmine bromide (PB) is the common action in NATO countries DEET-PB association has been studied as an origen of neuropathies affecting some veterans from the first Gulf War. Although no relationship has been established presently, different in vivo studies in animal models show an increased toxic effect when there is a coexposure to both substances. For this reason DEET alternatives are recommended in the meantime of PB pretreatment. Passive measures are specially recommended while there are no studies in toxicological interactions of PB and other coexposures with repellents of insects (AU)

Características epidemiológicas diferenciales entre un brote infeccioso de origen natural y otro de origen provocado / Epidemic distinctive features between a natural infectious outbreak and a voluntary caused one

La epidemiología es una de las principales armas que tenemos para luchar contra las enfermedades. Si conocemos el origen y los mecanismos de transmisión podemos llegar a establecer estrategias de lucha y control contra las enfermedades. La emergencia o reemergencia de algunos procesos olvidados o desconocidos corrobora este hecho. Pero además, los conocimiento epidemiológicos constituyen una de las herramientas más útiles para conocer el origen de algunos procesos que pueden tener un origen intencional, tanto para un escenario terrorista como para un escenario de guerra donde se haya realizado una acción encubierta de diseminación de agentes biológicos (AU)

Epidemiology is one of the main “weapons” we have to fight against disease, if we know the origen and transmission mechanisms we can determine the strategies for the control and fight against such disease. The arise and rearise of some of some of those unknown and forgotten processes states this fact. However, the knowledge on epidemiology constitutes one of the more useful tools to reveal the origen of some possible international incidence in this field, not only in a terrorist scene but in a conventional war one, with a concealed action of biologic agents spreading (AU)

Can 'football-team color-code' compensate for anomia? The case study of FN, a patient with color anomia.

A case study is reported on large ischemic infracts involving cortical and subcortical areas of the parietal lobes bilaterally, especially left temporo-parietal and right parietal. On examination, the diagnosis of vascular dementia with color anomia, optic aphasia for colors, was established. The patient (FN) showed great difficulty in understanding a scene as a whole and in describing complex scenes. FN's oral comprehension skills at word and sentence level were satisfactory and he exhibited communicative effectiveness during conversation. He could read letter by letter, but could not make simple judgments of shapes. FN exhibited a marked inability to name colors presented to him visually and to indicate or point to the color requested from the examiner. The most interesting of all the patient's characteristics was the strategy--a football-team color-code--he had developed for compensating for his inability to name colors.

Ultrasonic flaw detection using radial basis function networks (RBFNs).

Ultrasonic flaw detection has been studied many times in the literature. Schemes based on thresholding after a previous matched filter use to be the best solution, but results obtained with this method are only satisfactory when scattering and attenuation are not considered. In this paper, we propose an alternative solution to thresholding detection method. We deal with the usage of different flaw detection methods comparing them with the proposed one. The experiment tries to determinate whether a given ultrasonic signal contains a flaw echo or not. Starting with a set of 24,000 patterns with 750 samples each one, two subsets are defined for the experiments. The first one, the training set, is used to obtain the detection parameters of the different methods, and the second one is used to test the performance of them. The proposed method is based on radial basis functions networks, one of the most powerful neural network techniques. This signal processing technique tries to find the optimal decision criterion. Comparing this method with thresholding based ones, an improvement over 25-30% is obtained, depending on the probability of false alarm. So our new method is a good alternative to flaw detection problem.

Ricina: una fitotoxina de uso potencial como arma / Ricin: a phytotoxin with potential use as a weapon

La ricina es una fitotoxina con actividad citotóxica que está presente en las semillas de ricino ( Ricinus communis L.). Su estructura consta de dos cadenas polipeptídicas: una con propiedades de lectina, que le permite fijarse a glicolípidos y glicoproteínas presentes en la superficie de la membrana celular, y otra capaz de inhibir la síntesis de proteínas a nivel de los ribosomas. El acceso desde la superficie de la célula hasta los ribosomas supone un complejo proceso que incluye un transporte retrógrado desde el aparato de Golgi hasta el retículo endoplasmático, donde se produce la translocación al citosol. Hoy se sabe que algunas publicaciones paramilitares y manuales relacionados con la red terrorista Al Qaeda explican procedimientos para la extracción de ricina a partir de las semillas de ricino. Esto ha llevado a la actual preocupación por que la ricina pueda ser empleada con fines terroristas. La ricina fue incluida en los programas de armamento químico y biológico de distintos países, en los que se comprobó la dificultad que presenta para ser diseminada de forma eficaz con el fin de causar un elevado número de afectados. Las ventajas que presentaría la intoxicación por ricina, utilizada como arma, incluyen: un período de latencia de varias horas; la poca especificidad de los síntomas y signos por cualquier vía de exposición; y la inexistencia de un tratamiento antidótico (AU)

Ricin is a phytotoxin with cytotoxic activity present in castor plant ( Ricinus communis L.) seeds. Its structure consists of two polypeptide chains: one with lectin properties that allows it to bind to glycoproteins and glycolipids on the cell surface and the other one which inhibits protein synthesis at the ribosomes level. Access of the toxin from the cell surface to the ribosomes is a complex process with retrograde transport from the Golgi complex to the endoplasmic reticulum, followed by translocation to the cytosol. It is now known that some paramilitary publications and manuals related to the Al Qaeda terrorist network detail procedures regarding the method for extracting ricin from the castor plant seeds. This has increased the fear that ricin may be used for terrorist purposes. Ricin has been part of the chemical and biological weapons programs in different countries and it was found that this toxin is not easy to disseminate for the purpose of causing a large number of casualties. Advantages of ricin intoxication, if used as a weapon, include a latency period of several hours; nonspecific symptoms and signs regardless of the exposure route; and the lack of an antidotal treatment (AU)

Estado actual del pretratamiento de las intoxicaciones por agentes neurotóxicos de guerra con piridostigmina y otras alternativas farmacológicas / Current status of nerve agent intoxication pretreatment with pyridostigmine and other pharmacological alternatives

El bromuro de piridostigmina (bromuro de 3-dimetilaminocarboniloxi-N-metilpiridinio) se utiliza como pretratamiento en escenarios en los que existe riesgo de utilización de agentes neurotóxicos de guerra. De hecho, este pretratamiento fue utilizado por las tropas Aliadas durante la Guerra del Golfo Pérsico. Desde su vuelta a casa muchos veteranos de esta guerra se han quejado de padecer síntomas debidos a lesiones que afectan al sistema nervioso. Las causas de estos síntomas son aún desconocidas, pero el pretratamiento con piridostigmina se está estudiando como posible factor causal. Aunque a la dosis empleada en el pretratamiento los efectos secundarios son mínimos y no se han observado efectos a largo plazo, se ha planteado la posibilidad de que en situaciones de estrés los efectos de la piridostigmina a nivel del sistema nervioso central se vean incrementados, si bien los distintos estudios in vivo arrojan resultados contradictorios. Otros estudios in vivo, sin embargo, sí han observado un incremento de la actividad central de la piridostigmina al coadministrarse con DEET (N,N-dietil-m-toluamida), utilizado como repelente de insectos por algunas tropas durante la Guerra del Golfo Pérsico. Este hecho recomendaría la necesidad de controlar la utilización de repelentes de insectos en caso de que sea necesario llevar a cabo un pretratamiento con piridostigmina. Recientemente se han empezado a estudiar nuevas alternativas en el pretratamiento de las intoxicaciones por agentes neurotóxicos de guerra de las cuales destaca la huperzina A (9-amino-13-etilidén-11-metil-4-azatriciclo[7.3.1.0(3,8)]trideca-3(8),6,11-trien-5-ona) por sus propiedades farmacocinéticas y mayor eficacia. (AU)

La Sanidad Militar y Civil ante la amenaza química y biológica después del 11 de septiembre de 2001

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