La influencia de las condiciones meteorológicas ambientales en la mortalidad por suicidio en la provincia de Córdoba / Influence of meteorological conditions on suicide rate in the province of Córdoba

INTRODUCCIÓN: La mortalidad por suicidio se ha incrementado en las últimas décadas. Existen múltiples factores que influyen en el riesgo de la conducta suicida (biológicos, cognitivos y relacionados con la personalidad) que pueden interactuar con los cambios meteorológicos ambientales. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer cómo influyen ciertas variables meteorológicas (temperatura, racha de viento y precipitaciones) en las muertes por suicidio en la provincia de Córdoba durante un período temporal concreto. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Mediante un estudio observacional, analítico y retrospectivo se recogieron un total de 100 suicidios registrados en el Instituto de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses de Córdoba, recopilando variables sociodemográficas, antecedentes patológicos, factores relacionados con el suicidio y variables meteorológicas obtenidas de la web de la Agencia Estatal de Meteorología. RESULTADOS: Se obtuvo significación estadística en cuanto al sexo y su relación con la racha de viento; demostrando asociación con rachas mayores de viento en suicidios de mujeres con respecto al de hombres (p = 0,043). Se observó también una asociación entre el sexo y las estaciones del año (p = 0,042) concluyendo que las mujeres cometen suicidios con más frecuencia durante la primavera (45,8%), mientras que los hombres llevan a cabo el acto suicida preferentemente durante el otoño (28,9%). CONCLUSIONES: Nuestro estudio indica que los suicidios se ven influenciados por las variables meteorológicas; en concreto aporta ciertas novedades en cuanto a la influencia de la velocidad de la racha de viento y el patrón estacional con el sexo

INTRODUCTION: Suicide mortality has increased in recent decades. There are multiple factors influencing the risk of suicidal behaviour (biological, cognitive and personality-related factors) that could interact with seasonal changes. The aim was to determine how certain meteorological factors (temperature, wind and rainfall) influenced suicides in the province of Córdoba committed over a specific time period. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 100 suicides registered in the Institute of Legal Medicine of Forensic Sciences of the province of Córdoba were collected through an observational, analytical and retrospective study. We recorded sociodemographic variables, pathological background, factors related to suicide and meteorological variables according to the website of the State Meteorological Agency. RESULTS: Statistical significance was obtained regarding sex and its relationship with wind; showing an association of women's suicides with higher wind speed in comparison to men (P=.043). An association was also observed between sex and the seasons of the year (P=.042) concluding that women commit suicide more frequently during the spring (45.8%), while men commit suicide more often the autumn (28.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that suicides are influenced by meteorological variables; in particular it offers some new insights in relation to the influence of wind speed and seasonality according to sex

Glycolytic activity in breast cancer using 18F-FDG PET/CT as prognostic predictor: A molecular phenotype approach / Actividad glicolítica en el cancer de mama mediante 18F-FDG PET/TC como predictor pronóstico: aproximación del fenotipo molecular

Aim. To explore the relationship between basal 18F-FDG uptake in breast tumors and survival in patients with breast cancer (BC) using a molecular phenotype approach. Material and Methods. This prospective and multicentre study included 193 women diagnosed with BC. All patients underwent an 18F-FDG PET/CT prior to treatment. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) in tumor (T), lymph nodes (N), and the N/T index was obtained in all the cases. Metabolic stage was established. As regards biological prognostic parameters, tumors were classified into molecular sub-types and risk categories. Overall survival (OS) and disease free survival (DFS) were obtained. An analysis was performed on the relationship between semi-quantitative metabolic parameters with molecular phenotypes and risk categories. The effect of molecular sub-type and risk categories in prognosis was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and univariate and multivariate tests. Results. Statistical differences were found in both SUVT and SUVN, according to the molecular sub-types and risk classifications, with higher semi-quantitative values in more biologically aggressive tumors. No statistical differences were observed with respect to the N/T index. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that risk categories were significantly related to DFS and OS. In the multivariate analysis, metabolic stage and risk phenotype showed a significant association with DFS. Conclusion. High-risk phenotype category showed a worst prognosis with respect to the other categories with higher SUVmax in primary tumor and lymph nodes (AU)

Objetivo. Analizar la relación entre la captación basal de 18F-FDG en tumores mamarios y la supervivencia en pacientes con cancer de mama (CM) bajo la aproximación del fenotipo molecular. Material y métodos. Este estudio prospectivo y multicentrico incluyó 193 mujeres diagnosticadas de CM. Todas las pacientes fueron sometidas a una 18F-FDG PET/TC previa al tratamiento. Se obtuvo el SUVmax en el tumor (T), ganglios linfáticos (N) así como el índice N/T en todos los casos. Además se determinó el estadio metabólico. Atendiendo a los factores biológicos pronósticos, los tumores fueron clasificados en subtipos moleculares y categorias de riesgo. Se obtuvo tanto la supervivencia global (SG) como la supervivencia libre de enfermedad (SLE). Se estudió la relación entre los parámetros metabólicos semicuantitativos con los fenotipos moleculares y las categorías de riesgo. Se analizó el efecto del subtipo molecular y las categorías de riesgo en el pronóstico mediante análisis de Kaplan–Meier y test uni y multivariantes. Resultados. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en tanto el SUVT como el SUVN, deacuerdo a los fenotipos moleculares y las categorías de riesgo, con valores mayores en los tumores biológicamente más agresivos. No se observaron diferencias con respecto al índice N/T. El análisis de Kaplan–Meier reveló que las categorías de riesgo se relacionaron de forma significativa con la SG y SLE. En el análisis multivariante, el estadio metabólico y la categoría de riesgo mostraron asociación significativa con la SLE. Conclusion. La categoría de alto riesgo manifestó un peor pronóstico con respecto a las otras categorías, con mayores valores de SUVmax tanto en el tumor primario como en ganglios linfáticos (AU)

Characterizing occupational risk perception: the case of biological, ergonomic and organizational hazards in Spanish healthcare workers

Understanding how risk is perceived by workers is necessary for effective risk communication and risk management. This study adapts key elements of the psychometric perspective to characterize occupational risk perception at a worker level. A total of 313 Spanish healthcare workers evaluated relevant hazards in their workplaces related to biological, ergonomic and organizational factors. A questionnaire elicited workers' ratings of 3 occupational hazards on 9 risk attributes along with perceived risk. Factor and regression analyses reveal regularities in how different risks are perceived, while, at the same time, the procedure helps to summarize specificities in the perception of each hazard. The main regularity is the weight of feeling of dread/severity in order to characterize the risk perceived (β ranges from .22 to .41; p < .001). Data also suggest an underestimation of expert knowledge in relation to the personal knowledge of risk. Thus, participants consider their knowledge of the risk related to biological, ergonomic, and organizational hazards to be higher than the knowledge attributed to the occupational experts (mean differences 95% CIs [.10, .30], [.54, .94], and [0.52, 1.05]). We demonstrate the application of a feasible and systematic procedure to capture how workers perceive hazards in their immediate work environment (AU)

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Bases fisiológicas de la regeneración ósea II. El proceso de remodelado / Physiological bases of bone regeneration II. The remodeling process

El remodelado óseo es un proceso de reestructuración del hueso existente, que está en constante formación y reabsorción. Este fenómeno equilibrado permite, en condiciones normales, la renovación de un 5-10% del hueso total al año. A nivel microscópico el remodelado óseo se produce en las unidades básicas multicelulares, donde los osteoclastos reabsorben una cantidad determinada de hueso y los osteoblastos forman la matriz osteoide y la mineralizan para rellenar la cavidad previamente creada. En estas unidades hay osteoclastos, macrófagos, preosteoblastos y osteoblastos y están regidos por una serie de factores, tanto generales como locales, permitiendo el normal funcionamiento del hueso y el mantenimiento de la masa ósea. Cuando este proceso se desequilibra aparece la patología ósea, bien por exceso (osteopetrosis) o por defecto (osteoporosis). El propósito de este trabajo es realizar una revisión de los conocimientos actuales sobre los mecanismos bioquímicos y fisiológicos del proceso de remodelado óseo, resaltando de manera especial el papel de los factores reguladores del mismo, entre los que destacan los factores de crecimiento

Bone remodeling is the restructuring process of existing bone, which is in constant resorption and formation. Under normal conditions, this balanced process allows the renewal of 5 – 10% of bone volume per year. At the microscopic level, bone remodeling is produced in basic multicellular units, where osteoclasts resorb a certain quantity of bone and osteoblasts form the osteoid matrix and mineralize it to fill the previously created cavity. These units contain osteoclasts, macrophages, preosteoblasts and osteoblasts, and are controlled by a series of factors, both general and local, allowing normal bone function and maintaining the bone mass. When this process becomes unbalanced then bone pathology appears, either in excess (osteopetrosis) or deficit (osteoporosis). The purpose of this study is to undertake a revision of current knowledge on the physiological and biological mechanisms of the bone remodeling process; highlighting the role played by the regulating factors, in particular that of the growth factors

Factores de riesgo de aparición de esquizofrenia / Risk factors for schizophrenia

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Estudos microbiológicos e químicos do fungo marinho Scolecobasidium arenarium / Microbiological and chemical studies of the marine fungus Scolecobasidium arenarium

A micologia marinha e uma fonte promissora para a descoberta de novas moleculas bioativas, so que muito pouco explorada. Por este motivo nos incentivamos a dar inicio ao primeiro projeto no Brasil no estudo de um fungo marinho, frente a descoberta de novos produtos naturais provenientes de fungos marinhos. Uma linhagem desconhecida de um fungo marinho, denominado SS99F-6, foi isolada de sedimentos marinhos coletados no litoral norte do Estado de Sao Paulo; Posteriormente foi identificada como sendo o fungo marinho Scolecobasidium arenarium. O fungo foi submetido a fermentacao de pequena escala, objetivando a producao de metabolitos secundarios. Os metabolitos secundarios. Os metabolitos secundarios produzidos foram isolados atraves de varias tecnicas cromatograficas, resultando em 5 moleculas. Tres moleculas foram identificadas como dicetopiperazinas, sendo: a conhecida ciclo [Pro-Val] e duas novas na literatura, a ciclo [Phe-Leu] e a ciclo [Ile-Val]. As outras duas moleculas contem compostos aromaticos, no entanto nao puderam ser caracterizadas totalmente.

The involvement of K+ channels and the possible pathway of EDHF in the rabbit femoral artery

Experiments were designed to characterize the cellular mechanisms of action of endothelium-derived vasodilator substances in the rabbit femoral artery. Acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-8)-10(-5) M) induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of isolated endothelium-intact arterial rings precontracted with norepinephrine (NE, 10(-6) M). The ACh-induced response was abolished by the removal of endothelium. NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME, 10(-4) M), an inhibitor of NO synthase, partially inhibited ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, whereas indomethacin (10(-5) M) showed no effect on ACh-induced relaxation. 25 mM KCl partially inhibited ACh-induced relaxation by shifting the concentration-response curve and abolished the response when combined with L-NAME and NE. In the presence of L-NAME, ACh-induced relaxation was unaffected by glibenclamide (10(-5) M) but significantly reduced by apamin (10(-6) M), and almost completely blocked by tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10(-3) M), iberiotoxin (10(-7) M) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 5 x 10(-3) M). The cytochrome P450 inhibitors, 7-ethoxyresorufin (7-ER, 10(-5) M) and miconazole (10(-5) M) also significantly inhibited ACh-induced relaxation. Ouabain (10(-6) M), an inhibitor of Na+, K(+)-ATPase, or K(+)-free solution, also significantly inhibited ACh-induced relaxation. ACh-induced relaxation was not significantly inhibited by 18-alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid (18 alpha-GA, 10(-4) M). These results of this study indicate that ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of the rabbit femoral artery occurs via a mechanism that involves activation of Na+, K(+)-ATPase and/or activation of both the voltage-gated K+ channel (Kv) and the large-conductance, Ca(2+)-activated K+ channel (BKCa). The results further suggest that EDHF released by ACh may be a cytochrome P450 product.