Genetic monitoring on the world's first MSC eco-labeled common octopus (O. vulgaris) fishery in western Asturias, Spain.

Octopus vulgaris (Cuvier, 1797) is a cephalopod species with great economic value. In western Asturias (northwest of Spain), O. vulgaris artisanal fisheries are relatively well monitored and conditionally eco-labeled by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Despite this, the Asturian octopus stocks have not been genetically assessed so far. In order to improve the current fishery plan and contrast the octopus eco-label validity in Asturias, 539 individuals from five regions of the O. vulgaris geographic distribution, including temporal samplings in Asturias, were collected and genotyped at thirteen microsatellite loci. All the samples under analysis were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg expectations. Spatial levels of genetic differentiation were estimated using F-statistics, multidimensional scaling, and Bayesian analyses. Results suggested that the O. vulgaris consists of at least four genetically different stocks coming from two ancestral lineages. In addition, temporal analyses showed stability in terms of genetic variation and high NE (> 50) for several generations in different localities within Asturias, pointing out to indeed sustainable fishery exploitation levels. Even though, the current Asturias fishery plan shows no significant genetic damages to the stocks, the regional-specific management plans need systematic genetic monitoring schemes as part of an efficient and preventive regional fishery regulation strategy.

Management of tubal ectopic pregnancy with methotrexate in the setting of symptomatic Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): A case report.

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) represents a complex therapeutic challenge. As the pandemic progresses, patients are presenting with ectopic pregnancies (EPs) and symptomatic COVID-19. Objective: We present the management of a patient with multiple medical comorbidities and tubal EP in the setting of severe symptomatic COVID-19 infection where all management options were precluded. Methods: Case report with literature review of management of tubal EP in the setting of severe symptomatic COVID-19 infection. Result: After careful consideration of options, the patient underwent successful medical management with methotrexate while receiving supportive care for COVID-19. Conclusions: Methotrexate proved to be the safest therapeutic option in this patient. Management of patients with severe COVID-19 and gynaecologic emergencies should be individualised and carefully reviewed with evolving knowledge of COVID-19.

Transanal endoscopic surgery with a 3D printed device.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of devices manufactured with 3D printing for performing transanal endoscopic procedures without pneumorectum. METHODS: Functional devices were designed in the Polytechnic School of Engineering of Gijón from 2016 to 2018 using three-dimensional (3D) solid modelling software (Solid-Works®), that allows customization of the device (diameter and length). The devices were made in acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) by additive manufacturing using an HP Designjet 3D Printer, with fused deposition modelling (FDM) technology. Tests were carried out on mixed simulators (with viscera) and cadavers with a prototype in the form of an open cylindrical base ellipsoid spindle with two bars. In this paper, we present the information of the first series of patients in which this device has been used to perform a full-thikness endoscopic resection of the rectal wall without pneumorectum. The characteristics of the patients, size, and location of the lesion, the type of anesthesia used, the duration of the procedure, hospital stay, complications, and pathology were analyzed. An endoscopic follow-up was also carried out for at least 2 years. RESULTS: Seven interventions were carried out in six patients. The lesions were located at a mean distance of 5 cm from the anal verge and an average area of 11.8 cm2. Four of the procedures were performed with general anesthesia and 3 with spinal anesthesia. Histopathology examination identified 3 adenomas, 3 pT1 and 1 pT2 adenocarcinomas. All excisions were full thickness. En bloc excision was possible in all cases. In only one case of a benign polyp there was a positive lateral margin. As regards complications, there was one case of postoperative rectal bleeding without the need for transfusions. There were no readmissions and no postoperative mortality. CONCLUSIONS: An innovative device made with a 3D printer can be used successfully in transanal endoscopic resections of the rectal wall, with spinal anaesthesia and avoiding the need for pneumorectum.

Medición ecográfica del grosor del cartílago femoral en rodilla de jóvenes universitarios sanos / Ultrasound measurement of femoral cartilage thickness in the knee of healthy young university students

ANTECEDENTES Y OBJETIVO: El cartílago articular (CA) siempre está afectado en cualquier articulación con artrosis (A). La ecografía puede ser una herramienta útil en la monitorización de los cambios en el CA. El propósito del presente estudio es medir ecográficamente el grosor del CA en el fémur distal en jóvenes estudiantes y determinar su relación con el índice de masa corporal (IMC), masa muscular, grasa corporal y la práctica deportiva. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Se realizó un estudio transversal observacional con voluntarios sanos, entre 15 y 25 años. Se recogieron datos antropométricos y se midió el grosor del cartílago femoral de la rodilla en cinco puntos. Además, se midió en un subgrupo el porcentaje de músculo y de grasa corporal. RESULTADOS: En el estudio se incluyeron 100 sujetos. La edad promedio fue de 20 años (± 2,5). El IMC promedio fue 23 kg/m2 (± 3,1). El CA tuvo un mayor grosor en los hombres y en los deportistas vs. las mujeres y los sedentarios, con diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Al comparar el IMC con el grosor del CA no se encontró ninguna relación significativa; sin embargo, sólo dos participantes tenían IMC > 30. CONCLUSIONES: El grosor del cartílago tiene una relación directamente proporcional con el porcentaje de músculo, e inversamente proporcional con el porcentaje de grasa. El IMC no es un buen parámetro al evaluar el comportamiento dinámico del cartílago en jóvenes no obesos

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Articular cartilage (AC) is always affected in any joint with osteoarthritis. Ultrasound can be a useful tool in monitoring changes in the AC. The purpose of the present study is to ultrasound measure the thickness of the AC in the distal femur in young students and determine its relationship with body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, body fat and sports practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with healthy volunteers, between 15 and 25 years old. Anthropometric data were collected and the thickness of the femoral cartilage of the knee was measured at 5 points. In addition, the percentage of muscle and body fat was measured in a subgroup. RESULTS: 100 subjects were included in the study. The average age was 20 years (± 2.5). The average BMI was 23 kg/m2 (± 3.1). AC was thicker in men and sportsmen, versus women and sedentary people, with a statistically significant difference. When comparing BMI with AC thickness no significant relationship was found; however, only 2 participants had BMI > 30. CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage thickness has a direct relationship with the percentage of muscle, and inversely with the percentage of fat. BMI is not a good parameter when evaluating the dynamic behaviour of cartilage in non-obese youths

Ultrasound measurement of femoral cartilage thickness in the knee of healthy young university students. / Medición ecográfica del grosor del cartílago femoral en rodilla de jóvenes universitarios sanos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Articular cartilage (AC) is always affected in any joint with osteoarthritis. Ultrasound can be a useful tool in monitoring changes in the AC. The purpose of the present study is to ultrasound measure the thickness of the AC in the distal femur in young students and determine its relationship with body mass index (BMI), muscle mass, body fat and sports practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted with healthy volunteers, between 15 and 25 years old. Anthropometric data were collected and the thickness of the femoral cartilage of the knee was measured at 5 points. In addition, the percentage of muscle and body fat was measured in a subgroup. RESULTS: 100 subjects were included in the study. The average age was 20 years (± 2.5). The average BMI was 23 kg/m2 (± 3.1). AC was thicker in men and sportsmen, versus women and sedentary people, with a statistically significant difference. When comparing BMI with AC thickness no significant relationship was found; however, only 2 participants had BMI > 30. CONCLUSIONS: Cartilage thickness has a direct relationship with the percentage of muscle, and inversely with the percentage of fat. BMI is not a good parameter when evaluating the dynamic behaviour of cartilage in non-obese youths.

Broadband, millimeter-wave antireflection coatings for large-format, cryogenic aluminum oxide optics.

We present two prescriptions for broadband ($ {\sim} 77 - 252\;{\rm GHz} $), millimeter-wave antireflection coatings for cryogenic, sintered polycrystalline aluminum oxide optics: one for large-format (700 mm diameter) planar and plano-convex elements, the other for densely packed arrays of quasi-optical elements-in our case, 5 mm diameter half-spheres (called "lenslets"). The coatings comprise three layers of commercially available, polytetrafluoroethylene-based, dielectric sheet material. The lenslet coating is molded to fit the 150 mm diameter arrays directly, while the large-diameter lenses are coated using a tiled approach. We review the fabrication processes for both prescriptions, then discuss laboratory measurements of their transmittance and reflectance. In addition, we present the inferred refractive indices and loss tangents for the coating materials and the aluminum oxide substrate. We find that at 150 GHz and 300 K the large-format coating sample achieves $ (97 \pm 2)\% $ transmittance, and the lenslet coating sample achieves $ (94 \pm 3)\% $ transmittance.

Does the tumour microenvironment alter tumorigenesis and clinical response in transmissible venereal tumour in dogs?

The canine transmissible venereal tumour (CTVT) is a transmissible cancer that is spread naturally between dogs, with the ability to develop and evade the immune system, despite strict immune surveillance of the host. Furthermore, molecular signalling between cells of the immune system and the tumour microenvironment appear to influence the behaviour and development of the tumour. Thus, this study aimed to quantify the expression of genes related to the immune system such as IL-6, IFN-γ, and TGF-ß, as well as angiogenic factors (VEGF, CXCR4), in CTVT cells in vivo and in vitro (primary culture), correlating with the clinical response of the animals treated with vincristine. As expected, the most prevalent subtype was plasmacytoid cells, although lymphocytic cells were also found, indicating the possibility of polyclonality. When we compared the gene expressions of IFN-γ and IL-6, we mostly found low expression, concluding that MHC expression was probably not occurring in tumour cells, and no activation of immune cells to eliminate the tumour. The TGF-ß gene was normal in the majority of animals but demonstrated decreased expression in vincristine resistant animals, leading to the hypothesis that the concentration of tumour-derived TGF-ß was affecting and even suppressing the real TGF-ß expression, favouring tumour proliferation and progression in these cases. VEGF expression was extremely high, demonstrating its angiogenic role in tumour growth, while CXCR4 was decreased, possibly because of CTVT's low metastatic potential. Thus, we concluded that the tumour microenvironment, together with the immune system of the host, influences CTVT, presumably altering its tumorigenesis and the animal's clinical response to treatment.

[Factors related with post-surgical complications in elderly patients with glioblastoma multiforme]. / Factores relacionados con complicaciones posquirurgicas en pacientes de edad avanzada con glioblastoma multiforme.

INTRODUCTION: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most frequent malignant tumour of the central nervous system, and its incidence reaches 80% in those over 50 years of age. Life expectancy has increased in the population in recent times and an analysis of the post-surgical complications affecting elderly patients is of great importance for a correct surgical indication. AIMS: To analyse the factors related with post-surgical complications in elderly patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A sample of 88 patients diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme between 31 and 78 years of age was analysed retrospectively. The variables taken into consideration in the study were: personal medical history, age, functional status, pre-anaesthetic status, tumour characteristics, type of surgery and post-surgical complications. RESULTS: Age was observed to have an influence on local (p = 0.006) and systemic surgical complications (p = 0.034), and on the Clavien-Dindo scale (p = 0.001). Persons with a poorer functional status and cardiovascular risk presented more systemic complications (p = 0.006 and 0.044) and a lower score on the Clavien-Dindo scale (p = 0.024 and 0.025) respectively. Likewise, more local complications are found in the case of excisional procedures than in biopsies (p = 0.027). The pre-anaesthetic status and anti-haemostatic treatments were not related with such events. CONCLUSIONS: Patients over 65 years of age present a higher incidence of pathological antecedents and a poorer pre-surgical functional status. Age, cardiovascular risk, functional status and the type of surgical procedure have significantly increased the occurrence of post-surgical complications.

TITLE: Factores relacionados con complicaciones posquirurgicas en pacientes de edad avanzada con glioblastoma multiforme.Introduccion. El glioblastoma multiforme es el tumor maligno mas frecuente del sistema nervioso central, y su incidencia es del 80% en los mayores de 50 años. En los ultimos tiempos se ha producido un aumento en la esperanza de vida de la poblacion, y el analisis de las complicaciones posquirurgicas en pacientes de edad avanzada resulta de gran relevancia para una correcta indicacion quirurgica. Objetivo. Analizar factores relacionados con las complicaciones posquirurgicas en pacientes de edad avanzada. Pacientes y metodos. Se analizan retrospectivamente 88 pacientes diagnosticados de glioblastoma multiforme entre 31 y 78 años. Las variables estudiadas son: antecedentes personales, edad, estado funcional, estado preanestesico, caracteristicas tumorales, tipo de cirugia y complicaciones posquirurgicas. Resultados. Se observa una influencia de la edad en las complicaciones quirurgicas locales (p = 0,006) y sistemicas (p = 0,034) y en la escala de Clavien-Dindo (p = 0,001). Las personas con peor estado funcional y riesgo cardiovascular presentaron mas complicaciones sistemicas (p = 0,006 y 0,044) y peor graduacion en dicha escala (p = 0,024 y 0,025). Asimismo, hallamos mas complicaciones locales en las cirugias de exeresis que en las biopsias (p = 0,027). El estado preanestesico y los tratamientos antihemostaticos no se relacionaron con dichos eventos. Conclusiones. Los pacientes mayores de 65 años presentan una mayor incidencia de antecedentes patologicos y peor estado funcional prequirurgico. La edad, el riesgo cardiovascular, el estado funcional y el tipo de cirugia han aumentado de manera significativa las complicaciones posquirurgicas.

[Cervical adenocarcinoma as a rare cause of vaginal bleeding in a young woman]. / El adenocarcinoma de cérvix como causa infrecuente de sangrado vaginal en la mujer joven.

Cervical adenocarcinoma is a less frequent variant than squamous carcinoma. The incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma has been increasing over the last several years. Villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma usually affects young women and generally has a good prognosis. The treatment of this adenocarcinoma is surgical, with conisation being sufficient in localised cases, but a hysterectomy is often necessary to try and preserve the ovaries and maintain endocrine function.

El adenocarcinoma de cérvix como causa infrecuente de sangrado vaginal en la mujer joven / Cervical adenocarcinoma as a rare cause of vaginal bleeding in a young woman

El adenocarcinoma de cérvix es una variedad mucho menos frecuente que el carcinoma epidermoide. En los últimos años parece observarse un incremento en la frecuencia de este tipo de tumor. La variedad villopapilar suele afectar a mujeres jóvenes presentando generalmente un buen pronóstico. Su tratamiento es principalmente quirúrgico, en casos localizados es suficiente la conización pero frecuentemente ha de recurrirse a la histerectomía tratando de conservar anejos para preservar la función endocrina (AU)

Cervical adenocarcinoma is a less frequent variant than squamous carcinoma. The incidence of cervical adenocarcinoma has been increasing over the last several years. Villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma usually affects young women and generally has a good prognosis. The treatment of this adenocarcinoma is surgical, with conisation being sufficient in localised cases, but a hysterectomy is often necessary to try and preserve the ovaries and maintain endocrine function (AU)

Polymorphisms of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes and the risk for acute suppurative or chronic nonsuppurative apical periodontitis in a Colombian population.

AIM: To determine the association of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-8 and interleukin-12B with the development of two clinical forms of apical periodontitis (AP): acute suppurative and chronic nonsuppurative. METHODOLOGY: The study included 120 patients from Bucaramanga City, Colombia, 63 diagnosed with acute suppurative AP (ASAP) and 57 diagnosed with chronic nonsuppurative AP (CNAP). Genotyping for IL1B +3954 (rs1143634), IL8 / CXCL8 -251 (rs4073), IL12B +1188 (rs3212227) and TNFA -308 (rs1800629) was performed by the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphisms method. The statistical analysis was performed using STATA 10.0 and PLINK V1.07 software. RESULTS: Significant differences in the distribution of IL8 / CXCL8 -251 A allele (P adjusted = 0.041; OR adjusted = 0.41, CI adjusted = 0.31-0.97) and IL8 / CXCL -251 TT genotype (P adjusted = 0.04; OR adjusted = 2.24, CI adjusted = 1.04-4.84) were observed comparing patients diagnosed with ASAP and CNAP. No association was observed in genotype and allele distribution for other genetic polymorphisms analysed. CONCLUSION: This study provides molecular epidemiological evidence that suggests in the present cohort that IL8 / CXCL8 -251 T allele, which is associated with higher production of IL8/CXCL8, is also associated with a higher risk of developing acute suppurative form of AP, whereas IL8 / CXCL8 -251 A allele, which is associated with lower production of IL8/CXCL8, is associated with chronic nonsuppurative form of AP. This suggests a pivotal role for IL-8/CXCL8 in periapical disease because of its ability to induce chemotaxis and modulating the directed migration of neutrophils to the site of inflammation in response to microbial infection of pulp.

Transvaginal specimen extraction in a laparoscopic anterior resection of a sigmoid colon neoplasia with en bloc right salpingo-oophorectomy.

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery has well-known benefits. However, an abdominal incision, albeit much smaller than conventional surgery, is still needed. A transvaginal extraction of a sigmoid colon neoplasia with en bloc salpingo-oophorectomy and colorectal mechanical anastomosis is described. The technique is feasible and safe. The excellent recovery of the 86-year-old patient shows the potential future of the natural orifices endoscopic surgery.

Divertículo gigante de colon sigmoides / Giant diverticulum of the sigmoid colon

El divertículo gigante es una entidad clínica muy poco frecuente, de localización habitual en el colon sigmoides en pacientes mayores de 50 años. Presentamos un caso diagnosticado recientemente en una mujer que se trató de forma conservadora debido a su avanzada edad y alto riesgo quirúrgico (AU)

Giant diverticulum of the sigmoid colon.

The giant colonic diverticulum is a very rare clinical entity usually located in the sigmoid colon of elderly patients. A case of an 87-year-old woman recently treated in our hospital is reported hereinafter. The patient was non-surgically treated due to her advanced age and high surgical risk.

Electrical impedance of cultured endothelium under fluid flow.

The morphological and functional status of organs, tissues, and cells can be assessed by evaluating their electrical impedance. Fluid shear stress regulates the morphology and function of endothelial cells in vitro. In this study, an electrical biosensor was used to investigate the dynamics of flow-induced alterations in endothelial cell morphology in vitro. Quantitative, real-time changes in the electrical impedance of endothelial monolayers were evaluated using a modified electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) system. This ECIS/Flow system allows for a continuous evaluation of the cell monolayer impedance upon exposure to physiological fluid shear stress forces. Bovine aortic endothelial cells grown to confluence on thin film gold electrodes were exposed to fluid shear stress of 10 dynes/cm2 for a single uninterrupted 5 h time period or for two consecutive 30 min time periods separated by a 2 h no-flow interval. At the onset of flow, the monolayer electrical resistance sharply increased reaching 1.2 to 1.3 times the baseline in about 15 min followed by a sustained decrease in resistance to 1.1 and 0.85 times the baseline value after 30 min and 5 h of flow, respectively. The capacitance decreased at the onset of flow, started to recover after 15 min and after slightly overshooting the baseline values, decreased again with a prolonged exposure to flow. Measured changes in capacitance were in the order of 5% of the baseline values. The observed changes in endothelial impedance were reversible upon flow removal with a recovery rate that varied with the duration of the preceding flow exposure. These results demonstrate that the impedance of endothelial monolayers changes dynamically with flow indicating morphological and/or functional changes in the cell layer. This in vitro model system (ECIS/Flow) may be a very useful tool in the quantitative evaluation of flow-induced dynamic changes in cultured cells when used in conjunction with biological or biochemical assays able to determine the nature and mechanisms of the observed changes.