Subaerial biofilms on granitic historic buildings: microbial diversity and development of phototrophic multi-species cultures.

Microbial communities of natural subaerial biofilms developed on granitic historic buildings of a World Heritage Site (Santiago de Compostela, NW Spain) were characterized and cultured in liquid BG11 medium. Environmental barcoding through next-generation sequencing (Pacific Biosciences) revealed that the biofilms were mainly composed of species of Chlorophyta (green algae) and Ascomycota (fungi) commonly associated with rock substrata. Richness and diversity were higher for the fungal than for the algal assemblages and fungi showed higher heterogeneity among samples. Cultures derived from natural biofilms showed the establishment of stable microbial communities mainly composed of Chlorophyta and Cyanobacteria. Although most taxa found in these cultures were not common in the original biofilms, they are likely common pioneer colonizers of building stone surfaces, including granite. Stable phototrophic multi-species cultures of known microbial diversity were thus obtained and their reliability to emulate natural colonization on granite should be confirmed in further experiments.

[Influence of the pericardium in the pathophysiology of ventricular dysfunction in acute infarct of the right ventricle. Experimental study] . / La influencia del pericardio en la patofisiología de la disfunción ventricular en el infarto agudo del ventrículo derecho. Estudio experimental.

UNLABELLED: To obtain more information about the role of the pericardium in the setting of acute right ventricular infarction (ARVI) we studied the behaviour of the ventricular function curves (VFC) and the relationship of the ventricular end-diastolic pressures (R-VEDP-RV:LV) in two groups of dogs. Group A. (n = 12) Control (C), ARVI, Pericardiectomy (P). A parabolic behaviour of the C VFC was noted (r2 = 071) and it's flexion point (FP) was found in 13. +/- 2 mmHg. After the ARVI the right (R) VFC was shifted downwards and to the right and the FP was documented in 18 +/- 2 mmHg (p < 0.05) in relation to C VFC. After P the RVFC was displaced upwards and to the left in relation to ARVIC RVFC (p < 0.05). The C R-VEDP-RV:LV = 0.75 and only a trend to equalization after the ARVI and after P were noted (0.91, 0.84, respectively) (p = ns). Group B (n = 12). Control (C), P, ARVI. The RVFC after P was shifted up and to the left in relation to the C RVFC (p < 0.05) and the FP = 10 +/- 2 mmHg. After P in the setting of ARVI the RVFC was shifted downward and to the right in relation to P RVFC (p < 0.05). After P the R-VEDP-RV:LV = 0.45 and statistical significant equalized in the condition of ARVI without pericardium (0.95, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ours results support a partial restrictive role of the pericardium in the origin of the low cardiac output (LCO) in ARVI. Because, equalization of the R-VEDP-RV:LV is not only due to the restraining pericardial effect but is also due to right ventricular myocardial ischemia. The FP (18. +/- 2 mmHg) found seems to be the top value of RVEDP for volume infusion in experimental ARVI. Hemodynamic finding that could be useful in the preload volume management for humans with ARVI and LCO or systemic hypotension.

[Ventricular function curves with and without pericardium: analysis of pericardial pressures]. / Las curvas de función ventricular con y sin pericardio: análisis de las presiones pericárdicas.

Simultaneous right and left ventricular function curves (VFC, R, L) were obtained in a canine model, (open chest preparation), with and without pericardium. Preload and afterload conditions for the right and left ventricles were controlled. VFC were constructed from zero to 25 mmHg of ventricular end-diastolic pressures and by increasing the cardiac output from 50 to 250 mL/kg-1min-1. Both, right and left VFC showed an initial steep rise at low filling pressures and then flattened off to a plateau at high filling pressures. The best mathematical model that fitted with the VFC, with and without the pericardium was the parabola (r2 = 0.71, 0.72 respectively). After pericardiectomy R and L VFC were displaced to the left of the VFC with pericardium and a decrease in filling pressures were noted at the same points of cardiac output, findings that suggest a restraining effect of the pericardium. By subtracting the filling pressures obtained with pericardium from those without pericardium at the same levels of cardiac output, pericardial pressures were derived. In all the range of the VFC the pericardial pressures were positive, and this pressure increase as cardiac output increase. Thus the transmural pressure was never cero, for both right and left ventricles. The observed relation for the R and L filling pressures, derived from a polynomial equation of second order suggest a small although not unimportant effect of the pericardium at normal filling pressures, and a very substantial influence at high levels of cardiac output. The demarcation between small and major effects appears in the upper range of normal filling pressures in this dynamic approach of the pericardial pressures.

[The utility of rapid qualitative determination of troponin T, the MB fraction of creatine phosphokinase and myoglobin in acute ischemic coronary syndromes]. / Utilidad de la determinación cualitativa rápida de troponina-T, fracción MB de creatina fosfocinasa y mioglobina en los síndromes isquémicos coronarios agudos.

The objective of our study was to validate the diagnostic utility of cardiac troponine T in acute ischemic syndromes, and also in cases of difficult diagnosis. We analyzed its concordance and compare them with conventional enzymatic quantitative methods. We determined sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and likelihood ratio. Kappa index was used to know the concordance grade between T troponin and the positive or negative results of the quantitative enzymatic curve. Stochastic significance was valued by Chi square of Mcnemar test. In seventy patients who arrived to the hospital with chest pain who were assigned to five different groups. The sensitivity in quantitative markers was higher than qualitative methods, however the specificity, likelihood ratio was lower. In the total group the concordance analysis between qualitative and quantitative markers was adequate, (kappa index 0.65 p < 0.05). This study suggest that the rapid bedside qualitative test by cardiac Troponin T is a good diagnostic marker compared with conventional quantitative markers to evaluate chest pain in acute ischemic syndromes.