Discriminating organic carbon from endokarstic moonmilk-type deposits by LIBS. The case of a natural carbonated Martian analogue.

Moonmilk-type deposits exemplify carbonated Martian analogues existing in the subsurface of Earth, an endokarstic speleothem with a possible biochemical origin composed principally by carbonates, mainly huntite and dolomite. In this work, samples of moonmilk located in Nerja Cave (southern Spain) have been studied by LIBS with the aim of identifying carbon of biogenic origin by establishing a relationship between a molecular emission indicator, CN signal, and the organic carbon content. The characterization of this kind of carbonate deposit with a multiple mineralogical composition has been completed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and X-ray diffraction techniques for qualitative and semi-quantitative analysis. The information attained from LIBS regarding energy thresholds and time-resolved kinetics of CN emissions provides useful insight into the identification of different molecular emitters, namely organic and inorganic CN, depending on the laser irradiance and time settings conditions. These promising results are of application in the search and identification of biosignatures in upcoming planetary missions with astrobiological purposes.

Coronavirus pandemic: An opportunity to study the anthropogenic impact on micro-climate conditions and CaCO3 crystal morphology in the Nerja Cave (SE Spain).

Following the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Spanish Government restricted non-essential movements of all citizens and closed all public spaces, such as the Nerja Cave, until May 31, 2020. This particular condition of the closure of the cave provided a unique opportunity to study the micro-climate conditions and carbonate precipitation in this tourist cave without the presence of visitors. Our results show the significant effect of visitors on the air isotopic signature of the cave and on the genesis of the extensive dissolution features affecting the carbonate crystals formed in the tourist sector of the cave, alerting us to the possible corrosion of the speleothems located there. The movement of visitors within the cave also favours the mobilisation of aerial fungi and bacterial spores and their subsequent sedimentation simultaneously with the abiotic precipitation of carbonates from the drip water. The traces of these biotic elements could be the origin of the micro-perforations previously described in the carbonate crystals formed in the tourist galleries of the cave, but they are subsequently enlarged due to abiotic dissolution of the carbonates through these weaker zones.

Coupling air temperature records and gravimetric data to interpret ventilation patterns in a Mediterranean karstic system (Nerja-Pintada caves, southern Spain).

Microclimate and geophysical studies are commonly applied to the characterization of karst systems although they are usually used separately. The main purpose of this manuscript is to show how the analysis of the data from both these research methods is a useful tool in the characterization of karst systems and we present the analysis of a specific case study: the Nerja- Pintada caves system. The joint analysis of the Nerja Cave and external air data (mainly temperatures) and the pre-existing gravimetric data of its surroundings (residual gravity anomaly map) have allowed us: 1) to postulate the existence of an unknown great cavity located near to the Nerja Cave and with direct influence in its ventilation and 2) to propose a new model of the Nerja-Pintada caves ventilation based on the changing connection between a "main cavity" system (Nerja Cave), with basically a transmissive function of airflows and an "annex cavities" sub-system, with different functioning as far as the airflow is concerned: transmissive in the case of Pintada Cave and capacitive in the case of the geophysically-located cave.

Highlighting the importance of transitional ventilation regimes in the management of Mediterranean show caves (Nerja-Pintada system, southern Spain).

This study shows the utilization of the air CO2 exhaled by a very high number of visitors in the Nerja Cave as both a tracer and an additional tool to precisely evaluate the air circulation through the entire karst system, which includes non-touristic passages, originally free of anthropogenic CO2. The analysis of the temporal - spatial evolution of the CO2 content and other monitoring data measured from January 2015 to December 2016 in the Nerja-Pintada system, including air microbiological controls, has allowed us to define a new general ventilation model, of great interest for the conservation of the subterranean environment. During the annual cycle four different ventilation regimes and two ventilation modes (UAF-mode and DAF-mode) exist which determine the significance of the anthropogenic impact within the caves. During the winter regime, the strong ventilation regime and the airflow directions from the lowest to the highest entrance (UAF-mode) contribute to the rapid elimination of anthropogenic CO2, and this affects the whole karstic system. During the summer regime the DAF-mode ventilation (with airflows from the highest to the lowest entrances) is activated. Although the number of visitors is maximum and the natural ventilation of the karstic system is the lowest of the annual cycle, the anthropogenic impact only affects the Tourist Galleries. The transitional ventilation regimes -spring and autumn- are the most complex of the annual cycle, with changing air-flow directions (from UAF-mode to DAF-mode and vice versa) at diurnal and poly diurnal scale, which conditions the range of the anthropogenic impact in each sector of the karst system. The activation of the DAF-mode has been observed when the temperature difference between the external and air cave is higher than 5°C.

Growth hormone treatment for sustained pain reduction and improvement in quality of life in severe fibromyalgia.

Functional defects in growth hormone (GH) secretion and its efficacy as a complementary treatment have been suggested for fibromyalgia. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of low-dose GH as an add-on therapy in patients with both severe FM and low insulin-like growth factor 1 levels. A total of 120 patients were enrolled in a multicenter, placebo-controlled study for 18 months. They were randomly assigned to receive either 0.006 mg/kg/day of GH subcutaneously (group A, n=60) or placebo (group B, n=60) for 6 months (blind phase). The placebo arm was switched to GH treatment from month 6 to month 12 (open phase), and a follow-up period after GH discontinuation was performed until month 18. Standard treatment for fibromyalgia (selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, opioids, and amitriptyline) was maintained throughout the study. Number and intensity of tender points, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) with its subscales, and EuroQol 5 dimensions test (EQ5D) with visual analogue scale (VAS) were assessed at different time points. At the end of the study, 53% of group A patients obtained fewer than 11 positive tender points, vs 33% of group B patients (P<.05). 39.1% vs 22.4% reached more than 50% improvement in VAS (P<.05). Group A patients showed significantly improved FIQ scores (P=.01) compared with group B. Although GH discontinuation worsened all scores in both groups during follow-up, impairment in pain perception was less pronounced in the GH-treated group (P=.05). In this largest and longest placebo-controlled trial performed in FM (NCT00933686), addition of GH to the standard treatment is effective in reducing pain, showing sustained action over time.

Menopausia y envejecimiento en la mujer / Menopause and aging in women

Cuando la mujer envejece involucionan todas las glándulas endocrinas. Esto se ha de considerar dentro del impacto del estrés oxidativo ligado a la formación de radicales libres y al estado de los sistemas protectores antirradicalares que caracterizan al proceso del envejecimiento. Por ello estudiamos el papel que desempeñan las diferentes hormonas durante el período de la perimenopausia y posmenopausia y el efecto de los tratamientos hormonales sustitutivos, así como los tratamientos nutricionales que se consideran adecuados para garantizar el mecanismo de defensa natural frente a los radicales libres de oxígeno. Asimismo, es importante resaltar la importancia de la prevención de los factores de riesgo que aparecen en esta etapa (obesidad, vida sedentaria, diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensión arterial, dislipemia, resistencia a la insulina, etc.), para garantizar la mejor calidad de vida que sea posible a la mujer dada su esperanza de vida, que actualmente llega a los 82,5 años. El tratamiento hormonal sustitutivo debe ser individualizado y debe tratarse a toda mujer en la que el beneficio supere al riesgo, pero debe haber una evaluación pormenorizada de cada caso en particular, a la vista de los resultados publicados en la bibliografía científica, donde se consideran los potenciales riesgos y beneficios del tratamiento. Se analizan los datos del Women's Health Iniciative (WHI), el Heart and Estrogen Replacement Study (HERS) I y II, así como del Million Women Study. Se considera, asimismo, la importancia de otras posibilidades terapéuticas alternativas al tratamiento hormonal sustitutivo. En el estudio del estrés oxidativo, la determinación de indicadores relacionados con la producción de radicales libres de oxígeno y su prevención o neutralización contribuyen a una mejor monitorización del tratamiento hormonal sustitutivo o de la alternativa terapéutica escogida (AU)

Ectopic gestation following emergency contraception with levonorgestrel.

Reports of ectopic gestation after failure of emergency contraceptive pills have thus far been rare, although the use of various types of emergency contraceptive pills is becoming more and more popular world-wide. We report two cases of ectopic gestation following failure of levonorgestrel as over-the-counter emergency contraceptive pills. The women personally purchased the pills over-the-counter at a drugstore and took them routinely. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of an ectopic gestation when an emergency contraceptive pill fails. We recommend to women the full use of established service networks to enhance education and dissemination of information on emergency contraception. Additionally, health providers should advise women very clearly that, if treatment fails, pregnancy could occur, including ectopic gestation.

Efectos de un colutorio de clorhexidina y cinc sobre una población infantil maloclusiva / Efficacy of a mouthrinse containing chlorhexidine and zinc in a young malocclusive population

Se realiza un estudio aleatorio, estratificado a doble ciego y paralelo en 80 pacientes con diferentes tipos de maloclusiones que posteriormente serían tratados de ortodoncia, con edades comprendidas entre 9 y 14 años, para ver la eficacia de un colutorio de clorhexidina y cinc.La duración del estudio fue de 6 semanas. Los participantes se distribuyeron en cuatro grupos, cada uno de 20 pacientes: experimental (digluconato de clorhexidina, 0,006 por ciento, y acetato de cinc, 0,34 por ciento), control positivo (digluconato de clorhexidina, 0,12 por ciento), estándar (triclosán, 0,15 por ciento; cloruro de cinc, 0,20 por ciento, y alantoína, 0,20 por ciento) y placebo. Se midieron en todos los grupos diferentes parámetros clínicos a los 15 y 45 días (índice de placa, gingivitis, cálculo y tinción) y parámetros microbiológicos a los 45 días (gérmenes en placa y saliva). En cuanto a los parámetros clínicos, el colutorio control positivo es el que muestra la mayor eficacia en la reducción del índice de placa y gingivitis; sin embargo, también es el único en el que aumenta la tinción y el índice de cálculo. El colutorio experimental también disminuye el índice de gingivitis, aunque menos que el control positivo, y no tiene ningún efecto negativo sobre el cálculo ni la tinción. Respecto a los parámetros microbiológicos no se encuentran diferencias significativas en el comportamiento de ninguno de los colutorios. Sin embargo, en saliva se encuentra una disminución del Streptococcus mutans en todos los grupos excepto en el placebo. El lactobacilo disminuye especialmente en el colutorio experimental y el grupo estándar. Se puede concluir diciendo que el colutorio de digluconato de clorhexidina y acetato de cinc es recomendable para pacientes maloclusivos jóvenes que van a ser tratados de ortodoncia, ya que produce una disminución del índice de gingivitis y de la cantidad de Streptococcus mutans en saliva sin producir ninguno de los efectos indeseables habitualmente asociados al uso de la clorhexidina (AU)

Estudio cefalométrico de la estabilidad a largo plazo en una muestra con Clase II, división 1ª, tratada con anclaje extraoral y sin extracciones / Cephalometric assessment of long-term stability in a class II division 1.ª sample treated with headgear and wihout extractions

Se evalúa cefalométricamente la estabilidad a largo plazo de los resultados del tratamiento de 28 pacientes con maloclusión de Clase II, división 1a, tratados con anclaje extraoral de tiro cervical, aparatología fija con técnica de arco de canto y sin extracciones. Se tomaron registros antes del tratamiento, a una edad media de 10,1 años, después del tratamiento, con una edad de 13,5 años y 9,9 años después, siendo la edad media final de 22,9 años. Los resultados indican una corrección de la Clase II esquelética durante el tratamiento, pues el ángulo ANB se redujo una media de 1,9° (como consecuencia de la reducción del ángulo SNA y del ligero aumento en el ángulo SNB) y la convexidad facial se redujo 2,12 mm. Ni el plano mandibular ni el eje facial experimentaron cambios significativos. A nivel dentario se mantuvo la inclinación del incisivo superior, mientras que el incisivo inferior se vestibulizó 6,71°. En el período postratamiento el ángulo SNA aumentó significativamente 1,28°, pero el ángulo SNB aumentó 0,92°, por lo que la corrección de la Clase II ósea se mantuvo estable. Hubo un crecimiento residual importante, siguiendo un patrón favorable, pues el eje facial aumentó 0,97°, el plano mandibular se redujo 2,26° y el ángulo goniaco se cerró 2,52°.A nivel dentario se observó recidiva en la inclinación del incisivo inferior; cuanto más se inclinó durante el tratamiento más se lingualizó en la fase postratamiento. Se concluye que la corrección de la Clase II esquelética permanece estable a largo plazo en la población estudiada (AU)

Prostaglandin inactivation is increased in endometrium after exposure to clomiphene.

Prostaglandin (PG) dehydrogenase inactivates PGs by oxidising the 15-hydroxyl group and thus plays a key role in controlling their effective local concentrations. This enzyme is thought to be under the control of steroid hormones and is found in human endometrium at high levels in the secretory phase of the menstrual cycle but is absent during the proliferative phase. We have examined the PG dehydrogenase activity in human endometrium from women who had been treated with the anti-oestrogen clomiphene at an earlier stage of the cycle and found high levels of the enzyme in the proliferative phase. This data was supported by the culture of endometrium from clomiphene treated women which showed both high PG production and extensive inactivation comparable to that seen in the secretory phase. This effect of clomiphene on the PG inactivating ability of endometrium could be of clinical use in management of disorders where elevated PGs are present.