A patient with ulcerative colitis treated with a combination of vedolizumab and tofacitinib.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an inflammatory bowel disease of autoimmune origin with an estimated prevalence in Spain of 0.39%. Current treatments for UC do not achieve high long-term efficacy. Treatment recommendations in moderate and severe disease involve drugs, but when these options fail, the alternatives are scarce, and surgery is intended to be reserved for the last option. We present the case of a 48-year-old male patient with UC for 23 years, who had failed several lines of treatment. The patient started combined therapy with tofacitinib and vedolizumab. These drugs have different mechanisms of action, achieving an immune response and reducing gastrointestinal inflammation. The patient's disease symptoms improved 11 months after starting this treatment, and he is now entirely asymptomatic. Analytical parameters related to the disease have also shown improvement, and the patient has so far avoided the need for surgical intervention.

A new naphthalene derivative with anti-amyloidogenic activity as potential therapeutic agent for Alzheimer's disease.

The aggregation of ß-amyloid peptides is associated to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. Consequently, the inhibition of both oligomerization and fibrillation of ß-amyloid peptides is considered a plausible therapeutic approach for AD. Herein, the synthesis of new naphthalene derivatives and their evaluation as anti-ß-amyloidogenic agents are presented. Molecular dynamic simulations predicted the formation of thermodynamically stable complexes between the compounds, the Aß1-42 peptide and fibrils. In human microglia cells, these compounds inhibited the aggregation of Aß1-42 peptide. The lead compound 8 showed a high affinity to amyloid plaques in mice brain ex vivo assays and an adequate log Poct/PBS value. Compound 8 also improved the cognitive function and decreased hippocampal ß-amyloid burden in the brain of 3xTg-AD female mice. Altogether, our results suggest that 8 could be a novel therapeutic agent for AD.

Biological Assessment of a 18F-Labeled Sulforhodamine 101 in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease as a Potential Astrocytosis Marker.

Neurodegenerative diseases have mainly been associated with neuronal death. Recent investigations have shown that astroglia may modulate neuroinflammation in the early and late stages of the disease. [11C]Deuterodeprenyl ([11C]DED) is a tracer that has been used for reactive astrocyte detection in Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, among others, with some limitations. To develop a new radiotracer for detecting astrocytosis and overcoming associated difficulties, we recently reported the synthesis of a sulfonamide derivative of Sulforhodamine 101 (SR101), labeled with 18F, namely SR101 N-(3-[18F]Fluoropropyl) sulfonamide ([18F]2B-SRF101). The red fluorescent dye SR101 has been used as a specific marker of astroglia in the neocortex of rodents using in vivo models. In the present work we performed a biological characterisation of the new tracer including biodistribution and micro-PET/computed tomography (CT) images. PET/CT studies with [11C]DED were also done to compare with [18F]2B-SRF101 in order to assess its potential as an astrocyte marker. Biodistribution studies with [18F]2B-SRF101 were carried out in C57BL6J black and transgenic (3xTg) mice. A hepatointestinal metabolization as well as the pharmacokinetic profile were determined, showing appropriate characteristics to become a PET diagnostic agent. Dynamic PET/CT studies were carried out with [18F]2B-SRF101 and [11C]DED to evaluate the distribution of both tracers in the brain. A significant difference in [18F]2B-SRF101 uptake was especially observed in the cortex and hippocampus, and it was higher in 3xTg mice than it was in the control group. These results suggested that [18F]2B-SRF101 is a promising candidate for more extensive evaluation as an astrocyte tracer. The difference observed for [18F]2B-SRF101 was not found in the case of [11C]DED. The comparative studies between [18F]2B-SRF101 and [11C]DED suggest that both tracers have different roles as astrocytosis markers in this animal model, and could provide different and complementary information at the same time. In this way, by means of a multitracer approach, useful information could be obtained for the staging of the disease.

[18F]Amylovis as a Potential PET Probe for ß-Amyloid Plaque: Synthesis, In Silico, In vitro and In vivo Evaluations.

BACKGROUND: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Neuroimaging methods have widened the horizons for AD diagnosis and therapy. The goals of this work are the synthesis of 2-(3-fluoropropyl)-6-methoxynaphthalene (5) and its [18F]-radiolabeled counterpart ([18F]Amylovis), the in silico and in vitro comparative evaluations of [18F]Amylovis and [11C]Pittsburg compound B (PIB) and the in vivo preclinical evaluation of [18F]Amylovis in transgenic and wild mice. METHODS: Iron-catalysis cross coupling reaction, followed by fluorination and radiofluorination steps were carried out to obtain 5 and 18F-Amylovis. Protein/Aß plaques binding, biodistribution, PET/CT Imaging and immunohistochemical studies were conducted in healthy/transgenic mice. RESULTS: The synthesis of 5 was successful obtained. Comparative in silico studies predicting that 5 should have affinity to the Aß-peptide, mainly through π-π interactions. According to a dynamic simulation study the ligand-Aß peptide complexes are stable in simulation-time (ΔG = -5.31 kcal/mol). [18F]Amylovis was obtained with satisfactory yield, high radiochemical purity and specific activity. The [18F]Amylovis log Poct/PBS value suggests its potential ability for crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB). According to in vitro assays, [18F]Amylovis has an adequate stability in time. Higher affinity to Aß plaques were found for [18F]Amylovis (Kd 0.16 nmol/L) than PIB (Kd 8.86 nmol/L) in brain serial sections of 3xTg-AD mice. Biodistribution in healthy mice showed that [18F]Amylovis crosses the BBB with rapid uptake (7 %ID/g at 5 min) and good washout (0.11±0.03 %ID/g at 60 min). Comparative PET dynamic studies of [18F]Amylovis in healthy and transgenic APPSwe/PS1dE9 mice, revealed a significant high uptake in the mice model. CONCLUSION: The in silico, in vitro and in vivo results justify that [18F]Amylovis should be studied as a promissory PET imaging agent to detect the presence of Aß senile plaques.

Clinical experience with ferric carboxymaltose in the management of anemia in acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) following hospitalization for acute gastrointestinal bleeding (AGIB) in the context of a restrictive transfusion strategy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective single-center study analyzed patients with AGIB (excluding AGIB secondary to portal hypertension) administered a single FCM dose with or without blood transfusion. RESULTS: Eighty-six episodes in 84 patients were analyzed. Seventy-nine patients had upper AGIB. Nineteen episodes were associated with hemodynamic instability. FCM was administered during hospitalization as a single dose of 1000 mg iron in 84/86 episodes and as a single dose of 500 mg iron in two episodes, with blood transfusion in 60/86 (69.8%) episodes. The mean hemoglobin (Hb) was 9.0 g/dl at admission, 7.6 g/dl at the lowest in-hospital value, 9.4 g/dl at discharge, and 12.7 g/dl at follow-up (mean: 55 days postdischarge) (P<0.001 for follow-up vs. all other timepoints). The lowest mean in-hospital Hb value was 7.2 and 8.8 g/dl, respectively, in patients with transfusion+FCM versus FCM alone; the mean Hb was 12.4 versus 13.7 g/dl at follow-up. In patients administered FCM alone, the mean Hb at follow-up in the subpopulations aged older than or equal to 75 years (n=33), Charlson comorbidity index of at least 3 (n=48), and Hb of up to 10 g/dl at admission (n=47) were 12.6, 13.1, and 13.3 g/dl, respectively. No adverse effects were detected. CONCLUSION: Treatment with FCM for AGIB is associated with a good erythropoietic response and anemia correction after hospitalization, even in severe episodes or when transfusion is needed. FCM is safe and well tolerated, and may support a restrictive transfusion policy.

Image-Guided Development of Heterocyclic Sulfoxides as Ligands for Tau Neurofibrillary Tangles: From First-in-Man to Second-Generation Ligands.

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of misfolded protein aggregates that form in neurodegenerative processes of the brain is key to providing a robust marker for improved diagnosis and evaluation of treatments. We report the development of advanced radiotracer candidates based on the sulfoxide scaffold found in proton pump inhibitors (lansoprazole, prevacid) with inherent affinity to neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (e.g., dementia with Lewy bodies and the frontotemporal degeneration syndrome). First-in-man results obtained with [18F]lansoprazole and N-methyl-[18F]lansoprazole were used to guide the design of a set of 24 novel molecules with suitable properties for neuroimaging with PET. Compounds were synthesized and characterized pharmacologically, and the binding affinity of the compounds to synthetic human tau-441 fibrils was determined. Selectivity of binding was assessed using α-synuclein and ß-amyloid fibrils to address the key misfolded proteins of relevance in dementia. To complete the pharmacokinetic profiling in vitro, plasma protein binding and lipophilicity were investigated. Highly potent and selective new radiotracer candidates were identified for further study.

Assessing the agromining potential of Mediterranean nickel-hyperaccumulating plant species at field-scale in ultramafic soils under humid-temperate climate.

Nickel (Ni) agromining of ultramafic soils has been proposed as an eco-friendly option for metal recovery, which can also improve the fertility and quality of these low productive soils. The selection of adequate plant species and the analysis of their performance under the different climatic conditions are of interest for optimising the process and evaluating its full viability. A one-year field experiment was carried out to evaluate the viability of the two Ni-hyperaccumulating Mediterranean species, Alyssum murale and Leptoplax emarginata, for agromining purposes in ultramafic soils under a humid-temperate climate. Field plots of 50 m2 were established and the soil was fertilised with gypsum and inorganic NPK fertilisers prior to cropping. Alyssum murale produced a slightly higher Ni yield than L. emarginata, but Ni bioaccumulation was dependent on the plant phenological stage for both species, being maximal at mid-flowering (4.2 and 3.0 kg Ni ha-1, respectively). In both species, Ni was mainly stored in the leaves, especially in leaves of vegetative stems, but also in flowers and fruits in the case of L. emarginata. The main contributors to Ni yield of A. murale were flowering stems and their leaves, while for L. emarginata they were flowering stems and fruits. Implementing the agromining system increased soil nutrient availability, and modified microbial community structure and metabolic activity (due to fertilisation and plant root activity). The soil bacterial communities were dominated by Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Chloroflexi, and the agromining crops modified the relative abundance of some phyla (increasing Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Nitrospirae and reducing Acidobacteria and Planctomycetes). Cultivating A. murale increased the densities of total culturable bacteria, while L. emarginata selected Ni-tolerant bacteria in its rhizosphere. In summary, both species showed great potential for their use in Ni agromining systems, although optimising soil and crop management practices could improve the phytoextraction efficiency.

Arsenic adsorption and plant availability in an agricultural soil irrigated with As-rich water: Effects of Fe-rich amendments and organic and inorganic fertilisers.

The use of As-rich water for irrigation in agricultural soils may result in As accumulation in soil and crops, with the consequent risk of its entry into the food chain. The effectiveness of three different Fe-based materials (a commercial iron oxide (Bayoxide®), lamination slag (a by-product of the hot rolling of steel) and a commercial red mud derivative (ViroBind™)) used as soil amendments to minimise the impact of irrigation with As-rich water in an agricultural soil-plant system was evaluated in a pot experiment. Simultaneously, the influence of organic and inorganic fertilisation (olive oil mill waste compost versus NPK fertiliser) on the effectiveness of iron oxide in As adsorption processes was also assessed. The As adsorption capacity of the amendments was determined in a preliminary batch experiment using sorption isotherms. Then, a pot experiment was carried out in a growth chamber using an agricultural soil (arenosol) from Segovia province (central Spain), amended with the different materials, in which Lactuca sativa (lettuce) was grown for two months. The As adsorption capacity was higher in the commercial iron oxide and in the red mud derivative, which fitted the Freundlich model (no saturation), than in the lamination slag, which fitted the Langmuir model (limited adsorption). All the materials decreased the pore water As concentration compared to the control (by 29-80%), but only iron oxide reduced As availability in the soil, and none of the amendments decreased the As concentration in plant leaves. The combination of iron oxide and compost did not significantly improve plant growth, but increased nutrients (N, K, Ca, Na and Mg) concentrations and availability in the soil and their concentration in the plants, relative to the other treatments and the control. Therefore, this seems to be a viable option to prevent As leaching and improve the plant nutritional status.

Maghemite nanoparticles and ferrous sulfate for the stimulation of iron plaque formation and arsenic immobilization in Phragmites australis.

Wetland plants are considered as suitable biofilters for the removal of metal(loid)s and other contaminants from waters and wastewaters, due to their ability to accumulate and retain the contaminants in their roots. The iron plaque (IP) on the root surface influences the metal(loid)s retention processes. The stimulation of the IP development on roots of Phragmites australis by the external supply of a novel synthetic nanomaterial (nanomaghemite, nFe2O3) and FeSO4 (alone or in combination) was studied. An hydroponic experiment was carried out to evaluate the iron plaque formation after external iron addition, as well as their influence on arsenic immobilization capacity. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were utilized to assess the distribution of Fe and As in the roots. The addition of Fe stimulated the generation of the IP, especially when FeSO4 was involved. The nanoparticles alone were not efficient with regard to IP formation or As adsorption, even though they adhered to the root surface and did not enter into epithelial root cells. The combination of FeSO4 and nFe2O3 was the most effective treatment for improving the As removal capacity, and it seems to be an effective way to enhance the rhizofiltration potential of P. australis in As contaminated (waste)waters.

Alleviation of environmental risks associated with severely contaminated mine tailings using amendments: Modeling of trace element speciation, solubility, and plant accumulation.

Tailings are considered one of the most relevant sources of contamination associated with mining activities. Phytostabilization of mine spoils may need the application of the adequate combination of amendments to facilitate plant establishment and reduce their environmental impact. Two pot experiments were set up to assess the capability of 2 inorganic materials (calcium carbonate and a red mud derivate, ViroBindTM ), alone or in combination with organic amendments, for the stabilization of highly acidic trace element-contaminated mine tailings using Atriplex halimus. The effects of the treatments on tailings and porewater physico-chemical properties and trace-element accumulation by the plants, as well as the processes governing trace elements speciation and solubility in soil solution and their bioavailability were modeled. The application of the amendments increased tailings pH and decreased (>99%) trace elements solubility in porewater, but also changed the speciation of soluble Cd, Cu, and Pb. All the treatments made A. halimus growth in the tailings possible; organic amendments increased plant biomass and nutritional status, and reduced trace-element accumulation in the plants. Tailings amendments modified trace-element speciation in porewater (favoring the formation of chlorides and/or organo-metallic forms) and their solubility and plant uptake, which were found to be mainly governed by tailing/porewater pH, electrical conductivity, and organic carbon content, as well as soluble/available trace-element concentrations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2874-2884. © 2016 SETAC.

Assessing the influence of compost and biochar amendments on the mobility and toxicity of metals and arsenic in a naturally contaminated mine soil.

Amending contaminated soils with organic wastes can influence trace element mobility and toxicity. Soluble concentrations of metals and arsenic were measured in pore water and aqueous soil extracts following the amendment of a heavily contaminated mine soil with compost and biochar (10% v:v) in a pot experiment. Speciation modelling and toxicity assays (Vibrio fischeri luminescence inhibition and Lolium perenne germination) were performed to discriminate mechanisms controlling metal mobility and assess toxicity risk thereafter. Biochar reduced free metal concentrations furthest but dissolved organic carbon primarily controlled metal mobility after compost amendment. Individually, both amendments induced considerable solubilisation of arsenic to pore water (>2500 µg l(-1)) related to pH and soluble phosphate but combining amendments most effectively reduced toxicity due to simultaneous reductions in extractable metals and increases in soluble nutrients (P). Thus the measure-monitor-model approach taken determined that combining the amendments was most effective at mitigating attendant toxicity risk.

The use of olive-mill waste compost to promote the plant vegetation cover in a trace-element-contaminated soil.

The applicability of a mature compost as a soil amendment to promote the growth of native species for the phytorestoration of a mine-affected soil from a semi-arid area (SE Spain), contaminated with trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn), was evaluated in a 2-year field experiment. The effects of an inorganic fertiliser were also determined for comparison. Bituminaria bituminosa was the selected native plant since it is a leguminous species adapted to the particular local pedoclimatic conditions. Compost addition increased total organic-C concentrations in soil with respect to the control and fertiliser treatments, maintained elevated available P concentrations throughout the duration of the experiment and stimulated soil microbial biomass, while trace elements extractability in the soil was rather low due to the calcareous nature of the soil and almost unaltered in the different treatments. Tissue concentrations of P and K in B. bituminosa increased after the addition of compost, associated with growth stimulation. Leaf Cu concentration was also increased by the amendments, although overall the trace elements concentrations can be considered non-toxic. In addition, the spontaneous colonisation of the plots by a total of 29 species of 15 different families at the end of the experiment produced a greater vegetation cover, especially in plots amended with compost. Therefore, the use of compost as a soil amendment appears to be useful for the promotion of a vegetation cover and the phytostabilisation of moderately contaminated soils under semi-arid conditions.

The use of a halophytic plant species and organic amendments for the remediation of a trace elements-contaminated soil under semi-arid conditions.

The halophytic shrub Atriplex halimus L. was used in a field phytoremediation experiment in a semi-arid area highly contaminated by trace elements (As, Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) within the Sierra Minera of La Unión-Cartagena (SE Spain). The effects of compost and pig slurry on soil conditions and plant growth were determined. The amendments (particularly compost) only slightly affected trace element concentrations in soil pore water or their availability to the plants, increased soil nutrient and organic matter levels and favoured the development of a sustainable soil microbial biomass (effects that were enhanced by the presence of A. halimus) as well as, especially for slurry, increasing A. halimus biomass and ground cover. With regard to the minimisation of trace elements concentrations in the above-ground plant parts, the effectiveness of both amendments was greatest 12-16 months after their incorporation. The findings demonstrate the potential of A. halimus, particularly in combination with an organic amendment, for the challenging task of the phytostabilisation of contaminated soils in (semi-)arid areas and suggest the need for an ecotoxicological evaluation of the remediated soils. However, the ability of A. halimus to accumulate Zn and Cd in the shoot may limit its use to moderately-contaminated sites.

Dementia and Other Chronic Diseases in Older Adults in Havana and Matanzas: The 10/66 Study in Cuba

INTRODUCTION Chronic non-communicable diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, except in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nonetheless, one of these conditions, dementia, is the major contributor to disability-adjusted life years in people aged ≥60 years. Few epidemiological studies exist of the prevalence and impact of dementia and selected chronic diseases in older adults in Latin America.OBJECTIVE Describe prevalence of dementia, other chronic vascular diseases and cardiovascular risk factors, as well as resulting disabilities and care needs generated in adults aged ≥65 years in Havana City and Matanzas provinces, Cuba. METHODS The 10/66 study is a prospective longitudinal study involving a cohort of 3015 adults aged ≥65 years in municipalities of Havana City and Matanzas provinces, divided into two phases: a cross-sectional door-to-door study conducted in 2003–2006, and a follow-up and assessment phase in 2007–2010. This article reports findings from the first phase. Hypertension diagnosis was based on criteria from the International Society for Hypertension; diabetes mellitus on American Diabetes Association criteria; stroke according to WHO definitions; and dementia according to criteria of the American Psychiatric Society's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV and the 10/66 International Dementia Research Group. Ischemic heart disease was defined by self-report of previous physician diagnosis. Study variables included age, sex, educational level, substance use (alcohol, tobacco) and dietary habits. A structured physical and neurological exam, including blood pressure measurement, was performed on all participants. Laboratory tests included complete blood count, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol and lipoprotein fractions, triglycerides and apolipoprotein E genotype. Prevalence and standardized morbidity ratios (crude and adjusted) were calculated for chronic diseases studied with 95% confidence intervals, using a Poisson...(AU)

Prevalencia de hipertensión arterial, adhesión al tratamiento y su control en adultos mayores / High blood pressure prevalence, adherence to treatment and its control in elderly patients

Introducción: La hipertensión arterial contribuye al 80 por ciento de las muertes por enfermedad cardiovascular y cerebrovascular en la población de 65 años y más. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de hipertensión arterial, adhesión al tratamiento y su control en adultos mayores. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal en 1 216 adultos mayores de 4 áreas de salud seleccionadas pertenecientes a los municipios Marianao y La Lisa, en el período de septiembre de 2008 a septiembre de 2009. Resultados: La prevalencia de hipertensión arterial ajustada fue de 74,3 (IC 95 por ciento 71,7-76,9), con mayor prevalencia en las mujeres. La detección previa de hipertensión arterial resultó superior al 70 por ciento en todos los policlínicos seleccionados, pero la adhesión al tratamiento osciló entre 47 y 68 por ciento, y menos de la mitad de los hipertensos se encontraban controlados. Conclusiones: Fortalecer la atención primaria de salud para mejorar la atención y el control de la hipertensión arterial es clave en la reducción de la morbilidad y la mortalidad por enfermedades cardiovasculares(AU)

Introduction: The high blood pressure accounts for the 80 percent of death from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in persons aged 65 and over. Objective: To determine the prevalence of the high blood pressure, the adherence to treatment and its control in elderly patients. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study was conducted in 1 216 elderly in four health areas selected from the Marianao and La Lisa municipalities from September, 2008 to September, 2009. Results: The adjusted high blood pressure prevalence was of 74,3 percent (95 percent CI 71,7-76,9) greater in female patients. The early detection of high blood pressure was higher to 70 percent in all polyclinics selected, but the adherence to treatment fluctuates between 47 and 68 percent and les than half of hypertensive ones were under control. Conclusions: To strength the primary health care to improve the high blood pressure care and control is the key in reduction of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases(AU)

Prevalencia de hipertensión arterial, adhesión al tratamiento y su control en adultos mayores / High blood pressure prevalence, adherence to treatment and its control in elderly patients

Introducción: La hipertensión arterial contribuye al 80 por ciento de las muertes por enfermedad cardiovascular y cerebrovascular en la población de 65 años y más. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de hipertensión arterial, adhesión al tratamiento y su control en adultos mayores. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional descriptivo de corte transversal en 1 216 adultos mayores de 4 áreas de salud seleccionadas pertenecientes a los municipios Marianao y La Lisa, en el período de septiembre de 2008 a septiembre de 2009. Resultados: La prevalencia de hipertensión arterial ajustada fue de 74,3 (IC 95 por ciento 71,7-76,9), con mayor prevalencia en las mujeres. La detección previa de hipertensión arterial resultó superior al 70 por ciento en todos los policlínicos seleccionados, pero la adhesión al tratamiento osciló entre 47 y 68 por ciento, y menos de la mitad de los hipertensos se encontraban controlados. Conclusiones: Fortalecer la atención primaria de salud para mejorar la atención y el control de la hipertensión arterial es clave en la reducción de la morbilidad y la mortalidad por enfermedades cardiovasculares

Introduction: The high blood pressure accounts for the 80 percent of death from cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease in persons aged 65 and over. Objective: To determine the prevalence of the high blood pressure, the adherence to treatment and its control in elderly patients. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and observational study was conducted in 1 216 elderly in four health areas selected from the Marianao and La Lisa municipalities from September, 2008 to September, 2009. Results: The adjusted high blood pressure prevalence was of 74,3 percent (95 percent CI 71,7-76,9) greater in female patients. The early detection of high blood pressure was higher to 70 percent in all polyclinics selected, but the adherence to treatment fluctuates between 47 and 68 percent and les than half of hypertensive ones were under control. Conclusions: To strength the primary health care to improve the high blood pressure care and control is the key in reduction of morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases

Effects of compost, pig slurry and lime on trace element solubility and toxicity in two soils differently affected by mining activities.

The use of organic wastes as amendments in heavy metal-polluted soils is an ecological integrated option for their recycling. The potential use of alperujo (solid olive-mill waste) compost and pig slurry in phytoremediation strategies has been studied, evaluating their short-term effects on soil health. An aerobic incubation experiment was carried out using an acid mine spoil based soil and a low OM soil from the mining area of La Unión (Murcia, Spain). Arsenic and heavy metal solubility in amended and non-amended soils, and microbial parameters were evaluated and related to a phytotoxicity test. The organic amendments provoked an enlargement of the microbial community (compost increased biomass-C from non detected values to 35 µg g(-1) in the mine spoil soil, and doubled control values in the low OM soil) and an intensification of its activity (including a twofold increase in nitrification), and significantly enhanced seed germination (increased cress germination by 25% in the mine spoil soil). Organic amendments increased Zn and Pb EDTA-extractable concentrations, and raised As solubility due to the influence of factors such as pH changes, phosphate concentration, and the nature of the organic matter of the amendments. Compost, thanks to the greater persistence of its organic matter in soil, could be recommended for its use in (phyto)stabilisation strategies. However, pig slurry boosted inorganic N content and did not significantly enhance As extractability in soil, so its use could be specifically recommended in As polluted soils.

Propuesta de evaluación geriátrica para su aplicación en los centros asistenciales de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias / Proposal of geriatric evaluation to be applied by the health care centers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces

Se presenta una propuesta de evaluación geriátrica para su aplicación en las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, ante la carencia de una metodología uniforme para la atención del adulto mayor. Se sugiere la aplicación de la Valoración Geriátrica Integral a los jubilados de nuestras Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias y a los miembros de la Asociación de Combatientes de la Revolución Cubana que se atienden en nuestras instituciones médicas, esta valoración incluye: evaluación biomédica (se refiere a la historia clínica, valoración nutricional, prueba de Tinetti y un examen oftalmológico y auditivo detallado), evaluación psicológica (se debe destacar demencia y depresión según los criterios del Diagnóstico and Statistical Manual of Desorders IV, con el apoyo del mini-examen del estado mental y de la escala de depresión geriátrica respectivamente), evaluación social (recoge información sobre la situación socio-económica, familiar, de la vivienda y de soporte asistencial) y la evaluación funcional (explora la capacidad de realizar las actividades de la vida diaria a través de los índices de Katz, Lawton y de las ejecuciones prácticas)(AU)

Propuesta de evaluación geriátrica para su aplicación en los centros asistenciales de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias / Proposal of geriatric evaluation to be applied by the health care centers of the Revolutionary Armed Forces

Se presenta una propuesta de evaluación geriátrica para su aplicación en las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, ante la carencia de una metodología uniforme para la atención del adulto mayor. Se sugiere la aplicación de la Valoración Geriátrica Integral a los jubilados de nuestras Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias y a los miembros de la Asociación de Combatientes de la Revolución Cubana que se atienden en nuestras instituciones médicas, esta valoración incluye: evaluación biomédica (se refiere a la historia clínica, valoración nutricional, prueba de Tinetti y un examen oftalmológico y auditivo detallado), evaluación psicológica (se debe destacar demencia y depresión según los criterios del Diagnóstico and Statistical Manual of Desorders IV, con el apoyo del mini-examen del estado mental y de la escala de depresión geriátrica respectivamente), evaluación social (recoge información sobre la situación socio-económica, familiar, de la vivienda y de soporte asistencial) y la evaluación funcional (explora la capacidad de realizar las actividades de la vida diaria a través de los índices de Katz, Lawton y de las ejecuciones prácticas)

Tratamiento de la demencia senil tipo Alzheimer con campo magnético y ozono / Treatment of senile dementia of the Alzheimer type with electromagnetic fileds and ozone

Se estudiaron 45 pacientes con diagnóstico de demencia senil tipo Alzheimer, los cuales se dividieron aleatoriamente en 3 grupos de tratamiento: ozonoterapia rectal, magnetoterapia y tratamiento combinado. Se definieron 3 tipos de respuestas: regresión o mejoría, progresión y sin cambios, de acuerdo con la escala de deterioro global dependiente de la edad y de la enfermedad de Alzheimer, el miniexamen del estado mental de Folstein, el criterio familiar y de observación del equipo médico de mejoría en manifestaciones psiquiátricasy conductuales, así como otros indicadores que miden calidad de vida. Se obtuvo una respuesta de regresión o mejoría en el 60 por ciento de los casos con campo magnético y ozonoterapia combinados al mes de tratamiento, siendo mantenida en el 46,6 por ciento de los pacientes, aun a los 6 meses de tratamiento, respuestasque no se obtuvo con el empleo del campo magnético o del ozono, como métodos aislados. No se presentaron manifestaciones de toxicidad en los pacientes (AU)