Prevalence of electrocardiographic alterations in athletes associated with cardiovascular risk parameters / Prevalencia de alteraciones electrocardiográficas en deportistas asociadas a parametros de riesgo cardiovascular

Sport induces cardiac adaptations that are manifested with specific electrocardiographic alterations. This study was carried out in view of the need to identify the relationship between these electrocardiographic alterations with cardiovascular and demographic variables and physical exercise performed. Methodology: a descriptive cross-sectional study in 370 individuals, 211 men and 159 women (36 ± 13 years) that were distributed in three groups: male athletes, female athletes, and non-athlete men and women. Results: 51.08% of the studied subjects presented electrographic alterations, more frequent in athletes. Demographic and cardiovascular variables and the time of physical exercise performed were significantly associated with certain electrocardiographic alterations; the risk of presenting any of the alterations in athletes could be estimated based on the variables set out. Conclusion: There are associations between specific electrocardiographic alterations and cardiovascular, demographic and type of exercise variables that could classify athletes according to cardiovascular risk profiles (AU)

El deporte induce adaptaciones cardiacasque se manifiestan con alteraciones electrocardiográficas.Este estudio se realizóante la necesidad de identificar la relación existente entre estas alteraciones electrocardiográficas con variablescardiovasculares, demográficas y tiempo de ejerciciofísico. Metodología: estudio descriptivotrasversal en 370 individuos, 211 hombres y 159 mujeres (36 ±13 años)que se distribuyeron en tres grupos, hombres deportistas, mujeresdeportistas, yhombres y mujeres no deportistas.Resultados:El 51,08% de los sujetos estudiados presentaron alteraciones electrográficas, siendo más frecuentes en deportistas.Determinadas alteraciones electrocardiográficasen deportistas; se asociaron significativamente a las variables planteadaspudiendo estimar el riesgo de presentar alguna de las alteraciones electrocardiográficas en función de estas variables. Conclusión:Existen asociaciones entrealteraciones electrocardiográficas y variables cardiovasculares, demográficas y tiempo de ejercicio realizado que podrían clasificar a los deportistas según perfiles de riesgo cardiovascular (AU)

A Questionnaire Survey of Personal and Occupational Variables Associated With SARS-COV-2 Infection in Health Care Personnel of the Spanish Central Military Hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Spain is the country with the highest number of health care workers affected by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the world. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) infection in health care worker (HCW) at the Gómez Ulla Military Hospital (HCDGU). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A case-control study was conducted during the first outbreak of COVID 19 at GUMH. The study was extended to the total number of HCW in the hospital who met the inclusion criteria. Health care worker of the HCDGU were civilian and military personnel that included nursing and medicine students of Spanish Military Academy, medicine specialty residents, and nursing residents of Medical Surgical Specialty in Operations (EMQO). A questionnaire of 33 items was prepared. The questionnaire was sent by e-mail to the entire population of study. With this questionnaire personnel were classified into sick (cases) or healthy. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: One hundred fifty professionals answered the questionnaire. Cases were defined as those who tested positive in the diagnostic tests (n = 28, 20.7%) and no cases were those who tested negative (n = 107, 79.3%). Therefore, the percentage of SARS-CoV-2 in the GUMH was 20.7%. Of the total number of cases, 64.3% were men (P < .05), with a mean age of 47.1 years (SD 13.3), a mean BMI of 25.3 (SD 3.8), and 48.2% being overweight. Of the total cases, 59.3% had "A" blood group type and 69.2% were Rh positive. 50% were physicians, 32.1% were nurses, and 17.9% were auxiliary nurses (P < .05). Cases and controls with vitamin D deficiency and who took supplements had a lower risk of suffering COVID-19, with significant differences. Fever, cough, and diarrhea were found in at least 50% of the samples with significant differences.

Ectopic expression of the atypical HLH FaPRE1 gene determines changes in cell size and morphology.

PACLOBUTRAZOL RESISTANCE (PRE) genes code atypical HLH transcriptional regulators characterized by the absence of a DNA-binding domain but present an HLH dimerization domain. In vegetative tissues, the function of these HLH proteins has been related with cell elongation processes. In strawberry, three FaPRE genes are expressed, two of them (FaPRE2 and FaPRE3) in vegetative tissues while FaPRE1 is fruit receptacle-specific. Ubiquitous FaPRE1 accumulation produced elongated flower receptacles and plants due to the elongation of the main aerial vegetative organs, with the exception of leaves. Histological analysis clearly demonstrated that the observed phenotype was due to significant changes in the parenchymal cell's morphology. In addition, transcriptomic studies of the transgenic elongated flower receptacles allowed to identify a small group of differentially expressed genes that encode cell wall-modifying enzymes. Together, the data seem to indicate that, in the strawberry plant vegetative organs, FaPRE proteins could modulate the expression of genes related with the determination of the size and shape of the parenchymal cells.

Sequential antimicrobial treatment with linezolid for neurosurgical infections: efficacy, safety and cost study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence for the effectiveness of linezolid in neurosurgical infections (NSIs) is growing. The comfortable oral dosage and tolerance of linezolid opens the possibility for sequential antimicrobial treatment (SAT) in stable patients after a period of intravenous treatment. METHODS: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of SAT with oral linezolid in patients with NSI and to analyse the cost implications, an observational, non-comparative, prospective cohort study was conducted on clinically stable consecutive adult patients at the Neurosurgical Service. Following intravenous treatment, patients were discharged with SAT with oral linezolid. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients were included. The most common NSIs were: 41 surgical wound infections, 20 subdural empyemas, 18 epidural abscesses, and 16 brain abscesses. Forty-four percent of patients presented two or more concomitant NSIs. Aetiological agents commonly isolated were: Propionibacterium acnes (36 %), Staphylococcus aureus (23 %), Staphylococcus epidermidis (21 %) and Streptococcus spp. (13 %). The median duration of the SAT was 15 days (range, 3-42). The SAT was interrupted in five cases due to adverse events. The remainder of the patients were cured at the end of the SAT. A total of 1,163 days of hospitalisation were saved. An overall cost reduction of €516,188 was attributed to the SAT. Eight patients with device infections did not require removal of the device, with an additional cost reduction of €190,595. The mean cost saving per patient was €9,179. CONCLUSIONS: SAT with linezolid was safe and effective for the treatment of NSI. SAT reduces hospitalisation times, which means significant savings of health and economic resources.

UV-C radiation based methods for aqueous metoprolol elimination.

The endocrine disruptor metoprolol has been oxidised in aqueous solution by means of the systems UV-C, UV-C/H(2)O(2), UV-C/percarbonate, UV-C/monopersulfate, UV-C/TiO(2), UV-C/H(2)O(2)/TiO(2) and photo-Fenton. From simple photolysis experiments the quantum yield of metoprolol has been calculated (roughly 5x10(-3) mol Einstein(-1) at circumneutral pH). Addition of free radicals promoters significantly enhanced the metoprolol depletion rate. Mineralization degree was negligible when no promoter was added, while low values were achieved in the presence of either inorganic peroxides or titanium dioxide. The combination of radiation, hydrogen peroxide and TiO(2) increased the mineralization level up to values in the proximity of 45-50% under the best conditions investigated. The photo-Fenton process was the best system in terms of total oxidation (mineralization degree 70%) when optimum conditions were applied.

Comparison of different advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in the presence of perovskites.

The efficacy of the oxidation systems: O3, UV radiation, O3/UV radiation, O3/perovskite, UV radiation/perovskite, O3/UV radiation/perovskite, H2O2/UV radiation, H2O2/UV radiation/perovskite, has been investigated by using pyruvic acid as probe compound. Under the operating conditions used, the combination of UV radiation and hydrogen peroxide (with or without perovskites) leads to the fastest pyruvic acid removal while the best results in terms of mineralization degree are obtained when combining O3/UV radiation/perovskite. The effect of the variables: inlet ozone (15-75 mg L(-1)) and initial pyruvic acid (10(-3) to 10(-2)M) concentrations, catalyst load (0.01-1.5 g L(-1)) and pH (2-9) was investigated for the photocatalytic ozonation. The most influencing parameter was the ozone concentration fed to the photoreactor. A zero order was observed for pyruvic acid concentration and close to zero for catalyst load. Some deactivation is observed after reusing the catalyst, likely due to leaching of the active phase.

Photocatalysis of fluorene adsorbed onto TiO2.

The adsorption of fluorene onto TiO2 has been investigated by conducting equilibrium and kinetic experiments. Adsorption isotherms have been evaluated at two different pHs in the range of temperatures 296-325 K. The type III isotherm shapes obtained were modelled by considering several expressions taken from the literature. Temperature exerted a positive influence in fluorene uptake. Addition of phosphates involved a negative effect when computing the final equilibrium fluorene removal. The kinetic experiments carried out at 296 K corroborated the competitiveness of phosphates to occupy the active sites on the titania surface. Nevertheless, equilibrium conditions are faster achieved at pH 2 than at pH 5. The photocatalysis of fluorene at different initial concentrations of the parent compound revealed a slight improvement of the process at pH 5 if compared to the results obtained at pH 2. A Langmuir-Hinselwood representation of the data confirms the previous statement. Catalyst load shows an optimum, concentration values of the photocatalyst above the optimum provoke a decrease in the fluorene abatement rate. Reutilisation of the catalyst indicates that fluorene is completely eliminated from the solid, i.e. it is suggested that fluorene and intermediates are surface oxidised.

Adsorption of landfill leachates onto activated carbon. Equilibrium and kinetics.

The adsorption of stabilized leachates generated in a municipal landfill onto three commercial activated carbons has been investigated. Norit 0.8, Chemviron AQ40 and Picacarb 1240 have been used as adsorbents. Equilibrium experiments have been conducted to obtain the experimental isotherm profiles. Isotherms have been plotted based on the adsorption of general parameters, for instance chemical oxygen demand, total carbon, absorption at 410 nm and absorption at 254 nm. Different literature models and error functions have been used to adequately fit the experimental data. As a rule of thumb, three-parameter models do adjust experimental results better than two-parameter models. Norit 0.8 shows better adsorption characteristics than the rest of activated carbons, both in terms of contaminant level reduction of per unit mass of absorbent and in terms of the process kinetics.

Cerebrospinal fluid penetration and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of intravenously administered colistin in a case of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii meningitis.

Described here is a case of meningitis caused by multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii susceptible only to colistin, which was treated successfully with intravenous colistin sulfomethate sodium (5 mg/kg/day). The levels of colistin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid and the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic parameters of colistin were determined. In this case, intravenously administered colistin penetrated cerebrospinal fluid (25% of serum levels) at levels sustaining bactericidal concentrations.

Treatment of olive oil mill wastewater by Fenton's reagent.

Wastewater from olive oil mills has been treated by means of the Fe(II)/H(2)O(2) system (Fenton's reagent). Typical operating variables such as reagent concentration (C(H(2)O(2)) = 1.0--0.2 M; C(Fe(II)) = 0.01--0.1 M) and temperature (T = 293--323 K) exerted a positive influence on the chemical oxygen demand and total carbon removal. The optimum working pH was found to be in the range 2.5--3.0. The exothermic nature of the process involved a significant increase of the temperature of the reaction media. The process was well simulated by a semiempirical reaction mechanism based on the classic Fenton chemistry. From the model, the reaction between ferric iron and hydrogen peroxide [k = 1.8 x 10(15) exp((-12,577 +/- 1248)/T)] was suggested to be the controlling step of the system. Also, the simultaneous inefficient decomposition of hydrogen peroxide [k = 6.3 x 10(12) exp((-11,987 +/- 2414)/T)] into water and oxygen was believed to play an important role in the process. On the basis of stoichiometric calculations for hydrogen peroxide consumption, an estimation of the process economy has been completed.

Oxidation of p-hydroxybenzoic acid by Fenton's reagent.

Fenton's reagent has been shown to be a feasible technique to treat phenolic-type compounds present in a variety of food processing industry wastewaters. A model compound, p-hydroxybenzoic acid was oxidised by continuously pumping two solutions of ferrous iron and hydrogen peroxide. Typical operating variables like reagent feeding concentrations and flowrate, temperature and pH were studied. A mechanism of reactions based on the classical Fenton's chemistry was assumed, and computed concentration profiles of the parent compound, ferrous ion and dihydroxybenzene were compared to experimental results. The model qualitatively predicted the influence of several operating variables, however, calculated results suggested the presence of parallel routes of substrate elimination and/or a initiating rate constant with a higher value. The low efficiency of a well-known hydroxyl radical scavenger (tert-butyl alcohol) also supports the contribution of oxidising species different from the hydroxyl radical to substrate removal. Further evidence of the presence of reactions different from the hydroxyl radical oxidation was observed from comparison of the simultaneous Fenton's or UV/H2O2 oxidations of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, tyrosol and p-coumaric acid.

Kinetic modelling of aqueous atrazine ozonation processes in a continuous flow bubble contactor.

The ozonation of atrazine in different waters (ultrapure and surface waters) has been studied in continuous bubble contactors with kinetic modelling purposes. Three ozonation processes have been considered: ozonation alone and combined with hydrogen peroxide or UV radiation. The kinetic models are based on a molecular and free radical mechanism of reactions, reaction rate and mass transfer data and non-ideal flow analysis models for gas and water phases through the contactors (the tanks in series model and the dispersion model). The models predict well the experimental concentrations of atrazine, dissolved ozone and hydrogen peroxide both at non-steady state and steady state regimes. From both experimental and calculated results, atrazine conversions are observed to be highly dependent on the nature of water where ozonation is carried out. As far as removal of atrazine and oxidation intermediates are concerned, ozone combined with UV radiation resulted in the most effective ozonation process among the three studied.

Orbital hydatid cyst: treatment and prevention of recurrences with albendazole plus praziquantel.

A case of successful treatment of orbital echinococcosis without evidence of recurrence on prolonged follow-up is presented. The management of orbital hydatid cyst is discussed. ¿ 2000 The British Infection Society

Chemical and photochemical degradation of acenaphthylene. Intermediate identification.

Removal of acenaphthylene from water has been carried out by means of different treatments combining UV radiation, ozone and hydrogen peroxide. Ozonation alone or in conjunction with hydrogen peroxide (10(-3) M) resulted in the highest elimination rates. Thus, conversions as high as 95-100% were obtained in less than 3 min with an ozone dose of 4.1x10(-3) mol O(3) h(-1) (flow rate 2x10(-2) m(3) h(-1)). Slightly lower efficiencies were experienced when using systems containing UV radiation. By considering the kinetics of the direct photolysis of acenaphthylene and the UV/H(2)O(2) system the photochemical reaction quantum yield φ(A) (4.0+/-0.1x10(-3) mol/photon) and the rate constant of the reaction of acenaphthylene with the hydroxyl radical k(OH,A) (8.0+/-0.5x10(9) M(-1) s(-1)) were calculated. Intermediates identified by GC/MS were in many cases similar regardless of the oxidation treatment used. Most of these by-products constituted oxygenated species of the parent compound (mainly ketones, aldehydes and carboxylic acids) that further degraded to low molecular, harmless end products.

Adrenalectomy does not change CRF secretion induced by interleukin-1 from rat perifused hypothalami.

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a potent hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (H-P-A) axis activator. The hypothalamus is considered one of the main sites of action of IL-1 on the H-P-A axis, inducing CRF secretion, which is modulated by glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids, which modulate CRF release by a negative feedback inhibition, have been postulated to exert a permissive action on the IL-1 effect on CRF secretion. Using a continuous perifusion system of rat hypothalami, the results of the present study indicate that at the same concentrations, IL-1 beta exerted a more potent effect than IL-1 alpha stimulating CRF secretion. The increase in hypothalamic CRF release induced by IL-1 was rapidly inhibited by both dexamethasone and corticosterone. However, adrenalectomy 2 or 8 days before did not modify CRF secretion induced by IL-1 from the in vitro perifused hypothalami. These data indicate that IL-1 does not seem to induce CRF secretion by interfering with an impeding action of glucocorticoids, although the cytokine effect is negatively modulated by corticosteroids.