Development of a thermodynamics of human cognition and human culture.

Inspired by foundational studies in classical and quantum physics, and by information retrieval studies in quantum information theory, we prove that the notions of 'energy' and 'entropy' can be consistently introduced in human language and, more generally, in human culture. More explicitly, if energy is attributed to words according to their frequency of appearance in a text, then the ensuing energy levels are distributed non-classically, namely, they obey Bose-Einstein, rather than Maxwell-Boltzmann, statistics, as a consequence of the genuinely 'quantum indistinguishability' of the words that appear in the text. Secondly, the 'quantum entanglement' due to the way meaning is carried by a text reduces the (von Neumann) entropy of the words that appear in the text, a behaviour which cannot be explained within classical (thermodynamic or information) entropy. We claim here that this 'quantum-type behaviour is valid in general in human language', namely, any text is conceptually more concrete than the words composing it, which entails that the entropy of the overall text decreases. In addition, we provide examples taken from cognition, where quantization of energy appears in categorical perception, and from culture, where entities collaborate, thus 'entangle', to decrease overall entropy. We use these findings to propose the development of a new 'non-classical thermodynamic theory' for human cognition, which also covers broad parts of human culture and its artefacts and bridges concepts with quantum physics entities. This article is part of the theme issue 'Thermodynamics 2.0: Bridging the natural and social sciences (Part 2)'.

Ab Initio Structure Factors for Spin-Dependent Dark Matter Direct Detection.

We present converged ab initio calculations of structure factors for elastic spin-dependent WIMP scattering off all nuclei used in dark matter direct-detection searches: ^{19}F, ^{23}Na, ^{27}Al, ^{29}Si, ^{73}Ge, ^{127}I, and ^{129,131}Xe. From a set of established two- and three-nucleon interactions derived within chiral effective field theory, we construct consistent WIMP-nucleon currents at the one-body level, including effects from axial-vector two-body currents. We then apply the in-medium similarity renormalization group to construct effective valence-space Hamiltonians and consistently transformed operators of nuclear responses. Combining the recent advances of natural orbitals with three-nucleon forces expressed in large spaces, we obtain basis-space converged structure factors even in heavy nuclei. Generally results are consistent with previous calculations but large uncertainties in ^{127}I highlight the need for further study.

Comparison of sleep and chronotype between senior and undergraduate university students.

The university programs for seniors provide a third age perspective in lifelong learning with classes and recreational facilities, and enable students to share their experiences and knowledge. A good sleep quality promotes better cognitive functioning and serves to protect against age-related cognitive declines. Central nervous system reorganization takes place during sleep, and although the influence of sleep quality on memory is not clear, circadian rhythm disorders affect alertness and individual performance. Physiological change during aging need to be clarified to better understand how university might help students. The aim of the present study was to evaluate for the first time the chronotype, the sleep quality and their relationship in senior university students and to compare them with those of undergraduate students. The Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (MEQ) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used. The results indicated that approximately 50% of the participants were good sleepers. This percentage was equal in the senior and undergraduate students. The results showed that undergraduate students tended toward eveningness while senior students tended toward morningness. Among the undergraduate students, evening type chronotypes had a tendency toward higher PSQI scores and this affected their daytime function scores, while it did not in the senior students, in whom worsening sleep quality was associated with disturbances such as going to the bathroom and nocturnal awakening. This information would be useful for designing environmental interventions to optimize sleep/work cycles for decreasing age-associated changes in memory in senior students and for improving the academic achievements of undergraduate students.

[Neuroimaging in fibromyalgia]. / Neuroimagen en fibromialgia.

INTRODUCTION: Most current research suggests that fibromyalgia is a disease produced by an alteration in the processing of pain signals in the central nervous system. In recent years, advances in non- or minimally-invasive brain imaging techniques have made it possible to discover how different areas of the nervous system are involved in the aetiopathogenesis of diseases that up until now have been considered as having a functional profile. AIM: To describe the objectified functional and the structural changes that take place in the brains of patients with fibro-myalgia by means of the currently available neuroimaging techniques. DEVELOPMENT: This work reviews the clinical studies, both anatomical and molecular, that have been conducted to date in the field of fibromyalgia using different brain imaging techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Different, but related, areas of the central nervous system have been described as altering not only the functional but also the structural form, in patients with fibromyalgia. These involved areas extend beyond the pain circuits, which would explain the variety of symptoms in patients, in addition to the characteristic pain reported by them.

TITLE: Neuroimagen en fibromialgia.Introduccion. La mayoria de las investigaciones actuales sugiere que la fibromialgia es una enfermedad producida por una alteracion en el procesamiento de la señal dolorosa en el sistema nervioso central. En los ultimos años, gracias al avance de las tecnicas de imagen cerebral no invasivas o minimamente invasivas, se ha podido averiguar como participan las diferentes areas del sistema nervioso en la etiopatogenia de enfermedades consideradas hasta ahora como de perfil funcional. Objetivo. Describir los cambios objetivados, tanto funcionales como estructurales, que ocurren en el cerebro de pacientes con fibromialgia a traves de las tecnicas de neuroimagen disponibles en la actualidad. Desarrollo. Se revisan los estudios clinicos, tanto anatomicos como moleculares, que se han realizado hasta ahora, con las diferentes tecnicas de imagen cerebral, en el campo de la fibromialgia. Conclusiones. Se han descrito diferentes areas del sistema nervioso central, relacionadas entre si, que se alteran no solo de forma funcional, sino tambien estructural, en los pacientes con fibromialgia. Estas areas involucradas se extienden mas alla de los circuitos de dolor, lo que explicaria la variada sintomatologia de los pacientes y el dolor caracteristico referido por ellos.

Effects of bisphenol A treatment during pregnancy on kidney development in mice: a stereological and histopathological study.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical found in plastics that resembles oestrogen in organisms. Developmental exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as BPA, increases the susceptibility to type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases. Animal studies have reported a nephron deficit in offspring exposed to maternal diabetes. The aim of this study was to investigate the prenatal BPA exposure effects on nephrogenesis in a mouse model that was predisposed to T2DM. This study quantitatively evaluated the renal structural changes using stereology and histomorphometry methods. The OF1 pregnant mice were treated with a vehicle or BPA (10 or 100 µg/kg/day) during days 9-16 of gestation (early nephrogenesis). The 30-day-old offspring were sacrificed, and tissue samples were collected and prepared for histopathological and stereology studies. Glomerular abnormalities and reduced glomerular formation were observed in the BPA offspring. The kidneys of the BPA10 and BPA100 female offspring had a significantly lower glomerular number and density than those of the CONTROL female offspring. The glomerular histomorphometry revealed a significant difference between the female and male CONTROL offspring for the analysed glomerular parameters that disappeared in the BPA10 and BPA100 offspring. In addition, the kidney histopathological examination showed typical male cuboidal epithelial cells of the Bowman capsule in the female BPA offspring. Exposure to environmentally relevant doses of BPA during embryonic development altered nephrogenesis. These structural changes could be associated with an increased risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases later in life.

Offspring's hydromineral adaptive responses to maternal undernutrition during lactation.

Early development, throughout gestation and lactation, represents a period of extreme vulnerability during which susceptibility to later metabolic and cardiovascular injuries increases. Maternal diet is a major determinant of the foetal and newborn developmental environment; maternal undernutrition may result in adaptive responses leading to structural and molecular alterations in various organs and tissues, such as the brain and kidney. New nephron anlages appear in the renal cortex up to postnatal day 4 and the last anlages to be formed develop into functional nephrons by postnatal day 10 in rodents. We used a model of undernutrition in rat dams that were food-restricted during the first half of the lactation period in order to study the long-term effects of maternal diet on renal development, behaviour and neural hydromineral control mechanisms. The study showed that after 40% food restriction in maternal dietary intake, the dipsogenic responses for both water and salt intake were not altered; Fos expression in brain areas investigated involved in hydromineral homeostasis control was always higher in the offspring in response to isoproterenol. This was accompanied by normal plasma osmolality changes and typical renal histology. These results suggest that the mechanisms for the control of hydromineral balance were unaffected in the offspring of these 40% food-restricted mothers. Undernutrition of the pups may not be as drastic as suggested by dams' restriction.

[Fetal bradycardia: a retrospective study in 9 Spanish centers]. / Bradicardia fetal: estudio multicéntrico retrospectivo en 9 hospitales españoles.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to review the current management and outcomes of fetal bradycardia in 9 Spanish centers. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter study: analysis of all fetuses with bradycardia diagnosed between January 2008 and September 2010. Underlying mechanisms of fetal bradyarrhythmias were studied with echocardiography. RESULTS: A total of 37 cases were registered: 3 sinus bradycardia, 15 blocked atrial bigeminy, and 19 high grade atrioventricular blocks. Sinus bradycardia: 3 cases (100%) were associated with serious diseases. Blocked atrial bigeminy had an excellent outcome, except for one case with post-natal tachyarrhythmia. Of the atrioventricular blocks, 16% were related to congenital heart defects with isomerism, 63% related to the presence of maternal SSA/Ro antibodies, and 21% had unclear etiology. Overall mortality was 20% (37%, if terminations of pregnancy are taken into account). Risk factors for mortality were congenital heart disease, hydrops and/or ventricular dysfunction. Management strategies differed among centers. Steroids were administrated in 73% of immune-mediated atrioventricular blocks, including the only immune-mediated IInd grade block. More than half (58%) of atrioventricular blocks had a pacemaker implanted in a follow-up of 18 months. CONCLUSIONS: Sustained fetal bradycardia requires a comprehensive study in all cases, including those with sinus bradycardia. Blocked atrial bigeminy has a good prognosis, but tachyarrhythmias may develop. Heart block has significant mortality and morbidity rates, and its management is still highly controversial.

Sensory function after cavernous haemangioma: a case report of thermal hypersensitivity at and below an incomplete spinal cord injury.

STUDY DESIGN: Case report of a 42-year-old woman with non-evoked pain diagnosed with a cavernous C7-Th6 spinal haemangioma. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effect of intramedullary haemorrhage (IH) on nociception and neuropathic pain (NP) at and below an incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI). SETTING: Sensorimotor Function Group, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos de Toledo (HNPT). METHODS: T2*-susceptibility weighted image (SWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of spinal haemosiderin and a complete pain history were performed 8 months following initial dysaesthesia complaint. Thermal pain thresholds were assessed with short 1 s stimuli, while evidence for central sensitization was obtained with psychophysical electronic Visual Analogue Scale rating of tonic 10 s 3 °C and 48 °C stimuli, applied at and below the IH. Control data were obtained from 10 healthy volunteers recruited from the HNPT. RESULTS: Non-evoked pain was present within the Th6 dermatome and lower legs. T2*-SWI MRI imaging detected extensive haemosiderin-rich IH (C7-Th5/6 spinal level). Cold allodynia was detected below the IH (left L5 dermatome) with short thermal stimuli. Tonic thermal stimuli applied to the Th6, Th10 and C7 dermatomes revealed widespread heat and cold allodynia. CONCLUSION: NP was diagnosed following IH, corroborated by an increase in below-level cold pain threshold with at- and below-level cold and heat allodynia. Psychophysical evidence for at- and below-level SCI central sensitization was obtained with tonic thermal stimuli. Early detection of IH could lead to better management of specific NP symptoms, an appreciation of the role of haemorrhage as an aggravating SCI physical factor, and the identification of specific spinal pathophysiological pain mechanisms.

Progressive training effects on neuronal hypothalamic activation in the rat.

The purpose of this study was to examine whether progressive training exercise resulted in changes in neuronal expression of c-Fos in the hypothalamic regions (paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus and suprachiasmatic nucleus) and subfornical organ of Wistar rats and its relation to hydromineral parameters such as plasma proteins, osmolality and hematocrit. Rats were trained progressively in a running wheel over four days, while control rats were not provided with the opportunity to exercise. c-Fos cellular activity was immunohistochemically stained in accordance with the ABC method. The number of c-Fos immunoreactive cells was counted using standard imaging software. c-Fos in the PVN and SO nuclei was found to be significantly increased in trained rats 1h post-exercise compared with control and 24h post-exercise groups. However, no significant differences were found between trained and control rats in the SQ and SFO. These findings provide useful information of interest for future studies on brain specific regions involved in hydromineral balance in response to progressive exercise.

Hipertensión arterial en Pediatría. Factores de riesgo inflamatorios y sensibilidad gustativa salina / Arterial hypertension in Pediatrics. Inflammatory risk factors and salt taste sensitivity

Detectar un caso de hipertensión arterial en un paciente pediátrico obliga las más de las veces a descartar una enfermedad orgánica asociada, generalmente, una nefropatía. Entre los últimos años, sin embargo, se diagnostican cada vez más casos de hipertensión arterial esencial o primaria, debido fundamentalmente al aumento de la prevalencia de obesidad y sobrepeso en los niños y adolescentes. En la presente revisión se analizan las relaciones existente entre la hipertensión arterial y la obesidad con otros factores de riesgo cardiovascular tanto clásicos como con los nuevos factores de tipo inflamatorio de reciente aparición. El conocimiento del fenómeno de canalización o tracking y el estudio de estos factores permitirán una menor caracterización del riesgo de nuestros pacientes pediátricos (AU)

In order to detect a case of arterial hypertension in a pediatric patient often requires ruling out an associated organic disease, generally kidney disease. In recent years, however, more and more cases are being diagnosed of essential or primary hypertension, fundamentally due to the increase of the prevalence of obesity and overweight-ness in children and adolescents. In the present review, the relationships existing between arterial hypertension and obesity with other cardiovascular risk factors, both classical and the new inflammatory type factors of recent appearance are analyzed. The knowledge of the canalization phenomenon or tracking and the study of these factors will allow for a better characterization of the risk of our pediatric patients (AU)

Epidermal growth factor and active caspase-3 expression in the levator ani muscle of dogs with and without perineal hernia.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a histological and immunohistochemical study of epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha and their receptor, as well as the apoptotic signal active caspase-3 in the levator ani muscle of dogs with and without perineal hernia. METHODS: Biopsy specimens of the levator ani muscle were obtained from 25 dogs with perineal hernia and 4 non-affected dogs and were processed for Masson and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: The affected dogs exhibited myopathological features, internalised nuclei, destruction and abnormal size of muscle fibres, which were replaced by collagen. The immunohistochemical study revealed active caspase-3, epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor in the levator ani. Compared to the healthy muscle, transforming growth factor-alpha staining intensity was lower in the affected muscle, whereas epidermal growth factor receptor and active caspase-3 staining were higher. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Pelvic diaphragm muscle weakening is the leading cause of perineal hernia in the dog. Survival and death signals expressed in these muscles may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. This study reports epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor-alpha and epidermal growth factor receptor immunohistochemical expression in the skeletal muscle and suggests that perineal hernia in the dog is accompanied by levator ani muscle atrophy, increased expression of epidermal growth factor receptor, caspase-3 activation, and decreased expression of transforming growth factor-alpha.

Leucoencefalopatía posterior reversible en un paciente con lesión medular / Reversible posterior leucoencephalopathy in a patient with spinal cord injury

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Documento de Consenso interdisciplinar para el tratamiento de la fibromialgia / Interdisciplinary Consensus Document for the treatment of fibromyalgia

Antecedentes. La elevada prevalencia y enorme impacto clínico y social de la fibromialgia, junto a la complejidad de su tratamiento, exigen consensos de actuación que sirvan de guía a los profesionales de la salud. Aunque existían algunos documentos similares en nuestro idioma, la mayoría habían sido realizados desde la perspectiva de una única disciplina. Objetivo. Desarrollar un consenso sobre el tratamiento de la fibromialgia realizado por representantes seleccionados y avalados por las principales sociedades médicas que intervienen en su tratamiento (reumatología, neurología, psiquiatría, rehabilitación y medicina de familia), así como representantes de las asociaciones de pacientes. Por otra parte, se enfatizó la comprensión de la enfermedad no como un trastorno homogéneo, sino como la suma de diferentes subtipos clínicos, con características sintomáticas específicas y necesidades terapéuticas distintas. Este abordaje representaba una necesidad percibida por los clínicos y una novedad respecto a consensos previos. Método. Se revisaron las diferentes clasificaciones clínicas que se han propuesto en fibromialgia, así como la evidencia científica de los tratamientos utilizados en esta enfermedad. Para la selección de la clasificación empleada y para la realización de las recomendaciones terapéutica, se emplearon algunas de las técnicas habituales para realizarlos consensos (grupo nominal y brainstorming). Conclusión. La clasificación de Giesecke de la fibromialgia en 3 subgrupos parece ser la que cuenta con mayor evidencia científica y la más útil para el clínico. La guía ofrece una serie de recomendaciones generales para todos los pacientes con fibromialgia. Pero, además, para cada subgrupo existen una serie de recomendaciones específicas de tipo farmacológico, psicológico y de modificación del entorno, que permitirán un abordaje personalizado del paciente con fibromialgia en dependencia de sus características clínicas individuales (dolor, depresión, niveles de catastrofización, etc) (AU)

Backgrounds. The elevated prevalence and enormous clinical and social impact of fibromyalgia, together with the complexity of its treatment, require action consensuses that guide health care professionals. Although there are some similar documents in our language, most have been made from the perspective of a single discipline. Objective. To develop a consensus on the treatment of fibromyalgia made by selected representatives and supported by the principal medical associations that intervene in its treatment (rheumatology, neurology, psychiatry, rehabilitation and family medicine) and representatives of the associations of patients. On the other hand, understanding the disease not as a homogenous disorders but also as the sum of different clinical subtypes, having specific symptomatic characteristics and different therapeutic needs is stressed. This approach represented a need perceived by the clinicians and a novelty regarding previous consensuses. Methods. The different clinical classifications proposed in fibromyalgia and the scientific evidence of the treatments used in this disease were reviewed. For the selection of the classification used and performance of the therapeutic recommendations, some of the usual techniques to obtain the consensus (nominal group and brainstorming) were used. Conclusion. The classification of Giesecke of fibromyalgia into 3 subgroups seems to have the greatest scientific evidence and the most useful for the clinician. The guide offers a series of general recommendations for all the patients with fibromyalgia. However, in addition, for each subgroup, there are a series of specific pharmacological and psychological-type recommendations and those of modification of the environment, which will make it possible to have a personalized approach to the patient with fibromyalgia in accordance with their individual clinical characteristics (pain, catastrophizing levels, etc.) (AU)

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.

Interdisciplinary consensus document for the treatment of fibromyalgia.

Backgrounds. The elevated prevalence and enormous clinical and social impact of fibromyalgia, together with the complexity of its treatment, require action consensuses that guide health care professionals. Although there are some similar documents in our language, most have been made from the perspective of a single discipline.Objective. To develop a consensus on the treatment of fibromyalgia made by selected representatives and supported by the principal medical associations that intervene in its treatment (rheumatology, neurology, psychiatry,rehabilitation and family medicine) and representatives of the associations of patients. On the other hand, understanding the disease not as a homogenous disorders but also as the sum of different clinical subtypes,having specific symptomatic characteristics and different therapeutic needs is stressed. This approach represented a need perceived by the clinicians and a novelty regarding previous consensuses.Methods. The different clinical classifications proposed in fibromyalgia and the scientific evidence of the treatments used in this disease were reviewed. For the selection of the classification used and performance of the therapeutic recommendations, some of the usual techniques to obtain the consensus (nominal group and brainstorming) were used.Conclusion. The classification of Giesecke of fibromyalgia into 3 subgroups seems to have the greatest scientific evidence and the most useful for the clinician. The guide offers a series of general recommendations for all the patients with fibromyalgia. However, in addition, for each subgroup, there are a series of specific pharmacological and psychological-type recommendations and those of modification of the environment, which will make it possible to have a personalized approach to the patient with fibromyalgia in accordance with their individual clinical characteristics (pain, catastrophizing levels, etc.).

Mielitis transversa aguda: revisión clínica y algoritmo de actuación diagnóstica / Acute transverse myelitis: a clinical review and algorithm for diagnostic intervention

Introducción. Bajo el término de mielitis transversa aguda (MTA) se engloba un grupo heterogéneo de enfermedades, con el nexo común de producir una lesión focal inflamatoria de la médula espinal, de forma aguda. Para intentar agrupar todas las etiologías que pueden cursar con dicha afectación, se intenta hoy en día definir varios grupos de patologías con un nexo común: aquellas MTA asociadas a algún proceso causante, o al menos predisponente de la MTA, como son ciertas infecciones, procesos sistémicos y/o multifocales inmunológicos, e incluso tumorales, y aquéllas en las que no llegamos a conocer dicho desencadenante, a las que llamamos entonces MTA idiopáticas. Objetivo. Conocer las distintas clases de MTA existentes, creando un algoritmo diagnóstico que ayude a dicha clasificación de forma ordenada, simplificando el trabajo al clínico que se enfrente a una MTA, y exponiendo su diagnóstico diferencial, pronóstico y posible tratamiento. Desarrollo. Se consultan las últimas guías y trabajos publicados relacionados con la MTA, sobre todo desde el punto de vista diagnóstico y terapéutico. Conclusiones. Nuestro conocimiento de la MTA se está viendo modificado constantemente con el advenimiento de nuevas técnicas diagnósticas y teorías que intentan explicar su origen, probablemente inmunológico. Desgraciadamente, el tratamiento y, por tanto, el pronóstico no han variado en la misma proporción al conocimiento que vamos adquiriendo en las otras áreas. Sin duda, queda un camino importante por recorrer, pero el futuro próximo nos puede enseñar más sobre esta enfermedad (AU)

Introduction. Under the term of acute transverse myelitis (ATM), there are included a heterogeneous group of diseases, with the nexus common to produce an inflammatory focal injury of the spinal cord, of acute form. In order to try to group all the etiologies that can provoke this affectation, it is nowadays tried to define several groups of pathologies with a common nexus: those ATM associated to some process, or at least predisposed of the ATM, like are certain infections, immunological systemic and/or multifocal processes, and inclusive tumors, but when we did not get to know this triggering factor, then calling them idiopathic ATM. Aim. To know the different classes from existing ATM, creating an algorithm diagnosis that helps to this classification of ordinate form, simplifying the work to the clinicians that faces a ATM, exposing its differential diagnosis, prognosis and possible treatment. Development. For it we consulted the last guides and works published related to the ATM, mainly from the diagnostic and therapeutic point of view. Conclusions. Our knowledge of the ATM is being constantly modified with the coming of new diagnostic techniques and theories that try to explain their origin, probably immunological. Unfortunately, the treatment, and therefore the prognosis, has not varied in the same proportion to the knowledge that we are acquiring in the other areas. Without a doubt, it is a way important to walk, but the next future can teach to us more on this disease (AU)