Amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) in the North Adriatic Sea: ecological observations and spawning behavior.

The European amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum) is a member of the chordate subphylum Cephalochordata, and, as such, a key model organism for providing insights into the origin and evolution of vertebrates. Despite its significance and global distribution, detailed characterizations of natural populations of cephalochordates are still very limited. This study investigates the abundance, habitat, and spawning behavior of amphioxus in the North Adriatic Sea. Across 32 sampled sites, adult amphioxus were consistently present, reaching densities exceeding 300 individuals m- 2. DNA barcoding confirmed the species as B. lanceolatum, and environmental analyses revealed an amphioxus preference for slightly gravelly sand with low silt content and a correlation between amphioxus density and the presence of specific macroinvertebrate taxa. Remarkably, the amphioxus population was breeding in early spring and possibly late fall, in contrast to the typical late spring/early summer spawning season described for other populations of European amphioxus. Amphioxus adults kept in captivity maintained the spawning seasonality of their place of origin, suggesting the possibility of extending the overall spawning season of European amphioxus in laboratory settings by exploiting populations from diverse geographic origins. This study thus expands our understanding of B. lanceolatum ecology and reproduction in the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizing the role of the North Adriatic Sea as a substantial reservoir.

Human-Animal Bond Generated in a Brief Animal-Assisted Therapy Intervention in Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders.

BACKGROUND: The human-animal bond is crucial for the proper development of animal-assisted therapy (AAT) sessions. However, in specific cases such as in AAT focused on psychiatric patients who are admitted to acute units, there is only a short period of time available to establish this bond. OBJECTIVES: To assess the degree of HAB generated after two AAT sessions in adolescents admitted to acute psychiatry units. METHODS: A prospective multicenter cohort study aimed at adolescents aged 13 to 17 years admitted to the acute child and adolescent psychiatry unit of three hospitals. INTERVENTION: Two weekly 1 h group sessions of AAT with therapy dogs. MAIN OUTCOME: The Center for the Study of Animal Wellness Pet Bonding Scale Survey (CSAWPB). RESULTS: One hundred and fourteen adolescents participated. A positive perception of the dog was generated, achieving a good level of bonding and attachment. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained make it possible to affirm that a short period of time is enough to establish a good HAB between patients and therapy dogs. This study aims to contribute to the study of non-pharmacological interventions as a complement to pharmacological treatments in adolescents with mental health disorders.

Norm Monitoring Under Partial Action Observability.

In the context of using norms for controlling multiagent systems, a vitally important question that has not yet been addressed in the literature is the development of mechanisms for monitoring norm compliance under partial action observability. This paper proposes the reconstruction of unobserved actions to tackle this problem. In particular, we formalize the problem of reconstructing unobserved actions, and propose an information model and algorithms for monitoring norms under partial action observability using two different processes for reconstructing unobserved actions. Our evaluation shows that reconstructing unobserved actions increases significantly the number of norm violations and fulfilments detected.

[METABOLIC SYNDROME AND CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN PATIENTS WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA, BIPOLAR DISORDER AND SCHIZOAFFECTIVE DISORDER]. / SÍNDROME METABÓLICO Y RIESGO CARDIOVASCULAR EN PACIENTES CON DIAGNÓSTICO DE ESQUIZOFRENIA, TRASTORNO ESQUIZOAFECTIVO Y TRASTORNO BIPOLAR.

INTRODUCTION: patients with severe mental ilness such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder die at least 20 years earlier than general population. Despite preventive strategies, cardiovascular disease is the first cause of death. OBJECTIVES: analyse the percentage of patients with a high body mass index, metabolic syndrome and their cardiovascular risk at 10 years in patients with a diagnosis, based in DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder. These patients were hospitalized because and acute condition of their mental ilness in the Brief Hospitalization Unit of Hospital Universitario de Móstoles between November of 2014 and June of 2015. MATERIAL AND METHODS: in 53 patients, 34 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, 16 with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and 3 with a schizoaffective disorder, weight, size abdominal perimeter measures and blood pressure were collected. The body mass index was assesed. Blood tests were taken and we use sugar, triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels as paramethers for the ATP III and Framingham criteria. We also review the clinical history of the patients and lifestyle and use of toxic substances were registered. RESULTS: 51% of the patients were men and 49% were women. The average age was 40. 38% of the patients were overweighed, 22% obese and 4% had morbid obesity. 26% of the patients had metabolic syndrome, the clinical evolution of the majority of these patients was of more tan 10 years and they also have been treated with different antypsychotics and antidepressants. Using the Framingham criteria, 11% of the patients had a cardiovascular risk higher than 10 % in the next 10 years. CONCLUSIONS: overweight and its consequences in patients with a severe mental ilness are intimately related with their lifestyle, disparities in the access to health resources, the clinical evolution of the disease and pharmacotherapy. Strategies to promote physical health in these patients in the spanish health sistme are insufficient.

Introducción: los pacientes con patologías mentales graves como la esquizofrenia, el trastorno esquizoafectivo y el trastorno bipolar fallecen de media 20 años antes que la población general. La muerte por problemas cardiovasculares es la primera causa de fallecimiento, a pesar de la introducción de estrategias para el control de dichos factores de riesgo. Objetivos: analizar el porcentaje de pacientes con índice de masa corporal elevado, síndrome metabólico y riesgo cardiovascular diagnosticados según los criterios diagnósticos DSM-IV de esquizofrenia, trastorno bipolar y trastorno esquizoafectivo ingresados en la Unidad de Hospitalización Breve del Hospital Universitario de Móstoles de noviembre de 2014 a junio de 2015 por descompensación de su patología. Metodología: en 53 pacientes, 34 con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, 16 con diagnóstico de trastorno bipolar y 3 con diagnóstico de trastorno esquizoafectivo se tomaron mediciones de peso, talla, perímetro abdominal y tensión arterial. Se realizó también analítica de ingreso, se incluyó determinación de glucosa en ayunas, triglicéridos, colesterol total y colesterol HDL. Se utilizó también la historia clínica para conocer los hábitos tóxicos de los pacientes y su estilo de vida, y se calculó el índice de masa corporal de los pacientes. Posteriormente fueron utilizados los criterios ATP III para síndrome metabólico y los de Framingham para calcular el riesgo cardiovascular a los diez años de los pacientes. Resultados: la muestra está compuesta por un 51% de varones y un 49% de mujeres, con una mediana de edad de 40 años. El 38% de los pacientes presentaron sobrepeso, el 22 % obesidad y el 4% obesidad mórbida. En cuanto a la presencia de síndrome metabólico, el 26% de los pacientes lo presentan según los criterios APT III; la mayoría de estos presentaban años de evolución de enfermedad y de tratamiento con psicofármacos. El 11% de los pacientes presenta un riesgo cardiovascular mayor del 10% en los próximos 10 años. Conclusiones: el estilo de vida, las desigualdades en el acceso a la salud, el curso de la enfermedad y la toma de psicofármacos en los pacientes con trastorno mental grave favorecen el sobrepeso y sus consecuencias derivadas. Las estrategias diseñadas para promover la salud física de estos pacientes en el sistema sanitario español son insuficientes.

Síndrome metabólico y riesgo cardiovascular en pacientes con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, trastorno esquizoafectivo y trastorno bipolar / Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk in patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and schizoaffective disorder

Introducción: los pacientes con patologías mentales graves como la esquizofrenia, el trastorno esquizoafectivo y el trastorno bipolar fallecen de media 20 años antes que la población general. La muerte por problemas cardiovasculares es la primera causa de fallecimiento, a pesar de la introducción de estrategias para el control de dichos factores de riesgo. Objetivos: analizar el porcentaje de pacientes con índice de masa corporal elevado, síndrome metabólico y riesgo cardiovascular diagnosticados según los criterios diagnósticos DSM-IV de esquizofrenia, trastorno bipolar y trastorno esquizoafectivo ingresados en la Unidad de Hospitalización Breve del Hospital Universitario de Móstoles de noviembre de 2014 a junio de 2015 por descompensación de su patología. Metodología: en 53 pacientes, 34 con diagnóstico de esquizofrenia, 16 con diagnóstico de trastorno bipolar y 3 con diagnóstico de trastorno esquizoafectivo se tomaron mediciones de peso, talla, perímetro abdominal y tensión arterial. Se realizó también analítica de ingreso, se incluyó determinación de glucosa en ayunas, triglicéridos, colesterol total y colesterol HDL. Se utilizó también la historia clínica para conocer los hábitos tóxicos de los pacientes y su estilo de vida, y se calculó el índice de masa corporal de los pacientes. Posteriormente fueron utilizados los criterios ATP III para síndrome metabólico y los de Framingham para calcular el riesgo cardiovascular a los diez años de los pacientes. Resultados: la muestra está compuesta por un 51% de varones y un 49% de mujeres, con una mediana de edad de 40 años. El 38% de los pacientes presentaron sobrepeso, el 22 % obesidad y el 4% obesidad mórbida. En cuanto a la presencia de síndrome metabólico, el 26% de los pacientes lo presentan según los criterios APT III; la mayoría de estos presentaban años de evolución de enfermedad y de tratamiento con psicofármacos. El 11% de los pacientes presenta un riesgo cardiovascular mayor del 10% en los próximos 10 años. Conclusiones: el estilo de vida, las desigualdades en el acceso a la salud, el curso de la enfermedad y la toma de psicofármacos en los pacientes con trastorno mental grave favorecen el sobrepeso y sus consecuencias derivadas. Las estrategias diseñadas para promover la salud física de estos pacientes en el sistema sanitario español son insuficientes (AU)

Introduction: patients with severe mental ilness such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder and bipolar disorder die at least 20 years earlier than general population. Despite preventive strategies, cardiovascular disease is the first cause of death. Objectives: analyse the percentage of patients with a high body mass index, metabolic syndrome and their cardiovascular risk at 10 years in patients with a diagnosis, based in DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder. These patients were hospitalized because and acute condition of their mental ilness in the Brief Hospitalization Unit of Hospital Universitario de Móstoles between November of 2014 and June of 2015. Material and methods: in 53 patients, 34 with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, 16 with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and 3 with a schizoaffective disorder, weight, size abdominal perimeter measures and blood pressure were collected. The body mass index was assesed. Blood tests were taken and we use sugar, triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol levels as paramethers for the ATP III and Framingham criteria. We also review the clinical history of the patients and lifestyle and use of toxic substances were registered. Results: 51% of the patients were men and 49% were women. The average age was 40. 38% of the patients were overweighed, 22% obese and 4% had morbid obesity. 26% of the patients had metabolic syndrome, the clinical evolution of the majority of these patients was of more tan 10 years and they also have been treated with different antypsychotics and antidepressants. Using the Framingham criteria, 11% of the patients had a cardiovascular risk higher than 10 % in the next 10 years. Conclusions: overweight and its consequences in patients with a severe mental ilness are intimately related with their lifestyle, disparities in the access to health resources, the clinical evolution of the disease and pharmacotherapy. Strategies to promote physical health in these patients in the spanish health sistme are insufficient (AU)

Atorvastatin prevents angiotensin II-induced vascular remodeling and oxidative stress.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) modulates vasomotor tone, cell growth, and extracellular matrix deposition. This study analyzed the effect of atorvastatin in the possible alterations induced by Ang II on structure and mechanics of mesenteric resistance arteries and the signaling mechanisms involved. Wistar rats were infused with Ang II (100 ng/kg per day, SC minipumps, 2 weeks) with or without atorvastatin (5 mg/kg per day). Ang II increased blood pressure and plasmatic malondialdehyde levels. Compared with controls, mesenteric resistance arteries from Ang II-treated rats showed the following: (1) decreased lumen diameter; (2) increased wall/lumen; (3) decreased number of adventitial, smooth muscle, and endothelial cells; (4) increased stiffness; (5) increased collagen deposition; and (6) diminished fenestrae area and number in the internal elastic lamina. Atorvastatin did not alter blood pressure but reversed all of the structural and mechanical alterations of mesenteric arteries, including collagen and elastin alterations. In mesenteric resistance arteries, Ang II increased vascular O(2)(.-) production and diminished endothelial NO synthase and CuZn/superoxide dismutase but did not modify extracellular-superoxide dismutase expression. Atorvastatin improved plasmatic and vascular oxidative stress, normalized endothelial NO synthase and CuZn/superoxide dismutase expression, and increased extracellular-superoxide dismutase expression, showing antioxidant properties. Atorvastatin also diminished extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation caused by Ang II in these vessels, indicating an interaction with Ang II-induced intracellular responses. In vascular smooth muscle cells, collagen type I release mediated by Ang II was reduced by different antioxidants and statins. Moreover, atorvastatin downregulated the Ang II-induced NADPH oxidase subunit, Nox1, expression. Our results suggest that statins might exert beneficial effects on hypertension-induced vascular remodeling by improving vascular structure, extracellular matrix alterations, and vascular stiffness. These effects might be mediated by their antioxidant properties.