Broodstock nutritional programming differentially affects the hepatic transcriptome and genome-wide DNA methylome of farmed gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) depending on genetic background.

BACKGROUND: Broodstock nutritional programming improves the offspring utilization of plant-based diets in gilthead sea bream through changes in hepatic metabolism. Attention was initially focused on fatty acid desaturases, but it can involve a wide range of processes that remain largely unexplored. How all this can be driven by a different genetic background is hardly underlined, and the present study aimed to assess how broodstock nutrition affects differentially the transcriptome and genome-wide DNA methylome of reference and genetically selected fish within the PROGENSA® selection program. RESULTS: After the stimulus phase with a low fish oil diet, two offspring subsets of each genetic background received a control or a FUTURE-based diet. This highlighted a different hepatic transcriptome (RNA-seq) and genome-wide DNA methylation (MBD-seq) pattern depending on the genetic background. The number of differentially expressed transcripts following the challenge phase varied from 323 in reference fish to 2,009 in genetically selected fish. The number of discriminant transcripts, and associated enriched functions, were also markedly higher in selected fish. Moreover, correlation analysis depicted a hyper-methylated and down-regulated gene expression state in selected fish with the FUTURE diet, whereas the opposite pattern appeared in reference fish. After filtering for highly represented functions in selected fish, 115 epigenetic markers were retrieved in this group. Among them, lipid metabolism genes (23) were the most reactive following ordering by fold-change in expression, rendering a final list of 10 top markers with a key role on hepatic lipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism (cd36, pitpna, cidea, fasn, g6pd, lipt1, scd1a, acsbg2, acsl14, acsbg2). CONCLUSIONS: Gene expression profiles and methylation signatures were dependent on genetic background in our experimental model. Such assumption affected the magnitude, but also the type and direction of change. Thus, the resulting epigenetic clock of reference fish might depict an older phenotype with a lower methylation for the epigenetically responsive genes with a negative methylation-expression pattern. Therefore, epigenetic markers will be specific of each genetic lineage, serving the broodstock programming in our selected fish to prevent and mitigate later in life the risk of hepatic steatosis through changes in hepatic lipogenesis and fatty acid metabolism.

Simulating the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions limiting transmission in COVID-19 epidemics using a membrane computing model.

Epidemics caused by microbial organisms are part of the natural phenomena of increasing biological complexity. The heterogeneity and constant variability of hosts, in terms of age, immunological status, family structure, lifestyle, work activities, social and leisure habits, daily division of time and other demographic characteristics make it extremely difficult to predict the evolution of epidemics. Such prediction is, however, critical for implementing intervention measures in due time and with appropriate intensity. General conclusions should be precluded, given that local parameters dominate the flow of local epidemics. Membrane computing models allows us to reproduce the objects (viruses and hosts) and their interactions (stochastic but also with defined probabilities) with an unprecedented level of detail. Our LOIMOS model helps reproduce the demographics and social aspects of a hypothetical town of 10 320 inhabitants in an average European country where COVID-19 is imported from the outside. The above-mentioned characteristics of hosts and their lifestyle are minutely considered. For the data in the Hospital and the ICU we took advantage of the observations at the Nursery Intensive Care Unit of the Consortium University General Hospital, Valencia, Spain (included as author). The dynamics of the epidemics are reproduced and include the effects on viral transmission of innate and acquired immunity at various ages. The model predicts the consequences of delaying the adoption of non-pharmaceutical interventions (between 15 and 45 days after the first reported cases) and the effect of those interventions on infection and mortality rates (reducing transmission by 20, 50 and 80%) in immunological response groups. The lockdown for the elderly population as a single intervention appears to be effective. This modeling exercise exemplifies the application of membrane computing for designing appropriate multilateral interventions in epidemic situations.

Going to work with COVID-19 symptoms among non-sanitary (or socio-sanitary) workers: an issue of social inequality.

OBJECIVES: To describe the characteristics of the workers of activity sectors other than sanitary and socio-sanitary, who go to work with COVID-19 symptoms (GWC19S) during the lockdown or first phase of the lockdown de-escalation in Spain. STUDY DESIGN: An observational cross-sectional study based on a convenience sample selected from the COTS online survey. METHODS: A cross-sectional study based on a sample of n = 9601 workers. Descriptive analyses were performed calculating GWC19S prevalences and fitting robust Poisson regressions to obtain crude and adjusted prevalence ratios. RESULTS: The overall GWC19S prevalence is 5.6%, greater in young people (8.7%), manual workers (8.7%), workers with low salaries (9.5%), and workers of essential sectors (7.4%). Among those workers who went to work regularly to their workplaces, the GWC19S prevalence is 10.0%, greater in young (15.1%), workers with low salaries (14.2%), and women (13.2%). CONCLUSIONS: The axes of inequality of the labor market are clearly represented in the GWC19S phenomenon.

Functional insights into the infective larval stage of Anisakis simplex s.s., Anisakis pegreffii and their hybrids based on gene expression patterns.

BACKGROUND: Anisakis simplex sensu stricto and Anisakis pegreffii are sibling species of nematodes parasitic on marine mammals. Zoonotic human infection with third stage infective larvae causes anisakiasis, a debilitating and potentially fatal disease. These 2 species show evidence of hybridisation in geographical areas where they are sympatric. How the species and their hybrids differ is still poorly understood. RESULTS: Third stage larvae of Anisakis simplex s.s., Anisakis pegreffii and hybrids were sampled from Merluccius merluccius (Teleosti) hosts captured in waters of the FAO 27 geographical area. Specimens of each species and hybrids were distinguished with a diagnostic genetic marker (ITS). RNA was extracted from pools of 10 individuals of each taxon. Transcriptomes were generated using Illumina RNA-Seq, and assembled de novo. A joint assembly (here called merged transcriptome) of all 3 samples was also generated. The inferred transcript sets were functionally annotated and compared globally and also on subsets of secreted proteins and putative allergen families. While intermediary metabolism appeared to be typical for nematodes in the 3 evaluated taxa, their transcriptomes present strong levels of differential expression and enrichment, mainly of transcripts related to metabolic pathways and gene ontologies associated to energy metabolism and other pathways, with significant presence of excreted/secreted proteins, most of them allergens. The allergome of the 2 species and their hybrids has also been thoroughly studied; at least 74 different allergen families were identified in the transcriptomes. CONCLUSIONS: A. simplex s.s., A. pegreffi and their hybrids differ in gene expression patterns in the L3 stage. Strong parent-of-origin effects were observed: A. pegreffi alleles dominate in the expression patterns of hybrids albeit the latter, and A. pegreffii also display significant differences indicating that hybrids are intermediate biological entities among their parental species, and thus of outstanding interest in the study of speciation in nematodes. Analyses of differential expression based on genes coding for secreted proteins suggests that co-infections presents different repertoires of released protein to the host environment. Both species and their hybrids, share more allergen genes than previously thought and are likely to induce overlapping disease responses.

Reconstrucción fálica total con colgajo libre antebraquial radial tras amputación peneana iatrogénica / Total phallic reconstruction using radial forearm free flap after iatrogenic penile amputation

Introducción: La pérdida del pene de causa iatrogénica es una circunstancia muy infrecuente. Se presenta un caso desafiante de reconstrucción peneana total diferida en varón genético. Material y métodos: Varón de 57 años con pérdida del falo por absceso peneano y necrosis secundaria a cirugía de incurvadura peneana. La reconstrucción se realizó en varios tiempos empleando colgajo libre de antebrazo radial (CLAR) y colocación de prótesis inflable personalizada un año después. Resultados: En un primer tiempo quirúrgico se llevó a cabo drenaje de absceso peneano, desbridamiento de restos necróticos y colocación de talla hipogástrica. Siete semanas después se llevó a cabo faloplastia con CLAR y construcción de neouretra tubo-en-tubo, anastomosis microquirúrgica múltiple y recubrimiento del sitio donante con injerto de piel del muslo de espesor parcial. La duración de esta cirugía fue 10 horas y tuvo como complicación crecimiento de vello en la neouretra, que obligó a depilación mecánica endoscópica en repetidas ocasiones. El paciente recuperó sensibilidad peneana, y 18 meses tras la faloplastia se le implantó prótesis Zephyr (Ginebra, Suiza) inflable de un solo cuerpo, utilizando la propia albugínea del cuerpo cavernoso proximal. El paciente se encuentra satisfecho desde el punto de vista cosmético, miccional y sensitivo. Cuatro meses después se encuentra ganando confianza para abordar la penetración. Conclusiones: A pesar del riesgo de complicaciones postoperatorias y de la necesidad de operaciones múltiples, la reconstrucción fálica con CLAR y colocación de implante protésico personalizado puede mejorar el impacto en la función urinaria y sexual secundario a la pérdida del pene

Introduction: The iatrogenic loss of the penis is a rare situation. We present a challenging case of deferred total penile reconstruction in a genetic male. Material and methods: A 57-year-old man with the loss of the penis due to a penile abscess and necrosis secondary to penile curvature surgery. The reconstruction was performed over several operations using a radial forearm free flap (RFFF) and placement of a customised inflatable prosthesis a year later. Results: During the first operation, the penile abscess was drained, the necrotic residues were debrided and placement of hypogastric drainage. Seven weeks later, phalloplasty was performed with RFFF and a tube-in-tube neourethra was constructed. Multiple microsurgical anastomosis was performed, and the donor site was coated with a skin graft from the thigh of partial thickness. The surgery lasted 10 hours and had the complication of hair growth in the neourethra, which required mechanical endoscopic depilation on repeated occasions. The patient regained penile sensitivity. Eighteen months after the phalloplasty, a Zephyr single-body inflatable prosthesis (Geneva, Switzerland) was implanted, using the tunica albuginea of the proximal corpus cavernosum. The patient was satisfied with the aesthetics and urinary and sensory function. Four months later, the patient is gaining confidence to consider penetration. Conclusions: Despite the risk of postoperative complications and the need for multiple operations, phallic reconstruction with RFFF and the placement of a customised prosthetic implant can improve urinary and sexual function secondary to the loss of the penis

Total phallic reconstruction using radial forearm free flap after iatrogenic penile amputation. / Reconstrucción fálica total con colgajo libre antebraquial radial tras amputación peneana iatrogénica.

INTRODUCTION: The iatrogenic loss of the penis is a rare situation. We present a challenging case of deferred total penile reconstruction in a genetic male. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 57-year-old man with the loss of the penis due to a penile abscess and necrosis secondary to penile curvature surgery. The reconstruction was performed over several operations using a radial forearm free flap (RFFF) and placement of a customised inflatable prosthesis a year later. RESULTS: During the first operation, the penile abscess was drained, the necrotic residues were debrided and placement of hypogastric drainage. Seven weeks later, phalloplasty was performed with RFFF and a tube-in-tube neourethra was constructed. Multiple microsurgical anastomosis was performed, and the donor site was coated with a skin graft from the thigh of partial thickness. The surgery lasted 10hours and had the complication of hair growth in the neourethra, which required mechanical endoscopic depilation on repeated occasions. The patient regained penile sensitivity. Eighteen months after the phalloplasty, a Zephyr single-body inflatable prosthesis (Geneva, Switzerland) was implanted, using the tunica albuginea of the proximal corpus cavernosum. The patient was satisfied with the aesthetics and urinary and sensory function. Four months later, the patient is gaining confidence to consider penetration. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the risk of postoperative complications and the need for multiple operations, phallic reconstruction with RFFF and the placement of a customised prosthetic implant can improve urinary and sexual function secondary to the loss of the penis.

The fern cavitation catapult: mechanism and design principles.

Leptosporangiate ferns have evolved an ingenious cavitation catapult to disperse their spores. The mechanism relies almost entirely on the annulus, a row of 12-25 cells, which successively: (i) stores energy by evaporation of the cells' content, (ii) triggers the catapult by internal cavitation, and (iii) controls the time scales of energy release to ensure efficient spore ejection. The confluence of these three biomechanical functions within the confines of a single structure suggests a level of sophistication that goes beyond most man-made devices where specific structures or parts rarely serve more than one function. Here, we study in detail the three phases of spore ejection in the sporangia of the fern Polypodium aureum. For each of these phases, we have written the governing equations and measured the key parameters. For the opening of the sporangium, we show that the structural design of the annulus is particularly well suited to inducing bending deformations in response to osmotic volume changes. Moreover, the measured parameters for the osmoelastic design lead to a near-optimal speed of spore ejection (approx. 10 m s(-1)). Our analysis of the trigger mechanism by cavitation points to a critical cavitation pressure of approximately -100 ± 14 bar, a value that matches the most negative pressures recorded in the xylem of plants. Finally, using high-speed imaging, we elucidated the physics leading to the sharp separation of time scales (30 versus 5000 µs) in the closing dynamics. Our results highlight the importance of the precise tuning of the parameters without which the function of the leptosporangium as a catapult would be severely compromised.

Intensification and isolation: psychosocial work environment changes in Spain 2005-10.

BACKGROUND: Work organization in Spain has traditionally been based on a high proportion of passive work. Changes in the labour market in Europe and the economic crisis that began in 2008 may have had an impact on the pace of work in Spain. AIMS: To estimate the prevalence of exposure to high-strain work and passive work in 2010 compared with 2005 and to analyse the distribution by gender, age and occupation of workers exposed to high strain and iso-strain in 2010 compared with 2005. METHODS: Two representative samples of the Spanish working population were compared. Unweighted and weighted prevalences in 2010 were calculated and compared with those in 2005. RESULTS: In the 2010 sample of 5110 workers, 29% (95% CI 27.8; 30.7) were exposed to high strain (of whom 83% had low social support). There was an increase of 6% (95% CI 3.8; 7.1) in high strain, and of 7% (95% CI 5.2; 8.3) to iso-strain, compared with 2005 (n = 7612). In 2010, as in 2005, the proportion of manual workers exposed to strain and iso-strain was more than double the corresponding proportion in non-manual workers. CONCLUSIONS: There has been an intensification of work, reduction in social support and a notable increase in exposure to high strain and iso-strain. The class inequalities reflect the segmentation of the Spanish labour market.

Empleo precario en España: prevalencia, distribución social y riesgo atribuible poblacional porcentual para mal estado de salud mental / Employment precariousness in Spain: prevalence, social distribution, and population-attributable risk percent of poor mental health

Como consecuencia de la flexibilización del mercado laboral se ha hecho muy extensiva la utilización de diversas modalidades de empleo atípico y ha retrocedido el empleo estándar. En muchos casos, estas transformaciones suponen una precarización de las condiciones de empleo, consideradas un determinante fundamental de la salud y de las desigualdades en salud. Utilizando la Escala de Precariedad Laboral (EPRES), el objetivo de este estudio es determinar la prevalencia de empleo precario en la población laboral asalariada en España, describir su distribución por grupos sociales según ocupación, género, edad y estatus de inmigrante, y estimarla proporción de casos con afectación de la salud mental potencialmente atribuibles a la precariedad laboral. Los datos proceden de la Encuesta de Riesgos Psicosociales realizada por el Instituto Sindical de Trabajo, Ambiente y Salud (ISTAS)en 2004-05 sobre una muestra representativa de trabajadores en España. Los resultados indican una elevada prevalencia de precariedad laboral, afectando a cerca de 6,5 millones de trabajadores, de los que casi 900,000 están expuestos a situaciones de elevada precariedad. Estas estimaciones superan el número de empleados temporales que aparecen en las estadísticas oficiales, pero pueden estar por debajo de los valores actuales dada la presente situación de crisis económica. Adicionalmente, una proporción importante de los casos con afectación de la salud mental serían potencialmente atribuibles a la precariedad en el empleo. Tanto los casos de salud mental deteriorada atribuibles a la precariedad como la prevalencia de precariedad laboral están distribuidos de forma muy desigual en la muestra, lo que sugiere que se trata de factores que contribuyen de forma importante a las desigualdades sociales en salud mental(AU)

As a consequence of labor market flexibilization, nonstandard employment has expanded and standard employment has declined. In many cases, these transformations are best described as an evolution toward precarious employment, which is considered a major determinant of health and health inequalities. Using the Employment Precariousness Scale (EPRES), this study aims to determine the prevalence of precarious employment in the waged and salaried workforce in Spain, to describe its distribution across social groups defined by occupational class, gender, age, and immigrant status, and to estimate the proportion of cases of poor mental health potentially attributable to employment precariousness. Data are from the Psychosocial Work Environment Survey conducted in 2004-5 on a representative sample of the Spanish workforce. Findings indicate a high prevalence of employment precariousness, affecting nearly6.5 million workers, with almost 900,000 of them exposed to high precariousness. These estimates are higher than the proportion of fixed-term employment reported in regular statistical sources but may today be an underestimation, given the current economic crisis. Additionally, a significant proportion of cases of poor mental health are potentially attributable to employment precariousness. Both the proportion of cases of poor mental health attributable to and the prevalence of employment precariousness were highly unequally distributed across the study sample, indicating that this may be a significant contributor to social inequalities in mental health(AU)

The fern sporangium: a unique catapult.

Various plants and fungi have evolved ingenious devices to disperse their spores. One such mechanism is the cavitation-triggered catapult of fern sporangia. The spherical sporangia enclosing the spores are equipped with a row of 12 to 13 specialized cells, the annulus. When dehydrating, these cells induce a dramatic change of curvature in the sporangium, which is released abruptly after the cavitation of the annulus cells. The entire ejection process is reminiscent of human-made catapults with one notable exception: The sporangia lack the crossbar that arrests the catapult arm in its returning motion. We show that much of the sophistication and efficiency of the ejection mechanism lies in the two very different time scales associated with the annulus closure.

The Gypsy Database (GyDB) of mobile genetic elements.

In this article, we introduce the Gypsy Database (GyDB) of mobile genetic elements, an in-progress database devoted to the non-redundant analysis and evolutionary-based classification of mobile genetic elements. In this first version, we contemplate eukaryotic Ty3/Gypsy and Retroviridae long terminal repeats (LTR) retroelements. Phylogenetic analyses based on the gag-pro-pol internal region commonly presented by these two groups strongly support a certain number of previously described Ty3/Gypsy lineages originally reported from reverse-transcriptase (RT) analyses. Vertebrate retroviruses (Retroviridae) are also constituted in several monophyletic groups consistent with genera proposed by the ICTV nomenclature, as well as with the current tendency to classify both endogenous and exogenous retroviruses by three major classes (I, II and III). Our inference indicates that all protein domains codified by the gag-pro-pol internal region of these two groups agree in a collective presentation of a particular evolutionary history, which may be used as a main criterion to differentiate their molecular diversity in a comprehensive collection of phylogenies and non-redundant molecular profiles useful in the identification of new Ty3/Gypsy and Retroviridae species. The GyDB project is available at http://gydb.uv.es.

ISTAS21: Versión en lengua castellana del cuestionario psicosocial de Copenhague (COPSOQ) / ISTAS21: the Spanish version of the Copenhagen psychosocial questionnaire (COPSOQ)

Objetivos: Adaptar y validar las tres versiones del Cuestionario Psicosocial de Copenhague a la lengua castellana. Métodos: La adaptación se realizó por el método de traducción y retro-traducción. El estudio de la validez del constructo y de la fiabilidad y la reducción de escalas se realizó mediante encuesta a una muestra (N = 859) representativa de la población ocupada en la Comunidad Autónoma de Navarra. El análisis incluyó técnicas descriptivas uni y bivariadas, análisis factorial y de reducción de escalas, evaluación de concordancias y ajuste de modelos logísticos. Resultados: Consistencia interna de las escalas: la alfa de Chronbach osciló entre 0,65 y 0,92 para la mayoría de ellas, excepto dos que presentaron un índice inferior debido al bajo número de ítems que contenían. Concordancia entre versiones: el índice Kappa osciló entre 0,64 y 0,89. Validez de constructo: Se consiguieron reproducir las hipótesis principales de asociación entre 19 dimensiones psicosociales y las de salud y estrés. Para las dimensiones de exigencias psicológicas sensoriales e influencia se encontraron menos asociaciones de las esperadas. Algunas de las OR ajustadas por edad y sexo más relevantes fueron: exigencias emocionales y salud mental ORaj= 6,15 (IC 95%:3,85-9,84), Inseguridad y salud mental ORaj=2,28 (IC 95%=1,49- 3,48), Previsibilidad y síntomas cognitivos de estrés ORaj=3,02 (IC95%=1,81-5,04). Conclusiones: La versión castellana del COPSOQ "ISTAS21 COPSOQ" se corresponde con el original y presenta un nivel excelente validez, fiabilidad y concordancia entre versiones

Objectives: To adapt and validate the three Spanish versions of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire. Methods: The adaptation process was based on the translation and back translation method. A representative populationbased survey of the employed population in the Autonomous Community of Navarra (N=859) was carried out in order to assess validity and reliability and to reduce scales. Analysis included univariate and bivariate descriptive techniques, factor analysis, scale reduction, and concordance analysis techniques, and logistic models were adjusted. Results: Internal consistency of the scales: Cronbach alpha values ranged from 0.65 to 0.92 for all scales except two that showed lower alpha values due to a low number of items. Concordance between versions: kappa scores ranged from 0.64 to 0.89. Construct validity: main associations between 19 psychosocial dimensions and those of health and stress were reproduced. Influence and sensorial psychological demands showed fewer associations than expected. Some of the most relevant odds ratios (OR), adjusted for sex and age were found between: emotional psychological demands and mental health [OR= 6.15 (95% CI: 3.85-9.84)], insecurity and mental health [OR=2.28 (95% CI =1.49-3.48)], predictability and cognitive stress symptoms [OR=3.02 (95% CI =1.81-5.04]. Conclusions: the Spanish version of the COPSOQ "ISTAS21 COPSOQ" is equivalent to the original English version, with excellent validity, reliability and concordance between the two versions

[Intraparenchymal pulmonary inflammatory pseudotumors]. / Seudotumor inflamatorio pulmonar de localización intraparenquimatosa.

Inflammatory pseudotumors are rare entities which occasionally affect the pulmonary parenchyma. Their clinical diagnosis arises in a variety of ways and half the time they are detected by chance. Deciding on a therapeutic approach is difficult because a firm diagnosis is established only after studying the excised tissue. We describe our experience with the diagnosis, surgical treatment, and follow up of 4 cases of inflammatory pseudotumor located in the pulmonary parenchyma and treated by surgical resection (by thoracotomy or video assisted thoracoscopic surgery) with good outcomes following complete resection.

Seudotumor inflamatorio pulmonar de localizaciónintraparenquimatosa / Intraparenchymal Pulmonary Inflammatory Pseudotumors

Los tumores seudoinflamatorios son una rara entidad que en ocasiones afecta al parénquima pulmonar. Su diagnóstico clínico es variado, siendo un hallazgo casual en casi la mitad de los casos. Entraña una difícil decisión en cuanto a la mejor opción terapéutica, ya que el diagnóstico de certeza se establece tras el estudio de la pieza quirúrgica. Presentamos nuestra experiencia con el diagnóstico, tratamiento quirúrgico y seguimiento de 4 casos de tumores seudoinflamatorios de localización intraparenquimatosa tratados mediante resección quirúrgica (por toracotomía o cirugía videotoracoscópica) con buenos resultados tras la resección completa (AU)

Fragmentation pathways of organoarsenical compounds by electrospray ion trap multiple mass spectrometry (MS6).

With its detection limit well below 30 pg microl(-1) LC-MS-MS has become a sensitive and thus popular analytical technique for organoarsenical compounds. Collision induced dissociation (CID) is a valuable tool for speciation and facilitates a positive identification of the species detected. However, it is not straightforward to understand the fragmentation pathways of organoarsenical compounds when only CID-MS-MS data is available. In the present paper we have investigated multiple mass spectrometry (MSn, n=1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) with electrospray CID fragmentation for a number of organoarsenical compounds likely to occur in the environment. The investigated compounds were tetramethylarsonium, trimethylarsinoxide, monomethylarsonic acid, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenobetaine, arsenocholine, and dimethylarsinoylethanol. By CID of (protonated) organoarsenical cations mostly even-electron fragments are produced after neutral loss processes such as elimination of H2, H2O, CH4, C2H2, C2H4, C2H6, HCHO, CH3OH, C2H5OH, C2H4O, and CH2CO. However, abundant odd-electron fragments are also formed after elimination of radical species. Evidence for reduction of As(V) to As(III) as a driving force in the odd-electron ion formation is obtained.

Fibronectin levels in stimulated whole-saliva and their relationship with cariogenic oral bacteria.

AIM: Fibronectin is a multifunctional glycoprotein that plays a fundamental role in mechanism of cellular union and in bacterial adhesion in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to test the clinical relationship between fibronectin concentration in stimulated whole-saliva and the number of Mutans streptococci bacteria. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 167 children aged 12 years. METHODS: Saliva samples were collected from the subjects. Bacterial quantification was carried out using a semiquantitative method (Dentocult SM, Vivadent). Fibronectin was measured by the ELISA method with modifications. RESULTS: An inverse clinical relation was found between the levels of soluble fibronectin and the number of SM colony forming units. CONCLUSIONS: Bacterial counts sufficiently high to destroy the protein films increase bacterial binding to dental surfaces, thereby contributing to the regulation of bacterial plaque composition and its pathogenic potential. This capacity of glycoproteins to reduce the adhesion of microorganisms to the oral tissues and favour macrophage action supports the hypothesis that such proteins contribute to the first line of immune defence together with secretory antibodies.

Ty3/Gypsy retrotransposons: description of new Arabidopsis thaliana elements and evolutionary perspectives derived from comparative genomic data.

We performed a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the Ty3/GYPSY: group of long-terminal-repeat retrotransposons (also known as METAVIRIDAE:). Exhaustive database searches allowed us to detect novel elements of this group. In particular, the Arabidopsis thaliana and Drosophila melanogaster genome sequencing projects have recently disclosed a large number of new Ty3/GYPSY: sequences. So far, elements of three different Ty3/GYPSY: lineages had been described for A. thaliana. Here, we describe six new lineages, which we have called Tit-for-tat1, Tit-for-tat2, Gimli, Gloin, Legolas, and Little Athila. We confirm that plant Ty3/GYPSY: elements form two main monophyletic groups. Moreover, our results suggest that at least four independent ancestral lineages existed before the monocot-dicot split, about 200 MYA. Twelve sequences from D. melanogaster that may correspond to new elements are also described. Some of these sequences are similar to those of OSVALDO: and Ulysses, two elements of the OSVALDO: clade that had never before been described for D. melanogaster. Comparative analyses of multiple organisms, some of them with completely sequenced genomes, show that the number of lineages of Ty3/GYPSY: elements is very variable. Thus, while only 1 lineage is present in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, at least 6 exist in Caenorhabditis elegans, at least 9 are present in the A. thaliana, and perhaps 20 are present in D. melanogaster. Finally, we suggest that the presence of a chromodomain-containing integrase, a feature of some closely related Ty3/GYPSY: elements of fungi, plants, and animals, may be used to define a new METAVIRIDAE: genus.

Cariogenic oral flora and its relation to dental caries.

Many attempts have been made to establish the risk profile of dental caries; however, no diagnostic procedures are yet available to reliably predict such risk particularly among the pediatric and adolescent population. Age of subject, a history of caries affecting the primary dentition, the prevalence of Streptococcus mutans, pH values, salivary flow, and the frequency and amount of sugar consumption have been the factors most studied. A cross-sectional study is made of schoolchildren in the 12-13-year age-range to evaluate the relationship between dental caries and CFU/ml of S. mutans and Lactobacillus, salivary buffer capacity, and salivary flow. Likewise, an evaluation is made of the predictive value of the variables, bacterial count and salivary pH with respect to caries. A total of 167 children were subjected to oral examination to establish the DMFT and DMFS indices, followed by the collection of saliva for quantitating S. mutans, Lactobacillus, pH and salivary flow, by the Dentocult (SM)(LB) and Dentobuff systems (Vivadent). The data obtained were subjected to descriptive analysis, comparisons among variables were made by nonparametric testing with a confidence level of 95 percent. Test predictive value was studied in terms of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and probability ratio. Statistically significant (p < 0.001) correlations were observed between the caries indices and bacterial counts. No significant association was recorded with the rest of the variables studied. Bacterial counts as well as salivary buffer capacities exhibited greater negative than positive predictive values, i.e., they were more effective in identifying healthy individuals than patients who required treatment.

La sedación no protocolizada en una Unidad de Medicina Intensiva / Non-Protocolized Sedation In The Intensive Care Unit

Objetivo. Estudio descriptivo de la sedación y de su efectividad, en un Servicio de Medicina Intensiva (SMI) que no dispone de protocolización en su uso. Método. En todos los pacientes ingresados en el SMI entre enero y mayo de 1998 sometidos a ventilación mecánica y a los que su médico había decidido sedar, se recogieron datos acerca de los requerimientos de ventilación mecánica, nivel de sedación del paciente (escala de Ramsay), dosis diarias del fármaco (mg/kg/día) utilizado, y tiempo requerido entre la retirada de sedación e inicio de weaning. Para evitar la variabilidad entre turnos, los datos se recogieron una vez por turno y siempre a la misma hora. El personal del SMI no fue avisado de la realización del estudio. Resultados. En total se recogieron 50 pacientes. El nivel medio de sedación aplicado en 648 determinaciones según la escala de Ramsay fue de 5,2 (1,1), variable no relacionada significativamente con las necesidades de ventilación mecánica. Las dosis medias de midazolam fueron 3,41 mg/kg/día. La tasa de autoextubación fue del 0 por ciento. Por otro lado, el tiempo requerido desde la retirada de la sedación hasta el despertar del paciente fue de 21 horas (mediana). No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre las dosis de midazolam recibidas, nivel de sedación e intervalo retirada sedación-inicio weaning, entre los pacientes que presentaron o no insuficiencia renal. Conclusiones. Si no se protocoliza la sedación en el SMI, existe una tendencia a dejar al paciente en niveles cercanos al coma profundo (AU)