BACKGROUND:Hypertriglyceridemia is an unusual cause of acute pancreatitis and sometimes considered to be an epiphenomenon.This study aimed to investigate the clinical and analytical features and the APOE genotypes in ...BACKGROUND:Hypertriglyceridemia is an unusual cause of acute pancreatitis and sometimes considered to be an epiphenomenon.This study aimed to investigate the clinical and analytical features and the APOE genotypes in patients with acute pancreatitis and severe hypertriglyceridemia.METHODS:We undertook a one-year,prospective study of patients with acute pancreatitis whose first laboratory analysis on admission to the emergency department included measurement of serum triglycerides.The APOE genotype was determined and the patients answered an established questionnaire within the first 24 hours concerning their alcohol consumption,the presence of co-morbidities and any medications being taken.The patients’ progression,etiological diagnosis,hospital stay and clinical and radiological severity were all recorded.RESULTS:Hypertriglyceridemia was responsible for 7 of 133 cases of pancreatitis (5%);the remaining cases were of biliary (53%),idiopathic (26%),alcoholic (11%) or other (5%) origin.Compared with these remaining cases,the patients with hypertriglyceridemia were significantly younger,had more relapses,and more often had diabetes mellitus.They usually consumed alcohol or consumed it excessively on the days before admission.Also,the ε4 allele of the APOE gene was more common in this group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:One of 20 episodes of acute pancreatitis is caused by hypertriglyceridemia and it is linked to genetic (ε4 allele) and comorbid factors such as diabetes and,especially,alcohol consumption.展开更多
Traditionally, the success of a researcher is assessed by the number of publications he or she publishes in peer-reviewed, indexed, high impact journals. This essential yardstick, often referred to as the impact of a ...Traditionally, the success of a researcher is assessed by the number of publications he or she publishes in peer-reviewed, indexed, high impact journals. This essential yardstick, often referred to as the impact of a specific researcher, is assessed through the use of various metrics. While researchers may be acquainted with such matrices, many do not know how to use them to enhance their careers. In addition to these metrics, a number of other factors should be taken into consideration to objectively evaluate a scientist＇s profile as a researcher and academician. Moreover, each metric has its own limitations that need to be considered when selecting an appropriate metric for evaluation. This paper provides a broad overview of the wide array of metrics currently in use in academia and research. Popular metrics are discussed and defined, including traditional metrics and article-level metrics, some of which are applied to researchers for a greater understanding of a particular concept, including varicocete that is the thematic area of this Special Issue of Asian Journal of Andrology. We recommend the combined use of quantitative and qualitative evaluation using judiciously selected metrics for a more objective assessment of scholarly output and research impact.展开更多
Oxidative stress is a common condition suffered by biological systems in aerobic conditions. Human semen also has its own molecular guard against the free radicals created by normal respiratory process or from immune ...Oxidative stress is a common condition suffered by biological systems in aerobic conditions. Human semen also has its own molecular guard against the free radicals created by normal respiratory process or from immune reactions. The equilibrium of the creation and scavenging of free radicals is mandatory in the spermatozoa to fertilize and initiate a full-term pregnancy. The paper is a systematic review of publications that evaluate oxidative stress in semen. The Cochrane Library, Medline (1966-2003), Embase (1988-2003), SciSearch (1981-2003) and the conference papers were searched. When sperm samples from fertile and infertile males were analyzed, some of the mechanisms that determine the oxidative stress level were found to be impaired while others were unaltered. In conclusion, the literature as a whole provides contradictory findings and it is necessary to carry out more work to identify all the enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems involved in oxidative stress in the ejaculate, in order to develop new diagnostic systems and therapeutic strategies for combating detrimental free radical imbalance in the semen.展开更多
Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) patients in remission may suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms that resemble irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Knowledge on this issue has increased considerably in the last decade, and i...Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) patients in remission may suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms that resemble irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Knowledge on this issue has increased considerably in the last decade, and it is our intention to review and summarize it in the present work. We describe a problematic that comprises physiopathological uncertainties, diagnostic difficulties, as IBS-like symptoms are very similar to those produced by an inflammatory flare, and the necessity of appropriate management of these patients, who, although in remission, have impaired quality of life. Ultimately, from almost a philosophical point of view, the presence of IBS-like symptoms in IBD patients in remission supposes a challenge to the traditional functional-organic dichotomy, suggesting the need for a change of paradigm.展开更多
Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is common in humans.The virus then enters a "latency phase" and can reactivate to different stimuli such as immunosuppression.The clinical significance of CMV infection in infl...Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is common in humans.The virus then enters a "latency phase" and can reactivate to different stimuli such as immunosuppression.The clinical significance of CMV infection in inflammatory bowel disease is different in Crohn's disease(CD) and ulcerative colitis(UC).CMV does not interfere in the clinical course of CD.However,CMV reactivation is frequent in severe or steroid-resistant UC.It is not known whether the virus exacerbates the disease or simply appears as a bystander of a severe disease.Different methods are used to diagnose CMV colitis.Diagnosis is classically based on histopathological identification of viral-infected cells or CMV antigens in biopsied tissues using haematoxylin-eosin or immunohistochemistry,other tests on blood or tissue samples are currently being investigated.Polymerase chain reaction performed in colonic mucosa has a high sensitivity and a positive result could be associated with a worse prognosis disease;further studies are needed to determine the most appropriate strategy with positive CMV-DNA in colonic mucosa.Specific endoscopic features have not been described in active UC and CMV infection.CMV colitis is usually treated with ganciclovir for several weeks,there are different opinions about whether or not to stop immunosuppressive therapy.Other antiviral drugs may be used.Multicenter controlled studies would needed to determine which subgroup of UC patients would benefit from early antiviral treatment.展开更多
Spermatozoa retrieved from the testis of men with high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation （SDF） in the neat semen tend to have better DNA quality. Given the negative impact of SDF on the outcomes of Assisted Reproduc...Spermatozoa retrieved from the testis of men with high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation （SDF） in the neat semen tend to have better DNA quality. Given the negative impact of SDF on the outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Technology （ART）, an increased interest has emerged about the use of testicular sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection （Testi-ICSI）. In this article, we used a SWOT （strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats） analysis to summarize the advantages and drawbacks of this intervention. The rationale of Testi-ICSI is bypass posttesticular DNA fragmentation caused by oxidative stress during sperm transit through the epididymis. Hence, oocyte fertilization by genomically intact testicular spermatozoa may be optimized, thus increasing the chances of creating a normal embryonic genome and the likelihood of achieving a live birth, as recently demonstrated in men with high SDF. However, there is still limited evidence as regards the clinical efficacy of Testi-ICSI, thus creating opportunities for further confirmatory clinical research as well as investigation of Testi-ICSI in clinical scenarios other than high SDF. Furthermore, Testi-ICSI can be compared to other laboratory preparation methods for deselecting sperm with damaged DNA. At present, the available literature supports the use of testicular sperm when performing ICSI in infertile couples whose male partners have posttesticular SDF. Due to inherent risks of sperm retrieval, Testi-ICSI should be offered when less invasive treatments for alleviating DNA damage have failed. A call for continuous monitoring is nonetheless required concerning the health of generated offspring and the potential complications of sperm retrieval.展开更多
The catalytic conversion of polystyrene (PS) was studied in the presence of the materials type HZSM-5, CeO<sub>2</sub>, 10% CeO<sub>2</sub>/HZSM-5 and 20% CeO<sub>2</sub>/HZSM-5, wh...The catalytic conversion of polystyrene (PS) was studied in the presence of the materials type HZSM-5, CeO<sub>2</sub>, 10% CeO<sub>2</sub>/HZSM-5 and 20% CeO<sub>2</sub>/HZSM-5, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption at 77K. The catalytic tests were performed via thermogravimetric analysis (TG) at heating rates of 5, 10 and 20˚C min<sup>−1</sup> in a temperature range from 30˚C to 900˚C. For the tests, a ratio of 30% by mass of each catalytic material mixed with PS was used and the activation energy of the degradation process was determined by the Vyazovkin method. The obtained results showed that the addition of the catalyst to the PS in general reduced its degradation temperature. The 10% CeO<sub>2</sub>/HZSM-5 catalyst showed greater efficiency, as it resulted in lower activation energy for PS degradation. Thus, the combination of CeO<sub>2</sub> with HZSM-5 resulted in materials with potential for application in the catalytic degradation of polystyrene and the results indicate that the production of a composite material can be a good strategy to generate an increase in catalytic activity and a decrease in energy process activation.展开更多
Despite its industrial importance, the flow of molten blast furnace slag in open channels has not been sufficiently studied. In this work, the unsteady non-uniform flow of a molten blast furnace slag in a rectangular ...Despite its industrial importance, the flow of molten blast furnace slag in open channels has not been sufficiently studied. In this work, the unsteady non-uniform flow of a molten blast furnace slag in a rectangular open channel is numerically studied by solving the Saint-Venant equations by means of an explicit backwards finite difference scheme. An Arrhenius-type dependence of the viscosity of the slag on temperature is assumed. To calculate that viscosity, four temperatures are considered, namely 1450˚C, 1500˚C, 1550˚C and 1600˚C. To study the dynamic response of the system, a half-sinusoidal pulse with duration of 5 s is imposed at the channel entrance. According to the numerical simulations, for all the temperatures considered, the slag flow in the channel for an angle of 5 degrees is supercritical in nature. However, for an angle of 1 degree, the flow is transcritical, that is, it presents a transition from subcritical to supercritical.展开更多
In recent years, metallurgical slags have been increasingly used as materials for the manufacture of cement, pavement and filling material. The transport of the molten slag to the receiving pots is carried out through...In recent years, metallurgical slags have been increasingly used as materials for the manufacture of cement, pavement and filling material. The transport of the molten slag to the receiving pots is carried out through open channels. The transient and steady-state flow of a molten slag in a rectangular open channel is numerically analyzed here. For the transient flow, the Saint-Venant equations were numerically solved. For the steady-state flow, the derivatives in time and space in the Saint-Venant equations were set equal to zero and a polynomial of degree 3 is obtained whose roots are the slag height values. It was assumed that the viscosity of the slag has an Arrhenius-type behavior with temperature. Four values of temperature values, namely 1723.15, 1773.15, 1823.15, 18873.15 ˚K, and five values of the angle of inclination of the channel, namely 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 degrees, are considered. Numerical results show that the steady-state values of the height and velocity of the molten slag depend strongly on the temperature of the slag and the angle of inclination of the channel. As the slag temperature and channel angle increase, the value of the steady-state slag height decreases. The value of the steady-state slag velocity increases as the slag temperature and channel inclination angle increase.展开更多
This study analyzed Heart Rate Variability in a large sample of active young subjects within a narrow age range (18 to 25), using time and frequency domain methods and a Poincaré plot. Heart rate was recorded (be...This study analyzed Heart Rate Variability in a large sample of active young subjects within a narrow age range (18 to 25), using time and frequency domain methods and a Poincaré plot. Heart rate was recorded (beat to beat) for 30 minutes at rest in 200 healthy subjects divided into 4 groups: 50 sportsmen (20.54 ± 1.52 years);50 active men (21.22 ± 1.31 years);50 sportswomen (20.10 ± 1.87 years) and 50 active women (20.92 ± 1.87 years). Significant differences were found for most parameters between athletes and active subjects (male and female) but not between genders. Percentile distributions were provided for all parameters (according to gender and physical activity level) to be used as references in future researches.展开更多
The effect of mine tailings and sewage sludge was evaluated on sorption, desorption, availability and distribution of copper in two soils, one high （sandy soil） and one low in copper （clay soil）. In both soils con...The effect of mine tailings and sewage sludge was evaluated on sorption, desorption, availability and distribution of copper in two soils, one high （sandy soil） and one low in copper （clay soil）. In both soils contaminated by mine tailings the copper sorption capacity and the affinity of the substrate for the metal decreased substantially compared to the uncontaminated soils, however, the sorption remained always high in the clay soil substrates. In the substrates with sandy soil, the high Cu content and lower clay content were determining factors in the lower magnitude of the sorption. Similarly, metal desorption was closely related to these two parameters, and it was higher in clay soil with lower pH. In general, the application of sewage sludge favored the sorption of Cu in soils contaminated and uncontaminated with mine tailings, and in all cases desorption decreased, an effect that remained for at least 30 days. Simple extraction of Cu with CaCl2 and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid gave contradictory results, so a careful choice of the procedure is required, depending on the level of metal in the soil and on the acting principle of the extracting agent. In that relation, more complete information on the changes in the metal forms was obtained by application of the sequential extraction procedure proposed by the European Community Bureau of Reference.展开更多
We propose the use of a power pulse shape of the widely known optical soliton, corresponding to the hyperbolic secant square function, for both conventional atmospheric optical communication systems and, especially, f...We propose the use of a power pulse shape of the widely known optical soliton, corresponding to the hyperbolic secant square function, for both conventional atmospheric optical communication systems and, especially, for new full-optical wireless communications. We analyze the performance of the proposed pulse in terms of peak-to-average optical power ratio （PAOPR） and bit error rate （BER）. During the analysis, we compare the proposed pulse shape against conventional rectangular and Gaussian pulse shapes with reduced duty cycle. Results show the noticeable superiority of the proposed pulse for atmospheric optical links.展开更多
The ability of mosquitoes to transmit a pathogen is affected,among other factors,by their survival rate,which is partly modulated by their microbiota.Mosquito microbiota is acquired during the larval phase and modifie...The ability of mosquitoes to transmit a pathogen is affected,among other factors,by their survival rate,which is partly modulated by their microbiota.Mosquito microbiota is acquired during the larval phase and modified during their development and adult feeding behavior,being highly dependent on environmental factors.Pharmaceutical residues including antibiotics are widespread pollutants potentially being present in mosquito breeding waters likely affecting their microbiota.Here,we used Culex pipiens mosquitoes to assess the impact of antibiotic exposure during the larval and adult stages on the survival rate of adult mosquitoes.Wild-collected larvae were randomly assigned to two treatments:larvae maintained in water supplemented with antibiotics and control larvae.Emerged adults were subsequently assigned to each of two treatments,fed with sugar solution with antibiotics and fed only with sugar solution(controls).Larval exposure to antibiotics significantly increased the survival rate of adult females that received a control diet.In addition,the effect of adult exposure to antibiotics on the survival rate of both male and female mosquitoes depended on the number of days that larvae fed ad libitum in the laboratory before emergence.In particular,shorter larval ad libitum feeding periods reduced the survival rate of antibiotic-treated adult mosquitoes compared with those that emerged after a longer larval feeding period.These differences were not found in control adult mosquitoes.Our results extend the current understanding of the impact of antibiotic exposure of mosquitoes on a key component of vectorial capacity,that is the vector survival rate.展开更多
Agriculture has a close relationship with nature,but it can also be the source of negative and permanent environmental effects.The use of pesticides in modern agriculture is a common practice,but their side effects on...Agriculture has a close relationship with nature,but it can also be the source of negative and permanent environmental effects.The use of pesticides in modern agriculture is a common practice,but their side effects on the environment cannot be disregarded.In this study,we evaluated a combination of solarization and ozonation techniques for the elimination of six amide pesticides(boscalid,chlorantraniliprole,cyflufenamid,fluopyram,napropamide,and propyzamide)in soil.Initial experiments were performed with four different soils to assess the efficiency of this methodology at different soil temperatures and ozone dosages under laboratory conditions,and then a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted under controlled conditions during summer.Fifty days after the onset of the experiments,higher degradation percentages of amide pesticides were observed in ozonized soils than in other treated soils,particularly when ozone was applied at 10 cm soil depth.The results show that the utilization of ozonation,along with solarization,represents a valid method for degrading residues of the studied pesticides and suggest that this combined technology may be a promising tool for remediating pesticide-polluted soils.展开更多
BACKGROUND:To describe trends in oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesic prescribing for the treatment of back pain among adults in emergency departments(EDs) in the USA from 2007 to 2018.METHODS:Data were gather...BACKGROUND:To describe trends in oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesic prescribing for the treatment of back pain among adults in emergency departments(EDs) in the USA from 2007 to 2018.METHODS:Data were gathered from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey(NHAMCS) from 2007 to 2018.The study population included individuals of all ages presenting to USA EDs.The NHAMCS reasons for visit and oxycodone drug ID codes were used to isolate patients with back pain.The main outcome was the proportion of oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesics prescribed for back pain in the EDs over the specified time period.RESULTS:There was a relative decrease in the overall administration of oxycodone for back pain in the EDs by 62.3% from 2007(244,000 visits) to 2018(92,000 visits).The proportion of ED patients prescribed with oxycodone-containing analgesics for back pain increased among patients aged 45 years and older(from 43.8% to 57.6%),female patients(from 54.5% to 62.0%),black patients(from 22.5% to 30.4%),and Hispanic/Latino patients(from 9.4% to 19.6%).Oxycodone/acetaminophen was most prescribed and accounted for 90.2% of all oxycodone-containing analgesics in 2007,with a decrease to 68.5% in 2018.Pure oxycodone was the second most prescribed medication,accounting for 6.1% in 2007 and 31.5% in 2018.CONCLUSION:The overall number of oxycodone-containing analgesics decreased significantly from 2007 to 2018.However,that number trended upward in 45-year-old and older,female,black,or Hispanic/Latino patients from 2007 to 2018.The total amount of pure oxycodone increased significantly from 2007 to 2008.展开更多
By adding an extra term to the Newtonian potential, matter outside the orbit of a star adds to the gravitational acceleration acting on that star. In this work, we solve the Poisson equation for non-Newtonian potentia...By adding an extra term to the Newtonian potential, matter outside the orbit of a star adds to the gravitational acceleration acting on that star. In this work, we solve the Poisson equation for non-Newtonian potentials of a spherically symmetric distribution of mass. We derive equations for calculating the centripetal acceleration and velocity of galactic disk stars that are due to the Newtonian and exponential potentials of the galaxy’s central bulge.展开更多
Although recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances have substantially improved the survival of patients with gastric cancer(GC), the overall prognosis is still poor. Surgery is the only curative treatment and should ...Although recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances have substantially improved the survival of patients with gastric cancer(GC), the overall prognosis is still poor. Surgery is the only curative treatment and should be performed in experienced centers. Due to high relapse following surgery, complementary and systemic treatment aimed at eradicating micrometastasis should be performed in most cases. Cytotoxic treatments are effective in downstaging locally advanced cancer, but different sensitivities and toxicities probably exist in different GC subtypes. Current treatment protocols are based primarily on clinical data and histological features, but molecular biomarkers that would allow for the prediction of treatment responses are urgently needed. Understanding how host factors are responsible for inter-individual variability of drug response or toxicity will also contribute to the development of more effective and less toxic treatments.展开更多
Background: Stroke ranks third and is the leading cause of permanent disability in western countries. Furthermore there are no treatments for the psychosocial effects of this pathology. Purpose: Analyse the effect of ...Background: Stroke ranks third and is the leading cause of permanent disability in western countries. Furthermore there are no treatments for the psychosocial effects of this pathology. Purpose: Analyse the effect of an aquatic exercise program in depression and trace and state anxiety in subjects who suffered an ischemic stroke. Methods: Two groups were analyzed: experimental group (EG) n = 15, 50.3 ± 9.1 years;control group (CG) n = 13, 52.5 ± 7.7 years. EG underwent a 12-week aquatic exercise program. Both groups were evaluated in pre and post- treatment using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Trace State Anxiety Inventory (IDATE). Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare moments and groups, respec- tively. Results: The BDI scores of aquatic activities were: pre-treatment, 17.4 ± 7.7 and 16.9 ± 8.6 for the EG and CG, respectively;post-treat- ment, 13.2 + 7.1 and 16.4 + 7.9 for the EG and CG, respectively. The IDATE scores for anxiety trace in strength training were: pre-treatment, 43.2 + 12.5 and 42.9 + 12.2 for the EG and CG, respec- tively;post-treatment, 39.7 + 7.1 and 42.6 + 12.1 for the EG and CG, respectively. The IDATE scores for anxiety state in strength training were: pre-treatment, 46.9 + 7.6 and 47.4 + 8.1 for the EG and CG, respectively;post-treatment, 44.4 + 7.9 and 47.5 + 8.0 for the EG and CG, respectively. Significant differences were found in pre and post-treatment values in the EG and between groups in the depression and trace and state anxiety levels in post-treatment (p Conclusions: Aquatic physical activity contributes to an improvement of the levels of depression and anxiety in people who suffered a stroke.展开更多
Background:Knee examination guidelines in minors are intended to aid decisionmaking in the management of knee instability.Clinical question:A Delphi study was conducted with a formal consensus process using a validate...Background:Knee examination guidelines in minors are intended to aid decisionmaking in the management of knee instability.Clinical question:A Delphi study was conducted with a formal consensus process using a validated methodology with sufficient scientific evidence.A group consensus meeting was held to develop recommendations and practical guidelines for use in the assessment of instability injuries in children.Key findings:there is a lack of evidence to analyse anterior cruciate ligament injuries in children and their subsequent surgical management if necessary.Diagnostic guidelines and clinical assessment of the patient based on a thorough examination of the knee are performed and a guide to anterior cruciate ligament exploration in children is developed.Clinical application:In the absence of a strong evidence base,these established guidelines are intended to assist in that decision-making process to help the clinician decide on the most optimal treatment with the aim of benefiting the patient as much as possible.Following this expert consensus,surgical treatment is advised when the patient has a subjective sensation of instability accompanied by a pivot shift test++,and may include an anterior drawer test+and a Lachman test+.If these conditions are not present,the conservative approach should be chosen,as the anatomical and functional development of children,together with a physiotherapy programme,may improve the evolution of the injury.展开更多
基金supported by a grant from Grupos de Investigacion y Desarrollo Tecnologico de la Junta de Andalucía(Grupo consolidado CTS-159)
文摘BACKGROUND:Hypertriglyceridemia is an unusual cause of acute pancreatitis and sometimes considered to be an epiphenomenon.This study aimed to investigate the clinical and analytical features and the APOE genotypes in patients with acute pancreatitis and severe hypertriglyceridemia.METHODS:We undertook a one-year,prospective study of patients with acute pancreatitis whose first laboratory analysis on admission to the emergency department included measurement of serum triglycerides.The APOE genotype was determined and the patients answered an established questionnaire within the first 24 hours concerning their alcohol consumption,the presence of co-morbidities and any medications being taken.The patients’ progression,etiological diagnosis,hospital stay and clinical and radiological severity were all recorded.RESULTS:Hypertriglyceridemia was responsible for 7 of 133 cases of pancreatitis (5%);the remaining cases were of biliary (53%),idiopathic (26%),alcoholic (11%) or other (5%) origin.Compared with these remaining cases,the patients with hypertriglyceridemia were significantly younger,had more relapses,and more often had diabetes mellitus.They usually consumed alcohol or consumed it excessively on the days before admission.Also,the ε4 allele of the APOE gene was more common in this group (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:One of 20 episodes of acute pancreatitis is caused by hypertriglyceridemia and it is linked to genetic (ε4 allele) and comorbid factors such as diabetes and,especially,alcohol consumption.
文摘Traditionally, the success of a researcher is assessed by the number of publications he or she publishes in peer-reviewed, indexed, high impact journals. This essential yardstick, often referred to as the impact of a specific researcher, is assessed through the use of various metrics. While researchers may be acquainted with such matrices, many do not know how to use them to enhance their careers. In addition to these metrics, a number of other factors should be taken into consideration to objectively evaluate a scientist＇s profile as a researcher and academician. Moreover, each metric has its own limitations that need to be considered when selecting an appropriate metric for evaluation. This paper provides a broad overview of the wide array of metrics currently in use in academia and research. Popular metrics are discussed and defined, including traditional metrics and article-level metrics, some of which are applied to researchers for a greater understanding of a particular concept, including varicocete that is the thematic area of this Special Issue of Asian Journal of Andrology. We recommend the combined use of quantitative and qualitative evaluation using judiciously selected metrics for a more objective assessment of scholarly output and research impact.
文摘Oxidative stress is a common condition suffered by biological systems in aerobic conditions. Human semen also has its own molecular guard against the free radicals created by normal respiratory process or from immune reactions. The equilibrium of the creation and scavenging of free radicals is mandatory in the spermatozoa to fertilize and initiate a full-term pregnancy. The paper is a systematic review of publications that evaluate oxidative stress in semen. The Cochrane Library, Medline (1966-2003), Embase (1988-2003), SciSearch (1981-2003) and the conference papers were searched. When sperm samples from fertile and infertile males were analyzed, some of the mechanisms that determine the oxidative stress level were found to be impaired while others were unaltered. In conclusion, the literature as a whole provides contradictory findings and it is necessary to carry out more work to identify all the enzymatic and non-enzymatic systems involved in oxidative stress in the ejaculate, in order to develop new diagnostic systems and therapeutic strategies for combating detrimental free radical imbalance in the semen.
文摘Inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) patients in remission may suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms that resemble irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). Knowledge on this issue has increased considerably in the last decade, and it is our intention to review and summarize it in the present work. We describe a problematic that comprises physiopathological uncertainties, diagnostic difficulties, as IBS-like symptoms are very similar to those produced by an inflammatory flare, and the necessity of appropriate management of these patients, who, although in remission, have impaired quality of life. Ultimately, from almost a philosophical point of view, the presence of IBS-like symptoms in IBD patients in remission supposes a challenge to the traditional functional-organic dichotomy, suggesting the need for a change of paradigm.
文摘Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection is common in humans.The virus then enters a "latency phase" and can reactivate to different stimuli such as immunosuppression.The clinical significance of CMV infection in inflammatory bowel disease is different in Crohn's disease(CD) and ulcerative colitis(UC).CMV does not interfere in the clinical course of CD.However,CMV reactivation is frequent in severe or steroid-resistant UC.It is not known whether the virus exacerbates the disease or simply appears as a bystander of a severe disease.Different methods are used to diagnose CMV colitis.Diagnosis is classically based on histopathological identification of viral-infected cells or CMV antigens in biopsied tissues using haematoxylin-eosin or immunohistochemistry,other tests on blood or tissue samples are currently being investigated.Polymerase chain reaction performed in colonic mucosa has a high sensitivity and a positive result could be associated with a worse prognosis disease;further studies are needed to determine the most appropriate strategy with positive CMV-DNA in colonic mucosa.Specific endoscopic features have not been described in active UC and CMV infection.CMV colitis is usually treated with ganciclovir for several weeks,there are different opinions about whether or not to stop immunosuppressive therapy.Other antiviral drugs may be used.Multicenter controlled studies would needed to determine which subgroup of UC patients would benefit from early antiviral treatment.
文摘Spermatozoa retrieved from the testis of men with high levels of sperm DNA fragmentation （SDF） in the neat semen tend to have better DNA quality. Given the negative impact of SDF on the outcomes of Assisted Reproductive Technology （ART）, an increased interest has emerged about the use of testicular sperm for intracytoplasmic sperm injection （Testi-ICSI）. In this article, we used a SWOT （strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats） analysis to summarize the advantages and drawbacks of this intervention. The rationale of Testi-ICSI is bypass posttesticular DNA fragmentation caused by oxidative stress during sperm transit through the epididymis. Hence, oocyte fertilization by genomically intact testicular spermatozoa may be optimized, thus increasing the chances of creating a normal embryonic genome and the likelihood of achieving a live birth, as recently demonstrated in men with high SDF. However, there is still limited evidence as regards the clinical efficacy of Testi-ICSI, thus creating opportunities for further confirmatory clinical research as well as investigation of Testi-ICSI in clinical scenarios other than high SDF. Furthermore, Testi-ICSI can be compared to other laboratory preparation methods for deselecting sperm with damaged DNA. At present, the available literature supports the use of testicular sperm when performing ICSI in infertile couples whose male partners have posttesticular SDF. Due to inherent risks of sperm retrieval, Testi-ICSI should be offered when less invasive treatments for alleviating DNA damage have failed. A call for continuous monitoring is nonetheless required concerning the health of generated offspring and the potential complications of sperm retrieval.
文摘The catalytic conversion of polystyrene (PS) was studied in the presence of the materials type HZSM-5, CeO<sub>2</sub>, 10% CeO<sub>2</sub>/HZSM-5 and 20% CeO<sub>2</sub>/HZSM-5, which were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and nitrogen adsorption at 77K. The catalytic tests were performed via thermogravimetric analysis (TG) at heating rates of 5, 10 and 20˚C min<sup>−1</sup> in a temperature range from 30˚C to 900˚C. For the tests, a ratio of 30% by mass of each catalytic material mixed with PS was used and the activation energy of the degradation process was determined by the Vyazovkin method. The obtained results showed that the addition of the catalyst to the PS in general reduced its degradation temperature. The 10% CeO<sub>2</sub>/HZSM-5 catalyst showed greater efficiency, as it resulted in lower activation energy for PS degradation. Thus, the combination of CeO<sub>2</sub> with HZSM-5 resulted in materials with potential for application in the catalytic degradation of polystyrene and the results indicate that the production of a composite material can be a good strategy to generate an increase in catalytic activity and a decrease in energy process activation.
文摘Despite its industrial importance, the flow of molten blast furnace slag in open channels has not been sufficiently studied. In this work, the unsteady non-uniform flow of a molten blast furnace slag in a rectangular open channel is numerically studied by solving the Saint-Venant equations by means of an explicit backwards finite difference scheme. An Arrhenius-type dependence of the viscosity of the slag on temperature is assumed. To calculate that viscosity, four temperatures are considered, namely 1450˚C, 1500˚C, 1550˚C and 1600˚C. To study the dynamic response of the system, a half-sinusoidal pulse with duration of 5 s is imposed at the channel entrance. According to the numerical simulations, for all the temperatures considered, the slag flow in the channel for an angle of 5 degrees is supercritical in nature. However, for an angle of 1 degree, the flow is transcritical, that is, it presents a transition from subcritical to supercritical.
文摘In recent years, metallurgical slags have been increasingly used as materials for the manufacture of cement, pavement and filling material. The transport of the molten slag to the receiving pots is carried out through open channels. The transient and steady-state flow of a molten slag in a rectangular open channel is numerically analyzed here. For the transient flow, the Saint-Venant equations were numerically solved. For the steady-state flow, the derivatives in time and space in the Saint-Venant equations were set equal to zero and a polynomial of degree 3 is obtained whose roots are the slag height values. It was assumed that the viscosity of the slag has an Arrhenius-type behavior with temperature. Four values of temperature values, namely 1723.15, 1773.15, 1823.15, 18873.15 ˚K, and five values of the angle of inclination of the channel, namely 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 degrees, are considered. Numerical results show that the steady-state values of the height and velocity of the molten slag depend strongly on the temperature of the slag and the angle of inclination of the channel. As the slag temperature and channel angle increase, the value of the steady-state slag height decreases. The value of the steady-state slag velocity increases as the slag temperature and channel inclination angle increase.
文摘This study analyzed Heart Rate Variability in a large sample of active young subjects within a narrow age range (18 to 25), using time and frequency domain methods and a Poincaré plot. Heart rate was recorded (beat to beat) for 30 minutes at rest in 200 healthy subjects divided into 4 groups: 50 sportsmen (20.54 ± 1.52 years);50 active men (21.22 ± 1.31 years);50 sportswomen (20.10 ± 1.87 years) and 50 active women (20.92 ± 1.87 years). Significant differences were found for most parameters between athletes and active subjects (male and female) but not between genders. Percentile distributions were provided for all parameters (according to gender and physical activity level) to be used as references in future researches.
基金supported by the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FONDECYT) under Project No. 1080632
文摘The effect of mine tailings and sewage sludge was evaluated on sorption, desorption, availability and distribution of copper in two soils, one high （sandy soil） and one low in copper （clay soil）. In both soils contaminated by mine tailings the copper sorption capacity and the affinity of the substrate for the metal decreased substantially compared to the uncontaminated soils, however, the sorption remained always high in the clay soil substrates. In the substrates with sandy soil, the high Cu content and lower clay content were determining factors in the lower magnitude of the sorption. Similarly, metal desorption was closely related to these two parameters, and it was higher in clay soil with lower pH. In general, the application of sewage sludge favored the sorption of Cu in soils contaminated and uncontaminated with mine tailings, and in all cases desorption decreased, an effect that remained for at least 30 days. Simple extraction of Cu with CaCl2 and diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid gave contradictory results, so a careful choice of the procedure is required, depending on the level of metal in the soil and on the acting principle of the extracting agent. In that relation, more complete information on the changes in the metal forms was obtained by application of the sequential extraction procedure proposed by the European Community Bureau of Reference.
基金supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion (MICINN) under Grant No.TEC2008-06598
文摘We propose the use of a power pulse shape of the widely known optical soliton, corresponding to the hyperbolic secant square function, for both conventional atmospheric optical communication systems and, especially, for new full-optical wireless communications. We analyze the performance of the proposed pulse in terms of peak-to-average optical power ratio （PAOPR） and bit error rate （BER）. During the analysis, we compare the proposed pulse shape against conventional rectangular and Gaussian pulse shapes with reduced duty cycle. Results show the noticeable superiority of the proposed pulse for atmospheric optical links.
基金financed by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033[grant number PID2020-118205GB-100]the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation[grant numbers PRE2021-098544 and FJC2021-048057-I]the Spanish Ministry of Universities[Margarita Salas and Maria Zambrano programs].
文摘The ability of mosquitoes to transmit a pathogen is affected,among other factors,by their survival rate,which is partly modulated by their microbiota.Mosquito microbiota is acquired during the larval phase and modified during their development and adult feeding behavior,being highly dependent on environmental factors.Pharmaceutical residues including antibiotics are widespread pollutants potentially being present in mosquito breeding waters likely affecting their microbiota.Here,we used Culex pipiens mosquitoes to assess the impact of antibiotic exposure during the larval and adult stages on the survival rate of adult mosquitoes.Wild-collected larvae were randomly assigned to two treatments:larvae maintained in water supplemented with antibiotics and control larvae.Emerged adults were subsequently assigned to each of two treatments,fed with sugar solution with antibiotics and fed only with sugar solution(controls).Larval exposure to antibiotics significantly increased the survival rate of adult females that received a control diet.In addition,the effect of adult exposure to antibiotics on the survival rate of both male and female mosquitoes depended on the number of days that larvae fed ad libitum in the laboratory before emergence.In particular,shorter larval ad libitum feeding periods reduced the survival rate of antibiotic-treated adult mosquitoes compared with those that emerged after a longer larval feeding period.These differences were not found in control adult mosquitoes.Our results extend the current understanding of the impact of antibiotic exposure of mosquitoes on a key component of vectorial capacity,that is the vector survival rate.
基金supported by the European Commission through the LIFE+Program(No.LIFE-AgRemSO3il 17 ENV/ES/000203)。
文摘Agriculture has a close relationship with nature,but it can also be the source of negative and permanent environmental effects.The use of pesticides in modern agriculture is a common practice,but their side effects on the environment cannot be disregarded.In this study,we evaluated a combination of solarization and ozonation techniques for the elimination of six amide pesticides(boscalid,chlorantraniliprole,cyflufenamid,fluopyram,napropamide,and propyzamide)in soil.Initial experiments were performed with four different soils to assess the efficiency of this methodology at different soil temperatures and ozone dosages under laboratory conditions,and then a greenhouse pot experiment was conducted under controlled conditions during summer.Fifty days after the onset of the experiments,higher degradation percentages of amide pesticides were observed in ozonized soils than in other treated soils,particularly when ozone was applied at 10 cm soil depth.The results show that the utilization of ozonation,along with solarization,represents a valid method for degrading residues of the studied pesticides and suggest that this combined technology may be a promising tool for remediating pesticide-polluted soils.
文摘BACKGROUND:To describe trends in oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesic prescribing for the treatment of back pain among adults in emergency departments(EDs) in the USA from 2007 to 2018.METHODS:Data were gathered from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey(NHAMCS) from 2007 to 2018.The study population included individuals of all ages presenting to USA EDs.The NHAMCS reasons for visit and oxycodone drug ID codes were used to isolate patients with back pain.The main outcome was the proportion of oxycodone and oxycodone-containing analgesics prescribed for back pain in the EDs over the specified time period.RESULTS:There was a relative decrease in the overall administration of oxycodone for back pain in the EDs by 62.3% from 2007(244,000 visits) to 2018(92,000 visits).The proportion of ED patients prescribed with oxycodone-containing analgesics for back pain increased among patients aged 45 years and older(from 43.8% to 57.6%),female patients(from 54.5% to 62.0%),black patients(from 22.5% to 30.4%),and Hispanic/Latino patients(from 9.4% to 19.6%).Oxycodone/acetaminophen was most prescribed and accounted for 90.2% of all oxycodone-containing analgesics in 2007,with a decrease to 68.5% in 2018.Pure oxycodone was the second most prescribed medication,accounting for 6.1% in 2007 and 31.5% in 2018.CONCLUSION:The overall number of oxycodone-containing analgesics decreased significantly from 2007 to 2018.However,that number trended upward in 45-year-old and older,female,black,or Hispanic/Latino patients from 2007 to 2018.The total amount of pure oxycodone increased significantly from 2007 to 2008.
文摘By adding an extra term to the Newtonian potential, matter outside the orbit of a star adds to the gravitational acceleration acting on that star. In this work, we solve the Poisson equation for non-Newtonian potentials of a spherically symmetric distribution of mass. We derive equations for calculating the centripetal acceleration and velocity of galactic disk stars that are due to the Newtonian and exponential potentials of the galaxy’s central bulge.
文摘Although recent diagnostic and therapeutic advances have substantially improved the survival of patients with gastric cancer(GC), the overall prognosis is still poor. Surgery is the only curative treatment and should be performed in experienced centers. Due to high relapse following surgery, complementary and systemic treatment aimed at eradicating micrometastasis should be performed in most cases. Cytotoxic treatments are effective in downstaging locally advanced cancer, but different sensitivities and toxicities probably exist in different GC subtypes. Current treatment protocols are based primarily on clinical data and histological features, but molecular biomarkers that would allow for the prediction of treatment responses are urgently needed. Understanding how host factors are responsible for inter-individual variability of drug response or toxicity will also contribute to the development of more effective and less toxic treatments.
文摘Background: Stroke ranks third and is the leading cause of permanent disability in western countries. Furthermore there are no treatments for the psychosocial effects of this pathology. Purpose: Analyse the effect of an aquatic exercise program in depression and trace and state anxiety in subjects who suffered an ischemic stroke. Methods: Two groups were analyzed: experimental group (EG) n = 15, 50.3 ± 9.1 years;control group (CG) n = 13, 52.5 ± 7.7 years. EG underwent a 12-week aquatic exercise program. Both groups were evaluated in pre and post- treatment using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Trace State Anxiety Inventory (IDATE). Wilcoxon signed-rank and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare moments and groups, respec- tively. Results: The BDI scores of aquatic activities were: pre-treatment, 17.4 ± 7.7 and 16.9 ± 8.6 for the EG and CG, respectively;post-treat- ment, 13.2 + 7.1 and 16.4 + 7.9 for the EG and CG, respectively. The IDATE scores for anxiety trace in strength training were: pre-treatment, 43.2 + 12.5 and 42.9 + 12.2 for the EG and CG, respec- tively;post-treatment, 39.7 + 7.1 and 42.6 + 12.1 for the EG and CG, respectively. The IDATE scores for anxiety state in strength training were: pre-treatment, 46.9 + 7.6 and 47.4 + 8.1 for the EG and CG, respectively;post-treatment, 44.4 + 7.9 and 47.5 + 8.0 for the EG and CG, respectively. Significant differences were found in pre and post-treatment values in the EG and between groups in the depression and trace and state anxiety levels in post-treatment (p Conclusions: Aquatic physical activity contributes to an improvement of the levels of depression and anxiety in people who suffered a stroke.
文摘Background:Knee examination guidelines in minors are intended to aid decisionmaking in the management of knee instability.Clinical question:A Delphi study was conducted with a formal consensus process using a validated methodology with sufficient scientific evidence.A group consensus meeting was held to develop recommendations and practical guidelines for use in the assessment of instability injuries in children.Key findings:there is a lack of evidence to analyse anterior cruciate ligament injuries in children and their subsequent surgical management if necessary.Diagnostic guidelines and clinical assessment of the patient based on a thorough examination of the knee are performed and a guide to anterior cruciate ligament exploration in children is developed.Clinical application:In the absence of a strong evidence base,these established guidelines are intended to assist in that decision-making process to help the clinician decide on the most optimal treatment with the aim of benefiting the patient as much as possible.Following this expert consensus,surgical treatment is advised when the patient has a subjective sensation of instability accompanied by a pivot shift test++,and may include an anterior drawer test+and a Lachman test+.If these conditions are not present,the conservative approach should be chosen,as the anatomical and functional development of children,together with a physiotherapy programme,may improve the evolution of the injury.
