Concentrations and determinants of organochlorine levels among pregnant women in Eastern Spain

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) comprise a large variety of toxic substances with ample distribution. While exposure to these toxins occurs mainly through diet, maternal POP levels may be influenced by certain sociodemographic, environmental, or lifestyle factors. This is important given that these substances may have adverse effects on fetal development. The aim of this study is to examine the sociodemographic, environmental, lifestyle, and dietary determinants of the levels of hexachlorobenzene (HCB), b-hexachlorocyclohexane (b-HCH), 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethane (4,4′-DDT), 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)ethylene (4,4′-DDE), and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB congeners 118, 138, 153, 180) measured in the blood of pregnant women participating in a mother-child cohort study conducted in Valencia (Spain).The study population consisted of 541 pregnant women who formed part of the INMA (Childhood and the Environment) cohort (2004-2006). POP levels were determined in blood taken during the 12th week of pregnancy with the aid of gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Sociodemographic, environmental, and dietary information was obtained from a questionnaire. Multivariate Tobit regression models were constructed in order to assess the association between POP levels and selected covariates.The results showed that all the women had detectable levels of at least one of these compounds while in 43% of the subjects, all eight compounds were detected. The compounds found in the greatest number of women were 4,4′-DDE (100%) and PCBs 153 and 180 (95%). The most important determinants of high POP levels were the mother's age, country of origin, increased body mass index, and number of weeks of breastfeeding after previous pregnancies. With regard to diet, 4,4′-DDT and 4,4′-DDE levels increased with the intake of meat, fruit, and cereal. PCB 153 levels increased with the intake of seafood. The levels of HCB, b-HCH, 4,4′-DDT, and 4,4′-DDE observed in this study were slightly higher than in other studies, whereas the PCB levels were similar.     

Rare Titin (TTN) Variants in Diseases Associated with Sudden Cardiac Death

A leading cause of death in western countries is sudden cardiac death, and can be associated with genetic disease. Next-generation sequencing has allowed thorough analysis of genes associated with this entity, including, most recently, titin. We aimed to identify potentially pathogenic genetic variants in titin. A total of 1126 samples were analyzed using a custom sequencing panel including major genes related to sudden cardiac death. Our cohort was divided into three groups: 432 cases from patients with cardiomyopathies, 130 cases from patients with channelopathies, and 564 post-mortem samples from individuals showing anatomical healthy hearts and non-conclusive causes of death after comprehensive autopsy. None of the patients included had definite pathogenic variants in the genes analyzed by our custom cardio-panel. Retrospective analysis comparing the in-house database and available public databases also was performed. We identified 554 rare variants in titin, 282 of which were novel. Seven were previously reported as pathogenic. Of these 554 variants, 493 were missense variants, 233 of which were novel. Of all variants identified, 399 were unique and 155 were identified at least twice. No definite pathogenic variants were identified in any of genes analyzed. We identified rare, mostly novel, titin variants that seem to play a potentially pathogenic role in sudden cardiac death. Additional studies should be performed to clarify the role of these variants in sudden cardiac death.     

Role of Serum Cholesterol and Statin Use in the Risk of Prostate Cancer Detection and Tumor Aggressiveness

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between statin use along with serum cholesterol levels and prostate cancer (PCa) detection and aggressiveness. Statin users of three years or more and serum cholesterol levels (SC) were assessed in 2408 men scheduled for prostate biopsy. SC was classified as normal (NSC: <200 mg/dL) or high (HSC: >200 mg/dL). High-grade PCa (HGPCa) was considered if the Gleason score was greater than 7. Statin users comprised 30.9% of those studied. The PCa detection rate was 31.2% of men on statins and 37% of non-statin users (p < 0.006). The PCa detection rate was 26.3% in men with NSC and 40.6% in those with HSC (p < 0.001). In the subset of NSC men, the PCa rate was 26.5% for statin users and 26.2% for non-users (p = 0.939), while in men with HSC, the PCa rate was 36.4% for statin users and 42.0% for non-statin users (p = 0.063). The HGPCa rate was 41.8% for statin users and 32.5% for non-users (p = 0.012). NSC men had a 53.8% rate of HGPCa, while the rate was only 27.6% in HSC men (p < 0.001). NSC men on statins had an HGPCa rate of 70.2%, while non-statin users had a rate of 41.2% (p < 0.001). The HGPCa rate for HSC men on statins was 18.8%, while the rate was 30.0% (p = 0.011) for non-users. Logistic regression analysis suggested that serum cholesterol levels could serve as an independent predictor of PCa risk, OR 1.87 (95% CI 1.56–2.24) and HGPCa risk, OR 0.31 (95% CI 0.23–0.44), while statin usage could not. Statin treatment may prevent PCa detection through serum cholesterol-mediated mechanisms. A disturbing increase in the HGPCa rate was observed in statin users who normalized their serum cholesterol.     

Modification of vascular responses in xenotransplantation: inflammation and apoptosis

We report a case of progressive dementia and prolonged gait disturbance correlated with influenza A/H3N2 infection in 91-year-old female patient, admitted because of in ability to take care of herself due to aging and cerebral infarction. At admission, conversation and comprehension were not significantly impaired, and she was able to walk by herself. Flu symptoms such as high grade fever, chills, arthralgia, and cough appeared after a short stay at home. Influenza A/ H3N2 was confirmed serologically. Delirium occurred on the sixth day after influenza onset, persisted for three weeks, followed by recovery. Dementia symptoms such as memory defects and disorientation continued and did not improve. Due to this febrile episode, she was unable to walk unassisted. The results of computed tomography performed before and after the influenza episode were unremarkable for additional cellebro-vascular events during the observed period. Influenza infection may be an important risk factor for reducing the quality of life in the elderly. In geriatric cases, influenza should not be treated as a mere transient illness, but rather one which has important consequences for the elderly population, including the possibility of life threatening complications.     

Study of gastric emptying by dual isotopes. Corrections due to contamination

The evaluation of gastric emptying by the double isotope technique involves some methodologic conditioning. Among them contamination correction or interference in the energy windows of the activity of the two isotopes used in the marking of the solids and fluids of the test food are important. The results of an experiment in which a phantom was used to evaluate the contamination between indio 111 (DTPA-Ca111In) and technecium 99m (colloid99mTc). Three test studies were posteriorly performed in healthy volunteers and 27 studies in a control group (13 males, mean age of 33 years, mean body mass index 39.02 kg/m). In these studies the contamination was corrected with the acquisition, following an initial swallow of juice marked with 111In, of activity in the windows of both isotopes. The contamination of 111In (isotope of greatest radiation energy) in the window of 99mTc was 24% in the phantom and 20%, 23% and 26% in the three initial study tests. The mean contamination in the control group was of 22% with limits of 19% to 29% and a standard deviation of 3%. Despite the comparable results, the usefulness of the individualized contamination calculation in the studies of gastric emptying with dual isotope to minimize the methodologic errors of this technique is discussed.     

Comparative analysis of dental enamel polyvinylsiloxane impression and polyurethane casting methods for SEM research

Dental casting is a very common procedure for making high-quality replicas of paleo-anthropological remains. Replicas are frequently used, instead of original remains, to study both fossil and extant Primate teeth in morphological and metrical analyses. Several commercial products can be used in molds. This study analyzed SEM image resolution and enamel surface feature definition of tooth molds at various magnification levels and obtained, with both Coltène and 3M low-viscosity body polyvinylsiloxane impression, materials and polyurethane casts. Results, through comparison with the original teeth, show that both the negative molds and the positive casts are highly reliable in replicating enamel surfaces. However, positive cast quality is optimal for SEM observation only till the fourth consecutive replica from the original mold, especially at high SEM magnification levels.     

PC-based spectrum analyzer

The design and performance analysis of a low-cost, low-frequency spectrum analyzer are described. This instrument has been conceived as a plug-in board to be incorporated in an IBM PC. Although intended primarily for educational purposes, this analyzer is suitable for other applications such as audio, vibrations, etc. The frequency synthesizer, superheterodyne, and harmonics identifier used in the spectrum analyzer are discussed     

Synthesis of slow‐wave structures based on capacitive‐loaded lines through aggressive space mapping (ASM)

This article is focused on the automated synthesis of slow‐wave structures based on microstrip lines loaded with patch capacitors. Thanks to the presence of the shunt capacitors, the effective capacitance of the line is enhanced, and the phase velocity of the structure can be made significantly smaller than the one of the unloaded line. The target is to achieve the layout of the slow‐wave structure able to provide the required slow‐wave ratio, characteristic (Bloch) impedance and electrical length (i.e., the usual specifications in the design of slow‐wave transmission lines). To this end, a two‐step synthesis method, based on the aggressive space mapping (ASM) algorithm, is proposed for the first time. Through the first ASM algorithm, the circuit schematic providing the target specifications is determined. Then, the second ASM optimizer is used to generate the layout of the structure. To illustrate the potential of the proposed synthesis method, three application examples are successfully reported. The two‐step ASM algorithm is able to provide the layout of the considered structures from the required specifications, without the need of an external aid in the process. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 25:629–638, 2015.     

Successful Brazilian experience for promoting wind energy generation

This paper reviews the Brazilian experience with support mechanisms to promote renewable energy generation, from feed-in tariffs in the early 2000?s to the current auction process, with a focus on wind energy generation. Brazil’s original and innovative approach includes investment coordination mechanisms that have reduced risks enough to make wind energy a viable option.