The link between negative affect, vagal tone, and visceral sensitivity in quiescent Crohn's disease

Autonomic dysfunction and mood disorders are frequently described in Crohn's disease (CD) and are known to influence visceral sensitivity. We addressed the link between vagal tone, negative affect, and visceral sensitivity in CD patients without concomitant features of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Rectal distensions to a discomfort threshold of 70% and onset of pain were performed in nine CD patients in remission and eight healthy controls. Autonomic parameters were evaluated with heart rate variability and electrodermal reactivity. We showed that CD patients had (i) higher scores of depressive symptomatology (12 ± 3 in patients vs 4 ± 1 in controls on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale; p = 0.038), (ii) reduced vagal tone (HF 257 ± 84 ms(2) vs 1607 ± 1032 ms(2) , p = 0.043; LF 455 ± 153 ms(2) vs 1629 ± 585 ms(2) , p = 0.047), (iii) decreased sympathetic reactivity during an aversive stimulus, and (iv) higher tolerance to rectal distension pressures (43 ± 3 mmHg vs 30 ± 2 mmHg, p = 0.002) and low sensitivity index scores. In conclusion, our results provide preliminary evidence that patients with quiescent CD, in the absence of IBS, are hyposensate to experimental rectal distension. These data provide further evidence that anxiety and depressive symptomatology in addition to autonomic dysfunction modulate visceral pain perception in quiescent CD patients in the absence of IBS.

Osteopontin deficiency aggravates hepatic injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion in mice

Osteopontin (OPN) is a multifunctional protein involved in hepatic steatosis, inflammation, fibrosis and cancer progression. However, its role in hepatic injury induced by ischemia–reperfusion (I–R) has not yet been investigated. We show here that hepatic warm ischemia for 45 min followed by reperfusion for 4 h induced the upregulation of the hepatic and systemic level of OPN in mice. Plasma aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels were strongly increased in Opn^−/− mice compared with wild-type (Wt) mice after I–R, and histological analysis of the liver revealed a significantly higher incidence of necrosis of hepatocytes. In addition, the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin 6 (IL6) and interferon-γ were strongly upregulated in Opn^−/− mice versus Wt mice after I–R. One explanation for these responses could be the vulnerability of the OPN-deficient hepatocyte. Indeed, the downregulation of OPN in primary and AML12 hepatocytes decreased cell viability in the basal state and sensitized AML12 hepatocytes to cell death induced by oxygen–glucose deprivation and TNFα. Further, the downregulation of OPN in AML12 hepatocytes caused a strong decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl2 and in the ATP level. The hepatic expression of Bcl2 also decreased in Opn^−/− mice versus Wt mice livers after I–R. Another explanation could be the regulation of the macrophage activity by OPN. In RAW macrophages, the downregulation of OPN enhanced iNOS expression in the basal state and sensitized macrophages to inflammatory signals, as evaluated by the upregulation of iNOS, TNFα and IL6 in response to lipopolysaccharide. In conclusion, OPN partially protects from hepatic injury and inflammation induced in this experimental model of liver I–R. This could be due to its ability to partially prevent death of hepatocytes and to limit the production of toxic iNOS-derived NO by macrophages.

Imperviousness as a predictor for infestation levels of container-breeding mosquitoes in a focus of dengue and Saint Louis encephalitis in Argentina

Dengue and Saint Louis encephalitis virus are among the most important emerging viruses transmitted by mosquitoes at the global scale, and from 2009 onward both diseases have reached temperate Argentina. To test whether the urbanization level can be used as a predictor for the infestation levels of container-breeding mosquito vectors, we searched for Aedes aegypti and Culex pipiens in 8400 water-filled containers from 14 cemeteries of Buenos Aires Province and we used generalized linear models to relate positive containers with the impervious area quantified inside (internal PIA) and outside (external PIA) cemeteries. The best model for Ae. aegypti explained 91% of the variability and included the season, the internal PIA and the external PIA at 1km as a quadratic function, showing a parabolic response peaking in ∼75%. Regarding the infestation levels of Cx. pipiens, the final model explained 75% of the variability and included only the season. In view of these results, the percentage of impervious area efficiently predicted the infestation levels of Ae. aegypti but not of Cx. pipiens. Considering the worldwide relevance of the former in dengue transmission, the simple quantification of imperviousness proposed herein provides a helpful basis for vector surveillance and control in urbanized areas.

Dynamics of Charge-Transfer Processes with Time-Dependent Density Functional Theory

We show that whenever an electron transfers between closed-shell molecular fragments, the exact correlation potential of time-dependent density functional theory develops a step and peak structure in the bonding region. This structure has a density dependence that is nonlocal both in space and in time that even the exact adiabatic ground-state exchange-correlation functional fails to capture it. For charge-transfer between open-shell fragments, an initial step and peak vanish as the charge-transfer state is reached. The inability of usual approximations to develop these structures leads to inaccurate charge-transfer dynamics. This is illustrated by the complete lack of Rabi oscillations in the dipole moment under conditions of resonant charge transfer for an exactly solvable model system. The results transcend the model and are applicable to more realistic molecular complexes.

Universal dynamical steps in the exact time-dependent exchange-correlation potential

We show that the exact exchange-correlation potential of time-dependent density-functional theory displays dynamical step structures that have a spatially nonlocal and time nonlocal dependence on the density. Using one-dimensional two-electron model systems, we illustrate these steps for a range of nonequilibrium dynamical situations relevant for modeling of photochemical or physical processes: field-free evolution of a nonstationary state, resonant local excitation, resonant complete charge transfer, and evolution under an arbitrary field. A lack of these steps in the usual approximations yields inaccurate dynamics, for example, predicting faster dynamics and incomplete charge transfer.

Remediation trials for hydrocarbon-contaminated sludge from a soil washing process: evaluation of bioremediation technologies

The usual fate of highly contaminated fine products (silt-clay fractions) from soil washing plants is disposal in a dump or thermal destruction (organic contaminants), with consequent environmental impacts. Alternative treatments for these fractions with the aim of on-site reuse are needed. Therefore, the feasibility of two technologies, slurry bioremediation and landfarming, has been studied for the treatment of sludge samples with a total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content of 2243 mg/kg collected from a soil washing plant. The treatability studies were performed at the laboratory and pilot-real scales. The bioslurry assays yielded a TPH reduction efficiency of 57% and 65% in 28 days at the laboratory and pilot scale, respectively. In the landfarming assays, a TPH reduction of 85% in six months was obtained at laboratory scale and 42% in three months for the bioremediation performed in the full-scale. The efficiency of these processes was evaluated by ecotoxicity assessments. The toxic effects in the initial sludge sample were very low for most measured parameters. After the remediation treatments, a decrease in toxic effects was observed in earthworm survival and in carbon mineralisation. The results showed the applicability of two well known bioremediation technologies on these residues, this being a novelty.

[Emotional climate and internal communication in a clinical management unit compared with two traditional hospital services]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to compare the emotional climate, quality of communication and performance indicators in a clinical management unit and two traditional hospital services.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Quantitative study.

INSTRUMENT

questionnaire of 94 questions.

PARTICIPANTS

83 health professionals (63 responders) from the clinical management unit of breast pathology and the hospital services of medical oncology and radiation oncology.

ANALYSIS

descriptive statistics, comparison of means, correlation and linear regression models.

RESULTS

The clinical management unit reaches higher values compared with the hospital services about: performance indicators, emotional climate, internal communication and evaluation of the leadership. An important gap between existing and desired sources, channels, media and subjects of communication appear, in both clinical management unit and traditional services.

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical management organization promotes better internal communication and interpersonal relations, leading to improved performance indicators.

The efficacy of exclusive nutritional therapy in paediatric Crohn's disease, comparing fractionated oral vs. continuous enteral feeding

BACKGROUND

Nutritional therapy has an established role as induction therapy in paediatric Crohn's disease. However, compliance is the main difficulty and may be greatly influenced by the administration route.

AIM

To analyse the efficiency of exclusive nutrition to induce remission in children with Crohn's disease comparing fractionated oral vs. continuous enteral feeding.

METHODS

The medical records of 106 patients treated by exclusive nutritional therapy [Modulen IBD (R)] by either oral or continuous enteral route were reviewed retrospectively. Comparative analyses of remission rates, changes in anthropometry, Paediatric Crohn's disease Activity Index (PCDAI), laboratory indices and compliance rates were performed.

RESULTS

On exclusive enteral nutrition, at 8 weeks, 34/45 patients achieved remission in the oral group (75% on intention-to-treat analysis) and 52/61 (85%) in the enteral nutrition group (P = 0.157). All patients showed a significant decrease in disease severity assessed by PCDAI (P < 0.0001) and significant improvements in anthropometric measures and inflammatory indices. No difference was observed whether Modulen IBD was administered orally or by continuous enteral feeding, apart from weight gain, which was greater in the enteral group (P = 0.041). In a subgroup of patients, mucosal healing was evidenced on follow-up endoscopies showing a clear correlation to remission. Compliance rates (87% and 90%) were similar. Nevertheless, noncompliant patients had lower mucosal healing and remission rates.

CONCLUSIONS

These retrospective data suggest that the use of fractionated oral nutritional therapy might be as efficacious as continuous enteral administration to induce remission and mucosal healing in children with Crohn's disease. However, appropriate prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Copper-phthalocyanine based metal-organic interfaces: the effect of fluorination, the substrate, and its symmetry

Metal-organic interfaces based on copper-phthalocyanine monolayers are studied in dependence of the metal substrate (Au versus Cu), of its symmetry [hexagonal (111) surfaces versus fourfold (100) surfaces], as well as of the donor or acceptor semiconducting character associated with the nonfluorinated or perfluorinated molecules, respectively. Comparison of the properties of these systematically varied metal-organic interfaces provides new insight into the effect of each of the previously mentioned parameters on the molecule-substrate interactions.