What makes the difference in people's lives when they have a mental disorder?

OBJECTIVES

The objective of this study was to identify which environmental factors are the most responsible for the disability experienced by persons with mental disorders and whether they differ (1) from those in cardiovascular diseases, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes, and cancer, and (2) depending on the capacity level-a proxy for the impact of health conditions on the health state of individuals.

METHODS

Nationally representative data from 12,265 adults in Chile collected in 2015 with the WHO Model Disability Survey was analyzed.

RESULTS

The availability of personal assistance, frequency of receiving personal assistance, and assistive devices for mobility were the most important environmental factors across mental and other non-communicable diseases. Perception of discrimination and use of health services were also prominent factors. There was a huge overlap between the factors found relevant for mental and other non-communicable diseases, but a substantial variability depending on the intensity of difficulties in capacity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study challenges the appropriateness of disease-specific approaches and suggests that considering intrinsic capacity levels is more informative than focusing on diagnosis alone when comparing needs and barriers that affect the performance in daily life of specific groups of individuals.

Viability of Basidiomycete fungal strains under different conservation methods: Crypreservation vs. freeze-drying processes

Four basidiomycete fungi; Agaricus blazei Murrill (Agaricomycetideae), Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.: Fr.) P. Karst., Grifola frondosa (Dicks.: Fr.) S.F. Gray (Higher Basidiomycetes), and Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quél. (Agaricomycetideae) were evaluated using three conservation methods for 12 months, recording their viability in order to establish the best conservation method. Growth kinetics, biomass, and polysaccharide production were studied. The conservation methods implemented included: distilled wáter at 24 ºC; sawdust and rice bran with 10% glicerol at -20 ºC, sawdustand rice bran with 10% glicerol at -80 ºC; and freeze-drying of biomass with trehalose or simmed milk. After conducting the analysis of the results after 12 months of conservation, we determined that the distilled water treatment at 24 ºC was the best conservation method with the highest percentage of recoverability, at 83.3% during the 12 month, followed by the cryoconservation treatment at 80º C, where 75% were recovered with no negative effects on biomass and polysaccharide production. The -20 ºC and freeze-drying treatments were not effective; with cryoconservation at -20 ºC treatment, strain recovery only occurred during the first month and with freeze-drying it was not possible to recover any strains during the entire 12-month period evaluated.

Equine mesenchymal stem cells derived from endometrial or adipose tissue share significant biological properties, but have distinctive pattern of surface markers and migration

Adult stromal mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been postulated as responsible for cell renewal in highly and continuously regenerative tissues such as the endometrium. MSCs have been identified in the endometrium of many species including humans, rodents, pets and some farm animals, but not in horses. The objective of this work was to isolate such cells from the endometrium of mares and to compare their main biological attributes with horse adipose-derived MSCs. Here we successfully isolated and characterized endometrial MSCs (eMSCs) from mares. Said cells showed fibroblast-like morphology, grew on plastic, had doubling population times of 46.4 ± 3.38 h, underwent tri-lineage (osteo, chondro and adipogenic) differentiation after appropriate inductions, migrated toward the attraction of fetal calf serum and displayed a pattern of surface markers commonly accepted for horse MSCs. All these are properties of MSCs. Some of these attributes were shared with equine adipose-derived MSCs, but the migration pattern of eMSC at 12 and 24 h after stimulation was reduced in comparison with adipose MSCs. Also, expression of CD44, CD90 and MHCI surface markers were dramatically down-regulated in eMSCs. In conclusion, equine-derived endometrial MSC share biological attributes with adipose MSC of this species, but displayed a different surface marker phenotype and an impaired migration ability. Conceivably, this phenotype is distinctive for MSC of this origin.

Cancer incidence in Spain, 2015

PURPOSE

Periodic cancer incidence estimates of Spain from all existing population-based cancer registries at any given time are required. The objective of this study was to present the current situation of cancer incidence in Spain.

METHODS

The Spanish Network of Cancer Registries (REDECAN) estimated the numbers of new cancer cases occurred in Spain in 2015 by applying the incidence-mortality ratios method. In the calculus, incidence data from population-based cancer registries and mortality data of all Spain were used.

RESULTS

In 2015, nearly a quarter of a million new invasive cancer cases were diagnosed in Spain, almost 149,000 in men (60.0%) and 99,000 in women. Globally, the five most common cancers were those of colon-rectum, prostate, lung, breast and urinary bladder. By gender, the four most common cancers in men were those of prostate (22.4%), colon-rectum (16.6%), lung (15.1%) and urinary bladder (11.7%). In women, the most common ones were those of breast (28.0%), colon-rectum (16.9%), corpus uteri (6.2%) and lung (6.0%). In recent years, cancer incidence in men seems to have stabilized due to the fact that the decrease in tobacco-related cancers compensates for the increase in other types of cancer like those of colon and prostate. In women, despite the stabilization of breast cancer incidence, increased incidence is due, above all, to the rise of colorectal and tobacco-related cancers.

CONCLUSION

To reduce these incident cancer cases, improvement of smoking control policies and extension of colorectal cancer screening should be the two priorities in cancer prevention for the next years.

Determinants of Work Performance in Workers with Depression and Anxiety: A Cross-Sectional Study

Depression and anxiety are highly prevalent disorders with an impact on existential aspects of person’s life, including employment i.e., work performance (WP). In order to develop appropriate strategies, it is essential to identify determinants of WP. The objective of this study was to identify the built, social, attitudinal and health system-related environmental determinants of WP in workers with anxiety or depression in total (N = 1211) and regarding the level of disability. Hierarchical binary logistic regression was performed on data obtained from implementation of the WHO Model Disability Survey (MDS) in Chile in 2015. Hindering aspects of means of transportation and workplace, and the use of personal assistance were determinants of WP for all workers with anxiety or depression. Results differed with level of disability. Hindering aspects of means of transportation and workplace, and discrimination were determinants of WP for persons with mild to moderate disability, while hindering aspects of the workplace and dwelling, and the use of personal assistance were determinants of WP for persons with severe disability. Our results emphasize the need for a broader understanding of determinants of WP and the requirement for an integrative approach in developing both universal and specific strategies that go beyond workplace settings.

Characterization of mesenchymal stem cells in bovine endometrium during follicular phase of oestrous cycle

Stem cells have been postulated as responsible for cell regeneration in highly and continuously regenerative tissues such as the endometrium. Few studies in cattle have identified and specified the presence of stem cells in the endometrium during the oestrous cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the bovine endometrium during the follicular phase (FP) of the oestrous cycle. Uterine tissue was collected in the time-frame comprising day 18 of the cycle and ovulation (day 0). We isolated, cultured and expanded four primary cell lines from endometrium and identified byRT-qPCR the expression of OCT4, SOX2 but not NANOG (undifferentiated/embryonic markers), CD44 (MSCs marker) and c-KIT (stem cell marker) genes; and the encoded Oct4, Sox2 and Cd44 proteins by Western blot or immunostaining of paraffin-embedded tissue in endometrium. We demonstrated that cells isolated from bovine endometrium displayed essentially the same gene expression pattern; however, at the protein level, Oct4 and Cd44 were not detected. Besides, they showed typical functional characteristics of MSCs such as fibroblast-like morphology, plastic adherence, high proliferative capacity, clone formation in vitro and the ability to differentiate into chondrogenic, osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. We obtained for the first time an extensive characterization of undifferentiated cells populations contained in the bovine endometrium during the FP of the oestrous cycle.

The endometrium of cycling cows contains populations of putative mesenchymal progenitor cells

Endometrial stem cells have been identified in humans, mice and pigs. This study was designed to determine whether the uterine endometrium of cycling cows contains such cells, to identify markers of stemness and ultimately to isolate putative stem/progenitor cell and evaluate their capability to differentiate into mesodermal derivatives. Uteri from healthy cows in the early (days 1-5) and late luteal phases (days 13-18) of the oestrous cycle were collected. Total RNA and proteins were isolated and searched for gene markers of embryonic (OCT4, NANOG, SOX2) and mesenchymal (CD44, STAT3, CD-117) stem cells and for protein markers (Oct4, Sox2, Cd44) in Western blots or immunostaining of paraffin-embedded tissue. Primary cell cultures were isolated; characterized in terms of morphology, colony formation and gene/protein expression; and induced osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation. We identified expression of embryonic (OCT4 and SOX2, but not NANOG) and mesenchymal (STAT3, CD44 and c-KIT) gene markers in the endometrium of cycling cows and the encoded proteins (Oct4, Sox2 and Cd44) in both stages of the oestrous cycle. Derived cell lines displayed essentially the same gene expression pattern; however, at the protein level, Oct4 was not detected. No clear influence of the stage of the oestrous cycle was found. Cell lines from late luteal phase displayed osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation potential upon chemical stimulation. In this research, we demonstrated the presence of mesenchymal progenitor cell populations of apparently mesenchymal origin in the endometrium of cycling cows, in both the early and late phases of the oestrous cycle. The cells isolated from the late luteal phase were more acquiescent to differentiate into mesodermal derivatives than cells in the early luteal phase. Our findings might have implications for the understanding of uterine stem cell biology in cows and other farm animal species.

184 ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BOVINE ENDOMETRIAL STEM CELLS

Adult mesenchymal stem cells had been isolated from various tissues of different species, including endometrial tissue of humans, mice, and pigs, but not from cattle. The aim of our work was to identify such cells in the bovine endometrium and to establish a model system in which to test inducers of differentiation and recruiters of stem cell niches, for potential therapeutic use in this and other species, such as horses. We searched for endometrial stem cells in healthy cycling cows and in cattle with clinical (C) or subclinical (SC) endometritis. For this, the uterine tracts of slaughtered cows were collected at early (Days 2 to 5; ELF) and late luteal phases (Days 11 to 15; LLF) of the oestrus cycle of healthy cows. For endometritis-diseased cattle, uterine biopsies were taken in live animals. In all cases, markers of stemness, inflammation, uterine function, and housekeeping were studied both at mRNA and protein level, by RT-qPCR and Western blot/immunohistochemistry respectively. In addition, cell primary cultures were established in vitro from all the animals (n = 4 for ELF, n = 4 for LLF; n = 4 for C and n = 4 for SC). We found that the endometrium of the majority of studied animals expressed embryonic stem cell markers, OCT4 and SOX2, but not or little NANOG, as well as CD44, c-Kit, and STAT3, all markers of mesenchymal stem cells. The expression profile of these markers was not related to the stage of the oestrus cycle; however there was a statistically significant reduction in the expression of embryonic stem cell markers in ill animals, being the lowest in clinically ill and intermediate in subclinical endometritis, (P < 0.05 and Pearson correlation coefficient 0.92). For markers of multipotency (mesenchymal), the expression was lower in clinical endometritis (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the expression profile of stem cell markers is indicative of the presence of stem cells in the bovine endometrium. At the protein level, we verified our findings for OCT4, SOX2, and CD44 using Western blot and immunohistochemistry. In general, there was a concordance between mRNA and protein profiles. Inflammatory markers showed a pattern characteristic for each of the studied stages. In order to have an ultimate criterion of the presence of stem cells, we tested the differentiation potential of the isolated cell lines, upon induction towards chondrogenic, osteogenic, and adipogenic lineages. We found that all the cell lines tested (n = 8) displayed mesenchymal differentiation potential as demonstrated by specific staining and gene expression markers. At present, work is in progress to isolate pure stem cell populations from these primary cultures to further characterise these cells. Conclusion: we showed for the first time the presence and differentiation potential of endometrial stem cells in cattle. This can have an effect on the development of new therapeutic approaches to combat uterine diseases, such as endometritis or endometriosis (in horses). This work was supported by grant FONDECYT REGULAR 1110642, from the Government of Chile.

Production of biomass, polysaccharides, and ganoderic acid using non-conventional carbon sources under submerged culture of the Lingzhi or Reishi medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (W.Curt.:Fr.)P. Karst. (higher Basidiomycetes)

The effect of different non-conventional carbon sources was studied in the submerged culture of Lingzhi or Reishi medicinal mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum, for simultaneous production of mycelial biomass, bioactive ganoderic acid, and polysaccharides, in less time, using non-conventional carbon sources to minimize the high costs of current culture media. The optimal medium composition was defined as (g/L): 50 of barley flour, 0.2 of KH2PO4, 0.1 of MgSO4ⁱ7H2O, and 1 NH4Cl. Cultivated under this complex culture medium, the mycelial biomass production was 23.49 ± 0.37 g/L; the extracellular polysaccharides production was 2.72 ± 0.11 g/L; the intracellular polysaccharides production was 2.22 ± 0.06 g/L; the ganoderic acids production was 299.67 ± 11.63 mg/L. One liter of culture medium developed in this project was priced at USD $ 0.11 if barley flour is used as carbon source or $ 0.13 with oat flour in order to get a good amount of products of interest.

A strategy to obtain axenic cultures of Arthrospira spp. cyanobacteria

A strategy to obtain axenic cultures of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira sp. ('platensis') Lefevre 1963/M-132-1 strain, consisting of a series of physical and chemical procedures, and the application of an optimized pool of antibiotics, is described in this paper. This strategy, which is an inexpensive and fast way to obtain axenic cultures, can be applied to Arthrospira spp. from culture collections or samples from their natural habitats to eliminate a wide spectrum of contaminants. A high alkaline treatment (pH 12, using KOH) of 72 h is a determinant initial procedure applied to eliminate protozoa and Microcystis sp. Bacteria were eliminated by an optimal antibiotic pool treatment, and Chroococcus sp. residuals were discarded by serial dilution. Optimal concentrations of the antibiotics composing the pool were obtained by a 2(4) factorial central composite rotatable design (CCRD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), resulting in: ampicillin 61.6 μg/ml, penicillin 85.8 μg/ml, cefoxitin 76.9 μg/ml, and meropenem 38.9 μg/ml. The results also indicate that cefoxitin was the most effective antibiotic of this pool. After obtaining the axenic culture, identification of Lefevre 1963/M-132-1 strain was performed using amplification and sequencing of the ITS region (including part of 16S rRNA, tRNA Ile, ITS, tRNA Ala and part of 23S rRNA region) and fatty acid composition data. Data base comparison revealed that Lefevre strain is closely related to A. platensis species (99% identity), while fatty acid composition data suggested A. maxima. These seemingly contradictory results are discussed.

Breeding system and factors limiting fruit production in the nectarless orchid Broughtonia lindenii

Low fruit set values in most orchids (especially epiphytic and tropical species) are normally thought to be the consequence of pollination constraints and limited resources. In particular, pollination constraints are modulated by pollinator visitation rates, pollinator visitation behaviour (promoting crossing or selfing), the type and number of pollinia deposited on stigmas (in the case of orchids with subequal pollinia) and the amount of pollen loaded per inflorescence. In order to assess to what extent these factors can affect fruit set in specific orchid-pollinator systems, the repercussions of some of these aspects on reproduction of Broughtonia lindenii were examined in a coastal population in western Cuba. The study focused on plant breeding system, importance of pollen load and type of pollinia on subsequent fruit and seed, limiting factors of seed production and interaction with pollinators. This species presents long-lasting flowers that senesce after all forms of effective visit. Pollinator dependence for fruit production was demonstrated, while hand-pollination experiments revealed self-compatibility and inbreeding depression at seed level. More pollinia on stigmas enhance the proportion of well-developed seeds. In contrast, the pollinia type used in pollination is not important for seed quality of fruits, suggesting that small pollinia are not rudimentary. Natural fruit set in two consecutive years was substantially affected by pollinator activity, and also by systematic depredatory activity of ants and a caterpillar. Considering that this orchid completely lacks nectar and that the local assemblage of pollinators and predators influenced its reproduction, a minor importance of resource constraints in this epiphyte (with long-lasting reserve structures) is confirmed at least for a short time.

Lessons Learned from Implementation of Information and Communication Technologies in Spain's Healthcare Services: Issues and Opportunities

BACKGROUND

Spain's health services have undertaken a number of important projects aimed at the creation of Electronic Health Records (EHR) through the incorporation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) into patient care practices. The objective of this endeavor is to improve care quality and efficiency and increase responsiveness to the population's needs and demands. Between 2006-2009 over 300 million Euro were invested in projects of this type.

OBJECTIVE

To better understand the success criteria, the difficulties encountered and certain issues that must be kept in mind to ensure successful implementation of ICT projects in health organizations, based on Spain's experiences in this field.

METHODS

The projects' results are analyzed using the criteria of compliance with the expected scope, cost and time frame.

RESULTS

The results can be considered satisfactory in primary care facilities, where almost 90% of Spain's general practitioners, pediatricians and primary care nurses are using electronic health record (EHR) systems. In hospitals EHR implementation is more uneven. Over 40% of Spanish primary care centers and 42% of pharmacies are using electronic prescription (the information system that connects the physician to the dispensing pharmacy and the dispensing pharmacy to the payer).

DISCUSSION

All of Spain's health services are currently carrying out projects involving ICT application in healthcare, and a priori the benefits of ICT are not questioned. However, the costs and time frames required for these projects are clearly surpassing initial expectations, while the benefits perceived by both professionals and institutions remain limited. This situation may be due in part to the absence of a project management culture in the health services, which has led them to pay insufficient attention to the main difficulties and key issues related to the implementation of EHR.

[Oxidative stress and inflammation in heart failure: mechanisms of damage and therapeutic alternatives]

Despite advances in treatment, chronic heart failure still is associated with a poor prognosis and remains a leading cause of cardiovascular death. Cumulating evidence suggests that imbalances in redox state lead to a higher generation of reactive oxygen species. This phenomenon, along with pro-inflammatory cytokine activation and extra cellular matrix alterations with reactive fibrosis, play an important role in the pathogenesis and progression of heart failure, through the development of endothelial and myocardial dysfunction. The understanding of the underlying phenomena and the metabolic pathways involved will allow further development of therapies aiming to change the natural history of heart failure.

Hippocampal to pituitary volume ratio: a specific measure of reciprocal neuroendocrine alterations in alcohol dependence

OBJECTIVE

Studies to date provide conflicting views of the relationship between corticosteroids and decreased hippocampal volume in alcoholism. If this were mediated through the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, enlarged pituitary volumes relative to hippocampal volumes might be expected and be measurable using the hippocampus to pituitary volume (H:P) ratio.

METHOD

Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we performed volumetric analysis of the pituitary and hippocampus on 10 subjects with alcohol dependence (AD) and on 10 normal control subjects.

RESULTS

Compared to normal controls, AD subjects demonstrated a trend towards decreased hippocampal volume (p < .06) and increased pituitary volume (p < .07). More importantly, H:P ratios were significantly smaller in AD subjects (p < .01). This observation persisted even when covaried for age.

CONCLUSIONS

Reduced H:P ratio fits the hypothesis that ethanol stimulates pituitary corticotrophs resulting in elevated corticosteroid levels and possible injury to the hippocampus. If replicated, reduced H:P ratio may serve as a clinical measure of reciprocal neuroendocrine changes in chronic heavy ethanol use.

Adverse effects of dextromethorphan on the spatial learning of rats in the Morris water maze

The effects of the non-competitive NMDA receptor antagonist dextromethorphan on spatial learning were assessed using the Morris water maze. Dextromethorphan was administered to 4 groups of rats in 10, 20, 30, and 40 mg/kg doses. An additional group of rats was administered saline to serve as a vehicle control group. Dextromethorphan impaired learning dose dependently in the initial training phase of the experiment. During the probe trial, dose-dependent performance deficits were noted in the first 15 s of the trial only. Search strategy differences between the lowest and highest dose groups were also observed during the probe trial. During the reversal training phase, when the platform was moved to a new location, the dose-dependent impairment was seen again, but the 40 mg/kg group perseverated to the former location longer than the other groups. A cued control trial indicated that in addition to the learning impairment produced, the highest dose of dextromethorphan may also impair sensory-motor coordination.