Mapa de la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias en España. Proyecto MapEA

Introduction

In the current context of increased life expectancy and progressive aging of the population a very significant increase in the number of people with cognitive impairment and dementia is expected.Consequently, Spain will face an enormous social and health problem in the next decades. The Mapa de la enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias en España project aims to analyse plans, prevention and early diagnosis activities, process of care and resources available across the 17 Spanish regions for the management of cognitive impairment and dementia in order to identify improvement areas, as well as to provide a list of recommendations.

Nutrient Leaching and End Product Accumulation in Plastic Composite Supports for L-(+)-Lactic Acid Biofilm Fermentation

Investigations on the leachate bioavailability, leaching rate, and lactic acid accumulation properties of plastic composite supports (PCS) were essential for large-scale or long-term lactic acid fermentation. Leachates from PCS and polypropylene discs (controls) were analyzed by the micro-Kjeldahl method; by absorbances at 260, 275, and 280 nm; and by bioassays with Lactobacillus casei subsp. rhamnosus (ATCC 11443). The amount of leached nitrogen in a 20-ml initial soaking solution had a high correlation with the soaking solution's cell density (r = 0.87) and absorbance at 260 nm (r = 0.95). Leaching rates of various PCS were evaluated by 20 20-ml simulated repeated-batch fermentations (RBF). PCS with only yeast extract as the minor agricultural ingredient had a high leaching rate and leached out 51 to 60% of the total nitrogen during the first RBF. PCS blended with dried bovine albumin, dried bovine erythrocytes, and/or soybean flour had slowed nutrient leaching (20 to 30% of the initial leached nitrogen). Hence, they could still maintain 1 g of lactic acid per liter and measurable cell density (absorbance at 620 nm, 0.4 to 0.6) at the 20th 20-ml RBF. Lactic acid accumulation properties of PCS were evaluated by soaking the supports in a 30% lactic acid solution for 72 h at 45(deg)C. The lactic acid-soaked supports were rinsed three times and then heat treated (121(deg)C, 15 min) in 15 ml of deionized water. The results showed that lactic acid accumulation in PCS was mainly due to absorption and had no correlation with lactic acid production or biofilm formation.     

Characterization of Plant Alcohol Dehydrogenase

The final activity of the alcohol dehydrogenase (E.C.1.1.1.1, abbreviated ADH) from germinating pea, isolated by fractionating with ammonium sulphate, chromatography on DEAE cellulose and gel filtration, was 80,000, from bean 25,000 and from lentil 13,500 units per mg protein. Molecular weights of the ADHs are close to each other: pea and bean ADH 60,000, lentil ADH 70,000. The K_m values are mutually similar with three enzymes, i.e. of the order of 10⁻⁴M for NAD and 10⁻²M for ethanol. The pH optima lie in the alkaline region. These enzymes catalyse oxidation of a number of monovalent alcohols. At temperatures above 60°C the enzymes are thermally unstable. Stability is enhanced slowly by ethanol but not by NAD. Pyrazol, imidazol and pyridine inhibit plant ADH similarly to the enzyme from horse liver. There is a similarity between plant alcohol dehydrogenases and animal and yeast enzymes.     

Lupus eritematoso sistémico en el anciano

Late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) usually appears in patients older than 65 years and has clinical features different from the classical form observed in younger patients. In the elderly, SLE represents 10-20% of all SLE cases, shows a different and less aggressive clinical evolution and the first manifestations are non-specific. A significantly higher incidence of late-onset SLE in males, and the fact that postmenopausal women have a more benign disease, suggests that the estrogenic status may influence the activity of the disease. Owing to the insidious onset and the non-specific clinical manifestations on presentation, there is commonly a delayed diagnosis of late-onset SLE. Furthermore, the presence of comorbidities and concomitant therapies in elderly patients may limit the therapeutic options for SLE. The treatment of choice of joint symptoms and serositis includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and low-dose steroids for short periods. In addition to the need for adopting a multidisciplinary approach, it is fundamental to obtain information about the functional, cognitive and social status of these patients in order to make appropriate healthcare decisions.     

A new cardiid bivalve from the Pliocene Baklan Basin (Turkey) and the origin of modern Ponto‐Caspian taxa

Abstract: We present the first record of the cardiid genus Monodacna from the Pliocene of Anatolia, Turkey. Monodacna imrei sp. nov. was found in the Pliocene Killik Formation from the western margin of the Baklan Basin, in very marginal brackish to freshwater lacustrine deposits. The new record extends the stratigraphic range of the modern Ponto‐Caspian genus back into the Pliocene and adds to earlier evidence that modern Ponto‐Caspian taxa originated in the Pliocene of south‐western Turkey.