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Efficacy of maintenance electroconvulsive therapy in recurrent depression: a case series
- G. Guerra Valera, Ó. Martín Santiago, M. Esperesate Pajares, Q. D. L. de la Viuda, A. A. Gonzaga Ramírez, C. Vallecillo Adame, C. de Andrés Lobo, T. Jiménez Aparicio, N. Navarro Barriga, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, A. Aparicio Parras, M. Calvo Valcárcel, M. A. Andreo Vidal, P. Martínez Gimeno, M. P. Pando Fernández, M. D. L. Á. Guillén Soto
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S832
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Introduction
Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (mECT) is an option in the treatment of affective disorders which progress is not satisfactory. It is certainly neglected and underused during the clinical practice.
ObjectivesTo evaluate the efficacy of mECT in reducing recurrence and relapse in recurrent depression within a sample of three patients.
MethodsWe followed up these patients among two years since they received the first set of electroconvulsive sessions. We applied the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) in the succesives consultations for evaluating the progress.
ResultsThe three patients were diagnosed with Recurrent Depressive Disorder (RDD). One of them is a 60 year old man that received initially a cycle of 12 sessions; since then he received 10 maintenance sessions. Other one is a 70 year old woman that received initially a cycle of 10 sessions; since then she received 6 maintenance sessions. The last one is a 55 year old woman that received initially a cycle of 14 sessions; since then she received 20 maintenance sessions.
All of them showed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms evaluated through BDI and clinical examination. In the first case, we found a reduction in the BDI from the first consultation to the last that goes from 60 to 12 points; in the second case, from 58 to 8 points; and in the last case, from 55 to 10 points. The main sections that improved were emotional, physical and delusional.
As side-effects of the treatment, we found anterograde amnesia, lack of concentration and loss of focus at all of them.
ConclusionsWe find mECT as a very useful treatment for resistant cases of affective disorders like RDD.
It should be considered as a real therapeutic option when the first option drugs have been proved without success.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
UNTIL IT BURSTS OR ALL OF US BURST. A SCHIZOTYPICAL CASE.
- B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, N. Navarro Barriga, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, M. A. Andreo Vidal, M. Calvo Valcárcel, P. Martínez Gimeno, M. P. Pando Fernández, A. Aparicio Parras, M. D. L. Á. Guillén Soto, T. Jiménez Aparicio, M. D. C. Vallecillo Adame, C. de Andrés Lobo, A. A. Gonzaga Ramírez, G. Guerra Valera, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, M. Esperesate Pajares
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S967
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Introduction
Schizotypal disorder is conceptualized as a stable personality pathology (Cluster A) and as a latent manifestation of schizophrenia. It can be understood as an attenuated form of psychosis or high-risk mental state, which may precede the onset of schizophrenia or represent a more stable form of psychopathology that doesn’t necessarily progress to psychosis.
ObjectivesTo exemplify the continuum of psychosis
MethodsReview of scientific literature based on a relevant clinical case.
Results39-year-old male living with his parents. He started studying philosophy. He is a regular cannabis user and has an aunt with schizophrenia. He’s admitted to psychiatry for behavioral disturbance in public. He refers to having been hearing a beeping noise in his street for months, what he interprets as a possible way of being watched due to his past ideology. Without specifying who and why, he sometimes shouts “until it bursts” to stop the noise and he thinks that his neighbours alerted the police about his behavior. During the interview he alludes to Milgram’s experiment, saying that throughout history there have been crimes against humanity and those who pointed them out were labeled “crazy”. His father refers that he has always been “strange” and with certain extravagant revolutionary ideas and thoughts. He doesn’t maintain social relationships and dedicates himself to reading and writing.
ConclusionsIt’s important to understand psychosis as a continuum to advance the understanding of etiology, pathophysiology and resilience of psychotic disorders and to develop strategies for prevention and early intervention
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Delirious episode secondary to rotigotine: the psychotic patch
- M. A. Andreo Vidal, M. Calvo Valcárcel, P. Martínez Gimeno, P. Pando Fernández, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, N. Navarro Barriga, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, T. Jiménez Aparicio, M. D. C. Valdecillo Adame, C. de Andrés Lobo, G. Guerra Valera, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, A. A. Gonzaga Ramirez, M. D. L. Á. Guillén Soto, A. Aparicio Parras, M. Esperesate Pajares
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- Journal:
- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, p. S626
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Introduction
There is a fine line separating psychiatry and neurology. Most movement disorders can have psychiatric symptoms, not only those caused by the disease itself, but also those induced by the drugs used to treat them.
ObjectivesPresentation of a clinical case about a patient diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease presenting a several-month-long delirious episode due to dopaminergic drugs.
MethodsLiterature review on drug-induced psychosis episodes in Parkinson’s disease.
ResultsA 57-year-old patient with diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease for six years, who went to the emergency room accompanied by his wife due to delirious ideation. He was being treated with levodopa, carbidopa and rasagiline for years, and rotigotine patches whose dosage was being increased over the last few months.
His wife reported celotypical clinical manifestations and multiple interpretations of different circumstances occurring around her. He chased her on the street, had downloaded an app to look for a second cell phone because he believed she was cheating on him, and was obsessed with sex. He had no psychiatric background. It was decided to prescribe quetiapine.
The following day, he returned because he refused to take the medication since he thought he was going to be put to sleep or poisoned. It was decided to admit him to Psychiatry.
During the stay, rasagiline and rotigotine were suspended. Olanzapine and clozapine were introduced, with behavioral improvement and distancing from the psychotic symptoms which motivated the admission. The patient was also motorically stable. Although levodopa is best known for causing psychotic episodes, the symptons were attributed to rotigotine patches for temporally overlapping the dose increase.
ConclusionsPsychiatric symptoms are the third most frequent group of complications in Parkinson’s disease after gastrointestinal complications and abnormal movements. All medication used to control motor disorders can lead to psychosis, not only dopaminergics, but also selegiline, amantadine and anticholinergics.
Excessive stimulation of mesocortical and mesolimbic dopaminergic pathways can lead to psychosis, which is the most common psychiatric problem related to dopaminergic treatment.
In the face of a psychotic episode, antiparkinsonian drugs which are not strictly necessary for motor control should be withdrawn. If this is not sufficient, levodopa dose should be reduced, considering the side effects that may occur. When the adjustment of antiparkinsonian treatment is not effective, neuroleptics, especially quetiapine or clozapine, should be administered. In a recent study, pimavanserin, a serotonin 5-HT2 antagonist, was associated with approximately 35% lower mortality than atypical antipsychotic use during the first 180 days of treatment in community-dwelling patients.
Medication should always be tailor-made to suit each patient and we usually have to resort to lowering or withdrawing the dopaminergic medication.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
I don’t know where I’m going or where I come from. Self-disorders in schizophrenia.
- M. D. C. Vallecillo Adame, L. Rodríguez Andrés, C. de Andrés Lobo, T. Jimenez Aparicio, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, G. Guerra Valera, A. A. Gonzaga Ramirez, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, N. Navarro Barriga, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, M. P. Pando Fernández, M. Calvo Valcárcel, P. Martínez Gimeno, M. A. Andreo Vidal, I. D. L. M. Santos Carrasco
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S1069-S1070
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Introduction
In the early stages of schizophrenia the person experiences feelings of strangeness about themselves, difficulty in making sense of things and difficulty in interacting with their environment. Based on this, self-disorder assessment instruments have been developed and empirical studies have been conducted to assess people at risk of developing a schizophrenia spectrum disorder. These studies show that self-disorders are found in pre-psychotic stages and that their manifestation can predict the transition to schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
ObjectivesWe present the case of a patient with multiple diagnoses and mainly dissociative symptoms who, after years of evolution, was diagnosed with schizophrenia.
MethodsBibliographic review including the latest articles in Pubmed about self-disorders and schizophrenia.
ResultsWe present the clinical case of a 51-year-old woman with a long history of follow-up in mental health consultations and with multiple hospital admissions to the psychiatric unit, with several diagnoses including: dissociative disorder, histrionic personality disorder, adaptive disorder unspecified psychotic disorder and, finally, schizophrenia. The patient during the first hospital admissions showed a clinical picture of intense anxiety, disorientation and claiming to be a different person. The patient related these episodes to stressors she had experienced, and they improved markedly after a short period of hospital admission. Later, psychotic symptoms appeared in the form of auditory and visual hallucinations and delusional ideation, mainly of harm, so that after several years of follow-up and study in mental health consultations and in the psychiatric day hospital, she was diagnosed with schizophrenia and treatment with antipsychotics was introduced, with a marked clinical improvement being observed.
ConclusionsIt is important to take into account this type of symptoms (self-disorders), as they allow the identification of individuals in the early stages of the disorder and create the opportunity for early therapeutic interventions.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
PEAKS AND VALLEYS: BIPOLAR DISORDER, RAPID CYCLERS AND ENERGY DRINKS CONSUMPTION
- M. Calvo Valcárcel, M. A. Andreo Vidal, P. Martinez Gimeno, P. Pando Fernández, B. Rodriguez Rodriguez, N. Navarro Barriga, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, M. D. C. Vallecillo Adame, T. Jimenez Aparicio, C. de Andres Lobo, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, A. A. Gonzaga Ramirez, G. Guerra Valera
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S702-S703
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Introduction
Bipolar Disorder (BD) is considered a serious mental disorder characterized by a changing mood that fluctuates between two completely opposite poles. It causes pathological and recurrent mood swings, alternating periods of exaltation and grandiosity with periods of depression. We talk about rapid cyclers when four or more manic, hypomanic or depressive episodes have occurred within a twelve-month period. Mood swings can appear rapidly. Approximately half of the people with bipolar disorder may develop rapid cycling at some point.
ObjectivesPresentation of a clinical case about a patient with Bipolar Disorder with rapid cycling and poor response to treatment.
MethodsReview of the scientific literature based on a clinical case.
Results33-year-old male, single, living with his mother, under follow-up by mental health team since 2012. First debut of manic episode in 2010. The patient has filed multiple decompensations related to consumption of toxics (alcohol and cannabis). Currently unemployed. He attended to the emergency service in June 2022 accompanied by his mother, who reported that he was restless. The patient refers that he has interrupted the treatment during the vacations, having sleep rhythm disorder with abuse of caffeine drinks. Currently the patient does not recognize any consumption.The patient reports that during the village festivals he felt very energetic, occasionally consuming drinks rich in taurine and sugars, even having conflicts with people of the village. Finally, the patient was stabilized with Lithium 400 mg and Olanzapine. In September, the patient returned to the emergency service on the recommendation of his referral psychiatrist due to therapeutic failure. The only relevant finding we observed in the analytical determinations were low lithium levels (0.4 mEq/L). The transgression of sleep rhythms and the abuse of psychoactive substances required the admission of the patient to optimize the treatment (Clozapine, Lithium, Valproic Acid). At discharge, he is euthymic, has not presented behavioral alterations and is resting well. Finally, it was decided that the patient should go to the Convalescent Center to continue treatment and achieve psychopathological stability.
ConclusionsBipolar disorder is an important mental illness, having an incidence of 1.2%, being responsible for 20% of all mood disorders. Therefore, it is important to perform an adequate and individualized follow-up of each patient. Treatment with mood stabilizers tries to improve and prevent manic and depressive episodes, improving chronicity and trying to make the long-term evolution as good as possible, being important psychoeducation and psychotherapy.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
Late diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and cocaine abuse
- C. De Andrés Lobo, C. Vallecillo Adame, T. Jiménez Aparicio, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, G. Guerra Valera, A. A. Gonzaga Ramírez, M. Fernández Lozano, N. Navarro Barriga, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, M. Calvo Valcárcel, M. Andreo Vidal, M. P. Pando Fernández, P. Martínez Gimeno, I. D. L. M. Santos Carrasco, J. I. Gonçalves Cerejeira, A. Rodríguez Campos
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S335-S336
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Introduction
Adult ADHD diagnosis sometimes represents a challenge for the clinician, due to the comorbid psychiatric diseases that are often associated and which complicate de recognition of the primary symptoms of ADHD. The prevalence of ADHD in adult populations is 2’5% and it is a relevant cause of functional impairment.
ObjectivesPresentation of a clinical case of a male cocaine user diagnosed with adult ADHD.
MethodsLiterature review on adult ADHD and comorbid substance abuse.
ResultsA 43-year-old male who consulted in the Emergency Department due to auditory hallucinosis in the context of an increase in his daily cocaine use. There were not delusional symptoms associated and judgment of reality was preserved. Treatment with olanzapine was started and the patient was referred for consultation. In psychiatry consultations, he did not refer sensory-perceptual alterations anymore, nor appeared any signals to suspect so, and he was willing to abandon cocaine use after a few appointments. He expressed some work concerns, highlighting that in recent months, in the context of a greater workload, he had been given several traffic tickets for “distractions.” His wife explained that he had always been a inattentive person (he forgets important dates or appointments) and impulsive, sometimes interrupting conversations. In the Barkley Adult ADHD Rating Scale he scored 32 points.
He was diagnosed with adult ADHD and treatment with extended-release methylphenidate was started with good tolerance and evolution, with improvement in adaptation to his job and social environment. Since then, the patient has moderately reduced the consumption of drugs, although he continues to use cocaine very sporadically.
ConclusionsEarly detection of ADHD and its comorbidities has the potential to change the course of the disorder and the morbidity that will occur later in adults. Comorbidity in adult ADHD is rather the norm than the exception, and it renders diagnosis more difficult. The most frequent comorbidities are usually mood disorders, substance use disorders, and personality disorders. Treatment of adult ADHD consists mainly of pharmacotherapy supported by behavioral interventions. When ADHD coexists with another disorder, the one that most compromises functionality will be treated first and they can be treated simultaneously. The individual characteristics of each patient must be taken into account to choose the optimal treatment.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
“The cat and the calcium”. A case of delirium secondary to hypercalcaemia.
- T. Jiménez Aparicio, C. Vallecillo Adame, C. de Andrés Lobo, G. Medina Ojeda, M. Queipo de Llano de la Viuda, A. A. Gonzaga Ramírez, G. Guerra Valera, M. Fernández Lozano, M. J. Mateos Sexmero, B. Rodríguez Rodríguez, N. Navarro Barriga, M. A. Andreo Vidal, M. Calvo Valcárcel, P. Martínez Gimeno, M. P. Pando Fernández, I. D. L. M. Santos Carrasco, J. I. Gonçalves Cerejeira
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 66 / Issue S1 / March 2023
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 19 July 2023, pp. S946-S947
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Introduction
Interconsultation with the psychiatry service is frequently requested from other specialties for the assessment and treatment of patients who present neuropsychiatric symptoms secondary to organic alterations. On the other hand (and in relation to this case), within the possible causes for the elevation of calcaemia figures, the most frequent are hyperparathyroidism and neoplasms, representing between these two entities 90% of cases (1).
Among the organic mental disorders, Delirium stands out, with an approximate prevalence between 1 and 2% (general population), which increases in hospitalized and elderly patients (2).
ObjectivesPresentation of a clinical case about a patient with delirium secondary to hypercalcemia, with hallucinations and behavioral disturbance.
MethodsBibliographic review including the latest articles in Pubmed about delirium (causes and treatment) and hypercalcaemia secondary to neoplasms.
ResultsWe present a 52-year-old male patient, who went to the emergency room accompanied by his wife, due to behavioral alteration. Two days before, he had been evaluated by Neurology, after a first epileptic crisis (with no previous history) that resolved spontaneously. At that time, it was decided not to start antiepileptic treatment.
The patient reported that he had left his house at midnight, looking for a cat. As he explained, this cat had appeared in his house and had left his entire bed full of insects. His wife denied that this had really happened, and when she told the patient to go to the emergency room, he had become very upset.
As background, the patient used to consume alcohol regularly, so the first hypothesis was that this was a withdrawal syndrome. However, although the consumption was daily, in recent months it was not very high, and at that time no other symptoms compatible with alcohol withdrawal were observed (tremor, tachycardia, sweating, hypertension…).
We requested a general blood test and a brain scan. The only relevant finding was hypercalcaemia 12.9mg/dL (which could also be the origin of the previous seizure). It was decided to start treatment with Diazepam and Tiapride in the emergency room, with serum perfusion, and keep under observation. After several hours, the patient felt better, the hallucinations disappeared, and calcium had dropped to 10.2mg/dL. A preferential consultation was scheduled, due to suspicion that the hypercalcaemia could be secondary to a tumor process.
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ConclusionsIt is important to rule out an organic alteration in those patients who present acute psychiatric symptoms. Hypercalcaemia is frequently associated with tumor processes (1) due to secretion of PTH-like peptide (4), so a complete study should be carried out in these cases.
Delirium has a prevalence between 1 and 2% in the general population (2).
Psychopharmacological treatment is used symptomatically, with antipsychotics (3). For the episode to fully resolve, the underlying cause must be treated.
Disclosure of InterestNone Declared
EPA-1775 – Cognitive Remediation in First Psychosis Episodes. Does it Improve Functioning?
- L. García-Fernández, V. Pérez-Maciá, J. Pérez-Martín, D. Rodriguez-Navarro
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- European Psychiatry / Volume 29 / Issue S1 / 2014
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 April 2020, p. 1
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Cognitive deficits are known to be present in psychotic patients even before psychosis has been diagnosed. Those deficits show poor response to antipsychotics and seem to be responssible of functional impairment.
Several trials point out cognitive remediation interventions may improve these neuropsychological deficits and therefore functioning.
Our aim is to evaluate if a computerized cognitive remediation program (Rehacom®) improves cognition, and therefore insight, functioning and quality of life in early stages of psychosis.
A randomized open label prospective study comparing 21 first psychotic outpatients doing RehaCom with 21 first psychotic patients doing non specific computer work. All 42 patients have done 24 one hour sessions, twice a week during 12 consecutive weeks. The trial was conducted between january 1st and december 31st, 2013. All patients were evaluated using the Matrics Cognitive Consensus Battery (MCCB), the Scale Unawarness of Mental Disorders (SUMD), the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and the Quality of Life Scale (QLS) at basal time, 6 and 12 months later.
Basal differences between groups were analized using Chi2 and U-Man Whitney. STATA v.11 was used for the analysis.
MCCB total score were 32, 34 and 38 at basal time, midtime and endpoint. All patients show neuropsicological improvement after a year but no statistical differences were found between groups. Education was associated with better scores after cognitive remediation, The RehaCom group did show better scores in insight (p<0.041) but not in functioning or quality of life.
Thermooxidative degradation of injection-moulded sepiolite/polyamide 66 nanocomposites
- A. Yebra-Rodríguez, C. Fernández-Barranco, M. D. La Rubia, A. Yebra, A. B. Rodríguez-Navarro, J. Jiménez-Millán
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- Mineralogical Magazine / Volume 78 / Issue 5 / October 2014
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 05 July 2018, pp. 1227-1239
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Clay/polymer nanocomposites (CPN) exhibit improved technical properties compared to their microand macro-counterparts. Nevertheless, thermal degradation of CPN may limit the applicability of these hybrid materials. In this paper accelerated ageing (110°C and 150°C) was performed in injection moulded pure polyamide 66 (PA66-S-0 samples) and polyamide 66 reinforced with 5 wt.% sepiolite (PA66-S-5 samples) CPN. Polymer degradation was monitored by the amount of newly formed carbonyl bonds. The carbonyl indices obtained indicate that degradation occurs to a greater extent as the temperature of the ageing process increases. Moreover, the degradation increases with time at the highest treatment temperature (150°C). On the other hand, the occurrence of carbonaceous silicates in the nanocomposite samples at high temperatures yields greater thermal stability of sepiolite/PA66 nanocomposites compared to pure PA66. Furthermore, the sepiolite nanofibres maintain their position in the reticulated semicrystalline structure. In agreement with those results, differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray diffraction analyses show that the motion of the amide groups in the polymer chains are constrained by the well dispersed sepiolite.
Friction and wear behavior of a PMMA-SiO2 coating on hardened steel
- Luis E. Torres-Parga, Carolina Hernández-Navarro, Karla J. Moreno-Bello, J.S. García-Miranda, Luis D. Aguilera-Camacho, Raúl Lesso-Arroyo, Benjamín Arroyo-Ramírez, Álvaro Sánchez-Rodríguez
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- Journal:
- MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive / Volume 1613 / 2014
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 10 February 2014, pp. 109-114
- Print publication:
- 2014
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Sol-gel coatings show an excellent chemical stability, oxidation control and enhanced corrosion resistance for metal substrates. An organic-inorganic hybrid consisting of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and silica (SiO2) was successfully synthesized in the form of solution, by using 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (TMSPM) as a coupling agent and cohydrolyzed with tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) to afford chemical bondings to the forming silica networks by a sol-gel method. The as-synthesized hybrid material was subsequently characterized by Fourier Transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. PMMA-SiO2 was applied as a protective film on hardness steel substrates by dip-coating. The thickness of the coating was 25 µm, while the roughness Ra = 0.6 µm. The wear and friction behavior of the coating on hardened steel (HS) was evaluated by a ball-on-disk test in dry conditions with a AISI steel ball as counterface applying 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 N normal loads. Friction coefficient values (µk) were in the range of 0.76 to 0.99, whereas the lowest wear rate (k) was observed at 6N with a value of 1.30x10-4 (mm3(Nm)-1).
Iatrogenic outbreak of M. chelonae skin abscesses
- D. Camargo, C. Saad, F. Ruiz, M. E. Ramirez, M. Lineros, G. Rodriguez, E. Navarro, B. Pulido, L. C. Orozco
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- Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 117 / Issue 1 / August 1996
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 15 May 2009, pp. 113-119
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We describe an outbreak of skin lesions due to Mycobacterium chelonae subsp. abscessus associated with injections of lidocaine (lignocaine) given by a ‘bioenergetic’ (a practitioner of alternative medicine) in Colombia. The lidocaine carpules and the lesions of the patients yielded mycobacteria with identical biochemical characteristics.
Using the methodology of Sartwell and a case control design we examined the incubation period and assessed risk factors. Of 667 potentially exposed individuals, a total of 298 patients were interviewed, of whom 232 had skin lesions. The median incubation period was 30·5 days (range 15–59 days). Male sex (OR 2·85, 95% CI 1·26–6·51), increasing age (OR 1·25, 95% CI 1·03–1·53), subcutaneous injection route (OR 3·72, 95% CI 1·09–12·7) and number of injections (OR 1·01, 95% CI 1·00–1·03) were risk factors for disease.
To our knowledge, this is the largest reported outbreak of M. chelonae infection, the first in which the organism has been isolated from the putative vehicle of infection, and the first in which the incubation period could be determined.
ASSESSMENT OF NITROGEN FIXATION POTENTIAL IN AHIPA (Pachyrhizus ahipa) AND ITS EFFECT ON ROOT AND SEED YIELD
- D. N. RODRÍGUEZ-NAVARRO, M. CAMACHO, F. TEMPRANO, C. SANTAMARÍA, E. O. LEIDI
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- Journal:
- Experimental Agriculture / Volume 45 / Issue 2 / April 2009
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 April 2009, pp. 177-188
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Ahipa is a legume of great interest for the production of raw materials (starch, sugar, oil and proteins) for industrial use. Its yield potential and ability to fix atmospheric N2 in association with rhizobia makes it an attractive option for low input agriculture systems. At present, it is cultivated on a very small scale as a food crop in a few South American countries. Little information is available on symbiotic N2 fixation in ahipa and no work has been performed on strain selection for inoculant production. Soils in southwest Europe are devoid of specific rhizobia able to nodulate on ahipa. Selecting rhizobia for symbiotic effectiveness from a collection led to the isolation of strains which provided greater shoot growth and N content under controlled conditions. In the field, inoculation at sowing with the selected strains increased significantly seed and tuberous root yield and seed protein content. The amount of N2 fixed, estimated by 15N natural abundance, reached 160–260 kg N ha−1. In previous work, ahipa appeared to be a promising alternative crop for the production of industrial raw materials. The results of the present study showed a yield increase in tuberous roots and seeds when applying effective rhizobia inoculants. Furthermore, a positive soil N balance was left after its cultivation making ahipa even more interesting for sustainable farming systems.
Nitrogen and phosphorus availability limit N2 fixation in bean
- E. O. LEIDI, D. N. RODRÍGUEZ-NAVARRO
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- Journal:
- The New Phytologist / Volume 147 / Issue 2 / August 2000
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 01 August 2000, pp. 337-346
- Print publication:
- August 2000
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Availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) might significantly affect N2 fixation in legumes. The interaction of N and P was studied in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), considering their effects on nodulation and N2 fixation, nitrate reductase activity, and the composition of N compounds in xylem sap. The effect of N on the uptake of P by plants was estimated by analysing rhizospheric pH and P concentration in xylem sap and in plant shoots. Inoculated bean plants were grown in pots containing perlite/vermiculite in two experiments with different amounts of P and N. In a third experiment, bean plants were grown on two soil types or on river sand supplied with different concentrations of N. At harvest, shoot growth, number of nodules and mass, and nitrogenase activity were determined. Xylem sap was collected for the determination of ureides, amino acids, nitrate and phosphate concentration. At low nitrate concentration (1 mM), increasing amounts of P promoted both nodule formation and N2 fixation, measured as ureide content in the xylem sap. However, at high nitrate concentration (10 mM), nodulation and N2 fixation did not improve with increased P supply. Glutamine and aspartate were the main organic N compounds transported in the xylem sap of plants grown in low nitrate, whereas asparagine was the dominant N compound in xylem sap from plants grown in high nitrate. Nitrate reductase activity in roots was higher than in shoots of plants grown with low P and high N. In both soils and in the sand experiment, increased application of N decreased nodule mass and number, nitrogenase activity and xylem ureides but increased the concentration of asparagine in xylem sap. Increasing P nutrition improved symbiotic N2 fixation in bean only at low N concentrations. It did not alleviate the inhibitory effect of high nitrate concentration on N2 fixation. A decrease in plant P uptake was observed, as indicated by a lower concentration of P in the xylem sap and shoots, correlating with the amount of N supplied. Simultaneously with the specific inhibition of N2 fixation, high nitrate concentrations might decrease P availability, thus inhibiting even further the symbiotic association because of the high P requirement for nodulation and N2 fixation.
Incipient Maya Burnt-Lime Technology: Characterization and Chronological Variations in Preclassic Plaster, Stucco and Mortar at Nakbe, Guatemala
- Eric F. Hansen, Carlos Rodriguez-Navarro, Richard D. Hansen
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- Journal:
- MRS Online Proceedings Library Archive / Volume 462 / 1996
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 26 February 2011, 207
- Print publication:
- 1996
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Patterned technological behaviors in the production and use of burnt-lime products can be characterized using optical microscopy and image analysis of pétrographie thin-sections to determine the texture (supplemented by X-ray diffraction analysis). Variations in technological styles have been identified in 21 samples from the ancient Maya site of Nakbe, Petén, Guatemala dating to the Middle Preclassic (1,000 B. C. - 300 B. C.) and Late Preclassic (300 B. C. - 150 A. D.) periods. Middle Preclassic floors exhibit a chaotic texture with a highly random aggregate particle size. Late Preclassic modeled stucco or painted fragments have a well-sorted texture with a low acid-insoluble content (<2%). Load -bearing mortar dating from the early Late Preclassic has a matrix with a high acid insoluble content (>15%), the major phases being quartz (-10%) and clays (∼5%). The variations correlate both with the time of occurrence and the function of the end-product. These issues of construction methods and levels of technology contribute data to aid our understanding of cultural development in this area at a critical time when the Maya were formulating power structures.