SU-8 microprobe with microelectrodes for monitoring electrical impedance in living tissues.

This paper presents a minimally invasive needle-shaped probe capable of monitoring the electrical impedance of living tissues. This microprobe consists of a 160 microm thick SU-8 substrate containing four planar platinum (Pt) microelectrodes. We design the probe to minimize damage to the surrounding tissue and to be stiff enough to be inserted in living tissues. The proposed batch fabrication process is low cost and low time consuming. The microelectrodes obtained with this process are strongly adhered to the SU-8 substrate and their impedance does not depend on frequency variation. In vitro experiments are compared with previously developed Si and SiC based microprobes and results suggest that it is preferable to use the SU-8 based microprobes due to their flexibility and low cost. The microprobe is assembled on a flexible printed circuit FPC with a conductive glue, packaged with epoxy and wired to the external instrumentation. This flexible probe is inserted into a rat kidney without fracturing and succeeds in demonstrating the ischemia monitoring.

[Progression of HIV infection in a cohort of hemophiliacs over an 11-year period]. / Progresión de la infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en una cohorte de hemofílicos durante un período de 11 años.

BACKGROUND: The progression of HIV infection in a cohort of hemophiliacs was evaluated taking into consideration the particularities of the natural history of HIV in this population and comparing the same with that described for other series of hemophiliacs and other risk groups for HIV infection. METHODS: A cohort of 141 hemophiliac patients with HIV infection controlled in a Hemophilia Unit since January 1983 was studied. The accumulated incidence of AIDS and the mortality at 11 years of follow up were evaluated. Likewise, the association of prognostic factors such as age, type of hemophilia or previous treatment with antihemophilic factors were evaluated. RESULTS: The accumulated incidence of AIDS at the end of follow up was 56% with a mortality rate of 33%. The evolution showed statistically significant differences with regard to age (p = 0.00048) and previous treatment (p = 0.00239). No differences were observed concerning the type of hemophilia or its severity. CONCLUSIONS: HIV infection in the cohort of hemophiliacs studied presented similar accumulated AIDS incidence and mortality to those described in other series of hemophiliacs. These values are apparently more favorable than those referred for other risk groups, possibly due to the particular epidemiologic characteristics.

[Antimicrobial sensitivity of 402 strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolated in 7 Spanish cities]. / Sensibilidad a antimicrobianos de 402 cepas de Neisseria gonorrhoeae aisladas en 7 ciudades de España.

To study N. gonorrhoeae resistance in Spain. We evaluate 402 strains consecutively isolated in 7 Spanish cities (Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid, Murcia, Seville, Valencia and Valladolid). The MIC to 9 antimicrobial agents was determined by agar-dilution (DST) method. We found a high incidence (15.7%) of penicillinase producer strains (NGPP). Most (53.3%) of all non-NGPP strains showed reduced sensitivity to penicillin and 1.5% of the strains had chromosomally mediated resistance. All NGPP strains and 90% of non-NGPP strains showed reduced sensitivity to tetracycline (MIC greater than 0.23 mg/l). We did not found any strain with high-level tetracycline resistance. MIC90 for the other drugs tested were: erythromycin, 0.125 mg/l; spectinomycin, 16 mg/l; cefoxitin, 2 mg/l; cefuroxime 0.06 mg/l; ceftriaxone 0.0037 mg/l; ofloxacin 0.06 mg/l and ciprofloxacin, 0.0018 mg/l. NGPP are very prevalent in Spain. Most of these strains had chromosomally mediated resistance to penicillin and tetracycline. We did not found resistance to other antimicrobial agents.

Immunology of dermatophytosis. Experimental study.

By causing experimental lesions of dermatophytosis in rabbits inoculated and reinoculated with T. mentagrophytes var. granulosum and T. rubrum a study was carried out of the state of cellular immunity response, during infection, and also of the antigens responsible for the sensitization. Cellular immunity response was detected using the leucocyte migration test (L.M.T.) in the presence of antigenic compounds of the 'Keratinase' of Eleuterio et al.

[Experimental dermatomycosis, a clinico-pathological study]. / Dermatomycose experimental, étude clinico-pathologique.

Using rabbits, we have studied the effect of reinfection of T. mentagrophytes var granulosum and T. rubrum into lesions that were previously infected and resolved. Clinical mycological and histopathological studies were done for 16 weeks. Timentagrophytes produced a more severe infection than T. rubrum. The clinical lesions produced by reinoculation were less intense and long lasting.