Non-peptide molecules in the pedicellariae of Toxopneustes roseus.

Toxopneustes roseus is a species of sea urchin with a wide distribution along the eastern Pacific coast. It belongs to the Toxopneustidae family and, like its members, has well-developed globiferous pedicellariae that exert a variety of pharmacological actions. We identified six volatile non-peptide molecules from its globiferous pedicellariae by using GC-MS and RP-HPLC-MS/MS, including: benzoic acid; 2-aminoethanol (MEA); 2-(dimethylamine) ethanol (DMAE); 1- (4-bromophenyl)-1-phenylethanol (BPPE); 2-[1-(4-bromophenyl)-1- phenylethoxy]-N,N-dimethylethanamine (EMB); and 2-[1-(4-chlorphenyl)-1- phenylethoxy]-N,N-dimethylethanamine (CLX). The construction of a pharmacophore model and the in silico molecular docking of EMB and CLX into the human voltage-gated sodium channel hNaV1.7 allowed establishing that these molecules are structurally similar to local anesthetics and other NaV channel blockers and can bind to the same site receptor in NaV channels; suggesting that both molecules are active components in T. roseus venom. Furthermore, a viable endogenous biopathway is proposed in which T. roseus can synthesize EMB and CLX from benzoic acid, MEA, DMAE, and BPPE as their precursors, which would emphasize the importance of these molecules in the metabolism of this sea urchin.

Interstitial impurity-induced magnetism in α-PbO surface.

We have investigated the effects of 3d transition metal (TM) and non-magnetic interstitial impurities in α-PbO (0 0 1) surface using ab-initio calculations. The calculated impurity-induced magnetic moments are 2.25 µB, 3.11 µB and 0.94 µB for Fe, Mn and Pb interstitials respectively. In the bonding process, TM's lower energy lying d(z2) states form overlaps with nearest neighbour oxygen atoms' p(z) states, with other non-bonding spin split d states situated near or at the Fermi level. These spin split orbitals introduce spin polarised p impurity states of oxygen atoms near the surface.

Información posquirúrgica a la familia: un área de mejora. Estudio prospectivo tras cirugía urológica / Postsurgical family information: An improvement area. Prospective study after urologic surgery

Objetivos: Analizar y cuantificar la retención de información postoperatoria, comprobando si es mejorable al entregarla ordenadamente. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo, comparativo y no aleatorizado desarrollado entre mayo y octubre de 2008, en el que tras la información básica posquirúrgica a familiares de 50 pacientes operados de la vejiga o la próstata entregábamos un cuestionario sobre lo que le acabábamos de contar que debía rellenar un único miembro de la familia. La información era transmitida de manera diferente: en el grupo 1 (30 pacientes) se informaba a la familia siguiendo una plantilla diseñada por nosotros, redactada de manera simple y con lenguaje llano; en el grupo 2 (20 pacientes) el médico informaba según su costumbre sin saber que está participando en el trabajo, siendo el familiar encuestado por uno de los investigadores. Comparamos entre ambos grupos el porcentaje de acierto global en la encuesta y de cada una de las preguntas: operación realizada, características benignas o malignas del proceso, anestesia empleada, etc. Criterios de exclusión: familiar sanitario, paciente intervenido más de 5 veces, paciente que no autoriza a informar a la familia o paciente no operado por su equipo habitual. Resultados: Sólo 3 familiares (6%) acertaron todas las respuestas y 25 (50%) no acertaron más del 70% de las cuestiones. Lo más conocido fue el órgano intervenido (46 [92%]). De los encuestados, 21 (42%) desconocen si el proceso es en principio benigno o maligno, acertando más los informados con plantilla (20/30 [66,7%] vs. 9/20 [45%]), aunque sin significación. El único ítem en el que hay diferencias en porcentaje de acierto dependiendo de si se usó plantilla es si el paciente lleva sonda (29 aciertos en el grupo 1 [96,7%] y 13 aciertos en el grupo 2 [65%]). No encontramos diferencias en porcentaje de acierto según número de personas informadas, formación, edad o número de intervenciones previas. Conclusiones: Los familiares no retienen todo lo dicho. Ordenar la información proporcionada puede mejorarlo, pero otros factores influyen. Debemos avanzar en cuestiones como la identificación personal. Puede ser útil repetir la información en otro momento (AU)

Objectives: Analyzing and quantifing the postoperative retention of information, checking if it could be improved been delivered in an organized way. Material and methods: After the basic information to relatives of 50 post-surgical patients operated for bladder or prostate, we deliver a questionnaire about what has just been told. It must be completed by a family member. The information is distributed differently: group 1 (30 patients) reported to the family following a script designed by us, written in simple and natural language. In group 2 (20 patients) the doctor informed as usual, not knowing that he is participating in the research. Then the relative is interviewed by one of the researchers. Results: Only 3 (6%) family members matched all the right answers, and 25 (50%) did not hit more than 70% of the issues. The best known concept was the organ involved: 46 (92%). 21(42%) of respondents did not know if the process is basically benign or malignant, getting better results in group 1 but without significance: 20/30 (66.7%) vs 9/20 (45%) (p>0.05). The only item in which there are differences in success rate depending on the group is if a catheter have been set: 29 (96.7%) of successes in group 1, 13(65%) in 2. We found no difference in success rate according to number of family members informed, education, age or number of previous interventions. Conclusions: Relatives do not retain everything that was said. Organizing the information provided may improve, but other factors have influence. We must improve issues such as personal identification. It may be useful to repeat the information later (AU)

[Postsurgical family information: an improvement area. Prospective study after urologic surgery]. / Información posquirúrgica a la familia: un área de mejora. Estudio prospectivo tras cirugía urológica.

OBJECTIVES: Analyzing and quantifying the postoperative retention of information, checking if it could be improved been delivered in an organized way. MATERIAL AND METHODS: After the basic information to relatives of 50 post-surgical patients operated for bladder or prostate, we deliver a questionnaire about what has just been told. It must be completed by a family member. The information is distributed differently: group 1 (30 patients) reported to the family following a script designed by us, written in simple and natural language. In group 2 (20 patients) the doctor informed as usual, not knowing that he is participating in the research. Then the relative is interviewed by one of the researchers. RESULTS: Only 3 (6%) family members matched all the right answers, and 25 (50%) did not hit more than 70% of the issues. The best known concept was the organ involved: 46 (92%). 21(42%) of respondents did not know if the process is basically benign or malignant, getting better results in group 1 but without significance: 20/30 (66.7%) vs 9/20 (45%) (p>0.05). The only item in which there are differences in success rate depending on the group is if a catheter have been set: 29 (96.7%) of successes in group 1, 13(65%) in 2. We found no difference in success rate according to number of family members informed, education, age or number of previous interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Relatives do not retain everything that was said. Organizing the information provided may improve, but other factors have influence. We must improve issues such as personal identification. It may be useful to repeat the information later.

Trypanosoma cruzi: identification of specific epimastigote antigens by human immune sera

Antígenos solúveis de epimastigotas de Trypanosoma cruzi foram analisados por "imunoblot" a fim de verificar sua reatividade com soros de pacientes com doença de Chagas. Além disso, soro de pacientes com leishmaniose visceral (LVA) e tegumentar americana (LTA) foram também analisados com o objetivo de se identificar oa antígenos de reaçäo cruzada com o Trypanosoma cruzi. Pelo menos 28 polipeptídeos, com pesos moleculares variando de 14 a 113 kDa foram identificados com soros de pacientes com doença de Chagas. Uma intensa reatividade cruzada foi observada quando foram utilizados soros de pacientes com leishmaniose visceral, enquanto que uma fraca reaçäo cruzada foi observada com soros de pacientes portadores de leishmaniose tegumentar. Por outro lado, pelo menos 10 polipeptídeos puderam ser identificados apresentando reaçäo específica com soros de pacientes chagásicos. Entre estes, os polipeptídeos de pesos moleculares de 46 kDa e 25 kDa que reagiram com todos esses soros e säo potencialmente bons candidatos a antígenos específicos no diagnósticos sorológico da doença de Chagas

Trypanosoma cruzi: identification of specific epimastigote antigens by human immune sera.

Soluble antigens from epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi were analyzed by western blot in terms of their reactivity with sera from patients with Chagas' disease. In addition, sera from patients with visceral (AVL) and tegumental leishmaniasis (ATL) were also tested in order to identify cross-reactivities with Trypanosoma cruzi antigens. Twenty eight polypeptides with molecular weights ranging from 14 kDa to 113 kDa were identified with sera from Chagas' disease patients. An extensive cross-reactivity was observed when sera from human visceral leishmaniasis were used, while only a slight cross-reaction was observed with sera from tegumental leishmaniasis. On the other hand, 10 polypeptides specifically reacting with sera from Chagas' disease patients were identified. Among them, the antigens with molecular weights of 46 kDa and 25 kDa reacted with all sera tested and may be good candidates for specific immunodiagnosis of Chagas' disease.

Aspectos clínicos da miocardiopatia diabética / Clinical aspects of diabetic cardiomyopathy

Dez pacientes portadores de diabetes mellitus, com evidencia de comprometimento miocardico e coronarias pervias a cinecoronariografia, foram avaliados do ponto de vista clinico, eletrocardiografico, radiologico e laboratorial, com objetivo de definir as caracteristicas de enfermedade miorcadica, capazes de permitir o seu reconhecimento clinico. A miocardiopatia diabetica caracteriza-se pela presenca de angina de peito tipica, taquicardia sinusal persistente, ausencia de alteracao do automatismo ventricular e disturbios da conducao pelo ramo esquerdo do feixe de His ou pelo seu fasciculo anterior. Os autores concluem que a miocardiopatia que acomete os individuos e uma entidade nosologica distinta e pode ser reconhecida por aspectos clinicos peculiares

Pressão arterial e grupos sociais. Estudo epidemiológico / Arterial blood pressure and social groups. Epidemiological study

Foram estudados 1773 homens, de 20 a 70 anos, pertencentes a 7 grupos sociais e profissionais: 200 medicos, 167 trabalhadores rurais, 151 indios, 218 operarios de industrias, 205 presidiarios, 699 pracas e 163 oficiais da Marinha. Das varias variaveis analisadas, a idade, a raca, o peso corporal, o estresse emocional, a historia familiar de hipertensao, os grupos sociais e profissionais tiveram correlacao estatisticamente significativa com os niveis pressoricos. Encontrou-se uma prevalencia de hipertensos da ordem de 16,1%. A maior taxa de hipertensao foi observada no grupo de presidiarios (26,3%) e a menor no de oficiais (6,7%). De modo geral, os grupos de nivel social mais baixo demonstraram maior prevalencia de hipertensao arterial. Do total de hipertensos, 72,4% ignoraram a enfermidade, apenas 16% estavam sob tratamento, e destes, somente a metade exibia niveis normais de pressao arterial.Apenas 1 em cada 12 hipertensos tinha sua hipertensao controlada por tratamento eficaz