Bending and branching of calcite laths in the foliated microstructure of pectinoidean bivalves occurs at coherent crystal lattice orientation.

Foliated calcite is widely employed by some important pteriomorph bivalve groups as a construction material. It is made from calcite laths, which are inclined at a low angle to the internal shell surface, although their arrangement is different among the different groups. They are strictly ordered into folia in the anomiids, fully independent in scallops, and display an intermediate arrangement in oysters. Pectinids have particularly narrow laths characterized by their ability to change their growth direction by bending or winding, as well as to bifurcate and polyfurcate. Electron backscatter analysis indicates that the c-axes of laths are at a high, though variable, angle to the growth direction, and that the laths grow preferentially along the projection of an intermediate axis between two a-axes, although they can grow in any intermediate direction. Their main surfaces are not particular crystallographic faces. Analyses done directly on the lath surfaces demonstrate that, during the bending/branching events, all crystallographic axes remain invariant. The growth flexibility of pectinid laths makes them an excellent space-filling material, well suited to level off small irregularities of the shell growth surface. We hypothesize that the exceptional ability of laths to change their direction may be promoted by the mode of growth of biogenic calcite, from a precursor liquid phase induced by organic molecules.

Pseudoartrosis no viable de tercio distal del cúbito / A Case Report on Nonviable pseudoarthrosis of the distal third of the ulna

Paciente masculino de 57 años de edad que presentó pseudoartrosis no viable del tercio distal de cúbito, con defecto óseo final de 6 centímetros. Se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico y se le reconstruyó el cúbito con injerto autólogo de peroné de 8 cm. El paciente fue atendido en el Hospital Militar de Holguín. Se logró la consolidación ósea a los 5 meses de operado.

A 57-year-old male patient presented nonviable pseudoarthrosis of the distal third of the ulna, with a final bone defect of 6 centimeters. Surgical treatment was performed and the ulna was reconstructed with an 8 cm fibular autologous graft. The patient was treated at the Military Hospital of Holguín. Bone consolidation was achieved 5 months after surgery.

Pseudoartrosis no viable de tercio distal del cúbito / A Case Report on Nonviable pseudoarthrosis of the distal third of the ulna

Paciente masculino de 57 años de edad que presentó pseudoartrosis no viable del tercio distal de cúbito, con defecto óseo final de 6 centímetros. Se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico y se le reconstruyó el cúbito con injerto autólogo de peroné de 8 cm. El paciente fue atendido en el Hospital Militar de Holguín. Se logró la consolidación ósea a los 5 meses de operado.(AU)

A 57-year-old male patient presented nonviable pseudoarthrosis of the distal third of the ulna, with a final bone defect of 6 centimeters. Surgical treatment was performed and the ulna was reconstructed with an 8 cm fibular autologous graft. The patient was treated at the Military Hospital of Holguín. Bone consolidation was achieved 5 months after surgery.(AU)

Manifestaciones bucales del dengue / Oral manifestations of dengue

El dengue es una enfermedad infecciosa aguda de origen viral que tiene como vector principal al mosquito Aedes aegypti; por su creciente transmisión, predominante en zonas urbanas y semiurbanas, se ha convertido en un importante problema de salud. Esta enfermedad se caracteriza por presentar la variedad de síntomas más amplia que se conoce. Entre las manifestaciones bucales que aparecen en pacientes enfermos de dengue se encuentran la hipercoloración o el enrojecimiento de la mucosa y las encías acompañados de sangramiento gingival, las petequias, la lengua saburral, la xerostomía, el sabor amargo, las molestias faríngeas al tragar o deglutir, las adenopatías, la artralgia en la articulación temporomandibular y otros. Resulta vital que los profesionales de la salud se integren y estén constantemente pendientes de todos los síntomas que identifican esta peligrosa enfermedad con el objetivo de prevenirla, diagnosticarla y tratarla(AU)

Factores asociados a la alveolitis en mayores de 18 años / Factors associated to alveolitis in people over 18 years old

Mediante un estudio descriptivo transversal, fueron estudiados 362 adultos que padecían de alveolitis, con el objetivo de describir la asociación de diferentes factores con la aparición de alveolitis seca y húmeda en mayores de 18 años; los pacientes recibieron atención en la clínica Celia Sánchez Manduley de Santa Clara, de diciembre del 2007 a diciembre del 2009. La deficiente labor del estomatólogo mostró diferencias muy significativas entre ambos tipos de alveolitis, y existió predominio de la modalidad seca. Se encontró una asociación muy significativa entre el uso excesivo de anestesia y la alveolitis seca, y entre la incorrecta maniobra de extracción y la alveolitis húmeda. De las conductas inadecuadas del paciente, se asociaron de manera significativa a la alveolitis seca, el hábito de fumar después de la extracción y, muy significativamente, la exposición al sol luego de la exodoncia y el no cumplimiento de las indicaciones pre- y postoperatorias(AU)

In vivo and in vitro evaluation of the estrogenic properties of the 17ß-(butylamino)-1,3,5(10)-estratrien-3-ol (buame) related to 17ß-estradiol.

BACKGROUND: Buame [17ß-(butylamino)-1,3,5(10)-estratrien-3-ol] possesses anticoagulant and antiplatelet activities that are potentially antithrombotic. Since its estrogenicity is unknown, it was evaluated by established methods. METHODS: Buame (10, 100, 500, and 1,000 µg/kg), 17ß-estradiol (E(2)) (100 µg/kg), or propylene glycol (10 ml/kg) were subcutaneously (sc) administered for three days to immature Wistar female rats (21 days old). The relative uterotrophic effect to E(2) was 78 (E(2) = 100) with a relative uterotrophic potency of 1.48 (E(2) = 100). Adult ovariectomized Wistar rats received an sc injection at 8:00 h (reversed cycle) of: 7.5 µg of E(2) (≈ 30 µg/kg), buame (≈ 750, 1,500, 3,000 µg/kg), or corn oil (≈ 1.2 ml/kg). After 24 h, progesterone (4-5 mg/kg) was administered. Sexual receptivity was assessed 5 to 7 h later, and the lordosis quotient (LQ; number lordosis/number mounts x 100) was evaluated. RESULTS: Buame induced lordosis (LQmax 85 ± 9; ED50 952 ± 19 µg/kg) and E(2) LQmax 56 ± 8; ED50 10 ± 2 µg/kg; the relative LQ-potency was 0.51 (E(2) = 100). Buame competed with [(3)H]E(2) for the estrogen receptor (Buame RBA= 0.15 and Ki = 5.9 x 10(-7) M; E(2) RBA= 100;Ki = 6.6 x 10(-9) M). Buame increased MCF-7 cells proliferation, from 10(-11) to 10(-)9 M, its proliferative effect was 1.73-1.79 (E(2) = 3.0-3.9); its relative proliferative effect to E(2) was 33-40% (E(2) = 100%) and relative potency 10.4-10.7 (E(2) = 100). Tamoxifen and fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) inhibited buame's proliferation indicating mediation through estrogen receptors in this response. CONCLUSION: Buame is therefore an estrogen partial agonist with a weak estrogenic activity.

Treatment of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and unruptured intracranial aneurysms by neurosurgeons in Colombia: A survey.

BACKGROUND: Trends in management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and unruptured intracranial aneurysms among neurosurgeons is very variable and had not been previously described in any Latin American country. This study was conducted to determine the preferences of Colombian neurosurgeons in pharmacologic, surgical, and endovascular management of patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and unruptured intracranial aneurysms. METHODS: A survey-based descriptive study was performed in a sample of members from the Colombian Association of Neurosurgery. Questions about pharmacologic, surgical, and endovascular management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and unruptured intracranial aneurysm were carried out. We calculated the mean and the standard deviation of the results obtained from the continuous variables. The results of the categorical variables are presented as percentages. RESULTS: The preference of medication with poor clinical evidence, such as magnesium sulfate, aspirin, statins, and anti-fibrinolytics was lower than 10%. The use of intravenous nimodipine and systemic glucocorticoids was as high as 31%. The availability of endovascular therapy was 69%. The indication for treatment of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms that required intervention was less than 13.8%. In patients with ruptured or unruptured intracranial aneurysms, coiling was the preferred method for exclusion. CONCLUSIONS: Reported compliance of evidence-based clinical guidelines was similar to that described in developed countries, and even better. However, there is little agreement in treating patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms. For other issues, the conducts reported by Colombian neurosurgeons are in accordance with the current guidelines.

Síndome de Kabuki: estudo de caso a respeito das características comportamentais, cognitivas, sociais e fonoaudiológicas / Kabuki Syndrome: a case study about the behavioral, cognitive, social and speech/hearing characteristics

A Síndrome de Kabuki é um distúrbio bastante raro, com múltiplas anomalias congênitas. O objetivo do estudo foi descrever características comportamentais, cognitivas e sociais de uma criança com seis anos de idade com Síndrome de Kabuki, e suas implicações no processo escolar. Como resultados, verifica-se que a criança apresenta retardo mental moderado, com implicações comportamentais e sociais e problemas fonoarticulatórios. Tais características dificultavam sua inserção na escola regular e o convívio com os pares. O estudo das dificuldades apresentadas pela criança colaborou para que pais e professores pudessem atuar com mais eficácia no seu desenvolvimento.

Kabuki syndrome is a rare disorder whit multiple congenital anomalies. The objective of the study was to describe the behavioral, cognitive and social characteristics of a six-year-old boy with Kabuki Syndrome, and its implications in the school process. The result has proven that the child has moderate mental impairment, with behavioral and social implications and speech/hearing dysfunction. These characteristics difficult his normal inclusion in regular school and the interrelations with peers. A better understanding of the child’s difficulties contributed so that the parents and the teachers could act more effectively in his development.

Environmental impact assessment for alternative-energy power plants in México.

Ten Environmental Impact Assessment Reports (EIAR) were reviewed for projects involving alternative power plants in Mexico developed during the last twelve years. Our analysis focused on the methods used to assess the impacts produced by hydroelectric and geothermal power projects. These methods used to assess impacts in EIARs ranged from the most simple, descriptive criteria, to quantitative models. These methods are not concordant with the level of the EIAR required by the environmental authority or even, with the kind of project developed. It is concluded that there is no correlation between the tools used to assess impacts and the assigned type of the EIAR. Because the methods to assess impacts produced by these power projects have not changed during 2000 years, we propose a quantitative method, based on ecological criteria and tools, to assess the impacts produced by hydroelectric and geothermal plants, according to the specific characteristics of the project. The proposed method is supported by environmental norms, and can assist environmental authorities in assigning the correct level and tools to be applied to hydroelectric and geothermal projects. The proposed method can be adapted to other production activities in Mexico and to other countries.