Nanoscale 3D quantitative imaging of 1.88 Ga Gunflint microfossils reveals novel insights into taphonomic and biogenic characters.

Precambrian cellular remains frequently have simple morphologies, micrometric dimensions and are poorly preserved, imposing severe analytical and interpretational challenges, especially for irrefutable attestations of biogenicity. The 1.88 Ga Gunflint biota is a Precambrian microfossil assemblage with different types and qualities of preservation across its numerous geological localities and provides important insights into the Proterozoic biosphere and taphonomic processes. Here we use synchrotron-based ptychographic X-ray computed tomography to investigate well-preserved carbonaceous microfossils from the Schreiber Beach locality as well as poorly-preserved, iron-replaced fossil filaments from the Mink Mountain locality, Gunflint Formation. 3D nanoscale imaging with contrast based on electron density allowed us to assess the morphology and carbonaceous composition of different specimens and identify the minerals associated with their preservation based on retrieved mass densities. In the Mink Mountain filaments, the identification of mature kerogen and maghemite rather than the ubiquitously described hematite indicates an influence from biogenic organics on the local maturation of iron oxides through diagenesis. This non-destructive 3D approach to microfossil composition at the nanoscale within their geological context represents a powerful approach to assess the taphonomy and biogenicity of challenging or poorly preserved traces of early microbial life, and may be applied effectively to extraterrestrial samples returned from upcoming space missions.

Desarrollo de una nueva forma farmacéutica líquida necesaria en una situación de accidente nuclear / Development of a new liquid pharmaceutical form needed in a situation of a nuclear accident

Introducción: La administración de yodo estable, en forma de yoduro, es empleado como protector frente a los efectos nocivos de la radiación, esta pauta profiláctica también es asumida por la OTAN en su STANAG 2461 N BC/MED. E l dificultoso suministro a determinados grupos de población, con dificultades en la deglución, de formas orales sólidas de yodo estable, obliga a disponer de determinados preparados que soslayen los inconvenientes de estas formas farmacéuticas y faciliten la administración de este activo. Lugar de realización: Centro M ilitar de Farmacia de la D efensa. Objetivo: Diseñar y evaluar una preparación estable de yoduro potásico en solución, para administración oral, que complete la laguna existente en el arsenal terapéutico español y europeo. Producción y validación del proceso a escala industrial de una solución oral de yoduro potásico. D efinición de los parámetros indicativos de la calidad del producto. E valuación de la estabilidad del preparado. T ratamiento estadístico de los resultados obtenidos. Material y métodos: Componentes del producto fabricado. E quipos de proceso y control utilizados en la fabricación farmacéutica industrial de soluciones. D efinición de límites aplicados a especificaciones de producto. E studio de estabilidad según protocolo I CH 1QE para zonas climáticas III y IV sobre los lotes industriales fabricados. Paquete estadístico S PSS versión 15. Resultados: Los resultados corroboran la calidad y estabilidad de tres lotes industriales sometidos a estudio (Volumen envasado 18-22 ml; densidad: 1,100-1,300 g/ml; pH:5,5-6,5; contenido yoduro: 90%-110%, yodo molecular < 2%; aerobios totales a 37ºC y 25ºC<100 col/g; ausencia microorganismos patógenos ). E l nivel de significación obtenido en el análisis de varianza en la uniformidad de volumen, densidad, pH, contenido de yoduro y valoración de Yodo libre es superior a 0,05. Los lotes cumplen valores establecidos para todas las especificaciones durante 2 años. E n tercer y cuarto año se observa deterioro del envase y elevación de la concentración de la solución, sin ninguna otra alteración. Discusión: La ausencia de significación en la comparación de las medias, en las variables estudiadas en los tres lotes, muestra que el proceso es robusto y repetitivo. Los resultados de estabilidad permiten asignar un periodo de validez de al menos 2 años. E l mantenimiento de las especificaciones del producto, salvo la concentración de la solución, a pesar del deterioro observado en el envase, permite asegurar un elevado grado de estabilidad de la fórmula diseñada. Conclusiones: Se diseña y fabrica a escala industrial una solución estable de yoduro potásico. Los datos obtenidos, referentes a la calidad del producto fabricado, permiten asegurar la ausencia de variaciones significativas entre los diferentes lotes estudiados, demostrando el adecuado diseño del proceso. Los datos obtenidos permiten asegurar, igualmente, un comportamiento estable de la solución, tanto desde el punto de vista químico como microbiológico, al menos durante dos años

Introduction: T he administration of stable iodine in the form of iodide, is used as a buffer against the harmful effects of radiation, this prophylactic regimen is also assumed by NATO STANAG 2461 in N BC / MED . T he difficult delivery to specific population groups with difficulties in swallowing solid oral forms of stable iodine, requires the availability of certain preparations that would circumvent the disadvantages of these formulations and facilitate the management of this asset. Place: Center Pharmacy M ilitary D efense. Objective: D esign and to evaluate a stable preparation of potassium iodide in solution for oral administration to complete the gap in the S panish and E uropean therapeutic arsenal. Production and validation of industrialscale process of an oral solution of potassium iodide. D efining the parameters which determine the quality of the product. E valuation of the stability of the preparation. S tatistical treatment of results. Material and methods: Components manufactured product. Process and control equipment used in industrial pharmaceutical manufacturing solutions. D efinition of limits applied to product specifications. S tability study according to protocol 1QE I CH climatic zones III and IV on manufactured industrial lots. S PSS version 15. Results: T he results corroborate the quality and stability of three industrial lots under study (18-22 ml packed volume, density :1,100-1, 300 g / ml, pH :5,5-6, 5; iodide content: 90% -110%, molecular iodine <2% total aerobes at 37 ° C and 25 ° C <100 col / g; no pathogens). T he level of significance obtained from analysis of variance in the uniformity of size, density, pH, content of iodine and free iodine value is greater than 0.05. T he values set for lots meet all specifications for 2 years. T hird and fourth year there is damage to the packaging and elevated concentration of the solution, without any alteration. Discussion: T he absence of significance in the comparison of the means in the variables studied in the three lots, shows that the process is robust and repetitive. T he results of stability allow to assign a validity period of at least 2 years. T he upkeep specifications product, despite the deterioration observed in the package, ensures a high degree of stability of the scheme drawn up. Conclusions: A stable solution of potassium iodide has been designed and manufactured on an industrial scale. T he data obtained concerning the quality of the manufactured product helps to ensure the absence of significant variations between different batches studied, confirming that process design is the proper. T he data obtained allow us to ensure, also a stable behavior of the solution, both from the standpoint of chemical and biological

[The use of intravenous levetiracetam in a general hospital]. / Utilización de levetiracetam intravenoso en un hospital general.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Although antiepileptic drugs are usually administered orally, sometimes they must be given intravenously. Levetiracetam is the only one of the new antiepileptic drugs that can be administered intravenously. In this study we report on the use of intravenous levetiracetam in a general hospital, while also evaluating its effectiveness and safety. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of the medical records of all hospital admissions that were treated with intravenous levetiracetam between July 2007 and May 2008. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were treated with intravenous levetiracetam. Approximately half the patients (47%) had been admitted to neurology, followed by neurosurgery (21%) and oncology (9%). The mean age was 52.2 years (range: 9-87 years) and 40% were females. Seizures were symptomatic in 81% of cases and the most common aetiologies were strokes (40%) and brain tumours (33%). The most frequent presenting symptoms were repeated epileptic seizures (47.2%) and epileptic status (26.4%). Overall, control of seizures was achieved in 87% of patients. No severe side-effects that could be attributed to levetiracetam therapy were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous levetiracetam seems to be an effective, safe antiepileptic drug in hospitalised patients, and especially so in those who present an associated comorbidity and/or who are on multiple drug therapy.

[Lumbar puncture: its indications, contraindications, complications and technique]. / Punción lumbar: indicaciones, contraindicaciones, complicaciones y técnica de realización.

INTRODUCTION: Although first described over 100 years ago, lumbar puncture is still an important tool in the diagnosis of neurological diseases. In this article we review its indications, contraindications, the technique for carrying it out, the analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid and possible complications. DEVELOPMENT: The lumbar puncture has diagnostic and therapeutic indications. The chief diagnostic indications include infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases affecting the central nervous system. Complications are infrequent, except for headaches and low back pain, but can be severe. Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid must include a cell count and determination of the glucose and protein concentrations. The other analytical studies of cerebrospinal fluid must be conducted according to the diagnostic suspicion. CONCLUSION: The lumbar puncture in expert hands is a safe test. The health professional should be suitably familiar with its contraindications, the regional anatomy and the technique used to perform it.

[Preadmission statins treatment in stroke patients: opportunity to treat high vascular risk patients]. / Antecedente del uso de estatinas en el ictus: oportunidad de mejora en el paciente con alto riesgo vascular por aterotrombosis.

AIM: To describe the use of preadmission statins in patients with cerebrovascular accident and the possible predictive factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional observational study of 795 consecutive patients with acute cerebrovascular accident. We assessed the differences among patients who were on preadmission statins (161) and those who were not (634), regarding vascular risk factors and clinical and neurosonological atherothrombotic disease markers. For univariate analysis, we used squared chi test, and for multivariate analysis, logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Preadmission statins were 20.3%. In high vascular risk patients defined based on National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III), this reached 28% and it might be 72%. Predictive factors for preadmission statins use were, in a positive sense, the antecedent of hypercholesterolemia diagnosis (OR = 189; 95% CI = 58-615; p < or = 0.001) and stroke (OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2-3.6; p < or = 0.01), and in a negative sense, smoking (OR = 0.38; 95% CI = 0.18-0.81; p = 0.012). CONCLUSIONS: In our population of patients with stroke, the predictive factors of preadmission statins did not adjust to the current therapeutic NCEP-ATP III recommendations; treatment with statins in high vascular risk population was way below the indications, it was 28% and it might be 72%.

Punción lumbar: indicaciones, contraindicaciones, complicaciones y técnica de realización / Lumbar puncture: Its indications, conraindications, complications and technique

Aunque se describió hace más de 100 años, la punción lumbar continúa siendo una importante herramientadiagnóstica en las enfermedades neurológicas. En este artículo se revisan sus indicaciones, contraindicaciones, técnica de realización, análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo y posibles complicaciones. Desarrollo. La punción lumbar tiene indicacionesdiagnósticas y terapéuticas. Las principales indicaciones diagnósticas incluyen enfermedades infecciosas, inflamatorias y neoplásicas que afectan al sistema nervioso central. Las complicaciones, con la excepción de la cefalea y la lumbalgia, son infrecuentespero pueden ser graves. El análisis del líquido cefalorraquídeo debe incluir un conteo celular y la determinación de la concentración de glucosa y proteínas. El resto de los estudios analíticos en el líquido cefalorraquídeo debe realizarse en funciónde la sospecha diagnóstica. Conclusión. La punción lumbar en manos expertas es una prueba segura. Es necesario conocer adecuadamente sus contraindicaciones, la anatomía regional y su técnica de realización

Although first described over 100 years ago, lumbar puncture is still an important tool in thediagnosis of neurological diseases. In this article we review its indications, contraindications, the technique for carrying it out, the analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid and possible complications. Development. The lumbar puncture has diagnostic andtherapeutic indications. The chief diagnostic indications include infectious, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases affecting the central nervous system. Complications are infrequent, except for headaches and low back pain, but can be severe. Analysisof the cerebrospinal fluid must include a cell count and determination of the glucose and protein concentrations. The other analytical studies of cerebrospinal fluid must be conducted according to the diagnostic suspicion. Conclusion. The lumbar puncture in expert hands is a safe test. The health professional should be suitably familiar with its contraindications, the regional anatomy and the technique used to perform it

Synthesis and anthelmintic activity of carbamates derived from imidazo[2,1-b][1,3,4]thiadiazole and imidazo[2,1-b]thiazole.

The anthelmintic activity of 25 compounds, most of them carbamates, was determined. The in vitro results are interesting and show that an aromatic azapentalene can replace the benzimidazole ring without loss of its biological properties. The in vivo results, however, show that the compounds are devoid of practical interest.