Análisis de una encuesta sobre conocimientos en contenciones mecánicas de las enfermeras de unidades de críticos / Analysis of a nurses' knowledge survey on the use of physical restraint in intensive care units

Objetivos: Determinar el grado de conocimientos de las enfermeras sobre el uso de contenciones mecánicas en las unidades de críticos y los factores relacionados. Método: Estudio multicéntrico, observacional, en 12 unidades de críticos de 8 hospitales en España (n = 354 enfermeras). Se elaboró una encuesta ad-hoc de conocimientos cuyo contenido fue validado por expertos. La encuesta obtuvo una estabilidad test-retest de CCI = 0,71 (IC 95%: 0,57-0,81) en un estudio piloto previo. El instrumento final quedó conformado por 8 ítems. Se recogieron datos sociodemográficos y profesionales de los participantes, así como variables estructurales y clínicas de las unidades a estudio. Se llevó a cabo un análisis descriptivo y de asociación entre variables. Se consideró estadísticamente significativo un valor de p < 0,05. Resultados: Respondieron 250 enfermeras (70,62%), con una edad media de 36,8 (DE 9,54) años y una media de 10,75 (DE 8,38) años de experiencia profesional en unidades de críticos. El 73,6% no había recibido formación previa sobre contenciones mecánicas. La media de conocimientos fue de 4,21 (DE 1,39) (rango 0-8). El grado de conocimientos se asoció al hospital de referencia (p < 0,001). Las enfermeras con mayor grado de conocimientos es más probable que trabajen en unidades con consentimiento informado para el uso de contenciones mecánicas (p < 0,001); visita familiar flexible (p < 0,001); y que dispongan de protocolo de analgosedación (p = 0,011), o que la enfermera tenga autonomía en el manejo de la analgosedación (p < 0,001). Ningún dato sociodemográfico ni profesional individual se asoció al grado de conocimientos. Conclusiones: Es necesaria una mayor formación de las enfermeras sobre el uso de contenciones mecánicas. El entorno de trabajo donde se desarrollan los cuidados tiene una gran influencia en el grado de conocimientos de las enfermeras sobre esta intervención

Objectives: To determine nurses' knowledge level regarding physical restraint use in intensive care units and its associated factors. Method: A cross-sectional multicentre study was carried out in 12 critical care units of 8 hospitals in Spain (n = 354 nurses). An 'ad-hoc' knowledge survey was developed, and their content was validated by experts. The survey obtained a test-retest stability of ICC=.71 (95% CI: .57-.81) in a previous pilot study. A final 8-item tool was designed. Sociodemographic and professional variables from the participants were collected; as well as structural and clinical variables from the units analyzed. A descriptive and association analysis between variables was performed. A p-value <.05 was deemed statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and fifty nurses answered the survey (70.62%). Mean age of the participants was 36.80 (SD 9.54) with 10.75 (SD 8.38) years of professional experience in critical care. Seventy-three point six percent had never received previous training about physical restraints. Knowledge mean value was 4.21 (SD 1.39) (range 0-8). Knowledge level was associated with the referral hospital (p < .001). Nurses with a higher knowledge level are more likely to work in units with informed consent sheets for physical restraint use (p < .001); flexible family visiting (p < .001); analgo-sedation protocol (p = .011), and units in which nurses had autonomy to manage analgo-sedation (p < .001). Individual sociodemographic and professional data was not associated with knowledge level. Conclusions: Further training regarding physical restraint use is needed for critical care nurses. The work environment where nursing care is given has a great influence on nurses' knowledge level about this intervention

Analysis of a nurses' knowledge survey on the use of physical restraint in intensive care units. / Análisis de una encuesta sobre conocimientos en contenciones mecánicas de las enfermeras de unidades de críticos.

OBJECTIVES: To determine nurses' knowledge level regarding physical restraint use in intensive care units and its associated factors. METHOD: A cross-sectional multicentre study was carried out in 12 critical care units of 8 hospitals in Spain (n=354 nurses). An 'ad-hoc' knowledge survey was developed, and their content was validated by experts. The survey obtained a test-retest stability of ICC=.71 (95% CI: .57-.81) in a previous pilot study. A final 8-item tool was designed. Sociodemographic and professional variables from the participants were collected; as well as structural and clinical variables from the units analyzed. A descriptive and association analysis between variables was performed. A p-value <.05 was deemed statistically significant. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty nurses answered the survey (70.62%). Mean age of the participants was 36.80 (SD 9.54) with 10.75 (SD 8.38) years of professional experience in critical care. Seventy-three point six percent had never received previous training about physical restraints. Knowledge mean value was 4.21 (SD 1.39) (range 0-8). Knowledge level was associated with the referral hospital (p<.001). Nurses with a higher knowledge level are more likely to work in units with informed consent sheets for physical restraint use (p<.001); flexible family visiting (p<.001); analgo-sedation protocol (p=.011), and units in which nurses had autonomy to manage analgo-sedation (p<.001). Individual sociodemographic and professional data was not associated with knowledge level. CONCLUSIONS: Further training regarding physical restraint use is needed for critical care nurses. The work environment where nursing care is given has a great influence on nurses' knowledge level about this intervention.

Reservorios venosos subcutáneos tipo port-a-cath. Ventajas del acceso quirúrgico mediante venotomía cefálica / Port-A-Cath implantable venous access system. Advantages ofsurgical access by cephalic venotomy

Introducción: La colocación de dispositivos implantables permanentes ha aumentado exponencialmente debido al aumento de indicaciones. El objetivo de este artículo es demostrar las ventajas de la utilización de la disección de vena cefálica para la colocación de sistemas venosos centrales. Métodos: Estudio longitudinal, descriptivo y retrospectivo, en el cual analizamos 265 pacientes consecutivos, recogidos entre enero de 2010 y octubre de 2013, a los que se les colocó un reservorio venoso subcutáneo mediante venotomía de la vena cefálica en el surco deltopectoral como acceso primario. Se detallan complicaciones intraoperatorias y postoperatorias tempranas y tardías. Resultados: En 253 pacientes se canaliza la vena cefálica, representando una tasa de éxito del 95,5 %. No se asocian complicaciones intraoperatorias como neumotórax o hemotórax. La tasa de complicaciones tempranas es el del 4 %, y tardías del 11,5 %, con un seguimiento mínimo de ocho meses. Se asociaron a retirada del sistema en 14 pacientes. Conclusión: El acceso por vena cefálica en régimen de cirugía mayor ambulatoria es seguro, con una alta tasa de éxito en nuestro estudio, y con una tasa de complicaciones tempranas y tardías bajas igual al acceso mediante punción sin riesgo de neumo-hemotórax (AU)

Introduction: The use of totally implantable access ports has increased exponentially due to the increase of indications. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the advantages of using surgical venous cutdowns of the cefalic vein to place central venous systems. Patients and methods: Longitudinal, descriptive and retrospective study, which analyzed 265 consecutive patients, collected between January 2010 and October 2013. In these patients a subcutaneous venous reservoir was placed by opening the cephalic vein in the deltopectoral groove as primary access. Intraoperative and postoperative early and late complications were documented in detail. Results: The primary success rate was 95.5 % for the venous cutdowns. No intraoperative complications such as pneumothorax or haemothorax were associated. The early complication rate is 4 %; late complications rate is 11.5 %, with a minimum follow-up of eight months. In 14 cases the complications were associated with the removal of the system. Conclusion: The surgical venous cutdown in ambulatory surgery is safe, with a high success rate in our study, and a rate of early and late complications like puncture of the subclavian vein approach, without risk of pneumo-haemothorax (AU)

Characterization of a Panela cheese with added probiotics and fava bean starch.

Of 20 Lactobacillus and 8 Bifidobacterium species examined, only Bifidobacterium breve ATCC 15700 was able to ferment starch from fava beans. Bifidobacterium breve ATCC 15700 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ATCC 53103 were selected as probiotics for use in fresh-style Panela cheese. Two types of fresh cheese (with and without 3% fava bean starch) were manufactured with 3 combinations of probiotics: L. rhamnosus GG only, B. breve only, or both L. rhamnosus GG and B. breve. During 4 wk of storage at 4°C, the addition of fava bean starch to the cheese was not found to cause significant differences in the viability of either probiotic strain. However, the microstructure and texture of Panela cheese were altered, resulting in a much softer product. A sensory panel showed that the presence of added fava bean starch in Panela cheese was less desirable to consumers, whereas probiotic supplementation had no effect on perceived taste or appearance. Panela cheese could be a suitable food for inclusion of probiotic bacteria.

[Availability of physicians and specialists in Chile]. / Disponibilidad de médicos y especialistas en Chile.

The availability and planning of Human Resources are important issues in many countries, as it is a key factor to cope with the critical challenges of Health Care Systems. In Chile, the Ministry of Health has undertaken several studies in order to improve knowledge about the medical workforce both in public and private sectors. The aim of this paper is to update and systematize the existing data on physicians and specialists availability in Chile. Several information sources were crossed to obtain new and more precise figures about this topic. According to the Internal Revenue System, 29.996 physicians practice medicine in the country, 43% of them hired in public services, part or full time. There is a high concentration of professionals in the central regions of Chile. Being the overall density of physicians of one per 559 inhabitants, the figures in the central region is one per 471 and one per more than 800 in the South and North. Between 2004 and 2008, the public sector increased its physician workforce by more than 80% in primary health care and more than 20% in the secondary and tertiary levels. This paper presents a method for a more rigorous identification of the categories of general practitioner and specialist respectively, and the results obtained from the databases used.

Disponibilidad de médicos y especialistas en Chile / Availability of physicians and specialists in Chile

The availability and planning of Human Resources are important issues in many countries, as it is a key factor to cope with the critical challenges of Health Care Systems. In Chile, the Ministry of Health has undertaken several studies in order to improve knowledge about the medical workforce both in public and private sectors. The aim of this paper is to update and systematize the existing data on physicians and specialists availability in Chile. Several information sources were crossed to obtain new and more precise figures about this topic. According to the Internal Revenue System, 29.996 physicians practice medicine in the country, 43 percent of them hired in public services, part or full time. There is a high concentration of professionals in the central regions of Chile. Being the overall density of physicians of one per 559 inhabitants, the figures in the central region is one per 471 and one per more than 800 in the South and North. Between 2004 and 2008, the public sector increased its physician workforce by more than 80 percent in primary health care and more than 20 percent in the secondary and tertiary levels. This paper presents a method for a more rigorous identification of the categories of general practitioner and specialist respectively, and the results obtained from the databases used.

Recomendaciones de prevención y tratamiento de las náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios y/o asociados a las infusiones de opioides / No disponible

Las náuseas y los vómitos postoperatorios (NVPO) producen malestar e insatisfacción del paciente y aumentan la necesidad de cuidados. La infusión de opiáceos, frecuente como tratamiento analgésico postoperatorio, puede inducir náuseas y/o vómitos (NV). Este trabajo tiene como objetivo el desarrollo de recomendaciones de prevención y tratamiento de ambos problemas. Con este fin se constituyó un Grupo de Trabajo de acuerdo con los estatutos de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación. Dicho grupo realizó una evaluación crítica de artículos relevantes sobre el manejo de las NV perioperatorios precoces y tardíos tanto en adultos como en niños. Tras varias reuniones y discusión se acordaron las siguientes recomendaciones (resumen): 1. Todos los pacientes sometidos a cirugía deben ser evaluados respecto al riesgo de desarrollar NVPO. Se recomiendan las escalas de Apfel et al. para adultos y de Eberhart et al. para niños, ambas son útiles y fáciles de aplicar; 2. En los adultos con riesgo moderado o alto y en todos los niños se deben adoptar medidas de reducción del riesgo basal; 3. La profilaxis con un fármaco es útil en pacientes de riesgo bajo (Apfel 1 o Eberhart 1) sometidos a anestesia general. En los demás pacientes se debe realizar profilaxis con 2 o más fármacos y reducir el riesgo basal (abordaje multimodal); 4. Dexametasona, droperidol y ondansetrón (setrones en general) tienen similar eficacia. La elección de fármaco debe tener en consideración factores individuales en cada paciente; 5. El tratamiento de las NVPO establecidas debe hacerse preferentemente con un fármaco diferente al empleado en la profilaxis. El fármaco más efectivo es el ondansetrón; 6. Debe evaluarse la posibilidad de NVPO tras el alta del paciente en cirugía ambulatoria o en la sala de hospitalización en cirugía con ingreso. No existen evidencias suficientes para formular una estrategia de prevención de las NV tardíos; 7. El fármaco de elección en la prevención de las NV asociadas a infusión de opiáceos es droperidol (AU)

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) causes patient discomfort, lowers patient satisfaction, and increases care requirements. Opioid-induced nausea and vomiting (OINV) may also occur if opioids are used to treat postoperative pain. These guidelines aim to provide recommendations for the prevention and treatment of both problems. A working group was established in accordance with the charter of the Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación. The group undertook the critical appraisal of articles relevant to the management of PONV and OINV in adults and children early and late in the perioperative period. Discussions led to recommendations, summarized as follows: 1) Risk for PONV should be assessed in all patients undergoing surgery; 2easy-to-use scales are useful for risk assessment: the Apfel scale for adults and the Eberhart scale for children.2) Measures to reduce baseline risk should be used for adults at moderate or high risk and all children. 3) Pharmacologic prophylaxis with 1 drug is useful for patients at low risk (Apfel or Eberhart 1) who are to receive general anesthesia; patients with higher levels of risk should receive prophylaxis with 2 or more drugs and baseline risk should be reduced (multimodal approach). 4) Dexamethasone, droperidol, and ondansetron (or other setrons) have similar levels of efficacy; drug choice should be made based on individual patient factors. 5) The drug prescribed for treating PONV should preferably be different from the one used for prophylaxis; ondansetron is the most effective drug for treating PONV. 6) Risk for PONV should be assessed before discharge after outpatient surgery or on the ward for hospitalized patients; there is no evidence that late preventive strategies are effective.7) The drug of choice for preventing OINV is droperidol (AU)

[Postoperative nausea and vomiting and opioid-induced nausea and vomiting: guidelines for prevention and treatment]. / Recomendaciones de prevención y tratamiento de las náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios y/o asociados a las infusiones de opioides.

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) causes patient discomfort, lowers patient satisfaction, and increases care requirements. Opioid-induced nausea and vomiting (OINV) may also occur if opioids are used to treat postoperative pain. These guidelines aim to provide recommendations for the prevention and treatment of both problems. A working group was established in accordance with the charter of the Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación. The group undertook the critical appraisal of articles relevant to the management of PONV and OINV in adults and children early and late in the perioperative period. Discussions led to recommendations, summarized as follows: 1) Risk for PONV should be assessed in all patients undergoing surgery; 2 easy-to-use scales are useful for risk assessment: the Apfel scale for adults and the Eberhart scale for children. 2) Measures to reduce baseline risk should be used for adults at moderate or high risk and all children. 3) Pharmacologic prophylaxis with 1 drug is useful for patients at low risk (Apfel or Eberhart 1) who are to receive general anesthesia; patients with higher levels of risk should receive prophylaxis with 2 or more drugs and baseline risk should be reduced (multimodal approach). 4) Dexamethasone, droperidol, and ondansetron (or other setrons) have similar levels of efficacy; drug choice should be made based on individual patient factors. 5) The drug prescribed for treating PONV should preferably be different from the one used for prophylaxis; ondansetron is the most effective drug for treating PONV. 6) Risk for PONV should be assessed before discharge after outpatient surgery or on the ward for hospitalized patients; there is no evidence that late preventive strategies are effective. 7) The drug of choice for preventing OINV is droperidol.

Recomendaciones de prevención y tratamiento de las náuseas y vómitos postoperatorios y/o asociados a las infusiones de opioides / Postoperative nausea and vomiting and opioid-induced nausea and vomiting: guidelines for prevention and treatment

Las náuseas y los vómitos postoperatorios (NVPO) producen malestar e insatisfacción del paciente y aumentan la necesidad de cuidados. La infusión de opiáceos, frecuente como tratamiento analgésico postoperatorio, puede inducir náuseas y/o vómitos (NV). Este trabajo tiene como objetivo el desarrollo de recomendaciones de prevención y tratamiento de ambos problemas. Con este fin se constituyó un Grupo de Trabajo de acuerdo con los estatutos de la Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación. Dicho grupo realizó una evaluación crítica de artículos relevantes sobre el manejo de las NV perioperatorios precoces y tardíos tanto en adultos como en niños. Tras varias reuniones y discusión se acordaron las siguientes recomendaciones (resumen): 1. Todos los pacientes sometidos a cirugía deben ser evaluados respecto al riesgo de desarrollar NVPO. Se recomiendan las escalas de Apfel et al. para adultos y de Eberhart et al. para niños, ambas son útiles y fáciles de aplicar; 2. En los adultos con riesgo moderado o alto y en todos los niños se deben adoptar medidas de reducción del riesgo basal; 3. La profilaxis con un fármaco es útil en pacientes de riesgo bajo (Apfel 1 ó Eberhart 1) sometidos a anestesia general. En los demás pacientes se debe realizar profilaxis con 2 o más fármacos y reducir el riesgo basal (abordaje multimodal); 4. Dexametasona, droperidol y ondansetrón (setrones en general) tienen similar eficacia. La elección de fármaco debe tener en consideración factores individuales en cada paciente; 5. El tratamiento de las NVPO establecidas debe hacerse preferentemente con un fármaco diferente al empleado en la profilaxis. El fármaco más efectivo es el ondansetrón; 6. Debe evaluarse la posibilidad de NVPO tras el alta del paciente en cirugía ambulatoria o en la sala de hospitalización en cirugía con ingreso. No existen evidencias suficientes para formular una estrategia de prevención de las NV tardíos; 7. El fármaco de elección en la prevención de las NV asociadas a infusión de opiáceos es droperidol(AU)

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) causes patient discomfort, lowers patient satisfaction, and increases care requirements. Opioid-induced nausea and vomiting (OINV) may also occur if opioids are used to treat postoperative pain. These guidelines aim to provide recommendations for the prevention and treatment of both problems. A working group was established in accordance with the charter of the Sociedad Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación. The group undertook the critical appraisal of articles relevant to the management of PONV and OINV in adults and children early and late in the perioperative period. Discussions led to recommendations, summarized as follows: 1) Risk for PONV should be assessed in all patients undergoing surgery; 2 easy-to-use scales are useful for risk assessment: the Apfel scale for adults and the Eberhart scale for children. 2) Measures to reduce baseline risk should be used for adults at moderate or high risk and antineall children. 3) Pharmacologic prophylaxis with 1 drug is useful for patients at low risk (Apfel or Eberhart 1) who are to receive general anesthesia; patients with higher levels of risk should receive prophylaxis with 2 or more drugs and baseline risk should be reduced (multimodal approach). 4) Dexamethasone, droperidol, and ondansetron (or other setrons) have similar levels of efficacy; drug choice should be made based on individual patient factors. 5) The drug prescribed for treating PONV should preferably be different from the one used for prophylaxis; ondansetron is the most effective drug for treating PONV. 6) Risk for PONV should be assessed before discharge after outpatient surgery or on the ward for hospitalized patients; there is no evidence that late preventive strategies are effective. 7) The drug of choice for preventing OINV is droperidol(AU)

Effect of lactic and citric acid on the stability of B-aflatoxins in extrusion-cooked sorghum.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of the extrusion-cooking process with the addition of different acids concentration on the stability of B-aflatoxins in sorghum. METHODS AND RESULTS: Experimental units (EU) of sorghum flour contaminated with B-aflatoxins (140 ppb) were extrusion cooked with aqueous lactic or citric acid at six different concentrations. The effects of the two extrusion variables (moisture content and acid concentration) were analysed as a completely randomized factorial 3 x 6 design. Under some conditions, the aflatoxin reduction is more effective when using aqueous citric acid (up to 92%), than when using aqueous lactic acid (up to 67%). CONCLUSIONS: With citric acid, some extrusion treatments produced higher aflatoxin degradation rates, than those produced with lactic acid. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Aflatoxin contamination is a great risk both for human as well as for animal health in underdeveloped countries; consequently, practical and economical detoxification procedures are needed that eliminate or at least minimize the aflatoxin risk, through lowering aflatoxin concentrations in grains. Under these considerations, extrusion process can be used for reduction in the aflatoxin content in contaminated grains.

Tau protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate whether cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of the microtubule-associated tau protein are related to the risk for sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS). PATIENTS/METHODS: We measured tau concentrations in the CSF of 18 patients with SALS and 75 age- and sex-matched controls, using a specific ELISA method. RESULTS: The mean CSF concentrations of tau protein did not differ significantly between SALS patient and control groups, were not influenced by the clinical form (spinal vs bulbar) of ALS, and were not correlated with age, age at onset, and duration of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: CSF tau concentrations are not a biochemical marker of ALS.

Timpanoplastía tipo III / Type III tympanoplasty

La timpanoplastía tipo III es una técnica quirúrgica reconstructiva de los mecanismos de conducción del oído medio cuando existe una discontinuidad incudo-estapedial. Según la patología osicular existente, las timpanoplastías tipo III se subdividen en clásica, III A y III B. Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo de 29 cirugías (27 pacientes) correspondientes al período 1993-2003. El abordaje quirúrgico más frecuente fue el retroauricular, y la fascia temporal fue el tejido más utilizado para reparar la membrana timpánica. El defecto osicular encontrado más a menudo fue la erosión de la apófisis larga del yunque, en el 57,7 por ciento de los casos. La osiculoplastía más frecuente fue la maleoloestapediopexia con interposición de yunque (51,9 por ciento). Se obtuvo un éxito anatómico de 88,9 por ciento, y un éxito auditivo de 69,2 por ciento. Las timpanoplastías III A se asociaron, en forma no significativa, a un mayor éxito auditivo que las III B. La conservación de la pared posterior del conducto auditivo externo se asoció significativamente a un mejor resultado auditivo. No se demostró diferencias entre las diferentes alternativas de osiculoplastía en timpanoplastías III A, mientras que en las 3 B, el uso de prótesis sintética (TORP) exhibió un mejor resultado que la utilización de autoinjertos.

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of insulin in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: Some previous reports suggested a potential role of insulin in memory and in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We assessed the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of insulin in patients with AD and in age and sex-matched controls trying to elucidate whether this value could be related with the risk or severity of AD. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We measured the CSF insulin levels in 27 patients with AD and 16 matched controls using a RadioImmunoanalysis method. RESULTS: CSF insulin levels did not differ significantly between AD-patient and control groups. These values were not correlated with age, age at onset, duration of the disease, and scores of the MiniMental State Examination in the AD group. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that CSF insulin concentrations are not related with the risk or severity of AD.

Tau protein concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid of patients with multiple sclerosis.

UNLABELLED: FUNDAMENTALS AND OBJECTIVE: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the prototype of demyelinating disease, but recently, it has been shown that the existence of axonal lesions contribute to irreversible central nervous system damage in this disease. Tau proteins are considered to be important for maintaining the stability of axonal microtubules involved in the mediation of fast axonal transport of synaptic constituents. There have been reports of increased cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau concentrations in patients with MS, and it has been suggested that this could be a marker of axonal damage. The objective of the present study was to elucidate whether CSF tau levels could be a marker of MS activity. PATIENT AND METHODS: We measured tau concentrations in the CSF of 20 patients with MS (nine in the first, seven in the second, one in the fourth exacerbation, and three patients with chronic progressive course) and 32 age- and sex-matched controls, using a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method. RESULTS: The CSF tau concentrations of patients with MS did not differ from those of controls, and they were not correlated with age at onset and duration of the disease. CONCLUSION: CSF tau concentrations are not a marker of MS activity.

Molecular analysis of the superoxide dismutase 1 gene in Spanish patients with sporadic or familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

We performed a genetic analysis of the Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene (SOD1) in Spanish patients with sporadic or familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We found mutations in 2 of 11 families (18%) with ALS. In addition, 1 of the 87 sporadic ALS patients studied harbored a mutation in the same gene. We identified G37R in exon 2 of the SOD1 gene in 1 family. Another patient, with sporadic ALS, showed a novel N65S in exon 3. In addition, we found a novel I112M in exon 4 in another family. Our data highlight the genetic heterogeneity of patients with ALS harboring mutations in the SOD1 gene and confirm that families with autosomal dominant inheritance of the trait, regardless of their ethnic background, are more likely to carry mutations in such a gene.

Serum levels of coenzyme Q in patients with Lewy body disease.

The purpose of the present study was to compare serum levels of coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)) and the coenzyme Q(10) cholesterol (CoQ(10)/cholesterol) ratio in 18 patients with Lewy body disease (LBD) with 20 matched controls. The mean serum coenzyme Q10 levels in patients with LBD were significantly reduced with respect to control group, however, no differences were found in CoQ(10)/cholesterol ratio between LBD patients and control group. There was no correlation among CoQ(10) and CoQ(10)/cholesterol ratio with age, age of onset, body mass index, duration of the disease or scores of the Mini Mental State Examination, UPDRS and Hoehn and Yahr stage. These results suggest the involvement of this enzimatic system in the pathogenic mechanism of LBD.

Cerebrospinal fluid levels of thiamine in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Thiamine is an essential cofactor for several important enzymes involved in brain oxidative metabolism, such as the alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complex (KGDHC), pyruvate-dehydrogenase complex (PDHC), and transketolase. Some investigators reported decreased thiamine-diphosphate levels and decreased activities of KGDHC, pyruvate-dehydrogenase complex and transketolase in the brain tissue of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. We measured cerebrospinal (CSF) levels of thiamine-diphosphate, thiamine-monophosphate, free thiamine, and total thiamine, using ion-pair reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography, in 33 patients with sporadic AD and 32 matched controls. The mean CSF levels of thiamine-derivatives did not differ significantly from those of controls, while the mean plasma levels of thiamine-diphosphate, free and total thiamine were significantly lower in the AD-patient group. CSF and plasma thiamine levels were not correlated with age, age at onset, duration of the disease, and scores of the MiniMental State Examination, with the exception of plasma thiamine-diphosphate with MiniMental State Examination (r = 0.41, p < 0.05) in the AD-patients group. CSF and plasma values did not predict dementia progression, assessed with the MiniMental State Examination scores. These results suggest that CSF thiamine levels are not related with the risk for and the progression of AD.

Physical properties and composition of femurs of rat fed with diets based on corn tortillas made from different processes.

In this study the effect of calcium absorption on some physical properties and composition of rat femurs was evaluated, comparing rats fed with raw whole corn (RC), tortillas made from extruded masa with 0.25% lime content (TEWL) and without lime (TE), and nixtamal tortillas (NT). The diets were formulated to contain the same amount of protein, oil, fiber, vitamins and minerals other than calcium. In all diets 0.20% calcium was added. At the end of the trials, the femurs were extracted, weighed and measured for ash, calcium and phosphorus content, some physical dimensions, and the crystallinity percentage. The femurs of rats fed with TEWL and NT were heavier, thicker, longer and had higher calcium content. On the other hand, the force required to break the femur of rats fed on ETWL and NT was 1.25 kg greater than that required to break the femurs of rats fed with RC. Higher crystallinity percentage values were observed in the femurs of the rats fed with NT (37.66%) and TEWL (36.98%) as compared to a 30.31% value obtained with the RC.

Cosegregation of the mitochondrial DNA A1555G and G4309A mutations results in deafness and mitochondrial myopathy.

We report a patient with progressive external ophthalmoplegia (PEO), exercise intolerance, and deafness after aminoglycoside exposure, harboring two pathogenic mutations in her mtDNA: an A1555G in the 12S rRNA gene and a G4309A in the tRNA(Ile) gene. Muscle histochemistry showed abundant ragged-red fibers, and biochemistry revealed normal respiratory chain function. The A1555G mutation was homoplasmic in blood from the proband and from all maternal relatives. The G4309A mutation was abundant in the proband's muscle, less abundant in her blood, still less abundant in the mother's blood, and absent in blood from other maternal relatives. Family members were asymptomatic. Our data suggest that the former mutation resulted in aminoglycoside-induced deafness and the latter caused PEO plus exercise intolerance.

Twin-screw extrusion of cassava starch and isolated soybean protein blends.

The effects of the extrusion parameters on isolated soybean protein (ISP) and cassava starch (CS) blends were studied. Extruded samples were prepared by using a ZSK-30 Werner and Pfleiderer twin-screw extruder. The study was carried out using Response Surface Methodology. The ISP followed by the moisture content were the most important linear variables significantly affecting axial expansion, specific volume, water solubility index and colour difference. The radial and axial expansion ranged from 2.30 to 3.77 and from 1.02 to 2.62, respectively. The highest ISP concentrations in the blends resulted in the highest specific volumes of the extrudates. Simultaneous increases of the barrel temperature and ISP level increased the water absorption index and lowered the water solubility index of the extrudates. Extruded products were softer at higher barrel temperature. The greatest difference in colour values was for the blends with the highest ISP concentration.