First measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters using neutrinos and antineutrinos by NOvA.

The NOvA experiment has seen a 4.4σ signal of ν[over ¯]_{e} appearance in a 2 GeV ν[over ¯]_{µ} beam at a distance of 810 km. Using 12.33×10^{20} protons on target delivered to the Fermilab NuMI neutrino beamline, the experiment recorded 27 ν[over ¯]_{µ}→ν[over ¯]_{e} candidates with a background of 10.3 and 102 ν[over ¯]_{µ}→ν[over ¯]_{µ} candidates. This new antineutrino data are combined with neutrino data to measure the parameters |Δm_{32}^{2}|=2.48_{-0.06}^{+0.11}×10^{-3} eV^{2}/c^{4} and sin^{2}θ_{23} in the ranges from (0.53-0.60) and (0.45-0.48) in the normal neutrino mass hierarchy. The data exclude most values near δ_{CP}=π/2 for the inverted mass hierarchy by more than 3σ and favor the normal neutrino mass hierarchy by 1.9σ and θ_{23} values in the upper octant by 1.6σ.

Oxidative post-translational modifications controlling plant-pathogen interaction.

Pathogen recognition is linked to the perception of microbe/pathogen-associated molecular patterns triggering a specific and transient accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) at the pathogen attack site. The apoplastic oxidative "burst" generated at the pathogen attack site depends on the ROS-generator systems including enzymes such as plasma membrane NADP (H) oxidases, cell wall peroxidases and lipoxygenase. ROS are cytotoxic molecules that inhibit invading pathogens or signalling molecules that control the local and systemic induction of defence genes. Post-translational modifications induced by ROS are considered as a potential signalling mechanism that can modify protein structure and/or function, localisation and cellular stability. Thus, this review focuses on how ROS are essential molecules regulating the function of proteins involved in the plant response to a pathogen attack through post-translational modifications.

[Interferon-alpha2b recombinant improved the cognitive dysfunction in patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis]. / El interferón-alpha2b recombinante mejora la disfunción cognitiva en pacientes con esclerosis múltiple.

INTRODUCTION: Some experimental, Phase II clinical trials and the preliminary reports of the Cuban Phase III clinical trial indicate that alpha-IFN (IFN) may be useful in relapsing remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis (MS). The reports in Cuba showed that 70% of the MS patients have cognitive dysfunction. OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of IFN-alpha2b recombinant in the cognitive dysfunction of RR MS. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 57 RR-MS clinical definite patients from the randomised, double blind, placebo controlled study of 225 patients with RR-MS and brain MRI confirmed. Patients were randomly assigned to receive intramuscular IFN-alpha2b (Heberon R) 10 million IU (high dose), 3 million IU (low dose) or placebo twice week for 2 years. Outcome results were blinding evaluated considering changes in the following tests: Luria, WAIS, Benton and PASAT-3. Adverse events and side effects were not evaluated to maintain physician blinding. RESULTS: The initial comparison of the groups did not show any differences among the placebo (n=20), low dose (n=18) and high dose (n=19) considering age (p=0.234), gender, ethnic group (p=0.012), years ill (p=0.787), EDSS (p=0.203) and rate of relapses (p=0.432). The Luria's Test showed an improved in the low dose group from 2.50 +/- 1.34 to 1.39 +/- 1.85 (p=0.029) and in the high dose group from 3.22 +/- 1.89 to 2.17 +/- 1.50 (p=0.006) vs placebo 2.85 +/- 1.66 to 2.90 +/- 1.97 (p=0.723). The results of the Benton's test demonstrated that the low dose group had an improved from 5.50 +/- 1.10 to 6.22 +/- 1.31 (p=0.047), in the high dose group from 4.87 +/- 1.85 to 5.78 +/- 1.35 (p=0.005) where as in the placebo group worse from 5.15 +/- 1.76 to 5.05 +/- 2.11 (p=0.893). The WAIS test showed the same results, the low dose group increased from 5.17 +/- 1.34 to 6.06 +/- 1.21 (p=0.022), the high dose group from 4.56 +/- 1.38 to 5.39 +/- 1.29 (p=0.007) and the placebo group worse from 5.25 +/- 1.25 to 5.05 +/- 1.57 (p=0.354). Finally, the PASAT-3 test increased in the IFNs groups: from 45.72 +/- 10.61 to 49.94 +/- 11.68 (p=0.015) in the low dose group, from 42.67 +/- 11.04 to 48.72 +/- 8.84 (p=0.03) in the high dose group, but in the placebo group worse from 44.55 +/- 10.86 to 41.95 +/- 13.74 (p=0.655). CONCLUSION: IFN-alpha improved the cognitive dysfunction in RR-MS patients. The higher dose is more beneficial.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome in the trauma intensive care unit: the other view

OBJECTIVE: To study the timeliness of the diagnosis of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)/acute lung injury (ALI) at the Puerto Rico Trauma Center (PRTC) and to determine the overall 28 day mortality for ARDS during the study period. METHOD: A retrospective review of all admissions to the Trauma Intensive Care Unit (TICU) from August 2000 to August 2001 was done. Patients with the diagnosis of ARDS/ALI were selected, records examined, and clinical data obtained for analysis. FINDINGS: Of the 537 patient admitted to the PRTC, 236 patient were admitted to TICU. Of these, 17 patients were identified as having hypoxemic ratios below 200 and 13 patients were identified as having ARDS as established by the American-European Consensus Conference of 1994. Their mean age was 41 years, the main cause of ARDS was due to pulmonary contusion due to blunt chest trauma. The 28-day survival for this group was 43 per cent. Subgroup analysis showed that there was 86 per cent mortality when the polytraumatized patient developed sepsis. CONCLUSION: The majority of the cases of ARDS were correctly identified as such by caregivers at the time of diagnosis. Mortality as predicted by Injury Severity Score in our ARDS patients' correlates with overall mortality in our TICU. Mortality in this group is lower than that of reported literature, in sharp contrast to our medical ICU counterparts.

Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome: a need for education

OBJECTIVE: To examine the timeliness of the diagnosis of patients with ALI/ARDS at the San Juan VA Medical Intensive Care Unit. We were also interested in determining the incidence and the overall 28-day mortality for ARDS during the study period. METHODS: Retrospective record review of all admissions to the San Juan Veterans Affairs Medical ICU during a two-year period (1997-1998). RESULTS: During the study period, 587 patients were admitted to the medical ICU. All had APACHE II scoring performed during their first 24 hours of admission. Twenty-three patients were found to have an A-a gradient of 350 or less. However, two patients were later identified as having radiographic changes compatible with Congestive Heart Failure and were excluded from the study. The incidence of ALI/ARDS was found to be 3.6 per cent at our institution. Of the 21 patients with ARDS, in only 4 the diagnosis of ARDS was documented on their charts. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that education in the recognition of ARDS should be aggressively done. In order to implement the recently published successful strategies in the mechanical ventilation of patients with ARDS, it should be first recognized. Our patients need it.

[A severe episode in a patient with recurrent disseminated acute encephalitis due to vaccination against hepatitis B. For or against vaccination?]. / Brote grave en paciente con encefalitis aguda diseminada recurrente por vacuna contra LA hepatitis B: A favor o en contra de la Vacunación?

INTRODUCTION: Several reports of new cases of CNS demyelination or reactivation of MS after hepatitis B vaccination have raised the possibility of a causal relationship. Conversely, some authors have concluded that the risk of developing a demyelinating CNS event after a hepatitis B vaccination is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have observed a 40 year old man, with diabetes mellitus (DM) type 1 and a previous history of recurrent acute demyelinating encephalomyelitis (rADEM). The patient had experienced three episodes of neurological dysfunction and he fulfilled the criteria for definite clinical MS but MRI showed demyelinating lesions in the pons and cerebellum without MRI criteria of MS. CSF analysis showed oligoclonal banding. The patient had been clinically stable during the last 6 years. Yearly MRI during this period had not shown any new disease activity. He was admitted in our MS Clinic due to dizziness, nausea, vomiting and diplopia, 6 weeks after the first of the two injections for hepatitis B vaccine after participating in the national programme of vaccination in DM type 1 patients. Clinical examination showed intranuclear ophtalmoplegia, visual loss in the left eye and worsening of the previous cerebellar and pyramidal signs. MRI showed an increase in the old lesions with high intensity signals on T2 weighted sequences with post gadolinium enhancement on T1 weighted sequences located in the brainstem and mesencephalon. The patient s diabetes mellitus deteriorated with ketoacidosis that needed increased doses of insulin. His condition worsened and he developed partial motor seizures. He improved 15 days later but he still had involvement of the cerebellar and pyramidal systems and occasional dizziness. CONCLUSIONS: As pointed out by some authors and in view of this observation, it would seem reasonable, as a precautionary measure, to avoid hepatitis B vaccination in patients with a personal or family history of symptoms suggestive of a demyelinating disease of the CNS.

Brote grave en paciente con encefalitis aguda diseminada recurrente por vacuna contra la hepatitis B.¿A favor o en contra de la vacunación? / A severe episode in a patient with recurrent disseminated acute encephalitis due to vaccination against hepatitis b. For or against vaccination?

Introducción. Varios estudios han informado de casos nuevos de desmielinización del SNC o de reactivación de la esclerosis múltiple (EM) después de una vacunación contra la hepatitis B (HB). A la inversa, algunos autores han llegado a la conclusión de que se desconoce el riesgo de desarrollar un fenómeno de desmielinización del SNC tras una vacunación HB. Pacientes y métodos. Hemos observado el caso de un hombre de 40 años de edad con diabetes mellitus (DM) del tipo I e historia previa de encefalomielitis con desmielinización aguda recurrente (EDA-r). Había experimentado tres episodios de disfunción neurológica y cumplido los criterios de EM clínicamente definida, pero la RM mostró lesiones en el tallo cerebral y en el cerebelo sin criterio de EM por RM. El análisis del LCR mostró bandas oligoclonales. Había permanecido estable clínicamente durante los últimos seis años, sin mostrar actividad alguna de la enfermedad. Ingresó en clínica por EM porque padecía mareos, náuseas, vómitos y diplopía, seis semanas después de las dos primeras inyecciones contra la hepatitis, dentro del programa nacional de vacunación de los pacientes de DM del tipo I. El examen clínico mostró oftalmoplejía intranuclear, pérdida de visión del ojo izquierdo y afectación de los signos cerebelares y piramidales previos. La RM mostró un aumento de las viejas lesiones, con señales de alta intensidad en las secuencias de imágenes en T2 y aumento de posgadolinio en los sitios de las secuencias de imágenes en T1 del tronco cerebral y el mesencéfalo. La DM se deterioró con cetoacidosis, por lo que se aumentaron las dosis de insulina. Empeoró y desarrolló ataques convulsivos motores parciales. A los 15 días mejoró, pero todavía sufría afectación de los sistemas cerebelares y piramidales, y mareos ocasionales. Conclusiones. Parece razonable, como medida de precaución, evitar la vacunación HB en pacientes con historia personal o familiar de síntomas sugestivos de una enfermedad desmielinizante del SNC (AU)

Inter-population differences in the essential oils of Pinus caribaea needles.

Differences in volatile terpene content of Pinus caribaea needles and soil qualities between two pine plantations (Uverito and Sartenejas) in Venezuela were analyzed. Soils in the Uverito pine plantation were sandy, low in nutritional quality, and deficient in available nitrogen and phosphorus content. Pines grown on these soils presented in their needles higher concentrations of alpha-pinene, camphene, sabinene, myrcene+alpha-phellandrene mixture, beta-phellandrene, beta-caryophyllene, alpha-humulene, and a higher total monoterpene content than pines of the Sartenejas plantation, where soils were nutritionally richer and higher in nitrogen and phosphorus content. The hypothesis of the carbon/nutrient balance could explain these results. Alternatively, continuous stress on the pines of the Uverito plantation due to herbivory by the leafcutter ant Atta laevigata may induce, in part, the differences observed between these pines and those of the Sartenejas plantation.

Efecto farmacológico de la caesalpinia vesicaria en animales de experimentación con hiperplasia prostática

En una investigación realizada en el bioterio de la Facultad de Ciencias Médicas de Cienfuegos en el período comprendido entre los meses de enero a mayo de 1997, se pudo demostrar el efecto que tiene la Caesalpinia lam en la Hiperplasia Benigna de Próstata inducida por enantato de testosterona (100 mg) en animales de experimentación, el árbol fue colectado en lazona de La Sierrita del municipio de Cumanayagua de esta provincia y certificada por especialistas del jardín botánico, posteriormente, se dividió la muestra de trabajo en cuatro grupos con ocho ratas cada uno de la línea sprague dowley categoría convencional,formándose dos grupos controles y dos para la aplicación del tratamiento a diferentes concentraciones; a partir de la investigación se obtuvieron datos obre el peso corporal del animal y los niveles de fosfatasa ácida antes y al finuir este. Los datos fueron procesados mediante computación y se comprobó que esta planta disminuye los valores de fosfatasa ácida en la hiperplasia benigna de próstata de impuesto el tratamiento médico y que tiene un efecto importante en la disminución del tamaño de la próstata y el índice prostático

Estudio multicentrico, abierto, no comparativo sobre la seguridad y eficacia de sulbactam cefoperazona en infecciones bacterianas moderadas y severas / Non comparative multicentric study over security and efficacy of sulbactam cefoperazone in moderate and severe in bacterials infections

La eficacia y seguridad de sulbactam/cefoperazona fue evaluada en un estudio multicéntrico, abierto, no comparativo, usado como monoterapia. Doscientos dieciseis pacientes entraron inicialmente al estudio, siendo excluidos 42, por haber recibido antibioticoterapia concomiante. Ciento setenta y cuatro pacientes adultos (99M, 75 F), con rango de edad de 13 a 83 años fueron tratados con sulbactam/cefoperazona como monoterapia, en proporción 1:2, vía endovenosa, presentando 102 (59 por ciento) pacientes infecciones severas, y, 72(41 por ciento) infecciones moderadas. La localización de las infecciones fueron: piel y tejidos blandos (n=54,31 por ciento), abdominales (n=54,31 por ciento), infecciones respiratorias bajas (n=40,23 por ciento), tracto biliar (n=9,5 por ciento), tracto urinario (n=9,5 por ciento), área ginecológica (n=3,2 por ciento) y otras (n=5,3 por ciento). Ciento sesenta y uno (93 por ciento) de las infecciones fueron agudas, nueve (5 por ciento) crónicas y, 4 (2 por ciento) recurrentes. Los gérmenes obtenidos con mayor frecuencia el cultivo inicial fueron P. aeruginosa (27,16 por ciento), E.coli (n=23,13 por ciento), E.cloacae (n=14,8 por ciento), S. aureus (n=7,4 por ciento). La dosis diaria administrada de sulbactam/cefoperazona osciló entre 3 y 9 gr/día (media 4,6g/día), durante 1-70 días (media 10 días). Ciento cuarenta y cuatro pacientes fueron evaluados clínicamente, obteniéndose curación en 112 pacientes (78 por ciento), mejoría en 24 (17 por ciento), y falla en 8 pacientes (5 por ciento). Se incluyeron 96 pacientes para evaluación bacteriológica, reportándose erradicación en 88 (91 por ciento) y, persistencia en 8 (9 por ciento). Se presentaron efectos adversos en 9 pacientes (5 por ciento): rash, prolongación del PTT, cefalea, escalofríos y diarrea. Con un 95 por ciento de respuesta clínica satisfactoria, 91 por ciento de erradicación bacteriológica y buena tolerancia concluimos que sulbactam/cefoperazona usado como monoterapia es una buena elección para el tratamiento de infecciones moderadas y severas.

Contaminación por radiaciones ionizantes / Contamination by ionizing radiations

El personal que trabaja en el Departamento de Radiología, recibe una sobrecarga de radiación mucho mayor que cada uno de los pacientes, que por regla general se exploran unas pocas veces en su vida. Los autores demuestran la importancia de las medidas preventivas en el manejo de los equipos, la disciplina en el trabajo, la impecable técnica, la permanencia del operador en la zona de sombra, el empleo de protectores plomados, el control médico, las ausencias periódicas legales y el uso de dosímetros que minimizan el riesgo de sobre irradiación en el personal del Departamento de Radiologia del Hospital Naval "Dr Raúl Perdomo Hurtado", donde se disparan más de cuarenta mil placas al año