Biochemical Response of the Endogeic Earthworm (Balanteodrilus extremus) Exposed to Tropical Soils.

This work evaluated the biochemical responses of the endogeic earthworm Balanteodrilus extremus exposed for 14 and 48 days (d) to soils collected from two tropical agricultural systems: maize-sorghum (MS) and soybean-sorghum (SS). A soil without agricultural management (WAM) and the use of pesticides was selected as a reference. The presence of organochlorine (OC) and organophosphate (OP) pesticide residues was quantified in MS and SS soils. Biomarkers of detoxification [glutathione S transferase (GST)], neurotoxicity [acetylcholinesterase (AChE)] and oxidative stress [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and lipoperoxidation (LPO)] were evaluated in B. extremus. The concentration of OP pesticide residues was higher in SS than in MS. Activity of AChE in B. extremus exposed to SS soil for 14 d was significantly more inhibited (78%) than in MS soil (68%). B. extremus has been shown to be a good bioindicator of contaminated soils in tropical regions.

Evaluation of an intervention to improve the management of allergens in school food services in the city of Barcelona

BACKGROUND: An intervention to promote the development of an allergen control plan (ACP) and preventive measures for the management of allergens in school food services was implemented in all schools of Barcelona city over a three-year period (2013-2015) by the public health services. The present study aimed to assess changes regarding the management of food allergens in school food services in Barcelona after an intervention conducted by the public health services of the city. METHODS: School meal operators of a random sample of 117 schools were assessed before and after the intervention using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected general information on the students and their demand for special menus, and included 17 closed questions regarding the implementation of specific preventive measures for the management of allergens. Based on these 17 questions, a food safety score was calculated for each school. The improvement in these scores was evaluated. RESULTS: The results showed positive increments in the percentage of implementation of 12 of the 17 preventive measures assessed. The percentage of school food services with an implemented ACP increased by 49%. Schools with external and internal food supplies increased their scores by 16.5% and 19.6%, respectively. The greatest improvements were observed in smaller food services and in schools located in districts with low gross household incomes. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was effective in improving school food services' management of allergens and in reducing the differences found among food services in the pre-intervention survey. We must also focus efforts on reducing socio-economic inequalities linked to the management of allergens

No disponible

Evaluation of an intervention to improve the management of allergens in school food services in the city of Barcelona.

BACKGROUND: An intervention to promote the development of an allergen control plan (ACP) and preventive measures for the management of allergens in school food services was implemented in all schools of Barcelona city over a three-year period (2013-2015) by the public health services. The present study aimed to assess changes regarding the management of food allergens in school food services in Barcelona after an intervention conducted by the public health services of the city. METHODS: School meal operators of a random sample of 117 schools were assessed before and after the intervention using a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire collected general information on the students and their demand for special menus, and included 17 closed questions regarding the implementation of specific preventive measures for the management of allergens. Based on these 17 questions, a food safety score was calculated for each school. The improvement in these scores was evaluated. RESULTS: The results showed positive increments in the percentage of implementation of 12 of the 17 preventive measures assessed. The percentage of school food services with an implemented ACP increased by 49%. Schools with external and internal food supplies increased their scores by 16.5% and 19.6%, respectively. The greatest improvements were observed in smaller food services and in schools located in districts with low gross household incomes. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention was effective in improving school food services' management of allergens and in reducing the differences found among food services in the pre-intervention survey. We must also focus efforts on reducing socio-economic inequalities linked to the management of allergens.

[Double J stent removal's cost estimate using a re-sterilizable fibroscope in a French private structure]. / Évaluation du coût en structure privée d'une ablation de sonde double J en externe à l'aide d'un fibroscope re-stérilisable.

In front of the arrival of new devices intended to simplify the removal of double J stent, it poses the problem of the knowledge of the real cost of such an ablation under the current conditions of realization. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a monocentric economic evaluation of cost and remuneration needed data-gathering of quotation (CCAM, GHS/SE, …), estimate of the associated costs of wear and damping of the endoscopic equipments (endoscopes, cables, …), estimate of the cost of sterilization, estimate of the associated costs to the intervention of staff (Auxiliary nurse [AS] and Nurse [IDE]) with timing of the various tasks. RESULTS: Quotation CCAM JCGE004 (48€) gives access to fixed price SE1 (73.71€ for private clinic, and 75.89€ for public institution) without hospitalization nor anaesthesia. The costs were reported to an act of single double J removal. Concerning the equipments: 4.42€HT for the fibroscopes, graspers, cable and light. The costs of sterilization were: 17.95€HT. The timed workforce's costs were: 7.61-9.51€ for AS and 9.92-10.84€ for IDE. The cost of consumable was about 1.37 €HT, by excluding the common base from the extractions (1.876€HT). The total costs in France in 2016 were thus about 47.4 to 50.496€ including all taxes. CONCLUSIONS: This estimate will be used certainly for reflection on the investments and the future studies of the economic impact of the new devices of extraction, by correlating it of course with the various maintenance contracts from each institution. LEVEL OF PROOF: 4.

Bloat control operators and diversity in genetic programming: a comparative study.

This paper reports a comparison of several bloat control methods and also evaluates a recent proposal for limiting the size of the individuals: a genetic operator called prune and plant. The aim of this work is to test the adequacy of this method. Since a preliminary study of the method has already shown promising results, we have performed a thorough study in a set of benchmark problems aiming at demonstrating the utility of the new approach. Prune and plant has obtained results that maintain the quality of the final solutions in terms of fitness while achieving a substantial reduction of the mean tree size in all four problem domains considered. In addition, in one of these problem domains, prune and plant has demonstrated to be better in terms of fitness, size reduction, and time consumption than any of the other bloat control techniques under comparison. The experimental part of the study presents a comparison of performance in terms of phenotypic and genotypic diversity. This comparison study can provide the practitioner with some relevant clues as to which bloat control method is better suited to a particular problem and whether the advantage of a method does or does not derive from its influence on the genetic pool diversity.

Monitorización intratraqueal de gases en anestesia / Intratracheal gases monitoring in anaesthesia

Los avances tecnológicos en el análisis de gases y su incorporación a todas las máquinas actuales de anestesia han permitido la monitorización de los agentes halogenados en la anestesia inhalatoria. El primer descubrimiento de la monitorización intratraqueal encontró que el ETCO2 intratraqueal era muy similar a los valores alveolares de ETCO2 porque sus valores eran casi los mismos que los valores arteriales. Además estos eran diferentes a los valores extratraqueales aunque existía una buena correlación. Sin embargo, las diferencias intra- y extratraqueales de los gases halogenados y el N2O no fueron estudiados. Recientemente se han descubierto diferencias significativas en la monitorización intratraqueal de gases. Este tipo de monitorización puede ser muy útil en el futuro en pacientes críticos, pediátricos y ofrecer un buen control del Et de los vapores halogenados cuando no se dispone de sistemas de monitorización de hipnosis. Son analizadas las ventajas e inconvenientes de este tipo novedoso de monitorización intratraqueal con un prometedor futuro (AU)

Technology advantages in gases analyse and their supply inmost anaesthesia machines have improved halogenated agents monitoring in inhaled anaesthesia. The first discovering about endotracheal monitoring found intratracheal ETCO2 were very similar to alveolar ETCO2 because their values were almost the same to arterial values. Moreover these ones are different to extratracheal values but there were good correlation level. However, intra and extratracheal differences of halogenated gases and N2O were not studied. Lately, it has discovered significant differences in intratracheal gases monitoring during paediatric anaesthesia. This kind of monitoring can be very useful in the future in critical, paediatric patients and offers a good control of Et halogenated vapors when we don’t have hypnosis monitoring. Advantages and disadvantages are studied of this new intratracheal monitoring system with a promised future (AU)

Monitorización de las presiones intratraqueales en anestesia / No disponible

Durante la monitorización anestésica, la presión de la vía aérea se obtiene en el respirador o en la conexión más proximal al tubo endotraqueal. La diferencia de las mediciones de las presiones dentro y fuera de la tráquea se debe a la resistencia del tubo, de manera que los valores de la presión pico extratraqueal son mayores que los valores de la presión máxima traqueal. Existen diferentes métodos de medición de presiones intratraqueales. Los más utilizados son las sondas rellenas de gas o suero, de luz terminal o lateral. Otros métodos con sensores distales y sondas de fibra óptica o electrodos también han sido utilizados. A pesar de la dificultad para interpretar los bucles de presión volumen y el trabajo respiratorio, estos sistemas tienen un futuro prometedor en la monitorización de pacientes críticos, pediátricos y de distrés respiratorio (AU)

During anaesthesia monitoring, airway pressure is obtained inside the anaesthesia machine or in the connecting more proximal to endotracheal tube. The difference in the measurement of pressure inside or outside of trachea is due to the tube resistance, so the pick pressure extratracheal values are higher than pick pressure intratracheal values. There are different methods of intratracheal pressure measurement. The most used to gas or liquid full cannulas, with lateral or end tip. Other methods with distal sensor and optic fibber or electrodes have been used too. In spite of the difficulty for interpretation of pressure-volume loops and work breathing, these systems have a promising future in critical, paediatric and distress patients monitoring (AU)

[Sequential microbiological monitoring of tracheal aspirates in intubated patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit]. / Monitoramento microbiológico seqüencial da secreção traqueal em pacientes intubados internados em unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, sequentially, tracheal aspirates from patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit and to associate these pathogens with length of hospital stay, previous use of antimicrobial therapy and diagnoses of ventilator-associated pneumonia. METHODS: The study population consisted of patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit, between November 2002 and December 2003, on ventilator support. Three tracheal aspirates were collected serially from each patient. The first tracheal aspirate sample was obtained 6 hours after admission to the intensive care unit and the remaining samples were collected after 48 and 96 hours. RESULTS: One hundred patients aged from one day to 14 years were assessed. Positive tracheal cultures were observed to have increased in the three tracheal aspirate samples collected from each patient for Pseudomonas aeruginosa, from 6 to 22% (p = 0.002), and to have decreased for Staphylococcus aureus, from 23 to 8% (p = 0.009). Isolation of Candida spp increased for the subset that had received previous antimicrobial therapy (p < 0.05). Sixteen (23.5%) out of 68 patients admitted without pneumonia developed ventilator-associated pneumonia. Positive tracheal aspirate cultures were obtained in 10 out of 16 of these patients: six were positive for Staphylococcus aureus (three associated with Acinetobacter baumanii), two for Klebsiella spp (one associated with Enterobacter spp), one for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and one for Candida spp. CONCLUSION: Sequential evaluation of tracheal aspirates may be useful to track changes in bacterial flora at pediatric intensive care units.

Monitoramento microbiológico seqüencial da secreção traqueal em pacientes intubados internados em unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica / Sequential microbiological monitoring of tracheal aspirates in intubated patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit

OBJETIVO: Estudar seqüencialmente a flora traqueal em pacientes internados em unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica e associar esta flora com o tempo de internação, a utilização prévia de antimicrobianos e o diagnóstico de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica. MÉTODOS: A população estudada foi constituída de pacientes pediátricos admitidos em uma unidade de terapia intensiva pediátrica entre novembro de 2002 e dezembro de 2003 e submetidos a ventilação mecânica. Foram coletadas três amostras seriadas de secreção traqueal de cada paciente. A primeira coleta foi realizada dentro das primeiras 6 horas após a admissão, e as amostras seguintes, depois de 48 e 96 horas. RESULTADOS: Foram estudados 100 pacientes com idade entre 1 dia e 14 anos. Nas três coletas realizadas, observou-se um aumento do percentual de culturas positivas para Pseudomonas aeruginosa, de 6 para 22 por cento (p = 0,002), e também uma diminuição das culturas positivas para Staphylococcus aureus, de 23 para 8 por cento (p = 0,009). No grupo com uso prévio de antimicrobianos, houve maior freqüência de isolamento de Candida spp (p < 0,05). Dezesseis (23,5 por cento) dos 68 pacientes que foram internados sem diagnóstico de pneumonia desenvolveram pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica. Em relação à cultura de secreção traqueal desses pacientes, foram obtidas culturas positivas em 10 casos: seis S. aureus (com três Acinetobacter baumanni concomitantes), dois Klebsiella spp. (com um Enterobacter spp. concomitante), um Candida spp. e um P. aeruginosa. CONCLUSÃO: O monitoramento seqüencial da secreção traqueal pode ser útil na avaliação das alterações da flora microbiana nas unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica.

A biochemistry and molecular biology course for secondary school teachers*.

This article describes a course for reinforcing the knowledge of biochemistry in secondary school science teachers. The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the University of Barcelona designed a course to bring these teachers up to date with this discipline. In addition to updating their knowledge of biochemistry and molecular biology, this course aims to provide teachers with a set of relevant laboratory practices that can be applied in their practical lessons.

Temperature induces variations in the retinal cell proliferation rate in a cyprinid.

We quantitatively evaluate the changes of the proliferative cell populations in the adult tench retinas maintained at 6 degrees C and 20 degrees C by both PCNA antigen detection and flow cytometry-based DNA measurements. Both the overall percentage of S-phase cells in the whole retinas and the number of PCNA-positive cells in each of the retinal layers were significantly lower in the tench kept at 6 degrees C, indicating that temperature affects the retinal germinal cell proliferation.

Concentrations of nucleotides, nucleosides, purine bases, oxypurines, uric acid, and neuron-specific enolase in the cerebrospinal fluid of children with sepsis.

To determine the effects of sepsis on cerebral energy metabolism, the cerebrospinal fluid adenosine monophosphate, inosine monophosphate, inosine, adenosine, guanosine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, and urate concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and the neuron-specific enolase levels by means of an enzyme immunoassay method in 32 children with sepsis, without meningitis, aged between 2 months and 13 years, and in 160 age-matched controls. The septic group had significantly higher cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of inosine, adenosine, xanthine, and urate than controls. These results suggest that sepsis could provoke some degree of neuronal hypoxia and significant alterations of cerebral energy metabolism homeostasis.

Detection of macroglial cells in the fish optic nerve by intracellular injection in fixed tissue / Detección de células macrogliales en el nervio óptico de peces mediante inyección intracelular en tejido fijado

In this study we made intracellular injections of Lucifer Yellow fluorochrome into macroglial cells, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes of the fixed optic nerve of tench (Tinca tinca). From their three-dimensional morphology, we identified oligodendrocytes and at least four different types of astrocytes, both in the central zones of the nerve and in that forming part of the glia limitans. Moreover, we have identified and described groups of associated astrocytes (AU)

En este estudio realizamos inyecciones intracelulares del fluorocromo Amarillo Lucifer en las células macrogliales, astrocitos y oligodendrocitos del nervio óptico fijado de la tenca (Tinca tinca). En base a su morfología tridimensional, pudimos identificar oligodendrocitos y al menos cuatro tipos distintos de astrocitos, tanto en las zonas centrales del nervio como en la zona que forma parte de la glia limitans. Adicionalmente, identificamos y describimos grupos de astrositos asociados (AU)

Non-neuronal cells involved in the degeneration and regeneration of the fish retina.

In the present work we show that during the degenerative process occurring after the cryo-elimination of the tench peripheral growing zone many non-neuronal cell types in addition to the resident microglial cells, appear within the affected areas. Some of them are normally found in the retina, such as the retinal pigmented epithelium cells and others originate from extra-retinal tissues. We identified these as granular leukocytes and macrophages. The microglial cells and macrophages, those resident in the sub-retinal space, and the invasive ones, act as phagocytes. The analysis of the injured retina following lesion shows that the invasive macrophages, arising from the scleral extra-retinal tissues, penetrate the neural retina, and migrate from the scleral to the vitreal portion. In contrast those coming from the vitreal extra-retinal tissues migrate in the opposite direction. Moreover, the retinal pigmented epithelium cells present remarkable modifications in their morphology and distribution and enter the neural retina, where they disrupt the surrounding tissue. We have also observed that this cryo-lesion causes an inflammation mediated by a type of granular leukocyte, denominated heterophils which penetrate the neural retina and probably come from the blood supply. Our results suggest that, during the first days after the lesion, the participation of diverse non-neuronal cells removing cell debris from the damaged zone should create a favourable environment allowing the regeneration of the neural retina.

Cerebrospinal fluid purine metabolite and neuron-specific enolase concentrations after febrile seizures.

If febrile seizures cause significant compromise of neuronal metabolism (whether permanent or reversible), this should be reflected in an increase in the cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and/or adenosine triphosphate (ATP) breakdown products. In the present study, AMP, IMP, inosine, adenosine, guanosine, adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid and NSE concentrations were determined in the cerebrospinal fluid of 90 children 1 h after febrile seizure (73 simple febrile seizures (SFS); 17 complex febrile seizures (CFS)), and in a control group of 160 children. There was no statistically significant difference between the SFS group and the control group for any of the substances determined, suggesting that SFS neither significantly depletes neuronal ATP concentration, nor significantly increases NSE concentration; thus, SFS do not appear to constitute a threat to neuronal integrity. However, patients with CFS showed significantly lower IMP concentrations and significantly higher adenine concentrations than controls, and significantly higher AMP concentrations than SFS patients; these results suggest that CFS may affect energy metabolism in the brain. However, NSE concentrations were normal in the cerebrospinal fluid of both SFS and CFS patients, suggesting that neither type of seizure causes significant neuronal damage, at least early after the seizure.

Identification of two essential glutamic acid residues in glycogen synthase.

The detailed catalytic mechanism by which glycosyltransferases catalyze the transfer of a glycosyl residue from a donor sugar to an acceptor is not known. Through the multiple alignment of all known eukaryotic glycogen synthases we have found an invariant 17-amino acid stretch enclosed within the most conserved region of the members of this family. This peptide includes an E-X(7)-E motif, which is highly conserved in four families of retaining glycosyltransferases. Site-directed mutagenesis was performed in human muscle glycogen synthase to analyze the roles of the two conserved Glu residues (Glu-510 and Glu-518) of the motif. Proteins were transiently expressed in COS-1 cells as fusions to green fluorescence protein. The E510A and E518A mutant proteins retained the ability to translocate from the nucleus to the cytosol in response to glucose and to bind to intracellular glycogen. Although the E518A variant had approximately 6% of the catalytic activity shown by the green fluorescence protein-human muscle glycogen synthase fusion protein, the E510A mutation inactivated the enzyme. These results led us to conclude that the E-X(7)-E motif is part of the active site of eukaryotic glycogen synthases and that both conserved Glu residues are involved in catalysis. We propose that Glu-510 may function as the nucleophile and Glu-518 as the general acid/base catalyst.

Neuron-specific enolase levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of neurologically healthy children.

Levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children without neurological disease were assessed. CSF samples were obtained from 37 subjects aged between 1 month and 13 years. All subjects had undergone lumbar puncture for diagnostic purposes, and were subsequently shown not to be suffering any form of neurological disease. NSE levels in CSF were determined by an enzyme immunoassay method. NSE level ranged from below the detection limit to 4.8 ng/ml (1.52+/-1.01 ng/ml). The present results may be useful as a basis for defining reference levels of NSE in CSF in post-neonatal children.

Cerebrospinal fluid purine metabolites and pyrimidine bases after brief febrile convulsions.

Adenosine monophosphate, inosine monophosphate, inosine, adenosine, guanosine, adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, xanthine, uric acid, and pyrimidines bases were determined in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 52 children after simple febrile seizures and in a control group of 63 children. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups for any of these metabolites, suggesting that simple febrile seizures (SFS) neither significantly disturb the metabolism of nucleotides, nucleosides, or bases nor significantly deplete neuron adenosine ATP levels. Therefore, they do not appear to constitute a threat of neuronal damage.

Spinal epidermoid cysts without congenital anomalies associated. Report of two cases.

MR findings in two patients with intradural spinal epidermoid tumors without spinal anomalies are reported. In one case this tumor was congenital, the other one was considered iatrogenic. Origin and MR characteristics of this lesion are discussed.

[Diethylpropion in magisterial formulations. Influence of cellulosis derivatives on in vitro stability and availability]. / Dietilpropión en formulaciones magistrales. Influencia de derivados celulósicos en la estabilidad y disponibilidad in vitro.

The aim of this work was to assess the degree of interaction between diethylpropion and some cellulosic derivatives widely used in anorexigenic prescriptions. Our in vitro results show that sodium carboxymethylcellulose and methylcellulose cause a significant degradation of diethylpropion, the first having a greater effect. Dissolution essays showed that the availability of the drug is vastly reduced by cellulosic derivatives. Provided the close relation between the dissolution and absorption characteristics of a drug, it is possible to predict that this association will result in a poor bioavailability.