Successful cryopreservation in biodegradable containers of sperm from aquaculture Mediterranean fishes.

We aimed to evaluate the efficiency of hard-gelatin and hard-hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) capsules as biodegradable alternative containers to plastic straws in European eel (Anguilla anguilla), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) sperm cryopreservation. Sperm samples from each European eel (n = 12) were diluted 1:8:1 (sperm: extender P1+5 % egg yolk: methanol). Gilthead seabream (n = 12) samples were individually diluted in a cryoprotectant solution of 5 % Me2SO + NaCl 1 % plus BSA (10 mg mL-1) at a ratio of 1:6 (sperm: cryoprotectant solution). European sea bass (n = 10) sperm from each male was diluted in non-activating medium (NAM) at a ratio of 1:5.7 (sperm: NAM), and 5 % of Me2SO was added. The diluted European eel and sea bass sperm aliquots (0.5 mL) were individually filled in plastic straws (0.5 mL), hard-gelatin, and HPMC capsules (0.68 mL). Gilthead seabream diluted sperm (0.25 mL) were filled in plastic straws (0.25 mL) and identical capsules described. All samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor and stored in a liquid nitrogen tank. Sperm kinetic parameters were evaluated by CASA-Mot software. Sperm membrane integrity was performed using a Live and Dead KIT and an epifluorescence microscope. To quantify DNA damage, the alkaline comet assay was performed and TailDNA (TD-%) and Olive Tail Moment (OTM) were evaluated by CaspLab software. Sperm cryopreservation of the three Mediterranean species in straws, gelatin, or HPMC capsules reduced the kinetic parameters and cell membrane integrity. Generally, the post-thawing samples cryopreserved in straws and capsules did not differ for the kinetic parameters and cell membrane integrity, except for European sea bass sperm, where the samples stored in gelatin capsules showed higher velocities (VCL - 100; VSL - 76; VAP - 90 µm s-1) than the sperm stored in HPMC capsules (VCL - 87; VSL - 59; VAP - 73 µm s-1). The cryopreservation process did not damage the sperm DNA of European eel and European sea bass, regardless of the containers used. On the other hand, gilthead seabream sperm cryopreserved in gelatin (TD - 9.8 %; OTM - 9.7) and HPMC (TD - 11.1 %; OTM - 11.2) capsules showed higher DNA damage than fresh samples (TD - 3.6 %; OTM - 2.7) and the sperm stored in straws (TD - 4.4 %; OTM - 5.2). The hard-gelatin and HPMC biodegradable capsules can be used as an alternative to straws for European eel, gilthead seabream, and European sea bass sperm cryopreservation.

Angiomiolipoma de hígado. Un tumor hepático benigno poco frecuente / Angiomyolipoma of the liver. An uncommon benign liver tumor

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[The epidemiology of Bell's palsy]. / Epidemiología de la parálisis facial de Bell.

AIMS: Bell's palsy (BP) is a frequent condition with an incidence that varies throughout different countries around the world. The aim of this article is to analyse the incidence of BP in different countries around the world. DEVELOPMENT: Different rates of incidence and prevalence have been reported in the medical literature depending on the geographical regions under study. In most of the series published incidence oscillates between 11 and 40 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year--although figures as low as 8 and as high as 240 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year have also been reported. The climate, racial factors, the prevalence of predisposing diseases and the demographic features of the regions studied could be involved in these variations in the appearance of BP. Nevertheless, and although they are estimated to be of little significance, both methodological and diagnostic aspects of BP may also exert a certain influence on the results obtained. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of BP in the world varies, which may reflect both a different frequency of appearance in the geographical regions studied and differences in the diagnostic criteria employed as well as in the methodology used to collect and analyse data.

[Nutritional anthropometry and physical performance in urban adolescents of Madrid]. / Antropometría nutricional y aptitud física en adolescentes urbanos de Madrid.

OBJECTIVE: This work has been carried out as a cooperation project between University and High School Departments. Its objective was to evaluate the nutritional and physical status and eating habits in an urban adolescent population of Madrid. The study presents data about anthropometrical analyses and physical performance. SAMPLE AND METHODS: The sample analyzed was composed of 183 males and 222 females between 14 and 18 years of age. The nutritional status was analyzed by means of stature, weight, skinfold thickness and arm circumference, body mass index (BMI), and lean, fat and total upper arm areas. For physical fitness analysis, the EUROFIT battery was used (plate tapping, trunk and arm flexion, 10 x 5 run, horizontal jump, abdominals in 30 seconds and manual dynamometry). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: With regard to the anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness, the analyzed population is slightly above the reference standard, mainly in the youngest age studied. Percentage of obese subjects was 14.7% in males and 5.8% in females. In regard to physical fitness, the males surpassed the 50th percentile of the EUROFIT battery in almost all of the trials. The average in the female subjects was slightly inferior to the reference standards.