Viability of ex-vivo myography as a diagnostic tool for rectus abdominis muscle electrical activity collected at Cesarean section within a diamater cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Ex-vivo myography enables the assessment of muscle electrical activity response. This study explored the viability of determining the physiological responses in muscles without tendon, as rectus abdominis muscle (RAM), through ex-vivo myography to assess its potential as a diagnostic tool. RESULTS: All tested RAM samples (five different samples) show patterns of electrical activity. A positive response was observed in 100% of the programmed stimulation. RAM 3 showed greater weight (0.47 g), length (1.66 cm), and width (0.77 cm) compared to RAM 1, RAM 2, RAM 4 and RAM 5 with more sustained electrical activity over time, a higher percentage of fatigue was analyzed at half the time of the electrical activity. The order of electrical activity (Mn) was RAM 3 > RAM 5 > RAM 1 > RAM 4 > RAM 2. No electrical activity was recorded in the Sham group. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that it is feasible to assess the physiological responses of striated muscle without tendon as RAM, obtained at C-section, under ex vivo myography. These results could be recorded, properly analyzed, and demonstrated its potential as a diagnostic tool for rectus abdominis muscle electrical activity.

A giant exoplanet orbiting a very-low-mass star challenges planet formation models.

Surveys have shown that super-Earth and Neptune-mass exoplanets are more frequent than gas giants around low-mass stars, as predicted by the core accretion theory of planet formation. We report the discovery of a giant planet around the very-low-mass star GJ 3512, as determined by optical and near-infrared radial-velocity observations. The planet has a minimum mass of 0.46 Jupiter masses, very high for such a small host star, and an eccentric 204-day orbit. Dynamical models show that the high eccentricity is most likely due to planet-planet interactions. We use simulations to demonstrate that the GJ 3512 planetary system challenges generally accepted formation theories, and that it puts constraints on the planet accretion and migration rates. Disk instabilities may be more efficient in forming planets than previously thought.

Ground-based detection of an extended helium atmosphere in the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-69b.

Hot gas giant exoplanets can lose part of their atmosphere due to strong stellar irradiation, and these losses can affect their physical and chemical evolution. Studies of atmospheric escape from exoplanets have mostly relied on space-based observations of the hydrogen Lyman-α line in the far ultraviolet region, which is strongly affected by interstellar absorption. Using ground-based high-resolution spectroscopy, we detected excess absorption in the helium triplet at 1083 nanometers during the transit of the Saturn-mass exoplanet WASP-69b, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 18. We measured line blueshifts of several kilometers per second and posttransit absorption, which we interpret as the escape of part of the atmosphere trailing behind the planet in comet-like form.

[Impact of the protocol of ABO group and irregular antibodies on the transfusional index]. / Impacto de un protocolo de grupo ABO y anticuerpos irregulares sobre el índice transfusional.

OBJECTIVES: The ABO group/irregular red cell antibodies (G/A) protocol is a scheme for reducing the number of unnecessary crossmatch tests in selected patients scheduled for surgery. Reduction would lower expenses and risks related to the overuse of such tests. Studying transfusion rates allows us to predict which patients are candidates for application of the protocol. The present study evaluated the impact of the G/A protocol on transfusion rate. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of pre-transfusion testing of patients in our hospital in 1996, before application of the G/A protocol, and in 2001, after four years of experience with the scheme. RESULTS: The G/A protocol was followed with 194 patients in 2001. The surgical transfusion rate decreased by 27.8% over the rate for 1996 (1.84 vs. 2.55). The outdating of blood units in 2001 decreased by 42.4% (65 units outdated vs. 113). Only one patient subject to the protocol had to be transfused. CONCLUSION: The transfusion rate can be significantly reduced by applying the G/A protocol with selected patients, with no loss of transfusion safety.

Impacto de un protocolo de grupo AB0 y anticuerpos irregularessobre el índice transfusional / Impact on transfusion rate of an ABO group/ irregular antibodies testing protocol

OBJETIVOS: El protocolo de grupo AB0-anticuerpos irregulares (G/A) es un esquema que trata de reducir el número de pruebas cruzadas innecesarias en pacientes seleccionados, que van a ser sometidos a cirugía programada. De este modo se evitan el gasto y los riesgos asociados a la práctica excesiva de estas pruebas. A través del índice transfusional (IT) podemos evaluar sobre qué pacientes está más indicado aplicar el protocolo. En este estudio se evalúa el impacto de la aplicación de un protocolo de G/A sobre el IT en nuestro hospital. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un estudio retrospectivo en el que se analizaron las pruebas pretransfusionales de los pacientes de nuestro hospital en 1996, antes de la aplicación del G/A, y en 2001, tras cuatro años de experiencia con el esquema. RESULTADOS: En 2001 se incluyeron 194 pacientes en el protocolo de G/A. Se consiguió una reducción del 27,8 por ciento del IT en los servicios quirúrgicos, comparado con lo obtenido en 1996 (1,84 frente a 2,55), y una reducción del 42,4 por ciento en la tasa de caducidad de unidades de hematíes (65 frente a 113 unidades caducadas). Solamente un paciente de los incluidos en el protocolo fue transfundido. CONCLUSIÓN: El IT se puede reducir significativamente a través de la aplicación de un protocolo de G/A en pacientes seleccionados, sin que disminuya la seguridad transfusional (AU)

Impact of traditional birth attendant training in Mozambique: a controlled study.

This study was designed to assess the utility and impact on perinatal mortality of a model traditional birth attendant (TBA) training program in rural Mozambique by comparing birth attendance and outcomes in similar communities with and without trained TBAs. Birth attendants and pregnancy outcomes were compared in 1) communities with good access to trained TBAs, 2) randomly selected, comparable communities with no access to trained TBAs, and 3) communities with good access to functioning maternities. Information was collected by interviews with women in randomly selected households. A total of 4,169 women were interviewed who reported on 3,616 completed pregnancies, which resulted in a birth or fetal death. Among women with good access to trained TBAs, 33% reported giving birth attended by a trained TBA, 43% reported giving birth at a health facility, and 24% reported giving birth attended by an untrained person. Among women without access to trained TBAs, 58% reported giving birth at health facilities, and 42% reported attendance by untrained persons. Among women with access to functioning maternity centers, 77% reported giving birth at a health facility and 22% said their birth was attended by an untrained person. There was no significant difference in perinatal or infant mortality among the groups. This study demonstrated a preference for health facility deliveries among rural Mozambican women with good access to trained TBAs. It also failed to demonstrate a reduction in perinatal or infant mortality associated with TBA training. Women said they preferred to deliver in health facilities because conditions were considered better and interventions could be performed if needed. The preference for health facility birth over home birth with a TBA may have been related to difficulties with TBA neighbors and their families or fear of potential witchcraft. Efforts to promote TBA training should be balanced with support for birthing services based in health facilities.