Synthesis and Characterization of TiO2 Thick Films for Glucose Sensing.

In this paper, we present the results of a non-enzymatic electrochemical glucose biosensor based on TiO2. An anatase working electrode was synthesized using the spin coating technique with the polymeric precursor method and dispersed TiO2 nanoparticles. Through scanning electron microscopy, it was observed that the electrode presented an irregular surface with clusters of nanoparticles. Electrochemical characterization indicated that the response was directly related to the morphology of the electrode. In the presence of glucose, the electrode exhibited adsorption behavior toward the molecules, enabling their recognition. The electrode was tested by employing PBS (phosphate buffer solutions) with varying pH values (from 4 to 9), demonstrating its electrochemical stability, even in the presence of glucose. Amperometric characterization was used to determine that the working region appeared from 0.2 mM to 2 mM, with a sensitivity of 4.46 µAcm-2mM-1 in PBS pH 7. The obtained results suggest that TiO2-based electrodes could be used for the detection of glucose concentration in sweat (0.277-1 mM) and saliva (0.23-1.77 mM).

Medicina de Familia, una especialidad amenazada / Family Medicine, a threatened specialty

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Preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum: The answer for treating giant inguinal hernias while avoiding morbidities?

PURPOSE: Preoperative progressive pneumoperitoneum (PPP) is mostly used for giant abdominal incisional hernias, and only a few isolated or paired cases that used PPP in the treatment of giant inguinal hernias (GIH) have been reported. The main objective of this study is to describe our technique in the use of PPP in the treatment of GIH in a series of patients who presented with this challenging condition. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of a series of patients treated with PPP for GIH during a 6-year period (2012-2018) at a single institution. The demographics, preoperative, and surgical characteristics were analyzed. RESULTS: In total, 7 patients were treated for GIH with PPP. The median age was 64 (range 30-89) years. The median history time with the inguinal hernia was 8 (range 2-20) years. The median time of PPP was 22 (range 15-30) days. All patients underwent the Lichtenstein technique. The median follow-up time was 12 (range 3-84) months. Three (42.8%) of the patients had preoperative complications. Two patients developed mild dyspnea during PPP, and another patient had subcutaneous emphysema during the insertion of the catheter. Two (28.5%) patients had postoperative complications. One of them developed a right scrotal abscess, and another patient developed bilateral grade III hydrocele. CONCLUSION: With our limited experience, it is too early to tell if this should be the gold standard for the treatment of GIH. To see if there is superiority among different procedures, more studies that compare the morbidity of PPP with that of other trans operative techniques are needed. Nevertheless, the procedure we propose has provided satisfactory results.

Large inguinal bladder hernias: can a preoperative diagnosis be made?

PURPOSE: Bladder hernias are asymptomatic in most cases and are found incidentally during exploration for inguinal hernia repair. The treatment of inguinal bladder hernia is either reduction or resection of the herniated bladder, followed by herniorrhaphy. We present a case series with preoperative diagnoses, along with their surgical outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records from a single institution over a 5-year period (2012-2017) of five patients with diagnosis of large bladder inguinal hernia. Demographics, clinical status, medical history, anatomical structure of the hernia, and surgical outcomes were all analyzed. RESULTS: Patients' median age was 51 years (range 45-81 years). The median size of the hernial sac was 13 cm (range 8-20 cm). The diagnosis was made with computed tomography in three patients and with ultrasonography and cystography in two patients. Median length of hospital stay was 2 days (range 1-6 days), and median length of follow-up was 28 months (range 18-72 months). All patients continue to be alive and well, without hernia recurrence. The five cases are described separately along with their surgical managements. CONCLUSION: The main objectives in treatment of inguinal bladder hernia are to preserve the voiding function and to avoid bladder injuries in a tension-free hernia repair. To our knowledge, this is the first series of cases in which all inguinal bladder hernias were diagnosed preoperatively.

Plant-based chimeric HPV-virus-like particles bearing amyloid-ß epitopes elicit antibodies able to recognize amyloid plaques in APP-tg mouse and Alzheimer's disease brains.

The main amyloid-beta (Aß) variants detected in the human brain are full-length Aß1-40 and Aß1-42 peptides; however, a significant proportion of AD brain Aß consists also of N-terminal truncated/modified species. The majority of the previous immunotherapeutic strategies targeted the N-terminal immunodominant epitope of the full-length Aß; however, most of the pathological N-truncated forms of Aß lack this critical B cell epitope. Recently, virus-like particles (VLPs), self-assembled structures with highly ordered repetitive patterns on their surface and capable of inducing robust immune responses, were applied as a promising platform for various antigen expressions. In this study, we expressed in plants two chimeric HPV16 L1 capsid proteins obtained by introduction of the ß-amyloid 11-28 epitope (Aß 11-28) into the h4 helix or into the coil regions of the L1 protein. The Aß 11-28 epitope was chosen because it is present in the full-length Aß 1-42 as well as in the truncated/modified amyloid peptide species. After expression, we assembled the chimerical L1/Aß 11-28 into a VLP in which the Aß 11-28 epitope is exposed at very high density (360 times) on the surface of the VLP. The chimeric VLPs elicited in mice Aß-specific antibodies binding to ß-amyloid plaques in APP-tg mouse and AD brains. Our study is the first to demonstrate a successful production in plants and immunogenic properties in mice of chimeric HPV16 L1 VLPs bearing Aß epitope that may be of potential relevance for the development of multivalent vaccines for a multifactorial disease such as AD.

Multimodality evaluation of patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms who have failed empiric proton pump inhibitor therapy.

Patients with symptoms suggestive of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), such as chest pain, heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia, are typically treated initially with a course of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The evaluation of patients who have either not responded at all or partially and inadequately responded to such therapy requires a more detailed history and may involve an endoscopy and esophageal biopsies, followed by esophageal manometry, ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring, and gastric emptying scanning. To assess the merits of a multimodality 'structural' and 'functional' assessment of the esophagus in patients who have inadequately controlled GERD symptoms despite using empiric PPI, a retrospective cohort study of patients without any response or with poor symptomatic control to empiric PPI (>2 months duration) who were referred to an Esophageal Studies Unit was conducted. Patients were studied using symptom questionnaires, endoscopy (+ or - for erosive disease, or Barrett's metaplasia) and multilevel esophageal biopsies (eosinophilia, metaplasia), esophageal motility (aperistalsis, dysmotility), 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring (+ if % total time pH < 4 > 5%), and gastric emptying scanning (+ if >10% retention at 4 hours and >70% at 2 hours). Over 3 years, 275 patients (147 men and 128 women) aged 16-89 years underwent complete multimodality testing. Forty percent (n= 109) had nonerosive reflux disease (esophagogastroduodenoscopy [EGD]-, biopsy-, pH+); 19.3% (n= 53) had erosive esophagitis (EGD+); 5.5% (n= 15) Barrett's esophagus (EGD+, metaplasia+); 5.5% (n= 15) eosinophilic esophagitis (biopsy+); 2.5% (n= 7) had achalasia and 5.8% (n= 16) other dysmotility (motility+, pH-); 16% (n= 44) had functional heartburn (EGD-, pH-), and 5.8% (n= 16) had gastroparesis (gastric scan+). Cumulative symptom scores for chest pain, heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia were similar among the groups (mean range 1.1-1.35 on a 0-3 scale). Multimodality evaluation changed the diagnosis of GERD in 34.5% of cases and led to or guided alternative therapies in 42%. Overlap diagnoses were frequent: 10/15 (67%) of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis, 12/16 (75%) of patients with gastroparesis, and 11/23 (48%) of patients with achalasia or dysmotility had concomitant pathologic acid reflux by pH studies. Patients with persistent GERD symptoms despite empiric PPI therapy benefit from multimodality evaluation that may change the diagnosis and guide therapy in more than one third of such cases. Because symptoms are not specific and overlap diagnoses are frequent and multifaceted, objective evidence-driven therapies should be considered in such patients.

Contribution of volcanic ashes to the regional geochemical balance: the 2008 eruption of Chaitén volcano, Southern Chile.

The environmental geochemical behaviour of the rhyolitic ashes from the 2008 eruption of Chaitén volcano, Southern Chile, has been studied. After the bulk characterisation, the potential contribution to the regional geochemical fluxes was examined using: i) single batch leaching tests to provide a rapid screening of the implied major and trace elements; and ii) column experiments to evaluate the temporal mobility of leached elements. The environmental concerns of these ashes are related to the fine grained component present in each sample (independent of distance from the source), in particular the presence of cristobalite, and the geochemical hazards posed by ash-water interaction. Leaching experiments show the fast dissolution of surface salts and aerosols, which dominate over glass dissolution during the first steps of the ash-water interaction. Chaitén ashes could transfer to the environment more than 1×10(10)g or 10,000 metric tonnes (mt) of Cl, S, Ca, Na, Si, and K; between 1000 and 10,000 mt of F, Mg, and Al; between 100 and 1000 mt of As, Pb, P, Fe, Sr, Zn, Mn, and Br; between 10 and 100 mt of Ba, Li, Ti, Ni, Nb, Cu, Rb, Zr, V, Mo, Co, and Sc; and less than 10 mt of Cr, Sb, Ce, Ga, Cs, and Y. These results show the fertilising potential of the ashes (e.g., providing Ca and Fe) but also the input of potentially toxic trace elements (e.g., F and As) in the regional geochemical mass balance. The Chaitén results evidence lower potentials for poisoning and fertilising than low silica ashes due to the lower contents released of practically all elements.

[Improvement of fecal incontinence with silicone implants in patients with internal anal sphincter injury: First report in North America]. / Mejoría de la incontinencia fecal con implantes de silicón en pacientes con lesiones del esfínter anal interno: primer informe en Norteamérica.

The injection of bulking agents has been described as a useful treatment of urinary and fecal incontinence. Among them, silicone implants have shown benefits in patients with internal anal sphincter (IAS) injury. We describe two patients with a history of hemorrhoidectomy and IAS injuries, which underwent placement of silicone implants. The implants were inserted into the intersphincteric space and the IAS under ultrasound guidance. The Wexner continente score fell from 17 and 19 before treatment, to 6 and 8 at six months follow up, respectively. Patients had no postoperative complications or implants migration. In our patients, injection of silicone implants improved fecal continence score, without postoperative complications or implants migration at six month follow up.

Caracterización del accidente con riesgo biológico en estudiantes de pregrado en facultades de salud en una institución de educación superior de Bogotá 2009-2010 / Characterization of the accident with biohazard risk in undergraduate students in health schools and in institutions of higher education of Bogotá 2009-2010

Objetivo: caracterizar el accidente por exposición al riesgo biológico en los estudiantes de las facultades de enfermería, medicina y odontología de la Institución de Educación Superior (IES) 2009-2010. Metodología: estudio descriptivo mixto y retrospectivo. Para identificar estudiantes accidentados, se aplicó por conveniencia una encuesta cerrada y autodiligenciada a estudiantes de pregrado, matriculados en las facultades participantes entre junio de 2009 y junio de 2010. Para la descripción del accidente, se empleó una entrevista semiestructurada, de participación voluntaria, mediante búsqueda activa de casos, aplicada a los estudiantes identificados como siniestrados a través de la estadística reportada por la póliza estudiantil de accidentes. Resultados: en la caracterización de la accidentalidad con exposición al riesgo biológico en el estudiante de pregrado de las facultades de salud, se encontró un porcentaje de reporte del evento por debajo de lo encontrado en otros estudios (1, 2). De los estudiantes que refirieron haber sufrido algún accidente con exposición a riesgo biológico, entre el 50% y el 72% solicitó atención de urgencias mientras que entre el 56% y el 79% refirieron haber reportado el caso a Bienestar Universitario; en lo referente al mecanismo de transmisión, entre el 56% y el 94% de los eventos referidos fueron ocasionados con material cortopunzante afectando principalmente miembro superior; el segundo mecanismo de exposición reportado fue la exposición de mucosas oculares con sangre o fluidos corporales con un 44% de eventos referidos por los estudiantes de medicina, mientras que para los estudiantes de las facultades de enfermería y odontología fue alrededor del 5%. En cuanto al sitio de ubicación del evento, los estudiantes de las facultades de enfermería y odontología refirieron una mayor proporción de ocurrencia en los centros de práctica formativa extramurales a la IES, mientras que los estudiantes de odontología refirieron una mayor frecuencia de ocurrencia en las clínicas odontológicas, ubicadas en las instalaciones de la Universidad; lo anterior se explica en virtud de la distribución geográfica de los centros de práctica formativa para cada programa académico. En el abordaje cualitativo de la descripción del accidente con riesgo biológico, se establecieron como categorías de análisis: el acompañamiento, las técnicas de procedimiento, la solicitud de atención en urgencias, el seguimiento y las lecciones aprendidas. El estudio permitió identificar que la presencia del docente en el campo de práctica facilita la atención del estudiante en el momento del evento; así mismo que los estudiantes identifican que la falta de adherencia a las normas o estándares de bioseguridad es un factor que incide en la ocurrencia del evento. Los participantes manifestaron que para ser atendidos en el servicio de urgencias, debieron desplazarse con las muestras sanguíneas del individuo fuente desde el sitio de ocurrencia del evento al de atención; el transporte de las muestras fue realizado por el estudiante, sin el debido cumplimiento del protocolo de transporte de muestras sanguíneas y ya en el servicio de urgencias, la atención tardó en promedio tres horas. El seguimiento del caso por Bienestar Universitario no es claro para los participantes del estudio y el principal temor se relaciona con la posibilidad de desarrollar en el largo plazo una enfermedad por virus de transmisión hemática y fluidos corporales. Se resalta que los estudiantes identifican la necesidad de modificar la práctica de medidas de bioseguridad y comprometerse con la adherencia a las normas o estándares de bioseguridad como una estrategia efectiva para evitar el accidente con riesgo biológico. Conclusiones: la IES debe fortalecer las estrategias de prevención del accidente con riesgo biológico en el marco del los convenios docencia servicio, para promover el bienestar del estudiante de las facultades de salud en el desarrollo de las prácticas formativas, de manera que se minimice el riesgo inherente a estas. Debe establecer mecanismos para asegurar el reporte de los eventos y en la misma medida favorecer la calidad en la atención al estudiante de pregrado. Se deben reforzar las estrategias que permitan a los estudiantes ser responsables de su autocuidado y a la vez permitan su adherencia a las normas de bioseguridad; ampliar el conocimiento del uso de elementos de protección y los procedimientos a seguir de presentarse el accidente.

[First case of sacral neuromodulation for treatment of urinary and fecal incontinence in Mexico. Case report.]. / Primer caso de neuromodulación sacrapara el tratamiento de la incontinenciaurinaria y fecal en México. Informe de caso.

Sacral neuromodulation is a new treatment for urinary and fecal incontinence that has demonstrated good therapeutic results. This treatment modality has shown not only to reduce urinary dysfunction symptoms and urinary and fecal incontinence but improve quality of life scores as well. We present a 73 years old female patient with severe fecal and urinary incontinence with major quality of life impact. She was referred after failure of different surgical and conservative therapeutic approaches. Her evaluation met inclusion criteria for sacral neuromodulation treatment. Acute sacral nerve evaluation (PNE) proved to be therapeutic in the patient as measured by at least a 50 percent improvement in her symptoms so a permanent implant (Medtronic InterStim System) was placed. After the implant there was a significant improvement in urinary and fecal functional scores. Fecal Incontinence Severity Index improved from 34 to 8 and Urinary Sandvik's Severity Index from very severe urinary incontinence to minor urinary incontinence after the placement of the implant. Using standard quality of life questionnaires, she improved in the areas of lifestyle,coping and behavior and her experience with depression and self-perception.

[Zoonotic brucellosis risk associated with clandestine slaughtered porks]. / Risco de brucelose zoonótica associado a suínos de abate clandestino.

To determine the sanitary risk to human health, 59 sera samples of clandestine slaughtered porks were examined through serologic procedures and have demonstrated to have anti-Brucella antibodies and antibodies titles suggestive of brucellosis infection. Surveillance measurements are recommended to prevent potential risk of zoonotic infection.

[Prevention of thromboembolic disease in patients with heart disease]. / Profilaxis de la enfermedad tromboembólica en enfermos con cardiopatía.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the adequacy to thromboembolic disease prophylaxis protocol in patients with heart disease. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: Patients older than 14 years affected of heart disease in a semi-urban health primary-care clinic with a population of 10,610 persons and 5582 clinical records. METHODS: Data about age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, heart disease, prophylactic treatment and its adequacy to the protocol of the "thromboembolic disease commission" of the reference hospital were analysed. RESULTS: Age 67 +/- 13 years (mean +/- SD). Cardiovascular risk factors: hypertension 40%, diabetes 33%, dyslipemia 15%, smoking 21%. Heart disease: ischemic cardiopathy 48%, atrial fibrillation 15%, valvulopathy 19%, dilated myocardiopathy 4% and other 14%. In 20% of cases had two different affections (80% with atrial fibrillation). Prophylactic therapy: 52% of patients were under prophylactic treatment (35% antiaggregation, 18% anticoagulation). Among antiaggregants, drugs used were acetylsalicylic acid 73.5%, triflusal 14.7%, dipyridamole, 8.8% and ticlopidine 3%. In 53% of people without prophylactic treatment antiaggregation criteria were present. 15% of patient under antiaggregation therapy did not meet antiaggregation criteria, and 6% fulfilled anticoagulation criteria. 67% treatments accorded the reference protocol, without significant differences between kind of heart disease or sex. The only statistically significant difference was found in age: 46% of patients older than 80 year were correctly treated, in front 75% adequacy in younger people. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic antithrombotic therapy was according the reference protocol in 67% of cases. In older patients, with greater risk of thromboembolic disease, the adequacy is worse.

Profilaxis de la enfermedad tromboembólica en enfermos con cardiopatía / Thromboembolic disease prophylaxis in patients with heart disease

Objetivo. Evaluar la adecuación de la profilaxis de la enfermedad tromboembólica en los pacientes diagnosticados de cardiopatía. Diseño. Estudio transversal. Emplazamiento. Área básica de salud semiurbana con una población adscrita de 10.610 habitantes y 5.582 historias clínicas abiertas. Pacientes. Pacientes mayores de 14 años diagnosticados de enfermedad cardíaca (n = 100). Mediciones. Edad, sexo, factores de riesgo cardiovascular, tipo de cardiopatía, tratamiento, y su adecuación a los criterios de la 'comisión de enfermedad tromboembólica' del hospital de referencia. Resultados. Edad media: 67 ñ 13 años. Factores de riesgo: hipertensión, 40 por ciento; diabetes, 33 por ciento; dislipemia, 15 por ciento; tabaquismo, 21 por ciento. Tipos de cardiopatía: cardiopatía isquémica, 48 por ciento; fibrilación auricular aislada, 15 por ciento; valvulopatías, 19 por ciento; miocardiopatía dilatada, 4 por ciento; otras, 14 por ciento. Un 20 por ciento presentaba 2 cardiopatías asociadas (80 por ciento a fibrilación auricular). Seguían tratamiento profiláctico un 52 por ciento de los pacientes (34 por ciento antiagregación, 18 por ciento anticoagulación). Antiagregantes: ácido acetilsalicílico (73,5 por ciento), triflusal (14,7 por ciento), dipiridamol (8,8 por ciento), ticlopidina (3 por ciento). Un 53 por ciento de los casos que no realizaban profilaxis cumplía criterios de antiagregación. El 15 por ciento de los pacientes en tratamiento antiagregante no lo precisaba y un 6 por ciento era candidato a anticoagulación. Se adecuaba al protocolo un 67 por ciento de los casos, sin detectarse diferencias significativas entre distintos tipos de cardiopatías ni sexos. La peor adecuación correspondió a los mayores de 80 años (46 frente a 75 por ciento), diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Conclusiones. La terapia profiláctica antitrombótica se ajusta al protocolo del hospital de referencia en el 67 por ciento de los pacientes. En el anciano, paciente con mayor riesgo de enfermedad tromboembólica, se da la peor adecuación (AU)

Aquaretic and hormonal effects of a vasopressin V(2) receptor antagonist after acute and long-term treatment in rats.

A single oral administration of 1-[4-(N-tert-butylcarbamoyl)-2-methoxybenzene sulfonyl]-5-ethoxy-3-spiro-[4-(2-morpholinoethoxy)cyclohexane]indo l-2 -one SR121463 (0.3-3 mg/kg), a vasopressin non-peptide V(2) receptor antagonist, to rats induced dose-dependent aquaresis which was accompanied by Na(+), K(+), aldosterone and arginine vasopressin excretion over 6 h after dosing. However, no solute excretion was observed over 24 h. As a result of aquaresis, hemoconcentration and increases in plasma angiotensin II and adenocorticotrophin hormone were seen with 3 mg/kg at 2 h after dosing. Chronic treatment with SR121463 (3 mg/kg/dayx28 days) induced a marked aquaresis associated with aldosterone and vasopressin excretion. After a week of treatment, urine volume and aldosterone excretion were reduced ( approximately 40%) and then stabilised, while urine vasopressin excretion remained almost constant throughout the study. There were no changes in arterial pressure, plasma osmolality, plasma sodium concentration, or in number and affinity of liver vasopressin V(1A) and kidney V(2) receptors 24 h after the last treatment. These results indicate that SR121463 is a potent aquaretic agent and might be useful for the chronic management of water-retaining diseases in humans.

Prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with extraesophageal symptoms referred from otolaryngology, allergy, and cardiology practices: a prospective study.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) as well as the clinical, endoscopic, and manometric characteristics in 57 adult patients with otolaryngeal symptoms, asthma, or noncardiac chest pain referred from specialized services. METHODS: The following evaluations were performed: (1) upper endoscopy, (2) 24-hour ambulatory esophageal pH monitoring, and (3) esophageal manometry. The prevalence of GERD was determined, and demographic, clinical, endoscopic, and manometric characteristics of patients with or without GERD were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-four out of 57 patients (60%) had GERD. The 95% confidence interval ranged from 48 to 72%. There was no statistical difference between patients with or without GERD regarding gender, age, or time of evolution of symptoms. Cough was more frequent in the subjects with GERD (75 vs. 25%, p<0.05). Nevertheless, cough was observed in only 53% of the patients with GERD. Patients suffering from laryngitis had a greater proximal and distal esophageal acid exposure time than those without. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GERD was 60%. There is not a definite demographic or clinical profile that permits us to distinguish between patients with and without GERD among those with ear, nose, and throat and pulmonary symptoms or chest pain.