La escisión de la glándula de Bartholin como causa de distorsión anatómica y dolor vulvar / Excision of Bartholin gland as a cause of anatomy distortion and vulvar pain

Introducción: Los quistes y abscesos de Bartholin pueden producirse en cerca del 2% de las consultas ginecológicas por año. Se han propuesto diferentes tipos de tratamientos (punción, marsupialización, esclerosis, escisión de la glándula, etc.), con porcentajes diferentes de recurrencia y complicaciones. Presentamos 5 casos en los que tras practicar escisión completa de la glándula por enfermedad benigna, aparecen como complicación tardía el dolor vulvar y la distorsión anatómica. Objetivo: Analizar los casos, así como su repercusión en la calidad de vida posterior. Resultados: Ante la enfermedad benigna de la glándula de Bartholin (quística abscesificada o no) debemos mantener la glándula para que siga ejerciendo su función y valorar la funcionalidad posterior, utilizando para este fin los test de calidad de vida en ese seguimiento que incluya la sexualidad. Por último, debemos mejorar nuestras prácticas asistenciales y, en caso de una evolución tórpida, no permitir la cronificación del estímulo doloroso

Introduction: Bartholin cysts and abscesses may occur in about 2% of gynaecological cases per year. Different types of treatment (puncture, marsupialisation, sclerosis, excision of the gland, etc.) have been proposed, with different percentages of recurrence and complications. A series of 5 cases are presented, in which, after practicing complete excision of the gland due to benign disease, vulvar pain and anatomic distortion appeared as late complications. Objective: To analyse the results based on the technique used, including the importance of late complications (pain and anatomical distortion), as well as their impact on the quality of later life. Results: Given the benign disease of the Bartholin gland (abscess or cyst), the gland must be maintained so that it can continue fulfilling its role. Its future functioning can be assessed during follow-up by using a quality of life test that includes sexuality. Finally, care practices in these patients must be improved, especially in the case of a slow progress, not allowing the development of chronic pain stimulus

Diagnóstico de cavernoma cerebral durante el embarazo / Prenatal diagnosis of conjoined twins in the first trimester of pregnancy. A case report

Los gemelos siameses constituyen un raro evento obstétrico con un pronóstico infausto en la mayoría de las ocasiones. Presentamos el caso de una gestación gemelar monocorial monoamniótica, en la que ambos fetos se encuentran unidos por el tórax y el hemiabdomen superior, diagnosticada ecográficamente en la semana 12 de gestación. Se demuestra que este tipo de patología puede ser diagnosticada en el primer trimestre con un grado de precisión elevado en la determinación del nivel y la extensión de las conexiones orgánicas. El Doppler color puede contribuir ayudando a determinar las estructuras vasculares compartidas. La ecografía 3D es útil como complemento a la 2D y además sirve para asesorar a los padres. El diagnóstico precoz permite tomar decisiones tempranas, minimizando las secuelas para la embarazada (AU)

Conjoined twins are an uncommon obstetric event with extremely poor prognosis in almost all cases. We report a case of monochorial monoamniotic twin pregnancy diagnosed in an ultrasonographic examination performed at 12 weeks of gestation. Both fetuses were joined at the chest and superior hemiabdomen. We show that this kind of abnormality can be diagnosed in the first trimester with a high degree of accuracy in determining the site and extent of organic attachment. Color Doppler imaging is useful for investigating the shared vascular structures. 3D ultrasound is also useful as a complement to 2D ultrasound and in parental counseling. Prenatal diagnosis in early pregnancy allows decisions to be taken early, minimizing the sequels for the pregnant woman (AU)

Direct and indirect exogenous contamination by pesticides of rice-farming soils in a Mediterranean wetland.

It is known that the sources of soil contamination can be endogenous or exogenous and that exogenous contamination may be direct or indirect. In this work, an environmental pesticide fate study was conducted in soil profiles collected from 23 rice field sites in an important Mediterranean wetland (Albufera Natural Park, Valencia, Spain) from April 1996 to November 1997. Temporal and spatial distribution of 44 pesticide residues in an alluvial Mediterranean soil (gleyic-calcaric Fluvisol, Fluvaquent) were monitored. During this period, the levels of pesticide residues in different soil horizons (Ap1 0-12 cm, Ap2 12-30 cm, ApCg 30-50 cm, C1gr 50-76 cm, and C2r 76-100 cm) were investigated. In addition, information was collected on agricultural pesticide application practices and soil characteristics. Distribution throughout the soil profile showed that pesticide concentrations were always higher in the topsoil (Ap1 horizon), in the autumn season, and in the border with citrus-vegetable orchard soils (calcaric Fluvisol, Xerofluvent). Chlorpyrifos (organophosphorus), endosulfan (organochlorine), and pyridaphenthion (organophosphorus) insecticides were, respectively, the most detected of all the pesticides investigated. These results were associated with processes, such as nonleaching, transport by movement into surface waters, retention, volatilization, and chemical and biological degradation in the topsoil, as well as with direct and indirect exogenous contamination sources.

Application of the Microtox test and pollution indices to the study of water toxicity in the Albufera Natural Park (Valencia, Spain).

The toxic effects of waters collected from irrigation channels in a Mediterranean wetland (Albufera Natural Park, Valencia, Spain) were tested with the Microtox assay and compared with six pollution indices (PIs) defined from analytical parameters. Chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), nutrients, heavy metals and pesticides were measured. The bioassay result (concentrations of the water sample (% V/V) that reduced light emission to 10%, 20% and 50%, EC10, EC20 and EC50, respectively (ECs)) was compared with the PIs. This comparison has demonstrated a general agreement between ECs and PIs, except in the case of irrigation channels affected by herbicides used in rice farming (molinate and thiobencarb). No pronounced inhibition was detected in the bioluminescence in relation to the eutrophic parameters in the irrigation waters for EC50 values, indicating that this parameter does not suffice to detect eutrophic waters. Data derived from irrigation water pollution and bioassay were assembled by multivariate statistical techniques (principal component analysis). These components were associated with various contamination sources.

Multiresidue determination of pesticides in fruit and vegetables by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.

Pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables were determined by gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). Electron impact (EI)/MS/MS and chemical ionization (CI)/MS/MS were developed for 80 compounds, including organochlorine, organophosphorus, organonitrogen, and pyrethroids, providing unambiguous spectral confirmation for these complex matrixes. Residues were extracted from samples with acetone followed by a mixture of dichloromethane-petroleum ether. Two injections per sample were required for analysis of the entire pesticide list by EI/MS/MS and CI/MS/MS. Initial steps involving cleanup and concentration of extracts were eliminated. The excellent selectivity and good linearity allowed quantification and identification of low levels of pesticides in the most difficult matrixes. The method has been used for routine analysis of many vegetables.

Monoclonal enzyme immunoassay for the analysis of carbaryl in fruits and vegetables without sample cleanup.

The N-methylcarbamate pesticide carbaryl is one of the most important insecticides used worldwide. In the present work, the validation of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) for the determination of this compound in fruits and vegetables is described. The immunoassay is a competitive heterologous ELISA in the antibody-coated format, with an I(50) value for standards in buffer of 101.0 +/- 26.9 ng/L and with a dynamic range between 31.6 and 364.0 ng/L. For recovery studies, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, oranges, and apples were spiked with carbaryl at 10, 50, and 200 ppb. After liquid extraction, analyses were performed by ELISA on both extracts purified on solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns and crude, nonpurified extracts. Depending on the crop and the fortification level, recoveries in the 59.0--120.0% range were obtained for purified samples and in the 70.0--137.7% range for crude extracts. The carbaryl immunoassay performance was further validated with respect to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with postcolumn derivatization and fluorescence detection (EPA Method 531.1). Samples were spiked with carbaryl at several concentrations and analyzed as blind samples by ELISA and HPLC after SPE cleanup. The correlation between methods was excellent (y = 1.04x + 0.71, r(2) = 0.992, n = 33), with HPLC being more precise than ELISA (mean coefficients of variation of 5.2 and 12.0%, respectively). The immunoassay was then applied to the analysis of nonpurified extracts of the same samples. Results also compared very well with those obtained by HPLC on purified samples (y = 1.28x - 0.59, r(2) = 0.987, n = 33) while maintaining similar precision. Therefore, the developed immunoassay is a suitable method for the quantitative and reliable determination of carbaryl in fruits and vegetables even without sample cleanup, which saves time and money and considerably increases sample throughput.

Validation of a monoclonal enzyme immunoassay for the determination of carbofuran in fruits and vegetables.

The N-methylcarbamate pesticide carbofuran is a very important insecticide used worldwide. In the present work, the validation of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) to determine this compound in fruits and vegetables is described. The immunoassay is a competitive heterologous ELISA in the antibody-coated format, with an I(50) value for standards in buffer of 740 ng/L and with a dynamic range between 200 and 3100 ng/L. For recovery studies, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries, tomatoes, potatoes, oranges, and apples were spiked with carbofuran at 10, 50, and 200 ppb. After liquid extraction, analyses were performed by ELISA on extracts purified on solid-phase extraction (SPE) columns and crude, nonpurified extracts. Depending on the crop, mean recoveries in the 43.9--90.7% range were obtained for purified samples and in the 90.1--121.6% range for crude extracts. The carbofuran immunoassay performance was further validated with respect to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with postcolumn derivatization and fluorescence detection (EPA Method 531.1). Samples were spiked with carbofuran at several concentrations and analyzed as blind samples by ELISA and HPLC after SPE cleanup. The correlation between methods was very good (y = 0.90x + 2.66, r(2)() = 0.958, n = 25), with HPLC being more precise than ELISA (mean coefficients of variation of 4.1 and 11.5%, respectively). The immunoassay was then applied to the analysis of nonpurified extracts of the same samples. Results also compared very well with those obtained by HPLC on purified samples (y = 1.02x + 10.44, r(2)() = 0.933, n = 29). Therefore, the developed immunoassay is a suitable method for the quantitative and reliable determination of carbofuran in fruits and vegetables even without sample cleanup, which saves time and money and considerably increases the sample throughput.

Characterization of a novel bacteriocin-encoding plasmid found in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

Plasmids specifying bacteriocin production and immunity to its action were found in three clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus obtained in different hospitals located in Rio de Janeiro. These plasmids (pRJ28, pRJ29 and pRJ30) of 8.0 kb were found to generate identical restriction fragment patterns upon digestion with several enzymes, although the range of strains susceptible to the respective bacteriocin varied among the producer strains, when different Gram-positive bacteria were used as indicators, pRJ29 was then chosen for further characterization in order to compare it with pRJ6 and pRJ9, two small bacteriocin-encoding plasmids previously described in strains isolated from food. pRJ29 was found to code for a bacteriocin with chemical properties (sensitivity to proteases, heat resistance, activity under anaerobiosis, and estimated molecular weight) similar to those of pRJ6-encoded bacteriocin, conferring cross-immunity to it. However, its restriction map differed from those of pRJ6 and pRJ9. These studies together with hybridization, incompatibility, and mobilization analyses using a derivative of pRJ29 tagged with Tn917-lac suggest that pRJ29 is a mosaic composed of genetic determinants found on pRJ6 and pRJ9, and that IS257 was not involved in the recombination events which gave rise to pRJ29.

Determination of carbaryl, carbofuran and methiocarb in cucumbers and strawberries by monoclonal enzyme immunoassays and high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. An analytical comparison.

Carbaryl, carbofuran and methiocarb are three of the most important N-methylcarbamate pesticides. In the present work, the application of laboratory-developed monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to the determination of these compounds in fruits and vegetables is described. Cucumbers and strawberries were spiked with the three carbamates at 10, 50 and 200 ppb. After extraction and clean-up, samples were analyzed by immunoassay and by HPLC with post-column derivatization and fluorescence detection (US Environmental Protection Agency Method 531.1). Results obtained by ELISA correlated well with those obtained by HPLC, both in terms of accuracy and precision. Recoveries were in the 60-90% range by ELISA and in the 50-90% range by HPLC, depending on the particular combination of commodity, pesticide, and fortification level under consideration. ELISAs were also applied to the analysis of non-purified sample extracts with excellent results: recoveries close to 100% were obtained, while maintaining similar precision values. This approach avoids the use of solid-phase extraction columns, saves time, and considerably increases the sample throughput. Results clearly indicate that the developed immunoassays may be suitable for the quantitative and reliable determination of carbaryl, carbofuran and methiocarb in fruits and vegetables even without including clean-up steps. These considerations make these ELISAs very useful analytical tools for monitoring and regulatory programs, without the need of complex and expensive instrumentation.

Liquid chromatographic determination of five benzoylurea insecticides in fruit and vegetables.

A liquid chromatographic (LC) method was developed to determine 5 benzoylureas--diflubenzuron, hexaflumuron, teflubenzuron, flufenozuron, and lufenuron--in peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, cucumbers, and oranges. Preparation of samples involve extraction with acetone and partitioning into dichloromethane-petroleum ether. A portion of this extract is cleaned up with a solid-phase extraction aminopropyl disposable column. With LC analysis using an RP-8-DB microbore column, acetonitrile-water (70 + 30, v/v) as mobile phase, and photodiode array detection at 254 nm, recovery and repeatability data were collected for the 5 benzoylureas on 4 vegetables and citrus in the range 0.04-2.0 mg/kg. Validated limits of detection and quantitation were 0.01 and 0.04 mg/kg, respectively. The method is reliable for routine analysis of vegetables and fruits.

Uptake and elimination kinetics of a pesticide in the liver of the European eel.

This study was undertaken to determine the bioconcentration-elimination process of fenitrothion in the liver of the european eel (Anguilla anguilla). The animals were exposed to two sublethal fenitrothion concentrations corresponding to 1/5 and 1/10 of LC50 96-h in a flow-through test system. Uptake kinetics were determined from liver burdens measured at 2, 8, 24, 48, 56, 72 and 96 hours exposure. After pesticide exposure, animals were transferred to clean water for 72 hours. Fenitrothion elimination was determined after 12, 24, 48 and 72 hours of recovery period. The insecticide showed a high bioconcentration tendency. Steady-state was reached after 48 hours exposure when the animals where exposed to the lowest concentration. This was followed with a rapid elimination process when the animals were transferred to clean water. Animals exposed to 0.04 ppm showed an early accumulation of the toxicant into the liver, and a steady-state was reached after 8 hours. The elimination rate constant K2 of 0.0096 h-1 and 0.06 h-1 were estimated from the data. The biotransformation rate of fenitrothion in the European eel were low as indicated by a relatively short half-life (11.55 h) of the insecticide. An increase in the Hepatosomatic Index was observed after 96 hours of exposure, but no significant differences were found between control and exposed animals.

Genetic analysis of the bacteriocin-encoding plasmids pRJ6 and pRJ9 of Staphylococcus aureus by transposon mutagenesis and cloning of genes involved in bacteriocin production.

pRJ6 and pRJ9, small Staphylococcus aureus plasmids which code for bacteriocins, exhibited a bactericidal activity against several lactic acid bacteria and strains of Listeria monocytogenes, an important food-borne pathogen. Filter-mating experiments using plasmid derivatives tagged with either Tn551 or Tn917-lac showed that pRJ6, but not pRJ9, could be mobilized by staphylococcal conjugative plasmids. Transposon mutagenesis of both plasmids was also performed. The bacteriocin and immunity structural genes of pRJ6 are part of the same operon, which is located around co-ordinate 4.0, being transcribed from right to left. However, gene cloning experiments using a staphylococcal vector showed some evidence for the involvement of additional functions of pRJ6 in bacteriocin expression. One function involved in pRJ6 mobilization mapped around co-ordinate 5.2, and it appears to be transcribed from left to right. The bactericidal action exerted by strains harbouring pRJ9 appears to reflect the activity of at least two bacteriocins, whose combined action results in a broader spectrum of activity and in a higher antagonistic activity. Gene cloning experiments also supported these assumptions.

UV detection of triazine herbicides and their hydroxylated and dealkylated degradation products in well water.

The aim of this work was to develop a simple method to confirm the presence of hydroxytriazine products (hydroxyatrazine, hydroxysimazine, hydroxyethylterbutyltriazine and hydroxydiaminotriazine) in water and to apply it to well water samples. The hydroxytriazines were concentrated on a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge. Analysis was performed by HPLC using an RP8-DB column with phosphate buffer (pH 4.7)-acetonitrile (72:28, v/v) as the mobile phase and photodiode-array detection at 233 nm. Hydroxyatrazine, hydroxysimazine and hydroxyethylterbutyltriazine were detected at ppb levels in samples from two shallow wells under a very sandy soil citrus orchard taken at three different times in a 1-year period.

Uptake and clearance of diazinon in different tissues of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.).

Acute toxicity effects of diazinon on European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was examined using short-term exposures in static conditions. The LC50 values were 0.16, 0.11, 0.09 and 0.08 mg/l at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h exposure, respectively. In addition, the eels were exposed to 0.042 mg/l of diazinon and bioaccumulation and clearance processes of this insecticide in liver, muscle and gill tissues were studied. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) of diazinon over 96 h exposure period was 1850 in liver, 875 in gill and 775 in muscle tissue. Diazinon elimination from the selected tissues was rapid. The excretion rate constants of this insecticide were 0.108 h-1 for liver, 0.055 h-1 for gill and 0.016 h-1 for muscle. Diazinon half-lives were calculated as 16.6, 33.2 and 27 h for liver, muscle and gill, respectively. Diazinon showed relatively short half-lives in eel tissues.

pRJ5: a naturally occurring Staphylococcus aureus plasmid expressing constitutive macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance contains a tandem duplication in the leader region of the ermC gene.

The 2.55 kb Staphylococcus aureus plasmid, pRJ5, confers constitutive resistance to macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLS) antibiotics. pRJ5 is nearly identical to the inducible MLS resistance plasmid pT48, and has homology with the S. aureus plasmids pE194 and pSN2. The HindIII-C and/or Hind-B fragments were required for stable maintenance of the plasmid and probably carry palA. Plasmids pRJ5 and pT48 were shown to belong to the same incompatibility group, Inc12 (L). DNA sequencing showed that pRJ5 contains a 28 bp direct tandem duplication in the leader/attenuator region of ermC. This is likely to change the secondary structure of the methylase mRNA, allowing constitutive expression of ermC. The type of mutation found on plasmid pRJ5 is different from those observed in similar 2.5 kb constitutive MLS-resistance plasmids isolated from other Gram-positive bacteria, including staphylococci.

Acute toxicity, uptake and clearance of diazinon by the European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.).

The toxicity, accumulation, and elimination of diazinon were investigated for the european eel, Anguilla anguilla. The 24, 48, 72 and 96-h median lethal concentrations (LC50) were 0.16, 0.11, 0.09 and 0.08 mg/L, respectively. Fish exposed to sublethal concentration (0.042 mg/L) accumulated diazinon in liver and muscle tissues. Bioconcentration factors (BCF) of diazinon were 1850 in liver, and 775 in muscle over the 96-h exposure period. Upon removal from diazinon containing water the contaminated fish rapidly eliminated diazinon. The excretion rate constants of this insecticide were 0.108 h-1 for liver and 0.016 h-1 for muscle. Diazinon half-lives were 16.6 and 33.2 hours for liver and muscle, respectively.

Acute toxicity and bioaccumulation of endosulfan in rotifer (Brachionus calyciflorus).

1. The acute toxicity of endosulfan was determined for the freshwater rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus. 2. The mean 24 hr LC50 value for endosulfan was 5.15 ppm with a coefficient of variation of 14.7%. 3. Rotifers were exposed at two sublethal concentrations (1.5-2.0 ppm) of endosulfan for bioaccumulation experiments, for an exposure time of 24, 48, 72 and 96 hr. The rotifers were fed with Nannochloris oculata (5 x 10(5) cell/ml). 4. The highest accumulation of endosulfan was found 24 hr after the start of the exposure to 1.5 ppm of the toxicant. A steady-state concentration in rotifer was reached between 24-48 hr, followed by a gradual decrease until 96 hr.