Therapeutic Potential of Melaleuca alternifolia Essential Oil in New Drug Delivery Systems.

Medicinal plants produce secondary metabolites with special biological activities, which may be used as new therapeutic alternatives. For instance, tea tree essential oil (TTO) was shown to exert antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, antiviral, anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activities. Due to their thermal instability, active principles can be easily degraded by physicochemical processes; therefore, they must be protected to increase their time of action and improve their controlled release. The aim of this review is to discuss formulations incorporating encapsulated TTO as the active ingredient. Micro and nanoencapsulated systems proved to be more thermostable than TTO and to exert better antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic and larvicidal effects. Nanoencapsulation also reduced oil toxicity. Emulsified and hybrid systems developed by various methods showed improved repellent, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities, thereby proving promising for the pharmaceutical industry. Liposomal formulations produced by hydration of lipid films exhibited constant rate of terpinen-4-ol release. In addition, their incorporation into biomaterials, such as sponges, nanofibers and films, showed great potential for treating infections. Mainly due to the advantages of their incorporation into new drug delivery systems over conventional formulations, there is an interest in the development of systems containing TTO as a pharmaceutical ingredient of plant origin.

Mortalidad asociada al diagnóstico de síndrome de Guillain-Barré en adultos ingresados en instituciones del sistema sanitario mexicano / Mortality associated with a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults of Mexican health institutions

Introducción. El síndrome de Guillain-Barré (SGB) es una urgencia neurológica que constituye la principal causa de parálisis flácida en el mundo, y que afecta a todos los grupos etarios. Se desconocen notablemente las características epidemiológicas esenciales del SGB en la mayor parte de los países de América Latina. Objetivo. Determinar la mortalidad asociada con el diagnóstico de SGB en altas hospitalarias efectuadas durante el año 2010 en instituciones de la Secretaría de Salud, México. Pacientes y métodos. Se analizó la base de datos de altas hospitalarias de instituciones que pertenecen a la Secretaría de Salud. Se identificaron los casos de SGB mediante el código G61.0 de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades, 10.ª revisión (CIE-10). Se excluyeron los registros de pacientes menores de 18 años y los casos sin información demográfica completa. Resultados. Durante el año 2010 se registraron 2.634.339 altas de hospitales que pertenecen a la Secretaría de Salud. Se identificó un total de 467 hospitalizaciones por SGB en adultos (mediana de edad: 41 años; 62,1% hombres) de 121 instituciones sanitarias de los 32 estados federados de México. Durante el verano y otoño se registró la mayor frecuencia de hospitalizaciones por SGB. La mediana de la estancia hospitalaria fue de 8 días y la tasa de mortalidad hospitalaria, del 10,5%. La probabilidad de muerte se asoció directamente con la edad, sin una tendencia particular respecto al sexo, hospital de atención o entidad federativa. Conclusiones. En 2010, la mortalidad hospitalaria por SGB en esta parte del sistema sanitario mexicano fue más alta de la que se informa en estudios contemporáneos. Se observó una asociación estacional con la frecuencia de hospitalizaciones por SGB (AU)

Introduction. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a neurological emergency representing the main cause of flaccid paralysis around the world, affecting all age groups. Little is known about the essential epidemiology of GBS in most Latin American countries. Aim. To determine the mortality associated with the diagnosis of GBS in hospital discharges during 2010 in hospitals of the Ministry of Health, Mexico. Patients and methods. We analyzed the database of hospital discharges of institutions pertaining to the Ministry of Health. Study cases were identified by the code G61.0 of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10). We excluded records of patients younger than 18 years and patients without complete demographic information. Results. During the year 2010 there were 2,634,339 discharges from hospitals of the Ministry of Health. We identified a total of 467 hospitalizations due to GBS in adults (median age: 41 years; 62.1% male) from 121 health institutions of the 32 Republic States. The highest frequency of GBS hospitalizations occurred during summer and fall. The median hospital stay was 8 days. The hospital mortality rate was 10.5%. The probability of death was directly associated with age, without a particular trend regarding gender, hospital care or state. Conclusions. In 2010 GBS hospital mortality in this part of the Mexican health system was higher than that reported in contemporary studies. A seasonal association was observed regarding the frequency of hospitalizations for GBS (AU)

[Mortality associated with a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults of Mexican health institutions]. / Mortalidad asociada al diagnóstico de síndrome de Guillain-Barré en adultos ingresados en instituciones del sistema sanitario Mexicano.

INTRODUCTION: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a neurological emergency representing the main cause of flaccid paralysis around the world, affecting all age groups. Little is known about the essential epidemiology of GBS in most Latin American countries. AIM: To determine the mortality associated with the diagnosis of GBS in hospital discharges during 2010 in hospitals of the Ministry of Health, Mexico. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the database of hospital discharges of institutions pertaining to the Ministry of Health. Study cases were identified by the code G61.0 of the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision (ICD-10). We excluded records of patients younger than 18 years and patients without complete demographic information. RESULTS: During the year 2010 there were 2,634,339 discharges from hospitals of the Ministry of Health. We identified a total of 467 hospitalizations due to GBS in adults (median age: 41 years; 62.1% male) from 121 health institutions of the 32 Republic States. The highest frequency of GBS hospitalizations occurred during summer and fall. The median hospital stay was 8 days. The hospital mortality rate was 10.5%. The probability of death was directly associated with age, without a particular trend regarding gender, hospital care or state. CONCLUSIONS: In 2010 GBS hospital mortality in this part of the Mexican health system was higher than that reported in contemporary studies. A seasonal association was observed regarding the frequency of hospitalizations for GBS.

TITLE: Mortalidad asociada al diagnostico de sindrome de Guillain-Barre en adultos ingresados en instituciones del sistema sanitario mexicano.Introduccion. El sindrome de Guillain-Barre (SGB) es una urgencia neurologica que constituye la principal causa de paralisis flacida en el mundo, y que afecta a todos los grupos etarios. Se desconocen notablemente las caracteristicas epidemiologicas esenciales del SGB en la mayor parte de los paises de America Latina. Objetivo. Determinar la mortalidad asociada con el diagnostico de SGB en altas hospitalarias efectuadas durante el año 2010 en instituciones de la Secretaria de Salud, Mexico. Pacientes y metodos. Se analizo la base de datos de altas hospitalarias de instituciones que pertenecen a la Secretaria de Salud. Se identificaron los casos de SGB mediante el codigo G61.0 de la Clasificacion Internacional de Enfermedades, 10.ª revision (CIE-10). Se excluyeron los registros de pacientes menores de 18 años y los casos sin informacion demografica completa. Resultados. Durante el año 2010 se registraron 2.634.339 altas de hospitales que pertenecen a la Secretaria de Salud. Se identifico un total de 467 hospitalizaciones por SGB en adultos (mediana de edad: 41 años; 62,1% hombres) de 121 instituciones sanitarias de los 32 estados federados de Mexico. Durante el verano y otoño se registro la mayor frecuencia de hospitalizaciones por SGB. La mediana de la estancia hospitalaria fue de 8 dias y la tasa de mortalidad hospitalaria, del 10,5%. La probabilidad de muerte se asocio directamente con la edad, sin una tendencia particular respecto al sexo, hospital de atencion o entidad federativa. Conclusiones. En 2010, la mortalidad hospitalaria por SGB en esta parte del sistema sanitario mexicano fue mas alta de la que se informa en estudios contemporaneos. Se observo una asociacion estacional con la frecuencia de hospitalizaciones por SGB.

Diverticulitis of the duodenum: clinical and radiological manifestations of seven cases.

Seven patients with duodenal diverticulitis were evaluated by computed tomography (CT) and various other abdominal imaging techniques. The series included four men and three women who ranged in age from 47 to 84 yr (mean: 65 yr). They had presented with epigastric or periumbilical pain, low-grade fever, leukocytosis, and loss of appetite and weight due to postprandial cramps or vomiting. In each instance, the abdominal CT examination proved crucial in the diagnosis of duodenal diverticulitis, with contained perforation or inflammatory changes involving the adjacent structures. Five patients underwent laparotomy while two others were treated conservatively with antibiotics and/or percutaneous drainage of peridiverticular abscess. The clinical and radiological features of this uncommon entity are herein described, along with a brief review of the medical literature regarding the current approach to its diagnosis and management.

Renal failure due to bronchogenic adenocarcinoma metastatic to kidneys.

A case is presented of a fifty-eight-year-old woman with bronchogenic adenocarcinoma in whom renal failure developed manifested by hypertension and azotemia. Subsequent percutaneous needle aspiration biopsy confirmed metastatic renal involvement. No etiology other than renal infiltration due to metastatic bronchogenic adenocarcinoma was found to explain the renal failure. Literature review revealed no previous reported case of metastatic bronchogenic adenocarcinoma to the kidney presenting antemortem with renal failure.

Air gap technique for digital subtraction angiography of the extracranial carotid arteries.

The technique of applying an air gap between the patient and the x-ray detector reduces scattered radiation from the patient's neck sufficiently to allow performance of DSA of the extracranial carotid arteries with the antiscatter grid removed. When compared with the conventional grid technique, air gap allows 25 to 88% reduction of mA without increasing the kVp or exposure time and without loss of spatial resolution or diagnostic image quality. These considerable patient radiation-exposure savings can be implemented on DSA systems that use ordinary under-table x-ray tube fluoroscopic equipment without the purchase of additional hardware.

Computed tomography diagnosis of bronchial compression by the spine after surgical correction of scoliosis.

Compression of the bronchi by vertebral bodies is an uncommon cause of atelectasis. This report describes a patient with such a compression and the important role of CT in establishing the etiology.

Diagnosis and management of intraluminal duodenal diverticulum.

The descending part of duodenum is the principal site for an intraluminally projecting mucosal pouch or diverticulum, but this unusual lesion may also occur elsewhere in the upper gastrointestinal tract. We report three patients in whom a large intraluminal duodenal diverticulum (IDD) was diagnosed radiographically at the ages of 15, 27, and 68 years, respectively. Fiberoptic duodenoscopy was performed in the two symptomatic cases for the removal of impacted food from IDD or dilatation of its outflow aperture. Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of IDD are provided based on our experience and review of the pertinent literature.