Are embryonic developing modes determinant in the acquisition and levels of photoprotective compounds in slipper limpets of the Crepipatella genus?

The type of embryonic development (mixed and direct) and its influence on the accumulation and translocation of photoprotective compounds from the mother to the encapsulated embryo was studied in the intertidal gastropods Crepipatella peruviana and Crepipatella dilatata during their reproductive peak. HPLC/MS was used to determine type and levels of sunscreen compounds (total carotenoids; TC/and mycosporine-like amino acid; MAA) in brooding females, capsule walls and early and pre-hatching embryos of both species. Photoprotective compounds were only quantified in nurse eggs of C. dilatata. Our results indicate that females of both species can accumulate TC and MAA at different levels, and they are able to transfer them selectively to capsule walls, embryos and nurse eggs. Palythine-serine (MW=244Da; λmax=320nm) and MAA-330 (MW=234Da; λmax=330nm) constitute total MAA pool in brooding females, whereas brooded embryos incorporate palythine (MW=244Da; λmax=320nm) to the MAA pool. Although TC was transferred from the mother to the embryo through the yolk in both species, MAA trespass showed differences. Females of C. peruviana transfer MAA to their embryos through the embryonic yolk; C. dilatata can transfer MAA only through their nurse eggs, which are consumed by embryos during the terminal stages of intracapsular development. Differences between mixed and direct embryonic development, as well as environmental UV-R levels, which the recently hatched larvae and juveniles of C. peruviana and C. dilatata are exposed to, would determine levels of sunscreen compounds in each species. Higher TC and MAA levels in pre-hatching larvae of C. peruviana compared to C. dilatata, indicate a necessity of C. peruviana for protection against UV-R radiation during approximately 15days when their veliger larvae remain in the water column before metamorphosis is complete. Conversely, low photoprotective levels in pre-hatching juveniles of C. dilatata could be related to low UV-R exposure levels due to the direct incorporation to the benthos and the presence of a protective shell.

[Microbiological profile of infections in the Intensive Care Units of Colombia (EPISEPSIS Colombia]. / Perfil microbiológico de la Infecciones en Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos de Colombia (EPISEPSIS Colombia).

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Valid and reliable data regarding sepsis is lacking in Colombia. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of the microorganisms in the main infections treated in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in our country. METHODS: This is a sub-study of a prospective cohort with 10 general hospitals in Colombia during a 6-month period. The inclusion criteria were hospitalization in ICU and confirmation of infection according to the CDC definitions. Patients were classified into three groups, that is, community, hospital and intensive care, according to the site where the infection was acquired. RESULTS: A total of 826 patients were included in this analysis. Of these, 51% developed infections in the community, 5.33% in the hospital and 43.7% in intensive care unit. Overall, the most common diagnoses were pneumonia (29.54%), intra-abdominal infection (18.16%) and urinary tract infection (11.62%). The most frequent germ in community-acquired infections was E. coli -lung (16. 4%), peritoneum (57.7%), urine (55.5%), blood (22.4%)-. E. coli -peritoneum (29.3%), urine (52.9%)- also predominated in the ICU-acquired infections, except for lung and blood in which Staphylococcus aureus (32.4%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.7%) were the most prevalent. Cultures were requested from 655 patients, 40% of them having received antibiotics before cultures were taken, although this did not affected the percentages of positive cultures (P=0.583). CONCLUSIONS: Pneumonia was the main cause of infection regardless of the site of acquisition. E. coli was the most prevalent germ, except in the pulmonary infections acquired in UCI in which S. aureus was the most prevalent.

Heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass in pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: Definite data in heart surgery with extracorporeal circulation during pregnancy is limited. This report analyzes our experience in this area. METHODS: Fifteen women underwent open heart surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass during pregnancy at our institution between 1972 and 1998. Surgical procedures included valve replacement in 13 patients (12 mitral, 1 aortic), declotting of a tilting disk mitral prosthesis in one and closure, of an atrial septal defect in the remaining patient. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were in New York Heart Association functional class III to IV and were operated on urgently. Eight of these women had severe acute dysfunction of either a mechanical or a biological mitral prosthesis. There were 2 maternal operative deaths for a rate of 13.3%. Fetal losses resulted at the time of these maternal deaths. Fetal deaths occurred in 5 of the 13 pregnancies (38.5%) in women who survived the surgical procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the fetal risks, open heart surgery during pregnancy should be advised only in extreme emergencies. Although pregnancy per se does not increase the maternal risk, a high maternal mortality results from the emergency nature of the surgical intervention. Fetal mortality remains high.

[Crohn's disease and pregnancy. A case report]. / Enfermedad de Crohn y embarazo. Informe de un caso.

The name "Inflammatory Bowel Disease", of Anglo-Saxon origin, has been worked wide used in the medical language to name two nosologic entities: "Ulcerative colitis" (CU) and "Crohn's Disease" (EC). Both affect primarily young people, with approximately equal male to female ratio, although there is slight preponderance of females. In early as 90's, the development of ulcerative colitis during pregnancy had been described as potentially fatal complication, based on this observation therapeutic abortion was frequently recommended; now a days five questions in these patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (EII) that want to become pregnant have to be made: 1. Will the patient have more trouble getting pregnant? 2. Will the same (EC) affect the prognosis of pregnancy? 3. Will pregnancy affect the disease? 4. Which will be the treatment of the (EC) in pregnant women? 5. Will the treatment affect the fetus of the pregnancy? The authors present a case of Crohn's disease of the colon, in a patient of 24 years old with her first pregnancy. This case offered the opportunity to discuss problems and questions that took place in this kind of circumstances as mentioned earlier.

Pain in the first stage of labor: relationship with the patient's position.

This study was designed to evaluate the relationship between the parturient's position and her abdominal and lumbar (continuous and contraction) pain during the first stage of labor. A homogeneous group of 100 parturients was randomly assigned to alternately assume the horizontal or the vertical position for 15-min periods. Their pain was measured at 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, and 8-9 centimeters dilatation. To avoid "carry over" effect, these positions were preceded by a self-elected posture. Thus, the patient adopted (a) a self-elected position, (b) recumbent (or erect), (c) a self-elected position, (d) erect (or recumbent), and so on. Pain intensity was measured by the Argentine Pain Questionnaire's Present Pain Intensity and the Huskisson's visual analogue scale. Only the patients with at least one pain evaluation in both positions using both instruments were included in the study. The setting for the study was the obstetric department of a general hospital for people connected with public education (professors, teachers, or members of school administrative staffs). The analysis revealed that a majority of patients felt less abdominal and lumbar pain, either continuous or due to contractions, during recumbency. The effect was more remarkable when dilation exceeded 5 centimeters and less intense during the first half of the first stage of labor.

Agripnianalgesia. / Agrypnianalgesia

Por mecanismos ainda nao elucidados, existe um paralelismo entre depressao e dor.Como tratamento do segundo sintoma se tem utilizado uma tecnica denominada "agripnianalgesia" que significa analgesia em estado de vigilia que se baseia na utilizacao de um agente antidepressivo e de um derivado das fenotiazinas. A mesma e descrita neste trabalho assim como os resultados obtidos. Mencionam-se as teorias sobre o mecanismo de acao dos neurotransmissores e o dos antidepressivos triciclicos