The branched mitochondrial respiratory chain from the jellyfish Stomolophus sp2 as a probable adaptive response to environmental changes.

During their long evolutionary history, jellyfish have faced changes in multiple environmental factors, to which they may selectively fix adaptations, allowing some species to survive and inhabit diverse environments. Previous findings have confirmed the jellyfish's ability to synthesize large ATP amounts, mainly produced by mitochondria, in response to environmental challenges. This study characterized the respiratory chain from the mitochondria of the jellyfish Stomolophus sp2 (previously misidentified as Stomolophus meleagris). The in-gel activity from isolated jellyfish mitochondria confirmed that the mitochondrial respiratory chain contains the four canonical complexes I to IV and F0F1-ATP synthase. Specific additional activity bands, immunodetection, and mass spectrometry identification confirmed the occurrence of four alternative enzymes integrated into a branched mitochondrial respiratory chain of Stomolophus sp2: an alternative oxidase and three dehydrogenases (two NADH type II enzymes and a mitochondrial glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase). The analysis of each transcript sequence, their phylogenetic relationships, and each protein's predicted models confirmed the mitochondrial alternative enzymes' identity and specific characteristics. Although no statistical differences were found among the mean values of transcript abundance of each enzyme in the transcriptomes of jellyfish exposed to three different temperatures, it was confirmed that each gene was expressed at all tested conditions. These first-time reported enzymes in cnidarians suggest the adaptative ability of jellyfish's mitochondria to display rapid metabolic responses, as previously described, to maintain energetic homeostasis and face temperature variations due to climate change.

Ectima gangrenoso, manifestación cutánea infrecuente de una infección por diversos agentes / Ecthyma gangrenosum, a rare cutaneous manifestation of infection by various agents

El ectima gangrenoso es un trastorno infeccioso infrecuente clásicamente relacionado a bacteriemia, descrito principalmente en poblaciones inmunodeprimidas. El agente más comúnmente relacionado es Pseudomonas aeruginosa, sin embargo, se han descrito otras etiologías bacterianas, hongos filamentosos y levaduras. Su patogénesis está dada por la invasión de la pared de los vasos sanguíneos, causando trombosis arterial y venosa, desencadenando necrosis de epidermis y tejidos subdérmicos. Clínicamente, se manifiesta como máculas, vesículas o pústulas hemorrágicas que evolucionan a úlceras de superficie necrótica rodeadas por un halo eritematoso característico, habitualmente en un contexto clínico de sepsis. El diagnóstico de este cuadro es clínico, sin embargo, el estudio microbiológico es clave en la identificación del agente etiológico y un posterior tratamiento dirigido. En su manejo es esencial una alta sospecha clínica y el inicio de tratamiento antibiótico en forma precoz. La duración del tratamiento es variable y en algunos casos debe asociarse a debridación quirúrgica. El pronóstico es variable dependiendo de múltiples factores: estado inmunológico, agente etiológico, presencia de sepsis y el tiempo de inicio de tratamiento.(AU)

Ecthyma gangrenosum is an infrequent infectious disorder classically related to bacteremia, described mainly in immunosuppressed populations. The most related agent is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, however other bacterial etiologies, filamentous fungi and yeasts have been described. Its pathogenesis is given by the invasion of the blood vessel wall, causing arterial and venous thrombosis, triggering necrosis of epidermis and subdermal tissues. Clinically, it manifests as hemorrhagic macules, vesicles or pustules that evolve into ulcers with a necrotic surface surrounded by a characteristic erythematous halo, usually in a clinical setting of sepsis. The diagnosis of this condition is clinical, however the microbiological study is key in the identification of the etiological agent and a subsequent directed treatment. In its management, a high clinical suspicion and an early start of antibiotic treatment are essential. The duration of treatment is variable and in some cases it must be associated with surgical debridement. The prognosis is variable depending on multiple factors: immunological status, etiological agent, presence of sepsis and time of initiation of treatment.(AU)

The influence of hospital antimicrobial use on carbapenem-non-susceptible Enterobacterales incidence rates according to their mechanism of resistance: a time-series analysis.

BACKGROUND: Carbapenem non-susceptible Enterobacterales (CNSE) can be broadly divided into those that produce carbapenemases (carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE)), and those that harbour other mechanisms of resistance (non-carbapenemase-producing CNSE (NCP-CNSE)). AIM: To determine the predictors of CNSE nosocomial incidence rates according to their mechanism of resistance. METHODS: A time-series analysis was conducted (July 2013 to December 2018) to evaluate the relationship in time between hospital antibiotic use and the percentage of adherence to hand hygiene with the CNSE rates. FINDINGS: In all, 20,641 non-duplicated Enterobacterales isolates were identified; 2.2% were CNSE. Of these, 48.1% and 51.9% were CPE and NCP-CNSE, respectively. Of the CPE, 78.3% possessed a blaOXA-232 gene. A transfer function model was identified for CNSE, CPE, and OXA-232 CPE that explained 20.8%, 19.3%, and 24.2% of their variation, respectively. According to the CNSE and CPE models, an increase in piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP) use of 1 defined daily dose (DDD) per 100 hospital patient-days (HPD) would lead to an increase of 0.69 and 0.49 CNSE and CPE cases per 10,000 HPD, respectively. The OXA-232 CPE model estimates that an increase of 1 DDD per 100 HPD of TZP use would lead to an increase of 0.43 OXA-232 CPE cases per 10,000 HPD. A transfer function model was not identified for NCP-CNSE, nor was there an association between the adherence to handhygiene and the CNSE rates. CONCLUSION: The use of TZP is related in time with the CPE nosocomial rates, mostly explained by its effect on OXA-232 CPE.

Parada cardíaca súbita por arritmia ventricular en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio

RESUMEN: Introducción: La muerte súbita cardíaca no ha disminuido de igual manera que la mortalidad por enfermedad coronaria, por la elevada incidencia de las paradas cardíacas súbitas (PCS).Objetivos: Determinar factores predictivos de PCS por arritmia ventricular en pacientes con infarto agudo de miocardio.Método: Se realizó un estudio analítico en el Servicio de Cardiología de Las Tunas entre 2011 y 2017. La población de estudio estuvo conformada por los 917 pacientes ingresados con infarto agudo de miocardio. Los 90 pacientes con PCS en arritmia ventricular constituyeron el «grupo de casos¼; el resto fue el «grupo control¼. Se utilizó estadística descriptiva y un modelo de regresión logística múltiple, y se calculó el índice de probabilidad (odds ratio [OR]), con un 95porciento de confiabilidad para determinar los factores predictivos.Resultados: En los pacientes del grupo de casos predominó el sexo masculino (73porciento), el infarto biventricular (24,7porciento), la fracción de eyección ventricular izquierda (FEVI) < 35porciento (18,9porciento) y los fallecidos (41,1porciento) en relación al grupo control. Al 10,0 porciento se le administró betabloqueadores en la primera asistencia médica. El shock cardiogénico (OR=15,3), la FEVI < 35% (OR=8,51), la creatina quinasa > 1200 UI (OR=2,77), la obesidad (OR=3,16), el hábito de fumar (OR=2,28), el supra/infradesnivel del ST en el electrocardiograma > 15 mm (OR=2,23) y el infarto anterior (OR=2,39) se asociaron a la PCS en arritmia ventricular.Conclusiones: El shock cardiogénico, la FEVI < 35porciento, la creatina quinasa > 1200 UI, la obesidad, el hábito de fumar, el supra/infradesnivel del ST en el electrocardiograma > 15 mm y el infarto anterior fueron factores predictivos de PCS en arritmia ventricular.[AU]

Because difficulty is not the same for everyone: the impact of complexity in working memory is associated with cannabinoid 1 receptor genetic variation in young adults.

Individual differences in working memory ability are mainly revealed when a demanding challenge is imposed. Here, we have associated cannabinoid 1 (CB1) receptor genetic variation rs2180619 (AA, AG, GG), which is located in a potential CNR1 regulatory sequence, with performance in working memory. Two-hundred and nine Mexican-mestizo healthy young participants (89 women, 120 men, mean age: 23.26 years, SD = 2.85) were challenged to solve a medium (2-back) vs. a high (3-back) difficulty N-back tasks. All subjects responded as expected, performance was better with the medium than the high demand task version, but no differences were found among genotypes while performing each working memory (WM) task. However, the cost of the level of complexity in N-back paradigm was double for GG subjects than for AA subjects. It is noteworthy that an additive-dosage allele relation was found for G allele in terms of cost of level of complexity. These genetic variation results support that the endocannabinoid system, evaluated by rs2180619 polymorphism, is involved in WM ability in humans.

Estabilización dinámica con ligamentoplastia interespinosa en discopatía degenerativa de columna vertebral lumbar / Dynamic stabilization with interspinous ligamentoplasty in degenerative discopaty of lumbar spine

El tratamiento de la Discopatía Degenerativa lumbar, mediante dispositivo suave de estabilización dinámica, con el uso de ligamento para reforzamiento interespinoso, altera favorablemente el movimiento y la transmisión de carga de un segmento vertebral, proporcionando estabilidad y previniendo la enfermedad del segmento adyacente. Por lo tanto se realiza un estudio prospectivo, longitudinal con 25 pacientes con edades comprendidas entre 15 y 58 años, con diagnóstico de Discopatia degenerativa lumbar; con estudios de imágenes previos con radiografias en proyección AP, lateral y laterales dinámicas además de Resonancia Magnética, con los cuales se confirmo el diagnóstico, al igual que control radiológico postoperatorio, a los que se les practico semihemilaminectomia mas discectomíamas foraminectomía mas ligamentoplastia interespinosa del segmento afectado y adyacentes. Se obtuvo como resultado mejoría clínica inmediata en la mayoría de los pacientes y con pronto reintegro a sus actividades habituales luego de la cirugía.

The treatment of lumbar degenerative discopaty, by means of a soft dynamic stabilization device, with the use of ligament for interspinous reinforcement, alter favorably the movement and load transmission of a vertebral segment, providing stability and preventing the disease of the adjacent segment. Therefore a prospectivelongitudinal study is carried out on 25 patients with ages ranging from 15 to 58 years, with a lumbar degenerative disease diagnosis; previous radiographicstudies in AP, lateral and dynamic-laterals projectionsand also Magnetic Resonance Imaging confirm the diagnosis, along with postoperative radiological controls. The patients received semi-hemilaminectomy plus discectomy plus foraminectomy plus interspinous ligamentoplasty of affected and adjacent segments. As result, inmediate clinical improvement in most patients was obtained and a soon return to their usual activities after the surgery.

Dynamics of dermatophytosis frequency in Mexico: an analysis of 2084 cases.

We analysed 15,101 biological samples from patients presenting with superficial mycoses who attended outpatient services over a 10-year period. Scale samples were processed for direct microscopic examination with 15% KOH and cultured on Sabouraud glucose agar plus chloramphenicol and cycloheximide. Laboratory examination confirmed 4,709 cases of superficial mycosis (31.18%), of which 2,084 (44.26%) were dermatophytoses. The species most frequently encountered was Trichophyton rubrum (71.2%), followed by T. tonsurans (6.9%), T. mentagrophytes (5.5%), Microsporum canis (4.5%) and Epidermophyton floccosum (1.3%). The most frequent clinical form of dermatophytosis was tinea unguium (59.9%), followed by tinea pedis (24.5%). We demonstrate that the number of cases of T. rubrum is increasing in Mexico.

Intravenous vitamin C as a chemotherapy agent: a report on clinical cases

A series of seven cases are presented in which intravenous vitamin C has been used as antineoplastic agent in the treatment of different types of cancers. The cancers cases reviewed are the following: Renal cell carcinoma (2), Colorectal cancer (1), Pancreatic cancer (1), Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (2) and breast cancer (1). Toxic reactions were not observed at these high doses of intravenous Vitamin C. All patients were prescreened for Glucose 6--phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency before administering intravenous Vitamin C in order to prevent hemolysis

Cell membrane fatty acid composition differs between normal and malignant cell lines

Twenty-eight fatty acids (C8:0 to C24:l n-9) were measured by gas chromatography in four normal cell lines (C3H / 10T1 / 2, CCD-18Co, CCD-25SK and CCD-37Lu) and seven cancer cell lines (C-41, Caov-3, LS-180, PC-3, SK-MEL-28, SK-MES-1 and U-87 MG). Results show differences in the content and proportions of fatty acids when comparing cancer cell lines with their normal counterparts. Cancer cell lines showed lower C20: 4 n-6, C24:1 n-9, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA's) and ratios of C20:4 n-6 to C20:5 n-3 and C16:0 to C18:1 n-9 and stearic to oleic (SA/OA) than their normal counterparts. All cancer cell lines had SA/OA ratios lower than 7.0 while normal cell lines had ratios greater than 0.7 (p<0.05). In addition, the ratios of total saturated fatty acids (SFA) to PUFA'S and the concentration of C18:1 n-9, C18:2 n-6, C20:5 n-3 were higher in cancer cell lines as compared to normal cell lines. A positive correlation was detected between C16:0 and longer SFA'S (r = +0.511, p<0.05) in normal cell lines whereas a negative correlation (r=0.608, p<0.05) was obtained for malignant cell lines. Moreover, cancerous cell lines exhibited a particular desaturation defect and an abnormal incorporation of C18:2 n-6 and C20-4 n-6 fatty acids

Specializations for aerial hawking in the echolocation system of Molossus molossus (Molossidae, Chiroptera).

While searching for prey, Molossus molossus broadcasts narrow-band calls of 11.42 ms organized in pairs of pulses that alternate in frequency. The first signal of the pair is at 34.5 kHz, the second at 39.6 kHz. Pairs of calls with changing frequencies were only emitted when the interpulse intervals were below 200 ms. Maximum duty cycles during search phase are close to 20%. Frequency alternation of search calls is interpreted as a mechanism for increasing duty cycle and thus the temporal continuity of scanning, as well as increasing the detection range. A neurophysiological correlate for the processing of search calls was found in the inferior colliculus. 64% of neurons respond to frequencies in the 30- to 40-kHz range and only in this frequency range were closed tuning curves found for levels below 40 dB SPL. In addition, 15% of the neurons have double-tuned frequency-threshold curves with best thresholds at 34 and 39 kHz. Differing from observations in other bats, approach calls of M. molossus are longer and of higher frequencies than search calls. Close to the roost, the call frequency is increased to 45.0-49.8 kHz and, in addition, extremely broadband signals are emitted. This demonstrates high plasticity of call design.

[Characterization of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis in Venezuelan children]. / Caracterización de la ceroidolipofuscinosis en niños venezolanos.

INTRODUCTION: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), represents a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders. Based on the age of the patient at onset, clinical course and ultrastructural morphology it has been identified three clinical types for the pediatric group: 1) Infantile NCL (INCL); 2) Late infantile NCL (LINCL); and 3) Juvenile NCL (JNCL). Other variants or atypical forms represent around 20% of the NCL in different populations. Genetic advances have made possible a better characterization, diagnostic and classification of these disorders. CASE REPORTS: We present the clinical, neurophysiological, neuroradiological, and morphological data from 6 patients with NCL, who were assessed at the pediatric neurology department of the Hospital Universitario de Maracaibo during a ten years period (1993 2003). All 6 cases corresponded with the late infantile form. Age of onset ranged form 2 to 5 years. For most of the patients initial symptoms included seizures, psychomotor delay, accompanied by macular degeneration and optic atrophy. The EEG was characterized by high voltage spikes elicited by low frequency photic stimulation, in 5 cases. Neuroimaging findings were characteristic of the late infantile form of the NCL. In three patients a decreased intensity of signal was seen in the thalami and putamen on T2-weighted images. The ultrastructural examination of the samples obtained through a biopsy showed curvilinear bodies in all patients. CONCLUSION: There is not epidemiological data of the NCL in Venezuela; it is presumed the presence of clinical forms and variants in the pediatric group. This first study could contribute to the knowledge and a better research of this group of disorders in our population.

Intravenous ascorbic acid: protocol for its application and use

High dose intravenous(i.v.) ascorbic acid (AA) has been used as therapy for infectious disease from bacterial and viral origin and adjuvant therapy for cancer. In this publication we describe a clinical protocol that has been developed over the past twenty years utilizing high dose i.v. AA as therapy for cancer. This includes principles of treatment, rationale, baseline workup, infusion protocol, precautions and side effects.

Efecto de la hormona de crecimiento recombinante humana sobre el sistema inmune de los niños / Effect of growth human hormone in inmune system in the childs

Trabajo prospectivo, abierto, experimental en el cual se incluyeron 16 pacientes con talla baja familiarpara valorar el efecto de la hormona de crecimiento (GH) sobre el sistema inmune. En conclusión, la aplicación de l aGH podría tener un efecto positivo sobre el sistema inmune

Experiencia en trauma renal en niños: Hospital Clínico San Borja Arriarán / Renal trauma experience in children: San Borja Arriarán Clinical Hospital

El tratamiento abdominal se ha convertido en un problema emergente y dentro de éste el órgano más frecuentemente lesionado este riñón. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo fue caracterizar epidemiológicamente y analizar la conducta terapéutica de los traumas renales ingresados a nuestro servicio. Se analizaron retrospectivamente las fichas clínicas de 42 pacientes ingresados por traumatismo abdominal complicado en el Servicio de Urgencia del Hospital San Borja Arriarán entre los años 1984 a 2001. De los pacientes con trauma renal se analizó la información referente a exámenes clínicos e imagenológicos, su clasificación, su tratamiento y complicaciones. De los 42 traumas abdominales hubo 13 casos con compromiso renal, los exámenes realizados fueron análisis de orina en todos los casos, ecografía renal en 9,TAC en 6 UIV en 5 angiografía renal en un caso. La frecuencia de las lesiones fue: 5 Grado 2, 1 Grado 3, 5 Grado 4, 1 Grado 5. La relación hombre mujer fue de 3,6: 1 con un promedio de edad de 9 años 6 meses, los mecanismos de lesión más frecuentes fueron caídas de altura, golpe directo y atropello (con 4 casos cada uno), el manejo fue expectante en 10 casos y de resolución quirúrgica de urgencia en 3. En 3 pacientes en que se mantuvo conducta expectante debió realizarse una cirugía electiva por complicaciones. Se realizaron 2 nefrectomías y una heminefrectomía. El promedio de estadía hospitalaria fue de 15 días, siendo 31 para los pacientes con cirugía y de 6 días para los que no quirúrgicos. Nuestro trabajo concuerda con la literatura en que el riñón más frecuentemente lesionado en los traumas abdominales. Existe una clara diferencia en cuanto al sexo, siendo el grupo más afectado los hombres entre 7 a 12 años. Dentro de los exámenes realizados, la ecografía es uno de los más solicitados. Se observa a través de los años analizados una tendencia hacia un manejo conservador para las lesiones renales.

[Progress in medical treatment of heart failure]. / Avances en el tratamiento médico de la insuficiencia cardiaca.

Heart failure is one of the most important diseases in the recent years. Because of the advances in the cardiological practice, it can be identified frequently knowing much better pathophysiological mechanism and the investigation of different drugs for the improvement in symptomatology and the functional class of this patients. The first step is taking care about the diet, which it has to be sodium free, a restrictive about intake. The second step is the use of diuretics and digitalis that has been used for many years. About the new treatment in the medical therapy is the point that we analyze in the present work and we think that in the future this alternatives will be much better and incorporated to the basic therapeutics.

Computerized brain tomography in patients with Schizophrenia.

We carried out brain tomography of 27 patients with schizophrenia and 17 normal control subjects. DSM-IV criteria were used for diagnosis. The parameters studied were: brain volume, lateral and third ventricles, brain surface and brain indexes. Previously the patients were evaluated with the following clinical scales: Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (GAF) and the GRAFFAR scale to evaluate cultural and socioeconomical levels. We detected an increase in the right and left lateral ventricles: brain ratios, an increase in the width of Sylvian fissures and in the third ventricle index. We did not find differences that could be related to sex or to a familial history of mental disease. No differences were observed in the group receiving medication when compared with the group of untreated patients.

[Identification and typing of yeast isolates from hospital patients in Mexico City]. / Identificación y tipificación de levaduras aisladas de pacientes de un hospital de la ciudad de México.

Nosocomial yeast infections have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. This study presents the frequency of yeasts isolated from different biological products from a Mexico City hospital's patients during one year. C. albicans was isolated in 72.3% of patients, followed by C. glabrata (13.4%) and C. parapsilosis (8%). Twenty different morphotypes were identified and the serotype B was the most frequent (79%).

Identificación y tipificación de levaduras aisladas de pacientes de un hospital de la ciudad de México / Identification and typing of yeast isolates from hospital patients in Mexico City

Nosocomial yeast infections have become a major cause of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. This study presents the frequency of yeasts isolated from different biological products from a Mexico City hospitals patients during one year. C. albicans was isolated in 72.3 of patients, followed by C. glabrata (13.4) and C. parapsilosis (8). Twenty different morphotypes were identified and the serotype B was the most frequent (79).(AU)