Impact of colloids or crystalloids in renal function assessed by NGAL and KIM-1 after hysterectomy: randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background Hydroxyethyl starches are colloids used in fluid therapy that may reduce volume infusion compared with crystalloids, but they can affect renal function in critical care patients. This study aims to assess renal effects of starches using renal biomarkers in the perioperative setting. Methods This prospective, controlled, randomized study compared Hydroxyethyl starch 6% (HES) with Ringer's lactate (RL) in hysterectomy. Each episode of mean arterial pressure (MAP) below 60 mmHg guided the fluid replacement protocol. The RL group received 300 mL bolus of RL solution while the HES group received 150 mL of HES solution. All patients received RL (2 mL.kg−1.h−1) intraoperatively to replace insensible losses. Blood and urine samples were collected at three time points (preoperatively, 24 hours, and 40 days postoperatively) to assess urinary NGAL and KIM-1, as primary outcome, and other markers of renal function. Results Seventy patients were randomized and 60 completed the study. The RL group received a higher crystalloid volume (1,277 ± 812.7 mL vs. 630.4 ± 310.2 mL; p= 0.0002) with a higher fluid balance (780 ± 720 mL vs. 430 ± 440 mL; p= 0.03) and fluid overload (11.7% ± 10.4% vs. 7.0% ± 6.3%; p= 0.04) compared to the HES group. NGAL and KIM-1 did not differ between groups at each time point, however both biomarkers increased 24 hours postoperatively and returned to preoperative levels after 40 days in both groups. Conclusion HES did not increase renal biomarkers following open hysterectomy compared to RL. Moreover, HES provided better hemodynamic parameters using less volume, and reduced postoperative fluid balance and fluid overload.

Impact of colloids or crystalloids in renal function assessed by NGAL and KIM-1 after hysterectomy: randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hydroxyethyl starches are colloids used in fluid therapy that may reduce volume infusion compared with crystalloids, but they can affect renal function in critical care patients. This study aims to assess renal effects of starches using renal biomarkers in the perioperative setting. METHODS: This prospective, controlled, randomized study compared Hydroxyethyl starch 6% (HES) with Ringer's lactate (RL) in hysterectomy. Each episode of mean arterial pressure (MAP) below 60 mmHg guided the fluid replacement protocol. The RL group received 300 mL bolus of RL solution while the HES group received 150 mL of HES solution. All patients received RL (2 mL.kg-1.h-1) intraoperatively to replace insensible losses. Blood and urine samples were collected at three time points (preoperatively, 24 hours, and 40 days postoperatively) to assess urinary NGAL and KIM-1, as primary outcome, and other markers of renal function. RESULTS: Seventy patients were randomized and 60 completed the study. The RL group received a higher crystalloid volume (1,277 ± 812.7 mL vs. 630.4 ± 310.2 mL; p = 0.0002) with a higher fluid balance (780 ± 720 mL vs. 430 ± 440 mL; p = 0.03) and fluid overload (11.7% ± 10.4% vs. 7.0% ± 6.3%; p = 0.04) compared to the HES group. NGAL and KIM-1 did not differ between groups at each time point, however both biomarkers increased 24 hours postoperatively and returned to preoperative levels after 40 days in both groups. CONCLUSION: HES did not increase renal biomarkers following open hysterectomy compared to RL. Moreover, HES provided better hemodynamic parameters using less volume, and reduced postoperative fluid balance and fluid overload.

Virtualización de contenidos académicos en entornos de aprendizaje a distancia / Virtualization of academic content in distance learning environments

El objetivo del presente trabajo es el describir la virtualización de contenidos académicos en entornos virtuales de aprendizaje con tecnologías educativas y el desarrollo de materiales didácticos digitales, imágenes, documentos, contenidos interactivos, videos multimedia, actividades interactivas, evaluación y otros. Se plantea conceptualizaciones de tecnología educativa, estrategias de enseñanza y aprendizaje, entorno virtual de aprendizaje, estructura del aula virtual, competencias digitales. Finalmente, se incide en los elementos que componen y los pasos que se requieren en el proceso de virtualización del plan de estudios y/o los contenidos de la materia para coadyuvar en la formación académica y en la apertura de escenarios activos, colaborativos, interactivos virtuales entre docentes y estudiantes.

Estrategias educativas y tecnología digital en el proceso enseñanza aprendizaje / Educational strategies and digital technology in the teaching learning process

El objetivo del presente trabajo es describir las estrategias educativas y su integración con las tecnologías digitales para el fortalecimiento del proceso enseñanza aprendizaje de docentes y estudiantes. Se abordan diferentes investigaciones, enfoques y conceptualizaciones desarrollados por otras investigaciones; además, se describen las estrategias de enseñanza pre-instruccionales, co-instruccionales y postinstruccionales entre las cuales resaltan los objetivos, organizadores previos, mapas mentales y conceptuales, ilustraciones, analogías y otros; por otra parte, se enfoca en las estrategias que el estudiante emplea en su formación académica como ser el ensayo, elaboración, organización, comprensión, apoyo y aprendizaje significativo. Por otro lado, se destaca las nuevas tecnologías digitales, los recursos de Internet orientadas a la educación y las miradas concernientes a reducir la brecha digital en el contexto educativo. Por último, se enfatiza en la integración de las estrategias educativas y las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación disponibles, y como éstas conllevan a la apertura de nuevos escenarios activos de interrelación e interacción entre docentes y estudiantes.

Evaluación cualitativa y cuantitativa de enseñanza aprendizaje combinado, sobre alimentación del menor de dos años / Qualitative and quantitative assessment of combined teaching learning process on feeding of children under two years of age

INTRODUCCIÓN: la cátedra de pediatría con apoyo del Instituto de Investigación en Salud y Desarrollo de la UMSA, ha elaborado un módulo de enseñanza teórico práctico para brindar conocimiento científico actualizado sobre alimentación y nutrición del menor de dos años. Durante la última gestión universitaria se ha incursionado en la enseñanza virtual para incrementar el tiempo de lectura, y contar con mayor espacio para las actividades prácticas. MÁTERIALES Y MÉTODOS: el objetivo de este artículo es identificar las fortalezas y debilidades del proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje (PEA) combinado; usando metodología cuantitativa (pre y post-prueba) y cualitativa (grupo focal). Se contó con un total de 39 estudiantes. La prueba de conocimientos post intervención tuvo un puntaje de 771 mayor que la previa (p=0,000 ((IC 95% 642,35 - 901,23); y se respondió en menor tiempo (-219,43 segundos p=0.0000 (IC 95% (146,98 ­ 291,88). Un 81% de estudiantes estaba en el límite o por encima de lo que se consideró mínimo adecuado de facilidades informáticas. El grupo focal evidencio dificultades en el portal virtual, como muchos pasos para el ingreso, la saturación del servicio y otras; se dieron múltiples sugerencias para mejorar el módulo. RESULTADOS: este estudio demuestra que además de adquirir conocimientos, los estudiantes se han involucrado en los diferentes aspectos PEA; en base a sus sugerencias se ha comenzado a realizar cambios incluyendo la introducción de herramientas digitales de uso colaborativo como Wiki. CONCLUSIÓN: se concluye que el PEA combinado aplicado en la catedra de pediatría de la UMSA mejora la adquisición de conocimientos y prácticas sobre lactancia materna y alimentación complementaria del menor de dos años.

INTRODUCTION: the pediatric department with the support of the Institute of Research in Health and Development of the UMSA has developed a practical and theoretical teaching module to provide updated scientific knowledge on food and nutrition for children under two years of age. During the last university year, virtual teaching has been introduced to increase reading time, and to have more space for practical activities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: the objective of this article is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the combined Learning Teaching Process using quantitative (pre and post-test) and qualitative methodology (focus group); 39 students participated in the study. In the post-intervention knowledge test obtained a score of 771 higher than the one prior to intervention (p = 0.000 ((95% CI 642.35 - 901.23), and spent shorter time in answers (-219.43 seconds p = 0.0000 (95% CI % (146.98 - 291.88). A total of 81% of students were in the limit or above what was considered adequate or minimum computer facilities. The focus group evidenced difficulties in the virtual portal, as many steps for the entrance, the saturation of the service and others, multiple suggestions were given to improve the module. RESULTS: this study shows that in addition to acquiring knowledge, students have been involved in the different aspects of the Teaching Learning Process (TLP). Based on their suggestions, changes such as the introduction of collaborative digital tools (Wiki) have been made. CONCLUSIONS: the article concludes indicating that the combined TLP applied in the pediatric department of the UMSA improves the students' acquisition of knowledge and practices on breastfeeding and complementary feeding of the child two years.

Competencias digitales y su integración con herramientas tecnológicas en educación superior / Digital competences and its integration with technological tools in higher education

Las competencias digitales son habilidades, destrezas aquellas que desarrolla el profesor universitario en su labor docente y el estudiante en su proceso de aprendizaje. Por otro lado, las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación han generado diferentes programas computaciones, herramientas tecnológicas gratuitas y de pago, el objetivo del presente trabajo es describir las competencias digitales existentes vinculadas con las nuevas tecnologías de información y comunicación, además, pretende identificar los ambientes flexibles, colaborativos, científicos, participativos y personalizados que se presentan con la integración de herramientas digitales. La integración y aplicabilidad de las competencias digitales integradas con las herramientas tecnológicas son determinantes en el desarrollo educativo, investigativo, profesional y otros

The digital competences are skills, skills that are developed by the university professor in his teaching work and the student in his learning process. On the other hand, the new information and communication technologies have generated different computer programs, free and paid technological tools, the objective of this work is to describe the existing digital competences linked to the new information and communication technologies, in addition, it aims to identify the flexible, collaborative, scientific, participative and personalized environments that are presented with the integration of digital tools. The integration and applicability of integrated digital competencies with the tools of technology are determining factors in educational, research, professional and other development

Phenotype and Variant Spectrum in the LAMB3 Form of Amelogenesis Imperfecta.

Amelogenesis imperfecta (AI) is a heterogeneous group of inherited disorders characterized by abnormal formation of dental enamel, either in isolation or as part of a syndrome. Heterozygous variants in laminin subunit beta 3 ( LAMB3) cause AI with dominant inheritance in the absence of other cosegregating clinical features. In contrast, biallelic loss-of-function variants in LAMB3 cause recessive junctional epidermolysis bullosa, characterized by life-threatening skin fragility. We identified 2 families segregating autosomal dominant AI with variable degrees of a distinctive hypoplastic phenotype due to pathogenic variants in LAMB3. Whole exome sequencing revealed a nonsense variant (c.3340G>T, p.E1114*) within the final exon in family 1, while Sanger sequencing in family 2 revealed a variant (c.3383-1G>A) in the canonical splice acceptor site of the final exon. Analysis of cDNA from family 2 revealed retention of the final intron leading to a premature termination codon. Two unerupted third molar teeth from individual IV:5 in family 2 were subject to computerized tomography and scanning electron microscopy. LAMB3 molar teeth have a multitude of cusps versus matched controls. LAMB3 enamel was well mineralized but pitted. The architecture of the initially secreted enamel was abnormal, with cervical enamel appearing much less severely affected than coronal enamel. This study further defines the variations in phenotype-genotype correlation for AI due to variants in LAMB3, underlines the clustering of nonsense and frameshift variants causing AI in the absence of junctional epidermolysis bullosa, and highlights the shared AI phenotype arising from variants in genes coding for hemidesmosome proteins.

Nitrogen (protein) determination in single seeds by nuclear reactions.

In this work, a brief review on nuclear reaction methods aimed at nitrogen assessment in organic matter is given, followed by a detailed application using a deuteron beam and (d,p) and (d,α) induced reactions on 14N to determine nitrogen content in single seeds This study covers the analysis of five wheat and four maize stable varieties, which showed up good (linear) correlation coefficients in comparison with corresponding Kjeldahl nitrogen analysis for each species. This method of analysis turns out to be a fast and non-destructive technique for protein determination in cereals, besides its extendibility to other plant products for human nutrition.

Surgical Technique Notes of Arterial Vascular Reconstruction During Kidney Transplantation: Personal Experience and Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Arterial vascular anomalies in patients undergoing kidney transplantation (KT) are correlated with a higher incidence of early surgical complications, potentially causing graft loss. Arterial reconstruction allows patients to overcome these surgical challenges, thus minimizing the risk of poor outcomes. The aim of the present study is to retrospectively investigate the safety and effectiveness of the multiple arterial reconstruction technique with a Teflon patch in case of an unavailable aortic patch: to do so, surgical complications, graft function, and patient survival were evaluated. METHODS: During the period January 2009 to August 2016, 202 adult deceased-donor KTs were performed at our center. Group A (n = 27; reconstruction of multiple arteries) and Group B (n = 175; control group) were compared. RESULTS: No differences were observed between the 2 groups in terms of early postoperative course, with no vascular complication observed in Group A. No vascular patch infections were reported, nor longer cold ischemia time rates. Similarly, long-term survival rates were similar between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: The Teflon-patch arterial reconstruction technique appears to be safe and effective, with an acceptable balance of benefits and potential risks of using a prosthetic material. Studies based on larger series are needed to further validate this approach.

Particle swarm optimization for network-based data classification.

Complex networks provide a powerful tool for data representation due to its ability to describe the interplay between topological, functional, and dynamical properties of the input data. A fundamental process in network-based (graph-based) data analysis techniques is the network construction from original data usually in vector form. Here, a natural question is: How to construct an "optimal" network regarding a given processing goal? This paper investigates structural optimization in the context of network-based data classification tasks. To be specific, we propose a particle swarm optimization framework which is responsible for building a network from vector-based data set while optimizing a quality function driven by the classification accuracy. The classification process considers both topological and physical features of the training and test data and employing PageRank measure for classification according to the importance concept of a test instance to each class. Results on artificial and real-world problems reveal that data network generated using structural optimization provides better results in general than those generated by classical network formation methods. Moreover, this investigation suggests that other kinds of network-based machine learning and data mining tasks, such as dimensionality reduction and data clustering, can benefit from the proposed structural optimization method.

Randomized clinical trial with topical diltiazem for post-hemorrhoidectomy wound healing. / Ensayo clínico aleatorizado con diltiazem tópico para la cicatrización de heridas posthemorroidectomía.

Anal sphincter spasm contributes to the delay in surgical wound healing after hemorrhoidectomy. A prospective, experimental, randomized, double-blind trial was conducted on two groups of patients that underwent closed hemorrhoidectomy. There were 26 patients in each group. Group A received topical diltiazem in the anal region three times a day. Group B received a placebo. Cicatrization time was documented for 6 weeks through digital photography. Mean healing time for the group treated with diltiazem was 3.19 weeks (22.33±0.884 days) and 3.92 weeks (27.44±1.130 days) for the control group (p=0.012 95% CI). At week three, the wounds in 73.07% of the patients in the diltiazem group had healed, compared with 46.15% of the patients in the control group.

Riqueza de especies, nuevos registros y actualización del listado taxonómico de la comunidad de murciélagos del Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona, Colombia / Species richness, new reports and inventory update of bat assemblage of the Gorgona National Natural Park, Colombia

The information resulting from inventories is crucial for tracking the effects of habitat alteration and climate change on biodiversity, and for determining conservation priorities. Bats provide several ecosystem services and reflect the status of the populations they interact with. However, the inventory of bats in Gorgona National Natural Park can be incomplete since relatively few intensive surveys have been done. Using mist nets in areas with different forest cover, 670 bats representing 10 species and three families (Emballonuridae, Phyllostomidae and Vespertilionidae) were captured. Frugivorous species were more abundant in the survey, but a higher number of insectivorous species were registered. A model that incorporates detectability suggests that 33 bat species occur (95% credible interval=[26,39]) and that frugivorous species have a higher detectability than other trophic guilds. To the 13 bat species reported for Gorgona, we added two: Peropteryx macrotis and Mimon crenulatum. In conclusion, our results add two new records of bats to Gorgona, and suggest that the inventory of bats in Gorgona is incomplete, and aerial insectivorous bats have been underrepresented because of the exclusive use of mist nets. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 1): 407-417. Epub 2014 February 01.

Los inventarios biológicos son esenciales para el seguimiento de cambios causados por factores naturales y antrópicos, y para determinar las prioridades de conservación. El estudio de los murciélagos es importante pues estos proveen servicios ambientales esenciales y su diversidad puede reflejar el estado de otros organismos. Sin embargo, el inventario de los murciélagos del PNN Gorgona puede ser incompleto debido a los pocos muestreos intensivos que se han realizado. En este trabajo, se actualiza el listado de la comunidad de murciélagos del Parque Nacional Natural Gorgona, se evalúa su inventario y se propone una clave taxonómica. Considerando que sólo existe una especie del género Saccopteryx (S. leptura) en Gorgona, en los estudios previos se han registrado 13 especies de murciélagos, En el presente estudio se adicionan dos nuevos registros: Peropteryx macrotis con base en la revisión de colecciones biológicas y Mimon crenulatum con base en trabajo de campo. Consecuentemente, se han registrado un total de 15 especies de murciélagos en le PNN Gorgona, mientras el estimado de riqueza predice un total de 33 especies. Por lo tanto, el inventario actual corresponde al 45.5% del número de especies esperado. Por otra parte, la detectabilidad de murciélagos insectívoros y nectarívoros fue baja en comparación con la de frugívoros. En conclusión, el inventario de murciélagos no es completo y las especies insectívoras pueden estar sub-representadas debido al uso exclusivo de redes de niebla en los estudios realizados.

Evidencia morfológica de hibridación entre las subespecies de Ramphocelus flammigerus (Passeriformes: Thraupidae) en Colombia / Morphological evidence of hybridization between Ramphocelus flammigerus subspecies (Passeriformes: Thraupidae) in Colombia

Morphological evidence of hybridization between Ramphocelus flammigerus subspecies (Passeriformes: Thraupidae) in Colombia. Habitat modifications such as deforestation and the increase of agricultural activities, have led to uncommon faunal interactions. In Colombia, this condition have caused the secondary contact of subspecies of Ramphocelus flammigerus populations from Cauca valley and the Pacific coast; and some specimens with rumps of intermediate colors of the subspecies have been found and are thought as hybrids. The objective of this study was to assess the presence of morphological evidence that may suggest hybridization and may explain the origin of individuals with intermediate coloration. We predict that if subspecies hybridize, they will be more similar in morphology when coexisting than when separated. Alternatively, coexisting subspecies might diverge in sympatry, because of selection to reduce competition for resources (character displacement). For this, a survey in 15 localities was undertaken: 10 allopatric areas (five for each subspecies), and five sympatric areas. Mist nets were used to capture individuals and a total of seven morphological characters were measured. To identify the patterns of morphological variation, we compared morphology of subspecies, sympatric and allopatric populations and individuals of intermediate colors. Consequently, we performed discriminant analysis and test for differences between groups by using 95% confidence intervals for log-ratio tests. A total of 112 individuals were captured (46 intermediate-colored individuals, 20 R. f. flammigerus, and 46 R. f. icteronotus. Discriminant analyses showed that subspecies were well differentiated, and intermediate individuals overlapped with them. Log-ratio test, based on Mahalanobis distances, showed that intermediate individuals were morphologically more similar to both subspecies than subspecies themselves. In addition, log-ratio tests showed that subspecies sympatric populations were similar but allopatric ones were different, and that individuals of intermediate colors were more similar to sympatric than to allopatric populations of the two subspecies. Therefore, morphological evidence supports the predictions of a hybridization hypothesis among the subspecies of R. flammigerus. In conclusion, the analysis of morphological variation in R. flammigerus suggests that hybridization between subspecies is occurring and that a process of genetic introgression is probably in progress.

Las modificaciones de los hábitats naturales, tales como la deforestación y el incremento de las actividades agrícolas, han conducido a interacciones faunísticas inusuales. En Colombia, esta situación ha generado el contacto secundario entre las poblaciones de las subespecies de Ramphocelus flammigerus del Valle del Cauca y de la costa Pacífica; y se han encontrado individuos con rabadillas de colores intermedios entre las subespecies que se han catalogado como híbridos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar si existe evidencia morfológica que sugiera hibridación y que pueda explicar el origen de los individuos de coloración intermedia. Con este fin, se obtuvieron muestras de 15 localidades; 10 zonas alopátricas (cinco por cada subespecie) y cinco zonas simpátricas. Para la captura de individuos se utilizaron redes de niebla y fueron tomados siete caracteres morfológicos. Asimismo, se predijo que si las subespecies están hibridando, las mismas, podrían ser morfológicamente más similares cuando coexisten que cuando se encuentran separadas. Alternativamente, cuando las subespecies coexisten, éstas pueden divergir en simpatría debido a presiones selectivas para reducir la competencia por recursos (desplazamiento de caracteres). Para identificar los patrones de variación morfológica, se comparó la morfología de las subespecies, de poblaciones simpátricas y alopátricas de ambas subespecies y de los individuos de cloración intermedia. Consecuentemente, se realizó un análisis discriminante y se evaluaron las diferencias entre los grupos con la utilización de intervalos de confianza del 95% para las relaciones logarítmicas. Y se capturaron un total de 112 individuos (46 de coloraciones intermedias, 20 R. f. flammigerus y 46 R. f. icteronotus). Los análisis discriminantes mostraron que las subespecies se diferencian entre ellas y que los individuos de coloraciones intermedias se traslapan con estas. Las relaciones logarítmicas, basadas en las distancias cuadradas de Mahalanobis, mostraron que los individuos intermedios fueron más similares morfológicamente a ambas subespecies que las subespecies entre ellas. Adicionalmente, se encontró que las poblaciones simpátricas de ambas subespecies son similares pero las poblaciones alopátricas son diferentes, y que los individuos de coloraciones intermedias son más similares a las poblaciones simpátricas de las dos subespecies que a las alopátricas. Por lo tanto, la evidencia morfológica evidencia las predicciones derivadas de la hipótesis de hibridación entre las subespecies de R. flammigerus. En conclusión, el análisis morfológico de la variación en R. flammigerus sugiere que se presenta hibridación entre las subespecies y que probablemente está en progreso un proceso de introgresión genética.

[Perianal cutaneous amebiasis. Report of two cases]. / Amibiasis cutánea perianal. Informe de dos casos.

Perianal cutaneous amebiasis is a rare entity, with 0.03% to 0.07% reported incidence. We present two cases of perianal cutaneous amebiasis, both in male patients. Diagnosis was established by biopsy, with demonstration of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. Treatment with metronidazol was performed with good outcome. Although incidence of perianal cutaneous amebiasis is low, this entity must be kept in mind when painful atypical ulcers appear in this region. Diagnosis must be confirmed by identification of the parasite and treatment must be established with antiamebic extra-luminal drugs.

Actions of vitamin D are mediated by the TLR4 pathway in inflammation-induced colon cancer.

Many chronic inflammatory diseases are associated with increased risk of developing cancer. In the colon, strong support for a link between chronic inflammation and cancer extends, in part, from population-based studies of persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Patients with IBD are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer (CRC). The general consensus is that IBD results from the combined effects of genetics and environment factors known to affect the immune system. Vitamin D, an important regulator of the immune system, has been linked to IBD. Despite the strong potential reported for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25-OH)2D), its effects on calcium metabolism limits its application. Recently, less active vitamin D metabolites, cholecalciferol and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), have gained considerable attention as promising agents against IBD-related colon cancer. Yet, their anti-proliferative properties and mechanism of action remain to be better defined. We present several signaling pathways commonly regulated by vitamin D compounds and highlight their regulation on TLR4. The efficacy of 25(OH)D and 1alpha-hydroxyviatmin D5 are evaluated using the azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced IBD-related colon carcinogenesis model. In summary, vitamin D supplementation may provide a cost-effective approach to reduce IBD related colon cancer.

[Inflammatory markers associated with asthma and body mass index]. / Marcadores inflamatorios relacionados con asma e índice de masa corporal.

BACKGROUND: Obesity can be considered as a chronic inflammatory process, which is associated with many different diseases. Its relationship with asthma has been poorly evaluated. Obesity induces the production of leptin and cytokines in asthmatic patients, and it is associated with worse disease severity. OBJECTIVE: To determine the relationship between obesity (according to body mass index, BMI), asthma severity and leptin, IL-1 beta, and IL-4 concentrations in blood. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 37 adult allergic asthmatic patients where involved in the study, each of them with different clinical disease stages, evaluated by GINA international diagnosis and treatment criteria 2004. BMI was determined and peripheral blood samples were taken to determine IL-1 beta, IL-4, and leptin concentrations. RESULTS: BMI and asthma severity shown a moderate correlation (r = 0.528), according to Colton's criteria. BMI and leptin correlation levels were r = 0.425 with p < 0.025. Plasma leptin levels and asthma severity shown a significant difference in the groups composed of intermittent mild asthma and persistent severe asthma (p < 0.02). There was a non significant correlation between BMI and asthma severity with IL-4, and finally there was no correlation with IL-1 beta. This results suggest that asthmatic patients with a BMI3 30 have higher plasma leptin concentrations and worse disease severity, mainly in women.

Resveratrol inhibits rhabdomyosarcoma cell proliferation.

Rhabdomysarcoma is the most common soft tissue tumour in children under the age of 15. Although the introduction of multimodal treatment programmes, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy and excision have increased the overall survival, the chemotherapeutic agents currently used for the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma exhibit considerable toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects and possible mechanism(s) of action of resveratrol on human embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound produced in a number of edible plants and has received considerable attention as a potential chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent against various types of cancers. In the present study, resveratrol was shown to inhibit cell proliferation of RD cells in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 of 48.1 micromol/l and induce an arrest in the S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. As evident from immunocytochemical data, resveratrol treatment increased the size of the RD cells. Furthermore, resveratrol treatment resulted in a significant downregulation of cyclin B expression as demonstrated by western blot analyses. In conclusion, the present study shows that resveratrol exerts a strong inhibition of rhabdomyosarcoma cell proliferation in part by arresting cells in S/G2 phase of the cell cycle. These findings warrant further investigation to establish potential use of resveratrol as a relatively non-toxic chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma.

Estudio comparativo de tres variantes del ensayo de la membrana corioalantoidea del huevo de la gallina para la evaluación de la irritación ocular / Ocular irritation of chemicals measured by three different protocols based on the hen's egg test on the chorioallantoic membrane

Durante los últimos años se han desarrollado varias alternativas con el objetivo de reemplazar la prueba de irritación ocular en el conejo. El objetivo de este trabajo fue comparar la utilidad de tres protocolos diferentes de la prueba de la membrana corioalantoidea del huevo de gallina, descrita en una base de datos establecida de técnicas de Toxicología in vitro, evaluando la irritación potencial de diez sustancias químicas y formulaciones. Se compararon los datos con aquellos obtenidos en la prueba animal tradicional. Se halló una buena correlación con los datos del test in vivo para dos de los protocolos usados, en que tres sustancias fueron clasificadas como no irritantes y siete como irritantes en alguna magnitud. Sin embargo, se encontraron seis falsos negativos con la tercera prueba usada. Se discuten posibles causas para estos, resultados. De las tres técnicas estudiadas la mejor es la que se basa en la utilización de azul de tripano ya que se trata de una técnica más rápida, de más fácil realización y con un resultado más fiable al evaluar los daños ocasionados en la membrana corioalantoidea de una forma objetiva y cuantificable (AU)