Analysis of Milk Using a Portable Potentiometric Electronic Tongue Based on Five Polymeric Membrane Sensors.

A portable potentiometric electronic tongue (PE-tongue) was developed and applied to evaluate the quality of milk with different fat content (skimmed, semi-skimmed, and whole) and with different nutritional content (classic, calcium-enriched, lactose-free, folic acid-enriched, and enriched in sterols of vegetal origin). The system consisted of a simplified array of five sensors based on PVC membranes, coupled to a data logger. The five sensors were selected from a larger set of 20 sensors by applying the genetic algorithm (GA) to the responses to compounds usually found in milk including salts (KCl, CaCl2, and NaCl), sugars (lactose, glucose, and galactose), and organic acids (citric acid and lactic acid). Principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machine (SVM) results indicated that the PE-tongue consisting of a five-electrode array could successfully discriminate and classify milk samples according to their nutritional content. The PE-tongue provided similar discrimination capability to that of a more complex system formed by a 20-sensor array. SVM regression models were used to predict the physicochemical parameters classically used in milk quality control (acidity, density, %proteins, %lactose, and %fat). The prediction results were excellent and similar to those obtained with a much more complex array consisting of 20 sensors. Moreover, the SVM method confirmed that spoilage of unsealed milk could be correctly identified with the simplified system and the increase in acidity could be accurately predicted. The results obtained demonstrate the possibility of using the simplified PE-tongue to predict milk quality and provide information on the chemical composition of milk using a simple and portable system.

Encefalopatía hiperamoniémica inducida por ácido valproico en un neonato. Tratamiento con ácido carglúmico / Valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy in a neonate: Treatment with carglumic acid

La encefalopatía hiperamoniémica inducida por ácido valproico (EHV) es una entidad grave e inusual. Para su diagnóstico, precisa un elevado índice de sospecha, pues resulta reversible con la retirada del fármaco y el tratamiento precoz de la hiperamoniemia. Presentamos el caso de un neonato tratado con valproico (AV) por convulsiones refractarias, que desarrolló una EHV grave que revirtió con la retirada del AV y el tratamiento con ácido carglúmico, junto con otras medidas para control de la hiperamoniemia

Valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy (VHE) is an unusual and serious complication of valproate (VA) treatment. When an early diagnosis is made, it can be reversed with VA withdrawal and early treatment for hyperammonemia. We describe the case of a 20 days old male, who developed a serious VHE after receiving VA for refractory neonatal seizures. The VHE was resolved with VA withdrawal in association with carglumic acid and other measures for hyperammonemia treatment

Periviabilidad: el límite de la prematuridad en un hospital regional de referencia durante los últimos 10 años / Peri-viability: limits of prematurity in a regional hospital in the last 10 years

OBJETIVO: Conocer la viabilidad de prematuros de 22-25 semanas gestacionales en nuestro centro durante últimos 10 años. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo. Neonatos nacidos en nuestro hospital entre 1-1-2002 y 31-12-2011, de 22 a 25 semanas gestacionales. RESULTADOS: De 121 neonatos, 45 (37%) eran mortinatos y 76 (63%) nacidos vivos (16 fallecieron en partos y 60 ingresaron en cuidados intensivos neonatales). De los 60 ingresados, 34 fallecieron antes del alta y 26 sobrevivieron (21% del total, 34% de nacidos vivos y 43% de ingresados en cuidados intensivos neonatales). Causas de fallecimiento: 16, limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en partos; 8, limitación del esfuerzo terapéutico en neonatología; 7, sepsis nosocomiales; 7, enterocolitis necrosantes; 4, problemas respiratorios, y 8, causa desconocida. No sobrevivió ningún menor de 24 semanas. De los 26 supervivientes, 4 presentaron alteraciones neurológicas importantes y 11, normalidad neurológica aparente. No encontramos diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto a mortalidad entre los 2 quinquenios analizados. CONCLUSIONES: La periviabilidad presenta importantes problemas clínicos y éticos a los neonatólogos

AIM: To determine the preterm viability between 22 and 25 gestational weeks in our hospital in last 10 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted on preterms between22-25 gestational weeks born between 1-1-2002 and 12-31-2011. RESULTS: There were 121 newborns, 45 (37%) stillbirths and 76 (63%) live births (16 died indelivery room, and 60 admitted to neonatal intensive unit). Among the 60 admitted, 34 died before hospital discharge, and 26 survived (21% of total, 34% of live births and 43% of those admitted to neonatal intensive unit). The causes of death were: 16 therapeutic effort limitation in delivery room, 8 therapeutic effort limitation in neonatal ward, 7 nosocomial sepsis, 7 NEC,4 respiratory problems, and 8 of unknown cause. There were no survivors below 24 gestational weeks. Of the 26 survivors, 4 had major neurological disorders, and 11 with a normal neurological outcome. No significant statistical differences were found in the mortality between the two five-year periods analysed. CONCLUSIONS: The peri-viability has important clinical and ethical problems for neonatologist

[Valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy in a neonate: treatment with carglumic acid]. / Encefalopatía hiperamoniémica inducida por ácido valproico en un neonato. Tratamiento con ácido carglúmico.

Valproate-induced hyperammonemic encephalopathy (VHE) is an unusual and serious complication of valproate (VA) treatment. When an early diagnosis is made, it can be reversed with VA withdrawal and early treatment for hyperammonemia. We describe the case of a 20 days old male, who developed a serious VHE after receiving VA for refractory neonatal seizures. The VHE was resolved with VA withdrawal in association with carglumic acid and other measures for hyperammonemia treatment.

[Peri-viability: limits of prematurity in a regional hospital in the last 10 years]. / Periviabilidad: el límite de la prematuridad en un hospital regional de referencia durante los últimos 10 años.

AIM: To determine the preterm viability between 22 and 25 gestational weeks in our hospital in last 10 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive retrospective study was conducted on preterms between 22-25 gestational weeks born between 1-1-2002 and 12-31-2011. RESULTS: There were 121 newborns, 45 (37%) stillbirths and 76 (63%) live births (16 died in delivery room, and 60 admitted to neonatal intensive unit). Among the 60 admitted, 34 died before hospital discharge, and 26 survived (21% of total, 34% of live births and 43% of those admitted to neonatal intensive unit). The causes of death were: 16 therapeutic effort limitation in delivery room, 8 therapeutic effort limitation in neonatal ward, 7 nosocomial sepsis, 7 NEC, 4 respiratory problems, and 8 of unknown cause. There were no survivors below 24 gestational weeks. Of the 26 survivors, 4 had major neurological disorders, and 11 with a normal neurological outcome. No significant statistical differences were found in the mortality between the two five-year periods analysed. CONCLUSIONS: The peri-viability has important clinical and ethical problems for neonatologist.

[Effect of early versus late rehabilitation in patients with Achilles tendon tenorrhaphy]. / Efecto de la rehabilitación temprana versus tardía, en pacientes con tenorrafia del tendón de Aquiles.

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendon tear is a prevalent condition in our setting. There is no consensus in the literature regarding the ideal treatment modality or the right immobilization period before starting physiatrics. The harmful effect of prolonged immobilization is widely known, so the functional results of early versus late physical therapy are compared in patients subjected to surgery for Achilles tendon tear. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ambispective, longitudinal, comparative study in patients over 16 years of age with Achilles tendon rupture treated surgically and referred to rehabilitation; they followed the management protocol established at the service. Retrospective record review was performed for discharged patients and patients admitted after the study initiation date were followed-up prospectively. The evaluation continued by means of a phone interview; results were recorded according to the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score. RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were included; they were classified into two groups according to the time elapsed between the surgery and the onset of physical therapy, as follows: 31 patients in group A, with onset between postoperative days 0 and 21; and 84 patients in group B, with onset after postoperative day 21. Two infectious complications were reported and no re-ruptures. Functional results were 6.52 for group A and 8.18 for group B. CONCLUSIONS: The duration of rehabilitation was similar in all patients, regardless of the protocol. The time elapsed between surgery and discharge was shortest in patients who underwent early physical therapy. The functional score is independent from the onset of physical therapy. Surgery followed by early mobilization is a safe practice that does not increase complications and shortens the total time the patients need to resume their daily activities.

Competition between R1 and R2 transposable elements in the 28S rRNA genes of insects.

R1 and R2 are non-LTR retrotransposons that insert in the 28S rRNA genes of arthropods. R1 elements insert into a site that is 74 bp downstream of the R2 insertion site, thus the presence of an R2 in the same 28S gene may inhibit the expression of R1. Consistent with such a suggestion, the R1 elements of Drosophila melanogaster have a strong bias against inserting into 28S genes already containing an R2 element. R2 elements, on the other hand, are only 2-3 fold inhibited from inserting into a 28S gene already containing an R1. D. melanogaster R1 elements are unusual in that they generate a 23-bp deletion of the target site upstream of the insertion. Using in vitro assays developed to study R2 integration, we show that the presence of R1 sequences 51 bp downstream of the R2 insertion site changes the nucleosomal structure that can be formed by the R2 target site. The R2 endonuclease is inhibited from cleaving these altered nucleosomes. We suggest that R1 elements have been selected to make this large deletion of the 28S gene to block the insertion of an upstream R2 element. These findings are consistent with the model that R1 and R2 are in competition for the limited number of insertion sites available within their host's genome.

Dynamics of R1 and R2 elements in the rDNA locus of Drosophila simulans.

The mobile elements R1 and R2 insert specifically into the rRNA gene locus (rDNA locus) of arthropods, a locus known to undergo concerted evolution, the recombinational processes that preserve the sequence homogeneity of all repeats. To monitor how rapidly individual R1 and R2 insertions are turned over in the rDNA locus by these processes, we have taken advantage of the many 5' truncation variants that are generated during the target-primed reverse transcription mechanism used by these non-LTR retrotransposons for their integration. A simple PCR assay was designed to reveal the pattern of the 5' variants present in the rDNA loci of individual X chromosomes in a population of Drosophila simulans. Each rDNA locus in this population was found to have a large, unique collection of 5' variants. Each variant was present at low copy number, usually one copy per chromosome, and was seldom distributed to other chromosomes in the population. The failure of these variants to spread to other units in the same rDNA locus suggests a strong recombinational bias against R1 and R2 that results in the individual copies of these elements being rapidly lost from the rDNA locus. This bias suggests a significantly higher frequency of R1 and R2 retrotransposition than we have previously suggested.

[Hypoglycemic activity of Bouvardia terniflora, Brickellia veronicaefolia, and Parmentiera edulis]. / Actividad hipoglucemiante de Bouvardia terniflora, Brickellia veronicaefolia y Parmentiera edulis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hypoglycemic activity of the hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of Bouvardia terniflora, Brickelia veronicaefolia and Parmentiera edulis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Normal and alloxan-induced diabetic mice were administered these plant extracts (intraperitoneal 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg). RESULTS: The administration of 300 mg/kg of chloroform extracts from P. edulis and B. terniflora and hexane from B. veronicaefolia to diabetic mice decreased the blood glucose levels in 43.75, 58.56 and 72.13%, respectively. These extracts administered to normal mice reduced blood glucose levels in 29.61, 33.42 and 39.84%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The hypoglycemic effect of these plant extracts used in traditional medicine for diabetes treatment is confirmed.