The effects of an oral preparation containing hyaluronic acid (Oralvisc®) on obese knee osteoarthritis patients determined by pain, function, bradykinin, leptin, inflammatory cytokines, and heavy water analyses.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of an oral preparation containing hyaluronic acid on osteoarthritic knee joint pain and function as well as changes in inflammatory cytokines, bradykinin, and leptin. We also used heavy water to determine the turnover rates of glycosaminoglycans in synovial fluid. This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study of 40 subjects over a period of 3 months. Visual analog scale, Western Ontario McMaster pain, and WOMAC function scores were recorded. Serum and synovial fluid were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for inflammatory cytokines, bradykinin, and leptin. In 20 subjects, terminal heavy water ingestion was used for spectral analyses of serum and joint fluid samples. There were statistically significant improvements in pain and function. Both serum and synovial fluid samples showed significant decreases for a majority of inflammatory cytokines, leptin, and bradykinin in the oral hyaluronic acid preparation group. Heavy water analyses revealed a significant decrease in hyaluronic acid turnover in the synovial fluid of the treatment group. A preparation containing hyaluronic acid and other glycosaminoglycans holds promise for a safe and effective agent for the treatment for patients with knee osteoarthritis and who are overweight. Further studies will be required to see whether this is a disease-modifying agent.

Effect of the administration of an oral hyaluronan formulation on clinical and biochemical parameters in young horses with osteochondrosis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and biochemical effects of the administration of oral hyaluronan (Hyal-Joint [HJ]) on young horses with osteochondrosis (OC). Our hypotheses were that HJ administration is safe, would decrease the degree of synovial effusion and the concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in synovial fluid, and would increase the concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA) in plasma and synovial fluid. Eleven young horses with tarsocrural OC were included in a randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial. Six horses received 250 mg/day HJ for 60 days (T60) and five horses received a placebo. The initial values of the degree of synovial effusion, NO, PGE2 and HA concentrations in synovial fluid and HA concentration in plasma were obtained. The horses were evaluated in terms of the same parameters at the end of treatment (T60) and 30 days thereafter (T90). The differences between the groups for each of the parameters evaluated at T0, T60 and T90 were not significant. Nevertheless, the horses treated with HJ tended to show a lower score for synovial effusion as well as higher HA, NO and PGE2 concentrations in synovial fluid, but these differences were non-significant. At a dose of 250 mg/day, HJ did not produce any adverse clinical effects and was well tolerated by the horses.

Accumulation of 99mTc-ciprofloxacin in Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The use of radiopharmaceuticals for the diagnosis of infection is increasing due to their ability to distinguish between septic and aseptic inflammation. The aim of this study was to analyze the intracellular accumulation of technetium-99m-ciprofloxacin in strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa harboring an overexpression of NorA and MexAB-OprM, respectively.

[Usefulness of 111In-oxine labelled platelets in the management of febrile syndrome in dialysis patients with non-functional renal allografts]. / Utilidad de la gammagrafía con plaquetas marcadas con 111In-oxina en el manejo del síndrome febril en pacientes en diálisis portadores de injerto renal no funcionante.

AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of 111In-oxine-labelled platelet scan in the therapeutic management of prolonged febrile syndrome in dialysis patients with a non-functional renal allograft. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and fifty-eight patients (94 men, 64 women; mean age 44 +/- 9 years) were studied. Duration of fever was 42 days (range 7-112). A total of 68 % of the patients (107/158) were on low doses of corticosteroids (<10 mg/day). Platelet scans were performed 48 hours after reinjection of 111In-ixone-labelled platelets. A platelet uptake index (PUI) was calculated by dividing the cpm/pixel in the allograft by the cpm/pixel in a mirror background. A PUI > or = 1.5 was considered as threshold for immunological fever. The final diagnosis of immunological fever was established when it disappeared after transplantectomy, embolization or high doses of corticosteroid therapy. Fever of non-immunological origin was established when it disappeared after antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: In 102/158 patients the fever was considered of immunological origin. In 56/158 patients the fever was considered of non immunological origin. Sensitivity and the specificity of the platelet scan was 80 % and 100 %, respectively. All those patients considered as having fever of immunological origin who had PUI <1.5 had been using corticosteroids during platelet scan. CONCLUSION: 111In-labelled platelet scintigraphy is a useful technique in the therapeutic management of prolonged febrile syndrome in dialysis patients with non-functional renal allograft. The use of corticosteroids can reduce the sensitivity of 111In- labelled platelet scan.

Utilidad de la gammagrafía con plaquetas marcadas con 111In-oxina en el manejo del síndrome febril en pacientes en diálisis portadores de injerto renal no funcionante / Usefulness of 111In-oxine labelled platelets in the management of febril syndrome in dialysis patients with non functional renal allograft

Objetivo. Determinar si la gammagrafía con plaquetas marcadas con oxina- 111In (GP- 111In) puede tener un impacto en la decisión terapéutica en pacientes con síndrome febril portadores de trasplante renal no funcionante. Material y métodos. Se estudiaron 158 pacientes (94 hombres y 64 mujeres) con una edad de 44 ± 9 años. La duración de la fiebre fue de 42 días (rango 7-112). Un 68 % de los pacientes (107/158) estaba tomando dosis bajas de corticoides (< 10 mg/día). Se obtuvieron imágenes 48 horas tras la reinyección de las plaquetas marcadas con GP- 111In. Se calculó el índice de captación plaquetaria (ICP) dividiendo las cpm/píxel alrededor del injerto por las cpm/píxel en un área de fondo especular. Se consideró fiebre de origen inmunológico cuando el ICP fue ≥ 1,5 y de otra causa con un ICP < 1,5. El diagnóstico de fiebre inmunológica se estableció tras la curación con trasplantectomía, embolización o bolus con dosis altas de corticoides y no inmunológica al desaparecer tras antibioticoterapia. Resultados. La fiebre fue de origen inmunológico en 102/ 158 pacientes y no inmunológica en 56/158 pacientes. La sensibilidad y especificidad de la GP- 111In fue del 80 % y del 100 % respectivamente. Todos los pacientes con ICP < 1,5 y fiebre inmunológica recibían dosis de mantenimiento de corticoides durante la realización de la GP- 111In. Conclusiones. La GP- 111In es útil en el manejo terapéutico del síndrome febril en pacientes en hemodiálisis portadores de un injerto renal no funcionante. El uso de corticoides durante la realización de la GP- 111In puede reducir significativamente la sensibilidad de esta técnica

Aim. To evaluate the usefulness of 111In-oxine-labelled platelet scan in the therapeutic management of prolonged febrile syndrome in dialysis patients with a non-functional renal allograft. Material and methods. One hundred and fifty-eight patients (94 men, 64 women; mean age 44 ± 9 years) were studied. Duration of fever was 42 days (range 7-112). A total of 68 % of the patients (107/158) were on low doses of corticosteroids (< 10 mg/day). Platelet scans were performed 48 hours after reinjection of 111In-ixone-labelled platelets. A platelet uptake index (PUI) was calculated by dividing the cpm/pixel in the allograft by the cpm/pixel in a mirror background. A PUI ≥ 1.5 was considered as threshold for immunological fever. The final diagnosis of immunological fever was established when it disappeared after transplantectomy, embolization or high doses of corticosteroid therapy. Fever of non-immunological origin was established when it disappeared after antibiotic therapy. Results. In 102/158 patients the fever was considered of immunological origin. In 56/158 patients the fever was considered of non immunological origin. Sensitivity and the specificity of the platelet scan was 80 % and 100 %, respectively. All those patients considered as having fever of immunological origin who had PUI < 1.5 had been using corticosteroids during platelet scan. Conclusion. 111In-labelled platelet scintigraphy is a useful technique in the therapeutic management of prolonged febrile syndrome in dialysis patients with non-functional renal allograft. The use of corticosteroids can reduce the sensitivity of 111In- labelled platelet scan

[Influence of photon scattering on the quantification of relative changes in longitudinal brain PET studies with 18F-FDG]. / Influencia de la dispersión de fotones en la cuantificación de cambios relativos en estudios longitudinales de PET cerebral con 18F-FDG.

AIM: To study the effect of photon scattering on the quantification of relative changes of 18F-FDG uptake in longitudinal brain PET studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two studies from a numerical Zubal phantom were simulated. One of these was a basal reference study and the other was an activated study showing an increase or decrease in the uptake in a region of the anterior cingulated cortex. SimSET Monte Carlo code was used to simulate PET sinograms. Primary photons, which did not undergo interactions, and scattered photons, which underwent one or more interactions, were stored in separate files to assess the effect of scattering. Reconstruction was carried out using an iterative algorithm based on ordered subsets of projections (OSEM-2D). The relative changes in uptake were calculated from images reconstructed with all the photons (primary and scattered) and from images reconstructed with only primary photons. RESULTS: A linear relationship between the calculated and theoretical values was obtained both for the images reconstructed with all the photons and for those reconstructed with primary photons. Our findings show a relative change recovery of 79% +/- 0.4% for all photons and 91% +/- 0.5% for primary photons only. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight subestimation of relative changes of 12% +/- 0.7% when scattered photons are used. Thus the importance of correcting this degradation in order to improve quantification is shown.

Influencia de la dispersión de fotones en la cuantificación de cambios relativos en estudios longitudinales de PET cerebral con 18F-FDG / Influence of photon scattering on the quantification of relative changes in longitudinal brain PET studies with 18F-FDG

Objetivos: Estudiar el efecto de la dispersión de fotones en la cuantificación de los cambios relativos en estudios longitudinales de tomografía por emisión de positrones (PET) cerebral utilizando 18F-FDG. Material y métodos: Se utilizó un maniquí numérico de Zubal y se simularon dos estudios, uno de referencia (basal) y otro en el que había un aumento/disminución de la captación en una región situada en el córtex cingulado anterior. Para obtener los sinogramas se utilizó SimSET, un código Monte Carlo que permite la simulación de estudios de tomografía de emisión. Para evaluar el efecto de la dispersión se almacenaron en ficheros separados los fotones primarios que no sufren ningún tipo de interacción y los fotones dispersados después de producirse una o más interacciones. La reconstrucción se realizó utilizando un algoritmo iterativo basado en subconjuntos ordenados OSEM-2D. Se calcularon los cambios relativos de captación a partir de las imágenes reconstruidas con fotones totales (primarios y dispersados) y de las obtenidas únicamente con fotones primarios. Resultados: Se obtuvo una relación lineal entre los valores de cambio relativo calculados y los teóricos, tanto para imágenes con fotones totales como con fotones primarios. En el caso en el que se consideraron sólo fotones primarios la recuperación del cambio relativo fue del 91 % +- 0,5 %, mientras que la presencia de fotones dispersados produce una recuperación del 79 % +- 0,4 %. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados muestran que la presencia de fotones dispersados producen una subestimación de los valores de captación relativa del 12 % +- 0,7 % y, en consecuencia, evidencian la importancia de la corrección de esta degradación para mejorar la exactitud de la cuantificación

Aim: To study the effect of photon scattering on the quantification of relative changes of 18F-FDG uptake in longitudinal brain PET studies. Materials and methods: Two studies from a numerical Zubal phantom were simulated. One of these was a basal reference study and the other was an activated study showing an increase or decrease in the uptake in a region of the anterior cingulated cortex. SimSET Monte Carlo code was used to simulate PET sinograms. Primary photons, which did not undergo interactions, and scattered photons, which underwent one or more interactions, were stored in separate files to assess the effect of scattering. Reconstruction was carried out using an iterative algorithm based on ordered subsets of projections (OSEM-2D). The relative changes in uptake were calculated from images reconstructed with all the photons (primary and scattered) and from images reconstructed with only primary photons. Results: A linear relationship between the calculated and theoretical values was obtained both for the images reconstructed with all the photons and for those reconstructed with primary photons. Our findings show a relative change recovery of 79 % +- 0.4 % for all photons and 91 % +- 0.5 % for primary photons only. Conclusions: Our results highlight subestimation of relative changes of 12 % +- 0.7 % when scattered photons are used. Thus the importance of correcting this degradation in order to improve quantification is shown

Identification of viral pathogens in aborted fetuses and stillborn piglets from cases of swine reproductive failure in Spain.

The objective of the present study was to determine the presence of recognised abortifacient viruses such as porcine reproductive and respiratory virus (PRRSV), Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), porcine parvovirus (PPV) and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), in tissues from aborted fetuses and stillborn neonates in cases of late reproductive failure in swine. A total of 293 specimens (fetuses aborted in the last third of gestation and stillborn piglets) from 100 different cases of late-term abortions and premature farrowing from 15 different Spanish provinces were studied. PRRSV was detected in 9/100 cases by RT-PCR. Only 1/100 cases analysed (corresponding to a late-term aborted fetus with a negative PRRSV RT-PCR result) was positive for PCV2 by PCR. Neither ADV (monitored by viral isolation plus antigen detection) nor PPV (monitored by ELISA antigen capture test) infection was identified. The results suggest that PRRSV is one of the most important infectious agents, if not the most relevant one, associated with fetal infection leading to abortion or premature farrowing in Spain. Moreover, other viral pathogens such as ADV, PPV and PCV2 seem to have a minor impact on reproductive disease.

Corrección de movimientos en estudios de SPECT cardíaco / Correction of movements in cardiac SPECT studies

Objetivos: El movimiento del paciente durante la adquisición de imágenes es causa frecuente de artefactos en estudios de SPECT miocárdica de perfusión. En este trabajo se propone un algoritmo para la corrección de movimientos longitudinales. Material y métodos: El método está basado en el cálculo de la correlación entre funciones unidimensionales obtenidas de proyecciones sucesivas, utilizando una ventana obtenida de forma automática para eliminar datos espúreos antes de calcular la correlación. El algoritmo fue evaluado sobre estudios obtenidos a partir de un maniquí cardíaco y sobre estudios correspondientes a diez pacientes, 7 de los cuales presentaban movimientos apreciables y 3 en los que no se apreciaba movimiento que se utilizaron como control. Resultados: En los estudios obtenidos con el maniquí, el error medio en el desplazamiento calculado utilizando la ventana propuesta fue inferior a 0,5 píxeles. Cuando se utilizaron ventanas de mayor tamaño los errores medios aumentaron hasta 2,8 píxeles. En los estudios de pacientes, el método consiguió reducir los movimientos observados en siete casos y mantuvo inalterados los tres controles. Cuando no se utilizó una ventana para restringir la correlación, 3 de los 7 casos que presentaban movimiento no mejoraron, e incluso uno de los controles, empeoró. Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos indican la utilidad del algoritmo y ponen de relieve la necesidad de utilizar una ventana para eliminar datos antes de calcular la correlación (AU)

Objectives: Patient movement during SPECT acquisition of images is a frequent cause of artefacts in myocardial perfusion SPECT studies. In this paper we propose an algorithm for the correction of longitudinal movements. Materials and methods: The method is based on the calculation of the correlation between unidimensional functions obtained from successive projections with a window obtained automatically to eliminate unwanted data points before calculating the correlation. The algorithm was assessed on studies obtained from a cardiac phantom and from those corresponding to ten patients. Seven of these patients had significant movement during SPECT acquisition and those corresponding to the other three studies, in which no movement was observed, were used as a control. Results: In the phantom studies obtained, the mean error of the calculated displacements was less than 0.5 pixels when the window proposed was employed. The error reached 2.8 pixels when the length of the window increased. In patient studies, the method succeeded in reducing the patient motion in all cases and the three control studies remained unchanged. When no window was used to limit the correlation, three out of the seven studies that originally presented movements did not improve and one control study got worse. Conclusion: The results obtained indicate the utility of the algorithm and demonstrate the need to window the data before calculating the correlation (AU)

[Determination of focal distance and convergence assessment in collimators with focalized geometry]. / Determinación de la distancia focal y evaluación de la convergencia en colimadores de geometría focalizada.

OBJECTIVE: A method to calculate intrinsic parameters of fan beam collimators is presented. This method allows us to determine focal length and to assess the convergence of the collimator on a single focus line. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Images of a radioactive source located successively in a series of known coordinate positions are acquired. To determine the focal distance, a method has been developed that minimizes the sum of the distances between the experimental image point and the theoretical ones. Collimator convergence was evaluated by the intersections between all the pairs of lines drawn between the source location and its experimental image point. RESULTS: The results found between the two collimators showed that the actual focal length deviates 1.5% from the real focal value and the nominal focal length. The results also indicate that the collimator holes do not converge on a single focal line but rather on a focal area, with average deviations in regards to the real focus being *x = 2.5 mm and *z = 7.1 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The errors in regards to the original values and the extension of the focal zone make it possible to conclude that the quality of the collimators used is acceptable.

Determination of polar priority phenols at parts per trillion levels in water using on-line liquid-solid extraction followed by liquid chromatography with coulimetric detection.

A high-sensitivity method for the determination of polar phenolic compounds in water samples was developed. Water samples were preconcentrated using on-line solid-phase extraction with LiChrolut EN sorbent and afterwards were analyzed by liquid chromatography and dual coulimetric detection. The first electrode was set at low potential (250 mV) for sample clean up whereas the second one was used for analytical purposes. The system could not be used in its reductive form due to the lack of reversibility on the electrochemical behaviour of nitrophenols. Detection limits at part per trillion level were obtained using only 5 ml of water. Additionally, the large cell constant of the coulimetric detector lead to low values of coefficients of variation (+/- 6) when working with river water.

Effect of ethylene on naringin, narirutin and nootkatone accumulation in grapefruit.

This paper studies the effect of different concentrations of ethephon on the levels of the sesquiterpene, nootkatone, and of the flavanones, naringin and narirutin, in grapefruit fruits. The results show that nootkatone synthesis and/or accumulation was stimulated by all the concentrations of ethephon assayed, while the levels of naringin and narirutin in the rind diminished. These results open up new perspectives concerning the possible regulation of the secondary metabolism of the plants.

Bioproduction of neohesperidin and naringin in callus cultures of Citrus aurantium.

The accumulation of both neohesperidin and naringin as major flavonoids in callus cultures of bitter orange (Citrus aurantium) was demonstrated using high performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector. The identity of both compounds was confirmed by their corresponding nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. The levels of neohesperidin are higher than those of naringin in callus culture, as they are in immature fruit, and high concentrations of both are found in young tissues such as immature fruits and the outer zone of calli.

Accumulation of the sesquiterpenes nootkatone and valencene by callus cultures of Citrus paradisi, Citrus limonia and Citrus aurantium.

The production of the sesquiterpenes nootkatone and valencene by callus cultures of Citrus species is described. The levels of these compounds were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and their yields were compared with the amounts found in mature fruits. A simultaneous increase and decrease in the levels of nootkatone and valencene, respectively, were observed with the aging of callus cultures of Citrus paradisi. These results suggest that valencene might be a possible precursor of nootkatone in this species. The high level of nootkatone detected in 9-month-old callus cultures of Citrus paradisi might be associated with the corresponding cell morphological changes observed.

[Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis. Our theory and discussion on the development of such an entity. Report of 9 cases]. / Pielonefritis xantogranulomatosa. Nuestra teoria y discusión sobre el desarrollo de tal entidad. Presentación de nueve casos.

The authors present 9 cases of xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis observed in the "Juan XXIII" Hospital in Tarragona. They emphasize the relationship between lithiasis, chronic urinary infection and antigenic stimulation for the development of this entity, the progressive result of a lesion in the kidney tissue with immobilized infectious calcareous deposits. In the granulomatous lesion they find cells called antigen-antibody quartets, with foamy-type histiocytes, the nodular collections of which constitute the key to X.P. The formation of lymphocytic germinal centres is another antigenic stimulus in some parts of the kidney tissue. These structures are due to the storing of antibodies and therefore the immunoglobulins would not be released towards the blood stream, which would explain changes in the immunoglobulins in these patients' serum.