Preliminary Findings of the Efficacy of Botulinum Toxin in Temporomandibular Disorders: Uncontrolled Pilot Study.

Temporomandibular disorders are a common pathology affecting up to 70% of the population, with a maximum incidence in young patients. We used a sample of twenty patients recruited in the Maxillofacial Surgery Service of the University Hospital of Salamanca (Spain), who met the inclusion criteria, with unilateral painful symptomatology of more than three months' duration. All patients were randomly treated by intramuscular and intra-articular injections of botulinum toxin (100 U) in eight predetermined points. Pain symptomatology was assessed by the visual analog scale (VAS) at the different locations, together with joint symptomatology, at baseline and six weeks after treatment. Adverse effects were also evaluated. In 85% of the patients, pain upon oral opening improved and 90% showed improvement in pain upon mastication. A total of 75% of the patients reported improvement in joint clicking/noise. Headaches improved or disappeared in 70% of the patients treated. Despite the limitations of the study and the preliminary results, intramuscular and intra-articular infiltrations with botulinum toxin were effective in the treatment of symptoms associated with temporomandibular disorders (TMDs), with minimal adverse effects.

Morphological composition and fiber partitioning along regrowth in elephant grass CT115 intended for ethanol production.

Leaf share, plant age and growth season are often overlooked as modifiers of the biomass quality in energy crops. The current work studied the effect of the given factors on the biomass yield and the biomass quality in Elephant grass CT115, intended for bioethanol production, in Veracruz, Mexico. Two seasons per year, 5 months each, were tracked on a 2-weeks basis. The climate is warm wet with summer rains, 1,142 mm of annual rainfall, and 26 °C monthly temperature. From day 56 of the wet season or from day 84 of the dry season, stems accumulated 12 or 6 Mg ha-1, respectively, while green leaves increased only 1 Mg. Higher biomass quality was recorded for the leaf fraction, or for the wet season regrowth. For instance, lignin contained in stems meant twice that of leaves, whereas stems recorded 20% less lignin in the wet season as compared to the dry season. Despite holocellulose being similar between fractions or seasons, hemicellulose and cellulose showed inverse correlation, while lignin and cellulose contents were directly correlated in stems. Increasing the annual harvest of green leaves will improve biomass quality, which is known to increase biodegradability and might improve the annual ethanol yield.

Reparación quirúrgica urgente de las fístulas arteriovenosas para hemodiálisis trombosadas. Repercusión económica de la implantación de un protocolo de actuación en un área sanitaria / Economic repercussions of implementing a protocol for urgent surgical repair of thrombosed arteriovenous fistulae

Introducción: Cuando un paciente en hemodiálisis sufre la trombosis de su fístula arteriovenosa (FAV), necesita algún procedimiento urgente para su próxima sesión de diálisis. Existen dos opciones terapéuticas: la colocación de un catéter venoso central (CVC) o la reparación de su FAV. El objetivo de este trabajo es valorar la posibilidad de reparación urgente de las FAV trombosadas dentro de la actividad de urgencias de un servicio de cirugía general y determinar la posible repercusión económica de la implantación de este protocolo de trabajo en un área sanitaria. Método: Se realizó la recogida prospectiva de todas las intervenciones quirúrgicas urgentes realizadas para la reparación de las FAV trombosadas en el período 2000-2011 en nuestro centro. Se analizaron los resultados clínicos mediante dos variables: tasa de trombosis (episodios/paciente/año) y porcentaje de rescate. Se consideró un rescate eficaz si tras la intervención el paciente se pudo dializar con su FAV evitando la colocación de un CVC. Se definió e implantó el proceso clínico «FAV trombosada» y se estudió su coste económico mediante un análisis detallado realizado por el departamento económico financiero de nuestro centro. También se realizó este análisis para el proceso clínico alternativo (nueva FAV) utilizando los datos publicados por el Ministerio de Sanidad (peso del Grupo Relacionado con el Diagnóstico: accesos vasculares para hemodiálisis, unidad de complejidad hospitalaria, precio público de procesos ambulatorios y porcentaje de cirugía ambulatoria). Finalmente se realizó una estimación de la repercusión económica de la implantación de este proceso comparando los costes de ambos procedimientos. Resultados: Durante el período de estudio se produjeron 268 episodios de trombosis, lo que supone una tasa de 0,10 episodios/paciente/año (0,05 en FAV autólogas y 0,43 en injertos). Se atendieron de forma urgente por el servicio de cirugía 203 (75 %), consiguiendo rescatar 168 FAV (82 %). El coste de una reparación urgente de una FAV se estimó en 999 Euro. El precio promedio de una FAV programada más el precio de la colocación y mantenimiento de un CVC se estimó en 6397 Euro. El ahorro producido por la reparación urgente de las FAV en nuestra área de salud es de 107 940 Euros/año. La extrapolación al conjunto del país para una población de 23 000 pacientes en hemodiálisis sería de 9 930 480 Euros/año. Conclusiones: Es posible realizar el rescate quirúrgico urgente de la mayoría de las FAV para hemodiálisis. La implantación de un protocolo multidisciplinar evita la colocación de catéteres en estos pacientes, disminuyendo el gasto asociado a ellos (AU)

Introduction: When a patient undergoing haemodialysis suffers from arteriovenous fistula (AVF) thrombosis, (s)he needs an urgent procedure before the next dialysis session. Two different treatment options are available: placing a central venous catheter (CVC) or repairing the AVF. The objective of this study is to assess the possibility of urgent repair of thrombosed AVFs within the emergency care activity of a general surgery department and to determine the possible economic repercussions of implementing this working protocol in an area of healthcare. Method: We completed the prospective collection of all the urgent surgical interventions made to repair thrombosed AVFs for the period 2000-2011 at our centre. The clinical results were analysed using two variables: rate of thrombosis (episodes/patient/year) and percentage of recovery. Recovery was deemed effective if after the surgery the patient was able to undergo dialysis of his/her AVF without the need to place a CVC. The "thrombosed AVF" clinical process was defined and implemented, and its economic cost was analysed via a detailed analysis conducted by our centre's Financial Department. This analysis was also conducted for the alternative clinical process (new AVF), using the data published by the Ministry of Health (weight of the Diagnosis-Related Group: vascular accesses for haemodialysis, hospital complexity unit, public cost of outpatient procedures and percentage of economic repercussions of the implementation of this process, comparing the costs of both procedures). Results: During the study period 268 episodes of thrombosis occurred, a rate of 0.1 episodes/patient/year (0.05 on autologous AVFs and 0.43 on grafts). 203 (75%) were treated urgently by the surgery department, of which 168 AVFs (82%) were recovered. The cost of urgently repairing an AVF was estimated at Euros999. The average cost of a scheduled AVF intervention, plus the cost of placing and maintaining a CVC, was estimated at Euros6,397. The saving made by urgent repair of AVFs in our area of healthcare is Euros107,940/year. Extrapolating this to the entire country for a population of 23,000 patients on haemodialysis, the total would be Euros9,930,480/year. Conclusions: It is possible to perform urgent surgical recovery on the majority of AVFs for haemodialysis. Implementing multidisciplinary protocol avoids fitting these patients with catheters, reducing the cost this entails (AU)

Economic repercussions of implementing a protocol for urgent surgical repair of thrombosed arteriovenous fistulae.

INTRODUCTION: When a patient undergoing haemodialysis suffers from arteriovenous fistula (AVF) thrombosis, (s)he needs an urgent procedure before the next dialysis session. Two different treatment options are available: placing a central venous catheter (CVC) or repairing the AVF. The objective of this study is to assess the possibility of urgent repair of thrombosed AVFs within the emergency care activity of a general surgery department and to determine the possible economic repercussions of implementing this working protocol in an area of healthcare. METHOD: We completed the prospective collection of all the urgent surgical interventions made to repair thrombosed AVFs for the period 2000-2011 at our centre. The clinical results were analysed using two variables: rate of thrombosis (episodes/patient/year) and percentage of recovery. Recovery was deemed effective if after the surgery the patient was able to undergo dialysis of his/her AVF without the need to place a CVC. The "thrombosed AVF" clinical process was defined and implemented, and its economic cost was analysed via a detailed analysis conducted by our centre's Financial Department. This analysis was also conducted for the alternative clinical process (new AVF), using the data published by the Ministry of Health (weight of the Diagnosis-Related Group: vascular accesses for haemodialysis, hospital complexity unit, public cost of outpatient procedures and percentage of economic repercussions of the implementation of this process, comparing the costs of both procedures). RESULTS: During the study period 268 episodes of thrombosis occurred, a rate of 0.1 episodes/patient/year (0.05 on autologous AVFs and 0.43 on grafts). 203 (75%) were treated urgently by the surgery department, of which 168 AVFs (82%) were recovered. The cost of urgently repairing an AVF was estimated at €999. The average cost of a scheduled AVF intervention, plus the cost of placing and maintaining a CVC, was estimated at €6,397. The saving made by urgent repair of AVFs in our area of healthcare is €107,940/year. Extrapolating this to the entire country for a population of 23,000 patients on haemodialysis, the total would be €9,930,480/year. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to perform urgent surgical recovery on the majority of AVFs for haemodialysis. Implementing multidisciplinary protocol avoids fitting these patients with catheters, reducing the cost this entails.

Cultivation of Monoraphidium sp., Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. algae in Batch culture using Nile tilapia effluent.

Monoraphidium sp., Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. algae were cultured in three volumes of Tilapia Effluent Medium (TEM) in comparison with the Bold Basal Medium (BBM) (Nichols and Bold, 1965). Specific growth rate (µ'), biomass dry productivity (Q), volumetric productivity (Qv) as well as lipid and protein content were measured. Then, volumetric productivities for both lipids and proteins were calculated (QVL and QVP). In Scenedesmus sp., BBM produced higher µ' and Qv than TEM in 1.5L volume. Chlorella sp. showed a higher QVL for BBM than TEM. Any observed difference in protein or lipid productivities among volumes was in favor of a greater productivity for 1.5L volume. Even when TEM had a larger protein content in Chlorella sp. than BBM, QVP was not different. Current results imply that TEM can be used as an alternative growth medium for algae when using Batch cultures, yet productivity is reduced.

Multidisciplinary approach to hemodialysis graft dysfunction and thrombosis.

PURPOSE: Top analize the clinic results of the implantation of a multidisciplinary protocol to maintain permeability of the arteriovenous hemodialysis grafts (AVG). METHOD: Prospective recording of all interventions (radiological and surgical) on AVG dysfunction in the 1999-2007 period. The AVG stenosis were always treated by percutaneous angioplasty (PA) except stenosis recurrence in less than three months or persistence after PA. The AVG thromboses were always treated by surgical thrombectomy plus PTFE bridge if necessary. Complications, primary and secondary AVG patency were reviewed. RESULTS: Ninety six dysfunction AVG were collected for study. All of them were 6x40 mm standard wall PTFE (Gore-Tex®). Thirty six of them were humero-basilic antebraquial loop and sixty were humero-axillary upper arm curve configuration. During the study, 52 PTFE bridges, 109 surgical thrombectomies, 131 PA, and 15 stents were needed to maintain FAVP permeability. Primay patency was 73.68%, 60.21% and 37.52% at one, two and three years respectively. Secondary patency was 89.49%, 84.07% and 66.84% at one, two and three years respectively. We avoid a central venous catheter (CVC) in the 80% of intervention for thrombosis dysfunction. No surgical or radiological related deaths occurred. Median hospital admission related with AVG thrombosis was 0.03/patient/year. CONCLUSION: The application of a combined protocol for the treatment of AVG dysfunction and thrombosis, according to DOQI recomendations obtains good results in AVG patency in our experience.

Tratamiento multidisciplinar de la disfunción y la trombosis de las fístulas arteriovenosas protésicas para hemodiálisis / Multidisciplinary approach to hemodialysis graft dysfunction and thrombosis

Objetivo: Análisis de la aplicación de un protocolo multidisciplinar para el mantenimiento de las fístulas arteriovenosas para hemodiálisis protésicas. Método: Recogida prospectiva de todas las intervenciones realizadas para el tratamiento de la disfunción de las fístulas arteriovenosas protésicas (FAVP) en el período 1999-2007 siguiendo un protocolo multidisciplinario. Las estenosis se trataron mediante angioplastia, (ATP) excepto en casos de persistencia o recurrencia antes de tres meses. Las trombosis fueron tratadas siempre mediante trombectomía quirúrgica y puente de PTFE si fue necesario. Se analizan el número y el tipo de procedimientos, las complicaciones, la permeabilidad primaria y secundaria de las FAVP. Resultados: Se completó el seguimiento de 96 FAVP. Todas fueron prótesis de PTFE de 6x40 mm (Gore-Tex®). Treinta y seis se colocaron en el antebrazo con anastomosis humerobasílica en asa y 60 en el brazo con anastomosis humeroaxilar curva. Durante el período de estudio fueron necesarios 131 angioplastias transluminales percutáneas, 15 stents, 109 trombectomías y 52 puentes a vena proximal para el mantenimiento de la permeabilidad de las FAVP. La permeabilidad primaria fue del 73,68 %, 60,21 % y 37,52 % a 1, 2 y 3 años, respectivamente. La permeabilidad secundaria fue del 89,49 %, 84,07 % y 66,84 % a 1, 2 y 3 años, respectivamente. Se consiguió evitar la colocación de un catéter central en el 80 % de las intervenciones por trombosis. No se produjeron muertes relacionadas con los procedimientos. La tasa de ingresos hospitalarios relacionados con la trombosis de las FAVP fue de 0,03 paciente/año. Conclusiones: La aplicación de un protocolo multidisciplinar en el tratamiento de las disfunciones de las FAVP siguiendo las recomendaciones de las guías internacionales prolonga la permeabilidad de las FAVP y disminuye el uso de catéteres centrales (AU)

Purpose: To analize the clinic results of the implantation of a multidisciplinary protocol to maintain ermeability of the arteriovenous hemodialysis grafts (AVG). Methods: Prospective recording of all interventions (radiological and surgical) on AVG dysfunction in the 1999-2007 period. The AVG stenosis were always treated by percutaneous angioplasty (PA) except stenosis recurrence in less than three months or persistence after PA. The AVG thromboses were always treated by surgical thrombectomy plus PTFE bridge if necessary. Complications, primary and secondary AVG patency were reviewed. Results: Ninety six dysfunction AVG were collected for study. All of them were 6x40mm standard wall PTFE (Gore-Tex®). Thirty six of them were humero-basilic antebraquial loop and sixty were humero-axillary upper arm curve configuration. During the study, 52 PTFE bridges, 109 surgical thrombectomies, 131 PA, and 15 stents were needed to maintain FAVP permeability. Primay patency was 73.68%, 60.21% and 37.52% at one, two and three years respectively. Secondary patency was 89.49%, 84.07% and 66.84% at one, two and three years respectively. We avoid a central venous catheter (CVC) in the 80% of intervention for thrombosis dysfunction. No surgical or radiological related deaths occurred. Median hospital admission related with AVG thrombosis was 0.03/patient/year. Conclusion: The application of a combined protocol for the treatment of AVG dysfunction and thrombosis, according to DOQI recomendations obtains good results in AVG patency in our experience (AU)

Tratamiento quirúrgico de las estenosis yuxtaanastomóticas en las fístulas arteriovenosas radiocefálicas de hemodiálisis. Nueva anastomosis proximal / Surgical treatment of juxta-anastomotic stenosis in radiocephalic fistula. A new proximal radiocephalic anastomosis

Introducción: Las estenosis yuxtaanastomóticas son la causa más frecuente de disfunción en las fístulas radiocefálicas (FAV RC) para hemodiálisis. Estas estenosis provocan bajo flujo de la fístula con mala calidad de la diálisis y pueden evolucionar a la trombosis del acceso. El tratamiento de estas lesiones puede ser radiológico o quirúrgico; la elección de uno u otro es tema de discusión. En nuestro centro se utilizó por consenso el tratamiento quirúrgico de forma sistemática. Método: Hemos realizado un estudio prospectivo desde 1998 hasta 2009. Se incluyeron todas las FAV RC con disfunción o trombosis secundaria a una estenosis yuxtaanastomótica. El diagnóstico se realizó mediante fistulografía, salvo en los casos de trombosis, en los que fue clínico. El tratamiento en todos los casos fue quirúrgico, realizándose una nueva anastomosis radiocefálica proximal a la estenosis (RC PROX). Se analizó la permeabilidad (primaria y secundaria) tanto para las FAV RC iniciales como para las RC PROX (..) (AU)

Introduction: The juxta-anastomotic stenosis is the most frequent cause of dysfunction in radiocephalic fistulas for haemodialysis. This adversity can cause low flow or thrombosis. The appropriate treatment of these lesions is under debate. Method: A prospective study was performed from 1998 to 2009. All dysfunctional radiocephalic fistulas due to juxta-anastomotic stenosis were included (n=96). The diagnosis was made by fistulografy in low flow cases and clinical evidence in cases of thrombosis. The repair was performed using a new proximal radiocephalic anastomosis in all cases. Patency following surgical intervention was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: A total of 96 proximal radiocephalic anastomoses were performed during the study period. Mean surveillance time was 57.27 months (95% CI: 47.53-67.02). Sixty-six patients were male, and the mean age was 67 years. Scheduled surgery was performed in 70.5% of cases and 29.5% were emergency procedures, 92% of which were ambulatory. Technical success was achieved in 100% without any complications. Mean primary patency at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years was 89.4%, 75%, 70.4%, 65%, and 56%, respectively. Additional procedures (n=16) were required in 14 cases (twelve new proximal anastomoses and four cases of arteriovenous graft placement), resulting in mean secondary patency at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of 93.7%, 92.1%, 89.6%, 87%, and 82.6%, respectively. Mean secondary patency of initial dysfunctional radiocephalic fistulas at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years was 95%, 95%, 93.2%, 89.1%, and 86.6%, respectively. Conclusions: In our experience the proximal radiocephalic anastomosis can significantly extend fistula functionality in patients with juxta-anastomotic stenosis (AU)

Surgical treatment of juxta-anastomotic stenosis in radiocephalic fistula. A new proximal radiocephalic anastomosis.

INTRODUCTION: The juxta-anastomotic stenosis is the most frequent cause of dysfunction in radiocephalic fistulas for haemodialysis. This adversity can cause low flow or thrombosis. The appropriate treatment of these lesions is under debate. METHOD: A prospective study was performed from 1998 to 2009. All dysfunctional radiocephalic fistulas due to juxta-anastomotic stenosis were included (n=96). The diagnosis was made by fistulografy in low flow cases and clinical evidence in cases of thrombosis. The repair was performed using a new proximal radiocephalic anastomosis in all cases. Patency following surgical intervention was estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: A total of 96 proximal radiocephalic anastomoses were performed during the study period. Mean surveillance time was 57.27 months (95% CI: 47.53-67.02). Sixty-six patients were male, and the mean age was 67 years. Scheduled surgery was performed in 70.5% of cases and 29.5% were emergency procedures, 92% of which were ambulatory. Technical success was achieved in 100% without any complications. Mean primary patency at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years was 89.4%, 75%, 70.4%, 65%, and 56%, respectively. Additional procedures (n=16) were required in 14 cases (twelve new proximal anastomoses and four cases of arteriovenous graft placement), resulting in mean secondary patency at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years of 93.7%, 92.1%, 89.6%, 87%, and 82.6%, respectively. Mean secondary patency of initial dysfunctional radiocephalic fistulas at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years was 95%, 95%, 93.2%, 89.1%, and 86.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the proximal radiocephalic anastomosis can significantly extend fistula functionality in patients with juxta-anastomotic stenosis.

Security middleware infrastructure for DICOM images in health information systems.

In health care, it is mandatory to maintain the privacy and confidentiality of medical data. To achieve this, a fine-grained access control and an access log for accessing medical images are two important aspects that need to be considered in health care systems. Fine-grained access control provides access to medical data only to authorized persons based on priority, location, and content. A log captures each attempt to access medical data. This article describes an overall middleware infrastructure required for secure access to Digital Imaging and Communication in Medicine (DICOM) images, with an emphasis on access control and log maintenance. We introduce a hybrid access control model that combines the properties of two existing models. A trust relationship between hospitals is used to make the hybrid access control model scalable across hospitals. We also discuss events that have to be logged and where the log has to be maintained. A prototype of security middleware infrastructure is implemented.