SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and respiratory disease disability claims in Mexico City Metropolitan Area.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in workers from an essential large-scale company in the Greater Mexico City Metropolitan Area using point prevalence of acute infection, point prevalence of past infection through serum antibodies and respiratory disease short-term disability claims (RD-STDC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four randomized surveys, three during 2020 before and one after (December 2021) vaccines' availability. OUTCOMES: point prevalence of acute infection through saliva PCR (polymerase chain reaction) testing, point prevalence of past infection through serum antibodies against Covid-19, RD-STDC and prevalence of symptoms during the previous six months. RESULTS: Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 cases was 1.29-4.88%, on average, a quarter of participants pre-vaccination were seropositive; over half of participants with a RD-STDC had antibodies. The odds of having antibodies were 6-7 times more among workers with an RD-STDC. CONCLUSIONS: High antibody levels against Covid-19 in this study population reflects that coverage is high among workers in this industry. STDCs are a useful tool to track workplace epidemics.

The Omicron wave in Mexico: vaccine protection against progression to severe Covid-19 in SARS-CoV-2-infected workers.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of seven Covid-19 vaccines in preventing disease progression (DP) using data from national private sector workers during the Omicron wave in Mexico from January 2 to March 5, 2022. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study employed an administrative retrospective cohort design, analyzing DP (hospitalization or death due to respiratory disease) among workers who filed a respiratory short-term disability claim and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Risk ratios (RRadj) were estimated using Poisson regression models adjusted for various factors. RESULTS: Vaccinated individuals had a lower risk of hospitalization and death compared with unvaccinated individuals. The overall RRadj for hospitalization and death were 0.36 (95%CI 0.32, 0.41) and 0.24 (0.17, 0.33), respectively. When evaluating vaccines individually, the RRadj for hospitalization were as follows Pfizer BioNTech 0.27 (95%CI 0.22, 0.33), Moderna 0.29 (95%CI 0.15, 0.57), Sinovac 0.32 (95%CI 0.25, 0.41), AstraZeneca 0.39 (95%CI 0.34, 0.46), Sputnik 0.39 (95%CI 0.28, 0.53), CanSino 0.41 (95%CI 0.24, 0.7), and Janssen 0.53 (95%CI 0.39, 0.72). The RRadj for death were as follows: Pfizer BioNTech 0.12 (95%CI 0.07, 0.19), Sputnik 0.15 (95%CI 0.06, 0.38), Sinovac 0.29 (95%CI 0.16, 0.53), AstraZeneca 0.30 (95%CI 0.20, 0.44), CanSino 0.38 (95%CI 0.1, 1.4), and Janssen 0.50 (95%CI 0.26, 0.97). CONCLUSION: Covid-19 vaccines significantly reduced the risk of severe disease during the Omicron wave in Mexico.

Type A acute aortic dissection presenting as a stroke in a young male patient.

A male patient in his 40s with a history of nephrolithiasis and found in the desert after 10 days without oral intake was admitted to the hospital for severe dehydration, acute kidney injury and rhabdomyolysis. He had acute-onset loss of consciousness during hospitalisation with new left-sided hemiparesis and hemineglect. After haemorrhage was excluded, prompt thrombolysis was given. He later had chest pain and became hypotensive. An echocardiogram revealed pericardial effusion and dilation of the ascending aorta with suspected dissection. Magnetic resonance angiography of the brain and neck reported bilateral parieto-occipital areas of stroke in a watershed distribution and dissection of the right internal carotid artery. CT angiography showed type A aortic dissection from the ascending aorta extending into the bilateral common iliac arteries. Thrombolysis was reversed and the patient underwent ascending aorta replacement, resuspension of the aortic valve and aortic arch debranching at outside facility with complete recovery.

Hand rehabilitation based on the RobHand exoskeleton in stroke patients: A case series study.

Introduction: The RobHand (Robot for Hand Rehabilitation) is a robotic neuromotor rehabilitation exoskeleton that assists in performing flexion and extension movements of the fingers. The present case study assesses changes in manual function and hand muscle strength of four selected stroke patients after completion of an established training program. In addition, safety and user satisfaction are also evaluated. Methods: The training program consisted of 16 sessions; two 60-minute training sessions per week for eight consecutive weeks. During each session, patients moved through six consecutive rehabilitation stages using the RobHand. Manual function assessments were applied before and after the training program and safety tests were carried out after each session. A user evaluation questionnaire was filled out after each patient completed the program. Results: The safety test showed the absence of significant adverse events, such as skin lesions or fatigue. An average score of 4 out of 5 was obtained on the Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology 2.0 Scale. Users were very satisfied with the weight, comfort, and quality of professional services. A Kruskal-Wallis test revealed that there were not statistically significant changes in the manual function tests between the beginning and the end of the training program. Discussion: It can be concluded that the RobHand is a safe rehabilitation technology and users were satisfied with the system. No statistically significant differences in manual function were found. This could be due to the high influence of the stroke stage on motor recovery since the study was performed with chronic patients. Hence, future studies should evaluate the rehabilitation effectiveness of the repetitive use of the RobHand exoskeleton on subacute patients. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05598892?id=NCT05598892&draw=2&rank=1, identifier NCT05598892.

Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in avocado farmworkers from Mexico.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected farmworkers in the United States and Europe, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. However, little is known about the specific impact of the pandemic on agriculture and food production workers in low- and middle-income countries. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and assess the mental health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic among avocado farmworkers in Michoacan, Mexico. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of adult farmworkers (n = 395) in May 2021. We collected survey data, nasal swabs and saliva samples for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection, and blood samples for immunoglobulin G (IgG) reactivity measurements. Results: None of the farmworkers tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. However, among unvaccinated farmworkers (n = 336, 85%), approximately one-third (33%) showed evidence of past infection (positive for IgG against SARS-CoV-2). Unvaccinated farmworkers who lived with other farmworkers (aRR = 1.55; 95% CI: 1.05, 2.05), had ever lived with someone with COVID-19 (aRR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.22, 2.43), and who had diabetes (aRR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.53, 2.85) had a higher risk of testing IgG-positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. In contrast, unvaccinated farmworkers living in more rural areas (outside of Tingambato or Uruapan) (aRR = 0.71; 95% CI: 0.46, 0.96) or cooking with wood-burning stove (aRR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.55, 0.96) had a lower risk of IgG-positivity. Moreover, 66% of farmworkers reported a negative impact of the pandemic on their lives, 29% reported experiencing food insecurity and difficulty paying bills, and 10% reported depression or anxiety symptoms. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health and financial well-being of avocado farmworkers. Consequently, the implementation of interventions and prevention efforts, such as providing mental health support and food assistance services, is imperative.

Use of Private Sector Workforce Respiratory Disease Short-Term Disability Claims to Assess SARS-CoV-2, Mexico, 2020.

We examined respiratory disease short-term disability claims submitted to the Mexican Social Security Institute during 2020. A total of 1,631,587 claims were submitted by 19.1 million insured workers. Cumulative incidence (8.5%) was 3.6 times higher than that for January 2015‒December-2019. Workers in healthcare, social assistance, self-service, and retail stores were disproportionately affected.

Bazo estrellado. A propósito de un caso / Stellate spleen. A case report

Las lesiones esplénicas pueden pasar desapercibidas en los estudios imagenológicos solicitados con otros fines. Las calcificaciones esplénicas representan un amplio espectro de lesiones que pueden originarse secundarias a diversos procesos patológicos subyacentes. La autoesplenectomía es una entidad extremadamente rara con algunos casos descritos en la literatura asociados a enfermedades autoinmunes. Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 46 años de edad con lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) en quien se encuentra el bazo calcificado y atrófico como hallazgo incidental en una tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) de tórax.

Splenic lesions may go unnoticed in imaging studies requested for other purposes. Splenic calcifications represent a wide spectrum of lesions that can arise secondary to various underlying pathological processes. Autosplenectomy is an extremely rare entity with some cases described in the literature associated to autoimmune diseases. The case of a 46-year-old patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is presented, in whom the calcified and atrophic spleen is found as an incidental finding in a Chest tomography.

Comportamiento epidemiológico de SARS-CoV-2 en población trabajadora afiliada al Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social / SARS-CoV-2 epidemic behavior in worker population affiliated to the Mexican Social Security Institute

Resumen: Objetivo: Describir el comportamiento de la epidemia de SARS-CoV-2 entre los trabajadores afiliados al Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Material y métodos: Se analizaron las incapacidades temporales para el trabajo por enfermedades respiratorias (ITT-ER), las hospitalizaciones y defunciones asociadas durante el periodo del 1 marzo al 31 diciembre 2020. Se estimó la tasa de ataque (TA) por SARS-CoV-2, así como los riesgos relativos (RR) de ITT-ER, hospitalización y defunción. Resultados: De los trabajadores afiliados al IMSS, 8.8% (n=1 730 334) recibió al menos una ITT-ER. La TA fue mayor en mujeres y en ambos sexos fue menor en el grupo de >60 años. Los RR de hospitalización y defunción fueron mayores en hombres y aumentaron con la edad. Comparado con las ITT-ER de 2015-2019, Durango, Tamaulipas y Nuevo León tuvieron un RR mayor de ITT-ER que el resto del país. Conclusiones: La epidemia de SARS-CoV-2 tuvo repercusiones importantes en los trabajadores afiliados al IMSS; se observó un exceso de ITT-ER de 4.6 veces respecto a la frecuencia esperada y cerca de un millón de casos de SARS-CoV-2. Los datos sugieren que el sistema de ITT-ER puede ser utilizado como elemento adicional para la vigilancia epidemiológica de enfermedades emergentes.

Abstract: Objective: To describe the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 epidemic among workers affiliated to the Mexican Social Security Institute. Materials and methods: We analyzed Short Term Disability Claims due to Respiratory Diseases (RD-STDC), associated hospitalizations and deaths (March 1 - December 31, 2020). We estimated the attack rate (AR) for SARS-CoV-2, and relative risks (RR) of TWD-RD, hospitalization and deaths. Results: 1 730 334 workers received at least one RD-STDC. AR was higher in women and in both sexes it was lower in >60 years old. RR of hospitalization and death were higher in men and increased with age. Compared with RD-STDC of 2015-2019, the states of Durango, Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon had a higher RR of RD-STDC than the rest of the country. Conclusions: The SARS-CoV-2 epidemic impacted IMSS-affiliated workers significantly. We observed a 4.6 fold excess in RD-STDC compared to the expected frequency and nearly 1 million SARS-CoV-2 cases in this population. Our data suggest that the RD-STDC system can be used as an additional resource for epidemiological surveillance of emerging diseases.

Novel Feature-Extraction Methods for the Estimation of Above-Ground Biomass in Rice Crops.

Traditional methods to measure spatio-temporal variations in above-ground biomass dynamics (AGBD) predominantly rely on the extraction of several vegetation-index features highly associated with AGBD variations through the phenological crop cycle. This work presents a comprehensive comparison between two different approaches for feature extraction for non-destructive biomass estimation using aerial multispectral imagery. The first method is called GFKuts, an approach that optimally labels the plot canopy based on a Gaussian mixture model, a Montecarlo-based K-means, and a guided image filtering for the extraction of canopy vegetation indices associated with biomass yield. The second method is based on a Graph-Based Data Fusion (GBF) approach that does not depend on calculating vegetation-index image reflectances. Both methods are experimentally tested and compared through rice growth stages: vegetative, reproductive, and ripening. Biomass estimation correlations are calculated and compared against an assembled ground-truth biomass measurements taken by destructive sampling. The proposed GBF-Sm-Bs approach outperformed competing methods by obtaining biomass estimation correlation of 0.995 with R2=0.991 and RMSE=45.358 g. This result increases the precision in the biomass estimation by around 62.43% compared to previous works.

Laser-Material Interactions of High-Quality Ultrashort Pulsed Vector Vortex Beams.

Diffractive multi-beams based on 1 × 5 and 2 × 2 binary Dammann gratings applied to a spatial light modulator (SLM) combined with a nanostructured S-wave plate have been used to generate uniform multiple cylindrical vector beams with radial and azimuthal polarizations. The vector quality factor (concurrence) of the single vector vortex beam was found to be C = 0.95 ± 0.02, hence showing a high degree of vector purity. The multi-beams have been used to ablate polished metal samples (Ti-6Al-4V) with laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSS), which confirm the polarization states unambiguously. The measured ablation thresholds of the ring mode radial and azimuthal polarizations are close to those of a Gaussian mode when allowance is made for the expected absolute intensity distribution of a ring beam generated from a Gaussian. In addition, ring mode vortex beams with varying orbital angular momentum (OAM) exhibit the same ablation threshold on titanium alloy. Beam scanning with ring modes for surface LIPSS formation can increase micro-structuring throughput by optimizing fluence over a larger effective beam diameter. The comparison of each machined spot was analysed with a machine learning method-cosine similarity-which confirmed the degree of spatial uniformity achieved, reaching cosθ > 0.96 and 0.92 for the 1 × 5 and 2 × 2 arrays, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), optical microscopy and white light surface profiling were used to characterize and quantify the effects of surface modification.

Sporadic, classic-type renal angiomyolipoma with renal vein and inferior vena cava extension: an incidental case.

Renal angiomyolipomas (AMLs) were first described in the early 1900s by Gravitz, but it was not until 1951 that they were named renal AML. These kidney tumours are rare, occurring in 0.13%-0.44% of the population. These mesenchymal tumours are composed of smooth muscle-like, adipocyte-like and epithelioid cells. Depending on the predominant cell population, it can be further subclassified into classic, epithelioid and AML with epithelial cyst. A 32-year-old woman presented with mild, intermittent, epigastric and right upper quadrant abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasound revealed an incidental lesion within the inferior vena cava (IVC). A CT scan showed a lesion within the left renal vein extending into the IVC with 40% narrowing and a fat-containing mass in the lower pole of the left kidney of 15 mm suggesting an AML. Thrombectomy was performed. The specimen resulted positive for classic variant renal AML. Initial diagnosis is centred on imagining studies, based in fatty tissue concentration. The AML expresses melanocytic markers. This helps differentiate from renal cell carcinoma. Although AML is considered a benign condition, there is evidence of malignant transformation. Active surveillance is recommended for lesions <4 cm. Nephron sparing surgery is the procedure of choice. Nephrectomy is recommended if there is a high probability of malignancy. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have been proposed to be an alternative treatment.

Comportamiento epidemiológico de SARS-CoV-2 en población trabajadora afiliada al Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

Objetivo. Describir el comportamiento de la epidemia de SARS-CoV-2 entre los trabajadores afiliados al Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Material y métodos. Se analizaron las incapacidades temporales para el trabajo por enfermedades respiratorias (ITT-ER), las hospitalizaciones y defunciones asociadas durante el periodo del 1 marzo al 31 diciembre 2020. Se estimó la tasa de ataque (TA) por SARS-CoV-2, así como los riesgos relativos (RR) de ITT-ER, hos-pitalización y defunción. Resultados. De los trabajadores afiliados al IMSS, 8.8% (n=1 730 334) recibió al menos una ITT-ER. La TA fue mayor en mujeres y en ambos sexos fue menor en el grupo de >60 años. Los RR de hospitalización y defunción fueron mayores en hombres y aumentaron con la edad. Comparado con las ITT-ER de 2015-2019, Durango, Tamaulipas y Nuevo León tuvieron un RR mayor de ITT-ER que el resto del país. Conclusiones. La epidemia de SARS-CoV-2 tuvo repercusiones importantes en los trabajadores afiliados al IMSS; se observó un exceso de ITT-ER de 4.6 veces respecto a la frecuencia esperada y cerca de un millón de casos de SARS-CoV-2. Los datos sugieren que el sistema de ITT-ER puede ser utilizado como elemento adicional para la vigilancia epidemiológica de enfermedades emergentes.

Mortalidad en pacientes hospitalizados en el servicio de medicina interna de un hospital universitario / Mortality in patients hospitalized in the internal medicine service of a university hospital

Resumen Justificación: la mortalidad intrahospitalaria hace parte de los indicadores de calidad en atención en salud, su análisis permite el desarrollo de proyectos para el mejoramiento de los servicios. Material y métodos: se realizó un estudio de corte transversal retrospectivo, evaluando los egresos hospitalarios de medicina interna del año 2015 en el Hospital Universitario Clínica San Rafael (HUCSR). Se estableció la tasa de mortalidad y sus causas. También se realizó un análisis descriptivo de las principales características sociodemográficas y clínicas de la población, la significancia estadística se estableció en p=0.05. Resultados: se presentaron 152 muertes de 1817 egresos hospitalarios para una tasa de mortalidad de 8.3%. El 54.7% fueron hombres; la mediana de edad de 71 años, el rango fue de 18-106 años. Las comorbilidades más frecuentes fueron en 67% hipertensión arterial, 39% cáncer, 32% EPOC. No se presentaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre hombres y mujeres. Las principales causas de muerte fueron en 43% enfermedades infecciosas, seguida de neoplasia sólida en 27% y finalmente de origen cardiovascular en 17%. La frecuencia de infección nosocomial en la población fue de 21%. Conclusiones: la mortalidad en los pacientes adultos hospitalizados por medicina interna en el HUCSR es de 8.3% y está dentro del margen reportado por la literatura. En estos pacientes es alta la frecuencia de comorbilidades como la hipertensión arterial 67%, cáncer (39%) y la falla cardiaca (30%). (Acta Med Colomb 2019; 44: 11-16).

Abstract Justification: in-hospital mortality is part of the quality indicators in health care. Its analysis allows the development of projects for the improvement of services. Materials and Methods: a retrospective cross-sectional study was carried out, evaluating the internal medicine hospital discharges of the year 2015 in the Hospital Universitario Clinica San Rafael (HUCSR). The mortality rate and its causes were established. A descriptive analysis of the main socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of the population was also carried out. The statistical significance was established at p = 0.05. Results: of 1817 hospital discharges, there were 152 deaths, for a mortality rate of 8.3%. 54.7% were men; median age was 71 years, the range was 18-106 years. The most frequent comorbidities were 67% arterial hypertension, 39% cancer, 32% COPD. There were no statistically significant differences between men and women. The main causes of death were infectious diseases in 43%, followed by solid neoplasia in 27% and of cardiovascular origin in 17%. The frequency of nosocomial infection in the population was 21%. Conclusions: mortality in adult patients hospitalized by internal medicine in the HUCSR is 8.3% and is within the range reported by the literature. In these patients, the frequency of comorbidities such as high blood pressure 67%, cancer (39%) and heart failure (30%) is high. (Acta Med Colomb 2019; 44: 11-16).

Porencefalia, reporte de caso / Porencephaly, report of a case

La porencefalia como lesión cerebral es una entidad que por el gran compromiso encefálico genera déficits motores y conductuales afectando el normal desarrollo de niños, siendo este el grupo poblacional principalmente afectado; quienes desde muy temprana edad presentan manifestaciones clínicas, sin embargo en algunos casos excepcionales tienden a cursan asintomáticos o con mínimas secuelas motoras que pueden retrasar su diagnóstico; campo en que las técnicas de imagen llegan a ser fundamentales. Se presenta aquí el primer caso de porencefalia reportado en Boyacá a la edad adulta sin antecedentes que sugieran su diagnóstico o algún manejo instaurado a la misma, la cual termina complicándose dejando varias secuelas..(AU)

Porencephaly as a brain injury is an entity that due to the great encephalic engagement generates motor deficits and behavioral affections on the normal development of children, being this the population group mainly affected, who from a very early age present clinical manifestations, however some exceptional cases are asymptomatic or has minimal motor sequelae that may delay their diagnosis; a sphere in which imaging techniques become fundamental. Here we present the first case of porencephaly reported in Boyacá to adulthood without a history suggesting its diagnosis or some management established to it, which ends up complicating leaving several sequelae..(AU)

Relación entre tipos sociométricos y metas académicas en una muestra de estudiantes españoles de educación secundaria / Relationship between sociometric types and academic goals in a sample of Spanish students of Secondary Education

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la relación entre tipos sociométricos, categorías conductuales y metas académicas en una muestra de 1349 estudiantes (51.7% chicos) de educación secundaria obligatoria. La identificación sociométrica de los estudiantes se realizó mediante el Programa Socio y las metas académicas fueron evaluadas mediante el AGTQ (Achievement Goals Tendencies Questionnaire). El AGTQ es una medida de autoinforme diseñada para medir tres orientaciones de metas: aprendizaje, logro y refuerzo social. Los resultados muestran que los estudiantes nominados positivamente por sus compañeros presentaron mayores puntuaciones en metas de aprendizaje y de logro que los estudiantes nominados negativamente. Además, los tipos sociométricos fueron predictores significativos de las metas académicas, ya que los estudiantes nominados positivamente por sus compañeros presentaron mayor probabilidad de alcanzar altas metas de aprendizaje y de logro que los estudiantes nominados negativamente.

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between sociometric types, behavioral categories and academic goals in a sample of 1349 students (51.7% boys) of compulsory secondary education. The students' sociometric identification was performed by the Programa Socio and academic goals was measured by the AGTQ (Achievement Goals Tendencies Questionnaire). The AGTQ is a self-report measure designed to measure three tendencies of goals: Learning goals, Achievement goals and Reinforcement Social goals. Results show that students nominated by their peers positively had higher scores on Learning and Achievement goals than students negatively nominated. Furthermore, sociometric types were significant predictors of academic goals, as students nominated by their peers positively were more likely to achieve high Learning goals and Achievement goals that students negatively nominated.

Cannulation of the suprachoroidal space: a novel drug delivery methodology to the posterior segment.

PURPOSE: To describe, test, and evaluate the pharmacokinetics of a novel posterior drug delivery system (PDS) by means of microcannulation of the suprachoroidal space in both the primate and pig animal model. DESIGN: Animal study. METHODS: A rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) (n = 1) and pig model (n = 93) were used to evaluate the PDS, a microcannula that combines a drug delivery channel with a fiber-optic illumination and optimal transition properties. The surgical technique, safety profile, histopathology, retinal and choroidal blood flow, injection of tracer dyes, and triamcinolone pharmacokinetics were studied. Pre- and postsurgical high-speed video confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (cSLO) that used fluorescein and indocyanine green (ICG) imaging and wide-field fundus imaging studies were performed. Globes were enucleated for either histopathology or pharmacokinetics. RESULTS: Cannulation was performed in 93 of 94 animals. Complications included: endophthalmitis (1/94), choroidal tear (1/94), choroidal blood flow irregularities (4/94), postoperative inflammation (6/94), scleral ectasia (4/94), wound abscess (1/94), and others. Histopathology demonstrated normal anatomy in uncomplicated cases. Triamcinolone remains in the local ocular tissue for at least 120 days, and measurable at very low levels in the systemic circulation. CONCLUSIONS: Accessing the suprachoroidal space by the microcannulation system can be performed in a safe and reproducible manner by using careful surgical technique. Forceful PDS tip impact into connective tissues in the macular and optic nerve regions should be avoided. Triamcinolone pharmacokinetics are unique and suggest long-term local tissue levels with low systemic levels. PDS access to the suprachoroidal space represents a novel drug delivery method, applicable to a wide variety of pharmacotherapies to the macula, optic nerve, and posterior pole.

Tratamiento de las úlceras del pie diabético mediante métodos de descarga / Treatment in the diabetic foot’s ulcers by discharging methods

El pie representa uno de los principales problemas del paciente diabético, siendo las úlceras una de las lesiones más habituales. Dichas ulceraciones se originan por pequeños traumatismos repetidos sobre un pie afecto de pérdida de sensibilidad y de deformidades.El manejo terapéutico inadecuado de las ulceras puede conducir a una de las complicaciones más graves del paciente diabético: la amputación.La clave para el tratamiento de este tipo de úlceras consiste en aliviar la presión, existiendo diferentes métodos para este fin. Actualmente, el yeso de contacto total (total contact cast – TCC), está considerado por la mayoría de expertos como el método de descarga de presión más efectivo

The foot presents one of the more important problems in the diabetic patients, and ulcers are the lesions with higher frecuency. The ulcerations have their origins by small repetitive traumas on a foot that suffers a loss of sensibility and deformatives. The inadequatemanagement of ulcers would cause one of the more frequent complications in the diabetic patient: amputation.The key treatment for this type of ulcer consist of aliviating the pressure and there exists a number of different methods to this end. Today, full contact cast (TTC) is considered by the majority of experts to be the most effective method of reducing the pressure (AU)

Evolution of the regulators of G-protein signaling multigene family in mouse and human.

The regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) proteins are important regulatory and structural components of G-protein coupled receptor complexes. RGS proteins are GTPase activating proteins (GAPs) of Gi-and Gq-class Galpha proteins, and thereby accelerate signaling kinetics and termination. Here, we mapped the chromosomal positions of all 21 Rgs genes in mouse, and determined human RGS gene structures using genomic sequence from partially assembled bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs) and Celera fragments. In mice and humans, 18 of 21 RGS genes are either tandemly duplicated or tightly linked to genes encoding other components of G-protein signaling pathways, including Galpha, Ggamma, receptors (GPCR), and receptor kinases (GPRK). A phylogenetic tree revealed seven RGS gene subfamilies in the yeast and metazoan genomes that have been sequenced. We propose that similar systematic analyses of all multigene families from human and other mammalian genomes will help complete the assembly and annotation of the human genome sequence.

Failure characteristics of multiple-component fibrin-based adhesives.

A series of analyses were performed on fibrin-based adhesives to describe their failure characteristics. Two test methods were used: uniaxial, monotonic tensile testing of the bulk material, and blister testing using fresh porcine-source skin graft as the adherend. Two fibrin concentrations, high (HFC), and low (LFC), were used to investigate the effects of the gel matrix density upon mechanical properties. In tensile tests, fibrin gels strain hardened, as functions of percent strain and of strain rate. An increase in modulus of elasticity (E) was seen with increasing strain and strain rate at both tested fibrin concentrations. Mode I failure mechanisms were predominant. Both adhesives appeared to fracture from the outer edge to the interior of the specimen at slower strain rate tests. This trend reversed as strain rate increased, becoming a classic "cup and cone" ductile fracture. Syneresis occurred at both concentrations at lower strain rates, but was more pronounced for the LFC. Ultimate tensile strength and E were greater for the HFC than for the LFC at all strain rates, decreasing with increasing strain rate. In the blister test, the failure locus changed from cohesive to adhesive as the strain rate was increased for the HFC. Failure of fibrin gels likely occurs by percolation of the pressurized saline, displacing the entrapped liquid phase of the gel in regions of relatively low moduli and strength, leading to fracture of the matrix. For LFC, the overall fracture locus remained predominantly cohesive regardless of strain rate. Burst strength and failure energy were higher for HFC than for LFC. It would appear that fibrin acts more as a viscous liquid than a rubberlike/elastic material at lower concentrations because adhesive failures had a higher burst strength and fracture energy (Gc) than did cohesive failures.