The environmental performance of different pork production scenarios: a life cycle assessment study.

In order to evaluate the environmental performance generated by a "semi-technified" pig farm, as well as the comparison of different pig production scenarios, pig feed and animal production subsystems were evaluated considering both: (a) origin of feed ingredients and (b) variations in pig weight. Life cycle assessment methodology was used to evaluate the environmental performance, establishing 1 market pig as the functional unit (FU). Three ingredient origin distances (400, 950, and 1800 km) and three slaughter weights (110, 100, and 90 kg) were considered for the simulation analysis and comparison. The feed production subsystem was the main generator of environmental impacts, mainly caused by the cultivation of sorghum and the production of fat. The origin of the inputs represented the main increase in environmental impact for the feed production subsystem, mainly in the Fossil Depletion category, with a fivefold increase by acquiring inputs from 900 km and a ninefold increase at a distance of 1800 km. Producing lighter pigs resulted in the best environmental alternative, given the resultant 11% reduction in environmental impact.

[CT scan evaluation of the syndesmotic diastasis in AO/OTA B and C ankle fractures]. / Evaluación por tomografía computarizada de diastasis de la sindesmosis en fracturas de tobillo tipo B y C de AO/OTA.

BACKGROUND: There are anatomical variants of the tibiofibular syndesmosis that lead to changes in the radiographic criteria applied to its injury. OBJECTIVE: To determine the syndesmotic diastasis using CAT scan in B and C (AO/OTA) ankle fractures and relate the anatomical variants of the tibial incisure with the separation from the fibula. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Comparative, cross-sectional and prolective screening that included all patients with B and C (AO/OTA) ankle fractures who completed their X-ray and CAT scan assessment. The radiographic parameters included the tibiofibular clearance, tibiofibular overlapping and the internal clearance. The length, depth and shape of the tibial incisure were measured with CAT scan. The statistical method used was the chi2. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 17:8 females (47%) and 9 males (53%), with a mean age of 41 years. Fourteen (82%) had a syndesmotic fracture and 3 had suprasyndesmotic fractures. The CAT scan found 10 concave incisures, 4 irregular and 3 flat ones. The mean depth of the incisure was 2.82 +/- 0.89 mm, and the mean width was 22.18 +/- 3.04. No syndesmotic diastasis was detected radiographically in 6 cases (35.2%); the CAT scan only detected 3 of them (17.7%). The diagnosis of syndesmotic diastasis was made with plain X-rays in 11 cases (64.8%) and with CAT scan in 14 (82.3%) (p = 0.043). CONCLUSION: The X-rays are questionable to define the syndesmotic diastasis, so the CAT scan should be considered in cases of a doubtful diagnosis.

Study of Cr (III) biosorption in a fixed-bed column.

This research analyzes the potential use of the olive stone as a low-cost biosorbent for Cr (III) from aqueous solutions in a continuous system. First, experiments were carried out in fixed-bed column to test the influence of various parameters on breakthrough and saturation time. The breakthrough and saturation time increase with the decrease of the flow rate. The same effect is shown when the bed depth is increased. The olive stone sorption capacity, q(e), increases as the inlet Cr (III) concentration increases until a value close to 0.800 mg/g is reached, then q(e) remains constant. Column data obtained at different conditions were described using the Adams-Bohart, Thomas, Yoon and Nelson, and Dose-Response models. The breakthrough curve prediction by the Adams-Bohart and Dose-Response models were found to be very satisfactory. In particular, the Adams-Bohart model can be used to represent the initial region of breakthrough curve, whereas the Dose-Response model is the one which best reproduces the whole curve for all the inlet Cr (III) concentrations used. Finally, a study of pH evolution was carried out. The pH increases at the beginning, subsequently decreasing as time passes until practically reaching the initial value.

Activation of AKT/PKB in breast cancer predicts a worse outcome among endocrine treated patients.

Akt/PKB is a serine/threonine protein kinase that regulates cell cycle progression, apoptosis and growth factor mediated cell survival in association with tyrosine kinase receptors. The protein is a downstream effector of erbB-2 with implications in breast cancer progression and drug resistance in vitro. We aimed to examine the role of Akt-1 in breast cancer patients, by determining whether the expression (Akt-1) and/or activation (pAkt) were related to prognostic markers and survival. The expression of erbB-2, heregulin beta 1 and Bcl-2 was also assessed by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry. This study comprised 93 patients, aged <50 who were treated with tamoxifen and/or goserelin. We found that pAkt was associated with lower S-phase fraction (P=0.001) and the presence of heregulin beta 1-expressing stromal cells (P=0.017). Neither Akt-1 nor pAkt was related with other factors. Tumour cells-derived heregulin beta 1 was found mainly in oestrogen receptor negative (P=0.026) and node negative (P=0.005) cases. Survival analysis revealed that pAkt positive patients were more prone to relapse with distant metastasis, independently of S-phase fraction and nodal status (multivariate analysis; P=0.004). The results suggest that activation of Akt may have prognostic relevance in breast cancer.

[Radiolabeling of a new agent for the study of colorectal tumors]. / Radiomarcaje de un nuevo agente para el estudio de tumores colorrectales.

A new Monoclonal Antibody (AcMo) ior-C5, highly specific for the most part of colorectal adenocarcinomas has been developed. The AcMo was labeled with 99mTc by the Schwarz's direct method using molar ratios MAb: reductant of 1:1,000 and 1:2,000. The first molar ratio was the most adequate for the preparation of the radiopharmaceutical. A labeling yield greater than 95% was obtained. Several <> assays were carried out in order to evaluate the stability of the preparation, whose results reflected the presence of the stable complex 99mTc-IgG. The biodistribution patterns for both preparations were similar. The excreting organs behaved like normal. Nevertheless, a greater renal excretion was observed for the preparation of the molar ratio of 1:2.000, which could be due to the presence of low affinity sites observed in this preparation. They are vulnerable to the trans-chelation of the 99mTc toward cysteine or glutathione present in plasma and tissues.

Hydroxychloroquine compared with placebo in rheumatoid arthritis. A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine, 400 mg daily, for rheumatoid arthritis. DESIGN: Six-month, double-blind, randomized trial. SETTING: Ambulatory referral clinic in a Mexico City, Mexico, teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 126 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis were randomly assigned to receive hydroxychloroquine, 400 mg/d, or placebo; 121 patients completed the study. RESULTS: Hydroxychloroquine showed a clinically and statistically significant improvement over placebo in joint score (20% greater mean improvement; 10% more patients improved by > 50%); pain (40% greater mean improvement; 19% more patients improved by > 50%); grip strength (22% greater mean improvement; 21% more patients improved by > 50%); patient global assessment (16% more patients stated they had improved); and physician global assessment (12% more patients were judged to have improved). Side effects were mild, and no patients in the hydroxychloroquine group required discontinuation of therapy. Patient compliance with the study medication was high. CONCLUSION: Hydroxychloroquine is moderately effective in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Estudio de la frecuencia y características de la uveítis en las espondiloartropatías / Study of frequency and characteristics of uveitis in spondyloarthropaties

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar la frecuencia de uveítis en pacientes con espondiloartropatías. El estudio incluyó evaluaciones clínicas y oftalmológicas especializadas de 58 pacientes con espondiloartropatías vistos en forma consecutiva en un periodo de 10 meses. Ninguno de los enfermos con artritis psoriásica, artritis o síndrome de Reiter presentó uveítis. En constante, 10 de 36 pacientes con espondilitis anquilosante tuvieron uveítis anterior no granulomatosa, detectándose un total de 14 ojos afectados. Ocho pacientes tuvieron un solo episodio de uveítis y otros dos un par de ataques en cada uno. El examen con lámpara de hendidura mostró Tyndall y células en la mayoría de los casos. Los resultados de este estudio mostraron que aproximadamente 30 por ciento de los pacientes con espondilitis anquilosante tienen uveítis anterior no granulomatosa. La frecuencia con otras espondiloartropatías está por determinarse

Steroid-dependent postvaricella encephalomyelitis.

Postinfectious encephalomyelitis is an acute demyelinating illness that usually has its onset 3 to 7 days after the onset of a viral exanthem and has a monophasic course over 2 to 4 weeks. Recurrent bouts of postinfectious encephalomyelitis have been described that have resolved spontaneously or with short courses of steroid therapy. We report a patient who developed a chronic, steroid-dependent encephalomyelitis secondary to a varicella infection at 5 months of age.

Cerebellopontine angle lipoma in a teenager.

Lipomas of the cerebellopontine angle are very rare lesions. To date, 18 patients have been reported, 17 of whom were adults. A second child is described with cerebellopontine angle lipoma.