Effect of Noble Metal Addition on the Disorder Dynamics of Ni3Al by Means of Monte Carlo Simulation.

In this work, the effect of the addition of noble metals on the order-order disorder process of the L12 structure corresponding to the intermetallic Ni3Al is analyzed. Stoichiometric, nonstoichiometric, and quasi-binary compositions doped with noble metals such as Ag, Au, Pd, and Pt (1 at%) were analyzed. It was observed that depending on the composition, there is a modification in the activation energies calculated from the two time constants that characterize the disorder process. The statistic of atomic jumps was typified based on the configuration of the window to be crossed and, with this, it was identified that the origin of the negative activation energy of the long disorder process is due to an increase in the corresponding energy of the AlAl-Ni jump through unnatural windows.

Afectación corneal debido a enfermedad de Erdheim-Chester / Corneal involvement due to Erdheim-Chester disease

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Infección por parvovirus B19: una inusual etiología de anemia / Parvovirus B19 infection: An unusual aetiology of anaemia

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Programmatic management of patients with pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis in Peru, 2011-2014.

BACKGROUND: In Peru, a treatment approach for extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) incorporating World Health Organization Group 5 drugs and patient-centred care has achieved 65% success. To extend this approach to pre-XDR-TB patients, we evaluated this population separately. OBJECTIVE: To assess programmatic management of pre-XDR-TB. METHOD: Retrospective study using the official national registry from 2011 to 2014. Cases were separately evaluated according to resistance to fluoroquinolones (FQs) (pre-XDR-F) or to second-line injectables (SLIs) (pre-XDR-I). RESULTS: Of 610 pre-XDR-TB patients, 120 (20%) had pre-XDR-F and 490 (80%) had pre-XDR-I. Pre-XDR-F cases were older (34 years vs. 28 years, P < 0.001) and a higher proportion had previously received two or more regimens (70% vs. 38%, P < 0.001). Among the 452 patients who started treatment in 2011-2013, treatment success was 43.3%, 26.5% were lost to follow-up, 12.1% died and 13.7% failed treatment. Success was higher in pre-XDR-I (48.5%) than pre-XDR-F (21.4%) patients. History of previous treatment (OR 2.23, 95%CI 1.52-3.38) and pre-XDR-F (OR 2.39, CI 1.18-4.83) were associated with unsuccessful outcomes. CONCLUSION: Programmatic management of pre-XDR-TB has not been successful, particularly in pre-XDR-F patients, with lower rates of success than those achieved in the same setting for XDR-TB. The strategy used for XDR-TB should be extended to pre-XDR-TB patients in Peru.

Celulitis por Streptococcus pneumoniae / Streptococcus pneumoniae cellulitis

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Constrained acetabular liners in hip revision surgery. A low-cost solution for senile patients.

The objective of this study was to analyze the results of a cemented polyethylene model that captures the hip prosthetic head. In a retrospective study we reviewed 36 cemented constrained acetabular liners implanted in patients older than 75 years (mean 83, SD : 4.4), of which 30 patients were aged 80-90 years and 26 were women. The average period of follow-up of our patients was 25.4 months (12-39 months, SD : 7.3). In 26 patients this model was implanted due to recurrent dislocation or instability, in 8 other cases this model was implanted during revision surgery for periprosthetic fractures, aseptic loosening of the -acetabular component, wear of the polyethylene or replacement of the implant because of infection. There was a single case of recurrent dislocation (2.8%). Cemented acetabular constrained liners are a good option in revision surgery in senile patients in which the femoral stem is firmly fixed to the bone.

[High-resolution microdialysis. methodological issues and application to the study of inflammatory brain response]. / Microdiálisis de alta resolución. Aspectos metodológicos y aplicación al estudio de larespuesta inflamatoria cerebral.

Cerebral microdialysis is a tool that provides very relevant information in the metabolic monitoring of brain injured patients. It is a particularly effective technique for the detection and analysis of small molecules, given that the pores of the dialysis membrane act as a barrier to restrict the transport of larger species, such as proteins and other macromolecules. The recent availability of microdialysis catheters with membrane pores of larger size, termed "high resolution" catheters, would widen the spectrum of molecules detectable in the dialisate. However, there are technical complications related to the use of these catheters for such purposes, and therefore, this potential capacity for the recovery of proteins needs to be validated, in order to begin its application as a tool in studies of proteomics associated with brain injuries. The following review depicts the basic principles of microdialysis, and describes some of the issues involved in the recovery of molecules in the dialisate, including the physical properties of the dialysis membrane and of the molecules of interest.

Brain contusions induce a strong local overexpression of MMP-9. Results of a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Brain contusions are inflammatory evolutive lesions that induce intracranial pressure increase and edema, contributing to neurological outcome. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9 can degrade the majority of the extracellular matrix components, and are implicated in blood-brain barrier disruption and edema formation. The aim of this study was to investigate MMP-2 and MMP-9 profiles in human brain contusions using zymography. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted in 20 traumatic brain injury patients where contusion brain tissue was resected. Brain tissues from lobectomies were used as controls. Brain homogenates were analysed by gelatin zymography and in situ zimography was performed to confirm results, on one control and one brain contusion tissue sample. FINDINGS: MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were higher in brain contusions when compared to controls. MMP-9 was high during the first 24 hours and at 48 to 96 hours, whereas MMP-2 was slightly high at 24 to 96 hours. In situ zymography confirmed gelatin zymography results. A relation between outcome and MMP-9 levels was found; MMP-9 levels were higher in patients with worst outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate strong time-dependent gelatinase expression primarily from MMP-9, suggesting that the inflammatory response induced by focal lesions should be considered as a new therapeutic target.

Molecular basis of quinolone resistance in Escherichia coli from wild birds.

Nine quinolone resistant (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] was > 32 microg/mL for nalidixic acid, > 1 microg/mL for ciprofloxacin) isolates of Escherichia coli have been found in wild birds with septicemia. All of the isolates were aerobactin positive. The mechanisms of resistance were characterised by sequencing the quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) of the gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE genes. Sequence analysis of the gyrA gene in all isolates identified only 1 nucleotide substitution at codon Serine-83 for Leucine-83. Sequence analysis of the gyrB, parC, and parE QRDR genes revealed no mutations in any of the isolates. This study was conducted to determine the importance of these genes in the susceptibility of E. coli strains isolated from wild birds to quinolones.

[Comparative microbiological study of fresh and heat-treated yoghurt in an in vivo animal model]. / Estudio microbiológico comparativo de yogur fresco y termizado en un modelo animal in vivo.

In an acute assay, rats fasted for 24 h were sounded with 2 ml of fresh yogurt, sterilised yogurt or distilled water, and sacrificed at 2, 4, 8 and 24 h. They were compared with non-sounded rats. The survival of the lactic bacteria of the yogurt administered in the animals' stomach and intestines was determined, and the bacteria isolated were to the Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus profiles belonging to the strains isolated originally from the yogurt. Counts of the total number of microorganisms that were grown in lactobacilli and lactic streptococci media were also made. Analyses of the different types of resulting colonies in the lactobacilli and lactic streptococci media was performed. No L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus or S. thermophilus were characterized in this acute assay. The statistical analysis of the results did not show significant differences in the log UFC. g-1, of the intestinal microbiota microorganisms of the three groups of animals in any of the times. In a chronic assay, three groups of animals, after 30 days of nourishment ad libitum with either a semisynthetic diet with 10% of fresh yogurt, or with 10% of sterilised yogurt or controls, housed in individual metabolism cells, were sacrificed. The results did not show meaningful differences in the long UFC. g-1 of the intestinal microbiota microorganisms from the three groups of animals in any of the times. In turn, in the study of the different types of colonies resulting in the lactobacilli and lactic streptococci media, no L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus or S. thermophilus were characterised in this chronic assay. The results did not show meaningful differences in the log CFU. g-1 of the intestinal flora microorganisms from the three groups of animals in any of the times. In turn, no L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus or S. thermophilus were characterised in this chronic assay.

Incidence of salmonellae in captive and wild free-living raptorial birds in central Spain.

A total of 595 faecal samples from raptorial birds, either captive or free-living, residing in GREFA Wildlife Hospital were bacteriologically examined using various selective media and an Automated Diagnostic Assay System for Salmonella detection. Serotype and phage type of the strains identified as Salmonella was determined. In the captive group, of the 285 samples examined, 21 (7.36%) were positive for Salmonella. Serotyping revealed that most of the individuals were infected by Salmonella serotype Havana. This result suggested that there could be a source of contamination in the Hospital although it could not be established. In the wild free-living group, over 310 samples examined (4.19%) were positive for Salmonella. The Salmonella isolates showed a major variety of serotypes: Enteritidis, Adelaide, Brandenburg, Newport, Typhimurium, Hadar, Saintpaul and Virchow. Most of them are similar to those commonly described in isolates from human and domestic animals. These results indicate that wild birds could be involved in the dissemination of Salmonella in humans or domestic animals or vice versa.

Comparison of phenotypic and genotypic markers for characterization of an outbreak of Salmonella serotype Havana in captive raptors.

AIMS: To establish a typing method for tracing the epidemic relationship of 16 strains of Salmonella serotype Havana isolated from captive raptors showing no symptomatology and residing in a wildlife hospital in Spain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, ribotyping, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) methodology were applied. Ten unrelated strains of serotype Havana were included as a control group to provide a basis of for the efficiency of the different markers used. All outbreak-related strains were resistant to nalidixic acid and streptomycin and showed the same ripotype, pulsotype and AFLP pattern. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time that AFLP analysis has been tested with serotype Havana isolates and it has demonstrated to be the most useful epidemiological tool for discriminating between unrelated and outbreak-related strains of this serotype. The results obtained suggest that all the Salmonella serotype Havana isolates represented a common outbreak strain whose origin of contamination could not be established although it is thought that it was the poultry meat used for raptors'diet. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our study suggests the importance of microbiological analysis of these products in order to prevent contamination and dissemination of Salmonellae in this kind of Hospital.

Manejo de la incontinencia urinaria en la mujer anciana. Evaluación de un nuevo método absorbente / Management of urinary incontinence in older women. Evaluation of a new pad system

En este trabajo se valora la eficacia de un nuevo modelo de absorbente (TENA flex®).Se trata de un estudio transversal, con una muestra de 854 mujeres (edad media 80,15 años) que usaban absorbentes para el manejo de incontinencia urinaria. Tras una semana de utilización del nuevo absorbente, se pasó un cuestionario para conocer las principales diferencias entre ambos. En el 75 por ciento de los casos se valoró como mejor el nuevo sistema absorbente TENA flex®, destacando en las facilidades de colocación, ajuste, retirada, permanencia, adaptación, así como la comodidad. Además, un 50 por ciento de los casos consideraron mejor el estado de la piel con los nuevos absorbentes. También se observó una disminución significativa del número de absorbentes diarios y del tiempo de utilización de los mismos. (AU)

Doxazosin en el tratamiento de la hiperplasia prostática benigna en Colombia / Doxazosin in the treatment of BHP in Colombia

En la obstrucción del tracto urinario inferior por hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB), se han identificado dos componentes: uno estático, relacionado con la masa prostática y otro dinámico, relacionado con el tono del músculo liso prostático. Doxazosin, un bloqueador a-1 adrenérgico, actúa reduciendo el tono del músculo liso del estroma de la próstata, con lo cual se facilita la micción y se reducen los síntomas tanto obstructivos como irritativos. Este es un estudio abierto, multicéntrico, no comparativo, con control basal, llevado a cabo en la práctica urológica ambulatoria, para medir la eficacia y la seguridad del doxazosín en Colombia. Se incluyeron 127 hombres sin antecedentes de cirugía prostática o diagnóstico de carcinoma de próstata, con aumento de tamaño de la glándula al examen rectal y un puntaje en el International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) igual o superior a 12, entre agosto de 1996 y marzo de 1998. Se inició con un período de lavado ("washout") con placebo durante dos semanas, siguiendo con 1 mg/día de doxazosín durante otras dos semanas y aumentando a 2 mg/día por cuatro semanas. Si el I-PSS no había disminuido al menos 30 por ciento , se aumentaba la dosis a 4 mg y luego hasta 8 mg, de lo contrario, se continuaba con 2 mg hasta completar las 14 semanas de tratamiento, 105 pacientes completaron el estudio. Hubo 21 eventos adversos, siendo los más frecuentes: hipotensión (2.36 por ciento ) en tres pacientes y mareo (2.36 por ciento ) en tres pacientes; 33 pacientes continuaron durante todo el estudio con 2 mg. La dosis promedio diaria de doxazosín en el punto de eficacia fue de 3.9 mg/ día y la mejoría comparada con los niveles básales fue en promedio de 69 por ciento con 2 mg, 60 por ciento con 4 mg y 38 por ciento con 8 mg. La evaluación final de la frecuencia, nocturia y demora para iniciar la micción, por parte de los investigadores, fue calificada como de "gran mejoría" o "mejoría" en el 80-90 por ciento de los casos; la urgencia urinaria recibió esta calificación para el 75 por ciento de los pacientes. En el grupo, la presión sistólica cayó en promedio 6.09 mm de Hg y la diastólica 3.34 mm de Hg, sin que esto hubiese tenido significancia clínica. En cuanto a la calidad de vida, el promedio del grupo estaba en la escala de "mas bien insatisfecho" al ingresar y en "mas bien satisfecho" al final del estudio. De acuerdo con los resultados se considera a doxazosín como un tratamiento seguro y eficaz en HPB

Perfil espermático de un grupo de pacientes y de voluntarios en Medellín-Colombia / Sperm profile of a group of patients and voluntaries en Medellin-Colombia

Se describen los parámetros espermáticos de 333 individuos atendidos en nuestro Programa de Reproducción: 251 pacientes en estudio de pareja infértil y 82 voluntarios. Se presentan los valores de la mediana para los diferentes parámetros y el porcentaje de individuos con valores por debajo de los establecidos por la OMS. El mayor número de individuos con alteraciones en el espermograma, se encontró en el grupo de pacientes. La motilidad fue el parámetro más afectado en ambos grupos