Removal of Co by carbonaceous material obtained through solution combustion of tamarind shell.

New carbonaceous materials were obtained through solution combustion process of tamarind shell in the presence of urea and ammonium nitrate, and all of them were tested for Co removal. The effect of temperature (from 600 to 1000°C) and water volume on surface texture of carbonaceous material and its adsorptive capacity was evaluated. Scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) model were used to characterize the obtained carbonaceous material before applying for the removal of cobalt. The point of zero charge was also determined. The results indicate that BET-specific surface areas ranged from 6.40 to 216.72 m2g-1 for the carbonaceous materials obtained at 600, 700, 800, 900, and 1000°C. The one obtained at 900°C (CombTSF900) was found to be the most effective adsorbent for the removal of Co(II) ions from aqueous solutions, with a maximum sorption capacity (Qmax) of 43.56 mg/g. Carbonaceous material obtained through the solution combustion process improves morphological characteristics of adsorbent in a short time, and could be used as an alternative method for the removal of cobalt.

Metarhizium pingshaense applied as a seed treatment induces fungal infection in larvae of the white grub Anomala cincta.

Metarhizium pingshaense has potential as a control agent of the white grub Anomala cincta. We compared its ability to cause infection when applied as a seed treatment or directly to the compost around the plant roots. Although the greatest infection (93%) occured in the direct inoculation treatment, 50% of larvae still became infected by M. pingshaense applied as a seed treatment. The fungus persisted in the compost and also colonised the roots of the developing maize plants endophytically. More research is required but seed treatments with M. pingshaense have potential as cost-effective control options for A. cincta.

Resultados del manejo quirúrgico en fracturas parciales de la tibia proximal / Results of surgical management in proximal partial tibia fractures

Introducción: Las fracturas parciales articulares proximales de la tibia son un gran desafío para el ortopedista por la sintomatología y la complejidad de su manejo. Objetivo: Describir los resultados del tratamiento quirúrgico de las fracturas articulares proximales de la tibia. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en un Hospital de Tercer Nivel de Atención. Se incluyó a pacientes con fractura articular parcial proximal tibial (Müeller AO/ASIF 41-B), ambos géneros, evolución postquirúrgica a seis meses, con expediente clínico completo. La evaluación postquirúrgica fue mediante la escala Orfaly & Keating. Utilizamos estadística descriptiva con medidas de tendencia central y dispersión, prueba de Fischer para riesgo relativo y regresión logística. Resultados: Fueron 25 pacientes. Edad promedio 41.6, (16-81), DE 17.03 años; 15 (60%) hombres, 10 (40%) mujeres; 1 (4%) con DM2; el lado más afectado fue el izquierdo 17 (68%); todos manejados quirúrgicamente con osteosíntesis; hubo concordancia al 100% del diagnóstico preoperatorio con el postoperatorio (Kappa 1.0); la evolución fue satisfactoria en 76%, aceptable en 24% (Orfaly & Keating), 16% con deformidad angular en valgo y 12% rigidez articular; mujeres con RR 1.33 (IC 0.869-2.045) deformidad angular en valgo, RR 0.22 (IC 0.27-1.846) rigidez articular, la osteosíntesis con placa en palo de hockey RR 2.68, osteosíntesis mínima RR 1.088 (IC 95% 0.7-3.1) para escala Orfaly & Keating no satisfactoria. Conclusión: Existe riesgo relativo positivo del género femenino para deformidad angular en valgo y del tratamiento con placa en palo de hockey y osteosíntesis mínima para evolución no satisfactoria de acuerdo a la escala Orfaly & Keating seis meses después de realizado el tratamiento quirúrgico.

Introduction: Proximal partial articular tibia fractures represent a great challenge for orthopedic surgeons due to their symptoms and complex management. Objective: To describe the results of surgical treatment of proximal articular fractures of the tibia. Material and methods: Descriptive study conducted at a tertiary care hospital. We included patients with proximal partial articular tibia fracture (Müeller AO/ASIF 41-B), of both sexes, with a six-month postoperative follow-up and a complete clinical record. Postoperative assessment was conducted with the Orfaly & Keating scale. We used descriptive statistics with central trend and scatter measurements, Fischer test for the relative risk and logistic regression. Results: The total number of patients was 25. Mean age was 41.6 (16-81), SD was 17.03 years; 15 patients were males (60%) and 10 females (40%); 1 (4%) had type-2 diabetes mellitus; the left side was affected in 17 (68%) patients; all patients underwent surgery with osteosynthesis; there was 100% match between the preoperative and postoperative diagnoses (Kappa 1.0); patient course was appropriate in 76% and acceptable in 24% (Orfaly & Keating); 16% had angular valgus deformity and 12% had joint stiffness. Females with RR 1.33 (CI 0.869-2.045) had angular valgus deformity; those with RR 0.22 (CI 0.27-1.846) had joint stiffness, RR was 2.68 for hockey stick plate osteosynthesis, and RR was 1.088 (CI 95%, 0.7-3.1) for the unsatisfactory course according to the Orfaly & Keating scale. Conclusion: A positive relative risk was found among females for angular valgus deformity, and in hockey stick plate osteosynthesis and minimal osteosynthesis for an unsatisfactory course, according to the Orfaly & Keating scale, six months after surgical treatment.

[Results of surgical management in proximal partial tibia fractures]. / Resultados del manejo quirúrgico en fracturas parciales de la tibia proximal.

INTRODUCTION: Proximal partial articular tibia fractures represent a great challenge for orthopedic surgeons due to their symptoms and complex management. OBJECTIVE: To describe the results of surgical treatment of proximal articular fractures of the tibia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Descriptive study conducted at a tertiary care hospital. We included patients with proximal partial articular tibia fracture (Müeller AO/ASIF 41-B), of both sexes, with a six-month postoperative follow-up and a complete clinical record. Postoperative assessment was conducted with the Orfaly & Keating scale. We used descriptive statistics with central trend and scatter measurements, Fischer test for the relative risk and logistic regression. RESULTS: The total number of patients was 25. Mean age was 41.6 (16-81), SD was 17.03 years; 15 patients were males (60%) and 10 females (40%); 1 (4%) had type-2 diabetes mellitus; the left side was affected in 17 (68%) patients; all patients underwent surgery with osteosynthesis; there was 100% match between the preoperative and postoperative diagnoses (Kappa 1.0); patient course was appropriate in 76% and acceptable in 24% (Orfaly & Keating); 16% had angular valgus deformity and 12% had joint stiffness. Females with RR 1.33 (CI 0.869-2.045) had angular valgus deformity; those with RR 0.22 (CI 0.27-1.846) had joint stiffness, RR was 2.68 for hockey stick plate osteosynthesis, and RR was 1.088 (CI 95%, 0.7-3.1) for the unsatisfactory course according to the Orfaly & Keating scale. CONCLUSION: A positive relative risk was found among females for angular valgus deformity, and in hockey stick plate osteosynthesis and minimal osteosynthesis for an unsatisfactory course, according to the Orfaly & Keating scale, six months after surgical treatment.

Three nucleus-encoded subunits of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase of the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei: cDNA characterization, phylogeny and mRNA expression during hypoxia and reoxygenation.

The mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase (COX) catalyzes the reduction of oxygen to water playing a key role in the respiratory chain and ATP synthesis. The nucleus-encoded COX subunits do not participate in catalysis, but some are known to play a role in the expression, assembly and activity of the enzyme. Since hypoxia continuously affects the shrimp environment, it is important to study COX to understand their ability to deal with low oxygen levels. The goal of this research was to characterize the complementary DNA (cDNA) sequences of three nucleus-encoded subunits -coxIV, coxVa, and coxVb- and to evaluate the shrimp COX response to hypoxia by measuring their gene expression. The cDNA sequence of coxIV consisted of 532bp, which encodes a 17.47kDa protein, while coxVa cDNA consisted of 460bp and coded a protein of 17.11kDa, and the coxVb coding sequence consisted of 364bp encoding a 13.74kDa protein. Shrimp subunits do not have isoforms, and they are not differentially expressed during hypoxia, as observed in mammals. Coordinated changes were detected in the mRNA amounts of nuclear and mitochondrial subnits; these changes, at the transcriptional level, are suggested to be controlled through transcriptional factors Sp1 and NRF2.

[Association between strenuous occupational activity and low back pain]. / Asociación entre actividad laboral con gran demanda de esfuerzo físico y lumbalgia.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study is to find the factors associated with the diagnosis of low back pain considering, for each patient, occupational activities, daily physical activities, age, weight, time course, number of visits to the doctor, and number of days of disability leave given due to that condition; all patients were seen at Tacuba General Hospital (TGH). In that hospital the diagnosis of low back pain is the 7th reason for seeking medical care and of disability leave. That is why it is necessary to apply prevention, education and timely care measures and detect the conditioning factors and the most frequent vulnerable groups, as well as the possible causes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was conducted with Rehabilitation Medicine and Orthopedics outpatients from January to December 2008. An observational, retrospective, case-and-control study was conducted. A 15-question questionnaire was applied. The sample consisted of 100 patient records with the diagnosis of low back pain and 100 randomly selected patient records as the control group. RESULTS: Two-hundred records were analyzed; 100 cases of low back pain and 100 controls within the same population. Males represented 35%. Forty-five patients (22%) were given one or more disability leave days and 151 were diagnosed as being overweight. Patients were classified into 3 groups according to the physical activity performed at work. One hundred and seventeen (58.5%) were found to perform mild activity, 35 (17.5%) moderate, and 48 (24%) strenuous activity. Results showed that 112 (546%) cases remained seated for more than 6 hours and performed mild work activities. Patients with mild activity and who remain seated for more than 6 hours have a 1.9 fold higher risk of having low back pain. Patients with one or more days of disability leave represented 16% in the case group and 29% in the control group, thus concluding that the causes of disability are other conditions other than low back pain. The odds ratio shows that patients with low back pain have a 0.5 fold higher risk of getting a disability leave in one year than controls. The overweight population was found to have a 5.7 higher risk of low back pain compared with those having a normal body mass index. Sixty-four percent of cases work seated for 6 or more hours. DISCUSSION: Low back pain is one of the major reasons for visiting a specialist physician; it is increasing and is associated with longevity, chronic-degenerative diseases and overweight. Strenuous work activity was not associated with low back pain in this group of patients. Millions of dollars are spent in treatments and work disability as a result of the diagnosis of low back pain. CONCLUSION: The latter is more common in sedentary patients with mild work activity and who remain seated for more than 6 hours; these patients have a higher chance of being disabled due to this diagnosis. No significant association was found between patients over 65 years of age and low back pain.

[Endoscopic treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome]. / Tratamiento endoscópico del síndrome de túnel del carpo.

BACKGROUND: Surgical treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome is possible with an open or an endoscopic approach. However, indications and results are still under discussion. This study reports the results in a group of patients using the double-port endoscopic technique. METHODS: A group of patients who underwent endoscopic surgery at an orthopedic hospital were assessed; their symptoms and postoperative satisfaction were reported. Results were considered as excellent when symptoms subsided completely and as poor if symptoms persisted. RESULTS: Results were excellent or good in 60% of cases; results were fair or poor in the remaining 40%. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic treatment is only one more alternative for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. It is necessary to determine in which cases it is best indicated to properly select patients and get better results.

Tomografía helicoidal computarizada de arterias coronarias vs angiografía coronaria / Correlation of coronary arteries by helix computed tomography vs angiography

Introducción: El índice de calcificación (IC) de las arterias coronarias (AC) por tomografía computada (TAC) es un procedimiento útil para el diagnóstico de enfermedad obstructiva coronaria (EOC), con sensibilidad del 82 ñ 6 por ciento, especificidad del 88 ñ 2 por ciento, valor predictivo positivo (VPP) del 57 ñ 7 por ciento y valor predictivo negativo (VPN) del 96 ñ 2 por ciento. Objetivos: Evaluación del método para la cuantificación del grado de calcificación en las AC por TAC en unidades Hounsfield con el método tradicional y definición de la sensibilidad, especificidad, VPP y VPN en comparación a la angiografía coronaria. Método: De junio de 1998 a marzo de 1999 se estudiaron 163 pacientes con TAC, 41 fueron sometidos a coronariografía. Las TACs se realizaron con un equipo ELSCINT CTTwin y un software para la cuantificación de la calcificación en las AC en unidades Hounsfield. Se consideró lesión significativa a la obstrucción > 50 por ciento en el tronco de la coronaria izquierda y > 70 por ciento en al menos una de las arterias principales o > 50 por ciento si existían dos o más arterias involucradas. Aquellos con coronariografía se dividieron en dos grupos: A con índice de calcificación < 150 y B > 151. Resultados: En el grupo A el 45 por ciento tuvo lesiones significativas vs 95 por ciento en el grupo B, p = 0.001: Sensibilidad del 65 por ciento, especificidad del 95 por ciento, VPP y VPN del 64 por ciento y 92 por ciento, respectivamente. Riesgo relativo de 2.08 (IC 95 por ciento 1.38-3.54) y razón de momios 21.6 (IC 95 por ciento 2.43-191.37). Conclusiones: Aún con una muestra reducida de pacientes, la tomografía resulta ser un procedimiento útil para el diagnóstico de EOC significativa.

[Maximal cardiac rate during treadmill exertion test in 1853 healthy subjects. Its relation with age and under the atmospheric conditions of Mexico City]. / Frecuencia cardíaca máxima durante la prueba de esfuerzo en banda en 1853 sujetos sanos. Su relación con la edad y bajo las condiciones atmosféricas de la ciudad de México.

INTRODUCTION: The relation between heart rate and age during the exercise test is dependent on the altitude over the sea level in which the test is made. OBJECTIVE: To observe the behavior of the heart rate during a maximal exercise test and its relation to age and to the altitude of Mexico City. METHOD: Observational, non randomized study of 1,853 healthy subjects who underwent maximal exercise test done with Bruce's protocol, in the Department of Cardiology of the Spanish Hospital of Mexico City. RESULTS: The distribution by age groups showed a normal curve. They were divided by gender (67% males and 33% females) with a mean age of 47.6 +/- vs 49.6 +/- 13.7 years respectively (p = 0.003). Maximal heart rate according to gender (167.9 +/- 17.4 vs 160 +/- 18.2 bpm, p = 0.001). Trained vs sedentary (85.7% vs 14.3%). Maximal heart rate by grade of training (169.1 +/- 16.4 vs 167.6 +/- 17.8 bpm, p > 0.05) and the lineal correlation of maximal heart rate dependent on age of the subject (r-0.61, Y = 204.37 + (-0.810*X), p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The maximal heart rate during maximal exercise test at the altitude of Mexico City is lower than those reported in the literature. This is statistically significant and depends on age and it does not bear any relationship to the degree of training, at least in our subgroup of subjects studied. The same is true for females and the dependence on age remains the same too.

[Computerized helicoidal tomography of the coronary arteries vs coronary angiography]. / Tomografía helicoidal computarizada de arterias coronarias vs angiografía coronaria.

INTRODUCTION: The calcium score (CS) of the coronary arteries by computed tomography (CT) is an useful procedure for the diagnosis of obstructive coronary disease (OCD), with an average sensitivity of 82 +/- 6%, specificity of 88 +/- 2%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 57 +/- 7% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 96 +/- 2%. The objective of this trial was to compare helicoidal CT Scan with the traditional method and define sensitivity, specificity, Positive predictive value and negative predictive value against the coronary angiography. METHODS: From June of 1998 to March of 1999, one hundred and sixty six patients with coronary arteries CT were studied. The CT was done with an ELSCINT-CT Twin equipment and a software for the quantification of the coronary arteries CS in Hounsfield units. In forty one, coronary angiography was performed. A significant obstructive lesion was defined as > or = 70% of luminal stenosis in at least one artery, or > or = 50% in the left main and > or = 50% if some other artery was involved. This group was divided in accordance to the CS in two subgroups: A with a CS < or = 150 and B those with a CS > or = 151. RESULTS: In group A, 45% had significative lesions vs 95% in group B (p = 0.001). The sensitivity was 65%, specificity 95%, PPV 64% and the NPV 92%. Relative risk 2.08 (CI 95% 1.38-3.54) and Odds ratio 21.6 (CI 95% 2.43-191.37). CONCLUSIONS: Even though the small sample, CT is an useful procedure for the diagnosis of the OCD.

Prophenoloxidase from brown shrimp (Penaeus californiensis) hemocytes.

Prophenoloxidase (proPO) was purified from blood cells of the brown shrimp Penaeus californiensis by ultracentrifugation and dye affinity chromatography. The isolated proPO is a 114-kDa monomeric protein as determined by SDS-PAGE. This protein can be hydrolyzed by proteinases, producing a 107-kDa active phenoloxidase (PO). The isoelectric point for both protein forms was 7.35. The PO reaction using L-DOPA as substrate, has an optimum pH of 8, and was poorly inhibited by sodium azide, thiourea and EDTA, but strongly inhibited by diethyl thiocarbamate. According to the substrate affinity and inhibition characteristics, this phenoloxidase was classified as a tyrosinase-like phenoloxidase. Purified proPO was not activated by bacterial lipopolysaccharides or beta-glucans.

Isolation of Vibrio and Pseudomonas from brown shrimp (Penaeus californiensis Holmes) intestine.

Bacteria of the genera Vibrio, Pseudomonas and Aeromonas were isolated from the intestine of apparently healthy brown shrimp (Penaeus californiensis Holmes) cultured in a tidal pond. Species from these genera of bacteria have been reported as shrimp pathogens and have been involved in human gastrointestinal disorders related to seafood consumption. Isolation was done first in Marine broth, then in selective media (TCBS, Cetrimide and MacConkey). The oxidase negative strains were discarded as insignificant to shrimp culture. The identification of oxidase positive strains was based in morphological and colonial characteristics, biochemical capabilities, and both salinity and temperature tolerance. API 20E system and fatty acid analysis were also included. Three potentially pathogenic bacteria, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio furnissii and Pseudomonas putida were isolated and identified from healthy shrimp intestine.

[Massive paracentesis and administration of dextran 70 vs albumin in cirrhotic patients with tense ascites]. / Paracentesis masiva con reposición de dextran 70 vs albúmina en pacientes cirróticos con ascitis a tensión.

Some studies have demonstrated that paracentesis for large-volume extraction of ascites produces renal failure and hyponatremia, and intravenous infusion of plasma expanders can overcome this complications. We performed a survey where we compared effectiveness of dextran 70 vs albumin on prevention of adverse effects and cost differences. Two random groups were formed, 8 cirrhotic patients with tense ascites in each group. Paracentesis with extraction of more than 5 liters was performed. The group A received human albumin and group B dextran 70, both received 6 g per liter of extracted liquid. 24 hours before and 48 hours after of ascites extraction, we performed hepatic function test, blood chemistry with renin and aldosterone. Clinical results and biochemistry test were similar in both groups without statistical significance (p > 0.05). Amount of plasma expander was almost the same, but the cost in group A was $266 USD and in group B $20.8 USD. Azotemia was present in 12.5% in group A and hyponatremia in 12.5% in both groups, without symptoms. The results show that dextran 70 produces the same effect like albumin in the treatment of ascites after large-volume paracentesis with lower cost.