Coubertin y los concursos artísticos en los juegos olímpicos modernos / Coubertin and the artistic competitions in the modern olympic games

El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la importancia que tenía para Coubertin la inclusión de concursos artísticos en el programa oficial de los Juegos Olímpicos modernos. Se estudiará cómo, cuándo y por qué surgió la idea en Coubertin de unir de manera armoniosa las artes y las letras a los Juegos Olímpicos, como ya ocurriera en la antigua Olimpia. En los Juegos Olímpicos de Estocolmo de 1912, se celebraron por primera vez competiciones deportivas y concursos artísticos, cumpliéndose el anhelo de Coubertin. Sin embargo, después de siete citas olímpicas en las que se habían celebrado concursos artísticos, el COI decidió suprimirlos en 1949, sustituyéndolos por «Olimpíadas Culturales», «exhibiciones» o «exposiciones». La metodología de este estudio es histórica y se fundamenta en fuentes primarias y secundarias. Como conclusión, para Coubertin fueron tan importantes los concursos artísticos en los Juegos Olímpicos modernos que tuvieron el mismo rango que las competiciones deportivas (AU)

The aim of this essay is to analyse the importance that Coubertin gave to including the artistic competitions in the official programme of the modern Olympic Games. It will be studied how, when and why Coubertin's idea of harmoniously joining arts and letters to the Olympic Games appeared, as it had already happened in ancient Olympia. In the Olympic Games of Stockholm 1912, sport and artistic competitions were celebrated for the first time, fulfilling thus Coubertin's longing. However, after seven Olympic events where artistic competitions had been held, the IOC decided to eliminate them in 1949 and to replace them for «Cultural Olympics», «exhibitions» or «expositions». The methodology of this study is historical and based on primary and secondary sources. In conclusion, to Coubertin the artistic competitions in the modern Olympic Games were so important as to have the same status as the sport competitions (AU)

Effects of bee products on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in the rat.

Bee products (BP) have been used for centuries as a diet complement with claimed curative properties. The aim of this study was to determine whether oral administration of BP prevented behavioral, histological, and biochemical alterations, caused by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)-induced kindling in rats. Male Wistar rats were employed to evaluate seizure latency, number and duration, performance in the open field test, histological alterations and mortality following BP administration. Oral administration of BP at two doses, 30 and 60 mg/kg/day, significantly lengthened latency of both clonic and tonic PTZ-induced seizures, decreased the duration and frequency of seizures and reduced mortality. In the Open Field test, BP treated groups showed increases in the number of crossed squares and rearing counts, and on optimal dose, decreases in fecal boli. Histological analysis showed in PTZ (50 and 80 mg/kg) kindling rats, lungs with inflammatory peribronchiolar, and perialveolar infiltrates. In the liver, mild losses of trabeculae, multi-vesiculated hepatocytes (steatosis) and inflammatory infiltrates in hepatic parenchyma were observed. Interestingly, in the heart, fibers were markedly separated. In testis, stratified epithelium of seminal tubules lost its normal structure, tubules had epithelium loss, spermatids were absent, and spermatogonia and Leydig cells diminished. In PTZ kindling rats treated with BP, the lungs had no inflammatory infiltrates, although the heart showed some inflammatory infiltrates. Remaining structures had normal characteristics. These results, suggest that BP can protect rats from effects of PTZ-induced kindling.

Renal paratransplant hernia: an unusual complication of renal transplantation?

Renal paratransplant hernia constitutes an unusual variant of internal hernia caused by entrapment of bowel through a defect in the peritoneum covering the transplanted kidney. Only three cases have been previously reported. We present three new cases of renal paratransplant hernia. Abdominal pain and vomiting were the main symptoms. Clinical diagnosis of bowel obstruction and paratransplant hernia was reached using abdominal CT scan. All patients underwent an emergency surgical procedure, and one patient needed resection of necrotic bowel. The three patients survived owing to early surgical intervention, and they were discharged asymptomatic. Paratransplant hernia represented 1.1% of our series of transplant patients. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment are esential in transplant patients with bowel obstruction to avoid high morbidity and mortality rates.

Differential pattern of cytokine expression by macrophages infected in vitro with different Mycobacterium tuberculosis genotypes.

It has been shown recently that different genotypes of Mycobacterium tuberculosis induce distinct immune responses in the host, as reflected by variations in cytokine and iNOS expression. Because these molecules are probably regulated by multiple factors in vivo this complex phenomenon was partially analysed by assessing cytokine and iNOS expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in an in vitro model of bone marrow-derived macrophages infected with three different M. tuberculosis genotypes: Canetti, H37 Rv and Beijing. Although the three genotypes induced production of iNOS and the different cytokines tested at 24 h post-infection, macrophages infected with the Beijing isolate expressed the highest levels of mRNA for iNOS, interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, IL-12 cytokines and lower levels of IL-10 compared with cells infected with other genotypes. This expression pattern has been associated with infection control, but during infection in vivo with the Beijing genotype it is lost upon progression to chronic phase. The failure to control infection is likely to be influenced by cytokines produced by other cell types and bacterial molecules expressed during the course of disease. Results presented in this work show that each genotype has the ability to induce different levels of cytokine expression that could be related to its pathogenesis during infection.

Simultaneous determination of dexamethasone and 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone in urine using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography: applications to in vivo measurement of cytochrome P450 3A4 activity.

It has been demonstrated that the formation of the hydrophilic metabolites of dexamethasone, 6 alpha- and 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone, correlated with cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 enzyme levels. So, the 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone/dexamethasone urinary ratio could be a specific marker for human CYP3A4 activity. We have developed a sensitive and specific high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the simultaneous quantification of urinary free dexamethasone and 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone using 6 alpha-methylprednisolone as internal standard. This method involved a solid phase extraction of the three compounds from urine using Oasis HLB Waters cartridges with an elution solvent of ethyl acetate (2 ml) followed by diethyl ether (1 ml). Separation of the three analytes was achieved within 24 min using a reversed-phase Nova-Pak C(18) analytical column (4 microm, 300 mm x 3.9 mm i.d.). An ultraviolet detector operated at 245 nm was used with a linear response observed from 10 to 100 ng/ml for dexamethasone and from 25 to 1000 ng/ml for 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone. Obtained from the method validation, inter-assay precision was below 15% and accuracy ranged from 95.7 to 110%. The extraction efficiency of the assay was approximately of 99% and was constant across the calibration range. The lower limit of quantitation was 10 ng/ml for dexamethasone and 25 ng/ml for 6 beta-hydroxydexamethasone; at these levels, precision was below 16% and accuracy was 99-109%. This method was applied to in vivo measure of the CYP3A4 activity.

Estudio prospectivo de la frecuencia de infección nosocomial y factores de riesgo en un servicio de cirugía general / Prospective study of the frequency of nosocomial infection and its risk factors in a general surgery department

Objetivo. Cuantificar la frecuencia de infección nosocomial (IN) en un servicio de cirugía general e identificar los factores de riesgo asociados. Pacientes y método. Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, longitudinal, descriptivo y analítico, entre enero de 1995 y diciembre de 1998, de una cohorte de 2.794 pacientes que fueron intervenidos quirúrgicamente, con una estancia postoperatoria superior a las 48 h. Resultados. La IN más frecuente fue la infección quirúrgica (IQ), con una tasa de incidencia acumulada (IA) global del 7,7 por ciento, oscilando entre el 3,4 por ciento para la cirugía limpia y el 23,7 por ciento para la cirugía sucia. Le siguen, en orden de frecuencia, la infección del tracto urinario (ITU) y la bacteriemia (B), con el 1,5 por ciento, y la neumonía nosocomial (NN) con el 0,5 por ciento. Una puntuación de la American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) superior a 2 multiplica por 1,76 el riesgo de IQ, por 2,13 el riesgo de ITU, por 5,93 el riesgo de NN y por 4,72 el riesgo de B. La probabilidad de detectar una IQ según la estancia posquirúrgica oscila entre el 0,4 en los pacientes con una estancia de 3-4 días hasta el 0,93 en los pacientes con una estancia de 10-12 días. Conclusiones. La IN más frecuente fue la IQ. Una puntuación ASA superior a 2, la estancia prequirúrgica, el número de días con sonda urinaria, con catéter venoso central, con ventilación mecánica, así como el mejor uso de profilaxis antibiótica son factores que influyeron en la frecuencia de infección nosocomial. La frecuencia de IN ha disminuido a lo largo de los años del estudio; sin embargo, el acortamiento de la estancia posquirúrgica enmascara el verdadero valor de este descenso (AU)

Nosocomial infection and related risk factors in a general surgery service: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to quantify the frequency of nosocomial infection in the general surgery service of a tertiary-care hospital and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS: A prospective, longitudinal, descriptive and analytical study was made from January 1995 to December 1998 of a clinical cohort of 2794 patients who underwent a surgical procedure with a post-surgery stay of more than 48 h. The criteria for infection were those defined by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of the USA. RESULTS: The most frequent nosocomial infection was surgical infection (SI), with a global cumulative incidence (CI) of 7.7%, ranging from 3.4% for clean surgery to 23.7% for dirty surgery. The next most frequent were urinary tract infection (UTI) and bacteremia (1.5%) and nosocomial pneumonia (NP) (0.5%). The global CI of SI decreased from 11.7% in 1995 to 4% in 1998. An ASA classification higher than 2 multiplied the risk of SI by 1.76; with respect to UTI multiplied the risk by 2.13; the risk of NP by 5.93 and multiplied the risk of B by 4.72. CONCLUSIONS: The most frequent nosocomial infection was surgical infection. An ASA higher than 2, the stay prior to surgery; the number of days with a urinary catheter, with a central venous catheter and with mechanical ventilation; as well as the improvement in the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis, were all factors that influenced the frequency of nosocomial infection.

Circadian changes of heart rate in West syndrome.

Patterns of circadian and ultradian rhythms in the heart rate (HR) are described in a full-term baby with birth asphyxia and convulsions. A 24h HR recording was carried out at the age of 1, 15, 56, 289, and 295 days; West syndrome diagnosis was made when the patient was 3 months old. The HR showed no circadian rhythm in the follow-up, whereas it is known that the circadian rhythm appears in healthy infants at the age of 1 month and remains thereafter. This observation may be an indirect indicator of the interference of West syndrome with centers of neurological maturity.

A study of caronamide as a penicillin booster

This study on caronamide as a penicillin booster with 500 determinations of penicillin blood levels in well-controlled cases, enables us to conclude as follows: 1) That caronamide is a non-toxic drug producing a reversible elevation of penicillin plasma level, in most cases to the magnitude of 2-7 times. Occasionally a maximum elevation of 30 times is obtained. This effect permits attainment of high penicillin plasma concentration which may widen the anti-biotic range of penicillin. With the use caronamide, penicillin may be given in 1/2-1/7 of the usual dose and still attain a minimum therapeutic level thus allowing economy in its use; 2) That it prolongs penicillin stay in the blood thereby permitting a reduction in the number of injections; 3) The penicillin and caronamide together did not prove an effective therapeutic combination in the two cases of malaria studied. (Conclusion)

Some aspects of blood transfusion reactions - a study of organisms found in 62 bottles of blood

1. A resume of possible transfusion reactions is discussed2. Two examples of incomplete antibodies are presented3. Improvement of the local cross-matching technique is suggested4. The results of a bacteriologic examination of 62 donor blood samples are presented5. Suggestions for reducing the incidence of donor blood contamination are discussed with particular emphasis on the need for the proper use of pilot tubes. (Summary)

Inhibitory effect of cysteine and methionine on free radicals induced by mercury in red blood cells of patients undergoing haemodialysis.

The inhibitory effects of cysteine and methionine on mercury-induced free radicals were studied in the red blood cells (RBC) of haemodialysed (HD) patients, using polyacrylonitrile membranes. RBC were taken from a control group of 10 healthy subjects and a group of 30 HD patients. The following were determined before and after HD: malonyldialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (GST), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, and percentage haemolysis (before HD). RBC were incubated for 6 hr with mercury (Hg(2+); 10(-5)m), mercury and cysteine (0.001 m) and mercury and methionine (0.005 m). The percentage of mercury induced haemolysis differed between the control group and HD patients. The addition of cysteine and methionine to RBC has a markedly inhibitory effect on the mercury-induced haemolysis (a reduction from about 80 to 5% for cysteine and to 15% for methionine). MDA was increased in HD patients and increased further after HD. GST, GSH and GSSG were lower than normal in HD patients, both before and after HD. There was very little change in MDA concentration when the RBC were incubated with mercury for 6 hr.

[Correlation between pressure phenomena and transport of solids in the human left colon]. / Correlación entre fenómenos presivos y transporte de sólidos en el colon izquierdo humano.

The aim of this study was to correlate the pressure phenomena with the transport capacity of the left human colon. Studies were performed in 6 volunteers with a terminal left colostomy for low rectal neoplasia. Our method is original and it is based in the introduction into the colonic lumen of a 2 cm diameter litle deformable solid ballon (Sham-fecaloma) with 3 perfused catheters in the vicinity. This ballon is connected by a semirigid probe with a displacement measurer. Our results show that there are a two kinds of segmental motor phenomena: those which provoke a solid displacement (Displacement Motor Phenomenon-DMP) and those which do not (Non Displacement Motor Phenomenon-NDMP). Both are a pressure increase but the DMP show a pressure gradient in the aboral direction (P = 0.003) and the NDMP in the oral direction (P = 0.003). The DMP provoke a quickly solid output but with a short (X = 4.2 cm). In this way, we can say that segmental contractions are propulsive if in the biohydraulic system there is a pressure gradient in the distal (aboral) direction. If these gradients are not established or they are in oral direction there is no progression neither backward movements. During the periods without pressure activity also there is a slow displacement in the aboral direction (35%). These movements without pressure phenomena may be explained by the tonic contractions (stretching and shortening) not detectable by the conventional manometric systems.