Impact of chitosan based edible coatings functionalized with natural compounds on Colletotrichum fragariae development and the quality of strawberries.

The antifungal effect of chitosan edible coatings (ChEC) functionalized with cinnamon essential oil and aqueous extract of Roselle calyces on Colletotrichum fragariae growth and physical-chemical, physiological and nutraceutical features of strawberries at 5 and 20 °C were evaluated. ChEC was characterized with respect to its water vapor permeability (WVP) and mechanical properties. Results indicated that C. fragariae grew from the third day in strawberries stored at 20 °C, whilst at 5 °C disease symptoms were observed after 10 days in fruit inoculated and treated with ChEC after 24 h. The weight loss was reduced 15 times and firmness was higher by 33% in fruit treated with ChEC and stored at 5 °C. The antioxidant capacity of strawberries increased at the end of the storage only in control group. In conclusion, ChEC can be an effective technology for preserving quality strawberries for 17 days at 5 °C.

Release study and inhibitory activity of thyme essential oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles and nanocapsules against foodborne bacteria.

The antibacterial property of thyme essential oil due to different volatile compounds, has been well documented in the literature. To overcome the high volatility of essential oil components, encapsulation has emerged as a new alternative. In this work, chitosan and thyme essential oil-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (TEO-CSNPs) and nanocapsules (TEO-CSNCs) were prepared by nanoprecipitation and nanoencapsulation, respectively. The morphology, encapsulation efficiency, release kinetics, and inhibitory activity were evaluated. Average size of nanocapsules (9.1±1.6nm) was slightly higher than nanoparticles (6.4±0.5nm). The percentage encapsulation of thymol and carvacrol, more than 68%, was similar for nanoparticles and nanocapsules. However, thymol and carvacrol release time from TEO-CSNPs was faster compared to TEO-CSNCs. The release kinetics data were fitted to three analytical kinetic models with no statistical differences among them. The inhibitory activity was higher for nanoparticles than for nanocapsules when tested against six foodborne bacteria. The inhibitory effect of TEO-CSNPs was the highest against Staphylococcus aureus (inhibition halo 4.3cm) and for TEO-CSNCs it was against Bacillus cereus (inhibition halo 1.9cm).

Microscopic study of the morphology and metabolic activity of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli treated with Jatropha curcas oil and derivatives.

The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli is one of the main pathogenic microorganisms of the ornamental genus Gladiolus. The attack of this microorganism includes corms and different plant phenological stages. In this study, different microscopic techniques and fluorochromes were used to evaluate the effect of J. curcas oil and acylglycerides, namely trilinolein, triolein, monomyristin and dimyristin, on the morphology, membrane integrity (%), viability (%) and germination (%) of F. oxsporum f sp. gladioli. Phase-contrast optical photomicrographs and scanning microscopy showed that J. curcas oil and the triglycerides triolein and trilinolein caused the formation of numerous vacuoles, alterations in the morphology of the outer covering of the mycelium and conidia, and inhibition of membrane activity in the fungus during 24 h of incubation. The fluorochromes used detected no permanent damage to the viability of the conidia. The high germination percentage of the conidia of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. gladioli indicates that the damage caused by the application of the treatments was fungistatic rather than fungicidal and did not cause cell death.

¿Todas las hernias inguinales son subsidiarias de cirugía ambulatoria? / No disponible

La hernia de Amyand es una patología infrecuente que se presenta cuando el apéndice forma parte del saco herniario, manifestándose como una hernia inguino-crural en ocasiones incarcerada. El diagnóstico suele realizarse de forma intraoperatoria, pero en los casos en los que el apéndice se encuentre inflamado en el interior del saco, el diagnóstico diferencial deberá incluir la varicoflebitis, la hernia inguino-crural estrangulada y el escroto agudo. Requiere un manejo individualizado para decidir el tratamiento del apéndice y de la hernia. En los casos de hernias de Amy and con peritonitis purulenta localizada y gran componente infeccioso asociado, la herniorrafia asociada a drenaje de ambiente debería ser considerada como técnica de elección para tratar el defecto. Presentamos el caso de una paciente con hernia de Amy and y se realiza una revisión de laliteratura (AU)

Amyand´s hernia is a rare form that occurs when the appendixis included in the hernial sac, and becomes an incarcerated inguinal cruralhernia. Diagnosis is usually intraoperative, but when the appendixis inflamated in the sac, differential diagnosis must includeangiophlebitis, strangulated inguinal-crural hernias and acute scrotum. It requires an individualized treatment of the appendix and hernia. Amyand´s hernias with focal purulent peritonitis and infectious component associated, herniorrhaphy and ambient drainage associated must be considered the technical of choice for the treatment of the defect. We report a case of a patient with Amyand´s hernia, and a review of the literatura is done (AU)

Colecistectomía laparoscópica en una unidad de cirugía mayor ambulatoria y corta estancia / No disponible

Introducción: La colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria puede ser llevada a cabo de manera segura en sujetos seleccionados con alto nivel de satisfacción para el paciente, sin embargo, su uso no se ha generalizado por temor del cirujano a las complicaciones postoperatorias. Los objetivos de este estudio son analizar nuestros resultados y la satisfacción y recuperación de los pacientes sometidos a colecistectomía laparoscópica electiva durante más de 8 años. Pacientes y método: Se analizan prospectivamente los 1.892casos de colecistectomía programada realizadas entre mayo de2002 y diciembre de 2010. Los criterios de exclusión fueron pacientes inestables ASA III, VIH, drogodependientes, con problemas psiquiátricos severos y cirugía previa en el compartimento supramesocólico. Se analizan las características de la cirugía, morbilidad, hospitalización prolongada, efectos adversos y calidad de vida de cada paciente. Resultados: La tasa de conversión a laparotomía fue 0,5%. El95,1% de los pacientes fueron dados de alta en las primeras 24 horas postoperatorias. El 47,5% de los pacientes refirieron ausencia de dolor y el 34% dolor leve. La recuperación de las actividades de la vida diaria se produjo durante la primera semana en la mayoría de los pacientes, con excelentes tasas de satisfacción. Conclusiones: La colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria reduce el consumo de recursos hospitalarios con mínimo impacto estético y alto nivel de calidad de vida. Una mejor información a los pacientes y cooperación con médicos de atención primaria optimizan el proceso (AU)

Background: Although ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed safely for selected individuals with high level of patient satisfaction, it has not been generalized due to the fear of postoperative complications by surgeon. The aims of this study are to analyze our results and the satisfaction and recovery in patients undergoing elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy during more than 8 years. Patients and methods: A prospective study was carried outon the 1,892 elective cholecystectomy cases performed between may 2002 and december 2010. The exclusion criteria were unstable ASA III, VIH, drug addiction, severe psychiatric problems and supramesocolic surgery. We collected data on the characteristics of the surgery, morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, adverse effects and quality of life from each patient. Results: The conversion to open laparotomy rate was 0.5%.95.1% of patients were discharged on the first 24 postoperative hours. 47.5% of patients reported absent pain and 34% light pain. Recovery of daily physical activity didn’t exceeded 1 week in most patients with excellent satisfaction rates. Conclusion: Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy decreases the use of hospital resources with minimal aesthetic impact and high level of quality of life in selected patients. Better patient information and cooperation with general practitioners optimize the outpatient procedure (AU)

Antifungal effects of chitosan with different molecular weights on in vitro development of Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb.:Fr.) Vuill.

Determination of the molecular weight of three types of chitosan was carried out by HPSEC-RI. The effect of low, medium and high molecular weight chitosan was evaluated on development of three isolates of Rhizopus stolonifer. Image analysis and electronic microscopy observations were done in spores of this fungus. Germination of R. stolonifer in potato dextrose broth with chitosan was also evaluated. Results pointed out that the low molecular weight chitosan was more effective for inhibition of mycelial growth while the high molecular weight chitosan affected spore shape, sporulation and germination. Studies of scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed numerous and deeper ridge ornamentations of the chitosan-treated spore.

Bone changes in young mice with impaired lymphoid system.

Disturbances of osseal growth were observed in young mice with their lymphoid system affected by antihymocyte serum or mitolactol (dibromodulcitol) treatment. These bone changes were similar to those observed in germ-free and neonatally thymectomized mice as well as in mice suffering from a graft vs. host reaction. Their severity was in direct correlation with the disturbance of the thymus dependent lymphoid system. Not only immunological adaptation but also normal bone growth appears to require an intact thymus and thymus dependent lymphoid system.

Combined phytohaemagglutinin and dianhydrodulcitol treatment of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in mice.

The course of intracerebral lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) virus infection was studied in mice treated simultaneously with dianhydrodulcitol (DAD) and phytohaemagglutinin (PHA). Earlier experiments revealed that DAD decreased and PHA enhanced the cellular immune response of mice to LCM virus infection. On applying the treatments simultaneously they inhibited each other and neither the decreasing effect of DAD nor the enhancing effect of PHA on the cellular immune response could be observed.

Course of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection in young and aged mice.

The course and histological picture of intracerebral LCM virus infection was found to differ in mice with their thymus displaying an age-dependent involution and in young adult animals. Signs of lymphocytic choriomeningitis were absent in 75 per cent of the aged animals. The change of the characteristic clinical and histological picture referred to the decreased cellular immune response of aged animals, ascribed to the age-dependent involution of the thymus.