Deficits in coordinated neuronal activity and network topology are striatal hallmarks in Huntington's disease.

BACKGROUND: Network alterations underlying neurodegenerative diseases often precede symptoms and functional deficits. Thus, their early identification is central for improved prognosis. In Huntington's disease (HD), the cortico-striatal networks, involved in motor function processing, are the most compromised neural substrate. However, whether the network alterations are intrinsic of the striatum or the cortex is not fully understood. RESULTS: In order to identify early HD neural deficits, we characterized neuronal ensemble calcium activity and network topology of HD striatal and cortical cultures. We used large-scale calcium imaging combined with activity-based network inference analysis. We extracted collective activity events and inferred the topology of the neuronal network in cortical and striatal primary cultures from wild-type and R6/1 mouse model of HD. Striatal, but not cortical, HD networks displayed lower activity and a lessened ability to integrate information. GABAA receptor blockade in healthy and HD striatal cultures generated similar coordinated ensemble activity and network topology, highlighting that the excitatory component of striatal system is spared in HD. Conversely, NMDA receptor activation increased individual neuronal activity while coordinated activity became highly variable and undefined. Interestingly, by boosting NMDA activity, we rectified striatal HD network alterations. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, our integrative approach highlights striatal defective network integration capacity as a major contributor of basal ganglia dysfunction in HD and suggests that increased excitatory drive may serve as a potential intervention. In addition, our work provides a valuable tool to evaluate in vitro network recovery after treatment intervention in basal ganglia disorders.

Utilidad del tromboelastograma en pediatría: correlación con pruebas habituales de la coagulación / Usefulness of the thromboelastogram in children: correlation with habitual coagulation tests

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los exámenes habituales de coagulación evalúan distintos elementos de la hemostasia en forma par cial, y no traducen las interacciones celulares, lo que es especialmente sensible en pacientes críticos. Las técnicas viscoelásticas, como el tromboelastograma (TEG) muestran el proceso de coagulación completo, y están siendo evaluadas como exámenes de la coagulación global. OBJETIVO: determinar la correlación de los exámenes habituales de coagulación con los valores del TEG, en niños atendidos en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI). PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: Se revisaron 238 TEG de pacientes <18 años, con evidencia de alteración de coagulación clínica y/o de laboratorio, hospitalizados en UCI. Se correlacionaron los valores de los parámetros del TEG con cada uno de los valores de los exámenes habituales de coagulación. Los exámenes se obtuvieron según protocolo, utilizando una muestra de sangre de 4,5 ml para TEG con equipo TEG® 5000 Thrombelastograph Hemostasis Sys tem, mediante un transductor electromagnético que permite la medición de la resistencia durante la formación y lisis del coágulo. El recuento de plaquetas se obtuvo utilizando método automatizado o microscopía con contraste de fase; el fibrinógeno, tiempo de protrombina y de tromboplastina parcial activada por métodos nefelométricos. RESULTADOS: 201 TEGs correspondientes a 59 pacientes. Se evidenció una correlación moderada a baja en todos los parámetros medidos. No se encontró co rrelación entre porcentaje de lisis del coágulo, ni firmeza del coágulo. CONCLUSIONES: Existe una baja correlación entre la información entregada por TEG y los exámenes de coagulación habituales, esto sugiere que el TEG aporta información diferente acerca del estado de coagulación de los pacientes críticos evaluados.

INTRODUCTION: Usual coagulation tests partially evaluate different elements of hemostasis, and do not translate cell interactions, which is an especially sensitive issue in critically ill patients. Viscoelastic measurement techniques, such as thromboelastogram (TEG) show the complete coagulation pro cess and are being evaluated as global coagulation tests. OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of the usual coagulation tests with the TEG values, in children treated in an intensive care unit (ICU). PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed 238 TEGs of patients under 18 years of age, with evidence of clinical and/or laboratory coagulation alterations, who were hospitalized in the ICU. The TEG para meter values were correlated with each of the usual coagulation test values. The tests were obtained according to the protocol, using a 4.5 ml blood sample for TEG with TEG® 5000 Thrombelastograph Hemostasis System, through an electromagnetic transducer that allows the measurement of resis tance during the clot formation and lysis. Platelet count was obtained using an automated method or phase-contrast microscopy, and fibrinogen levels, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time activated by nephelometric methods. RESULTS: 201 TEGs corresponding to 59 patients were re viewed. A moderate to low correlation was observed in all the measured parameters. No correlation was found between the percentages of clot lysis or clot firmness. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low corre lation between the information provided by TEG and the usual coagulation tests. This suggests that the TEG provides different information about the coagulation status of the evaluated critical patients.

Usefulness of the thromboelastogram in children: correlation with habitual coagulation tests. / Utilidad del tromboelastograma en pediatría: Correlación con pruebas habituales de la coagulación.

INTRODUCTION: Usual coagulation tests partially evaluate different elements of hemostasis, and do not translate cell interactions, which is an especially sensitive issue in critically ill patients. Viscoelastic measurement techniques, such as thromboelastogram (TEG) show the complete coagulation pro cess and are being evaluated as global coagulation tests. OBJECTIVE: To determine the correlation of the usual coagulation tests with the TEG values, in children treated in an intensive care unit (ICU). PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed 238 TEGs of patients under 18 years of age, with evidence of clinical and/or laboratory coagulation alterations, who were hospitalized in the ICU. The TEG para meter values were correlated with each of the usual coagulation test values. The tests were obtained according to the protocol, using a 4.5 ml blood sample for TEG with TEG® 5000 Thrombelastograph Hemostasis System, through an electromagnetic transducer that allows the measurement of resis tance during the clot formation and lysis. Platelet count was obtained using an automated method or phase-contrast microscopy, and fibrinogen levels, prothrombin time, and partial thromboplastin time activated by nephelometric methods. RESULTS: 201 TEGs corresponding to 59 patients were re viewed. A moderate to low correlation was observed in all the measured parameters. No correlation was found between the percentages of clot lysis or clot firmness. CONCLUSIONS: There is a low corre lation between the information provided by TEG and the usual coagulation tests. This suggests that the TEG provides different information about the coagulation status of the evaluated critical patients.

[Mammographic and ultrasonographic BIRADS classification and its correlation with histopathologic findings]. / Clasificación mastográfica y ultrasonográfica del BIRADS y su correlación con los hallazgos histopatológicos.

BACKGROUND: Screening programs for breast cancer include self and clinical examination and Imaging studies to obtain the BIRADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) grade has been described as an important tool. In México, breast cancer is the leading death cause from malignancy in women and thus an early detection and prompt treatment is an important public health concern OBJECTIVE: To compare the BIRADS classification with histopathological findings and cases of malignancy. METHODS: This is a retrospective, observational and descriptive study about of the correlation between histopathological reports and BIRADS classification. RESULTS: Records of 1551 patients were reviewed, of which only 176 met the inclusion criteria. There was a predominance of fibrocystic condition. 44 patients had cancer, with varying degrees of detection according to each category of the classification where BIRADS 5 corresponded to 100% of the malignant cases. CONCLUSION: Consistent with the results reported by other authors, highlighting some situations like BIRADS 4C (where there was a slight difference compared to literature) and the BIRADS 5 in which a detection of 100% of cases of cancer was achieved.

Insight into the bioreductive mode of action of antitrypanosomal 5-nitrofuryl containing thiosemicarbazones.

In order to get insight into the trypanocidal mechanism of action of a series of 5-nitrofuryl containing thiosemicarbazones some studies related to their bioreduction were performed. Electron spin resonance spectra of radicals generated in T. cruzi by compounds' bioreduction were analyzed. Three different patterns of ESR signals were observed for the different assayed compounds. These results were in agreement with the changes in the T. cruzi-oxygen uptake promoted by these compounds. On the other hand, free-radical scavenger properties, measured as oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), did not seem to correlate with the trypanocidal activity.