Exploratory study on gastrostomy in patients with neurological diseases: usefulness and impact.

INTRODUCTION: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) is a useful intervention for patients with impaired swallowing and a functional gastrointestinal system. Neurological diseases that cause neuromotor dysphagia, brain tumors, and cerebrovascular disease are the most frequent indications; complications are rare, and morbidity and mortality rates are low. OBJECTIVE: To describe the usefulness of PEG in patients with neurological diseases, and its impact on care, survival, and costs and benefits. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective observational study, reviewing clinical files of patients hospitalised at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery (years 2015-2017) who underwent PEG placement. RESULTS: The sample included 51 patients: 62.7% were women and the mean (SD) age was 54.4 (18.6) years (range, 18-86). Diagnosis was tumor in 37.3% of cases and cerebrovascular disease in 33.3%. Sixteen patients (33.3%) died and 11 presented minor complications. The PEG tube remained in place for a mean of 9.14 months; in 52.9% of patients it was removed due to lack of improvement and/or tolerated oral intake, with removal occurring after a mean of 5.1 (4.4) months. Among patients' family members, 78.4% reported a great benefit, 43.1% reported difficulty caring for the PEG, and 45.1% reported complicated care in general. The monthly cost of maintaining the PEG was €175.78 on average (range, 38.38-293.45). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This preliminary study reveals that PEG was well indicated in patients with neurological diseases, with survival rates similar to those reported in other studies with long follow-up periods. In patients with cerebrovascular disease, the PEG tube remained in place a mean of 9.14 months, during recovery of swallowing function; however, the cost is high for our population.

Comparison between criteria for diagnosing malnutrition in patients with advanced chronic liver disease: GLIM group proposal versus different nutritional screening tools.

BACKGROUND: Different nutritional screening instruments can be used to identify the risk of malnutrition in advanced chronic liver disease patients. The present study aimed to evaluate and compare two nutrition screening tools with the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) diagnostic criteria for malnutrition in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. METHODS: Two nutritional screening tools, Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) and Royal Free Hospital Nutritional Prioritizing Tool (RFH-NPT), were assessed for 166 patients with liver cirrhosis. We compared medium/high nutritional risk screening with the diagnosis of malnutrition, using the GLIM criteria as the reference standard. RESULTS: According to the GLIM criteria, 57.3% of the patients were malnourished. NRS and RFH-NPT identified, respectively, 36.1% and 52.4% of patients with nutritional risk. RFH-NPT presented better agreement with the diagnosis according to GLIM criteria (k = 0.64; 95% confidence interval = 0.52-0.75), higher sensitivity (80%), higher negative predictive value (79%) and larger area under the curve (82.3%) compared to the NRS. CONCLUSIONS: RFH-NPT, when compared with the GLIM method, has substantial agreement in identifying nutritional risk, good sensitivity and good value for diagnosing malnutrition in patients with advanced chronic liver disease.

Activation of stress response axis as a key process in environment-induced sex plasticity in fish.

The determination of sex is an important hallmark in the life cycle of organisms, in which the fate of gonads and then the individual sex are defined. In gonochoristic teleost fish, this process is characterized by a high plasticity, considering that in spite of genotypic sex many environmental factors can cause shifts from one to another molecular pathway, resulting in organisms with mismatching genotypic and phenotypic sexes. Interestingly, in most instances, both female-to-male or male-to-female sex-reversed individuals develop functional gonads with normal gametogenesis and respective progenies with full viability. The study of these mechanisms is being spread to other non-model species or to those inhabiting more extreme environmental conditions. Although water temperature is an important mechanism involved in sex determination, there are other environmental stressors affected by the climate change which are also implicated in stress response-induced masculinization in fish. In this regard, the brain has emerged as the transducer of the environment input that can influence the gonadal fate. Furthermore, the evaluation of other environmental stressors or their synergic effect on sex determination at conditions that simulate the natural environments is growing gradually. Within such scope, the concerns related to climate change impacts rely on the fact that many of biotic and abiotic parameters reported to affect sex ratios are expected to increase concomitantly as a result of increased greenhouse gas emissions and, particularly worrying, many of them are related to male bias in the populations, such as high temperature, hypoxia, and acidity. These environmental changes can also generate epigenetic changes in sex-related genes affecting their expression, with implications on sex differentiation not only of exposed individuals but also in following generations. The co-analysis of multi-stressors with potential inter- and transgenerational effects is essential to allow researchers to perform long-term predictions on climate change impacts in wild populations and for establishing highly accurate monitoring tools and suitable mitigation strategies.

Utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio plus C-reactive protein for infection in systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the utility of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) plus C-reactive protein (CRP) to differentiate between infection and active disease in patients with SLE. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a cohort of patients with SLE was carried out. Blood samples from four groups (patients without infection or active disease, patients with infection, patients with active disease, and patients with both infection and active disease) before therapeutic interventions were analyzed. We excluded patients with current malignancy, pregnancy, ischemic heart disease or use of antimicrobials during previous 7 days. Hematological cell count, CRP and cultures were obtained. We constructed receiver operating characteristic curves; sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. RESULTS: Forty patients were included. NLR cut-off ≥6.3 had sensitivity 70%, specificity 85%, PPV 83% and NPV 74% to detect patients with non-viral infections. A CRP cut-off ≥7.5 mg/L had sensitivity 90%, specificity 75%, PPV 78% and NPV 88% to detect infections regardless of SLE activity. Combination of CRP plus NLR improves the specificity to 90% and PPV to 88%. Excluding the group with both infection and active disease, CRP plus NLR expands specificity to 95% and NPV to 90%. CONCLUSION: In our experience, levels of CRP, particularly CRP plus NLR, were useful in differentiating patients with SLE from those with suspected non-viral infection regardless of the activity of the disease.

Selecting black-spot resistant papaya genotypes derived from backcrossing and hybrids.

Papaya crop is important to Brazilian agribusiness. However, the expansion of papaya cultivation in the country is affected by the absence of commercial cultivars presenting good disease resistance. The black-spot caused by the fungus Asperisporium caricae is the most damaging foliar disease affecting Brazilian papaya crops. The use of genetically resistant cultivars is a promising strategy to reduce the dependence of papaya crops on fungicides. A field split-plot experiment was carried out in the municipality of Linhares, Espírito Santo State, and included 20 hybrids derived from the cross between 14 superior lines and four elite genotypes ('SS72/12', 'SEKATI', 'JS/12' and '41/7'), two commercial cultivars ('Golden' and 'Tainung 01'), and the superior line '36/7', which were evaluated for resistance to black-spot in the fruits and leaves. The treatments were arranged in a randomized block design with six repetitions of three plants per plot. The incidence and severity of black spot in the fruits and leaves were evaluated at three different times in the 2015-2016 crop season. Lines 4, 9, 21, and the parent SEKATI were notable for their capacity to reduce disease severity in the leaves and fruits. Lines 1, 2, 9, 16, and 19, and the parents 'SEKATI' and 'SS-72/12' had reduced disease incidence in their fruits. The most resistant hybrids 'SS-72/12 X 4', 'SS-72/12 X 6', 'SEKATI X 1', 'SEKATI X 2', 'SEKATI X 6', 'SEKATI X 9', and 'SEKATI X 20' presented negative heterosis values for improved black-spot resistance. The current study allowed the selection of black-spot resistant genotypes and hybrids, which presented a significantly reduced disease index in the field.

Embarazo a término posterior a ruptura hepática secundaria a síndrome de HELLP / Term pregnancy after hepatic rupture secondary to HELLP syndrome

Resumen ANTECEDENTES: La ruptura hepática es una complicación inusual, pero potencialmente mortal, que sucede en 1 de cada 100,000 a 250,000 embarazos. La mortalidad materna se ha reportado en 86% de los casos. En las pacientes con síndrome de HELLP debe considerarse que la manifestación de un hematoma hepático puede culminar en ruptura hepática y muerte. CASO CLINICO: Paciente de 46 años de edad, con antecedente de embarazo gemelar doble, bicorial, biamniótico de 36.5 semanas y preeclampsia severa, posterior a ruptura hepática por síndrome de HELLP y muerte de ambos fetos. El último embarazo evolucionó sin problemas y finalizó en cesárea en la semana 37, sin complicaciones materno-fetales, por lo que fue dada de alta del hospital al tercer día y posteriormente evolucionó sin incidentes. CONCLUSIONES: La atención médica multidisciplinaria y la infraestructura hospitalaria permitieron que la paciente no perdiera la vida debido a la ruptura hepática y hemorragia grave. La hipertensión durante el embarazo es una de las principales causas de muerte materna en todo el mundo; por tanto, es importante concientizar a las pacientes para que acudan a control prenatal regularmente y orientarlas acerca de la hipertensión y sus complicaciones. Los ginecoobstetras deben considerar que la ruptura hepática es una complicación muy grave, con consecuencias fatales para la madre y el feto.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Hepatic rupture is a potentially fatal rare complication, which is diagnosed in 1 of each 100,000 to 250 000 pregnancies. Maternal mortality has been reported in up to 86% of the patients. In cases where there has been a diagnosis of HELLP syndrome, the presence of a hepatic hematoma has to be suspected since it could lead to a hepatic rupture and eventually death. CLINICAL CASE: 46 year old female in late stage of pregnancy, following a hepatic rupture caused by HELLP syndrome and fetal demise of both fetuses in previous twin pregnancy. Her last pregnancy being of normal evolution, having been submitted to cesarean section without complications on her 37th week of gestation, and discharged on her third post-operative day showing a good evolution. CONCLUSION: The multidisciplinary medical attention given to the patient, as well as the hospital infrastructure, allowed the patient to be kept in good health despite the hepatic rupture and hemorrhage presented. It is important to remember that one of the leading causes of maternal death around the world is hypertension during pregnancy. Therefore, patients have to be made conscious of the significance and importance of attending prenatal care on a regular basis and be given information on hypertension and its complications. Additionally, it is important that obstetricians keep in mind that although this is a rare complication, it can lead to a fatal outcome when presented.

Spatial prediction of soil penetration resistance using functional geostatistics

Knowledge of agricultural soils is a relevant factor for the sustainable development of farming activities. Studies on agricultural soils usually begin with the analysis of data obtained from sampling a finite number of sites in a particular region of interest. The variables measured at each site can be scalar (chemical properties) or functional (infiltration water or penetration resistance). The use of functional geostatistics (FG) allows to perform spatial curve interpolation to generate prediction curves (instead of single variables) at sites that lack information. This study analyzed soil penetration resistance (PR) data measured between 0 and 35 cm depth at 75 sites within a 37 ha plot dedicated to livestock. The data from each site were converted to curves using non-parametric smoothing techniques. In this study, a B-splines basis of 18 functions was used to estimate PR curves for each of the 75 sites. The applicability of FG as a spatial prediction tool for PR curves was then evaluated using cross-validation, and the results were compared with classical spatial prediction methods (univariate geostatistics) that are generally used for studying this type of information. We concluded that FG is a reliable tool for analyzing PR because a high correlation was obtained between the observed and predicted curves (R2 = 94 %). In addition, the results from descriptive analyses calculated from field data and FG models were similar for the observed and predicted values.(AU)

Spatial prediction of soil penetration resistance using functional geostatistics

Knowledge of agricultural soils is a relevant factor for the sustainable development of farming activities. Studies on agricultural soils usually begin with the analysis of data obtained from sampling a finite number of sites in a particular region of interest. The variables measured at each site can be scalar (chemical properties) or functional (infiltration water or penetration resistance). The use of functional geostatistics (FG) allows to perform spatial curve interpolation to generate prediction curves (instead of single variables) at sites that lack information. This study analyzed soil penetration resistance (PR) data measured between 0 and 35 cm depth at 75 sites within a 37 ha plot dedicated to livestock. The data from each site were converted to curves using non-parametric smoothing techniques. In this study, a B-splines basis of 18 functions was used to estimate PR curves for each of the 75 sites. The applicability of FG as a spatial prediction tool for PR curves was then evaluated using cross-validation, and the results were compared with classical spatial prediction methods (univariate geostatistics) that are generally used for studying this type of information. We concluded that FG is a reliable tool for analyzing PR because a high correlation was obtained between the observed and predicted curves (R2 = 94 %). In addition, the results from descriptive analyses calculated from field data and FG models were similar for the observed and predicted values.

Manifestaciones óseas de las enfermedades degenerativas de la articulación temporomandibular disfuncionada estudio tomográfico / Bone manifestations of degenerative diseases in temporomandibular joint with internal derangements tomography study

El objetivo del presente estudio retrospectivo fue determinar el tipo y frecuencia de las alteraciones óseas degenerativas en la Articulaciones Temporo-Mandibulares (ATM) de pacientes con diagnóstico clínico de Trastorno Temporomandibular (TTM) por medio de Tomografía Computarizada (TAC). Se reclutaron 180 pacientes consecutivos que clínicamente presentan TTM de las ATM. Los criterios de exclusión fueron: pacientes menores de 16 años, pacientes mayores de 65 años, pacientes portadores de prótesis dentarias removibles, enfermedades sistémicas como artritis por microcristales de ácido úrico, osteoartrosis sistémica, hiperlaxitud-ligamentaria, malformaciones anatómicas, enfermedades quísticas, tumorales, historia de trauma o cirugía de las ATM. Todos los pacientes fueron examinados por medio de TAC. Los estudios imagenológicos de las ATM formaron los siguientes seis Grupos: A: Aplanamiento de Vertiente anterior de Cóndilo; B: Aplanamiento de Apófisis transversa del temporal; C: Erosiones e irregularidades de las corticales de las superficies óseas Funcionales; D: Osteofitos; E: Quístes Subcondrales; F: Resorción Condilar Progresiva. Los datos fueron analizados estadísticamente por medio del programa SPSS v15.0. Total de ATM examinadas: n=360; Total de ATM con alteraciones degenerativas: n=192(53,3%); Aplanamiento condilar n=169(88%); Aplanamiento de la apófisis transversa del temporal n=84(43%); Erosiones corticales: n=98(51%); Osteofitos: n=11(5,7%); Quistes Subcondrales n=35(18,2%) y Resorción Condilar Progresiva n=3(1,5%). Las alteraciones óseas de mayor frecuencia en la ATM disfuncionada fueron: Aplanamiento de ápex condilar, erosiones y aplanamiento de Apófisis transversa del temporal en orden decreciente. Menores manifestaciones fueron Quistes subcondrales, Osteofitos y Resorción Condilar Progresiva.

The objective of the present study was to determine frequency of bone degeneratives diseases in the Temporo Mandibular joint, clinically diagnosed as Temporo Mandibular Disorders (TMD), by CT scan, before treatment. Were recruited 180 consecutives patients that clinically presented TMD. They were examined by CT scan. The exclusion criteria were: patients below 16 years and above 65 years of age, patients using removable dental prosthetics, patients that presented systemic disease such as Gout Disease, Osteoarthrosis and hypermobility, anatomic structural alterations, Cyst or Tumour disease and TMJ surgery. The TMJ images studies formed the following six groups: A: Flattened of condyle apex; B: Flattened of protuberance of the Temporal Bone; C: Erosions and irregularities of cortical bone in functional area; D: Osteophytes; Sub-chondral Cysts; E: Progressive Condyle Reabsorption. Data were analyzed by SPSS v15.0 software. Total Examined TMJ: n=360; Degenerative Bone Disease manifestations in TMJ: 192 (53,3%); Flattened of functional area of mandibular condyle n=169 (88%); Flattened of temporal Bone n=84 (43%); Erosions and irregularities of cortical bone: n=98 (51%); Osteophytes: n=11 (5,7%); Subchondral cysts: n=35 (18,2%) and Progressive Condyle Reabsorption n=3 (1,5%). The most frequent bone alterations in DTM were: Flattened of apex condyle, cortical erosions and irregularities and temporal bone flattened. Lower manifestations were subchondral cysts, osteophytes and avascular necrosis, when DTM are studied by CT scan.

Oxidative stress in Mexicans with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

To compare oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers and antioxidant capacity of plasma (ACP) between dcSSc (diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis) and healthy Mexicans and their possible relationship with autoantibodies, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and uric acid (UA). We included 28 dcSSc and 28 healthy individuals. Patients were grouped in early and late dcSSc and were excluded if they had infections, neoplasias, comorbidity, or antioxidant treatment. Lipoperoxidation products (malondialdehyde), protein oxidation products (carbonyls, dityrosines), ACP, CRP, ESR, and UA were investigated. Age was 47.5 ± 10 in dcSSc versus 48 ± 7 years in controls. In dcSSc, OS was higher and ACP was decreased versus controls (p < 0.001). OS was similar in early and late dcSSc. Anti-Scl-70 (anti-topoisomerase I) was associated with a higher OS (p < 0.05). Eight dcSSc patients had hyperuricemia (28.5 %). A significant correlation between UA and malondialdehyde, dityrosines and carbonyls levels (r = 0.52, r = 0.78 and r = 0.69, p < 0.01) respectively, was found in dcSSc group. A high level of ESR was present in 71 % and CRP in 40 % of dcSSc patients. Mexican dcSSc patients had elevated lipid/protein OS with respect to healthy controls. These OS biomarkers have direct correlation with UA levels. ESR and CRP were elevated in a great number of dcSSc patients. These biochemical markers suggest that dcSSc patients have a continuous stimulus for endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherogenesis.

Manifestaciones óseas de las enfermedades degenerativas de la articulación temporomandibular (ATM) disfuncionada: estudio tomográfico / Bone manifestation of degenerative disease in temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with internal deragements: tomography study

El objetivo del presente estudio retrospectivo fue determinar el tipo y frecuencia de las alteraciones óseas degenerativas en la Articulaciones Temporo-Mandibulares (ATM) de pacientes con diagnóstico clínico de Trastorno Temporomandibular (TTM) por medio de Tomografía Computada (TAC). Se reclutaron 180 pacientes consecutivos que clínicamente presentan TTM de las ATM. Los criterios de exclusión fueron: pacientes menores de 16 años, pacientes mayores de 65 años, pacientes portadores de prótesis dentarias removibles, enfermedades sistémicas como artritis por microcristales de ácido úrico, osteoartrosis sistémica, hiperlaxitud-ligamentaria, malformaciones anatómicas, enfermedades quísticas, tumorales, historia de trauma o cirugía de las ATM. Todos los pacientes fueron examinados por medio de TAC. Los estudios imagenológicos de las ATM formaron los siguientes seis Grupos: A: Aplanamiento de Vertiente anterior de Cóndilo; B: Aplanamiento de Apófisis transversa del temporal; C: Erosiones e irregularidades de las corticales de las superficies óseas Funcionales; D: Osteofitos; E: Quístes Subcondrales; F: Resorción Condilar Progresiva. Los datos fueron analizados estadísticamente por medio del programa SPSS v15.0. Total de ATM examinadas: n=360; Total de ATM con alteraciones degenerativas: n=192(53,3%); Aplanamiento condilar n=169(88%); Aplanamiento de la apófisis transversa del temporal n=84(43%); Erosiones corticales: n=98(51%); Osteofitos: n=11(5,7%); Quístes Subcondrales n=35(18,2%) y Resorción Condilar Progresiva n=3(1,5%). Las alteraciones óseas de mayor frecuencia en la ATM disfuncionada fueron: Aplanamiento de ápex condilar, erosiones y aplanamiento de Apófisis transversa del temporal en orden decreciente. Menores manifestaciones fueron Quístes subcondrales, Osteofitos y Resorción Condilar Progresiva

The objective of the present study was to determine frequency of bone degeneratives diseases in the Temporo Mandibular joint, clinically diagnosed as Temporo Mandibular Disorders (TMD), by CT scan, before treatment. Were recruited 180 consecutives patients that clinically presented TMD. They were examined by CT scan. The exclusion criteria were: patients below 16 years and above 65 years of age, patients using removable dental prosthetics, patients that presented systemic disease such as Gout Disease, Osteoarthrosis and hypermobility, anatomic structural alterations, Cyst or Tumour disease and TMJ surgery. The TMJ images studies formed the following six groups: A: Flattened of condyle apex; B: Flattened of protuberance of the Temporal Bone; C: Erosions and irregularities of cortical bone in functional area; D: Osteophytes; Sub-chondral Cysts; E: Progressive Condyle Reabsorption. Data were analyzed by SPSS v15.0 software. Total Examined TMJ: n=360; Degenerative Bone Disease manifestations in TMJ: 192 (53,3%); Flattened of functional area of mandibular condyle n=169 (88%); Flattened of temporal Bone n=84 (43%); Erosions and irregularities of cortical bone: n=98 (51%); Osteophytes: n=11 (5,7%); Subchondral cysts: n=35 (18,2%) and Progressive Condyle Reabsorption n=3 (1,5%). The most frequent bone alterations in DTM were: Flattened of apex condyle, cortical erosions and irregularities and temporal bone flattened. Lower manifestations were subchondral cysts, osteophytes and avascular necrosis, when DTM are studied by CT scan

Mortalidad materna y salud pública: décadas pérdidas. Hemorragia postparto: morbimortalidad que podemos reducir / Maternal mortality and Public Health: losses decades. Postpartum hemorrhage, morbidity and mortality who can be reduce

Dentro de los temas de salud pública, los referentes a la salud de la mujer son específicamente sensibles para las familias, las comunidades y en general para el desarrollo de todos los países del mundo, dado su impacto no sólo social sino económico y político. Hoy en día el tema de la morbimortalidad materna es una cuestión de gran importancia, no sólo para los médicos y personal de salud e instituciones, sino que también refleja gran preocupación de economistas, políticos, académicos y en general de toda la sociedad y el Estado; debido a su impacto en los índices de desarrollo de cada uno de los países y en indicadores fácilmente medibles, como el índice de desarrollo humano y los índices de desigualdad que reflejan la importancia de estos temas dentro de las prioridades de una nación desarrollada o en vías de desarrollo. Desde hace un tiempo la preocupación se centra en la cuantificación de algunos eventos centinela, como son la morbilidad materna extrema y la mortalidad materna, y en la búsqueda de soluciones integrales en todo el sistema de salud. En este panorama, la salud de las mujeres se ha tornado un tema importante para los sistemas de salud en el mundo como un componente que garantice sus expectativas y necesidades. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) y Unicef estiman que cerca de 585.000 mujeres mueren cada año debido a complicaciones en el embarazo o parto. La disparidad entre los países en desarrollo y los desarrollados es mayor en cuanto a la mortalidad materna que por cualquier otro índice de salud utilizado comúnmente. Mientras que los niveles de mortalidad infantil son, en promedio, 10 veces mayores en países en desarrollo que en los desarrollados, la mortalidad materna en países en desarrollo es 100 veces más alta que en países industrializados.

Effects of in situ annealing of GaAs(100) substrates on the subsequent growth of InAs quantum dots by molecular beam epitaxy.

In the present work, we study the growth by molecular beam epitaxy of InAs self-assembling quantum dots (SAQDs) on GaAs(100) substrates subjected to an in situ annealing treatment. The annealing process consists of the exposition of the GaAs buffer layer surface to high temperatures for a few seconds with the shutter of an arsenic Knudsen cell closed. The purpose of the annealing is to obtain a better uniformity of the SAQD sizes. In our study we prepared different samples using the Stranski-Krastanov growth method to obtain InAs/GaAs(100) quantum dot samples with different annealing times and temperatures. Their structural and optical properties were studied by reflection high-energy electron diffraction (RHEED), high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HRSEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and photoreflectance spectroscopy (PR). According to the results of AFM and HRSEM, by the thermal treatment we obtained a better distribution of quantum dot sizes in comparison with a reference sample with no treatment. The PR spectra from 0.9 to 1.35 eV presented two transitions associated with SAQDs. The energy transitions were obtained by fitting the PR spectra using the third derivative model.

Evidence that endogenous inosine and adenosine-mediated hyperglycaemia during ischaemia-reperfusion through A3 adenosine receptors.

1 The molecular mechanism underlying stress-induced hyperglycemia has not been comprehensively clarified. Recently, we demonstrated in ischaemia-reperfusion (I-R) stress-subjected liver that inosine and adenosine are mainly responsible for the hyperglycemia observed. 2 We aimed to advance in the knowledge of the role of inosine plus adenosine as mediators of hepatic-induced hyperglycemia detected after I-R in lower limbs. 3 Acute ischaemia was conducted in anesthetized rats by occluding downstream abdominal aorta and cava vein; then, reperfusion was allowed. Blood samples from hepatic or abdominal cava veins were taken throughout the experiments to measure glucose, inosine and adenosine. Antagonists to adenosine (AdoR) and adrenergic receptors (AdrR) were administered during ischaemia to analyze their effect on hepatic glucose release. 4 Ischaemia up to 60 min produced minor increase of glucose and nucleosides blood values, but 5 min of ischaemia followed by 2- (or 10-) min reperfusion increased glucose 23%, and those of inosine or adenosine by 100%. After 60 min of ischaemia and 10 min of reperfusion, glycemia rose 2-fold and blood inosine and adenosine, 3.3- and 2.7-fold, respectively. A linear positive correlation, r(2), as high as 0.839 between glucose and either nucleoside blood values was calculated. The hyperglycemia response to I-R decreased by 0, 25, 33, 45 and 100% after selective inhibition of A(2B) AdoR, A(2A) AdoR, a(1B) AdrR, A(1) AdoR, and A(3) AdoR, respectively. 5 Inosine-adenosine couple through activation of hepatic A(3) AdoR is the main signal for releasing glucose from liver glycogen and for promoting hyperglycemia following experimental injury of I-R from lower limbs.

The use of pigment "fingerprints" in the study of harmful algal blooms

Along the Mexican coast, harmful algae blooms (HAB) have become more frequent, and therefore, there is an urgent need to establish monitoring programs to avoid the undesired consequences of HAB in human and natural ecosystems. In this work, we analyzed the pigment signatures and the species composition from phytoplankton samples to evaluate the utility of the specific pigment "fingerprints" in HAB monitoring programs. Vertical profiles from a coastal lagoon and temporal samples of a red tide occurring in a shrimp-culture pond and in a coastal zone were taken into consideration. Between 76% and 84% of dinoflagellate and diatom cell density was explained by their specific signature variation, in both vertical and temporal samples. Only the variation of zeaxanthin and the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. showed a poor relationship, probably from difficulties in counting other cyanobacteria present in the samples examined with the microscopic method. These results suggest that inclusion of pigment analysis in the study and monitoring programs dealing with harmful algae would be very useful

A lo largo de las costas mexicanas, los florecimientos algales nocivos (FAN) se han vuelto cada vez mas frecuentes y por lo tanto, existe una necesidad urgente de establecer programas de monitoreo para evitar las consecuencias no deseadas por su desarrollo, sobre los ecosistemas naturales y el ser humano. En este trabajo, nosotros analizamos las huellas pigmentarias y la composición de especies de diversas muestras de fitoplancton para evaluar la utilidad que pueden representar estos pigmentos específicos o "huellas pigmentarias" en programas de monitoreo de florecimientos algales nocivos. Los perfiles verticales de muestras de fitoplancton de una laguna costera y muestras de mareas rojas que ocurrieron en un estanque de cultivo de camarón y en una laguna costera, fueron considerados en este estudio. Tanto en muestras verticales como en temporales, entre el 76% y 84% de la densidad celular de dinoflagelados y diatomeas fueron explicados por la variación de su huella específica, mientras que la variación de zeaxantina y la densidad de la cianobacteria Anabaena sp. mostró una relación pobre, la cual fue debida probablemente a la dificultad en el conteo que presenta este grupo al ser analizadas mediante un microscópico invertido. Estos resultados sugieren que la inclusión del análisis de las huellas pigmentarias en los programas del estudio y monitoreo de las algas nocivas sería de gran utilidad

Blooms of Cochlodinium polykrikoides (Gymnodiniaceae) in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Cochlodinium polykrikoides was the species responsible for the discoloration that occurred between September 15th and 27th , 2000 in a shallow coastal lagoon located in the southern part of the Bahía de La Paz, on the west side of the Gulf of California. Blooms of C. polykrikoides were observed four days after two rainy days with a seawater temperature of 29 to 31°C. Nutrient concentration ranges during the bloom were 0.165- 0.897 µM NO2 +NO3 , 0.16-3.25 µM PO4 , and 1.0-35.36 µM SiO4 . Abundance of C. polykrikoides ranged from 360 x 103 to 7.05 x 106 /cells l-1 . Biomass expressed in terms of chlorophyll a was high, ranging from 2.7 to 56.8 mg/m3 . A typical dinoflagellate pigment profile (chlorophyll a and c, peridinin, diadinoxantin, and b -carotene) was recorded. In this study, the red tide occurred in front of several fish and shrimp-culture ponds. No PST toxins were found in the samples. However, 180 fish were found dead in the infected fish-pond; the gills were the most affected part. C. polykrikoides is a cyst-forming species that recurs in this area. New blooms were observed in November 2000 and September-November 2001 in the same area. Anthropogenic activities, such as eutrophication caused by water discharge in this shallow lagoon, and nutrient enrichment in the culture ponds, as well as effects from precipitation and wind stress, could have favored the outbreak of this dinoflagellate

Durante el desarrollo de una marea roja ocurrida del 15 al 27 de septiembre del año 2000 en la Ensenada de La Paz, B.C.S. se tomaron muestras de agua con una botella Van Dorn para determinar la temperatura, la especie causante y la cantidad de nutrientes y pigmentos fotosintéticos. Se hicieron análisis de toxinas de Cochlodinium polykrikoides, la especie responsable de esta marea roja. La mayoría de los especimenes formaron cadenas de cuatro células y raramente de dos. La abundancia fue de 360 x 103 a 7.05 x 106 /cels l-1 . Los florecimientos de C. polykrikoides ocurrieron cuatro días después de dos días lluviosos; el intervalo de temperatura fue de 29 a 31°C. La concentración de nutrientes registrada durante este fenómeno fue 0.165-0.897 µM NO2 +NO3 , 0.16-3.25 µM PO4 , y 1.0-35.36 µM SiO4 . El perfil pigmentario reveló la presencia de clorofila a y c, peridinina, diadinoxantina, y b -caroteno. La biomasa total expresada en clorofila a fue alta, oscilando entre 2.7 y 56.8 mg/m3 , mientras que la biomasa de Cochlodinium, expresada en peridinina, varió entre 0.68 y 32.03 mg/m3 . En este estudio, la marea roja se desarrolló cerca de varios estanques de cultivo de peces y camarón. En uno de ellos proliferó C. polykrikoides. Los análisis de toxinas PST fueron negativos; sin embargo, durante el incremento de las proliferaciones algunos estanques fueron alcanzados y murieron 180 peces, principalmente pargos (Lutjanus argentiventis, Pomadasys macracantus). Las branquias fueron las partes más afectadas. En condiciones desfavorables C. polykrikoides forma quistes, lo cual ha provocado su recurrente proliferación en el área, registrándose nuevas proliferaciones en noviembre del 2000 y en septiembre-noviembre del 2001. Actividades antropogénicas como la eutroficación causada por la descarga de aguas residuales y de nutrientes de los estanques de cultivo, pudieran estar favoreciendo la proliferación de este dinoflagelado

Effect of wollastonite ceramics and bioactive glass on the formation of a bonelike apatite layer on a cobalt base alloy.

A biomimetic method was used to promote a bioactive surface on a cobalt base alloy (ASTM F-75). The metallic substrates were alkali treated and some of the samples were subsequently heat treated. The treated samples were immersed in simulated body fluid (SBF) on granular particles of either bioactive glass or wollastonite. For comparative purposes, no bioactive system was used in some tests. Three different methods were used for the immersion of the samples in SBF: 1) 21 days in SBF, 2) 21 days in 1.5 SBF, and 3) 7 days in SBF followed by 14 days in 1.5 SBF (re-immersion method). A bonelike apatite layer was formed on all the samples placed on wollastonite and bioactive glass particles. The morphology of the apatite layer formed by using the re-immersion method and wollastonite closely resembled the existing bioactive systems. No apatite layer was observed on the samples treated without bioactive material and soaked for 21 days in SBF or 1.5 SBF, apart from the substrates treated by using the re-immersion method. The heat treatment delayed the apatite formation in all the cases studied.

The use of pigment "fingerprints" in the study of harmful algal blooms.

Along the Mexican coast, harmful algae blooms (HAB) have become more frequent, and therefore, there is an urgent need to establish monitoring programs to avoid the undesired consequences of HAB in human and natural ecosystems. In this work, we analyzed the pigment signatures and the species composition from phytoplankton samples to evaluate the utility of the specific pigment "fingerprints" in HAB monitoring programs. Vertical profiles from a coastal lagoon and temporal samples of a red tide occurring in a shrimp-culture pond and in a coastal zone were taken into consideration. Between 76% and 84% of dinoflagellate and diatom cell density was explained by their specific signature variation, in both vertical and temporal samples. Only the variation of zeaxanthin and the cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. showed a poor relationship, probably from difficulties in counting other cyanobacteria present in the samples examined with the microscopic method. These results suggest that inclusion of pigment analysis in the study and monitoring programs dealing with harmful algae would be very useful.