Electrochemical biosensor for aerobic acetate detection.

There is an increasing demand on alternatives methods to animal testing. Numerous health parameters have been already studied using in vitro devices able to mimic the essential functions of the organs, being the real-time monitoring and response to stimuli their main limitations. Regarding the health of the gut, the short chain fatty acids, and particularly acetate, have emerged as key biomarkers to evaluate gut healthiness and disease development, although the number of acetate biosensors is still very low. This article presents a microbial biosensor based on fully biocompatible materials which is able to detect acetate in aerobic conditions in the range between 11 and 50 mM, and without compromising the viability and function of either bacteria (>90% viability) or mammalian cells (>80% viability). The detection mechanism is based on the metabolism of acetate by Escherichia coli bacteria immobilized on the transducer surface. Ferricyanide is used as a redox mediator to transfer electrons from the acetate metabolism in the bacterial cells to the transducer. High bacterial concentrations are immobilized in the transducer surface (109 cfu mL-1) by electrodeposition of conductive alginate hydrogels doped with reduced graphene oxide. The results show successful outcomes to exploit bacteria as a biosensing tool, based on the use of inkjet printed transducers, biocompatible materials and cell entrapment technologies.

Hemiatrofia cerebelosa secundaria a una hemicerebelitis por «Mycoplasma pneumoniae» / Cerebelar hemiatrophy due to Mycoplasma pneumoniae hemicerebellitis

La cerebelitis aguda constituye una de las principales causas de disfunción cerebelosa en pediatría. Su pronóstico es generalmente bueno, y su evolución hacia la atrofia es excepcional. La afectación de un solo hemisferio es muy infrecuente, lo que obliga a realizar un diagnóstico diferencial con los procesos tumorales de la fosa posterior. Su etiología puede ser infecciosa, postinfecciosa o posvacunal, y Mycoplasma pneumoniae es uno de los agentes causales descritos en la bibliografía. Se presenta el caso de una niña de 8 años que, tras una neumonía atípica, desarrolló un cuadro de hemicerebelitis derecha que evolucionó posteriormente a una hemiatrofia cerebelosa con secuelas en la motricidad fina (AU)

Acute cerebellitis constitutes one of the main causes of cerebellar disfunction in pediatrics. The prognosis is generally good, the evolution to atrophy is exceptional. Very rare is the involvement of only one hemisphere, forcing to perform differential diagnosis of posterior fossa tumor processes. Its etiology may be infectious, postinfectious or postvaccination, being Mycoplasma pneumoniae one of the causative agents described in the literature. We report the case of a girl of 8 years, who after an atypical pneumonia, developed a right hemicerebelitis, which later evolved into a cerebellar hemiatrophy and fine motor sequelae (AU)

Randomized clinical trial of pancreaticogastrostomy versus pancreaticojejunostomy on the rate and severity of pancreatic fistula after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leakage of pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) remains the single most important source of morbidity after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). The primary aim of this randomized clinical trial comparing PG with PJ after PD was to test the hypothesis that invaginated PG would result in a lower rate and severity of pancreatic fistula. METHODS: Patients undergoing PD were randomized to receive either a duct-to-duct PJ or a double-layer invaginated PG. The primary endpoint was the rate of pancreatic fistula, using the definition of the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula. Secondary endpoints were the evaluation of severe abdominal complications (Clavien-Dindo grade IIIa or above), endocrine and exocrine function. RESULTS: Of 123 patients randomized, 58 underwent PJ and 65 had PG. The incidence of pancreatic fistula was significantly higher following PJ than for PG (20 of 58 versus 10 of 65 respectively; P = 0.014), as was the severity of pancreatic fistula (grade A: 2 versus 5 per cent; grade B-C: 33 versus 11 per cent; P = 0.006). The hospital readmission rate for complications was significantly lower after PG (6 versus 24 per cent; P = 0.005), weight loss was lower (P = 0.025) and exocrine function better (P = 0.022). CONCLUSION: The rate and severity of pancreatic fistula was significantly lower with this PG technique compared with that following PJ. REGISTRATION NUMBER: ISRCTN58328599 (http://www.controlled-trials.com).

Episodio de fibrilación auricular tras ingesta de bebida energética y práctica de deporte / Atrial fibrillation after ingestion of a high energy drink

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[Neisseria meningitidis strains with decreased susceptibility to penicillin and ampicillin]. / Neisseria meningitidis con moderada sensibilidad frente a penicilina y ampicilina.

Thirty-eight patients (31 children and 7 adults) with meningococcal infection (sepsis and/or meningitis) were studied. The strain most frequently isolated was B (44.7%), followed by C (31.6%). Of the strains isolated, 52.6% were moderately resistant to penicillin (91.6% if only strain C was considered). No resistance to cephotaxime or chloramphenicol was found. Even though patients with moderately resistant strains treated with penicillin G evolved satisfactorily (minimum inhibitory concentrations 0.12-0.50 microgram/ml), the possible appearance of more resistant strains and/or of strains that produce beta-lactamase leads us to the conclusion that cephotaxime is the treatment of choice until an antibiogram is available.

[Treatment of metastatic prostatic cancer with monthly injections of leuprolide acetate depot]. / Tratamiento del cáncer prostático metastásico con inyección mensual de leuprolide acetato depot.

Seventy-two patients were admitted in a multicentre trial with the purpose of assessing the clinical efficacy and safety of the hormonal control and tolerance of leuprolide acetate in a once-a-month depot injection formulation for the treatment of disseminated prostate cancer. During a 1-year follow-up, there were ten withdrawals for different reasons. At baseline and at 6 months of treatment the following parameters were evaluated: clinical examination, routine blood analysis, PAP, PSA, LH and testosterone, as well as bone scan. LH and testosterone determinations were repeated at 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24 weeks. Testosterone reached castration levels within the second week and was maintained until the end of the study. In agreement with the NPCP criteria, 65 patients were assessed as: complete response 3%, partial response 40%, disease stabilization 36%, and progression 21%. In summary, a once-a-month injection of leuprolide acetate offers a safe and effective alternative to surgical castration.

Contactless impedance measurement by magnetic induction--a possible method for investigation of brain impedance.

Using a primary coil that induces eddy currents in a volume conductor, and a pair of secondary coils configured to form a differential transformer, it is possible to measure the conductivity of a volume conductor by the magnetic fields of the induced eddy currents. This method is especially favourable for measuring impedance of the brain, as the low conductance of the surrounding skull interferes only very slightly with the measuring process. In a simulation experiment a life-size skull model was filled with NaCl solutions of different concentrations in each half, so as to model the impedances of a normal and an oedematous hemisphere. The impedance differences could be clearly detected by a coil system of 25 mm diameter.

Phase I study of mitonafide in solid tumors.

Mitonafide was the first synthetized compound of a new series of 3-nitronaphthalimides with intercalative properties. A phase I study with a conventional escalation scheme was developed. The schedule of drug administration was a daily x 5 days by short (1 h) intravenous (i.v.) infusion, every 21 days. Thirty evaluable patients were treated at doses from 15.4 mg/m2/d x 5 days to 138.6 mg/m2/d x 5 days. The study was interrupted due to appearance of central nervous system toxicity in 5 patients treated at doses above 118 mg/m2 x 5 days. This toxicity consisted firstly of loss of memory in all patients. It was irreversible and progressed in 3 patients to disorientation and confusion, leading to dementia in one of them. This was considered to be dose-limiting toxicity, and since it appeared to be related to the administration schedule, no further studies with short i.v. infusions of mitonafide are recommended. A phase I study utilizing a more desirable administration schedule over longer periods of time is ongoing in other centers.