Innovative teaching in infection prevention and control and infectious diseases education: testing and investigation of student perceptions.

PURPOSE: Many curricula promote frontal teaching approaches, potentially decreasing interaction and motivation - also within infection prevention & control and infectious diseases (IPC/ID). We aimed to investigate the implementation of three innovative teaching methods (ITM) within IPC/ID education: game-based learning (GBL), peer-teaching (PT) and misinformation detection (MID). METHODS: Multi-phase study involving third-year medical students was conducted. Phase-1 included a cross-sectional survey, assessing previous ITM-experience and interest to participate in phase-2, where the students were divided into teams. Each team prepared a video covering an IPC/ID-topic with deliberately placed misinformation, which had to be identified and corrected by the opposing team, followed by qualitative evaluation (phase-3). Finally, the MID-concept was incorporated into regular curricula in a non-competitive environment (phase-4) and evaluated within a cohort not involved in phases 1-3. RESULTS: 276 students responded to phase-1. 58% expressed interest in participating in phase-2. Roughly 59% [47-71%] CI-95% of respondents without previous PT-experience stated interest in PT, while the interest in GBL and MID was even higher. 19 students participated in phase-2. All topic MID-scores ranged between 6 and 8/10 points, except for emporiatrics (3/10). Post-hoc analysis revealed a positive student-perception of ITM, particularly GBL. Phase-4 received 103 responses with general positive evaluation. Major agreements existed on the usefulness of critical information evaluation for medical practice (82% [75-91%] CI-95%) and of MID during studies (69% [59-79%] CI-95%). CONCLUSION: our results hint at a relatively high interest in ITM and show MID applicability in regular IPC/ID curricula, which could be of advantage for the learning environment.

Tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate salt of 5,10,15,20-tetra-kis-(1-benzyl-pyridin-1-ium-4-yl)-21H,23H-porphyrin and its CaII complex.

The synthesis, crystallization and characterization of a tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate salt of 5,10,15,20-tetra-kis-(1-benzyl-pyridin-1-ium-4-yl)-21H,23H-por-phy-rin, C68H54N8 4+·4CF3SO3 -·4H2O, 1·OTf, are reported in this work. The reaction between 5,10,15,20-tetra-kis-(pyridin-4-yl)-21H,23H-porphyrin and benzyl bromide in the presence of 0.1 equiv. of Ca(OH)2 in CH3CN under reflux with an N2 atmosphere and subsequent treatment with silver tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate (AgOTf) salt produced a red-brown solution. This reaction mixture was filtered and the solvent was allowed to evaporate at room temperature for 3 d to give 1·OTf. Crystal structure determination by single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXD) revealed that 1·OTf crystallizes in the space group P21/c. The asymmetric unit contains half a porphyrin mol-ecule, two tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate anions and two water mol-ecules of crystallization. The macrocycle of tetra-pyrrole moieties is planar and unexpectedly it has coordinated CaII ions in occupational disorder. This CaII ion has only 10% occupancy (C72H61.80Ca0.10F12N8O16S4). The pyridinium rings bonded to methyl-ene groups from porphyrin are located in two different arrangements in almost orthogonal positions between the plane formed by the porphyrin and the pyridinium rings. The crystal structure features cation⋯π inter-actions between the CaII atom and the π-system of the phenyl ring of neighboring mol-ecules. Both tri-fluoro-methane-sulfonate anions are found at the periphery of 1, forming hydrogen bonds with water mol-ecules.

Molecular two-point recognition of fructosyl valine and fructosyl glycyl histidine in water by fluorescent Zn(II)-terpyridine complexes bearing boronic acids.

Selective recognition of fructosyl amino acids in water by arylboronic acid-based receptors is a central field of modern supramolecular chemistry that impacts biological and medicinal chemistry. Fructosyl valine (FV) and fructosyl glycyl histidine (FGH) occur as N-terminal moieties of human glycated hemoglobin; therefore, the molecular design of biomimetic receptors is an attractive, but very challenging goal. Herein, we report three novel cationic Zn-terpyridine complexes bearing a fluorescent N-quinolinium nucleus covalently linked to three different isomers of strongly acidified phenylboronic acids (ortho-, 2Zn; meta-, 3Zn and para-, 4Zn) for the optical recognition of FV, FGH and comparative analytes (D-fructose, Gly, Val and His) in pure water at physiological pH. The complexes were designed to act as fluorescent receptors using a cooperative action of boric acid and a metal chelate. Complex 3Zn was found to display the most acidic -B(OH)2 group (pKa = 6.98) and exceptionally tight affinity for FV (K = 1.43 × 105 M-1) with a strong quenching analytical response in the micromolar concentration range. The addition of fructose and the other amino acids only induced moderate optical changes. On the basis of several spectroscopic tools (1H, 11B NMR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence titrations), ESI mass spectrometry, X-ray crystal structure, and DFT calculations, the interaction mode between 3Zn and FV is proposed in a 1 : 1 model through a cooperative two-point recognition involving a sp3 boronate-diol esterification with simultaneous coordination bonding of the carboxylate group of Val to the Zn atom. Fluorescence quenching is attributed to a static complexation photoinduced electron transfer mechanism as evidenced by lifetime experiments. The addition of FGH to 3Zn notably enhanced its emission intensity with micromolar affinity, but with a lower apparent binding constant than that observed for FV. FGH interacts with 3Zn through boronate-diol complexation and coordination of the imidazole ring of His. DFT-optimized structures of complexes 3Zn-FV and 3Zn-FGH show a picture of binding which shows that the Zn-complex has a suitable (B⋯Zn) distance to the two-point recognition with these analytes. Molecular recognition of fructosyl amino acids by transition-metal-based receptors has not been explored until now.

Water-soluble fluorescent chemosensor for sorbitol based on a dicationic diboronic receptor. Crystal structure and spectroscopic studies.

Selective recognition of saccharides by phenylboronic dyes capable of functioning in aqueous conditions is a central topic of modern supramolecular chemistry that impacts analytical sciences and biological chemistry. Herein, a new dicationic diboronic acid structure 11 was synthesized, structurally described by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and studied in-depth as fluorescent receptor for six saccharides in pure water at pH = 7.4. This dicationic receptor 11 has been designed particularly to respond to sorbitol and involves two convergent and strongly acidified phenyl boronic acids, with a pKa of 6.6, that operate as binding sites. The addition of sorbitol in the micromolar concentration range to receptor 11 induces strong fluorescence change, but in the presence of fructose, mannitol, glucose, lactose and sucrose, only moderate optical changes are observed. This change in emission is attributed to a static complexation photoinduced electron transfer mechanism as evidenced by lifetime experiments and different spectroscopic tools. The diboronic receptor has a high affinity/selectivity to sorbitol (K = 31 800 M-1) over other saccharides including common interfering species such as mannitol and fructose. The results based on 1H, 11B NMR spectroscopy, high-resolution mass spectrometry and density functional theory calculations, support that sorbitol is efficiently bound to 11 in a 1 : 1 mode involving a chelating diboronate-sorbitol complexation. Since the experimental B⋯B distance (5.3 Å) in 11 is very close to the calculated distance from the DFT-optimized complex with sorbitol, the efficient binding is attributed to strong acidification and preorganization of boronic acids. These results highlight the usefulness of a new diboronic acid receptor with a strong ability for fluorescent recognition of sorbitol in physiological conditions.

Selective Luminescent Chemosensing of Chloride Based on a Cyclometalated Platinum(II) Complex in Water: Crystal Structures, Spectroscopic Studies, Extraction, and Bioimaging.

Selective anion sensing by luminescent chemosensors capable of operating in aqueous conditions is a central field of modern supramolecular chemistry that impacts analytical and biological chemistry. A cationic cyclometalated [Pt(N^C^N)NCCH3]OTf complex, 1 [N^C^N = 1,3-bis(1-(p-tolyl)-benzimidazol-2'-yl)benzene, OTf = triflate], was prepared, structurally described by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and studied in-depth as a luminescent chemosensor for anions in aqueous phase and solid state. A series of related neutral [Pt(N^C^N)X] complexes (X = Cl, 2; CN, 3 and I, 4) were formed readily upon treatment of 1 with the respective NaX salt in aqueous media and were described structurally by X-ray diffraction. Complex 1 is hydrostable with phosphorescent green emission originated by intraligand transitions, and [dyz(Pt) → π*(N^C^N)] charge transfer transitions, as evidenced by TD-DFT calculations and lifetime. Additions of halides, pseudohalides, oxyanions, and dicarboxylates to a neutral aqueous solution of 1 modified its green emission intensity with a pronounced affinity (K = 1.5 × 105 M-1) and turn-on signal toward Cl- within the micromolar concentration range. Pt complex 1 is two orders of magnitude more selective for Cl- than the other halides, CN- and basic oxyanions. Such Cl- affinity for a metal-based chemosensor in aqueous media is still rare. On the basis of X-ray crystallographic analysis and multiple spectroscopic tools (NMR, UV-vis, luminescence, MS, lifetimes) the origin of this selectivity hinges on the cooperative three-point recognition involving one coordination bond (Pt-Cl) and two convergent short C-H···Cl- contacts. This strong affinity and efficient optical response can be utilized in quantitative Cl- sensing in real samples and solid-liquid extractions. Additionally, chloro-Pt complex, 2 may be relevant to bioimaging as a marker for cell nuclei, as revealed by its emission within living cells and intracellular distribution by confocal microscopic studies. These results demonstrate the usefulness of the new water-stable luminescent Pt-N^C^N complexes as effective analytical tools in anion sensing and extraction agents.

Antiplatelet medications and intracranial hemorrhage in patients with primary brain tumors.

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is a frequent and severe consequence of primary brain tumors. The safety of antiplatelet medications in this patient population is undefined. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to determine whether antiplatelet medications are associated with an increased risk of ICH in patients with primary brain tumors. PATIENTS/METHODS: We performed a matched, retrospective cohort study of patients with the diagnosis of primary brain tumor treated at our institution between 2010 and 2021. Radiographic images of all potential ICH events underwent blinded review. The primary end point of the study was the cumulative incidence of ICH at 1 year after tumor diagnosis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: A total of 387 patients with primary brain tumors were included in the study population (130 exposed to antiplatelet agents, 257 not exposed). The most common malignancy was glioblastoma (n = 256, 66.1%). Among the intervention cohort, 119 patients received aspirin monotherapy. The cumulative incidence of any ICH at 1 year was 11.0% (95% CI, 5.3-16.6) in those receiving antiplatelet medications and 13.0% (95% CI, 8.5-17.6) in those not receiving antiplatelet medications (Gray test, p = 0.6). The cumulative incidence of major ICH was similar between the cohorts (3.3% in antiplatelet cohort vs 2.9% in control cohort, p = 1.0). This study did not identify an increased incidence of ICH in patients with primary brain tumors exposed to antiplatelet medications.

Fluorescence Sensing of Monosaccharides by Bis-boronic Acids Derived from Quinolinium Dicarboxamides: Structural and Spectroscopic Studies.

Three new diboronic acid-substituted bisquinolinium salts were synthesized, structurally described by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and studied in-depth as fluorescent receptors for six monosaccharides and two open-chain polyols in water at physiological pH. The dicationic pyridine-2,6-dicarboxamide-based receptors contain two N-quinolinium rings as the fluorescent units covalently linked to three different isomers of phenylboronic acid (ortho, 2; meta, 3; and para, 4) as chelating binding sites for polyols. Additions of glucose/fructose in the micromolar concentration range to receptors 2 and 3 induce significant fluorescence changes, but in the presence of arabinose, galactose, mannose, and xylose, only modest optical changes are observed. This optical change is attributed to a static photoinduced electron transfer mechanism. The meta-diboronic receptor 3 exhibited a high affinity/selectivity toward glucose (K = 3800 M-1) over other monosaccharides including common interfering species such as fructose and mannitol. Based on multiple spectroscopic tools, electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry, crystal structures, and density functional theory calculations, the binding mode between 3 and glucose is proposed as a 1:1 complex with the glucofuranose form involving a cooperative chelating diboronate binding. These results demonstrate the usefulness of a new set of cationic fluorescent diboronic acid receptors with a strong ability for optical recognition of glucose in the sub-millimolar concentration range.

Model-Free High-Order Sliding Mode Controller for Station-Keeping of an Autonomous Underwater Vehicle in Manipulation Task: Simulations and Experimental Validation.

The use of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) has expanded in recent years to include inspection, maintenance, and repair missions. For these tasks, the vehicle must maintain its position while inspections or manipulations are performed. Some station-keeping controllers for AUVs can be found in the literature that exhibits robust performance against external disturbances. However, they are either model-based or require an observer to deal with the disturbances. Moreover, most of them have been evaluated only by numerical simulations. In this paper, the feasibility of a model-free high-order sliding mode controller for the station-keeping problem is validated. The proposed controller was evaluated through numerical simulations and experiments in a semi-Olympic swimming pool, introducing external disturbances that remained unknown to the controller. Results have shown robust performance in terms of the root mean square error (RMSE) of the vehicle position. The simulation resulted in the outstanding station-keeping of the BlueROV2 vehicle, as the tracking errors were kept to zero throughout the simulation, even in the presence of strong ocean currents. The experimental results demonstrated the robustness of the controller, which was able to maintain the RMSE in the range of 1-4 cm for the depth of the vehicle, outperforming related work, even when the disturbance was large enough to produce thruster saturation.

Expression level and proteolytic activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in dental follicles, dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts and unicystic ameloblastomas.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in remodeling the extracellular matrix, but also participate in the development of physiopathologic processes. As they are overexpressed in different types of epithelial cancers, it has been suggested that their level expression could explain the different biological behavior between odontogenic cysts and tumors. Here, we compared the expression level and proteolytic activities of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in dental follicles, dentigerous cysts, odontogenic keratocysts and unicystic ameloblastomas. We found similar expression of MMP-2 in all tissues, but a higher activity in cystic and tumor lesions than follicles. On the other hand, MMP-9 expression and activity was greater in cysts and ameloblastoma than in follicles. However, no differences were found in expression or activity of both MMPs between cystic and tumor injuries, suggesting that they could participate in the growth of these lesions, but they cannot define their different biological behavior.

Experimental Validation of a Model-Free High-Order Sliding Mode Controller with Finite-Time Convergence for Trajectory Tracking of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles.

Several control strategies have been proposed for the trajectory tracking problem of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV). Most of them are model-based, hence, detailed knowledge of the parameters of the robot is needed. Few works consider a finite-time convergence in their controllers, which offers strong robustness and fast convergence compared with asymptotic or exponential solutions. Those finite-time controllers do not permit the users to predefine the convergence time, which can be useful for a more efficient use of the robot's energy. This paper presents the experimental validation of a model-free high-order Sliding Mode Controller (SMC) with finite-time convergence in a predefined time. The convergence time is introduced by the simple change of a time-base parameter. The aim is to validate the controller so it can be implemented for cooperative missions where the communication is limited or null. Results showed that the proposed controller can drive the robot to the desired depth and heading trajectories in the predefined time for all the cases, reducing the error by up to 75% and 41% when compared with a PID and the same SMC with asymptotic convergence. The energy consumption was reduced 35% and 50% when compared with those same controllers.

Finite-Time Controller for Coordinated Navigation of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles in a Collaborative Manipulation Task.

Unmanned underwater vehicles perform inspection and maintenance tasks in complex and changing environments. Some of these tasks require synchronous navigation of multiple vehicles, which is challenging. This paper proposes a synchronous navigation scheme for two BlueROV2 underwater vehicles for a coordinated multi-vehicle task. In the proposed scheme, the vehicles perform the collaborative task of grasping, transporting, and releasing an object. In this scheme, no vehicle-to-vehicle communication is required. A model-free second-order sliding mode controller with finite-time convergence is used to accomplish this task. The controller's convergence time is user-defined and does not depend on the physical or hydrodynamic parameters of the vehicle, unlike the other finite-time controllers found in the literature. Simulation experiments were conducted to verify the controller's performance, including high ocean currents as external disturbances. Comparisons were made with two state-of-the-art controllers with finite-time convergence. The results showed that the proposed controller achieved the best results, as the user-defined convergence time was achieved for both vehicles and the collaborative task was completed, no ripples, deviations, or oscillations were observed, and no chattering occurred. The results proved the robustness of the controller in the presence of high ocean currents without the need to readjust the parameters.

Overexpression and extra-mitochondrial localization of the chaperonin Hsp60 in ameloblastoma.

OBJECTIVES: Ameloblastoma is an odontogenic neoplasm of the mandible and maxilla with various histological types and subtypes. It has been reported that some ameloblastomas could arise from dentigerous cyst walls; thus, the development of ameloblastoma from dentigerous cysts may be due to differential protein expression. Our aim was to identify a membrane protein that is differentially expressed in ameloblastomas with respect to dentigerous cysts. METHODS: We analyzed the SDS-PAGE profiles of membrane proteins from ameloblastomas and dentigerous cysts. The protein in a band present in the ameloblastoma sample, but apparently absent in the dentigerous cyst sample was identified via mass spectrometry as the chaperonin Hsp60. We used western blotting and immunohistochemistry to analyze its overexpression and localization in ameloblastoma. RESULTS: We found a differential band of 95 kDa in the membrane proteins of ameloblastoma. In this band, the chaperonin Hsp60 was identified, and its overexpression was corroborated using western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Hsp60 was localized in the plasma membrane of all ameloblastoma samples studied; in addition, it was found in the cell nucleus of the plexiform subtype of conventional ameloblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Hsp60 may be involved in ameloblastoma development, and could therefore be a potential therapeutic target for ameloblastoma treatment.

Recent Advances in Luminescent Recognition and Chemosensing of Iodide in Water.

This Minireview covers the latest developments of chemosensors based on transition-metal receptors and organic fluorophores with specific binding sites for the luminescent detection and recognition of iodide in aqueous media and real samples. In all selected examples within the last decade (made-post 2010), the iodide sensing and recognition is probed by monitoring real-time changes of the fluorescence or phosphorescence properties of the chemosensors. This review highlights effective strategies to iodide sensing from a structural approach where the iodide recognition/sensing process, through supramolecular interactions as coordination bonds, hydrogen bonds, halogen bonds and electrostatic interactions, is transduced into an optical change easily measurable. The selective iodide sensing is an active field of research with global interest due to the importance of iodide in biological, medicinal, industrial, environmental and chemical processes.

A sensitive photoluminescent chemosensor for cyanide in water based on a zinc coordination polymer bearing ditert-butyl-bipyridine.

Sensitive and direct sensing of cyanide in buffered aqueous solutions at pH = 7.0 by three new blue photoluminescent zinc-1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylato coordination polymers bearing di-alkyl-2,2'-bipyridines has been achieved. Specifically, a Zn-polymer with the general formula: {[Zn2(H2O)2(e,a-cis-1,4-chdc)2(4,4'-dtbb)2]·7H2O}n, (1,4-chdc = 1,4-cyclohexanedicarboxylato and 4,4'-dtbb = 4,4'-ditert-butyl-2,2'-bipyridine) has been synthesized in high yield and studied as a luminescent chemosensor for halides, pseudohalides and a series of oxyanions in neutral water. CN- ions can be quantitatively detected by this polymer based on complete quenching (λem = 434 nm) in the sub-micromolar concentration range with a pronounced selectivity over common anions such as acetate, bromide and iodide. The quenching response (KSV = 9.7(±0.2) × 104 M-1) by the addition of CN- was also observed in the presence of typical interfering anions with a very low detection limit of 0.9 µmol L-1 in buffered water at pH = 7.0. On the basis of the crystal structure and solid state CPMAS 13C-NMR correlation and 1H NMR, IR-ATR, MS-ESI(+) and SEM-EDS experiments, the optical change is attributed to the efficient release of its corresponding ditert-butyl-bipyridine, with the simultaneous formation of a zinc cyanide complex. The CPMAS 13C-NMR spectrum of the coordination polymer is consistent with the symmetry of the crystal structure. The use of flexible coordination polymers as fluorescent sensors for fast and selective detection of cyanide ions in pure aqueous solutions has been unexplored until now.

Poliposis nasosinusal / Nasosinusal Polyposis

La poliposis nasosinusal, es una entidad caracterizada por un proceso inflamatorio de la mucosa nasosinusal, con sintomatología obstructiva, para su diagnóstico es necesario la exploración endoscópica y la tomografía computarizada, siendo la cirugía endoscópica nasosinusal, el tratamiento recomendado. Objetivo:recopilar información actualizada acerca de la poliposis nasosinusal con respecto a su fisiopatología, diagnóstico y tratamiento. Material y Métodos: se realizó la búsqueda de artículos en las bases de datos como HINARI, SciELO, Biblioteca Cochrane, PubMed, con las palabras clave rinosinusitis polipoide y poliposis nasosinusal, en inglés y español; se encontraron varios artículos, de los cuales se seleccionaron 20, de revistas biomédicas publicadas en los últimos 5 años y según su importancia de los conceptos básicos de esta entidad. Conclusión: existe debate en la fisiopatología de la poliposis nasosinusal, aunque se acepta la teoría alérgica y la reacción inflamatoria como las causas. Además, el manejo medicamentoso, no es un tratamiento definitivo, teniendo que recurrir al tratamiento quirúrgico para mejorar la sintomatología, donde el tratamiento recae principalmente, en la cirugía endoscópica nasosinusal...(AU)

Grafting Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Polystyrene to Enable Self-Assembly and Anisotropic Patchiness.

We demonstrate a straightforward protocol to graft pristine multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with polystyrene (PS) chains at the sidewalls through a free-radical polymerization strategy to enable the modulation of the nanotube surface properties and produce supramolecular self-assembly of the nanostructures. First, a selective hydroxylation of the pristine nanotubes through a biphasic catalytically mediated oxidation reaction creates superficially distributed reactive sites at the sidewalls. The latter reactive sites are subsequently modified with methacrylic moieties using a silylated methacrylic precursor to create polymerizable sites. Those polymerizable groups can address further polymerization of styrene to produce a hybrid nanomaterial containing PS chains grafted to the nanotube sidewalls. The polymer-graft content, amount of silylated methacrylic moieties introduced and hydroxylation modification of the nanotubes are identified and quantified by Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The presence of reactive functional groups hydroxyl and silylated methacrylate are confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). Polystyrene-grafted carbon nanotube solutions in tetrahydrofuran (THF) provide wall-to-wall collinearly self-assembled nanotubes when cast samples are analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Those self-assemblies are not obtained when suitable blanks are similarly cast from analogous solutions containing non-grafted counterparts. Therefore, this method enables the modification of the nanotube anisotropic patchiness at the sidewalls which results into spontaneous auto-organization at the nanoscale.

Establishment and characterization of a cell population derived from a dentigerous cyst.

BACKGROUND: Dentigerous cyst (DC) occurs in approximately 20% of jaw cysts, being the second major common odontogenic cyst, after radicular cyst. This oral lesion has the ability to destroy maxillary bones and could be the origin of several odontogenic tumors. However, molecules implicated in its pathogenesis as well as those involved in its neoplastic transformation remain unknown. Here, we established a cell population derived from a DC as an in vitro model for the study of this oral lesion. METHODS: Cell culture was performed from a DC from a 44-year-old male. Cells were cultured at 37°C in DMEM/F12 medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum. Expression of epithelial markers was analyzed by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Ultrastructural characterization was carried out by transmission electron microscopy. Conditioned media were obtained and characterized by zymography and Western blot. RESULTS: Cells showed spindle-shaped morphology, but they express epithelial markers, such as cytokeratins and the odontogenic ameloblast-associated protein. The ultrastructural analysis showed well-formed desmosomes present in adhering contiguous cells, confirming the epithelial lineage of this cell population. Cells also contain several vesicles adjacent to plasma membrane, suggesting an active secretion. Indeed, the analysis of the conditioned medium revealed the presence of several secreted proteins, among them the matrix metalloproteinase-2. CONCLUSIONS: Our work provides a useful model to identify the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of DC.

Evaluación de una nueva sistematización de estudios para el diagnóstico del síndrome de destrucción vertebral / Avaliação de nova sistematização de exames para o diagnóstico da síndrome de destruição vertebral / Evaluation of a new systematization of tests for the diagnosis of vertebral destruction syndrome

OBJETIVO: Explorar la efectividad de un conjunto de pruebas de diagnósticos, sistematizadas en hoja de protocolo, para la determinación del Síndrome de Destrucción Vertebral en pacientes de nuestro servicio. MÉTODOS: Analizamos una propuesta de sistematización mediante un estudio piloto de 20 pacientes a quienes se realizaron 10 diferentes pruebas de laboratorio y gabinete, además del estudio histopatológico de biopsia percutánea. Se describieron las características demográficas y clínicas, con los resultados obtenidos mediante estadística descriptiva, media y desviación estándar para las variables cuantitativas y porcentajes para las cualitativas. RESULTADOS: Edad promedio de 53,3 años ± 16,56 años; 10 hombres y 10 mujeres. 30 vértebras afectadas en los 20 pacientes, 8 de ellos tuvieron afección de dos o más vértebras. El nivel más afectado fue el Lumbar en 18 casos, seguido por el Torácico en 12. El Mal de Pott se diagnosticó en 7 casos (35%), Osteomielitis en 4 (20%), Mieloma Múltiple en 2 (10%), y Espondilodiscitis, Metástasis de Adenocarcinoma, Linfoma y Osteoporosis en un caso respectivamente (5%). En 3 casos (15%) no se obtuvo un diagnóstico específico. CONCLUSIONES: Esta propuesta de sistematización fue útil para llegar al diagnóstico etiológico definitivo del SDV en 85% de los casos, con la reducción en la cantidad de estudios realizados. Es necesario mayor número de pacientes para aumentar la evidencia de su utilidad.

OBJETIVO: Explorar a efetividade de um conjunto de exames diagnósticos sistematizados em folha de protocolo para determinação da síndrome de destruição vertebral em pacientes atendidos em nosso serviço. MÉTODOS: Analisamos uma proposta de sistematização por meio de estudo piloto de 20 pacientes que foram submetidos a dez exames laboratoriais e de imagens distintos, além do estudo histopatológico de biópsia percutânea. Foram descritas as características demográficas e clínicas e os resultados foram obtidos por estatística descritiva, média e desvio padrão para as variáveis quantitativas e porcentagens para as qualitativas. RESULTADOS: Média de idade de 53,3 ± 16,56 anos; 10 homens e 10 mulheres. Trinta vértebras afetadas nos 20 pacientes; 8 deles tinham afecção em duas ou mais vértebras. O nível mais afetado foi o lombar em 18 casos, seguido pelo torácico em 12. A tuberculose da coluna vertebral (doença de Pott) foi diagnosticada em 7 casos (35%), a osteomielite, em 4 (20%), o mieloma múltiplo, em 2 (10%) discite, metástase de adenocarcinoma, linfoma e osteoporose, cada um em um caso (5%). Em 3 casos (15%) não se obteve diagnóstico específico. CONCLUSÕES: Esta proposta de sistematização foi útil para chegar ao diagnóstico etiológico definitivo da SDV em 85% dos casos, com redução da quantidade de exames realizados. É preciso estudar um número maior de pacientes para aumentar a evidência de sua utilidade.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness of a systematic set of diagnostic tests in a protocol sheet for determination of vertebral destruction syndrome in patients treated in our service. METHODS: We analysed a proposal for systematization through a pilot study of 20 patients who underwent 10 different laboratory and imaging tests, as well as the histopathological study through percutaneous biopsy. We described the demographic and clinical characteristics and likewise the results obtained by means of descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation for quantitative variables and percentage for qualitative variables. RESULTS: Average age of 53.3 ± 16.56 years; 10 men and 10 women. Thirty vertebrae affected in 20 patients; 8 patients had disease in two or more vertebrae. The most affected level was the lumbar in 18 cases, followed by thoracic in 12. The spinal tuberculosis (Pott's disease) was detected in 7 cases (35%), osteomyelitis in 4 (20%), multiple myeloma, in 2 (10%), and discitis, metastasis of adenocarcinoma, lymphoma and osteoporosis in one case (5%). In 3 cases (15%) there was no specific diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: This proposal of systematization was useful to reach the final etiological diagnosis of the VDS in 85% of cases, with the reduction in the number of tests. It is necessary to study a larger number of patients to increase the evidence of its usefulness.

Fuscoside E: a strong anti-inflammatory diterpene from Caribbean octocoral Eunicea fusca.

The screen of 10 soft coral extracts collected from the Colombian Caribbean Sea in the TPA-induced ear edema model allowed us to identify Eunicea fusca extract among others as an interesting source of active compounds. The new diterpene, fuscoside E (1), along with the known fuscoside B (2), fuscol (3), (+)-germacrene D (4) and a mixture of six sterols (5-10), were isolated from this soft coral. Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy techniques. Fuscoside E (1) absolute stereochemistry was determined by chiroptical methods. Fuscoside E (1) and B (2) showed strong anti-inflammatory in the above mentioned bioassay. Additionally, fuscoside E (1) and the sterol mixture (5-10) presented antifouling activity against bacterial strains involved in surface colonization.

La sangre de cerdo y de vaca como substitutos de la sangre de oveja o de caballo en medios de cultivo para campylobacters termotolerantes / The pig's blood and cow's blood substitutes sheep or horse culture media for thermotolerant campylobacters

En la ciudad de Iquitos (ubicada en la Amazonía peruana), la sangre de oveja y de caballo, uno de los suplementos recomendados para los medios de cultivo de campylobacters termotolerantes, no son tan disponibles como la sangre de cerdo y de vaca. Por ello, se estudió la capacidad de crecimiento de 60 cepas de Campylobacter termotolerantes (37 C. jejuni y 23 C. coli), usando sangre de vaca y de cerdo como potenciales substitutos de la sangre de oveja o de caballo. Estas cepas fueron aisladas de vacas, cerdos, pollos y patos (15 cepas de cada tipo de animal). Recuentos viables fueron realizados empleando el método de Miles y Misra, modificado. Las cepas de Campylobacter mostraron mayor crecimiento en presencia de sangre de cerdo o de oveja que con sangre de vaca; por lo que se sugiere el uso de sangre de cerdo como un suplemento de los medios de cultivo para Campylobacter, cuando no existe disponibilidad de sangre de oveja o de caballo.

In Iquitos (capital city of the Peruvian Amazon), sheep and horse blood, one of the recommended supplements for thermo tolerant campylobacters in growing environments, are difficult to obtain in comparison to pig and cow blood. Therefore, the growing capacity of 60 thermo tolerant Campylobacter strains (37 C. jejuni and 23 C. coli) using cow and pig blood as potential substitutes for sheep or horse blood, was studied. The strains were isolated from cows, pigs, chickens and ducks (15 strains of each animal). Accountable measure were used applying a modified Miles and Misra method. Compylobacter strains showed better growth in presence of pig or sheep blood in comparison with cow blood, so, we suggest the use of pig blood as a supplemet in the Campylobacter growing environment, when there is no availability of sheep or horse blood.