Innovative processing strategies and technologies to obtain hydrocolloids from macroalgae for food applications.

The macroalgal hydrocolloid industry is a rapidly growing industry with an annual growth in the global production of 2-3 %. Hydrocolloids from macroalgae are mainly in the form of polysaccharides with other nutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Due to its potential industrial applications, macroalgae have been used as raw materials for hydrocolloids extraction. Compared to the conventional extraction methods, emerging innovative assisted extraction technologies (e.g., Ultrasound/Microwave assisted extraction) have been developed to maximise the extraction yields, efficiency and thereby, maintaining sustainability along the process. These novel techniques are considered as clean and green strategies, with a potential for a large-scale production; thus, avoiding or reducing the use of chemicals. However, more research is required to establish their mechanism of action in order to finally implement them at industrial level. This paper reviews the most relevant strategies and technologies involved in the production of hydrocolloids from macroalgae.

[Botulinum toxin as a treatment for strabismus in systemic diseases]. / Utilidad de la toxina botulínica en el tratamiento del estrabismo en enfermedades sistémicas.

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the effectiveness of botulinum toxin for treating strabismus secondary to systemic diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 141 patients with secondary strabismus were studied. To reduce risks, the treatment with botulinum toxin was made by a direct technique proposed by the authors. The response to the treatment was classified according to the different physiopathogenic groups. RESULTS: We found a positive response in: Central Neurological damage: 71%, Endocrinopathies: 78.6%, Brain infection: 80%, Trauma: 60%, Psychomotor defficiency: 72%, Prematurity: 74%, Myasthenia 75%, Hemathological diseases: 75%. The average of botulinum toxin applications was 1.5 infections. CONCLUSIONS: We show that the effectiveness of botulinum toxin in strabismus secondary to systemic disease is up to 74%. We can offer rehabilitation in all of these cases even during the sometimes long diagnostic period or in patients under treatment. We also suggest our direct technique for the application of botulinum toxin (without electromyography) to avoid risks in this type of patients. We are reporting the use and positive effect of the botulinum toxin chemodenervation in Myasthenia gravis, Human Acquired Immune-deficiency Syndrome, and mental defficiency.

The coordinate movement of the interphalangeal joints. A cinematic study.

No agreement exists on how coordinate flexion and extension movements of the interphalangeal joints of the long fingers of the hand are performed. A cinematic study in 18 healthy volunteers was done to assess the objective sequence of beginning and ending of movement in the eight free movements of the hand in which these joints flex and extend. The results show that the proximal interphalangeal joint is the one that first initiates the four analyzed movements in which these interphalangeal joints flex and the four movements in which these interphalangeal joints extend. The distal interphalangeal joint is the one that ends first in these two groups of movements. These results confirm that the coordinated movements of the interphalangeal joints may be explained based exclusively on the tendinous system and especially on the setup and balance that exists between the components of the extensor apparatus (longitudinal sliding of the central slip and lateral bands and either the dorsal to palmar or palmar to dorsal displacement of the lateral bands with respect to the rotation axis of the proximal interphalangeal joint).

A low-cost system for digital image processing of moving images in real time: application to X-ray fluoroscopy.

A low-cost image processing system and two real-time digital image processing algorithms using parallel processing have been developed to provide automatic equalization of moving images at video frequencies. The algorithms differ in the processing time required and the characteristics of the final image. The system takes an entire image from the video sequence, digitizes it, automatically calculates its histogram and the lowest and highest useful grey levels, equalizes the histogram, and finally converts it to the analogue image. Methods were applied to X-ray fluoroscopy (angiography) images, which are usually saturated or of uniform intensity (low contrast), leading to information loss. An application of these methods is in interventional radiography, which requires images in real time.

Hodgkin's disease in HIV-infected patients.

Eight patients with Hodgkin's disease who were seropositive to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), 6 of them being heroin addicts and one a homosexual, were studied. Histological examination showed 4 cases of lymphocytic depletion, 2 cases of mixed cellularity, 1 nodular sclerosis, and one not classifiable. There were five cases of stage IV-B and 3 IIIs-B. The response to treatment was poor, with disproportionate cytopenia and severe infectious complications. We suggest that the atypical nature of Hodgkin's disease in patients who are seropositive for HIV might be considered to be a part of the Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS).