Shelf Life of Fresh Sliced Sea Bream Pack in PET Nanocomposite Trays.

Spoilage of fish due to microbiological activity is one of the biggest problems found by producers to take fresh fish products to customers. It is necessary packaging improvements to be able to increase fish shelf life and, thus, be able to travel further and to keep product freshness longer at customer's houses. In the present work, a new material is developed for fish packaging in modified atmosphere (MAP). This material is poly(ethylene terephathalate) (PET) extruded with a polyamide (PA) nanocomposite containing nanosepiolite. Here, it is shown the production procedure from laboratory to industrial scale. Permeability to oxygen and impact mechanical properties results are shown for different samples, both at laboratory and industrial processes. At the end, a material composition is chosen to produce the finale tray which will contain the sliced sea bream. Microbiological analysis is done over the packed fish, resulting is a lower microbiological count compared to a PET control sample. This means that shelf life of pack sea bream could increase from 2-4 to 7-9 days, which is very important for both producers and customers. On the other hand, trays obtained comply with European regulations in food contact materials (FCM) and, overall, they are suitable for food packaging materials.

Application of PET/Sepiolite Nanocomposite Trays to Improve Food Quality.

New PET and nanosepiolite materials are produced for its application in innovative packaging with better performance. In our previous work, we demonstrate that the use of different percentages of sepiolite modified with different organosilanes improved mechanical and barrier properties of PET. Nanocomposites permeability can decrease up to 30% compared to that of pure PET and the mechanical analyses show that, although PET nanocomposites are more brittle than virgin PET, they are also harder. In the present work, we are going to study the properties of this innovative packaging with real food analyzing mechanical properties related to the product transport together with permeability and microbiological characteristics. At the same time, it has been seen that it is possible to lighten trays, which is very important both industrially and environmentally. On the other hand, a good quality packaging for food needs to ensure that organoleptic and physico-chemical characteristics of the product inside are not modified due to migration of any of the packaging material to the food itself. Results obtained in this work also show lower count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae (EB), reducing the incidence of food contaminations by microorganisms.

Rendimiento de la glucohemoglobina y un modelo de riesgo para la detecci¨®n de diabetes desconocida en pacientes coronarios / Performance of glycated hemoglobin and a risk model for detection of unknown diabetes in coronary patients

Introducción y objetivos: Clásicamente, la sobrecarga oral de glucosa ha diagnosticado la diabetes desconocida. Recientemente, la American Diabetes Association ha aceptado un valor de glucohemoglobina ≥ 6,5% como criterio de diabetes desconocida. Pretendemos conocer la rentabilidad que tiene la glucohemoglobina para la detección de diabetes desconocida y validar un modelo que permita ajustar la realización de la sobrecarga oral de glucosa en enfermos coronarios. Métodos: Se estudia el perfil glucémico de 338 enfermos coronarios sin diabetes conocida. Se usan los criterios de la American Diabetes Association de 2010 y, mediante regresión logística, se construye un modelo predictor de diabetes desconocida. Se valida el modelo en otra cohorte. Resultados: Se diagnosticó diabetes desconocida a 26 enfermos mediante glucohemoglobina y/o glucemia basal. Los demás presentaban, tras realizar sobrecarga oral de glucosa: diabetes desconocida, 53 (17%); prediabetes, 144 (46,2%), y normoglucemia, 115 (36,8%). Método diagnóstico de diabetes desconocida: glucemia basal, 25,3%; glucohemoglobina, 7,6%, y sobrecarga oral de glucosa, 67,1%. Un modelo que incluye glucemia basal, glucohemoglobina, fracción de eyección de ventrículo izquierdo, edad y enfermedad vascular no coronaria resultó eficaz como predictor de diabetes desconocida tras sobrecarga oral de glucos: área bajo la curva ROC, 0,8 (intervalo de confianza del 95%, 0,74-0,87). Realizando sobrecarga oral de glucosa sólo a la población con puntuación del modelo > 6 (el 31% del total), podemos localizar al 83% de los casos de diabetes desconocida reales (sensibilidad, 75%; especificidad, 73%; valor predictivo positivo, 40%; valor predictivo negativo, 93%). El modelo se validó correctamente en otra cohorte de 115 pacientes (área bajo la curva ROC, 0,84 [intervalo de confianza del 95%, 0,74-0,95]). Conclusiones: La glucohemoglobina diagnostica aisladamente pocos casos de diabetes desconocida. Sin embargo, su incorporación a un modelo de riesgo permite optimizar la indicación de la sobrecarga oral de glucosa, con un aprovechamiento óptimo (AU)

Introduction and objectives: Traditionally, the oral glucose tolerance test has been useful to diagnose unknown diabetes. Recently, the American Diabetes Association committee has accepted glycated hemoglobin ≥6.5% as a criterion for unknown diabetes. The aim was to determine the benefit of glycated hemoglobin for diagnosing unknown diabetes and also create a predictive model that adjusts the indication for oral glucose tolerance test in coronary patients. Methods: We examined the glycemic profile of 338 coronary patients without previous diagnosis of diabetes, applying 2010 American Diabetes Association criteria. A unknown diabetes risk predictive model was developed using logistic regression analysis, and then validated in another cohort. Results: Using the glycated hemoglobin criteria and/or fasting plasma glucose, unknown diabetes was diagnosed in 26 patients. The remaining patients were classified according to oral glucose tolerance test as follows: unknown diabetes 53 (17%), prediabetes 144 (46.2%), and normoglycemic 115 (36.8%). The diagnostic method for unknown diabetes was fasting plasma glucose in 25.3%, glycated hemoglobin in 7.6%, and oral glucose tolerance test in 67.1%. A risk model including fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, left ventricular ejection fraction, age, and noncoronary vascular disease was shown to effectively predict unknown diabetes after oral glucose tolerance test: area under the ROC curve 0.8 (95% interval confidence: 0.74-0.87). When the oral glucose tolerance test is restricted to patients with a risk score >6 (31% of our sample) we properly identify 83% of unknown diabetes cases (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 73%, positive predictive value: 40%, negative predictive value: 93%). The model was adequately validated in another cohort of 115 patients (area under the ROC curve 0.84 [95% interval confidence: 0.74-0.95]). Conclusions: In coronary patients, glycated hemoglobin alone failed to detect many cases of unknown diabetes. However, its inclusion in a risk prediction model leads to optimizing the usefulness of oral glucose tolerance test (AU)

[Performance of glycated hemoglobin and a risk model for detection of unknown diabetes in coronary patients]. / Rendimiento de la glucohemoglobina y un modelo de riesgo para la detección de diabetes desconocida en pacientes coronarios.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Traditionally, the oral glucose tolerance test has been useful to diagnose unknown diabetes. Recently, the American Diabetes Association committee has accepted glycated hemoglobin ≥ 6.5% as a criterion for unknown diabetes. The aim was to determine the benefit of glycated hemoglobin for diagnosing unknown diabetes and also create a predictive model that adjusts the indication for oral glucose tolerance test in coronary patients. METHODS: We examined the glycemic profile of 338 coronary patients without previous diagnosis of diabetes, applying 2010 American Diabetes Association criteria. A unknown diabetes risk predictive model was developed using logistic regression analysis, and then validated in another cohort. RESULTS: Using the glycated hemoglobin criteria and/or fasting plasma glucose, unknown diabetes was diagnosed in 26 patients. The remaining patients were classified according to oral glucose tolerance test as follows: unknown diabetes 53 (17%), prediabetes 144 (46.2%), and normoglycemic 115 (36.8%). The diagnostic method for unknown diabetes was fasting plasma glucose in 25.3%, glycated hemoglobin in 7.6%, and oral glucose tolerance test in 67.1%. A risk model including fasting plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, left ventricular ejection fraction, age, and noncoronary vascular disease was shown to effectively predict unknown diabetes after oral glucose tolerance test: area under the ROC curve 0.8 (95% confidence interval: 0.74-0.87). When the oral glucose tolerance test is restricted to patients with a risk score >6 (31% of our sample) we properly identify 83% of unknown diabetes cases (sensitivity: 75%, specificity: 73%, positive predictive value: 40%, negative predictive value: 93%). The model was adequately validated in another cohort of 115 patients (area under the ROC curve 0.84 [95% confidence interval: 0.74-0.95]). CONCLUSIONS: In coronary patients, glycated hemoglobin alone failed to detect many cases of unknown diabetes. However, its inclusion in a risk prediction model leads to optimizing the usefulness of oral glucose tolerance test.

Genetic and clinical peculiarities in a new family with hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria: a case report.

Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria is a rare autosomal recessive disorder (OMIM #241530), characterized by decreased renal phosphate reabsorption that leads to hypophosphatemia, rickets, and bone pain; hypophosphatemia is believed to stimulate 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D synthesis which, in turn, results in hypercalciuria. Hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria is caused by loss-of-function in the type 2c sodium phosphate cotransporter encoded by the SLC34A3 gene. This report shows a family with a non-previously identified mutation in the SLC34A3 gene and exhibiting mild and different manifestations of HHRH. The probandus had hypophosphatemia, elevated serum 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations, high serum alkaline phosphatase levels, hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis. The other members of the family presented some of these alterations: the mother, hypercalciuria and high 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D concentrations; the son, hypercalciuria, high 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D values and elevated alkaline phosphatases; the father, high alkaline phosphatases. The genetic analysis revealed the existence of a single mutation (G78R) in heterozygosis in the SLC34A3 gene in the probandus, her mother and her brother, but not in the father. These findings suggest that he mutation in heterozygosis likely gave rise to a mild phenotype with different penetrance in the three relatives and also indicates that the elevation of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D does not result from hypophosphatemia. Thus, this family raises some issues on the transmission and pathophysiology of hereditary hypophosphatemic rickets with hypercalciuria.

Sudden death associated with short-QT syndrome linked to mutations in HERG.

BACKGROUND: Sudden cardiac death takes the lives of more than 300 000 Americans annually. Malignant ventricular arrhythmias occurring in individuals with structurally normal hearts account for a subgroup of these sudden deaths. The present study describes the genetic basis for a new clinical entity characterized by sudden death and short-QT intervals in the ECG. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three families with hereditary short-QT syndrome and a high incidence of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death were studied. In 2 of them, we identified 2 different missense mutations resulting in the same amino acid change (N588K) in the S5-P loop region of the cardiac IKr channel HERG (KCNH2). The mutations dramatically increase IKr, leading to heterogeneous abbreviation of action potential duration and refractoriness, and reduce the affinity of the channels to IKr blockers. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate a novel genetic and biophysical mechanism responsible for sudden death in infants, children, and young adults caused by mutations in KCNH2. The occurrence of sudden cardiac death in the first 12 months of life in 2 patients suggests the possibility of a link between KCNH2 gain of function mutations and sudden infant death syndrome. KCNH2 is the binding target for a wide spectrum of cardiac and noncardiac pharmacological compounds. Our findings may provide better understanding of drug interaction with KCNH2 and have implications for diagnosis and therapy of this and other arrhythmogenic diseases.

Recommended standards for fetal magnetocardiography.

Fetal magnetocardiography (FMCG) is increasingly being used in research and diagnostics of fetal heart function. Currently, FMCG is the only noninvasive procedure available, comparable to postnatal ECG, which can be used to assess cardiac electrophysiology during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. For a reliable evaluation and full clinical acceptance of this new technique, large numbers of patient investigations are required which can only be obtained in multicenter studies. An international standard protocol is needed to allow pooling of sufficient data and to permit the comparison of studies performed in different centers. This article provides recommended standards for FMCG in the fields of data acquisition and data analysis.

Incidencia de sífilis perinatal en el Hospital Cantonal de Yaruquí / Perinatal incidence of sífilis in the Cantonal Hospital of Yaruquí

La sífilis es una enfermedad de transmisión sexual que durante el embarazo provoca lesiones importantes en el producto, como prematurez y muerte perinatal. el tratamiento antes de las 18 semanasm reporta cerca del 100 por ciento de curación. Es un análisis retrospectivo para determinar la incidencia de sífilis perinatal en el Hospital Cantononal de Yaruquí. Se revisaron 2797 historias clínicas 17.8 por ciento no registra controles prenatales, 44.8 por ciento tiene menos de 5 controles prenatales (mínimo requerido para un control adecuado) y apenas en 39.9 por ciento de pacientes se registra el pedido de VDRL, encontrándose 0.6 por ciento positivos. La incidencia aumentó desde 12.8 por 10.000 nacidos vivos en el 2000...

Diagnóstico citológico por punción biópsica de los nódulas pulmonares: reporte preliminar

El método de punción biópsica de los nódulos pulmonares, y en general de las masas intratorácicas es de gran ayuda para precisar el diagnóstico real de la afección. Si la punción biópsica es correcta, se puede hacer el diagnóstico con un mínimo error. Aproximadamente entre 30 y 45 minutos se puede tener el diagnóstico del extendido citológico(AU)