EMF radiation at 2450 MHz triggers changes in the morphology and expression of heat shock proteins and glucocorticoid receptors in rat thymus.

AIMS: Electromagnetic fields (EMFs) can act as inducers or mediators of stress response through the production of heat shock proteins (HSPs) that modulate immune response and thymus functions. In this study, we analyzed cellular stress levels in rat thymus after exposure of the rats to a 2.45 GHz radio frequency (RF) using an experimental diathermic model in a Gigahertz Transverse Electromagnetic (GTEM) chamber. MAIN METHODS: In this experiment, we used H&E staining, the ELISA test and immunohistochemistry to examine Hsp70 and Hsp90 expression in the thymus and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) of 64 female Sprague­Dawley rats exposed individually to 2.45 GHz (at 0, 1.5, 3.0 or 12.0 W power). The 1 g averaged peak and mean SAR values in the thymus and whole body of each rat to ensure that sub-thermal levels of radiation were being reached. KEY FINDINGS: The thymus tissue presented several morphological changes, including increased distribution of blood vessels along with the appearance of red blood cells and hemorrhagic reticuloepithelial cells. Levels of Hsp90 decreased in the thymus when animals were exposed to the highest power level (12 W), but only one group did not show recovery after 24 h. Hsp70 presented no significant modifications in any of the groups. The glucocorticoid receptors presented greater immunomarking on the thymic cortex in exposed animals. SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that non-ionizing sub-thermal radiation causes changes in the endothelial permeability and vascularization of the thymus, and is a tissue-modulating agent for Hsp90 and GR.

Impact of left ventricular dysfunction on renal transplant survival: study of paired kidneys from the same donor.

INTRODUCTION: A significant number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have cardiac abnormalities, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD) is a common manifestation. Our hypothesis is that a decrease in the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) at the time of kidney transplantation is a factor of poor prognosis associated with poor graft evolution. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 954 kidney transplantations were performed in our center between 2005 and 2012. Nineteen (2%) of these patients had been diagnosed with left ventricular dysfunction that was defined by the presence of LVEF <50% on echocardiography. This group of patients was compared with a control group of recipients without LVSD who had received the contralateral kidney from the same donor. During a mean follow-up of 52 ± 14 months, it was observed that the patients with LVSD had a higher incidence of delayed graft function (DGF) as well as a significantly longer renal function recovery period than in the control group until they became dialysis free (19.8 [range, 0-90] vs 12 [range, 0-36] days; P = .01). Furthermore, graft function achieved by the LVSD group was worse during the evolution (serum creatinine 2.3 ± 1.9 vs 1.4 ± 0.5 mg/dL; P = .01). Patients with LVSD showed worse kidney graft survival at the end of the follow-up when compared with the control group (79% vs 100%; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Systolic dysfunction of the renal transplant recipient is associated with greater delay in graft function and worse graft survival with poorer renal function.

Glass transition in ultrathin films of amorphous solid water.

Nanocalorimetry at ultrafast heating rates is used to investigate the glass transition of nanometer thick films of metastable amorphous solid water grown by vapor deposition in an ultrahigh vacuum environment. Apparent heat capacity curves exhibit characteristic features depending on the deposition temperature. While films grown at T ≥ 155 K are completely crystallized, those deposited at 90 K show a relaxation exotherm prior to crystallization. Films grown between 135 and 140 K and subsequently cooled down to 90 K reveal a clear endothermic feature before crystallization, which is compatible with a glass-to-liquid transition. The onset temperature is located at 174 K at a heating rate of 2.4 × 10(4) K/s and is independent of film thickness in the range of 16-150 nm. Comparison of our data with other calorimetric measurements at various heating rates suggests that water is a strong glass former in the deeply supercooled state.

Anomalous Transformation of Vapor-Deposited Highly Stable Glasses of Toluene into Mixed Glassy States by Annealing Above Tg.

Vapor-deposited glasses have recently emerged as a remarkable new class of materials that can form much denser and stable glasses than those obtained by cooling the liquid. These new amorphous materials reach lower regions of the energy landscape and may impact important technologies that use vapor-deposition. Here, we report on the formation of a glass with two distinct glassy states obtained through the partial annealing of highly stable vapor-deposited glassy films of toluene. The resulting glass exhibits two clear heat capacity overshoots with different onset and fictive temperatures. The transformation times of the ultrastable glass are around 10(5) times slower than the structural relaxation time (τα) of supercooled liquid toluene. We show that the nature of the transformed glass depends on the annealing temperature above Tg. This finding suggests the formation of distinct supercooled liquids at temperatures slightly above Tg during the transformation of the highly stable glass. Our results are compatible with the existence of polyamorphism in toluene.

Accelerated aging in ultrathin films of a molecular glass former.

We report the thermodynamic measurement of the enthalpy released during the aging of supported films of a molecular glass former, toluene, at temperatures well below the glass transition temperature. By using microfabricated devices with very short equilibration times (below 1 s), we evidence a remarkable variation of the relaxation rate on decreasing film thickness from 100 nm down to a 7 nm thick film. Our results demonstrate that surface atoms are more efficient than bulk atoms in attaining low energy configurations within the potential energy landscape.

Inserción anómala del músculo subclavio como causa de síndrome de estrecho torácico superior / Anomalous subclavius muscle insertion as a cause of thoracic outlet syndrome

Se presenta una causa inusual de síndrome de estrecho torácico superior secundario a la inserción anómala del músculo subclavio en una mujer de mediana edad con síntomas de cervicobraquialgia y parestesias en la mano derecha. La paciente requirió tratamiento quirúrgico mediante la resección del músculo subclavio, tras la cual sus síntomas remitieron completamente. El presente caso resulta de gran interés por la rareza de la causa de la compresión, pero además resalta la importancia de considerar el síndrome de estrecho torácico superior en el diagnóstico diferencial del dolor cervical y cervicobraquial(AU)

An unusual cause of the thoracic outlet syndrome secondary to an anomalous subclavius muscle insertion that was diagnosed in a middle-aged woman who had neck and upper limb pain with parenthesis in her right hand is presented. The patient was successfully treated by surgical muscle resection. The importance of this case is the uncommon cause of the compression. We would like to emphasize the relevance of considering the thoracic outlet syndrome for the differential diagnosis of cervical and cervicobrachial pain(AU)

Brucelosis a finales del siglo XX. ¿Es necesario desarrollar una vacuna humana? / Brucellosis at the end of the XXth century. Is it necessary to develop a human vaccine?

El primer objetivo de este estudio ha sido valorar los resultados de las campañas de erradicación contrala brucelosis en los pequeños rumiantes llevadas a cabo en España en los últimos años. Durante el periodoanalizado se observa en ocasiones que los casos contabilizados ofi cialmente son probablemente inferiores a laincidencia real, tanto por la infradeclaración del censo animal como por la existencia de infecciones subclínicas.Este hecho da lugar a un vacío en el conocimiento de la situación epidemiológica real en algunas ComunidadesAutónomas. Se ha realizado un estudio epidemiológico descriptivo entre las tasas de infección animal y humanadonde se concluye que la enfermedad humana no es consecuencia directa del contagio a través del animalenfermo. A pesar que las tasas de infección de la enfermedad disminuyen cada año, España presenta la peorsituación epidemiológica de toda la Unión Europea.La prevalencia de la brucelosis en toda la cuenca mediterránea y países en desarrollo, y aunque de bajamortalidad, una sintomatología clínica abigarrada e incapacitante, puede ser teóricamente considerada comocandidata a una utilización en bioterrorismo y puesto que carece de vacuna humana, el presente estudio tieneun segundo objetivo principal: valorar a partir de la situación actual en la población de España y de Europa elimpacto que tendría la enfermedad, utilizando Brucella sp. como arma biológica(AU)

The aim of this work is to evaluate the results of offi cial eradication-campaigns of small-ruminantsbrucellosis infection (B. melitensis) carried out in Spain in recent years. Brucellosis offi cial eradicationcampaignsdata were used the study the epidemiological situation of the small-ruminant brucellosis infection.Data of consecutive campaigns from offi cial information was contradictory and other data defi ciencies thatmight have been affected the campaign results that carried out an un-knowledge of the true epidemiologicalsituation in some regions in Spain. An epidemiological statistical study between animal and human infectiontaxes showed that human brucellosis infection was not as a result of a direct animal contact. Despite of adecrease of the animal infection level, Spain presents the worst epidemiological situation of the EuropeanUnion.A second objective has been to evaluate from the epidemiological situation in Europe and Spain the impactof brucellosis around Mediterranean area and in developed countries using Brucella sp. as a biological arm. Alack of human vaccine may be considered, despite low mortality as a candidate to be used as a bio-terrorism(AU)

In situ nanocalorimetry of thin glassy organic films.

In this work, we describe the design and first experimental results of a new setup that combines evaporation of liquids in ultrahigh vacuum conditions with in situ high sensitivity thermal characterization of thin films. Organic compounds are deposited from the vapor directly onto a liquid nitrogen cooled substrate, permitting the preparation and characterization of glassy films. The substrate consists of a microfabricated, membrane-based nanocalorimeter that permits in situ measurements of heat capacity under ultrafast heating rates (up to 10(5) K/s) in the temperature range of 100-300 K. Three glass forming liquids-toluene, methanol, and acetic acid-are characterized. The spikes in heat capacity related to the glass-transition temperature, the fictive temperature and, in some cases, the onset temperature of crystallization are determined for several heating rates.

Resultados terapéuticos a corto plazo de la infiltración con toxina botulínica ante el fracaso del tratamiento convencional de 7 pacientes con epicondilitis / Short-term outcome of a-botulinum toxin infiltration in 7 epicondylitis patients in whom coventional treatment failed

Introducción. La epicondilitis es un trastorno que cursa con dolor en la inserción proximal del músculoextensor radial corto del carpo. El tratamiento habitual se basa en reposo y medidas farmacológicas, fisioterapia, infiltraciones con corticoides y uso de ortesis. Cuando fracasa el tratamiento conservador, disponemos de la alternativa quirúrgica. El objetivo es evaluar la respuesta de los pacientes con epicondilitis rebeldes a tratamiento conservador con toxina botulínica tipo A (TB-A). Material y métodos. Realizamos un estudio prospectivo con 7 pacientes diagnosticados de epicondilitis, con un tiempo de evolución mínimo de 4 meses, en los que fracasó el tratamiento conservador. Antes de tomar una decisión quirúrgica, se les aplicó una única infiltración de TB-A, entre 25 y 50 UI de Botox. Se recogen como variables: dosis aplicada, dolor a la palpación y con la maniobra de extensión resistida de la muñeca y efectos secundarios.Resultados. Obtuvimos una mejoría importante del dolor en todos los pacientes tras 1 mes de la aplicación de TB-A. La paresia de la musculatura extensora del carpo apareció en las 2 primeras semanas con una resolución completa entre los 2-8 primeros meses posinfiltración.Conclusión. El tratamiento de la epicondilitis resistente a tratamiento conservador mediante la aplicación de TB-A es un tratamiento eficaz, que mejora en todos los casos la sintomatología clínica

Introduction. Epicondylitis is a disorder that causes pain in the proximal insertion of the extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle. The most common treatment is rest and pharmacological measures, physical therapy, infiltrations with corticoids and orthosis. Surgery can be alternatively used when conservative treatments fail. The objective is assess the response of patients with persistent epicondylitis to botulinum toxin A (TB-A). Materials and methods. A prospective study was carried out with 7 patients diagnosed with epicondylitis (a minimum of 4 months prior to the research), who had failed in their response to conservative treatments. Prior to a surgical decision, each of them was applied a single application of TB-A (25-50 U of Botox).Variables included: dose amount, pain following palpation and pain following resisted wrist extension maneuvers and secondary effects. Results. All patients experienced important improvement. Paresis in forearm muscles appeared in the first two weeks with complete resolution 2-8 months after infiltration. Conclusion. The treatment of epicondylitis resistant to conservative treatments through TB-A application constitutes effective treatment with clinical pictures improvement in all cases

Zirconia-toughened hydroxyapatite ceramic obtained by wet sintering.

A toughened hydroxyapatite (HA) ceramic has been obtained through the incorporation of magnesia partially stabilized zirconia (Mg-PSZ) under uniaxial pressing and sintering in wet oxygen at 1250 degrees C for 4 h. The powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and infrared spectra (FT-IR) show that HA is the only calcium phosphate phase present. The composite (MgPSZ-HA) has a density of 94% the theoretical value. The bending strength and the fracture toughness are around 50% higher for Mg-PSZ reinforced than for HA. The grain size and the fracture surface were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influence of the Mg-PSZ particles on the fracture mechanism of the HA ceramic is discussed.

Ectopic ureter in a male cat.

A male cat with persistent urinary incontinence is described. Definitive diagnosis of unilateral ectopic ureter was obtained by intravenous urography, after which surgical re-implantation of the ureter into the bladder was performed. The literature on ureteral ectopia in cats is discussed.