[Utility of topical vancomycin application in the prevention of surgical site infection of the lumbosacral spine]. / Utilidad de la aplicación de vancomicina tópica en la prevención de infección de sitio quirúrgico de la columna lumbosacra.

INTRODUCTION: surgical site infections (SSI) remain a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and one of the most representative causes of nosocomial infections. The use of intrawound vancomycin in lumbar spine surgery is a potential prophylactic measure against SSI; however, evidence regarding its efficacy is contradictory. Our study was designed to research if intrawound vancomycin significantly prevents SSI in lumbar spine surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: this is a randomized, double-blinded, controlled clinical trial; 233 patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery, were randomly assigned to a group in which intrawound vancomycin was instilled in the incision before closure (109), or to a control group (114). The main outcome is the presence of SSI; we determined its prevalence and searched for difference between groups for association between SSI and independent variables. RESULTS: global SSI prevalence was 1.8%, in the experimental group was 0.9%, in the control group was 2.6%. There was no significant difference between these values, p = 0.622. The relative risk of SSI in the experimental group was 0.35 (95% CI 0.037-3.30), that of the control group was 2.87 (95% CI 0.30-27.16). The number needed to treat is 58.3. We did not find a significant association between the independent variables studied and the appearance of SSI. CONCLUSIONS: we did not find a significant difference in the prevalence of SSI between groups nor a significant association between SSI and independent variables.

INTRODUCCIÓN: las infecciones postoperatorias del sitio quirúrgico son una importante causa de morbimortalidad y una de las formas más comunes de infecciones nosocomiales. La aplicación de vancomicina al terminar una intervención de columna lumbar es una potencial práctica profiláctica de infecciones del sitio quirúrgico (ISQ). La evidencia que sostiene su uso es controversial. Nuestro estudio investiga si la aplicación de vancomicina disminuye en forma significativa la prevalencia de ISQ. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: ensayo clínico aleatorizado, controlado, cegado; 223 pacientes intervenidos de la columna lumbar fueron aleatoriamente asignados a un grupo experimental de 109 pacientes en quienes se colocó vancomicina y a un grupo control de 114 pacientes que no recibió vancomicina. El principal desenlace del estudio es la aparición de ISQ; se estudió la prevalencia de ISQ en ambos grupos y se buscó si existe diferencia significativa. Se analizó la existencia de factores predictores de ISQ. RESULTADOS: la prevalencia global de infección fue 1.8%; en el grupo experimenta 0.09% y en el grupo control 2.6%. No hubo diferencia significativa entre estas cifras, p = 0.622. El riesgo relativo de ISQ en el grupo experimental fue 0.35 (IC95% 0.037-3.30), el del grupo control fue 2.87 (IC95% 0.30-27.16). El número necesario para tratar es 58.3. No encontramos asociación significativa entre las variables independientes estudiadas y la aparición de ISQ. CONCLUSIONES: no encontramos evidencia suficiente de que la aplicación de vancomicina disminuya significativamente la prevalencia de ISQ ni asociación significativa de ISQ con las variables independientes estudiadas.

Azo dyes in the food industry: Features, classification, toxicity, alternatives, and regulation.

Azo dyes, including Tartrazine, Sunset Yellow, and Carmoisine, are added to foods to provide color, but they have no value with regard to nutrition, food preservation, or health benefits. Because of their availability, affordability, stability, and low cost, and because they provide intense coloration to the product without contributing unwanted flavors, the food industry often prefers to use synthetic azo dyes rather than natural colorants. Food dyes have been tested by regulatory agencies responsible for guaranteeing consumer safety. Nevertheless, the safety of these colorants remains controversial; they have been associated with adverse effects, particularly due to the reduction and cleavage of the azo bond. Here, we review the features, classification, regulation, toxicity, and alternatives to the use of azo dyes in food.

High SNP diversity in the non-toxic indigenous Jatropha curcas germplasm widens the potential of this upcoming major biofuel crop species.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Jatropha curcas (jatropha) is an oil crop cultivated in (sub)tropical regions around the world, and holds great promise as a renewable energy source. However, efforts to fully commercialize jatropha are currently hampered by the lack of genetic diversity in the extant breeding germplasm, and by the toxicity of its seeds meaning that its seed cake cannot be used as a protein source in animal feed, among other constraints. In Mexico, the species' native range, there are jatropha plants whose seeds are used to prepare traditional meals. This non-toxic jatropha 'type' is considered to harbour low genetic variation due to a presumed domestication bottleneck and therefore to be of limited breeding value; yet, very little is known regarding its origin and genetic diversity. METHODS: Using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), we extensively genotyped both indigenous toxic and non-toxic jatropha collected along roads and home gardens throughout southern Mexico. KEY RESULTS: Single nucleotide polymorphism diversity in non-toxic jatropha is relatively high, particularly in northern Veracruz state, the probable origin of this germplasm. Genetic differences between toxic and non-toxic indigenous genotypes are overall quite small. A a genome-wide association study supported a genomic region (on LG 8, scaffold NW_012130064), probably involved in the suppression of seed toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Conservation actions are urgently needed to preserve this non-toxic indigenous, relatively wild germplasm, having potential as a fuel feedstock, animal feed and food source among other uses. More generally, this work demonstrates the value of conservation genomic research on the indigenous gene pool of economically important plant species.

Prevalencia del uso preconcepcional del ácido fólico en el área norte de Pontevedra / Prevalence of the pre-conception use of folic acid in the northern part of Pontevedra

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Evaluation of the Duke criteria in 93 episodes of prosthetic valve endocarditis: could sensitivity be improved?

BACKGROUND: Since publication of the Duke criteria for diagnosing endocarditis, several articles have confirmed their sensitivity when native and prosthetic valves are considered together. OBJECTIVES: To compare the differences between the older von Reyn criteria and the Duke criteria in prosthetic valve endocarditis only, and to determine if the latter's sensitivity could be improved by adding 2 minor criteria: new-onset heart failure and presence of conduction disturbances. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 93 episodes of prosthetic valve endocarditis from January 1986 to January 1998 in a teaching hospital, and then analyzed the 76 surgically confirmed episodes to compare the differences between the von Reyn and Duke diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: The von Reyn criteria rejected the diagnosis in 16 of the confirmed episodes, compared with 1 diagnosis missed by the Duke criteria and 1 missed using our suggested modifications. Definite diagnosis (Duke) was established in 60 episodes, compared with a diagnosis of probable (von Reyn) in 36 episodes (P<.001). Our modifications improved the sensitivity of the Duke criteria, diagnosing 70 episodes as definite (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: As was the case with native valve endocarditis, the Duke criteria proved to be more sensitive than the von Reyn criteria in prosthetic valve endocarditis. The addition of 2 minor criteria (new-onset heart failure and presence of conduction disturbances) could improve the diagnostic sensitivity of the Duke criteria.

Vasculitis cutánea por ciprofloxacino / Cutaneous vasculitis by ciprofloxacine

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