Improving the behavior of thermoplastic starch with the addition of gum Arabic: Antibacterial, mechanical properties and biodegradability.

The incorporation of different amounts of Gum Arabic (GA) in thermoplastic starch (TPS) obtained by extrusion and subsequent thermocompression has been studied. The sheets have been characterized by means of XRD, FTIR, TGA, moisture content, SEM, mechanical properties, antimicrobial activity and biodegradability via composting. The FTIR analysis of the sheets shows the presence of ester groups, while the TGA shows the presence of new processes and a residue much higher than expected is obtained. No changes in crystallinity are observed by XRD. The inclusion of GA confers antimicrobial properties to thermoplastic starch against the Gram + and Gram - bacteria studied even at the smaller concentrations. For a low GA content (0.5 and 1 g GA/100 g TPS) a homogeneous material is observed by SEM, as well as an important increase in tensile strength, modulus and deformation at break, which are very interesting properties facing the applicability of this material in single use plastics which are in contact with food or other consumable goods. At higher contents of GA, hollows and cracks appear in the material, compromising the mechanical properties. In all cases, the inclusion of GA delays the biodegradation process in soil, which can be related to its antibacterial capacity and especially in case of GA concentrations of 2 and 5 g/100 g of TPS with lower humidity of these TPS sheets.

Eficiencia de la combinación ketamina-propofol para procedimientos quirúrgicos cortos / Efficiency of ketamine-propofol combination for short surgical procedures

Determinar la eficacia de la anestesia con ketamina-propofol en una mezcla 1:2 (1 miligramo de ketamina por cada 2 miligramos de propofol) para procedimientos quirúrgicos cortos mínimamente invasivos. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, por medio de la aleatorización de 77 pacientes sometidos a procedimientos quirúrgicos cortos en dos grupos de estudio: el primero recibió una mezcla de ketamina-propofol en una proporción 1:1, y el otro la recibió en una proporción 1:2. Resultados: No se obtuvieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los dos grupos de estudio en edad, género o peso. Al grupo que se le administró menos ketamina recibió más frecuentemente otro tipo de medicamentos para suplementar la analgesia. No hubo diferencias en lo referente a estabilidad hemodinámica o incidencia de efectos adversos. Conclusión: La mezcla ketamina-propofol es probablemente eficaz para garantizar condiciones quirúrgicas adecuadas, y segura evitando la inestabilidad hemodinámica de los pacientes. Dosis inferiores de ketamina a 2 mg/kg pueden requerir adición de medicamentos analgésicos...

To determine the efficacy of anaesthesia with ketamine-propofol in a mixture 1:2 (1 milligram of ketamine per each 2 milligrams of propofol) for short surgical procedures minimally invasive. Methodology: A prospective study through randomization of 77 patients undergoing surgical procedures at two study groups: the first received a mixture of ketamine-propofol in a ratio of 1:1, and the other received it in a proportion 1:2. Results: No statistically significant differences between the two groups of study on age, gender or weight were obtained. The group that received less ketamine most frequently received another type of drugs to supplement analgesia. There were no differences in relation to stability and haemodynamics or incidence of adverse effects. Conclusion: The mix ketamine-propofol is probably effective to secure adequate surgical conditions avoiding hemodynamics instability of the patients. Lower doses of 2 mg/kg ketamine may require addition of pain-relieving medications...

[Imported cases of dengue fever diagnosed in metropolitan France, from January 2001 to December 2006]. / Dengue d'importation diagnostiquée en France métropolitaine, janvier 2001-décembre 2006.

INTRODUCTION: Dengue fever is the main emerging vector-borne disease worldwide. It was estimated that 40% of the world population is at risk. A potential vector (Aedes albopictus) is present in four French departments of the southeast area of metropolitan France. METHOD: The authors tried to document the number of imported cases of dengue diagnosed from 2001 to 2006, inclusive, as well as their main features. RESULTS: Between 12 and 28 cases of imported dengue were diagnosed every month during that period (eight to 18 cases per month except for years 2001-2002 during which an important dengue epidemic was documented in the French West Indies). Nearly 40% of the cases were imported between June and September during which the vector is active in the metropolitan area. CONCLUSION: This data underlines the strong and close link between the endemic zones of the French territory (French West Indies and Guyana) and the risk of imported cases to metropolitan France. The identification of this "importation track" entails strengthening the system for detecting and managing imported dengue cases in metropolitan France when a dengue epidemic is detected in the French West Indies.

[Description of an endogamous, multigenerational and extensive family with benign hereditary chorea from the Paisa community]. / Descripción de una genealogía endogámica, multigeneracional y extendida con corea hereditaria benigna, perteneciente a la comunidad Paisa.

INTRODUCTION: The benign chorea hereditary (BCH, OMIM 118700) represents a childhood movement disorder characterized by its early onset, a slow progressive course (mostly stable) and the absence of mental compromise, which contrast with the clinical features exhibited by the Huntington Disease. CASE REPORTS: Here we describe a multigenerational, extended and inbreed family belonging to a genetic isolate, the Paisa community from Antioquia Colombia, with seven children exhibiting clinical features of BCH. Even though some patients with BCH are heterozygous for a dominant mutation in the thyroid transcription factor-1 gene (TITF1), the pattern in this family resembles a recessive mode of inheritance, which suggests that genetic heterogeneity may be playing a role. CONCLUSION: Currently, linkage analysis is underway to determine if TITF1 is the gene responsible for this movement disorder in this family.

First case of yellow fever in French Guiana since 1902.

The first case of yellow fever in French Guiana since 1902 was reported in March 1998. The yellow fever virus genome was detected in postmortem liver biopsies by seminested polymerase chain reaction. Sequence analysis showed that this strain was most closely related to strains from Brazil and Ecuador.

Impaired vascular smooth muscle nitric oxide-dependent relaxation in human coronary arteries from "transplanted heart vasculopathy".

The long-term prognosis after heart transplant is mainly determined by the development of transplant vasculopathy. The pathogenic mechanism of transplant vasculopathy remain uncertain, although endothelial dysfunction has been postulated. The objective of this work is to evaluate the smooth muscle and endothelium nitric oxide relaxing mechanisms in coronary arteries from patients with transplant vasculopathy. We studied human coronary arteries obtained from heart transplant surgery specimens of patients with heart transplant vasculopathy, ischaemic cardiopathy or dilated cardiomyopathy. Rings from the coronary arteries were mounted on stainless steel hooks in 40 ml organ bath. The tissues were contracted with phenylephrine (approx. ED 80-90) and concentration-response curves were performed with glyceryltrinitrate and acetylcholine. Glyceryltrinitrate relaxed arterial rings from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and ischaemic cardiopathy. Arterial rings from patients with heart transplant vasculopathy showed a lower response to glyceryltrinitrate. Acetylcholine induced dilatation of coronary arteries from dilated cardiomyopathy but increased the tension in coronary rings from heart transplant vasculopathy and inschaemic cardiopathy. In conclusion, there is a lower response to glyceryltrinitrate and a paradoxical response to acetylcholine in arteries from patients with transplant vasculopathy. The response to glyceryltrinitrate may be a meaningful tool in the early diagnosis of transplant vasculopathy.

Infección por virus herpes simple en un paciente con quemaduras extensas / Infection with Herpes simplex in patient burns

Las infecciones son complicaciones muy frecuentes en pacientes con quemaduras extensas. Diversas bacterias y algunos hongos han sido demostrados en estos pacientes como agentes etiológicos de dichos procesos. Los virus raramente han sido encontrados como agentes oportunistas, no obstante el Herpes Simple ha sido observado produciendo cuadros sistémicos o localizados muy severos. En el presente trabajo se presenta y discute un paciente con quemaduras extensas en quien se demostró una infección por virus Herpes Simple en la zona de quemadura parcialmente cicatrizada cuyo manejo clínico y terapéutico fue difícil.

Use of polymerase chain reaction for improved diagnosis of tuberculosis in children.

OBJECTIVE: To study the value of a rapid diagnostic method based on the amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of a fragment of the IS6110 insertion element for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in children. DESIGN: We tested 199 specimens obtained from 68 children referred for evaluation of suspected tuberculosis. RESULTS: In 83.3% of children with active disease and 38.9% with tuberculous infection but no evidence of disease, at least one positive PCR result was observed. No child without tuberculosis had positive PCR results (100% specificity). The sensitivity of the PCR was increased by testing of multiple samples from the same child and use of Chelex particles (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Ivry, France) rather than guanidine isothiocyanate-silica particles for DNA extraction. Bronchoalveolar lavage samples were no more useful than gastric aspirates. CONCLUSIONS: If appropriate laboratory methods are used, DNA amplification is a reliable method for the early diagnosis of tuberculosis in children and appears to be very helpful in clinical pediatric practice when the diagnosis of active tuberculosis is difficult or needs to be rapidly confirmed.

[Serological study of the occurrence of Herpesviridae in French Guyana]. / Etude sérologique de la prévalence des Herpesviridae en Guyane française.

300 samples of serum (in seven age-groups) from the "creole" population of french Guiana were tested for antibodies to the four human herpesviruses (HSV, VZV, CMV and EBV). Results show the higher prevalence of CMV and EBV in early childhood, HSV primary infection appears to take place earlier in life than in temperate and developed countries, but later than in other tropical countries. The pattern of VZV epidemiology in french Guiana is consistent with what is known in tropical countries: varicella is also a disease of adolescents and young adults. CMV appears to be more prevalent in women than in men between 21 and 40.