Brain activity sustaining the modulation of pain by empathetic comments.

Empathetic verbal feedback from others has been shown to alleviate the intensity of experimental pain. To investigate the brain changes associated with this effect, we conducted 3T-fMRI measurements in 30 healthy subjects who received painful thermal stimuli on their left hand while overhearing empathetic, neutral or unempathetic comments, supposedly made by experimenters, via headsets. Only the empathetic comments significantly reduced pain intensity ratings. A whole-brain BOLD analysis revealed that both Empathetic and Unempathetic conditions significantly increased the activation of the right anterior insular and posterior parietal cortices to pain stimuli, while activations in the posterior cingulate cortex and precuneus (PCC/Prec) were significantly stronger during Empathetic compared to Unempathetic condition. BOLD activity increased in the DLPFC in the Empathetic condition and decreased in the PCC/Prec and vmPFC in the Unempathetic condition. In the Empathetic condition only, functional connectivity increased significantly between the vmPFC and the insular cortex. These results suggest that modulation of pain perception by empathetic feedback involves a set of high-order brain regions associated with autobiographical memories and self-awareness, and relies on interactions between such supra-modal structures and key nodes of the pain system.

Unravelling the mysteries of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. / Desentrañando los misterios de la muerte súbita en epilepsia.

INTRODUCTION: Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) is the most frequent cause of premature death in epileptic patients. Most SUDEP events occur at night and frequently go unnoticed; the exact pathophysiological mechanisms of this phenomenon therefore remain undetermined. Nevertheless, most cases of SUDEP are attributed to an infrequent yet extremely severe complication of epileptic seizures. DEVELOPMENT: We conducted a systematic literature search on PubMed. Our review article summarises scientific evidence on the classification, pathophysiological mechanisms, risk factors, biomarkers, and prevention of SUDEP. Likewise, we propose new lines of research and critically analyse findings that are relevant to clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: Current knowledge suggests that SUDEP is a heterogeneous phenomenon caused by multiple factors. In most cases, however, SUDEP is thought to be due to postictal cardiorespiratory failure triggered by generalised tonic-clonic seizures and ultimately leading to cardiac arrest. The underlying pathophysiological mechanism involves multiple factors, ranging from genetic predisposition to environmental factors. Risk of SUDEP is higher in young adults with uncontrolled generalised tonic-clonic seizures. However, patients apparently at lower risk may also experience SUDEP. Current research focuses on identifying genetic and neuroimaging biomarkers that may help determine which patients are at high risk for SUDEP. Antiepileptic treatment is the only preventive measure proven effective to date. Night-time monitoring together with early resuscitation may reduce the risk of SUDEP.

Strong sesquiterpene emissions from Amazonian soils.

The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest source of reactive volatile isoprenoids to the atmosphere. It is generally assumed that these emissions are products of photosynthetically driven secondary metabolism and released from the rainforest canopy from where they influence the oxidative capacity of the atmosphere. However, recent measurements indicate that further sources of volatiles are present. Here we show that soil microorganisms are a strong, unaccounted source of highly reactive and previously unreported sesquiterpenes (C15H24; SQT). The emission rate and chemical speciation of soil SQTs were determined as a function of soil moisture, oxygen, and rRNA transcript abundance in the laboratory. Based on these results, a model was developed to predict soil-atmosphere SQT fluxes. It was found SQT emissions from a Terra Firme soil in the dry season were in comparable magnitude to current global model canopy emissions, establishing an important ecological connection between soil microbes and atmospherically relevant SQTs.

Haptic simulation of tissue tearing during surgery.

We present a method for the real-time, interactive simulation of tissue tearing during laparoscopic surgery. The method is designed to work at haptic feedback rates (ie, around 1 kHz). Tissue tearing is simulated under the general framework of continuum damage mechanics. The problem is stated as a general, multidimensional parametric problem, which is solved by means of proper generalized decomposition methods. One of the main novelties is the reduction of history-dependent problems, such as damage mechanics, by resorting to an approach in which a reduced-order field of initial damage values is considered as a parameter of the formulation. We focus on the laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure as a general example of the performance of the method.

Selective antitumoural action of pressurized mango leaf extracts against minimally and highly invasive breast cancer.

Mango leaf tea has been traditionally used by different cultures to reduce inflammation in the body. There is evidence that chronic inflammation increases the risk of cancer. This study investigates the antitumoural effects of pressurized mango leaf extracts on minimally (MCF7) and highly invasive (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells as well as on non-tumourigenic cells (MCF10). Extracts showed protective properties against oxidation and cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cell lines, causing minor damage to non-carcinogenic cells. Nonetheless, some selective activity, depending on hormone receptor status, was observed. This was possibly related to the presence of minor compounds. Extracts with high levels of gallotannins showed cytotoxic action against MCF7 cells, while those which had methyl gallate and homomangiferin as common components were more effective against MDA-MB-231 cells. Therefore, the cytotoxic effect of mango leaf extracts might be attributed to the synergistic effect of different polyphenols and not just to mangiferin on its own as the predominant compound in mango leaves.

Gait instability in valproate-treated patients: Call to measure ammonia levels.

OBJECTIVE: Hyperammonemia induced by valproate (VPA) treatment may lead to several neurological and systemic symptoms as well as to seizure exacerbation. Gait instability and recurrent falls are rarely mentioned as symptoms, especially not as predominant ones. METHODS: We report five adult patients with frontal lobe epilepsy (FLE) who were treated with VPA and in whom a primary adverse effect was unstable gait and falls. RESULTS: There were four males and one female patients with FLE, 25-42-year-old, three following epilepsy surgery. All of them were treated with antiepileptic drug polytherapy. Gait instability with falls was one of the principal sequelae of the treatment. Patients also exhibited mild encephalopathy (all patients) and flapping tremor (three patients) that developed following the addition of VPA (three patients) and with chronic VPA treatment (two patients). VPA levels were within the reference range. Serum ammonia levels were significantly elevated (291-407 µmole/L, normal 20-85) with normal or slightly elevated liver enzymes. VPA dose reduction or discontinuation led to the return of ammonia levels to normal and resolution of the clinical symptoms, including seizures, which disappeared in two patients and either decreased in frequency or became shorter in duration in the other three. CONCLUSIONS: Gait instability due to hyperammonemia and VPA treatment is probably under-recognized in many patients. It can develop when the VPA levels are within the reference range and with normal or slightly elevated liver enzymes.

La ventilación asistida ajustada neuralmente incrementa la variabilidad respiración a respiración y mejora la sincronización paciente-ventilador / Neurally adjusted ventilatory assist increases respiratory variability and improves patient-ventilator synchronisation

No disponible

Artificially-induced organelles are optimal targets for optical trapping experiments in living cells.

Optical trapping supplies information on the structural, kinetic or rheological properties of inner constituents of the cell. However, the application of significant forces to intracellular objects is notoriously difficult due to a combination of factors, such as the small difference between the refractive indices of the target structures and the cytoplasm. Here we discuss the possibility of artificially inducing the formation of spherical organelles in the endoplasmic reticulum, which would contain densely packed engineered proteins, to be used as optimized targets for optical trapping experiments. The high index of refraction and large size of our organelles provide a firm grip for optical trapping and thereby allow us to exert large forces easily within safe irradiation limits. This has clear advantages over alternative probes, such as subcellular organelles or internalized synthetic beads.

Factores de riesgo de hipotermia al ingreso en el recién nacido de muy bajo peso y morbimortalidad asociada / Hypothermia risk factors in the very low weight newborn and associated morbidity and mortality in a neonatal care unit

INTRODUCCIÓN: El enfriamiento del recién nacido tras el parto puede interferir con la adaptación posnatal debido a posibles efectos metabólicos y hemodinámicos. Los factores relacionados con el mismo, así como su relación con la morbimortalidad neonatal no han sido estudiados de forma sistemática en nuestro medio. OBJETIVOS: Analizar la temperatura al ingreso en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales (UCIN) de los recién nacidos de muy bajo peso (RNMBP) y/o < 30 semanas de edad gestacional (EG), e identificar las variables perinatales que se asocian con una reducción de la misma, y su relación con la morbimortalidad neonatal. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron 635 RNMBP y/o menores de 30 semanas de EG nacidos en nuestra maternidad desde enero de 2006 a noviembre de 2012. Se llevó a cabo un análisis multivariante entre las variables perinatales y la temperatura al ingreso, y una remisión logística entre esta y las variables de morbimortalidad para establecer asociaciones independientes. RESULTADOS: El peso al nacimiento (PRN) y la EG (media ± DE) fueron 1.137,6 ± 257,6 g y 29,5 ± 2,8 semanas, respectivamente. La temperatura media al ingreso: 35,8 ± 0,6 ° C (rango: 33,0-37,8 °C); temperatura inferior de 36 °C: 44,4%. Las variables perinatales asociadas de forma independiente con la temperatura fueron la corioamnionitis, el PRN, el parto vaginal frente a cesárea y la reanimación cardiopulmonar (RCP) avanzada. Una menor temperatura al ingreso se asoció a un incremento en el riesgo de hemorragia intracraneal (HIV-MG) grados 3 y 4 (OR: 0,377; IC 95%: 0,221-0,643; p < 0,001) y de mortalidad (OR: 0,329; IC 95%: 0,208-0,519; p = 0,012). CONCLUSIONES: La proporción de RNMBP y/o < 30 semanas de EG que ingresan con hipotermia es elevada en nuestro medio. El PRN, el parto vaginal y la RCP avanzada fueron las principales variables relacionadas con la hipotermia, y esta se asoció con un mayor riesgo de HIV-MG y de mortalidad

INTRODUCTION: Heat loss in the newborn after delivery could interfere with post-natal adaptation due to metabolic and hemodynamic instability. Associated perinatal factors and their relationship with morbidity and mortality during the neonatal period have not been systematically studied in our unit. OBJECTIVES: To determine the temperature of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants on admission to our NICU, and to determine the associated perinatal variables, and the association of temperature with morbidity and mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Infants born in our maternity from January 2006 to November 2012, with birth weights (BW) 401 g to 1,499 g and/or less than 30 weeks gestational age, were included. A multivariate analysis was performed using the perinatal variables and the temperature on admission, as well as a logistic regression between these and the morbidity-mortality variables, in order to detect any independent associations. RESULTS: A total of 635 infants were included, with a mean (±SD) birth weight and gestational age of 1,137.6±257.6 g, and 29.5±2.0 weeks, respectively. The mean admission temperature was 35.8±0.6 ◦C (range: 33.0-37.8 ◦C). The proportion of infants with a temperature <36 ◦C was 44.4%. Independently associated perinatal variables were chorioamnionitis, birth weight, vaginal delivery, and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Admission hypothermia was associated with severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) (grades 3 and 4) (OR: 0.377; 95% CI: 0.221-0.643; P<0.001), and mortality (OR: 0.329; 95% CI: 0.208-0.519; P=0.012). CONCLUSIONS: Hypothermia on admission is frequent among our VLBW infants. Birth weight, vaginal delivery, and advanced CPR were the principal variables associated with hypothermia. A low temperature on admission was related to an increased risk of IVH and mortality

[Hypothermia risk factors in the very low weight newborn and associated morbidity and mortality in a neonatal care unit]. / Factores de riesgo de hipotermia al ingreso en el recién nacido de muy bajo peso y morbimortalidad asociada.

INTRODUCTION: Heat loss in the newborn after delivery could interfere with post-natal adaptation due to metabolic and hemodynamic instability. Associated perinatal factors and their relationship with morbidity and mortality during the neonatal period have not been systematically studied in our unit. OBJECTIVES: To determine the temperature of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants on admission to our NICU, and to determine the associated perinatal variables, and the association of temperature with morbidity and mortality. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Infants born in our maternity from January 2006 to November 2012, with birth weights (BW) 401 g to 1,499 g and/or less than 30 weeks gestational age, were included. A multivariate analysis was performed using the perinatal variables and the temperature on admission, as well as a logistic regression between these and the morbidity-mortality variables, in order to detect any independent associations. RESULTS: A total of 635 infants were included, with a mean (± SD) birth weight and gestational age of 1,137.6 ± 257.6g, and 29.5 ± 2.0 weeks, respectively. The mean admission temperature was 35.8 ± 0.6°C (range: 33.0-37.8°C). The proportion of infants with a temperature < 36°C was 44.4%. Independently associated perinatal variables were chorioamnionitis, birth weight, vaginal delivery, and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Admission hypothermia was associated with severe intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) (grades 3 and 4) (OR: 0.377; 95% CI: 0.221-0.643; P<.001), and mortality (OR: 0.329; 95% CI: 0.208-0.519; P=.012). CONCLUSIONS: Hypothermia on admission is frequent among our VLBW infants. Birth weight, vaginal delivery, and advanced CPR were the principal variables associated with hypothermia. A low temperature on admission was related to an increased risk of IVH and mortality.

Evaluación del estudio de contactos de tuberculosis en el Departamento de Salud 17 de Alicante / Assessment of tuberculosis contact tracing in the 17th health area in Alicante

Objetivo: Evaluar el estudio de contactos (EC) de tuberculosis realizado en nuestro servicio y analizar la demora en el diagnóstico y en la notificación de los casos de tuberculosis y el retraso en el inicio del EC. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo de los casos índices de tuberculosis y sus contactos declarados, además de la adecuación del manejo de los contactos estudiados, y se calculó la demora en el diagnóstico y la notificación de los casos de tuberculosis y la demora en el inicio del estudio de contactos. Resultados: La tasa global de tuberculosis encontrada fue de 10,91 por 100.000 habitantes durante el total de años de estudio. Se identificaron 128 casos de tuberculosis y 635 contactos. Para todos los casos de tuberculosis, la mediana de la demora diagnóstica total fue de 45 días, de la demora en la declaración de tres días y de la demora en el inicio del estudio de contactos de 9,5 días. Entre los contactos evaluados se diagnosticaron ocho nuevos casos de tuberculosis. En el 94,5% de los contactos estudiados el manejo fue adecuado. Conclusión: El manejo de los contactos de tuberculosis fue en su mayor parte adecuado. La demora diagnóstica para los casos de tuberculosis fue elevada, mientras que el retraso en la notificación de los casos de tuberculosis y en el inicio del estudio de contactos, estuvieron en límites normales (AU)

Objective: To assess the tuberculosis (TB) contact investigations conducted in our Department and to analyze the delay in diagnosis and reporting of TB cases and the delay in starting the contacts investigations. Methods: We carried out a retrospective observational study of the reported tuberculosis index cases and their contacts. We analyzed the adequacy of management of contacts investigations and calculated the delay in diagnosis and reporting of TB cases in addition to the delay in the onset of contacts study. Results: The overall rate of tuberculosis found was 10.91 per 100,000 inhabitants during the total years of study. We identified 635 contacts of 128 tuberculosis cases. The median from total diagnostic delay was 45 days, from delay in the notification three days and from delay in the start of contact investigations 9,5 days for all TB cases. Among the assessed contacts were diagnosed eight new TB cases during contact investigations. In the 94.5% of studied contacts the management was adequate. Conclusion: The management of TB contacts was mostly adequate. The delay in diagnosis for tuberculosis cases was elevated. The delay in the notification of tuberculosis cases and the delay in the start of contacts investigations were found within normal limits (AU)

Síndrome del Hamulus Pterigoideo / Pterygoid Hamulus Syndrome

El síndrome del Hamulus Pterigoideo se produce por una bursitis en el tendón del músculo tensor del velo del paladar. Presenta una patología dolorosa y muy variada dada la complejidad de la región y muchas veces este dolor puede enmascarar diferentes patologías que hay que diagnosticar y diferenciar. El tratamiento es multidisciplinario en muchos de los casos (AU)

The Pterygoid Hamulus Syndrome is produced by bursitis in the tendon of the tensormuscle of the soft palate. It presents a painful and varied pathology given the complexity of the region and many times this pain can mask different pathologies that must be diagnosed and differentiated. The treatment is multidisciplinary in many of the cases (AU)

Turismo, deportes de riesgo y barodontalgia / Tourism, high risk sports and barodontalgia

Se podría definir la barodontalgia, como dolores dentarios que surgen ante un disbarismo, por la incapacidad de la cámara pulpar para adecuar su presión interna ante cambios de la presión ambiental, tanto en ambientes hipo como hiperbáricos. hay numerosas hipótesis al respecto y numerosos factores involucrados. En este trabajo realizamos una revisión y puesta al día en este tema (AU)

Barodontalgia could be defined as dental pain occurring following a dysbarism, due to the incapacity of the pulp chamber to adjust its internal pressure in response to changes to ambient pressure, both in hyper and hypobaric conditions. There area number of hypotheses and a number of different factors are involved. This study provides a review and an update on the issue (AU)

Puesta al día en adhesivos para prótesis removibles / No disponible

Los adhesivos para prótesis removibles son un método alternativo para pacientes que presentan condiciones particulares por lo tanto es nuestra obligación como profesionales estar debidamente informados para poder prescribirlos adecuadamente, conociendo sus presentaciones, formulaciones, indicaciones y contraindicaciones para cada tipo de paciente y sus circunstancias particulares (AU)

The adhesives for removable prostheses are an alternative method for patients that present particular conditions on which it is our obligation as professionals to be duly informed in order to be able to prescribe them appropriately, knowing their presentations, formulas, indications and contraindications for each type of patient and their particular circumstances (AU)