Evaluation of Anti-Cytotoxic and Anti-Genotoxic Effects of Nigella sativa through a Micronucleus Test in BALB/c Mice.

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is a medicinal plant used for its therapeutic pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, and immunomodulation. This study explored the anti-cytotoxic and anti-genotoxic effect of N. sativa through a micronucleus test (MNT) of BALB/c mice peripheral blood. Using 6-to-8-week-old healthy male BALB/c mice, four groups were formed: (1) Control (sterile water), single-dose 2 mg/kg/intraperitoneal (i.p); (2) N. sativa oil, 500 mg/kg/24 h/7 days/i.p; (3) Cisplatin (CP), single-dose 2 mg/kg/subcutaneous (s.c); (4) N. sativa + CP with their respective dosage. When evaluating polychromatic erythrocytes (PCE), a biomarker of cytotoxicity, the group treated with N. sativa + CP experienced an increase in the frequency of PCE, which demonstrated the recovery of bone marrow and modulation of cell proliferation. The analysis of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE), an acute genotoxicity biomarker, showed similar frequency of MNPCE within the groups except in CP, but, in the N. sativa + CP group, the frequency of MNPCE decreased and then regulated. Finally, the frequency of micronucleated erythrocytes (MNE), a biomarker of genotoxicity, the supplementation of N. sativa oil did not induce genotoxic damage in this model. Thus, we conclude that N. sativa has both cytoprotective, genoprotective effects and modulates cell proliferation in BALB/c mice.

Separation of Partial Discharge Sources Measured in the High-Frequency Range with HFCT Sensors Using PRPD-teff Patterns.

During the last two decades, on-line partial discharge (PD) measurements have been proven as a very efficient test to evaluate the insulation condition of high-voltage (HV) installations in service. Among the different PD-measuring techniques, the non-conventional electromagnetic methods are the most used due to their effectiveness and versatility. However, there are two main difficulties to overcome in on-line PD measurements when these methods are applied: the ambient electric noise and the simultaneous presence of various types of PD or pulse-shaped signals in the HV facility to be evaluated. A practical and effective method is presented to separate and identify PD sources acting simultaneously in HV systems under test. This method enables testers to carry out a first accurate diagnosis of the installation while performing the measurements in situ with non-invasive high-frequency current transformers (HFCT) used as sensors. The data acquisition in real-time reduces the time of postprocessing by an expert. This method was implemented in a Matlab application named PRPD-time tool, which consists of the analysis of the Phase-Resolved Partial Discharge (PRPD) pattern in combination with two types of interactive graphic representations. These graphical depictions are obtained including a feature parameter, effective time (teff), related to the duration of single measured pulses as a third axis incorporated in a classical PRPD representation, named the PRPD-teff pattern. The resulting interactive diagrams are complementary and allow the pulse source separation of pulses and clustering. The effectiveness of the proposed method and the developed Matlab application for separating PD sources is demonstrated with a practical laboratory experiment where various PD sources and pulse-type noise interferences were simultaneously measured.

Giant mesenteric cyst from the small bowel mesentery in a young adult patient.

Mesenteric cysts are rare tumors, they can emerge from any part of the mesentery of the bowel from the duodenum to the rectum. Their symptomatology can mimic almost any abdominal disease making diagnosis troublesome. In some circumstances, these cysts can grow to considerable sizes making resection almost impossible since its size can compromise different structures. Surgery is the treatment of choice as complete resection is the only curative treatment. We present a case of a female patient, she suffered from recurrent episodes of abdominal pain mistaken as gastritis. After a profound evaluation, a giant mass in her abdomen was identified and successfully treated. Giant primary mesenteric cyst was the final diagnosis.

Celulitis graves en la edad pediátrica / Severe cellulitis in pediatric age

Las celulitis graves en la edad pediátrica son poco frecuentes, pero una vez establecidas tienen alta morbimortalidad. Objetivos: demostrar que con el diagnóstico oportuno y el tratamiento quirúrgico urgente se logra una franca disminución de la morbimortalidad. Resultados: se presentan 33 pacientes, 19 varones y 14 niñas. El rango de edades fue de 4 días a 14 años, con una media de 2,4 años. Todos presentaron proceso infeccioso grave con necrosis cutánea y del tejido celular. Predominaron en miembros, abdomen y pelvis. El 93 por ciento presentó síndrome toxiinfeccioso grave. El germen predominante fue el estafilococo dorado. El diagnóstico de celulitis grave debe ser clínico. El tratamiento fue resección y debridamiento con etapa previa de reanimación de Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo. Conclusiones: el mejor resultado se obtiene con un diagnóstico oportuno y tratamiento quirúrgico antes de las 24 horas

Generación termoeléctrica y contaminación atmosférica

A partir de 1994, mediante un acuerdo de cooperación entre la Secretaría de Energía, la Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica y el Ente Nacional Regulador de la Electricidad, el Grupo Monitoreo Ambiental realiza mediciones de los principales contaminantes provenientes de la combustión fósil tanto en las chimeneas de centrales termoeléctricas como en el aire ambiente en la vecindad de las mismas. Aquí se presentan resultados de factores de emisión de óxidos de nitrógeno, diagnósticos del vínculo fuente-receptor a través de redes neuronales y una revisión del desarrollo de la Guía Metodológica para la Evaluación del Impacto Ambiental Atmosférico