How advances in low-g plumbing enable space exploration.

In many ways, plumbing is essential to life support. In fact, the advance of humankind on Earth is directly linked to the advance of clean, healthy, reliable plumbing solutions. Shouldn't this also be true for the advancement of humankind in space? Unfortunately, the reliability of even the simplest plumbing element aboard spacecraft is rarely that of its terrestrial counterpart. This state of affairs is due entirely to the near-weightless "low-g" state of orbiting and coast spacecraft. But the combined passive capillary effects of surface tension, wetting, and system geometry in space can be exploited to replace the passive role of gravity on earth, and thus achieve similar outcomes there. In this paper, we review a selection of experiments conducted in low-g environments (i.e., ISS and drop towers) that focus on capillary fluidic phenomena. The results of each experiment are highly applicable to subsequent advances in spacecraft plumbing. With examples ranging from spurious droplet ejections to passive bubble coalescence, to droplet bouncing, to complex container wicking, we show how simple low-g demonstrations can lead to significant reliability improvements in practical passive plumbing processes from pipetting to liquid-gas separations, to wastewater transport, to drinking in space.

Microsurgical reconstruction in limb salvage due to a giant cell tumor of the distal radius. Case report.

The giant cell tumor of bone is one of the most controversial neoplasms due to growth patterns that may present. The case reported shows a very aggressive tumor in a classic location, but key to hand function. Rather than treat with radical surgery, was planned and performed a wide resection with an ulnar-carpus arthrodesis and microsurgical reconstruction of the defect throught an anterolateral thigh flap. The multidisciplinary approach of bone neoplasms produce a positive impact on patients.

El tumor óseo de células gigantes es una de las neoplasias más controversiales debido a los patrones de crecimiento que pueden presentar. El caso reportado muestra un tumor muy agresivo en una localización clásica, pero clave para la función de la mano. En lugar de tratarla mediante cirugía radical, se planeó y realizó una resección amplia con artrodesis cúbito-carpiana y la reconstrucción microquirúrgica del defecto mediante un colgajo anterolateral de muslo. El abordaje multidisciplinario de las neoplasias óseas repercute positivamente en los pacientes.

Frequency of dental caries in active and inactive systemic lupus erythematous patients: salivary and bacterial factors.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine dental caries frequency and to analyze salivary and bacterial factors associated with active and inactive systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) patients. Also, a proposal to identify dental caries by a surface, teeth, and the patient was developed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, blinded study that included 60 SLE patients divided into two groups of 30 subjects each, according to the Activity Index for Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLEDAI). The decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index and Integrative Dental Caries Index (IDCI) were used for analyzing dental caries. The saliva variables recorded were: flow, pH, and buffer capacity. The DNA copies of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus were estimated by real-time PCR. RESULTS: The caries frequency was 85% for SLE subjects (73.3% for inactive systemic lupus erythematous (ISLE) and 100% for active systemic lupus erythematous (ASLE)); DMFT for the SLE group was 12.6 ± 5.7 and the IDCI was (9.8 ± 5.9). The ASLE group showed a salivary flow of 0.65 compared with 0.97 ml/1 min from the ISLE group; all variables mentioned above showed a statistical difference (p < 0.05). The salivary pH was 4.6 (6.06 for ISLE and 3.9 for ASLE). The DNA copies of S. mutans and S. sobrinus were high; all variables mentioned above show a significant statistical difference (p < 0.05) between groups. CONCLUSION: SLE patients had high DMFT and IDCI scores that were associated with a decrease in salivary flow, pH, and buffer capacity. There were high counts of S. sobrinus and S. mutans species, and IDCI is a useful tool to provide more detail about dental caries in epidemiological studies.

[Origin of surgical metastatic bone disease]. / Origen de la enfermedad ósea metastática quirúrgica.

BACKGROUND: Metastatic bone disease should be considered as a public health problem. The alterations it may cause include pain that is refractory to medical treatment, metabolic instability, pathologic fractures and spinal disorders. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The primary tumor site that led to the need for surgery was investigated in a series of patients with a diagnosis of metastatic bone disease. The bone involved and the histology of the lesions were also studied. RESULTS: Kidney cancer was the one that most frequently required a surgical procedure; it was followed by breast and prostate cancer. The primary tumor was not found in 6.36% of cases. The bones affected by the lesions studied were as follows in order of occurrence: femur, spine, humerus and pelvis. Adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological diagnosis. DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of metastatic bone disease should always be considered in patients over forty years of age with skeletal lesions, preferably lytic. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, kidney cancer, the proximal limbs and adenocarcinomas were the variables that most frequently produced metastatic bone lesions that warranted a surgical procedure.

[The art of diagnosing bone tumors]. / El arte de diagnosticar tumores oseos.

Bone tumors are infrequent and at times difficult to diagnose, especially when the medical team is not familiar enough with this type of pathology. A close relationship between the surgeon, the radiologist and the pathologist is necessary to diagnose bone neoplasias. A thorough case history and physical exam are mandatory to get the first clinical impression. After the former aspects, conventional radiology offers a powerful tool for the characterization and differential diagnosis of bone tumors and seudotumor lesions. Patient age and radiologic findings are very important to reach a diagnosis. Supplementary studies contribute to stage the lesion and guide the biopsy and they are necessary to plan the definitive surgery. Biopsy is a very important procedure that should be performed at the hospital by the surgeon who will later perform the definitive surgery. When the pathologist gets the tissue specimen, regardless of the type of biopsy, the entire patient history should be considered before making the final diagnosis.

[Massive allograft and wrist arthrodesis for a giant cell tumor of the distal radius. Report of two cases and literature review]. / Aloinjerto masivo y artrodesis de la muñieca para un tumor de células gigantes del radio distal. Reporte de dos casos y revisión de la literatura.

INTRODUCTION: The giant cell tumor represents 5% of all the primary bone tumors and 20% of the benign bone neoplasias. The most common locations are the distal femur and the proximal tibia (50%) as well as the distal radius (10%). Treatment methods include the intralesional resection of the latent and active tumors, and broad resection for the aggressive lesions. The wrist reconstruction after broad resection of the distal radius represents a challenge for the orthopedic surgeon. OBJECTIVE: To present 2 clinical cases of patients diagnosed with giant cell tumor of the distal radius who were treated with broad resection and placement of a massive allograft with wrist arthrodesis. To perform a bibliographic review and the analysis of the different treatment methods described. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Description of the treatment and course of each case, as well as a bibliographic review and the analysis of the treatments found. RESULTS: Radiologic data of the allograft integration at 11 months and a functionality which was compatible with all the activities of daily living. DISCUSSION: The massive allograft of the distal radius with wrist arthrodesis represents a very safe and appropriate option for the reconstruction of this anatomic segment after broad resection.

[Complications of oncologic hemipelvectomy]. / Complicaciones en hemipelvectomía oncológica.

INTRODUCTION: The treatment of bone pelvic tumors is associated with high compli cation rates. The surgeon usually has to decide between external and internal hemipelvectomy. OBJECTIVE: To describe the frequency of infectious and wound-related complications in a group of patients undergoing hemipelvectomy for different types of musculoskeletal tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is an observational, descriptive, retrospective study with a single measurement. We observed the complications that occurred in eight patients treated with different modalities of hemipelvectomy without reconstruction. Infectious and wound-related complications were described as follows: a) no complications, b) seroma, c) hematoma, d) mild infectious process, e) moderate infectious process, f) severe infectious process, and g) flap necrosis. Internal hemipelvectomies were classified usin Enneking and Dunham's criteria. RESULTS: Eight patients were assessed. Five patients underwent external hemipelvectomy and three internal hemipelvectomy. Two patients had no complications (25%), three had seromas (37.5%), one patient wa treated for a mild infectious process (12.5%) and two for severe infectious processes (25%). 75% of the patients had complications. No cases of flap necrosis were observed. DISCUSSION: The surgeon decides which the best procedure in each case is. Different types of complications of hemipelvectomy have been reported; the most common ones are infectious processes and flap necrosis, and our results are similar to those reported by other authors. CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic bone tumors are usually large masses that hinder the achievement of tumor-free surgical margins. There is a high likelihood of postoperative wound complications.

[Comparative evaluation of bone mineral density in Mexican women using x-ray bone densitometry and ultrasound]. / Evaluación comparativa de la densidad mineral ósea en mujeres mexicanas entre el osteodensitómetro de rayos X y de ultrasonido.

With lifestyle changes in women, smoking and use of beverages with caffeine, and sedentarism increasing, so the risk factors for decalcification, increase; which is a public health problem by the higher incidence of osteoporotic fractures, as the age advances, specially in the postmenopause woman, which means a greater secondary morbidity-mortality; an important cause of physical disability, which directly affects psychoemotional wellbeing in women. In this study two methods of bone densitometry, were used; one of x ray, and other with ultrasound in 138 women during postmenopause with an average index of corporal mass of 29. Both results were compared of bone density, T measurement with osteopenia and osteoporosis. Double densitometry, was done in the 138 patients of lumbar spine with DEXA equipment, and of calcaneum with DTU-one equipment, by the same technician, finding the difference of T punctuation in this double study.

[Relation between body mass index and bone mineral density in a sample population of Mexican women]. / Relación del índice de masa corporal con la densidad mineral ósea en una población de mujeres mexicanas.

The purpose of this trial is to demonstrate that a women with high body mass index (BMI > or = 28) has greater bone mineral density (BMD) from that with lower BMI. We studied 922 healthy women who met the inclusion criteria. They were classified into four groups according to their BMI (> or = 28 and < 28) and age (> or = 35 and < 35 years). Bone mineral measurement was performed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in the hip and at the lumbar region. BMD in overweight women older than 35 years was significantly higher in comparison with that of women with lower BMI, both in the hip and the lumbar spine. In overweight women younger than 35 years, we found greater BMD in the hip reaching statistical significance, but not at the lumbar spine. We conclude that obesity is associated with greater BMD (4% at the lumbar spine; 11% at the hip) probably due to both greater physical stress and higher estrogen levels.