Bioactive pectic polysaccharides from bay tree pruning waste: Sequential subcritical water extraction and application in active food packaging.

The potential isolation of bio-active polysaccharides from bay tree pruning waste was studied using sequential subcritical water extraction using different time-temperature combinations. The extracted polysaccharides were highly enriched in pectins while preserving their high molecular mass (10-100 kDa), presenting ideal properties for its application as additive in food packaging. Pectin-enriched chitosan films were prepared, improving the optical properties (≥95% UV-light barrier capacity), antioxidant capacity (˃95% radical scavenging activity) and water vapor permeability (≤14 g·Pa-1·s-1·m-1·10-7) in comparison with neat chitosan-based films. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of chitosan was maintained in the hybrid films. Addition of 10% of pectins improved mechanical properties, increasing the Young's modulus 12%, and the stress resistance in 51%. The application of pectin-rich fractions from bay tree pruning waste as an additive in active food packaging applications, with triple action as antioxidant, barrier, and antimicrobial has been demonstrated.

Úlcera de Mooren: 30 años de seguimiento / Mooren's ulcer: 30 years of follow-up

CASO CLÍNICO: Mujer de 33 años de raza blanca que consultó por sensación de cuerpo extraño, epífora y dolor intenso, de un mes de evolución, en ambos ojos (AO). El examen biomicroscópico objetivó una úlcera corneal periférica bilateral. Precisó tratamiento con inmunomoduladores y fue intervenida en el ojo izquierdo de queratoplastia en corona semi-circular, queratoplastia penetrante, conjuntivo-córneo-escleroplastia, recubrimiento de mucosa bucal, osteo-queratoprótesis tibial y, finalmente, de desprendimiento de retina. DISCUSIÓN: La úlcera de Mooren es una afección corneal inmunológica que requiere tratamiento inmunomodulador, reservándose el quirúrgico ante el riesgo inminente de perforación, cuando esta ha ocurrido, o en los casos de necrosis aguda

CASE REPORT: A 33-year-old Caucasian female presented with epiphora, ocular pain, and foreign body sensation in both eyes for one month. Examination revealed bilateral peripheral corneal ulcers. The patient had been treated with immunomodulators, and she was treated in the left eye with peripheral semi-circular keratoplasty, penetrating keratoplasty, conjunctival-corneal-scleroplasty, buccal mucosal graft, tibial osteo-keratoprosthesis and finally, retinal detachment. DISCUSSION: Mooren's ulcer is an immunological corneal disease. This lesion must be treated initially with immunomodulators. Surgical treatment should be considered when a risk of corneal perforation is present, when the perforation appears, or under acute necrosis

Mooren's ulcer: 30 years of follow-up. / Úlcera de Mooren: 30 años de seguimiento.

CASE REPORT: A 33-year-old Caucasian female presented with epiphora, ocular pain, and foreign body sensation in both eyes for one month. Examination revealed bilateral peripheral corneal ulcers. The patient had been treated with immunomodulators, and she was treated in the left eye with peripheral semi-circular keratoplasty, penetrating keratoplasty, conjunctival-corneal-scleroplasty, buccal mucosal graft, tibial osteo-keratoprosthesis and finally, retinal detachment. DISCUSSION: Mooren's ulcer is an immunological corneal disease. This lesion must be treated initially with immunomodulators. Surgical treatment should be considered when a risk of corneal perforation is present, when the perforation appears, or under acute necrosis.

Queratitis fúngica por Colletotrichum gloeosporioides resistente a tratamiento / Treatment resistant fungal keratitis caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

CASO CLÍNICO: Mujer de 56 años, que sufrió un traumatismo con rama de naranjo en el ojo izquierdo. Durante 40 días después desarrolla una infección ocular positiva para Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (C. gloeosporioides). El paciente no respondió al tratamiento clásico ni al cross-linking y tuvo que ser mediante queratoplastia con complicaciones intraoperatorias y postoperatorias. DISCUSIÓN: Las infecciones oculares por Colletotrichum gloeosporioides pueden ser refractarias al tratamiento tradicional así como a nuevas terapias como el cross-linking

CASE REPORT: A 56 year old woman suffered corneal injury from a branch of an orange tree. Forty days later she suffered a severe ocular infection, positive to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (C. gloeosporioides). The patient did not respond to traditional treatment or crosslinking, and had to be treated with keratoplasty, suffering intraoperative and postoperative complications. DISCUSSION: Ocular infections due to C. gloeosporioides can occasionally be refractory to traditional and new treatments, such as crosslinking

Treatment resistant fungal keratitis caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides.

CASE REPORT: A 56 year old woman suffered corneal injury from a branch of an orange tree. Forty days later she suffered a severe ocular infection, positive to Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (C. gloeosporioides). The patient did not respond to traditional treatment or crosslinking, and had to be treated with keratoplasty, suffering intraoperative and postoperative complications. DISCUSSION: Ocular infections due to C. gloeosporioides can occasionally be refractory to traditional and new treatments, such as crosslinking.

Síndrome de Stickler. Epidemiología del desprendimiento de la retina / Stickler syndrome. Epidemiology of retinal detachment

OBJETIVO: Revisión de todos los pacientes con síndrome de Stickler que se han tratado en nuestro centro desde su descripción, para valorar el riesgo de padecer desprendimiento de la retina (DR). MÉTODOS: Un total de 14 pacientes, diagnosticados por criterios clínicos, en los que hemos valorado las siguientes variables: sexo, edad, antecedentes oculares, seguimiento, agudeza visual (AV) inicial y final, refracción, tratamiento profiláctico, cirugías y la técnica empleada. Mediante el análisis de curva de supervivencia de Kaplan-Meier hemos determinado la edad riesgo de padecer DR así como cataratas. RESULTADOS: En total fueron 5 hombres y 9 mujeres. La AV mediana inicial fue de 0,35, igual que la AV final. Refracción mediana de −9,5 dioptrías de miopía. La mediana de seguimiento de 7 años. Los antecedentes oculares fueron 4 DR y 2 Lasik. Las cirugías que realizamos han sido 8 DR, 12 cataratas, 2 glaucomas, 2 agujeros maculares y una endotropía. La mediana de años en el que sucedió el DR fue de 20 y las cataratas a los 34. La técnica quirúrgica utilizada en 4 casos ha sido el cerclaje y en los otros 4 restantes cerclaje con vitrectomía vía pars plana. Un total de 6 ojos han sido tratados profilácticamente: uno con cerclaje, 4 con fotocoagulación láser y otro con criocoagulación; de estos, 2 han presentado DR. CONCLUSIONES: En nuestra serie, el DR en esta dolencia se desarrolla mayoritariamente en la segunda década de la vida. Las cataratas, fundamentalmente en la cuarta década

OBJECTIVE: A review was performed on all patients with Stickler syndrome that had been treated in our Centre since it was diagnosed, in order to evaluate the risk of suffering a retinal detachment (RD). METHODS: A total of 14 patients, diagnosed by clinical criteria, were included. The following variables were evaluated: age, gender, ocular background, follow-up, initial and final visual acuity (VA), optical prescription, prophylactic treatment, surgery and techniques performed. The risk age to suffer a RD, as well as cataracts, was determined by using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis. RESULTS: From a total of 5 men and 9 women, the median initial VA was 0.35, which was the same as the final VA. The median optical prescription was -9.5 D myopia. The median of follow-up was 7 years. Ocular background was 4 RD cases and 2 Lasik surgeries. The operations performed were 8 RD, 12 cataract, 2 glaucoma, 2 macular hole, and one endotropia. The median age of RD was 20 years and cataract 34 years. As regards surgical tecnique, 4 scleral buckle cases, and 4 scleral buckle + pars plana vitrectomy cases were formed. The prophylactic treatments performed were: one scleral buckle case, 4 endolaser photocoagulation, and one cryotherapy. Two of which presented with RD. CONCLUSION: In the series presented, retinal detachment in Stickler syndrome mainly occurs in the second decade of life, with cataracts mainly developing in the fourth decade

Stickler syndrome. Epidemiology of retinal detachment.

OBJECTIVE: A review was performed on all patients with Stickler syndrome that had been treated in our Centre since it was diagnosed, in order to evaluate the risk of suffering a retinal detachment (RD). METHODS: A total of 14 patients, diagnosed by clinical criteria, were included. The following variables were evaluated: age, gender, ocular background, follow-up, initial and final visual acuity (VA), optical prescription, prophylactic treatment, surgery and techniques performed. The risk age to suffer a RD, as well as cataracts, was determined by using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve analysis. RESULTS: From a total of 5 men and 9 women, the median initial VA was 0.35, which was the same as the final VA. The median optical prescription was -9.5 D myopia. The median of follow-up was 7 years. Ocular background was 4 RD cases and 2 Lasik surgeries. The operations performed were 8 RD, 12 cataract, 2 glaucoma, 2 macular hole, and one endotropia. The median age of RD was 20 years and cataract 34 years. As regards surgical tecnique, 4 scleral buckle cases, and 4 scleral buckle+pars plana vitrectomy cases were formed. The prophylactic treatments performed were: one scleral buckle case, 4 endolaser photocoagulation, and one cryotherapy. Two of which presented with RD. CONCLUSION: In the series presented, retinal detachment in Stickler syndrome mainly occurs in the second decade of life, with cataracts mainly developing in the fourth decade.

[Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): identification of infants at risk and their home monitoring. Apropos of 25 cases]. / El síndrome de la muerte súbita del lactante (SMSL): identificación de lactantes de riesgo y su monitorización domiciliaria. A propósito de 25 casos.

The SIDS problem is an important medicosocial question therefore it is necessary to identify the high risk infants in order to try to avoid it. We discuss our two years experience in a Home Apnea Monitoring Program. This article includes the first 25 children on home monitoring: 13 infants. 4 preterms and 8 SIDS siblings. We explain the apnea presentation form, the differential diagnosis methods and the diagnosis protocol for the different high risk groups. We speak about the different information obtained through the Pneumocardiogram (PNG), pH metric, the polysomnogram (PSG).... and the indications for Home Apnea Monitoring and the family role in this program. At the end we indicate that it is necessary to have more information and investigation about SIDS in our country.

[Herpetic encephalitis in children. Study of 9 cases]. / Encefalitis herpética en el niño. Estudio de nueve casos.

Here we review nine cases of children with herpetic encephalitis (EH) admitted to the "San Juan de Dios" Hospital in Barcelona from 1976 to 1983. Of particular significance is the average age of 3,2 years, initial respiratory symptoms, fever and seizures in the majority of the cases. The EEG showed in every case short focal periodic activity from the 3rd to the 8th day of the illness, with normal CT-scan in 5 patients from the 5th to the 9th day. All the patients showed deterioration in the course of the illness, with serious sequels or death. We support an early herpetic encephalitis diagnosis and its treatment (ARA-A or Acyclovir) based on the clinical symptoms, the characteristic EEG, and a normal initial CT-scan. Antibodies levels and evolution will confirm or deny the diagnosis, without the need for a cerebral biopsy.