Malic acid or orthophosphoric acid-heat treatments for protecting sunflower (Helianthus annuus) meal proteins against ruminal degradation and increasing intestinal amino acid supply.

The protection of sunflower meal (SFM) proteins by treatments with solutions of malic acid (1 M) or orthophosphoric acid (0.67 M) and heat was studied in a 3 × 3 Latin-square design using three diets and three rumen and duodenum cannulated wethers. Acid solutions were applied to SFM at a rate of 400 ml/kg under continuous mixing. Subsequently, treated meals were dried in an oven at 150°C for 6 h. Diets (ingested at 75 g/kg BW0.75) were isoproteic and included 40% Italian ryegrass hay and 60% concentrate. The ratio of untreated to treated SFM in the concentrate was 100 : 0 in the control diet and around 40 : 60 in diets including acid-treated meals. The use of acid-treated meals did not alter either ruminal fermentation or composition of rumen contents and led to moderate reductions of the rumen outflow rates of untreated SFM particles, whereas it did not affect their comminution and mixing rate. In situ effective estimates of by-pass (BP) and its intestinal effective digestibility (IED) of dry matter (DM), CP and amino acids (AAs) were obtained considering both rates and correcting the particle microbial contamination in the rumen using 15N infusion techniques. Estimates of BP and IED decreased applying microbial correction, but these variations were low in agreement with the small contamination level. Protective treatments increased on average the BP of DM (48.5%) and CP (267%), mainly decreasing both the soluble fraction and the degradation rate but also increasing the undegradable fraction, which was higher using orthophosphoric acid. Protective treatments increased the IED of DM (108%) and CP, but this increase was lower using orthophosphoric acid (11.8%) than malic acid (20.7%). Concentrations of AA were similar among all meals, except for a reduction in lysine concentrations using malic acid (16.3%) or orthophosphoric acid (20.5%). Protective treatments also increased on average the BP of all AA, as well as the IED of most of them. Evidence of higher increases for those AA showing a high resistance to degradation in the untreated meal were also observed. The total supply of metabolisable AA was increased by 3.87 times for sulphur-containing AA, whereas that of lysine was increased by 2.5 times, mainly because of lysine losses with heat treatments. These treatments and especially that with malic acid would be useful to increase the protein value of these meals but their combined use with lysine-rich protein concentrates would improve the metabolisable protein profile.

[Clinical presentation, diagnosis, and long-term outcome of 29 patients with Wilson's disease]. / Presentación clínica, diagnóstico y evolución a largo plazo en 29 pacientes con enfermedad de Wilson.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical characteristics, treatment, and follow-up of a cohort of 29 patients with Wilson's disease (WD) within the region of Murcia. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of 29 cases of WD (mean age, 20.3 +/- 13.4 years) diagnosed during the last 16 years. RESULTS: The most frequent reason for consultation was upon discovering a high transaminase level in almost half the patients, followed by tremors or dystonia in 17% of patients, respectively. A Kayser-Fleischer ring was observed in 17/29 (58.6%) of patients (100% of patients with pure neurological involvement and 35% of patients with pure clinical hepatic disease; p < 0.001). Blood copper levels not associated with ceruloplasmin as well as cupruria were notably superior in patients with neurological symptoms and in those with liver cirrhosis at the time of diagnosis. Patient clinical symptoms remained stable with D-penicillamine or trientine, or improved during the observation period, for 18 out of 29 patients (62%), while 11 out of 29 patients (38%) got worse. CONCLUSIONS: In our region patients with WD are diagnosed at a younger age, and in most cases for hepatic disease. Patients with neurological disease or liver cirrhosis had a high level of free copper not associated to ceruloplasmin and cupruria. The disease had a favorable evolution in all patients but those diagnosed with hepatic disease or advanced neurological disease.

Strontium levels in different causes of death: diagnostic efficacy in drowning.

Trace element determination can be applied in forensic medicine to diagnose the cause of death. Drowning is the second leading cause of death from unintentional injury. Despite the many diagnostic methods used, the post-mortem diagnosis of drowning continues to be one of the most difficult in forensic pathology. Strontium is a highly sensitive marker of water aspiration in a liquid medium rich in this metal. The aims of this study were to confirm the diagnostic value of strontium in cases of drowning compared with other causes of death, to analyse factors that could affect its concentration and to ascertain the sensitivity and specificity of strontium in right and left ventricles and peripheral serum for the post-mortem diagnosis of drowning. We studied 120 cadavers selected from medico-legal autopsies with different causes of death. Strontium (Sr) levels were measured in the serum (left and right ventricles and peripheral vein) of all cadavers and, in the case of drowning, in the water medium itself, by using Zeeman AAS. Our results confirm the usefulness of blood Sr levels for diagnosing seawater and freshwater drowning, although great care should be exercised in the latter case.

Solid phase microextraction as a methodology in the detection of irradiation markers in ground beef.

The usefulness of solid phase microextraction (SPME) to detect the occurrence of the irradiation markers 2-dodecylcyclobutanone (2-DCB) and 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzene in irradiated ground beef was evaluated. To that aim, beef samples were irradiated with different irradiation doses and subsequently examined together with non-irradiated beef samples used as control samples. The SPME conditions applied were selected as a result of performing an optimization process including different fibers (PDMS, DVB/CAR/PDMS, polyacrylate and PDMS/DVB), as well as extraction times (10, 25 and 40min) and temperatures (40 and 60°C). For comparison, 2-DCB and 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzene were additionally identified in some of the samples by steam distillation-solvent extraction (SDE). Although this study is a preliminary work, from the results obtained SPME seemed to be a rapid and valuable technique to determine 2-DCB and 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzene in ground beef subjected to irradiation, offering advantages over other methods reported in the literature. In addition, SPME allowed to confirm the validity of 2-DCB as an useful marker to distinguish non-irradiated from irradiated ground beef. On the contrary, the occurrence of 1,3-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)benzene was however established in both types of samples by SPME and SDE.

[Spontaneous urinary bladder perforation after pediatric cystoplasty]. / Perforación vesical espontánea tras cistoplastia en la infancia.

OBJECTIVE: The spontaneous cystoplasty perforation is a serious and potentially fatal problem if a delay in diagnosis and treatment occurs. We pretend: 1) to look for prevention analyzing the risk factors, 2) to identify the main data of diagnostic suspicion and 3) to evaluate the result of the treatments done. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Out of 30 children with cystoplasty 5 of them have presented 8 perforations (16,6%). Several influential factors, the symptoms, the treatments and the evolution are reviewed. RESULTS: The average time between cystoplasty and the perforation was 8,2 years. A urethral resistance that allows continence, and an insufficient intermittent catheterization, have been the main risk factors. In the 8 episodes there were abdominal pain and distension. The ultrasonography showed intraperitoneal extravasation in 5 episodes, multiple peritoneal cysts in one, and suggestive image of appendicular plastron in another one. The cystography showed intraperitoneal extravasation only in 3 cases. The initial management was conservative in the 7 episodes diagnosed before surgery, and 3 had a good evolution (42,8%); the other 4 needed surgery with good evolution in all cases. Two of 5 patients (40%) presented 3 relapses in an average time of 5 years. The survival is 100%. CONCLUSIONS: 16,6% of patients with cystoplasty of this series had one or more episodes of spontaneous bladder perforation. The more significant risk factors are a high urethral resistance and an inadequate intermittent catheterization. The patients with cystoplasty, and their families, must know this complication, their risk factors and symptoms to prevent it, or to facilitate an early diagnosis.

Perforación vesical espontánea tras cistoplastia en la infancia / Spontaneous urinary bladder perforation after pediatric cystoplasty

Objetivos: La perforación espontánea de una cistoplastia es un problema grave y potencialmente fatal, si no se diagnostica y se trata a tiempo. Se pretende: 1) buscar una prevención analizando los factores de riesgo, 2) identificarlos principales datos de sospecha diagnóstica y 3) valorar el resultado de los tratamientos realizados. Material y Método: De 30 pacientes pediátricos con cistoplastia, 5 presentaron 8 perforaciones (16,6%). Se revisan los diversos factores influyentes, la clínica, los tratamientos y la evolución. Resultados: El tiempo medio transcurrido entre la cistoplastia y la perforación fue 8,2 años. Los principales factores de riesgo han sido una resistencia uretral que permitía continencia, y una insuficiente realización temporal del sondaje intermitente (SI). En los 8 episodios hubo dolor y distensión abdominal. La ecografía mostró líquido libre intraperitoneal en 5, múltiples quistes peritoneales en 1, e imagen sugestiva de plastrón apendicular en otro. La cistografía sólo mostró paso de contraste a la cavidad peritoneal en 3. El tratamiento inicial fue conservador, sin cirugía, en los 7 episodios diagnosticados preoperatoriamente, siendo la evolución favorable en 3(42,8%); los otros 4 necesitaron tratamiento quirúrgico, con buena evolución en todos. De los 5 pacientes, 2 (40%) presentaron 3 recidivas en un tiempo medio de 5 años. La supervivencia es del 100 %.Conclusiones: El 16,6% de los pacientes con cistoplastia de esta serie, ha tenido uno o más episodios de perforación vesical espontánea. Los factores de riesgo más significativos son una resistencia uretral alta y la inadecuada realización del SI. Los pacientes con cistoplastia y sus familias deben conocer esta complicación, sus factores de riesgo y sus síntomas, para prevenirla o facilitar un diagnóstico precoz (AU)

Objective: The spontaneous cystoplasty perforation is a serious and potentially fatal problem if a delay in diagnosis and treatment occurs. We pretend: 1) to look for prevention analyzing the risk factors, 2) to identify the main data of diagnostic suspicion and 3) to evaluate the result of the treatments done. Material and Methods: Out of 30 children with cystoplasty 5 of them have presented 8 perforations (16,6%). Several influential factors, the symptoms, the treatments and the evolution are reviewed. Results: The average time between cystoplasty and the perforation was 8,2 years. A urethral resistance that allows continence, and an insufficient intermittent catheterization, have been the main risk factors. In the 8 episodes there were abdominal pain and distension. The ultrasonography showed intraperitoneal extravasation in 5 episodes, multiple peritoneal cysts in one, and suggestive image of appendicular plastron in another one. The cystography showed intraperitoneal extravasation only in 3 cases. The initial management was conservative in the 7 episodes diagnosed before surgery, and 3 had a good evolution (42,8%); the other 4 needed surgery with good evolution in all cases. Two of 5 patients (40%) presented 3 relapses in an average time of 5 years. The survival is 100%. Conclusions: 16,6% of patients with cystoplasty of this series had one or more episodes of spontaneous bladder perforation. The more significant risk factors are a high urethral resistance and an inadequate intermittent catheterization. The patients with cystoplasty, and their families, must know this complication, their risk factors and symptoms to prevent it, or to facilitate an early diagnosis (AU)

On-line reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry for enantiomeric analysis of chiral compounds in fruit beverages.

A method based on the on-line coupling of reversed phase liquid chromatography with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (RPLC-GC-MS) for the chiral evaluation of characteristic constituents of fruit beverage aroma was investigated. The consideration of a variety of parameters involved in the transfer step allowed to achieve relative standard deviations ranging from 0.4 to 10% in most cases and detection limits from 0.2 to 2.5 mg/l. By applying the developed method to fruit beverages, racemic mixtures of ethyl 2-methylbutanoate and gamma-nonalactone were found. This fact suggests the eventual addition of artificial aromas. The method proposed in the present work can be useful to assess reliably the authenticity of aqueous samples, such as fruit beverages.

Natural variability of the enantiomeric composition of bioactive chiral terpenes in Mentha piperita.

The variability of the enantiomeric distribution of biologically active chiral terpenes in Mentha piperita plants from different geographical origins was evaluated by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SPME-GC-MS). The optimisation of some parameters (i.e. exposure temperature, extraction time and type of fibre) affecting SPME-extraction enabled relative standard deviations ranging from 4 to 13% to be achieved. The use of two different chiral stationary phases allowed to separate the identified chiral terpenes into their corresponding enantiomers as well as to verify the enantiomeric excesses of those compounds which were enantiomerically resolved on both phases. For all chiral terpenes, the enantiomeric composition varied within a very narrow range all over the samples. Consequently, it may be stated that the enantiomeric composition of chiral terpenes in Mentha piperita appears to be independent of the geographical origin of the plant and, thus, any alteration in the characteristic value may be related to an adulteration or inadequate sample handling. These results support the usefulness of the enantiomeric composition of bioactive chiral terpenes in Mentha piperita in authenticity studies.

[Puberal gynaecomastia. Review of nine cases]. / Ginecomastia puberal. Revisión de nueve casos.

Gynaecomastia is more frequent during the adolescence. In this paper, a retrospective study of nine cases diagnosed and treated on a period of six years is presented. The reports of nine patients are reviewed. The mean age at diagnosis was 10.4 years (range 9-12). In all cases a bilateral mammary hypertrophy was detected, symmetrical in 6 cases (67%) and asymmetric in 3 (33%). After a mean follow-up period of 24 months, surgical treatment was indicated: a subtotal subcutaneous mastectomy was performed in all nine cases. Only two patients developed early complications: one wound infection and one haematoma. The long-term plastic results were satisfactory after a mean follow-up postoperative period of 11 months. The general management of this kind of pathologic process is presented. In the authors experience the elective surgical procedure is the subtotal subcutaneous mastectomy as simple procedure with a very short morbidity and excellent plastic results.

Effect of thermal treatment during processing of orange juice on the enantiomeric distribution of chiral terpenes.

Chiral terpenes in orange juices were examined by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to study the dependence of their enantiomeric composition on the thermal treatment applied during the industrial manufacture. The experimental conditions used in the isolation and concentration of the compounds of interest produced relative standard deviations ranging from 2.9 to 15.1% when absolute areas were used and from 1.7 to 18.3% when normalized areas were used. Recovery varied between 8.8 and 56.1%, and detection limits ranged from 0.11 to 0.32 microg/ml. The enantiomeric compositions of the majority of the chiral terpenes varied within a reasonably narrow range. Nevertheless, the enantiomeric ratio of two monoterpene alcohols, alpha-terpineol and linalool, exhibited considerable variation according to the thermal treatment used in the manufacture of the juices. Therefore, the knowledge of the enantiomeric composition of alpha-terpineol and linalool might be useful for thermal treatment control purposes.

Enantiomeric distribution of chiral compounds in orange juices according to their geographical origins.

Chiral terpenes in nonprocessed orange juices of different geographical origins were examined by two different approaches: steam distillation-solvent extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (SDE-GC-MS) and solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography (SPME-GC). The two sample preparation techniques were compared with regard to their effectiveness in determining the enantiomeric distributions of chiral compounds. Most target compounds exhibited constant enantiomeric ratios in all juices when either of the two approaches was used. Exceptions were found for terpinen-4-ol and beta-citronellol, whose of enantiomeric purity ratios varied significantly according to the geographical origin of the sample. These results may aid in guaranteeing the authenticity and thus the quality and safety of orange juice. A comparison between the two extraction procedures revealed SPME to be more reliable for stereochemical studies, since harsh experimental conditions that can bring about racemization are not required in such studies.

Solid-phase microextraction for studies on the enantiomeric composition of filbertone in hazelnut oils.

The enantiomeric distribution of filbertone was determined in unroasted and roasted hazelnut oils of different geographical origins by using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) and capillary gas chromatography. An optimization procedure including SPME fiber, extraction time, exposure temperature, and sample volume enabled the best conditions to be selected. Under the optimized conditions, detection limits were in the micrograms per liter level for both enantiomers of filbertone with relative standard deviation values of 7.1 and 4.9% for R-filbertone and S-filbertone, respectively. The proposed approach allowed the rapid determination of the enantiomeric composition of filbertone and demonstrated that its variability is an inherent property of the natural compound. Analysis of two batches of hazelnut oils obtained from either unroasted or roasted hazelnuts showed, in general, significantly higher amounts of filbertone in roasted hazelnut oils.

Genotypic variation in fatty acid content of blackcurrant seeds.

The fatty acid composition and total fatty acid content of seeds from 36 blackcurrant genotypes developed at the Scottish Crop Research Institute were examined. A rapid small-scale procedure, involving homogenization of seeds in toluene followed by sodium methoxide transesterification and gas chromatography, was used. There was considerable variation between genotypes. The gamma-linolenic acid content generally varied from 11 to 19% of the total fatty acids, but three genotypes had higher values of 22-24%, levels previously not reported for blackcurrant seed and similar to those for borage seed. Other nutritionally important fatty acids, stearidonic acid and alpha-linolenic acid, varied from 2 to 4% and 10-19%, respectively. The mean total fatty acid contents ranged from 14 to 23% of the seed, but repeatability was poor. The results are discussed. Blackcurrant seeds are mainly byproducts from juice production, and the study shows the potential for developing blackcurrant genotypes with optimal added value.

Autoembolización espontánea en un niño con priapismo postraumático de alto flujo / Spontaneous self-embolization in a child with postraumatic high flow priapism

Existen dos tipos de priapismo: el venoso o de bajo flujo, que es característicamente doloroso, y el arterial o de alto flujo, indoloro y mucho más raro, especialmente en la infancia. Se expone el caso de un varón de 5 años que 6 días después de sufrir un traumatismo perineal cerrado, presentó un priapismo indoloro, de tipo arterial, con aneurisma y fístula de la arteria dorsal del pene, que se resolvió espontáneamente mediante autoembolización, 11 días después de su inicio. Se hace una revisión bibliográfica de 14 casos de priapismo arterial postraumático en la infancia, no habiendo encontrado ningún otro caso resuelto mediante autoembolización espontánea (AU)

Determination of the enantiomeric composition of gamma-lactones in edible oils by on-line coupled high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography.

A new method is proposed for the determination of the enantiomeric composition of gamma-lactones in different vegetable edible oils (i. e., olive oil, almond oil, hazelnut oil, peanut oil, and walnut oil), and its potential for authenticity control is underlined for a limited number of samples. The method is based on the direct injection (i.e., without requiring a sample pretreatment step) in on-line coupled reversed phase liquid chromatography to gas chromatography (RPLC-GC) using a chiral stationary phase in the GC-step. Different experimental values for both speed of sample introduction into GC and volume of the transferred fraction are considered to improve the recoveries obtained. Relative standard deviations lower than 10% and detection limits ranging from 0.06 to 0.22 mg/L were achieved for the investigated gamma-lactones.

[Spontaneous autoembolization in a child with high-flow post-traumatic priapism]. / Autoembolización espontánea en un niño con priapismo postraumático de alto flujo.

There are two sort of priapism: the venous or low flow priapism, that is usually painful, and the arterial or high flow one, painless and rare, especially in childhood. We present a case of a boy 5 years old, who 6 days after to suffer a perineal closed traumatism, had a painless and arterial priapism, with aneurism and fistula of the dorsal penile arteria, that was resolute spontaneously through self-embolization, 11 days after. We review the bibliography of 14 cases of arterial posttraumatic priapism in childhood, without find any case resolute by spontaneous self-embolization.

Rapid analysis of cholesterol-elevating compounds in coffee brews by off-line high-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution gas chromatography.

A new method is proposed to analyze the cholesterol-elevating cafestol and kahweol which allows their rapid and reliable determination in different coffee brews. The method involves the preseparation of the sample by high-performance liquid chromatography, the collection of the selected fraction, and its subsequent analysis by high-resolution gas chromatography using a programmed temperature vaporizer operated in the split mode as sampling system. Under the experimental conditions investigated, recoveries as high as 87% (cafestol) and 94% (kahweol) were achieved while detection limits equal to 0.06 and 0.04 ppm for cafestol and kahweol, respectively, were obtained. Examples are given comparing levels of cafestol and kahweol resulting from the same ground roasted coffee by different brewing methods, which show the lowest values for brews prepared from coffee bags.

Enantiomer analysis of chiral lactones in foods by on-line coupled reversed-phase liquid chromatography-gas chromatography.

A new application is proposed for the on-line coupling of reversed-phase liquid chromatography to gas chromatography (RPLC-GC) that allows the GC chirospecific analysis of gamma-lactones in fruits and commercially available fruit-containing products. The use of a programmed temperature vaporizer as an interface with the system makes the transfer of large volume fractions (i.e., 2520 microL) of aqueous eluents from LC to GC possible (speed of sample transfer, 1800 microL/min). Relative standard deviations obtained for the investigated lactones under the experimental conditions vary from 7 to 14%. The described system enlarges the LC-GC application field and overcomes the limitations reported thus far concerning the use of typical normal-phase eluents (i.e., the transfer of rather small volume fractions at low speeds of sample introduction).

[The prevalence of anemia in the children and adolescents of Madrid]. / Prevalencia de anemia en niños y adolescentes de Madrid.

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are very important disorders in childhood because, during this stage of life, the confluence of different factors can lead to iron deficiency. During childhood, there are rapid growth periods in which the need for iron increases and these needs are not always compensated for by a sufficient iron intake. We have studied a sample of 2,224 schoolchildren, both males and females, between the ages of 2 and 18 years, from five different schools in the Community of Madrid. The prevalence of anemia was studied by determining the hemoglobin, MCV and MCHC, whereas iron deficiency was assessed by measurement of serum iron. In our study population, the prevalence of iron deficiency was 4.94% and the rate of iron deficiency anemia was 0.94%. This disorder is predominant in 13 to 15 year olds (3.7% of the males and 3.53% of the females showed hemoglobin values below the reference range). In addition 6.73% of this group were iron deficient. The MCV was decreased in 2.69% of the subjects, after the exclusion of six children with thalassemia trait.