Recent Progress in Chemical Modification of the Natural Polysaccharide Guar Gum.

Guar gum (GG) is a natural heteropolysaccharide. Due to its non-toxic, eco-friendly, and biodegradable nature, GG has found wide applications in many areas, in particular food, paper, textile, petroleum, and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, GG is often called "Black Gold" as well. Due to the presence of hydroxyl groups, GG can be modified by various methods. The physical and biological properties of GG can be modulated by chemical modifications. In this manuscript, various methods for the chemical modifications of GG have been discussed according to the type of modifications. Mechanistic insights have also been provided whenever possible. In addition, potential applications of new GG derivatives have also been briefly mentioned.

Aspergilosis invasiva en unidad de cuidado intensivo / Invasive Aspergilosis in ICU

La aspergilosis invasiva (AI) es causada por la inhalación de conidias del moho Aspergillus spp. , el cual tiene como hábitat el suelo. Ha sido descrita en pacientes con trasplante de médula ósea y neutropenia grave (<500 neutrófilos/mm 3 ). Los pacientes que ingresan a la unidad de cuidado intensivo (UCI) también pueden ser susceptibles a la AI, con otros factores de riesgo tales como: enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC), cirrosis hepática, enfermedades autoinmunes en manejo inmunosupresor y trasplante de órgano sólido, en donde la mortalidad puede llegar al 80%. Se describe el caso de un hombre de 56 años con antecedente de tabaquismo, sin confirmación espirométrica de EPOC, que presentó AI pulmonar durante su estancia en UCI. El diagnóstico fue confirmado por histopatología de úlcera en carina, cultivo de aspirado traqueal y galactomanan en lavado broncoalveolar. Voriconazol fue su tratamiento, con buena respuesta clínica.

Invasive aspergilosis (IA) is caused by Aspergillum particles inhalation such as mildew and yeast. They live in the soil as a natural habitat. This infection has been described in patients with a bone marrow transplant and serious neutropenia (<500mm 3 ). Inward patients of intensive care unit (ICU) can be also susceptible to them, and even more with risk factors associated such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), liver cirrhosis, autoimmune diseases with inmunosupressor therapy and solid organ transplantation, where mortality can reach 80% of cases. A case of IA in a man of 56 years old is described. He had smoking history without previous spirometric assessment. The patient developed IA during stay at the intensive care unit. Aspergillus septate hiphae were observed in the biopsy at the carina's ulcer. Galactomannan assay was positive in bronchioalvelar fluid. The patient had good clinical response to treatment with Voriconazole.

Caracterización de los pacientes con sospecha de aspergilosis invasiva estudiados con prueba Platelia Aspergillus® / Characterization of patients with suspected invasive aspergillosis studied by Platelia test

Objetivo: describir las características de los pacientes en los que se realizó prueba Platelia Aspergillus® por sospecha de AI, y los resultados de la prueba según las categorías diagnósticas. Metodología: se revisaron retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de pacientes con sospecha de AI atendidos en instituciones de salud de Medellín a quienes se les realizó la prueba Platelia Aspergillus®. Se colectaron y analizaron de manera descriptiva los datos clínicos, imaginológicos, microbiológicos y los resultados de la prueba Platelia Aspergillus®. Resultados: se incluyeron 78 pacientes atendidos entre 2006- 2008. Se diagnosticó AI en 21 (26.9%) pacientes, colonización en ocho (10.3%) pacientes. La forma pulmonar invasiva aguda se encontró en 17 (81.0%), forma diseminada en tres (14.3%). La fiebre y la disnea fueron la principal manifestación. En la tomografía de pulmón se observaron más frecuentemente nódulos pulmonares. La prueba fue positiva en 31 (39.7%) pacientes, en 50% de los pacientes colonizados. En 17 (47.2%) de los 36 pacientes recibieron antibióticos betalactámicos, la prueba fue positivo. Conclusiones: la AI puede encontrarse hasta en la tercera parte de pacientes con sospecha clínica; sin embargo, el diagnóstico es difícil debido al cuadro clínico inespecífico, además de las dificultades para obtener muestras clínicas y al pobre rendimientode las pruebas diagnósticas.

Objective: to describe the characteristics of patients with suspected IA, who were studied with the platelia test as well as theresults according to different diagnostic categories. Methods: the medical records of patients with suspected IA treated at health facilities in Medellin who were tested with platelia were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical data, imaging, microbiology and the platelia test results were collected and descriptively analyzed. Results: we included 78 patients treated from 2006 to 2008. IA was diagnosed in 21 (26.9%) patients and colonization was found in 8 (10.3%) patients. The acute invasive pulmonary form was found in 17 (81.0%), disseminated form in three (14.3%). Fever and dyspnea were the principal manifestation. Nodules were found more frequently in lung tomography. The tests were positive in 31 (39.7%) patients and in 50% of colonized patients. In 17 (47.2%) of 36 patients who received beta-lactamantibiotics, the test showed a positive result. Conclusions: IA can be found in up to one third of patients with clinical suspicion, but diagnosis remains difficult because of the nonspecific clinical picture, coupled with the difficulty for obtaining clinical samples and the poor performance of diagnostic tests.