Seed morphology and germination of Willd. ex Schult. emulating environmental conditions within ant nest.

Damiana (Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult.) is a species of plant used in traditional Mexican medicine for its aphrodisiac properties. Although it has a high commercial demand, both nationally and internationally, its sexual propagation is not usual due to the low percentage of seed germination. It has been proposed that ants play an important role in germination, due to the presence of elaiosomes. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to characterize the seed morphology of T. diffusa for agronomic purposes, analyze their viability, and evaluate their germination by simulating environmental conditions of an ant nest. For the morphological characterization, 30 seeds were selected and evaluated for the variables of color, size, and weight. Viability was evaluated with a tetrazolium test using two lots of seeds collected in 2016 and 2017, with different concentrations and three exposure times at 40°C. The germination of T. diffusa was evaluated under three pre-germination treatments and nine germination treatments. The results of the study showed that the seeds of T. diffusa have an average size of 0.725 mm long and 0.182 mm wide; the color of the seeds varies from brown to black when ripe and yellowish white when immature. There are no significant differences in the viability percentage (60%) for seeds collected in 2016 and 2017 (p = 0.20). On the other hand, there are significant differences between all the pre-germination and germination tests analyzed. Seeds of T. diffusa have the highest percentage of germination (36%) with the presence of elaiosome and 500 ppm of GA3. The germination interval of the seeds occurs over a period of six to 39 days. The application of GA3 in the germination of the seeds indicates that they present a physiological latency which was inhibited at concentrations of 500 and 300 ppm.

Comparative Analysis of the NDVI and NGBVI as Indicators of the Protective Effect of Beneficial Bacteria in Conditions of Biotic Stress.

Precision agriculture has the objective of improving agricultural yields and minimizing costs by assisting management with the use of sensors, remote sensing, and information technologies. There are several approaches to improving crop yields where remote sensing has proven to be an important methodology to determine agricultural maps to show surface differences which may be associated with many phenomena. Remote sensing utilizes a wide variety of image sensors that range from common RGB cameras to sophisticated, hyper-spectral image cameras which acquire images from outside the visible electromagnetic spectrum. The NDVI and NGBVI are computer vision vegetation index algorithms that perform operations from color masks such as red, green, and blue from RGB cameras and hyper-spectral masks such as near-infrared (NIR) to highlight surface differences in the image to detect crop anomalies. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of NDVI and NGBVI as plant health indicators in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) treated with the beneficial bacteria Bacillus cereus-Amazcala (B. c-A) as a protective agent to cope with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) infections. The results showed that in the presence of B. c-A after infection with Cmm, NDVI and NGBVI can be used as markers of plant weight and the activation of the enzymatic activities related to plant defense induction.

Mechanical ventilation during cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates improves postoperative outcome.

OBJECTIVES: Cardiopulmonary bypass generates a systemic inflammatory response. This inflammatory response is reduced if patients are ventilated during bypass, as evidenced by lower levels of postoperative circulating inflammatory mediators. However, this does not appear to make much clinical difference in adults, at least not consistently, but, to our knowledge, has never been assessed in paediatric cardiac surgery, which is the objective of this study. METHODS: This is a prospective clinical study of 12 consecutive neonates operated for the correction of either transposition of the great arteries ± ventricular septal defect or aortic arch hypoplasia ± ventricular septal defect, who were ventilated during cardiopulmonary bypass. These were compared to 11 neonates with the same malformations, who had undergone the same operations but without being ventilated during bypass (historical control group). RESULTS: One patient from the control group died on the 15th postoperative day due to sepsis and multi-organ failure. Bypass times and cross-clamp times were similar in the 2 groups. Ventilation on bypass was associated with significantly lower postoperative serum concentrations of C-reactive protein, shorter mechanical ventilation and lower vasoactive-inotropic score. Duration of stay on intensive care unit (ICU) showed a tendency to be shorter in patients who were ventilated on bypass, but this did not reach statistical significance. There were no differences between the 2 groups with respect to postoperative mixed venous oxygen saturations and serum concentrations of lactate and troponin I. CONCLUSIONS: Mechanical ventilation during cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates improves postoperative outcome.

A Novel Isolate of Bacillus cereus Promotes Growth in Tomato and Inhibits Clavibacter michiganensis Infection under Greenhouse Conditions.

The need to produce food in a sustainable way to counteract the effects of excessive use of agrochemicals opens the door to the generation of new technologies that are not based on fossil fuels and are less toxic to ecosystems. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) could represent an alternative to chemical biofertilizers and pesticides offering protection for biotic and abiotic stresses. In this work, a bacterial isolate from roots of castor bean (Ricinus communis) was identified and named as Bacillus cereus strain "Amazcala" (B.c-A). This isolate displayed the ability to solubilize inorganic phosphate and produce gibberellic acid (GA3). Moreover, this bacterium provided significant increases in height, stem width, dry weight, and total chlorophyll content in tomato plants. Interestingly, B.c-A also significantly decreased the severity of bacterial canker disease on tomato caused by Clavibacter michiganensis (Cmm) in preventive disease assays under greenhouse conditions. Based on our results, B.c-A can be considered as PGPB and a useful tool in Cmm disease control on tomato plant under greenhouse conditions.

[Basic knowledge about healthy eating in medical graduates]. / Conocimientos básicos sobre alimentación saludable en egresados de medicina.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: the promotion of a healthy lifestyle is an imperative need to both reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases associated with lifestyle, and prevent their progression. Objective: to evaluate the basic knowledge about healthy eating of a cohort of graduates from medical school. Method: a descriptive research was conducted through a review of the inclusion of a nutrition subject matter in the curriculum of medical schools. A food knowledge questionnaire was administered to 80 physicians at the first level of care who had graduated five years before the research. Results: the correct answers to the questionnaire obtained on average 64.96 points out of a possible score of 113. There was a weak association between scores for "diet-disease relationship" and "source of nutrition" (p = 0.016). In the curriculum of the reviewed medical schools, biochemistry courses are privileged over nutrition courses. The nutrition courses imparted in medical schools do not have a minimum of hours, and are not structured to train health promotion capabilities. The participants had low scores in all areas. Conclusions: it is necessary that nutrition courses be reconfigured to face the pandemic of non-communicable diseases and their consequences both in patients and in health systems.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: la promoción del estilo de vida saludable es una necesidad imperativa tanto para disminuir el riesgo de enfermedades no transmisibles asociadas al estilo de vida como para evitar su progresión. Objetivo: evaluar los conocimientos básicos sobre alimentación saludable de una cohorte de egresados de una escuela de medicina. Métodos: se realizó una investigación descriptiva a través de una revisión de la inclusión de la asignatura de nutrición en el currículo de las escuelas de medicina. Se aplicó un cuestionario de conocimientos sobre alimentos a 80 médicos de servicio en el primer nivel de atención, con egreso y titulación cinco años antes de la exploración. Resultados: las respuestas correctas al cuestionario tuvieron, como promedio, 64,96 puntos de los 113 posibles. Hubo asociación débil entre los aciertos de "relación dieta-enfermedad" con "fuente de nutrimentos" (p = 0,016). En el currículo de las escuelas de medicina revisadas se privilegian los cursos de bioquímica sobre los de nutrición. Los cursos de nutrición de las escuelas de medicina no cumplen el mínimo de horas y no se organizan para formar capacidades de promoción de la salud. Los participantes obtuvieron un bajo nivel de aciertos en todas las áreas. Conclusiones: es necesario reconfigurar los cursos de nutrición para afrontar la pandemia de enfermedades no transmisibles y sus consecuencias tanto en los pacientes como en los sistemas de salud.

Serum Analysis of Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer Using a Mini-Array of Tumor-Associated Antigens.

Background: Several studies have shown that patients with cancer have antibodies in serum that react with cellular autoantigens, known as Tumor-Associated Antigens (TAA). The present work aimed to determine whether a mini-array comprising four recombinant TAA increases the detection of specific serum antibodies for the diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer. Methods: The mini-array included Alpha 1-AntiTrypsin (A1AT), TriosePhosphate Isomerase 1 (TPI1), Peptidyl-Prolyl cis-trans Isomerase A (PPIA), and PeroxiReDoXin 2 (PRDX2) full-length recombinant proteins. The proteins were produced after gene cloning, expression, and purification, and were verified by Western blot assays. Then, Dot-Blot was performed to find antibodies against the four TAA in 12 sera from women with early-stage breast cancer (stage II) and 12 sera from healthy women. Results: Antibody detection against individual TAA in early-stage breast cancer sera ranged from 58.3% to 83.3%. However, evaluation of the four TAA showed that there was a positive antibody reaction reaching a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 85% in early-stage breast cancer, suggesting that this mini-array must be evaluated as a clinical diagnostic tool for early-stage breast cancer in a larger sample size. Conclusion: Our results suggest that TAA mini-arrays may provide a promising and powerful method for improving the detection of breast cancer in Mexican women.

Phlebotomine mortality effect of systemic insecticides administered to dogs.

BACKGROUND: Zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (ZVL) caused by Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum is an important disease in humans and dogs. Different mammal species are reservoirs but dogs are considered to be the main one. Phlebotomine sand flies are the proven vector. Four systemic insecticides approved for their use in dogs were previously selected based on their potential to be used in endemic countries as part of the control programs of ZVL. These insecticides are proved to be safe and effective against the on-label insects and parasites, but there is no information about their activity against phlebotomine sand flies. METHODS: The phlebotomine mortality of four systemic insecticides in dogs was evaluated using two randomized clinical trials. For the first trial, thirty dogs were randomly allocated into five groups: four treatments and one control, of equal size. The treatments evaluated were: Guardian®SR, Elanco (moxidectin); Comfortis®, Elanco (spinosad); Bravecto®, Merck Animal Health (fluralaner); and NexGard®, Merial (afoxolaner). Blood from dogs was taken at days 2, 4, 21 and 31 post-treatment (trial 1). The compound that showed the highest efficacy was selected for a second trial (trial 2) with 20 dogs sampled at days 0, 2, 4, 7, 14, 18, 32, 39, 51 and 84 post-treatment. Membrane feeding bioassays with Phlebotomus papatasi were used to evaluate the phlebotomine mortality efficacy of the different treatments. Phlebotomine mortality was observed every 24 h following the membrane feeding during 5 days. A mixed model for a negative binomial logistic regression, and a Cox proportional hazard mixed model were used to estimate phlebotomine mortality due to different treatments. RESULTS: Fluralaner was the only compound that showed significant phlebotomine mortality. Fluralaner maintained the phlebotomine mortality between 60-80% for 30 days after treatment. In trial 1 we found that fluralaner increased the risk of death by 1.9 times (95% CI: 1.02-3.6) and 1.7 times (95% CI: 1.09-2.6) at days 2 and 4 after treatment. The Cox model resulted in an increase of 1.47 (95% CI: 1.1-1.96) times in hazard risk at day 2 and 1.89 (95% CI: 1.35-2.45) at day 4 after treatment. In trial 2 we found that fluralaner increased the risk of death by 1.64 times (95% CI: 1.16-2.54) and 1.97 times (95% CI: 1.23-3.17) at days 14 and 32. The hazard risk was also increased by 1.92 (95% CI: 1.4-2.64) times at day 14 after treatment. Phlebotomine survival including all experimental days was significantly lower in the fluralaner group in both trials. CONCLUSIONS: A single oral treatment of fluralaner in dogs induces phlebotomine mortality. Systemic insecticides in dogs should be considered as a potential preventive measure of ZVL.

[Biomechanical analysis of cervical spine movement on removal of motorcycle helmets]. / Análisis biomecánico del movimiento cervical en la extracción del casco en motoristas.

OBJECTIVES: To measure cervical spine movement during removal of a motorcycle helmet by health care professionals. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational study using biomechanical inertial sensors to detect movement in the spinal column during removal of helmets. RESULTS: Thirty-four emergency medicine specialists and nurses participated. The mean (SD) rotation was 1.14° (0.82°) to the left and 3.30° (1.69°) to the right (P<.001). Mean flexion was 9.82° (7.46°) and mean extension was 6.23° (6.86°) (P<.001). Mean lateral displacement was 5.73° (2.97°) to the left and 5.62° (8.22°) to the right (P=.678). The removal maneuvers took a mean of 70 seconds (4 seconds). CONCLUSION: Helmet removal was completed in an average of 70 seconds with flexion and rotation mainly toward the side where the professional supporting the head was positioned.

OBJETIVO: Determinar el movimiento cervical durante la extracción de un casco realizada por profesionales sanitarios. METODO: Estudio observacional mediante análisis biomecánico con sensores inerciales de los movimientos producidos en la columna durante la extracción de un casco. RESULTADOS: La muestra final la componen 34 profesionales de servicios de urgencias y emergencias. La rotación fue de 1,14 (DE 0,82)° hacia el lado izquierdo y de 3,30 (1,69)° hacia el lado derecho (p < 0,001). La flexoextensión fue de 9,82 (7,46)° para la flexión y de 6,23 (6,86)° para la extensión (p < 0,001). La lateralización fue de 5,73 (2,97)° para el lado izquierdo y de 5,62 (8,22)° para el lado derecho (p = 0,678). El tiempo medio de realización de la extracción fue 70 (4) seg. CONCLUSIONES: La extracción del casco se realizó en 70 segundos con flexión y rotación hacia el lado donde se encuentra colocado el profesional que sujeta la cabeza.

School breakfast and healthy nutritional education in elementary school / Desayuno escolar y educación nutricional saludable en escuelas primarias / Pequeno almoço escolar e educação nutricional saudável na escola primária / Petit déjeuner scolaire et éducation nutritionnelle saine a l'école primaire

Abstract Objective: To identify opportunity areas in elementary school to develop integrative educative process for health education in food. Materials and methods: A case of study in 30 elementary schools in a Tabasco was made. About 9293 students were attended. Data was collected and defined by elements of analysis in observations and interviews. Results: Most schools had at least minimal infrastructure for an integrative breakfast preparation and development of the content teaching projects. There were identified three primordial problems: A) in the scholar's breakfast practice there was a dynamic that does not follow the guidelines of the governmental office that regulates them. B) The preparation and distribution of meals was unrelated with the teaching of content. C) There were contradictions in the contents of different educational materials and among these contents and scientific evidence. Conclusions: Nevertheless infrastructure breakfast preparation and subject teaching was cut oneself off. The results of this search are the basis for the design of educative strategies that integrate content from various school subjects, and the development of scholar projects that involve students, teachers, and families to join the activities of food preparation with the construction of concepts, skills and values.

Resumen Objetivo: Identificar las áreas de oportunidad en la escuela primaria para desarrollar procesos educativos integradores para la alimentación saludable. Materiales y métodos: Se hizo mediante un estudio de caso en 30 escuelas de primaria de una zona escolar del estado de Tabasco, México, en las cuales se atendía a 9293 educandos. A partir de elementos de análisis definidos previamente se colectaron datos mediante observaciones y entrevistas formales e informales. Resultados: La mayoría de las escuelas tenía al menos la infraestructura mínima para el desarrollo de procesos que integren las actividades de la preparación de desayunos escolares y la enseñanza de contenidos. Se identificaron tres problemas primordiales: A) La práctica de los desayunos escolares seguía una dinámica propia que no seguía los lineamientos de las guías que los deberían regular B) La preparación y distribución de las comidas no se relaciona con los contenidos de enseñanza C) Hay contradicciones entre los diferentes materiales educativos y entre los contenidos y la evidencia científica. Conclusiones: A pesar de la infraestructura las actividades de preparación de los desayunos y la enseñanza de contenidos están desvinculadas. Los resultados muestran las bases para el diseño de estrategias educativas para integrar los contenidos de varias asignaturas, y el desarrollo de proyectos escolares que involucren estudiantes, maestros, y familias en conjunto para actividades de preparación de las comidas con la construcción de conceptos, habilidades y valores.

Resumo Objetivo: Identificar áreas de oportunidade na escola primária para desenvolver um processo educativo integrador de uma alimentaçáo saudável. Materiais e métodos: Foi realizado um estudo de caso em 30 escolas primárias em Tabasco, México, nas quais frequentavam 9293 alunos. A partir de elementos de análise definidos, os dados foram colhidos através de observações e de entrevistas formais e informais. Resultados: A maioria das escolas apresentava infra-estruturas mínimas para o desenvolvimento de processos que integram as actividades de preparaçáo do pequeno-almoço e de leccionaçáo dos conteúdos. Identificaram-se tres problemas primordiais: A) A prática de pequenos-almoços escolares apresentava uma dinámica própria que náo seguia os guias orientadores B) A preparaçáo e distribuyo das refeições náo estáo relacionadas com o conteúdo dos ensinos C) Existem contradiçoes entre os conteúdos dos diferentes materiais educativos e as evidencias científicas. Conclusoes: Apesar da infra-estrutura, as actividades de preparaçáo dos pequenos-almoços e as de ensino náo se relacionam. Os resultados desta pesquisa podem servir de base para a concepçáo de conteúdos nas várias disciplinas escolares e para o desenvolvimento de projetos escolares que envolvam estudantes, professores e famílias nas atividades de preparaçáo de refeiçoes, permitindo a construçáo de conceitos, habilidades e valores.

Résumé Objectif: Identifier les domaines d'opportunité a l'école primaire de développement de processus d'éducation inclusive pour une alimentation saine. Matériaux et méthodes: Une étude de cas a été réalisée dans 30 écoles primaires d'une zone scolaire de l'État de Tabasco, au Mexique, ou assistait un total de 9293 étudiants. Les donnés pour l'analyse ont été recueillies en fonction d'éléments précédemment définis au moyen d'observations et d'entretiens formels et informels. Résultats: La plupart des écoles avaient au moins les infrastructures minimales pour le développement de procédés qui integrent la préparation des repas scolaires et l'enseignement de contenu. Trois problemes principaux ont été identifiés: A) La pratique des petits déjeuners scolaires suivait une dynamique propre qui ne correspondait pas aux lignes directrices des guides qui devrait réglementer B) La préparation et la distribution des repas ne sont pas en accord avec le contenu de l'enseignement C) Il existe des contradictions entre les différents matériaux éducatifs, et entre les contenus et l'évidence scientifique. Conclusions: Malgré l'infrastructure existante, les activités de préparation des petits déjeuners et l'enseignement de contenus sont dissociés. Les résultats indiquent les bases pour la conception de stratégies éducatives integrant les contenus de plusieurs matieres et le développement de projets scolaires qui impliquent a la fois les éleves, les enseignants et les familles dans les activités de préparation des repas, associant la construction de concepts, d'habilitées et de valeurs.

Sub-patterns of food consumption and hyperglycemia in Mexican young people: a study by factor analysis.

BACKGROUND: The student population that is admitted to the University Juarez of Tabasco has poor healthy eating habits. Fasting glucose ≥5.6 mmol/L was found in 10% of the students. OBJECTIVE: We wanted to identify the sub-pattern of their eating habits that could explain the hyperglycemia. DESIGN: A questionnaire on the feeding habits was applied to 3,559 first-year students, who were subjected to a blood analysis to determine biochemical markers in 2011. Based on the obtained questionnaire data, the factorial analysis was used for the statistical analysis. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin measure for sampling adequacy was used for validation. To determine eating habits, Varimax normalization with Kaiser was used. RESULTS: The number of students with euglycemia was 3,138, including 366 with values for prediabetes, and 55 with values for diabetes. After normalization using Varimax rotation with Kaiser, component 1 of participants with euglycemia included eight foods. The number of foods in component 1 of those participants with prediabetes was seven, and it diminished to four in those with fasting glucose >7 mmol/L. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that glucose levels increase in direct relation to the diminution in the number of selected foods.

[The healthy eating index of new students at an university of Mexico]. / El índice de alimentación saludable de estudiantes de nuevo ingreso a una universidad de México.

INTRODUCTION: The main factor associated with increased prevalence of noncommunicable diseases is the consumption of modern processed foods. OBJECTIVE: Assessing the quality of the diet of freshmen. METHODS: Data from 3550 students aged average 18.65 years of food consumption were collected using a food frequency questionnaire. We evaluated ten variables were graded into three categories: healthy and unhealthy needs changes. Results of health sciences campus with the other were compared. RESULTS: There was a decrease in food intake should be daily as whole grains, vegetables and fruits. Is an increase of food that should be eaten occasionally several a week. Scores of students were 80.2% in the "unhealthy" category, 19.7% in "needs change" and 0.1% in "healthy." CONCLUSIONS: The results are a consequence of decreased food consumption of the traditional diet of Mesoamerica. Can not find effect of selection of campus with the pattern of food consumption.

Introducción: El principal factor asociado al incremento de la prevalencia de enfermedades no transmisibles es el consumo de alimentos industrializados modernos. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de la dieta de estudiantes de nuevo ingreso. Métodos: Se colectaron datos de 3550 estudiantes con edad  18.65 años mediante un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos. Se evaluaron con diez variables que se calificaron en tres categorías: saludable, necesita cambios y poco saludable. Se compararon los resultados de los de ciencias de la salud con los otros campus. Resultados: Hubo disminución del consumo de alimentos que deberían ser diario como cereales integrales, verduras y frutas. Se encontró incremento de alimentos que deberían ser de consumo ocasional a al menos 1 a 2 por semana. Los puntajes del índice de alimentación saludable fueron 80.2% en la categoría "poco saludable", 19.7% en "necesita cambios" y 0.1% en "saludable". Conclusiones: Los resultados son consecuencia de la disminución del consumo de alimentos de la dieta tradicional de Mesoamérica. No se encontró efecto de la selección de campus con el patrón de consumo de alimentos.

Objective assessment of olfactory function using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To show the results of a device that generates automated olfactory stimuli suitable for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) experiments. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten normal volunteers, 5 women and 5 men, were studied. The system allows the programming of several sequences, providing the capability to synchronise the onset of odour presentation with acquisition by a trigger signal of the MRI scanner. The olfactometer is a device that allows selection of the odour, the event paradigm, the time of stimuli and the odour concentration. The paradigm used during fMRI scanning consisted of 15-s blocks. The odorant event took 2s with butanol, mint and coffee. RESULTS: We observed olfactory activity in the olfactory bulb, entorhinal cortex (4%), amygdala (2.5%) and temporo-parietal cortex, especially in the areas related to emotional integration. CONCLUSIONS: The device has demonstrated its effectiveness in stimulating olfactory areas and its capacity to adapt to fMRI equipment.

Photoreactivity of the occipital cortex measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging-blood oxygenation level dependent in migraine patients and healthy volunteers: pathophysiological implications.

BACKGROUND: The brain of migraineurs is hyperexcitable, particularly the occipital cortex, which is probably hypersensitive to light. Photophobia or hypersensitivity to light may be accounted for by an increased excitability of trigeminal, the visual pathways, and the occipital cortex. OBJECTIVE: To study light sensitivity and photophobia by assessing the response to light stimuli with functional magnetic resonance imaging-blood oxygenation level dependent (fMRI-BOLD) of the occipital cortex in migraineurs and in controls. Also, to try to decipher the contribution of the occipital cortex to photophobia and whether the cortical reactivity of migraineurs may be part of a constitutional (defensive) mechanism or represents an acquired (sensitization) phenomenon. METHODS: Nineteen patients with migraine (7 with aura and 12 without aura) and 19 controls were studied with fMRI-BOLD during 4 increasing light intensities. Eight axial image sections of 0.5 cm that covered the occipital cortex were acquired for each intensity. We measured the extension and the intensity of activation for every light stimuli. Photophobia was estimated according to a 0 to 3 semiquantitative scale of light discomfort. RESULTS: Migraineurs had a significantly higher number of fMRI-activated voxels at low (320.4 for migraineurs [SD = 253.9] and 164.3 for controls [SD = 102.7], P = .027) and medium-low luminance levels (501.2 for migraineurs [SD = 279.5] and 331.1 for controls [SD = 194.3], P = .034) but not at medium-high (579.5 for migraineurs [SD = 201.4] and 510.2 for controls [SD = 239.5], P = .410) and high light stimuli (496.2 for migraineurs [SD = 216.2] and 394.7 for controls [SD = 240], P = .210). No differences were found with respect to the voxel activation intensity (amplitude of the BOLD wave) between migraineurs and controls (8.98 [SD = 2.58] vs 7.99 [SD = 2.57], P = .25; 10.82 [SD = 3.27] vs 9.81 [SD = 3.19], P = .31; 11.90 [SD = 3.18] vs 11.06 [SD = 2.56], P = .62; 11.45 [SD = 2.65] vs 10.25 [SD = 2.22], P = .16). Light discomfort was higher in the group of migraineurs at all the intensities tested, but there was no correlation with the number of activated voxels in the occipital cortex and photophobia. Repetitive light stimuli failed to demonstrate a lack of habituation in migraineurs. CONCLUSIONS: Migraineurs during interictal periods showed hyperxcitability of the visual cortex with a wider photoresponsive area, the underlying mechanism probably being dual: constitutional-defensive and acquired-sensitizating.

Voxel-based morphometry comparison between first episodes of psychosis with and without evolution to schizophrenia.

First episodes (FE) of psychosis may evolve or not to schizophrenia in ensuing years, but there is a lack of reliable predictors of which patients will have to face such an unfavorable outcome. Given the replicated structural alterations of the brain in schizophrenia, it seems advisable to assess whether the alterations of this kind that can be detected at the time of an initial psychotic episode are different depending on the outcome of the patients. To this end, here we applied voxel-based morphometry to assess whether the degree of cerebral abnormalities differ between 30 FE patients who evolved to schizophrenia in the ensuing 2years and another 14 FE patients who could not be diagnosed as such during that period. Forty-one controls were also included in the study. We found that the FE patients who evolved to schizophrenia had a significantly lower GM value than the controls bilaterally in the left dorsolateral prefrontal (BA 9) and in left anterior cingulate (BA 33) regions while the FE patients who did not develop schizophrenia showed a distinct, right-sided pattern of deviation (visual cortex, superior temporal gyrus and inferior frontal). The direct comparison between FE patients who evolved or not evolved to schizophrenia did not reveal significant differences. Taken together, our results support the notion that brain abnormalities may be different in psychotic FE patients depending on their evolution in the medium term.

Standardization of a method to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of high-density lipoproteins.

BACKGROUND: A method to evaluate the antioxidant capacity of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) was developed and standardized. METHODS: This method measure conjugated diene (CD) formation and electrophoretic mobility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in agarose gels in the presence and absence of HDL. HDL was isolated from 1 mL of plasma within 24 hours and oxidation assays were performed within 6 hours. Oxidation was induced by adding CuSO4. The lag phase increase in CD kinetics and the inhibition of electrophoretic mobility were defined as the HDL antioxidant capacity. RESULTS: The optimal conditions for the CD assay were 2.5 µM CuSO4, LDL at 0.1 g apoB/L, HDL at 0.1 g apoA-I/L, at 37°C and for 3h 50 min. Agarose electrophoresis at 100 V, at 4°C for 50 min was then performed immediately. CD formation variability was 21.1% for inter-assay CV and 12.7% for intra-assay CV. Electrophoretic mobility was 26.5% for inter-assay CV and 2.4% for intra-assay CV. Correlation analysis showed a significant association between the antioxidant capacity of HDL and its neutral/polar lipid ratio. CONCLUSIONS: The method herein described measures of the HDL antioxidant capacity in a reproducible and rapid manner that can be applied to a relatively high number of samples.

Aislamiento de Aeromona hydrophila en trucha Arcoiris (Oncorhynchus mykiss) / Isolation of Aeromona hydrophila in rainbow trowt (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Case report

Se realizó un muestreo en una granja piscícola dedicada a la explotación de trucha Arcoiris (Oncorhynchus mykiss), ubicada en el Estado de México, México, en el cual hubo un brote de septicemia hemorrágica provocada por el agente etiológico Aeromona hydrophila. Los animales presentaban oscurecimeinto de la piel, exoftalmina unilateral y el patrón de comportamiento alterado, la morbilidad fue del 80 por ciento y la mortalidad del 51.2 por ciento. Se llevaron a cabo estudios de histopatología y se encontró lesiones en intestino anterior, con hiperplasia del epitelio de las vellosidades, En encéfalo (cerebro medio) hubo congestión leptomeningea moderada difusa y en ojo se apreciaron focos de trombosis y reacción inflamatoria constituida por monocitos en la región periesclerótica y epitelio corneal. Se realizó estudio bacteriológico a partir del hígado de truchas Arcoiris afectadas, de donde se aisló A. hydrophilia, corroborándose las lesiones y el cuadro clínico antes descritos con la presencia del agente

Antiandrógenos radiactivos: su utilidad clínica / Radioactive antiandrogens: clinic usefulness

Se probó la eficacia diagnóstica de un antiandrógeno I-131 en la identificación de tumores prostáticos y sus metástasis hormonodependientes. Se encontraron seis casos en 12 certificados con centellografía positiva y reacción a los antiandrógenos. En tres de ellos se probó también la utilidad terapéutica del mismo radiofármaco, con reacción favorable en 30 días. Ningún caso tuvo intolerancia ni radiotoxicidad al producto en revisiones clínicas realizadas en un periodo de seis meses. Una mayor casuística dará la pauta exacta de la utilidad de los radionúclidos en este campo de la oncología