[Internal validity and reliability of an instrument for evaluating quality of nursing care services for patients, nurses, and family members]. / Validación y fiabilidad de un instrumento para la evaluación de la calidad de servicios, adaptado a familiares, pacientes y personal de enfermería.

AIM: To analyze the internal validity and reliability of the instrument for evaluating the quality of services adapted to three interest groups: patients, nurses, family members, and primary caregivers. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Our research was conducted meticulously, employing a mixed methodology with two phases: qualitative, using the focus group for internal validation of the instrument, and quantitative. Subsequently, the survey was passed to the interest group of 430 patients, 525 relatives, and 298 nurses. Chronbac's alpha reliability analysis, the multiple linear regression model as a point estimator of the parameters, and exploratory factor analysis with a maximum likelihood factor using Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin to analyze the constructor and its indicators were performed to validate the adaptation. Finally, confirmatory factor analysis determines their respective measurement models' unidimensionality, validity, and reliability. RESULTS: The result shows that the factor loading of each subconstruct is more significant than 0.5 in the three models, which indicates that the aptitude indices of the model were met. In addition, the model meets the discriminant validity criteria. The behavior of the SERVPERF questionnaire was analyzed in terms of consistency, Cronbach's alpha=0.94. CONCLUSION: The scale items' discrimination concerning the questions on global satisfaction is confirmed. This shows that the instrument is valid, reliable, and useful.

[Design and evaluation of a booklet for the Oral Health Program in children from birth].

BACKGROUND: There is no preventive control of oral health from birth in Spain. This situation entails a number of risks, such as increased caries lesions in children. The objective of this study was to design a pediatric dentistry booklet for the clinical assessment and follow-up of oral health in children, as well as its evaluation by health professionals and parents. METHOD: Design of the booklet, in 2018, by pediatric dentists of the Murcia University Dental Clinic, based on a biblio-graphic review, to instruct in preventive (dietary and oral hygiene) and curative (planning of pediatric dental visits and treatments) habits. A convenience sampling of forty pediatric dentists, dentists, pediatricians and parents was carried out to evaluate the preliminary design, in 2019. They completed a questionnaire with their data, opinion on different aspects of the booklet and suggestions. RESULTS: The evaluation of the preliminary version of the booklet by health professionals and parents was positive. It was modified in line with their suggestions and the final version was made: a 16-page booklet, with data on the child's affilia-tion and parents, with a preventive and curative approach, making pediatric and pediatric dental check-ups coincide in time. CONCLUSIONS: The pediatric dentistry booklet was created and has been positively valued by professionals and parents, its use is recommended for early dental care, and can be extended to other health systems at the regional level in Spain.

Carotenoids from persimmon juice processing.

The aim of this study was the use and revalorization of two persimmon by-products A and B generated in the juice production process. The by-product B resulting from a pectinase enzymatic treatment of peels and pulp to optimize juice extraction was especially suitable for recovery of valuable bioactive carotenoids. The extraction solvents and solvent combinations used were: ethanol, acetone, ethanol/acetone (50:50 v/v) and ethanol/acetone/hexane (25:25:50 v/v/v). HPLC-DAD analysis detected and identified a total of nine individual carotenoids namely violaxanthin, neoxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin 5,6-epoxide, ß-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and ß-carotene. ß-cryptoxanthin and ß-carotene represented 49.2% and 13.2% of the total carotenoid content (TCC) in the acetone extract from by-product B. TCC contributed greatly to antioxidant activity of acetone extract derived from this by-product. Pectinase enzymatic treatment of persimmon peels and pulp followed by absolute acetone extraction of carotenoids could be an efficient method to obtain a rich extract in these compounds that could be used as nutraceutical ingredient.

Traqueostomía en pacientes con COVID-19: recomendaciones actuales / Traqueostomy in COVID-19 patients: current recomendations

Resumen El nuevo coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), causante de la enfermedad COVID-19, es una pandemia con alta morbimortalidad mundial. Uno de los factores más importantes es su alta tasa de transmisibilidad por gotitas, aerosoles y fómites. La tendencia actual es el aumento progresivo de pacientes contagiados en nuestro país y, por consiguiente, de mayor cantidad de enfermos en unidades de cuidados intensivos (UCI) con uso de ventilación mecánica invasiva (VMI). La traqueostomía (TQT) se utiliza en pacientes críticos para facilitar la VMI a largo plazo y el destete de la ventilación. Una TQT temprana, definida como la realizada en los primeros 7 días después de la intubación orotraqueal (IOT), se asocia a una reducción en el tiempo de la VMI, mortalidad y permanencia en UCI. La TQT es una técnica quirúrgica con alta generación de aerosoles la cual implica medidas especiales frente a la realización de ésta en pacientes con COVID-19. Para limitar el contagio del SARS-CoV-2 en los trabajadores de salud es necesario el uso de elementos de protección personal (EPP) adecuados según la intervención a realizar. Es por esta razón que en el presente artículo se propone utilizar el acrónimo C-O-RO-NA para no olvidar elementos y pasos fundamentales al momento de realizar esta técnica, minimizando de esta manera el contagio en los trabajadores de salud.

The new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19 disease, is a high mortality pandemic illness. One of the most important factors is its high rate of transmissibility by respiratory droplets, aerosols and fomites. The reigning trend of this disease is progressively increasing infected patients in our country, therefore, more patients in intensive care units (ICU) with invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Tracheostomy (TQT) is used in critical patients to facilitate long-term IMV and ventilation weaning. An early TQT, defined as performed in the first 7 days after orotracheal intubation (IOT) is associated with a reduction IMV duration, mortality rate and length of stay in ICU. TQT is a surgical procedure which generates a huge amount of aerosols that need special measures to perform in COVID-19 patients. It is necessary to use appropriate personal protection elements (PPE) according to the intervention, limiting the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in health workers. It is for this reason that this article proposes to use the acronym C-O-RO-NA to remember fundamental elements and steps when performing this technique in order to minimize health workers infection.

Diagnósticos Enfermeros prevalentes en pacientes mayores con úlceras por presión: estudio transversal / Prevalent nursing diagnoses in elderly with pressure ulcers: cross-sectional study / Diagnósticos Enfermeiros prevalentes em pacientes idosos com úlceras por pressão: estudo transversal

Resumen Objetivo Determinar la prevalencia de los diagnósticos enfermeros en pacientes adultos mayores hospitalizados con úlceras por presión e identificar los diagnósticos enfermeros reales, potenciales, de salud y síndrome por patrón funcional de salud. Material y métodos Estudio Transversal, descriptivo conformado por una muestra de pacientes adultos mayores hospitalizados en diferentes servicios de un Hospital de Acapulco, Guerrero, México. Para su evaluación, se diseñó un instrumento de acuerdo con los patrones funcionales de Marjory Gordon. Se utilizó la plataforma de mejores prácticas de enfermería E-cuidados® para el análisis. Resultados El presente estudio identificó 36 diagnósticos relevantes, de los cuales 23 (63.9 %) fueron diagnósticos centrados en el problema, 10 (27.8 %) diagnósticos de riesgo y 3 (8.3 %) de promoción a la salud. Los patrones funcionales más afectados son; Actividad-Ejercicio, Nutricional-Metabólico y Valores-Creencias. Conclusiones El presente estudio ayuda a enfatizar la importancia de adoptar estrategias preventivas y de atención integral, así como la mejora de la planificación de la atención para evitar el deterioro de las condiciones en los pacientes adultos mayores.

Abstract Objective To determine the prevalence of diverse nursing diagnostics in hospitalized older patients with pressure ulcers, identifying the real, potential, and health-related ones, as well as syndrome by health functional pattern. Methods and material This is a transversal and descriptive study with a sample of older patients in different services in a hospital of Acapulco, Guerrero, Mexico. An assessment instrument was designed following the Functional Patterns of Marjory Gordon. The E-cuidados® best nursing practices platform was used for the analysis. Results 36 relevant diagnostics were identified: 23 (63.9 %) were problem-centered; 10 (27.8 %) were risk related; and 3 (8.3 %) were health promoting. The most affected functional patterns were: Activity-Exercise; Nutrition-Metabolism; and Values-Beliefs. Conclusions This study supports the need to highlight the importance of adopting preventive and integral attention strategies, as well as improving the attention planning process in order to avoid the deterioration of health conditions of older patients.

Resumo Objetivo Determinar a prevalência dos diagnósticos enfermeiros em pacientes idosos hospitalizados com úlceras por pressão e identificar os diagnósticos enfermeiros reais, potenciais, de saúde e síndrome por padrão funcional de saúde. Material e métodos Estudo Transversal, descritivo conformado por uma amostra de pacientes idosos hospitalizados em diferentes serviços de um Hospital de Acapulco, Guerrero, México. Para sua avaliação, desenhou-se um instrumento conforme com os padrões funcionais de Marjory Gordon. Utilizou-se a plataforma de melhores práticas de enfermagem E-cuidados® para a análise. Resultados O presente estudo identificou 36 diagnósticos relevantes, dos quais 23 (63.9 %) foram diagnósticos centrados no problema, 10 (27.8 %) diagnósticos de risco e 3 (8.3 %) de promoção à saúde. Os padrões funcionais mais afetados são; Atividade-Exercício, Nutricional-Metabólico e Valores-Crenças. Conclusões O presente estudo ajuda a enfatizar a importância de adotar estratégias preventivas e de atenção integral, assim como a melhora da planificação da atenção para evitar a deterioração das condições nos pacientes idosos.

Does mercury presence in soils promote their microbial activity? The Almadenejos case (Almadén mercury mining district, Spain).

Mercury is considered a very toxic element and important efforts are currently being made aimed at reduce or even eliminating its usage. Despite this trend, there are still sites where contamination by this metal is very marked, especially in the mining environment of Almadén where it has been exploited for thousands of years. The several forms in which Hg occurs in the soil interact differently with the organisms that live in/on it. The soil is a place where many biotic and abiotic variables act together. Through a detailed study of the edaphic characteristics of a decommissioned metallurgical enclosure, the presence of different chemical forms of Hg, the study of microbial activity (DHA) and, finally, parameters of the vegetation cover, such as specific distribution and biomass, we have tried to elucidate the effect of the presence of Hg in this precinct with a very high Hg pollution. The obtained results showed the affection patterns by which the different measured parameters vary, with special incidence to the microbial activity of the topsoil and to the specific distribution of the plants found in the studied area. The statistical multivariate analysis showed that significant correlations have been found between soil Hg fractions and between Hg fractions in plants; furthermore, soil conditions seem to be not related with Hg transfer from soils to plants. Biomass and DHA data indicate that the studied area is not affected by the presence of Hg species and lacks the expected toxic effects on the living organisms.

[Early onset epileptic encephalopathy in a patient with mutation in SCN8A]. / Encefalopatia epileptica de inicio precoz en un paciente con mutacion en SCN8A.

TITLE: Encefalopatia epileptica de inicio precoz en un paciente con mutacion en SCN8A.

Silo discharge of binary granular mixtures.

We present numerical and experimental results on the mass flow rate during the discharge of three-dimensional silos filled with a bidisperse mixture of grains of different sizes. We analyzed the influence of the ratio between coarse and fine particles on the profile of volume fraction and velocity across the orifice. By using numerical simulations, we have shown that the velocity profile has the same shape as that in the monodisperse case and is insensitive to the composition of the mixture. On the contrary, the volume fraction profile is strongly affected by the composition of the mixture. Assuming that an effective particle size can be introduced to characterize the mixture, we have shown that previous expression for the mass flow rate of monodisperse particles can be used for binary mixtures. A comparison with Beverloo's correlation is also presented.

[Phenotypic variations in Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome caused by RNASEH2B gene mutations: report of two new cases]. / Variaciones fenotípicas en el síndrome de Aicardi-Goutières causado por mutaciones en el gen RNASEH2B: presentación de dos nuevos casos.

INTRODUCTION: Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome is a rare immune disorder due to mutations in seven different genes that encode proteins called TREX1, ribonuclease H2 complex, SAMHD1, ADAR and IDIH1 (MDA5), which are involved in acid nucleic metabolism. Two cases are described in detail below caused by RNASEH2B gene mutation, one of which displays a mutation no described to date. CASE REPORTS: Case 1: male consulting because from 5-month-old shows loss of maturity items acquired until then, coming with several fever episodes. Case 2: a 4-month-old boy showing since 2-month-old great irritability and oral-feeding trouble with severe psychomotor impairment. In both cases it was found an increase of pterines in the cerebrospinal fluid, mainly neopterine, with calcifications in the basal ganglia. The diagnosis was proved by sequencing RNASEH2B gene, founding in case 2 a new mutation not described previously. CONCLUSIONS: The reported cases belong to the description already done by Aicardi-Goutieres, it should be noticed this syndrome in a patient with a subacute encephalopathy of debut in the first year of life, dystonia/spasticity in variable degree and important affectation/regression of psychomotor development, particularly in those with increase of pterines (neopterine) in the cerebrospinal fluid and calcifications in the basal ganglia.

TITLE: Variaciones fenotipicas en el sindrome de Aicardi-Goutieres causado por mutaciones en el gen RNASEH2B: presentacion de dos nuevos casos.Introduccion. El sindrome de Aicardi-Goutieres es un trastorno inmunitario raro debido a mutaciones en siete genes que codifican proteinas llamadas TREX1, el complejo ribonucleasa H2, SAMHD1, ADAR e IFIH1 (MAD5), las cuales estan implicadas en el metabolismo de los acidos nucleicos. A continuacion se presentan dos nuevos casos por mutacion en el gen RNASEH2B, uno de los cuales presenta una mutacion no descrita hasta la fecha. Casos clinicos. Caso 1: varon que consulto porque desde los 5 meses, coincidiendo con cuadros febriles de repeticion, presentaba perdida de los items madurativos adquiridos hasta la fecha. Caso 2: niño de 4 meses que desde los 2 meses mostraba gran irritabilidad con dificultades en la alimentacion, asociado a un grave retraso psicomotor. En ambos casos se constato un aumento de las pterinas en el liquido cefalorraquideo, principalmente de la neopterina, con calcificaciones en los ganglios basales. El diagnostico se confirmo mediante secuenciacion del gen RNASEH2B; el caso 2 presentaba una mutacion no descrita en la literatura medica. Conclusiones. Los casos corresponden a la descripcion clasica realizada por Aicardi-Goutieres. Debe tenerse en cuenta este sindrome ante un paciente con un cuadro de encefalopatia subaguda de comienzo en el primer año de vida, distonia/espasticidad en grado variable e importante afectacion/regresion del desarrollo psicomotor, especialmente si asocia aumento de las pterinas (neopterina) en el liquido cefalorraquideo y calcificaciones en los ganglios basales.

Cirugía trans-oral robótica para manejo de cáncer de orofaringe / Trans-oral robotic surgery for tongue cancer

Background: The traditional treatment of oropharyngeal cancer was based mainly in radio and chemotherapy, aiming to avoid organ excisions. However, the adverse effects of these therapies prompted the development of new therapies. Among these, trans-oral robotic surgery (TORS) has promising results. Case reports: We report two patients operated using this technique. An 82 years old woman treated for a tumor in the base of the tongue six years ago with radiotherapy. A new lesion in the tongue was found and excised by TORS uneventfully. The pathology report confirmed the complete excision of the malignant lesion. A 57 years old male with a history of palate cancer treated with radiotherapy in 1990. In 2013 a submandibular mass was biopsied confirming the presence of a squamous carcinoma metastasis. During a bilateral suprahyoid dissection, a tumor in the base of the tongue was found. In a second intervention the tumor was excised by TORS. The pathology reports tumor free borders but near the lesion. Postoperative radiotherapy was recommended.

Introducción: El cáncer de orofaringe representa una importante causa de morbimortalidad en la esfera de las patologías de cabeza y cuello en la actualidad. Su tratamiento tradicional por mucho tiempo consideró la conservación de órganos, utilizando mayoritariamente la radio y quimioterapia como herramientas terapéuticas. Los efectos no deseados tanto de las terapias médicas como las quirúrgicas han obligado a desarrollar técnicas nuevas para el manejo de estas enfermedades. Es así que a partir del año 2006 se ha ido desarrollando a nivel mundial la técnica de cirugía robótica transoral (TORS). La morbilidad y resultados oncológicos de este procedimiento hasta ahora se ven alentadores, por lo que se está transformando en una alternativa terapéutica que debemos manejar. Casos clínicos: Se presentan los dos primeros casos a nivel país realizados en esta institución de cánceres de orofaringe tratados con la técnica tradicional y después de largo tiempo recidivados. Se les realizó cirugía resectiva de sus tumores a través de TORS; se describen los resultados de estos procedimientos.

Sediment toxicity and bioaccumulation assessment in abandoned copper and mercury mining areas of the Nalón River basin (Spain).

Sediment toxicity and metal bioaccumulation were assessed at sites affected by historical copper (Cu) and mercury (Hg) mining activities in the Nalón River basin, Asturias, Spain. Toxicity assessment of stream sediments was based on a 28-day oligochaete Tubifex tubifex sediment bioassay, which allowed the classification of sites into three levels of toxicity: 11 sites were classified as nontoxic (including Cu mine sites), three sites as potentially toxic, and seven sites as toxic (all located in Hg mine districts). The greatest levels of arsenic (As), chromium, Hg, lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in T. tubifex were measured at sites affected by Hg mining and the highest Cu levels in tissues at Cu mining sites. Chronic toxicity responses were best explained by As and Hg sediment concentrations and by As, Pb, and Zn tissue residues. Residue levels of As, Hg, Zn, and Pb were successfully used to predict sediment chronic toxicity and estimate effective tissue residues.

Punción con aguja fina en tumores de glándulas salivales / Fine needle aspiration in salivary gland tumors

Los estudios por imagen permiten diagnosticar y categorizar un tumor de glándula salival (GS). La punción con aguja fina (PAAF) es una herramienta diagnóstica. El ultrasonido (US) permite visualizar el tumor y guiar la aguja de PAAF. Objetivos: Describir la técnica de PAAF. Revisión retrospectiva de los resultados de PAAF bajo US en tumor de GS. Se analizaron 39 pacientes enviados a PAAF en 5 años. Resultados: 31 lesiones parotídeas y 8 submaxilares. 87 por ciento se presentaron como nódulo hipoecogénico y 69 por ciento con refuerzo posterior. Resultado cito-histológico de 36 PAAF realizadas: 29 lesiones benignas, 6 lesiones malignas, 1 punción frustra. No hubo complicaciones. 21 pacientes operados. Concordancia histológica 85 por ciento . No hubo falsos positivos para cáncer. En conclusión, PAAF bajo US es una herramienta diagnóstica en los tumores de GS.

Imaging studies allow the diagnosis and classification of a salivary gland (SG) tumor. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a diagnostic tool. Ultrasound (US) allows the visualization of the tumor and guidance of the needle in FNA. Objectives: To describe the FNA technique. A retrospective review of the results of ultrasound guided FNA in a SG tumor. 39 patients referred for FNA in 5 years, were analyzed. Results: 31 parotid and 8 submaxillary lesions. 87% presented as hypoechoic nodule and 69% with posterior acoustic enhancement. Cyto-histological results of 36 FNA performed: 29 benign lesions, 6 malignant lesions, one failed puncture. There were no complications. 21 operated patients. Histological concordance was 85%. There were no false positives for cancer. In conclusion, FNA using ultrasound is a diagnostic tool in GS tumors.

Roasting and packaging in nitrogen atmosphere protect almond var. Guara against lipid oxidation.

The effect of packaging in nitrogen (N2) atmosphere or in air on the quality of peeled and roasted almond var. Guara during storage for 20 weeks at 20 °C ± 1 °C and 65-70% relative humidity (RH) was studied. No changes in the sugar, fat, protein or fiber contents were observed during the storage period nor in color. Only the lipid fraction showed significant changes with the kind of packaging atmosphere. The composition of fatty acids remained unchanged during the 5 month storage in all the samples. Packaging in N2 atmosphere was seen to have a protective effect against the accumulation of conjugated dienes (CD) in peeled almonds, while in roasted almonds, the protective effect was lower and even nil by the end of storage. The contrary effect was observed for the ultraviolet (UV; K270) index which increased more slowly in the roasted samples packaged in N2, while in peeled samples it reached the same levels at the end of storage regardless of the packaging atmosphere. No effect of the packaging atmosphere was observed on the evolution of the peroxide value in the tested samples (peeled or roasted almonds). None of these changes in the lipid fraction was reflected in the final sensory quality of the samples and the taster panel found no changes in the sensory quality in any case.

Osteosarcomas de la región de cabeza y cuello / Osteosarcoma of the head and neck area: analysis of 12 patients

Background: Less than 10 percent of osteosarcomas are located the head and neck region, mainly affecting the mandible and maxillary region. Aim: To analyze the therapeutic modality, types of reconstruction, surgical complications and survival of patients treated for osteosarcoma of the head and neck. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of 12 patients aged 17 to 34 years (6 women) treated for osteosarcoma of the head and neck between September 1998 and may 2009. Results: The localization of the tumor was maxillary in eight, mandibular three and ethmoidal in one patient. According to histologic grade, seven tumors were grade 1, four were grade 2 and one was grade 3. Adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy were administered to all and seven patients, respectively. The surgical treatment for maxillary tumors was maxillectomy. A reconstruction with rectum abdomini free flap was done in four patients and with dermoepidermic graft and an obturator prosthesis in three. In one patient, the defect was covered with a dental prosthesis. Treatment for mandibular tumors was mandibular excision. A reconstruction with peroneal free flap was performed in two patients and with an iliac crest graft in one. The ethmoidal tumor was resected and covered with local flaps. There were four complications. Two patients had a cutaneous fistula, one patient had a free flap partial atrophy and one patient had surgical site infection. Two patients who had positive margins died from local recurrence. Of the 10 patients with negative margins, seven are alive without recurrence, one died due to the disease, one has disseminated disease and one died from another cause. Conclusions: Our results in the treatment of head and neck osteosarcomas are consistent with published data.

Objetivos: Analizar la modalidad terapéutica, tipos de reconstrucción, complicaciones quirúrgicas y sobrevida de un grupo de pacientes tratados por esta patología. Métodos: Revisión de fichas clínicas de 12 pacientes portadores de osteosarcoma de cabeza y cuello entre septiembre de 1998 y mayo de 2009. Resultados: Edad promedio 30 años (17-34), 6 mujeres y 6 hombres. Localización fue 8 maxilar, 3 mandibular y 1 etmoidales. 7 tumores G1, 4 G2 y 1 G3. Siete pacientes recibieron quimioterapia neoadyuvante y todos adyuvante. El tratamiento de tumores maxilares fueron maxilectomías reconstruidas 4 con colgajo libre de recto abdominal, 3 con injerto dermoepidérmico más prótesis obturadora y una con prótesis dentaria. Se realizó mandibulectomía a los tumores mandibulares, 2 reconstruidos con colgajo libre de peroné y uno con injerto de cresta ilíaca. El tratamiento del tumor etmoidal fue resección craneofacial y se reparó con colgajos locales. Hubo 4 complicaciones; 2 fístulas cutáneas, una atrofia parcial de colgajo libre y una infección de herida operatoria. Dos pacientes tuvieron bordes comprometidos, quienes murieron por recidiva local. De los 10 pacientes con bordes libres, 7 se encuentran sin evidencia de recidiva, uno con enfermedad diseminada, uno fallecido por la enfermedad y uno fallecido por otra causa. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados son consistentes con la literatura.

Sobrevida global y por estadios de 137 pacientes con cáncer intraoral: experiencia del Instituto Nacional del Cáncer / Analysis of survival of 137 patients with oral cancer

Background: Oral cancer accounts for 1 percent of cancer mortality. It is more common in men but its frequency is increasing in women due to their growing smoking habits. Aim: To report the experience in the management of a cohort of patients with oral cancer. Material and Methods: Review of medical records of patients with oral cancer treated between 1989 and 2004. Demographic and clinical data were recorded and survival was determined examining death certificates or information obtained from the medical records. Results: Data from 137 patients aged 61 +/- 14 years (98 males) was analyzed. Global survival five years survival was 57 percent. Survival for stages I, II, III and IV was 86, 67, 52 and 51 percent respectively. Conclusions: The survival of these patients is very similar to that reported abroad.

El cáncer intraoral representa un 1 por ciento de la mortalidad por cáncer. Ocurre predominantemente en hombres aunque la frecuencia en mujeres se ha incrementado en los últimos 20 años debido al creciente consumo de tabaco en este grupo. Son cuadros complejos que requieren un manejo integrado de múltiples especialistas. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar la experiencia del Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (INC) en el manejo de una cohorte de 137 casos tratados y seguidos en esta institución entre 1989 y 2004. La población tratada corresponde predominantemente a hombres (71,5 por ciento) con edad promedio de 61 años. La sobrevida global fue de 57 por ciento a 5 años, por estadíos la sobrevida fue de 86 por ciento en etapa I, 67 por ciento en etapa II, 52 por ciento en etapa III y 51 por ciento en etapa IV Estos resultados son comparables con otros centros oncológicos del extranjero y son reflejo del adecuado manejo de los pacientes.

Relaxation dynamics of tryptophan in water: A UV fluorescence up-conversion and molecular dynamics study.

We report on an ultrafast experimental and simulations study of the early relaxation events of photoexcited tryptophan in water. Experimentally, we used fluorescence up-conversion in both polychromatic and single wavelength detection modes in the 300-480 nm range with polarization dependence. We report on the time evolution of the Stokes shift, bandwidth, and anisotropy from tens of femtoseconds to picoseconds. These observables contain signatures of the simultaneous occurrence of intramolecular and solvent-molecule interactions, which we disentangle with the help of nonequilibrium molecular dynamics simulations. We also observe a breakdown of the linear response approximation to describe our results.

Solubilization and characterization of a cell wall-bound trehalase from ascospores of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

The genome of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe lacks sequence homologs to ath1 genes coding for acid trehalases in other yeasts or filamentous fungi. However, acid trehalase activity is present at the spore stage in the life cycle of the fission yeast. The enzyme responsible for this activity behaves as a surface enzyme covalently linked to the spore cell walls in both wild-type and ntp1 mutant strains devoid of neutral trehalase. Lytic treatment of particulated cell wall fractions allowed the solubilization of the enzyme into an active form. We have characterized this soluble enzyme and found that its kinetic parameters, optimum pH and temperature, thermal denaturation and salt responses are closely similar to other conventional acid trehalases. Hence, this rather unusual enzyme can be recognized as acid trehalase by its biochemical properties although it does not share genetic homology with other known acid trehalases. The potential role of such acid trehalase in the mobilization of trehalose is discussed.

Influence of irrigation and organic/inorganic fertilization on chemical quality of almond (Prunus amygdalus cv. Guara).

The chemical quality of almonds variety Guara cultivated in nonirrigated farming (NI) and drip-irrigated farming (DI) conditions with different fertilizing treatments, two organic treatments (T1 and T2) and a mineral treatment (C), all of them with a N-P-K proportion of 1-2-1, is studied. Almonds obtained in irrigated farming showed higher content in sugars and organic acids and a better quality of oil. Among the fertilizing treatments employed, the organic ones have shown the best results related to chemical quality, regardless of the quantity of fertilizer employed (9.5 kg per T1 tree vs 4.5 kg per T2 tree). The organic treatments produced almonds with a higher content of sugar, organic acids and fiber and a similar fat content. These results are interesting from a commercial point of view since the consumers, even under the same conditions of chemical quality, prefer those products cultivated under organic conditions due to their benefits for health and because these practices are environment-friendly.