Pediatric perianal Crohn's disease behavior in the era of biologic therapy. / Comportamiento de la afectación perianal en pacientes pediátricos con enfermedad de Crohn en la era de la terapia biológica.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To describe perianal Crohn's disease behavior and the role of biological therapy in a sample of pediatric patients. METHODS: A retrospective study of pediatric patients with Crohn's disease (CD) treated in our institution from 2017 to 2021, with a minimum follow up period of 6 months, was conducted. Patients were divided whether they had perianal disease (PD) or not. Baseline characteristics, extension of disease, growth failure rate, aggressive pattern rate, use of biological therapy and need for surgery, among other variables, were compared between both groups. Clinical and/or radiological improvement in the last 6 months of follow up was considered good control of PD. RESULTS: Seventy eight pediatric patients with CD were included. Median age at diagnosis was 10.5 years, and median follow up time was 3.8 years. 64.1% patients were male. Of all, 15 (19.2%) had perianal disease, of which 10 had fistulizing findings and 5 had non fistulizing findings. PD was presented at diagnosis in 8 patients, and the rest developed it in a median time of 1 year from diagnosis. PD was associated with growth failure (p = 0.003), use of biological therapies (p = 0.005), and need for second line of biologics (p = 0.005). Most patients (12/15, 80%) had good control of PD with the treatment received. CONCLUSIONS: CD patients with PD seem to need a more aggressive treatment, with biological therapies playing a key role for its handling nowadays. These patients require close nutritional evaluation that ensures proper development and growth.

OBJETIVO DEL ESTUDIO: Describir el comportamiento de la enfermedad de Crohn perianal y el papel de la terapia biológica en una muestra de pacientes pediátricos. METODOS: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes pediátricos con enfermedad de Crohn (EC) tratados en nuestro centro entre 2017 y 2021, con un seguimiento mínimo de seis meses. Los pacientes se dividieron en función de si tenían enfermedad perianal (EP) o no. Se compararon entre ambos grupos las características iniciales, la extensión de la enfermedad, el índice de retraso en el crecimiento, el índice de patrón agresivo, el empleo de terapia biológica y la necesidad de cirugía, entre otras variables. Se consideró un buen control de la EP una mejoría clínica o radiológica en los 6 últimos meses de seguimiento. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 78 pacientes pediátricos con EC. La edad mediana en el momento del diagnóstico fue de 10,5 años, y el tiempo mediano de seguimiento fue de 3,8 años. El 64,1% de los pacientes eran varones. Del total, 15 (19,2%) tenían enfermedad perianal, de los cuales 10 presentaban hallazgos fistulizantes y 5 no fistulizantes. La EP estaba presente en el momento del diagnóstico en 8 pacientes, y el resto la desarrolló en una mediana de 1 año desde el diagnóstico. La EP se asoció con retraso en el crecimiento (p = 0,003), empleo de terapias biológicas (p = 0,005) y necesidad de una segunda línea de terapia biológica (p = 0,005). La mayoría de los pacientes (12/15, 80%) tuvieron un buen control de la EP con el tratamiento recibido. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes de EC con EP parecen necesitar un tratamiento más agresivo, en el que las terapias biológicas desempeñan hoy en día un papel fundamental. Estos pacientes precisan de una estrecha evaluación nutricional que garantice su correcto crecimiento y desarrollo.

Absolute calibration of Fujifilm BAS-TR image plate response to laser driven protons up to 40 MeV.

Image plates (IPs) are a popular detector in the field of laser driven ion acceleration, owing to their high dynamic range and reusability. An absolute calibration of these detectors to laser-driven protons in the routinely produced tens of MeV energy range is, therefore, essential. In this paper, the response of Fujifilm BAS-TR IPs to 1-40 MeV protons is calibrated by employing the detectors in high resolution Thomson parabola spectrometers in conjunction with a CR-39 nuclear track detector to determine absolute proton numbers. While CR-39 was placed in front of the image plate for lower energy protons, it was placed behind the image plate for energies above 10 MeV using suitable metal filters sandwiched between the image plate and CR-39 to select specific energies. The measured response agrees well with previously reported calibrations as well as standard models of IP response, providing, for the first time, an absolute calibration over a large range of proton energies of relevance to current experiments.

Calibration of BAS-TR image plate response to GeV gold ions.

The response of the BAS-TR image plate (IP) was absolutely calibrated using a CR-39 track detector for high linear energy transfer Au ions up to ∼1.6 GeV (8.2 MeV/nucleon), accelerated by high-power lasers. The calibration was carried out by employing a high-resolution Thomson parabola spectrometer, which allowed resolving Au ions with closely spaced ionization states up to 58+. A response function was obtained by fitting the photo-stimulated luminescence per Au ion for different ion energies, which is broadly in agreement with that expected from ion stopping in the active layer of the IP. This calibration would allow quantifying the ion energy spectra for high energy Au ions, which is important for further investigation of the laser-based acceleration of heavy ion beams.

Simplified risk-prediction for benchmarking and quality improvement in emergency general surgery. Prospective, multicenter, observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Emergency General Surgery (EGS) conditions account for millions of deaths worldwide, yet it is practiced without benchmarking-based quality improvement programs. The aim of this observational, prospective, multicenter, nationwide study was to determine the best benchmark cutoff points in EGS, as a reference to guide improvement measures. METHODS: Over a 6-month period, 38 centers (5% of all public hospitals) attending EGS patients on a 24-h, 7-days a week basis, enrolled consecutive patients requiring an emergent/urgent surgical procedure. Patients were stratified into cohorts of low (i.e., expected morbidity risk <33%), middle and high risk using the novel m-LUCENTUM calculator. RESULTS: A total of 7258 patients were included; age (mean ± SD) was 51.1 ± 21.5 years, 43.2% were female. Benchmark cutoffs in the low-risk cohort (5639 patients, 77.7% of total) were: use of laparoscopy ≥40.9%, length of hospital stays ≤3 days, any complication within 30 days ≤ 17.7%, and 30-day mortality ≤1.1%. The variables with the greatest impact were septicemia on length of hospital stay (21 days; adjusted beta coefficient 16.8; 95% CI: 15.3 to 18.3; P < .001), and respiratory failure on mortality (risk-adjusted population attributable fraction 44.6%, 95% CI 29.6 to 59.6, P < .001). Use of laparoscopy (odds ratio 0.764, 95% CI 0.678 to 0.861; P < .001), and intraoperative blood loss (101-500 mL: odds ratio 2.699, 95% CI 2.152 to 3.380; P < .001; and 500-1000 mL: odds ratio 2.875, 95% CI 1.403 to 5.858; P = .013) were associated with increased morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers, for the first time, clinically-based benchmark values in EGS and identifies measures for improvement.

Subduction zone fluids and arc magmas conducted by lithospheric deformed regions beneath the central Andes.

Dehydration of the oceanic subducting slab promotes the formation of magmatic arcs, intra-slab intermediate-depth seismicity, and hydration of the overlying mantle wedge. However, the complex permeability structure of the overriding plate controls the magma and fluid migration and their accumulation at shallower depths. In this regard, mapping the inner structure of the overriding crust and mantle is crucial to understand the magmatic and hydrological processes in subduction zones. We integrate 3-D P-wave, [Formula: see text], and electrical resistivity tomographic models of the northern Chilean subduction zone to map the magmatic and fluids derived from the subducting oceanic Nazca plate. Results show a continental crust relatively thick (50-65 km) characterized by a lower zone of high [Formula: see text] values (7.2-7.6 km/s), which is interpreted as the presence of plutonic rocks. The mantle lithospheric wedge is weakly hydrated ([Formula: see text] = 1.75-1.8) while the forearc continental crust is traversed by regions of reduced electrical resistivity values ([Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]) interpreted as zones of relatively high permeability/fracturing and fluid content. These regions spatially correlate with upper plate trans-lithospheric deformation zones. Ascending melts accumulate preferentially in the back-arc, whereas hydrothermal systems form trenchward of the volcanic arc. The results highlight the complex permeability structure of the upper South American plate.

Solid-state culture of Azospirillum brasilense: a reliable technology for biofertilizer production from laboratory to pilot scale.

A biofertilizer of Azospirillum brasilense was produced in solid-state culture (SSC) from laboratory to pilot scale. Similar operation conditions (continuous aeration and mild intermittent mixing) and two dimensionless numbers with similar L/D ratio and a similar working volume were applied to reach a scale-up factor of 75. An innovative bioreactor with rotating helical ribbons (15 kg wet matter) was used at pilot scale. A mathematical model was proposed and validated to evaluate the respirometry trends at laboratory and pilot scale exhibiting similar behavior. The cell viability was (1.3 ± 0.4) × 109 and (1.3 ± 0.3) × 109 colony-forming units per gram of initial dry mass at laboratory and pilot scale, at 36 and 43 h, respectively. A. brasilense maintains its viability twelve months of storage at 4 and 30 °C. This is the first report of A. brasilense being cultivated in SSC under controlled conditions. SSC processes involving unicellular microorganisms with tolerance to agitation are a promising technology to produce biofertilizers.

Laparoscopic aproach in post-traumatic chylous ascites.

Chylous ascites is a rare condition little reported in literature, with even more exceptional traumatic origin. Its production mechanism is not known exactly but has been attributed to hyperflexion or hyperextension of the spine leading to a rupture of lymph ducts. We present a case of post-traumatic chyloperitoneum in a young patient after abdominal blunt trauma. Conservative treatment should be the first therapeutic option, especially if the origin is traumatic, reserving more aggressive possibilities for cases that do not respond after 15 days, if debt is greater than 1.5 litres/day in adult patients or in those with metabolic complications. A laparoscopic approach is indicated to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out other associated injuries that may require other surgical procedures.

Breast cancer: determining the genetic profile from ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy specimens obtained during the diagnostic workups. / Cáncer de mama: determinación del perfil genético a partir de la biopsia percutánea ecoguiada diagnóstica.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the possibility of determining the genetic profile of primary malignant tumors of the breast from specimens obtained by ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsies during the diagnostic imaging workup. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study in 13 consecutive patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer by B-mode ultrasound-guided 12 G core needle biopsy. After clinical indication, the pathologist decided whether the paraffin block specimens seemed suitable (on the basis of tumor size, validity of the sample, and percentage of tumor cells) before sending them for genetic analysis with the MammaPrint® platform. RESULTS: The size of the tumors on ultrasound ranged from 0.6cm to 5cm. In 11 patients the preserved specimen was considered valid and suitable for use in determining the genetic profile. In 1 patient (with a 1cm tumor) the pathologist decided that it was necessary to repeat the core biopsy to obtain additional samples. In 1 patient (with a 5cm tumor) the specimen was not considered valid by the genetic laboratory. The percentage of tumor cells in the samples ranged from 60% to 70%. In 11/13 cases (84.62%) it was possible to do the genetic analysis on the previously diagnosed samples. CONCLUSION: In most cases, regardless of tumor size, it is possible to obtain the genetic profile from tissue specimens obtained with ultrasound-guided 12 G core biopsy preserved in paraffin blocks.

Effects of dalfampridine on multi-dimensional aspects of gait and dexterity in multiple sclerosis among timed walk responders and non-responders.

BACKGROUND: Dalfampridine extended release 10mg tablets (D-ER) have demonstrated improvement in walking for ambulatory persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), termed "responders." OBJECTIVE: This study examined the extent additional aspects of gait and dexterity change for patients prescribed D-ER. METHODS: Over 14-weeks, walking endurance, dynamic gait, self-report walking ability and fine and gross dexterity were examined in pwMS prescribed D-ER as a part of routine clinical care. RESULTS: The final results (n=39) validate that a subset of pwMS improve walking speed (Time 25-Foot Walk Test, p<0.0001). Significant improvements in gait and dexterity were observed even among participants who did not improve walking speed. Improvements were evident in gait and dexterity domains including Six Minute Walk Test, p=0.007, Six-Spot Step Test, p<0.0001, Multiple Sclerosis Walking Scale-12, p<0.0001, Nine Hole Peg Test, p<0.0001 dominant and non-dominant sides, and Box and Blocks Test, p=0.005 and 0.002, dominant and non-dominant sides, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that D-ER may be a potential treatment for gait impairments, beyond walking speed and dexterity in pwMS. Further investigation regarding D-ER response is warranted.

Calibration of BAS-TR image plate response to high energy (3-300 MeV) carbon ions.

The paper presents the calibration of Fuji BAS-TR image plate (IP) response to high energy carbon ions of different charge states by employing an intense laser-driven ion source, which allowed access to carbon energies up to 270 MeV. The calibration method consists of employing a Thomson parabola spectrometer to separate and spectrally resolve different ion species, and a slotted CR-39 solid state detector overlayed onto an image plate for an absolute calibration of the IP signal. An empirical response function was obtained which can be reasonably extrapolated to higher ion energies. The experimental data also show that the IP response is independent of ion charge states.

Characterisation of deuterium spectra from laser driven multi-species sources by employing differentially filtered image plate detectors in Thomson spectrometers.

A novel method for characterising the full spectrum of deuteron ions emitted by laser driven multi-species ion sources is discussed. The procedure is based on using differential filtering over the detector of a Thompson parabola ion spectrometer, which enables discrimination of deuterium ions from heavier ion species with the same charge-to-mass ratio (such as C(6+), O(8+), etc.). Commonly used Fuji Image plates were used as detectors in the spectrometer, whose absolute response to deuterium ions over a wide range of energies was calibrated by using slotted CR-39 nuclear track detectors. A typical deuterium ion spectrum diagnosed in a recent experimental campaign is presented, which was produced from a thin deuterated plastic foil target irradiated by a high power laser.

Modified Thomson spectrometer design for high energy, multi-species ion sources.

A modification to the standard Thomson parabola spectrometer is discussed, which is designed to measure high energy (tens of MeV/nucleon), broad bandwidth spectra of multi-species ions accelerated by intense laser plasma interactions. It is proposed to implement a pair of extended, trapezoidal shaped electric plates, which will not only resolve ion traces at high energies, but will also retain the lower energy part of the spectrum. While a longer (along the axis of the undeflected ion beam direction) electric plate design provides effective charge state separation at the high energy end of the spectrum, the proposed new trapezoidal shape will enable the low energy ions to reach the detector, which would have been clipped or blocked by simply extending the rectangular plates to enhance the electrostatic deflection.

Antiviral activity of casein and αs2 casein hydrolysates against the infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus, a rhabdovirus from salmonid fish.

Salmonid fish viruses, such as infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), are responsible for serious losses in the rainbow trout and salmon-farming industries, and they have been the subject of intense research in the field of aquaculture. Thus, the aim of this work is to study the antiviral effect of milk-derived proteins as bovine caseins or casein-derived peptides at different stages during the course of IHNV infection. The results indicate that the 3-h fraction of casein and α(S2) -casein hydrolysates reduced the yield of infectious IHNV in a dose-dependent manner and impaired the production of IHNV-specific antigens. Hydrolysates of total casein and α(S2) -casein target the initial and later stages of viral infection, as demonstrated by the reduction in the infective titre observed throughout multiple stages and cycles. In vivo, more than 50% protection was observed in the casein-treated fish, and the kidney sections exhibited none of the histopathological characteristics of IHNV infection. The active fractions from casein were identified, as well as one of the individual IHNV-inhibiting peptides. Further studies will be required to determine which other peptides possess this activity. These findings provide a basis for future investigations on the efficacy of these compounds in treating other viral diseases in farmed fish and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of action. However, the present results provide convincing evidence in support of a role for several milk casein fractions as suitable candidates to prevent and treat some fish viral infections.

[Infant mortality in a third level paediatric hospital. therapeutic effort limitation, clinical-pathological agreement and diagnostic accuracy]. / Mortalidad infantil en un hospital de nivel terciario. Limitación de esfuerzo terapéutico, correspondencia clínico-patológica y precisión diagnóstica.

OBJECTIVE: To study infant and child mortality in a third level children's hospital treating highly complex patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All children dying in the period 2007- 2009 at La Paz Children's Hospital were evaluated. Epidemiological data, autopsy rate, clinical and autopsy diagnoses and their correspondence and the number of, patients with precise final diagnoses were analysed. Therapeutic effort limitation and palliative care were also evaluated as well as if the final result was expected according to the initial disease or clinical condition of the patients. All the variables were prospectively defined at the start of the study period. RESULTS: A total of 253 cases (6.08‰ admissions) were analysed. The two leading causes of death were disorders related to prematurity and low birth weight, and haematology oncology malignant diseases. Most patients (87%) died in an intensive care unit (neonatal or paediatric). During the study period 134 autopsies (53%) were performed, and new clinically significant findings were observed in 12 of these (7.8%) but in only one case the treatment could have possibly modified the prognosis (class I discrepancy). Therapeutic effort limitation and palliative care were implemented in 41.9%. Death was initially expected in 83.9% of cases. An accurate final diagnosis was defined in 92%, and the aetiology of the disease was considered to be identified in 86.4% of all deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Hospital mortality analysis is useful to evaluate the quality of the paediatric care and to detect adverse results that could be corrected. Paediatric autopsy continues to provide clinically significant data for paediatricians and families. Therapeutic effort limitation and palliative care is increasingly applied in paediatric end of life care. The number of infants and children dying without a final aetiological diagnosis is still considerably high.

Abnormal mammography and sonography associated with foreign-body giant-cell reaction after stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy with carbon marking.

BACKGROUND: Carbon marking of the biopsy site and needle track following stereotactic breast biopsy in nonpalpable mammography-detected lesions provides for safe and accurate localization for subsequent surgical excision. No significant complications of carbon marking have been reported to date. PURPOSE: To report follow-up imaging findings and histological changes (foreign-body giant-cell reaction) attributable to the use of carbon marking after vacuum breast biopsies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 130 patients in a mammographic screening program with nonpalpable suspicious breast lesions that were referred for stereotactic directional vacuum-assisted breast biopsy with carbon marking. Histological diagnosis was benign in all cases, but 1-year follow-up mammograms demonstrated suspect findings in four of them. RESULTS: For all four patients, the results of the initial stereotactic vacuum-assisted biopsy were benign, but mammographic follow-up and ultrasound findings revealed suspicious changes that, in all cases, were histologically shown to be foreign-body giant-cell reactions attributable to the use of carbon. CONCLUSION: In four of 130 lesions (3%) that were carbon marked following stereotactic vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, and in which surgical excision was not required, the mammographic and ultrasound follow-up appearance of the breast simulated malignancy. The abnormality was attributable to the use of carbon, which represents a potential source of misdiagnosis.

[Productivity and visibility of Cuban neuroscientists: bibliometric study of the period 2001-2005]. / Productividad y visibilidad de los neurocientíficos Cubanos: estudio bibliométrico del período2001-2005.

INTRODUCTION: Neurosciences have an important place inside the scientific development of Ibero American countries, and particularly in Cuba. The objective of the current work is to analyze the productivity and visibility of Cuban neuroscientists in the period 2001-2005, and the value of H index as evaluation tool. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Web of Science and Scopus were the databases used as information sources. The 24 Cuban neuroscientists in Web of Science were identified, and their scientific production in Scopus was retrieved. For each author, in each database, the following indicators were calculated: total number of published authors, total number of cited articles, proportion of cited articles, total number of citations received, average of citations received by article, and H index. RESULTS: Some variations in the calculated indicators were observed in Scopus with respect to Web of Science. The wide coverage of this database exerted influence on the increment of scientist's productivity, as well as on the increment of H index values. CONCLUSIONS: The possible incorporation of citation analysis, as well as other indicators derived, in the processes of evaluation and analysis of the scientific activity was considered, in order to evaluate the advances in the Neurosciences field.

The impact of taxation on tobacco consumption in Mexico.

BACKGROUND: The price of cigarettes to consumers in Mexico, and Latin America in general, remains low in comparison with other regions of the world. In Mexico, taxes represented 59% of the total price of cigarettes in 2006, compared to 75% or more in many high-income countries. The feasibility of raising taxes on cigarettes in Mexico--to both discourage consumption and increase revenues--is an important policy question. METHODS: Using household survey data, we undertake a pooled cross-sectional analysis of the demand for cigarettes in Mexico. We use a two-part model to estimate the price elasticity of cigarettes. This model controls for the selection effect that arises from the fact that the impact of price on the decision to smoke or not is estimated using all households in the dataset. RESULTS: The results indicate that price is a significant factor in household decisions concerning smoking and the number of cigarettes smoked. Holding other factors constant, our simulations show that a 10% increase in the cigarette tax in Mexico--calculated as a percentage of the price--yields a 12.4% increase in the price to the consumer, a 6.4% decrease in consumption of cigarettes and a 15.7% increase in the revenue yielded by the tax. CONCLUSION: In Mexico, there are strong arguments for increasing cigarette taxes. Revenue raised could be used to further prevent tobacco consumption and to finance current funding shortages for the treatment of diseases related to smoking.