Supplementation of honey bee production colonies with a native beneficial microbe mixture.

Honey bee colonies form a complex superorganism, with individual and social immune defences that control overall colony health. Sometimes these defences are not enough to overcome infections by parasites and pathogens. For that reason, several studies have been conducted to evaluate different strategies to improve honey bee health. A novel alternative that is being studied is the use of beneficial microbes. In a previous study, we isolated and characterised bacterial strains from the native gut microbiota of honey bees. Four Apilactobacillus kunkeei strains were mixed and administered in laboratory models to evaluate their potential beneficial effect on larvae and adult bees. This beneficial microbe mixture was safe; it did not affect the expression of immune-related genes, and it was able to decrease the mortality caused by Paenibacillus larvae infection in larvae and reduced the Nosema ceranae spore number in infected adult honey bees. In the present study, we aimed to delve into the impact of the administration of this beneficial microbe mixture on honey bee colonies, under field conditions. The mixture was administered in sugar syrup using lyophilised bacterial cells or fresh cultures, by aspersion or sprayed and feeder, once a week for three consecutive weeks, in autumn or spring 2015, 2017 and 2019. Colony strength parameters were estimated before the administration, and one and three months later. Simultaneously different samples were collected to evaluate the infection levels of parasites and pathogens. The results showed that administering the beneficial microbe mixture decreased or stabilised the infection by N. ceranae or Varroa destructor in some trials but not in others. However, it failed to improve the colony's strength parameters or honey production. Therefore, field studies can be a game-changer when beneficial microbes for honey bees are tested, and meticulous studies should be performed to test their effectiveness.

Advanced prostate cancer survival in Spain according to the Gleason score, age and stage. / Supervivencia del cáncer de próstata avanzado en España según escala de Gleason, edad y estadio.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the overall and disaggregated survival based on the Gleason score, age and extent of a patient cohort diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer according to standard clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We used an observational and retrospective design for the study. For each patient, we recorded clinical variables such as the extent (metastatic or locally advanced), Gleason score, age, date of diagnosis, date of last contact with the health system and the vital status during the last contact. We used univariate and multivariate statistical techniques of survival. The parametric survival methods enabled us to calculate the mean survival using extrapolation. We analysed 219 patients treated in the public health system between 2008 and 2011. The analysis showed statistically significant differences in survival depending on Gleason score, age and stage. The longest survival was in the subgroup younger than 75 years, with a local extent and a low-risk category on the Gleason scale (19.41 years), and the shortest survival (0.97 years) was in the 75 years or older group. The survival of the other subgroups ranged between these outliers. CONCLUSION: The main contribution of this study is that it is the first to calculate the mean survival of advanced prostate cancer in Spain in terms of the variables of our study population. This information helps clinicians predict the life expectancy of each patient according to their prognostic factors.

Preliminary results of the Spanish Association of Urology National Registry in Active Surveillance for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To present a National Registry of patients with prostate cancer as monitored through active surveillance, with the intention of testing the hypothesis that cancer-specific mortality in very low-risk and low-risk patients is less than 5% at 15 years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicentre observational study (AEU-PIEM/2014/0001) sponsored by the Spanish Association of Urology was conducted using their platform for multicentre studies. The clinical-pathological inclusion criteria were as follows: cT1a-cT3a, PSA ≤ 20 ng/ml, initial minimum biopsy of 10 cores, number of affected cores ≤ 3, 1st Gleason score of 3 and 2nd Gleason score ≤ 4 and a known prostate volume (in cc). A unified follow-up was not established for all recruiting centres; however, a survey was conducted that reflects the follow-up characteristics based on a number of tangible parameters that allow for their comparison. With the same philosophy of flexibility, the use of certain biomarkers and multiparametric MRI was not considered necessary for inclusion. RESULTS: We describe the Registry's characteristics and possibilities, as well as the preliminary results from the 324 patients included in its first 5 months of operation in the 15 recruiting centres. We also report the clinical-pathological variables, biomarkers, radiodiagnosis technique and quality-of-life questionnaires considered for the database, as well as the possibilities for indefinite follow-up, remaining open to any active treatment recognized in clinical guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The AEU-PIEM/2014/0001 represents an extremely useful tool for all Spanish urologists for multicentre clinical research. The registry will undoubtedly enable the dissemination of active surveillance of our patients in a more coordinated manner, thus maintaining the advantages of optimised opportunistic screening for prostate cancer without resulting in overtreatment.

[Surgical treatment of the stroke in the middle cerebral artery]. / Tratamiento quirúrgico del ictus de la arteria cerebral media.

INTRODUCTION: Decompressive craniectomy increases the survival rate in cases of malignant middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke. The imaging and clinical signs that predict a malignant progression of stroke of the MCA are analysed, together with factors associated with a poorer prognosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study involved 30 patients, who were divided into three groups: patients who had undergone surgery, and patients who had not undergone surgery but were admitted to intensive care or to neurology wards. The surgical procedure consisted in creating a bone window with a diameter of at least 10 cm and a dural opening. The initial evaluation of the patient was performed using the Glasgow scale and the National Institute of Health stroke scale; follow-up was carried out using the modified Rankin scale, the Barthel index and the Glasgow Outcome Scale at six months. RESULTS: Younger patients have a better functional prognosis than those over 60 years of age. A deviation of more than 10 mm from the mean line is associated with a poorer prognosis, as are volumes of infarcted tissue above 350 cm3. Lower scores on the Glasgow scale on admission are associated with a poorer prognosis for survival and a higher number of sequelae, as well as their reduction during hospitalisation. CONCLUSIONS: Age conditions the presence of sequelae in these patients. The presence of clinical signs of herniation (anisocoria, lower initial score or important drop on the Glasgow scale) and imaging signs (displacement of the mean line, volume of infarcted tissue) imply a poorer prognosis. Early surgery in those patients in whom it is indicated reduces the number of sequelae and increases the rate of survival.

[Myxoid pleomorphic fibroma of the skin]. / Fibroma cutáneo pleomórfico mixoide.

Pleomorphic fibroma of the skin was described by Kamino et al 1 in 1989. It is a benign fibroblastic proliferation with cytologic atypia. This article describes a case of a myxoid variant of pleomorphic fibroma of the skin.

Molecular structure-dynamics relationships in glassy poly(isophthalamide)s as revealed by wide angle x-ray scattering, dielectric loss spectroscopy, and molecular modelling.

The effect of molecular structure on the gamma relaxation dynamics has been studied in a set of aromatic poly(isophthalamide)s. This polymer family differ in the bridge group between phenylene rings [hexafluoroisopropylidene (C(CF(3))(2)) or ether] and also in the presence of t-butyl groups (C(CH(3))(3)) as pendant substituent on the five position of isophthalic ring. The results obtained from wide angle x-ray scattering in the glassy state indicated that both (C(CF(3))(2)) and (C(CH(3))(3)) groups favor the separation between chains, which is reflected on different interchain average distances. Dielectric experiments showed that both bulky groups favor the mobility in the glassy state. Molecular modelling methods were used to know the kind of molecular motions associated to the dielectric relaxation observed below the glass transition temperature.

Activity and expression of soluble and particulate guanylate cyclases in myometrium from nonpregnant and pregnant women: down-regulation of soluble guanylate cyclase at term.

The role of cGMP in the regulation of human myometrial smooth muscle contractility is at present unclear. cGMP can be synthesized by a cytoplasmic, soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC), which is stimulated by nitric oxide and carbon monoxide, and by particulate membrane-bound GC, which are activated by natriuretic peptides. The aim of this study was to determine whether sGC or pGC are present in nonpregnant and pregnant human myometrium, and whether the activity and expression of these enzymes and the cGMP content change during pregnancy and with labor. Myometrium was obtained from nonpregnant women (n = 12) and pregnant women who were preterm (25-34 wk gestation; n = 12), term (>38 wk) not in labor (n = 14), or term in active labor (n = 12). The cGMP content in myometrium obtained from preterm deliveries was significantly higher than that in tissue obtained from nonpregnant women and decreased at term, especially in laboring groups. Protein and mRNA for sGC, particulate GC-A, GC-B, and the clearance receptor were detected in human myometrium. cGMP in pregnant human myometrium, however, appears to be produced predominantly by sGC and possibly by GC-B, as GC-A was only weakly expressed. sGC activity was greater in myometrium from preterm (nonlabor) deliveries compared those taken at term (in labor), but was down-regulated compared with activity in nonpregnant myometrium. Neither atrial natriuretic peptide nor C-type natriuretic peptide (agonists for GC-A and GC-B, respectively) altered contractility in vitro of myometrium from women at term (not in labor). We conclude that the cGMP/guanylate cyclase system in human myometrium is gestationally regulated and potentially plays an important role in mediating quiescence during early pregnancy. A reduction in cGMP availability may contribute to the switch to contractile activity at term.

[Clinical and angiographic follow-up of young adults after PTCA plus intracoronary stents]. / Seguimiento clínico y angiográfico en adultos jóvenes post ACTP más stents intracoronarios.

We reviewed our work and evaluated clinical and angiographic results, as well as the follow up of young adult patients < 40 years that were subject to percutaneous trans-clinical coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with an endovascular prostheses (stent). From January 1995 to December 1999, 896 PCTA's performed using stents in 770 patients. Only one selected group of 30 patients (with 32 procedures, and an average of 1.06 stents per patients. Patients age ranged from 21 to 39 years old with an average of 32.8 + 52, 2, 29 (96%) were male and only one woman (3.3%). Nine patients (30%) had a severe angina, class III Braunwald and 21 (70%) had a previous history of myocardial infarcts. The average percent of arterial obstruction was 90.88 +/- 5.22 and the expulsion fraction. (EF) had a percent of 46.8 +/- 4.3 with ranges of 35 to 60%. Immediate angiographic success was 93.75% in only two patients (6.25%) with a 100% occlusion, and more than twelve weeks. There was no mortality, nor infarct, and no patient was sent to an urgent revascularization surgery. Clinical follow up lasted 50 weeks in all patients with the effort test using the electric Bruce type and for nuclear medicine. Only in 3 patients EF was reported, and tHalium with a slight septal ischemia. Angiographic control was included in 27 (90% patients between the 4th and 6th month. PTA with stent is a successful angiographic and clinical procedure in young adults < 40 years old; it constitutes a complete and efficient therapeutical revascularization procedure, and is an excellent option before undertaking an aortocoronary revascularization surgery.

[Stent in protected and non-protected left main coronary artery: results and short-term follow-up]. / Stent en tronco coronario izquierdo protegido y no protegido: resultados y seguimiento a corto plazo.

UNLABELLED: We examined the immediate and short-term outcomes after stenting protected and unprotected left main coronary artery (LMCA) stenoses, in patients with normal ventricular function. Left main coronary artery disease is regarded as an absolute contraindication for coronary angioplasty, because it has been associated with high procedural morbidity and poor mid-term results. Between february 1995 and february 1999, 596 procedures were performed in 468 patients. Ten patients who had disease involving the left main coronary artery were included. They were not candidates for coronary surgery. The post-stent antithrombotic regimens were aspirin and ticlopidine. The procedural success rate was 100% without episodes of subacute thrombosis. Three to six months follow-up angiography was performed in all, restenosis occurred only in two patients, there were two repeat PTCA (20%) and there were no deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Stenting of unprotected and protected left main coronary artery stenoses may be a safe and effective alternative to surgery in carefully selected patients with normal left ventricular function. The results of our study suggests that when patients have prohibitive surgical risks, elective LMCA angioplasty and/or stenting maybe undertaken with a high procedural success rate as an effective alternative to CABG in carefully selected patients. Further studies in larger patient populations are needed to assess late outcome.

Normal expression of cell adhesion molecules in placentae from women with systemic lupus erythematosus and the antiphospholipid syndrome.

Pregnant women with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and/or the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) are prone to recurrent miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and premature delivery. Placental dysfunction may account for these complications yet the mechanisms remain uncertain. Amongst these, an inflammatory response in the placental vasculature could play a role, involving recruitment of neutrophils and platelets and the increased endothelial expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAM), central to the recruitment process. The aim of this study was primarily to investigate CAM expression in the fetoplacental vasculature in women with SLE/APS. Circulating maternal concentrations of soluble CAM were also elucidated. There were no differences in CAM immunostaining in placentae from patients with SLE and/or APS compared with controls. In both patients and controls moderate immunostaining for the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was observed in placental vascular endothelium and mild immunostaining was present in the placental villous stroma. Strong immunostaining for platelet endothelial CAM (PECAM) occured in the placental vascular endothelium whereas P-selectin was mildly expressed in the stem vessel endothelium only. Vascular CAM-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin were undetectable in either study or control placentae. In contrast, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 but not E-selectin, as assessed by immunoassay (ELISA), were elevated in maternal serum from SLE/APS patients compared with controls. This study suggests that upregulation of CAM expression and subsequent activation of neutrophil and/or platelet activity within the placental villous tree is unlikely to be a mechanism by which the adverse pregnancy outcome arises in SLE/APS pregnancies. However, maternal endothelial cell activation (ECA) may play a more important role.

Expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in pregnant human myometrium.

1. Endogenous nitric oxide has been proposed to play a role in the control of myometrial contractility in pregnancy. In this study, the expression, localisation and regulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms have been examined in human pregnant myometrium and cultured human myometrial smooth muscle cells, by immunoblotting, immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. 2. Immunoblotting of extracts from freshly isolated myometrial tissue, affinity-enriched for NOS proteins by precipitation with ADP-sepharose, revealed expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS or NOS3) in tissues from preterm, term non-labour and active labour at term. Inducible NOS (iNOS or NOS2) and neuronal NOS (nNOS or NOS1) proteins were not detected at any stage of pregnancy. 3. Immunohistochemical detection showed that expression of eNOS protein was restricted to the endothelium of the myometrial vasculature, with no staining detected in myometrial smooth muscle cells. 4. Messenger RNA for all three NOS isoforms was detected, although iNOS and nNOS mRNAs were detectable only with high cycle number, implying a low copy number. 5. NOS isoforms were not detectable in human myometrial smooth muscle cells cultured from term non-labour pregnancies. Cytokine stimulation of cultured myometrial cells did not induce iNOS expression or nitrite accumulation in the culture medium, although both iNOS protein and nitrite release were detected in the human pulmonary epithelial cell line A549. 6. Levels of eNOS protein and of NOS mRNA expression were not correlated with gestational stage, suggesting that endogenously produced NO is not likely to be a modulator of myometrial tone during human pregnancy.

Effects of corticotrophin releasing hormone on contractile activity of myometrium from pregnant women.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether corticotrophin releasing hormone plays a role in the regulation of tone in term nonlabouring human myometrium. SETTING: A teaching hospital research laboratory. SAMPLE: Thirty-seven women undergoing elective nonlabour caesarean section under regional anaesthesia. METHODS: Human corticotrophin releasing hormone (1, 10, 100 nmol/L) was added to strips of term, nonlabouring myometrium mounted in an organ bath, and the effect on spontaneous, oxytocin (1 nmol/L) or prostaglandin F2alpha (100 nmol/L) stimulated contractions determined. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) content of the tissue was also determined by enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS: Corticotrophin releasing hormone did not affect myometrial tension development in any of the experimental protocols. cAMP increased transiently after addition of corticotrophin releasing hormone (166.7 +/- 12.7% at 1 minute) but this was not reflected by any change in tension. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that despite high maternal plasma concentrations of corticotrophin releasing hormone in pregnancy at term, this peptide is unlikely to play a direct role in the control of myometrial contractility in nonlabouring myometrium.

Expression of cyclo-oxygenase types-1 and -2 in human myometrium throughout pregnancy.

Human labour is associated with increased prostaglandin synthesis within the uterus. The aim of this study was to examine the expression of the two isoforms of the central prostaglandin synthetic enzyme, cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) in human myometrium throughout pregnancy and to test the hypothesis that COX in the myometrium may play a role in labour onset. Expression of COX-1 and COX-2 at the mRNA level was analysed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and at the protein level using Western blotting. No significant changes of COX-1 RNA or protein expression were observed either with gestational age or labour. COX-2 mRNA and protein expression increased at term with significant up-regulation occurring prior to the onset of labour (P < 0.005). These data would suggest that up-regulation of COX-2, rather than COX-1, mediates increased prostaglandin synthesis in human myometrium at term. The increased COX-2 expression observed preceded labour onset, suggesting that COX-2 has a role in labour onset, rather than its presence merely a consequence of labour.

Normal expression of tissue factor, thrombomodulin, and annexin V in placentas from women with antiphospholipid syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: Placentas from pregnancies complicated by antiphospholipid syndrome often show thromboses and infarction, which may result from aberrations in placental coagulant pathways. We tested the hypothesis that alterations in tissue factor, thrombomodulin, and annexin V expressions contribute to poor pregnancy outcome associated with antiphospholipid syndrome. STUDY DESIGN: Frozen sections from random biopsy samples of the basal plates of placentas from patients with primary antiphospholipid syndrome (n = 9), patients with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (n = 3), and gestational age-matched control subjects (n = 10) were immunostained for tissue factor, thrombomodulin, and annexin V. Intensity of immunostaining was assessed by means of quantitative image analysis. Annexin V protein expression was evaluated with Western blotting techniques. RESULTS: Tissue factor was expressed in the perivascular cells of the villous vasculature. Thrombomodulin and annexin V immunostaining was localized to the syncytiotrophoblast. There were no differences in the intensity of immunostaining for tissue factor, thrombomodulin, and annexin V between placentas from women with antiphospholipid syndrome and those from control subjects. Western blot analysis of annexin V expression showed no differences between study patients and control subjects. CONCLUSION: Alterations in placental coagulant pathways involving tissue factor, thrombomodulin, and annexin V do not contribute to poor pregnancy outcome associated with antiphospholipid syndrome.

[Immediate results of coronary stent implants in octogenarian patients]. / Resultados inmediatos post implante de stents coronarios en pacientes octogenarios.

UNLABELLED: We review our experience and also evaluate the clinical and angiographic results of octagenarians patients subjected to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and endovascular prosthesis (stents). In the period between february 1995 and august 1998, 532 procedures were performed in 400 patients, we describe a subgroup of 51 patients, who rejected surgical treatment or were considered non appropriate candidates for this therapeutic approach. Ages ranged 71 a 85 years mean (74.09 +/- 3.1). Sex: 37 male and 14 female, their clinical presentation was severe angina according to Canadian Society of Cardiology (CSC) in 64%. In 64% previous myocardial infarction and multivessel disease in 58.8%. The mean percentage of coronary obstruction was 90 +/- 9.2 and ejection fraction 51.6 +/- 8.8, the immediate angiographic success was 88.3% six patient (12%) died during 36 to 72 hours post-procedure from different causes. The follow-up period was 3 to 48 months, but had angiographic control just eighteen patients (35%). Eighteen cases were lost to follow-up for different reasons. Two patients died of non cardiac causes. CONCLUSIONS: Stent implantation has an angiographic and clinical success with low complications profile. It is a therapeutic option in the management of advanced coronary artery disease in this frail group.

[Design and development of a stent (SAQ) for the treatment of arterial coronary arterioscleotic obstruction]. / Desarrollo y diseño de un stent (SAQ) para el tratamiento de obstrucciones arteriales aterosclerosas coronarias.

The practice of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty has shown that the major complications are acute dissection as well as suboptimal results and restenosis. The effort to reduce these complications has led to create an intravascular device called Stent. The technology is complex and very expensive, for this reason we designed and made a new model of stent named SAQ. We introduce: The methodology of development, fabrication and modifications of a new intravascular device Stent SAQ. The results obtained in coronary arteries of ex vivo hearts of pigs and humans. The results in two model of animals, rabbit aorta and peripheral arteries in dogs. This investigation at this phase, shows satisfactory properties of SAQ which is secure and effective, with similar properties to the stents in use.

[Stents: experience at the Cardiology Hospital of the 21st century National Medical Center]. / Stents: Experiencia en el Hospital de Cardiología del Centro Médico Nacional Siglo XXI.

UNLABELLED: From february 1995 to february 1997 we implanted 157 stents in 105 patients. Age ranged from 38 to 81 years (mean 58), there were 83 males and 22 females. In 62.8% cases we implanted one stent and in 39 (37.2%) cases 2 to 6. Eighty three were Palmaz/Schatz (P/S), 27 ACT-ONE, 18 Wiktor (W), 9 Gianturco Rubin (GR), 8 Wallstent, 6 XT-Bard and 6 microstent. Indication were de novo in 23.8%, 87.5% post failure PTCA and in 13.3% late PTCA restenosis. Implant was successful al 96.1% of the patients. The first 32 patients received oral anticoagulation, the last 72 received aspirin and ticlopidine only. COMPLICATIONS: 4.7% acute thrombosis, 0.9% sub-acute thrombosis, three of them (2.5%) developed myocardial infarction, 0.9% emergency surgical treatment, 2.8% vascular complications and death in 2.8%. During follow-up (1 to 18 months, mean 7.7) we repeated angiography and 35 patients two to 14 months (m = 5.6), 12 of them had restenosis, during dilation two cases had dissection of the main left coronary artery and were send to surgery, the others were dilated without complications. One case had restenosis of the stent with obstructive lesions in other vessels and was send to elective surgery. The reminded patients are symptom free and had negative stress test. We conclude that this technology is an excellent alternative to percutaneous myocardial revascularization. Larger trials with long term follow-up is necessary to determine the true incidence of restenosis with the different types of stents.

[Usefulness of intracoronary ultrasound in percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty]. / Utilidad del ultrasonido intracoronario en la angioplastía coronaria transluminal percutánea.

UNLABELLED: From February 1995 to April 1996 we performed intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) in 32 patients who had percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Eccentric plaques were found in 53% (n = 17) and concentric in 47% (n = 15). We found that 59.3% (n = 19) were soft, hard 21.8% (n = 7) and calcified plaques in 19% (n = 6). More than 40% of the plaques had some degree of calcium and most of them had dissection post PTCA ICUS deferred the procedure in 25% (n = 8) of cases. Seven of them were patients with late control post PTCA and no significant obstruction and a patient was found not to be a good candidate for PTCA. In 24 lesions we found morphology changes post PTCA: 41.6% type A, 12.5% type B, 45.8% type C, 8.3% type D, 90.9% type E1 and 9.1% type E2. Dissection was present in 54.1% post PTCA, ICUS information indicated other interventions (prolonged insufflations or stents). Two cases with acute coronary syndromes had smooth and fibrous plaques with excellent response to PTCA. Residual percentage stenosis post PTCA for quantitative coronary angiography was 23.7% and with ICUS 52.4%. COMPLICATIONS: there were three cases with coronary spasm that responded well to nitroglycerin. In conclusion, ICUS provides information to evaluate results of PTCA. It also identifies complications and in some cases can improve results.