Social isolation recruits amygdala-cortical circuitry to escalate alcohol drinking.

How do social factors impact the brain and contribute to increased alcohol drinking? We found that social rank predicts alcohol drinking, where subordinates drink more than dominants. Furthermore, social isolation escalates alcohol drinking, particularly impacting subordinates who display a greater increase in alcohol drinking compared to dominants. Using cellular resolution calcium imaging, we show that the basolateral amygdala-medial prefrontal cortex (BLA-mPFC) circuit predicts alcohol drinking in a rank-dependent manner, unlike non-specific BLA activity. The BLA-mPFC circuit becomes hyperexcitable during social isolation, detecting social isolation states. Mimicking the observed increases in BLA-mPFC activity using optogenetics was sufficient to increase alcohol drinking, suggesting the BLA-mPFC circuit may be a neural substrate for the negative impact of social isolation. To test the hypothesis that the BLA-mPFC circuit conveys a signal induced by social isolation to motivate alcohol consumption, we first determined if this circuit detects social information. Leveraging optogenetics in combination with calcium imaging and computer vision pose tracking, we found that BLA-mPFC circuitry governs social behavior and neural representation of social contact. We further show that BLA-mPFC stimulation mimics social isolation-induced mPFC encoding of sucrose and alcohol, and inhibition of the BLA-mPFC circuit decreases alcohol drinking following social isolation. Collectively, these data suggest the amygdala-cortical circuit mirrors a neural encoding state similar to social isolation and underlies social isolation-associated alcohol drinking.

Model-Based Characterization of E. coli Strains with Impaired Glucose Uptake.

The bacterium Escherichia coli is a widely used organism in biotechnology. For high space-time yields, glucose-limited fed-batch technology is the industry standard; this is because an overflow metabolism of acetate occurs at high glucose concentrations. As an interesting alternative, various strains with limited glucose uptake have been developed. However, these have not yet been characterized under process conditions. To demonstrate the efficiency of our previously developed high-throughput robotic platform, in the present work, we characterized three different exemplary E. coli knockout (KO) strains with limited glucose uptake capacities at three different scales (microtiter plates, 10 mL bioreactor system and 100 mL bioreactor system) under excess glucose conditions with different initial glucose concentrations. The extensive measurements of growth behavior, substrate consumption, respiration, and overflow metabolism were then used to determine the appropriate growth parameters using a mechanistic mathematical model, which allowed for a comprehensive comparative analysis of the strains. The analysis was performed coherently with these different reactor configurations and the results could be successfully transferred from one platform to another. Single and double KO mutants showed reduced specific rates for substrate uptake qSmax and acetate production qApmax; meanwhile, higher glucose concentrations had adverse effects on the biomass yield coefficient YXSem. Additional parameters compared to previous studies for the oxygen uptake rate and carbon dioxide production rate indicated differences in the specific oxygen uptake rate qOmax. This study is an example of how automated robotic equipment, together with mathematical model-based approaches, can be successfully used to characterize strains and obtain comprehensive information more quickly, with a trade-off between throughput and analytical capacity.

A controlled clinical trial with pirfenidone in the treatment of pathological skin scarring caused by burns in pediatric patients.

BACKGROUND: Pathologic skin scarring reversion remains a big challenge for surgeons, as disfiguring scars have a dramatic influence on patient's quality of life. METHODS: A controlled clinical trial was conducted to evaluate 8% pirfenidone (PFD) gel administered topically 3 times a day during 6 months to 33 pediatric patients with hypertrophic scars caused by burns. A total of 30 patients with hypertrophic scars with identical Vancouver Scar Scale values were treated with pressure therapy and included as controls. Improvements were evaluated by Vancouver Scar Scale and a Visual Analog Scale. Safety parameters were determined by the presence of adverse events and monitoring laboratory and hematology parameters. RESULTS: Patients treated with PFD during 6 months presented a continuous monthly statistically significant scar regression in comparison with the initial Vancouver measurement (P = <0.001). PFD group showed a higher improvement of all scar features as compared with control group treated with pressure therapy (P = <0.001). In the PFD group, 9 of 33 patients (27%) had their scores decreased in Vancouver classification by more than 55%, 22 patients (67%) had a 30% to 45% decrease, whereas 2 patients (6%) had a 30% decrease or less. Control group treated with pressure therapy showed a slight improvement in 16% of cases on an average. Patients did not show serious adverse effects or laboratory alterations throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: Topical administration of 8% PFD gel 3 times a day is more effective and safe in the treatment of hypertrophic scars caused by burns in children, as compared with standard pressure therapy.

[Sigmoido-buttock fistula by diverticulitis: report of a rare complication]. / Fístula sigmoideo-glútea por diverticulitis. Reporte de una rara complicación.

INTRODUCTION: The complicated diverticulitis of the colon is characterized by its association with abscesses, bleeding, stenosis, perforation, obstruction or fistula. We report a case of spontaneous sigmoido-cutaneous fistula from diverticulitis to an unusual place in the gluteal region. CLINICAL CASE: A 59-year-old male patient presented an inflammatory wound in left buttock without response to the conservative medical treatment. The fistulography, colonoscopy, barium enema and computed tomography showed a sigmoido-cutaneous fistula to the left buttock from diverticulitis. The biopsy of the lesion ruled out malignancy. We performed an elective sigmoid resection with primary colorectal anastomosis, partial fistulectomy and injection of a fibrin sealant in the residual tract. DISCUSSION: The colon-cutaneous fistulas from diverticulitis are relatively rare. We report a spontaneous fistula with origin in a single diverticulum in the sigmoid colon and that drained through the piriform fossa of the pelvic floor to the skin of the left buttock. CONCLUSIONS: A high index of suspiscion is necessary to not confuse the colo-buttock fistula with local abscesses.

[Analgesic efficacy of the incisional infiltration of ropivacaine vs ropivacaine with dexamethasone in the elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy]. / Eficacia analgésica de la infiltración incisional de ropivacaína vs ropivacaína con dexametasona en la colecistectomía laparoscópica electiva.

BACKGROUND: Incisional pain is the main obstacle for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy as an outpatient. We evaluated the analgesic efficacy of local infiltration of ropivacaine with dexamethasone (Rop/Dx), compared with ropivacaine (Rop) alone, during the first 24 hours postoperative of this surgery. Our hypothesis is that incisional pain intensity will be lower in patients of the group Rop/Dx. METHODS: In a randomized, controlled, double-blind trial clinical, 80 patients were divided into two groups. Group Rop (n= 40) received pre and post-incisional infiltration with 150 mg of ropivacaine in 8 mL of 0.9% saline, while group Rop/Dx (n= 40) received 150 mg of ropivacaine with 8 mg of dexamethasone in 6 mL of 0.9% saline. The intensity of pain at rest and movement was assessed at 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours postoperatively by a numerical rating scale of 11 points. RESULTS: Incisional pain scores in group Rop/Dx were significantly lower, compared to the group Rop, at 12 hours (p= 0.05) and 24 hours (p= 0.01) at rest and at 12 hours (p= 0.04) and 24 hours (p= 0.01) during movement postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: We found initial evidence that ropivacaine with dexamethasone for local infiltration decreased incisional pain intensity after 12 hours post-elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy with a good safety profile.

Antecedentes: el dolor incisional es el principal obstáculo para la colecistectomía laparoscópica electiva ambulatoria. Objetivo: evaluar la eficacia analgésica de la infiltración local de ropivacaína con dexametasona (Rop/Dx) en comparación con ropivacaína (Rop) sola, durante las primeras 24 horas del postoperatorio de esta cirugía. Material y métodos: ensayo clínico aleatorizado, controlado y doble ciego, efectuado en 80 pacientes que para fines de estudio se dividieron en dos grupos. El grupo Rop (n= 40) recibió infiltración pre y post-incisional con 150 mg de ropivacaína en 8 mL de solución salina 0.9%, mientras que el grupo Rop/Dx (n= 40) recibió 150 mg de ropivacaína con 8 mg de dexametasona en 6 mL de solución salina 0.9%. La intensidad del dolor durante el reposo y el movimiento se evaluó a las 2, 4, 8, 12 y 24 horas del postoperatorio con una escala de clasificación numérica de 11 puntos. La hipótesis es que la intensidad del dolor incisional será menor en los pacientes del grupo Rop/Dx. Resultados: las puntuaciones del dolor incisional en el grupo Rop/Dx fueron significativamente menores, comparadas con el grupo Rop, a las 12 horas (p= 0.05) y 24 horas (p= 0.01) durante el reposo y a las 12 horas (p= 0.04) y 24 horas (p= 0.01) durante el movimiento postoperatorio. Conclusiones: la evidencia inicial es que la ropivacaína con dexametasona, por infiltración local, disminuye la intensidad del dolor incisional a partir de las 12 horas post-colecistectomía laparoscópica electiva con un buen perfil de seguridad.

Anti-chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies as associated factor for carotid atherosclerosis in patients with AIDS.

Atherosclerosis is a multifactor disease. Lately, infectious factors such as C. pneumoniae have been found to be involved. To determine whether the infection by C. pneumoniae is a risk factor for atherosclerosis in patients with AIDS. Case-control study on 43 patients with AIDS under HAART (16 cases and 27 controls). To document atherosclerosis, a carotid and transcranial Doppler ultrasound was performed. Anti-C pneumoniae antibodies were searched using a microimmunofluorescence test for IgM and IgG levels. To study the associations with risk of atherosclerosis, Odds Ratios were calculated for each IgG anti-C. pneumoniae antibody titre. A titre of 1:64 significantly increased the risk of atherosclerosis. These results suggest that hypertriglyceridemia and C. pneumoniae infection coexistence significantly increases the risk of atherosclerosis. The inverse geometric average of the antibodies titre against C. pneumoniae in individuals with atheromatous plaque fell to 64, two titres above the controls. This difference turned out to be statistically significant. Exposure to C. pneumoniae with antibodies (IgG) should be considered in any HIV diagnosed patient as a risk factor for atherosclerosis, having found that the inverse geometric averages of antibodies titre are significantly different comparing cases and controls, especially in patients with dyslipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia or in patients whose treatments could cause these conditions. In patients with concomitant hypertriglyceridemia, the association increases up to three times. It is advisable that AIDS patients take a serological test to determine exposure to C. pneumoniae, and to assess treatment options.

Iniencefalia asociada a malformación e Arnold-Chiari tipo III y herniación diafragmática de intestinos hacia la cavidad torácica: estudio de un caso / Ienencephaly associated to Arnold-Chiari type III malformation and diophragmatic hernia of intestine towards thoracic cavity. Presentation of one case

Se presenta un caso de iniencefalia asociada a la malformación de Arnold-Chiari tipo III y herniación diafragmática de intestinos delgado y grueso hacia la cavidad torácida. El caso fue estudiado en la Unidad de Patología del Hospital General de Acapulco, Guerrero, México. La Iniencefalia es considerada la forma más grave del síndrome de Klippel y Feil como resultado de anomalías congénitas de la columna cervical. El síndrome de Arnold-Chiari tipo III es también una rara malformación que consiste en un meningomielocele occipitocervical con herniación del cerebelo a través de un defecto óseo. Más ejemplos de esta condición fueron descritos por Peach en una serie de artículos (1965a). Estas dos malformaciones son una rareza. Pensamos que la ausencia de publicaciones se debe principalmente al desinterés por la teratología. Comentamos aspectos clínicos, radiológicos y revisamos la literatura actual