Comparative analysis of the morphology, chemistry and structure of the tibiotarsus, humerus and keel bones in laying hens.

1. Bone properties are adapted to their specific functions in the animal, so various types of bones develop different characteristics depending on their location in the skeleton.2. The aim of this research was to compare the chemical composition, mineral characteristics and structural organisation in tibiotarsus, humerus and keel bones as representatives of hen skeletal mineralisation. Complementary analytical techniques, such as X-ray radiography, optical and electron microscopy, thermogravimetry and 2D X-ray diffraction, were used for characterisation.3. The humerus had a thinner cortex and cortical bone mineral had higher crystallinity and a greater degree of crystal orientation than the tibiotarsus. The humerus generally lacks medullary bone although, when present, it has a higher mineral content than seen in the tibiotarsus. These differences were attributed to the different forces that stimulate bone formation and remodelling.4. The keel cortical bone had a lower degree of mineralisation than the tibiotarsus or humerus. Its degree of mineralisation decreased from the cranial to the distal end of the bone. This gradient may affect keel mechanical properties, making it more prone to deformation and fractures.5. Data from studying different bones in laying hens can help to understand mineralisation as well as finding solutions to prevent osteoporosis-related fractures.

Influence of physical activity on tibial bone material properties in laying hens.

Laying hens develop a type of osteoporosis that arises from a loss of structural bone, resulting in high incidence of fractures. In this study, a comparison of bone material properties was made for lines of hens created by divergent selection to have high and low bone strength and housed in either individual cages, with restricted mobility, or in an aviary system, with opportunity for increased mobility. Improvement of bone biomechanics in the high line hens and in aviary housing was mainly due to increased bone mass, thicker cortical bone and more medullary bone. However, bone material properties such as cortical and medullary bone mineral composition and crystallinity as well as collagen maturity did not differ between lines. However, bone material properties of birds from the different type of housing were markedly different. The cortical bone in aviary birds had a lower degree of mineralization and bone mineral was less mature and less organized than in caged birds. These differences can be explained by increased bone turnover rates due to the higher physical activity of aviary birds that stimulates bone formation and bone remodeling. Multivariate statistical analyses shows that both cortical and medullary bone contribute to breaking strengthThe cortical thickness was the single most important contributor while its degree of mineralization and porosity had a smaller contribution. Bone properties had poorer correlations with mechanical properties in cage birds than in aviary birds presumably due to the greater number of structural defects of cortical bone in cage birds.

Potentially inappropriate medications according to Marc, STOPP and PRISCUS criteria in a cohort of elderly HIV+ patients. The COMMPI project.

OBJECTIVE: The objective is to determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate drugs according to the Marc, STOPP, and PRISCUS lists in elderly HIV patients. METHODS: It was an observational, retrospective, and multicenter study. People living with HIV 65 years or older who underwent chronic concomitant treatment were included. Descriptive and multivariate analyzes were performed to study the association between polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication compliance. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were included, 81.8% men and a median age of 69 years (IQR: 67-73). The median number of comorbidities was 3 (IQR: 2-5) and the most frequent pattern of multimorbidity was cardiometabolic (62.9%). The predominant antiretroviral treatment was triple therapy (65.5%). Polypharmacy was present in 70.9% of the patients and 25.5% had major polypharmacy. The most frequent polypharmacy pattern was cardiovascular (69.2%). The percentage of potentially inappropriate medications according to the Marc, STOPP and PRISCUS lists was 65.5%, 30.9% and 14.5%, respectively (p<0.001). Adjusted for age and sex, polypharmacy was not independently associated with potentially inappropriate medication compliance in any of the lists. CONCLUSIONS: Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medications have a high prevalence. There is great variability in the percentage according to the list applied. Age, sex, and presence of polypharmacy are not predisposing factors to the presence of potentially inappropriate medications.

[Combined anterior-posterior arthrodesis en patient with athetoid cerebral palsy who developed spondylotic cervical mielopathy. Case report and review of literature]. / Artrodesis combinada anterior y posterior en paciente con parálisis cerebral atetósica que desarrolla mielopatía cervical degenerativa. Caso clínico y revisión de la literatura.

Spondylotic cervical mielopathy is a common complication in young patients with Cerebral Child Palsy with an important dystonic and athetoid component. Its surgical treatment is a challenge, due to elevate incidence of early faliure of the arthrodesis, both in anterior and posterior approaches. We report an historical review about the treatment of cervical mielopathy in this subgroup of patients and a clinical case in which we decided to realize decompression and arthtrodesis by a combined anterior and posterior approach, with lateral-mass screw placement, using botulinium toxin injections in the postoperative period, achieving a good clinical outcome.

[Spinal pleomorphic xantoastrocytoma. Case report]. / Xantoastrocitoma pleomórfico espinal. Caso clínico.

INTRODUCTION: we report the clinical, radiological and pathological features of a spinal pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma, an unusual neoplastic entity in a really rare location, establish an appropriated management of these lesions and review the short available english literature. CASE REPORT: a 60 years old woman consulted with doctor because she felt progressive clumsiness accompanied by occasional paresthesias on her left hand. Neurological examination showed up weakness and slight propioceptive disturbances. The differential imagine diagnosis was established between intramedullary astrocytoma and ependimoma. Patient underwent surgical gross total remove. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of pleomorfic xanthoastrocytoma. We performed MRI controls at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months that did not reveal recurrence. Nowadays, the patient has regained her previous quality of life. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: comparing to published cases about intracranial pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas, spinal pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (SPXA) present different epidemiological characteristics. The known SPXAs affected to cervical and/or high thoracic levels. The hypothesis about a more aggressive behaviour of PXA in spinal cord may be corroborated after literature review. Extension examination is mandatory since dissemination along the neuroaxis has been described. Removal extension is crucial in the prevention of tumour recurrence. Adyuvant radiotherapy should only be considered when there is postoperative residual tumour and/or anaplastic features. Randomized clinical trials or databases are necessary to know all the aspects of this pathological entity.

Influence of Spectroscopic Techniques on the Estimation of the Degree of Conversion of Bulk-fill Composites.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the degree of conversion (DC) of different flowable and sculptable bulk-fill composites (BFC), at 0- and 4-mm depths from the surface, by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), attenuated total reflection FTIR (ATR-FTIR), and FT-Raman spectroscopic techniques. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Six BFC were investigated, including three sculptable composites (Admira Fusion [Voco], Aura Bulk Fill [SDI], and X-tra Fill [Voco]) and three flowable composites (Venus Bulk Fill [Heraeus], Filtek [3M], and X-tra Base [Voco]). Three molds of each composite were light cured as specified by the manufacturer. For each mold, slices corresponding to 0-mm (surface) and 4-mm depth were analyzed by spectroscopic techniques: ATR-FTIR, FTIR, and FT-Raman. The spectra of uncured composite material were used as an analytical control for background subtraction of the treated composite. The area and amplitude of the reference peaks (1607 and 1637 cm-1) were obtained to calculate the DC percentage at 0- and 4-mm depth. A Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test was used for materials, and paired comparisons were made using Mann-Whitney nonparametric test. Wilcoxon's rank test was used for comparison between spectroscopic methods and between 0- and 4-mm depth in each composite. Significance was accepted at p<0.05. RESULTS: FTIR showed significantly lower DC values, both in areas and amplitudes of the peaks, when compared with the results reported by different BFC. Differences between the surface and 4-mm depth were detected more precisely by FT-Raman. ATR-FTIR obtained DC values significantly higher than those obtained by FTIR. CONCLUSIONS: The vibrational spectroscopy method significantly influenced DC measurements of the flowable and sculptable BFC explored.

Linking global climate change to local water availability: Limitations and prospects for a tropical mountain watershed.

Bridging the gap between the predictions of coarse-scale climate models and the fine-scale climatic reality is a key issue of hydrological research and water management. While many advances have been realized in developed countries, the situation is contrastingly different in most tropical regions where we still lack information on potential discrepancies between measured and modeled climatic conditions. Consequently, water managers in these regions often rely on non-academic expertise to help them plan their future strategies. This issue is particularly alarming in tropical mountainous areas where water demand is increasing rapidly and climate change is expected to have severe impacts. In this article, we addressed this issue by evaluating the limitations and prospects in using regional climate models for evaluating the impact of climate change on water availability in a watershed that provides Quito, the capital of Ecuador, with about 30% of its current water needs. In particular, we quantified the temporal and spatial discrepancies between predicted and observed precipitation and temperature, and explored underlying mechanisms at play. Our results provide a strong critique of the inappropriate use of regional models to inform water planning with regard to adaptation strategies to face climate change. As a multidisciplinary group composed of hydrologists, ecologists and water managers, we then propose a framework to guide future climate change impact studies in tropical mountain watersheds where hydro-climatological data are scarce.

Cannabis resin in the region of Madrid: Adulteration and contamination.

The aim of this study is to analyze the adulteration and contamination of cannabis resin obtained on the streets of Madrid, in order to establish whether it is suitable for human consumption. A total of 90 samples obtained through street vending in the Region of Madrid (CAM) were analyzed. Our results showed a direct relationship between the shape of the samples (acorn or ingot) and the presence of foreign elements, adulterants and microbiological contamination. Foreign elements were found in 64.7% of the ingot-shaped samples and in 30.2% of the acorn-shaped samples (p < 0.01); 25% of the samples were deliberately adulterated, 66.7% of which had an ingot shape. With regard to microbiological contamination, 93% of acorns were contaminated by E. coli, compared to 29.4% of ingots (p < 0.0001). In addition, all samples with fecal odor were acorns and were contaminated by E. coli. Ten per cent of the samples were contaminated by Aspergillus; of these, 66.7% had the shape of an acorn. Overall, our results showed that most (88.3%) of the hashish samples were not suitable for consumption. This percentage was significantly higher (p < 0.0001) in acorn than in ingot samples (100% vs. 58.8%). Hence, illegal street vending of hashish constitutes a public health issue.

[Bilateral sixth nerve and left third nerve palsy after head trauma]. / Parálisis del VI par bilateral y III par izquierdo postraumático.

CASE REPORT: To describe a case of combined bilateral cranial nerve palsy of traumatic origin. To determine the lesions that produce the symptoms is useful to define the final prognosis and the best treatment. DISCUSSION: We report the case of a patient who developed a bilateral sixth nerve and left third nerve palsy after head trauma. The underlying lesion was a diffuse axonal injury. After an observation period during which no spontaneous improvement occurred, we administered botulinum toxin with a successful clinical result. Bilateral combined traumatic cranial nerve palsies are rare. When a diffuse axonal injury is present, the chance of spontaneous resolution is poor.

Morphological features of pericycle cells in relation to their topographical location in onion adventitious roots.

Analysis of cell length, cross-sectional area and nuclear length of pericycle cells in adventitious roots of Allium cepa L. has revealed the existence of three cell types whose topographical location is related to the vascular pattern. Cells opposite the xylem are short and narrow with an elongated nucleus. The intervening cells are also short but their cross-sectional area is much greater than that of cells at the xylem pofes, while their nucleus is relatively short. Cells opposite the phloem are long, with an elongated nucleus, and their cross-sectional area is intermediate between that of the other two cell types. Lateral root primordia are always initiated from the population of short cells opposite the xylem. However, the different cell types appear in the pericycle before primordial initiation and not as a result of this event.

Porphyria cutanea tarda, dermatomyositis and non-Hodgkin lymphoma in virus C infection.

Virus C infection has been associated with a broad spectrum of extrahepatic diseases such as essential mixed cryoglobulinemia, membranous glomerulonephritis, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. The etiologic role of virus C has also been observed in some neoplasms such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and the monoclonal gammapathies. Many studies also support the link between this virus and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). Isolated cases suggest a relationship with dermatomyositis. Herein, we report the coexistence of PCT, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and dermatomyositis in the same patient affected with virus C infection which has never previously been described.

[Guillain-Barre syndrome following resection of glioblastoma multiforme]. / Síndrome de Guillain-Barré tras resección de glioblastoma multiforme.

INTRODUCTION: Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is an acute demyelinating polyneuropathy characterised by progressive muscular weakness and areflexia. Although the pathogenesis is uncertain, it is probably secondary to an aberrant immunological response to components of the peripheral nervous system. GBS has been linked to bacterial or viral infections, systemic diseases, neoplasias, pregnancy, traumatic injuries or organ transplant. An association with intracranial surgery has been reported, but this is exceptional. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 67-year-old male submitted to surgical intervention due to a right-side occipital-parietal glioblastoma. The patient was well until ten days after the intervention, when he presented a rapidly progressive are flexive paraparesis with an ascending course. A spinal tap revealed cerebrospinal liquid with an elevated protein level and albuminocytologic dissociation. The electromyogram study and lumbar magnetic resonance with contrast confirmed the suspected diagnosis of GBS. After establishing treatment with immunoglobulins the patient progressed well and recovered quickly and completely from the paresis. CONCLUSIONS: GBS may appear after intracranial surgery and make it more difficult to reach a differential diagnosis with other entities. To optimise the prognosis, treatment must begin as early as possible. Intravenous immunomodulation with immunoglobulins or plasma exchange are effective in shortening the course of the disease.

[Neurochemical treatment of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor]. / Tratamiento neuroquirúrgico en la enfermedad de Parkinson y el temblor esencial.

INTRODUCTION: Recent technological advances along with new neuroimaging techniques and progress in neuro-monitoring have provided us with new therapeutical options from the neurosurgical point of view in the management of movement disorders. Deep brain stimulators become more and more frequently used in the last few years since they have reversible effects, are easily implantable and have shown good initial results. However, only now we start knowing the clinical effects in the middle run. AIM: To review the main neurosurgical options in Parkinson's disease and tremor. DEVELOPMENT: We reviewed the articles considering ablative or stimulating neurosurgical treatments in these diseases, and we grouped the results according to the technique performed and the time of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Clinical results are often similar despite the use of different techniques. However, the side-effects are critical in deciding which technique should be used once medical therapy has been considered insufficient.

[Medical treatment of haemangiomas]. / Tratamiento médico de los hemangiomas.

There are two clearly differentiated attitudes in the treatment of haemangiomas: the expectant attitude and the therapeutic, medical or surgical attitude. The expectant attitude can be appropriate in cases of small haemangiomas, far from areas of possible functional damage, and with a slow rate of growth; however, it must be remembered that after reaching their maximum involution, about 25% of haemangiomas show a significant deformity. Treatment should be applied to those haemangiomas that obstruct the visual axis, the airway, the auditory channel, (with alteration of functions such as vision, breathing, swallowing and urinary or intestinal functions); to those of rapid growth that produce or might produce tissue destruction or significant disfiguration, ulcerated lesions, and lesions with a great cutaneous extension or visceral affection, which can lead to congestive cardiac insufficiency, or haematological alterations. The recommended treatment is systemic corticosteroids, with an initial dose of 2 to 3 mg/kg/day of prednisone or prednisolone, administered once a day in the morning. The most frequent result is that growth is arrested, while a reduction in size is observed in less than half the cases. Intralesional administration of corticosteroids at intervals of between 4 and 8 weeks is an effective treatment that manages to avoid the adverse effects of systemic corticosteroids. Because of its adverse neurological effects, interferon is only recommended for lesions with a vital or severe functional risk that do not respond to corticosteroids. Cytotoxic drugs are another treatment group: intralesional bleomycin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide and pingiangmycin. Finally, other forms midway between medical and surgical treatment, such as intermittent compression, radiotherapy, cryotherapy, sclerotherapy, or the implantation of intralesional metals, might have a role to play in some specific haemangiomas.

Morphometric analysis of bite mark patterns caused by domestic dogs ( Canis lupus familiaris ) using dental wax registers / Análisis de patrones de huellas de mordedura producidos por perros domésticos ( Canis lupus familiaris ) utilizando registros en cera dental

Dog bites are a known public health problem involving physical, mental and emotional traumas. From a forensic point of view, it has been stated that their morphological characters, and the intercanine and interincisive measurements, could allow a taxonomic and specific identification of the implicated animal. The aim of this study was to differentiate and identify the biological profile of a potential aggressor dog by analysing eight morphometric bite patterns belonging to three different dog breeds. The data obtained were analyzed following three categories: a) breeds; b) sexes among breeds; and c) sex within breed. Significant differences were detected among the variables (p≤ 0.05), but only the maximum maxillary intercanines width (MaxCW) allowed a breed differentiation. The other variables allowed a differentiation between two breeds or one breed over the others. The principal components analysis (PCA) allowed visualizing the degree of dispersion and relationship among the scores. It showed three well-defined and separated breed groups, and different degrees of dispersion within and among breeds. The most important variable for such a differentiation was MaxCW. When considering sex among breeds for males, it showed a statistically significant difference, but only the diastema located between the third left mandibular, incisive and the left mandibular canine (C-I-ManL) allowed breed differentiation. For females, only MaxCW allowed a differentiation among breeds. The multivariate analysis permitted with a 95 % confidence interval, a breed and sex differentiation. Besides, the PCA models allowed classifying, identifying, separating and graphically showing the relationship among the variables. This made it possible to differentiate between breeds and sexes. Due to the large range of dog breeds around the world, this multivariate analysis could also help determining the dog's weight and size, narrowing down towards an approximate number of offending dogs, focussing on a certain kind of dog breed, and pinpointing any suspect dog.

Las mordeduras de perros son un conocido problema de salud pública que involucra traumas físicos, mentales y emocionales. En la faz forense, se ha establecido que características morfológicas, así como las medidas intercanina e interincisiva, permitirían una identificación taxonómica y especifica del animal involucrado. El objetivo fue diferenciar e identificar el perfil biológico de un potencial perro agresor analizando ocho patrones morfológicos de mordeduras pertenecientes a tres diferentes razas caninas. Los datos fueron analizados considerando tres categorías: a) razas; b) sexo entre razas; y c) sexo en cada raza. Se observaron diferencias entre las variables (p≤0,05), pero sólo la distancia máxima entre caninos maxilares (MaxCW), permitió una diferenciación entre razas. Las otras variables permitieron una diferenciación entre dos razas o de una raza sobre las otras. El análisis de componentes principales (PCA) permitió visualizar el grado de dispersión y la relación entre las puntuaciones (dentro y entre razas). Se observaron tres grupos (razas) bien definidos y separados con diferentes grados de dispersión dentro y entre razas. La variable más importante para tal diferenciación fue la MaxCW. Al considerar sexo (machos) entre razas, se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa, pero sólo la medida del diastema localizado entre el tercer incisivo y canino izquierdo mandibulares (C-I-ManL) permitió la diferenciación entre razas. Para hembras, sólo la MaxCW permitió una diferenciación entre razas. El análisis multivariante permitió, con un intervalo de confianza del 95 %, diferenciar raza y sexo. El modelo PCA permitió además clasificar, identificar, separar y mostrar gráficamente la relación entre las variables. Esto posibilitó diferenciar entre razas y sexos. Debido a la gran variedad de razas de perros en el mundo, este análisis multivariado permitiría estimar peso y tamaño del animal, indicando un número aproximado de perros atacantes, centrándose en ciertos tipos de raza, y localizar a cualquier cánido sospechoso.

[Repigmentation of gray hair after thyroid hormone treatment]. / Repigmentación del pelo canoso tras tratamiento con hormona tiroidea.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Darkening of gray and white hairs occurred in 2 patients with increased exogenous triiodothyronine (T3) due to treatment of myxedema coma in one case and iatrogenic hyperthyroidism in the other. We hypothesized that thyroid hormone may affect the homeostasis of hair follicles. To test our hypothesis and investigate the influence of thyroid hormone on the hair cycle, we used an in vivo murine model and an in vitro model based on culture of follicular units. METHODS: We used the standard C57BL/6 murine model of the hair cycle. T3 (0.5 microg) dissolved in ethanol was applied topically once daily for 10 days to a depilated area in the telogen phase on the backs of the mice. Follicular units, obtained from hair transplant interventions, were cultured in vitro with different concentrations of T3. RESULTS: On day 5, all T3-treated mice entered the anagen phase, whereas the anagen phase started spontaneously in control mice on day 9, and not until day 15 had all controls entered this phase. In the in vitro experiment, follicular units treated with 100 nmol/L T3 grew significantly larger compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that follicles in the telogen phase can be induced to enter the anagen phase by the topical application of T3. This thyroid hormone may reverse graying of the terminal hair. In the in vitro experiments, T3 stimulated hair shaft growth. Follicular melanocytes may be the target cell for these actions.

Expression and serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 during human melanoma progression.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2 and -9 have been implicated in malignant tumour progression, partly because they degrade collagen type IV, a major component of basement membranes. Biopsy specimens from 56 patients with primary melanoma and 7 with cutaneous or nodal metastases were studied by immunohistochemistry. Of 39 patients with estimated good prognosis, 70.5% of melanomas were negative for MMP-2, compared with only 47% of 17 melanomas in patients who developed metastasis during the 3-year follow-up. All skin and nodal metastases were negative for MMP-2 and positive for MMP-9. Of 14 thick melanomas, 9 were mostly positive for MMP-2 expression, suggesting a possible association with the invasiveness of the melanoma. MMP-2 and MMP-9 plasma levels were analysed in another 29 patients with melanoma (10 stage I and II, 9 stage III, and 10 stage IV) and in 10 healthy controls. No difference in MMP-9 plasma levels was found among the groups. Higher MMP-2 concentrations were observed in patients with metastatic disease (stage IV) than in those with primary melanoma (stage I) or in controls. Serial levels in two patients who passed from stage I to stage III or IV showed no significant difference in MMP-2 or -9 values. We conclude that MMP-2 expression might be associated with progression of the melanoma. Circulating MMP-2 and -9 levels have shown low sensitivity and specificity, so they do not seem to be good tumour markers in patients with melanoma.

Successful treatment of lichen planus with sulfasalazine in 20 patients.

BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) is a disturbing pruritic cutaneous disease that may have an spontaneous resolution or exhibit a more chronic course during some weeks or months. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to demonstrate that sulfasalazine is effective in the treatment of LP. METHODS: Twenty patients were diagnosed in our department with LP of the skin and/or mucosa between 1985 and 2001 on the basis of clinical and histologic findings. RESULTS: All patients were treated with sulfasalzine at initial doses of 1.5 g/day, increasing by 0.5 g/week to 3 g/day for 4-16 weeks. Some patients also received descendent doses for 2-12 months. Complete responses were observed in 13 patients and partial responses in seven patients. All patients reported an early resolution of the pruritus. No changes were detected in mucosal LP. Most of the patients tolerated the treatment well and only eight patients presented some minor side-effects. CONCLUSION: Sulfasalazine is a successful therapeutic option for cutaneous LP, constituting an alternative to corticosteroids and retinoids.