Evaluation of antioxidant activity and nutritional composition of flavoured dehydrated soups packaged in different formats. Reducing the sodium content.

The antioxidant activity and nutritional composition of four dehydrated soups (vegetables, meat, chicken and fish) packaged in four formats - carton, plastic, and aluminium bags (the last with and without modified atmosphere) - were evaluated during 12 months' storage. The results showed that all four soups had a good or very good antioxidant capacity as tested by the lipid peroxidation, deoxyribose, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) tests. Of interest from a nutritional point of view was the finding that the lipid fraction of all the soups was below 1 %. The sodium content of the four soups and their ingredients was also analysed. By modifying some of the ingredients, a 25 % reduction in the sodium content of the soups was obtained, permitting them to be labelled as "sodium reduced". The monosodium glutamate (MSG) content of the reformulated soups (lower sodium content) was below levels permitted by European legislation.

Characterization of all human male synaptonemal complexes by subtelomere multiplex-FISH.

During meiotic prophase I, homologous chromosomes synapse and recombine. Both events are of vital importance for the success of meiosis. When homologous chromosomes synapse, a proteinaceous structure called synaptonemal complex (SC) appears along the pairing axis and meiotic recombination takes place. The existence of immunolabeling techniques for SC proteins (SCP1, SCP2 and SCP3) and for DNA mismatch repair proteins present in late recombination nodules (MLH1) allow analyses of both synapsis and meiotic recombination in the gametocyte I. In situ hybridization methods can be applied afterwards because chromatin is preserved during cell fixation for immunoanalysis. The combination of both methodologies allows the analysis of synapsis and the creation of recombination maps for each bivalent. In this work we apply the seven-fluorochrome subtelomere-specific multiplex FISH assay (stM-FISH) to human male meiotic cells previously labeled by immunofluorescence (SCP1, SCP3, MLH1, CENP) to assess its utility for human SC karyotyping. This FISH method consists of microdissected subtelomeric probes labeled combinatorially with seven different fluorochromes. Results prove its usefulness for the identification of all human SCs. Furthermore, by labeling subtelomeric regions this one-single-step method enables the characterization of interstitial and terminal SC fragments and SC delineation even if superposition is present in pachytene spreads.

Characterization of the lectin binding pattern in human spermatozoa after swim-up selection.

Capacitation is characterized by a hyperactivated pattern of sperm motility. The acquisition of highly motility is present in the early stages of capacitation. Sperm progressive motility is one of the most important parameters for determining the suitability of semen for processing. However, previous studies have shown that some sperm showing good motility have membrane damage. The aim of our study was to characterize the lectin staining pattern on the sperm plasma membrane of unselected and selected human sperm of normozoospermic donors. Sperm selection was performed by the swim-up technique. Fourteen samples from healthy consenting donors classified as normozoospermic according to the World Health Organization were used. We observed changes in the distribution of the carbohydrate residues after the swim-up selection. With Triticum vulgaris, the most abundant pattern was dotted labeling all over the head plasma membrane in the unselected sperm. However, this lectin was distributed homogenously over the acrosomal region after selection. With Arachis hypogaea, the most abundant pattern in fresh sperm was a highly stained acrosomal region. In the highly motility sperm population, the most frequent pattern was dotted fluorescence on the acrosomal region and a highly stained equatorial segment. Meanwhile, with the Aleuria aurantia and Canavalia ensiformis lectins, the most representative patterns were the same before and after the swim-up selection. Our data indicate that modifications which occur in carbohydrate residues during swim-up selection could be important for the regulation of progressive motility and prepare the sperm for capacitation.

Extraction--spectrophotometric determination of oxalate in urine and blood serum.

An extraction--spectrophotometric method is described for the determination of oxalate, based on the formation of a mixed ligand vanadium (V)--mandelohydroxamic acid--oxalate complex. The complex was extracted into a solution of trioctylmethylammonium chloride (Adogen 446) in toluene and the absorbance measured at 535 nm. The experimental variables and interferences in this determination were studied. The detection limit is 0.5 microgram ml-1 and the range of application is between 2 and 8 micrograms ml-1. The method was applied to the determination of oxalate in urine and blood serum.

Parálisis recurrencial izquierda secundaria a aneurisma del cayado aórtico / Left recurrent paralysis secondary to aortic cavern aneurysm

La parálisis del nervio laríngeo recurrente izquierdo puede estar motivada por múltiples causas de las cuales algunas poco frecuentes, tienen naturaleza vascular. Presentamos un caso de un paciente de 73 años con parálisis recurrencial izquierda causada por un aneurisma del cayado aórtico. A propósito del cual realizamos una revisión de la literatura

Complicaciones de la fístula traqueo-esofágica fonatoria: tratamiento / Treatment of phonatory thracheoesophageal fistula

La fístula traqueoesofágica representa el mayor avance en la rehabilitación vocal de los laringectomizados. La tasa de complicaciones es mínima, y su morbilidad insignificante, lo cual hace que sus resultados sean excelentes. Presentamos nuestra experiencia en un grupo de 324 pacientes, intervenidos mediante nuestra técnica durante el período de tiempo comprendido entre 1985 - 1996