Stability and inter-family associations of hair endocannabinoid and N-acylethanolamines across the perinatal period in mothers, fathers, and children.

Analysis of endocannabinoids (ECs) and N-acylethanolamines (NAEs) in hair is assumed to retrospectively assess long-term EC/NAE concentrations. To inform their use, this study investigated stability of EC/NAE hair concentrations in mothers, fathers, and their children across the perinatal period as well as associations between family members. In a prospective cohort study, EC (AEA, 1-AG/2-AG) and NAE (SEA, PEA, OEA) levels were quantified in hair samples taken four times in mothers (n = 336) and their partners (n = 225) from pregnancy to two years postpartum and in offspring (n = 319) from shortly after birth to two years postpartum. Across the perinatal period, maternal and paternal hair ECs/NAEs showed poor multiple-test consistency (16-36%) and variable relative stability, as well as inconsistent absolute stability for mothers. Regarding children, hair ECs/NAEs evidenced poor multiple-test consistency (4-19%), no absolute stability, and either no or variable relative stability. Hair ECs/NAEs showed small to medium significant associations across the perinatal period within couples and parent-child dyads. Findings suggest hair ECs/NAEs during the perinatal period possess variable stability in adults, albeit more stability in fathers than mothers in this time. This highlights the need to further investigate factors associated with changes in hair ECs/NAEs across time. The first two years of life may be a dynamic phase for the endocannabinoid system in children, potentially characterized by complex within-family correspondence that requires further systematic investigation.

Tinnitus: una revisión narrativa / Tinnitus: A narrative review / Tinnitus: uma revisão narrativa

El tinnitus o acúfeno es la percepción de sonido en ausencia de un estímulo acústico externo; es uno de los motivos de consulta más comunes en el área de otorrinolaringolo­gía. Se ha asociado a diversas etiologías tales como ototoxicidad, tumores, traumatismo craneoencefálico y trastornos psiquiátricos, siendo también las causas de carácter idio­pático ampliamente conocidas. Las características clínicas de los tinnitus son variables de paciente a paciente, por lo que su diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento son un desafío clínico Si bien recientes estudios han propuesto distintos manejos clínicos y terapéuticos, estos continúan hoy en día en estudio. Esta revisión narrativa pretende realizar una actualización sobre el abordaje diagnóstico, clínico y terapéutico de los tinnitus en la última década.

Tinnitus, the perception of sound in the absence of an external acoustic stimulus, is one of the most common reasons for consultation in the area of otorhinolaryngology. It has been associated with various etiologies such as ototoxicity, tumors, head trauma, and psychiatric disorders; idiopathic causes are also widely known. The clinical characteristics of tinnitus are variable from patient to patient; therefore, its diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up are a clinical challenge. Although recent studies have proposed different clinical and therapeutic approaches, these are still under analysis today. This narrative review aims to update the diagnostic, clinical and therapeutic approach to tinnitus in the last decade.

Tinnitus ou zumbido é a percepção do som na ausência de um estímulo acústico externo; é um dos motivos mais comuns de consulta na área de otorrinolaringologia. Tem sido associada a várias etiologias, como ototoxicidade, tumores, traumatismo craniano e distúrbios psiquiátricos, sendo também amplamente conhecidas causas idiopáticas. As características clínicas do zumbido são variáveis de paciente para paciente, por isso seu diagnóstico, tratamento e acompanhamento são um desafio clínico, embora estudos recentes tenham proposto diferentes abordagens clínicas e terapêuticas, ainda hoje estão em estudo. Esta revisão narrativa visa atualizar a abordagem diagnóstica, clínica e terapêutica do zumbido na última década.

Characterization of renewable diesel particulate matter gathered from non-premixed and partially premixed flame burners and from a diesel engine.

Particulate matter coming from the combustion of renewable diesel (RD), ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and a volumetric blend of 30% of RD with ULSD (RD30) were collected and physico-chemically characterized. Soot samples were generated in two flame burner types (non-premixed flame, NPF, and partially premixed flame, PPF) trying to simulate the diffusion and premix regimes found in diesel engines. The impact of both fuel nature and burner type was assessed on soot mass, particle size and morphology, particle nanostructure and surface functional groups. In general, although the results of HRTEM and SMPS suggested that the addition of RD reduced the average particle size and increased the concentration of ultra-fine particles, the mass emission of soot was drastically mitigated regardless of the burner used. The results also suggest that the changes in the chemical characteristics of the soot were slightly more sensitive than the changes in the internal nanostructure of the particles, since the graphitic character (as showed by Raman and infrared analysis) increased as the RD content increased, being stronger for the PPF system. Comparisons between engine soot and flame soot confirmed that the addition of RD into ULSD produced smaller and more carbonized particles. In fact, some engine results were located in between those obtained in PPF and NPF burners, suggesting that both combustion regimes are contributing to soot characteristics in engines. This consistency suggests that a first assessment of the impact of alternative fuels on the characteristics of particulate matter can be conducted through the basic approach offered by laboratory flames, thereby avoiding the costs associated with generating large quantities of fuel and the complexities of in-cylinder physical interactions and engine parameters.

Numerical Low-Back Booster Analysis on a 6-Year-Old Infant during a Frontal Crash Test.

This work studies descriptively the Head Injury Criterion (HIC) and Chest Severity Index (CSI), with a finite element model of the Hybrid III dummy type, for six-year-old subjects in a frontal vehicular collision, using the low-back booster (LBB) passive safety system. The vehicle seats and the passive safety systems were modelled in CAD (computer aided design) software. Then, the elements were analysed by the finite element method (FEM) in LS-DYNA® software. The boundary conditions were established for each study, according to the regulations established by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), following the FMVSS 213 standard. The numerical simulations were performed during an interval of 120 ms and recording results every 1 ms. In order to analyse the efficiency of the system, the restraint performance of the LBB system is compared with the restraint configuration of the vehicle safety belt (VSB) only. The obtained injury criteria with the LBB system shows its ability to protect children in a frontal collision. The analyses allow obtaining the deceleration values to which the dummy head and chest was subjected. Of the studies herein performed, Study I: VSB obtained a HIC36 of 730.4 and CSI of 315.5, while Study II: LBB obtained a HIC36 of 554.3 and CSI of 281.9. The outcome shows that the restraint efficiency of each studied case differs. Used materials, the attachment system of the LBB, and the belt restraint system properly placed over the infant trunk are the main factors reducing the injury criteria rate.

Activation of µ opioid receptors modulates inflammation in acute experimental colitis.

BACKGROUND: µ opioid receptors (µORs) are expressed by neurons and inflammatory cells, and mediate immune response. We tested whether activation of peripheral µORs ameliorates the acute and delayed phase of colitis. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were treated with 3% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) in water, 5 days with or without the peripherally acting µOR agonist, [D-Ala2, N-Me-Phe4, Gly5-ol]-Enkephalin (DAMGO) or with DAMGO+µOR antagonist at day 2-5, then euthanized. Other mice received DSS followed by water for 4 weeks, or DSS with DAMGO starting at day 2 of DSS for 2 or 3 weeks followed by water, then euthanized at 4 weeks. Disease activity index (DAI), histological damage, and myeloperoxidase assay (MPO), as index of neutrophil infiltration, were evaluated. Cytokines and µOR mRNAs were measured with RT-PCR, and nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), the antiapoptotic factor Bcl-xL, and caspase 3 and 7 with Western blot. KEY RESULTS: DSS induced acute colitis with elevated DAI, tissue damage, apoptosis and increased MPO, cytokines, µOR mRNA, and NF-kB. DAMGO significantly reduced DAI, inflammatory indexes, cytokines, caspases, and NF-kB, and upregulated Bcl-xL, effects prevented by µOR antagonist. In DSS mice plus 4 weeks of water, DAI, NF-kB, and µOR were normal, whereas MPO, histological damage, and cytokines were still elevated; DAMGO did not reduce inflammation, and did not upregulate Bcl-xL. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: µOR activation ameliorated the acute but not the delayed phase of DSS colitis by reducing cytokines, likely through activation of the antiapoptotic factor, Bcl-xL, and suppression of NF-kB, a potentiator of inflammation.

Comparación de un método no invasivo de determinación del gasto cardiaco (nico) y variables hemodinámicas con técnicas invasivas de termodilución en bolos / Comparison of a not invasive method of decision of the cardiac expense (nico) and variable haemodynamic with invasive techniques of termodilución in bowling

Recientemente, un nuevo equipo ha sido desarrollado para la medición del gasto cardiaco (GC) en forma no invasiva, utilizando mecanismos de reinhalacion de CO2. Nosotros comparamos esta técnica con la medición de GC por temodilución en bolos en 23 mediciones. A diferencia de lo estándar, donde se utiliza la presión del capilar pulmonar, la presión venosa central fue utilizada para calcular parámetros derivados de los datos obtenidos del NICO. Las mediciones del GC se correlacionan parcialmente con las mediciones realizadas con termodilución y el monitoreo con NICO podría ser una buena alternativa en la medición del GC. Sin embargo, los datos obtenidos del NICO no pueden ser utilizados para los cálculos de trabajo sistólico del ventrículo izquierdo (TSVI), trabajo sistólico del ventrículo derecho (TSVD) o índices de resistencias vasculares sistémicas (IRVS)...

[Evaluation of health system decentralization and reform of the Social Security system in Colombia]. / Evaluación de la descentralización de la salud y la reforma de la Seguridad Social en Colombia.

The aim of this study is to present the results of the reforms in the health sector that have taken place in Colombia since 1990. These reforms replaced the previous national health system and the so-called Bismarkian social security system. The new system has three basic characteristics: a) the public subsidies are decentralized in the municipalities and territorial departments; b) the public hospitals have been converted into state social enterprises, which has led them towards a management model, and c) the health and social security system monopoly has been abolished and a system of health subsidies has been created for the poorest citizens. This article systematically collects secondary information extracted from the most important studies evaluating the health sector reforms in Colombia. The present author participated in some of these studies. The reforms have increased financial resources, which, has led to an increase in public system staff and their salaries. The availability of hospitals' budgetary resources has increased and the social security system has become wider, including 20% of the poorest population who have benefited from subsidies on demand. Ease of access and equity in the health system have significantly improved. However, indicators of public health have fallen and health professionals are critical of a system based on mediation, which increases transaction costs.

[Morphogenesis of the sexual phase of six Mexican species of the Dryopteris (Dryopteridaceae), Part II]. / Morfogénesis de la fase sexual de seis especies mexicanas del género Dryopteris (Dryopteridaceae), Parte II.

The development of the sexual phase of six Mexican species of Dryopteris is described and compared. Spores of all studied species are monolete, ellipsoid and have a rugose surface; the perine is folded, brown to dark brown, with a tubercled outline. Germination pattern is of the Vittaria-type and the development pattern of the prothallia is of the Aspidium-type. Gametangia are of the common type for the leptosporangiate advanced ferns. First leaves of the sporophytes appear 258-265 after sowing and apparently in Dryopteris pseudo-filix-mas the sporophyte have an apogamic origin (80 days). To make a comparative analysis of gametophytic characteristics in the twelve Mexican species and conclude of germination is of the Vittaria-type and development pattern prothallial is of the Aspidium-type, and unicelular trichomes on margin and superficial gametophytic to yield irregular aspect are characteristics to yield unit and characteristic to genera to conform Dryopteridaceae family (sensu Moran 1995) with the exception of Didymochlaena genus.