Fetal cerebrovascular response to maternal hyperoxygenation in congenital heart disease: effect of cardiac physiology.

OBJECTIVE: Fetal cerebrovascular resistance is influenced by several factors in the setting of intact autoregulation to allow for normal cerebral blood flow and oxygenation. Maternal hyperoxygenation (MH) allows for acute alterations in fetal physiology and can be a tool to test cerebrovascular reactivity in late-gestation fetuses. In this study, we utilized MH to evaluate cerebrovascular reactivity in fetuses with specific congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of fetuses with complex CHD compared to controls without CHD. CHD cases were grouped according to physiology into: left-sided obstructive lesion (LSOL), right-sided obstructive lesion (RSOL) or dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA). Subjects underwent MH testing during the third-trimester fetal echocardiogram. The pulsatility index (PI) was calculated for the fetal middle cerebral artery (MCA), umbilical artery (UA) and branch pulmonary artery (PA). The change in PI from baseline to during MH was compared between each CHD group and controls. RESULTS: Sixty pregnant women were enrolled (CHD, n = 43; control, n = 17). In the CHD group, there were 27 fetuses with LSOL, seven with RSOL and nine with d-TGA. Mean gestational age was 33.9 (95% CI, 33.6-34.2) weeks. At baseline, MCA-PI Z-score was lowest in the LSOL group (-1.8 (95% CI, -2.4 to -1.2)) compared with the control group (-0.8 (95% CI, -1.3 to -0.3)) (P = 0.01). In response to MH, MCA-PI Z-score increased significantly in the control and d-TGA groups but did not change significantly in the LSOL and RSOL groups. The change in MCA-PI Z-score was significantly higher in the control group than in the LSOL group (0.9 (95% CI, 0.42-1.4) vs 0.12 (95% CI, -0.21 to 0.45); P = 0.03). This difference was more pronounced in the LSOL subgroup with retrograde aortic arch flow. Branch PA-PI decreased significantly in response to MH in all groups, with no difference in the change from baseline to MH between the groups, while UA-PI was unchanged during MH compared with at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: The fetal cerebrovascular response to MH varies based on the underlying CHD diagnosis, suggesting that cardiovascular physiology may influence the autoregulatory capacity of the fetal brain. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical implications of these findings on long-term neurodevelopment in these at-risk children. © 2020 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Anemia, hiponatremia, hipoalbuminemia y déficit de vitamina K como factores de riesgo para osteoporosis / Anemia, hyponatremia, hypoalbuminemia and vitamin k deficit as risk factors for osteoporosis

La Osteoporosis es un síndrome altamente prevalente en la población mayor, tanto la que ha sufrido fracturas como la que no. Aunque con frecuencia se le relaciona con la menopausia, existen varios otros elementos involucrados en su génesis. Estos frecuentemente coexisten en diversa proporción y son, por lo general, oligosintomáticos o generan signosintomatología muy inespecífica. Esto hace que su diagnóstico y tratamiento se retrase u omita, aumentando el riesgo de caídas y fracturas, y dificultando los procesos de consolidación ósea. Aunque su nivel de evidencia es aún diverso, frecuentemente son hallados cuando se implementa su búsqueda en pacientes mayores fracturados. Por lo que, con independencia de si su relación con la osteoporosis es o no significativa, conviene buscarlos y manejarlos por el riesgo que constituyen por sí mismos. En esta revisión nos referiremos a cuatro de estas condiciones: Hipoalbuminemia, hiponatremia, anemia y deficiencia de vitamina K.

Osteoporosis is very prevalent in the aged and is seen in both those who have suffered fractures and those who have not. Frequently related to the menopause, there are other elements involved in its pathogenesis. These frequently co-exist and are, generally, oligo-symptomatic or have non-specific symptomatology. This causes delays or omissions in their diagnosis and treatment, thereby increasing the risk of falls and fractures and interfering with bone consolidation. Although their evidence levels are diverse, these factors are frequently to be found once directly looked for in the aged fracture patient. Therefore, even though their relation to the osteoporosis may not be significant, it is best to test for them and treat them for the risk they present. In this review we look at four of these conditions: hypoalbuminemia, hyponatremia, anemia and vitamin K deficiency

Helicobacter pylori in the oral cavity is associated with gastroesophageal disease.

BACKGROUND: In Mexico, more than 80% of the population is infected with Helicobacter pylori. The frequency of H. pylori detection in the oral cavity is unknown, as its relationship with gastroesophageal pathology. AIM: To detect the presence of H. pylori in the oral cavity in Mexican population by PCR and to determine its association with gastroesophageal disease. METHODS: Patients were divided into two groups with different clinic conditions from whom gastric biopsy, dental plaque, and saliva samples were taken and analyzed. The first group comprised of hospitalized patients, the majority of whom were diagnosed with gastroesophageal disease, while the second group was selected from a dental clinic (ambulatory population) the majority of whom appeared to be healthy subjects. RESULTS: H. pylori was detected in gastric biopsy, dental plaque and saliva samples by PCR using a set of specific primers for the signal sequence of the vacuolating cytotoxin gene; detection of H. pylori in general was higher in gastric biopsy and dental plaque samples than in saliva samples. Detection of H. pylori in the oral cavity is significantly (P = 0.0001) associated with patients presenting gastroesophageal disease, while healthy subjects and those with other non-gastric disease do not present with H. pylori in their oral cavity. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori detection in the oral cavity is associated to gastroesophageal disease. In addition, it is suggested that all patients presenting gastric symptoms and H. pylori detection in the oral cavity would begin bacterial treatment immediately.

Effect of cis-resveratrol on genes involved in nuclear factor kappa B signaling.

This study investigated for the first time the effects of the cis isomer of RESV (c-RESV), a polyphenol present in red wine, on an array of genes whose expression is controlled by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and whose transcriptional activation is critical in a number of pathologies (including some cardiovascular diseases). In inflammatory peritoneal macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma), c-RESV significantly blocked the expression of genes related to the REL/NF-kappaB/IkappaB family, adhesion molecules and acute-phase proteins; however, the greatest modulatory effect was obtained on the expression of genes related to the pro-inflammatory cytokines. c-RESV down-regulated the nuclear factor of kappa light chain gene enhancer in B-cells 1 (NFkappaBL1) gene product p105 and up-regulated the nuclear factor of kappa light chain gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor alpha (IkappaBalpha) gene. c-RESV also significantly inhibited intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) gene expression and the transmembrane receptors RIP (receptor TNFRSF) and TLR3 (toll-like receptor 7). At 100 muM, c-RESV significantly inhibited transcription of Scya2 (chemokine MCP-1), the chemokine RANTES (regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted), pro-inflammatory cytokines that attract monocyte-granulocyte cells such as M-CSF (colony-stimulating factor 1), GM-CSF (colony-stimulating factor 2) and G-CSF (colony-stimulating factor 3), the cytokine tumor growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and the extracellular ligand IL-1alpha. In contrast, c-RESV stimulated transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), the extracellular ligand IL-1beta, and the IFN regulatory factor (IRF)-1. In conclusion, c-RESV has a significant modulatory effect on the NF-kappaB signaling pathway and, consequently, an important antioxidant role that may partially explain the cardioprotective effects attributed to long-term moderate red wine consumption.

Resolution of racemic mixtures of carbocyclic analogues of nucleosides and assignment of their absolute configuration.

Racemic trans-6-chloro-9-[2-(hydroxymethyl)cyclopentyl]purine was resolved using HPLC with a chiral column. The absolute configurations of the enantiomers were determined by NMR studies of their (R)- and (S)-methoxyphenylacetates.

Electrospray ionisation tandem mass spectrometry in the characterisation of isomeric benzofurocoumarins.

A set of aminoalkoxy-substituted, differently annullated furocoumarins, differing in the position of the aminoalkoxy chain and in the unsaturation level of the fused ring, has been subjected to electron impact and electrospray ionisation (ESI) experiments. In order to achieve a distinct characterisation of isomeric compounds, which partially failed under electron impact conditions, collision-induced dissociation experiments were performed on protonated molecules. The breakdown curves obtained by varying the tickle voltage on an ion trap ESI instrument led to the desired characterisation.

Obstrucción de la vía aérea por cuerpo extraño: manejo endoscópico combinado / Foreign body airway obstruction: combined endoscopic approach

Se analizan 21 pacientes ingresados al Servicio de Urgencia del Hospital Clínico San Borja-Arriarán entre enero 1996 y junio 1999, 8 por sospecha y 13 por certeza de cuerpo extraño (CE) en la vía aérea. La edad promedio de los primeros fue 6 años 7 meses, 4 varones. En 5 de ellos la sospecha se basó en atelectasia, en 2 hubo sofocación transitoria durante la alimentación y 1 presentó una neumonía atípica. Se hizo fibrobroncoscopía (FBC) en los 8, y en 3 de ellos FNC + broncoscopía rígida (BR). Dos (25 por ciento) tenía CE endobronquial y 3 oclusión de la vía aérea por tapón mucopurulento. La exploración fue normal en 3 pacientes (38 por ciento). Los 13 pacientes con certeza de CE tenían edad promedio de 3 años 8 meses, 10 hombres. Todos tuvieron crisis asfíctica, 6 insuficiencia respiratoria aguda, uno de ellos paro cardiorrespiratorio (PCR) y 2 obstrucción grave de la vía respiratoria alta. 6 tenían examen físico normal. En 2 se extrajo el CE con laringoscopía y pinza Magill, en 9 con BR + FBC + canastillo Dormia a través de BR. En 5 pacientes la localización CE fue supracarinal (36 por ciento) y endobronquial en 9 (64 por ciento). Cinco CE (36 por ciento) fueron radioopacos y 9 radiolúcidos (64 por ciento): 5 vegetales (36 por ciento) y 3 partes plásticas de juguetes (21 por ciento). Falleció 1 paciente (4,8 por ciento) ingresado al SU en paro cardiorrespiratorio al séptimo día postprocedimiento. 20 (95,2 por ciento) fueron dados de alta sanos. CE se presenta como crisis asfíctica por aspiración de alimentos o pequeñas partes de juguetes. El examen físico y la radiografía pueden ser normales, obligando a explorar la vía aérea con FBC, en caso de sospecha, y BR para extracción. La combinación BR+FBC permite revisar la vía aérea totalmente, manejar el CE de migración distal y la manipulación atraumática en aquellas muy inflamadas por CE vegetales o en los casos de sospecha sin CE. La prevención se debe orientar a modificar hábitos alimentarios y evitar manipulación de juguetes con partes pequeñas en los menores de 5 años

Sulfite sensitivity: relationship between sulfite plasma levels and bronchospasm: case report.

The present study describes a case of a 38-year-old nurse with asthma and probable sensitivity to sulfites. A double-blind challenge with sulfite and placebo was performed, pulmonary function tests were measured along with plasma levels of sulfites. A deficiency in sulfite-oxidase is suggested as the trigger mechanism of bronchospasm.