Coenzyme Q10 supplementation during in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes (Bos taurus) helps to preserve oocyte integrity after vitrification.

Oocyte vitrification causes less cell stress than slow cooling, but cytoskeletal and spindle alterations may occur affecting the oocyte competence. In vitro maturation (IVM) supplementation with different antioxidant molecules has been performed to attenuate this harmful stress. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10 ) supplementation has previously shown to have positive effects in bovine and mouse in vitro embryo development. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of CoQ10 during bovine oocyte IVM and vitrification. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) (n = 311) were cultured under standard maturation conditions with 0 µM (control), 25 µM and 50 µM CoQ10 supplementation. After 22 hr, a cohort of 170 oocytes both from the control and from CoQ10 -supplemented groups were vitrified, warmed and returned to incubation until 24 hr of maturation, while the rest of the oocytes (n = 141) remained fresh. Then, oocyte survival was assessed morphologically by stereomicroscopy. Oocytes from all groups were then fixed and stained for assessing cortical granules (CG) migration and nuclear stage. High rates of oocyte MII progression and appropriate CG migration as a continuous layer beneath the plasma membrane were obtained both in control and in CoQ10 groups. Results showed that although vitrification has great impact in survival of IVM bovine oocytes, 50 µM CoQ10 supplementation significantly improved oocyte survival (p = .045) and reduced the premature CG exocytosis, helping to preserve the CG migration pattern (31.3% control vs. 54.5% in 50 µM CoQ10 ; p = .039), attenuating the negative effects of vitrification.

[Neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis: two twins, two cases]. / Encefalitis herpética neonatal: dos gemelas, dos casos.

Herpes simplex encephalitis is an infrequent infection with high mortality and morbidity. Antiviral therapies decrease mortality but long term sequelae are still high, so early diagnosis is important for opportune treatment. We present a pair of twins with central nervous system herpes simplex infection during the first month of life. Both twins presented non-specific symptoms and consulted with 48 hours apart needing intensive care admission, the first one for noninvasive mechanical ventilation and the second for hemodynamic support. Diagnosis was made by cerebrospinal fluid PCR, in the first twin at day 9 of disease and in the second at admission. Both twins were treated with acyclovir, but only the second one at the beginning of her illness. Initial study with electroencephalogram and magnetic resonance was normal and cerebrospinal fluid on day 18 of treatment was negative for herpes simplex virus DNA detection in both patients.

A late complication of transobturator tape: abscess and myositis.

The aim of the present study was to investigate a late complication of transobturator tape (TOT) implant: abscess and myositis. The case report included a 53 years-old vaginal multipara, subject to transobturator tape procedure in 2004, who came to the observation of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (University of Catania, Italy) with a late vaginal polypropylene mesh erosion. She reported growing pain at her left leg, walking difficulty, fever and persistent stress urinary incontinence (SUI). She also described a shooting pain originating from the left inguinal ligament radiating down her left leg. Obturator internus and adducent muscles of the left thigh were involved. Ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clearly revealed the course of the mesh tape through the obturator muscles with myositis and abscess. The patient was treated by removing the polypropylene tape through the vaginal erosion. Her symptomatology improved within 3 weeks after the tape removal. Although developed to minimize surgical morbidity, the TOT procedure is not risk-free. Like for all the synthetic sling materials, the risk of erosion and resulting ascending infection from contamination exists. Because of the rarity of this complication, the Authors performed an assessment of this condition. Erosion may predispose the patient to secondary complications: abscess and myositis with great difficulty in deambulation. Imaging diagnosis is very effective. Ultrasound imaging is a useful method to investigate the whole pelvic floor condition. Moreover, MRI is a precise diagnostic procedure. This case not only proved the failure of the TOT for the treatment of stress incontinence, but also all the associated concerns. The study emphasizes the observation that abscess and symptomatic myositis may result into late disabling complications, although starting from a mini-invasive procedure.

[Toxocariasis: clinical and laboratory features in 54 patients]. / Toxocariasis: aspectos clínicos y de laboratorio en 54 pacientes.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and laboratory findings in children with toxocariasis. METHODS: Fifty-four children with reactive serology to Toxocara determined by ELISA were prospectively identified between January 1998 and September 2000. The patients were divided into three groups: asymptomatic children (n 24), those with visceral larva migrans (n 16) and those with ocular larva migrans (n 14). Age, serology titers, and eosinophil count at diagnosis were compared among the groups. The patients received treatment with albendazole 10-15 mg/kg/day for 15 days or thiabendazole 25 mg/kg/day in two series of 7 days. RESULTS: The clinical features were as follows: 24 children (44.4 %) were asymptomatic, pneumonitis was found in 9 (16.7 %), hepatomegaly in 6 (11.1 %), acute posterior uveitis in 5 (9.3 %), strabismus in 5 (9.3 %), leukocoria in 4 (7.4 %), fever in 3 (5.6 %). There was 1 case of keratitis, 1 of cataracts, 1 of myocarditis and 1 case of pneumonia with pleural effusion. Some patients showed more than one clinical feature. Four children experienced loss of vision in the affected eye. No differences in age or serology titers were found among the groups. Eosinophil count was lower in the group with ocular larva migrans than in the other groups (p < 0.001). Children with active disease showed clinical improvement and a 70.4 % decrease in eosinophilic count one year after treatment. Serological titers showed an unpredictable pattern during the follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the infected children were asymptomatic. In the post-treatment follow-up, clinical improvement and a decrease in eosinophilic count were observed. Further studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of treatment, especially in asymptomatic children.

[Executive function training in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / Entrenamiento de funciones ejecutivas en el trastorno por deficit de atencion/hiperactividad.

INTRODUCTION: A number of different treatments have been proposed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), yet little material has been published in the literature to improve the performance of the mechanisms behind attention, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility and working memory in these children. We think that a working model that is effective in the treatment of persons with ADHD can only be consolidated by means of a thorough understanding of the syndromes involved in this deficit. DEVELOPMENT: In addition to reviewing the latest and most significant proposals aimed at improving the cognitive under-standing of the disorder, this work also refers to three neurobiological syndromes that are recognised as forming part of ADHD, i.e. medial cingulate syndrome, dorsolateral syndrome and orbitofrontal syndrome. CONCLUSIONS: Advances in neuroscientific research and the design of computerised treatment materials offer extremely valuable data that will undoubtedly help to improve the results of psychopedagogical and neuropsychological interventions in ADHD, since they provide information about the temporal and spatial equation.

Encefalitis herpética neonatal: dos gemelas, dos casos / Neonatal herpes simplex encephalitis: two twins, two cases

Herpes simplex encephalitis is an infrequent infection with high mortality and morbidity. Antiviral therapies decrease mortality but long term sequelae are still high, so early diagnosis is important for opportune treatment. We present a pair of twins with central nervous system herpes simplex infection during the first month of life. Both twins presented non-specific symptoms and consulted with 48 hours apart needing intensive care admission, the first one for noninvasive mechanical ventilation and the second for hemodynamic support. Diagnosis was made by cerebrospinal fluid PCR, in the first twin at day 9 of disease and in the second at admission. Both twins were treated with acyclovir, but only the second one at the beginning of her illness. Initial study with electroencephalogram and magnetic resonance was normal and cerebrospinal fluid on day 18 of treatment was negative for herpes simplex virus DNA detection in both patients.

La encefalitis herpética en una infección poco frecuente, pero que condiciona alta morbilidad y mortalidad. Las terapias antivirales han logrado disminuir la mortalidad pero no las secuelas a largo plazo que siguen siendo altas, por lo que el énfasis está puesto en la precocidad del diagnóstico, en aras de implementar un tratamiento oportuno. Se presenta el caso de dos gemelas con encefalitis causada por virus herpes simplex durante el primer mes de vida. Ambas gemelas presentaron síntomas inespecíficos al mes de vida y consultaron con 48 horas de diferencia, necesitando cuidados intensivos, la primera por requerimientos de ventilación mecánica no invasora y la segunda por inestabilidad hemodinámica. El diagnostico fue realizado por RPC cualitativa en LCR positivo para VHS, en la primera gemela el día 9 de síntomas y en la segunda al momento de su consulta. Ambas gemelas recibieron aciclovir, pero sólo la segunda precozmente, desde el inicio de los síntomas. El estudio inicial en ambas, incluyendo EEG y RM, resultó normal y el LCR del día 18 de tratamiento no presentaba ADN de VHS en ambas pacientes.