Feasibility and Acute Toxicity of Hypo-Fractionated Radiotherapy on 0.35T MR-LINAC: The First Prospective Study in Spain.

This observational, descriptive, longitudinal, and prospective basket-type study (Registry #5289) prospectively evaluated the feasibility and acute toxicity of hypo-fractionated radiotherapy on the first 0.35T MR-LINAC in Spain. A total of 37 patients were included between August and December 2023, primarily with prostate tumors (59.46%), followed by pancreatic tumors (32.44%). Treatment regimens typically involved extreme hypo-fractionated radiotherapy, with precise dose delivery verified through quality assurance measures. Acute toxicity assessment at treatment completion revealed manageable cystitis, with one case persisting at the three-month follow-up. Gastrointestinal toxicity was minimal. For pancreatic tumors, daily adaptation of organ-at-risk (OAR) and gross tumor volume (GTV) was practiced, with median doses to OAR within acceptable limits. Three patients experienced gastrointestinal toxicity, mainly nausea. Overall, the study demonstrates the feasibility and safety of extreme hypo-fractionated radiotherapy on a 0.35T MR-LINAC, especially for challenging anatomical sites like prostate and pancreatic tumors. These findings support the feasibility of MR-LINAC-based radiotherapy in delivering precise treatments with minimal toxicity, highlighting its potential for optimizing cancer treatment strategies.

Factors Contributing to the Link between Physical Well-Being and Chronic Pain in Young People from Galicia, Northwest Spain.

Introduction: The relation between physical well-being and chronic pain is complex and involves several subjective and objective covariates. We aimed to assess the role of mediator, confounder, or interactor played by covariates, including sleep quality, physical activity, perceived stress, smoking, and alcohol drinking in the relation between physical well-being and chronic pain. Method: We used Poisson regression to obtain incidence rate ratios (IRR) of the association between physical well-being and chronic pain in a cohort study carried out among university students. We applied General Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) to assess mediation and stratum-specific analyses to distinguish confounding from interaction. We computed Relative Excess Risks due to Interaction (RERI), Attributable Proportion (AP), and the Synergy index (S) to measure additive interaction. Results: High physical well-being is related to a large decrease in the risk of chronic pain (IRRTotal Effect = 0.58; 95% CI: 0.50-0.81). Perceived stress mediates 12.5% of the total effect of physical well-being on chronic pain. The stratum-specific IRRs of current smokers and non-current smokers were different from each other and were larger than the crude IRR (IRR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.24-1.80), which indicates that smoking could be both confounder and interactor. Interaction analyses showed that physical activity could act as a potential interactor (RERI = 0.25; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.60). Conclusions: Perceived stress is an important mediator of the relation between physical well-being and chronic pain, while smoking is both a confounder and an interactor. Our findings may prove useful in distinguishing high-risk groups from low-risk groups, in the interventions aimed at reducing chronic pain.

Impaired microvascular circulation in distant organs following renal ischemia.

Mortality in acute kidney injury (AKI) patients remains very high, although very important advances in understanding the pathophysiology and in diagnosis and supportive care have been made. Most commonly, adverse outcomes are related to extra-renal organ dysfunction and failure. We and others have documented inflammation in remote organs as well as microvascular dysfunction in the kidney after renal ischemia. We hypothesized that abnormal microvascular flow in AKI extends to distant organs. To test this hypothesis, we employed intravital multiphoton fluorescence imaging in a well-characterized rat model of renal ischemia/reperfusion. Marked abnormalities in microvascular flow were seen in every organ evaluated, with decreases up to 46% observed 48 hours postischemia (as compared to sham surgery, p = 0.002). Decreased microvascular plasma flow was found in areas of erythrocyte aggregation and leukocyte adherence to endothelia. Intravital microscopy allowed the characterization of the erythrocyte formations as rouleaux that flowed as one-dimensional aggregates. Observed microvascular abnormalities were associated with significantly elevated fibrinogen levels. Plasma flow within capillaries as well as microthrombi, but not adherent leukocytes, were significantly improved by treatment with the platelet aggregation inhibitor dipyridamole. These microvascular defects may, in part, explain known distant organ dysfunction associated with renal ischemia. The results of these studies are relevant to human acute kidney injury.

A miniaturized genotoxicity evaluation system for fast biomaterial-related risk assessment.

Implants and prostheses are widely used to either repair damaged tissues or treat different diseases. Before an implant reaches the market, multiple preclinical and clinical tests must be performed. Along with cytotoxicity or hemocompatibility preclinical tests, genotoxicity is an essential feature to investigate. Indeed, the materials used for implantation should be non-genotoxic, i.e. they should not promote mutations that can potentially lead to tumour formation. However, given the complexity level of genotoxicity tests, such tests are not readily available to biomaterials researchers, which is the reason why this aspect is severely underreported in the literature. To solve this problem, we developed a simplified genotoxicity test that can be further adapted by standard biomaterials laboratories. We started by simplifying the classic Ames test in Petri dishes, after which we developed a miniaturized test in a microfluidic chip, which takes only 24 hours, requiring significantly less material and space. An automatization option with a customized testing chamber architecture and microfluidics-based control system has been designed as well. This optimized microfluidic chip system can significantly improve the availability of genotoxicity tests for biomaterials developers, with the additional benefit of more in-depth observation and quantitative comparison due to the availability of processable image components.

Robot-assisted sutureless partial nephrectomy for the treatment of fifteen bilateral renal masses in a patient with Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome: a case report from a high-volume robotic center.

Renal cell carcinoma is among major causes of death in patients with Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome, and it usually presents with multiple and bilateral lesions that may require multiple renal surgeries. This, in turn, may compromise renal function, resulting in end-stage renal disease. To minimize renal function impairment in these patients, great importance is given to the preservation of functional parenchyma with the use of nephron-sparing techniques. Furthermore, new techniques such as off-clamp surgery, selective suturing or sutureless techniques may improve long-term functional outcomes. We described the case of a 27-year-old male patient with a family history of VHL disease affected by multiple, bilateral renal masses. He received bilateral, metachronous robot-assisted partial nephrectomies (RAPN) for a total of 15 renal lesions. No intra- or post-operative complications occurred, and the patient was discharged on the second postoperative day after both procedures. Serum creatinine after the second RAPN was 0.99 mg/dl (baseline value was 1.11 mg/dl). In patients with VHL syndrome and multiple renal lesions, robot-assisted partial nephrectomy, especially with the use of clampless and sutureless techniques, helps minimizing renal function impairment and should be performed when anatomically and technically feasible.

Functional Properties and Acceptability of Potentially Medicinal Tea Infusions Based on Equisetum arvense, Desmodium molliculum, and Mentha piperita.

Natural herbal teas are one of the three most consumed beverages in the world, and despite their frequent use in the cosmetic, food, and pharmaceutical industries, there is still much to about them. This study aimed to determine the functional properties of tea infusions made from dried Equisetum arvense (EA), Desmodium molliculum (DM), and Mentha piperita (M) grown in the Peruvian Andes. Next, using a simplex design with unrestricted centroid amplified centroid, 12 combinations were obtained for the combination of dried leaves with EA: 0∼100%, DM: 0∼100%, and M: 0∼100% optimal combination of EA: 6.59%, DM: 84.62%, and M: 8.79% maximizes functional components for total polyphenols (2,831.18 mg EAG/100 g), flavonoids (37.73 mg CAT/g), and antioxidant capacity (145.99 µmol Trolox/g). It can be confirmed that dried mixtures of these plants made into tea are a significant source of bioactive molecules, have a tolerable flavor, and can be used for therapeutic purposes when consumed.

Deep Learning aplicado en imágenes fotoacústicas para la Identificación del cáncer de seno / Deep Learning Applied in Photoacoustic Images for the Identification of Breast Cancer

La Imagen Fotoacústica (PAI por sus siglas en inglés), es una modalidad de imagen híbrida que fusiona la iluminación óptica y la detección por ultrasonido. Debido a que los métodos de imágenes ópticas puras no pueden mantener una alta resolución, la capacidad de lograr imágenes de contraste óptico de alta resolución en tejidos biológicos hace que la fotoacústica (PA por sus siglas en inglés) sea una técnica prometedora para varias aplicaciones de imágenes clínicas. En la actualidad el Aprendizaje Profundo (Deep Learning) tiene el enfoque más reciente en métodos basados en la PAI, donde existe una gran cantidad de aplicaciones en análisis de imágenes, en especial en el área del campo biomédico, como lo es la adquisición, segmentación y reconstrucciones de imágenes de tomografía computarizada. Esta revisión describe las últimas investigaciones en PAI y un análisis sobre las técnicas y métodos basados en Deep Learning, aplicado en diferentes modalidades para el diagnóstico de cáncer de seno(AU)

Photoacoustic Imaging (PAI) is a hybrid imaging modality that combines optical illumination and ultrasound detection. Because pure optical imaging methods cannot maintain high resolution, the ability to achieve high resolution optical contrast images in biological tissues makes Photoacoustic (PA) a promising technique for various clinical imaging applications. At present, Deep Learning has the most recent approach of methods based on PAI where there are a large number of applications in image analysis especially in the area of ​​the biomedical field, such as acquisition, segmentation and reconstructions of computed tomography imaging. This review describes the latest research in PAI and an analysis of the techniques and methods based on Deep Learning applied in different modalities for the diagnosis of breast cancer(AU)

Paracetamol Intake and Hematologic Malignancies: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies.

Hematologic malignancies cause more than half a million deaths every year worldwide. Analgesics were suggested as chemopreventive agents for several cancers but so far, results from individual studies about the relationship between paracetamol (acetaminophen) use and hematologic malignancies are conflicting. Therefore, we decided to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis. We retrieved studies published in any language by systematically searching Medline, Embase, Conference Proceedings Citation Index, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, and the five regional bibliographic databases of the World Health Organization until December 2020. Pooled odds ratios (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated according to the inverse of their variances. We performed separate analyses by histologic type. We also evaluated publication bias and assessed quality. A total of 17 study units met our inclusion criteria. The results show an association of hematologic malignancies with any paracetamol intake (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.23-1.80) and with high paracetamol intake (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.45-2.16). By subtype, risk was higher for multiple myeloma (OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.54-2.94) for any use and OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.96-5.10 for high intake, while risk was lower and non-significant for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This meta-analysis provides evidence that paracetamol intake may be associated with hematologic malignancies and suggests that a dose-response effect is plausible. These results are unlikely to be due to publication bias or low quality of studies. Future research should focus on assessing the dose-response relationship.

Comportamiento y factores asociados con la anemia en mujeres mexicanas en edad fértil. Ensanut 2018-19 / Behavior and factors associated with anemia in Mexican women of childbearing age. Ensanut 2018-19

Resumen: Objetivo: Estudiar el comportamiento de la anemia en los años 2006, 2012 y 2018-19, su severidad y factores asociados en mujeres mexicanas de 20 a 49 años de edad. Material y métodos: Las Ensanut 2006, 2012 y 2018-19 tienen un diseño metodológico que permite comparaciones entre ellas. Mediante hemoglobina capilar <12dL se clasificó anemia. Se excluyó a quienes estuvieron embarazadas. Se asoció anemia con factores sociodemográficos mediante regresión logística. Resultados: La reducción de anemia de 2006 a 2012 fue significativa, pero no el incremento para 2018-19. Se asoció anemia con un mayor número de embarazos, y tener de 35 a 49 años de edad. Fueron factores protectores de anemia un IMC≥30(k/m2), tercil 3 de CB, no ser indígena y vivir en Centro y Ciudad de México. Conclusiones: La anemia continúa siendo un problema de salud pública, sobre todo en mujeres de 35 a 49 años de edad con más de cuatro embarazos.

Abstract: Objective: To study the behavior of anemia in 2006, 2012 and 2018-19, its severity and associated factors in Mexican women between 20 and 49 years of age. Materials and methods: The Ensanut 2006, 2012 and 2018-19 has a methodological design that allows comparisons between them. Capillary hemoglobin (Hb) classified anemia with Hb values <12dL. Pregnant women were excluded. Anemia was associated with individual and sociodemographic factors using a logit regression model. Results: The reduction in anemia from 2006 to 2012 was significant, but not the increase for 2018-19. Anemia was associated with a higher number of pregnancies, and being 35 to 49 years of age. A BMI≥30 (k/m2), tertile 3 of wellness condition, not being indigenous and living in the Center and Mexico City were protective of anemia. Conclusions: Anemia continues to be a public health problem, especially in women 35 to 49 years of age with more than four pregnancies.

Determinants of Fatal Outcome in Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Units With Influenza, European Union 2009-2017.

BACKGROUND: Morbidity, severity, and mortality associated with annual influenza epidemics are of public health concern. We analyzed surveillance data on hospitalized laboratory-confirmed influenza cases admitted to intensive care units to identify common determinants for fatal outcome and inform and target public health prevention strategies, including risk communication. METHODS: We performed a descriptive analysis and used Poisson regression models with robust variance to estimate the association of age, sex, virus (sub)type, and underlying medical condition with fatal outcome using European Union data from 2009 to 2017. RESULTS: Of 13 368 cases included in the basic dataset, 2806 (21%) were fatal. Age ≥40 years and infection with influenza A virus were associated with fatal outcome. Of 5886 cases with known underlying medical conditions and virus A subtype included in a more detailed analysis, 1349 (23%) were fatal. Influenza virus A(H1N1)pdm09 or A(H3N2) infection, age ≥60 years, cancer, human immunodeficiency virus infection and/or other immune deficiency, and heart, kidney, and liver disease were associated with fatal outcome; the risk of death was lower for patients with chronic lung disease and for pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: This study re-emphasises the importance of preventing influenza in the elderly and tailoring strategies to risk groups with underlying medical conditions.

Evolución de la inseguridad alimentaria en los hogares mexicanos: 2012-2016 / Evolution of food insecurity in Mexican households: 2012-2016

Resumen: Objetivo: Describir tres aspectos importantes de la inseguridad alimentaria (IA) en México: la magnitud y distribución de acuerdo con características de vulnerabilidad social, su evolución entre 2012 y 2016 y el efecto de los programas sociales de ayuda alimentaria en la IA de los hogares mexicanos. Material y métodos: Se incluyó información de 40 809 y 9 019 hogares provenientes de la Ensanut 2012 y 2016, respectivamente. Se realizó un análisis de diferencias en diferencias para medir el efecto de los programas de ayuda alimentaria en la evolución de la IA. Resultados: El 69.5% de los hogares se clasificó en IA. Los más afectados por la IA fueron hogares más pobres (85.8%) y de áreas rurales (78.0%). En el periodo 2012-2016, la prevalencia de IA moderada y severa disminuyó en hogares con apoyo de programas de ayuda alimentaria. Conclusión: Los resultados presentados son una herramienta para mejorar el diseño y focalización de políticas públicas y fortalecer la gobernanza de la seguridad alimentaria en México.

Abstract: Objective: To describe three relevant aspects of household food insecurity (FI) in Mexico: its magnitude, its distribution by social and nutritional vulnerability characteristics; its evolution between 2012 and 2016 and the effect of food assistance programs on FI in Mexican households. Materials and methods: Data on 9 019 households were drawn from the 2016 National Health and Nutrition Survey (Ensanut 2016 for its Spanish initials) and were compared with data from the 2012 Ensanut. An analysis of differences in differences was made to measure the effect of food assistance programs on the evolution of FI. Results: As many as 69.5% of households were classified as FI. Families located in rural areas (78.0%) and residing in southern Mexico (76.3%). Households with support from a food assistance program experienced a decrease in moderate and severe FI between 2012 and 2016. Conclusion: Findings can be used to design and target public policies seeking to improve food security governance in Mexico.

High levels of circulating TNFR1 increase the risk of all-cause mortality and progression of renal disease in type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated that levels of circulating inflammatory markers such as tumour necrosis factorα (TNFα), are associated with early progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN). The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between circulating TNFα receptor and disease progression in patients with advanced type 2 DN and severe proteinuria. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2011, we measured levels of circulating soluble TNFα receptor 1 (TNFR1) and soluble TNFα receptor 2 (TNFR2) at baseline and 4 and 12 months in 101 patients included in a multicenter randomized controlled trial to compare the effect of optimal doses of renin-angiotensin system blockers in monotherapy or in combination (dual blockade) to slow progression of established type 2 DN. The primary composite endpoint was a >50% increase in baseline serum creatinine, end-stage renal disease, or death. RESULTS: The median follow-up was 32 months (IQR, 18-48), during which time 28 patients (22.7%) achieved the primary endpoint. The TNFR1 level, but not the TNFR2 level, was correlated with other inflammatory markers. Cox regression analysis showed that the highest TNFR1 levels (HR, 2.60; 95%CI, 1.11-86.34) and baseline proteinuria (HR 1.32; 95%CI 1.15-1.52) were associated with the primary endpoint. The mixed model analysis revealed that TNFR1 and the TNFR2 levels did not change after starting treatment with renin-angiotensin system blockers. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that the highest levels of TNFR1 are independently associated with progression of renal disease and death in type 2 DN. The renin angiotensin blockers have no effect on these inflammatory markers.

Renal iron overload in rats with diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) remains incurable and is the main cause of end-stage renal disease. We approached the pathophysiology of DN with systems biology, and a comprehensive profile of renal transcripts was obtained with RNA-Seq in ZS (F1 hybrids of Zucker and spontaneously hypertensive heart failure) rats, a model of diabetic nephropathy. We included sham-operated lean control rats (LS), sham-operated diabetic (DS), and diabetic rats with induced renal ischemia (DI). Diabetic nephropathy in DI was accelerated by the single episode of renal ischemia. This progressive renal decline was associated with renal iron accumulation, although serum and urinary iron levels were far lower in DI than in LS. Furthermore, obese/diabetic ZS rats have severe dyslipidemia, a condition that has been linked to hepatic iron overload. Hence, we tested and found that the fatty acids oleic acid and palmitate stimulated iron accumulation in renal tubular cells in vitro. Renal mRNAs encoding several key proteins that promote iron accumulation were increased in DI. Moreover, renal mRNAs encoding the antioxidant proteins superoxide dismutase, catalase, and most of the glutathione synthetic system were suppressed, which would magnify the prooxidant effects of renal iron loads. Substantial renal iron loads occur in obese/diabetic rats. We propose that in diabetes, specific renal gene activation is partly responsible for iron accumulation. This state might be further aggravated by lipid-stimulated iron uptake. We suggest that progressive renal iron overload may further advance renal injury in obese/diabetic ZS rats.

Improved Structure and Function in Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Rat Kidneys with Renal Tubular Cell Therapy.

Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease is a truly catastrophic monogenetic disease, causing death and end stage renal disease in neonates and children. Using PCK female rats, an orthologous model of autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease harboring mutant Pkhd1, we tested the hypothesis that intravenous renal cell transplantation with normal Sprague Dawley male kidney cells would improve the polycystic kidney disease phenotype. Cytotherapy with renal cells expressing wild type Pkhd1 and tubulogenic serum amyloid A1 had powerful and sustained beneficial effects on renal function and structure in the polycystic kidney disease model. Donor cell engraftment and both mutant and wild type Pkhd1 were found in treated but not control PCK kidneys 15 weeks after the final cell infusion. To examine the mechanisms of global protection with a small number of transplanted cells, we tested the hypothesis that exosomes derived from normal Sprague Dawley cells can limit the cystic phenotype of PCK recipient cells. We found that renal exosomes originating from normal Sprague Dawley cells carried and transferred wild type Pkhd1 mRNA to PCK cells in vivo and in vitro and restricted cyst formation by cultured PCK cells. The results indicate that transplantation with renal cells containing wild type Pkhd1 improves renal structure and function in autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease and may provide an intra-renal supply of normal Pkhd1 mRNA.

Analgesia obstétrica sistémica con remifentanilo y dexmedetomidina / Systemic obstetric analgesia with remifentanil and dexmedetomidine

Para todas las mujeres el trabajo de parto y el parto son experiencias dolorosas, sumado a esto, el miedo y la ansiedad pueden incrementarlo y dificultar su manejo. Así mismo el dolor durante la labor de parto es equiparable con el dolor post-quirúrgico, sin olvidarnos que además la atención del trabajo de parto es un procedimiento médico de alto valor y prevalencia a nivel mundial. En la analgesia obstétrica el estándar de oro es la técnica regional pero cuando esta se encuentra contraindicada o rechazada por la paciente, habitualmente se decide abandonar la analgesia y proseguir la labor de parto con dolor; dejando a un lado toda la información descrita en la literatura con respecto a que el adecuado tratamiento del dolor disminuye la morbilidad y mortalidad materno fetal, además de obtenerse mejorías en relación al costo-beneficio acortando el tiempo de estancia hospitalaria e impactando favorablemente en la economía de los pacientes. El uso de sedantes y narcóticos en la paciente en labor de parto siempre ha sido motivo de controversia ya que estos medicamentos tienden a cruzar la membrana placentaria y pueden tener efectos nocivos sobre el neonato. Sin embargo; los medicamentos más nuevos como remifentanilo debido a sus propiedades farmacocinéticas aunque cruzan la placenta no producen efectos secundarios clínicamente significativos en el binomio madre-feto. Además de que la dexmedetomidina no pasa a la circulación fetal, una razón de valor por la cual puede ser usada en conjunto con remifentanilo para la analgesia en labor de parto y obtener de esta manera un mejor control del dolor, estancia más confortable y hemodinámia estable aún en las pacientes obstétricas en estado crítico; ya que es de carácter imperativo ofrecer la mejor atención y cuidados posibles tanto a la madre como al neonato.

For all women in labor and childbirth are painful experiences, in addition to that, fear and anxiety can increase it and hinder its management. Also pain during labor is equated with pain after surgery, without forgetting also the attention of labor is a medical procedure of high value and prevalence worldwide. In obstetric analgesia the gold standard is the regional technique but when this is contraindicated or refused by the patient, usually you decide to leave analgesia and further labor pain, although there is enough information that the proper approach to pain decreases maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality, in addition to improvements obtained in a cost-effective shortening the length of hospital stay and impacting positively on patients economy. The use of sedatives and narcotics in the patient in labor has always been controversial as these drugs tend to cross the uteroplacental barrier and can have adverse effects on the neonate. But the newer drugs such as remifentanil and dexmedetomidine because of their pharmacokinetic properties do not cross the placenta so significantly further literature refers that dexmedetomidine does not pass into the fetal circulation. One more reason to value which can be used in conjunction remifentanil for analgesia in labor and thereby obtain better pain management, better state of comfort, and hemodynamics in obstetric patients and that it is mandatory to provide the best possible care and attention to both the mother and the neonate.

Nalbufina SP más ropivacaína versus fentanilo más ropivacaína peridural mediante bomba de infusión elastomérica para manejo de dolor postoperatorio en pacientes sometidas a histerectomía total abdominal

RESUMEN Actualmente, a pesar de los avances científicos y tecnológicos en la medicina, ni el dolor agudo ni el crónico suelen recibir un tratamiento adecuado por muy diversas razones de cultura, actitud, educación, política y logística. Sin embargo, el tratamiento efectivo del dolor se considera un derecho fundamental del paciente, así como un indicador de buena práctica clínica y calidad asistencial. Las intervenciones quirúrgicas ginecológicas y especialmente las histerectomías se realizan muy frecuentemente tanto en hospitales públicos como privados; el dolor generado por este tipo de intervenciones es un desafío terapéutico para el equipo multidisciplinario. Se ha documentado que entre 40% y 70% de las pacientes refieren dolor intenso y esto es debido a que los esquemas analgésicos establecidos no logran alcanzar niveles plasmáticos adecuados o que estos solo se circunscriben a analgésicos antiinflamatorios no esteroides. Objetivo: en el presente trabajo decidimos comparar la calidad de analgesia mediante su uso en infusión continua peridural en las pacientes operadas de histerectomía abdominal bajo anestesia regional a fin de proponer una herramienta útil para el manejo del dolor posterior a esta frecuente cirugía en nuestro hospital. Conclusiones: el uso de nalbufina más ropivacaína versus fentanilo más ropivacaína ofrece condiciones de analgesia satisfactoria; la nalbufina presentó superioridad, la cual fue estadísticamente significativa. El infusor elastomérico garantiza la administración continua del medicamento evitando los ''picos y valles'' del uso de dosis intermitentes.

SUMMARY Despite the scientific and technological advances in medicine, neither acute nor the chronic pain often receive appropriate treatment for various reasons. Effective treatment of pain is considered a fundamental right of the patient, and an indicator of good clinical practice and quality of care. The gynecological surgeries, especially hysterectomies are performed very frequently, both in public and private hospitals, while the pain generated by this type of intervention is a therapeutic challenge for the multidisciplinary team. 40%-70% of patients report severe pain and this is because the established analgesic schemes fail to achieve adequate plasmatic levels or that these are only limited to NSAIDs. The present work compares the quality of analgesia using a continuous epidural infusion, after abdominal hysterectomy operated under regional anesthesia, in order to propose a useful tool for pain management after surgery in our hospital . Conclusions: the use of fentanyl versus ropivacaine versus nalbuphine with ropivacaine provides satisfactory analgesia conditions. In a closer look nalbuphine present superiority which was statistically significant. The elastomeric infuser ensures continuous administration of medication to avoid ''peaks and valleys'' in the regular use of of intermittent doses.

RESUMO Atualmente, apesar dos avances científicos e tecnológicos na medicina, a dor aguda nem a dor crônica tem recebido um tratamento apropriado, por diversas razoes: culturais, de atitude, educacional, política e logística. Entretanto, o tratamento efetivo da dor considera-se um direito fundamental do paciente, do mesmo modo um indicador de boa pratica clinica e qualidade assistencial. As intervenções cirúrgicas ginecológicas em especial as histerectomias som realizadas muito frequentemente, tanto em hospitais públicos como particulares e a dor provocada e um desafio terapêutico para a equipe multidisciplinar, porém, apesar das diferentes modalidades existentes para atingir boa analgesia, esta não é controlada satisfatoriamente. que apesar das diferentes modalidades existentes para alcançar analgesia, não se controla satisfatoriamente. Relata-se que entre 40% a 70 % dos pacientes referem dor intensa e isto é devido ao fato de que os esquemas analgésicos estabelecidos não atingem níveis plasmáticos adequados o que simplesmente se prescreve são analgésicos antiinflamatórios não esteroides. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comparar a qualidade da analgesia da infusão continua peridural, em pacientes post-cirúrgicas de histerectomias abdominal com anestesia regional, tendo a finalidade de propôr uma ferramenta útil para o alivio da dor de uma das cirurgias que se realiza mais frequentemente em nosso hospital. Conclusões: o uso de nalbufina mas ropivacaina versus fentanyl mas ropivacaina oferece condições de analgesia satisfatória. A mistura com nalbufina apresenta superioridade estatisticamente significativa. O infusor elastomérico garante uma administração continua do fármaco, evitando as concentrações variáveis do uso de doses intermitentes.

Spatial and temporal patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in eggs of a coastal bird from northwestern Iberia after a major oil spill.

This study investigated the spatial and temporal patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) eggs after a major oil spill (Prestige, November 2002) in northwest Iberia. We analysed a total of 77 eggs from 10 breeding localities of the Iberian Atlantic coast, 9 located along the Galician coast (NW Spain) and one in the Ria de Aveiro (Portugal). General linear mixed models did not show a significant effect of the area on the total PAH levels and on each compound, probably due to the spread of pollution caused by the Prestige ship and the industrial and harbour pollutions of the Ria de Aveiro (Portugal). In contrast, the PAH levels were significantly affected by year. The PAH levels decreased from 2004 to 2006 but strongly increase and showed a different pattern of PAH accumulation in 2007. These results may be due to tetra- and pentacyclic compounds from forest fires that occurred during summer 2006.

Rapid progression of diabetic nephropathy is linked to inflammation and episodes of acute renal failure.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) from diabetic nephropathy is characterized by progressive loss of renal function. The renal decline has been viewed as a linear fall, presumably dependent on metabolic, hemodynamic and dietary stresses. However, renal injury in diabetic nephropathy can be rapidly aggravated by unpredictable external and internal factors, a state of affairs inconsistent with a linear loss of function. Acute renal injury and subsequent inflammation are potential factors, and we investigated their presence in renal biopsies from patients with nephropathy. METHODS: In a protocol approved by the Indiana University School of Medicine Institutional Review Board, renal biopsy specimens, estimated GFR, proteinuria and renal survival were examined in patients with diabetic nephropathy. RESULTS: Prominent clusters of inflammatory cells, particularly macrophages, were detected in the renal biopsy specimens. CKD progressed rapidly but not linearly, in that CKD was characterized by a succession of seemingly random episodes of self-limited acute renal failure. Episodes of acute kidney injury were associated with progression to end-stage renal disease. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that diabetic nephropathy is complicated by unpredictable and possibly random episodes of usually self-limited acute renal failure, and by subsequent renal inflammation, which appear to accelerate progression and eventual kidney loss.

Treatment of the post-ischaemic inflammatory syndrome of diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus and its complications are a public health problem of epidemic proportions. Both diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) increase the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI). Months after a single episode of acute ischaemia to the diabetic kidney, we have found an accelerated progression of nephropathy, with impaired function, severe renal inflammation, microvascular dysfunction, fibrosis and apoptotic cell death. We termed this entity the post-ischaemic inflammatory syndrome. We now test the hypothesis that blocking inflammation ameliorates the post-ischaemic inflammatory syndrome. METHODS: Obese-diabetic ZS rats (F(1) hybrids of spontaneously hypertensive heart failure and Zucker fatty diabetic rats) were treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), subjected to renal ischaemia or sham surgery, and monitored via the powerful technique of intravital microscopy. RESULTS: Amelioration of post-ischaemia inflammation with MMF therapy improved long-term renal function, microvascular dysfunction, fibrosis and apoptosis. CONCLUSION: These data support the hypothesis that the post-ischaemic inflammatory syndrome accelerates diabetic CKD, is a critical determinant of injury, and can be successfully treated.

Postischemic inflammatory syndrome: a critical mechanism of progression in diabetic nephropathy.

Diabetes is a major epidemic, and diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. Two critical components of diabetic nephropathy are persistent inflammation and chronic renal ischemia from widespread vasculopathy. Moreover, acute ischemic renal injury is common in diabetes, potentially causing chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease. Accordingly, we tested the hypothesis that acute renal ischemia accelerates nephropathy in diabetes by activating proinflammatory pathways. Lean and obese-diabetic ZS rats (F(1) hybrids of spontaneously hypertensive heart failure and Zucker fatty diabetic rats) were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia or sham surgery before the onset of proteinuria. The postischemic state in rats with obesity-diabetes was characterized by progressive chronic renal failure, increased proteinuria, and renal expression of proinflammatory mediators. Leukocyte number in obese-diabetic rat kidney was markedly increased for months after ischemia. Intrarenal blood flow velocity was decreased after ischemia in lean control and obese-diabetic rats, although it recovered in lean rats. At 2 mo after ischemia, blood flow velocity decreased further in sham-surgery and postischemia obese-diabetic rats, so that RBC flow velocity was only 39% of control in the obese-diabetic rats after ischemia. In addition, microvascular density remained depressed at 2 mo in kidneys of obese-diabetic rats after ischemia. Abnormal microvascular permeability and increases in interstitial fibrosis and apoptotic renal cell death were also more pronounced after ischemia in obese-diabetic rats. These data support the hypothesis that acute renal ischemia in obesity-diabetes severely aggravates chronic inflammation and vasculopathy, creating a self-perpetuating postischemia inflammatory syndrome, which accelerates renal failure.