[Fulminant course of amniotic fluid embolism]. / Embolismo de líquido amniótico con evolución fulminante.

Amniotic fluid embolism is an obstetric complication that can present during pregnancy or labor and is associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. The incidence is low but the mortality rates for both mother and fetus are high. A 34-year-old woman in the 41st week of gestation was admitted for induction of labor. While still in the labor room, she complained of pruritus around the mouth and tongue. Tonic-clonic convulsions, hypotension, and loss of consciousness followed. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation maneuvers were started and an immediate cesarean section under general anesthesia was performed to deliver a live infant boy. The Apgar score at 5 minutes was 8. The mother was transferred for recovery to the intensive care unit (ICU), where rapid cardiocirculatory and pulmonary decline continued. After 2 episodes of electromechanical dissociation, exitus occurred 2 hours after ICU admission. The autopsy confirmed the diagnosis of amniotic fluid embolism. Keratin squames were found in the capillaries of both lungs and polymorphonuclear cells and proteinaceous material were observed in alveoli. Mechanical obstruction is not the only cause of amniotic fluid embolism. Circulating substances that affect myocardial contractility and coagulation are also implicated and the cause may even be an allergic reaction. The usual signs are acute respiratory failure, cardiovascular collapse, and occasionally convulsions and coagulopathy. Cardiac arrest occurs in 80% of the cases. Treatment is symptomatic to provide life-sustaining measures in response to the clinical picture as it develops.

Systemic lupus erythematosus in males. A study of 107 Latin American patients.

Clinical and laboratory features were analyzed in 107 Latin American male patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who were compared with a group of 1,209 Latin American female patients with SLE to determine the presence of gender-associated differences. Males had an increased prevalence of renal disease, vascular thrombosis, and the presence of anti-dsDNA antibodies, as well as the use of moderate to high doses of corticosteroids, compared with female SLE patients. Although there was no difference in mortality from all causes, SLE-related mortality was higher in the male group. All these findings are consistent with a more severe disease in Latin American males than in female patients from the same region.

A quantitative histologic comparison of the thymus in 100 healthy and diseased adults.

The characteristics of the normal adult thymus in both sexes were determined in 50 cases of accidental death by a simplified quantitative histologic technic. A table of normal values derived from these findings was used for making comparisons with thymus from autopsies of 50 additional patients suffering terminal illness. It was observed that thymic changes considered to be part of physiologic involution occurred earlier and were more advanced at a given age in males than in females. These changes included disappearance of septae, diminished demarcation between cortex and medulla, and a decreased number of Hassall's corpuscles with an increase in their size. Changes ascribed to disease included accelerated involution of the thymus accompanied by loss of septae, smaller lobules, increased adipose tissue and fusiform cells, a reduced number of lymphocytes and Hassall's corpuscles and a relative increase in the number of cystic corpuscles. No lymphoid follicles were observed. Changes were not identical in all disease conditions. In neoplasia, the limit between the cortex and medulla was preserved; in immune diseases, the epithelial nests of the medulla were increased.

[Review: cardiovascular effect of garlic (Allium sativum)]. / Revisión: efectos cardiovasculares del ajo (Allium sativum).

Garlic has been used for centuries, and even nowadays is part of popular medicine in many cultures. New data have increased the interest in garlic and its role in normalization and treatment of cardiovascular disease risk factors. Recent studies have shown the complex composition of garlic, containing many compounds, that present potential positive effect in the field of health. The aim of the present paper was to review results of some studies that have found a relationship between garlic and cardiovascular diseases. From some of them it can be summarized that garlic can normalize plasma lipid, check lipid peroxidation, stimulate fibrinolytic activity, inhibit platelet aggregation, smooth the thickening and structural changes of artery wall related to aging and atherosclerosis, and decrease blood pressure. However, some other studies do not support these benefits. The positive effects found have promoted many study projects, nevertheless, the extract lability and the lack of result consensus call for a moderate consumption of garlic and garlic extracts. The composition variation due to gathering and aging together with the changes occurring in canning and industrial treatment makes necessary the application of some norms in the production and consumption of this functional food in order to guarantee its use in adequate form and doses.

'In Vitro' Comparison of K3XF and TFA Cyclic Fatigue Resistance in Continuous Rotation and Adaptive Motion / Comparación In Vitro de resistencia a la fatiga cíclica de K3XF y TFA en rotación continua y movimiento adaptativo

Abstract: Among the most common problems within dental professionals, is the fracture of rotary instruments of nickel and titanium root canal files (NiTi), when performing a procedure on a patient. Therefore, the objective of this work is to compare the in vitro resistance to cyclic fatigue of K3XF and TFA rotatory instruments, in continuous rotation and adaptive motion. For this, a static and cyclic fracture test was used and a fracture pattern was searched. The numbers of cycles until the fracture and the length of the fragments were determined. Of all the groups evaluated, K3XF-A exhibited the best resistance to cyclic fatigue. In future research, it will be performed an autoclaving and immersion cycles in sodium hypochlorite to be able to determine the separation causes of the rotary instruments. As a recommendation, the operator could significantly influence the decrease in resistance to cyclic fatigue due to the misuse of rotary instruments.

Resumen: Entre los problemas más comunes entre los profesionistas dentales, es la fractura de los instrumentos rotatorios de limas de canales radiculares de níquel y titanio (NiTi), cuando se lleva a cabo el procedimiento al paciente. Es por eso, que el objetivo de este trabajo es el comparar la resistencia in vitro de la fractura cíclica entre los instrumentos rotatorios K3XF y TFA, en rotación continua y movimiento adaptativo. Para esto, se utilizó la prueba de fractura cíclica y estática y el patrón de fractura fue evaluado. El número de ciclos hasta la fractura y la longitud de los fragmentos fue determinado. De todos los grupos evaluados, K3XF-A presentó la mejor resistencia a la fractura cíclica. Como trabajo a futuro, se utilizará ciclos de inmersión en hipoclorito de sodio y autoclaveado, para ser capaces de determinar las causas de separación de los instrumentos rotarios. Como recomendación, el operador puede influenciar significativamente la disminución de la resistencia a la fractura cíclica utilizando de una manera errónea el dispositivo.

Comparative in vitro Study of the Bond Strength on Dentin of Two Sealing Cements: BC-SEALER and AH-PLUS / Estudio comparativo in vitro de la fuerza de adhesión sobre dentina de dos cementos selladores BC-Sealer y AH-plus

Abstract: Gutta-percha with a sealer cement has been used for many years as a fill for root canal therapies, new materials and techniques have been recently developed that could increase the success rate of endodontic treatments. It is important to compare materials that are used today, with those that are coming to the market, which possess considerable advantages that may well increase the rate of successful treatments. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the adhesion properties of a new bioceramic sealer: EndoSequence® BC SealerTM using BC Points. For this, the following techniques were used: Single cone obturation and lateral condensation with AH-Plus. The results demonstrated differences between the groups of AH-Plus and BC-Sealer. On the bond strength that was applied in the different thirds of the root canal, the sealer cement BC-Sealer proved to be the best adhesion material in all thirds of the root canal being significantly more noticeable in the apical third. The two sealants are effective root canal adhesives, used properly, any of there may grant an acceptable result.

Resumen: A pesar de que la gutapercha con cemento sellador ha sido utilizada durante muchos años, últimamente se han desarrollado nuevos materiales y técnicas que podrían incrementar la tasa de éxito en los tratamientos endodónticos. Es importante comparar materiales que en la actualidad se utilizan con los nuevos que están saliendo al mercado con considerables ventajas que puedan así aumentar el índice de tratamientos exitosos. Por lo tanto, el propósito de esta investigación es evaluar las propiedades de adhesión de un nuevo sellador biocerámico EndoSequence® BC SealerTM usando BC Points. Para esto, se utilizó la técnica de obturación cono único y condensación lateral con AH- Plus. Se encontraron diferencias entre los grupos de AH-Plus y BC-Sealer. Sobre la fuerza de adhesión que se aplicó en los diferentes tercios del conducto radicular, el cemento sellador BC-Sealer demostró ser el material con mejor adhesión en todos los tercios del conducto radicular siendo significativamente más notable en tercio apical. Los dos cementos selladores son efectivos para la adhesión en los conductos radiculares, cualquiera de estos bien utilizados otorgará un resultado aceptable.

Designing a Low Cost Electrospinning Device for Practical Learning in a Bioengineering Biomaterials Course / Diseño de un dispositivo de electrohilado de bajo costo para la enseñanza práctica en un curso de Biomateriales en Bioingeniería

Abstract The electrospinning device is used in the biomaterials research field nowadays for fabricating nanofibers that can be used for manufacturing artificial skin and muscular tissue, blood vessels (vascular grafts), orthopedic components (bones, cartilages, and ligaments/tendon), and peripheral or central nervous system components. Electrospun nanofibers act as ideal scaffolds for tissue engineering and drug delivery systems because they can mimic the functions of native extracellular matrices. A low cost electrospinning device was designed and built for undergraduate practical learning in the Biomaterials course in the area of Bioengineering at Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, México. The methodology includes 3D CAD designing, manufacturing of the acrylic cabinet, different collectors and the fabrication of poly (vinyl alcohol) nanofibrous scaffolds, in order to validate the functionality of the electrospinning system. The prototype is an affordable device; its cost is 95% less than the laboratory commercial devices.

Resumen El dispositivo de electrohilado es actualmente empleado en la investigación de biomateriales, utilizado para sintetizar nanofibras que ofrecen un potencial para la manufactura de piel artificial y tejido muscular, vasos sanguíneos (implantes vasculares), componentes ortopédicos (hueso, cartílago y tendones/ligamentos) y componentes del sistema nervioso central y periférico. Las nanofibras producidas por electrohilado pueden ser usadas como andamios ideales para ingeniería de tejidos y liberación controlada de fármacos debido a que mimetizan las funciones de la matriz extracelular. El dispositivo de electrohilado de bajo costo fue diseñado y construido para al aprendizaje practico de estudiantes de licenciatura en la asignatura de Biomateriales de la carrera de Bioingeniería. La metodología incluye diseños CAD 3D, manufactura del gabinete de acrílico, diferentes colectores y fabricación de los andamios de nanofibras de Poli (vinil alcohol) para validar la correcta funcionalidad del sistema de electrohilado. El prototipo es un dispositivo accesible económicamente, su costo es un 95% más barato que los dispositivos de tipo comercial.

[Early histologic diagnosis of acute myocardial infarct by autofluorescence. Evaluation in humans and experimental animals]. / Diagnostico histológico temprano del infarto agudo del miocardio por autofluorescencia. Una evaluacion en humanos y en animales de experimentación.

The value of an autofluorescence method for the early diagnosis of myocardial infarction was evaluated in humans and experimental animals. The hearts from 15 rats and 18 dogs that had undergone coronary occlusion, and those obtained from 29 human autopsy cases with clinical evidence of myocardial infarction were studied. Routine and frozen sections stained and unstained were observed under fluorescence microscopy. In all the cases, ischemic areas exhibited fibres with a bright yellow autofluorescence. There was some variations in fluorescence intensity from routine stained and unstained to frozen stained and unstained sections. These results demonstrate that the fluorescence method can be used to defect early myocardial ischemic injury. The intracellular alterations induced by ischemia could be responsible for light absorption and thus characteristic autofluorescence.

Diagnostico histologico temprano del infarto agudo del miocardio por autofluorescencia. Una evaluacion en humanos y en animales de experimentacion. / Early histological diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction by autofluorescence: an evaluation in human beings and animals

Se trata de establecer en animales de experimentacion y en humanos el valor del metodo de autofluorescencia para el diagnostico temprano de lesion miocardica isquemica. Para tal efecto se estudiaron los corazones de 15 ratas y 18 perros sometidos a periodos variables de isquemia, asi como los de 29 pacientes autopsiados con diagnostico de infarto del miocardio. De todos ellos se obtuvieron cortes por congelacion y en parafina que fueron observados, tanto tenidos como sin tenir, en un microscopio de fluorescencia convencional.En todos los corazones estudiados se demostro la presensica de fibras con fluorescencia amarillo brillante en las zonas isquemicas, aun antes de que esta se manifestara objetivamente en forma de necrosis de coagulacion. Esta positividad se reprodujo en todas las muestras estudiadas aunque con menor intensidad en los cortes sin tenir obtenidos por congelacion. Nuestros resultados confirman la utilidad del metodo para el reconocimiento temprano de lesion isquemica y al mismo tiempo permiten surgerir que las alteraciones intracelulares secundarias a la isquemia "per se" pueden explicar la absorcion de la luz que se manifesta en la florescencia caracteristica