Effect of malting conditions and quality characteristics of malt and roasted malt extract from 'acha' grains (Digitaria exilis Stapf).

BACKGROUND: Considering the importance of malting and roasting on the quality of 'acha' beverages, a study was conducted to find optimum conditions for malting and the production of a high-quality roasted extract that could be used for an 'acha' beverage. RESULTS: The data obtained were analysed using response surface methodology. The results revealed that the most significant (P < 0.05) malting factors that affect the response variables were the linear terms of germination time and drying temperature. However, for the extract production, the linear term of roasting temperature was the most significant (P < 0.05) factor. The quadratic and interaction terms exhibited significant (P < 0.05) effect in all cases apart from the flavour. CONCLUSION: The overall optimum regions were established at 28 h of germination time, 55 degrees C drying temperature and 5.0% moisture content for the malting conditions while for the extract production, a roasting temperature of 210 degrees C, extraction temperature of 70 degrees C and extraction duration of 20 min were established.

Comparison of three commercially available monoclonal antibodies directed against pp65 antigen for cytomegalovirus antigenemia assay.

A total of 102 blood samples were used in a prospective parallel and blind study to evaluate three commercially available anti-pp65 monoclonal antibodies for cytomegalovirus antigenemia assay, at the dilutions recommended by their manufacturers. Cytomegalovirus was detected in 42 samples (41.2%), by either culture (32 samples; 76.2% of positive samples) or antigenemia (38 samples; 90.6%). Of the antigenemia-positive samples, 37 were detected by Monofluo kit CMV, which showed statistically significant differences when compared with the other reagents (Biosoft 1C3 and Clonab C10/C11), in either positivity rates (P < 0.004) or positive cell counts (P < 0.001). This reagent also gave better results in fluorescence quality than 1C3 and C10/C11. However, technical differences were not reflected in the clinical relevance of the antigenemia results.

Isolation and structure elucidation of new cytotoxic steroids from the gorgonian Leptogorgia sarmentosa.

The gorgonian Leptogorgia sarmentosa contains three new steroids, (20S)-20-hydroxycholestane-3,16-dione (1), (16S, 20S)-16,20-dihydroxycholestan-3-one (2), and (20S)-20-hydroxycholest-1-ene-3,16-dione (3) together with a known related compound (4). Their structures were defined by spectroscopic analysis. The new steroids exhibited significant cytotoxicity against four tumor cell lines (ED50 = 1 microg/ml).

Structure and cytotoxicity of new polyhydroxylated sterols from the Caribbean gorgonian Plexaurella grisea.

The gorgonian Plexaurella grisea contains the new steroids 9-hydroxygorgosterol (1), 9,11 alpha,14-trihydroxygorgosterol (2), 5 beta,6 beta-epoxyergost-24(28)-ene-3 beta,7 beta-diol (3), ergost-24(28)-ene-3 beta,5 alpha,6 beta,7 beta-tetrol (4), an unseparable 1:1 mixture of the epimers (25R) and (25S)-26-acetoxy-3 beta,5 alpha-dihydroxyergost-24(28)-en-6-one (5/6), and seven related, known compounds (7-13). The structures of these new compounds were defined by spectroscopic analysis. All the compounds (1-13) isolated from P. grisea were tested against P 388, A 549, and HT 29 tumor cell lines. Compounds 3, 5/6, and 12 exhibited selective activity against the HT 29 cell line (ED(50) = 0.1 microg/ml).

Shortened small bowel syndrome. Mackby's operation.

Intestinal infarction is a condition with a high rate of mortality. Progress in the fields of anesthesia, maintenance of electrolyte balance, and intensive postoperative care has made survival possible in a number of patients subjected to extensive resection of the small intestine. Many of these patients, however, later succumb to the effects of malabsorption. In this paper we report on a patient who has undergone massive intestinal resection, because of venous intestinal infarction, and Mackby's operation, with favorable results twelve months postoperatively.

Surgery of atrioventricular septal defects. Review of the first 100 cases.

From 1972 to 1985, the first 100 children suffering from some form of atrio-ventricular septal defect underwent surgical correction. In all cases, corrective surgery was carried out primarily except in 3 children who presented with a total defect and first underwent palliative surgery. In 48 children, a complete form was present, in 5 an intermediate form, and in 47 a partial form. There were 43 males and 57 females. Thirty-eight percent of patients suffered from Down's syndrome. The mean age at operation was 42 (range 2-143) months. A prosthesis was implanted in the left atrio-ventricular valve at primary correction in 9 patients. Up to 1980, the overall mortality was 20% and from 1981 to 1985 it was 3.3%. There was late mortality in 3 children (2 with a complete form and 1 partial). In 32 cases, postoperative cardiac catheterization was performed. Nine patients were reoperated upon (9%), 2 due to a residual shunt, 4 due to serious mitral incompetence (in all cases a prosthesis was used), and 3 due to valvular thrombosis. In this series, only 2 patients remained in complete atrio-ventricular block (1 affected by the complete form and the other partial). Long term survival is related to the severity of left valvular insufficiency. In this series with a mean follow-up of 3.83 +/- 2.78 years, we had an a cumulative survival of 86.7% +/- 3.43%. At the last control, most of the survivors had a good quality of life: 91% were in class I and 9% in class II according to the NYHA scale.

Nonoperative management of splenic injuries.

The traditional management of splenic trauma has undergone major revision in recent years. Given the physiological importance of the spleen, certain controversy has arisen regarding the most appropriate method of managing this type of trauma. Nonoperative therapy in children has proven to be successful not only in the case of kidney lesions but also for splenic lesions. Nonoperative management carried out in the authors' hospital on a group of 56 patients (49 adults and seven children over the age of 7 years) has proved successful in 37 cases. The success of this technique requires a well-formulated protocol, diagnostic methods (ultrasound and computed tomography), rigorous patient control in the emergency room during the initial phase (first 48 hours), the availability of a medical team if surgical intervention becomes necessary (persistent or recurrent hemorrhage), and complementary measures which facilitate the cicatrization of the splenic injury (bed rest, antibiotic therapy).

Psychopathology and the binding problem.

Normal cerebral activity is based on the rapid and flexible alternation of an enormous quantity of spatial-temporal patterns of neuronal firing. There is still much to learn about the mechanism that keeps neurons on functionally closed assemblies firing in synchronization. The explanation of this mechanism is the so called 'binding problem', one of the cornerstones of the generation of perceptions, cognitions, emotions and behaviours by the brain, and therefore of great interest to psychiatry. We explore the possibility that a 'binding dysfunction' could be a relevant aspect of the pathophysiology of mental disorders, and apply it to schizophrenia, in an attempt to integrate some neurobiological findings in this disorder, including a few preliminary data obtained with transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

13 C NMR of coumarins. III-Simple coumarins.

13 C NMR data for several simple coumarins are reported. The γsyn effect of a 5-methoxy substituent on the C-4 chemical shift was observed and measured. The effects of an 8-iodo substituent on the chemical shifts of the carbons of the coumarinic skeleton are discussed.

[Spontaneous pneumothorax. Apropos 2507 cases]. / Neumotórax espontáneo. A propósito de 2.507 casos.

This retrospective study of 2,507 cases of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP) involves 1,873 patients treated at our hospital over nearly 20 years. Men represented 92.4% and most patients were between 16 and 30 years old (56.2%). Presenting more than one episode were 29.7%. The treatment of choice was placement of a pleural drain whenever SP had led to lung collapse amounting to more than 10% of volume. Thoracotomy was performed when the patient had experienced three or more episodes of SP; when a pleural drain had not resolved the condition 10 days after placement; in hemo-SP with severe hemorrhage; and in 2 cases in which SP was bilateral. A total of 419 thoracotomies were performed on 384 patients (20.7%). All episodes were resolved and complications were few. Six patients died (0.32%), three following thoracotomy. All of these had antecedents of chronic obstructive lung disease and all were over 70, excepting one who was 56.

[Deep venous thrombosis of the upper limb. A prospective study of the central venous catheter as an etiologic factor and clinical and subclinical incidence of pulmonary thromboembolism]. / Trombosis venosa profunda de la extremidad superior. Estudio prospectivo del catéter venoso central como factor etiológico y su incidencia clínica y subclínica de tromboembolismo pulmonar.

The thrombogenicity presented in different types of endovenous catheters and their anomalies are the cause of the development of pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in some patients, secondary to deep venous thrombosis (DVT) of the upper limbs. Presentation of a study made on the incidence of PTE in patients with prior history of DVT of the upper limbs. Of the 30 cases of DVT of the upper limbs studied, 20 were directly attributed to catheters. 18 were attached to a central catheter and the other 2 one or two peripheral catheters. 0,32% of DVT of the upper limbs secondary to a central catheter was calculated. Five of the 20 DVT patients (25%) had symptomatic or sub-clinical DVT. Emphasis was placed on the importance of DVT and its intrinsically serious nature and the need for studies on this condition, since it is possible for the patient not to develop the complete symptoms of DVT at the onset, which led to death in one patient. We recommend the establishing of strict norms with regard to the indications for inserting the central catheter and the choice of the correct material, aseptic and non-traumatic insertion, radiological control (essential) of the position of the catheter and its tip, establishing of a protocol for the correct maintenance and a device for controlling thrombotic complications in upper limbs, to ensure rapid treatment and a rapid check of the possibility of DVT by pulmonary gammagraphy during the first 24-48 hours.

[Gigantic diverticulum of the colon. A complication of diverticulosis?]. / Divertículo gigante de colon. Una complicación de la diverticulosis?

We present a patient affected of diverticular disease of the colon, with diverticulosis and two giant diverticula of the sigma, both located at the mesenteric edge. We would like to stress the low incidence of reports about this entity in the medical literature, its uncommon location and the fact of a double lesion coinciding in a single patient. We discuss the most important nosocomial aspects and the different diagnoses. Finally, we support the idea of distinguishing three different entities that in the medical literature are usually unified as a single "giant diverticulum of the colon". We reaffirm ourselves on the importance of an early diagnosis and a correct indication for surgery.

[Brothers affected by the Charcot-Marie-Tooth peroneal muscular atrophy with a positive variant of the anticipation phenomenon]. / Irmandade afetada pela atrofia muscular peroneal de Charcot-Marie-Tooth com possivel variante do fenomeno da antecipação

Considering the genetical peculiarity of Charcot-Marie-Tooth's muscular atrophy, a family with three affected brothers was investigated, in which beginning date was discovered to be progressively antedated. Afterwards, this possible variant of anticipation is discussed, because such condition is quite ununsual, not only in this disease, but in Human Genetics, in a general sense.

[Analysis of a series of 55 patients with biopsy proven giant cell temporal arteritis]. / Análisis de una serie de 55 pacientes con arteritis de células gigantes confirmada por biopsia.

INTRODUCTION: Our main aim with this study is to establish the epidemiologic and clinical features, treatment response and complications of a group composed of 55 patients with biopsy proven temporal arteritis in a local hospital. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study based on clinical records revision of patients diagnosed of giant cell arteritis (GCA) made by temporal artery biopsy between 1989 and 2001. RESULTS: The approximated annual incidence of GCA in our area is 4.1 cases per 100,000 persons over the age of 50. The mean age at diagnostic was 74 years and the 78,2% were women. The most common symptom at diagnostic was headache (81.5%) followed by systemic manifestations (74.1%) and later we found jaw claudication (32,7%), visual impairment (30.2%), isquemic manifestations (17%). Polymyalgia rheumatica was associated to GCA in 49.1% of cases. The temporal artery explorations was abnormal in the 76.9% of patients. The mean initial dose of corticoids was 69 mg prednisone per day, with a half dose reduction time of .5 months. In spite of that, 24,1% of patients relapsed during the first year. The 38% of patients did some complications during the corticosteroid treatment. The ESR was lower 50 mm in 12.7% of patients; it was anaemia in the 37.7% and thrombocytosis in 32,1%. In these last patients we detected a relation between thrombocytosis and specific visual impairment. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of GCA in our area is low. The results of our series aren't different from others publicated before in clinical manifestations, there is a prevalence of female sex and there is a relation between specific visual impairment and the presence of thrombocytosis.