Agricultural waste from the tequila industry as substrate for the production of commercially important enzymes.

Approximately 1 million tons of Agave tequilana plants are processed annually by the Mexican Tequila industry generating vast amounts of agricultural waste. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential use of Agave tequilana waste as substrate for the production of commercially important enzymes. Two strains of Aspergillus niger (CH-A-2010 and CH-A-2016), isolated from agave fields, were found to grow and propagate in submerged cultures using Agave tequilana waste as substrate. Isolates showed simultaneous extracellular inulinase, xylanase, pectinase, and cellulase activities. Aspergillus CH-A-2010 showed the highest production of inulinase activity (1.48 U/ml), whereas Aspergillus niger CH-A-2016 produced the highest xylanase (1.52 U/ml) and endo-pectinase (2.7U/ml) activities. In both cases production of enzyme activities was significantly higher on Agave tequilana waste than that observed on lemon peel and specific polymeric carbohydrates. Enzymatic hydrolysis of raw A. tequilana stems and leaves, by enzymes secreted by the isolates yielded maximum concentrations of reducing sugars of 28.2 g/l, and 9.9 g/l respectively. In conclusion, Agave tequilana waste can be utilized as substrate for the production of important biotechnological enzymes.

[Reductive mammoplasty: health or beauty?]. / Mamoplastía de reducción: salud o belleza?

There is the wrong idea among health providers in Puerto Rico that reduction mammoplasty (RM) is a purely cosmetic procedure. The authors believe that mammary hypertrophy (MH) is a health problem and that reduction mammoplasty is the indicated treatment. A research program is devised using in its methodology a questionnaire which administered to 54 postoperative female patients. The study shows that 98% had significant improvement of symptoms and 98% recommend the operation to their friends. Our research confirms the hypothesis that MH affects health and RM is adequate treatment. We also concluded that an excess of 250 gms. is enough to cause symptoms of MH.

[A clinical-epidemiological approximation to intracerebral hemorrhage in a Mexican hospital: analysis of factors associated to mortality]. / Aproximacion clinicoepidemiológica de la hemorragia intracerebral en un hospital mexicano: analisis de factores asociados a la mortalidad.

INTRODUCTION: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most lethal type of stroke. There are some clinical and radiological factors related to mortality. The time for obtaining medical care could be related with poor prognosis, but there are not available studies in Hispanics that evaluated this one. AIM: To determinate the association between epidemiological factors, time to obtain medical care, origin, and clinical characteristics with hospital mortality due to ICH. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Study of cases and controls in a regional third level center, between January 2000 and December 2006 with patients of both sexes, older than 15 years with tomographic diagnosis of ICH. We excluded patients with NIHSS undetermined or traumatic head injury 4 weeks before. We studied demographic variables, time between beginning of symptoms and medical care, origin in kilometers until hospital, clinical characteristics at admission, including Glasgow and NIHSS. RESULTS: We analyzed 74 men and 101 women with mean age of 65 years. The etiology was hypertension in 77.4% and localization lobar in 39.4%. Eighty-five percent receipt medical care after 3 hours and 75.4% came from a radius < 100 km. Mortality in hospital was 16.6% with an explicative model of regression that included blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg, intubation, Glasgow < 9 at admission or NIHSS > 15, and hospitalization days. CONCLUSIONS: Demographic characteristics, causes, and localization are similar to previously informed series. The time for obtaining medical care is far from ideal, this could delay treatment; allow progression of disease, and then worse prognosis.

Rhinoplasty in the "Chata" nose of the Caribbean.

The unique blend of ethnic origins in the people of the Caribbean Islands, especially in Puerto Rico, has brought about a type of nose that we call "Chata." The classic rhinoplasty operations were inadequate, and early reconstruction attempts were unsatisfactory. Various cartilage grafts, alar sculpturing techniques, and external incisions have been used to achieve satisfactory results.

Delocalized TCNQ stacks in nickel and copper tetraazamacrocyclic systems.

New derivatives of formula [M(dieneN4)](TCNQ)3, M = Ni or Cu and dieneN4 = cis- or trans-hexamethyltetraazacyclotetradecadiene, have been obtained. The TCNQ units show electronic delocalization and formation of 1D stacks, with no direct interactions with the metal cations. The stack is not uniform and can be seen as formed by trimeric dianions (TCNQ)3(2-). The electronic delocalization favors the conductivity in these materials, which behave as good semiconductors. The crystal structures of the trans derivatives have been solved: [Ni(transdieneN4)](TCNQ)3, triclinic, P-1, a = 8.809(2) A, b = 10.896(2) A, c = 13.727(2) A, alpha = 103.04(1) degrees, beta = 101.23(2) degrees, gamma = 109.37(2) degrees, Z = 1; [Cu(trans-dieneN4)](TCNQ)3: triclinic, P-1, a = 7.872(1) A, b = 9.840(1) A, c = 14.819(1) A, alpha = 92.32(1) degrees, beta = 95.05(1) degrees, gamma = 95.66(1) degrees, Z = 1.

Aproximación clinicoepidemiológica de la hemorragia intracerebral en un hospital mexicano: análisis de factores asociados a la mortalidad / Clinical-epidemiological approximation to intracerebral hemorrhage in a Mexican hospital: analysis of factors associated to mortality

La hemorragia intracerebral (HIC) espontánea es la forma más letal de enfermedad cerebrovascular.Existen factores clínicos y radiológicos descritos asociados a mortalidad. El tiempo en recibir atención podría relacionarse con peor pronóstico; sin embargo, no existen estudios en la población latina que hayan analizado esta asociación. Objetivo.Determinar la asociación entre factores epidemiológicos, el tiempo de atención, la procedencia y características clínicas con la mortalidad hospitalaria por HIC. Sujetos y métodos. Es un estudio de casos y controles en un centro regional de tercer nivel,entre enero de 2000 y diciembre de 2006, con pacientes de ambos sexos, mayores de 15 años, con diagnóstico tomográfico de HIC. Se excluyeron aquéllos con la escala del Instituto Nacional de Salud para enfermedades cardiovasculares (NIHSS) basal indeterminada o traumatismo craneal en las cuatro semanas previas. Se estudiaron variables demográficas, tiempo entre inicio de síntomas y atención médica, lugar de procedencia en kilómetros y características clínicas en el momento del ingreso, incluyendo la puntuación de Glasgow y NIHSS. Resultados. Analizamos 74 hombres y 101 mujeres con edad promediode 65 años. La etiología fue hipertensión arterial en el 77,3% y localización lobar en el 39,4%. El 84,5% recibió atención despuésde tres horas y el 75,4% procedía de un radio menor de 100 km. La mortalidad hospitalaria fue del 16,6%, con un modeloexplicativo de regresión logística que incluyó: tensión arterial < 130/80 mmHg, intubación, Glasgow < 9 o NIHSS >15en el momento del ingreso y los días de hospitalización. Conclusiones. Las características demográficas, causas y localizaciónse asemejan a lo descrito en la bibliografía. El tiempo de atención dista de lo ideal, lo que puede retrasar el tratamiento,permitir la progresión de la enfermedad y empeorar el pronóstico

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is the most lethal type of stroke. There are some clinical andradiological factors related to mortality. The time for obtaining medical care could be related with poor prognosis, but there are not available studies in Hispanics that evaluated this one. Aim. To determinate the association between epidemiologicalfactors, time to obtain medical care, origin, and clinical characteristics with hospital mortality due to ICH. Subjects and methods. Study of cases and controls in a regional third level center, between January 2000 and December 2006 with patients of both sexes, older than 15 years with tomographic diagnosis of ICH. We excluded patients with NIHSS undetermined or traumatic head injury 4 weeks before. We studied demographic variables, time between beginning of symptoms and medicalcare, origin in kilometers until hospital, clinical characteristics at admission, including Glasgow and NIHSS. Results. We analyzed 74 men and 101 women with mean age of 65 years. The etiology was hypertension in 77.4% and localization lobar in 39.4%. Eighty-five percent receipt medical care after 3 hours and 75.4% came from a radius < 100 km. Mortality inhospital was 16.6% with an explicative model of regression that included blood pressure < 130/80 mmHg, intubation, Glasgow < 9 at admission or NIHSS > 15, and hospitalization days. Conclusions. Demographic characteristics, causes, and localization are similar to previously informed series. The time for obtaining medical care is far from ideal, this could delaytreatment; allow progression of disease, and then worse prognosis