[Ten years of the prefrontal symptoms inventory (PSI). A systematic review]. / Diez años del inventario de síntomas prefrontales (ISP). Una revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: Ten years ago, Revista de Neurologia published the validation of a new free tool: the Prefrontal Symptoms Inventory (PSI), from which an abbreviated version (PSI-20) was subsequently extracted. Over this decade, authors have demonstrated its excellent psychometric properties and clinical usefulness. This systematic review, conducted in accordance with the PRISMA statement, aims to analyse the body of research that has used the PSI or PSI-20 in order to assess its relevance in other research teams, other clinical populations and even other cultures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A search was conducted to find articles written in Spanish, English, French and Portuguese that have used the inventory to carry out empirical research. Finally, 56 articles were selected. RESULTS: The results show that the PSI and the PSI-20 have been widely used in Spain as well as in other Spanish-speaking countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador or Venezuela) and employed to a moderate extent in non-Spanish-speaking countries (Belgium, Brazil, Sweden or Switzerland). The clinical populations in which they have been used range from acquired brain injury and degenerative dementias to chronic pain, fibromyalgia, addictive behaviours or personality disorders. Given their versatility, they have also been used with the general population, including prison inmates, women in rural areas, university students or to study cognitive reserve. CONCLUSIONS: The PSI and PSI-20 are useful instruments for research and clinical use, and the next challenge is to validate an English version, which is currently being worked on.

TITLE: Diez años del inventario de síntomas prefrontales (ISP). Una revisión sistemática.Introducción. Hace 10 años, Revista de Neurología publicaba la validación de una nueva herramienta gratuita: el inventario de síntomas prefrontales (ISP), de la que posteriormente se extrajo su versión abreviada (ISP-20). Durante esta década, los autores han acreditado sus excelentes propiedades psicométricas y su utilidad clínica. La presente revisión sistemática, sometida a la declaración PRISMA, tiene el objetivo de analizar el corpus de investigación que ha utilizado el ISP o el ISP-20, para valorar su trascendencia en otros equipos de investigación, en otras poblaciones clínicas e incluso en otras culturas. Materiales y métodos. Se buscaron artículos que hayan utilizado el inventario para realizar trabajos empíricos, en español, inglés, francés y portugués. Finalmente, se seleccionaron 56 trabajos. Resultados. Los resultados muestran que el ISP y el ISP-20 han tenido un uso elevado en España, así como en otros países de habla hispana (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador o Venezuela), y un uso moderado en países de habla no hispana (Bélgica, Brasil, Suecia o Suiza). Las poblaciones clínicas en las que se han utilizado abarcan desde el daño cerebral adquirido y las demencias degenerativas hasta el dolor crónico, la fibromialgia, las conductas adictivas o los trastornos de la personalidad. Dada su versatilidad, también se han usado con población general, incluyendo población reclusa, mujeres en entorno rural, estudiantes universitarios o para el estudio de la reserva cognitiva. Conclusiones. El ISP y el ISP-20 son instrumentos útiles para la investigación y la clínica, cuyo siguiente desafío es la validación de una versión en inglés, en la que se está trabajando.

New Insight on the Formation of Sodium Titanates 1D Nanostructures and Its Application on CO2 Hydrogenation.

The aim of this work is focused on the study of a series of non-traditional catalytic nanomaterials to transform greenhouse CO2 gas into added-value products. We found encouraging results of CO2 hydrogenation activity over sodium titanates with different morphologies. The yield to methanol increases with the increase in the Na incorporated in the nanostructures confirming the proposed mechanism. Samples were prepared at different times of hydrothermal treatment (HTT) with NaOH solutions, and these materials were labeled as Ti-nR-x with x as the hours on the HTT. HRTEM initially showed sphere-shaped nanoparticles in the TiO2 commercial nanopowder, increasing the HTT resulted in morphological changes in which the structures passed from nanosheets and finally to nanorods after 30 h. The X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy results indicated the formation of sodium titanates such as Na2Ti3O7 with short Ti-O bonds and that Na begins to be incorporated into the distorted TiO6 crystalline structure after 5 h of HTT (until 12 wt%). The crystalline and shape transformation resulted in a significant modification on the textural properties passing from 51 m2.g-1 to 150 m2.g-1 and from a pore volume of 0.12 cm3.g-1 to 1.03 cm3.g-1 for Ti-ref and Ti-nR-30 respectively. We also observed differences in the electronic properties as the bandgap presented a blue shift from 3.16 eV on the TiO2 reference nano-powder to 3.44 eV for the Ti-nR-30 calcined sample. This fact coincides with the presence of a more electron-rich state of the Ti4+ and the formation of negative charge layer induced by the presence of Na+ interlayer cations detected by XPS analysis, at the same this helped us to explain the catalytic activity results.

Prefrontal symptomatology in People with Amyotrophic lateral Sclerosis: Clinical Utility and Psychometric Properties of Prefrontal Symptoms Inventory (PSI)

The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystemic disorder. It is considered a neuromuscular disease but also involves cognitive (executive functions, social cognition, attention, memory and language), emotional or behavior changes in over 50% of the reported cases and to of frontotemporal diagnosis lobar degeneration of behavioral variant in up to 15% of the cases. For this reason, the presence of cognitive and motivational problems was analysed in a Spanish sample of ALS patients through the prefrontal symptoms inventory (PSI) to determine applicability in this disease STI. A sample of 31 patients with a potential ALS or definitive diagnostic criteria according to El Escorial was used. Obtained results ISP were compared with a sample of 31 healthy people in the same proportions of gender, age and education level. Obtained results showed a not significant difference between the two populations in the motivational factor problems, related to the depression symptomatology frequently associated with ALS. A significant positive correlation between age at diagnosis and the scale of the motivational problems was observed, with a not significant trend related to problems in the executive control and in social the behavior control and with the age at diagnosis, in the same sense with age at diagnosis. Therefore, it can be concluded that, despite the results obtained, emotional and behavioral deficits in ALS patients and symptoms related to frontotemporal dementia (among others, anosognosia or lack of consciousness symptoms) could have interfered in patient perception about their symptomatology

A proposal for using the ratio of attempted to completed suicides across several countries worldwide.

Completed suicide (CS) is a leading cause of death worldwide and its rates are available for most developed countries. On the other hand, attempted suicide (AS) is a risk factor for CS but there are limited data on its rates in various countries. In constructing a ratio for AS/CS rates, most would agree that for CS, the denominator should be the annual suicide rate (per 100 000). As for the ratio's numerator (AS) per 100 000, there are three possible calculations: (1) annual prevalence from population surveys, (2) annual prevalence from national clinical registers or (3) lifetime prevalence from population surveys. We think that the first possibility would probably be the best choice but, unfortunately, surveys providing the annual prevalence of AS are lacking for most countries. Annual prevalence from national registers is also lacking for most countries and is contaminated by under-reporting. Therefore, in this editorial, we are left with only the last option, a ratio for lifetime prevalence of AS (per 100 000) divided by annual rate of CS (per 100 000). This ratio for AS/CS rates appears to differ substantially across countries worldwide but presents no big regional differences other than two remarkable exceptions, one per continent. In Europe, Spain and France had greater ratios (174.4 and 152.5, respectively) than Italy (64.1). In Asia/Pacific, New Zealand has a higher ratio (345.9) compared with China (75.8) and Japan (76.9). The ratio for AS/CS rates could be a good index for implementing evidence-informed decision-making regarding suicidal behaviour (SB) among health service managers, and for helping them in the allocation of health resources for the prevention of SB.

Green chemistry synthesis of nano-cuprous oxide.

Green chemistry and a central composite design, to evaluate the effect of reducing agent, temperature and pH of the reaction, were employed to produce controlled cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles. Response surface method of the ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy is allowed to determine the most relevant factors for the size distribution of the nanoCu2O. X-ray diffraction reflections correspond to a cubic structure, with sizes from 31.9 to 104.3 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy reveals that the different shapes depend strongly on the conditions of the green synthesis.

[Iliotibial band friction syndrome due to bioabsorbable pins in ACL reconstruction]. / Síndrome de fricción de la cintilla iliotibial posterior a reconstrucción del ligamento cruzado anterior con pines transversos bioabsorbibles.

Injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament are currently treated primarily with the use of hamstring graft with a wide range of different techniques and fixation systems for anterior cruciate ligament in reducing patient morbidity. We report the case of a female patient aged 42 that suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture and was treated with anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with hamstring autograft with femoral fixation with bio-absorbable cross-pin and tibial fixation with bio-absorbable screw. The patient presented lateral knee pain that was diagnosed one year after the operation as an iliotibial band friction syndrome. Imaging studies were performed. X-rays and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated adequate fixation of the anterior cruciate ligament with the presence of migration and rupture of the proximal bio-absorbable cross-pin. It was decided to remove the bio-absorbable cross-pin fragment in a second surgical procedure after which the patient went back to her daily activities and sports without pain and with stability stable knee.

Las lesiones del ligamento cruzado anterior (LCA) hoy en día son tratadas principalmente con injerto de isquiotibiales y una amplia gama de técnicas y sistemas de fijación del LCA en busca de una menor morbilidad del paciente. Se reporta un caso de una paciente de 42 años que sufrió ruptura de LCA, tratada con reconstrucción de LCA con injerto autólogo de isquiotibiales, fijación femoral con pines transversos bioabsorbibles y fijación tibial con tornillo bioabsorbible. La paciente evolucionó con presencia de dolor en región lateral de rodilla, diagnosticado como síndrome de fricción de la banda iliotibial un año posterior a la cirugía. Se realizaron estudios de imagen que incluyeron rayos X y resonancia magnética (RM) donde se observó adecuada fijación del LCA con presencia de migración y ruptura del pin proximal bioabsorbible. Se decidió extraer el fragmento del pin bioabsrobile en un segundo tiempo quirúrgico y la paciente regresó a sus actividades cotidianas y deportivas sin dolor y con una adecuada estabilidad.

Evaluation of extraction methods for preparative scale obtention of mangiferin and lupeol from mango peels (Mangifera indica L.).

Bioactive compounds have become very important in the food and pharmaceutical markets leading research interests seeking efficient methods for extracting these bioactive substances. The objective of this research is to implement preparative scale obtention of mangiferin and lupeol from mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.) of autochthonous and Ataulfo varieties grown in Nayarit, using emerging extraction techniques. Five extraction techniques were evaluated: maceration, Soxhlet, sonication (UAE), microwave (MAE) and high hydrostatic pressures (HHP). Two maturity stages (physiological and consumption) as well as peel and fruit pulp were evaluated for preparative scale implementation. Peels from Ataulfo mango at consumption maturity stage can be considered as a source of mangiferin and lupeol using the UEA method as it improves extraction efficiency by increasing yield and shortening time.

Using high pressure processing (HPP) to pretreat sugarcane bagasse.

High pressure processing (HPP) technology was used to modify the structural composition of sugarcane bagasse. The effect of pressure (0, 150 and 250 MPa), time (5 and 10 min) and temperature (25 and 50 °C) as well as the addition of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid and NaOH during the HPP treatment were assessed in terms of compositional analysis of the lignocellulosic fraction, structural changes and crystallinity of the bagasse. The effect of HPP pretreatment on the bagasse structure was also evaluated on the efficiency of the enzymatic hydrolysis of bagasse. Results showed that 68.62 and 45.84% of the hemicellulose fraction was degraded by pretreating at 250 MPa with sulfuric and phosphoric acids, respectively. The removal of lignin (54.10%) was higher with the HPP-NaOH treatment. The compacted lignocellulosic structure of the raw bagasse was modified by the HPP treatments and showed few cracks, tiny holes and some fragments flaked off from the surface. Structural changes were higher at 250 MPa and 50 °C. The X ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the raw bagasse showed a major diffraction peak of the cellulose crystallographic 2θ planes ranging between 22 and 23°. The distribution of the crystalline structure of cellulose was affected by increasing the pressure level. The HPP treatment combined with NaOH 2% led to the higher glucose yield (25 g/L) compared to the combination of HPP with water and acids (>5 g/L). Results from this work suggest that HPP technology may be used to pretreat sugarcane bagasse.

Usefulness of serum lipid peroxide as a diagnostic test for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy in the full-term neonate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of serum lipid peroxide (LPO) for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in full-term neonates. STUDY DESIGN: Diagnostic test evaluation forming three groups: (1) healthy full-term neonates (n=59), (2) at-risk full-term neonates without HIE (n=57) and (3) at-risk full-term neonates with HIE (n=57). HIE diagnosis was made using the Finer clinical classification at 48 h after birth. Serum LPO was taken at 4 h after birth and determined by spectrophotometry. RESULT: One hundred seventy-three full-term neonates were studied. Fifty-one of the at-risk full-term neonates with HIE (51/57) had high serum LPO and two of the at-risk full-term neonates without HIE (2/57) (P<0.001). Serum LPO level had 89% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 96% positive predictive value, 90% negative predictive value, 24 positive probability ratio, 0.11 negative probability ratio and 92% diagnostic usefulness. CONCLUSION: Serum LPO level could be a useful test for early diagnosis of HIE in full-term neonates.

Retinopathy of prematurity as a major cause of severe visual impairment and blindness in children in schools for the blind in Guadalajara city, Mexico.

AIM: To determine the causes of blindness in students attending schools for the blind in Guadalajara city, Mexico and to assess the availability of screening for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in local neonatal intensive care units. METHODS: Information on causes of blindness was obtained by interview with parents and teachers, review of records and examination. Causes of visual loss in children with a distance visual acuity of <6/60 (ie, severely visually impaired or blind) were determined and classified according to the WHO's classification system for children. RESULTS: Of 153 children in the two participating schools, 144 were severely visual impaired or blind. Their ages ranged from 4 months to 15 years and 58% were female. ROP was the most common cause of visual loss (34.7%), followed by optic nerve lesions (17.4%) and glaucoma (14.6%). 25/59 (42.3%) children aged 0-4 years were blind from ROP compared with 6/32 (18.8%) children aged 10-15 years. 78% of children blind from ROP had psychomotor delay and less than half (46%) had not received treatment for ROP. All five privately funded neonatal intensive care units in the city regularly screen for ROP compared with only four of the 12 units in the public sector. CONCLUSIONS: ROP is the leading cause of blindness in children in Mexico despite national guidelines being in place. Health policies promoting primary prevention through improved neonatal care need to be implemented. Advocacy is required so that the time ophthalmologists spend screening and treating ROP is included in their job description and hence salaried.

Cytofluorimetric evaluation of N-glycolylated GM3 ganglioside expression on murine leukocytes.

Gangliosides are considered relevant components of lipid rafts at the plasma membrane. Antigen encounter, immunological synapse assembly and signal transduction modify lipid raft composition and distribution on immune system cells. On the contrary of other gangliosides, differential expression of the N-glycolylated variant of GM3 (NGcGM3) on murine leukocytes has received limited attention. In particular, whether cell activation modulates the expression of NGcGM3 on lymphoid and myeloid cells is still unexplored. Availability of the NGcGM3 specific 14F7 MAb allows us to characterize by cytofluorimetric assays the presence of this molecule on resting and activated immune system cells. On T cells, preferential expression of NGcGM3 was detected on CD4(+) single positive thymocytes, peripheral CD4(+) lymphocytes and natural occurring regulatory T cells. In comparison with peritoneal B1 cells, reduced expression of NGcGM3 was observed in peritoneal B2 and splenic B cell subpopulations. Of note, activation of CD4(+) and NK 1.1(+) cells abrogated NGcGM3 expression while LPS-maturated DC increased the ganglioside level at the plasma membrane. Modifications on the presence of NGcGM3 mediated by cell activation did not influence the expression of the N-acetylated variant of GM3 (NAcGM3). In addition to extend previous descriptions of NGcGM3 expression on immunity cell subpopulations, this work highlights the opposite effect of cellular activation over NGcGM3 levels on lymphoid and myeloid cellular series. Obtained results complement the evaluation of a tumor-specific, non-human sialic acid containing ganglioside that has been considered an attractive target for cancer immunotherapy.

[Results of arthroscopic debridement and lavage in patients with knee osteoarthritis]. / Resultados obtenidos con la limpieza articular artroscópica de rodilla en pacientes con osteoartritis.

INTRODUCTION: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative process that affects people over 50 years old and is an important cause of disability. Treatment options include non-operative and operative modalities. Arthroscopic lavage and debridement may be the first choice to consider in patients between 45 and 65 years with early OA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a self-controlled clinical trial with deliberate maneuver assignment. Thirty nine patients between 38 and 68 year of age with clinical and radiographic knee OA were included. Patients underwent arthroscopic lavage and debridement between January of 2001 and December 2003. Preoperative and postoperative evaluation was performed using the HSS knee score as well as questions that evaluated patient satisfaction and subjective function. Statistical analysis using one tailed Student's t-test was performed. Significance was considered with ap value of < 0.0001. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients completed the evaluation. Six patients were lost to follow-up. Mean age of patients was 53 (38 to 68). Mean preoperative HSS score was 54.9 and average postoperative score was 74.8. Thirty-one out of 33 patients (93%) were satisfied and reported good subjective function after the operation. Twenty five of these patients presented Outerbridge grade II-III cartilage defects and 6 patients presented grade IV lesions. Twenty nine of the 33 patients (87.8%) referred improvement to perform their daily-living activities and 4 patients did not improve. Thirty two out of 33 patients would recommend the operation. DISCUSSION: Arthroscopic debridement and lavage improves function and satisfaction in patients with grade II and III of OA. Patients with severe chondral lesions (grade IV) also improved to a lesser extent. Thus, arthroscopic debridement and lavage is a good treatment alternative in young patients with early OA.

[Cartilage repair: cell-based techniques]. / Reparación del cartílago articular: técnicas basadas en cultivos celulares.

INTRODUCTION: The field of cartilage repair continues to advance after cell based and single-stage chondrocyte transplantation technologies. These strategies have been widely used in developed countries, and clinical, histologic and functional outcomes are of special interest. OBJECTIVE: To describe evidence of cartilage repair techniques by means of a literature review. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Cartilage restoration through osteochondral allografting or autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI) had proven efficacy, but technical and biologic limitations to these procedures exist. However, newer second-generation and third-generation cell-based technologies are being developed and tested clinically with purposes of decreasing operative morbidity, the ability to use a single-stage approach, and improve the viability and durability of cartilage repair tissue. These techniques can be used for treatment of important chondral defects in young patients and elite athletes, but well-designed randomized clinical trials should be done to confirm the value of these procedures.

Estimating the size of the effects of co-medications on plasma clozapine concentrations using a model that controls for clozapine doses and confounding variables.

AIM: The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect sizes of drug interactions on plasma clozapine concentrations, adjusting for potentially confounding factors such as smoking. METHODS: The estimation was performed by using a mixed model, and a combination of unpublished (N=83) and published (N=172) data that included patients taking phenobarbital, valproic acid, fluvoxamine, fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram and reboxetine, and patients not taking co-medications. RESULTS: The 255 patients provided a total of 415 steady-state trough plasma clozapine concentrations. Each patient provided 1 to 15 measures of plasma clozapine concentrations. Total plasma clozapine concentration, defined as the sum of plasma clozapine and norclozapine concentrations, was also investigated. A random intercept linear model of the natural log of plasma clozapine concentration with the natural log of dose and other variables as independent variables was built. The model confirmed that phenobarbital induces clozapine metabolism (effect size, E=-28%), and that fluoxetine (E=+42%), fluvoxamine (E=+263%) and paroxetine (E=+30%) inhibit it. Valproic acid appeared to inhibit clozapine metabolism in non-smokers (effect size, E=+16%), whereas it appeared to induce clozapine metabolism in smokers (E=-22%). The effect sizes of smoking on plasma clozapine concentration were -20% in patients not taking valproic acid, and -46% in patients taking valproic acid. Thus, smoking induces clozapine metabolism, and this induction may be stronger when the patient is taking valproic acid. The effect sizes allowed the computation of clozapine dose-correction factors for phenobarbital, 1.4 [95% confidence interval, CI, (1.1, 1.7)]; paroxetine, 0.77 (0.67, 0.89); fluoxetine, 0.70 (0.64, 0.78); fluvoxamine, 0.28 (0.22, 0.35); and valproic acid [0.86 (0.75, 1.0) in non-smokers, and 1.3 (0.96, 1.73) in smokers]. Sertraline, reboxetine and citalopram had no obvious effects. DISCUSSION: The results for total plasma clozapine concentrations are similar to those for plasma clozapine concentrations. The main limitations of this study were that the computed effect sizes reflect only the doses and treatment-durations of the co-medications studied, and that the substantial "noise" of the clinical environment may make it difficult to detect the effects of some variables, particularly those with small effect sizes. Gender was not significant probably due to its relatively small effect size in the studied population, and age was not significant probably due to the limited age variability. CONCLUSION: This article contributes to the clozapine literature by describing a possible interaction between taking valproic acid and smoking, which modifies plasma clozapine concentrations, by estimating the effect sizes of other compounds on plasma clozapine concentrations after correcting for confounders, and by providing dose-correction factors for clinicians.

Molecular characterization of Gonatocerus tuberculifemur (Ogloblin) (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae), a prospective Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar) (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) biological control candidate agent from South America: divergent clades.

We genetically characterized the prospective South American egg parasitoid candidate, Gonatocerus tuberculifemur, of the glassy-winged sharpshooter (GWSS), Homalodisca vitripennis, for a neoclassical biological control program in California. Two molecular methods, inter-simple sequence repeat-polymerase chain reaction DNA fingerprinting and a phylogeographic approach inferred from the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene (COI), were utilized. Five geographic populations from South America were analyzed; in addition, a phylogenetic analysis was performed with several named and one unnamed Gonatocerus species using the COI gene. DNA fingerprinting demonstrated a fixed geographic banding pattern difference in the population from San Rafael, Mendoza Province, Argentina. The COI analysis uncovered haplotype or geographic structure in G. tuberculifemur. A neighbour-joining distance (NJ) and a single most parsimonious tree (MP) clustered the populations into two well-supported distinct clades with strong bootstrap values (97-99% and 92-99%, respectively) with populations from San Rafael clustering into clade 2 and the rest of the populations clustering into clade 1. No haplotype sharing was observed between individuals from the two clades. Phylogenetic analyses performed by NJ and MP methods with 15 Gonatocerus species confirmed species boundaries and again uncovered two distinct clades in G. tuberculifemur with strong bootstrap support (95-100% and 68-100%, respectively). However, the NJ tree supported the morphologically defined relationships better than the MP tree. The molecular evidence in the present study is suggestive of a species level divergence. Because G. tuberculifemur is under consideration as a potential biological control agent for GWSS in California, understanding cryptic variation in this species is critical.

Local structure fluctuations as a signature of an inhomogeneous ground state in high-Tc superconductors.

In-plane polarized Cu K-edge XAFS on La2CuO4.1 is presented, which indicates a radial in-plane Cu-O distribution function that is not a single Gaussian. Fits to the isolated Cu-O XAFS signal show the presence of a two-site radial distribution function, similar to that found in other La-based cuprate superconductors at temperatures below the temperature associated with the pseudogap appearance, T*. The appearance of the two-site distribution is interpreted as evidence of a non-homogeneous ground state, preceding the superconducting transition. Similar results found in other copper-oxide superconductors indicate that this non-homogeneous ground state is a general feature of these materials.

Salmonella contamination during production of cantaloupe: a binational study.

Six cantaloupe farms and packing plants in South Texas (950 cantaloupe, 140 water, and 45 environmental samples), including the Rio Grande Valley area, and three farms in Colima State, Mexico (300 cantaloupe, 45 water, and 15 environmental samples), were sampled to evaluate cantaloupe contamination with Salmonella and Escherichia coli during production and processing. Samples collected from external surfaces of cantaloupes, water, and the environments of packing sheds on cantaloupe farms were examined for the presence of Salmonella and E. coli. Of a total of 1,735 samples collected, 31 (1.8%) tested positive for Salmonella. Fifteen Salmonella serotypes were isolated from samples collected in Texas, and nine from samples collected in Colima. Two serotypes (Poona and Oranienburg) that have been associated with three large Salmonella outbreaks in the United States and Canada linked to the consumption of contaminated cantaloupe were found in water samples collected at four farms (three from the United States). Susceptibility of Salmonella isolates to 10 antimicrobials was evaluated by disk diffusion. Eighty-eight percent of the isolates from the United States and Mexico were pansusceptible to the antimicrobials tested; eight isolates from the United States demonstrated an intermediate susceptibility to streptomycin and only two isolates were resistant to the same antimicrobial. From Mexico, four isolates showed an intermediate susceptibility to streptomycin and one isolate was resistant to nalidixic acid and streptomycin. Repetitive sequence-based PCR analysis of Salmonella isolates helped to trace potential sources of Salmonella contamination in source water and in subsequent water samples obtained after the filtration systems of U.S. and Mexican cantaloupe farms. No differences could be seen between the levels of Salmonella contamination in melons from both countries.

Detection and recognition thresholds to the 4 basic tastes in Mexican patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by inflammatory lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary glands, leading to dryness of the mouth (xerostomia). It has been postulated that xerostomia is the preceding stage for the development of alterations in taste acuity (dysgeusia) in this type of patients. OBJECTIVES: To determine detection and recognition thresholds to the 4 basic tastes (sweet, salty, sour and bitter) in pSS patients and compare them to a control group. To determine if the long-term consumption of chile peppers and spicy Mexican diets had an effect on the taste perception and acuity of the pSS patients. SETTING: This study was done in the Department of Food Science and Technology of the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), a third-level hospital in Mexico City. SUBJECTS: The patient group consisted of 21 Mexican females (mean +/- s.d., age: 53.1 +/- 9.8 y) diagnosed with pSS (time of duration of the disease, 8.6 +/- 6.6 y, median 7 y, range 1-25 y) who were recruited at the outpatient service of the Department of Immunology and Rheumatology of the INCMNSZ. The control group consisted of 20 healthy nonsmokers age-matched Mexican women (50.3 +/- 11.9 y) most of them personnel of the INCMNSZ, and some friends and nonblood relatives to the patients (sisters-in-law) who volunteered to participate in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Detection and recognition thresholds were determined by the method of least noticeable differences on three occasions during three nonconsecutive days. Saliva production was determined by Saxon's test on two separate occasions. RESULTS: Although saliva production was severely reduced in pSS patients (1.35 +/- 0.55 ml/2 min, P<0.001) compared to controls (6.26 +/- 2.41 ml/2 min), all subjects recognized the 4 basic tastes when these were tested at suprathreshold concentrations. The detection thresholds for the sweet, sour and bitter tastes were higher in pSS patients, as well as the recognition thresholds for the salty, sour and bitter tastes. A relationship between time of evolution of the disease and saliva production with individual thresholds could not be established. CONCLUSIONS: pSS patients exhibited different degrees of dysgeusia depending on the taste being studied, that is, they were mildly dysgeusic for the sweet and salty tastes and clearly dysgeusic for the sour and bitter tastes. Although both pSS patients and controls had consumed 'typical Mexican diets' their entire lives, our results showed that the consumption of chile peppers and spicy foods did not have any effect on the taste perception and acuity of the pSS patients.

Dimensions of suicidal behavior according to patient reports.

Five factor analyses with limitations explored the Suicidal Intent Scale (SIS) subscales reflecting suicidal behavior dimensions. This larger sample study conducts an exploratory factor analysis of the SIS. Two large samples of suicide attempters (N= 435 and N= 252) from a general hospital were studied. The validity of SIS subscales obtained from the factor analysis was investigated by examining the association between the subscales and clinical variables. There were two factors: expected lethality and planning. In both samples, male gender and depression tended to be associated with higher scores in both subscales (small to medium effect sizes). Hospitalization was associated with higher scores in both SIS subscales (medium to large effects) suggesting that these subscales were reasonably good predictors of suicide attempt severity. Clinicians assessing patient reports to establish the severity of suicide attempts need to ask questions regarding both dimensions: expected lethality and planning.

Elaboración de un queso tipo cotija con base en una mezcla de leche y garbanzo (Cicer arietinum L) / Elaboration of cheese

The objetive of this work was to elaborate cotija type cheese prepared with whole milk and chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), inoculated with S. Thermophilus and to compare its physicochemical, microbiological and sensorial characteristics with a commercial cheese. Two mixture were selected 70:30 and 80:20 (whole milk:chickpea paste). Both mixture were ground, pasteurized and inoculated with. S. Thermophilus, to develop taste and aroma. Two rennet concentrations (1:10,000 and 2:10,000), lactic acid and 50 per cent CaCl2 solution were used in both products. Results showed that cheese made with 70:30 mixture and 1:10,000 rennet concentration gave a weak curde and 12 per cent of total solids were lost; in the same way as 70:30 mixture and 2:10,000 rennet concentration. Nevertheless, cheese made with 80:20 mixture and 10,000 or 2:10,000 rennet concentration showed hard consistency of its curd. Addition of 10 per cent sodium chloride solution to he 80:20 mixture cheese, made better whey drain, and a cotija type cheese with similar sensory characteristics as a whole milk cheese, was obtained. Chemical and physical analysis of the extended cotija type cheese showed 14.3 +/- 0.42 and 15.5 +/- 0.21 g/100 g of protein and lipid content respectively. Microbiologically, the extended cotija type cheese is pathogenic microorganisms free for human consumption. Sensory evaluation of the chickpea extended cheese showed a 80 per cent acceptance while the acceptance of the whole milk commercial cheese was 90 per cent.