Use of recognition of laterality through implicit motor imagery for the improvement of postural control and balance in subacute stroke patients: a randomized controlled study. / Uso del reconocimiento de la lateralidad a través de imaginería motora implícita para la mejora del control postural y el equilibrio en pacientes con ictus subagudo: un estudio controlado aleatorizado.

INTRODUCTION: Motor Imagery techniques may be used as a complement to the recovery of motor sequelae after a stroke, as during the evocation of a movement the activation of neuronal circuits involved in the actual execution of the movement occurs. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A simple-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 38 patients were randomly assigned to a study group. Both groups performed, for four weeks, five weekly sessions of neurorehabilitation and three weekly sessions of experimental or control intervention, respectively.The experimental group training the recognition of laterality, while the control group the recognition of body parts. Participants were evaluated pre and post intervention with posturography parameters -Sway area (AREA), Sway path length (LONG), difference in weigthload between lower limbs (DIFLOAD)-, the Berg Balance scale (BBS), the Barthel Index (BI), the Time Up and Go Test (TUG), the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC), and the quality-of-life scale for stroke (ECVI-38). RESULTS: After performing the intragroup analysis, statistical significance was obtained for AREA (p < 0.001), LONG (p = 0.04), DIFLOAD (p = 0.02), BBS (p < 0.001), BI (p < 0.001), FAC (p < 0.001), and ECVI-38 (p < 0.001) in the experimental group; and for DIFLOAD (p = 0.01), BBS (p = 0.001), BI (p = 0.001), TUG (p = 0.04), FAC (p = 0.03), and ECVI-38 (p = 0.003) in the control group. In the intergroup analysis, statistical significance was obtained for AREA (p = 0.03), BBS (p = 0.03), FAC (p = 0.02) and ECVI-38 (p = 0.002) at postintervention time. CONCLUSIONS: Combined use of physical rehabilitation and recognition of laterality through implicit motor imagery tasks, improves balance and functions related to postural control in subacute stroke patients.

TITLE: Uso del reconocimiento de la lateralidad a través de imaginería motora implícita para la mejora del control postural y el equilibrio en pacientes con ictus subagudo: un estudio controlado aleatorizado.Introducción. Las técnicas de imaginería motora pueden utilizarse como complemento a la recuperación de las secuelas motoras tras un ictus, ya que durante la evocación de un movimiento se produce la activación de los circuitos neuronales implicados en la ejecución de éste. Pacientes y métodos. Se realizó un ensayo controlado aleatorizado simple ciego. Treinta y ocho pacientes en total fueron asignados aleatoriamente a cada grupo de estudio. Ambos grupos realizaron, durante cuatro semanas, cinco sesiones semanales de neurorrehabilitación y tres sesiones semanales de intervención experimental o control. El grupo experimental entrenaba el reconocimiento de la lateralidad, mientras que el grupo de control lo hacía con el reconocimiento de partes del cuerpo. Los participantes fueron evaluados antes y después de la intervención con parámetros posturográficos (área de barrido, longitud del recorrido de oscilación y porcentaje de diferencia de carga de peso entre los miembros inferiores), la escala de equilibrio de Berg (BBS), el índice de Barthel, el test Time Up and Go, la clasificación funcional de la deambulación (FAC) y la escala de calidad de vida para el ictus (ECVI-38). Resultados. Después de realizar el análisis intragrupo, se obtuvo significación estadística para el área de barrido (p menor de 0,001), la longitud del recorrido de oscilación (p = 0,04), el porcentaje de diferencia de carga de peso entre los miembros inferiores (p = 0,02), la BBS (p menor de 0,001), el índice de Barthel (p menor de 0,001), la FAC (p menor de 0,001) y la ECVI-38 (p menor de 0,001) en el grupo experimental; y para el porcentaje de diferencia de carga de peso entre los miembros inferiores (p = 0,01), la BBS (p = 0,001), el índice de Barthel (p = 0,001), el Time Up and Go (p = 0,04), la FAC (p = 0,03) y la ECVI-38 (p = 0,003) en el grupo de control. En el análisis intergrupo se obtuvo significación estadística para el área de barrido (p = 0,03), la BBS (p = 0,03), la FAC (p = 0,02) y la ECVI-38 (p = 0,002) en el momento posterior a la intervención. Conclusiones. El uso combinado de rehabilitación física y reconocimiento de la lateralidad a través de tareas de imaginería motora implícita mejora el equilibrio y las funciones relacionadas con el control postural en pacientes con ictus subagudo.

Uso del reconocimiento de la lateralidad a través de imaginería motora implícita para la mejora del control postural y el equilibrio en pacientes con ictus subagudo: un estudio controlado aleatorizado / Use of recognition of laterality through implicit motor imagery for the improvement of postural control and balance in subacute stroke patients: a randomized controlled study

Introducción: Las técnicas de imaginería motora pueden utilizarse como complemento a la recuperación de las secuelas motoras tras un ictus, ya que durante la evocación de un movimiento se produce la activación de los circuitos neuronales implicados en la ejecución de éste. Pacientes y métodos: Se realizó un ensayo controlado aleatorizado simple ciego. Treinta y ocho pacientes en total fueron asignados aleatoriamente a cada grupo de estudio. Ambos grupos realizaron, durante cuatro semanas, cinco sesiones semanales de neurorrehabilitación y tres sesiones semanales de intervención experimental o control. El grupo experimental entrenaba el reconocimiento de la lateralidad, mientras que el grupo de control lo hacía con el reconocimiento de partes del cuerpo. Los participantes fueron evaluados antes y después de la intervención con parámetros posturográficos (área de barrido, longitud del recorrido de oscilación y porcentaje de diferencia de carga de peso entre los miembros inferiores), la escala de equilibrio de Berg (BBS), el índice de Barthel, el test Time Up and Go, la clasificación funcional de la deambulación (FAC) y la escala de calidad de vida para el ictus (ECVI-38). Resultados: Después de realizar el análisis intragrupo, se obtuvo significación estadística para el área de barrido (p < 0,001), la longitud del recorrido de oscilación (p = 0,04), el porcentaje de diferencia de carga de peso entre los miembros inferiores (p = 0,02), la BBS (p < 0,001), el índice de Barthel (p < 0,001), la FAC (p < 0,001) y la ECVI-38 (p < 0,001) en el grupo experimental; y para el porcentaje de diferencia de carga de peso entre los miembros inferiores (p = 0,01), la BBS (p = 0,001), el índice de Barthel (p = 0,001), el Time Up and Go (p = 0,04), la FAC (p = 0,03) y la ECVI-38 (p = 0,003) en el grupo de control. En el análisis intergrupo se obtuvo significación estadística para el área de...(AU)

Introduction: Motor Imagery techniques may be used as a complement to the recovery of motor sequelae after a stroke, as during the evocation of a movement the activation of neuronal circuits involved in the actual execution of the movement occurs. Patients and methods: A simple-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 38 patients were randomly assigned to a study group. Both groups performed, for four weeks, five weekly sessions of neurorehabilitation and three weekly sessions of experimental or control intervention, respectively.The experimental group training the recognition of laterality, while the control group the recognition of body parts. Participants were evaluated pre and post intervention with posturography parameters –Sway area (AREA), Sway path length (LONG), difference in weigthload between lower limbs (DIFLOAD)–, the Berg Balance scale (BBS), the Barthel Index (BI), the Time Up and Go Test (TUG), the Functional Ambulation Categories (FAC), and the quality-of-life scale for stroke (ECVI-38). Results: After performing the intragroup analysis, statistical significance was obtained for AREA (p < 0.001), LONG (p = 0.04), DIFLOAD (p = 0.02), BBS (p < 0.001), BI (p < 0.001), FAC (p < 0.001), and ECVI-38 (p < 0.001) in the experimental group; and for DIFLOAD (p = 0.01), BBS (p = 0.001), BI (p = 0.001), TUG (p = 0.04), FAC (p = 0.03), and ECVI-38 (p = 0.003) in the control group. In the intergroup analysis, statistical significance was obtained for AREA (p = 0.03), BBS (p = 0.03), FAC (p = 0.02) and ECVI-38 (p = 0.002) at postintervention time. Conclusions: Combined use of physical rehabilitation and recognition of laterality through implicit motor imagery tasks, improves balance and functions related to postural control in subacute stroke patients.(AU)

Photo-generated metasurfaces for resonant and high modulation of terahertz signals.

We theoretically demonstrate resonant modulation of terahertz (THz) waves with photo-designed metasurfaces. Our approach bypasses the short penetration length issue of the optical pump that prevents photo-generated thick metamaterials. We propose a three-layer semiconductor system of subwavelength thickness that presents 100% modulation of the reflection (or absorption) spectra at around 1 THz when optically actuated. This resonant modulation can be dynamically monitored at high frequency by the optical pump on a broad range of frequencies of Δν/ν=100%. Appropriate 2D photo-printed patterns make the system polarization insensitive and operational for a wide range of incident angles up to 65°.

El triaje en urgencias en los hospitales españoles / Triage in Spanish hospitals

El objetivo del presente artículo es conocer el modelo de triaje utilizado y sus características principales en los hospitales de la red sanitaria nacional pública. Se hizo un estudio descriptivo transversal en los hospitales públicos con más de 100 camas para el ingreso. Se envió un formulario a 123 hospitales, y se obtuvo respuesta en el 54,5%. Los sistemas de triaje empleado son el Modelo Andorrano de Triaje (MAT) o Sistema Español de Triaje(SET) en el 37,3% de los casos y el Sistema de Triaje de Manchester (MTS) en el 23,9%.En los 58 hospitales que tienen implantado algún sistema, no se realizó estudio previo de implantación en el 53,4% de los casos. Los profesionales encargados de realizar el triajeson el enfermero (DUE) en el 77,6% de los casos y el facultativo (FEA) en el 6,9%. No existe una comisión/grupo de triaje en el 53,7% de los casos. El grado de satisfacción (1-5) es para el FEA de 3,16; para el médico interno residente (MIR) de 3,28 y para el DUE de 3,23. Cambiarían el sistema el 49,2% de los centros encuestados. No se observan diferencias significativas de implantación en cuanto a los modelos MAT-SET y MTS (AU)

The objective to determine what triage systems are being used in Spanish national health service hospitals and to define the characteristics of the models in place. Cross-sectional descriptive survey of hospitals with more than 100 beds in the Spanish national health service. Responses to a questionnaire sent to 123 hospitals were received from 54.5% of the facilities. The Andorran Triage Model adapted for use as the Spanish Triage System (ATM-STS) was used in 37.3% of the hospitals. The Manchester Triage System was used in 23.9%. Of the 58 hospitals that use some triage system, 53.4% had not carried out a study before starting to apply the selected system. The professionals in charge of triage are nurses in 77.6% of the hospitals and physicians in 6.9%. No triage committee or group had been established in 53.7% of the hospitals responding to the survey. The degree of satisfaction with the chosen system expressed on a scale of 1 to 5 was 3.16 for physicians, 3.28 for residents in training, and 3.23 for nurses. Another system would be chosen by 49.2% of the respondents. The difference in the numbers of hospitals using the ATM-STS and the MTS was not great (AU)

Hemocultivos... ¿Qué te han contado y qué haces? / Blood cultures... What they tell you and what you do

Objetivo: Objetivo principal: Conocer la variabilidad práctica de los enfermeros/as (DUE's) del Hospital General Nuestra Señora del Prado, sobre la técnica para la extracción de hemocultivo. Objetivos específicos: Determinar las condiciones de asepsia/ esterilidad de la técnica. Establecer la utilización (desinfección, orden de llenado, volumen, cambio de aguja) de los frascos de hemocultivos. Método: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en el Hospital General Nuestra Señora del Prado. Ha consistido en la entrega de un cuestionario para autocumplimentación a los profesionales de enfermería, donde se han incluido variantes tanto cuantitativas como cualitativas. Resultados: Se han recogido 52,9% encuestas de los 363 DUE's del centro hospitalario, con una experiencia profesional media de 12,9 años [DE±7,9]. El 57,8% cree que no es necesario técnica estéril para el procedimiento. 94,7% utiliza un único antiséptico. 78,6% afirman que en la extracción de acceso venoso central desecha los primeros 10cc que extrae. Conclusiones: Consideramos un alto índice de respuesta, ya que es superior al 40% para cuestionarios autocumplimentados. Hemos observado que la mayoría de DUE's utilizan técnica aséptica y en los protocolos estudiados no existe un consenso entre la utilización de técnica estéril y aséptica. Este estudio nos revela que la mayoría de los DUE's utilizan un único antiséptico, sin embargo la mayoría de los protocolos recomiendan la utilización primero de alcohol y luego povidona yodada para la desinfección de la piel (AU)

Aims: Main aim: To ascertain differences in nurses at the Hospital General Nuestra Señora del Prado, in blood extraction and blood culture techniques. Specific aims: To determine the asepsis/sterility conditions of the technique; to establish the use (disinfection, filling order, volume, needle change) of the blood culture vials. Method: Transversal descriptive study made at the Hospital General Nuestra Señora del Prado. A self-completion questionnaire including quantitative and qualitative variants was delivered to nursing professionals. Results: 52.9% of the questionnaires were collected from the 363 DUE's at the hospital. Mena working experience was 12.9 years [DE±7,9]. 57,8% believe sterile technique for the procedure was not necessary. 94.7% use a single antiseptic. 78.6% stated that they discard the first 10 cc extracted from the central vein. Conclusions: We consider that the response is high, with over 40% of the questionnaires being completed. We observed that most DUE's use aseptic techniques and in the protocols studied there was no consensus about the use of sterilization and septic techniques. The study reveals that the majority of the DUE's use a single antiseptic, even though most protocols recommend the use of alcohol, followed by povidone.iodine to disinfect the skin (AU)

All-dielectric rod-type metamaterials at optical frequencies.

Light propagation in all-dielectric rod-type metamaterials is studied theoretically. The electric and magnetic dipole moments of the rods are derived analytically in the long-wavelength limit. The effective permittivity and permeability of a square lattice of rods are calculated by homogenizing the corresponding array of dipoles. The role of dipole resonances in the optical properties of the rod array is interpreted. This structure is found to exhibit a true left-handed behavior, confirming previous experiments [L. Peng, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 157403 (2007)10.1103/PhysRevLett.98.157403]. A scaling analysis shows that this effect holds at optical frequencies and can be obtained by using rods made, for example, of silicon.

Equifrequency surfaces in a two-dimensional GaN-based photonic crystal.

We established the angular conditions that maintain the quasi-phase matching conditions for enhanced second-harmonic generation. To do that, we investigated the equifrequency surfaces of the resonant Bloch modes of a two-dimensional periodic, hole-array photonic crystal etched into a GaN/sapphire epitaxial structure. The equifrequency surfaces exhibit remarkable shapes, in contrast to the simpler surfaces of a one-dimensional structure. The observed anisotropy agrees well with the surfaces calculated by a scattering matrix method. The equifrequency surfaces at fundamental and second-harmonic frequencies provide the values of polar and azimuthal angles that maintain quasi-phase matching conditions for enhanced second-harmonic generation over an extended tuning range. The predicted values for quasi phase-matching conditions show that frequency tuning for the two-dimensional case covers an about two times larger fractional bandwidth relative to the one-dimensional case.

2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 2'-phosphodiesterase from Fusarium culmorum.

We describe the properties of a 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 2'-phosphodiesterase (EC 3.1.4.16), found in Fusarium culmorum, which hydrolyzes nucleoside 2',3'-cyclic monophosphates to nucleoside 3'-phosphates. In contrast with a similar enzyme found in bacteria, the Fusarium enzyme does not exhibit nucleotidase activity and does not show a requirement for metal ions, but is inhibited by micromolar concentrations of Cu++ and Zn++, and is very stable to heat. This cyclic phosphodiesterase hydrolyzes the four major nucleoside 2',3'-cyclic monophosphates and has greater affinity for purine (Kms for Ado-2',3'-P = 0.3 mM and for Guo-2',3'-P = 0.1 mM) than for pyrimidine nucleotides (Kms for Cyd-2',3'-P = 0.6 mM and for Urd-2',3'-P = 2 mM). The respective Vmax for Urd-2',3'-P; Cyd-2',3'-P; Ado-2',3'-P; and Guo-2',3' are 100:45:16:5. The efficacy of the phosphodiesterase to hydrolyze the four major 2',3' cyclic nucleotides (based on the relative values of Vmax/Km) is not significantly different. The Fusarium enzyme differs from a previously described 2',3' cyclic phosphodiesterase from Neurospora, in that it is inactive on 3',5'-nucleoside monophosphates and nucleoside 2' or 3' phosphates.

Crry/p65, a membrane complement regulatory protein, has costimulatory properties on mouse T cells.

It is known that certain type I membrane molecules (complement receptors type 1 and 2) belonging to the regulators of complement activation (RCA) family are involved in the regulation of B lymphocyte activation. In contrast, only GPI-anchored RCA molecules (CD55) have been described to be involved in T lymphocyte activation. In this study, we describe a novel function for the mouse RCA type I membrane protein Crry/p65 as a costimulatory molecule in CD4+ T cell activation. This is shown by increased anti-CD3-induced proliferation of CD4+ spleen T lymphocytes in the presence of the Crry/p65-specific mAb P3D2. Furthermore, Ab-induced coligation of Crry/p65 and CD3 favors IL-4 rather than IFN-gamma secretion in these cells. Crry/p65 signaling was also observed regardless of additional Ca2+, protein kinase C, or CD28-mediated costimuli. Analysis of intracellular intermediaries shows that Crry/p65-CD3 coligation enhances certain TCR/CD3-mediated signals, producing increased early tyrosine phosphorylation of many substrates and enhanced activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-related kinase. These data fit well with the association of Crry/p65 with the tyrosine kinase Lck found in T cell lysates. The epitope recognized by the mAb P3D2 interferes with the protective role of Crry/p65 on C3 deposition. The relationship between protective function and costimulation by Crry/p65 is discussed. Our results support a multifunctional role for Crry/p65 in T cells and suggest new links between the natural and adaptive immune responses.

Rigorous vector diffraction of electromagnetic waves by bidimensional photonic crystals.

We present a numerical study of bidimensional photonic crystals with an emphasis on the behavior of the gaps versus the polarization and the conicity of the incident plane wave. We use a rigorous modal theory of diffraction at oblique incidence by a set of arbitrarily shaped parallel fibers. This theory allows the study of the refractive properties of bidimensional photonic crystals. We develop a heuristic method of homogenization that allows us to predict the position of the gaps and their behavior with respect to the polarization and the conicity angle. With this homogenization scheme, we also present some important elements for obtaining full gaps.

Antibody-induced CD3-CD4 coligation inhibits TCR/CD3 activation in the absence of costimulatory signals in normal mouse CD4(+) T lymphocytes.

The effect of CD3-CD4 coligation on CD3-mediated activation of normal mouse CD4(+) T lymphocytes has been analyzed in the absence of exogenous lymphokines. If anti-CD3 and anti-CD4 antibodies are adsorbed to culture wells by means of previously adsorbed anti-Ig antibodies (indirect binding), CD3-CD4 coligation inhibits activation measured as cell proliferation or as secretion of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-gamma. Addition of IL-2, anti-CD28 antibodies, or phorbol esters, but not IL-1, IL-4, or ionomycin, blocked CD4-mediated inhibition and restored the response to levels equal or higher than those of cultures activated by anti-CD3 alone. In contrast, CD3-CD4 coligation by antibodies directly adsorbed to culture wells potentiated anti-CD3-induced activation, either in the absence or in the presence of exogenous costimuli. Similar results were observed when CD4(+) T cells of naive phenotype (CD44(low), CD45RB(high)) were used in the experiments. The analysis of early tyrosine phosphorylation in CD4(+) T cells shows that phosphorylation of many cell substrates is clearly enhanced upon CD3-CD4 coligation using indirectly or directly bound antibodies, yet certain substrates are mainly phosphorylated under inhibitory conditions. Although CD28 ligation does not produce any clear change in the tyrosine phosphorylation pattern in lysates from cells activated by indirectly bound anti-CD3 plus anti-CD4 antibodies, the analysis of active forms of the MAP kinase ERK suggests that downstream signaling pathways involved in IL-2 gene activation can be differentially activated depending on the direct or indirect CD3-CD4 adsorption and CD28 ligation.

Hepatotoxic effects of ethanol and phenformin association in rats.

1. The association of ethanol and phenformin during 6 months in the Sprague-Dawley rat produces an alteration in lactate homeostasis. A basal blood lactate value of 54.13 +/- 15.43 mg/dl was found compared to 23.65 +/- 7.4 mg/dl in control rats. 2. Lactic acid levels increased to 28.8 +/- 7.42 mg/dl and 22.01 +/- 8.08 mg/dl after chronic administration of ethanol or phenformin in Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively. Nevertheless, these were not statistically significant with respect to those of control group. 3. The total hepatic collagen content after chronic administration of phenformin and ethanol was moderately elevated 7.12 +/- 1.85 mg/g of wet tissue, and statistically significant with respect to the control group, 4.77 +/- 1.17 mg/g. Collagen content values in phenformin and ethanol rats did not reveal statistically significant differences. 4. Liver showed histological degenerative changes but not any sign of fibrosis after chronic administration of ethanol and phenformin together.