Assessment of a continuous passive motion assistive device in dogs following stifle surgery.

Canine rehabilitation optimizes recovery and the quality of life in dogs with musculoskeletal conditions or after surgery. Achieving proper range of motion (ROM) is vital post-stifle surgery, often accomplished through manual therapy and active exercises. We investigated the mechanical performance of a continuous passive motion (CPM) device for dogs and its potential use in canine rehabilitation therapy. In the ethical review process, our research was accepted to be evaluated in a sample of four dogs that had undergone left stifle surgery. Each dog underwent four sessions with the device at three different speeds. Results showed the device replicated extension angles close to goniometer measurements used in manual therapy. Flexion was also achieved, but not to the same extent. A force threshold stopped the device, avoiding discomfort in dogs with restricted ROM. Dog-specific factors like body position, opposition to movement, limb size, stage of recovery, haircoat, and discomfort, appeared to influence device operation. Mechanical improvements to allow for enhanced flexion are recommended in future CPM device designs, including a resistance threshold that could be adjusted for individual dogs and stages of healing. This study serves as a foundation for future advancements in canine rehabilitation systems. A canine CPM device may provide an affordable option to improve ROM. This could be beneficial for dog owners, who may not be comfortable with manual therapy, to assist with home rehabilitation exercises.

PhysiCan - a device for automatic CPM exercises implementation over canines: Design and analysis.

Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) devices have been used to assist physicians conducting human rehabilitation; however, similar machines specific for canine rehabilitation have not been found in the reviewed literature. This research performed a physical analysis of the hind limb of dogs to design a device for implementing automated CPM exercises. The device proved to comply with the guidelines to perform CPM exercises, allowing a proper setting of parameters to generate rehabilitation routines customized for different rehabilitation requirements. Also, an electromyography acquisition module was incorporated into the system, with surface electrodes to visualize and provide feedback to the user for muscle activation. Limitations were encountered with a range of motion of 80° and an error of approximately 2% for angular position accuracy.

Caracterización clínico - epidemiológica de pacientes con artritis séptica: año 2013: Instituto Traumatológico de Chile / Clinical - epidemiological characteristics of patients with septic arthritis: year 2013 Instituto Traumatologico of Chile

Artritis séptica (AS) es la reacción inflamatoria de una articulación desencadenada por microorganismos, provocando destrucción osteocondral y pérdida funcional irreversible si no es tratada a tiempo. El cuadro clínico de esta patología debe despertar sospecha del médico, obligando a realizar diagnóstico y manejo adecuado. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar clínica y epidemiológicamente a pacientes con AS del InstitutoTraumatológico de Santiago, Chile (IT) y describir su manejo realizado. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de corte transversal, analizando fichas clínicas electrónicas de pacientes mayores de 15 años atendidos en elServicio de Urgencia del IT con diagnóstico de AS, durante el año 2013 (n=28). Los datos fueron tabulados en una planilla Microsoft® Excel® 2010. RESULTADOS: 68 por ciento fueron pacientes masculinos. Edad promedio de 54 años. Se realizaron 2 aseos quirúrgicos en promedio por paciente. 17 días fue el promedio de estadía hospitalaria. Principales comorbilidades fueron hipertensión arterial (29 por ciento) y diabetes mellitus 2 (21 por ciento). En síntomas predominó dolor (93 por ciento) y aumento de volumen (82 por ciento).La localización más frecuente fue rodilla (53,6 por ciento). Etiología más habitual fue Staphyloccocus aureus (60 por ciento). Las alteraciones de laboratorio fueron VHS elevada (90 por ciento), PCR elevada (80 por ciento) y leucocitosis(45 por ciento). Tratamiento antibiótico empírico más utilizado fue esquema tri asociado de cloxacilina, gentamicina y penicilinasódica (60 por ciento). Antibioticoterapia ambulatoria más indicada fuecloxacilina (60 por ciento). DISCUSIÓN: Recalcamos la importancia del diagnóstico y tratamiento oportuno de la AS, cuyo pronóstico y complicaciones dependen directamente de su pesquisa temprana. Las características clínico - epidemiológicas del presente estudio son consistentes con lo descrito en la literatura nacional e internacional...

Septic arthritis (SA) is the inflammatory reaction of an articular surface by the presence of microorganisms. It can cause joint destruction and rapid functional loss. Clinical manifestations of septic arthritis should be considered a medical emergency, therefore proper diagnosis and management is mandatory. OBJECTIVES: To characterize clinically and epidemiologically adult patients with SA from Instituto Traumatologico de Santiago de Chile (IT) and to describe its treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study analyzing electronic health records of patients over 15 years old, with diagnosis of SA, attended in the ER of the IT during 2013 (n=28). Data were tabulated in an Excel2010spreadsheet. RESULTS: 68 percent of patients were males. Average age was 54 years. An average of 2 surgical toilettes was performed per patient. The mean impatient stay was 17 days. Major comorbidities were hypertension (29 percent) and diabetes mellitus type 2(21 percent). The main symptoms were pain (93 percent) and swelling (82 percent).The most common location was the knee (53,6 percent). Most common etiology was Staphyloccocus aureus (60 percent). The laboratory abnormalities were high ESR (90 percent), elevated CRP (80 percent) and leukocytosis (45 percent). The most used empiric antibiotic the rap was the triassociated scheme of cloxacillin, gentamicin and sodium penicillin (60 percent). Most indicated outpatient antibiotic was cloxacillin (60 percent). DISCUSSION: We emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of SA, having direct consequences in complications and prognosis if not made quickly. Both clinical and epidemiological findings of our study were comparable to those found in national and international literature...

Caracterización de lactantes con infección del tracto urinario:2009-2010: Hospital Regional de Antofagasta / Characterization of infants with urinary tract infection: 2009-2010: Regional Hospital of Antofagasta

INTRODUCCION: Las infecciones del tracto urinario (ITU) son una de las enfermedades bacterianas más frecuentes en pediatría. La incidencia de ITU en el paciente pediátrico no se conoce con exactitud. En recién nacidos se estima en 1 por ciento con una mayor proporción de varones, mientras que en lactantes aumenta entre 3 a 5 por ciento con igual proporción en ambos sexos. OBJETIVO: Caracterizar el perfil clínico-epidemiológico de lactantes con diagnóstico de ITU en el servicio de Pediatría del Hospital Regional de Antofagasta. PACIENTES Y METODOS: Estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de corte transversal. Se analizaron fichas clínicas de pacientes de la unidad de lactantes del Servicio de Pediatría del Hospital Regional de Antofagasta con diagnóstico de ITU al egreso del periodo Mayo 2009 - Mayo 2010. La muestra final fue 88 pacientes. Los datos fueron analizados y tabulados en una planilla Excel2007. RESULTADOS: Un 71,5 por ciento fueron sexo femenino. La edad promedio fue de 8,9 meses con rango entre 1 mes y 23 meses. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron fiebre (97,7 por ciento), vómitos (30,7 por ciento), diarrea (23,1 por ciento), inapetencia (21.6 por ciento) y llanto/irritabilidad (16 por ciento). Las alteraciones de laboratorio fueron PCR elevada (96 por ciento), piuria (94,3 por ciento), leucocitosis (87,5 por ciento) y nitritos positivos (48 por ciento). Sólo fueron consignados el 85,2 por ciento de los urocultivos, de los cuales el patógeno más frecuente fue Escherichia coli en el 84 por ciento. DISCUSION: La ITU en lactantes en nuestro estudio fue más frecuente en el sexo femenino, teniendo como signo preponderante la fiebre. El germen más común fue Escherichia coli, correlacionándose con la literatura. Valoramos la importancia de solicitar urocultivos para la confirmación microbiológica.

INTRODUCTION: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are one of the most frequent bacterial diseases in pediatrics. The incidence of UTI in pediatric patients is not known with accuracy. In newborns is estimated in 1 percent with a larger proportion in males, while in infants increase between 3 to 5 percent with the same proportion for both sex. OBJECTIVE: Characterize clinically and epidemiologically the profile of infants diagnosed with UTI in the Pediatric service of the Regional Hospital of Antofagasta. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A descriptive retrospective cross-sectional study. Medical records of patients diagnosed with UTI by the end of the period of May 2009 - May 2010 from the unit of infants in the Pediatric Service of the Regional Hospital of Antofagasta were analyzed. The final sample was 88 patients. The data was analyzed using an Excel 2007 spreadsheet. RESULTS: 71,5 percent were women. The average age was 8,9 month in a range between 0,5 and 23 month. Most frequent symptoms were fever (97,7 percent), vomit (30,7 percent), diarrhea (23,1 percent), lack of appetite (21,6 percent) and crying/irritability (16 percent). The alterations in laboratory was CRP high (96 percent), pyuria (94,3 percent) and leukocytosis (87,5 percent). Only were record the 85, 2 percent of urine culture of which the most frequent pathogenic agent was Escherichia coli in the 84 percent of the cases. DISCUSSION: The UTI in infants in our study was more frequent in women and its predominant symptom is fever. The most common germ was Escherichia coli which agree the literature. We value the importance of ask for urine culture to microbiological confirmation.

Síndrome de Kleine-Levin: caso clínico y revisión del tema / Kleine-Levin Syndrome: clinical case and revision

Episodic hypersomnia, compulsive excessive eating and erotic behaviour, with schizophreniclike mental symptoms are the hallmarks of the rare Kleine–Levin syndrome. Many patients may not necessarily fulfill minimum criteria described for diagnosis. We report a 19 years young man with incomplete presentation the Kleine–Levin syndrome and briefly reviewed the most relevantaspects of this disorder, its epidemiology, clinical symptoms and complementary diagnostic examinations. Known therapeutic options and prognosis are also discussed.

Molecular basis of thermosensing: a two-component signal transduction thermometer in Bacillus subtilis.

Both prokaryotes and eukaryotes respond to a decrease in temperature with the expression of a specific subset of proteins. Although a large body of information concerning cold shock-induced genes has been gathered, studies on temperature regulation have not clearly identified the key regulatory factor(s) responsible for thermosensing and signal transduction at low temperatures. Here we identified a two-component signal transduction system composed of a sensor kinase, DesK, and a response regulator, DesR, responsible for cold induction of the des gene coding for the Delta5-lipid desaturase from Bacillus subtilis. We found that DesR binds to a DNA sequence extending from position -28 to -77 relative to the start site of the temperature-regulated des gene. We show further that unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs), the products of the Delta5-desaturase, act as negative signalling molecules of des transcription. Thus, a regulatory loop composed of the DesK-DesR two-component signal transduction system and UFAs provides a novel mechanism for the control of gene expression at low temperatures.

Prevention of cisplatin-induced emesis by the oral neurokinin-1 antagonist, MK-869, in combination with granisetron and dexamethasone or with dexamethasone alone.

PURPOSE: The NK1-receptor antagonist MK-869 (L-754,030) has demonstrated antiemetic activity in humans receiving chemotherapy. Objectives of the present trial included the first assessment of oral MK-869 plus dexamethasone compared with a 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone for prevention of acute and delayed emesis after high-dose cisplatin. Furthermore, the study sought to confirm that addition of MK-869 to a 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone was more effective than just the 5HT(3) antagonist plus dexamethasone for prevention of acute and delayed emesis. METHODS: This multicenter, double-blind, parallel-group trial in 351 cisplatin-naïve patients evaluated prevention of acute (0 to 24 hours) and delayed emesis (primary efficacy parameter; days 2 to 5) after cisplatin (> or =70 mg/m(2)). Patients were randomized to four groups (I to IV) (n = number randomized; number evaluable): granisetron (10 microg/kg intravenously) pre-cisplatin followed by placebo on days 2 to 5 (group I) (n = 90; 90); granisetron and MK-869 (400 mg PO [by mouth]) pre-cisplatin, followed by MK-869 (300 mg PO) on days 2 to 5 (group II) (n = 86; 84); MK-869 (400 mg PO) the evening before and pre-cisplatin, followed by MK-869 (300 mg PO) on days 2 to 5 (group III) (n = 89; 88); or MK-869 (400 mg PO) pre-cisplatin, followed by MK-869 (300 mg PO) on days 2 to 5 (group IV) (n = 86; 84). All patients also received dexamethasone (20 mg PO) before cisplatin. Additional medication was available to treat emesis or nausea at any time. RESULTS: In the acute period, 57%, 80%, 46%, and 43% of patients were without emesis in groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively (P <.01 for group II v group I). In the delayed period, the proportion of patients without emesis in groups I, II, III, and IV was 29%, 63%, 51%, and 57%, respectively (P <.01 for groups II, III, and IV v group I). The distribution of nausea scores in the delayed period was lower when comparing group II with group I (P <.05 for days 1 to 5 and days 2 to 5). One serious adverse event (dizziness) was rated as possibly related to MK-869. CONCLUSION: Once daily oral administration of MK-869 was effective in reducing delayed emesis and nausea after high-dose cisplatin. However, the combination of the 5HT3 antagonist plus dexamethasone was numerically superior to MK-869 plus dexamethasone in reducing acute emesis. Confirming and extending previous findings, the triple combination of a 5HT(3) antagonist, MK-869, and dexamethasone provided the best control of acute emesis.

Prevalencia de la ateromatosis carotídea en pacientes con enfermedad cerebro vascular oclusiva / Prevalence of carotid atherosclerosis among patients with ischemic stroke

Background: Hispanics have a greater incidence of stroke and prevalence of intracranial atherosclerosis than whites. Aim: To study the prevalence of extracranial atherosclerosis among patients admitted to a hospital with an ischemic stroke. Material and methods : A prospective study in stroke patients admitted to a Neurology ward in a University Hospital. All were subjected to a CT scan, carotid duplex-Doppler ultrasonographic examination with Doppler measurement of blood flow velocity, permeability and plaques. Cardiac emboli were searched with transthoracic and transesophagic echocardiography. Results: One hundred ten patients (39 women), aged 67.5ñ11.4 years old were studied. Stroke was atherothrombotic in 46 (41.8 percent), embolic in 30 (27.3 percent), lacunar in 27 (24.6 percent) and of other type in 7 (6.4 percent). Ninety two patients (84.4 percent) had high blood pressure, 38 percent had high cholesterol levels, 35 percent had a cardiac disease and 26 percent were smokers. Thirty five subjects (31.8 percent) had a normal carotid ultrasonography, 46 (41.8 percent) had mural plaques, 16 (14.5 percent) had multiple plaques without occlusion, 13 (11.8 percent) had a partial occlusion and 7 (6,4 percent) had a total occlusion. Logistic regression analysis disclosed no significant relationship between stroke types and carotid atherosclerosis. Age was the only significant predictor for carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusions: The prevalence of severe carotid atherosclerosis in this group of stroke patients was less than expected

Economisation of vaccination against Haemophilus influenzae type b: a randomised trial of immunogenicity of fractional-dose and two-dose regimens.

BACKGROUND: The cost of Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) conjugate vaccines has limited their use in non-industrialised countries. To identify more economical vaccination schedules, we carried out a randomised trial of the immunogenicity of alternative regimens to the standard three-dose series. METHODS: 627 Chilean infants were randomly allocated to one of four regimens with either Hib polysaccharide-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (PRP-T) or Hib oligosaccharide-diphtheria mutant toxoid conjugate vaccine (PRP-CRM197), for a total of eight groups. All infants receive diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine at ages 2, 4, and 6 months. The regimens included three full doses, three fractional doses consisting of one half or one third of the full dose, and a regimen of two full doses (at age 4 and 6 months). The primary outcome was the proportion of infants with serum anti-polyribosylribitol phosphate (PRP, the type b capsular polysaccharide) concentrations of 0.15 microg/mL or more at age 8 months. FINDINGS: 93% (95% CI 85-98) of infants vaccinated with three full doses of PRP-T or PRP-CRM197 (95% CI 84-98) achieved anti-PRP concentrations of 0.15 microg/mL or more at age 8 months, compared with 91% (83-96) to 100% (95-100) of infants immunised with any fractional-dose regimen. Of the infants vaccinated with two doses of PRP-T or PRP-CRM197, 99% (93-100) and 87% (77-93) developed anti-PRP concentrations of 0.15 microg/mL or more, respectively. INTERPRETATION: 91% (83-96) to 100% (95-100) of infants immunised with one-half or one-third of a full dose of Hib conjugate developed protective antibody concentrations. Carrier priming with DTP may make two-dose schedules an option in some places. These alternative regimens could bring the cost of Hib vaccines within reach of countries that currently cannot afford them.

Pressure clamp method to measure transpiration in growing single plant cells : demonstration with sporangiophores of phycomyces.

A pressure probe method (pressure clamp) was developed to measure transpiration rates of both growing and nongrowing single plant cells, and represents an improvement over the previous pressure probe method (pressure relaxation), which is restricted to nongrowing plant cells (J.K.E. Ortega, R.G. Keanini, K.J. Manica [1988] Plant Physiol 87: 11-14). The pressure clamp method was used to measure transpiration rates of Phycomyces sporangiophores in two developmental stages: stage III (nongrowing) and stage IV (growing).

Results of a randomized study of previously-untreated intermediate and high grade lymphoma using CHOP versus CNOP.

A randomized multicenter phase III study was conducted to compare the efficacy and toxicity of CHOP and CNOP in intermediate and high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. CHOP consisted of cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, vincristine 1.4 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 on day 1 and prednisone 50 mg/m2 on days 1 to 5. The CNOP regimen was identical to CHOP except for replacement of doxorubicin by 10 mg/m2 mitoxantrone. Patient characteristics were evenly distributed in the two arms, except for age and stage, which slightly favoured the CHOP arm. The rate of complete remission was 70% (31/44) in patients treated with CHOP and 51% (23/45) in those receiving CNOP (P = 0.09). At 48 months and with a median follow-up of 41 months, 44% of the complete responders treated with CHOP and 64% of those treated with CNOP were estimated to still be in their first complete remission (P = 0.14), while 31% and 34% remained alive and free of progression. The Kaplan-Meier estimate of overall survival at 48 months is 53% and 50%, respectively. The higher response rate obtained with CHOP probably reflected a less aggressive lymphoma population. The mean WBC nadir was 2.0 x 10(9)/l for CHOP and 1.8 x 10(9)/l for CNOP. One and three patients, respectively, died during induction. Nausea, vomiting and cardiac toxicity were similar. More alopecia and mucositis were observed with CHOP. We conclude that CHOP and CNOP have similar toxicities and are equivalent in previously untreated non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in terms of complete response rate, event-free survival and overall survival.

A comparison of cell-wall-yielding properties for two developmental stages of Phycomyces sporangiophores : Determination by in-vivo creep experiments.

The yielding properties of the cell wall, irreversible wall extensibility (m) and yield threshold (Y), are determined for stage I sporangiophores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus from in-vivo creep experiments, and compared to the values of m and Y previously determined for stage IVb sporangiophores using the same pressureprobe method (Ortega et al., 1989, Biophys. J. 56, 465). In either stage the sporangiophore enlarges (grows) predominately in length, in a specific region termed the "growing zone", but the growth rates of stage I (5-20 urn · min(-1)) are smaller than those of stage IVb (30-70 µm · min(-1)). The results demonstrate that this difference in growth rate is the consequence of a smaller magnitude of m for stage I sporangiophores; the obtained values of P (turgor pressure), Y, and P-Y (effective turgor for irreversible wall extension) for stage I sporangiophores are slightly larger than those of stage IVb sporangiophores. Also, it is shown that the magnitude of m for the stage I sporangiophore is regulated by altering the length of the growing zone, Lg. A relationship between m and Lg is obtained which can account for the difference between values of m determined for stage I and stage IVb sporangiophores. Finally, it is shown that similar changes in the magnitude of m and ϕ (which have been used interchangeably in the literature as a measure of irreversible wall extensibility) may not always represent the same changes in the cell-wall properties.

Tratamiento del cáncer avanzado de la glándula mamaria con mitoxantrona, s-fluorouracilo y ciclofosfamida / Advanced breast cancer treatment with a combination of mitoxantrona, s-fluorouracil and ciclophosfamide

La combinación de mitoxantrona (M), 5-fluorouracilo (F) y ciclofosfamida (C), se administró como tratamiento inicial a 180 pacintes con cáncer avanzado de la glándula mamaria. Este estudio no comparativo se llevó a cabo en 7 diferentes instituciones médicas de Argentina, Brasil y México. Las dosis utilizadas fueron: mitoxantrona 12 mg/m2 i.v. día 1-21; 5-fluorouracilo 500 mg'm2 i.v. días 1-8-21 y ciclofosfamida 500 mg/m2 i.v. día 1-21. Las dosis se modificaron de acuerdo a la toxicidad presentada. En el 37% de los 1026 ciclos se presentó leucopenia <2000/mm3 y trombocitopenia <100,000/mm3 en el 16%. Náusea y vómito se presentaron en 82%, diarrea en el 27% y alopecia en el 74%. Respuesta global se observó en 88 de 147 pacientes valorables (60%); respuesta completa en 32 (21.8%) y respuesta parcial en 56 (38%), nos e observaron cambios en 38 (25.9%) y progresión en 21 (14.3%). La sobrevida promedio en este grupo fue de 25 meses; actualmente continúan con vida y sin evidencia de actividad tumoral, a más de 6 años, 24 (16.3%) de las pacientes. Aparte de la mielosupesión, en su mayoría neutropenia, la combinación MFC generalmente fue efectiva y bien tolerada con una baja incidencia de efectos secundarios. Se concluye que mitoxantrona en combinación con 5-fluorouracilo y ciclofosfamida, contribuyen a prolongar la sobrevida de las enfermas con cáncer mamario avanzado, mejorando la calidad de vida en un número importante de ellas. Se recomienda la combinación de MFC como esquema de priemra línea.