Erector spinae plane block vs. peri-articular injection for pain control after arthroscopic shoulder surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

Interscalene brachial plexus block is the standard regional analgesic technique for shoulder surgery. Given its adverse effects, alternative techniques have been explored. Reports suggest that the erector spinae plane block may potentially provide effective analgesia following shoulder surgery. However, its analgesic efficacy for shoulder surgery compared with placebo or local anaesthetic infiltration has never been established. We conducted a randomised controlled trial to compare the analgesic efficacy of pre-operative T2 erector spinae plane block with peri-articular infiltration at the end of surgery. Sixty-two patients undergoing arthroscopic shoulder repair were randomly assigned to receive active erector spinae plane block with saline peri-articular injection (n = 31) or active peri-articular injection with saline erector spinae plane block (n = 31) in a blinded double-dummy design. Primary outcome was resting pain score in recovery. Secondary outcomes included pain scores with movement; opioid use; patient satisfaction; adverse effects in hospital; and outcomes at 24 h and 1 month. There was no difference in pain scores in recovery, with a median difference (95%CI) of 0.6 (-1.9-3.1), p = 0.65. Median postoperative oral morphine equivalent utilisation was significantly higher in the erector spinae plane group (21 mg vs. 12 mg; p = 0.028). Itching was observed in 10% of patients who received erector spinae plane block and there was no difference in the incidence of significant nausea and vomiting. Patient satisfaction scores, and pain scores and opioid use at 24 h were similar. At 1 month, six (peri-articular injection) and eight (erector spinae plane block) patients reported persistent pain. Erector spinae plane block was not superior to peri-articular injection for arthroscopic shoulder surgery.

The erector spinae plane block for obstetric analgesia: a case series of a novel technique.

The management of pain during labour is central to obstetric anaesthetic practice. While epidural analgesia has long been considered the gold standard for intrapartum analgesia, neuraxial techniques can be challenging to perform, are contra-indicated in circumstances such as coagulopathy. The erector spinae plane block is an interfascial plane block that has generated interest because of a needle tip position away from the neuraxis. This has the potential to mitigate the risks of nerve injury and epidural haematoma formation. The mechanism of action is linked to both paravertebral and epidural distribution of local anaesthetic, providing both somatic and visceral analgesia, with potential utility in obstetric settings. Four women in active labour received either unilateral or bilateral erector spinae plane blocks. All experienced a reduction in pain, ranging from 3 to 6 points measured on a 10-point numerical rating scale. The duration of analgesia ranged from 60 to 120 min. In this report, we discuss potential for using the erector spinae plane block in the management of obstetric pain.

Bloqueo del plano del músculo erector espinal: estudio anatómico-cadavérico para determinar su mecanismo de acción / Erector spinae plane block: A cadaver study to determine its mechanism of action

Introducción: El bloqueo del plano del músculo erector (ESP) es una técnica novedosa para el tratamiento del dolor agudo y crónico. Su lugar y mecanismo de acción todavía no han sido explicados. Objetivos: Determinar el mecanismo de acción del anestésico local en el bloqueo ESP a través de la inyección del azul de metileno, describiendo su distribución desde la cara anterior del tórax. Hallar o determinar un paso o canal por el cual el anestésico atraviesa las estructuras musculares y óseas de posterior a anterior. Materiales y métodos: Se utilizaron 4 columnas de cadáveres frescos criopreservados. Se realizaron 9 bloqueos ESP ecoguiados en diferentes regiones de los especímenes con 20ml de azul de metileno al 0,01% por bloqueo. Se observó la distribución del colorante desde la cara anterior de tórax, midiendo la cantidad de espacios intercostales teñidos, antes y después de la extracción de la pleura parietal, y se registraron las estructuras en que se constató tintura. Resultados: En todos los bloqueos ESP se encontró colorante en el espacio paravertebral, los espacios intercostales y en algunos casos en la cadena prevertebral. Los bloqueos tuvieron un promedio de 4,6 espacios intercostales teñidos, con un máximo de 7 y un mínimo de 3. La intensidad del colorante fue mayor del lado de la inyección, dorsal a la columna, que el hallado en la parte ventral por debajo de la pleura. No se logró constatar un mecanismo claro por el que el colorante difundiera hacia el la zona anterior. Conclusiones: Por los datos recogidos en este trabajo se puede deducir que el bloqueo ESP tiene un mecanismo de acción anestésico similar a los bloqueos paravertebrales. El sitio por el cual el anestésico atravesaría desde el plano posterior de la columna a la región anterior del tórax no fue aclarado y debería ser investigado en futuros trabajos

Introduction: The erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a novel technique for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. Its mechanism and site of action has not yet been explained properly. Objectives: In order to explain the mechanism of action of the ESP block, injections were performed with methylene blue to simulate the local anaesthetics and to determine its distribution from the anterior side of the thorax. To find an aperture or channel through which the local anaesthetic passes from posterior to anterior through the muscular and bone structures. Materials and methods: Four spinal columns of fresh cryopreserved corpses were used. A total of 9 ultrasound-guided ESP blocks were performed in different regions of the specimens using 20ml of 0.01% methylene blue per block. The distribution of the dye was observed from the anterior side of the thorax, measuring the amount of intercostal spaces stained, before and after the removal of the parietal pleura, and the structures in which the stain was found were recorded. Results: In all blocks of the ESP, dye was found in the paravertebral space, intercostal spaces, and in some cases in the prevertebral chain. The blocks had a mean of 4.6 intercostal spaces stained, with a maximum of 7 and a minimum of 3. The intensity of the dye was greater on the side of the injection, dorsal to the column, than that found in the ventral part below of the pleura. It was not possible to verify a clear channel through which the dye diffuses towards the previous zone. Conclusions: From the data collected in this study, it can be deduced that the blockade of the ESP has a mechanism of anaesthetic action similar to paravertebral blocks. The site from which the anaesthetic would cross from the posterior plane of the spine to the anterior region of the thorax was not clear, and should be investigated in future works

Erector spinae plane block: A cadaver study to determine its mechanism of action. / Bloqueo del plano del músculo erector espinal: estudio anatómico-cadavérico para determinar su mecanismo de acción.

INTRODUCTION: The erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a novel technique for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. Its mechanism and site of action has not yet been explained properly. OBJECTIVES: In order to explain the mechanism of action of the ESP block, injections were performed with methylene blue to simulate the local anaesthetics and to determine its distribution from the anterior side of the thorax. To find an aperture or channel through which the local anaesthetic passes from posterior to anterior through the muscular and bone structures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four spinal columns of fresh cryopreserved corpses were used. A total of 9 ultrasound-guided ESP blocks were performed in different regions of the specimens using 20ml of 0.01% methylene blue per block. The distribution of the dye was observed from the anterior side of the thorax, measuring the amount of intercostal spaces stained, before and after the removal of the parietal pleura, and the structures in which the stain was found were recorded. RESULTS: In all blocks of the ESP, dye was found in the paravertebral space, intercostal spaces, and in some cases in the prevertebral chain. The blocks had a mean of 4.6 intercostal spaces stained, with a maximum of 7 and a minimum of 3. The intensity of the dye was greater on the side of the injection, dorsal to the column, than that found in the ventral part below of the pleura. It was not possible to verify a clear channel through which the dye diffuses towards the previous zone. CONCLUSIONS: From the data collected in this study, it can be deduced that the blockade of the ESP has a mechanism of anaesthetic action similar to paravertebral blocks. The site from which the anaesthetic would cross from the posterior plane of the spine to the anterior region of the thorax was not clear, and should be investigated in future works.

The analgesic efficacy of pre-operative bilateral erector spinae plane (ESP) blocks in patients having ventral hernia repair.

Laparoscopic ventral hernia repair is an operation associated with significant postoperative pain, and regional anaesthetic techniques are of potential benefit. The erector spinae plane (ESP) block performed at the level of the T5 transverse process has recently been described for thoracic surgery, and we hypothesised that performing the ESP block at a lower vertebral level would provide effective abdominal analgesia. We performed pre-operative bilateral ESP blocks with 20-30 ml ropivacaine 0.5% at the level of the T7 transverse process in four patients undergoing laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Median (range) 24-h opioid consumption was 18.7 mg (0.0-43.0 mg) oral morphine. The highest and lowest median (range) pain scores in the first 24 h were 3.5 (3.0-5.0) and 2.5 (0.0-3.0) on an 11-point numerical rating scale. We also performed the block in a fresh cadaver and assessed the extent of injectate spread using computerised tomography. There was radiographic evidence of spread extending cranially to the upper thoracic levels and caudally as far as the L2-L3 transverse processes. We conclude that the ESP block is a promising regional anaesthetic technique for laparoscopic ventral hernia repair and other abdominal surgery when performed at the level of the T7 transverse process. Its advantages are the ability to block both supra-umbilical and infra-umbilical dermatomes with a single-level injection and its relative simplicity.

Características de pacientes ingresados a la unidad de cuidado intensivo neonatal en la Clínica Universidad de La Sabana / Features of patients hospitalized to the newborn intensive care at Clínica Universidad de La Sabana

Introducción: Es pertinente conocer las características de los pacientes que ingresan a las unidades de cuidado intensivo neonatal para que las acciones en salud respondan a sus necesidades particulares. Objetivo: Caracterizar los pacientes que ingresaron a la Unidad de Cuidado Intensivo Neonatal (UCIN) de la Clínica de la Universidad de La Sabana de enero a diciembre del 2012. Materiales y Métodos: estudio retrospectivo con n=206 neonatos que ingresaron a la UCIN de la Clínica Universidad de La Sabana en el 2012, se revisaron las historias clínicas de los pacientes ingresados para identificar sus características, se calcularon frecuencias relativas y absolutas; y para las variables cuantitativas se describieron medidas de tendencia central y dispersión. Resultados: el 56,3% eran hombres, el promedio de edad gestacional de 36,5 semanas (SD 3,3 semanas), el peso promedio fue de 2625,9 g (SD 757,5 g). La mediana de los días de estancia fue de 4 (IQR: 2 a 9). El principal diagnóstico fue ictericia neonatal en (21,8%), el 22% de los pacientes requirieron ventilación mecánica (VM). La media de la edad gestacional y del peso en pacientes con requerimientos de VM fue de 32.7 semanas (SD: 3,7 semanas) y 1883 g (SD: 779 g) respectivamente, comparado con 37,6 semanas (SD: 2,2 semanas) y 2840 g (SD: 601 g) en los que no requirieron VM. Conclusiones: características como bajo peso al nacer, edad gestacional temprana y el uso de surfactante, se asociaron con el requerimiento de VM, adicionalmente la mortalidad calculada fue del 2,8%.

Introduction: It is relevant to know the characteristics of patients who enter to neonatal intensive care units in order to learn how to respond to their specific conditions and which health actions can be applied for their particular needs. Objective: The aim of this study is describe patients admitted at Clinica Universidad de La Sabana (Neonatal Intensive Care -NIC) from January to December 2012. Materials and Methods: Retrospective study with n=206 neonates admitted to the NIC at Clinica Universidad de La Sabana in 2012, medical records of patients admitted were reviewed to identify its characteristics, as well absolute and relative frequencies were calculated. In terms of quantitative variables, they were measured with central tendency and dispersion. Results: 56.3% of patients were men, the average gestational age was 36.5 weeks (SD 3.3 weeks), the average weight was 2625 gr (SD 757.5 gr). The median days of stay was 4 (IQR:2-9). The main diagnosis was neonatal icterus (21.8%); 22% of patient's required mechanical ventilation (MV). The mean gestational age and weight in patients with VM requirements was 32.7 weeks (SD: 3.7 weeks) and 1883 gr (SD: 779 gr) respectively. Contrasted with the gestational age and weight of newborns that not requiring VM was 37.6 weeks (SD 2.2 weeks) and 2840 gr (SD: 601 gr). Conclusions: Low birth weight, early gestational age and the use of surfactant, were associated with the requirement of VM, and the mortality found was 2.8% for the whole cohort.

Analysis and Classification of Voice Pathologies Using Glottal Signal Parameters.

The classification of voice diseases has many applications in health, in diseases treatment, and in the design of new medical equipment for helping doctors in diagnosing pathologies related to the voice. This work uses the parameters of the glottal signal to help the identification of two types of voice disorders related to the pathologies of the vocal folds: nodule and unilateral paralysis. The parameters of the glottal signal are obtained through a known inverse filtering method, and they are used as inputs to an Artificial Neural Network, a Support Vector Machine, and also to a Hidden Markov Model, to obtain the classification, and to compare the results, of the voice signals into three different groups: speakers with nodule in the vocal folds; speakers with unilateral paralysis of the vocal folds; and speakers with normal voices, that is, without nodule or unilateral paralysis present in the vocal folds. The database is composed of 248 voice recordings (signals of vowels production) containing samples corresponding to the three groups mentioned. In this study, a larger database was used for the classification when compared with similar studies, and its classification rate is superior to other studies, reaching 97.2%.

Stable eusociality via maternal manipulation when resistance is costless.

In many eusocial species, queens use pheromones to influence offspring to express worker phenotypes. Although evidence suggests that queen pheromones are honest signals of the queen's reproductive health, here I show that queen's honest signalling can result from ancestral maternal manipulation. I develop a mathematical model to study the coevolution of maternal manipulation, offspring resistance to manipulation and maternal resource allocation. I assume that (i) maternal manipulation causes offspring to be workers against offspring's interests; (ii) offspring can resist at no direct cost, as is thought to be the case with pheromonal manipulation; and (iii) the mother chooses how much resource to allocate to fertility and maternal care. In the coevolution of these traits, I find that maternal care decreases, thereby increasing the benefit that offspring obtain from help, which in the long run eliminates selection for resistance. Consequently, ancestral maternal manipulation yields stable eusociality despite costless resistance. Additionally, ancestral manipulation in the long run becomes honest signalling that induces offspring to help. These results indicate that both eusociality and its commonly associated queen honest signalling can be likely to originate from ancestral manipulation.

Isotopic discrimination of stable isotopes of nitrogen (δ15N) and carbon (δ13C) in a host-specific holocephalan tapeworm.

During the past decade, parasites have been considered important components of their ecosystems since they can modify food-web structures and functioning. One constraint to the inclusion of parasites in food-web models is the scarcity of available information on their feeding habits and host-parasite relationships. The stable isotope approach is suggested as a useful methodology to determine the trophic position and feeding habits of parasites. However, the isotopic approach is limited by the lack of information on the isotopic discrimination (ID) values of parasites, which is pivotal to avoiding the biased interpretation of isotopic results. In the present study we aimed to provide the first ID values of δ(15)N and δ(13)C between the gyrocotylidean tapeworm Gyrocotyle urna and its definitive host, the holocephalan Chimaera monstrosa. We also test the effect of host body size (body length and body mass) and sex of the host on the ID values. Finally, we illustrate how the trophic relationships of the fish host C. monstrosa and the tapeworm G. urna could vary relative to ID values. Similar to other studies with parasites, the ID values of the parasite-host system were negative for both isotopic values of N (Δδ(15)N = - 3.33 ± 0.63‰) and C (Δδ(13)C = - 1.32 ± 0.65‰), independent of the sex and size of the host. By comparing the specific ID obtained here with ID from other studies, we illustrate the importance of using specific ID in parasite-host systems to avoid potential errors in the interpretation of the results when surrogate values from similar systems or organisms are used.

Baseline plasmaccholinesterase activities in argentine saddle horses from sabana deboogotá / Activdad colinessterasa plasmática en caballos silla Argentina de la sabana de bogotá

The determination of cholinesterase (ChE) activity in domestic animals is of great importance for diagnosis and research purposes. The present work was aimed to determine the baseline plasma ChE activities (acetylcholinesterase, AChE and butyrylcholinestarase, BChE) of Argentine saddle horses sampled from equine farms of Bogota (Colombia) and its surroundings. Plasma AChE and BChE catalytic activities were measured in 60 healthy horses by spectrophotometry within the visible spectrum (405 nm). AChE mean ± SD values (nmols/ml/min) for males (n=32) were 1566 ± 301. Age intervals results were, 0.5-5 years: 1526 ± 295, 6-10 years: 1532 ± 313, 11-15 years: 1615 ± 279, and > 15 years: 1617 ± 335. As for females (n=28), mean AChE was 1323 ± 432, with age intervals as follows, 0.5-5 years: 719 ± 108, 6-10 years: 1603 ± 313, 11-15 years: 1225 ± 294, > 15 years: 1519 ± 369. BChE in males were 3304 ± 822; with age intervals, 0.5-5 years: 3383 ± 715, 6-10 years: 3360 ± 766, 11-15 years: 3267 ± 1064, > 15 years: 3206 ± 861. As for females, BChE values were 3097 ± 432, with age intervals: 0.5-5 years: 2467 ± 981, 6-10 years: 3668 ± 750, 11-15 years: 3238 ± 979, and > 15 years: 3015 ± 925. AChE was significantly different between males and females (t test, p < 0.05) and for both genders when age groups were compared (ANOVA, p < 0.05). BChE had higher values than AChE for both genders and yet no significant difference was found when genders were compared. No differences were found in BChE for age groups in both genders. In a second test, 15 random samples, kept at 4 ºC for 72 hours, were analyzed for variations when measured every 24h. Neither AChE nor BChE had significant variations in these 24h-apart measurements. The present investigation found baseline activities for the two types of plasma cholinesterases in Argentinian saddle horses. This will allow researchers and clinicians to count on reference values for diagnosis and comparative purposes.

La determinación de la actividad colinesterasa (ChE) en animales domésticos es de importancia en diagnóstico e investigación. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo principal la determinación de la línea base de actividad ChE plasmática (acetilcolinesterasa, AChE y butirilcolinesterasa, BChE) en 60 caballos Silla Argentino muestreados en fincas de equinos ubicadas en Bogotá (Colombia) y sus alrededores. Las actividades catalíticas de AChE y BChE plasmáticas fueron medidas mediante espectrofotometría visible (405 nm). Los valores promedio ± desviación estándar de actividad AChE (nmols/ml/ min) para machos (n=32) fueron 1566 ± 301. En intervalos de edad, los resultados fueron, 0.5-5 años: 1526 ± 295, 6-10 años: 1532 ± 313, 11-15 años: 1615 ± 279, y > 15 años: 1617 ± 335. En hembras (n=28), la actividad AChE fue 1323 ± 432, con valores en intervalos de edad, 0.5-5 años: 719 ± 108, 6-10 años: 1603 ± 313, 11-15 años: 1225 ± 294, > 15 años: 1519 ± 369. La BChE en machos fue 3304 ± 822; con intervalos de edad, 0.5-5 años: 3383 ± 715, 6-10 años: 3360 ± 766, 11-15 años: 3267 ± 1064, > 15 años: 3206 ± 861. En hembras, la BChE fue 3097 ± 432, con intervalos de edad: 0.5-5 años: 2467 ± 981, 6-10 años: 3668 ± 750, 11-15 años: 3238 ± 979, y > 15 años: 3015 ± 925. La actividad AChE fue significativamente diferente entre machos y hembras (test t, p < 0.05) y en ambos géneros al comparar los grupos etáreos (ANAVA, p < 0.05). BChE tuvo valores más altos que AChE, sin embargo, no en forma significativa cuando se compararon los resultados entre los dos géneros, ni cuando se compararon los grupos etáreos en los dos géneros. En una prueba adicional, 15 muestras fueron tomadas al azar y mantenidas a 4ºC durante 72 horas para ser analizadas cada 24 horas; AChE y BChE no mostraron variaciones significativas entre las mediciones hechas en este período de tiempo. El presente estudio permitió determinar lineas base de los dos tipos de colinesterasas plasmáticas en caballos tipo silla Argentino con el propósito de ofrecer valores de referencia con fines diagnósticos y comparativos para clínicos e investigadores.

Automatic cell counting in vivo in the larval nervous system of Drosophila.

Identification and counting of cells is necessary to test biological hypotheses, for instance of nervous system formation, disease, degeneration, injury and regeneration, but manual counting is time consuming, tedious, and subject to bias. The fruit fly Drosophila is a widely used model organism to analyse gene function, and most research is carried out in the intact animal or in whole organs, rather than in cell culture. Inferences on gene function require that cell counts are known from these sample types. Image processing and pattern recognition techniques are appropriate tools to automate cell counting. However, counting cells in Drosophila is a complex task: variations in immunohistochemical markers and developmental stages result in images of very different properties, rendering it challenging to identify true cells. Here, we present a technique for counting automatically larval glial cells in three dimensions, from confocal microscopy serial optical sections. Local outlier thresholding and domes are combined to find the cells. Shape descriptors extracted from a data set are used to characterize cells and avoid oversegmentation. Morphological operators are employed to divide cells that could otherwise be missed. The method is accurate and very fast, and treats all samples equally and objectively, rendering all data comparable across specimens. Our method is also applicable to identify cells labelled with other nuclear markers and in sections of mouse tissues.

PET de doble fase con 18F-FDOPA como instrumento para la caracterización de tumores cerebrales / Dual time point 18F-FDOPA PET as a tool for characterizing brain tumors

La 18F-FDOPA es un análogo de aminoácidos empleado en la evaluación de la función dopaminérgica presináptica, que ha despertado gran interés en neuro-oncología. Evaluamos 5 estudios PET con 18F-FDOPA de pacientes remitidos para estudio por síndrome parkinsoniano. Dos de ellos tuvieron tumores cerebrales de alto grado previamente tratados, uno una lesión cerebral inespecífica y dos tenían un hallazgo incidental de tumor cerebral. Para cada lesión se calculó el SUVmáx, el tiempo a SUVmáx y el índice SUVmáx entre la lesión y la sustancia gris (T/N), y se analizó el perfil de la cinética de captación. Las lesiones tumorales correspondieron a tres neurocitomas malignos, un meningioma, un pineocitoma y un hemangioma intrasinusal. Todas las lesiones tumorales mostraron una captación de 18F-FDOPA superior al córtex sano. El análisis de la curva cinética de la 18F-FDOPA mostró una doble fase de máxima captación que facilitó la caracterización tumoral: una fase inicial a los 10 minutos en lesiones malignas, y una fase tardía a los 60-90 minutos en las benignas o de bajo grado(AU)

18F-FDOPA is an amino acid analogue used to evaluate presynaptic dopaminergic activity, which has aroused great interest in neuro-oncology. We have evaluated five 18F-FDOPA PET studies of patients referred for study of parkinsonian syndrome. Two subjects had previously treated high-grade brain tumors, one nonspecific brain injury, and 2 subjects presented unexpected tumoral lesions. For all lesions SUVmax, time to SUVmax and tumor-to-normal grey matter SUVmax rate (T/N) were calculated, and 90minutes 18F-FDOPA kinetics were analyzed. Tumor lesions corresponded to three malignant neurocytomas, one meningioma, one pineocytoma and one intrasinusal hemangioma. Both malignant and benign tumors exhibited high uptake of 18F-FDOPA well above the normal cortex. However, the analysis of the curve uptake displayed characteristic patterns that facilitate the characterization of tumor lesions. A dual phase maximum uptake was observed, with an early 10minutes uptake in malignant lesions, and a late 60 to 90minutes uptake in benign or low grade lesions(AU)

[Dual time point 18F-FDOPA PET as a tool for characterizing brain tumors]. / PET de doble fase con (18)F-FDOPA como instrumento para la caracterización de tumores cerebrales.

(18)F-FDOPA is an amino acid analogue used to evaluate presynaptic dopaminergic activity, which has aroused great interest in neuro-oncology. We have evaluated five (18)F-FDOPA PET studies of patients referred for study of parkinsonian syndrome. Two subjects had previously treated high-grade brain tumors, one nonspecific brain injury, and 2 subjects presented unexpected tumoral lesions. For all lesions SUVmax, time to SUVmax and tumor-to-normal grey matter SUVmax rate (T/N) were calculated, and 90 minutes (18)F-FDOPA kinetics were analyzed. Tumor lesions corresponded to three malignant neurocytomas, one meningioma, one pineocytoma and one intrasinusal hemangioma. Both malignant and benign tumors exhibited high uptake of (18)F-FDOPA well above the normal cortex. However, the analysis of the curve uptake displayed characteristic patterns that facilitate the characterization of tumor lesions. A dual phase maximum uptake was observed, with an early 10 minutes uptake in malignant lesions, and a late 60 to 90 minutes uptake in benign or low grade lesions.

Gliatrophic and gliatropic roles of PVF/PVR signaling during axon guidance.

Evidence of molecular and functional homology between vertebrate and Drosophila glia is limited, restricting the power of Drosophila as a model system to unravel the molecular basis of glial function. Like in vertebrates, in the Drosophila central nervous system glial cells are produced in excess and surplus glia are eliminated by apoptosis adjusting final glial number to axons. The underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unknown, as the only gliatrophic pathway known to date in flies is the EGFR and its ligands. The PDGFR signaling pathway plays a major role in regulating oligodendrocyte migration and number in vertebrates. Here, we show that the Drosophila PDGFR/VEGFR homologue PVR is required in midline glia during axon guidance for glial survival and migration, ultimately enabling axonal enwrapment. The midline glia migrate aided by the VUM and the MP1 midline neurons--sources of PVF ligands--and concomitantly interactions with neurons maintain midline glia survival. Upon loss of function for PVF/PVR signaling midline glia apoptosis increases, and gain of function induces supernumerary midline glia. Midline glial cells are displaced towards ectopic sources of PVF ligands. PVR signaling promotes midline glia survival through AKT and ERK pathways. This work shows that the PVR/PDGFR pathway plays conserved gliatrophic and gliatropic roles in subsets of glial cells in flies and vertebrates.

Automatic identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Gaussian mixture models.

Tuberculosis and other kinds of mycobacteriosis are serious illnesses for which early diagnosis is critical for disease control. Sputum sample analysis is a common manual technique employed for bacillus detection but current sample-analysis techniques are time-consuming, very tedious, subject to poor specificity and require highly trained personnel. Image-processing and pattern-recognition techniques are appropriate tools for improving the manual screening of samples. Here we present a new technique for sputum image analysis that combines invariant shape features and chromatic channel thresholding. Some feature descriptors were extracted from an edited bacillus data set to characterize their shape. They were statistically represented by using a Gaussian mixture model representation and a minimal error Bayesian classification procedure was employed for the last identification stage. This technique constitutes a step towards automating the process and providing a high specificity.

Ecological, morphological and phylogenetic correlates of interspecific variation in plasma carotenoid concentration in birds.

Carotenoids are important as pigments for bright coloration of animals, and as physiologically active compounds with a wide array of health-related benefits. However, the causes of variation in carotenoid acquisition and physiology among species are poorly known. We measured the concentration of carotenoids in the blood of 80 wild bird species differing in diet, body size and the extent of carotenoid-based traits. Preliminary analyses showed that diet significantly explains interspecific variability in plasma carotenoids. However, dietary influences were apparently overridden by phylogenetic relationships among species, which explained most (65%) of this variability. This phylogenetic effect could be due partly to its covariation with diet, but may also be caused by interspecific differences in carotenoid absorption from food to the blood stream, mediated, for example by endothelial carriers or gut parasites. Carotenoid concentrations also decreased with body size (which may be explained by the allometric relationship between ingestion rate and body mass), and correlated positively with the extent of carotenoid-dependent coloration of plumage and bare parts. Therefore, the acquisition of carotenoids from the diet and their use for both health and display functions seem to be constrained by ecological and physiological aspects linked to the phylogeny and size of the species.

Depresión, ansiedad, afrontamiento y calidad de vida en pacientes oncológicos / Depression, anxiety, coping strategies and quality of life in oncologic patiets

Propósito: Evaluar la ansiedad y la depresión en una muestra de pacientes oncológicos y correlacionar estas variables con la utilización de estrategias de afrontamiento y valoración global de calidad de vida. Material y métodos: Participaron 67 pacientes con diferentes diagnósticos de cáncer. Se aplicaron las escalas de Ansiedad y Depresión en el Hospital (HAD); la Escala de Ajuste Mental al Cáncer (MAC) y una pregunta global de calidad de vida. Resultados: Se encontraron correlaciones significativas entre ansiedad, depresión y estrategias de afrontamiento. La estrategia predominante fue espíritu de lucha. Calidad de vida correlacionó negativamente con ansiedad y depresión. Conclusiones: La evaluación de aspectos emocionales en los pacientes oncológicos debe ser parte integral del protocolo de atención (AU)