Efectos sobre los procesos cognitivos del entrenamiento basado en doble tarea en personas con enfermedad de Parkinson: una revisión sistemática / Effects on cognitive processes of dual-task training in people with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review

Introducción: La doble tarea es una intervención no farmacológica en personas con condiciones neurodegenerativas, utilizada en la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), principalmente para favorecer el desempeño motor. El objetivo de esta revisión es reunir la evidencia actual sobre cómo el entrenamiento de doble tarea afecta a los procesos cognitivos en personas que presenten EP. Material y métodos. Se desarrolló una revisión sistemática, aplicando las directrices de PRISMA, incluyendo artículos obtenidos en las bases de datos de PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct y Springer Link. La calidad metodológica se evaluó mediante PEDro y ROBINS-I. Resultados: Doce artículos cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión: nueve de ellos corresponden a ensayos controlados aleatorizados y los tres restantes fueron estudios no aleatorizados. Se identificaron mejoras en la atención y las funciones ejecutivas, aunque la diversidad en enfoques y duración dificulta llegar a conclusiones definitivas. Conclusiones: Es crucial expandir la investigación, estandarizando los programas de intervención. Del mismo modo, es importante llevar a cabo estudios longitudinales y controlados aleatorizados en muestras representativas que permitan llegar a conclusiones aplicables a otros contextos.(AU)

Introduction: Dual-tasking is a non-pharmacological intervention in people with neurodegenerative conditions, and is used in Parkinson’s disease (PD), primarily to enhance motor performance. The aim of this review is to compile the current evidence on how dual-task training affects cognitive processes in people with PD. Material and methods: A systematic review was undertaken, applying PRISMA guidelines, which included articles obtained from the PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and Springer Link databases. Methodological quality was assessed using PEDro and ROBINS-I. Results: Twelve articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria: nine of them were randomized controlled trials, and the remaining three were non-randomized studies. Improvements in attention and executive functions were identified, although the diversity of approaches and duration means that reaching definitive conclusions is difficult. Conclusions: Increased research and standardized intervention programmes are essential. Longitudinal and randomized controlled studies in representative samples which provide conclusions that are applicable to other contexts are also important.(AU)

[Effects on cognitive processes of dual-task training in people with Parkinson's disease: a systematic review]. / Efectos sobre los procesos cognitivos del entrenamiento basado en doble tarea en personas con enfermedad de Parkinson: una revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: Dual-tasking is a non-pharmacological intervention in people with neurodegenerative conditions, and is used in Parkinson's disease (PD), primarily to enhance motor performance. The aim of this review is to compile the current evidence on how dual-task training affects cognitive processes in people with PD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A systematic review was undertaken, applying PRISMA guidelines, which included articles obtained from the PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and Springer Link databases. Methodological quality was assessed using PEDro and ROBINS-I. RESULTS: Twelve articles met the inclusion and exclusion criteria: nine of them were randomized controlled trials, and the remaining three were non-randomized studies. Improvements in attention and executive functions were identified, although the diversity of approaches and duration means that reaching definitive conclusions is difficult. CONCLUSIONS: Increased research and standardized intervention programmes are essential. Longitudinal and randomized controlled studies in representative samples which provide conclusions that are applicable to other contexts are also important.

TITLE: Efectos sobre los procesos cognitivos del entrenamiento basado en doble tarea en personas con enfermedad de Parkinson: una revisión sistemática.Introducción. La doble tarea es una intervención no farmacológica en personas con condiciones neurodegenerativas, utilizada en la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP), principalmente para favorecer el desempeño motor. El objetivo de esta revisión es reunir la evidencia actual sobre cómo el entrenamiento de doble tarea afecta a los procesos cognitivos en personas que presenten EP. Material y métodos. Se desarrolló una revisión sistemática, aplicando las directrices de PRISMA, incluyendo artículos obtenidos en las bases de datos de PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct y Springer Link. La calidad metodológica se evaluó mediante PEDro y ROBINS-I. Resultados. Doce artículos cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión y exclusión: nueve de ellos corresponden a ensayos controlados aleatorizados y los tres restantes fueron estudios no aleatorizados. Se identificaron mejoras en la atención y las funciones ejecutivas, aunque la diversidad en enfoques y duración dificulta llegar a conclusiones definitivas. Conclusiones. Es crucial expandir la investigación, estandarizando los programas de intervención. Del mismo modo, es importante llevar a cabo estudios longitudinales y controlados aleatorizados en muestras representativas que permitan llegar a conclusiones aplicables a otros contextos.

Tasa de egreso hospitalario por episodio depresivo recurrente en los años 2018-2021 en Chile / Hospital discharge rate due to recurrent depressive episode in the years 2018-2021 in Chile

Introducción: La depresión es un trastorno del ánimo frecuente, cuya recurrencia altera su manejo y pronóstico. El objetivo del trabajo es describir la tasa de egreso hospitalario (TEH) por episodio depresivo recurrente (EDR) entre 2018-2021 en Chile, según sexo, edad y gravedad. Materiales y métodos: Estudio observacional y transversal que considera los egresos hospitalarios por EDR en el período 2018-2021 en Chile (N=1551). Se utilizaron las bases de datos del Departamento de Estadísticas e Información de Salud y el Instituto Nacional de Estadística. Las variables estudiadas fueron sexo, grupo etario y gravedad. No requirió aprobación de comité de ética. Resultados: Se observó la menor TEH en 2020 con 1,91 egresos por cada 100.000 habitantes. Las mujeres sobresalieron durante todo el período con una TEH de 3,68 egresos por cada 100.000 habitantes. Destacó el grupo de 15 a 19 años con la mayor TEH en ambos sexos con 5,3 egresos por cada 100.000 habitantes. Respecto a gravedad, las hospitalizaciones se concentraron en pacientes de diagnóstico no especificado. Discusión: La pandemia de COVID 19 podría explicar la disminución de la TEH en 2020, al reducirse el diagnóstico y hospitalización por EDR; presumiblemente debido al fenómeno de reconversión de camas. La TEH es mayor en el sexo femenino, lo cual es concordante con la literatura. El predominio del grupo de 15 a 19 años discrepa de la evidencia, la cual indica que suele concentrarse en individuos de 25 a 64 años. Conclusión: Las TEH por EDR se concentraron en mujeres jóvenes. Es relevante conocer la epidemiología local para focalizar los recursos en la detección oportuna de factores de riesgo, para evitar episodios graves y disminuir su recurrencia.

Introduction: Depression is a common mood disorder, whose recurrence alters its management and prognosis. The aim of the paper is to describe the hospital discharge rate (HED) for recurrent depressive episode (RDE) between 2018-2021 in Chile, according to sex, age and severity. Materials and methods: Observational and cross-sectional study considering hospital discharges due to DRE in the period 2018-2021 in Chile (N=1551). The databases of the Department of Health Statistics and Information and the National Institute of Statistics were used. The variables studied were sex, age group and severity. Ethics committee approval was not required. Results: The lowest HTE was observed in 2020 with 1.91 discharges per 100,000 inhabitants. Females stood out during the entire period with an HTE of 3.68 discharges per 100,000 population. The 15-19 years age group stood out with the highest HTE in both sexes with 5.3 admissions per 100,000 inhabitants. In terms of severity, hospitalizations were concentrated in patients with unspecified diagnosis. Discussion: The COVID 19 pandemic could explain the decrease in HTE in 2020, with a reduction in diagnosis and hospitalization for RDE, presumably due to the bed conversion phenomenon. HTE is higher in the female sex, which is consistent with the literature. The predominance of the 15 to 19 years age group disagrees with the evidence, which indicates that it tends to be concentrated in individuals aged 25 to 64 years. Conclusion: HTE due to DRE was concentrated in young women. It is important to know the local epidemiology in order to focus resources on the timely detection of risk factors to avoid serious episodes and reduce their recurrence.

Cetoacidosis diabética como debut de diabetes mellitus inmunomediada en paciente en tratamiento con inhibidores de checkpoint / Diabetic ketoacidosis as debut of immune-mediated diabetes mellitus in a patient in treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors

Los inhibidores de checkpoint (ICP) son anticuerpos usados en inmunoterapia contra el cáncer. Uno de sus blancos de acción es el receptor de muerte celular programada-1 (PD-1), el cual es importante para mantener la tolerancia inmunitaria. Sin embargo, este mecanismo se asocia a riesgo de eventos adversos relacionados a la inmunidad que pueden afectar a múltiples órganos incluyendo el sistema endocrino. Se describe el caso inhabitual de un paciente que a los 18 meses de terapia con ICP debutó con cetoacidosis diabética (CAD).

Immune checkpoint inhibitors consist in antibodies used in immunotherapy against cancer. One of their targets is the programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) receptor, which is important in maintaining self-tolerance. However, this mechanism is associated with a risk for immune-related adverse events potentially affecting multiple organs, including the endocrine system. We describe the unusual case of a patient who, after 18 months of treatment with an immune checkpoint inhibitor, debuted with diabetic ketoacidosis

Calidad de vida posterior a gastrectomía total laparoscópica versus abierta en cáncer gástrico / Quality of life after -laparoscopic versus open total gastrectomy in gastric cancer

Resumen Introducción: En los últimos años, la gastrectomía laparoscópica ha aparecido como una técnica quirúrgica con resultados oncológicos comparables a la técnica abierta, pero existe poca evidencia en cuanto a la calidad de vida posoperatoria de estos pacientes. Objetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida posoperatoria de pacientes sometidos a gastrectomía total laparoscópica (GTL) en comparación a gastrectomia total abierta (GTA) en cáncer gástrico. Materiales y Método: Estudio retrospectivo, observacional en Hospital Militar de Santiago, entre enero de 2015 y junio de 2020. Se les aplicó 2 encuestas validadas para Chile: EORTC QLQ-30 y EORTC QLQ-OG25. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 60 pacientes; 30 sometidos a GTL y 30 a GTA. Promedio edad fue 66,3 ± 11 años para GTL y 68,2 ± 11 años en GTA (p = 0,5). Se obtuvo un score en GTL versus GTA: global 83,3 y 80,2 (p = 0,6), sintomático 17,1 y 25,5 (p = 0,2) y score funcional 87,9 y 70,9 (p = 0,03). Posterior a eso obtuvimos en funcionalidad GTL versus GTA; física 92,2 versus GTA 73,1 (p = 0,04), emocional 84,1 versus 78,5 (p = 0,6), cognitiva 84,9 versus 79,0 (p = 0,3) y social 80,9 versus 72,2 (p = 0,4). Al analizar síntomas destaco; fatiga 14,6 versus 33,1 (p = 0,04) y dolor 13,4 versus 24,3 (p = 0,05). Finalmente, en síntomas digestivos altos obtuvimos en disfagia 0,84 GTL versus 17,3 GTA (p = 0,04). Conclusión: La GTL logra resultados comparables a GTA en calidad de vida e incluso ofrece ventajas significativas en funcionalidad física como también en síntomas como dolor, fatiga y disfagia.

Introduction: In recent years, laparoscopic gastrectomy has appeared as a surgical technique with oncological results comparable to the open technique, but there is little evidence regarding the postoperative quality of life of these patients. Objective: To evaluate the postoperative quality of life of patients undergoing laparoscopic total gastrectomy (LTG) compared to open total gastrectomy (OTG) in gastric cancer. Materials and Method: Prospective, observational study at Hospital Militar of Santiago, between January 2015 and June 2020. Two surveys validated for Chile were applied: EORTC QLQ-30 and EORTC QLQ-OG25. Results: 60 patients were obtained; 30 subjected to LTG and 30 to OTG. Average age was 66.3 ± 11 years for LTG and 68.2 ± 11 years for OTG (p = 0.5). A score was obtained in LTG versus OTG: global 83.3 and 80.2 (p = 0.6), symptomatic 17.1 and 25.5 (p = 0.2) and functional score 87.9 and 70.9 (p = 0.03). After that we got LTG versus OTG functionality; physical 92.2 versus 73.1 (p = 0.04), emotional 84.1 versus 78.5 (p = 0.6), cognitive 84.9 versus 79.0 (p = 0.3) and social 80.9 versus 72.2 (p = 0.4). When analyzing symptoms I highlight; fatigue 14.6 versus 33.1 (p = 0.04) and pain 13.4 versus 24.3 (p = 0.05). Finally, in upper digestive symptoms, we obtained 0.84 LTG versus 17.3 OTG in dysphagia (p = 0.04). Conclusion: LTG achieves results comparable to OTG in quality of life and even offers significant advantages in physical functionality as well as symptoms such as pain, fatigue and dysphagia.

Características y resultados de pacientes COVID-19 tratados con ventilación mecánica invasiva en Hospital San Juan de Dios. Marzo-junio 2020

Background: The overall mortality of patients with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care units is approximately 40%. Aim: To describe the characteristics of a cohort of patients with COVID-19 who required invasive mechanical ventilation due to severe hypoxemic acute respiratory failure at a general hospital in Santiago, Chile. Material and Methods: Review of medical records and follow up for 28 days of patients with COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction who required invasive mechanical ventilation and who were admitted to the intensive care unit from March 24 to June 7, 2020. Results: Data from 152 patients aged 58 (interquartile range (IQR) 47-65 years (66% men) was analyzed. As of July 5, 36 (24%) had died, 75 (49%) were discharged, 10 (7%) were still on invasive mechanical ventilation, 11 (7%) remained with tracheostomy but without invasive mechanical ventilation, and 20 (13%) were hospitalized in a basic unit. The median time on invasive mechanical ventilation among extubated patients was 14 days (IQR 10-21) and 121 (80%) were in the prone position. Patients who died were older, had a higher frequency of diabetes mellitus and a higher driving pressure at 7 days than those discharged alive from the intensive care unit. Conclusions: In this study mortality was lower than that reported in the first international studies, probably due to the selection of younger patients and greater knowledge of the disease.

[Features and evolution of patients with COVID-19 who required mechanical ventilation]. / Características y resultados de pacientes COVID-19 tratados con ventilación mecánica invasiva en Hospital San Juan de Dios. Marzo-junio 2020.

BACKGROUND: The overall mortality of patients with COVID-19 admitted to intensive care units is approximately 40%. AIM: To describe the characteristics of a cohort of patients with COVID-19 who required invasive mechanical ventilation due to severe hypoxemic acute respiratory failure at a general hospital in Santiago, Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Review of medical records and follow up for 28 days of patients with COVID-19 confirmed by polymerase chain reaction who required invasive mechanical ventilation and who were admitted to the intensive care unit from March 24 to June 7, 2020. RESULTS: Data from 152 patients aged 58 (interquartile range (IQR) 47-65 years (66% men) was analyzed. As of July 5, 36 (24%) had died, 75 (49%) were discharged, 10 (7%) were still on invasive mechanical ventilation, 11 (7%) remained with tracheostomy but without invasive mechanical ventilation, and 20 (13%) were hospitalized in a basic unit. The median time on invasive mechanical ventilation among extubated patients was 14 days (IQR 10-21) and 121 (80%) were in the prone position. Patients who died were older, had a higher frequency of diabetes mellitus and a higher driving pressure at 7 days than those discharged alive from the intensive care unit. CONCLUSIONS: In this study mortality was lower than that reported in the first international studies, probably due to the selection of younger patients and greater knowledge of the disease.

Stability analysis of silver nanoparticle suspensions by cyclic voltammetry.

We report the application of cyclic voltammetry and absorption spectroscopy to the characterization and study of the stability of silver colloids in water. The samples are prepared via chemical reduction and the reactions are catalyzed by irradiation with white light. The electrochemical response is related to the characteristic sample surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in the UV-visible absorption spectra. Cyclic voltammetry shows a characteristic reduction peak whose position is specific to each analyzed sample. Optical analysis of a colloid precursor during a 12 h time span, under low-power white-light irradiation, shows that nanoparticles undergo change in size and surface state (absorption bands splitting and inversion) to attain the "stable" colloidal form. While the absorption spectrum bands of the precursor return almost periodically to similar positions, the cyclic voltammogram characteristic reduction peak is displaced as a function of time. Finally, we follow the SPR changes of one "stable" colloid being subjected to electrolysis, heating, and sunlight irradiation, for environmental remediation purposes. Sunlight exposure produces the most significant SPR intensity drop, but the electrochemical technique shows itself promising as well.

Frequency response curves for a Mooney-Rivlin hyperelastic microbubble oscillating as a contrast agent in an acoustic pressure field.

In this work, we have developed numerical simulations and weakly nonlinear analysis based on the multiple-scales perturbation technique for a coated microbubble that performs radial pulsations subject to an acoustic pressure disturbance in the far-field and whose encapsulated hyperelastic material obeys the Mooney-Rivlin equation. Departing from an elastic coating as a hyperelastic shell of finite thickness, we assume eventually that the shell is of very small thickness in comparison with the microbubble radius. Under this condition, we then perform weakly nonlinear analysis, to identify resonance conditions for small pressure disturbances of the acoustic field. In parallel and also for the limit of small thickness, we have carried out numerical simulations of the radial motion of the microbubble, identifying the onset of limit cycles via the construction of Poincare maps. Under both schemes, we have recognized the importance of two dimensionless hyperelastic parameters that dictate the main behavior of the oscillations: α∗ and ß∗. Decreasing the values of these parameters, the resonance conditions are drastically amplified, which is an expected result because of the weak rigidity of the hyperelastic solid, prevails. In this manner, we suggest that moderate values for these previous parameters can be widely advisable when, in medical diagnostic applications, we are applying microbubbles as contrast agents. Therefore, we recommend widely the use of shell softens, because in this case the amplitude of radial pulsation is always amplified.

The Bicuspid Condition of the Aortic Valve Does Not Alter the Incidence of Accessory Coronary Artery Ostia in Syrian Hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus).

In man and Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus), the prevalence of anomalies in the origin of the coronary arteries is significantly higher in individuals with bicuspid than with normal aortic valves. In hamsters, the incidence of accessory ostia is similar in individuals with normal and anomalous coronary arteries, all of them possessing a normal (tricuspid) aortic valve. In order to evaluate whether or not the presence of bicuspid aortic valves alters the incidence of accessory ostia, 1,050 hearts from hamsters with bicuspid valves were examined. In 594 of them the coronary arteries were normal. The remaining 456 hearts showed coronary artery anomalies characterized by the absence of any artery arising from the left side of the valve. The incidence of accessory ostia was 3.9% in hamsters with normal coronary arteries and 2.2% in those with anomalous coronary patterns. Overall, 3.1% of the accessory ostia were associated with a septal artery and another 0.2% with a conal artery. These data referring to the bicuspid valves were compared with those already published on normal valves. The results of statistical analyses showed that having a bicuspid aortic valve does not alter the incidence of accessory coronary ostia. In the set of tricuspid and bicuspid valves, the incidence of accessory ostia was significantly lower on the left side than on the right side of the valve. This, together with the fact that in the present animal model the coronary anomalies were characterized by the absence of arteries on the left side of the valve, suggests that the embryonic region corresponding to the left side of the aortic valve primordium is particularly associated with preventing the normal development of coronary vessels.

An impressive case of chromoblastomycosis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi in a patient with a long history of fungal infection.

Chromoblastomycosis is defined as a chronic cutaneous and subcutaneous fungal infection caused by melanized or brown-pigmented fungi. A 63-year-old man farmer showed on external and internal part of the right arm, a well-delimited verrucous and hyperkeratotic plaque, with atrophic and cicatricial areas. Direct examination of skin scrapings samples showed the presence of muriform cells, a classic feature of chromoblastomycosis. Fungal isolation was performed in Sabouraud dextrose agar, and dark olivaceous colonies were isolated. Skin biopsy samples were obtained for histopathological and molecular diagnosis. DNA extracted from both, paraffin-embedded skin biopsy samples and fungal colonies, was used for molecular identification by 18S-ITS1-5.8S-ITS2-28S rRNA amplification and sequencing. Fonsecaea pedrosoi was identified from paraffin-embedded skin samples and fungal colonies. A combined therapy with terbinafine and itraconazole, plus cryotherapy was applied with an important improvement. Herein, we report an impressive case of chromoblastomycosis due to Fonsecaea pedrosoi with a successful outcome.

Modificación del abordaje quirúrgico en tumores estromales gástricos posterior a neoadyuvancia con Imatinib / Change of surgical approach in gastrointestinal stromal tumors after neoadyuvant therapy with Imatinib

Resumen Introducción: El tratamiento de los tumores estromales gastrointestinales (GIST) de alto riesgo es quirúrgico. Su resultado podría variar al usarse neoadyuvancia. Objetivo: Evaluar si el uso de la terapia neoadyuvante con imatinib puede cambiar el abordaje quirúrgico en los tumores estromales gastrointestinales de alto riesgo. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo en el Hospital Clínic de Barcelona entre enero de 2002 y mayo de 2016. Resultados: Se obtuvo un total de 8 pacientes. La edad media fue 66,1 ± 13,3 años. La ubicación del tumor fue de 37,5% (3) en el tercio superior, el 50% (4) en el tercio medio y el 12,5% (1) en el tercio inferior. Debido a la clasificación de riesgo alto, la ubicación y/o la necesidad de resecciones multiviscerales, se indicó, previa evaluación comité oncológico, realizar terapia neoadyuvante. La mediana de tiempo de neoadyuvancia fue de 30 semanas. En el 100% (8) de los casos se logró un cambio de enfoque quirúrgico después de la utilización de imatinib. En todos los casos se realizó un resección local (7 laparoscópica y 1 endolaparoscópica) con márgenes negativos La biopsia posoperatoria mostró un promedio de 51,2% de reducción del tamaño tumoral inicial, lo que resultó en una diferencia estadística (p < 0,01) con el tamaño inicial de las lesiones. Durante el seguimiento, tanto la sobrevida relacionada al tumor como la global, fue de un 100%. Conclusión: La terapia neoadyuvante podría cambiar el abordaje quirúrgico de los pacientes con GIST gástrico de riesgo intermedio o alto mediante la reducción del tamaño tumoral, permitiendo realizar cirugías más económicas y logrando resultados oncológicos adecuados.

Introduction: The treatment of high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) is surgical. Results may change when using neoadjuvant. Objetive: To evaluated if the use of neoadjuvant therapy with imatinib can change the surgical approach in high risk gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST). Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed from a prospective collected database in Hospital Clinic of Barcelona between January 2002 and May 2016. Results: A total of 8 patients were analyzed with a mean age of 66.1 ± 13.3 years. The tumor location was upper third 37.5% (3) cases, 50% (4) in the middle third and 12.5% (1) in lower third. Because of high risk classification, location and the need of multivisceral resections, neoadjuvant therapy was indicated. The median time of neoadjuvant therapy was 30 weeks. In 87.5% (7) cases a change of surgical approach was achieved after the use of imatinib. In 100% of our series laparoscopic wedge resection was performed achieving negative margins of resection. The postoperative biopsy showed 51.2% of reduction of initial tumor size, resulting in statistical difference (p < 0.01). All patients are alive and 100% of tumor related survival was achieved. Conclusion: Neoadjuvant therapy maybe can change the surgical approach of patients with high-intermediate risk gastric GIST by reducing tumor size. This response also eventually can achieve optimal oncological outcome.

Effect of pre-treatment on in vitro gastric digestion of quinoa protein (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) obtained by wet and dry fractionation.

Quinoa protein was isolated from quinoa seeds using wet fractionation that resulted in a protein isolate (QPI) with a high protein purity of 87.1% (w/dw) and a protein yield of around 54%, and a dry fractionation method delivered a quinoa protein concentrate (QPC) with a purity of 27.8% (w/dw) and yield of around 47%. The dry fractionation process only involves milling and sieving and keeps the protein in its natural, native state. The aim was to study the in vitro gastric digestibility of both protein. Attention was paid to thermal pre-treatment of QPI and QPC. QPC showed significantly higher (p < .05) digestibility than QPI samples. The results were interpreted with a simple double exponential model. The fraction of easily digested protein in QPC is higher than for QPI. The better digestibility of the QPC was explained by the prevention of the formation of large aggregates during pre-heating of the protein.

The arrangement of the coronary artery trunks is subject to inheritance factors: A study in Syrian hamsters.

The concept that anatomical variations in the coronary artery tree might be influenced by genes is relatively old. However, empirical evidence on the effect of genotype on the coronary morphology is still scarce. In the Syrian hamster, there is a septal coronary artery which arises from the left or from the right coronary artery and supplies most of the interventricular septum. The aim was to decide whether the anatomical origin of the septal artery is subject to inheritance factors. Overall, 483 internal casts of the heart and coronary arteries were examined. All the hamsters included in this study had normal coronary arteries. The results of 74 crosses were compared statistically to seek for any significant difference between the phenotypes of the offspring and the phenotypes of the parents. The left septal artery was over-represented in the offspring of crosses between parents having both a left septal artery (p < .01), while the right septal artery was over-represented in the offspring of crosses between parents, one with a right and the other with a left septal artery (p < .001), and, more markedly, in the offspring of crosses between parents both with a right septal artery (p < .001). These results are the first to reveal that the coronary artery pattern is influenced by genetic factors, at least in its proximal portion with regard to the aorta.

Gross anatomy of the heart of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos, Linnaeus 1758).

The available information about anatomical characteristics of the cardiovascular system of the alpaca (Vicugna pacos, Linnaeus 1758) is scarce. The general objective of this work was to describe its heart anatomy. We dissected six adult animals and five neonates. The heart of the alpaca was located in the middle mediastinum, with a craniocaudal extension from the third to the sixth rib. No ligament that connected the fibrous pericardium to the sternum or to the diaphragm was detected. In the right atrium, there was a developed crista terminalis and small pectinate muscles. In the right ventricle, the septomarginal trabecula was very large. From the proximities of the interventricular septum arose small septomarginal trabeculae that ended in carnous trabeculae of the septal wall. The left atrium included little developed pectinate muscles. On the left ventricle, both papillary muscles were bilobed. Two left septomarginal trabeculas were detected in this ventricle. The left subclavian artery was originated from the aortic arch separately from the brachiocephalic trunk, and bicarotid trunk was present. The other branches of the subclavian artery were similar to the domestic ruminants. The arterial supply of the heart was of the right type. In conclusion, the heart anatomy of alpaca and the irrigation of thoracic cavity were more similar to those of old world camels and different from domestic ruminants.

Pathological Findings in Wild Rats (Rattus rattus) Captured at Guafo Island, Northern Chilean Patagonia.

The black rat (Rattus rattus) is an invasive species and potential reservoir of significant pathogens of man, domestic animals and wildlife. During the 2012-2014 austral summers, 201 black rats were captured and examined on the uninhabited Guafo Island, in Northern Chilean Patagonia (43.593029°S, 74.713481°W). The mite Ornithonyssus bacoti caused lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic dermatitis in all infected rats (105/210, 52%), but no skin lesions were observed in rats infected with Nosopsyllus spp. and Plocopsylla spp. fleas. Eighty-eight rats (44%) had mild lymphoplasmacytic and eosinophilic enterocolitis and 61 of these rats were infected with the nematode Heterakis spumosa. In the liver, 63 animals (31%) had areas of necrosis with histiocytic and eosinophilic inflammation associated with multiple Calodium hepaticum eggs, and in 15 cases there was co-infection with several Taenia taeniaeformis strobilocerci. Mild interstitial lymphoplasmacytic sialadenitis with intranuclear inclusion bodies, suggesting cytomegalovirus infection, was observed in 28 rats (15%). In the lung, alveolar histiocytosis (69 rats, 34%) and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrates (46 rats, 23%) were the most common findings. There was mild to moderate lymphoplasmacytic interstitial nephritis in 52 rats (26%) and in 15% of these cases Leptospira spp. antigen was detected in the distal renal tubules. Some of the diseases of black rats on Guafo Island are likely to play a role in rat population dynamics. The endemic Guafo Island long-clawed mole mouse (Geoxus lafkenche), sea lions and fur seals may be at risk for infection by some of these rat pathogens.

Hookworm Infection in South American Fur Seal ( Arctocephalus australis) Pups.

Tissues of South American fur seal pups naturally infected with hookworms ( Uncinaria sp) were examined. Hookworm infection was found in nearly all pups examined (132/140, 94%), and hookworm enteritis with secondary bacteremia was considered the cause of death in 46 (35%) pups. Common findings in these pups included severe hemorrhagic enteritis and numerous (mean intensity = 761.8) hookworms in the jejunum. Hookworms were recovered from the abdominal cavity in 12 of 55 pups (22%) examined through peritoneal wash; these pups had an average of 1343.3 intestinal hookworms and marked fibrinohemorrhagic peritonitis. In all pups that died as a consequence of hookworm infection, the intestinal villi were short, blunt, and fused, and there were variable numbers of free and intrahistiocytic gram-negative bacteria in submucosal hookworm feeding tracks, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, blood vessels, and liver sinusoids. Pups that died of causes unrelated to the hookworm infection (trauma) had hookworm feeding tracks confined to the apical portions of the mucosa, and moderate to marked catarrhal eosinophilic enteritis. The number of hookworms was negatively correlated with intestinal villous length and number of leukocytes in the intestine. Pups with hookworm peritoneal penetration had nematodes with little or no blood in the hookworm intestine, suggesting that lack of food for the nematode could be associated with peritoneal penetration. Findings suggest that the initial burden of larval infection, the level of the host tissue response, or a combination determine the number of nematodes in the intestine, the severity of hookworm tissue damage, and pup mortality.

Anatomical, histochemical and immunohistochemical characterisation of the cardiac outflow tract of the silver arowana, Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (Teleostei: Osteoglossiformes).

The cardiac outflow tract of chondrichthyans and actinopterygians is composed of a myocardial conus arteriosus and a non-myocardial bulbus arteriosus. In teleosts, the conus has been subjected to a reduction in size over the evolution in conjunction with the further development of the bulbus. Most studies on the outflow tract of the teleost heart refer to species of modern groups and are mainly devoted to the bulbus. Knowledge on the outflow tract of species belonging to early teleost groups is scarce. The aim here was to characterise the structure of the cardiac outflow tract of the silver arowana, a representative of the ancient teleost clade of the Osteoglossomorpha. The material consisted of hearts from six juvenile animals. The cardiac outflow tract of the silver arowana is composed of a conus, which supports two conal valves, and a bulbus. Both components are lined externally by the epicardium and internally by the endocardium. The conus is immunoreactive to antibodies against myosin heavy chains and is composed of compact myocardium, thus contrasting with the ventricle, which has exclusively trabeculated myocardium. The bulbus is immunoreactive to antibodies against smooth muscle α-actin and mainly consists of elastic fibres and smooth muscle cells, both arranged in three layers, outer, middle and inner. The most remarkable feature of the bulbus is the presence of two prominent longitudinal ridges, dorsal and ventral, at the luminal side, which serve to anchor the commissures of the conal valves. This arrangement has not been described so far in any fish species. Pigment cells, presumably of neural crest origin, are present in the subepicardium of the bulbus and anterior part of the ventricle.

Unusual anatomical origins of the coronary arteries in C57BL/6 mice. Are they strain-specific?

A previous manuscript [Fernández B, et al. (2008) J Anat 212, 12] reported on the unusual coronary artery patterns in mice belonging to the C57BL/6 strain. The aim here was to elucidate whether this pattern is unique to C57BL/6 mice or appears in other laboratory mouse strains and in wild-living mice. Stereomicroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, light microscopy and a corrosion cast technique were used to examine 597 adult mice belonging to three inbred strains (C57BL/6, Balb/c, DBA/2), three outbred stocks (CD1, OF1, NMRI) two hybrid lines (129sv × BL/6, CD2F1) and wild mice. It was shown that lock-like ostium is an exclusive trait of C57BL/6 mice, whereas left septal artery, accessory ostium, high take-off, intramural course and solitary ostium in aorta are all present in the different laboratory strains and wild mice included in the present study. However, each mouse population shows a specific incidence of these coronary conditions. Several clinically relevant human coronary artery anomalies are present in healthy mice from different strains that may serve as animal models for humans. These results should be taken into consideration in research concerning the murine coronary system, especially in coronary artery occlusion experiments and in studies on cardiovascular developmental biology using murine mutant lines.