Accidente isquémico transitorio medular como presentación de aneurisma disecante de aorta. Descripción de caso y revisión de la literatura / Dissecting aortic aneurysm presenting as transient spinal cord ischaemia: A case report and literature review

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Estudio de la eficacia de sellado en el periodo interdialítico largo para catéteres de hemodiálisis disfuncionantes / Study of sealing efficiency in the long interdialytic period for dysfunctioning hemodialysis catheters

El sellado de los catéteres venosos tunelizados con distintas soluciones se ha utilizado tanto en la prevención como en el tratamiento de complicaciones, sin embargo, no existe la solución ideal. El objetivo del estudio es comparar las complicaciones de de los catéteres disfuncionantes con diferentes pautas de sellado de fin de semana, Urokinasa 10.000 UI vs TauroLock(TM)-U25.000, así como eficacia dialítica de los mismos. Se trata de un estudio observacional longitudinal de cohorte en el que se analizan los casos de infección, trombosis y funcionalidad del catéter tunelizado. Se incluyen sólo los pacientes con catéter disfuncionante que tenían previamente prescrita una pauta de sellado con urokinasa en el periodo interdialítico largo. El periodo de estudio fue de cuatro meses; dos con sellado con 10.000 UI de Urokinasa y dos con sellado de TauroLock(TM)-U25.000. Las medias de Urokinasa vs Taurolidina: flujo sanguíneo, PV, recirculación, KT (53.3/55L), manipulación y dosis extra de urokinasa fueron mejor en el periodo de Taurolock, aunque no se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas. La media de PA es cercana a la significación (p=0.067) mejor también en el periodo de Taurolock. Hubo una diferencia en la media de KT favorable al periodo de Taurolock que no tiene significación estadística y es exclusivo de los pacientes que no necesitaron urokinasa extra. La principal limitación de nuestro estudio es el tamaño muestral que puede ser el responsable en parte, de la ausencia de significación estadística. Son necesarios estudios con mayor número de pacientes (AU)

The sealing of the tunneled venous catheters with different solutions has been used both in prevention and in the treatment of complications, however, there is no ideal solution. The aim of the study is to compare the complications of dysfunctional catheters with different weekend sealing patterns, Urokinase 10,000 IU vs TauroLock(TM) -U25,000, as well as dialytic efficacy of both substances. A longitudinal observational cohort study in which the cases of infection, thrombosis and functionality of the tunneled catheter were analyzed. Only patients with a dysfunctioning catheter who had previously prescribed a sealing pattern with urokinase in the long interdialytic period were included. The study period was four months; two months sealed with 10,000 IU of Urokinase and the other ones, sealed with TauroLock (TM) -U25,000. Urokinase vs Taurolidine averages: blood flow, venous pressure, recirculation, KT (53.3 / 55L), manipulation and extra doses of urokinase were better in the Taurolock period, although no statistically significant differences were found. The mean arterial pressure is close to the significance (p = 0.067), also better in the Taurolock period. There was a difference in the KT mean, favorable to the Taurolock period, which has no statistical significance and is exclusive to patients who did not require extra urokinase. The main limitation of our study is the sample size that may be partly responsible for the absence of statistical significance. Studies with more patients are necessary (AU)

Pre-freezing raw hams affects quality traits in cooked hams: potential influence of protein oxidation.

The influence of protein carbonylation and lipid oxidation on colour and texture changes in cooked hams from fresh and pre-frozen (frozen/thawed) raw material was studied. Samples from three muscles, biceps femoris (BF) quadriceps femoris (QF) and semimembranosus (SM) were analysed for the gain of specific protein carbonyls, α-aminoadipic and γ-glutamic semialdehydes, the gain of TBA-RS and their colour and texture properties by instrumental and sensory techniques. The formation of protein carbonyls occurred concomitantly with an intense loss of redness and increase of hardness. Both phenomena were found to be more intense in QF and SM muscles in cooked hams elaborated from frozen material. Lipid oxidation played a negligible role on the impaired quality traits observed in cooked hams as a result of pre-freezing. Plausible mechanisms by which protein carbonylation may be implicated in the loss of quality in cooked hams produced from pre-frozen material are discussed.

Eficacia del uso de bioconectores para los catéteres centrales de hemodiálisis. “Premio Covidien Quinton al mejor trabajo de investigación sobre catéteres permanentes 2010” / Efficacy of the use of bioconnectors for central catheters in haemodialysis

Los catéteres tunelizados (CT) constituyen el acceso vascular de hemodiálisis (HD) en un porcentaje elevadísimo de pacientes. La utilización de CT se asocia a dos problemas fundamentales: disfunción e infecciones. Según las guías de la Sociedad Española de Nefrología (SEN), en los pacientes en HD se aconseja el empleo de tapones de un solo uso con rosca de seguridad (luer-lock). En el mercado existen también bioconectores, que son dispositivos mecánica y microbiológicamente cerrados. La ventaja que ofrecen es la menor manipulación de la luz del catéter al cambiarse una vez por semana. Se realizó un estudio en nuestro centro analizando en una muestra de 14 pacientes portadores de CT, dos periodos consecutivos, un primer periodo siguiendo el protocolo de conexión convencional y el segundo utilizando los bioconectores TEGO. Se analizaron presiones arterial y venosa, flujos sanguíneos, Kt, Kt/v y tasa de bacteriemia. No se obtuvieron diferencias significativas en estos parámetros con el uso de dispositivos TEGO frente al uso convencional. Podemos concluir que el uso de tapones TEGO no afecta a los parámetros dialíticos. No obstante, debemos considerar el manejo de cualquier tipo de dispositivo como secundario en la prevención de bacteriemias, ya que se ha demostrado que son las medidas universales de asepsia las que logran una tasa de bacteriemias muy baja (AU)

Tunnelled catheters (TC) are the vascular access used in haemodialysis (HD) for a very high percentage of patients. The use of TC is associated to two fundamental problems: dysfunction and infections. According to the guidelines established by the Spanish Nephrology Society (SEN), the use of luer-lock catheters is recommended in HD patients. On the market there are also bioconnectors, which are mechanically and microbiologically sealed devices. The advantage they offer is better handling of the catheter lumen when changed once a week. A study was carried out at our centre analysing two consecutive periods in a sample of 14 patients with CT. In the first period the conventional connection protocol was followed and in the second TEGO bioconnectors were used. Arterial and venous blood pressure was measured, blood flows, Kt, Kt/v and bacteraemia rate. No significant differences were obtained in these parameters with the use of TEGO devices compared to conventional use. We may conclude that the use of TEGO locks does not affect the dialytic parameters. However, we should consider the handling of any type of device as secondary in the prevention of bacteraemia, as it has been proved that universal aseptic measures are what achieve a very low bacteraemia rate (AU)

Analysis of protein carbonyls in meat products by using the DNPH-method, fluorescence spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS).

Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) was applied as an advanced methodology to study the suitability of using α-aminoadipic semialdehyde (AAS) and γ-glutamic semialdehyde (GGS) as protein oxidation markers in meat products. The results obtained were compared to those obtained by using the DNPH-method and fluorescence spectroscopy for the analysis of protein carbonyls. Lipid oxidation was also investigated in order to elucidate the relationship between lipid and protein oxidation measurements. Both semialdehydes were originally detected in a food system which proves that lysine, arginine and proline are degraded as a result of oxidative reactions to yield AAS and GGS in meat products. A lack of consistency was observed between the MS results for AAS and GGS and the values obtained by the DNPH-method and the fluorescence spectroscopy. Unlike the last two methods, AAS and GGS measurements have proved to be unaffected by the composition or the structure of the food matrix providing precise information about the fate of particular amino acids during processing of muscle foods. These semialdehydes, and particularly GGS, could be used as indicators of protein oxidation in meat products like TBARS numbers are commonly used as lipid oxidation markers. In fact, a significant correlation was found between GGS values and TBARS highlighting the timely interaction between lipid and protein oxidation.

Spatial and temporal variations of meiofaunal communities from the western sector of the Gulf of Batabanó, Cuba: III. Vertical distribution

The vertical distribution of meiofauna within subtidal sediments was studied in four stations pertaining to mangrove or muddy flats habitats. In 2003, replicated samples were taken in dry (February) and wet (July) seasons at the Bacunagua Inlet, southwestern coast of Cuba. The abundance and number of meiofaunal taxa exhibited a vertical gradient possibly due to changes in the concentrations of oxygen and hydrogen sulphide, rather than food availability along this gradient. Nematodes are capable of distributing themselves throughout the whole sediment column due to their ability to tolerate reducing conditions; however depletion of communities along depth was evident. Their presence in deeper sediments (6 - 10 cm) suggests that certain species are adequately adapted to spend their entire life cycle in these harsh environments (where soluble tannins and decomposing organic matter predominate). Copepods showed a strong limitation to vertical distribution (concentrating in the top 2 cm), possibly in response to a sharp vertical decline in oxygenation within these organically enriched sediments. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (3): 1127-1134. Epub 2008 September 30.

Se estudió la distribución vertical de la meiofauna dentro de los sedimentos en cuatro estaciones ubicadas en manglares y planos fangosos. En el año 2003, tomamos muestras (con repetición) en época de seca (febrero) y de lluvia (julio) en la ensenada de Bacunagua, costa suroccidental de Cuba. La abundancia y el número de táxones de la meiofauna mostraron un gradiente vertical debido posiblemente a cambios en las concentraciones de oxígeno y sulfuro de hidrógeno, más que a la disponibilidad de alimento a lo largo del gradiente. Los nemátodos son capaces de distribuirse a través de la columna de sedimento debido a su habilidad para tolerar condiciones reducidas; sin embargo, fue evidente la reducción de las comunidades con la profundidad. Su presencia en los sedimentos profundos (6-10 cm) sugiere que ciertas especies están adecuadamente adaptadas a permanecer todo su ciclo de vida en un ambiente adverso (donde predominan los taninos solubles y la descomposición de la materia orgánica). Los copépodos mostraron una fuerte limitación en su distribución vertical (concentrándose en los 2 cm superficiales) posiblemente como respuesta a un gradiente marcado en la oxigenación dentro de estos sedimentos enriquecidos orgánicamente.

Spatial and temporal variations of meiofaunal communities from the western sector of the Gulf of Batabanó, Cuba: III. Vertical distribution.

The vertical distribution of meiofauna within subtidal sediments was studied in four stations pertaining to mangrove or muddy flats habitats. In 2003, replicated samples were taken in dry (February) and wet (July) seasons at the Bacunagua Inlet, southwestern coast of Cuba. The abundance and number of meiofaunal taxa exhibited a vertical gradient possibly due to changes in the concentrations of oxygen and hydrogen sulphide, rather than food availability along this gradient. Nematodes are capable of distributing themselves throughout the whole sediment column due to their ability to tolerate reducing conditions; however depletion of communities along depth was evident. Their presence in deeper sediments (6 - 10 cm) suggests that certain species are adequately adapted to spend their entire life cycle in these harsh environments (where soluble tannins and decomposing organic matter predominate). Copepods showed a strong limitation to vertical distribution (concentrating in the top 2 cm), possibly in response to a sharp vertical decline in oxygenation within these organically enriched sediments.

Antibacterial activity of Rhizophora mangle bark.

The aqueous extract of Rhizophora mangle bark, also formulated to ensure physical and chemical stability, was found to inhibit the growth of seven bacteria frequent in infected wounds.

Y-chromosomal diversity in Europe is clinal and influenced primarily by geography, rather than by language.

Clinal patterns of autosomal genetic diversity within Europe have been interpreted in previous studies in terms of a Neolithic demic diffusion model for the spread of agriculture; in contrast, studies using mtDNA have traced many founding lineages to the Paleolithic and have not shown strongly clinal variation. We have used 11 human Y-chromosomal biallelic polymorphisms, defining 10 haplogroups, to analyze a sample of 3,616 Y chromosomes belonging to 47 European and circum-European populations. Patterns of geographic differentiation are highly nonrandom, and, when they are assessed using spatial autocorrelation analysis, they show significant clines for five of six haplogroups analyzed. Clines for two haplogroups, representing 45% of the chromosomes, are continentwide and consistent with the demic diffusion hypothesis. Clines for three other haplogroups each have different foci and are more regionally restricted and are likely to reflect distinct population movements, including one from north of the Black Sea. Principal-components analysis suggests that populations are related primarily on the basis of geography, rather than on the basis of linguistic affinity. This is confirmed in Mantel tests, which show a strong and highly significant partial correlation between genetics and geography but a low, nonsignificant partial correlation between genetics and language. Genetic-barrier analysis also indicates the primacy of geography in the shaping of patterns of variation. These patterns retain a strong signal of expansion from the Near East but also suggest that the demographic history of Europe has been complex and influenced by other major population movements, as well as by linguistic and geographic heterogeneities and the effects of drift.

Recent male-mediated gene flow over a linguistic barrier in Iberia, suggested by analysis of a Y-chromosomal DNA polymorphism.

We have examined the worldwide distribution of a Y-chromosomal base-substitution polymorphism, the T/C transition at SRY-2627, where the T allele defines haplogroup 22; sequencing of primate homologues shows that the ancestral state cannot be determined unambiguously but is probably the C allele. Of 1,191 human Y chromosomes analyzed, 33 belong to haplogroup 22. Twenty-nine come from Iberia, and the highest frequencies are in Basques (11%; n=117) and Catalans (22%; n=32). Microsatellite and minisatellite (MSY1) diversity analysis shows that non-Iberian haplogroup-22 chromosomes are not significantly different from Iberian ones. The simplest interpretation of these data is that haplogroup 22 arose in Iberia and that non-Iberian cases reflect Iberian emigrants. Several different methods were used to date the origin of the polymorphism: microsatellite data gave ages of 1,650, 2,700, 3,100, or 3,450 years, and MSY1 gave ages of 1,000, 2,300, or 2,650 years, although 95% confidence intervals on all of these figures are wide. The age of the split between Basque and Catalan haplogroup-22 chromosomes was calculated as only 20% of the age of the lineage as a whole. This study thus provides evidence for direct or indirect gene flow over the substantial linguistic barrier between the Indo-European and non-Indo-European-speaking populations of the Catalans and the Basques, during the past few thousand years.