[Efficacy of an antibacterial filter for preventing contamination of respiratory function diagnostic equipment]. / Eficacia de un filtro antibacteriano en la prevención de la contaminación de equipos de exploración funcional respiratoria.

OBJECTIVES: Devices to assess lung function are a potential source of nosocomial infection. Our aims in this study were: 1) to determine the efficacy of an antimicrobial filter to prevent contamination of a multifunctional device; 2) to assess the ability of the filter to prevent cross contamination of individuals being tested; and 3) to evaluate the efficacy of the recommendations of the Spanish Society of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery for disinfecting lung function equipment. DESIGN: In this prospective, randomized study in two phases we used filters in phase 1 but not in phase 2. A pharyngeal swab culture was started within 7 days of a patient's lung function test. Swab samples for culturing were taken from three different places in the equipment at the beginning and end of each working day. PATIENTS: Sixty-five patients (31 in phase 1 and 34 in phase 2) were studied. Thirty-two (49.2%) were men and the mean age was 49.4 15.7 years. RESULTS: Significantly less equipment contamination was found in phase 1 (4.2%) than in phase 2 (21%). We detected no cases of cross contamination using the criteria in this study. No cultures from any of the samples taken before exploration were positive. CONCLUSIONS: a) The antimicrobial filter used is effective for preventing the contamination of lung function testing equipment, b) throughout both phases of the study, we observed no cross contamination of patients tested, such that we cannot conclude that the antimicrobial filter is effective for preventing possible nosocomial infections, c) the recommendations of SEPAR for disinfecting lung function equipment are effective.

Eficacia de un filtro antibacteriano en la prevenciónde la contaminación de equipos de exploraciónfuncional respiratoria / Efficacy of an antibacterial filter for preventing contamination of respiratory function diagnostic equipment

OBJETIVOS: Los equipos de evaluación de la función respiratoria constituyen una potencial fuente de infección nosocomial. En este estudio nos hemos propuesto: a) comprobar la eficacia de un filtro antimicrobiano en la prevención de la contaminación de un equipo multifunción; b) valorar la capacidad del filtro utilizado para evitar la contaminación cruzada entre los individuos que se exploran, y c) evaluar la efectividad de las recomendaciones de desinfección SEPAR para equipos de función pulmonar. DISEÑO: Realizamos un estudio prospectivo, aleatorio, que constó de dos fases: en la fase I utilizando filtros y en la fase II sin filtros. Llevamos a cabo frotis faríngeo, antes y a los 7 días de realizar un estudio de función pulmonar. También tomamos muestras (frotis) de tres puntos diferentes del equipo para su cultivo, al inicio y al final de cada jornada de trabajo. PACIENTES: Se incluyó en el estudio a 65 pacientes (31 en la fase I y 34 en la fase II), 32 de ellos varones (49,2 por ciento). La edad fue de 49,4 ñ 15,7 años. RESULTADOS: Encontramos contaminación del equipo en el 4,2 por ciento de las muestras en la fase I, cifra significativamente menor que la del 21 por ciento de la fase II. No detectamos, con el criterio empleado, ningún caso de contaminación cruzada. No obtuvimos cultivos positivos en ninguna muestra realizada antes de comenzar las sesiones de exploración. CONCLUSIONES: El filtro antimicrobiano utilizado es eficaz en la prevención de la contaminación del equipo de exploración funcional. No observamos contaminación cruzada en ninguno de los pacientes que exploramos durante todo el estudio, por lo que no podemos afirmar que el filtro antimicrobiano sea eficaz como medio de prevención de la potencial infección nosocomial. Las recomendaciones SEPAR son eficientes para desinfectar los equipos de función pulmonar (AU)

Pulmonary fibrosis induced by cyclophosphamide.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of pulmonary fibrosis resulting from use of cyclophosphamide as chemotherapy to treat a patient with breast cancer. CASE SUMMARY: We describe the case of a 52-year-old woman with breast cancer who developed pulmonary fibrosis after four cycles of chemotherapy that included cyclophosphamide. Pulmonary function tests revealed the presence of a severe ventilatory restriction. The open lung biopsy revealed pulmonary fibrosis with vascular sclerosis and signs of pulmonary hypertension. DISCUSSION: Cyclophosphamide is an alkylating agent that has been associated with interstitial pneumonia and pulmonary fibrosis. The frequency of these unwanted effects is <1%. The clinical picture consists of the progressive appearance of dyspnea and a non-productive cough that progresses to severe pulmonary insufficiency. The risk factors described for these complications have been the use of chemotherapy regimens that include other drugs with known pulmonary toxicities, the cumulative total dose, the addition of radiotherapy, and the use of high doses of cyclophosphamide. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the frequency of pulmonary fibrosis in patients treated with cyclophosphamide-based chemotherapy regimens is low, the presence of dyspnea and an interstitial pattern in a patient makes it necessary to consider that possible drug toxicity. The open lung biopsy is the most accurate diagnostic technique for these cases. The discontinuation of cyclophosphamide and treatment with corticosteroids is usually followed by clinical recovery in approximately 50% of patients and, in some cases, reversal of the lung injury.

[Relaxation therapy in patients with anxiety and somatoform disorders in primary care]. / Tratamiento de relajación en pacientes con trastornos de ansiedad y somatoformes en atención primaria.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of relaxation therapy on the symptomology of patients with anxiety and somatoform disorders. DESIGN: An experimental prospective study, controlled through random assignation, using evaluation scales. SETTING: Mn. Jaume Soler Health Centre, Cornellà (Barcelona). PATIENTS: 31 patients (8 men and 23 women), diagnosed with anxiety or previously untreated somatoform disorders, for whom combined anti-depressive and relaxation therapy over a 5-month period was established. The results were compared with those of a control group (n = 17) with identical diagnoses, which only received antidepressive medication. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The STAI tests and two pain scales were administered at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60 and 150 days and the HRS and SCL-90-R at 0 and 150 days. The possible impact of the psychiatric diagnosis, age, gender, married status, existence of concomitant physical illness, SRE, present employment status and the presence of children or not were all considered. The results pointed to a significant improvement over the period in the analogue-visual scale of pain (p = .009) and in the HRS (p = .046) for the group comprised of those complying with the relaxation therapy independently of the psychiatric diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: The benefit of relaxation in anxious and somatoform patients, when pain--and not anxiety--is the principal symptom, was confirmed. Depression improved when antidepressants were administered simultaneously, whereas anxiety varied little, at least during the time the trial lasted.

Selective chiral inhibition of Ca2+ entry promoted by bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinolines in rat uterus.

The effects of diltiazem and six bisbenzyltetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids (antioquine, 7-O-methylantioquine, dimethylantioquine, monterine, granjine and cordobimine) were studied in rat isolated uterus in order to clarify the mechanisms of their relaxant actions. All the compounds tested completely relaxed KCl-induced contractions and totally or partially inhibited oxytocin-induced rhythmic contractions. Only alkaloids with absolute configurations (1R,1'S or 1R,1'R) acted intracellularly, promoting relaxation of contractile responses induced by oxytocin in a Ca(2+)-free medium, as does papaverine. Alkaloids of the antioquine series (1S,1'R) selectively inhibited Ca2+ entry. The great rigidity of these structures and their stereoselective action make these alkaloids useful in studies of the conformational features of the Ca2+ channel.

[Antimicrobial activity of the epicarp of the fruits of Paulownia fortunei and Paulownia tomentosa]. / Actividad antimicrobiana del epicarpio de los frutos de Paulownia fortunei y Paulownia tomentosa.

One antimicrobial substance was obtained from the epicarp of the fruits of Paulownia fortunei and Paulownia tomentosa. Other parts of the fruits and leaves had no detectable antimicrobial activity. The substance was active in vitro for Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis while it had lower activity for Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and the lowest was for Escherichia coli. The active material was extracted with organic solvents (ether, ethanol and acetone). The activity "in vitro" was demonstrated by the method of dilution in nutrient agar media. The active substance looked as a resin and was insoluble in water at neutral or acid pH. It was very soluble in strong alkaline pH solution.

Actividad antimicrobiana del epicarpio de los frutos de Paulownia fortunei y Paulownia tomentosa. / Antimicrobial activity of the epicarp of the fruits Paulownia fortunei and Paulownia tomentosa

Del epicarpio de los frutos inmaduros de Paulownia fortunei y Paulownia tomentosa, se obtuvo una sustancia que "in vitro" mostro actividad inhibitoria sobre el desarrollo de Staphylococcus aureus y Bacillus subtilis, presentando menor actividad sobre Saccharomyces calsbergensis y menor aun sobre Escherichia coli a las concentraciones empleadas (de 12 microgramo/ml.a 230 microgramo/ml. La actividad antimicrobiana fue determinada por el metodo de diluciones en medio de cultivos agarizado, en tubos de ensayo y siembra en estria. La obtencion de la fraccion activa, de apariencia resinosa, se efectuo mediante extraccion con solventes organicos; fue soluble en agua a pH. neutro u acido y muy soluble a pH. fuertemente alcalino. Solo la piel de los frutos mostro actividad antibiotica.ca

Actividad antimicrobiana del epicarpio de los frutos de Paulownia fortunei y Paulownia tomentosa. / [Antimicrobial activity of the epicarp of the fruits of Paulownia fortunei and Paulownia tomentosa]

One antimicrobial substance was obtained from the epicarp of the fruits of Paulownia fortunei and Paulownia tomentosa. Other parts of the fruits and leaves had no detectable antimicrobial activity. The substance was active in vitro for Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis while it had lower activity for Saccharomyces carlsbergensis and the lowest was for Escherichia coli. The active material was extracted with organic solvents (ether, ethanol and acetone). The activity [quot ]in vitro[quot ] was demonstrated by the method of dilution in nutrient agar media. The active substance looked as a resin and was insoluble in water at neutral or acid pH. It was very soluble in strong alkaline pH solution.

Actividad antimicrobiana del epicarpio de los frutos de Paulownia fortunei y Paulownia tomentosa. / Antimicrobial activity of the epicarp of the fruits Paulownia fortunei and Paulownia tomentosa

Del epicarpio de los frutos inmaduros de Paulownia fortunei y Paulownia tomentosa, se obtuvo una sustancia que "in vitro" mostro actividad inhibitoria sobre el desarrollo de Staphylococcus aureus y Bacillus subtilis, presentando menor actividad sobre Saccharomyces calsbergensis y menor aun sobre Escherichia coli a las concentraciones empleadas (de 12 microgramo/ml.a 230 microgramo/ml. La actividad antimicrobiana fue determinada por el metodo de diluciones en medio de cultivos agarizado, en tubos de ensayo y siembra en estria. La obtencion de la fraccion activa, de apariencia resinosa, se efectuo mediante extraccion con solventes organicos; fue soluble en agua a pH. neutro u acido y muy soluble a pH. fuertemente alcalino. Solo la piel de los frutos mostro actividad antibiotica.ca

[Description of Streptomyces malvinense nov. sp. isolated from the soil of Islas Malvinas]. / Descripción de Streptomyces malvinense nov. sp. aislado del suelo de las Islas Malvinas.

In the course of a study on antibiotic activity of microorganisms isolated from soil samples from Port Stanley, Islas Malvinas, Argentina, four thermophilic Actinomycetes were sudied. The four strains had the same morphological and physiological characteristics. The new species belonged to Seccion Rectiflexibilis genus Streptomyces and had the following characteristics: sporophores straight, round spores of 1,5 or 2 millimicron in diameter. The colonies in agar meat peptone were round, flat, mealy, with fimbriate edges, odorless, friable, easy to emulsify and the aerial mycelium was white to light gray. The sporulation was rapid (less of 24 hours at 50 degrees C), the microorganisms grew in media with organic nitrogen and his ability to utilize carbon was scarce, only a trace of growth was detected with manitol (20 days at 50 degrees C). No growth was observed in gliceril-asparagine agar and the utilization of glucose was scarce or absent. It produced coagulation and peptonization of milk and liquifaction of gelatin. Neither was starch hidrolized nor nitrate reduced. The optimun growth temperature was between 45 - 60 degrees C. Very resistant to high temperatures having a thermal death point of more that 2 hours at 100 degrees C. It produced SH2.

Descripción de Streptomyces malvinense nov. sp. aislado del suelo de las Islas Malvinas. / [Description of Streptomyces malvinense nov. sp. isolated from the soil of Islas Malvinas]

In the course of a study on antibiotic activity of microorganisms isolated from soil samples from Port Stanley, Islas Malvinas, Argentina, four thermophilic Actinomycetes were sudied. The four strains had the same morphological and physiological characteristics. The new species belonged to Seccion Rectiflexibilis genus Streptomyces and had the following characteristics: sporophores straight, round spores of 1,5 or 2 millimicron in diameter. The colonies in agar meat peptone were round, flat, mealy, with fimbriate edges, odorless, friable, easy to emulsify and the aerial mycelium was white to light gray. The sporulation was rapid (less of 24 hours at 50 degrees C), the microorganisms grew in media with organic nitrogen and his ability to utilize carbon was scarce, only a trace of growth was detected with manitol (20 days at 50 degrees C). No growth was observed in gliceril-asparagine agar and the utilization of glucose was scarce or absent. It produced coagulation and peptonization of milk and liquifaction of gelatin. Neither was starch hidrolized nor nitrate reduced. The optimun growth temperature was between 45 - 60 degrees C. Very resistant to high temperatures having a thermal death point of more that 2 hours at 100 degrees C. It produced SH2.

Descripción de Streptomyces malvinense nov. sp. aislado del suelo de las Islas Malvinas / [Description of Streptomyces malvinense nov. sp. isolated from the soil of Islas Malvinas]

In the course of a study on antibiotic activity of microorganisms isolated from soil samples from Port Stanley, Islas Malvinas, Argentina, four thermophilic Actinomycetes were sudied. The four strains had the same morphological and physiological characteristics. The new species belonged to Seccion Rectiflexibilis genus Streptomyces and had the following characteristics: sporophores straight, round spores of 1,5 or 2 millimicron in diameter. The colonies in agar meat peptone were round, flat, mealy, with fimbriate edges, odorless, friable, easy to emulsify and the aerial mycelium was white to light gray. The sporulation was rapid (less of 24 hours at 50 degrees C), the microorganisms grew in media with organic nitrogen and his ability to utilize carbon was scarce, only a trace of growth was detected with manitol (20 days at 50 degrees C). No growth was observed in gliceril-asparagine agar and the utilization of glucose was scarce or absent. It produced coagulation and peptonization of milk and liquifaction of gelatin. Neither was starch hidrolized nor nitrate reduced. The optimun growth temperature was between 45 - 60 degrees C. Very resistant to high temperatures having a thermal death point of more that 2 hours at 100 degrees C. It produced SH2.