All-electron Gaussian basis sets of double zeta quality for the actinides.

For the actinides, two segmented all-electron basis sets of valence double zeta quality plus polarization functions (DZP) are developed. One of them must be used along with the non-relativistic Hamiltonian, whereas the other with the Douglas-Kroll-Hess (DKH) one. Adding diffuse functions of s, p, d, f, and g symmetries to the non-relativistic and relativistic sets, augmented basis sets are developed. These functions are essential to describe correctly electrons far away from the nuclei. For some compounds, geometric parameters, atomic charges and valence orbital populations of the actinides, and bond dissociation energies are calculated using the Becke 3-parameter (exchange) and the Lee, Yang, and Parr (correlation) functional in conjunction with the DZP-DKH basis set. For Am and No, the static electric mean dipole polarizabilities are also reported. Comparison with benchmark theoretical and experimental values found in the literature is carried out. It is verified that the performances of the relativistic compact size basis sets generated in this work are regular, efficient, and reliable. They will be extremely helpful in molecular property calculations that need explicitly to consider the core electrons.

[Recommendations for respiratory support in the newborn (iii). Surfactant and nitric oxide]. / Recomendaciones para la asistencia respiratoria en el recién nacido (iii). Surfactante y óxido nítrico.

The recommendations included in this document will be part a series of updated reviews of the literature on respiratory support in the newborn infant. These recommendations are structured into twelve modules, and in this work module 7 is presented. Each module is the result of a consensus process including all members of the Surfactant and Respiratory Group of the Spanish Society of Neonatology. They represent a summary of the published papers on each specific topic, and of the clinical experience of each one of the members of the group.

Hambúrgueres de aparas de jacaré-do-pantanal (Caiman yacare) submetidos a diferentes técnicas de defumação / Hamburguers from pantanal caiman meat (Caiman yacare) subjected to different smoking techniques

Avaliaram-se hambúrgueres de aparas de jacaré-do-pantanal (Caiman yacare) quanto à composição centesimal, cor e análise sensorial. O delineamento foi inteiramente ao acaso, em três tratamentos: T1= sem defumação; T2= defumação a quente e T3= defumação líquida, e nove repetições. As aparas foram moídas e condimentadas para o hambúrguer. Os hambúrgueres para defumação a quente foram colocados no defumador 60 min a 60ºC com gerador de fumaça por fricção. Foi pulverizada fumaça líquida, sobre os produtos (T3), e estes foram colocados em desidratador por 60 min a 60ºC. Houve diferença significativa quanto à composição centesimal entre os hambúrgueres defumados, T2 = 43,1% e T3 = 60,9%, e verificou-se menor teor de umidade em relação aos sem defumação, 73,3%. A proteína, 39,9%, e as cinzas, 6,1%, foram mais altas nos defumados a quente. Os hambúrgueres defumados a quente apresentaram menor luminosidade, 42,05, e maiores valores do croma a*, 14,65, e b*, 28,57, em relação aos demais tratamentos. As variáveis sensoriais foram significativas para sabor, textura e aceitação geral. Os produtos defumados a quente apresentaram a pior aceitação. Concluiu-se que a defumação a quente proporciona produtos com menor teor de umidade, com pigmentação mais intensa, porém menos aceitos pelos provadores.

Hamburgers made from minced meat of Pantanal caiman (Caiman yacare) were evaluated for their centesimal composition, color and sensory perception. The experiment was structured in a completely randomized design with three treatments (T1 = no smoke; T2 = smoked with hot smoke and T3 = smoked with liquid smoke), with nine repetitions each. The meat was minced and seasoned for the hamburgers. The hamburgers destined to hot smoking were placed in the smoker (60 min at 60ºC) with smoke generated through friction. The liquid smoke was sprayed in the samples (T3), next they were placed in dehydrators (60 min at 60ºC). There was a significant difference in centesimal composition, the smoked hamburgers (T2 = 43.1% and T3 = 60.9%) presenting significantly less moisture than non-smoked products (73.3%). Protein (39.9%) and ash (6.1%) were higher for the hot-smoked samples. The hot-smoked hamburgers had less luminosity (42.05) and higher values of chroma a* (14.65) and b* (28.57) than the other treatments. The sensorial parameters evaluated were significant for flavor, texture and general acceptance. The hot-smoked products had the worst acceptance. It was concluded that the hot smoke provided products with less moisture and higher pigmentation, but with less acceptance from the judges.

Bilbao cuenta con la primera clínica especializada en el tratamiento multidisciplinar del dolor crónico / No disponible

No disponible

Testes físico-mecânicos e físico-químicos do couro da tilápia vermelha / Physical-mechanical and physical-chemical tests of red tilapia leather

Realizaram-se testes físico-mecânicos e físico-químicos em couro de tilápia vermelha (Oreochromis spp.) a fim de testar a sua resistência. As amostras foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso com dois tratamentos: no T1, procedeu-se à retirada do corpo-de-prova no sentido longitudinal e, no T2, à retirada do corpo-de-prova no sentido transversal. Para os testes de determinação da resistência à tração, alongamento e rasgamento progressivo, foi utilizado o dinamômetro EMIC, com velocidade de afastamento entre as cargas de 100 ± 20mm/min, em ambiente climatizado (± 23ºC e UR do ar de 50 por cento), por 24 horas. A espessura do couro variou de 0,61 a 0,75mm, mas não houve diferença entre os sentidos analisados. O couro apresentou maior resistência à tração no sentido transversal, 25,89N/mm², (P<0,01), comparado ao sentido longitudinal, 14,20 N/mm². O alongamento foi significativamente (P<0,05) maior no sentido longitudinal, 80,8 por cento, em relação ao transversal, 62,6 por cento. Não houve diferença para o rasgamento progressivo entre os tratamentos. O couro apresentou teor de óxido de cromo de 3,8 por cento, graxa de 15,1 por cento e pH e cifra diferencial de 3,5 e 0,5, respectivamente. Os valores nos testes de resistência e físico-químicos apresentados pelo couro indicam que ele pode ser utilizado para a confecção de vestuário e artefatos de couro em geral.

Physical-mechanical and physical-chemical tests were carried out on red tilapia leather. They were distributed in a completely randomized design with two treatments: T1 = longitudinal body of proof; T2 = transversal body of proof. It was used the EMIC dynamometer for the tests of resistance to traction and elongation and the progressive tearing, with the speed of 100±20mm/min away between the charges, in an acclimatized room (±23ºC and relative humidity of 50 percent) during 24 hours. The thickness of the analyzed leathers ranged from 0.61 to 0.75mm, without differing between the analyzed ways. The leather demonstrated a higher resistance to traction in the transversal direction (25.89N/mm²) (P<0.01), when compared to the longitudinal one (14.20N/mm²). However, the elongation was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the longitudinal direction (80.8 percent) when compared to the transversal (62.6 percent). There was no significant difference for the progressive tearing between the treatments (longitudinal = 18.56N/mm; transversal = 21.90N/mm). The leather demonstrated a content of 3.8 percent of chromium oxide, 15.1 percent of grease, and pH and difference value of 3.5 and 0.5, respectively. The values in the resistance and physical-chemical tests shown by the leather indicate that it may be used for clothing and leather artifacts in general.

A Multielement Tactile Feedback System for Robot-Assisted Minimally Invasive Surgery.

A multi-element tactile feedback (MTF) system has been developed to translate the force distribution, in magnitude and position, from 3times2 sensor arrays on surgical robotic end-effectors to the fingers via 3times2 balloon tactile displays. High detection accuracies from perceptual tests (> 96%) suggest that MTF may be an effective means to improve robotic control.

Tactile Feedback Induces Reduced Grasping Force in Robot-Assisted Surgery.

Robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery has gained widespread use over the past decade, but the technique is currently operated in the absence of haptic feedback during tissue manipulation. We have developed a complete tactile feedback system, consisting of a piezoresistive force sensor, control system, and pneumatic balloon tactile display, and mounted directly onto a da Vinci surgical robotic system. To evaluate the effect of tactile feedback on robotic manipulation, a group of novices (n = 16) and experts ( n = 4) were asked to perform three blocks of peg transfer tasks with the tactile feedback system in place. Force generated at the end-effectors was measured in all three blocks, but tactile feedback was active only during the middle block. All subjects used higher force when the feedback system was inactive. When active, subjects immediately used substantially less force and still maintained appropriate grip during the task. After the system was again turned off, grip force increased significantly to prefeedback levels. These results demonstrate that robotic manipulations without tactile feedback are done with more force than needed to grasp objects. Therefore, the addition of tactile feedback allows the surgeon to grasp with less force, and may improve control of the robotic system and handling of tissues and other objects.

Medida de la calidad de vida mediante las láminas Coop-Wonca en una muestra de pacientes con fibromialgia tratadas con pregabalina / No disponible

Objetivo: En el seguimiento de los enfermos de Fibromialgia interesa conocer los resultados obtenidos en medidas que reflejen la repercusión sobre la Calidad de Vida Relacionada con la Salud (CVRS) de los pacientes. Este interés aumenta cuando se utiliza un fármaco novedoso como es pregabalina, un anticonvulsivante de última generación, que se une a la subunidad a2-d de los canales del calcio. Utilizando como instrumento las láminas COOP-WONCA ( versión validada española de Nottingham Health Profile ) nos planteamos estudiar si pregabalina mejora la percepción de calidad de vida de un grupo de pacientes con Fibromialgia. Métodos: Este estudio comparó los resultados de las láminas Coop-Wonca sin pregabalina, con pregabalina a dosis de 300 y de 600 mg/día en un grupo de 16 pacientes con Fibromialgia. En todos los casos se mantuvieron sus tratamientos habituales. Resultados: No hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los resultados de las láminas Coop-Wonca al añadir pregabalina a dosis de 300 mg/día y 600 mg/día ( p ‹ 0.05 ). Los efectos secundarios más frecuentes fueron mareo y aumento de peso. Conclusión: Las viñetas Coop-Wonca como instrumento de medida la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud no mostraron mejoría en nuestra muestra de 16 pacientes con FM cuando se añadió pregabalina al tratamiento. Creemos que se precisa un estudio más amplio con un número mayor de pacientes para extraer más conclusiones al respecto (AU)

Objective: About the evolution of patients with Fibromyalgia it is interesting to know the results of measures assesing of the health-related quality of life.The interest annhace with the use of a new drug, pregabalin, the lastest generation anti-convulsivant, a ligand of a2-d subunit of calcium chanels. Helped by the COOP-WONCA charts ( reliable Spanish version of Nottingham Health Profile) our aim is determine if pregabalin improve the health-related quality of life in a group of Fibromyalgia affected patients. Methods: This trial compared the results of Coop-Wonca charts without pregabalin, with dosis of 300 and 600 mg/day pregabalin in a group of 16 patients with Fibromyalgia. All patients were continuated with their medications. Results: Pregabalin at 300 and 600 mg/day did not significantly improvement in the results of Coop/Wonca charts (p ‹ 0.05). Dizziness and weight gain were the most frequent adverse events. Conclusion: The scale of health-related quality of life Coop/Wonca did not result in improvement in our group of 16 patientes with Fibromyalgia when pregabalin was add to the treatment. Further study with a large group of patients is necessary to draw more conclusions on this point (AU)

[Role of peritoneal drainage in very low birth weight with enterocolitis]. / Papel del drenaje peritoneal en la enterocolitis del prematuro crítico.

UNLABELLED: Peritoneal drainage (PD) has been proposed as a temporizing procedure for perforated necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in very low birth weight neonates. This operation was designed for patients considered too unstable to undergo laparotomy (LAP). Since the introduction of PD some investigators have suggested that it may serve as a definitive therapy. The aim of our study is to determine the efficacy of PD for the stabilization of patients with complicated NEC and its utility as a definitive surgical treatment. METHODS: We review the clinical records from all the patients treated in our unit because of NEC that required surgical therapy. We analyze the mean blood pressure, cardiac and respiratory rate, inspired oxygen concentration, mean airway pressure, diuresis, and arterial blood gases measured 6 and 12 hours after the initial surgical treatment. We divide patients in two different groups according to the initial surgical procedure, peritoneal drainage (PD) or laparotomy group (LAP). Data is shown as media +/- standard deviation, statistical analyses were performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures and Mann-Withney test. RESULTS: From January 1997 to January 2001 we treated 13 patients with necrotizing enterocolitis that required surgical treatment. Among this group 6 patients were managed initially with PD and 7 with LAP. The gestational age media was 29.07 +/- 3.81 weeks and the birth weight mean 1199.76 +/- 521 gr., without any significant differences between the two groups DP and LAP. All patients improved haemodynamically and respiratory 6 and 12 hours after the surgical treatment. Nevertheless, the mean blood pressure improved even more in the DP group (p<0.005). The DP group showed an improvement in all parameters 6 hours after the drainage was placed, but this effect wasn't maintained for the next 12 hours onwards. From the 12 hours after PD all patients suffered a steady worsening that required further surgical procedures. The overall mortality was 3 patients (23%), without differences between the two groups. The surgical techniques performed (bowel resection, diversion) were similar for both groups. DISCUSSION: DP allows the stabilization for very critically ill patients with complicated NEC. However, this stabilization is temporary. This improvement lasts for a few hours providing a better status for the definitive surgical treatment for the perforated NEC. In our experience DP could not be considered as a definitive surgical treatment.

Oxigenación por membrana extracorpórea / Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation

Las siglas ECMO (que significa oxigenación por membrana extracorpórea) se conocen internacionalmente como una forma de soporte cardiorrespiratorio prolongado con circulación extracorpórea. Él uso de ELMO se reserva para aquellas situaciones reversibles con fallo respiratorio o cardiorrespiratorio grave con falta de respuesta al tratamiento convencional o respuesta insuficiente. En España, y tras algunos casos aislados notificados de circulación extracorpórea prolongada, se inició el programa de ELMO en octubre de 1997 en el Hospital General Universitario "Gregorio Marañón" de Madrid, habiéndose tratado hasta la actualidad 64 pacientes neonatales y pediátricos (año 2002).En este trabajo realizamos una revisión de las indicaciones, riesgos y resultados de esta útil y novedosa técnica (AU)

Safety and efficacy of intrathecal baclofen infusion by implantable pump for the treatment of severe spinal spasticity: a spanish multicenter study.

Objective. To assess long-term efficacy, safety and functional benefit of intrathecal baclofen for severe spinal spasticity. Materials and Methods. This prospective multicenter study was performed in two stages: the first one consisted of an intrathecal bolus injection of baclofen, and the second of a continuous intrathecal baclofen infusion by means of an implantable pump. The sample consisted of 72 adult patients with severe spinal spasticity. Sixty-four were implanted and followed for 36 months. Muscular tone, spasms, and functional scales were evaluated before and periodically after administration of the drug, with a follow-up period of 36 months. Results. A very significant decrease in tone and spasms was observed in all cases (p < 0.001). Tolerance appeared during the first 12 months, increasing doses from a mean initial dose of 83.2 µg (range 25-200 µg) to a mean final dose of 270 µg (range 25-800 µg). Later on, efficacy remained stable, except in cases of mechanical problems of the infusion system.

[Extracorporeal respiratory assistance (ECRA): initial experiences in Spain]. / Asistencia respiratoria extracorpórea (AREC): primeras experiencias en España.

UNLABELLED: The attendance respiratory extracorporeal (AREC) is an oxygenation form for membrane extracorporeal with flow tidal and veno-venous cannula described by Chevalier et al. in 1990. We present our clinical experience so much with AREC in system veno-venous flow tidal as veno-arterial. From october of 1997 until the present time we have treated three patients by means AREC, in two patients with veno-venous system and in one veno-arterial. In all the cases bomb Collin-Cardio has been used with bladder for flow tidal and membrane of oxygenation of 0.8 m2, being inserted a system of alternative clamp of the branches of the circuit. The system AREC has been used in two patients with congenial diaphragmatic hernia, right in a case and left in the other one. The gestational age was of 38 and 36 weeks with a weight of 3,200 and 2,900 grams. Both patients were remitted from other centers by failure of the conventional treatment. In both cases the indication of AREC was the sharp deterioration of the general state with failure of the conservative treatment, being the previous oxygenation index of 109 and 112. The third patient precised veno-arterial AREC for ventricular failure during the correction of the congenital heart disease, this patient was 5 month old and the weight was 5,000 grams. The duration of AREC in the cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia was of 14 and 10 days. In a patient the diaphragmatic hernia was corrected at the 55 hours of being in AREC. In the second case the hernia had been surgical corrected in another center. The exit of AREC in both cases carries out after a discreet improvement of the lung function. Both patients died at the 24 and 48 hours of the decannulation for cerebral hemorrhage and respiratory failure. The third patient stayed stable in veno-arterial AREC during 4 days, with hemodynamic support of 130 ml/kg/min, retiring the support to present absence of cerebral activity. CONCLUSIONS: With the derived limitations of the extreme severity of the treated cases and the current phase of beginning of the AREC team, we think that it is a useful and available technique in our country, for the handling of patient with cardiorespiratory failure while waiting for improvement of their base pathology.

Postpartum thyroid dysfunction in an Italian population residing in an area of mild iodine deficiency.

We have evaluated the occurrence of postpartum thyroid dysfunction (PPTD) in a group of 372 women residing in area of mild iodine deficiency. Thyroid function and autoimmune status were evaluated by means serum T4, T3, TSH measurement and detecting the presence of positive antithyroglobulin antibodies (AbTg), antimicrosomal antibodies (AbM) and thyroid-peroxidase antibodies (AbTPO) titers in women at parturition, at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum. New onset transient hypothyroidism occurred in 6.4% of women whereas transient thyrotoxicosis in only 1.8% of women. Transient hypothyroidism was not preceded by thyrotoxicosis as indicated by thyroid function tests and serum Tg concentrations. At parturition, the positivity of AbM and AbTPO titers and the presence of goiter appeared to be a risk factors for the development of PPTD.