Effects of low nitrogen supply on biochemical and physiological parameters related to nitrate and water, involving nitrate transporters and aquaporins in Citrus macrophylla.

A reduction in chemical N-based fertillizer was investigated in Citrus plants. As N and water uptake are connected, the relationship between the physiological response to reductions in N was studied in relation to N metabolism and water. We examined the response of new and mature leaves and roots of Citrus macrophylla, grown under controlled conditions, and given different concentrations of N: 16, 8 or 4 mM. Differences in growth and development were determined for biochemical (mineral content, photosynthetic pigments, proteins and nitrate and nitrite reductase activity), physiological (photosynthesis and transpiration), and molecular (relative expression of nitrate transporters and aquaporins) parameters. Only plants given 4 mM N showed a reduction in growth. Although there were changes in NR activity, protein synthesis, and chlorophyll content in both 8 and 4 mM N plants that were highly related to aquaporin and nitrate transporter expression. The results revealed new findings on the relationship between aquaporins and nitrate transporters in new leaves of Citrus, suggesting a mechanism for ensuring growth under low N when new tissues are being formed.

Vigilancia epidemiológica de infecciones nosocomiales de 164 pacientes sometidos a trasplante de órgano o tejidos / No disponible

El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la incidencia de infecciones nosocomiales, tasas de mortalidad y otros datos qu ese relacionana con la calidad asitencial de estos pacientes. Se realiza un estudio prospectivo de 164 pacientes que durante los años 2007 a 2010 ingresan en la Unidad de Trasplantes de Órganos y Tejidos de este hospital. 125 ingresos se efectuaron para trasplantes de órganos o tejidos y 29 por revisión programaa o por complicación del proceso. De los 125 pacientes que ingresan para trasplante, 54 (43,20%) lo hacen para trasplante de hígado, 36 (28,80%=) para trasplante de médula ósea, 21 (24,80%) para trasplante de riñón y 4 (3,20%) para transplante de corazón. De los 164 ingresos registrados en la Unidad, en 60 se observa infección nosocomial (IN), la Incidencia Acumulada (IA) d epacientes con IN es el 36,59% +/- 7,37 (IC 95%) La In más frecuente es sepsis/bacteriemia, que representa el 44,7% de los casos de INs. La tasa media de IQ es de 14,40%. Los microorganismos que con más frecuencia originan los episodios de IN son estafílococos en el 52,8% de los casos, principalmente e. epidermidis (16,7%) y e. haemolíticus (16,7%). Respecto a la microbiología la casuística es semejante a la que se observa en el conjunto de pacientes hospitalizados. La mayor prevalencia es de estafilococos plasmacoagulasa negativos (ECN), gurpo al que pertenece el estafilococo haemolíticus, que es carecterístico en estos pacientes. La estancia prequirúrgica y la edad d elos pacientes no influyen en las tasas de IQs, pero sí influye el grado de contaminación de la cirugía y la duración de la intervención, factores de riesgo integrantes del índice NNIS. Las infecciones de vías respiratorias bajas solo representan el 3,0% de las INs. La tasa de mortalidad es de 3,9% (AU)

No disponible

[Traumatic submacular hemorrhage treated with rt-PA and SF6]. / Hemorragia submacular traumática tratada con rt-PA y SF6.

CASE REPORT: This patient was afflicted by a traumatic submacular hemorrhage. A posterior vitrectomy was performed and intravitreal rt-PA and SF6 were administered. Four weeks later, the visual acuity had increased from 0.1 to 0.8. No complications due to the treatment with rt-PA were reported. DISCUSSION: It is known that waiting for the spontaneous blood removal in such cases results in a poor visual acuity recovery due to a toxic effect of the blood products. Both rt-PA and the SF6 are useful for the treatment of submacular hemorrhages secondary to age-related macular degeneration, and this case report has shown they are also useful to lyse traumatic blood clots, thus contributing to a better recovery of visual acuity.

[Bilateral recurrent autoimmune optical neuropathy in childhood]. / Neuropatía óptica autoinmune recidivante bilateral en la infancia.

CLINICAL CASE: A ten year-old girl, after a Yersinia gastroenteritis, developed an optic neuritis in the left eye. She was not treated and resulted ultimately in optic atrophy on the affected side. Six months later a similar episode occurred in the contralateral eye. On this occasion corticosteroid therapy was given. During this therapy the neuritis diminished; however the patient had three relapses, so it was decided to give her immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine and continue this indefinitely. DISCUSSION: After considering the differential diagnoses of bilateral recurrent optical neuritis in childhood, we concluded that it was most likely to have an autoimmune basis. After considering the benefits and risks of the long-term treatment, we believe immunosuppressive therapy is most useful in controlling the disease allowing corticosteroid therapy to be reduced.

[Optical coherence tomography in central retinal artery occlusion]. / Tomografía óptica de coherencia en oclusión de arteria central de la retina.

CLINICAL CASES: Three eyes with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) have been studied. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in each of them. Ophthalmoscopic signs of CRAO were equivocal in the three eyes. However, the presence of a hyporeflective signal in the OCT scan could be seen clearly in each of them. DISCUSSION: The presence of a hyporeflective band between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium in OCT images, that persist for several months after a CRAO episode, is useful in establishing the diagnosis in these patients.

Neuropatía óptica autoinmune recidivante bilateral en la infancia / Bilateral recurrent autoimmune optical neuropathy in childhood

Caso clínico: Niña de 10 años, que tras gastroenteritis por Yersinia debuta con neuritis óptica en ojo izquierdo. No recibe tratamiento y evoluciona a atrofia óptica. A los 6 meses presentó un episodio en el ojo contralateral, instaurándose tratamiento corticoideo. Durante su disminución progresiva sufre tres recaídas. Se decide instaurar tratamiento con inmunosupresores, manteniéndose estable desde entonces sin efectos secundarios. Discusión: Tras descartar las múltiples causas de neuritis óptica bilateral recidivante en una niña, se concluye que la etiología era autoinmune. Valorando los beneficios y riesgos del tratamiento con inmunosupresores creemos que permiten el control de la enfermedad y el ahorro corticoideo (AU)

Clinical case: A ten year-old girl, after a Yersinia gastroenteritis, developed an optic neuritis in the left eye. She was not treated and resulted ultimately in optic atrophy on the affected side. Six months later a similar episode occurred in the contralateral eye. On this occasion corticosteroid therapy was given. During this therapy the neuritis diminished; however the patient had three relapses, so it was decided to give her immunosuppressive treatment with azathioprine and continue this indefinitely. Discussion: After considering the differential diagnoses of bilateral recurrent optical neuritis in childhood, we concluded that it was most likely to have an autoimmune basis. After considering the benefits and risks of the long-term treatment, we believe immunosuppressive therapy is most useful in controlling the disease allowing corticosteroid therapy to be reduced (AU)

Sarcomatoid carcinoma and orbital apex syndrome.

PURPOSE: To report a case of sarcomatoid carcinoma and orbital apex syndrome in a previously healthy adult. METHODS: A previously healthy 45-year-old man presented with exophthalmos of the left eye and a mass visible through his left nostril. A biopsy was performed and immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the diagnosis of the tumor. The patient was treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. RESULTS: After treatment, we observed a substantial reduction in the size of the mass, but side effects of treatment developed. The visual acuity of the left eye was no light perception. Eight months later, the patient presented with bone and liver metastases, and he died 4 months later. CONCLUSIONS: Sarcomatoid carcinoma is an aggressive tumor that can produce compressive symptoms with very poor visual and survival prognoses. A cranio-orbital computed tomography scan should be performed when patients present with symptoms of conjunctivitis and orbital apex syndrome.

Tomografía óptica de coherencia en oclusión de arteria central de la retina / Optical coherence tomography in central retinal artery occlusion

Casos clínicos: Presentamos tres ojos afectados de obstrucción de arteria central de la retina (OACR). En todos ellos realizamos exploración con tomografía óptica de coherencia (OCT). Dependiendo del tiempo de evolución del cuadro clínico, los signos oftalmoscópicos de OACR eran más o menos evidentes. Sin embargo, la presencia de una banda hiporreflectante en las imágenes de OCT pudo objetivarse en todos los casos. Discusión: La presencia en las imágenes de OCT de una banda hiporreflectante por debajo de la retina neurosensorial en los casos de OACR, que persiste incluso meses después del inicio del cuadro clínico, resulta útil en el diagnóstico de esta patología retiniana

Clinical cases: Three eyes with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) have been studied. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in each of them. Ophthalmoscopic signs of CRAO were equivocal in the three eyes. However, the presence of a hyporeflective signal in the OCT scan could be seen clearly in each of them. Discussion: The presence of a hyporeflective band between the neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium in OCT images, that persist for several months after a CRAO episode, is useful in establishing the diagnosis in these patients

[Thyroid ophthalmopathy: clinical activity determination of thyroid ophthalmopathy as a prognostic factor of immunosuppressive treatment response]. / Oftalmopatía tiroidea: determinación de parámetros de actividad clínica de la oftalmopatía tiroidea como factor pronóstico de respuesta al tratamiento inmunosupresor.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of the clinical, biochemical and thyroid imaging parameters in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, in predicting their response to immunosuppressive treatment. METHODS: This retrospective study of 16 patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy considered a number of variables including sex, age, thyroid hormone levels, treatment of the thyroid dysfunction, clinical activity score (CAS), severity (NOSPECS) of the ophthalmopathy, signs in standardized A-mode ultrasonography, in CAT and/or NMR, and previously used treatments and their effectiveness. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 50.81 (S.D: 11.89) years; there were 5 males (31.3%) and 11 females (68.8%). The ophthalmopathy was classified as active in 10/16 patients (62.5%) and inactive in 6/16 (37.5%); and as moderate in 9/16 (56.25%) and severe in 7/16 (43.75%) according to the severity defined in NOSPECS. Ultrasonography was diagnostic in 100% of the cases. The severity decreased significantly (p < or =0.05), however the clinical activity decrease did not reach significance (p=0.38) during immunosuppressive therapy. Better results were obtained during treatment of patients with a higher CAS (p=0.04) and in those with more severe ophthalmopathy (p=0.02). There was a tendency for the patients with higher levels of TSI to respond better to the treatment (p=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The CAS is the best parameter to quantify the activity of the disease and predicting the response to treatment. The higher the CAS and the more severe the ophthalmopathy, the better the response to treatment. No association existed between thyroid function and the activity or severity of the ophthalmopathy; or the effectiveness of treatment.

Oftalmopatía tiroidea: determinación de parámetros de actividad clínica de la oftalmopatía tiroidea como factor pronóstico de respuesta al tratamiento inmunosupresor / Thyroid ophthalmopathy: clinical activity determination of thyroid ophthalmopathy as a pronostic factor of immunosupressive treatment response

Objetivo: Determinar los parámetros clínicos, bioquímicos y de imagen que permitan conocer qué pacientes con oftalmopatía tiroidea van a responder al tratamiento y valorar su eficacia.Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de datos apareados de 16 pacientes con oftalmopatía tiroidea. Se recogieron las variables: sexo, edad, tratamiento de la disfunción tiroidea, puntuación de actividad clínica (PAC) y de severidad (NOSPECS) de la oftalmopatía, niveles hormonales; signos ecográficos, en TAC y/o RMN; tratamientos empleados y eficacia de los mismos.Resultados: La edad media de la muestra fue de 50,81 (D.E.: 11,89) años; 5 varones (31,3%) y 11 mujeres (68,8%), con seguimiento medio de 6,4 meses. La oftalmopatía fue clasificada en activa en 10/16 pacientes (62,5% )e inactiva en 6/16 (37,5%); y en moderada 9/16 (56,25%) y leve 7/16 (43,75%) según criterios de severidad NOSPECS. La ecografía fue diagnóstica en el 100% de los casos.La severidad se redujo de modo significativo (p <= 0,05) mientras que la actividad clínica de forma no significativa (p=0,38). Se observó mejor respuesta al tratamiento en los pacientes con mayor PAC (p=0,04) y con oftalmopatía más severa (p=0,02). Existe tendencia a que los pacientes con mayores niveles de TSI respondan mejor al tratamiento (p=0,06).Conclusiones: La PAC es el mejor parámetro para cuantificar la actividad de la enfermedad y predecir la respuesta al tratamiento inmunosupresor.La PAC y la severidad de la oftalmopatía elevadas se asocian con mejor respuesta al tratamiento. No existe asociación de la función tiroidea con la actividad ni con la severidad de la oftalmopatía; la eficacia del tratamiento es independiente de la función tiroidea

Objective: To determine the usefulness of the clinical, biochemical and thyroid imaging parameters in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, in predicting their response to immunosuppressive treatment. Methods: This retrospective study of 16 patients with thyroid ophthalmopathy considered a number of variables including sex, age, thyroid hormone levels, treatment of the thyroid dysfunction, clinical activity score (CAS), severity (NOSPECS) of the ophthalmopathy, signs in standardized A-mode ultrasonography, in CAT and/or NMR, and previously used treatments and their effectiveness. Results: The average age of the patients was 50.81 (S.D: 11.89) years; there were 5 males (31.3%) and 11 females (68.8%). The ophthalmopathy was classified as active in 10/16 patients (62.5%) and inactive in 6/16 (37.5%); and as moderate in 9/16 (56.25%) and severe in 7/16 (43.75%) according to the severity defined in NOSPECS. Ultrasonography was diagnostic in 100% of the cases. The severity decreased significantly (p <= 0.05), however the clinical activity decrease did not reach significance (p=0.38) during immunosuppressive therapy. Better results were obtained during treatment of patients with a higher CAS (p=0.04) and in those with more severe ophthalmopathy (p=0.02). There was a tendency for the patients with higher levels of TSI to respond better to the treatment (p=0.06). Conclusions: The CAS is the best parameter to quantify the activity of the disease and predicting the response to treatment. The higher the CAS and the more severe the ophthalmopathy, the better the response to treatment. No association existed between thyroid function and the activity or severity of the ophthalmopathy; or the effectiveness of treatment

La mitad de las tiras de glucemia capilar que utilizan nuestros pacientes tiene una dudosa indicación / Half the capillary glycaemia strips that our patients use have doubtful indication

No disponible

[Silicone oil hypotonic maculopathy treatment]. / Aceite de silicona para el tratamiento de la maculopatía hipotónica.

CASE REPORT: We report a case of a man who developed hypotonic maculopathy after vitreoretinal surgery for anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. After an injection of intravitreal triamcinolone, the ocular pressure did not increase, therefore silicone oil was injected. After this, the visual acuity increased and the choroidal and retinal folds regressed. DISCUSSION: Hypotonic maculopathy is a frustrating problem, often resulting in poor visual acuity. There are not many effective treatments. The injection of silicone oil could be an alternative to increase the intraocular pressure and re-establish the normal anatomy of the eye, improving the visual acuity in some patients.

Aceite de silicona para el tratamiento de la maculopatía hipotónica / Silicone oil hypotonic maculopathy treatment

Caso clínico: Paciente con maculopatía hipotónica secundaria a vitrectomía posterior con liberación de proliferación vitreo-retiniana por desprendimiento de retina. Ante la falta de mejoría tensional a la inyección Triamcinolona intravítrea se inyectó aceite de silicona tras lo cual mejoró la agudeza visual y los pliegues coriorretinianos desaparecieron.Discusión: La maculopatía hipotónica es un proceso de mal pronóstico con deterioro visual profundo. Las opciones terapéuticas son limitadas. Creemos que la inyección de aceite de silicona es una opción terapéutica para restablecer la PIO y la anatomía normal del ojo, pudiendo mejorar, en algunos casos, la AV

Case report: We report a case of a man who developed hypotonic maculopathy after vitreoretinal surgery for anterior proliferative vitreoretinopathy. After an injection of intravitreal triamcinolone, the ocular pressure did not increase, therefore silicone oil was injected. After this, the visual acuity increased and the choroidal and retinal folds regressed. Discussion: Hypotonic maculopathy is a frustrating problem, often resulting in poor visual acuity. There are not many effective treatments. The injection of silicone oil could be an alternative to increase the intraocular pressure and re-establish the normal anatomy of the eye, improving the visual acuity in some patients

[What information do elderly patients with heart failure have about their treatment?]. / Qué información tienen los pacientes ancianos con insuficiencia cardiaca sobre su tratamiento?

INTRODUCTION: Heart failure is one of the leading cause of hospital admission because of the lack of adherence to treatment of these patients. This study was designed to know patients knowledge about heart failure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 75 patients admitted in ward with the diagnosis of heart failure were asked about the illness and the treatment they took. RESULTS: Patients considered weight gain, dyspnea and edemas a cause of consultant to their doctors (99%). They understood as necessary the weight control to their stabilization (82%). One half of the interviewed did not consider important the control of diuresis and water ingestion. Most of the patients thought that mild physical exercise and sodium restriction could improve their physical status (85% and 100% respectively). 24% of the patients considered they could use any kind of non steroid anti-inflammatory drug. 79% of the patients knew the diuretic effect of furosemida and 70% the cardiologic effect of digoxina, all thought only just 46% recognized the use of angiotensin converse enzyme inhibitors for heart failure and blood pressure. The adverse events of these drugs were unknown (56%, 65% and 80% respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with heart failure had poor information about dietary and medical treatment. This could explain the problems their have for the optimal use of effective medication, being poor patients adherence to pharmacologic and dietary therapy a common cause of exacerbation. It would be necessary to increase patients information to avoid heart failure progression and descompensation.

¿Qué información tienen los pacientes ancianos con insuficiencia cardiaca sobre su tratamiento? / What information have old patients with heart failure about their treatment?

Introducción: La insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) es uno de los principales motivos de ingreso hospitalario, viéndose favorecido este hecho por la falta de adherencia al tratamiento de los pacientes. Este estudio fue diseñado para conocer el grado de información sobre la IC con el que cuentan los pacientes. Pacientes y métodos: Se realizó entrevista personalizada a 75 pacientes ingresados con diagnóstico de IC sobre sus conocimientos sobre la enfermedad y el tratamiento que seguían. Resultados: Los pacientes consideraron motivo de consulta el aumento de peso, la disnea y los edemas (99 por ciento), entendiendo como necesario el control del peso para su estabilización (82 por ciento). Hasta un 50 por ciento no considera importante el control de la diuresis ni el de ingesta hídrica. Ven en el ejercicio físico moderado y la restricción de sal un beneficio (85 por ciento y 100 por ciento respectivamente). El 24 por ciento de los pacientes consideró que podían utilizar cualquier tipo de antiinflamatorio no esteroideo (AINEs). Un 79 por ciento de los pacientes reconocen el efecto diurético de la furosemida y un 70 por ciento atribuyen a la digoxina su efecto cardiológico, mientras que tan sólo conocen la utilidad de los Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina (IECAs) un 46 por ciento. Los efectos secundarios de dichos fármacos son, en general, desconocidos (56 por ciento, 65 por ciento y 80 por ciento respectivamente).Conclusiones: El paciente con IC posee escasa información sobre el tratamiento y medidas higiénico-dietéticas relacionadas con su enfermedad, lo que confirma la dificultad de estos pacientes para el cuidado adecuado de su patología. Se debería incidir en este punto para evitar el reingreso de estos pacientes por IC (AU)

Introduction: Heart failure is one of the leading cause of hospital admision because of the lack of adherence to treatment of these patients. This study was designed to know patients knowledge about heart failure. Patients and methods: 75 patiens admited in ward with the diagnosis of heart failure were asked about the illness and the treatment they took. Results: Patiens considered weight gain, dyspnea and edemas a cause of consultant to their doctors (99%). They understood as necesary the weight control to their stabilization (82%). One half of the interviewed did not consider important the control of diuresis and water ingestion. Most of the patients thought that mild physical exercise and sodium restriction could improve their physical status (85% and 100% respectively). 24% of the patiens considered they could use any kind of non steroid anti-inflammatory drug. 79% of the patients knew the diuretic effect of furosemida and 70% the cardiologic effect of digoxina, all thought only just 46% recognized the use of angiotensin converse enzyme inhibitors for heart failure and blood presure. The adverse events of these drugs were unknow (56%, 65% and 80% respectively). Conclusions: Patients with heart failure had poor information about dietary and medical treatment. This could expain the problems their have for the optimal use of effective medication, being poor patients adherence to pharmacologic and dietary therapy a common cause of exacerbation. It would be necesary to increase patients information to avoid heart failure progression and descompensation (AU)

Sleep disturbances after acute exposure to alcohol in mothers' milk.

The results of previous research in our laboratory revealed that breast-fed infants experience significantly less active sleep after exposure to alcohol in their mothers' milk than do breast-fed infants not exposed to alcohol. The present study tested the hypothesis that infants would compensate for such reductions if their mothers then refrained from drinking alcohol. To this end, 23 breast-fed infants from 3 to 5 months of age and their mothers were tested on 2 days separated by 1 week. A small, computerized movement detector, an actigraph, was placed on the infants' left ankles to monitor sleep and activity patterning after which they were bottle fed mother's milk alone (control condition) on 1 test day and mother's milk containing 32 mg of ethanol per 100 ml--the average concentration detected in human milk after lactating women drank an acute dose (0.3 g/kg) of alcohol--on the other. The infants' behaviors were monitored for the next 24 h; the first 3.5 h of monitoring on each test day took place at the Monell Center. Consistent with previous findings, infants exhibited significantly less active sleep during the 3.5 h immediately after exposure to alcohol in mothers' milk compared with the control condition; the decrease in active sleep was observed in all but 4 of the infants tested. Compensatory increases in active sleep were then observed in the next 20.5 h, when mothers refrained from drinking alcohol. Although the mechanisms underlying the reduction in sleep remain to be elucidated, these findings demonstrate that short-term exposure to small amounts of alcohol in mothers' milk produces distinctive changes in the infants' sleep-wake patterning.