[Nanotechnology offers a promising therapeutic approach for hypertension treatment]. / La nanotecnología ofrece un enfoque terapéutico prometedor para el tratamiento de la hipertensión.

Hypertension is a medical condition considered one of the most important public health problems in developed countries, affecting around one billion people. Therefore, the study of its mechanisms, development and treatment is a priority. Of particular interest are the multiple contributing factors, and efforts by experts to fully understand it are also important. However, studies are currently insufficient and consequently, attention is focused on the exploration of new therapeutic approaches. This raises a growing interest in nanotechnology given the ability of certain structures to mimic the behavior of extracellular matrices. This opens a promising field in the treatment of diseases such as hypertension, where it stands to tissue engineering and its potential applications incorporating concepts such as controlled release drug, reduced side effects and receptor activation locally.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities of an extract, fractions, and compounds isolated from Gochnatia pulchra aerial parts.

This paper reports on the in vitro antibacterial and in vivo anti-inflammatory properties of a hydroethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Gochnatia pulchra (HEGP). It also describes the antibacterial activity of HEGP fractions and of the isolated compounds genkwanin, scutellarin, apigenin, and 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, as evaluated by a broth microdilution method. While HEGP and its fractions did not provide promising results, the isolated compounds exhibited pronounced antibacterial activity. The most sensitive microorganism was Streptococcus pyogenes, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 100, 50 and 25 µg/mL for genkwanin and the flavonoids apigenin and scutellarin, respectively. Genkwanin produced an MIC value of 25 µg/mL against Enterococcus faecalis. A paw edema model in rats and a pleurisy inflammation model in mice aided investigation of the anti-inflammatory effects of HEGP. This study also evaluated the ability of HEGP to modulate carrageenan-induced interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production. Orally administered HEGP (250 and 500 mg/kg) inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema. Regarding carrageenan-induced pleurisy, HEGP at 50, 100, and 250 mg/kg diminished leukocyte migration by 71.43%, 69.24%, and 73.34% (P<0.05), respectively. HEGP suppressed IL-1ß and MCP-1 production by 55% and 50% at 50 mg/kg (P<0.05) and 60% and 25% at 100 mg/kg (P<0.05), respectively. HEGP abated TNF-α production by macrophages by 6.6%, 33.3%, and 53.3% at 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg (P<0.05), respectively. HEGP probably exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1ß, and MCP-1.

[Longitudinal study of the growth of preterm newborn infants]. / Estudio longitudinal de crecimiento de recién nacidos pretérmino.

BACKGROUND: The growth and nutrition of premature infants should be accurately assessed. To do this, reference values of normality, obtained from population to be studied, are required. OBJECTIVES: To study the postnatal growth of premature infants in our environment and to compare their growth with intrauterine growth (Lubchenco et al). PATIENTS: A total of 103 premature infants born at 28-36 weeks of gestation in the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Children's Hospital in Murcia (Spain) from April 1994 to June 1995 were studied. Children who received medical care during the first 24 hours of life and who had no prenatal condition that could affect their growth were selected. Those who suffered from serious disease were excluded. The study was carried out from birth to a postconceptional age of 48-52 weeks. The 2-step regression model was used to calculate the percentile graphs. RESULTS: Percentile growth graphs were drawn up for the following variables: weight, length, arm circumference, head circumference, subscapular fold, and tricipital fold. In premature infants, postnatal growth in weight and length was uniform, progressive, and practically linear and did not show the flattening that is characteristic of intrauterine growth. Other corporal segments such as the head and arm circumference showed a certain slowing down at a postconceptional age of 42 or 43 weeks, and the folds showed a moderate dispersion of values as the study progressed. CONCLUSIONS: Intrauterine growth charts do not accurately assess postnatal growth in premature infants.

Estudio longitudinal de crecimiento de recién nacidos pretérmino / Longitudinal study of the growth of preterm newborn infants

Antecedentes. Es importante la valoración adecuada del crecimiento y nutrición de los recién nacidos pretérmino. Es preciso para ello disponer de valores de referencia de normalidad, obtenidos de la población que se va a estudiar. Objetivos. Estudiar el crecimiento posnatal de nuestros recién nacidos pretérmino, y comparar este crecimiento con el crecimiento intrauterino. Pacientes. Se incluyen 103 recién nacidos pretérmino de 28 a 36 semanas de gestación, ingresados en el Hospital Universitario Infantil Virgen de la Arrixaca de Murcia en el período comprendido entre abril de 1994 y junio de 1995. Se seleccionaron niños captados en las primeras 24 h de vida, sin condiciones prenatales que afectaran al crecimiento. Se excluyeron aquellos que sufrían enfermedad grave. Se realizó el estudio desde el nacimiento hasta las semanas 48 a 52 de edad posconcepcional. Se utilizó el modelo de regresión en dos etapas como método estadístico para el cálculo de las gráficas de percentiles. Resultados. Se construyeron gráficas de crecimiento de percentiles para los siguientes parámetros: peso, longitud, perímetro de brazo, perímetro cefálico, pliegue subescapular y pliegue tricipital. El crecimiento posnatal de los recién nacidos pretérmino en peso y longitud es uniforme, progresivo, prácticamente lineal, y no muestra el aplanamiento característico del crecimiento intrauterino. Otros segmentos corporales como perímetro cefálico, perímetro de brazo, experimentan una cierta disminución de la velocidad de crecimiento a las 42 o 43 semanas de edad posconcepcional, los pliegues muestran moderada dispersión de valores al avanzar el período de estudio. Conclusiones. Las gráficas de crecimiento intrauterino no son adecuadas para valorar el crecimiento posnatal del recién nacido pretérmino (AU)

Right ventricular bifocal stimulation in the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy with heart failure.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a new more efficient method of endocardial cardiac stimulation, which produces a narrower QRS without using the coronary sinus or cardiac veins. METHODS: We studied 5 patients with severe dilated cardiomyopathy, chronic atrial fibrillation and AV block, who underwent definitive endocardial pacemaker implantation, with 2 leads, in the RV, one in the apex and the other in the interventricular septum (sub pulmonary), connected, respectively, to ventricular and atrial bicameral pacemaker outputs. Using Doppler echocardiography, we compared, in the same patient, conventional (VVI), high septal ("AAI") and bifocal ("DDT" with AV interval approximately 0) stimulation. RESULTS: The RV bifocal stimulation had the best results with an increase in ejection fraction and cardiac output and reduction in QRS duration, mitral regurgitation and in the left atrium area (p

[Infective endocarditis. Prospective Doppler-echocardiographic study]. / Endocardite infecciosa. Estudo Doppler-echocardiográfico prospectivo.

PURPOSE: To study of the Doppler-echocardiographic aspects in patients with IE and its correlation with the prognosis and evolution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: One hundred and eight patients with clinical of IE were prospectively studied by Doppler-echocardiography (D-E) in order to determine whether the simple presence of vegetation, its size, mobility and place of attachment could identify high risk groups. Vegetations were classified according to its size (longest axis) into small (veg less than 5 mm), medium (5 mm less than veg less than 10 mm) and large (veg less than 10 mm); according to its kind into "sessible" or "mobile" and according to its appearence into "cotton like" or "calcified". RESULTS: Patients with (84.2%) and without (15.8%) vegetations didn't show any significant difference in the complications incidence (emboli, heart failure or death) and the same happened with its size. However, patients with aortic positioned vegetations showed ligher incidence of HF (Aortic 53.8 x Mitral 31.0% x Tricuspid 3.7%) need for surgery (Aortic 69.2% x Mitral 34.5% x Tricuspid 3.7%) and death (Aortic 30.7% x Mitral 13.7% x Tricuspid 7.4%). Emboli were observed in 81.4% of the patients with tricuspid valve vegetations. Eight patients showed IE on aortic prothesis. Five of them needed surgical treatment and 2 of them died. Among 12 patients with IE on mitral prothesis, 7 needed surgery and 3 died. Pericardial effusion were verified in 51 patients (47.2%), chordal rupture in 14 (12.8%) and valve abcess in 6 (5.5%). All patients with valve abcess were submitted to surgery. CONCLUSION: Doppler-echocardiography is an excellent method in the diagnosis of IE and its aspects may have, sometimes, a positive correlation with the prognosis and patient's evolution.