Eating through time: Understanding dietary practices across late prehistory in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula.

OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to contribute to the current understanding of dietary variation in the late Prehistory of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula by examining buccal dental microwear patterns alongside archeological data from the same populations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Teeth from 84 adult individuals from eight distinct samples spanning the Middle-Late Neolithic to the Middle Bronze Age (Cova de l'Avi, Cova de Can Sadurní, Cova de la Guineu, Cova Foradada, Cova del Trader, Roc de les Orenetes, Cova del Gegant, Cova dels Galls Carboners) were analyzed using optical microscopy to examine buccal dental microwear patterns. RESULTS: The analysis did not reveal clear chronological contrasts in the dietary habits of these samples. Nevertheless, significant differences emerged among the samples, leading to their classification into two distinct sets based on the abrasiveness of the diet informed by the microwear patterns. These findings offer similarities and differences among samples in the Iberian Peninsula, shedding light on the diverse lifestyles of these individuals. DISCUSSION: Integrating our new results with other available proxies points to a multifaceted specialization in dietary patterns among these samples, influenced by factors such as habitat, resource selection, and available technology. By contextualizing the results within the broader context of the Iberian Peninsula, this research discerns shared characteristics and distinctive adaptations in the dietary practices and subsistence strategies of these groups. Ultimately, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between culture and environment in shaping human diets throughout late Prehistory.

Analysis of the effectiveness of the prophylaxis of vestibular migraine depending on the diagnostic category and the prescribed drug.

INTRODUCTION: Vestibular migraine (VM) consists of recurrent episodes of vestibular symptoms that are accompanied by migraine in at least 50% of the episodes. The criteria of the Bárány Society include two diagnostic categories: "actual" vestibular migraine and probable vestibular migraine. There is a wide range of drugs that can be prescribed for the prophylactic treatment of VM, but recommendations for the selection of the most appropriate drug are currently lacking. OBJECTIVE: To measure the extent to which the prophylactic treatment of VM reduces vestibular symptoms, headache and the number of crises depending on the diagnostic category of the Bárány Society and the drug used for prophylaxis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a multicenter prospective study. Patients with VM who presented to any of the participating centers and who subsequently met the VM criteria were prescribed one of the following types of prophylaxis: acetazolamide, amitriptyline, flunarizine, propranolol or topiramate. Patients were called back for a follow-up visit 5 weeks later. This allowed the intensity of vestibular symptoms, headache and the number of crises before and during treatment to be compared. RESULTS: 31 Patients met the inclusion criteria. During the treatment, all the measured variables decreased significantly. In a visual analogue scale, the intensity of vestibular symptoms decreased by 45.8 points, the intensity of headache decreased by 47.8 points and patients suffered from 15.6 less monthly crises compared to the period before the treatment. No significant between-group differences were found when patients were divided based on their diagnostic category or the choice of prophylaxis prescribed to them. CONCLUSION: The treatment of VM produces a reduction of symptoms and crises with no significant differences based on patients' diagnostic categories or the choice of prophylaxis prescribed to them.

Particle size affects short-term preference behavior of brown-egg laying hens fed diets based on corn or barley.

We studied the influence of particle size of the main cereal of the diet on preference behavior by laying hens. Diets formed a 2 × 5 factorial with 2 main cereals (corn vs. barley) and 5 grinding sizes of the cereal (4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 mm screen). Each treatment was replicated 5 times (10 hens each). After a fasting period of 8 h, hens received their respective experimental diets from 06.00 to 14.00 hours. The geometric mean diameter (GMD) and the geometric standard deviation of the residuals in the feeder were determined every 2 hours. In addition, CP, ash, and Ca contents of the feeds were determined at the start and at the end of the experimental period. The experimental design was completely randomized with data analyzed as repeated measures with particle size and cereal as main effects. The GMD of the original feeds increased with increases in screen size and was greater for the barley than for the corn diets. The difference in GMD between the original diets and the residuals measured at 2 h intervals decreased as the experiment progressed (P < 0.001 for the interaction). Crude protein, ash, and Ca concentrated in the coarse fraction of the original diets and of the uneaten feed, an effect more pronounced for the minerals. Independent of the coarseness of the feed sieve, ash and Ca contents were higher in the uneaten feed at 14.00 h than in the original diets. Hens showed a clear preference for coarse particles irrespective of the concentration of CP, ash, or Ca in the different fractions of the diets. Data showed that birds under-consumed Ca during the morning, a period in which the requirements for mineral deposition are low. In summary, hens showed a significant preference for coarser particles, an effect that was more evident when the cereals were ground coarse. Hens, however, did not show any preference for consuming those feed fractions with greater CP, ash, or Ca contents.

Influence of crude protein content, ingredient complexity, feed form, and duration of feeding of the Phase I diets on productive performance and nutrient digestibility of Iberian pigs.

The influence of CP content and ingredient complexity, feed form, and duration of feeding of the Phase I diets on growth performance and total tract apparent digestibility (TTAD) of energy and nutrients was studied in Iberian pigs weaned at 28 d of age. There were 12 dietary treatments with 2 type of feeds (high-quality, HQ; and low-quality, LQ), 2 feed forms (pellets vs. mash), and 3 durations (7, 14, and 21 d) of supply of the Phase I diets. From d 7, 14, or 21 (depending on treatment) to d 35, all pigs received a common diet in mash form. Each treatment was replicated 3 times (6 pigs/pen). For the entire experiment, ADG (P < 0.05) and ADFI (P < 0.01) were less with the HQ than the LQ Phase I diets, but G:F was not affected. Pelleting of the Phase I diets did not affect ADG but improved G:F (P < 0.01). Feeding the Phase I diets from d 0 to 21 improved G:F (P < 0.05) but decreased ADG (P < 0.01) as compared with 7 or 14 d of feeding. Postweaning diarrhea (PWD) tended to be greater (P = 0.06) for pigs fed the HQ diets than pigs fed the LQ diets and pigs fed pellets than those fed mash (P < 0.001). Also, PWD was greater for pigs fed the Phase I diet for 14 or 21 d than those fed the diet for 7 d (P < 0.01). From d 0 to 21, ADG and G:F were not affected (P > 0.10) by feed quality, but feeding pellets or increasing the duration of feeding the Phase I diets improved G:F (P < 0.01). Also, in this period, PWD was greater with pellets than with mash and for pigs fed the Phase I diets for 14 or 21 d than for pigs fed the diet for only 7 d (P < 0.01). From d 21 to 35, pigs previously fed the LQ diet had greater ADG than pigs fed the HQ Phase I diets (P < 0.001). Also, pigs fed the Phase I diets for 21 d had decreased ADG (P < 0.05) and ADFI (P < 0.001) and reduced G:F (P < 0.05) than pigs fed these diets for 7 or 14 d. Organic matter digestibility was greater for pigs fed the HQ Phase I diets than pigs fed the LQ Phase I diets (P < 0.05). Pelleting improved TTAD of all nutrients (P < 0.01). It is concluded that HQ Phase I diets increased TTAD of nutrients but not feed efficiency of Iberian pigs from d 0 to 35. Also, pelleting improved energy and nutrient digestibility and feed efficiency. Increasing the duration of supply of the Phase I diets from 7 to 21 d improved feed efficiency but reduced ADG. Therefore, the use of LQ Phase I diets in pellet form for no more than 7 d after weaning is recommended in Iberian pigs.

Percutaneous treatment of liver failure and acute mesenteric ischaemia.

INTRODUCTION: Synchronous embolism to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and coeliac axis (CA) is a rare disease. REPORT: A 67-year-old man with atrial fibrillation developed acute liver failure due to an embolic occlusion of the CA and SMA, with a severe coagulation disorder. He was successfully managed with percutaneous stent placement and an exploratory laparotomy was not needed. He remains symptom-free 1 year after the procedure, and duplex follow-up showed stent patency. CONCLUSION: Endovascular techniques in patients with liver failure, no signs of peritonism, early diagnosis and high operative risk seem feasible and should be used if possible, as first-line option.

In vitro efficiency of combined acid-heat treatments for protecting sunflower meal proteins against ruminal degradation.

Efficacy of combined acid-heat treatments to protect crude protein (CP) against ruminal degradation has not been extensively researched. Four in vitro trials (Daisy technology) with orthophosphoric and malic acids were performed to examine effects on protection of sunflower meal protein. In Trial 1, effects of the solution volume for adding two doses of orthophosphoric acid (0.4 and 1.2 eq/kg sunflower meal) were tested using five dilution volumes (80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 ml/kg of feed) for each acid dose. Samples were heated at 60°C. The quantity of CP that remained undegraded after 20 h in vitro (IVUCP) increased with the amount of acid added (P = 0.01). Increasing the dilution volume also tended (P = 0.065) to increase IVUCP. Therefore, a dilution volume of 400 ml/kg was employed in all further trials. In Trial 2, treatments with solutions of orthophosphoric and malic acids (1.2, 2.4, 3.6 and 4.8 eq/kg) and 60°C of drying temperature were used. Increased CP protection with increased acid doses was described. In this and further trials, higher protective effects of malic acid than orthophosphoric acid were also shown. In Trial 3, the effects of both these acids, four acid concentrations (0.6, 1.2, 1.8 and 2.4 eq/kg) and three levels of heat treatment required for drying the samples (100, 150 and 200°C for 60, 30 and 20 min, respectively) were evaluated. An interaction acid type × concentration × temperature was shown. In addition, interactions concentration × temperature was shown in each acid. With heat treatments of 100°C to 150°C, benefits were not obtained after increasing the acid dose over 0.8 eq/kg. The increase of the heat treatments to 200°C and the acid dose up to 1.2 eq/kg increased protection, but to exceed this dose did not improve protection. In Trial 4, available lysine, CP solubility in McDougall buffer and IVUCP were compared after treatment with water or solutions (0.8 eq/kg) of orthophosphoric or malic acids using 100°C and 150°C heat treatments as described in Trial 3. No effects on available lysine were observed. Both CP solubility and IVUCP were reduced to a greater degree by acids than by water treatment. The results showed a high effectiveness of acid-heat treatments. Levels of protection are dependent on the acid dose, its dilution, acid type and drying conditions.

[Have patients who go to the emergency department changed? Evolutive study for the years 1997 and 2005]. / ¿Han cambiado los pacientes oftalmológicos que acuden a urgencias? Estudio evolutivo entre los años 1997 y 2005.

OBJECTIVE: To study the change in number and profile of patients who came to the Emergency Department of a level 2 hospital with ophthalmic emergencies in the years 1997 and 2005. METHOD: Two groups of randomly selected patients who came to the Emergency Service on the same day in the years 1997 and 2005 were studied. The study focused on the following variables: number of visits per day, gender, age, time period, number of examinations done, diagnoses and type of treatment prescribed. Comparison of proportions was carried out with a confidence interval study and Chi Square Test. RESULTS: The statistically significant changes (p<0.05) were as follows: increase in number of patients seen; increase in the diagnosis of corneal foreign body (25%); decrease in the diagnosis of conjunctivitis (12%); increase in cases in which only one examination was done (19%); increase in frequency of visits between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. and decrease between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m; reduced attendance of those of female gender (13%) and increase in the male gender (13%); increase in patients between the age of 31 and 40 years (9%); decrease in the use of treatments such as occlusion and epithelializing ointment (7% and 6% respectively); increase in use of analgesics (5%), artificial tears (5%) and NSAIDs (8%); increase in referral of patients to their primary care physician (17%) and decrease in ophthalmology check ups (34%). CONCLUSIONS: The number of ophthalmological emergencies has increased in the last eight years, especially in young male patients, with work-related disease, who came in the evening. Treatments such as the use of artificial tears have increased, and patients are sent to the primary care physician more often.

Las metatarsalgias / Metatarsalgia

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Target-dependent sexual differentiation of a limbic-hypothalamic neural pathway.

Neural pathways between sexually dimorphic forebrain regions develop under the influence of sex steroid hormones during the perinatal period, but how these hormones specify precise sex-specific patterns of connectivity is unknown. A heterochronic coculture system was used to demonstrate that sex steroid hormones direct development of a sexually dimorphic limbic-hypothalamic neural pathway through a target-dependent mechanism. Explants of the principal nucleus of the bed nuclei of the stria terminalis (BSTp) extend neurites toward explants of the anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) derived from male but not female rats. Coculture of BSTp explants from male rats with AVPV explants derived from females treated in vivo with testosterone for 9 d resulted in a high density of neurites extending from the BSTp to the AVPV explant, as was the case when the BSTp explants were derived from females and the AVPV explants were derived from males or androgen-treated females. These in vitro findings suggest that during the postnatal period testosterone induces a target-derived, diffusible chemotropic activity that results in a sexually dimorphic pattern of connectivity.

Prenatal diagnosis on fetal cells from maternal blood: practical comparative evaluation of the first and second trimesters.

Objectives- Several attempts have been made to determine the gestational period in which the maximum number of fetal cells can be found in maternal blood and consequently which is the best week in which to perform a reliable non-invasive prenatal diagnosis. Most studies conclude that the number of nucleated red blood cells (NRBC) increases in line with gestation, but the number of cells that are fetal in origin (FNRBC) decreases in the third trimester. The aim of the present study was to make a practical comparative evaluation of the first and second trimesters to ascertain the period in which a greater number of FNRBC can be found of the total number of NRBC identified. Methods- Double density gradient and a posterior positive selection (CD71) by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) were employed. In the final fraction, erythroblasts were identified using Kleihauer staining and were studied using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) interphasic technique. Results- There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the mean number of FNRBC found in the first and second trimesters. Conclusions- The number of FNRBC increases from the first to the second trimester. It appears that the optimum week in which to perform a reliable non-invasive prenatal diagnosis is around the 15th week.

Chromosomal mosaicism for isochromosome 11q confined to CVS direct preparations.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the discrepancy between the karyotype in direct preparations of chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and the fetal karyotype and its possible fetal phenotypic repercussion. METHODS: The karyotype was obtained from direct and cultured preparations of CVS. FISH was performed in direct CVS preparations and in four different areas of term placenta. RESULTS: Karyotype and FISH analysis in CVS revealed a 46,XX/47,XX,+i(11q) cell line. Cultured CVS preparations showed a 46,XX karyotype. Cytogenetic studies in term placenta did not reveal the abnormal cell line. Molecular studies did not detect uniparental disomy for chromosome 11 in the fetus. CONCLUSION: The fetus, at birth, had no phenotypic abnormalities. IUGR was not present during gestation, in accordance with the low proportion of aneuploid cells in term placenta, and UPD for chromosome 11 was not observed.

Rapid identification of a small dicentric supernumerary marker derived from chromosome 16 with a modified FISH technique on amniotic fluid.

Small supernumerary marker chromosomes are seldom found in prenatal diagnosis and the majority of them are difficult to identify. The only possibility to give a more precise prognosis is by establishing its origin. FISH is the best technique to identify the chromosomal origin, but in the majority of cases large amounts of chromosomal material are needed and this is time consuming. We have used a modification of the FISH technique that allows the hybridization of several probes on one slide. Using this method, we have identified the first de novo mosaic dicentric supernumerary marker derived from chromosome 16 (smaller than chromosome 21) in amniotic fluid. The gestation and the follow-up of the baby were normal.

Sonographic, cytogenetic and DNA analysis in four 69,XXX fetuses diagnosed in the second trimester.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the ultrasound findings and its relationship with the cytogenetic study and the origin of the extra haploid chromosome set in four 69,XXX cases. METHODS: Four pregnant women were referred because of abnormal 2nd trimester ultrasound. Karytoypes, FISH and DNA analysis were performed. RESULTS: All cases presented asymmetrical intrauterine growth retardation, marked oligohydramnios and placental alterations and showed a 69,XXX karyotype. In three cases, DNA analysis allowed to establish the origin of the extra haploid chromosome set. CONCLUSIONS: At least three fetuses had a maternal extra haploid chromosome set. Thus, it has been possible to establish the main ultrasonographic markers and to observe the survival of the fetus until the second trimester when they have a maternal origin.

Prenatal diagnosis on fetal cells obtained from maternal peripheral blood: report of 66 cases.

The potential use of fetal cells circulating in maternal blood for a non-invasive prenatal diagnosis has been widely described. Several authors have developed different methods for the enrichment of fetal cells from maternal peripheral blood. The aim of this study was to make a practical valuation of this new prenatal diagnosis technique, using those methods described as efficient and easy to carry out in a prenatal diagnosis unit. These methods consist of the double-density gradient and the positive selection by magnetic activated cell sorting (MACS) of the fetal erythroblasts, and the posterior study of the cells applying the FISH interphasic technique. Once the technique was ready, we obtained results from the study of 66 venous blood samples from women coming for prenatal diagnosis. Using a specific staining for fetal haemoglobin, fetal cells were identified in 63 cases. Fetal sex was well determined in 56 cases, 23 females and 33 males; in 7 cases the sex determination failed. All the aneuploidies found in a previous prenatal diagnosis were confirmed.

Molecular characterisation of partial chromosome 21 aneuploidies by fluorescent PCR.

Although trisomy of chromosome 21 is the most prevalent human genetic disorder, data from partial 21 aneuploidies are very scanty. Eight different partial aneuploidies for chromosome 21 were characterised by fluorescence quantitative PCR. Allelic dosage analysis was performed for each patient using 25 CHLC STRs covering the entire q arm. The length of the corresponding trisomies and monosomies was ascertained for five partial trisomics and three partial monosomics. All trisomic patients carried unbalanced translocations involving chromosome 21, whereas one of the monosomic patients bore a ring chromosome 21 and another showed an interstitial deletion of chromosome 21. The chromosomal breakpoints of two partial trisomy patients could be clearly delimited. However, the other three trisomies involved most of the 21 q arm as three allelic doses were detected for each marker. Although these latter patients do not show all the features of Down syndrome, genotype/phenotype correlations agree with previously reported data. The chromosomal breakpoints observed in two partially monosomic patients helped further to define the region involved in different phenotypic features associated with chromosome 21 monosomy. Telomeric material loss was also detected in a patient bearing a ring 21 chromosome. The parental origin of the aneuploidy was assigned for each case, which allowed us to conclude that two of the monosomic cases originated from de novo chromosomal rearrangements. There was no correlation with parental sex in contrast to trisomic patients originating from meiotic nondisjunction.

[Children in pain: the need for better treatment]. / Dolor en el niño. Se precisan tratamientos más efficaces!

Children in pain is an aspect of nursing and medicine that is almost ignored, evidenced by the almost complete lack of investigations in this field. Many factors impede the effective treatment of pediatric pain such as its difficulty of evaluation, incorrect suppositions and attitudes that discount their pain. It is imperative that medical professionals become cognizant of this shortcoming and begin to remedy it; our children are defenseless and are depending upon our care. The first thing we must do is believe the child all pain is real (if the patient says that it hurts, it hurts.) It is necessary that we apply the same care and precautions to the young as we do for teenagers and adults who are in situations that generate pain and stress. Postoperative care should include a special charting of pain that would become as routine as temperature and blood pressure. So that we might alleviate it, pediatric professionals need to learn evaluation techniques that would allow them to identify types of pain that manifest themselves in particular illnesses. A wide variety of pain-killing therapies are available to us to achieve this goal. Included in this arsenal are the opiates, which we can learn to approximately use when other analgesics are not effective.

Comparative in vitro activities of rifamycin analogues against rifampin-sensitive and rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Because of widespread emergence of multidrug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis worldwide, there is an urgent need for new bactericidal drugs against this organism. Several new analogues of rifamycin are being developed. Susceptibilities of five of the most potent analogues were determined simultaneously on ten isolates each of rifampin-sensitive and rifampin-resistant M. tuberculosis using the radiometric method (BACTEC) with [C(14)]palmitic acid. Against rifampin-sensitive isolates, all five analogues exhibited inhibitory activity, the most potent being KRM-1648, with MICs varying between 0.003 and 0.02S mug/ml (MICs of rifampin were between 0.05 and 0.4 mug/ml). Similar observations were also obtained for the MBCs of these five analogues-KRM-1648 was most potent, with nine out of ten isolates exhibiting a MBC/MIC ratio of 1.0. Among the rifampin-resistant isolates of M. tuberculosis, the most potent rifampicin analogue was, again, KRM-1648, with seven out of ten isolates exhibiting MBC/MIC ratio of 1.0 and the remaining three exhibiting a ratio of 2.0. These results suggests that KRM-1648 should further be explored in the treatment of tuberculosis patients.

Role of iron in the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium avium infection in mice.

Mycobacterial infections are of serious concern to HIV-infected patients, and take a heavy toll of such patients. Mycobacterium avium is the most common opportunistic bacterial infection in patients with AIDS. The overload of iron in serum has been implicated in the pathogenicity of a number of bacterial infections. Since iron storage in cells such as macrophages is increased in AIDS, the role of iron as a possible factor in the pathogenesis of M. avium infection was examined. Supplementing iron to normal laboratory chow resulted in accelerated M. avium infection in mice inoculated earlier with the same organism. The bacterial loads in liver, spleen and lungs were approximately 12-fold higher in mice receiving iron supplementation compared with control groups. This is attributed to an increased percentage saturation of iron in the sera of the mice, thus making more iron available for the replication of bacteria. The addition of beef fat to the diet, together with high iron supplementation, further enhanced the infection. Using smaller inocula, mice receiving chow supplemented with high iron and fat developed disseminated M. avium infection faster than control mice. The results provide strong evidence that iron may play a major role in the pathogenesis of M. avium infection.

Short- and long-term effects of calcitonin and calcium administration on blood calcium, magnesium and inorganic phosphorus in post menopausal osteoporosis.

This paper studies the effects of the administration of calcitonin (CT) and Ca on post menopausal osteoporosis, immediately (short-term) and after three months (long-term) of treatment, on total and ionic calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), inorganic phosphorus (Pi), calcitonin (CT) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) in plasma. The short-term results show a decrease in total and ionic Ca and Pi four hours after the beginning of the treatment; at seven hours, only Pi varies. A decrease in the total and ionic Ca was observed after three months of CT treatment (long-term effects). No hormonal (PTH and CT) variations were found either in the short or the long-term. However, the PTH/CT ratio decreased significantly during the experiment and this may be an important factor in explaining the long-term Ca variations.

In vivo activities of novel benzoxazinorifamycins against Mycobacterium leprae.

Among the four newly synthesized benzoxazinorifamycin derivatives, KRM-1648 and KRM-2312 completely inhibited the multiplication of rifampicin-sensitive as well as rifampicin-resistant strains of M. leprae in the foot-pads of mice. Both were found to be more potent than rifampicin and were bactericidal. In combination with ofloxacin, another potent bactericidal drug against M. leprae, both KRM-1648 and KRM-2312 exhibited synergism. Thus, combination of one of these benzoxazinorifamycin derivatives and ofloxacin in multidrug regimens is worth evaluating in clinical trials.