The experience of obstetric nursing students in an innovative maternal care programme in Chiapas, Mexico: a qualitative study.

In Mexico, over the last decade, more non-physician medical professionals have been participating in birth care according to recent federal regulations. So far, very few sites have been able to implement birth care models where midwives and obstetric nurses participate. We describe the experience of a group of intern obstetric nurses participating in a model that provides respectful birth care to rural populations, managed by an international NGO in partnership with the Ministry of Health of Chiapas, Mexico. We conducted a case study including individual interviews and focus group discussions with obstetric nurse interns participating in the Compañeros En Salud programme over four years from 2016 to 2019. We applied targeted content analysis to the qualitative data. There were 28 participants from 4 groups of interns. Informants expressed their opinions in four areas: (a) training as a LEO, (b) training experience at CES, (c) LEO role in health care delivery; and (d) LEOs' perspectives about respectful maternity care. Interns identified gaps in their training including a higher load of theoretical content vs practical experience, as well as little supervision of clinical care in public hospitals. Their adaptation to the health services model has increased over time, and recent classes acknowledge the difficulties that earlier ones had to confront, including the challenging interactions with hospital staff. Interns have incorporated the value of respectful birth care and their role to protect this right in rural populations. Findings could be useful to call for the expansion of the model in public birth centres.

Cell-free DNA analysis in current cancer clinical trials: a review.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) analysis represents a promising method for the diagnosis, treatment selection and clinical follow-up of cancer patients. Although its general methodological feasibility and usefulness has been demonstrated, several issues related to standardisation and technical validation must be addressed for its routine clinical application in cancer. In this regard, most cfDNA clinical applications are still limited to clinical trials, proving its value in several settings. In this paper, we review the current clinical trials involving cfDNA/ctDNA analysis and highlight those where it has been useful for patient stratification, treatment follow-up or development of novel approaches for early diagnosis. Our query included clinical trials, including the terms 'cfDNA', 'ctDNA', 'liquid biopsy' AND 'cancer OR neoplasm' in the FDA and EMA public databases. We identified 1370 clinical trials (FDA = 1129, EMA = 241) involving liquid-biopsy analysis in cancer. These clinical trials show promising results for the early detection of cancer and confirm cfDNA as a tool for real-time monitoring of acquired therapy resistance, accurate disease-progression surveillance and improvement of treatment, situations that result in a better quality of life and extended overall survival for cancer patients.

The RIPASA score for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis: A comparison with the modified Alvarado score. / Escala RIPASA para el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda: comparación con la escala de Alvarado modificada.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Acute appendicitis is the first cause of surgical emergencies. It is still a difficult diagnosis to make, especially in young persons, the elderly, and in reproductive-age women, in whom a series of inflammatory conditions can have signs and symptoms similar to those of acute appendicitis. Different scoring systems have been created to increase diagnostic accuracy, and they are inexpensive, noninvasive, and easy to use and reproduce. The modified Alvarado score is probably the most widely used and accepted in emergency services worldwide. On the other hand, the RIPASA score was formulated in 2010 and has greater sensitivity and specificity. There are very few studies conducted in Mexico that compare the different scoring systems for appendicitis. The aim of our article was to compare the modified Alvarado score and the RIPASA score in the diagnosis of patients with abdominal pain and suspected acute appendicitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An observational, analytic, and prolective study was conducted within the time frame of July 2002 and February 2014 at the Hospital Universitario de Puebla. The questionnaires used for the evaluation process were applied to the patients suspected of having appendicitis. RESULTS: The RIPASA score with 8.5 as the optimal cutoff value: ROC curve (area .595), sensitivity (93.3%), specificity (8.3%), PPV (91.8%), NPV (10.1%). Modified Alvarado score with 6 as the optimal cutoff value: ROC curve (area .719), sensitivity (75%), specificity (41.6%), PPV (93.7%), NPV (12.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The RIPASA score showed no advantages over the modified Alvarado score when applied to patients presenting with suspected acute appendicitis.

Genome-wide association analysis of body conformation traits in Mexican Holstein cattle using a mix of sampled and imputed SNP genotypes.

In arid and semi-arid zones, animal health and production are closely correlated with body conformation traits. These selected traits, in turn, allow livestock to adapt unfavorable soil and environmental conditions. The primary objective of this study was to perform a genome-wide association analysis for a set of sampled and imputed SNPs with 16 conformation traits in a population of Holstein cows from a desert area of Northwestern Mexico. Imputation from 6K to 50K SNPs was performed as a low-cost optimization strategy. Results show eight SNPs associated with two conformation traits. The Udder Depth trait resulted in seven associated SNPs from chromosome 10, that related to Marbling Score, Milk Yield, Fat Yield, Protein Yield, and Protein Percentage Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs). The Body Depth trait resulted in one associated SNP from chromosome 2, although no QTL relation was found. The discovery of genes associated with conformation traits may be indicative of the adaptive selection pressures the Holstein breed has undergone in response to the extreme weather conditions found in the northwestern areas of Mexico. Results of this study indicate that traits such as stature and body depth may be used as indicators of cows' potential genetic merits for milk, fat, and protein production.

Frequency of the Val1016Ile mutation on the kdr gene in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) in south Brazil.

Recently, the number of Aedes aegypti foci has increased in west of Santa Catarina, south Brazil, which has increased concern regarding mosquito-borne disease outbreaks such as dengue fever, Zika virus, and chikungunya. Therefore, it is important to monitor genetic resistance to insecticides through "knockdown resistance". Homozygosity (Ile/Ile) at position 1016 in the coding region of a voltage-dependent sodium channel gene (Nav) may induce resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. We evaluated the frequency of these alleles in A. aegypti in west Santa Catarina. In total, 349 specimens were obtained from the microregions of Joaçaba (31), Concórdia (35), Chapecó (154), and São Miguel do Oeste (129). We found that 109 individuals (31.0%) were homozygous for Val/Val, 102 (29.0%) were heterozygous for Val/Ile, and 138 (40.0%) were homozygous for Ile/Ile. The allele frequencies were similar for Val (0.455) and Ile (0.545). Joaçaba and Concórdia had the highest mutant allele frequencies (0.825 and 0.685, respectively). Therefore, these populations should be monitored for increases in pyrethroid resistance. The São Miguel do Oeste and Chapecó populations had similar frequencies of Val and Ile and were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, suggesting that a selection pressure or other evolutionary force has occurred. In conclusion, the observed frequency of Ile/Ile homozygous individuals in the region studied requires attention, because the implementation of controls using pyrethroid may increase the frequency of the mutant allele through the selection of resistant populations.

The effect of obesity and tobacco smoke exposure on inflammatory mediators and matrix metalloproteinases in rat model.

Obesity is characterized by hypertrophy of adipose tissue and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) by lung damage; both diseases are associated with systemic low-grade inflammation. There are no animal models combining obesity and COPD; therefore, these diseases were induced simultaneously in rats to analyze their effects on the expression of inflammatory mediators and enzymes involved in lung tissue remodeling. Obesity was induced with sucrose (30%) for 4 months concomitant with tobacco smoke exposure (20 cigarettes/day, 5 days/wk) for the last 2 months. Were evaluated: body weight, abdominal fat, dyslipidemia, glucose tolerance test (GTT), histology, inflammatory mediators with qPCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2), MMP-9, MMP-12, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 through qRT-PCR, and MMP-2 and MMP-9 by gelatin zymography. The rats on a sucrose diet exhibited increased body weight, abdominal fat, triglycerides, GTT, and plasma levels of insulin, adiponectin, leptin, resistin, IL-6, IL-1ß, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IFN-γ, upregulated lung IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α and IFN-γ, showing hyperplastic bronchial and alveolar epithelium. The animals exposed to sucrose and tobacco smoke exhibited decreased body weight, abdominal fat and plasma levels of leptin, resistin, IL-1ß and IFN-γ, reducing inflammation but showing emphysematous lesions. Expression of gelatinases and MMP-12 augmented in the rats exposed to tobacco smoke alone or combined with sucrose. Zymography showed prominent gelatinases activity in all the experimental groups. These results suggest that simultaneous exposure to sucrose and tobacco smoke decreases inflammation but results in emphysematous lesions similar to those observed with tobacco smoke exposure, suggesting that obesity does not confer any protective effect against lung damage.

A rapid reflectance-difference spectrometer for real-time semiconductor growth monitoring with sub-second time resolution.

We report on a rapid, 32-channel reflectance-difference (RD) spectrometer with sub-second spectra acquisition times and ΔR/R sensitivity in the upper 10(-4) range. The spectrometer is based on a 50 kHz photo-elastic modulator for light polarization modulation and on a lock-in amplifier for signal harmonic analysis. Multichannel operation is allowed by multiplexing the 32 outputs of the spectrometer into the input of the lock-in amplifier. The spectrometer spans a wavelength range of 230 nm that can be tuned to cover E(1) and E(1) + Δ(1) transitions for a number of III-V semiconductors at epitaxial growth temperatures, including GaAs, InAs, AlAs, and their alloys. We present two examples of real-time measurements to demonstrate the performance of the RD spectrometer, namely, the evolution of the RD spectrum of GaAs (001) annealed at 500 °C and the time-dependent RD spectrum during the first stages of the epitaxial growth of In(0.3)Ga(0.7)As on GaAs (001) substrates.

Renin is an angiotensin-independent profibrotic mediator: role in pulmonary fibrosis.

The pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is probably the result of interplay between cytokines/chemokines and growth factors. The renin-angiotensin (Ang) system is involved, although its profibrotic effect is attributed to Ang II. However, recent studies suggest that renin, through a specific receptor, is implicated in fibrogenesis. In this study, the expression of renin and renin receptor was examined in normal and IPF lungs and fibroblasts. Normal human lung fibroblasts were stimulated with renin or transfected with renin small interfering RNA (siRNA), and the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß1 and α-1-type I collagen was analysed. Normal lungs and lung fibroblasts expressed renin, which was strongly upregulated in IPF lungs and fibroblasts (∼10-fold increase; p<0.05). Immunocytochemistry showed intense renin staining in IPF fibroblasts. Renin-stimulated lung fibroblasts displayed an increase in the expression of TGF-ß1 (mean ± sd 1.8 × 10(3) ± 0.2 × 10(3) versus 1.2 × 10(3)± 0.3 × 10(3) mRNA copies per 18S ribosomal RNA; p<0.01) and collagen (5.93 × 10(2)± 0.66 × 10(2) versus 3.28 × 10(2) ± 0.5 × 10(2); p<0.01), while knocking down renin expression using siRNA provoked a strong decrease of both molecules. These effects were independent of Ang II, since neither losartan nor captopril decreased these effects. Renin also decreased matrix metalloprotease-1 expression and induced TGF-ß1 activation (163 ± 34 versus 110 ± 15 pg active TGF-ß1 per mg total protein). These findings highlight the possible role of renin as an Ang II-independent profibrotic factor in lung fibrosis.

Effect of melatonin supplementation on food and water intake in streptozotocin-diabetic and non-diabetic male Wistar rats.

The effect of orally supplemented melatonin (MT) at 1 mg/kg bw for 4 weeks on feeding behavior of non-diabetic and diabetic male Wistar rats has been studied by computerized meal pattern analysis. Exogenous MT has a satiating effect in non-diabetic rats, but not in diabetic animals. The changes in feeding behavior induced by MT in non-diabetic animals are related to changes in meal frequency, size and duration leading to lower total food intake during the scotophase. MT administration to diabetic rats resulted in lower drinking time and higher faecal output, without further behavioral effects. We conclude that the notorious metabolic changes occurring in the streptozotocin-diabetic rat can overcome most of the underlying effects of MT supplementation. The possible MT usage for therapeutical purposes could benefit from the lack of behavioral alterations in diabetic animals.

Pólipos Colorrectales Diagnosticados por Endoscopia y sus Resultados Anatomopatológicos. Instituto Gastroenterológico Boliviano-Japonés, Cochabamba, Bolivia. / Colorectal Polyps Diagnosed by Endoscopy and its Pathological Results Gastroenterological Institute Bolivian Japanesse, Cochabamba, Bolivia

Los pólipos son una de las afecciones más comunes que afectan al colon y recto y se encuentran en una proporción importante entre la población adulta. Aunque la mayoría de los pólipos son benignos, se halla bien fundada la idea de que existe una relación entre ciertos pólipos y el cáncer, es por ese motivo que surge como objetivo general, determinar la incidencia de pólipos colorectales diagnosticados endoscopicamente y sus resultados de anatomía patológica de los pacientes atendidos en el Instituto Gastroenterológico Boliviano Japonés, durante el periodo de tiempo abarcado entre el 15 de julio 2006 y 15 de julio 2008. Este estudio es de tipo descriptivo transversal, con una muestra de 1 19 pacientes diagnosticados y registrados con pólipos intestinales en el lugar y período de tiempo anteriormente mencionados; del cual obtuvimos los siguientes resultados: 73 pacientes (61%) correspondieron al sexo femenino, el intervalo de edad más afectado fue 45-65 años con 41 pacientes (34%), 55 pacientes ( 46%) presentaron pólipos en recto, 95 pacientes (80%) presentaron un solo pólipo; la colonoscopia fue el método diagnóstico de mayor uso en 80 pacientes (67%), 54 pacientes (45%) de los casos presentaron pólipos Yamada I; la polipectomía endoscópica fue la conducta realizada en 92 pacientes (77%), 77 pacientes (65%) resultaron con pólipos adenomatosos, y de estos 62 pacientes (81%) fueron adenomatosos tubulares, 42 pacientes (35%) presentaron displasia, 68 pacientes (57%) de los anteriores correspondieron a displasia leve; y 1 paciente (1%) de los casos fueron diagnosticados con adenocarcinoma.

Polyps are one of the most common conditions affecting the colon and rectum and are found in a significant proportion of the adult population.Although most polyps are benign, is well-founded the idea that exists a relationship between sme polyps and cancer, that's why our general objective is to determine the incidence of endoscopically diagnosed colorectal polyps and anatomical results pathology of patients treated in Bolivian Japanesse Gastroenterological Institute during the period comprised between 15 July 2006 and 15 July 2008. This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional, using a sample of 119 patients diagnosed and registered with intestinal polyps in the place and time mentioned above, which we obtained the following results: 73 patients (61%) were females, the interval of most affected age was 45-65 years with 41 patients (34%), 55 patients (46%) had polyps in the rectum, 95 patients (80%) of patients had one polyp, colonoscopy was the most widely used diagnostic method in 80 patients (67%), 54 patients (45%) cases Yamada I polyps, endoscopic polypectomy was the conduct performed in 92 patients (77%), 77 patients (65%) were adenomatous polyps, and these 62 patients (81 %) were adenomatous tubular, 42 patients (35%) had dysplasia, 68 patients (57%) of the above are small dysplasia and 1 patient (1 %) cases were diagnosed with cancer.

Genetic analysis of Mexican Criollo cattle populations.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic structure of Mexican Criollo cattle populations using microsatellite genetic markers. DNA samples were collected from 168 animals from four Mexican Criollo cattle populations, geographically isolated in remote areas of Sierra Madre Occidental (West Highlands). Also were included samples from two breeds with Iberian origin: the fighting bull (n = 24) and the milking central American Criollo (n = 24) and one Asiatic breed: Guzerat (n = 32). Genetic analysis consisted of the estimation of the genetic diversity in each population by the allele number and the average expected heterozygosity found in nine microsatellite loci. Furthermore, genetic relationships among the populations were defined by their genetic distances. Our data shows that Mexican cattle populations have a relatively high level of genetic diversity based either on the mean number of alleles (10.2-13.6) and on the expected heterozygosity (0.71-0.85). The degree of observed homozygosity within the Criollo populations was remarkable and probably caused by inbreeding (reduced effective population size) possibly due to reproductive structure within populations. Our data shows that considerable genetic differentiation has been occurred among the Criollo cattle populations in different regions of Mexico.

Successful replantation following an accidental forearm amputation. Case report and review of the literature.

We report a patient who suffered an accidental complete amputation of the right forearm followed by a successful replantation and comment on the indications and management of macro-replantations of the upper limbs. This is the first time that a successful surgical procedure of this nature has been performed in Bolivia, with no post-operative complications and excellent long-term functional recovery.

Surfactant protein gene A, B, and D marker alleles in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease of a Mexican population.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by chronic inflammation. It is most likely the result of complex interactions of environmental and genetic factors. Because pulmonary surfactant components play important roles in normal lung function, innate host defence, and inflammation in the lung, this study investigated the hypothesis that the surfactant protein genes are involved in certain cases of COPD. Genotype analysis of surfactant protein (SP)-A, SP-B, SP-B-linked microsatellite, and SP-D marker alleles was performed in patients with COPD (n=97) and smoker (n=82) or nonsmoker (n=99) controls. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed. The regression analysis results between COPD and smokers revealed several COPD susceptibility alleles (AA62_A, B1580_C, D2S388_5), based on an odds ratio (OR >2.5). The predictive ability of this model for developing COPD is good (c=0.926). Allele-allele (B1580_C and D2S388_5) and allele-environment (i.e. smoking) interactions were detected. When smoker controls were compared to nonsmoker controls, marker D2S388 5 appeared to be smoking-independent (p=0.874), whereas marker alleles AA62_A (p=0.045) and B1580_5 (p=0.007) were smoking-dependent. Males were at higher risk (OR=6.05, p=0.001), and smoking (>50 packs x yr(-1)) increased risk (OR=5.38, p=0.007). Males and alleles of loci flanking SP-B were associated with more severe cases (forced expiratory volume in one second/forced vital capacity < or = 40%). The present results indicate that the surfactant protein alleles may be useful in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by either predicting the disease in a subgroup and/or by identifying disease subgroups that may be used for therapeutic intervention. These observations should now be confirmed in a larger study, designed according to strict epidemiological criteria.

Fibroblasts from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and normal lungs differ in growth rate, apoptosis, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases expression.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic lung disorder characterized by fibroblast proliferation and extracellular matrix accumulation. However, studies on fibroblast growth rate and collagen synthesis have given contradictory results. Here we analyzed fibroblast growth rate by a formazan-based chromogenic assay; fibroblast apoptosis by in situ end labeling (ISEL) and propidium iodide staining; percent of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) positive cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorter; and alpha1-(I) collagen, transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1, collagenase-1, gelatinases A and B, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, -2, -3, and -4 expression by reverse transcriptase/polymerase chain reaction in fibroblasts derived from IPF and control lungs. Growth rate was significantly lower in IPF fibroblasts compared with controls (13.3 +/- 38.5% versus 294.6 +/- 57%, P < 0.0001 at 13 d). Conversely, a significantly higher percentage of apoptotic cells was observed in IPF-derived fibroblasts (ISEL: 31.9 +/- 7.0% versus 15.5 +/- 7.6% from controls; P < 0.008). alpha-SMA analysis revealed a significantly higher percentage of myofibroblasts in IPF samples (62.8 +/- 25.2% versus 14.8 +/- 11.7% from controls; P < 0.01). IPF fibroblasts were characterized by an increase in pro-alpha1-(I) collagen, TGF-beta1, gelatinase B, and all TIMPs' gene expression, whereas collagenase-1 and gelatinase A expression showed no differences. These results suggest that fibroblasts from IPF exhibit a profibrotic secretory phenotype, with lower growth rate and increased spontaneous apoptosis.

Surfactant protein genetic marker alleles identify a subgroup of tuberculosis in a Mexican population.

Pulmonary surfactant and its components are essential for normal lung function and are involved in local host defense. Surfactant protein (SP)-A and SP-D bind to and modulate phagocytosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by macrophages. Frequency comparisons of SP marker alleles in tuberculosis patients and healthy control subjects (tuberculin-skin test positive or general population) were performed. Regression analyses of the tuberculosis and the tuberculin-skin test positive groups revealed, on the basis of odds ratios, tuberculosis susceptibility (DA11_C and GATA_3) and protective (AAGG_2) marker alleles. Similarly, between tuberculosis patients and general population control subjects, susceptibility 1A(3), 6A(4), and B1013_A and protective AAGG_1, and AAGG_7 marker alleles were observed. Moreover, interactions were seen between alleles 6A(2) and 1A(3) (P=.0064) and between 1A(3) and B1013_A (P=. 036). The findings indicate a possible involvement of SP alleles in tuberculosis pathogenesis.

Surfactant components modulate fibroblast apoptosis and type I collagen and collagenase-1 expression.

During lung injury, fibroblasts migrate into the alveolar spaces where they can be exposed to pulmonary surfactant. We examined the effects of Survanta and surfactant protein A (SP-A) on fibroblast growth and apoptosis and on type I collagen, collagenase-1, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 expression. Lung fibroblasts were treated with 100, 500, and 1,000 microg/ml of Survanta; 10, 50, and 100 microg/ml of SP-A; and 500 microg/ml of Survanta plus 50 microg/ml of SP-A. Growth rate was evaluated by a formazan-based chromogenic assay, apoptosis was evaluated by DNA end labeling and ELISA, and collagen, collagenase-1, and TIMP-1 were evaluated by Northern blotting. Survanta provoked fibroblast apoptosis, induced collagenase-1 expression, and decreased type I collagen affecting mRNA stability approximately 10-fold as assessed with the use of actinomycin D. Collagen synthesis and collagenase activity paralleled the gene expression results. SP-A increased collagen expression approximately 2-fold and had no effect on collagenase-1, TIMP-1, or growth rate. When fibroblasts were exposed to a combination of Survanta plus SP-A, the effects of Survanta were partially reversed. These findings suggest that surfactant lipids may protect against intraluminal fibrogenesis by inducing fibroblast apoptosis and decreasing collagen accumulation.

Measures of complexity in neural spike-trains of the slowly adapting stretch receptor organs.

Discrete sequence analysis methods were applied to study spike-trains generated by the isolated neuron of the slowly adapting stretch receptor organ. Calculation of the algorithmic complexity and block entropies of digitized individual spike-train forms allowed us to distinguish different classes of neural behavior. While some spike-trains exhibited significant structure, others displayed diverse degrees of randomness. The sequences recorded during the stimulated portions of the intermittent and walk-through forms, differed considerably from their randomly shuffled surrogates. Informational and grammar complexity measures (in two, four and eight-letter alphabets), tell us things about the structure of spike-trains that are not obtained with conventional spike analysis. Comparison of the conditional entropies for the digitized signals showed that the method distinguishes between different stimulated conditions. Additionally, comparison of the different stimulated conditions with their corresponding surrogates showed that, both, conditional entropies and complexities were significantly different for the two groups. Although the original and the randomly shuffled sequences had the same distribution and average firing rate, their complexity values were different. The results obtained with both measures of sequence structure were quite consistent.

Correlation between pulmonary fibrosis and the lung pressure-volume curve.

The severity of pulmonary fibrosis is the main prognostic factor for survival of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD). Unfortunately, lung biopsy, which is the best method to assess fibrosis quantitatively, is done only once during the evolution of the disease. In this study we analyzed the relationship between the degree of fibrosis and the exponential constant k, derived from the lung pressure-volume curve (LPVC) in 33 patients with chronic ILD, 19 with pigeon breeder's disease (PBD), and 14 with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pulmonary function tests, including the LPVC, were obtained before biopsy. A semiquantitative histologic assessment of the severity of fibrosis was performed on lung tissues. All patients showed a decrease of total lung capacity, residual volume, compliance, and Pao2. The mean value of the constant k was 0.08 +/- 0.06. When expressed as a percent of normal values, 25 patients exhibited values of k lower than 70% of predicted; of the remaining 8 patients whose values were above 70% of predicted, 7 had PBD and only one IPF. On morphologic analysis, 19 patients displayed more than 50% fibrosis. No significant correlations were found between the extent of the lesion or severity of lung fibrosis and the conventional pulmonary function tests. By contrast, a moderate but significant correlation was found between k and the severity of lung fibrosis (r = -0.38, p < 0.05). These findings show that the shape of the LPVC, represented by the constant k, predicts the degree of lung fibrosis and could be useful in the clinical assessment and follow-up of patients with ILD.

[Comparative treatment of acute optic neuritis with "boluses" of intravenous methylprednisolone or oral prednisone]. / Tratamiento comparativo de la neuritis óptica aguda con "bolos" de metilprednisolona endovenosa o prednisona oral.

Sixteen patients with acute optic neuritis were studied, and randomized into two groups of treatment. Group I was assigned to in hospital treatment with intravenous methylprednisolone 500 mg Q8 hours for 10 doses, followed by oral prednisone for two weeks and tapering doses thereafter. Group II was treated with oral prednisone one mg per kilogram of body weight for two weeks followed by tapering doses. All patients had examination of visual acuity, visual field at baseline and repeated on weeks two, four and sixteen. Two patients in group I were lost to follow up, and three patients (two in group I and one in group II) had previous established diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and the onset of acute optic neuritis was considered a recurrence of the disease. There was no statistical difference between the groups with regards to clinical outcome, visual acuity and visual field examination (p = 0.329) Fisher test.