Botanical Origin of Galician Bee Pollen (Northwest Spain) for the Characterization of Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity.

Bee pollen is considered a natural product, relevant for its nutritional and antioxidant properties. Its composition varies widely depending on its botanical and geographical origins. In this study, the botanical characteristics of 31 bee pollen samples from Galicia (Northwest Spain) were analyzed; samples have not been studied until now from this geographical area. The study focused on the evaluation of the influence of plant origin on total phenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activity measured by radical scavenging methods. The multivariate statistical treatment showed the contribution of certain pollen types in the extract of bee pollen as to phenols, flavonoids and antioxidant capacity. Specifically, the bee pollen samples with higher presence of Castanea, Erica, Lythrum and Campanula type indicated higher total phenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities according to the principal component analysis. On the contrary, Plantago and Taraxacum officinale type contributed a lower content of these compounds and radical scavenging activity. The cluster analysis classified the bee pollen samples into three groups with significant differences (p > 0.05) for the main pollen types, total phenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacities. These results demonstrate the richness and botanical diversity in the pollen spectrum of bee pollen and enhance the possible beneficial nutraceutical properties of this beekeeping product.

The evolution of early symbolic behavior in Homo sapiens.

How did human symbolic behavior evolve? Dating up to about 100,000 y ago, the engraved ochre and ostrich eggshell fragments from the South African Blombos Cave and Diepkloof Rock Shelter provide a unique window into presumed early symbolic traditions of Homo sapiens and how they evolved over a period of more than 30,000 y. Using the engravings as stimuli, we report five experiments which suggest that the engravings evolved adaptively, becoming better-suited for human perception and cognition. More specifically, they became more salient, memorable, reproducible, and expressive of style and human intent. However, they did not become more discriminable over time between or within the two archeological sites. Our observations provide support for an account of the Blombos and Diepkloof engravings as decorations and as socially transmitted cultural traditions. By contrast, there was no clear indication that they served as denotational symbolic signs. Our findings have broad implications for our understanding of early symbolic communication and cognition in H. sapiens.

Modelo de la enseñanza en cirugía laparoscópica básica en residentes de cirugía general / Basic-laparoscopic-surgery teaching model in general surgery residents

La cirugía laparoscópica se ha establecido como estándar de oro en procedimientos básicos. A pesar de lo anterior no todas las residencias de Latinoamérica cuentan con la sistematización de la enseñanza de estos procedimientos. Objetivo: Valorar si el adiestramiento en 4 años es seguro y suficiente en la enseñanza de laparoscopia básica. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo, descriptivo, observacional y transversal en 1104 pacientes operados de enero del 2008 a octubre del 2011. Considerando criterios de inclusión específicos y recolectando variables generales y de complicaciones para evaluar estadísticas descriptivas de tendencia central. Resultados: 714 (65%) colecistectomías, 375 (34%) oclusión tubárica (OTB), y el resto para colecistectomías más OTB y quistes de ovario, en género femenino 94%, y masculino 6%. El tiempo quirúrgico promedio fue de 48 min para colecistectomía y 21 min para OTB. La técnica americana a una mano en todos los casos de colecistectomía, para OTB se realizó con 2 manos en su totalidad. En el 73.2% de los casos el ayudante fue un médico adscrito, y en un 25% un residente de mayor jerarquía. El índice de complicaciones menores en los primeros 30 días fue del 1.8%, no se observó ninguna mayor. Conclusiones: La técnica de colecistectomía a una mano y la OTB son seguras y una curva de aprendizaje tanto para el cirujano como para el ayudante no muy experimentado, esto se observa al término de sus 4 años de adiestramiento porque los residentes de este hospital, tienen la destreza y conocimiento necesario para cirugía laparoscópica básica.

Laparoscopic surgery has been established as the gold standard in basic procedures. In spite of this, not all residencies in Latin America include the required systematization for the teaching of these procedures. Objective: To assess whether the training in four years is safe and enough for the teaching of basic laparoscopy. Material and methods: Prospective, descriptive, observational and transversal study in 1104 patients operated on from January 2008 to October 2011. Considering specific inclusion criteria and collecting complication and general variables to evaluate descriptive statistics of central tendency. Results: 714 (65%) cholecystectomies, 375 (34%) fallopian tube obstruction and the rest for cholecystectomy plus fallopian tube obstruction and ovarian cysts, women 94%, male 6%. The average surgical time was 48 minutes for cholecystectomy and 21 minutes for fallopian tube obstruction. The American technique with one hand was used in all cholecystectomy cases, whereas the 2-hand technique was used in all the cases of fallopian ube obstruction. In 73.2% of operations, the assistant was helper was a graduated doctor, and in 25% of cases the assistant was a senior resident. The rate of minor complications in the first 30 days was 1.8%, without any major complication. Conclusion: Handed technique Cholecystectomy and the OTB are safe and for both the surgeon and Assistant not very high learning curve, this can be seen at the end of his 4 years of training the residents of this hospital, they have the skill and knowledge necessary for basic laparoscopic surgery.

Colecistectomías laparoscópicas realizadas en Unidad de Cirugía Ambulatoria / Laparoscopic cholecystectomies performed in Ambulatory Surgery Unit

Objetivo: Conocer la factibilidad de la colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria en nuestro medio. Sede: Unidad de Especialidades Médicas Tijuana de la Secretaría de Salud. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo, observacional, prospectivo, transversal. Análisis estadístico: Porcentajes como medida de resumen para variables cualitativas. Pacientes y métodos: Pacientes operados electivamente de colecistectomía laparoscópica de agosto de 2007 a abril de 2009. Se registraron variables asociadas al manejo ambulatorio y al procedimiento. Resultados: De 597 pacientes, 532 (89%) fueron mujeres y 65 (11%) hombres. La edad media fue 35 años. Los síntomas más frecuentes fueron dolor, 93%; vómito, 38%; náusea, 35%. Las comorbilidades fueron del 20%: hipertensión arterial sistémica (67) y diabetes mellitus (38). El tiempo quirúrgico promedio fue de 48.08 minutos (rango de 12-135 minutos), sin mortalidad. Índice de conversión = 2.17%. Las complicaciones mayores relacionadas a la cirugía fueron: sangrado en nueve casos, lesión hepática en dos, fuga cística en dos, lesiones mayores de la vía biliar en dos casos y finalmente una lesión a serosa de estómago. Se egresaron de forma ambulatoria el 92.62%, con una estancia postquirúrgica promedio de 7.18 h, en 7.38% de los pacientes no fue exitoso el manejo ambulatorio. Conclusiones: La colecistectomía laparoscópica ambulatoria en nuestro medio es un procedimiento efectivo y con bajo índice de complicaciones.

Objective: To know the feasability of performing ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our milieu. Setting: Medical Specialties Unit Tijuana, Health Ministry. Design: Descriptive, observational, prospective, transversal study. Statistical analysis: Percentages as summary measures for qualitative variables. Patients and methods: Patients subjected to elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy from August 2007 to April 2009. We recorded the variables associated to the ambulatory management and the procedure. Results: Of 597 patients, 532 (89%) were women and 65 (11%) were men. Mean age was of 35 years. Most frequent symptoms were pain, 93; vomit, 38%, nausea, 35%. Comorbidities were 20% (118): systemic arterial hypertension (67) and diabetes mellitus (38). Average surgical time was of 48.08 min (range 12-135 min), without mortality. Conversion index was of 2.17%. Major complications related to the surgery were: bleeding in nine cases, liver injury in two, cystic leakage in two, major injuries to the biliary tract in two cases, and finally one injury to the serosa of the stomach. Discharged as ambulatory patients were 92.62%, with an average postsurgical stay of 7.18 h, in 7.38% ambulatory care was not successful. Conclusions: Ambulatory laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our milieu is an efficient procedure with a low index of complications.