Prospective multicentre study on barbed reposition pharyngoplasty standing alone or as a part of multilevel surgery for sleep apnoea.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to demonstrate in a prospective multicentre study that Barbed Reposition Pharyngoplasty (BRP) procedure is safe and effective in management of obstructive sleep apnoea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Multicentre study. PARTICIPANTS: Patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnoea. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Values of postoperative apnoea-hypopnea index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), epworth sleepiness scale (ESS). RESULTS: 111 Barbed Reposition Pharyngoplasty procedures standing alone or as a part of multilevel surgery for OSAHS, performed between January and September 2016, were analysed in 15 different centres. The average hospitalisation period was 2.5 ± 0.5 days. The mean patient age was 46.3 ± 10.5 years. The average body mass index at the time of the procedure was 27.9 ± 3.2, and the majority of the patients were men (83%). The mean preoperative and postoperative apnoea/hypopnea index was 33.4 ± 19.5 and 13.5 ± 10.3, respectively (P < .001). The mean preoperative and postoperative ESS score was 10.2 ± 4.5 and 6.1 ± 3.6, respectively (P < .001). The mean preoperative and postoperative ODI were 29.6 ± 20.7 and 12.7 ± 10.8, respectively (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Patients undergoing BRP standing alone or as part of a multilevel approach for the treatment of OSAHS have a reasonable expectation for success with minimal morbidity.

Barbed anterior pharyngoplasty: an evolution of anterior palatoplasty.

We present a new surgical technique for the treatment of snoring and mild obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. This is a modification of anterior palatoplasty, and its main features are the use of self-locking (barbed) threads and the possibility of stabilise the palatal suture by fixing it to anatomical bone and fibrous structures. The technique is described in detail and some preliminary results are presented.

Fumador con fenómeno de Raynaud y nódulos dolorosos en las piernas / Smoker With Raynaud Phenomenon and Painful Nodules on the Legs

No disponible

Identification of obstructive sites and patterns in obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome by sleep endoscopy in 614 patients.

The aim of this study was to analyze and report sites and patterns of obstruction observed during sleep endoscopy in a large group of patients and suggest consequent therapeutic prescriptions. 614 consecutive patients who approached the Centre for Diagnosis and Treatment of Respiratory Sleep Disorders underwent sleep endoscopy. We used propofol to induce sleep, monitoring the value of bispectral index to evaluate the depth of sedation. For each patient, we recorded obstruction sites,obstruction patterns and the effects of the mandibular pull-up manoeuvre on both obstruction and snoring. We ascertained that, in almost all patients, the noise of snoring was generated at the oropharyngeal level. The obstruction at the oropharyngeal level, either in isolation or in combination with other structures, is far more common. The mandibular pull-up manoeuvre was effective in reducing or resolving the obstruction in a large number of patients, even though their AHI values were high. For those patients having an AHI over 15, we point out the various therapeutic indications gained from the sleep endoscopy examinations. Drug-induced (propofol) sleep endoscopy can be considered be a safe procedure, easily practicable, valid and reliable; we therefore consider it a fundamental clinical investigation that can be essential when choosing treatment.

Prevalence of Trichinella spp. in North Spain wild fauna and new variety of Trichinella britovi identification.

Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella britovi live in apparent sympatry among wild fauna of the Iberian Peninsula. In the present study 105 Trichinella isolates from wild mammals were typed by inter-sequence simple repeat PCR (ISSR-PCR). All isolates identified as T. spiralis were indistinguishable from the ISS48 reference strain. Among those belonging to T. britovi, four variations were clearly distinguishable; two of them, ISS11 C-76 and ISS86 MON, had been previously detected while the ISS2 reference strain and Trichinella Rioja 3, (MVUL/SP/02/R3) had not been reported before. The newly distinguished genotype of T. britovi was analyzed by ISSR-PCR, multiplex-PCR, UARR sequencing, and single larva cross-breeding with the other T. britovi genotypes including Trichinella T8 (ISS49). Among all of them, the ISS11 and ISS2 isolates were found to be the most frequent. The uniformity found within T. spiralis isolates is consistent with its recent introduction in Iberian Peninsula, whereas the presence of four variations within T. britovi suggests that this species is an endemic species. Orographical diversity of the West-End of Eurasian Region could act to preserve population diversity observed within T. britovi.

Videoendoscopic adenoidectomy with microdebrider.

After evaluating approaches proposed, over the last few years, by several Authors, to make the procedure of adenoidectomy safer and more accurate, we have developed a new procedure based on the combined use of a rigid 70 degrees endoscope with a video attachment and a microdebrider, both introduced through the oral cavity. This procedure offers several advantages: an improved field of vision, continuous suction of blood, and extreme precision in removing the adenoid tissue. Compared with current practices which employ the adenotome or curette, it is possible with our approach to remove adenoid tissue in the most important centres: the choanal and tubaric regions. The validity and safety of this videoendoscopic adenoidectomy with microdebrider has been demonstrated in 201 patients.

In vitro leukemic cell differentiation and WT1 gene expression.

Cell differentiation and four WT1 isoforms were assessed in CD34(+) cells from patients with acute myelogenous leukemia in presence or absence of recombinant human GM-CSF and G-CSF, on days 0, 10 and 20 of culture. We found that WT1 isoforms expression was consistently higher in AML-derived CD34+ cell-enriched cell fractions, as compared to their normal counterparts, and interestingly, in both cases, cells had differentiation towards the myeloid lineage with WT1 expression different patterns. This data suggest that WT1 expression seems to be modulated by the presence of cytokines, especially on day 20 of culture.

Molecular characterization of Trichinella genotypes by inter-simple sequence repeat polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR).

A bulk analysis of inter-simple sequence repeat-polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR) provides a quick, reliable, and highly informative system for DNA banding patterns that permit species identification. The present study evaluates the applicability of this system to Trichinella species identification. After a single amplification carried out on a single larva with the primer 816([CA]nRY) under high stringency conditions, which provide high reproducibility, we were able to identify by consistent banding patterns 5 sibling species: Trichinella spiralis (ISS48), 2 Trichinella britovi isolates (ISS11 and ISS86), Trichinella murrelli (ISS35), Trichinella nativa (ISS71), Trichinella nelsoni (ISS29); 3 additional Trichinella genotypes: T8 (ISS149), T9 (ISS408 and ISS409), and T6 (ISS34); and the nonencapsulated species Trichinella pseudospiralis (ISS13). Moreover, 33 new Trichinella isolates from 2 zoogeographical regions were unequivocally identified. All Trichinella isolates have shown an identical pattern with those produced by the reference strain. According to these data, we have demonstrated that ISSR-PCR is a robust technique that emerges as a useful new application for the molecular identification of Trichinella isolates in epidemiological studies.

[In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria isolated from pleuropulmonary infections]. / Susceptibilidad in vitro de bacterias anaeróbicas en infecciones pleuropulmonares.

BACKGROUND: Aspirative pleuropulmonary infections are usually caused by anaerobic flora of the mouth, mainly Prevotella, Fusobacterium and Peptostreptococcus spp. Penicillin in high doses is the traditional treatment for this type of infections but the rising resistance developed in recent years has induced the empiric use of clindamycin, increasing treatment costs. AIM: To study antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria isolated from pleuropulmonary infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty two strains obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage and 15 strains isolated from pleural effusions between 2000 and 2002, were studied. The phenotype of strains was identified using the semiautomated API 20 A method and their susceptibility to penicillin (PNC), clindamycin (CM) and chloramphenicol (CAF) was tested using the E test methods. RESULTS: All the strains were susceptible to CAF, 95% to CM and 74.4% to PNC. The predominant genus was Prevotella, which also exhibited the higher resistance. CONCLUSIONS: As CM and CAF are active "in vitro", high rates of clinical response should be expected. In contrast, PNC is less effective, especially against pigmented Prevotella.

Susceptibilidad in vitro de bacterias anaeróbicas en infecciones pleuropulmonares / In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria isolated from pleuropulmonary infections

Background: Aspirative pleuropulmonary infections are usually caused by anaerobic flora of the mouth, mainly Prevotella, Fusobacterium and Peptostreptococcus spp. Penicillin in high doses is the traditional treatment for this type of infections but the rising resistance developed in recent years has induced the empiric use of clindamycin, increasing treatment costs. Aim: To study antimicrobial susceptibility of anaerobic bacteria isolated from pleuropulmonary infections. Material and methods: Thirty two strains obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage and 15 strains isolated from pleural effusions between 2000 and 2002, were studied. The phenotype of strains was identified using the semiautomated API 20 A method and their susceptibility to penicillin (PNC), clindamycin (CM) and chloramphenicol (CAF) was tested using the E test methods. Results: All the strains were susceptible to CAF, 95% to CM and 74.4% to PNC. The predominant genus was Prevotella, which also exhibited the higher resistance. Conclusions: As CM and CAF are active "in vitro", high rates of clinical response should be expected. In contrast, PNC is less effective, especially against pigmented Prevotella.

Expression analysis of the SG-SSPN complex in smooth muscle and endothelial cells of human umbilical cord vessels.

Recently, participation of the sarcoglycan (SG)-sarcospan (SSPN) complex in the development of cardiomyopathy in patients with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy has been shown, and presence of the complex in smooth muscle may be important for the contraction/dilation process of vessels. However, there are few studies determining the SG-SSPN complex in vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells of vessels. In this study, we analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence the expression of different components of the complex in vein/artery smooth muscle and endothelial cells of the human umbilical cord. By RNA analysis, we observed expression of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, delta-, epsilon-SG, and SSPN in smooth muscle cells. In endothelial cells, RNA expression was restricted to beta-, delta-, epsilon-SG, and SSPN. At protein level, we observed in smooth muscle the presence of beta-, delta-, epsilon-SG, and SSPN. In endothelial cells, immunostaining only evidenced the presence of epsilon-SG and SSPN. However, colocalization of SGs and SSPN with dystrophin and utrophin was noted. These results, interestingly, suggest that the SG-SSPN complex may either form with dystrophin or utrophin in smooth muscle cells, and with utrophin in endothelial cells. Additionally, we also observed in some smooth muscle regions the colocalization of the SG-SSPN complex with caveolin, with colocalization being more pronounced between epsilon-SG-SSPN and caveolin in endothelial cells.

Nematocidal activity of nitazoxanide in laboratory models.

The nematocidal activity of a broad-spectrum antiparasitic agent, nitazoxanide [( N-(5-nitrothiazol-2-gammal)salicylamide; NTZ], was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo models using Caenorhabditis elegans, Heligmosomoides polygyrus and Trichinella spiralis. In vitro, NTZ (100 muM) exhibited a low activity against C. elegans and had no effect on embryonation and hatching of H. polygyrus eggs. At concentrations of 100 and 50 muM, the inhibition of excretion/secretion of acetylcholinesterase and acid phosphatase of adult H. polygyrus by NTZ was variable. The in vitro effects of mebendazole (5 muM), albendazole (1 muM) and levamisole (10 muM) were superior to those of NTZ. In mice, NTZ at 1 g/kg proved to be inactive against preadults of T. spiralis whereas mebendazole at 10 mg/kg reduced the worm burden by up to 83%. NTZ at 1 g/kg per day for 3 consecutive days showed a low activity against adults of H. polygyrus (21% reduction). Levamisole, at a single dose of 10 mg/kg, reduced the worm burden by up to 89.9%. The results of this study suggest that NTZ would not have met criteria of a candidate compound.

Role of P53 functionality in the genotoxicity of metronidazole and its hydroxy metabolite.

P53 mediates several biological processes for preservation of genetic stability such as the induction of cell cycle arrest, DNA repair or apoptosis in response to DNA damage. The antiparasitic drug, 1-(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole (metronidazole, MTZ) is able to increase lymphocyte proliferation inducing at the same time chromosomal aberrations. Trying to understand this unexpected event we used cell lines with different P53 functionality, determining the proliferation capacity and the induction of micronuclei (MN) after the treatment with MTZ or its hydroxy metabolite. Our results show that MTZ increased proliferation in a dose response manner in all P53 functional cell lines without inducing changes on the levels of P53 nor MN. However, MTZ hydroxy metabolite induced a dose response increase of P53 and MN, while cell proliferation was not increased. Several studies have shown that the hydroxy metabolite is more potent than MTZ itself. Only in cell lines that do not have a functional P53, MTZ and its metabolite increased both cell proliferation and MN. MTZ use is increasing and its carcinogenicity has not been discarded. Our data indicate that MTZ hydroxy metabolite is potentially a carcinogen and needs to be further studied.

Resposabilidades en los actos farmacéuticos / Perspective of the quality assurance system of pharmaceutical attention

El propósito de este trabajo es resaltar la importancia de las responsabilidades y los compromisos de los profesionales farmacéuticos, Químico Farmacéutico (QF) y Tecnologo en Regencia de Farmacia (TRF) en lo relacionado con la asistencia en salud, lo cual es de transcendencia en el proceso transformador y de construcción del capital social, con el fin de mejorar la calidad de vida, el trabajo y la cultura en salud. La legislación vigente en el ámbito nacional e internacional establece las competencias del farmacéutico directamente implicado en los aspectos del sistema de garantía de calidad asistencial, de producción y de comercialización relacionados con el uso óptimo de los medicamentos, insumos medicoquirúrgicos, recursos fármaco terapéuticos, la promoción de factores protectores para la salud, sobre sus limitaciones y riesgos

(AC)n dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in 5' beta-globin gene in native and Mestizo Mexican populations.

Repeated sequences are dispersed along the human genome. These sequences are useful as markers in diagnosis of inherited diseases, in forensic medicine, and in tracking the origin and evolution of human populations. The (AC)n repeated element is the most frequent in the human genome. In this paper, the (AC)n repeated element located in the 5' flanking region of the beta-globin gene was studied by single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP). Four ethnic Mexican groups (Mixteca, Nahua, Otomí, Purépecha) and a Mestizo population were analyzed. We observed three alleles, A [(AC)16, B [(AC)14], and C [(AC)18], with a frequency of between 68.2% and 86.9%, 13.1% and 18.2%, and 6.7% and 13.7%, respectively. Allele C was present only in Purépecha and Mestizo groups. The absence of this allele in the other ethnic groups studied suggests that there is low genetic admixture of Purépecha and that this is a relatively isolated population. However, it could be that the C allele occurs in low frequencies in the other groups as a result of small sample sizes. The (AC)n repeat polymorphism in the beta-globin gene has not been previously studied in Amerindian populations.

PCR-PRINS-FISH analysis of structurally abnormal sex chromosomes in eight patients with Turner phenotype.

According to cytogenetic analysis, about 50% of Turner individuals are 45,X. The remaining cases have a structurally abnormal X chromosome or are mosaics with a second cell line containing a normal or abnormal sex chromosome. In these mosaics, approximately 20% have a sex marker chromosome whose identity cannot usually be determined by classical cytogenetic methods, requiring the use of molecular techniques. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), primed in situ labeling (PRINS), and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses were performed in 8 patients with Turner syndrome and 45,X mosaic karyotypes to determine the origin and structure of the marker chromosome in the second cell line. Our data showed that markers were Y-derived in 2 patients and X-derived in the remaining 6 patients. We were also able to determine the breakpoints in the two Y chromosomes. The use of cytogenetic and molecular techniques allowed us to establish unequivocally the origin, X or Y, of the marker chromosomes in the 8 patients with Turner phenotype. This study illustrates the power of resolution and utility of combined cytogenetic and molecular approaches in some clinical cases.

Blood groups and red cell acid phosphatase types in a Mixteca population resident in Mexico City.

Several blood groups, ABO, Rh, Ss, Fy, Jk, and red cell acid phosphatase (ACP) types were studied in a native Mixteca population that has resided in Mexico City since 1950. Gene frequencies were obtained and used to establish admixture estimates with blacks and whites. The subjects came from three different geographical areas: High Mixteca, Low Mixteca, and Coast Mixteca. All frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The difference in the ABO frequencies was statistically significant when subjects from the three areas were compared simultaneously. Rh frequencies differed only between the High and the Low Mixteca populations. The ACP frequencies were similar between the Low Mixteca population and a previously reported Mestizo population. However, there were significant differences between the High Mixteca group and a Mestizo population, all the subjects being from Oaxaca. This is the first report of Ss, Fy, Jk, and ACP frequencies in a Mixteca population. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 11:525-529, 1999. Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.