Gas1 is present in germinal niches of developing dentate gyrus and cortex.

Gas1 is a pleiotropic protein that inhibits cell growth when overexpressed in tumors but during development, it acts as a co-receptor for sonic hedgehog to promote the proliferation and survival of various growing organs and systems. This protein has been extensively studied during development in the cerebellum. However, in other structures of the central nervous system, information concerning Gas1 is limited to in situ hybridization studies. We investigate the pattern of Gas1 expression during various developmental stages of the cortex and dentate gyrus of the mouse brain. The levels of Gas1 decrease in the developing brain and the protein is mainly found in progenitor cells during the development of the cortex and dentate gyrus.

Apendicitis aguda en el niño / Acute appendicitis in children

"Los síntomas deben evaluarse y no contarse" PAYR. La apendicitis aguda del niño no tiene la evolución clínica de la del adulto. Los accidentes se suceden con mayor rapidez y adquieren mayor gravedad. Las condiciones de infección son las mismas que en el adulto; debe considerarse entonces el terreno como el factor que da a la infección un giro clínico diferente. Ombredanne y otros autores han establecido que el niño, en el curso de la apendicitis, con cierta frecuencia, tiene reacciones orgánicas diferentes a las del adulto. En verdad se sabe que pocas afecciones proporcionan la oportunidad de que se cometan tan variados errores de diagnóstico como las enfermedades del apéndice. Ello se debe a la situación muy variable de este órgano y sus relaciones anatómicas con las partes vecinas, al distinto grado de las alteraciones anatomo-patológicas y a la irregularidad, a la inconstancia y a la vaguedad con que muchas veces se presentan algunos de sus síntomas (Schwal-be).

Tasas de embarazo e implantación de ovodonación, en un solo intento / One intent ovum donation pregnancy and implantation rates

Objetivos: Conocer las tasas de embarazo e implantación de los procedimientos de ovodonación en un solo intento y comparar con los resultados de otros centros. Diseño: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo. lugar: Centro de Infertilidad y Reproducción Procrear. Participantes: Pacientes que se sometieron a su primer intento de fecundación in vitro con ovodonación. Intervenciones: Estudio de las 26 pacientes que se sometieron a su primer intento de fecundación in vitro con ovodonación, el año 2005. Las pacientes que tenían menstruación recibieron supresión hipofisiaria el día 21 del ciclo previo, para luego iniciar la preparación endometrial el primer día del ciclo menstrual, sincronizando al ciclo de estimulación ovárica controlada de la donante. Se hizo firmar los consentimientos informados en cada caso y se usó el programa SPSS12 para el análisis. Principales medidas de resultados: Tasas de embarazo e implantación. Resultados: Se revisó 26 ciclos de ovodonación. La edad promedio fue 41,7 más menos 3,7 años (rango 32 a 50 años), 20 por ciento menor de 40 años y 80 por ciento mayor o igual a 40 años. Los diagnósticos fueron: 8 (30,8 por ciento) con menopausia fisiológica, 17 (65,4 por ciento) bajas respondedoras o con reserva ovárica disminuida y 1 (3,8 por ciento), enfermedad congénita hereditaria. La preparación del endometrio duró 21,7 más menos 6,1 días (rango 12 a 32 días), logrando un grosor endometrial de 11,9 más menos 2,9 mm (rango 8 a 19 mm). Se aspiró por donante 11,8 más menos 6,4 óvulos (rango 4 a 24 óvulos), fecundándose por paciente 7,7 más menos 4,4 óvulos (rango 3 a 18 óvulos); en 2 pacientes se congeló los óvulos, por lo que se realizó ICSI. Se transfirió por paciente 2,8 más menos 0,4 embriones (rango 2 a 3 embriones). La transferencia embrionaria se realizó en 24 casos (92,3 por ciento) en el día 3 y en 2 (7,7 por ciento) en el día 5. Se logró una tasa de embarazo de 65,4 por ciento...

Objectives: To determine one intent ovum donation pregnancy and implantation rates and compare with other centers results. Design: Descriptive, retrospective study. Setting: Centro de Infertilidad y Reproducción Procrear. Participants: Patients who underwent their first in vitro fertilization with ovum donation. Interventions: We studied 26 patients who underwent first in vitro fertilization intent with ovum do-nation during 2005. Menstruating patients received pituitary suppression on day 21 of their previous cycle, following endometrium preparation the first day of the menstrual cycle, synchronizing ovarian stimulation with the donor. Informed consents were signed in each case and SPSS12 program was used for analysis. Main outcome measures: Pregnancy and implantation rates. Results: We reviewed 26 ovum donation cycles. Main age was 41,7 more less 3,7 years (range 32 to 50 years), 20 per cent less than 40 years and 80 per cent 40 years or older. Diagnosis were: 8 (30,8 per cent) with physiologic menopause, 17 (65,4 per cent) low responders or with decreased ovarian reserve, and 1 (3,8 per cent), congenital hereditary disease. Endometrial preparation lasted 21,7 more less 6,1 days (range 12 t032 days), obtaining endometrial thickness 11,9 more less 2,9 mm (range8 to 19 mm); 11,8 more less 6,4 donor ova were aspired (range 4 to 24 oval and 7,7 more less 4,4 ova by patient were fertilized (range 3 to 18 oval; ova were frozen in 2 patients, and ICSI performed. Transfer per patient was 2,8 more less 0,4 embryos (range 2 to 3 embryos). Embryo transfer was done 24 (92,3 per cent) in day 3 and 2 (7, 7 per cent) in day 5. We obtained a pregnancy rate of 65,4 per cent (17/26), implantation rate 61,5 per cent (16/ 26), 31,3 per cent (5/16) single pregnancy, 56,3 per cent (9/16) twin pregnancy and 12,5 per cent (2116) triplets. In the 2 cases of fertilization...

Valor de la endosonografía en el diagnóstico de lesiones submucosas gástricas / Value of endoscopic ultrasonography for diagnosis

La endosonografía (ES) es una herramienta útil en el estudio de patologías digestivas. Con el objetivo de evaluar la utilidad de la ES, en establecer el tipo, profundidad y extensión de lesiones submucosas (LSM) gástricas, se comparó la descripción endosonográfica de 7 pacientes con LSM gástricas, con los hallazgos histopatológicos de las piezas operatorias resecadas. Se observó concordancia en el tipo de tumor en 5 casos y en la profundidad de la lesión en 4 casos. La ES puede ayudar a definir el diagnóstico, etapificación y conducta terapéutica de las LSM.

Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) is a useful tool in the study of gastrointestinal diseases. The aim was to estimate the value of EUS to establish the type, deep andextension of submucosal gastric lesions (SGL). The results of EUS studies of 7 patients with SGL were compared with the histological findings of the resected lesions. EUS suggested correctly the type of tumor in 5 cases, and the deep extension in 4 cases. We believe EUSmay be useful in the diagnose, staging and defining the therapeutic choice of SGL.

Prevalence and characteristics of smoking in primary healthcare workers in Iquique, Chile.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of the smoking habits of primary healthcare workers in Iquique, Chile. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study through a survey of all personnel working in primary health care in Iquique, Chile. METHODS: The following variables were investigated: biodemographical characteristics and aspects of smoking, knowledge of the adverse effects of smoking, and some lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Among the study population, a high prevalence of smokers was found (37%) and a further 26% were ex-smokers. The smokers were predominantly practical nurses, female, aged 25-45 years and married. The only significant relationship was between age and smoking habit (P=0.02), with smoking prevalence among younger groups being very high (56%). There was a high level of awareness about the adverse effects of smoking and its addictiveness (99 and 93%, respectively). Forty-three percent of participants had been smoking for more than 15 years, and the main reasons for smoking were 'social consumption' and 'stress' (36 and 29%, respectively). Thirty-two percent of the ex-smokers ceased smoking for discomfort or health reasons. There were no differences between smokers and ex-smokers with respect to participation in sports or working shifts. Fifty-two percent of those surveyed reported they they were annoyed when others smoked near them. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high prevalence of smoking, particularly among practical nurses. Regarding attitudes to health, a dichotomy between knowledge and behaviour was found in this group. In pursuing the commitment to smoking cessation in healthcare personnel, a deeper review of cultural issues and motivation should be considered.

Uptake and gene expression of naked plasmid DNA in cultured brain microvessel endothelial cells.

Cellular uptake and gene expression of plasmid DNA and its cationic liposome complexes were studied using primary cultures of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells (BMEC) developed as an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier. An avid association of naked plasmid DNA with the BMEC monolayer was observed at 37 degreesC, which is comparable to that of the DNA/liposome complex. The cellular association significantly decreased at low temperature (4 degreesC). The binding at 4 degreesC was saturable and significantly inhibited by polyanions involving polyinosinic acid and dextran sulfate, typical ligands for the macrophage scavenger receptors, but not by polycytidylic acid or in the presence of EDTA. Unexpectedly, a significant gene expression in the BMEC was obtained by transfection with naked plasmid DNA although the expression level was lower than that obtained by plasmid DNA/cationic liposome complex. Taken together, cultured capillary endothelial cells derived from the brain are able to take up naked plasmid DNA via a scavenger receptor like-mediated mechanism for polyanions and gene expression in the cells takes place.

Fluorimetric detection of tautomeric equilibria in 8-aminoquinolines.

The 1-methylquinolinium cations derived from 8-aminoquinoline and 8-amino-6-methoxyquinoline were prepared by methylation of the corresponding nitroquinolines and reduction of the nitro-compounds. The dissociation constants of the protonated species of these compounds are almost identical to those of doubly-protonated 8-aminoquinoline and 8-amino-6-methoxyquinoline, respectively, suggesting that the parent quinolines are exclusively first protonated at the ring nitrogen atom. However, the molar absorptivities of the 1-methyl derivatives at their longest-wavelength absorption maxima are substantially greater than the corresponding absorptivities of the unmethylated aminoquinolines, a result which suggests tautomerism of the singly-protonated parent quinolines, with a proportion of the population protonated at the amino group. Fluorescence spectroscopy reveals a single emission from the 8-amino-6-methoxy-1-methylquinolinium ion and two excitation-wavelength-dependent fluorescences from the 8-amino-6-methoxyquinolinium ion, confirming the occurrence of tautomerism and supporting choice of the absorptiometric approach rather than the titrimetric approach as the preferred method for the detection of tautomerism and the calculation of tautomeric equilibrium constants.

[Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and isoenzymes. Correlation with myocardial damage]. / Creatín-fosfoquinasa (CPK) e isoenzimas correlación con daño miocárdico.

1). The MB electrophoretic fraction of the serum CPK is specific in the diagnosis old acute myocardial infarction. 2). It allows us to differentiate ischaemia from myocardial necrosis. 3). The absence of this fraction, when found out during a period of 12 to 24 hours after the start of the angina attack allows us to deny the presence of acute myocardial infarction with a high index of precision. 4). Our results show that the serum sample should be obtained between 12 and 24 hours after starting the clinical case, in order to get a higher sensibility and specificity. 5). The quantification of MB fraction might be useful in the calculation of the amount of cardial muscle destroyed. When calculating the amount of cardial muscle destroyed of 125 cases (12.5%) with positive diagnosis of reinfarction and among the same 125, 12 were found occurring for the third time. Is possible that the real frequency of the iterative infarction is even higher, because many cases were dismissed (27.7%) for lack of electrocardiographic data, clearly pointing to myocardial transmural infarction. 6). Investigations were conduced about the evolutative condition of the danger factors.