Sharing Perceptual Experiences through Language.

The aim of this article is to shed light on how sensory perceptions are communicated through authentic language. What are the language resources available to match multimodal perceptions, and how do we use them in real communication? We discuss insights from previous work on the topic of the interaction of perception, cognition, and language and explain how language users recontextualise perception in communication about sensory experiences. Within the framework of cognitive semantics, we show that the complexities of multimodal perception are clearly reflected in the multifunctional use of words to convey meanings and feelings. To showcase the language resources employed, we base our findings on research on how architects convey their perceptions of built space. Two main patterns emerge: they use multimodal expressions (soft, bland, and jarring) and descriptions of built space through motion (the building reaches out, or routes and directions such as destination, promenade, route, or landscape in combination with verbs such as start and lead) in which case the architect may either be the observer or the emerged actor. The important take-home message is that there is no neat and clear a priori link between words and meanings, but rather "unforeseen" patterns surface in natural production data describing sensory perceptions.

Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for Treating Steroid-Resistant Acute and Chronic Graft Versus Host Disease: A Multicenter Compassionate Use Experience.

Graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a severe complication after allogenic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HSCT). Several clinical trials have reported the use of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) for the treatment of GVHD. In March 2008, the Andalusian Health Care System launched a compassionate use program to treat steroid-resistant GVHD with MSC. Clinical-grade MSC were obtained under GMP conditions. MSC therapy was administered intravenously in four separate doses of 1 × 106 cells/kg. Sixty-two patients, 45 males (7 children) and 17 females (2 children), received the treatment. Patients had a median age of 39 years (range: 7-66) at the time of the allogenic HSCT. The overall response was achieved in 58.7% of patients with acute (a)GVHD. Two years' survival for aGVHD responders was 51.85%. The overall response for patients with chronic (c)GVHD was 65.50% and the 2-year survival rate for responders was 70%. Age at the time of HSCT was the only predictor found to be inversely correlated with survival in aGVHD. Regarding safety, four adverse events were reported, all recovered without sequelae. Thus, analysis of this compassionate use experience shows MSC to be an effective and safe therapeutic option for treating refractory GVHD, resulting in a significant proportion of patients responding to the therapy.

El método hahnemanniano en la clínica integral homeopática / The hahnemannian method in the clinic integrated homeopathic

La historia clínica es una herramienta imprescindible para todo aquel que se precie de ser un buen médico homeópata, toda vez que en ella se concentra una visión sintetizada del enfermo que hace posible internarse en su personalidad y, por ende, establecer un diagnóstico certero. Es fundamental que maestros y alumnos estudien a profundidad los tratados clásicos de la ciencia hahnemanniana, de tal modo que, como recomendaba el doctor Proceso Sánchez Ortega, procedan en su labor profesional “solamente después de haber asimilado por completo la filosofía sobre lo que es el ser humano”. Este artículo destaca la explicación en torno a los 5 diagnósticos que se elaboraron al interior de la escuela de posgrado Homeopatía de México, los cuales son muy útiles para sintetizar la historia clínica de los pacientes. (AU)

Medical history is an essential tool for anyone who claims to be a good homeopathic doctor, each time that a synthesized view of the patient gets concentrated thatenables to go deep into his personality and therefore, to establish an accurate diagnosis. It is essential that teachers and students study the classical agreementsof hahnemannian science deeply in such way as recommended by Dr. Proceso Sanchez Ortega, to proceed in their professional work “only after having digested completely the philosophy about what the human being is”. This article highlights the explanation about 5 diagnoses that were drawn inside the graduate Homeopathy school in Mexico, which are very useful for synthesizing medical history of patients. (AU)

Recurrent infections and joint pain.

A seven-year-old white male presented with recurrent bouts of paranasal sinusitis, streptococcal pharyngotonsillitis, lower respiratory tract infections, continuous low-grade fever, and conjunctivitis, which required frequent use of antibiotics over a period of two years. A careful review of systems also revealed a six-month history of arthralgia affecting his knees, elbows, and hands, which limited his daily activities. Prominent in the history were recurrent bouts of a generalized salmon-red, nonpruritic rash, which was most pronounced on the face and trunk and which was exacerbated by fever. His past medical history revealed severe bouts of gastroesophageal reflux disease, chronic intermittent bloody mucous diarrhea, and atopic dermatitis. A detailed review of the patient's family pedigree over five generations revealed a strong genetic predisposition for autoimmune diseases of several types. His physical examination revealed a thin, pale, chronically ill-appearing male, bilateral conjunctivitis, and pale nasal mucosae with no lymphadenopathy, organomegaly, arthritis, or rash. All laboratory results were unremarkable except for a positive rheumatoid factor and a suboptimal antibody response to immunization with pneumococcal vaccine. A diagnosis of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis of the systemic onset type was established, and, based upon his humoral immune deficiency, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin was initiated with remarkable improvement in his symptomatology.

Melatonin prevents oxidative stress and hepatocyte cell death induced by experimental cholestasis.

The induction of oxidative stress precedes liver injury during experimental obstructive jaundice (OJ). In this sense, different evidences suggest that melatonin (MEL), as antioxidant, may be useful in the protection against apoptosis and necrosis during experimental cholestasis. In addition, we will also assess if MEL-dependent protection is related to a recovery of antioxidant status disturbances induced by OJ. Cholestasis was achieved by double ligature and sectioning of the principal bile duct. MEL was injected intraperitoneally (500 microg/kg/day). Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver. Different parameters related to antioxidant status, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in liver. Liver injury was assessed by alanine amino-transferase (ALT) in serum, histological examination, DNA fragmentation and TUNEL assay. The activation of perisinusoidal stellate cells was evaluated by immunohistochemical measurement of alpha-smooth muscle actin in liver sections. The induction of OJ increased all the parameters related to apoptosis and necrosis in liver. The induction of liver injury was associated with stellate cell activation, as well as an increase in MDA (p < 0.0001) and a reduction in GSH, GPx, catalase and SOD content (p < 0.0001) in liver. MEL reduced hepatic apoptosis and necrosis (p < 0.004) with a significant improvement in all oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, our results showed that MEL recovered the antioxidant status and reduced apoptosis and necrosis induced by experimental cholestasis.

Prueba de estres farmacológica eco-dobutamina en cardiopatía isquémica / Echo-Dobutamine pharmacologic stress test in ischemic heart disease

Se reporta la experiencia de la División de Cardiología del Hospital de Especialidades del Centro Médico "La Raza", IMSS con la prueba de estrés farmacológica eco-dobutamina. Para evaluar la sensibilidad, especificidad y seguridad de la prueba de estrés farmacológica edo-dobutamina, estudiamos 30 pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica en base a historia clínica, ecocardiograma 2D, prueba de esfuerzo y cateterismo cardiaco. La prueba se inició teniendo videograbación de las vistas convensionales de la movilidad segmentaria ventricular izquierda. Administramos dobutamina endovenosa a razón de 2.5, 5, 10, 20, 30 y con un máximo de 40 µg/kg/min; los incrementos fueron cada 3 minutos y la dosis promedio fue de 19 ñ14.3 µg/kg/min, teniendo monitorización electrocardiográfica continua de la frecuencia cardiaca y de la tensión arterial. Las imágenes de la movilidad miocárdica se grabaron con cada cambio de dosis. Veintidós de los casos correspondieron a varones y 8 a mujeres. La edad promedio fue de 55 ñ 9 años. Veintidós pacientes tuvieron antecedente de infarto miocárdico antiguo, quienes se encontraban asintomáticos al momento de la prueba y 8 con angina de pecho en clase funcional I y II de la CCS. La fracción de explusión promedio basal fue de 62.6 ñ 11.7 por ciento por ecocardiografía vs 64.4 ñ 16.8 por ciento obtenida por cateterismo cardiaco con p no significativa. Ningún sujeto presentó trastornos del ritmo. La TA sistólica se incrementó de un promedio de 124 ñ 14.5 a 138.3 ñ 14.4 mmHg (p<0.0005) mientras que la TA sistólica se incrementó de 82.3 ñ 8.2 a 90.8 ñ 9.6 mmHg (p<0.001). La FC se incrementó de 68.7 ñ 10.1 a 85.5 ñ 15.7 latidos por minuto (p<0.001). No hubo complicaciones graves. Dieciocho pacientes tuvieron alteraciones en la movilidad segmentaria, las que se consideraron como pruebas positivas y estuvieron asociadas a lesiones obstructivas > 50 por ciento; 9 fueron negativas, de las cuales, sólo 1 caso estuvo asociado a lesión significativa, tres pruebas fueron positivas en ausencia de lesión coronaria, teniendo así: 94, 72 y 85 por ciento de sensibilidad, especificidad y valor predictivo respectivamente (p<0.005). La prueba eco-dobutamina es altamente sensible, con buena especificidad y valor predictivo. Se puede realizar con seguridad y facilidad en pacientes isquémicos.