Demographic, clinical and microbiological characteristics of the first 30 human monkeypox confirmed cases attended in a tertiary hospital in Madrid (Spain), during the May-June 2022 international outbreak.

The present outbreak of Human Monkeypox (HMPX) that has begun in May 2022 and has spread across all continents in less than two months has qualitative and quantitative characteristics that make it different from the pattern of human disease previously caused by this virus. It has spread with enormous ease, affects almost exclusively adults, behaves as a sexually transmitted disease and focuses on very specific groups and transmission conditions. The high incidence in the city of Madrid in males that have sex with males (MSM) has allowed us to observe and report the experience with the first 30 cases diagnosed in our institution. Patients presented with febrile symptoms, genital and paragenital skin lesions reminiscent of smallpox, but less extensive and severe. The disease may also cause proctitis, pharyngitis and perioral lesions. The PCR test for diagnostic confirmation has been shown to be very sensitive and effective, not only in skin lesions but also in blood and other fluids such as pharyngeal, rectal exudates and blood. A very high proportion of patients with HMPX also have other sexually transmitted diseases that must be actively detected in this context. The spontaneous evolution of our patients has been good and hospitalization has been practically unnecessary. Transmission to non-sexual cohabitants and health personnel has been nonexistent and the lesions have disappeared in less than 30 days without leaving sequelae and no need for specific antiviral treatment.

The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer, MEDA. A Suite of Environmental Sensors for the Mars 2020 Mission.

NASA's Mars 2020 (M2020) rover mission includes a suite of sensors to monitor current environmental conditions near the surface of Mars and to constrain bulk aerosol properties from changes in atmospheric radiation at the surface. The Mars Environmental Dynamics Analyzer (MEDA) consists of a set of meteorological sensors including wind sensor, a barometer, a relative humidity sensor, a set of 5 thermocouples to measure atmospheric temperature at ∼1.5 m and ∼0.5 m above the surface, a set of thermopiles to characterize the thermal IR brightness temperatures of the surface and the lower atmosphere. MEDA adds a radiation and dust sensor to monitor the optical atmospheric properties that can be used to infer bulk aerosol physical properties such as particle size distribution, non-sphericity, and concentration. The MEDA package and its scientific purpose are described in this document as well as how it responded to the calibration tests and how it helps prepare for the human exploration of Mars. A comparison is also presented to previous environmental monitoring payloads landed on Mars on the Viking, Pathfinder, Phoenix, MSL, and InSight spacecraft.

Phase and amplitude reconstruction in single-pixel transmission microscopy: a comparison of Hadamard, cosine, and noiselet bases.

Hadamard, cosine, and noiselet bases are implemented into a digital holographic microscope based on single-pixel imaging with the capability to retrieve images of complex objects. The object is illuminated with coherent light modulated with different patterns deployed in a digital micromirror device, and the resulting fields are captured by single-pixel detection. For amplitude images, the experimental results of the three bases are evaluated with the peak SNR criteria. It is shown that the cosine basis recovers amplitude distributions with the best quality. Regarding phase images, the recovered ones compare well with those obtained with a CMOS camera.

Bed 13 is not worse than any other. A retrospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: Risk management and patient safety are closely related, following this premise some industries have adopted measures to omit number 13. Healthcare is not left behind, in some hospital the day of surgery's or bed numbering avoid number 13. The objective was to assess whether it is necessary to redesign the safety policies implemented in hospitals based on avoiding 13 in the numbering of rooms/beds. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted. Mortality and the number of adverse events suffered by patients admitted to rooms/beds numbering 13 (bad chance) or 7 (fair chance) over a two-year period to Intensive Care Unit, Medicine, Gastroenterology, Surgery, and Paediatric service were registered and compared. RESULTS: A total of 8553 admissions were included. They had similar length-of-stay and Charlson Index scores (p-value=0.435). Mortality of bed 13 was 268 (6.2%, 95% CI 5.5-6.9) and 282 in bed 7 (6.7%, 95% CI 5.9-7.5) (p-value=0.3). A total of 422 adverse events from 4342 admissions (9.7%, 95% CI 8.9-10.6) occurred in bed 13, while in bed 7 the count of adverse events was 398 in 4211 admissions (9.4%, 95% CI 8.6-10.4) (p-value=0.6). Odds Ratio for mortality was equal to 0.9 (95% CI 0.8-1.1) and suffering adverse events when admitted to bed 13 versus bed 7 was 1.03 (95% CI 0.9-1.2). CONCLUSIONS: Bed 13 is not a risk factor for patient safety. Hospitals should pay attention to causes and interventions to avoid adverse events based on evidence rather than beliefs or myths.

Health risk assessment from exposure to particles during packing in working environments.

Packing of raw materials in work environments is a known source of potential health impacts (respiratory, cardiovascular) due to exposure to airborne particles. This activity was selected to test different exposure and risk assessment tools, aiming to understand the effectiveness of source enclosure as a strategy to mitigate particle release. Worker exposure to particle mass and number concentrations was monitored during packing of 7 ceramic materials in 3 packing lines in different settings, with low (L), medium (M) and high (H) degrees of source enclosure. Results showed that packing lines L and M significantly increased exposure concentrations (119-609 µg m-3 respirable, 1150-4705 µg m-3 inhalable, 24,755-51,645 cm-3 particle number), while non-significant increases were detected in line H. These results evidence the effectiveness of source enclosure as a mitigation strategy, in the case of packing of ceramic materials. Total deposited particle surface area during packing ranged between 5.4 and 11.8 × 105 µm2 min-1, with particles depositing mainly in the alveoli (51-64%) followed by head airways (27-41%) and trachea bronchi (7-10%). The comparison between the results from different risk assessment tools (Stoffenmanager, ART, NanoSafer) and the actual measured exposure concentrations evidenced that all of the tools overestimated exposure concentrations, by factors of 1.5-8. Further research is necessary to bridge the current gap between measured and modelled health risk assessments.

A new species of karst forest Bent-toed Gecko (genus Cyrtodactylus Gray) not yet threatened by foreign cement companies and a summary of Peninsular Malaysia's endemic karst forest herpetofauna and the need for its conservation.

A new species of Bent-toed Gecko, Cyrtodactylus gunungsenyumensis sp. nov. of the sworderi complex, is described from Hutan Lipur Gunung Senyum, Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia and is differentiated from all other species in the sworderi complex by having a unique combination of characters including a maximum SVL of 74.7 mm; low, rounded, weakly keeled, body tubercles; 34-40 paravertebral tubercles; weak ventrolateral body fold lacking tubercles; 38-41 ventral scales; an abrupt transition between the posterior and ventral femoral scales; 20-23 subdigital lamellae on the fourth toe; enlarged femoral scales; no femoral or precloacal pores; no precloacal groove; wide caudal bands; and an evenly banded dorsal pattern. Cyrtodactylus gunungsenyumensis sp. nov. is a scansorial, karst forest-adapted specialist endemic to the karst ecosystem surrounding Gunung Senyum and occurs on the vertical walls of the limestone towers as well as the branches, trunks, and leaves of the vegetation in the associated karst forest. Cyrtodactylus gunungsenyumensis sp. nov. is the seventh species of karst forest-adapted Cyrtodactylus and the sixteenth endemic species of karst ecosystem reptile discovered in Peninsular Malaysia in the last seven years from only 12 different karst forests. This is a clear indication that many species remain to be discovered in the approximately 558 isolated karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia not yet surveyed. These data continue to underscore the importance of karst ecosystems as reservoirs of biodiversity and microendemism and that they constitute an important component of Peninsular Malaysia's natural heritage and should be protected from the quarrying interests of foreign industrial companies.

Tunable narrowband fiber laser with feedback based on whispering gallery mode resonances of a cylindrical microresonator.

Narrowband filtering based on whispering gallery modes of a slightly tapered cylindrical optical microresonator was used to implement a tunable narrowband erbium-doped fiber laser. The laser can be set to emit a single longitudinal cavity mode (single frequency), although the laser cavity is a few meters long. In the single-frequency regime the laser can emit a maximum power of 0.380 mW with a linewidth <35 kHz and a signal-to-noise ratio exceeding 50 dB. Tunability is achieved by sliding the excitation point along the microcylinder. A tuning range of 1.16 nm is demonstrated.

Factors associated with blood pressure control in diabetic patients treated in nephrology units. PRESDIAB Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Most hypertensive patients do not reach target blood pressure (BP), especially if they are diabetic. The objective of the study is to assess the percentage of tight BP control, defined as BP<130/80mm Hg and identify factors associated with it in diabetic type 2 (DM2) patients treated in nephrology units. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational and cross-sectional study; we included 526 patients with DM2 and arterial hypertension (AHT). We collected data on: demographics, anthropometrics, harmful habits, history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), blood pressure, kidney function, glycaemic control, lipid profile, and drug treatment, among others. RESULTS: The mean age (SD) was 66 (10.6) years, 61% were male, 12.8% were smokers, 39.4% had a history of CVD, 72% had hypercholesterolemia, and 44% were obese. Seventeen point five percent of patients had tight BP control (<130/80mm Hg) (95% confidence interval [CI]:14.3-21.0), while 36.9% had BP below 140/85mm Hg. Seventy-one percent of patients were prescribed two or more anti-hypertensive treatments. Several factors are associated with tight BP control not being achieved, and the logistic regression analysis revealed that LDL cholesterol levels were significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] 0.55; 95% CI:0.41-0.75 for one standard deviation increase). CONCLUSIONS: Of the DM2 patients that attended the nephrology units, less than 20% achieved a tight BP control. Cholesterol levels seem to be the main factor associated with unsatisfactory BP control within our study population.

Factores asociados al control de la presión arterial en pacientes con diabetes tratados en unidades de nefrología. Estudio PRESDIAB / Factors associated with blood pressure control in diabetic patients treated in nephrology units. PRESDIAB Study

Fundamento y objetivo: La mayoría de pacientes hipertensos no alcanza los objetivos de control de la presión arterial (PA), especialmente si son diabéticos. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el porcentaje de control estricto de la PA definida como PA <130/80 mmHg e identificar factores asociados al mismo en pacientes diabéticos tipo 2 (DM2) tratados en unidades de nefrología. Pacientes y método: Estudio observacional y transversal, en el que se incluyeron 526 pacientes con DM2 e hipertensión arterial (HTA). Se recogieron datos demográficos, antropométricos, hábitos tóxicos, antecedentes de enfermedad cardiovascular (ECV), medidas de PA, función renal, control glicémico, perfil lipídico y tratamiento farmacológico, entre otros. Resultados: La edad media (DE) fue de 66 (10,6) años, con un 61% de hombres, un 12,8% de fumadores, un 39,4% con antecedentes de ECV, un 72% con hipercolesterolemia, y 44% con obesidad. El porcentaje de control estricto de la PA (<130/80 mmHg) fue del 17,5% (intervalo de confianza [IC] 95%: 14,3-21,0), mientras que un 36,9% tenían la PA por debajo de 140/85 mmHg. Un 71,1% de pacientes recibía dos o más tratamientos antihipertensivos. Diversos factores se asociaron con falta de control estricto de la PA, de los cuales, tras análisis de regresión logística, destacaban los valores de colesterol LDL (odds ratio [OR] 0,55; IC 95%: 0,41-0,75 para un aumento de 1 DE). Conclusiones: En pacientes con DM2 atendidos en unidades de nefrología, el porcentaje del control estricto de la PA es inferior al 20% en la clínica. Los niveles de colesterol parece el principal factor asociado con el control insuficiente de PA en la población estudiada (AU)

Background and objective: Most hypertensive patients do not reach target blood pressure (BP), especially if they are diabetic. The objective of the study is to assess the percentage of tight BP control, defined as BP<130/80mm Hg and identify factors associated with it in diabetic type 2 (DM2) patients treated in nephrology units. Patients and methods: Observational and cross-sectional study; we included 526 patients with DM2 and arterial hypertension (AHT). We collected data on: demographics, anthropometrics, harmful habits, history of cardiovascular disease (CVD), blood pressure, kidney function, glycaemic control, lipid profile, and drug treatment, among others. Results: The mean age (SD) was 66 (10.6) years, 61% were male, 12.8% were smokers, 39.4% had a history of CVD, 72% had hypercholesterolemia, and 44% were obese. Seventeen point five percent of patients had tight BP control (<130/80mm Hg) (95% confidence interval [CI]:14.3-21.0), while 36.9% had BP below 140/85mm Hg. Seventy-one percent of patients were prescribed two or more anti-hypertensive treatments. Several factors are associated with tight BP control not being achieved, and the logistic regression analysis revealed that LDL cholesterol levels were significantly associated (odds ratio [OR] 0.55; 95% CI:0.41-0.75 for one standard deviation increase). Conclusions: Of the DM2 patients that attended the nephrology units, less than 20% achieved a tight BP control. Cholesterol levels seem to be the main factor associated with unsatisfactory BP control within our study population (AU)

Sedimentation method for preparation of postoperatively salvaged unwashed shed blood in orthopaedic surgery.

BACKGROUND: Salvage and return of unwashed shed blood (USB) after total knee replacement (TKR) is an established blood-saving technique, but some authors question its efficacy and safety and suggest that the shed blood be washed before returning. We evaluated a colloid-based sedimentation method for improving and standardizing the quality of USB collected after TKR without the need for washing. METHODS: Experiments were performed to find the optimal colloid dose and sedimentation time using diluted donated venous blood. USB samples (n=52) were drawn from the reinfusion bag and mixed with hydroxyethyl starch or gelatine solutions (15-30%, colloid solution volume/total volume × 100). USB red blood cells (RBCs) were allowed to settle by gravity for 30 min, supernatant was evacuated from the syringe, and RBC concentrate was analysed. RBC recovery and other blood cell and chemical removal were calculated according to changes in USB volume and haematocrit. Twenty-five samples from leucodepleted packed RBCs were analysed as a comparator group. RESULTS: Mean haemoglobin (Hb) of USB was 10.9 g dl(-1). After colloid treatment, 90% of RBCs were recovered, and USB Hb was similar to that of leucodepleted packed RBCs (n=25) (18.9 vs 19.6 g dl(-1), respectively; P=NS). In addition, the procedure reduced USB content of leucocytes (60%), platelets (48%), total protein (76%), cytokines (70-77%), and plasma-free haemoglobin (53%), without major differences between colloids. CONCLUSIONS: Sedimentation of USB with colloid solutions provides a low-cost alternative for improving and standardizing the quality of salvaged USB after TKR.

[Distribution of patterns of sensitivity and associated phenotypes of resistance in nosocomial and community acquired Escherichia coli during 2005]. / Distribución de los patrones de sensibilidad de Escherichia coli intrahospitalario y extrahospitalario y los fenotipos de resistencia asociados durante el año 2005.

INTRODUCTION: The increase of resistances to Escherichia coli over recent years has made it necessary to know the patterns of sensitivity in a certain area in order to be able to orient adequate empirical treatment with this knowledge. METHOD: Prospective longitudinal study using E. coli isolations obtained during year 2005 in the University Hospital Virgen de la Victoria was performed. Sensitivity identification and study were made according to standardized laboratory protocols. RESULTS: A total of 2,612 strains of E. coli were isolated from 2,098 patients with an average age of 52 years who had urinary infection as the most frequent sign. E. coli sensitivity was: ampicillin (AMP) (35.4%), ciprofloxacin (QUIN) (67.3 %), trimethoprim-sulfametoxazole (SXT) (63.4 %), phosphomycin (97.2 %) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (89%). The percentage of E. coli extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers was 8.2%. In general, nosocomial isolations were more resistant, this difference being significant for third generation cephalosporins, gentamicin and piperacillin/tazobactam (p < 0.005). Resistance in men was greater than in women and also in adults compared to children, with significant differences to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin (p < 0.005). A total of 27.5% of the strains were multiresistant, the most frequent phenotype being the one to AMP/SXT (11.9%), followed by AMP/QUIN/SXT (10.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Resistances to E. coli are very elevated in out setting, above all, in quinolones, that even appear in children, so that up to half of the multiresistant phenotypes present resistance to this family. Furthermore, during the last year, an increase in the isolations of E. coli ESBL producers has been observed.

Distribución de los patrones de sensibilidad de Escherichia coli intrahospitalario y extrahospitalario y los fenotipos de resistencia asociados durante el año 2005 / Distribution of patterns of sensitivity and associated phenotypes of resistance in nosocomial and community acquired Escherichia coli during 2005

Introducción. El aumento de las resistencias de Escherichiacoli en los últimos años hace imprescindible el conocimientode los patrones de sensibilidad en un área determinadapara poder orientar un tratamiento empírico adecuado.Métodos. Estudio longitudinal prospectivo a partir delos aislamientos de E. coli durante el año 2005 en el HospitalUniversitario Virgen de la Victoria. La identificación y el estudiode sensibilidad se realizaron según protocolos normalizadosde trabajo de laboratorio.Resultados. Se aislaron 2.612 cepas de E. coli pertenecientesa 2.098 pacientes con una edad media de 52 añosque presentaban como cuadro clínico más frecuente una infecciónurinaria. La sensibilidad de E. coli fue: ampicilina(AMP) (35,4 %), trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol (SXT) (63,4 %),quinolonas (QUIN) (67,3 %), amoxicilina-clavulánico (89%)y fosfomicina (97,2%). El porcentaje de E. coli productoresde betalactamasas de espectro extendido (BLEE) fue del8,2 %. En general, los aislamientos nosocomiales presentaronuna resistencia mayor, que era significativa para cefalosporinasde tercera generación, gentamicina y piperacilina-tazobactam (p < 0,005). La resistencia en hombres fuemayor que en mujeres, al igual que en los adultos frente a losniños, con diferencias significativas para ciprofloxacino y gentamicina(p<0,005). El 27,5% de los aislamientos presentaronmultirresistencia y el fenotipo más frecuente era resistente aAMP/SXT (11,9%), seguido de AMP/QUIN/SXT (10,9%).Conclusiones. Las resistencias en E. coli son muy elevadasen nuestro medio, sobre todo en QUIN, y aparece inclusoen niños, de tal forma que hasta la mitad de los fenotiposmultirresistentes incluyen ciprofloxacino. Paralelamente enlos últimos años se ha producido en nuestro medio un incrementoen los aislamientos de E. coli productores de BLEE (AU)

Introduction. The increase of resistances to Escherichiacoli over recent years has made it necessary toknow the patterns of sensitivity in a certain area in orderto be able to orient adequate empirical treatment withthis knowledge.Method. Prospective longitudinal study using E. coliisolations obtained during year 2005 in the UniversityHospital Virgen de la Victoria was performed. Sensitivityidentification and study were made according to standardizedlaboratory protocols.Results. A total of 2,612 strains of E. coli were isolatedfrom 2,098 patients with an average age of 52 years whohad urinary infection as the most frequent sign. E. coli sensitivitywas: ampicillin (AMP) (35.4%), ciprofloxacin (QUIN)(67.3 %), trimethoprim-sulfametoxazole (SXT) (63.4 %),phosphomycin (97.2 %) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (89%). The percentage of E. coli extended-spectrum â-lactamase(ESBL) producers was 8.2%. In general, nosocomial isolations were more resistant, this difference being significant for third generation cephalosporins, gentamicin and piperacillin/tazobactam (p < 0.005). Resistance in men was greater than in women and also in adults compared to children, with significant differences to ciprofloxacin and gentamicin(p < 0.005). A total of 27.5% of the strains were multiresistant, the most frequent phenotype being the oneto AMP/SXT (11.9%), followed by AMP/QUIN/SXT (10.9%).Conclusions. Resistances to E. coli are very elevated in out setting, above all, in quinolones, that even appear in children, so that up to half of the multiresistant phenotypes present resistance to this family. Furthermore, during the last year, an increase in the isolations of E. coli ESBL producers has been observed (AU)

Post-operative unwashed shed blood transfusion does not modify the cellular immune response to surgery for total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR), most blood loss occurs post-operatively, and the return of unwashed filtered shed blood (USB) from post-operative drainage may represent an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT). We evaluated the impact of USB return on the cellular immune response (CIR) after TKR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty TKR patients, intended to receive post-operative USB, entered the study. Blood samples were obtained before and 6 h, 24 h, 72 h and 7 days after surgery, and from USB, after it had been passed through a 40-microm filter. Full blood cell counts, lymphocyte subsets and immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) were measured in all samples. A set of clinical data was collected from each patient. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the 25 patients received a mean of 1.2 USB units and did not need additional ABT (USB group). Twelve of the 15 remaining patients who received neither USB nor ABT served as a control group for the post-operative CIR study. All patients showed a post-operative decrease in T-cell and natural killer (NK) cell counts, but not B-cell counts, and there were no significant differences between the groups with regard to CIR parameters, post-operative infection or hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Post-operative salvage and return of USB after TKR does not seem to increase the post-operative infection rate or hospital stay, and does not modify CIR induced by surgery. These findings add to the clinical experience that post-operative USB return, as a source of autologous blood, is safe, and questions the beneficial effect of blood washing.

Impact of postoperative shed blood transfusion, with or without leucocyte reduction, on acute-phase response to surgery for total knee replacement.

BACKGROUND: In patients undergoing total knee replacement (TKR) most blood loss occurs postoperatively and return of unwashed filtered shed blood (USB) from postoperative drainage may represent an alternative to allogeneic blood transfusion (ABT). We evaluated the impact of USB return, with or without leucocytes, on the acute-phase response (APR) after TKR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-eight TKR patients, intended to receive postoperative USB, entered the study. Blood samples were obtained before and 6, 24, 72 h and 7 days after surgery, and from the USB before and after it passed through a 40-microm filter (Group F40) or a leucocyte-reduction filter (Group LRF). Haematimetric parameters, APR proteins (albumin, prealbumin, ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin, C-reactive protein), complement C3 and C4, and cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha) were measured in all samples. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients (Group F40=14, Group LRF=14) received a mean of 1.2 USB units, without any clinically relevant incident, and did not need additional ABT. Sixteen out of the 20 remaining patients who received neither USB nor ABT served as a control group for the postoperative APR study. All patients showed the typical postoperative APR profile and there were no significant differences between groups for APR parameters, postoperative complications, or hospital stay. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative blood salvage and return, with or without a LRF, after TKR does not present any clinically relevant side-effects and does not modify APR induced by surgery. These findings seem to confirm the clinical experience that postoperative USB return is safe and questions the beneficial effect of using LRF.

[Morphometric study with imaging techniques of Trolard's vein and its anastomosis to the superior longitudinal sinus]. / Estudio morfométrico mediante técnicas de imagen de la vena de Trolard en su anastomosis al seno longitudinal superior.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this work is to allow the anatomical localization of the vein of Trolard (VT) or great anastomotic vein, before neurosurgical approaches to the parietal region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty four patients were subjected to cerebral angiography. Measurements of different points related to the anatomy of the vein were taken in 41 studies on the lateral projection. A statistical analysis was performed. CONCLUSIONS: The measures obtained are of practical utility to locate the final portion of the vein of Trolard in its anastomotis to the sagittal superior sinus (SLS) for planning neurosurgical approaches to the parietal region.

Brain afferents to the lateral caudal ventrolateral medulla: a retrograde and anterograde tracing study in the rat.

The ventrolateral medulla (VLM) modulates autonomic functions, motor reactions and pain responses. The lateralmost part of the caudal VLM (VLMlat) was recently shown to be the VLM area responsible for pain modulation. In the present study, the brain sources of VLMlat afferent fibers were determined by tract-tracing techniques. Following injection of cholera toxin subunit B into the VLMlat, retrogradely labeled neurons in the forebrain occurred at the somatosensory, insular, motor, limbic and infralimbic cortices, and at the central amygdaloid nucleus. Retrogradely labeled neurons in diencephalic regions were observed in the lateral hypothalamus, posterior hypothalamus and paraventricular nucleus. In the brainstem, retrograde labeling occurred at the periaqueductal gray, red nucleus, parabrachial area, nucleus raphe magnus, nucleus tractus solitarii, lateral reticular nucleus and dorsal and ventral medullary reticular formation. In the cerebellum, retrogradely labeled neurons occurred at the lateral nucleus. Following injections of the anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) into the lateral hypothalamus or paraventricular nucleus, anterogradely labeled fibers were mainly observed in the VLMlat. Injections of BDA into the periaqueductal gray, red nucleus or lateral nucleus of the cerebellum resulted in anterograde labeling in the VLMlat and lateral reticular nucleus. The present study gives an account of the brain regions putatively involved in triggering the modulatory actions elicited from the VLMlat. These include areas committed to somatosensory processing, autonomic control, somatic and visceral motor activity and affective reactions. The findings suggest that the VLMlat may play a major homeostatic role in the integration of nociception with other brain functions.

Effects of psychological stress and alprazolam on development of oral candidiasis in rats.

Psychological stress has been found to suppress cell-mediated immune responses that are important in limiting the proliferation of Candida albicans. Since anxiolytic drugs can restore cellular immunity in rodents exposed to stress conditions, we designed experiments conducted to evaluate the effects of alprazolam (1 mg/kg of body weight/day), a central benzodiazepine anxiolytic agonist, on the development of oral candidiasis in Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to a chronic auditory stressor. Animals were submitted to surgical hyposalivation in order to facilitate the establishment and persistence of C. albicans infection. Application of stress and treatment with drugs (placebo or alprazolam) were initiated 7 days before C. albicans inoculation and lasted until the end of the experiments (day 15 postinoculation). Establishment of C. albicans infection was evaluated by swabbing the inoculated oral cavity with a sterile cotton applicator on days 2 and 15 after inoculation, followed by plating on YEPD (yeast extract-peptone-dextrose) agar. Tissue injury was determined by the quantification of the number and type (normal or abnormal) of papillae on the dorsal tongue per microscopic field. A semiquantitative scale was devised to assess the degree of colonization of the epithelium by fungal hyphae. Our results show that stress exacerbates C. albicans infection of the tongues of rats. Significant increases in Candida counts, the percentage of the tongue's surface covered with clinical lesions, the percentage of abnormal papillae, and the colonization of the epithelium by fungal hyphae were found in stressed rats compared to those found in the unstressed rats. Treatment with alprazolam significantly reversed these adverse effects of stress, showing that, besides the psychopharmacological properties of this anxiolytic drug against stress, it has consequences for Candida infection.

The efficacy of moxifloxacin in acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis: a Spanish physician and patient experience.

Chronic bronchitis is a debilitating disease affecting many millions of patients globally. They suffer multiple acute exacerbations each year, often requiring many courses of antimicrobials to enable them to return to normal. The impact of the condition on both the individual patient and society as a whole is considerable and growing; thus antimicrobial therapy should induce rapid and effective outcomes as soon as possible. This open, community-based study of 5737 patients enrolled by over 2000 primary care physicians from across Spain examined the clinical effect of oral moxifloxacin on patients' signs and symptoms of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (AECB) over a 45-day period. The symptoms were assessed using daily diary cards in addition to physician evaluations. Clinical assessment at day 7 showed 93.0% of patients were cured. The patient diary card showed that two-thirds of patients felt better by day 3 or 4. Adverse events were reported in 3.5% of patients in this study, the most common being diarrhoea, nausea and dizziness, and epigastric pain. These reactions were mild to moderate in intensity. There were no patient deaths due to infection during the study. Physicians and patients reported that once-daily moxifloxacin gave fast relief of symptoms of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis.

Muscle fibre types in the suprahyoid muscles of the rat.

Five muscle fibre types (I, IIc, IIa, IIx and IIb) were found in the suprahyoid muscles (mylohyoid, geniohyoid, and the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric) of the rat using immuno and enzyme histochemical techniques. More than 90% of fibres in the muscles examined were fast contracting fibres (types IIa, IIx and IIb). The geniohyoid and the anterior belly of the digastric had the greatest number of IIb fibres, whilst the mylohyoid was almost exclusively formed by aerobic fibres. The posterior belly of the digastric contained a greater percentage of aerobic fibres (83.4%) than the anterior belly (67.8%). With the exception of the geniohyoid, the percentage of type I and IIc fibres, which have slow myosin heavy chain (MHCbeta), was relatively high and greater than has been previously reported in the jaw-closing muscles of the rat, such as the superficial masseter. The geniohyoid and mylohyoid exhibited a mosaic fibre type distribution, without any apparent regionalisation, although in the later MHCbeta-containing fibres (types I and IIc) were primarily located in the rostral 2/3 region. In contrast, the anterior and posterior bellies of the digastric revealed a clear regionalisation. In the anterior belly of the digastric 2 regions were observed: both a central region, which was almost exclusively formed by aerobic fibres and where all of the type I and IIc fibres were located, and a peripheral region, where type IIb fibres predominated. The posterior belly of the digastric showed a deep aerobic region which was greater in size and where type I and IIc fibres were confined, and a superficial region, where primarily type IIx and IIb fibres were observed.

[Physiopathology of respiratory insufficiency of neuromuscular origin]. / Fisiopatología de la insuficiencia respiratoria de origen neuromuscular.

OBJECTIVE: To review the mechanisms involved in the appearance of respiratory failure in patients with neuromuscular disorders. DEVELOPMENT: The development of respiratory failure in patients with weakness of the respiratory muscles secondary to neuromuscular disease is not only due to the disease itself. There are also other mechanisms which contribute in varying degrees. These mechanisms are: 1. Alteration of the mechanical properties of the respiratory apparatus; 2. The appearance of muscle fatigue; 3. Alterations in the control of ventilation; 4. Alterations in gas exchange during the night leading to loss of sensitivity of central and peripheral chemoreceptors. 5. Dysfunction of the upper airway, which favors the appearance of obstructive apnea during sleep. The part played by each of these mechanisms in the development of respiratory failure is different in each individual patient, depending on the type and severity of his particular illness. Ventilatory assistance at night has been shown to be effective in correcting respiratory failure during the day in these patients, probably by acting to a greater or lesser extent on all the different mechanisms involved. CONCLUSIONS: The origin of the respiratory failure seen in patients with neuromuscular diseases is due to many factors. Nocturnal ventilatory assistance is effective since it acts on all the different mechanisms involved.