Methodology for the Generation of High-Quality Ultrasonic Images of Complex Geometry Pieces Using Industrial Robots.

Industrial robotic arms integrated with server computers, sensors and actuators have revolutionized the way automated non-destructive testing is performed in the aeronautical sector. Currently, there are commercial, industrial robots that have the precision, speed and repetitiveness in their movements that make them suitable for use in numerous non-destructive testing inspections. Automatic ultrasonic inspection of complex geometry parts remains one of the most difficult challenges in the market. The closed configuration, i.e., restricted access to internal motion parameters, of these robotic arms makes it difficult for an adequate synchronism between the movement of the robot and the acquisition of the data. This is a serious problem in the inspection of aerospace components, where high-quality images are necessary to assess the condition of the inspected component. In this paper, we applied a methodology recently patented for the generation of high-quality ultrasonic images of complex geometry pieces using industrial robots. The methodology is based on the calculation of a synchronism map after a calibration experiment and to introduce this corrected map in an autonomous, independent external system developed by the authors to obtain precise ultrasonic images. Therefore, it has been shown that it is possible to establish the synchronization of any industrial robot with any ultrasonic imaging generation system to generate high-quality ultrasonic images.

An Ultrasonic Tomography System for the Inspection of Columns in Architectural Heritage.

A new versatile and geometrically reconfigurable ultrasonic tomography system (UTS) has been designed to inspect and obtain information about the internal structure and inner damage of columns in heritage buildings. This nondestructive system is considered innovative because it aims to overcome common limitations of existing systems. Tomographic inspections are typically carried out manually and are thus limited to small portions of construction elements. The proposed UTS allows the automatization of the inspection and the generation of numerous tomographic slices along the height of the column. It is valid for multiple types of columns and materials. In the present work, the system was tested on two limestone columns of the north façade of the Convent of Carmo in Lisbon, Portugal. The UTS is composed of a mechanical and an electronic system. The mechanical system consists of four linear motion subsystems mounted in a square setup. A transducer is placed on each of the axes, acting as emitter or receiver of the ultrasonic signals. The mechanical system also includes a guide system to adapt the inspections to the complex geometry of the columns. The electronic system allows the control and the synchronization of the movements and the emission/reception configuration of the four ultrasonic transducers.

[Matricaria chamomilla (aqueous extract) improves atopic dermatitis-like lesions in a murine model]. / Matricaria chamomilla (extracto acuoso) induce mejoría en lesiones tipo-dermatitis atópica en un modelo murino.

BACKGROUND: Matricaria Chamomilla L. (Mch), popularly known as chamomile, has been used for centuries as an herbolary remedy due to its broad clinical spectrum. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Mch associated to a vehicle with emollient function in induced atopic dermatitis (AD)-like lesions in a murine model. METHODS: AD was induced with dinitrochlorobenzene on 12 male seven-week old BALB/c mice. Animals were divided in three groups (control, GC; control negative, GCN; and experimental, GE). Liquid petrolatum was applied to the GCN and liquid petrolatum with aqueous extract of Mch at 7% to the GE. Induction and evolution of the lesions were verified by biopsy at 2nd and 6th week. Evaluation of peripheral blood cells to correlate inflammatory cells was made as well at the same weeks. Lesions were clinically evaluated at 2nd, 4th and 6th week. Scratching was monitored according to the observation methodology of Kobayashi et al. RESULTS: Mch aqueous extract associated to a vehicle with emollient function improves atopic dermatitis-like lesions after two weeks.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Matricaria chamomilla L. (Mch), conocida popularmente como manzanilla, ha sido utilizada por cientos de años como remedio herbolario debido a su amplio espectro en cuanto a sus usos clínicos. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de Mch asociada a un vehículo con función emoliente como tratamiento de lesiones tipo-dermatitis atópica (DA) en un modelo murino. MÉTODOS: se indujo DA con dinitroclorobenceno a 12 ratones BALB/c macho de siete semanas de edad, divididos en tres grupos (control, GC; control negativo, GCN y; experimental, GE). Se aplicó petrolato líquido al GCN y petrolato líquido con extracto acuoso de Mch al 7% al GE durante cuatro semanas. La inducción y evolución de las lesiones se corroboraron por biopsia a las dos y seis semanas, analizando sangre periférica en búsqueda de células inflamatorias en los mismos tiempos. Las lesiones fueron evaluadas clínicamente a las dos, cuatro y seis semanas. El rascado se evaluó de acuerdo a la metodología de observación de Kobayashi et al. RESULTADOS: el extracto acuoso liofilizado de Mch asociado a un vehículo con función emoliente demostró mejoría del aspecto de las lesiones tipo DA después de dos semanas.

Influence of high-calorie (cafeteria) diets on the population of Paneth cells in the small intestine of the rat.

A high-calorie (cafeteria) diet is known to cause changes in the intestinal morphology and functioning that seem to be related to calorie overfeeding. Among the cell lineages found in the small intestine epithelium, the Paneth cell (PC) population is known to be influenced by factors related mainly to the intestinal microbiota. The role of PCs in the intestinal cell concert remains unclear, because experimental evidence suggests PC involvement in local processes other than protection against pathogens. Participation of PC in digestive mechanisms has been proposed on this basis. We have analyzed the effect of high-carbohydrate (HC) and high-fat (HF) cafeteria diets on the PC population in the small intestine of the adult rat. For 8 weeks, both HC and HF diets caused a gain in body weight, but whereas the HC-fed rats showed reduced counts of intestinal crypts per 5-mum section, the HF-fed group showed the opposite. In control rats, the number of crypts per section showed a slight tendency to decrease along the duodenum - ileum axis, whereas the number of PCs per crypt was increased towards the ileum. As a result, the number of PCs per section (calculated from these data) remained constant along the three segments of the intestine. The hypercaloric diets did not modify the general tendencies seen in the crypt and PC counts, but reduced the number of PCs per section in the duodenum by 50%. HC-fed, but not HF-fed, rats showed a similar reduction in jejunum also. These changes do not correlate particularly with any of the predictable effects of diet composition, so that a multifactorial control of PC density is proposed.

Bacterias en el citoplasma de leucocitos de pacientes inmunocomprometidos: un hallazgo citológico poco frecuente. A propósito de dos casos / Bacteria in the cytoplasm of leukocytes of immunocompromised patients: an uncommon cytological finding. A report of two cases

Se comunican los aspectos clínicos y citológicos de dos pacientes con compromiso inmunológico: una mujer con lupus eritematoso generalizado y un niño con leucemia aguda linfoblástica, quienes recibieron tratamiento inmunosupresor y citotóxico. En los dos casos se observaron bacterias en el citoplasma de los leucocitos (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus y Streptococcus pneumoniae), hallazgo poco frecuente que puede ser útil para establecer tratamientos oportunos y disminuir la morbilidad y la mortalidad. Se revisan también, brevemente, los efectos de los padecimientos y los tratamientos inmunosupresores. La observación de bacterias intraleucocitarias no es común, por lo cual requiere una adecuada capacitación en citología hematológica y un examen minucioso de las preparaciones rutinarias para las cuentas celulares de la citometría hemática.

Linfoma centrofacial: un análisis retrospectivo, clínico, patologíco y terapeutico de 10 casos / Centrofacial linfoma: a therapeutic pathological clinical retrospective analysis of ten cases

Se comunican 10 casos de linfoma centrofacial estudiados de manera retrospectiva entre 1995 y 1999, que correspondieron a 6.6 por ciento de todos los linfomas diagnosticasos durante este periodo; cuatro de los 10 pacientes fueron del sexo masculino, con mediana de edad de 59 años 89 a 87 años). En dos pacientes se localizó en el paladar, en dos se afectaron antro nasal y senos paranasales, En otros dos casos se afectaron paladar y nariz, y en dos más al maxilar; uno se localizó en el párpado y el tabique nasal y otro en el paladar y la amígdala derecha. Todos se mostraron como lesiones expansivas, mayores de 4 cm de diámetro (4.5 a 7 cm). Histopatológicamente, tres fueron de alto grado de malignidad (angiocéntricos) y siete de grado intermedio. En un caso se relacionó con infección por VIH. Según su estadio clínico al momento del diagnóstico, siete fueron estadio I; dos estadio II y uno estadio IV por infiltración asintomática de médula ósea. Todos recibieron quimioterapia combinada con ciclofosfamida, doxorrubicina, vincristina y prednisona cada 21 a 28 días, durante seis ciclos. Se logró respuesta completa en cuatro de los pacientes, respuesta parcial en dos y no hubo respuesta en cuatro enfermos. Fallecieron cuatro pacientes: dos por infección grave uno por actividad tumoral y uno por toxicidad a quimioterapia. La supervivencia libre de enfermedad es de 39 por ciento y la supervivencia total de 56 por ciento a 36 meses. Nuestros resultados terapéuticos son similares a lo informado en la literatura; consideramos que ante un linforma centrofacial es obligado realizar fenotipo inmunológico de las células linfomatosas y análisis exhaustivos para detectar genoma de virus linfotrópicos en el tejido tumoral, en virtud de sus implicaciones pronósticas, y un mayor número de estudios prospectivos y controlados que permitan conocer las características clínicas, inmunofenotípicas y de asociación con infecciones virales en pacientes mestizos mexicanos y establecer el mejor esquema terapéutico para las particularidades de nuestro país