Mushrooms to live or die: toxicity of some Basidiomycota using Artemia franciscana.

Consumption of wild mushrooms has increased in recent years; however, not all of them are edible and there is no precise information on those that may cause poisoning. Therefore, studies to obtain data about their toxicity are needed. For this purpose, we used the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana, a crustacean employed in toxicity tests and with wide application in the toxin detection, including mycotoxins. Mushrooms were collected in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, with which aqueous extracts were prepared. Dilutions of the stock solution of each extract were made to final concentrations of 50, 100, 250, 500, and 1000 µg/mL. Potassium dichromate (PD) was used as positive control and artificial seawater as negative control. The median lethal dose (LD50) of extracts on nauplii of A. franciscana was calculated. The aqueous extracts obtained from Amanita amerivirosa, A. muscaria, Chlorophyllum molybdites, and Leucopaxillus amarus showed a LD50 < 70 µg/mL, similar to PD (LD50 = 37 µg/mL). This is the first indication of the probable toxicity of Leucopaxillus amarus in humans. Cantharellus cibarius and Scleroderma texense caused the lower toxicity to the nauplii. The brine shrimp bioassay was effective in evaluating the toxicity of Basidiomycota. Scleroderma texense has been reported to be toxic, but it was not for this crustacean nauplii, and probably not to humans either, as recent literature has reported.

High-resolution esophageal manometry in a Mexican population: diagnostic outcome.

High-resolution esophageal manometry (HREM) has become the method of choice for evaluation of esophageal motility disorders. There is a paucity of data with this technique from Hispanic countries. This study aims to characterize the diagnostic outcome of HREM in a large cohort of consecutive patients in Mexico.This study was conducted in Monterrey, Mexico from March 1, 2013 to March 31, 2015. Our diverse study population included patients from a major academic institution and the community. HREM was done applying the Chicago Classification 3. Diagnostic outcome was grouped as weak peristaltic disorders, gastroesophageal junction disorders, and hypertensive/uncoordinated peristalsis.We studied 670 consecutive patients, 57% were women, mean age was 43.8 years. The majority (465 [69%]) were referred for preoperative evaluation of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), 365 (78%) of whom had a normal study. Overall, 193 (29%) patients had abnormal motility, the most common disorder being weak peristalsis (104 [54%]). In patients with dysphagia, the most frequent finding was achalasia (23/46 [50%]).To our knowledge, this is the first study to characterize the diagnostic outcome of HREM in a large cohort of Hispanic patients in Latin America. At our open access center, 69% of patients were referred for preoperative evaluation of GERD, reflecting the popularity of antireflux surgery. This study confirms the high prevalence of weak peristalsis and highlights the importance of addressing its pathophysiology and management. The finding of achalasia in 50% of our patients with dysphagia is consistent with recent reports regarding the rising incidence of this disorder and underscores the need of prompt motility testing in this population.

Repeated administration of mazindol reduces spontaneous pain-related behaviors without modifying bone density and microarchitecture in a mouse model of complete Freund's adjuvant-induced knee arthritis.

BACKGROUND: The role of dopaminergic system in the development of rheumatoid arthritis-related pain, a major symptom in this disease, has not been explored. Therefore, the anti-nociceptive effect of mazindol, a dopamine uptake inhibitor, was evaluated in a model of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced arthritis. Furthermore, as studies have shown that the dopaminergic system regulates bone metabolism, the effect of mazindol on bone mass and microarchitecture was determined. METHODS: Adult ICR male mice received intra-articular injections of either CFA or saline into the right knee joint every week. Spontaneous pain-like behaviors (flinching and guarding) and locomotor activity were assessed at day 26 post-first CFA, following which, a single intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered dose of mazindol was given (1, 3 and 10 mg/kg). Then, the antinociceptive effect of a repeated administration of 3 mg/kg mazindol (daily, i.p.; day 15-day 26) was evaluated. Additionally, at day 26, the participation of D1-like, D2-like or opioid receptors in the antinociceptive effect of mazindol was evaluated. The effect of mazindol on bone density and microarchitecture was evaluated by micro-computed tomography. RESULTS: Acute administration of mazindol decreased the spontaneous pain-like behaviors in a dose-dependent manner without reducing the knee edema. However, mazindol at 10 mg/kg significantly increased the locomotor activity; therefore, 3 mg/kg mazindol was used for further studies. Repeated administration of 3 mg/kg mazindol significantly decreased the pain-like behaviors without modifying locomotor activity. The antinociceptive effect of mazindol was blocked by administration of a D2-like receptor antagonist (haloperidol), but not by administration of D1-like receptor antagonist (SCH 23390) or an opioid receptor antagonist (naloxone). Repeated administration of mazindol did not significantly modify the density and microarchitecture of periarticular bone of the arthritic and nonarthritic knee joints. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that mazindol via D2-like receptors has an antinociceptive role in mice with CFA-induced knee arthritis without modifying the bone health negatively.

Ab initio study of several static and dynamic properties of bulk liquid Ni near melting.

Several static and dynamic properties of bulk liquid Ni at a thermodynamic state near its triple point have been evaluated by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The calculated static structure shows very good agreement with the available experimental data, including an asymmetric second peak in the static structure factor, which underlines a marked local icosahedral short-range order in the liquid. The dynamical structure reveals propagating density fluctuations, and the calculated dynamic structure factors, S(q,ω), show a good agreement with the inelastic x-ray scattering measurements. The obtained dispersion relation closely follows that obtained from the inelastic x-ray scattering measurements; moreover we analyze the possible reasons behind its discrepancy with respect to the dispersion relation derived from the inelastic neutron scattering data. The dynamical processes behind the S(q,ω) have been analyzed by using a model with two decay channels (a fast and a slow) associated with the relaxations of the collective excitations. We have found that the transverse current spectral functions exhibit some features which, so far, had previously been shown by high pressure liquid metals only. Furthermore, the calculated S(q,ω) show, within some q-range, the appearance of transverse-like excitation modes, similar to those recently found in other liquid metals. Finally, results are also reported for several transport coefficients.

[Development of a PCR for the detection and quantification of parasitism by Demodex folliculorum infestation in biopsies of skin neoplasms periocular area]. / Desarrollo de una PCR para la detección y cuantificación de la parasitación por Demodex folliculorum en biopsias de neoplasias cutáneas del área periocula.

OBJECTIVE: To standardize the relative quantification by mass of tissue parasitism by Demodex folliculorum infestation from neoplastic skin biopsies periocular using molecular amplification to study the possible relationship of the appearance of eyelid basal cell carcinoma with the presence and density of the mite in later works. METHODS: A quantitative PCR was developed real-time probes TaqMan. PCR was tested in a pilot 46 actual biopsy samples nodular basal cell carcinoma series. RESULTS: The sensitivity was placed with a detection limit of between 1 and 10 copies / µl. 50% (23/46) of the biopsies were positive for D. folliculorum. The specificity was 100% confirmed by sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: The technique shows good results for sensitivity and specificity that can make it useful as a tool for studies of cause and effect D. folliculorum and basal cell carcinoma.

Can customized implants correct enophthalmos and delayed diplopia in post-traumatic orbital deformities? A volumetric analysis.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether orbital reconstruction with customized implants can correct post-traumatic orbital deformities such as late enophthalmos and delayed diplopia. The hypothesis proposed was that an overcorrection of the orbital volume is needed to resolve enophthalmos. A retrospective observational descriptive study was conducted. Patients with a major trauma who required customized orbital implants for the delayed treatment of unilateral orbital fractures that had initially been operated on using titanium mesh and/or osteosynthesis plates were included. The orbital volumes of the unaffected contralateral side, of the affected orbit after initial reconstruction with mesh, and of the affected orbit subsequently reconstructed with the customized implant were calculated. All of the patients included in this study had diplopia in the gaze position prior to the installation of the implant. In addition, they all had severe enophthalmos. After surgery, no patient with a customized implant showed diplopia. The enophthalmos was corrected in all but one case. On average, orbits reconstructed with customized implants had lower volumes compared to the unaffected contralateral side. In cases where the enophthalmos was resolved, the volume was reduced by an average of 8.55%. Further studies using a larger number of cases and with controlled volumetric corrections using CAD/CAM are needed.

An ab initio study of the structure and dynamics of bulk liquid Cd and its liquid-vapor interface.

Several static and dynamic properties of bulk liquid Cd at a thermodynamic state near its triple point have been calculated by means of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. The calculated static structure shows a very good agreement with the available experimental data. The dynamical structure reveals collective density excitations with an associated dispersion relation which points to a small positive dispersion. Results are also reported for several transport coefficients. Additional simulations have also been performed at a slightly higher temperature in order to study the structure of the free liquid surface. The ionic density profile shows an oscillatory behavior with two different wavelengths, as the spacing between the outer and first inner layer is different from that between the other inner layers. The calculated reflectivity shows a marked maximum whose origin is related to the surface layering, along with a shoulder located at a much smaller wavevector transfer.

Static, dynamic and electronic properties of expanded fluid mercury in the metal-nonmetal transition range. An ab initio study.

Fluid Hg undergoes a metal-nonmetal (M-NM) transition when expanded toward a density of around 9 g cm(-3). We have performed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations for several thermodynamic states around the M-NM transition range and the associated static, dynamic and electronic properties have been analyzed. The calculated static structure shows a good agreement with the available experimental data. It is found that the volume expansion decreases the number of nearest neighbors from 10 (near the triple point) to around 8 at the M-NM transition region. Moreover, these neighbors are arranged into two subshells and the decrease in the number of neighbors occurs in the inner subshell. The calculated dynamic structure factors agree fairly well with their experimental counterparts obtained by inelastic x-ray scattering experiments, which display inelastic side peaks. The derived dispersion relation exhibits some positive dispersion for all the states, although its value around the M-NM transition region is not as marked as suggested by the experiment. We have also calculated the electronic density of states, which shows the appearance of a gap at a density of around 8.3 g cm(-3).

Ab initio molecular dynamics study of the static, dynamic, and electronic properties of liquid mercury at room temperature.

We report a study on several static, dynamic, and electronic properties of liquid Hg at room temperature. We have performed ab initio molecular dynamics simulations using Kohn-Sham density functional theory combined with a nonlocal ultrasoft pseudopotential. The calculated static structure shows good agreement with the available experimental data. We present results for the single-particle dynamics, and recent experimental data are analyzed. The calculated dynamic structure factors S(q,omega) fairly agree with their experimental counterparts as measured by inelastic x-ray (and neutron) scattering experiments. The dispersion relation exhibits a positive dispersion, which however is not so marked as suggested by the experiment; moreover, its slope at the long-wavelength limit provides a good estimate of the experimental sound velocity. We have also analyzed the dynamical processes behind the S(q,omega) in terms of a model including a relaxation mechanism with both fast and slow characteristic time scales.

Transverse acoustic excitations in liquid Ga.

The transverse acoustic excitation modes were detected by inelastic x-ray scattering in liquid Ga in the Q range above 9 nm(-1) although liquid Ga is mostly described by a hard-sphere liquid. An ab initio molecular dynamics simulation clearly supports this finding. From the detailed analysis for the S(Q,omega) spectra with a good statistic quality, the lifetime of 0.5 ps and the propagating length of 0.4-0.5 nm can be estimated for the transverse acoustic phonon modes, which may correspond to the lifetime and size of cages formed instantaneously in liquid Ga.

[Pterygium surgery: comparative study of conjunctival autograft with suture versus fibrin adhesive]. / Cirugía del pterigión: estudio comparativo entre autoinjerto conjuntival con sutura y con adhesivo tisular.

PURPOSE: To compare recurrence rate, complications, and biomicroscopical findings after conjunctival autograft pterygium surgery with the use of a fibrin glue (Tissucol Duo, Baxter AG, Vienna, Austria) or suture (7-0 silk). METHODS: Patients with nasal pterygium were included in two groups of conjunctival autograft surgery. In 9 of them the graft was sutured to the surrounding conjunctiva and in 8 of them the graft was fixed to the conjunctiva using fibrin glue. RESULTS: 17 patients (17 eyes) 41.2% women and 58.8% men were surgically treated. Mean patient age was 59.8 years. Five of the patients presented recurrence for simple excision and 12 presented primary pterygium. The extent of corneal invasion was 2 to 4 mm. In the suture group, 33.3% of the patients experienced pain after surgery compared to none in the fibrin glue group. In the suture group, 44.4% of the patients presented inflammation after surgery compared to none in the glue group. One patient from the glue group lost the graft and presented a recurrence one month later. CONCLUSIONS: The use of fibrin glue in pterygium surgery reduces patient symptoms, inflammation and discomfort. The rate of recurrence seems to be similar in both procedures.

Structural and dynamical properties of liquid Mg. An orbital-free molecular dynamics study.

Several static and dynamic properties of liquid magnesium near melting have been evaluated by the orbital-free ab initio molecular dynamics method. The calculated static structure shows good agreement with recent experimental data, including an asymmetric second peak in the structure factor which has been linked to the existence of an important icosahedral short-range order in the liquid. As for the dynamic structure, we obtain collective density excitations with an associated dispersion relation which closely follows recent experimental results. Accurate estimates have also been obtained for several transport coefficients.

Structural, dynamic, and electronic properties of liquid tin: An ab initio molecular dynamics study.

We report on a study of several structural, dynamic, and electronic properties of liquid Sn at a thermodynamic state close to the triple point (573 K) and another one at a higher temperature (1273 K). This study has been performed by ab initio molecular dynamics simulations using 205 atoms and around 20 ps of simulation time. The calculated static structures show a good agreement with the available experimental data. The dynamic structure factors fairly agree with their experimental counterparts obtained by inelastic x-ray scattering experiments, which display inelastic side peaks. The calculated dispersion relations exhibit a positive dispersion, although not so marked as suggested by the experiment; moreover, its slope at the long-wavelength limit compares favorably with the experimental sound velocity. Electron densities near selected triplets of atoms are similar to those appearing in the solid phases, but these features have an extremely short lifetime, so they should not be considered as solid remnants in the melt.

Structure of the liquid-vapor interfaces of Ga, In and the eutectic Ga-In alloy-an ab initio study.

We report the results of ab initio molecular dynamics simulations for the liquid-vapor interface of the liquid metals Ga, In and the eutectic binary alloy Ga-In (16.5% In) for which experimental data are available. The study was performed by using samples of 3000 particles in a slab geometry with periodic boundary conditions. In those systems, the total ionic density distributions along the normal to the interface display some layering and in the case of the Ga-In alloy there appears a highly enriched layer of the lower surface tension component located outermost at the interface. The results are compared with the available experimental data.

[Trans-scleral sutureless vitrectomy with a 25-G system for rhegmatogenous retinal detachment treatment]. / Cirugía del desprendimiento de retina regmatógeno mediante vitrectomía transescleral sin sutura con sistema 25-G.

PURPOSE: The evaluation of the trans-scleral sutureless vitrectomy (TSV) efficiency using a 25G system as an alternative in rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) treatment. METHODS: Patients treated for RRD with TSV have been reviewed taking into account their age, phakic or pseudophakic state, RRD localization and extension, surgical technique and post-operative resolution. RESULTS: Twenty two eyes of 22 patients have been treated for RRD with TSV. The average age was 54.3 years. 50% of the eyes were phakic. Eight of the detachments were "macula-off" at the time of diagnosis. SF6 was used in 5 cases and air in the remainder. Retinopexia of the breaks was done with trans-scleral cryocoagulation in 13 cases, with laser endophotocoagulation in 6 cases, and with both methods in 3 cases. The average follow-up time was 6.8 months, and the main complications were cataracts in 7 of 11 phakic eyes (63.6%) and a new retinal detachment in 4 eyes (18.2%). The intraocular pressures were similar to those before surgery and in 18 cases (81.8%) the visual acuity was better. CONCLUSION: TSV is effective in the treatment of RRD but with some limitations like the need for a learning period and a high incidence of cataracts.

Interplay between the ionic and electronic density profiles in liquid metal surfaces.

First-principles molecular-dynamics simulations have been performed for the liquid-vapor interfaces of liquid Li, Mg, Al, and Si. We analyze the oscillatory ionic and valence electronic density profiles obtained, their wavelengths, and the mechanisms behind their relative phase shift.

[An orbital metastasis as the presentation of lung adenocarcinoma]. / Metástasis orbitaria como primera manifestación de adenocarcinoma pulmonar.

INTRODUCTION: Metastasis of primary tumours can involve the orbit via the blood stream. In 19% of cases this type of metastasis is the first oncologic symptom. CASE REPORT: A 42-year-old woman with a hard, well-defined nodule situated anteriorly in the right orbit and with mild associated inflammation. MR showed an oval image with homogeneous gadolinium uptake. On excision-biopsy a ductal cancer was found and determined on CAT scan to be of pulmonary origin. Chemotherapy was given and no recurrence occurred in the orbit. CONCLUSION: Ophthalmologic examination was the first step in the diagnosis of a metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the lung.