Functional sophistication in human escape.

Animals including humans must cope with immediate threat and make rapid decisions to survive. Without much leeway for cognitive or motor errors, this poses a formidable computational problem. Utilizing fully immersive virtual reality with 13 natural threats, we examined escape decisions in N = 59 humans. We show that escape goals are dynamically updated according to environmental changes. The decision whether and when to escape depends on time-to-impact, threat identity and predicted trajectory, and stable personal characteristics. Its implementation appears to integrate secondary goals such as behavioral affordances. Perturbance experiments show that the underlying decision algorithm exhibits planning properties and can integrate novel actions. In contrast, rapid information-seeking and foraging-suppression are only partly devaluation-sensitive. Instead of being instinctive or hardwired stimulus-response patterns, human escape decisions integrate multiple variables in a flexible computational architecture. Taken together, we provide steps toward a computational model of how the human brain rapidly solves survival challenges.

The Preventive Role of the Vitamin D Endocrine System in Cervical Cancer.

Vitamin D along with its active metabolite calcitriol and its metabolic and signaling system, known as the vitamin D endocrine system, have been widely recognized as a pivotal regulator of calcium homeostasis in addition to non-calcemic antitumoral effects in a variety of human cancers, including cervical cancer. Several studies have found an inverse relationship between the incidence of cervical neoplasia and vitamin D levels. This narrative review updates the current evidence supporting the notion that the vitamin D endocrine system has a preventive role on cervical cancer, mainly in the early phases of the disease, acting at the level of suppressing cell proliferation, promoting apoptosis, modulating inflammatory responses, and probably favoring the clearance of human papillomavirus-dependent cervical lesions. Although an optimal vitamin D status helps in the prevention and regression of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions of the cervix, it appears that vitamin D alone or combined with chemotherapeutic agents has little effectivity once advanced cervical cancer is established. These observations suggest that an optimal vitamin D status might exert beneficial actions in the early phases of cervical cancer by preventing its onset and progression.

Nebulized glycyrrhizin/enoxolone drug modulates IL-17A in COVID-19 patients: a randomized clinical trial.

Introduction: Glycyrrhizin (GA) and its derivative Enoxolone (18ß), isolated from the Glycyrrhiza glabra plant, are two potential molecules for treating viral diseases. Both demonstrate to regulate immune system with antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities, with the latter mainly due to modulation of inflammatory cytokines. The aim of this clinical trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a nebulized GA/18ß drug for treating COVID-19 patients. Methods: An open label, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in Mexico City from January-August 2022 (Registration No. PROTAP-CLI-00). Clinical and biochemical parameters were recorded. Blood samples from patients were regularly collected to evaluate interleukins IL-4, IL-2, IL-1b, TNF-α, IL-17A, IL-6, IL-10,IFN-γ, IL-12, IL-8 and TGF-ß1, as well as IgM and IgG against SARS-CoV-2. Two doses of the drug were used - 30/2 mg (dose A) and 90/4 mg (dose B). Results and discussion: Both GA/18ß doses modulated inflammatory response by reducing mainly IL-17A expression, which in turn kept IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α interleukins unchanged, indicating significant modulation of key interleukin levels to prevent exacerbation of the immune response in COVID-19 patients. Early on, dose A increased IgM, while dose B induced expression of the antiviral IFN-γ. No severe side effects were seen with either dose, indicating nebulized GA/18ß is a safe treatment that could be used for COVID-19 and potentially other viral infections involving inflammatory response.

Recombination facilitates genetic assimilation of new traits in gene regulatory networks.

A new phenotypic variant may appear first in organisms through plasticity, that is, as a response to an environmental signal or other nongenetic perturbation. If such trait is beneficial, selection may increase the frequency of alleles that enable and facilitate its development. Thus, genes may take control of such traits, decreasing dependence on nongenetic disturbances, in a process called genetic assimilation. Despite an increasing amount of empirical studies supporting genetic assimilation, its significance is still controversial. Whether genetic assimilation is widespread depends, to a great extent, on how easily mutation and recombination reduce the trait's dependence on nongenetic perturbations. Previous research suggests that this is the case for mutations. Here we use simulations of gene regulatory network dynamics to address this issue with respect to recombination. We find that recombinant offspring of parents that produce a new phenotype through plasticity are more likely to produce the same phenotype without requiring any perturbation. They are also prone to preserve the ability to produce that phenotype after genetic and nongenetic perturbations. Our work also suggests that ancestral plasticity can play an important role for setting the course that evolution takes. In sum, our results indicate that the manner in which phenotypic variation maps unto genetic variation facilitates evolution through genetic assimilation in gene regulatory networks. Thus, we contend that the importance of this evolutionary mechanism should not be easily neglected.

Marcadores moleculares y biomarcadores de imagen: importancia en el avance terapéutico de los tumores cerebrales intraaxiales / Molecular markers and image biomarkers. Importance in the therapeutic advance of intraaxial brain tumors

RESUMEN: La clasificación de los Tumores Primarios del Sistema Nervioso Central (SNC) tiene su origen en la descripción morfológica, cuyo análisis histopatológico ha permitido identificar la línea celular involucrada en estos tumores y obtener el reconocimiento de ciertas características de estas lesiones y su evolución clínica. El estudio molecular ha venido a complementar el diagnóstico inicial permitiendo reconocer entidades que no son distinguibles de otra manera y que han variado los conceptos y definiciones de varias entidades patológicas que modifican el horizonte visible de estas enfermedades. El papel de las imágenes de Resonancia Magnética (RM) en el manejo de los tumores intraaxiales se puede dividir ampliamente en el diagnóstico y la clasificación de los tumores, la planificación del tratamiento y el tratamiento posterior. El presente artículo resume la evidencia epidemiológica relacionada en la clasificación de los tumores primarios del SNC con marcadores moleculares y biomarcadores de imágenes de RM, apuntando a la importancia del uso de la investigación clínica con el manejo terapéutico.

SUMMARY: The classification of primary tumors of the Central Nervous System (CNS) has its origin in the morphological description whose histopathological analysis has allowed to identify the cell line involved in these tumors and obtain the recognition of certain characteristics of these lesions and their clinical evolution. The molecular study has come to complement the initial diagnosis allowing to recognize entities that are not distinguishable in another way and that have varied the concepts and definitions of various pathological entities modifying the visible horizon of these diseases. The role of Magnetic Resonance (MR) images in the management of intraaxial tumors can be broadly divided into the diagnosis and classification of tumors, treatment planning and subsequent treatment. The present article summarizes the epidemiologic evidence related to the classification of primary tumors of the CNS with molecular markers and MR imaging biomarkers.

Characterization and Classification of Electrophysiological Signals Represented as Visibility Graphs Using the Maxclique Graph.

Detection, characterization and classification of patterns within time series from electrophysiological signals have been a challenge for neuroscientists due to their complexity and variability. Here, we aimed to use graph theory to characterize and classify waveforms within biological signals using maxcliques as a feature for a deep learning method. We implemented a compact and easy to visualize algorithm and interface in Python. This software uses time series as input. We applied the maxclique graph operator in order to obtain further graph parameters. We extracted features of the time series by processing all graph parameters through K-means, one of the simplest unsupervised machine learning algorithms. As proof of principle, we analyzed integrated electrical activity of XII nerve to identify waveforms. Our results show that the use of maxcliques allows identification of two distinct types of waveforms that match expert classification. We propose that our method can be a useful tool to characterize and classify other electrophysiological signals in a short time and objectively. Reducing the classification time improves efficiency for further analysis in order to compare between treatments or conditions, e.g., pharmacological trials, injuries, or neurodegenerative diseases.

Alexithymia is associated with mood disorders, impairment in quality of life and disability in women with fibromyalgia.

OBJECTIVES: Alexithymia is a personality trait related to the quality of life of women with fibromyalgia (FM). It is still unknown whether alexithymia is associated with the clinical manifestations of FM. The present study describes the relationship between alexithymia and the domains included in the core set recommended by the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) for FM evaluation. METHODS: One hundred two women with FM were enrolled in the cross-sectional study. The domains evaluated were alexithymia, pain, fatigue, health-related quality of life, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, and disability. Univariate and multivariate (Kernel Regularized Least Squares method) analyses were performed to assess the relationship between alexithymia and the domains included in the core set recommended by the OMERACT. RESULTS: Alexithymia prevalence was 64.5% (95% Confidence Interval [CI], 54.6%-73.9%) and higher in women with depression (76.1%; 95%CI, 63.8%-86%). Female patients with FM and alexithymia showed higher pain intensity, anxiety and depression levels, and disability perception and lower quality of life, as compared to those with FM without alexithymia. Size effect differences ranged from medium to large and all of them were statistically significant (p<0.05). Using multivariate analysis, alexithymia was significantly associated with worse perceptions of quality of life (except physical health domain) and more disability perception, independently of other variables. However, alexithymia was not significantly associated with pain intensity. CONCLUSIONS: Alexithymia plays an important role in clinical manifestations of FM, mainly in the psychological and social dimensions of quality of life and the degree of perceived disability.

Comparación de criterios de Berlín vs Kigali para diagnóstico del síndrome de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda / Comparison of Berlin vs Kigali criteria for diagnosis of the acute respiratory insufficiency syndrome / Comparação dos critérios de Berlim e Kigali para o diagnóstico da síndrome da insuficiência respiratória aguda

Resumen: Las estimaciones sobre la incidencia del síndrome de insuficiencia respiratoria aguda (SIRA) en los países de ingresos altos y medios varían desde 10.1 a 86.2 por 100,000 habitantes en la población general. La epidemiología del SIRA no ha sido reportada en países de bajos ingresos a nivel de población, hospital o Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. La definición de Berlín puede no permitir la identificación de SIRA en entornos con recursos limitados, por lo que se han propuesto los criterios de Berlín modificados por Kigali, lo cual permite un diagnóstico cuando existen estas limitaciones. Objetivos: Medir la efectividad en el diagnóstico temprano del SIRA al comparar los criterios de Berlín versus la modificación de Berlín por Kigali. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio comparativo, longitudinal, prospectivo en el periodo comprendido del 01 de enero de 2018 al 30 de mayo de 2018 en los ingresados a la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital General «La Villa¼. Se incluyeron 42 sujetos, de los cuales se eliminaron ocho, por lo que a 34 pacientes se les aplicaron los criterios de Berlín y de Kigali al ingreso, midiéndose el tiempo para completar los mismos; se realizó una prueba de análisis de varianza (ANOVA) para determinar si existía diferencia significativa en el diagnóstico temprano del SIRA. Resultados: Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en cuanto a los tiempos de realización diagnóstica de Kigali versus Berlín, con tiempos de 2.4 horas (DE: ± 0.45 horas) y 4.7 horas (DE: ± 1.4 horas) respectivamente. Asimismo, se encontró una correlación lineal por prueba de Pearson de la PaO2/FiO2 y la SpO2/FiO2; se realizó regresión lineal y se propuso una escala de severidad para SIRA por medio del índice SpO2/FiO2. Conclusiones: Con base en los resultados, la escala Kigali representa un método confiable y puede ser considerado como una alternativa potencial para el diagnóstico de SIRA, además de que puede ser comparable con la escala Berlín.

Abstract: Epidemiological studies about the incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in different countries vary from 10.1 to 86.2 per 100,000 in the general population. The epidemiology of the ARDS has not been reported in general population, hospital or intensive care units (ICU) of developing countries. The Berlin definition may not allow the identification of ARDS in environments with limited resources, which is why the Berlin criteria modified by Kigali was proposed in order to diagnose ARDS, when these limitations exist. Objectives: To measure the effectiveness in the early diagnosis of ARDS when comparing the Berlin criteria vs the modification of Berlin by Kigali. Material and methods: A comparative, longitudinal, prospective study was done during the period of January 1, 2018 to May 30, 2018, in the patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of Hospital General La Villa. Forty-two patients were included, of which 8 were eliminated, the Berlin and Kigali criteria were evaluated in 34 patients upon admission; the time to complete both criteria was also measured. An analysis of variance test (ANOVA) was conducted to determine if there was a significant difference in the early diagnosis of the ARDS. Results: Statistically significant differences were found in the required time for diagnosing ARDS with Kigali vs Berlin criteria, with times of 2.4 hours (SD: ± 0.45 hours) and 4.7 hours (SD: ± 1.4 hours) respectively, likewise a linear correlation was found by Pearson test of PaO2/FiO2 and SpO2/FiO2. Linear regression was performed, and a severity scale was proposed for ARDS using the SpO2/FiO2 index. Conclusions: According to the results, the Kigali scale represents a reliable method and can be considered as a potential alternative for the diagnosis of ARD, besides it can be comparable with the Berlin scale.

Resumo: As estimativas da incidência da síndrome da insuficiência respiratória aguda (SIRA) nos países de alta e média renda variam de 10.1 a 86.2 por 100.000 habitantes na população em geral. A epidemiologia do SIRA não foi relatada em países de baixa renda no nível da população, hospital ou unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI). A definição de Berlim pode não permitir a identificação do SIRA em ambientes com recursos limitados, portanto propuseram os critérios de Berlim modificados por Kigali que permitem um diagnóstico quando existem essas limitações. Objetivos: Medir a efetividade no diagnóstico precoce do SIRA ao comparar os critérios de Berlim versus a modificação de Berlim por Kigali. Material e métodos: Realizou-se um estudo prospectivo comparativo, longitudinal, no período de 1 de janeiro de 2018 a 30 de maio de 2018 em pacientes admitidos na unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI) do Hospital Geral de «La Villa¼. Foram incluídos 42 pacientes, dos quais 8 foram eliminados, de modo que 34 pacientes foram aplicados nos critérios de Berlim e Kigali na admissão, medindo o tempo para completá-los; realizou-se um teste de análise de variância (ANOVA) para determinar se havia uma diferença significativa no diagnóstico precoce do SIRA. Resultados: Foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas em relação aos tempos de realização do diagnóstico de Kigali vs Berlim, com tempos de 2.4 horas (DP: ± 0.45 horas) e 4.7 horas (DP: ± 1.4 horas), respectivamente, também foi encontrada uma correlação linear pelo teste de Pearson de PaO2/ FiO2 e SpO2/ FiO2. A regressão linear foi realizada e uma escala de gravidade para o SIRA foi proposta usando o índice SpO2/ FiO2. Conclusões: Com base nos resultados, a escala de Kigali representa um método confiável e pode ser considerada uma alternativa potencial para o diagnóstico de SIRA, além de ser comparável à escala de Berlim.

Microfluidics on the fly: Inexpensive rapid fabrication of thermally laminated microfluidic devices for live imaging and multimodal perturbations of multicellular systems.

Microfluidic devices provide a platform for analyzing both natural and synthetic multicellular systems. Currently, substantial capital investment and expertise are required for creating microfluidic devices using standard soft-lithography. These requirements present barriers to entry for many nontraditional users of microfluidics, including developmental biology laboratories. Therefore, fabrication methodologies that enable rapid device iteration and work "out-of-the-box" can accelerate the integration of microfluidics with developmental biology. Here, we have created and characterized low-cost hybrid polyethylene terephthalate laminate (PETL) microfluidic devices that are suitable for cell and micro-organ culture assays. These devices were validated with mammalian cell lines and the Drosophila wing imaginal disc as a model micro-organ. First, we developed and tested PETLs that are compatible with both long-term cultures and high-resolution imaging of cells and organs. Further, we achieved spatiotemporal control of chemical gradients across the wing discs with a multilayered microfluidic device. Finally, we created a multilayered device that enables controllable mechanical loading of micro-organs. This mechanical actuation assay was used to characterize the response of larval wing discs at different developmental stages. Interestingly, increased deformation of the older wing discs for the same mechanical loading suggests that the compliance of the organ is increased in preparation for subsequent morphogenesis. Together, these results demonstrate the applicability of hybrid PETL devices for biochemical and mechanobiology studies on micro-organs and provide new insights into the mechanics of organ development.

El terremoto 19S en Morelos: la experiencia operativa del INEEL en la evaluación del riesgo estructural / The S19 earthquake in Morelos: the operational experience of INEEL in the evaluation of structural risk

Resumen El sismo del 19 de septiembre de 2017 en México causó daños catastróficos en el estado de Morelos que afectaron a más de 23 000 inmuebles en prácticamente todos los municipios del estado. Después de un sismo, resultan de gran importancia las acciones de emergencia existentes en la región para dar apoyo a la sociedad, tanto en el rescate de personas atrapadas como en la evaluación de la condición estructural que presentan los inmuebles, y de esta manera, mitigar sus efectos. Las acciones de emergencia requieren de planeación, organización, recursos económicos y materiales y, sobre todo, de trabajo en equipo. Desafortunadamente muchas sociedades no están preparadas para contener grandes desastres, por lo que puede resultar muy difícil hacer frente a una gran emergencia sin las condiciones adecuadas. Durante la emergencia del 19 de septiembre se vivió una situación jamás esperada en el estado de Morelos por los daños provocados por el sismo de magnitud 7.1, con epicentro a menos de 75 km de distancia, que puso a prueba al sistema de emergencia del estado. De manera particular, investigadores del Instituto Nacional de Electricidad y Energías Limpias (INEEL) iniciaron acciones de inspección en los inmuebles de su propio instituto, y posteriormente se pusieron a las órdenes de Protección Civil del Estado de Morelos para realizar inspecciones post-sísmicas de los inmuebles de gobierno, escuelas y, en general, de las viviendas de Morelos. La tarea principal del apoyo del INEEL consistió en dictaminar si los inmuebles debían continuar operando o ser habitables, si debían ser desalojados para hacer una revisión detallada o incluso si debían ser demolidos debido al alto riesgo de colapso que presentaban. El apoyo proporcionado por el INEEL no sólo se concentró en la evaluación post-sísmica de los inmuebles, sino que ha sido el inicio de una mayor colaboración con las autoridades del Estado, que resultará en el mejoramiento de los planes de emergencia y, sobre todo, en la actualización de las normas de diseño.

Abstract The earthquake of September 19, 2017 in Mexico caused catastrophic damage in the state of Morelos to more than 23 thousand structures in almost all municipalities. After an earthquake, emergency actions in the area are of great importance to support society, rescue trapped people as well as to assess the structural condition of the structures, and in this way, mitigate the negative effects. Unfortunately, society is not prepared to contain major disasters, and it can be very difficult to face a major emergency without the right conditions. The earthquake of September 19, with magnitude 7.1 and epicenter less than 75 km away, caused an emergency never expected in the state of Morelos, because of the damage it produced, which put Morelos' emergency system to the test. In particular, researchers from the National Institute of Electricity and Clean Energies (INEEL) initiated inspection actions in the buildings of their own institute, and subsequently placed themselves under the orders of the Civil Protection office of the State of Morelos to carry out post-seismic inspections of government buildings, schools and, in general, the homes of Morelos. The main task was to decide if the buildings were able to be inhabited again, if they should be evicted for a detailed review or if they should be demolished due to their high risk of collapse. The support was not only oriented to the post-seismic evaluation of the buildings, but was the beginning of working days with the State authorities, which will result in the improvement of the emergency plans and, above all, in the update of the design standards.

Genetic diversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and transmission associated with first-line drug resistance: a first analysis in Jalisco, Mexico.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to analyse the frequency of gene mutations associated with antitubercular drug resistance in clinical samples from the population of Jalisco State (Mexico) and to evaluate the genetic variability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant (MDR) M. tuberculosis strains to describe the frequency of various families. METHODS: Clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis obtained from Jalisco State were analysed. Isolates were subjected to drug susceptibility testing, and mutations were characterised by sequencing, followed by genotyping using spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units-variable-number of tandem repeats (MIRU-VNTR). Moreover, the prevalence of mutations was analysed by phylogenetic lineages. RESULTS: Resistant strains were analysed by sequencing of katG, inhA and rpoB genes to determine the presence of mutations associated with isoniazid and rifampicin resistance. In MDR, monoresistant and polyresistant isolates, mutations were found in 17 (54.84%) of 31 strains. Spoligotyping identified six different strain lineages [T1 (25.40%), H3 (7.94%), MANU (4.76%), X1 (3.17%), EAI5 (1.59%) and LAM1 (1.59%)], with the remaining strains identified as orphans. In additional tree-based identification, a dendrogram of spoligotype patterns generated five different similarity clusters. When combining 24-loci MIRU-VNTR and spoligotyping approaches, the results shows that there is no cluster formation, indicating low transmission of the samples. CONCLUSIONS: This study using spoligotyping and MIRU-VNTR showed that the analysed strains were not related to each other since no two identical strains were found. Families with the highest prevalence in the study were orphans followed by T family.

Tumor maligno de vaina de nervio periférico: reporte de caso / Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor: case report

Se presenta un caso de tumor sacro voluminoso con características de Tumor Maligno de Vaina de Nervio Periférico (MPNST) que tras una resección inicial y recidiva se reintervino y trató con radioterapia complementaria. Tras ocho años se ha observado una buena evolución.

A case of voluminous sacral tumor with Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (MPNST) characteristics is reported, that after a first resection and later recurrence is reoperated and treated with complementary radiotherapy. After eight years a good evolution has been observed.

Neumotórax bilateral por broncoscopía en un lactante: presentación de un caso / Bilateral pneumothorax due to bronchoscopy in an infant: Case presentation

El neumotórax es una de las complicaciones mayores de la broncoscopia. Se reporta el caso de un lactante de 8 meses a quien se le indicó broncoscopia de urgencia por la presencia de un cuerpo extraño en la vía área. Durante el procedimiento presentó neumotórax bilateral condicionado por factores propios del cuerpo extraño, la situación se resolvió con toracotomía bilateral.

Among the bigger complication of bronchoscopy, the neumotorax is one these. You report the case of infant of eight month who have tracheobronchial foreign body aspiration, the indication was bronchoscopy of emergency, during procediment presented bilateral pneumothorax conditioned this for owns factors of foreign body, the treatment was with thoracotomy in both hemitorax.

Perfil epidemiológico y clínico de pacientes con diagnóstico de neurocisticercosis en el Hospital Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena de Temuco entre los años 2000-2006: serie de casos / Epidemiological – clinical profile of patients with diagnosis of neurocysticercosis in Temuco’s Hospital between 2000-2006

Introducción: Neurocisticercosis es la infección parasitaria más frecuente del sistema nervioso central, causada por ingesta de alimentos contaminados con huevos del céstodo Taenia solium. La forma más común de presentación son crisis covulsivas. Objetivo: Realizar perfil epidemiológico y clínico de pacientes con diagnóstico de neurocisticercosis en el Hospital de Temuco, entre los años 2000-2006. Pacientes y Método: Revisión retrospectiva del 100 por ciento (n = 26) de historias clínicas de pacientes ingresados con diagnóstico de neurocisticercosis, según código de la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades (CIE – 10 B69.0), entre 1 de enero de 2000 y 31 de diciembre de 2006. Resultados: Media de edad al diagnóstico de 33,6 años; 65,3 por ciento de sexo masculino; 73,1 por ciento no registró apellidos de origen mapuche; 73,0 por ciento fueron procedentes de áreas urbanas. Crisis convulsivas fue el motivo de consulta más frecuente. Mediana de evolución de 30 días al momento de la consulta; 30,7 por ciento descritos como “larga data”, sin estimación exacta del tiempo evolución. El 100 por ciento fue estudiado con neuroimágenes. La mayoría presentó 2 o más lesiones y 80 por ciento de localización parenquimatosa; 30,7 por ciento requirió cirugía, indicada por hidrocefalia secundaria. No hubo pacientes fallecidos en esta serie. Conclusiones: Afecta a población activa, con predominio de sexo masculino, la mayoría sin apellidos mapuches y de procedencia urbana. Uno de cada tres pacientes consultó por crisis convulsivas. Todos nuestros pacientes fueron estudiados con neuroimágenes, que mostraron dos lesiones y de ubicación parenquimatosa en la mayoría de los casos. Un tercio requirió manejo quirúrgico, por hidrocefalia secundaria como complicación.

Introduction: Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic infection of the central nervous system caused from the ingestion of food that contains the Taenia solium eggs. Seizures are the most common clinical features. Aim: To establish an epidemiological-clinical profile of patients diagnosed with Neurocysticercosis in the Hospital of Temuco between the years 2000-2006. Methods and patients: Retrospective review of the 100 percent (n = 26) of clinical histories of patients diagnosed with Neurocysticercosis according to the International Classification of Diseases (CIE – 10 B69.0), between the 1st of January, 2000 and the 31th of December, 2006. Results: Average of age at diagnosis of 33,6 years old; 65,3 percent are male; 73,1 percent with no Mapudungun last names; 73,0 percent from urban areas. The principal reason of consult was seizures. Average 30-day evolution at the time of consultation; 30,7 percent were described as “long data”, without an exact estimation of the time of evolution. Within the 100 percent that was studied with neuroimaging, most of them presented two lesions and 80 percent was in the parenchyma; 30,7 percent needed surgery, in most of the cases because of hydrocephalus. Any of the patients died in this group. Conclusions: This pathology affects active population. Just a few were male, and most of them did not have Mapudungun last names or come from urban areas. One of three patients consulted because of seizures. All of the patients were studied with neuroimaging and in most cases they had two lesions and parenchymal localization. One of three patients required surgical management because of hydrocephalus.

Aneurismas paraclínicos en el Hospital Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena de Temuco: experiencia de 16 años / Paraclinoidal aneurysms in the Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena Hospital in Temuco

Desde que se inicia la cirugía de aneurismas intracerebrales en el Hospital Dr. Hernán Henríquez Aravena de Temuco (año 1989) a la fecha, se han intervenido 8 por aneurismas paraclinoideos de la arteria carótida interna. Seis pacientes de sexo femenino y dos de sexo masculino, con un promedio de edad de 46.7 años al momento del ingreso. Siete debutaron con cuadro de hemorragia subaracnoídea, en 6 casos determinada por el aneurisma paraclinoideo y uno de otra localización. El restante paciente es diagnosticado a través de una tomografía parte del estudio de patología neoplásica del tracto digestivo. De la técnica utilizada destaca: Control de la arteria carótida cervical disecada previa al tiempo craneal, uso de drenaje espinal, abordaje pterional intradural, fresado de clinoides, disección del anillo distal y uso de clip quirúrgico según anatomía de la lesión. Los pacientes fueron intervenidos en un promedio de 10.12 días desde el inicio de la sintomatología o desde el hallazgo de la lesión en forma incidental. Buenos resultados quirúrgicos 87.5 por ciento y sobrevida promedio de 8 años a la fecha.

Since the beginning of surgery of intracraneal aneurysms in Temuco's Hospital, (1989) to our days, eightr patients has been operated because of an aneurysm situated at the paraclinoid segment of the internal carotid artery. Six of them were female and two were male, with a mean age of 46,7 years at the event. Seven patients consulted for a history of subarachnoid bleeding, six of them had a carotid - ophthalmic aneurysm. The diagnosis of the other patient was done by a tomographic control of malignant digestive tract pathology. All patients were approached by fronto-pterional side of the skull, previously doing a cervical incision at the same side of the aneurysm, to expose the primitive and internal carotid artery, intradural access and spinal drainage. Anterior clinoid process was extirpated and distal ring was dissected before clipping the aneurysm. The use of surgical clips was according to the anatomy of the lesion. The patient was operated in an average of 10 days since the beginning of the symptoms or since the casual discovery of the aneurysm. Good surgical prognosis in 87.5 percent and survival mean 8 days.

Neurocitoma central: reporte de 2 casos / Central neurocytoma: report of 2 cases

El Neurocitoma Central (NC) es un tumor del SNC infrecuente, de estirpe neuronal, frecuentemente intraventricular, que generalmente afecta adultos jòvenes, tiene crecimiento lento y que al momento del diagnóstico tiene con frecuencia un volumen considerable. Su comportamiento es poco agresivo y una exéresis quirúrgica conservadora permite mejorar sustancialmente la calidad y espectativa vital. Presentamos aquí dos casos clínicos de pacientes con cuadros clínicos compatibles a los decritos en la literatura. Se realizaron estudios inmunohistoquímicos de las lesiones que confirman el diagnóstico.

Central Neurocytoma (CN) it's a rare Central Nervous System Tumor, derivated of the neuron, frequently intraventricular, it generally affects young adults, has a slow pattern of growth and at diagnosis is frequently voluminous. It's a less aggressive kind of tumor and a conservative surgery exeresis allows a better quality and expectative of life. We present two cases of patients with similar clinical presentation with the descriptions find in the literature and with histologyc and immunohistochemistry studies that confirms the diagnosis.

Semiautomatic analysis of phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging of cerebrospinal fluid flow through the aqueduct of Sylvius.

OBJECTIVE: Quantification of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow through the aqueduct of Sylvius by means of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is subject to interobserver variability due to the region of interest (ROI) selection. Our objective is to develop a semiautomatic measurement method to achieve reproducible quantitative analysis of CSF flow rate and stroke volume. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MR examinations were performed using a 1.5 T scanner with a phase contrast sequence (velocity encoding [V(enc)] of 20 cm/s, FOV = 160, 3 mm slice thickness, image matrix size = 256x256, TR = 53 ms, TE = 11 ms, NSA = 2, flip angle = 15 degrees and 23 frames per cardiac cycle with peripheral retrospective pulse gating). Our method was developed using MATLAB R7. Errors introduced by background offset and possible aliased pixels were automatically detected and corrected if necessary in order to calculate the flow parameters that characterize CSF dynamics. The semiautomatic seed method reproducibility was evaluated and compared with the radius method by two observers analysing 21 healthy subjects. RESULTS: The measurements using the semiautomatic seed method reduced the interobservers variability (intra-class correlation [ICC] = 1.0 for stroke volume and for volumetric flow rate) versus the radius method (ICC = 0.46 for stroke volume and 0.65 for flow rate). Normal stroke volume (39.19 +/- 20.13 microl/cycle), flow rate (3.81 +/- 2.81 ml/min), maximal mean systolic velocity (5.27 +/- 1.3 cm/s) and maximal mean diastolic velocity (4.20 +/- 1.4 cm/s) were calculated with the half moon and aliasing corrected seed method. CONCLUSIONS: Semiautomatic measurements (seed method with half moon background and aliasing correction) allow a generalization of the calculus of flow parameters with great consistency and independency of the operator.

Survival to different acid challenges and outer membrane protein profiles of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from pozol, a Mexican typical maize fermented food.

In this study, the acid resistance and the changes in outer membrane protein (Omps) profiles of Escherichia coli strains isolated from pozol, an acid-fermented maize beverage consumed in Southeastern Mexico, were determined. Results showed that adaptation to acid by these E. coli strains significantly enhances their survival in acid conditions. Changes in Omp profiles were found in non-adapted acid challenged cells compared with non-challenged cells that had not been adapted to acid. Challenged adapted cells showed no significant changes in these profiles when compared with the acid adapted non-challenged strains. N-terminal sequences of some of the Omps were determined. The intensity of the main porins OmpC and OmpA was lower in the acid challenged strains, than in the non-challenged ones. The OmpF porin was identified in non-challenged K12 strain, but did not appear in adapted or non-adapted pozol strains nor in E. coli O157:H7. A protein band with an approximate molecular mass of 22 kDa corresponds to OmpW and its expression decreased in pozol strains challenged with HCl and lactic acid. OmpX was one of the main proteins expressed when strains were acid challenged with organic acids. Seventy out of seventy-three E. coli strains isolated from pozol in a previous work [Sainz, T., Wacher, C., Espinoza, J., Centurion, D., Navarro, A., Molina, J., Cravioto, A., Eslava, C., 2001. Survival and characterization of Escherichia coli strains in a typical Mexican acid-fermented food. International Journal of Food Microbiology 71, 169-176] carry this gene and belong to a reported pathogenic class of E. coli strains, or have virulence factors or survived at pH values less than 4.8. We suggest this protein could be involved in survival to stress conditions.

Antibody responses to Escherichia coli O157 and other lipopolysaccharides in healthy children and adults.

In Mexico, diarrheal disease due to different serotypes of Escherichia coli is highly prevalent, with only sporadic isolation of O157 non-H7 strains. This could be due to exposure to the O157 or related E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), such as O7 or O116, at an early age. By using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting, the present study analyzed 605 serum samples from Mexican adults and infants without clinical symptoms of disease for the presence of antibodies to these three E. coli LPSs. The bactericidal activities of homologous and heterologous rabbit and human serum samples against O7, O116, and O157 E. coli LPSs were also determined. By using a cutoff point of 0.7, it was found by the ELISAs that 28 of 562 (5%) of the serum samples from adolescents and adults and 2 of 43 (5%) of the serum samples from infants less than 1 year of age reacted with the O157 LPS. By using cutoff points between 0.4 and 0.699, the proportion of serum samples from both age groups that reacted with the O157 LPS increased to 20%. Western blotting analysis of selected serum samples that showed an intermediate response against the O157 LPS by the ELISAs showed that 61 of 88 (69%) reacted with the same LPS. A similar result was observed for maternal milk samples. The bactericidal activities of rabbit serum samples against the O7, O116, and O157 LPSs showed that they were positive for both homologous and heterologous antigens. Similar results were observed with the human serum samples. O157 non-H7 strains were identified in only 10% of the E. coli strains isolated from 263 Mexican children with and without diarrhea over the past 15 years. This absence of O157:H7 strains in Mexico may be associated with the presence of antibodies against O157 or related E. coli LPSs.

Aneurísmas cerebrales pronóstico de pacientes operados en grado III y IV Hunt & Hess / Cerebral aneurysms prognosis of patients operated in degree III and IV Hunt & Hess

Se presenta la experiencia del Hos`pital Regional de Temuco en el manejo de los aneurísmas operados en grado III y IV de Hunt & Hess en un período de 10 años. De un total de 45 pacientes tratados, 37 fueron mujeres (82.2 porciento), la edad promedio fue 59.6 años, el ingreso a la hospitalización post sangramiento fue de 2.25 día en promedio, 9 pacientes (20 porciento) ingresaron en grado I y II H&H y los 36 restantes en grados 3 o 4. Las ubicaciones más frecuentes del AIC fueron cerebral media 35.6 porciento, comunicante posterior 33.3 porciento, comunicante anterior 17.8 porciento. La evolución preoperatoria fue favorable en 32 casos (71.1 porciento) y en 13 desfavorable (28.9 porciento): aumentaron su H&H y/o se agregaron complicaciones preoperatorias: resangramiento, vasoespasmo,, hidrocefalea, hiponatremía, infecciones, etc. Sólo 12 pacientes (26.7 porciento) se operaron antes de 72 horas post sangramiento. Complicaciones neurológicas: hidrocefalia 24.4 porciento, isquemia cerebral de algún grado 37.8 porciento. Destaca que los pacientes que hicieron aparición o acentuación de déficit isquémico tienen 8.9 vces más probabilidades de mortalidad en los primeros 30 díaspostoperatorios (p=0.000). No existe evidencia suficiente para decir que hay diferencias entre el déficit postoperatorio de pacientes que se intervinieron en <72 horas de aquellos que se intervinieron >72 horas (p=0.514 NS). La mortalidad postoperatoria global a 30 días alcanza 33.3 porciento. La sobrevida a 6 meses llega a un 60 porciento, manteniéndose de igual forma al año postoperatorio.