Use of granules and free salts for Fe and Zn fortification of leafy vegetables: Improvements in trace element bioaccessibility and fulfillment of Dietary Reference Intakes.

BACKGROUND: Leafy vegetables represent an excellent dietary source of trace elements such as Fe and Zn. Nevertheless, Fe and Zn bioaccessibility can lessen due to a high concentration of anti-nutritional compounds. The encapsulation of Fe and Zn salts as granules could be used to fortify these leafy vegetables. METHOD: Three leafy vegetables, spinach, Swiss chard and Ethiopian mustard were fortified with iron sulfate and zinc sulfate as granules and free salts in order to test the improvements in the bioaccessibility and fulfillments of DRIs. Fe and Zn granules were prepared in a fluidized bed granulator. A probabilistic analysis was performed, using experimental data, to assess bioaccessible intake and fulfillments of DRIs in European populations. RESULTS: Fe contents ranged between 4.8 mg/100 g of Ethiopian mustard to 157.4 mg/100 g of spinach. Fe and Zn bioaccessibility percentages were low for Swiss chard and spinach without fortification. Fortification with granules improved Fe bioaccessibility of these latter vegetables (196 and 223 mg/100 g). Zn contents in samples without fortification ranged between 2.3 mg/100 g for Ethiopian mustard and 7.4 mg/100 g for spinach. Zn fortification as granules improved Zn bioaccessibility for the three vegetables studied. Thus, Zn bioccessible concentrations ranged between 17.4 and 108 mg/100 g for the solubility assay and between 5.9 and 31.1 mg/100 g for the dialyzability assay. Besides, the probability analysis showed that fortification had a better performance in meeting DRIs for those populations with higher consumption levels of leafy vegetables. CONCLUSIONS: The probability analysis demonstrated that fortification can be a suitable strategy to meet DRIs for both trace elements, which was especially remarkable for Fe. Fortification with granule was more effective in most the cases, although for Ethiopian mustard, free salt of Fe showed a better performance.

Bioaccessibility of glucosinolates, isothiocyanates and inorganic micronutrients in cruciferous vegetables through INFOGEST static in vitro digestion model.

Green tissues and seeds from cruciferous vegetables growing in conventional and ecological conditions (Brassica carinata; Brassica rapa; Eruca vesicaria and Sinapis alba) were analyzed to determine their contents of glucosinolates, isotihiocyanates (ITCs) and inorganic micronutrients (Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se and Zn), and the bioaccessibility of these compounds. Regarding total contents and bioaccessibility values of these compounds, no clear difference was found between the organic and conventional systems. Glucosinolates bioaccessibility present in green tissues were high, with values around 60-78%. In additon, it was quantified in bioaccessible fraction ITCs concentrations such as Allyl - ITC; 3 - Buten - 1 - yl - ITC and 4 - Penten - 1 - yl - ITC. Trace elements bioaccessibility in green tissues was also high for Ca (2.26-7.66 mg/g), Cu (0.60-2.78 µg/g), Se (9.93-74.71 µg/Kg) and Zn (12.98-20.15 µg/g). By contrast, the bioaccessibility of glucosinolates and trace elements in cruciferous seeds was extremely low. With the exception of Cu, these bioaccessibility percentages did not exceed 1% in most cases.

Differences in the incidence and clinical evolution of early neurotoxicity after liver transplantation based on tacrolimus formulation used in the immunosuppressive induction protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Posttransplant early calcineurin inhibitor (CNI)-induced neurotoxicity (ECIIN) was related to high CNI levels, among other factors. Minimizing exposure could modify its incidence or clinical evolution. OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence, predisposing factors, and clinical evolution of ECIIN after immunosuppressive induction with low-dose tacrolimus-MR (Advagraf) or conventional dose tacrolimus (Prograf). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We matched 71 patients treated with an immunosuppression induction schedule with basiliximab and low doses of Advagraf (cases group) 1:1 by recipient age and indication for liver transplantation (OLT) with patients treated with a conventional tacrolimus regimen (control group). Baseline characteristics, liver and kidney function, operative technical characteristics, kidney function, and C0 tacrolimus levels at several time points after liver OLT were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 31 cases of ECIIN (21%), 14 in the cases group (20%) and 17 in the control group (24%; P < .001). The incidence of ECIIN was higher in alcoholic liver disease (odds ratio [OR], 8.2; 95% CI, 2.3-28.6; P < .001) and past history of encephalopathy (OR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.16-5.9; P < .02). Among cases, the incidence of ECIIN was higher when encephalopathy signs were present at time of transplantation (36% vs 12%; P < .001). Control of ECIIN required a switch to cyclosporine therapy in all those in the cases group, whereas this was only needed for 9 cases in the control group (47%; P < .001). CONCLUSION: In this study, although the incidence rate of neurotoxicity induced by Advagraf was lower than the induced by Prograf, it did not respond to routine treatment and required a significantly higher rate of switch to cyclosporine for its control.

Leukocytes Detection, Classification and Counting in Smears of Peripheral Blood / Detección, Clasificación y Conteo de Leucocitos en Frotis de Sangre Periférica

Using the k-NN classifier in combination with the first Minkowski metric, in addition to techniques of digital image processing, we developed a computational system platform-independent, which is able to identify, to classify and to count five normal types of leukocytes: neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, monocytes and lymphocytes. It is important to emphasize that this work does not attempt to diferentiate between smears of leukocytes coming from healthy and sick people; this is because most diseases produce a change in the differential count of leukocytes rather than in theirs forms. In the other side, the system could be used in emerging areas such as the topographic hematology and the chronobiology.

Mediante un clasificador k-NN en combinación con la primera métrica de Minkowski y técnicas de procesamiento digital de imágenes, se desarrolló un sistema computacional independiente de la plataforma, capaz de identificar, clasificar y contar cinco formas normales de leucocitos: neutrófilos, eosinófilos, basófilos, monocitos y linfocitos. Es importante enfatizar que este trabajo no intenta diferenciar entre muestras de leucocitos provenientes de gente sana y enferma, debido a que la mayoría de las enfermedades se detectan principalmente por un cambio en el conteo diferencial de leucocitos más que por cambios en su forma. Finalmente, el contador de leucocitos puede ser usado en áreas emergentes como la hematología topográfica y la cronobiología.

Poliquistosis hepática / Polycystic liver disease

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Absceso subfrénico con extensión pleural y subcutánea como complicación de un cálculo vertido al peritoneo durante la colecistectomía laparoscópica: implicaciones terapéuticas / Subfrenic abscess with pleural and subcutaneous involvement as complication of peritoneal gallstone dropped during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: therapeutic implications

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Intra-abdominal adhesions after open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an experimental model.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of intra-abdominal adherences after open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy, on the basis of an experimental study in pigs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 female pigs, mean weight 25 kg, underwent open cholecystectomy by right subcostal laparotomy (group A, n = 22) or laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a Storz laparoscope (group B, n = 18). After surgery, the abdominal wall was closed with polydioxanone suture and staples (group A) or with staples only (group B). One month later, the pigs underwent medial laparotomy to assess whether intra-abdominal adherences had developed. Incidences were compared between groups by the chi-square test with Yates correction. RESULTS: Five pigs in group A and one pig in group B died within 24 hours of surgery, leaving 17 pigs in each group. Mean operative time was similar for both groups (24.7 minutes in group A, 25.3 minutes in group B). In group A, 16 pigs (94%) developed intra-abdominal adherences, in all cases multiple; in group B, only 9 pigs (53%) developed adherences, and in 8 of these pigs only a single adherence was present (P < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that the incidence of intra-abdominal adherences is statistical lower after laparoscopic cholecystectomy than after open cholecystectomy.

[Renal amyloidosis as initial clinical manifestation of Crohn's disease]. / Amiloidosis renal como manifestación clínica inicial de la enfermedad de Crohn.

We present a 20-year-old man with oligosymptomatic Crohn's disease of the terminal ileum complicated by chronic renal insufficiency due to secondary amyloidosis. Definitive diagnosis of Crohn's disease was established 7 years after the onset of the renal disease as a result of symptoms of intestinal obstruction requiring surgery. The affected colonic segment was removed and histopathological examination of the surgical specimen confirmed the diagnosis of Crohn's disease without identifying intestinal amyloidosis. Despite the surgical intervention and the absence of recurrence of inflammatory bowel disease, renal insufficiency steadily progressed, and the patient required kidney transplantation. The patient's subsequent course was excellent and no recurrence of intestinal or renal disease was observed after 8 years of follow-up.