Laurus nobilis (laurel) aqueous leaf extract's toxicological and anti-tumor activities in HPV16-transgenic mice.

Cancers induced by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remain a significant public health threat, fueling the study of new therapies. Laurel (Laurus nobilis) compounds and extracts recently showed in vitro activity against HPV-transformed cell lines. This work aims to evaluate the in vivo efficacy and hepatic toxicity of a laurel extract in a transgenic mouse model of HPV16-induced cancer. The extract was administered in drinking water (20 mg per animal per day) for three consecutive weeks, using four experimental groups (n = 10) (group I: HPV16-/- without treatment, group II: treated HPV16-/-, group III: HPV16+/- without treatment and group IV: treated HPV16+/-). Following the treatment period, animals were sacrificed and skin samples were used to classify skin lesions histologically. Toxicological parameters included hematological and biochemical blood markers, splenic and hepatic histology and hepatic oxidative stress. The extract did not prevent the progression of HPV16-induced cutaneous lesions in this model. The treated wild-type animals showed mild hepatitis, while transgenic animals suffered weight loss. However, there were no changes concerning hematological, biochemical and hepatic oxidative stress markers.

Ozone therapy prevents the onset of dysplasia in HPV16-transgenic mice-A pre-clinical efficacy and safety analysis.

Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), most often HPV16, is associated with the development of anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers. Recently, ozone therapy was reported to have considerable efficacy against rabbit VX2 tumors, induced by the cottontail rabbit papillomavirus. The present study aims to determine whether similar results can be obtained in HPV16-transgenic mice, possibly paving the way for new therapeutic options against HPV-induced cancers. HPV16-transgenic and wild-type, female, 20 weeks-old mice were injected intraperitoneally with medical O3/O2 (80░mL/kg, at O3 50░µg/mL), once a day, for 5 consecutive days. The animals were sacrificed at 25 weeks-old, and skin samples were analyzed histologically to study tumour progression. Blood and internal organ samples were used to study toxicological parameters. 85.7% of untreated transgenic mice showed dysplastic skin lesions, compared with 28.6% of O3-treated mice. This was associated with a marked reduction of dermal inflammation associated with those lesions. No significant changes were observed in any toxicological parameters. These preliminary results support the hypothesis that O3 therapy is effective against papillomavirus-induced lesions, particularly against those induced by the most common high-risk virus, HPV16. Further studies are needed to confirm the mechanisms underlying these effects.

Uso de placas de ácido poli-L-láctico en reconstrucción de pared torácica / Use of poly-L-lactic plates in chest wall reconstruction

La reconstrucción de la pared torácica exige un amplio conocimiento de las técnicas reconstructivas y un buen plan operatorio. Por una parte es necesario mantener la estabilidad de la caja torácica y por otro proporcionar una buena base para la cobertura dérmica omusculocutánea que confiera buenos resultados funcionales y plásticos. En este trabajo describimos 2 casos clínicos en los que la reconstrucción de la pared torácica anterior se realizó con placas de ácido poli-L-láctico sobre las que se colocaron sendos colgajos musculocutáneos (AU)

Chest wall reconstruction requires an extensive knowledge of reconstructive techniques and a good surgical plan. On one hand, it is necessary to maintain stability of the rib cage and, on the other, provide a good foundation for dermal coverage or musculocutaneous flaps which confers good functional and plastic results. In this article we describe 2 cases in which anterior chest wall reconstruction was performed with plates of poly-L-lactic acid, on which were placed the musculocutaneous flaps (AU)

Agresividad y afrontamiento en la adolescencia. Una perspectiva intercultural / Aggressiveness and coping in adolescence. An intercultural perspective

La conducta agresiva es objeto de estudio con la finalidad de comprender los mecanismos básicos que causan y regulan esta conducta. La interculturalidad es una realidad que caracteriza a nuestra escuela y nuestra sociedad y el incremento acentuado en los últimos años de población inmigrante y el aumento de adopciones internacionales han generado en algunos centros un alto porcentaje de alumnos procedentes de otras culturas, lo que ha motivado en algunos centros un incremento de conductas agresivas y antisociales. El objetivo del estudio es analizar la conducta agresiva, los procesos implicados y los mecanismos de afrontamiento en una muestra de 1557 adolescentes entre 12 y 15 años, de Primer Ciclo de Enseñanza Secundaria Obligatoria de centros públicos y concertados de la Comunidad Valenciana, que completaron los instrumentos el Índice de Empatía para Niños y Adolescentes, la Escala de Conducta Prosocial, la Escala de Inestabilidad Emocional, la Escala de Agresividad Física y Verbal, y la Escala de Afrontamiento para Adolescentes. Los resultados confirman diferencias estadísticamente significativas en los comportamientos agresivos y en los recursos de afrontamiento evaluados en función del sexo, el país de nacimiento y el tipo de centro según alberguen mayor número de alumnos procedentes de otros países (AU)

The infantile and juvenile aggressiveness is considered to be a complex phenomenon, with multiple factors that contribute to different aggressive manifestations. This phenomenon has been an object of many investigations, which have the aim to understand the basic mechanisms that cause and regulate this behaviour and it is important to consider that the interculturality is a reality that characterizes our school and our society. The increase of the immigrant population in Spain during the last years and the increase of international adoptions has generated in some schools a high percentage of pupils proceeding from other cultures. This study tries to analyze the presence of aggressive behaviour and the mechanisms of coping in a sample of 1557 adolescents 12 to 15 years old. Instruments used were theInventory of Empathy for Children and Adolescents, the Prosocial Behaviour Scale, the Emotional Instability Scale, the Physical and Verbal Aggression Scale, and the Adolescents Coping Scale. The results show significant differences in physical and verbal aggressives behaviours and in the coping strategies evaluated depending on sex, the country of birth and the presence of students from other countries (AU)

20 años de experiencia con el colgajo toracoepigástrico tipo Hölstrom / 20 years experience with lateral thoracodorsal (Hölstrom) flap

Analizamos la evolución en el diseño, la tasa de complicaciones y el grado de satisfacción tras la realización de 222 colgajos toracoepigástricos en 215pacientes para reconstrucción mamaria diferida e inmediata. El seguimiento medio fue de 112 meses. El 45% de las reconstrucciones mamarias de nuestra Unidad se han realizado con este tipo de colgajo. Del diseño original se ha ido evolucionando al propuesto por Holmström con algunas modificaciones. En 166casos se asociaron en el mismo acto quirúrgico diferentes procedimientos encaminados a obtener la simetría mamaria. No hubo mortalidad operatoria y aunque la tasa de morbilidad fue del 66/222 (30%) la mayoría de las complicaciones no precisaron tratamiento específico. El grado de satisfacción de las pacientes con el procedimiento fue muy alto. Concluimos que el colgajo toracoepigástrico es una técnica simple, que cumple todos los objetivos de una reconstrucción mamaria y puede ser utilizado en un número sustancial de casos, con una morbilidad aceptable y resultados muy bien valorados por las pacientes (AU)

We analyse the evolution in the design, the rate of complications and the degree of satisfaction after the accomplishment of 222 lateral thoracodorsal flaps in215 patients for delayed and immediate mammary reconstruction. The average follow-up was of 112months. Forty-five percent of the mammary reconstruction scarried out in our Unit have been made with this type of flap. The original design has been evolved to the proposed one by Holmström with some modifications. In 166 cases it was associated with other procedures to obtain mammary symmetry. There was no operative mortality and although the rate of morbidity was of 66/222 (30%), most of complications did not need specific treatment. Patients’ satisfaction with the procedure was very high. We conclude that lateral thoracodorsal flap is a simple technique that fulfills all the objectives for mammary reconstruction, it can be used in a substantial number of cases, with an acceptable morbidity and high patients´ satisfaction (AU)

Three decades of psychological research in the journal Cognitive Psychology (1979-1999).

We examined the journal Cognitive Psychology, as representative of the evolution of cognitive psychology during the last three decades (1979-1999). Analysis of changes in the impact factor defined according to the Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) is an indication of the ranking of this journal both in the general classification of archival research journals as well as in relation to other periodicals in the area of cognitive psychology. This single quantitative measure of articles published in Cognitive Psychology indicates a change in the topics of interest. An analysis of the research topics and identification of the most productive authors identifies important indicators of the psychological topics of primary interest during this time.

The debranching enzyme complex missing in glycogen accumulating mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii displays an isoamylase-type specificity.

To investigate the functions of debranching enzymes in starch biosynthesis, we have partially purified and characterized these activities from wild type and mutant sta7 Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mutants of the STA7 locus substitute synthesis of insoluble granular starch by that of small amounts of glycogen-like material. The mutants were previously shown to lack an 88 kDa debranching enzyme. Two distinct debranching activities were detected in wild-type strains. The 88 kDa debranching enzyme subunit missing in glycogen-producing mutants (CIS1) is shown to be part of a multimeric enzyme complex. A monomeric 95 kDa debranching enzyme (CLD1) cleaved alpha-1,6 linkages separated by as few as three glucose residues while the multimeric complex was unable to do so. Both enzymes were able to debranch amylopectin while the alpha-1,6 linkages of glycogen were completely debranched by the multimeric complex only. Therefore CLD1 and the multimeric debranching enzyme display respectively the limit-dextrinase (pullulanase) and isoamylase-type specificities. Various mutations in the STA7 locus caused the loss of both CIS1 and of the multimeric isoamylase complex. In contrast to rice and maize mutants that accumulate phytoglycogen owing to mutation of an isoamylase-type DBE, isoamylase depletion in Chlamydomonas did not result in any qualitative or quantitative difference in pullulanase activity.

Ansiedad y acontecimientos vitales en adolescentes / Anxiety and life-events in adolescents

En este trabajo se examina la posible relación entre acontecimientos vitales (AV) y ansiedad en población adolescente. Para la evaluación de AV se ha usado el A.V.I.A. (Inventario de Acontecimientos Vitales en Infancia y Adolescencia) (adaptado de P. Morató) y para la evaluación de la ansiedad, el S .T.A.I.C. (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory of Children) (Spielberger, 1973). La muestra consta de 695 adolescentes de 14 a 15 años de edad. Los resultados muestran que un mayor numero de AV negativos repercute en la elevación de las tasas de ansiedad.

Skin prolylhydroxylase activity and wound healing.

The relationship between wound healing and skin prolylhydroxylase activity was examined in 212 patients undergoing reconstructive procedures and 109 controls using skin prolylhydroxylase activity as an index of collagen synthesis. In the control group, the median value of skin prolylhydroxylase activity was 360 cpm/mg protein. There was a higher skin prolylhydroxylase activity in 274 patients with successful healing (368 cpm/mg protein) than there was in 33 patients who required local wound care (202 cpm/mg protein) and 14 patients with severe local complications (71 cpm/mg protein, p = 0.02). Skin prolylhydroxylase activity was also significantly lower (p = 0.002) in patients with laboratory criteria for malnutrition (albumin < 3.5 g/dl, 108 cpm/mg protein; total lymphocyte count < 1,500 mm3, 211 cpm/mg protein, and albumin < 3.5 g/dl + lymphocyte count < 1,500 mm3, 52 cpm/mg protein), but age, diabetes mellitus, malignancy and wound infection did not affect skin prolylhydroxylase activity. These results suggest that skin prolylhydroxylase activity is reduced in patients with malnutrition and delayed wound healing.