Aminomethylphosphonic Acid (AMPA), a Glyphosate Metabolite, Decreases Plasma Cholinesterase Activity in Rats.

Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, is linked to a plethora of deleterious effects in both clinical and preclinical studies. Nevertheless, the effects of its main metabolite, aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), whose half-life in soil is even longer than that of glyphosate, have been little explored. On this basis, as a first approach, in this work, we report that intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of AMPA or glyphosate (at 10, 56, and 100 mg/kg) decreased, to a similar extent, plasma cholinesterase (ChE) activity in acutely exposed rats. Moreover, we designed an experimental protocol to analyze and compare the effects of AMPA and glyphosate on human plasma ChE activity; this protocol consisted of adding these compounds to human plasma to subsequently test the effects of this plasma on the contraction to acetylcholine (ACh) in the frog rectus abdominis muscle (an indirect estimate of ChE activity). Accordingly, this muscular contraction to ACh was evaluated before and after pre-incubation of ACh with (i) plasma alone, (ii) plasma with AMPA, and (iii) plasma with glyphosate. Our results indicate that AMPA, like glyphosate, decreased ChE activity in the plasma of rats (when given i.p.) and humans (when added in vitro), suggesting that both xenobiotics may exert similar toxicological effects.

Megarrectosigmoides por constipación crónica idiopática, sigmoidectomía con robot en el paciente pediátrico. Primer caso en México.

We present the first pediatric case of Da Vinci Xi robot-assisted video sigmoidectomy in a 9-year-old male with chronic idiopathic constipation refractory to medical treatment and megarectosigmoid. He underwent sigmoidectomy with primary anastomosis without exceeding the peritoneal reflection. Sigmoidectomy in patients with intractable chronic constipation results in dramatic improvement, with reduction or elimination of laxative measures. Robot-assisted sigmoid resection is a safe minimally invasive alternative in the pediatric patient.

Se presenta el primer caso pediátrico de sigmoidectomía videoasistida por robot Da Vinci Xi en un varón de 9 años con constipación crónica idiopática refractaria al tratamiento médico y megarrectosigmoides. Se le realizó sigmoidectomía con anastomosis primaria sin rebasar la reflexión peritoneal. La sigmoidectomía en pacientes con constipación crónica intratable resulta en una notable mejoría, con reducción o eliminación de medidas laxantes. La resección del sigmoides con asistencia de robot es una alternativa de mínima invasión segura en el paciente pediátrico.

Mood State Detection in Handwritten Tasks Using PCA-mFCBF and Automated Machine Learning.

In this research, we analyse data obtained from sensors when a user handwrites or draws on a tablet to detect whether the user is in a specific mood state. First, we calculated the features based on the temporal, kinematic, statistical, spectral and cepstral domains for the tablet pressure, the horizontal and vertical pen displacements and the azimuth of the pen's position. Next, we selected features using a principal component analysis (PCA) pipeline, followed by modified fast correlation-based filtering (mFCBF). PCA was used to calculate the orthogonal transformation of the features, and mFCBF was used to select the best PCA features. The EMOTHAW database was used for depression, anxiety and stress scale (DASS) assessment. The process involved the augmentation of the training data by first augmenting the mood states such that all the data were the same size. Then, 80% of the training data was randomly selected, and a small random Gaussian noise was added to the extracted features. Automated machine learning was employed to train and test more than ten plain and ensembled classifiers. For all three moods, we obtained 100% accuracy results when detecting two possible grades of mood severities using this architecture. The results obtained were superior to the results obtained by using state-of-the-art methods, which enabled us to define the three mood states and provide precise information to the clinical psychologist. The accuracy results obtained when detecting these three possible mood states using this architecture were 82.5%, 72.8% and 74.56% for depression, anxiety and stress, respectively.

Development and Testing of a Portable Virtual Reality-Based Mirror Visual Feedback System with Behavioral Measures Monitoring.

Virtual Reality (VR) is a technology that has been used to provide the Mirror Visual Feedback (MVF) illusion to patients with promising results. In the present work, the goal is to design, develop and test a portable VR-based MVF system that monitors behavioral information about the performance of a simple motor task. The developed application runs in a stand-alone VR system and allows the researcher to select the real and virtual hands used to perform the motor task. The system was evaluated with a group of twenty healthy volunteers (12 men and 8 women) with ages between 18 and 66 years. Participants had to repetitively perform a motor task in four different experimental conditions: two mirror conditions (performing real movements with the dominant and with the non-dominant hand) and two non-mirror conditions. A significant effect of the experimental condition on embodiment score (p < 0.001), response time (p < 0.001), performance time (p < 0.001), trajectory length (p < 0.004) and trajectory maximum horizontal deviation (p < 0.001) was observed. Furthermore, a significant effect of the experimental moment (initial, middle and final parts of the training) on the performance time was observed (p < 0.001). These results show that the monitored parameters provide relevant information to evaluate the participant's task performance in different experimental conditions.

Predictability of short implants (< 10 mm) as a treatment option for the rehabilitation of atrophic maxillae. A systematic review

BACKGROUND: Short implants (< 10 mm) are one of the treatment options available in cases of limited vertical bone. Although such implants are now widely used, there is controversy regarding their clinical reliability. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the predictability of short implants as an alternative to technically more complex treatments in patients with atrophic maxillae, based on a systematic review of the literature and the analysis of the implant survival rates, changes in periimplant bone level, and associated complications. It is postulated that short implants offer clinical results similar to those of longer implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Medline-PubMed search was made covering the period between January 2004 and December 2014 (both included). Studies in English published in indexed journals, involving at least 20 implants and with a follow-up period of at least 12 months were considered. A manual search in four high impact journals was also conducted. RESULTS: A total of 37 studies meeting the inclusion criteria were included in this review. 9792 implants placed in over 5000 patients were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this review, short implants are seen to offer clinical results in terms of survival, bone loss and complications similar to those of longer implants

Real-world assessment of intravitreal dexamethasone implant (0.7 mg) in patients with macular edema: the CHROME study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the real-world use, efficacy, and safety of one or more dexamethasone intravitreal implant(s) 0.7 mg (DEX implant) in patients with macular edema (ME). METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of patients with ME secondary to retinal disease treated at ten Canadian retina practices, including one uveitis center. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central retinal thickness (CRT), intraocular pressure (IOP), glaucoma and cataract surgery, and safety data were collected from the medical charts of patients with ≥3 months of follow-up after the initial DEX implant. RESULTS: One hundred and one patient charts yielded data on 120 study eyes, including diagnoses of diabetic ME (DME) (n=34), retinal vein occlusion (RVO, n=30; branch in 19 and central in 11), and uveitis (n=23). Patients had a mean age of 60.9 years, and 73.3% of the study eyes had ME for a duration of ≥12 months prior to DEX implant injection(s). Baseline mean (± standard error) BCVA was 0.63±0.03 logMAR (20/86 Snellen equivalents) and mean CRT was 474.4±18.2 µm. The mean number of DEX implant injections was 1.7±0.1 in all study eyes; 44.2% of eyes had repeat DEX implant injections (reinjection interval 2.3-4.9 months). The greatest mean peak changes in BCVA lines of vision occurred in study eyes with uveitis (3.3±0.6, P<0.0001), followed by RVO (1.3±0.5, P<0.01) and DME (0.7±0.5, P>0.05). Significant decreases in CRT were observed: -255.6±43.6 µm for uveitis, -190.9±23.5 µm for DME, and -160.7±39.6 µm for RVO (P<0.0001 for all cohorts). IOP increases of ≥10 mmHg occurred in 20.6%, 24.1%, and 22.7% of DME, RVO, and uveitis study eyes, respectively. IOP-lowering medication was initiated in 29.4%, 16.7%, and 8.7% of DME, RVO, and uveitis study eyes, respectively. Glaucoma surgery was performed in 1.7% of all study eyes and cataract surgery in 29.8% of all phakic study eyes receiving DEX implant(s). CONCLUSION: DEX implant(s) alone or combined with other treatments and/or procedures resulted in functional and anatomic improvements in long-standing ME associated with retinal disease.

Narrow-diameter implants: Are they a predictable treatment option? A literature review

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictability of narrow-diameter implants as a treatment option in routine clinical practice. A literature review was performed of studies reporting clinical results obtained with these implants. Survival rates, peri-implant bone loss and related complications were evaluated. The working hypothesis was that narrow-diameter implants offer clinical results similar to those obtained with implants of greater diameter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Medline-PubMed search covering the period between 2002 and 2012 was carried out. Studies published in English and with a follow-up period of at least 12 months were considered for inclusion. A manual search was also conducted in different journals with an important impact factor. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies meeting the screening criteria were included in the literature review. A total of 2980 narrow-diameter implants placed in 1607 patients were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from the literature indicate that narrow-diameter implants are a predictable treatment option, since they afford clinical results comparable to those obtained with implants of greater diameter

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Narrow-diameter implants: are they a predictable treatment option? A literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the predictability of narrow-diameter implants as a treatment option in routine clinical practice. A literature review was performed of studies reporting clinical results obtained with these implants. Survival rates, peri-implant bone loss and related complications were evaluated. The working hypothesis was that narrow-diameter implants offer clinical results similar to those obtained with implants of greater diameter. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Medline-PubMed search covering the period between 2002 and 2012 was carried out. Studies published in English and with a follow-up period of at least 12 months were considered for inclusion. A manual search was also conducted in different journals with an important impact factor. results: Twenty-one studies meeting the screening criteria were included in the literature review. A total of 2980 narrow-diameter implants placed in 1607 patients were analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from the literature indicate that narrow-diameter implants are a predictable treatment option, since they afford clinical results comparable to those obtained with implants of greater diameter.

Neuritis óptica en el lupus eritematoso sistémico / Optical neuritis in systemic lupus erythematosus

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Control de daños en trauma penetrante de cuello: Abordaje multidisciplinario / Damage control in penetrating trauma to the neck: Multidisciplinary approach

Objetivo: Demostrar el abordaje diagnóstico y terapéutico para el tratamiento de urgencia en las heridas penetrantes en el cuello por proyectil de arma de fuego. Sede: Centro Médico del Instituto de Seguridad Social del Estado de México. Diseño: Presentación de caso clínico. Descripción del caso: Varón de 46 años de edad, con antecedente de herida penetrante en el cuello por arma de fuego, presentando un orifico de entrada en el mentón sin orificio de salida, con compromiso de la vía aérea, siendo protocolizado de acuerdo con los criterios del Apoyo Vital Avanzado en Trauma (ATLS), con control temporal de la vía aérea, efectuando la intubación orotraqueal electiva apoyado por el Servicio de Anestesiología y realizando tratamiento quirúrgico inmediato. Se identificaron las lesiones, y la reparación de las mismas con control de daños se realizó de manera quirúrgica. Conclusión: El identificar de manera rápida y eficaz las lesiones que comprometan la vía aérea superior y, por ende, la vida, así como realizar control de daños en forma oportuna es importante en el ejercicio y quehacer diario del cirujano general. Por esto, es importante tener el conocimiento adecuado de la anatomía del cuello en sus tres zonas, así como de las técnicas quirúrgicas empleadas en este tipo de casos.

Objective: To demonstrate the diagnostic and therapeutic approach for the emergency treatment of neck penetrating injuries due to firearm bullets. Setting: Centro Médico del Instituto de Seguridad Social del Estado de México. Design: Case presentation. Case description: Man of 48 years of age with antecedents of penetrating injury to the neck by a firearm, entrance orifice in the chin without exit orifice, compromising the upper airway. The patient was, subjected to the advanced trauma life support (ATLS) protocol, with temporal control of the airway, performing an elective orotracheal intubation, with support from the anesthesia service and performing surgical treatment immediately. Injuries were identified and repaired with damage control exerted surgically. Conclusion: Identifying rapidly and efficiently the injuries that affect the upper airway and, hence, life itself, as well as performing timely damage control is important in the daily activities of the general surgeon, Therefore, it is necessary to have an adequate knowledge of the neck's anatomy in its three zones, as well as to master the surgical techniques used in these cases.

Macular detachment for treatment of persistent macular hole.

The authors report a technique for treatment of persistent macular holes in cases refractory to traditional surgical techniques. With a standard pars plana vitrectomy approach, subretinal infusion of balanced salt solution was performed and followed by a fluid-air exchange. This intervention resulted in hole closure despite poor prognosis and may be considered as a treatment option for patients with persistent flat macular holes.

Detección de factores de riesgo cardiovascular con evaluación de parámetros clínicos / Detection of cardiovascular risk factors with evaluation of clinical parameters

Se realizó un estudio observacional, transversal, descriptivo en la población del Distrito 12, área San Juan Lazarelo, ciudad de La Paz de junio de 2007 a junio del 2008, para determinar a frecuencia de Factores de Riesgo Cardiovascular mediante la evalución de parámetros clínicos, analizando variables como edad, género, IMC, perímetro de cintura, indice cintura/cadera, frecuencia de hipertensión arterial, glucosuria, tabaquismo y consumo de alcohol. Se tomo una muestra probabilistica aleatrizada caculada en 482 pacientes voluntarios con edad igual o mayor a 15 años (IC 95 por ciento); se elaboro una base de datos en el programa estad´sitco Eplinfo v. 3.2.2. para analizar las variables y en SPSS 15.0. La muestra estudiada mostro un promedio de edad de 38 años de dicha muestra el 73.1 por ciento estuvo compuesta por mujeres, 58.9 por ciento correspondio a obesidad y sobrepeso, con mayor riesgo cardiovascular en mujeres. Se encontró que l 8.59 por ciento tuvo HAS, con una relación del 7.5 por ciento entre Obesidad y HAS. se encontro un 4.5 por ciento de prevalencia de glucosuria determinan por tiras reactivas con una tasa de incidencia del 3.7 por ciento. Se concluyo que la mayoria de los pacientes presentaron entre uno o dos factores de riesgo cardiovascular relacionados a Sindrome Metabolico entre estos las mas frecuentes son perimetro de cintura aumentado, sobrepeso y obesidad.

Modified anterior capsulotomy technique and histopathology of the anterior capsule in cataracts after prolonged exposure to intravitreal silicone oil.

Cataract development is common in phakic eyes after pars plana vitrectomy and exposure to silicone oil. Anterior capsule rigidity is frequently encountered during cataract surgery in these cases. We report a capsulotomy technique to overcome capsule rigidity, as well as the histopathological findings of the anterior capsule after prolonged exposure to silicone oil.

Corticosteroids as antiangiogenic agents.

Corticosteroids have been traditionally used for treatment of inflammatory disorders, but recently their angiostatic properties have been explored in neovascular ocular diseases. New corticosteroid compounds designed specifically to target angiogenesis are being developed, along with novel delivery methods and therapeutic regimes. Corticosteroids are gaining widespread acceptance, particularly in the treatment of retinal diseases, and new advances are being made in understanding their mode of action, optimal administration, and safety. Recent basic and clinical findings about the effectiveness and mechanisms of angiostatic corticosteroids are reviewed in this article.

New and classic insights into presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome and its treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome classically presents with atrophic choroidal scars, which are thought to progress into choroidal neovascularization in a small proportion of patients. The pathophysiology of the disease, including its underlying etiology, continues to be controversial and subject to ongoing research. Even more important is the controversy that surrounds the optimal treatment for choroidal neovascularization in patients with presumed ocular histoplasmosis, in particular that of subfoveal localization. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS: Intense efforts oriented toward defining the most beneficial therapeutic modality have resulted in some well-designed, large studies that evaluated submacular surgery, photodynamic therapies, and anti-angiogenic therapies, as well as small pilot studies exploring new therapeutic approaches for choroidal neovascularization. SUMMARY: Important results obtained by these studies were recently made public, and the conclusions that may be drawn from them, as well as an update on findings concerning presumed ocular histoplasmosis etiology, epidemiology, and pathophysiology are presented in this report.

Cell-cycle-dependent localisation of Ulp1, a Schizosaccharomyces pombe Pmt3 (SUMO)-specific protease.

We report here on the characterisation of Ulp1, a component of the SUMO modification process in S. pombe. Recombinant S. pombe Ulp1 has de-sumoylating activity; it is involved in the processing of Pmt3 (S. pombe SUMO) and can, to a limited extent, remove Pmt3 from modified targets in S. pombe cell extracts. ulp1 is not essential for cell viability, but cells lacking the gene display severe cell and nuclear abnormalities. ulp1-null (ulp1.d) cells are sensitive to ultraviolet radiation in a manner similar to rad31.d and hus5.62, which have mutations in one subunit of the activator and the conjugator for the ubiquitin-like protein SUMO respectively. However ulp1.d cells are less sensitive to ionising radiation and hydroxyurea (HU) than are rad31.d and hus5.62. ulp1-null cells are defective in processing precursor Pmt3 and display reduced levels of Pmt3 conjugates compared with wild-type cells. The slow growth phenotype of ulp1 null cells is not substantially rescued by over-expression of the mature form of Pmt3 (Pmt3-GG), suggesting that the de-conjugating activity of Ulp1 is required for normal cell cycle progression. During the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle the Ulp1 protein is localised to the nuclear periphery. However, during mitosis the pattern of staining alters, and during anaphase, Ulp1 is observed within the nucleus. Ulp1 localisation at the nuclear periphery is generally re-established by the time of septation (S phase).