Evaluation of Culture Conditions to Obtain Fatty Acids from Saline Microalgae Species: Dunaliella salina, Sinecosyfis sp., and Chroomonas sp.

The use of the saline microalgae, Dunaliella salina, Sinecosyfis sp., and Chroomonas sp., was explored as an alternative source for the production of fatty acids using fertilizer and glycerol as culture media. The nutrient medium used contained "Nutrifoliar," a commercial fertilizer, and/or glycerol, in natural sea water. The microalgae were placed in cultures with different conditions. The parameters that favored the largest production of fatty acids were 24 hours of agitation and illumination, 1620 L/day of air supply, 2.25 L of air/min, and a temperature of 32°C using "Nutrifoliar" as the culture media. Results indicated that, from 3 g of microalgae in wet base of Chroomonas sp., 54.43 mg of oil was produced. The chromatographic characterization of oil obtained revealed the presence of essential fatty acids such as 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (omega-3) and 4,7,10-hexadecatrienoic acid (omega-6) from the species Dunaliella salina. On the other hand, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (omega-6) and cis-11-eicosenoic acid (omega-9) were identified from the species Chroomonas sp. The temperature variations played an important role in the velocity of growth or the production of the algae biomass, the amount of oil, and the ability to produce fatty acids.

Contribución de la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios al Comité Europeo de Evaluación de Medicamentos de Uso Humano / Contribution of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Products to the European Committee for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products for Human Use

El procedimiento de registro de medicamentos centralizado implica una evaluación conjunta por todas las Agencias Reguladoras de los Estados miembros de la Unión Europea que es coordinada por la Agencia Europea de Medicamentos. Desde su implantación en 1995, la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS) ha contribuido de forma activa al Comité de medicamentos de uso humano. Las áreas terapéuticas en las que la AEMPS tiene más presencia son cardiovascular, órganos de los sentidos (fundamentalmente oftalmología) y genitourinario-hormonas sexuales. A esta labor contribuyen con sus conocimientos y su extensa experiencia los técnicos de la propia AEMPS así como profesionales del sistema sanitario español que actúan en calidad de expertos externos aportando su visión clínica y acercando la práctica diaria a la evaluación de medicamentos. Como sucede con otros espacios de decisión europeos, la participación del conjunto de Estados miembro no es homogénea siendo todavía una minoría de países los que lideran la mayoría de las evaluaciones del Comité de medicamentos de uso humano, aunque todos los países toman parte en la opinión final (AU)

The centralized procedure for registering medicinal products involves a joint assessment by all regulatory agencies of European Union member states, which are coordinated by the European Medicines Agency. Since its implementation in 1995, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Products (AEMPS) has actively contributed to the committee on medicinal products for human use. The therapeutic areas in which AEMPS has the greatest presence are cardiovascular, sensory organs (mainly ophthalmology) and genitourinary/sexual hormones. The technical staff of AEMPS contributes their expertise and extensive experience to this task, as do the practitioners of the Spanish healthcare system who act as external experts, providing their clinical vision and bringing the daily clinical practice to the evaluation of medicinal products. As with other European decision spaces, the joint participation of the member states is not homogeneous, with a minority of countries still heading the majority of assessments for the committee on medicinal products for human use, although all member countries take part in the final decision (AU)

Contribution of the spanish agency for medicines and healthcare products to the European committee for the evaluation of medicinal products for human use. / Contribución de la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios al Comité Europeo de Evaluación de Medicamentos de Uso Humano.

The centralized procedure for registering medicinal products involves a joint assessment by all regulatory agencies of European Union member states, which are coordinated by the European Medicines Agency. Since its implementation in 1995, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Healthcare Products (AEMPS) has actively contributed to the committee on medicinal products for human use. The therapeutic areas in which AEMPS has the greatest presence are cardiovascular, sensory organs (mainly ophthalmology) and genitourinary/sexual hormones. The technical staff of AEMPS contributes their expertise and extensive experience to this task, as do the practitioners of the Spanish healthcare system who act as external experts, providing their clinical vision and bringing the daily clinical practice to the evaluation of medicinal products. As with other European decision spaces, the joint participation of the member states is not homogeneous, with a minority of countries still heading the majority of assessments for the committee on medicinal products for human use, although all member countries take part in the final decision.

Prevalencia de anomalías genitales en futbolistas jóvenes / Prevalence of genital anomalies in young football players

El propósito de la exploración genital (EG) durante el examen previo a la participación (EPP) deportiva es identificar el estado madurativo y descartar cualquier enfermedad genital. Este examen, si bien está recomendado, no se hace de forma rutinaria. Describir la prevalencia de anomalías genitales (AG) y la utilidad de la EG en deportistas jóvenes en este ámbito. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, durante 2 temporadas, en 280 jugadores del fútbol formativo de elite. Se detectó el 5,4% de AG, siendo el varicocele un 3,2% y de los que solo el 13% era consciente de su enfermedad antes de la evaluación. Se demuestra una baja prevalencia de AG, si bien, los datos dan fuerza a la recomendación de practicar la EG durante el EPP como una estrategia más de salud preventiva, dado que no es una práctica habitual por el especialista en estos exámenes médicos

The purpose of genital examination (GE) during the Pre-participation Physical Examination (PPE) is to identify the state of maturity, and rule out any genital pathology. To describe genital anomalies (GA) and estimate the awareness of GE in young football players. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 280 elite football players from the results of PPE over two seasons. There was a detection rate of 5.4% GA, with varicocele being 3.2%, and of which only 13% were aware of their condition. Although this study shows a low incidence of genital abnormality in the study population, only 13% were aware of the GE priorto assessment. These findings demonstrate a low incidence of GA in this population. While GE is recommended during PPE, it is not a routine practice performed by family doctors or sports medicine specialists. This article attempts to raise awareness of the importance of GE in PPE as a preventive health strategy

[Prevalence of genital anomalies in young football players]. / Prevalencia de anomalías genitales en futbolistas jóvenes.

The purpose of genital examination (GE) during the Pre-participation Physical Examination (PPE) is to identify the state of maturity, and rule out any genital pathology. To describe genital anomalies (GA) and estimate the awareness of GE in young football players. A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 280 elite football players from the results of PPE over two seasons. There was a detection rate of 5.4% GA, with varicocele being 3.2%, and of which only 13% were aware of their condition. Although this study shows a low incidence of genital abnormality in the study population, only 13% were aware of the GE prior to assessment. These findings demonstrate a low incidence of GA in this population. While GE is recommended during PPE, it is not a routine practice performed by family doctors or sports medicine specialists. This article attempts to raise awareness of the importance of GE in PPE as a preventive health strategy.

Adhesivo de fibrina intracameral como tratamiento de perforación corneal espontánea / Intracameral fibrin glue in spontaneous corneal perforation

CASO CLÍNICO: Paciente varón de 70 años remitido a nuestro servicio por una perforación corneal en el ojo izquierdo (OI) de posible origen herpético. Se procedió a su reparación mediante la introducción de pegamento tisular de fibrina (Tissucol®) en cámara anterior, colocación de parche de membrana amniótica y lente terapéutica de gran diámetro. En el postoperatorio presentó cierre de la perforación y resolución de la fibrina intracameral sin daño endotelial. DISCUSIÓN: El pegamento tisular de fibrina puede ser utilizado en cámara anterior para tratar perforaciones corneales con excelentes resultados

CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old male was referred to our department due to a herpetic corneal perforation in the left eye. The perforation was healed with intracameral fibrin tissue sealant (Tissucol®), an amniotic membrane, and a large diameter soft contact lens. Postoperatively there were complete dissolution of the fibrin sealant and closure of the perforation without endothelial damage. DISCUSSION: Intracameral fibrin glue may be effective in the closure of corneal perforations

[Intracameral fibrin glue in spontaneous corneal perforation]. / Adhesivo de fibrina intracameral como tratamiento de perforación corneal espontánea.

CASE REPORT: A 70-year-old male was referred to our department due to a herpetic corneal perforation in the left eye. The perforation was healed with intracameral fibrin tissue sealant (Tissucol(®)), an amniotic membrane, and a large diameter soft contact lens. Postoperatively there were complete dissolution of the fibrin sealant and closure of the perforation without endothelial damage. DISCUSSION: Intracameral fibrin glue may be effective in the closure of corneal perforations.

[Puberty changes and various aspects of cervicovaginal infection]. / Cambios puberales y algunos aspectos de la infección cervicovaginal.

The changes seen during puberty tend to modify genital anatomical, biochemical, immunological and microbiological conditions, which when associated to epidemiological factors, determine the participation of different infectious agents in pre-puberty women and women going through puberty. It is convenient to be aware of the biological variations which occur in these ages since it aids the clinician in the diagnosis and treatment of pathological vaginal secretions of girls and adolescents.

The metoclopramide test: a useful tool with the luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone test in distinguishing between constitutional delay of puberty and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism.

To evaluate the effectiveness of intravenous metoclopramide, alone or in combination with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), in distinguishing between constitutional delay of puberty and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, 12 patients with constitutional delay of puberty and 10 patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism were studied. All patients received 10 mg/m2 of intravenous metoclopramide and 100 micrograms of intravenous LH-RH on separate days. The mean prolactin (PRL) response following metoclopramide was significantly higher in the constitutional delay of puberty group when compared with the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism patients (P less than 0.01 at 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes); all patients with constitutional delay of puberty increased their PRL level to greater than or equal to 60 ng/ml, except one who had a peak PRL level of 38 ng/ml. While only 2 of the hypogonadotropic hypogonadism subjects reached a peak PRL concentration of greater than or equal to 60 ng/ml, 4 had peak PRL levels greater than 38 ng/ml. The mean LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) responses after LH-RH were significantly higher in the constitutional delay of puberty group (P less than 0.01 at 30, 45, and 60 minutes for LH and P less than 0.01 at 45 and 60 minutes for FSH). All constitutional delay of puberty subjects responded to both the metoclopramide and LH-RH tests, while patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism responded only to one or to neither of these tests. Therefore, while metoclopramide alone did not allow us to clearly distinguish constitutional delay of puberty from hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, the combined use of both of these stimuli permitted us to detect all subjects with constitutional delay of puberty.

[Puberal gynecomastia]. / Ginecomastia puberal.

The clinical evaluation and the treatment of 46 patients that presented with puberal gynecomastia in a period of ten years to an Adolescent Medicine Department were assessed. The evolution period previous to the first appointment was less than six months in 47% of the cases; 59% were going through Tanner stages II and III; 26% presented emotional consequences. The result of the two-year clinical follow-up was: remission in 43%; surgical treatment in 28% and loss from the study in 28%. Assessment of the evolution time, size of gynecomastia and emotional consequences is suggested in order to decide on the treatment.

[Supernumerary testicles]. / Testículos supernumerarios.

We describe a case of polyorchidism in a Mexican adolescent. This entity is usually asymptomatic but it has been associated with malignancy and infertility.

Observaciones de una clinica piloto de orientacion sexual y vida familiar para adolescentes. / Evaluation of a pilot clinics for sexual and family life orientation for adolescents

Se evaluan los resultados de una Clinica Piloto de Orientacion Sexual y Vida Familiar para Adolescentes a cuatro anos de su inicio, que fue creada como respuesta a una manifiesta necesidad de este grupo de edad. Se dieron dos tipos de servicios: asistenciales y de orientacion, a los adolescentes y a padres de familia separadamente. Se analizan las caracteristicas generales de la poblacion que acudio: edad sexo, escolaridad, familia, edad de inicio de vida sexual, causas y uso de anticonceptivos. Los resultados senalan que: a) la curiosidad de experimentar en la area sexual se inicia desde la etapa prepuberal b) la desintegracion familiar esta asociada al inicio de vida sexual temprana; c) el abuso sexual ocupa un sitio predominante en la primera experiencia sexual de la adolescente y d) los adolescentes estudiados no utilizan los anticonceptivos.Se sugiere la necesidad de que el pediatra realice acciones preventivas en esta area