A new updated prognostic index for patients with brain metastases (BMs) treated with palliative whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) in the era of precision oncology. METASNCore project.

INTRODUCTION: Palliative WBRT is the main treatment for multiple BMs. Recent studies report no benefit in survival after WBRT compared to palliative supportive care in patients (pts) with poor prognosis. A new era of systemic treatment strategies based on targeted therapies are improving the prognosis of patients with BMs. The purpose of this study is to develop a prognostic score in palliative pts with BMs who undergo WBRT in this new setting. METHODS: 239 pts with BMs who received palliative WBRT between 2013-2022 in our center were analyzed retrospectively. The score was designed according to the value of the ß coefficient of each variable with statistical significance in the multivariate model using Cox regression. Once the score was established, a comparison was performed according to Kaplan-Meier and was analyzed by log-rank test. RESULTS: 149 pts (62.3%) were male and median (m) age was 60 years. 139 (58,2%) were lung cancer and 35 (14,6%) breast cancer. All patients received 30Gys in 10 sessions. m overall survival (OS) was 3,74 months (ms). 37 pts (15,5%) had a specific target mutation. We found that 62 pts were in group < 4 points with mOS 6,89 ms (CI 95% 3,18-10,62), 84 in group 4-7 points with mOS 4,01 ms (CI 95% 3,40-4,62) and 92 pts in group > 7 points with mOS 2,72 ms (CI 95% 1,93-3,52) (p < 0,001). CONCLUSIONS: METASNCore items are associated with OS and they could be useful to select palliative pts to receive WBRT. More studies are necessary to corroborate our findings.

Tetradentate metal complexes derived from cephalexin and 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(hydrazone): Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity.

Metal(II) coordination compounds of a hydrazone ligand (HL) derived from the condensation of cephalexin antibiotic with 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(hydrazone) were synthesized. The hydrazone ligand and mononuclear [ML(H2O)2][PF6] (M(II)=Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) complexes were characterized by several techniques, including elemental and thermal analysis, molar conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, FT-IR, EPR and (1)H NMR spectral studies. The cephalexin 2,6-diacetylpyridine bis(hydrazone) ligand HL behaves as a monoanionic tetradentate NNNO chelating agent. The biological applications of complexes have been studied on two bacteria strains (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) by agar diffusion disc method.

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of a tridentate Schiff base derived from cephalothin and sulfadiazine, and its transition metal complexes.

Metal(II) coordination compounds of a cephalothin Schiff base (H2L) derived from the condensation of cephalothin antibiotic with sulfadiazine were synthesized. The Schiff base ligand, mononuclear [ML(H2O)3] (M(II)=Mn,Co,Ni,Zn) complexes and magnetically diluted dinuclear copper(II) complex [CuL(H2O)3]2 were characterized by several techniques, including elemental and thermal analysis, molar conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, FT-IR, EPR and (1)H NMR spectral studies. The cephalothin Schiff base ligand H2L behaves as a dianionic tridentate NOO chelating agent. The biological applications of complexes have been studied on two bacteria strains (Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus) by agar diffusion disc method.

Synthesis, characterization and antibacterial activity of a Schiff base derived from cephalexin and sulphathiazole and its transition metal complexes.

Metal(II) coordination compounds of a cephalexin Schiff base (HL) derived from the condensation of cephalexin antibiotic with sulphathiazole were synthesized. The Schiff base ligand, mononuclear [ML(OAc)(H2O)2] (M(II)=Mn, Co, Ni, Zn) complexes and magnetically diluted trinuclear copper(II) complex [Cu3L(OH)5] were characterized by several techniques, including elemental and thermal analysis, molar conductance and magnetic susceptibility measurements, electronic, FT-IR, EPR and (1)H NMR spectral studies. The analytical and molar conductance values indicated that the acetate ions coordinate to the metal ions. The Schiff base ligand HL behaves as a monoanionic tridentate NNO and tetradentate NNOO chelating agent in the mono and trinuclear complexes respectively.

Effects of removing the adventitia on the mechanical properties of ovine femoral arteries in vivo and in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The aims were to characterize in muscular arteries (a) the passive and active effects of the adventitia on vessel biomechanical properties and conduit function (CF), and (b) potential differences between the adventitial role in elastic and muscular arteries. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ovine femoral arteries were studied in vivo and in vitro (reduced smooth muscle-tone) in a circulation mock-up during hemodynamic conditions similar to those found in vivo. Pressure and diameter were assessed before and after removing the adventitia. The arterial compliance, distensibility, stiffness beta-index and CF were quantified. Results were compared with those obtained in brachiocephalic trunks. In vivo, after removing the adventitia there was a nonsignificant diameter reduction and an increase in stiffness (P<0.05). The CF decreased in the early recordings (P<0.02). In vitro, there were no biomechanical changes but vascular dilatation after the adventitia removal. Biomechanical changes associated with the adventitia removal were higher in muscular arteries, whereas diameter changes were major in elastic vessels. CONCLUSIONS: After removing the adventitia, (a) the arterial stiffness and CF were modified in vivo only, suggesting the changes could be ascribed to variations in smooth muscle tone, and (b) changes in elastic and muscular arteries were quantitatively different.

Efecto de la extinción en múltiples contextos sobre la renovación de la tolerancia asociativa al etanol / Effects of extinction in multiple contexts on the renewal of associative tolerance to ethanol

El análisis pavloviano de tolerancia a las drogas describe cómo los contextos de administración de la droga participan en la elicitación de respuestas condicionadas compensatorias que causan, en parte, tolerancia. Hallazgos indican que si una asociación es adquirida en un contexto y extinguida en otro, al exponer a los sujetos al contexto de adquisición se producirá renovación de la respuesta condicionada. Existe evidencia ambigua acerca de si este efecto disminuye o no al extinguir la asociación en múltiples contextos. Esta investigación evalúa la existencia del fenómeno de Renovación en la tolerancia al etanol, y si éste disminuye por la extinción en múltiples contextos. Se aporta evidencia de Renovación en la tolerancia al etanol en ratas, sin embargo, no se observó disminución de ésta al extinguir en múltiples contextos (AU)

The Pavlovian analysis of drug tolerance describes how the contexts of drug administration participate in the elicitation of compensatory conditioned responses that are, at least partly, responsible for tolerance. Findings indicate that if an association is acquired in one context and extinguished in another one, when exposing the subjects to the acquisition context, renewal of the conditioned response will take place. Ambiguous evidence exists about whether or not this effect diminishes when extinguishing the association in multiple contexts. This investigation evaluates the existence of the phenomenon of renewal of tolerance to ethanol, and whether it diminishes by the extinction in multiple contexts. Evidence of renewal of tolerance to ethanol in rats was found, but no diminution was observed when extinguishing in multiple contexts (AU)

[Effects of extinction in multiple contexts on the renewal of associative tolerance to ethanol]. / Efecto de la extinción en múltiples contextos sobre la renovación de la tolerancia asociativa al etanol.

The Pavlovian analysis of drug tolerance describes how the contexts of drug administration participate in the elicitation of compensatory conditioned responses that are, at least partly, responsible for tolerance. Findings indicate that if an association is acquired in one context and extinguished in another one, when exposing the subjects to the acquisition context, renewal of the conditioned response will take place. Ambiguous evidence exists about whether or not this effect diminishes when extinguishing the association in multiple contexts. This investigation evaluates the existence of the phenomenon of renewal of tolerance to ethanol, and whether it diminishes by the extinction in multiple contexts. Evidence of renewal of tolerance to ethanol in rats was found, but no diminution was observed when extinguishing in multiple contexts.

Effects of intra-aortic counterpulsation on aortic wall energetics and damping: in vivo experiments.

Intra-aortic balloon pumping (IABP) could modify the arterial biomechanics; however, its effects on arterial wall properties have not been fully explored. This dynamical study was designed to characterize the pressure-dependent and smooth muscle-dependent effects of IABP on aortic wall energetics in an in vivo animal model. Intra-aortic balloon pumping (1:2) was performed in six anesthetized sheep in which aortic pressure and diameter signals were measured in basal, augmented (during balloon inflation), and assisted (postaugmented) beats. Energy dissipation values in augmented and assisted beats were significantly higher than those observed in basal state (p < 0.05). Assisted beats showed a significant increase of wall damping with respect to basal and augmented beats (p < 0.05). Intra-aortic balloon pumping resulted in a significant increase of pulse wave velocity (p < 0.05) in augmented beats with respect to basal state (6.3 +/- 0.8 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.5 m x s(-1)); whereas values observed in assisted beats were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than those observed in augmented beats (4.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 6.3 +/- 0.8 m x s(-1)). Our findings show that IABP determined the pressure and smooth muscle-dependent changes in arterial wall energetics and damping properties in this animal model.

[The adventitia reduces left ventricular dynamic afterload via smooth muscle activation-dependent mechanisms]. / La adventicia reduce la poscarga dinámica ventricular izquierda mediante mecanismos dependientes de la activación muscular lisa.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Ventricular dynamic afterload depends on arterial viscoelastic and geometric properties. Vasoactive factors produced in the adventitia modulate arterial tone. However, it is still not known whether the adventitia is involved in determining the magnitude of the dynamic afterload. The aim of this study was to investigate the role played by the adventitia, via smooth muscle-dependent mechanisms, in determining dynamic afterload. METHODS: The diameter, pressure and flow in brachiocephalic trunks from sheep were measured before and after removal of the adventitia, both in vivo with muscular reactivity preserved (n=8) and in vitro with muscular reactivity abolished (n=8). All studies were performed under similar hemodynamic conditions. Dynamic afterload was determined from elastic and viscous arterial responses, elastic and viscous work, arterial characteristic impedance, and pulse wave velocity. Comparison of in vivo and in vitro findings enabled smooth muscle-dependent changes to be evaluated. RESULTS: Only in vivo, did removal of the adventitia lead to a reduction in vessel diameter (17.32 [2.02] vs 15.46 [1.28] mm) and to increases in elastic (7.21 [1.39] vs 15.59 [3.00] x 10(6) dyn.cm(-2)) and viscous (5.16 [2.04] vs 9.87 [2.00] x 10(5) dyn.s.cm(-2)) arterial responses, elastic (6.15 [1.08] vs 9.20 [0.76] x 10(-2) J/m2) and viscous work (11.61 [2.25] vs 15.20 [2.37] x 10(-3) J/m2), impedance (223.97 [136.11] vs 396.33 [182.27] dyn x s x cm(-3)), and pulse wave velocity (397.70 [31.21] vs 598.78 [28.04] cm.s(-1)) (P<.05). The reduction in diameter and the increases in elastic and viscous responses are evidence of muscular activation. CONCLUSIONS: The adventitia may contribute to the control of ventricular dynamic afterload by means of mechanisms dependent on muscular tone.

La adventicia reduce la poscarga dinámica ventricular izquierda mediante mecanismos dependientes de la activación muscular lisa / The adventitia reduces left ventricular dynamic after load via smooth muscle activation-dependent mechanisms

Introducción y objetivos. Las propiedades viscoelásticas y geométricas arteriales determinan la poscarga dinámica ventricular. Factores vasoactivos producidos en la adventicia modulan el tono arterial. Resta por establecer si la adventicia participa en la determinación del valor de poscarga dinámica. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar el papel de la adventicia en la determinación de la poscarga dinámica mediante mecanismos dependientes del músculo liso. Métodos. La presión, el diámetro y el flujo se midieron en troncos braquiocefálicos ovinos antes y después de extraerles la adventicia, en estudios in vivo con reactividad muscular intacta (n = 8) e in vitro con reactividad muscular abolida (n = 8). Las arterias se estudiaron en condiciones hemodinámicas similares. La poscarga dinámica se caracterizó mediante la respuesta elástica y viscosa arterial, el trabajo elástico y viscoso, la impedancia característica arterial y la velocidad de propagación del pulso. Comparar los estudios in vivo e in vitro permitió caracterizar los cambios en la activación dependientes del músculo. Resultados. Sólo in vivo la extracción de la adventicia determinó una reducción del diámetro (desde 17,32 ± 2,02 hasta 15,46 ± 1,28 mm) e incrementos en las respuestas elástica (desde 7,21 ± 1,39 hasta 15,59 ± 3,00 106 dinas · cm-2) y viscosa (desde 5,16 ± 2,04 hasta 9,87 ± 2,00 105 dinas · cm-2), en los trabajos elástico (desde 6,15 ± 1,08 hasta 9,20 ± 0,76 x 10-2 J/m2) y viscoso (desde 11,61 ± 2,25 hasta 15,20 ± 2,37 x 10-3 J/m2), en la impedancia arterial (desde 223,97 ± 136,11 hasta 396,33 ± 182,27 dinas · s · cm-3) y velocidad de propagación (desde 397,70 ± 31,21 hasta 598,78 ± 28,04 cm · s-1) (p < 0,05). El menor diámetro y los aumentos en las respuestas elástica y viscosa evidenciaron la activación muscular. Conclusiones. La adventicia participaría en el control de la poscarga dinámica ventricular mediante mecanismos dependientes del tono muscular (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Ventricular dynamic afterload depends on arterial viscoelastic and geometric properties. Vasoactive factors produced in the adventitia modulate arterial tone. However, it is still not known whether the adventitia is involved in determining the magnitude of the dynamic afterload. The aim of this study was to investigate the role played by the adventitia, via smooth muscle-dependent mechanisms, in determining dynamic afterload. Methods. The diameter, pressure and flow in brachiocephalic trunks from sheep were measured before and after removal of the adventitia, both in vivo with muscular reactivity preserved (n=8) and in vitro with muscular reactivity abolished (n=8). All studies were performed under similar hemodynamic conditions. Dynamic afterload was determined from elastic and viscous arterial responses, elastic and viscous work, arterial characteristic impedance, and pulse wave velocity. Comparison of in vivo and in vitro findings enabled smooth muscle-dependent changes to be evaluated. Results. Only in vivo, did removal of the adventitia lead to a reduction in vessel diameter (17.32 [2.02] vs 15.46 [1.28] mm) and to increases in elastic (7.21 [1.39] vs 15.59 [3.00] x 106 dyn.cm-2) and viscous (5.16 [2.04] vs 9.87 [2.00] x 105 dyn.s.cm-2) arterial responses, elastic (6.15 [1.08] vs 9.20 [0.76] x 10-2 J/m2) and viscous work (11.61 [2.25] vs 15.20 [2.37] x 10-3 J/m2), impedance (223.97 [136.11] vs 396.33 [182.27] dyn · s · cm-3), and pulse wave velocity (397.70 [31.21] vs 598.78 [28.04] cm.s-1) (P<.05). The reduction in diameter and the increases in elastic and viscous responses are evidence of muscular activation. Conclusions. The adventitia may contribute to the control of ventricular dynamic afterload by means of mechanisms dependent on muscular tone (AU)

Contrapulsación intraaórtica y determinantes de la poscarga ventricular: estudio experimental en un modelo animal. Cambios en resistencias periféricas, impedancia y elasticidad aórtica y características propagatorias del pulso durante latidos asistidos / Intra-aortic contrapulsation and determinants of ventricular after load: experimental study an animal model

Introducción: los beneficios de la asistencia con balón de contrapulsación intraaórtica (CIAO) se atribuyen principalmente a los efectos hemodinámicos (cambios en presión y resistencias periféricas), determinados por el inflado-desinflado del balón. La poscarga dinámica ventricular depende de la elasticidad e impedancia aórticas y de la velocidad de propagación y nivel de reflexión periférica de la onda de pulso. Los efectos de la CIAO sobre los determinantes de la poscarga dinámica o los mecanismos de los mismos, o ambos, no han sido caracterizados. Objetivo: caracterizar los cambios en los determinantes de la poscarga estática y dinámica ventricular que ocurren durante la CIAO y los mecanismos (pasivos o activos, o ambos) que los determinan. Material y método: en ocho ovinos se midió flujo, diámetro y presión aórtica, en latidos basales (control) y en latidos asistidos (postaumentados), durante CIAO 1:2. Se calculó la resistencia periférica, la impedancia y elasticidad aórticas, la velocidad de propagación del pulso, el coeficiente de reflexión periférico y el índice de desadaptación propagatorio.

Efectos de la contrapulsación intra-aórtica sobre las propiedades mecánicas de la pared aórtica / Effects of intra-aortic counter pulsation on the mechanical properties of the aortic wall

La contrapulsación intra-aórtica (CIAO) produce cambios en las propiedades vasculares que pueden ser cuantificadas. El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar los efectos de la CIAO (1:2) sobre las propiedades mecánicas de la pared aórtica

Efectos de la contrapulsación intra-aórtica sobre las propiedades mecánicas de la pared aórtica / Effects of intra-aortic counter pulsation on the mechanical properties of the aortic wall

La contrapulsación intra-aórtica (CIAO) produce cambios en las propiedades vasculares que pueden ser cuantificadas. El objetivo de este trabajo es caracterizar los efectos de la CIAO (1:2) sobre las propiedades mecánicas de la pared aórtica(AU)

Juxtaaortic counterpulsation: comparison with intraaortic counterpulsation in an animal model of acute heart failure.

This study was designed to compare the effects of juxtaaortic balloon counterpulsation (JABC), performed in ascending aorta and the aortic arch, with those yielded by intraaortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) in descending aorta, in experimental animals during induced cardiac failure. JABC was achieved with a manufactured Dacron prosthesis and a balloon pump placed between the prosthesis and the wrapped aorta. JABC resulted in a significant increase of cardiac output (from 2.33+/-0.82 to 2.61+/-1.12 L/min, p < 0.05), cardiac index (from 0.071+/-0.025 to 0.080+/-0.033 L/min/kg, p < 0.05) and diastolic pressure augmentation evaluated through diastolic and systolic areas beneath the aortic pressure curve (DABAC/SABAC) index (from 0.94+/-0.21 to 1.10+/-0.33, p < 0.01). End diastolic aortic pressure showed a significant decrease with JABC (from 31.90+/-7.09 to 27.83+/-9.72 mm Hg, p < 0.05). A close association between percentage of DABAC/SABAC increases obtained with IABC and JABC was observed (r2 = 0.67; p < 0.001). Counterpulsation obtained by a juxtaaortic catheter placed in the arch and the ascending wrapped aorta results in an effective hemodynamic improvement comparable with that achieved by an intraaortic catheter in open chest sheep.

Contrapulsación arterial en casos de insuficiencia cardíaca y patología vascular periférica / Arterial counterpulsation in patients with cardiac insufficiency and peripheric vascular pathology

La contrapulsación aórtica es una técnica de asistencia circulatoria en la cual el dispositivo se encuentra en serie con el corazón y consiste en obtener un aumento de presión en diástole que determina una disminución de la poscarga ventricular izquierda y un aumento del flujo tisular... En este trabajo se muestran los resultados obtenidos en un modelo animal de insuficiencia cardíaca, en el cual la contrapulsación arterial se obtuvo mediante un catéter yuxtaaórtico colocado en el arco aórtico y aorta ascendente encamisados. Además, se comentan resultados similares reportados por otros autores

Contrapulsación arterial en casos de insuficiencia cardíaca y patología vascular periférica / Arterial counterpulsation in patients with cardiac insufficiency and peripheric vascular pathology

La contrapulsación aórtica es una técnica de asistencia circulatoria en la cual el dispositivo se encuentra en serie con el corazón y consiste en obtener un aumento de presión en diástole que determina una disminución de la poscarga ventricular izquierda y un aumento del flujo tisular... En este trabajo se muestran los resultados obtenidos en un modelo animal de insuficiencia cardíaca, en el cual la contrapulsación arterial se obtuvo mediante un catéter yuxtaaórtico colocado en el arco aórtico y aorta ascendente encamisados. Además, se comentan resultados similares reportados por otros autores

Una aplicacion del metodo de contornos activos a ecografia / An application of active contours methods in ecography

En este trabajo se desarrolla un metodo para la deteccion del contorno de la cavidad ventricular izquierda en imagenes ecocardiograficas de dos y cuatro camaras. Se utiliza para este fin el modelo de contorno activo que define un contorno como un conjunto de vertices conectados y que se modifica por un proceso minimizador de energia. El sistema obtiene nueve puntos que definen un contorno inicial del ventriculo, le agrega vertices y modifica su forma hasta alcanzar un estado de minima energia mediante una secuencia finita de pasos. Tambien se presenta una solucion para el caso en que la valvula mitral no se encuentra completamente cerrada y una alternativa para evitar deformaciones en el contorno detectado. Se presentan resultados obtenidos al aplicar metodos

Una aplicacion del metodo de contornos activos a ecografia / An application of active contours methods in ecography

En este trabajo se desarrolla un metodo para la deteccion del contorno de la cavidad ventricular izquierda en imagenes ecocardiograficas de dos y cuatro camaras. Se utiliza para este fin el modelo de contorno activo que define un contorno como un conjunto de vertices conectados y que se modifica por un proceso minimizador de energia. El sistema obtiene nueve puntos que definen un contorno inicial del ventriculo, le agrega vertices y modifica su forma hasta alcanzar un estado de minima energia mediante una secuencia finita de pasos. Tambien se presenta una solucion para el caso en que la valvula mitral no se encuentra completamente cerrada y una alternativa para evitar deformaciones en el contorno detectado. Se presentan resultados obtenidos al aplicar metodos (AU)