Ceguera de Anton-Babinski, a propósito de un caso / Anton-Babinski syndrome, case report

CASO CLÍNICO: Mujer de 22 años que presentó visión borrosa después de un episodio de parada cardiorrespiratoria recuperada, objetivándose en la exploración una AV de "cuenta dedos" en AO sin alteración oftalmológica ni de vía visual y asociada a aparente falta de conciencia del déficit, junto con una resonancia magnética que mostró cambios isquémicos en ambos lóbulos occipitales, diagnosticándose de ceguera de Anton-Babinski. Discusión: La ceguera de Anton-Babinski es un cuadro poco frecuente que debe sospecharse en pérdidas visuales poco congruentes y se debe a lesión habitualmente isquémica en el territorio cerebral descrito, manifestándose con baja visión no percibida por el paciente ("confabulación visual"), pudiendo ser diagnosticada como pérdida visual no orgánica, o incluso patología psiquiátrica

CLINICAL CASE: A 22 year-old woman complained about blurred vision after an episode of recovered cardiorespiratory arrest. She had bilateral low visual acuity ("count fingers") and no ophthalmological or visual pathways changes. She also had an apparent lack of awareness of the deficit. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed ischaemic changes in both occipital lobes. As a result, she was diagnosed with Anton-Babinski syndrome. DISCUSSION: This is a rare disease that should be suspected in strange or poorly congruent visual loss. It is usually due to an ischaemic injury in this region of brain, manifesting itself with low vision not perceived by the patient (visual confabulation). It can simulate a non-organic visual loss or psychiatric disease

Anton-Babinski syndrome, case report. / Ceguera de Anton-Babinski, a propósito de un caso.

CLINICAL CASE: A 22 year-old woman complained about blurred vision after an episode of recovered cardiorespiratory arrest. She had bilateral low visual acuity («count fingers¼) and no ophthalmological or visual pathways changes. She also had an apparent lack of awareness of the deficit. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed ischaemic changes in both occipital lobes. As a result, she was diagnosed with Anton-Babinski syndrome. DISCUSSION: This is a rare disease that should be suspected in strange or poorly congruent visual loss. It is usually due to an ischaemic injury in this region of brain, manifesting itself with low vision not perceived by the patient (visual confabulation). It can simulate a non-organic visual loss or psychiatric disease.

Linfoma T/NK extraganglionar tipo nasal: caso clínico / Extranodal T/NK-Cell lymphoma nasal type: clinical case

El linfoma T/NK extraganglionar tipo nasal es un linfoma extraganglionar, habitualmente expresa el fenotipo NK y VEB positivo. Cursa ocasionando necrosis y angioinvasión afectando de manera preferente estructuras mediofaciales. Característicamente es muy agresivo. Presentamos un caso con una sobrevida de siete meses a partir de los primeros síntomas y realizamos revisión de la literatura.

Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma nasal type, is an extranodal lymphoma, usually with an NK-cell phenotype and EBV possitive. It causes necrosis and angioinvasion, and it is most commonly presenting in the midfacial area. Characteristically it is very aggressive. A case with survival of seven months from the first symptoms is reported and a review of the literature is made.

Cardiotrophin-1 decreases intestinal sugar uptake in mice and in Caco-2 cells.

AIM: Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) is a member of the IL-6 family of cytokines with a key role in glucose and lipid metabolism. In the current investigation, we examined the in vivo and in vitro effects of CT-1 treatment on intestinal sugar absorption in different experimental models. METHODS: rCT-1 effects on α-Methyl-D-glucoside uptake were assessed in everted intestinal rings from wild-type and CT-1(-/-) mice and in Caco-2 cells. rCT-1 actions on SGLT-1 expression in brush border membrane vesicles and the identification of the potential signalling pathways involved were determined by Western blot. RESULTS: In vivo administration (0.2 mg kg(-1) ) of rCT-1 caused a significant decrease on α-Methyl-D-glucoside uptake in everted intestinal rings from wild-type and CT-1(-/-) mice after short-term and long-term treatments. Similarly, in vitro treatment (1-50 ng mL(-1) ) with rCT-1 reduced α-Methyl-D-glucoside uptake in everted intestinal rings. In Caco-2 cells, rCT-1 treatment (20 ng mL(-1) , 1 and 24 h) lowered apical uptake of α-Methyl-D-glucoside in parallel with a decrease on SGLT-1 protein expression. rCT-1 promoted the phosphorylation of STAT-3 after 5 and 15 min treatment, but inhibited the activation by phosphorylation of AMPK after 30 and 60 min. Interestingly, pre-treatment with the JAK/STAT inhibitor (AG490) and with the AMPK activator (AICAR) reversed the inhibitory effects of rCT-1 on α-Methyl-D-glucoside uptake. AICAR also prevented the inhibition of SGLT-1 observed in rCT-1-treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: CT-1 inhibits intestinal sugar absorption by the reduction of SGLT-1 levels through the AMPK pathway, which could also contribute to explain the hypoglycaemic and anti-obesity properties of CT-1.

Use of Serial Quantitative PCR of the vapA Gene of Rhodococcus equi in Feces for Early Detection of R. equi Pneumonia in Foals.

BACKGROUND: Current screening tests for Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in foals lack adequate accuracy for clinical use. Real-time, quantitative PCR (qPCR) for virulent R. equi in feces has not been systematically evaluated as a screening test. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of qPCR for vapA in serially collected fecal samples as a screening test for R. equi pneumonia in foals. ANIMALS: One hundred and twenty-five foals born in 2011 at a ranch in Texas. METHODS: Fecal samples were collected concurrently with thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) screening examinations at ages 3, 5, and 7 weeks. Affected (pneumonic) foals (n = 25) were matched by age and date-of-birth to unaffected (n = 25) and subclinical (ie, having thoracic TUS lesions but no clinical signs of pneumonia) foals (n = 75). DNA was extracted from feces using commercial kits and concentration of virulent R. equi in feces was determined by qPCR. RESULTS: Subsequently affected foals had significantly greater concentrations of vapA in feces than foals that did not develop pneumonia (unaffected and subclinical foals) at 5 and 7 weeks of age. Accuracy of fecal qPCR, however, was poor as a screening test to differentiate foals that would develop clinical signs of pneumonia from those that would remain free of clinical signs (including foals with subclinical pulmonary lesions attributed to R. equi) using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) methods. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: In the population studied, serial qPCR on feces lacked adequate accuracy as a screening test for clinical R. equi foal pneumonia.

Trans-resveratrol induces a potential anti-lipogenic effect in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated enterocytes.

A DNA microarray analysis was conducted in Caco-2 cells to analyse the protective effects of trans-resveratrol on enterocyte physiology and metabolism in pro-inflammatory conditions. Cells were pre-treated with 50 µΜ of trans-resveratrol and, subsequently, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added for 48 h. The microarray analysis revealed 121 genes differentially expressed between resveratrol-treated and non-treated cells (B> 0, is the odd thatthe gene is differentially expressed). Inhibitor of DNA binding 1 (ID1), histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), NADPH oxidase (NOX1) and sprouty homolog 1 (SPRY), were upregulated by LPS treatment, but significantly blocked by trans-resveratrol pre-treatment (padj< 0.05, after adjusting for Benjamini-Hocheberg procedure). Moreover, genes implicated in synthesis of lipids (z-score= -1.195) and concentration of cholesterol (z-score= -0.109), were markedly downregulated by trans-resveratrol. Other genes involved in fat turnover, but also in cell death and survival function, such as transcription factors Krüppel-like factor 5 (KLF5) and amphiregulin (AREG), were also significantly inhibited by trans-resveratrol pre-treatment. RT-qPCR-data confirmed the microarray results. Special mention deserves acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 3 (ACSL3) and endothelial lipase (LIPG), which were downregulated by this stilbene and have been previously associated with fatty acid synthesis and obesity in other tissues. This study envisages that trans-resveratrol might exert an important anti-lipogenic effect at intestinal level under pro-inflammatory conditions, which has not been previously described.

Rigorous analysis of the propagation of sinusoidal pulses in bacteriorhodopsin films.

The propagation of sinusoidal pulses in bacteriorhodopsin films has been theoretically analyzed using a complete study of the photoinduced processes that take into account all the physical parameters, the coupling of rate equations with the energy transfer equation and the temperature change during the experiment. The theoretical approach was compared to experimental data and a good concordance was observed. This theoretical treatment, can be widely applied, i.e when arbitrary pump and/or signal is used or in the case of the pump and signal beams have different wavelengths. Due to we have performed a rigorous analysis, from this treatment the corresponding two level approximation has also been analyzed for these systems.

Uso de esteroides sistémicos en quemaduras de segundo grado en modelo animal / Systemic steroid use in second degree burns in an animal model

El uso de esteroide está reconocido en el tratamiento crítico del paciente quemado y es útil en el choque séptico que no responde a vasopresores. Este grupo de medicamentos ayuda a regular la respuesta hemodinámica mejorando el aporte de sangre a la piel, aunque sabemos que tienen un efecto nocivo en el proceso de cicatrización. Evaluamos el efecto histopatológico del empleo de esteroides en quemaduras usando un modelo animal. Empleamos 2 grupos de 10 ratas (Wistar) en las que colocamos un cilindro de metal en el dorso durante 15 segundos a 95oC, produciendo una quemadura. En ese momento, uno de los grupos recibió esteroide a dosis de estrés (hidrocortisona 5 mg/kg) y el otro no recibió ningún medicamento. Al quinto día resecamos la escara y cubrimos el defecto con cultivo de queratinocitos. Los animales fueron sacrificadas a los 14 días. Realizamos análisis histopatológico. Macroscópicamente evaluamos la (..) (AU)

The use of steroids is well recognized in critical care specially in septic shock. There are some reports of their utility in severe burns. It helps to regulate the hemodynamic response in order to improve the blood supply to the skin, although it is well known their negative effect in wound healing. Our objective is to know the hystopathologic effect of steroids in burn healing. We used 2 groups of 10 rats (Wistar). Both groups were exposed in their backs to a metallic cylinder at 95 oC for 15 seconds. At the moment of the burn, one group was given steroid (hydrocortisone at stress dose 5 mg/kg) and the other group didn't received any medication. The scar was removed at the 5th day and the burn injury was covered with queratinocyte culture. The rats were sacrificed at 14th day. We evaluated the presence of clinical signs of infection and the percentage of new epithelium. In the microscope we evaluated the following parameters: fibrosis, inflammatory process, presence of fibroblast and vascular proliferation. We compared both groups using Chi2 test (SPSS program version 10). A p =/<. 05 was considered as statistical significant. We found no difference between each group in fibrosis (p .47), inflammatory process (p .27), or fibroblast presence (p.16). But there was a difference in vascular proliferation (p .05) against the first group (steroid group). There were no signs of infection and all of them were epithelised at the 14th day. In conclusion, the use of steroids in burns in an animal model could have a final effect in wound healing. In humans it is important to say that they can be helpful in those cases with clear evidence of benefit, as for example failure to vassopresor response in septic shock. We are not sure about the final effect in wound healing in the steroid group as for example wound contracture in long term (AU)

An explanation for the non-uniform grating effects during recording of diffraction gratings in photopolymers.

The recent results reported in reference 1 have produced an increased interest in explaining deviations from the ideal behavior of the energetic variation of the diffraction efficiency of holographic gratings. This ideal behavior occurs when uniform gratings are recorded, and the index modulation is proportional to the energetic exposure. As a result, a typical sin(2) curve is obtained reaching a maximum diffraction efficiency and saturation at or below this value. However, linear deviations are experimentally observed when the first maximum on the curve is lower than the second. This effect does not correspond to overmodulation and recently in PVA/acrylamide photopolymers of high thickness it has been explained by the dye concentration in the layer and the resulting molecular weight of the polymer chains generated in the polymerization process. In this work, new insights into these deviations are gained from the analysis of the non-uniform gratings recorded. Therefore, we show that deviations from the linear response can be explained by taking into account the energetic evolution of the index modulation as well as the fringe bending in the grating.

Holographic reflection gratings in photopolymerizable solgel materials.

The recording of holographic reflection gratings with a spatial frequency higher than 5400 lines/mm in photopolymerizable solgel materials is experimentally demonstrated. Diffraction efficiencies near 60% and a FWHM of 2.5 nm centered at 531.5 nm are achieved. Moreover, the effect of the energetic exposure is characterized at different recording intensities.

Application of the Fixed Point Theorem for the solution of the 1D wave equation: comparison with exact Mathieu solutions.

A method based in the application of Fixed Point Theorem (FPT) techniques to the solution of the 1D wave equation at normal incidence for materials that present a continuous (real or complex) dielectric constant is presented. As an example, the method is applied for the calculation of the electric field, reflection and transmission spectra in volume holographic gratings. It is shown that the solution obtained using this method agrees with the exact Mathieu solutions also obtained in this paper for volume holographic reflection gratings.

Multiplexed holographic gratings for fabricating 3D photonic crystals in BB640 photographic emulsions.

Three multiplexed holographic gratings were used to fabricate 3D photonic crystals without complete band gap using ultra-fine grain holographic emulsion as the storage material. Theoretical and experimental studies were carried out in order to characterize the crystals. Good agreement between theory and experimental results was obtained, showing that it is possible to obtain a band-pass filter for a fixed direction of illumination.

Study of angular responses of mixed amplitude--phase holographic gratings: shifted Borrmann effect.

We present theoretical results for angular responses of transmitted and diffracted beams in mixed amplitude-phase holographic gratings. Experimental results for gratings recorded in photographic emulsions and developed without a bleaching bath, with diffraction efficiencies of >20% , are also presented. The model shows an angular shift between minimum transmittance and maximum diffraction efficiency when both index modulation and absorption coefficient modulation are present. Also, the Borrmann effect was found outside the Bragg angle. This method can be extended to a study of the mechanism of image formation in materials such as bacteriorhodopsin and azo-dye-doped polymers that exhibit both types of modulations (index and absorption).

Holography as a technique for the study of photopolymerization kinetics in dry polymeric films with a nonlinear response.

A method is reported that makes use of holography to study the kinetics of the radical photopolymerization of acrylamide in a polyvinyl alcohol when the Kogelnik theory is applied. A mechanism of unimolecular termination by the radicals that initiate the polymerization reaction is postulated to calculate the quantum yield, the molar-extinction coefficient, the index of refraction, and the thickness of the film. The conversion percentage of monomers is obtained along with the ratio of rate constants of the mechanism of polymerization from the nonlinear fit of the transmittance curves, their angular response, and the temporal evolution of diffraction efficiency. Compared with previous holographic techniques, this method has the advantage of predicting these chemical parameters using all the data points of the temporal diffraction efficiency variation rather than being restricted to the linear zone of these curves. In this way the whole reaction process, not just the initial process, is taken into account.

Stabilization of unstable steady states and periodic orbits in an electrochemical system using delayed-feedback control.

We report numerical and experimental results indicating successful stabilization of unstable steady states and periodic orbits in an electrochemical system. Applying a continuous delayed-feedback technique not only periodic and chaotic oscillations are suppressed via stabilization of steady-state solutions but also the chaotic dynamics can be converted to periodic behavior. In all cases the feedback perturbation vanishes as a target state is attained.

Optimization of an acrylamide-based dry film used for holographic recording.

A study of the optimization and the characteristics of a dry film photopolymerizable recording material is presented. The effects of intensity, the thickness, and the variation of the concentration of each component have been studied. Diffraction efficiencies of 80%, with energetic sensitivities of 40 mJ/cm(2), have been obtained in photosensitive films of a 35-mum thickness with a spatial frequency of 1000 lines/mm.

Theoretical and experimental study of the bleaching of a dye in a film-polymerization process.

The quantum efficiency and the molar-absorption coefficients of different phenothiazine dyes are obtained by means of fitting the experimental data of transmittance as a function of time. An analytical expression for the intensity transmitted in a photopolymerizable holographic material is obtained, and good agreement between theory and experience is also achieved. The analysis of these parameters is of fundamental quantities in the photochemical characterization of holographic recording materials.

[Demonstration of clinical bioequivalency of teldane and feliberal using a bioassay with intradermal histamine challenge in healthy volunteers]. / Demostración de la bioequivalencia clínica de Teldane y Feliberal mediante un bioensayo con reto de histamina intradérmica en voluntarios sanos.

To demonstrate the bioequivalence of two terfenadine formulations, a clinical-equivalence trial was performed. The antihistaminic's ability to prevent the response to intradermal histaminic challenge was herein assessed. Twelve healthy volunteers underwent a randomized, double blind, cross over trial with seven-day treatments. Dermal response to histamine concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 5 and 10 mcg was determined by measuring the wheal produced on the deltoid area. Measurements were made 72 hours prior to terfenadine administration, 1 hour after the first dose and 11 hours after second and last doses of each treatment. Both formulations showed the same latency, extent and duration in protective effect against histaminic challenge. This confirms the clinical equivalence of the two formulations and suggests that they have a similar bioavailability.