Fatty Acids Profile and Healthy Lipids Indices of Native Mexican Guajolote Meat Treated to Two Heat Treatments.

Meat is a complex food with a structured nutritional composition that makes it an essential component of the human diet. In particular, the meat of native guajolote that is traditionally raised in natural conditions is an important dietary source of proteins of high biological value for the rural population of Mexico. The study aimed to evaluate fatty acids (FAs) profile and nutritional indices of breast and leg meat of native guajolote subjected to two heat treatments. For the study, a total of sixty muscle samples (30 breast meat and 30 leg meat) from adult male native guajolotes were used. The FA profile and nutritional indices were evaluated in raw meat (control) and meat subjected to two heat treatments (boiled and baked). The heat treatments, independently of the type of muscle, increased (p ≤ 0.05) the concentration of saturated (SFA) and monounsaturated FA (MUFA); in contrast, polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) decreased. Likewise, the dietary FA index, which has a negative hypercholesterolemic effect, and the atherogenic index increased in guajolote meat from the effect of the heat treatments, while the essential and undesirable hypercholesterolemic FA indices decreased. In conclusion, heat treatments increase the content of SFA and MUFAs in breast and leg meat of native guajolote. Boiling or baking the meat deteriorates PUFAs but increases the nutritional indices. The present investigation would provide valuable information for the guajolote meat product processing.

Overweight, obesity and foot posture in children: A cross-sectional study.

AIM: The aim of this study is to examine the relationship between obesity and foot posture in children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study is based on a sample population of 1798 schoolchildren (873 boys and 925 girls) aged between 6 and 12 years. The height and weight of each subject was measured and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Foot posture was described by means of the foot posture index (FPI). The differences among various foot postures in relation to BMI, for the total sample, were tested using the Games-Howell test. In addition, cross tabulation for different gender groups and BMI categories was applied and tested using χ2 . RESULTS: The mean BMI was 18.94 (standard deviation (SD) 3.65 kg/m2 ) in the boys and 18.90 (SD 3.64 kg/m2 ) in the girls, and the FPI was 3.97 (SD 2.98) in the boys and 3.68 (SD 2.86) in the girls. The FPI results show that among the boys aged 6 years, the right foot was more pronated than among the girls (FPI 4.8-4.1, P = 0.034), while among the boys aged 7 years, this was true for the left foot (4.4-3.7, P = 0.049). For the other ages, there were no significant differences in the FPI between the sexes. There were no significant differences between the value, or categories, of BMI and the FPI in the different age groups. CONCLUSION: In children aged between 6 and 12 years, body mass does not appear to have an important bearing on static foot posture. Furthermore, the variables gender and age are of scant importance in determining foot posture in children.

Genotype-guided antiretroviral regimens in children with multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infection.

BACKGROUND: Genotyping tests were developed to attenuate the impact of viral resistance. Information about the efficacy in genotype base antiretroviral therapy in children is rare and even more in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: Sixteen children with antiretroviral therapy (ART) failure and triple-class drug-resistant viruses were included in this study. Protease and retrotranscriptase genotypes were available for all patients. Switch of ART regimen was guided by genotyping data. The primary end point was virological suppression (<50 copies/ml) and immunological improvement after 48 wk of treatment with the new ART regimen. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 14.5 y (interquartile range (IQR) 11-16.5). Median HIV-1 RNA viral load was 4.2 log10 (IQR: 3.4-4.8). The primary end point was found in 11 children (69%), and 13 children (81%) had an HIV-1 RNA viral load <200 copies/ml. Median (IQR) for the baseline CD4(+) cell count was 382 cells/µl (281-686 cells/µl), whereas after 48 wk of treatment with the new ART regimen, it was 640 cells/µl (361-936 cells/µl) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Darunavir/ritonavir, raltegravir, and etravirine were well tolerated in the present pediatric population. These drugs provide good options for children exposed to extensive ART. Regimens guided by genotyping data were effective for children who had ART failure and multidrug-resistant HIV-1 infection.

Anal intraepithelial neoplasia among HIV-positive men who have sex with men.

Neoplasia is the second most common cause of mortality in HIV patients. The prevalence of anal cancer among men who have sex with men (MSM) has continued to increase since the introduction of antiretroviral therapy. We screened 94 HIV-infected MSM patients. We found high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) in six of the patients. The calculated prevalence of HSIL was 6.4% (95% confidence interval: 2.9-13.2). The study and implementation of screening programs for high-risk groups is a priority.

Proximal renal tubular dysfunction related to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected patients in an HIV clinic in Mexico.

Proximal renal tubular dysfunction (PRTD) of varying severity has been associated with antiretroviral toxicity, especially related to the use of tenofovir (TDF). The aim of this study was to investigate whether HIV-infected patients who use a tenofovir-based regimen are at increased risk of tubular dysfunction. We conducted an observational, comparative, longitudinal, prospective study. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and markers of tubular damage to assess tubular dysfunction (fractional excretion of phosphate and uric acid, glycosuria, and proteinuria) were measured at baseline and at weeks 12 and 24. Of 111 participants, PRTD was found in 6.3% at week 12 and 9% at week 24, with no statistically significant difference between those on an abacavir (ABC)-containing regimen or a TDF-containing regimen. We also found an increase in triglycerides associated with the ABC-containing regimen compared with the TDF group. The use of an ABC- or TDF-containing regimen was independently associated with tubular dysfunction, but we found no significant differences between these groups, except when TDF was combined with a protease inhibitor. A better and more complete assessment of renal function is needed, because the presence of tubular dysfunction and proteinuria without impairment of eGFR may affect the renal safety of HIV-infected patients.

Single-port transanal endoscopic microsurgery: a developing technique.

INTRODUCTION: Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is a widely used and valid technique with established indications. However, the cost of surgical anoscopes is not available in all centers. Many authors have described transanal resection of rectal tumors through a single laparoscopy port such as the SILS system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 5 cases of patients undergoing transanal resection with an SILS device. The clinical, surgical, and oncological data were assessed. RESULTS: The median distance to the anal margin was 7.2 cm (range, 5 to 10 cm) and median tumor size was 3 cm (range, 1 to 6 cm). Median operating time was 75 minutes (range, 60 to 120 min). A postsurgical rectorrhagia occurred in 1 of the case. Two cases were adenocarcinoma, 2 were adenomas, and the other was a mucosa without any tumor remnants. The margins were negative in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Transanal resection of rectal tumors using the SILS technique is a feasible procedure. Longer series and prospective studies are necessary.

Effect of antiretroviral therapy on inflammatory markers of endothelial dysfunction in HIV treatment-naïve infected patients.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antiretroviral therapy on inflammatory markers of endothelial dysfunction in HIV treatment-naïve infected patients. This was a prospective cohort study in HIV treatment-naïve infected patients. The patients were assigned to a untreated group or a treatment group according to the therapeutic strategy received. Patients in the treatment group received efavirenz or lopinavir/ritonavir, each given with zidovudine and lamivudine. HIV RNA, CD4(+) cell count, and the levels of hsCRP, sCD40L, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sE-selectin were measured before and 12 weeks after treatment. Fifty patients were enrolled: 13 in the untreated group and 37 in the treatment group; 48 (96%) completed the follow-up. The mean (± SD) age was 33 ± 9 years, and 38 (79%) were men. The median pretreatment CD4(+) cell counts were 263 cells/ml (IQR 118-341) in the treatment group and 658 cells/ml (IQR 475-887) in the untreated group. In the treatment group, the median serum sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels decreased by a small but significant amount (1,400 and 228 ng/ml, respectively, P<0.05) from before to after the 12 weeks. These levels did not change in the untreated group. Antiretroviral therapy is associated with a decrease in sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels after 12 weeks of treatment.

Variación en los recuentos de plaquetas y el nivel de hemoglobina en relación con el reinfarto cardiaco intrahospitalario / Association between variation in hemoglobin levels and platelet count with in-hospital cardiac reinfarction

Objetivo: Determinar la asociación entre la variación de los niveles de hemoglobina y el recuento de plaquetas con el reinfarto cardiaco intrahospitalario en pacientes del Servicio de Cardiología del Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM) en el año 2009. Métodos: Estudio longitudinal no concurrente. Se revisaron 96 historias clínicas de pacientes hospitalizados en el Servicio de Cardiología del HNERM en el año 2009 con diagnóstico de Infarto Agudo de Miocardio que contaron con un hemograma basal dentro de las 24 horas del ingreso, además un segundo hemograma durante las 48 horas al ingreso al Servicio. El diagnóstico de reinfarto se definió según los criterios de GUSTO I. Se calculó la tasa de reinfarto según características clínicas, antecedentes del paciente, y la variación del conteo de plaquetas y nivel de hemoglobina. Se consideró el valor de <0.05 como estadísticamente significativo. Resultados: El 9.4% (IC95% 3.0-15.7%) presentó el diagnóstico de reinfarto durante su hospitalización. No se encontró diferencias en las tasas de reinfarto entre varones (11.7%; IC95% 2.7-20.6%) y mujeres (6.9%; IC95% 0.8-22.8%). A mayor edad, mayor la estimación puntual de la tasa de reinfarto, pero sin una tendencia significativa (=0.143). El 97.9% de los pacientes tuvo una variación en el recuento de plaquetas, la tasa de reinfarto entre quienes aumentaron el recuento de plaquetas (9.5%; IC95% 2.7-22.6%) fue muy similar a la tasa entre quienes disminuyeron el recuento (9.6%; IC95% 3.2-21.0%). El 77.1% de pacientes tuvo una disminución del nivel de hemoglobina y el 20.8% un aumento; no hubo diferencia significativa en la tasa de reinfarto entre quienes aumentó el nivel de hemoglobina (5.0%; IC95% 0.1-24.9%) y entre quienes disminuyó (10.8%; IC95% 3.1-18.6%). Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio no encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre la variación de los niveles de hemoglobina...

Objective: To determine the association between variation in hemoglobin levels and platelet count with in-hospital cardiac reinfarction in patients from the Cardiology Department at Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM) in 2009. Methods: Longitudinal non-concurrent study. We reviewed medical records of 96 patients hospitalized at the Cardiology Department of HNERM in 2009 with a diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction that had a baseline blood count within 24 hours of admission, as well as a second exam within 48 hours of admission. The diagnosis of reinfarction was defined according to GUSTO I criteria. We calculated the rate of reinfarction according to clinical characteristics, patient history, and the change in platelet count and hemoglobin level. We considered a value <0.05 as statistically significant. 9.4% (95%CI 3.0-15.7%) patients had a diagnosis of reinfarction during hospitalization. There was no difference. Results: 9.4% (95%CI 3.0-15.7%) patients had a diagnosis of reinfarction during hospitalization. There was no difference in rates of reinfarction among men (11.7%; 95%CI 2.7-20.6%) and women (6.9%; 95%CI 0.8-22.8%). Older patients had a higher rate of reinfarction estimate, but no significant trend was found ( = 0.143). 97.9% of patients had a change in platelet count, the rate of reinfarction among those who increased platelet count (9.5%; 95%CI 2.7-22.6%) was very similar to the rate among those whose count decreased (9.6 %; 95%CI 3.2-21.0%). 77.1% of patients had a decrease in hemoglobin level and 20.8% an increase, no significant difference in the rate of reinfarction among those who raised the level of hemoglobin (5.0%; 95%CI 0.1-24.9%) and those who declined (10.8%; 95% CI 3.1-18.6%) was found. Conclusions: Our study found no significant statistical association between changes in hemoglobin levels and platelet count with in-hospital cardiac reinfarction, possibly due to the low power of the study...

Inhibition by 5-HT of the synaptic responses evoked by callosal fibers on cortical neurons in the mouse.

We have studied the modulation by 5-HT of the synaptic excitatory responses evoked by callosal fibers on cortical pyramidal neurons. We have used a mouse brain slice preparation that preserves the callosal fibers and allows their selective activation. EPSCs evoked by callosal stimulation (ccEPSCs) were recorded with patch electrodes from pyramidal neurons identified visually. We observed that 5-HT (10-40 µM) inhibited the ccEPSCs peak amplitude in 64% of the neurons; 5-HT had no effect in the remaining neurons. 5-HT also increased the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous EPSCs. This inhibition was accompanied with an increase in the coefficient of variation of the fluctuations of the ccEPSCs amplitude and with an increase in the ratio of the amplitudes of paired ccEPSCs. Agonists of 5-HT receptor subtypes 5-HT(1A) (8-OH-DPAT) and 5-HT(2A) (DOI) mimicked the effect of 5-HT; also, the effect of 8-OH-DPAT and DOI was blocked in the presence of specific blockers of 5-HT(1A) (WAY 100135) and 5-HT(2A) (MDL 11,939) receptors. Application of 5-HT did not change the amplitude of currents evoked by direct application of glutamate to neurons in which 5-HT decreased the amplitude of ccEPSC. The effects of 5-HT on ccEPSCs and on the synaptic currents evoked by intracortical stimulation were not correlated; this suggests that the effect of 5-HT was specific to particular synaptic inputs to a neuron. These results demonstrate the presynaptic modulation of the callosal synaptic responses by 5-HT and the implication of 5-HT(1A) and 5-HT(2A) receptors in this effect.

Risk factors and correlates for anemia in HIV treatment-naïve infected patients: a cross-sectional analytical study.

BACKGROUND: Hematologic manifestations of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are a well-recognized complication of the disease and may be clinically important. Our objective was to determine the risk factors for anemia and its correlation with HIV treatment-naïve infected patients without co-infection or opportunistic diseases. FINDINGS: We performed a cross-sectional comparative study in which HIV treatment-naïve infected patients with anemia were compared with a control group of HIV patients without anemia. The interrelationship between risk factors and anemia was determined. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were calculated, to adjust for the effects of potential confounders and we used a logistic regression model. Pearson's correlation coefficient was obtained to calculate the correlation between risk factors and hemoglobin.We enrolled 54 men and 9 women. Anemia was found in 13 patients; prevalence .20 (CI 95% 0.12-0.32). Severe anemia was found in only one patient (1.5%). Only CD4+ Cells Count <200 cells/mm3 was associated with increased risk of anemia in the multivariate analysis. There was a moderately strong, positive correlation between WBC and hemoglobin (r = 0.49, P < 0.001) and between CD4+ cell count and hemoglobin (r = 0.595, P < 0.001) and a moderately strong, negative correlation between HIV RNA viral load and hemoglobin (r = - 0.433, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anemia is a common manifestation in the Mexican population without antiretroviral therapy. In HIV naïve patients a CD4+ Cell Count < 200 cells/mm3 was associated with an increased risk of anemia. There is a positive correlation between hemoglobin and CD4+ cell count.

Local translation of dendritic RhoA revealed by an improved synaptoneurosome preparation.

Changes in dendritic spine morphology, a hallmark of synaptic plasticity, involve remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton, a process that is regulated by Rho GTPases. RhoA, a member of this GTPase family, segregates to dendrites in differentiated neurons. Given the emerging role of dendritic mRNA local translation in synaptic plasticity, we have assessed the possible localization and translation of RhoA mRNA at dendrites. At this end, we have developed and describe here in detail an improved method for isolating hippocampal and neocortical mouse synaptoneurosomes. This synaptoneurosomal preparation is much more enriched in synaptic proteins than those obtained in former methods, exhibits bona fide electron microscopy pre- and postsynaptic morphologies, contains abundant dendritic mRNAs, and is competent for activity-regulated protein synthesis. Using this preparation, we have found that RhoA mRNA is dendritically localized and its local translation is enhanced by BDNF stimulation. These findings suggest that some of the known functions of RhoA on spine morphology may be mediated by regulating its local translation.

APRI as a predictor of early viral response in chronic hepatitis C patients.

AIM: To evaluate the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to platelet ratio index (APRI) as a predictive factor of early viral response in chronic hepatitis C naive patients. METHODS: We performed an ambispective case-control study. We enrolled chronic hepatitis C naive patients who were evaluated to start therapy with PEGylated interferon alpha-2b (1.5 mug/kg per week) and ribavirin (> 75 kg: 1200 mg and < 75 kg: 1000 mg). Patients were allocated into two groups, group 1: Hepatitis C patients with early viral response (EVR), group 2: Patients without EVR. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to assess the relationship between each risk factor and the EVR in both groups. RESULTS: During the study, 80 patients were analyzed, 45 retrospectively and 35 prospectively. The mean +/- SD age of our subjects was 42.9 +/- 12 years; weight 70 kg (+/- 11.19), AST 64.6 IU/mL (+/- 48.74), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 76.3 IU/mL (+/- 63.08) and platelets 209 000 mill/mm(3) (+/- 84 429). Fifty-five (68.8%) were genotype 1 and 25 (31.3%) were genotype 2 or 3; the mean hepatitis C virus RNA viral load was 2 269 061 IU/mL (+/- 7 220 266). In the univariate analysis, APRI was not associated with EVR [OR 0.61 (95% CI 0.229-1.655, P = 0.33)], and the absence of EVR was only associated with genotype 1 [OR 0.28 (95% CI 0.08-0.94, P = 0.034)]. After adjustment in a logistic regression model, genotype 1 remains significant. CONCLUSION: APRI was not a predictor of EVR in chronic hepatitis C; Genotype 1 was the only predictive factor associated with the absence of EVR in our patients.

[Quantitative numerical and lexical knowledge: evidence of double dissociation]. / Conocimiento numérico cuantitativo y léxico: evidencia de doble disociación.

The aim of this work was to explain the involvement of a specific brain injury in the numerical processing and calculation system. The method employed was > analysis and the administration of various cognitive neuropsychology tests. The results of this study revealed a double dissociation between quantitative numerical knowledge and qualitative or lexical numerical knowledge. Patient M.C. preserved quantitative numerical knowledge, as indicated by the results obtained in the numerical comprehension and calculation tasks. However, she showed a drastic deficit in qualitative numerical knowledge. On the other hand, patient M.L. preserved qualitative numerical knowledge, but she had serious problems in all the abilities that require internal manipulation of magnitude; that is, quantitative numerical knowledge. These results have two important implications, as conclusions: firstly, quantitative numerical knowledge may be made up of different elements susceptible to damage independently. And secondly, quantitative and qualitative numerical knowledge were functionally independent.

Bioremediation by composting of heavy oil refinery sludge in semiarid conditions.

The present work attempts to ascertain the efficacy of low cost technology (in our case, composting) as a bioremediation technique for reducing the hydrocarbon content of oil refinery sludge with a large total hydrocarbon content (250-300 g kg(-1)), in semiarid conditions. The oil sludge was produced in a refinery sited in SE Spain The composting system designed, which involved open air piles turned periodically over a period of 3 months, proved to be inexpensive and reliable. The influence on hydrocarbon biodegradation of adding a bulking agent (wood shavings) and inoculation of the composting piles with pig slurry (a liquid organic fertiliser which adds nutrients and microbial biomass to the pile) was also studied. The most difficult part during the composting process was maintaining a suitable level of humidity in the piles. The most effective treatment was the one in which the bulking agent was added, where the initial hydrocarbon content was reduced by 60% in 3 months, compared with the 32% reduction achieved without the bulking agent. The introduction of the organic fertiliser did not significantly improve the degree of hydrocarbon degradation (56% hydrocarbon degraded). The composting process undoubtedly led to the biodegradation of toxic compounds, as was demonstrated by ecotoxicity tests using luminescent bacteria and tests on plants in Petri dishes.

Absceso hepatico del lobulo izquierdo: tratamiento / Liver abscess of the left lobe: treatment

La frecuencia del absceso hepático del lóbulo izquierdo se reporta desde un 12 por ciento hasta un 18 por ciento. En la mayoría de etiología amibiana la terapia médica es efectiva, en los complicados el tratamiento es combinado con drenaje percutáneo, disminuyendo la estadía hospitalaria. El manejo de los abscesos hepáticos izquierdos en el Servicio de Gastroenterologia del Hospital Vargas de Caracas desde 1996, consiste en iniciar el tratamiento médico con antibióticos a abscesos menores de 3 cm de diámetro, vigilar al paciente con el tratamiento médico instaurado en abscesos de 3.1 a 5 cm para decidir eventualmente conducta invasiva y realizar drenaje quirúrgico o percutáneo a los mayores de 5 cm. Para determinar características clínicas, paraclínicas y modalidad terapéutica de los pacientes con abscesos de lóbulo izquierdo, se revisaron 103 historias con este diagnóstico y se encontro: 70 (67.96 por ciento) en el lóbulo derecho, 25 (24.27 por ciento) en lóbulo izquierdo y 8 (7,76 por ciento) de localización mixta. De los 25 pacientes con abscesos izquierdos, la edad media fue 38.1 y sexo predominante masculino 18 (72 por ciento). Todos fueron únicos, con diámetros entre 1 cm y 12 cm. El 56 por ciento de los casos recibieron manejo conservador, evolucionando satisfactoriamente con promedio de hospitalización de 7,8 días, 8 por ciento ameritaron tratamiento con drenaje percutáneo y permanecieron 5 días hospitalizados, 36 por ciento tratamiento quirúrgico, con una estadía hospitalaria de 11.77 días en promedio. En esta revisión, la experiencia con el manejo de los abscesos hepáticos localizados en el lóbulo izquierdo parece indicar que el tratamiento médico conservador es suficiente y adecuado para estos casos

The first 3 days of B-cell development in the mouse embryo.

B-lineage-committed cells are believed to arise in the liver of mouse embryos at 14 days after coitus (dpc). However, pre-B-specific gene transcripts and DJH gene rearrangements have been detected in earlier, midgestation embryos. We describe here a population of c-kit(+)AA4.1(+)CD19(+)Pax5(+) cells present in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) area and in the livers of 11-dpc mouse embryos. In contrast to multipotent c-kit(+)AA4.1(+)CD19(-) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), these c-kit(+)AA4.1(+)CD19(+) progenitors differentiated only to B-lineage cells in vitro. We propose that mouse embryonic B lymphopoiesis starts earlier than previously thought, at 10 to 11 dpc, both in liver and extra-liver hematopoietic sites. The B-cell differentiation program is not delayed with respect to the emerging lymphohematopoiesis events in the midgestation mouse embryo (8-9 dpc).