Epilepsia como una enfermedad de redes neuronales. Un punto de vista neurofisiológico / Epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks: A neurophysiological perspective

Introducción: La epilepsia es un conjunto de redes de estructuras cerebrales representadas bilateralmente, que están funcional y anatómicamente conectadas; en la epilepsia, la actividad de cualquier parte del cerebro afecta la actividad de las demás. Esto es relevante para el entendimiento de la fisiopatología, la etiología, el diagnóstico y la prognosis de esta enfermedad.ObjetivoRevisar el estado del arte en cuanto al entendimiento de la visión neurofisiológica de la epilepsia como una enfermedad de redes neuronales.ResultadosSe describen los principios básicos y avanzados de la epilepsia como enfermedad de redes neuronales usando distintos métodos clínicos y matemáticos con una visión neurofisiológica, indicando las limitaciones de estos hallazgos en el contexto clínico.ConclusionesLa epilepsia es una enfermedad de redes neuronales complejas cuyo entendimiento permitirá mejorar los tratamientos disponibles y la certeza pronostica. (AU)

Introduction: The brain is a series of networks of functionally and anatomically connected, bilaterally represented structures; in epilepsy, activity of any part of the brain affects activity in the other parts. This is relevant for understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and prognosis of the disease.ObjectiveIn this study, we present a state-of-the-art review of the neurophysiological view of epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks.ResultsWe describe the basic and advanced principles of epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks, based on the use of different clinical and mathematical techniques from a neurophysiological perspective, and signal the limitations of these findings in the clinical context.ConclusionsEpilepsy is a disease affecting complex neural networks. Understanding these will enable better management and prognostic confidence. (AU)

Pectin-based aerogel particles for drug delivery: Effect of pectin composition on aerogel structure and release properties.

In this work, nanostructured pectin aerogels were prepared via a sol-gel process and subsequent drying under supercritical conditions. To this end, three commercially available citrus pectins and an in-house produced and enzymatically modified watermelon rind pectin (WRP) were compared. Then, the effect of pectin's structure and composition on the aerogel properties were analysed and its potential application as a delivery system was explored by impregnating them with vanillin. Results showed that the molecular weight, degree of esterification and branching degree of the pectin samples played a main role in the production of hydrogels and subsequent aerogels. The developed aerogel particles showed high specific surface areas (468-584 m2/g) and low bulk density (0.025-0.10 g/cm3). The shrinkage effect during aerogel formation was significantly affected by the pectin concentration and structure, while vanillin loading in aerogels and its release profile was also seen to be influenced by the affinity between pectin and vanillin. Furthermore, the results highlight the interest of WRP as a carrier of active compounds which might have potential application in food and biomedical areas, among others.

Epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks: a neurophysiological perspective.

INTRODUCTION: The brain is a series of networks of functionally and anatomically connected, bilaterally represented structures; in epilepsy, activity of any part of the brain affects activity in the other parts. This is relevant for understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and prognosis of the disease. OBJECTIVES: In this study, we present a state-of-the-art review of the neurophysiological view of epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks. RESULTS: We describe the basic and advanced principles of epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks, based on the use of different clinical and mathematical techniques from a neurophysiological perspective, and signal the limitations of these findings in the clinical context. CONCLUSIONS: Epilepsy is a disease affecting complex neural networks. Understanding these will enable better management and prognostic confidence.

Epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks: A neurophysiological perspective. / Epilepsia como una enfermedad de redes neuronales. Un punto de vista neurofisiológico.

INTRODUCTION: The brain is a series of networks of functionally and anatomically connected, bilaterally represented structures; in epilepsy, activity of any part of the brain affects activity in the other parts. This is relevant for understanding the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and prognosis of the disease. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we present a state-of-the-art review of the neurophysiological view of epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks. RESULTS: We describe the basic and advanced principles of epilepsy as a disease affecting neural networks, based on the use of different clinical and mathematical techniques from a neurophysiological perspective, and signal the limitations of these findings in the clinical context. CONCLUSIONS: Epilepsy is a disease affecting complex neural networks. Understanding these will enable better management and prognostic confidence.

Sensibilidad y especificidad del examen físico para el diagnóstico de apendicitis / Sensitivity an specificity of physical exam for the diagnosis of appendicitis

La apendicitis aguda es la emergencia quirúrgica más común en todo el mundo. En nuestra sala de emergencias, la discriminación inicial para el diagnóstico de la apendicitis se realiza basada únicamente en el examen físico del paciente. El objetivo del estudio es determinar la precisión del examen físico estandarizado para el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda en el servicio de emergencia del Hospital General San Juan de Dios Diseño, lugar y partcipantes: todos los pacientes mayores de 12 años prospectvamente evaluados de abril a junio 2015 en el servicio de emergencia,cuyo motvo de consulta fue dolor abdominal y sospecha de apendicits. Se documentó la impresión clínica del examinador en base a la anamnesis y elexamen fsico estandarizado, la histopatología de los pacientes operados y el seguimiento a las 48h y a los 30 días de todos los pacientes.Resultados: se evaluaron 85 pacientes. El 61% de los pacientes fueron clasifcados por el investgador sin cuadro clínico de apendicits aguda. La sensibilidaddel examen fsico estandarizado para el diagnóstco de apendicits es de 75%, la especifcidad de 93%, el valor predictvo positvo de 92%, el valorpredictvo negatvo de 79%. El porcentaje de falsos positvos es de 3% y el porcentaje de falsos negatvos es del 12%.Conclusiones: el examen fsico estandarizado no es lo sufcientemente sensible para hacer el diagnóstco de apendicits aguda, por lo que es necesarioagregar estudios complementarios, así como considerar un período de observación intrahospitalaria antes de dar egreso a los pacientes basados únicamenteen el examen fisico.(AU)

Acute appendicits is the most common surgical emergency visit worldwide. In our emergency department, the inital evaluaton for thediagnosis of appendicits is made based solely on the physical examinaton. The aim of the study is to determine the accuracy of standardized physicalexaminaton for the diagnosis of acute appendicits in the emergency department of San Juan de Dios General Hospital.Design, Setng, and Partcipants: All patents over 12 evaluated from April to June 2015 in the emergency department, whose main complaint wasabdominal pain and suspected appendicits. Clinical diagnosis, histopathology and follow-up at 48h and 30 days for all patents were collected.Results: A total of 85 patents were studied, 61% were negatve for appendicits by clinical diagnosis. Standardized physical examinaton for the diagnosisof appendicits has 75% sensitvity, 93%specifcity, 92%positve predictve value, 79% negatve predictve value. The false positve rate is 3% andfalse negatve rate is 12%.Conclusions: the standardized physical examinaton is not sensitve enough for the diagnosis of acute appendicits. It is necessary to consider addingfurther studies as well as an observaton period before hospital discharge.