Feasibility and safety of transfemoral implantation of Edwards SAPIEN XT prosthesis without balloon valvuloplasty in severe stenosis of native aortic valve.

OBJECTIVES: Balloon valvuloplasty (BV) before transcatheter aortic implantation has been thought to be mandatory before the valve is implanted. We have explored the feasibility and safety of direct implantation of balloon expandable Edwards SAPIEN XT valve without prior balloon dilatation. BACKGROUND: Some complications after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) have been associated with unwanted effects of BV, mainly the contribution to stroke and severe aortic regurgitation (AR) before the valve is implanted. Direct implantation with a self-expanding aortic valve has been recently reported. METHODS: From November 2011 to April 2012, ten patients were selected that met the following criteria in the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE): moderate calcification, homogeneous distribution of calcium, symmetrical opening of the valve, and some degree of aortic insufficiency. RESULTS: All patients had symptomatic aortic stenosis of a native valve and high surgical risk; six patients had the valve mildly calcified, in four patients the degree of calcification was moderate. The native valve was crossed and the prosthetic aortic valve was properly positioned in all cases and implanted in the correct position. No patient underwent post-dilatation and trivial AR was present in four patients. There were no adverse events (death, need for pacemaker, myocardial infarction, or stroke). At 30 days post-procedure, all patients were alive and had significant clinical improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Direct implantation of Edwards SAPIEN XT without prior BV in selected cases is feasible and safe. The number of patients in whom this technique would be applicable, and their impact on reducing complications has to be determined.

Microalgae, a current option for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals: a review.

In this review, research on the use of microalgae as an option for bioremediation purposes of pharmaceutical compounds is reported and discussed thoroughly. Pharmaceuticals have been detected in water bodies around the world, attracting attention towards the increasing potential risks to humans and aquatic biota. Unfortunately, pharmaceuticals have no regulatory standards for safe disposal in many countries. Despite the advances in new analytical techniques, the current wastewater treatment facilities in many countries are ineffective to remove the whole presence of pharmaceutical compounds and their metabolites. Though new methods are substantially effective, removal rates of drugs from wastewater make the cost-effectiveness ratio a not viable option. Therefore, the necessity for investigating and developing more adequate removal treatments with a higher efficiency rate and at a lower cost is mandatory. The present review highlights the algae-based removal strategies for bioremediation purposes, considering their pathway as well as the removal rate and efficiency of the microalgae species used in assays. We have critically reviewed both application of living and non-living microalgae biomass for bioremediation purposes considering the most commonly used microalgae species. In addition, the use of modified and immobilized microalgae biomass for the removal of pharmaceutical compounds from water was discussed. Furthermore, research considering various microalgal species and their potential use to detoxify organic and inorganic toxic compounds were well evaluated in the review. Further research is required to exploit the potential use of microalgae species as an option for the bioremediation of pharmaceuticals in water.

Plantas medicinales utilizadas en la región de Teziutlán, Puebla, México / Medicinal plants used in the region of Teziutlán, Puebla, México

The objective of this work was to collect information on the curative use of plants in the municipality of Teziutlán, Puebla through semi-structured interviews. Thus, 78 plants used for medicinal purposes were identified, of which 40 are native to Mexico and 38 introduced; The value of use (UV) of each one and the Informant's Consensus Factor (FCI) of 10 categories of diseases were calculated. The five most frequently used plants are Ruta chalepensis L., Rosmarinus officinalis, Arnica montana, Loeselia mexicana (Lam.) Brandegee and Sambucus cerulea var., Neomexicana, which underwent a chemical and pharmacological review. On the other hand, the most frequent preparations are infusion and decoction, using mainly leaves (49.34%) and flowers (19.51%). It is concluded that the inhabitants of Teziutlán have a fairly homogeneous ethnomedical knowledge, setting the standard for research on its pharmacological properties.

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue recopilar información sobre el uso curativo de las plantas del municipio de Teziutlán, Puebla por medio de entrevistas semiestructuradas. Así, se identificaron 78 plantas utilizadas con fines medicinales, de las cuales 40 son propias de México y 38 introducidas; se calculó el valor de uso (UV) de cada una y el Factor de Consenso del Informante (FCI) de 10 categorías de padecimientos. Las cinco plantas utilizadas con mayor frecuencia son Ruta chalepensis L., Rosmarinus officinalis, Arnica montana, Loeselia mexicana (Lam.) Brandegee y Sambucus cerulea var., neomexicana, a las que se les hizo una revisión química y farmacológica. Por otro lado, las preparaciones más frecuentes son infusión y decocción, utilizando principalmente hojas (49.34 %) y flores (19.51 %). Se concluye que los habitantes de Teziutlán cuentan con un conocimiento etnomédico bastante homogéneo, dando la pauta para investigaciones sobre sus propiedades farmacológicas.