κO-SrVIA Conopeptide, a Novel Inhibitor Peptide for Two Members of the Human EAG Potassium Channel Family.

The first conotoxin affecting the voltage-gated potassium channels of the EAG family was identified and characterized from the venom of the vermivorous species Conus spurius from the Gulf of Mexico. This conopeptide, initially named Cs68 and later designated κO-SrVIA, is extremely hydrophobic and comprises 31 amino acid residues, including six Cysteines in the framework VI/VII, and a free C-terminus. It inhibits the currents mediated by two human EAG subtypes, Kv10.1 (IC50 = 1.88 ± 1.08 µM) and Kv11.1 (IC50 = 2.44 ± 1.06 µM), and also the human subtype Kv1.6 (IC50 = 3.6 ± 1.04 µM). Despite its clear effects on potassium channels, it shares a high sequence identity with δ-like-AtVIA and δ-TsVIA. Also, κO-SrVIA is the third conopeptide from the venom of C. spurius with effects on potassium channels, and the seventh conotoxin that blocks Kv1.6 channels.

Studies of Conorfamide-Sr3 on Human Voltage-Gated Kv1 Potassium Channel Subtypes.

Recently, Conorfamide-Sr3 (CNF-Sr3) was isolated from the venom of Conus spurius and was demonstrated to have an inhibitory concentration-dependent effect on the Shaker K+ channel. The voltage-gated potassium channels play critical functions on cellular signaling, from the regeneration of action potentials in neurons to the regulation of insulin secretion in pancreatic cells, among others. In mammals, there are at least 40 genes encoding voltage-gated K+ channels and the process of expression of some of them may include alternative splicing. Given the enormous variety of these channels and the proven use of conotoxins as tools to distinguish different ligand- and voltage-gated ion channels, in this work, we explored the possible effect of CNF-Sr3 on four human voltage-gated K+ channel subtypes homologous to the Shaker channel. CNF-Sr3 showed a 10 times higher affinity for the Kv1.6 subtype with respect to Kv1.3 (IC50 = 2.7 and 24 µM, respectively) and no significant effect on Kv1.4 and Kv1.5 at 10 µM. Thus, CNF-Sr3 might become a novel molecular probe to study diverse aspects of human Kv1.3 and Kv1.6 channels.

[Subclinical findings in the knees of taekwondo athletes: diagnostic ultrasound study]. / Hallazgos subclínicos en las rodillas de atletas de taekwondo: estudio ultrasonográfico.

UNLABELLED: Taekwondo is associated with an increased incidence of musculoskeletal injuries such as tendinopathy, synovitis, chondropathy, and ligament and meniscus injuries that may have an asymptomatic course in their initial stages, especially those located in the knee. OBJECTIVE: To describe the presence of morphostructural abnormalities in asymptomatic taekwondo athletes' (TKD) knees through the use of diagnostic ultrasound (US). METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive and comparative study. We evaluated 32 knees of 16 subjects (8 TKD and 8 recreational athletes). All subjects underwent sport-medical history and knee US. RESULTS: A variety of intra- and extra-articular morphostructural abnormalities were observed; the most frequent were synovitis, meniscal extrusion, and enthesopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The practice of Taekwondo abnormalities associated with an increased risk of knee injuries that may go unnoticed in the early stages. The use of US as an auxiliary tool in the diagnosis of these injuries and/or advisable since it can define in detail the anatomical structures subject to overuse, biomechanical stress, or repetitive trauma, and contribute to early detection of asymptomatic morphostructural alterations that may ensure timely preventive and therapeutic interventions.

[Isokinetic evaluation of the muscular strength and balance of knee extensor and flexor apparatus of taekwondo athletes]. / Valoración isocinética de la fuerza y balance muscular del aparato extensor y flexor de la rodilla en taekwondoines.

UNLABELLED: Lower limb strength and muscular balance are important attributes in the practice of Taekwondo. OBJECTIVE: To assess through isokinetic dynamometry the muscular strength and balance of knee extensor and flexor apparatus of elite Taekwondo athletes and to compare with recreational-type athletes. METHODS: The maximum torque, the angle of maximum torque, maximum torque work, total work of the series, average power, and flexor and extensor muscle apparatus balance of the knees were obtained. RESULTS: A total of 32 knees were studied. Significantly higher values in peak torque and total work of the series were present in the group of TKD athletes in the extensor muscles, while the maximum torque angle of extensor and flexor muscles was higher in controls. We found a muscular imbalance due to flexor muscle strength deficit in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of muscular strength and an imbalance between the knee flexor and extensor muscle groups characterized the predominant motor gesture of TKD athletes. These results are useful in the design and implementation of training programs, to optimize the value of muscular strength and muscle balance in TKD athletes directed to promote optimal athletic performance and prevent sport-related injuries.

[Validation of the SF-36 questionnaire in adults with asthma and allergic rhinitis in Mexican population]. / Validación del cuestionario SF-36 en pacientes adultos con asma y rinitis alérgica.

BACKGROUND: Multiple questionnaires demonstrated the effect of the disease on the Quality of Life (QL), especially on allergies. Asthma and allergic rhinitis contributes to the reduction of QL. One of the accepted instruments for the evaluation of QL in chronic diseases is the questionnaire SF-36 (SF-36). Our objective was to validate the SF-36 in Mexican asthmatic with allergic rhinitis adult patients. METHODS: Fifty asthmatic patients with allergic rhinitis participated. They were placed according to the severity of their asthma (GINA 2004) and of allergic rhinitis (ARIA). The SF-36 was applied. The results were analyzed by descriptive statistics and validation by internal consistency through the Cronbach's test. RESULTS: It was observed that greater deterioration of QL in asthmatic patients with allergic rhinitis is directly related with the severity of their disease. Greater deterioration was observed on physical nature and of the perception of health. The aspect less affected was the social function and mental health. The Cronbach's test showed a coefficient of global reliability of 0.9314. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained for the validation of SF-36, through the Cronbach's test in the population studied allows their use for later studies.

Uso de plasmaféresis en el manejo de colestasis intrahepática grave asociada a enfermedad de Graves: a propósito de un caso / Use of plasmapheresis in the treatment of severe intrahepatic cholestasis associated with Graves' disease: a case report

La tirotoxicosis es la manifestación clínica de una liberación excesiva de hormonas tiroideas, asociada o no a una función glandular autónoma; en este primer escenario, se denomina específicamente hipertiroidismo. Las principales etiologías son la enfermedad de Graves (EG), el adenoma tóxico, el bocio multinodular tóxico y el grupo de tiroiditis, predominando sus formas aguda y subaguda. La EG es la forma más común de hipertiroidismo, representando entre el 60 % y el 80 % de los casos, con una mayor incidencia en personas entre 40 y 60 años. Se ha descrito un compromiso hepático entre 45 % y el 90 % de pacientes con hipertiroidismo. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 47 años con tirotoxicosis secundaria a enfermedad de Graves con compromiso bioquímico hepático manifestado como colestasis intrahepática refractaria al tratamiento médico en el corto plazo, tratado exitosamente con plasmaféresis como terapia puente a tiroidectomía total, proporcionando un análisis de la respuesta a la terapia a través de un cambio en los niveles de tiroxina libre (T4) y bilirrubina total a lo largo de su evolución.

Thyrotoxicosis is the clinical manifestation of excessive thyroid hormone release, whether or not asso-ciated with autonomous glandular function; in this first scenario, it is specifically termed hyperthyroi-dism. The main etiologies are Graves' disease (GD), toxic adenoma, toxic multinodular goiter ant the group of thyroiditis, predominantly acute and subacute forms. GD is the most common form of hyperthyroidism, accounting for 60% to 80% of cases, with a higher incidence among people aged 40 to 60 years. Liver involvement has been reported in 45% to 90% of patients with hyperthyroi-dism. We present the case of a 47-year-old man with thyrotoxicosis secondary to Graves' disease with hepatic biochemical involvement manifested as intrahepatic cholestasis refractory to medical management in the short term, successfully treated with plasmapheresis as bridge therapy to total thyroidectomy, providing an analysis of the response to therapy through a change in free thyroxine (T4) and total bilirubin levels throughout his evolutio

[Intervention of the family physician in alcoholism: a review of operative strategies]. / Intervención del médico familiar en alcoholismo. Revisión de estrategias operativas.

The actions of secondary prevention of alcohol abuse and alcoholism in the primary medical attention confront barriers that difficult their attention, beginning with those of the patient him or herself, those of the family physician and the multidisciplinary staff, and finally, those corresponding to the system of attention itself. The objective of this study is to show a review of international literature and experiences in Mexico, which present secondary prevention strategies that facilitate the family physician his or her performance in the containment of alcoholism through early detection and brief intervention. In this paper, we present an operative model that the World Health Organization made in 2001 as an advice of its experts on the problem, combining early detection through the application of the "Identification test of disorders due to alcohol addiction, abuse and/or dependence" (AUDIT) and based on the score obtained, it applies an intervention strategy that goes from the simple piece of advice to the brief therapy and if it is necessary, the derivation.

Medicina indígena tradicional, su enlace con la psiquiatría y la salud Pública / Traditional indigenous medicine, its link with psychiatry and public health

Revisión de los antecedentes de la atención a los trastornos mentales en México por la medicina indígena tradicional desde la época pre hispánica y como el cruce del pensamiento mágico religioso de los conquistadores se mezcló con prácticas indígenas, formando una atención a la cual aún se acude. La interculturalidad en la psiquiatría surgió de los profesionales de la psiquiatría y la antropología europeos hacia sus colonias y continuó en Norteamérica.

[Asthma or laryngeal amyloidosis? A report of a case and literature review]. / Asma o amiloidosis laríngea? Comunicación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

The laryngeal amyloidosis is an uncommon disease accounting for 1% of all benign lesions of larynx. The commonest symptom is the dysphonia, sometimes accompanied by stridor, laryngeal globus sensation, dysphagia and, in rare occasions, cough, dyspnea and hemoptysis, specially when the tracheobronchial tree is also affected. This paper describes the case of a 30-year-old female patient, whose main symptoms were progressive dysphonia and dyspnea, admitted at allergy service to rule out asthma. The respiratory function tests showed obstruction in the medium and small caliber ways without reversibility with salbutamol. Biopsies of ventricular band, vocal cord and arytenoid stained with positive Congo red for amyloid tissue, established the laryngeal amyloidosis diagnosis. The complementary studies to rule out amyloid tissue in the remaining tracheobronchial tree were negative. Dyspnea had characteristics of laryngeal origin, caused by a pulmonary ventilation disorder provoked by the difficult arrival of air to alveoli, which caused the decreased partial pressure of oxygen and CO2.