Bacterial lipopolysaccharide forms aggregates with apolipoproteins in male and female rat brains after ethanol binges.

Alcohol binge drinking allows the translocation of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the gut to the blood, which activates the peripheral immune system with consequences in neuroinflammation. A possible access/direct signaling of LPS to/in the brain has not yet been described under alcohol abuse conditions. Apolipoproteins are compounds altered by alcohol with high affinity to LPS which may be involved in its transport to the brain or in its elimination. Here, we explored the expression of small components of LPS, in its free form or bound to apolipoproteins, in the brain of female and male rats exposed to alcohol binges. Animals received ethanol oral gavages (3 g/kg every 8 h) for 4 days. LPS or its components (Lipid A and core), LPS-binding protein, corticosterone, lipoproteins (HDL, LDL), apolipoproteins (ApoAI, ApoB, and ApoE), and their receptors were measured in plasma and/or in nonperfused prefrontal cortex (PFC) and cerebellum. Brain LipidA-apolipoprotein aggregates were determined by Western blotting and confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. In animals exposed to alcohol binges: 1) plasma LPS-binding protein was elevated in both sexes; 2) females showed elevations in plasma ApoAI and corticosterone levels; 3) Lipid A formed aggregates with ApoAI in the female PFC and with ApoB in males, the latter showing Toll-like receptor 4 upregulation in PFC but not females. These results suggest that small bacterial components are present within the brain, forming aggregates with different apolipoproteins, depending on the sex, after alcohol binge intoxications. Results may have implications for the crosstalk between alcohol, LPS, and neuroinflammation.

[Translated article] Less superior adjacent syndrome and lower reoperation rate. Medium- and long-term results of cervical arthroplasty versus anterior cervical arthrodesis: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

OBJECTIVE: To compare medium- and long-term postoperative surgical results, especially the adjacent syndrome rate, adverse event rate, and reoperation rate, of patients operated on with cervical arthroplasty or anterior cervical arthrodesis in published randomized clinical trials (RCTs), at one cervical level. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Thirteen RCTs were selected. The clinical, radiological and surgical results were analyzed, taking the adjacent syndrome rate and the reoperation rate as the primary objective of the study. RESULTS: Two thousand nine hundred and sixty three patients were analyzed. The cervical arthroplasty group showed a lower rate of superior adjacent syndrome (P<0.001), lower reoperation rate (P<0.001), less radicular pain (P=0.002), and a better score of neck disability index (P=0.02) and SF-36 physical component (P=0.01). No significant differences were found in the lower adjacent syndrome rate, adverse event rate, neck pain scale, or SF-36 mental component. A range of motion of 7.91° was also found at final follow-up, and a heterotopic ossification rate of 9.67% in patients with cervical arthroplasty. CONCLUSION: In the medium and long-term follow-up, cervical arthroplasty showed a lower rate of superior adjacent syndrome and a lower rate of reoperation. No statistically significant differences were found in the rate of inferior adjacent syndrome or in the rate of adverse events.

Less superior adjacent syndrome and lower reoperation rate. Medium- and long-term results of cervical arthroplasty versus anterior cervical arthrodesis: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. / Menor síndrome adyacente superior y menor tasa de reoperación. Resultados a mediano y largo plazo de la artroplastia cervical frente a la artrodesis cervical anterior: revisión sistemática y metaanálisis de ensayos clínicos aleatorizados.

OBJECTIVE: To compare medium- and long-term postoperative surgical results, especially the adjacent syndrome rate, adverse event rate, and reoperation rate, of patients operated on with cervical arthroplasty or anterior cervical arthrodesis in published randomized clinical trials (RCTs), at one cervical level. METHODS: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Thirteen RCTs were selected. The clinical, radiological and surgical results were analyzed, taking the adjacent syndrome rate and the reoperation rate as the primary objective of the study. RESULTS: Two thousand nine hundred and sixty three patients were analyzed. The cervical arthroplasty group showed a lower rate of superior adjacent syndrome (P<0.001), lower reoperation rate (P<0.001), less radicular pain (P=0.002), and a better score of neck disability index (P=0.02) and SF-36 physical component (P=0.01). No significant differences were found in the lower adjacent syndrome rate, adverse event rate, neck pain scale, or SF-36 mental component. A range of motion of 7.91 degrees was also found at final follow-up, and a heterotopic ossification rate of 9.67% in patients with cervical arthroplasty. CONCLUSION: In the medium and long-term follow-up, cervical arthroplasty showed a lower rate of superior adjacent syndrome and a lower rate of reoperation. No statistically significant differences were found in the rate of inferior adjacent syndrome or in the rate of adverse events.

Can the clinical outcome in stage II colon carcinomas be predicted by determination of molecular marker expression?

BACKGROUND: Conventional staging procedures are often unable to precisely predict prognosis in colon cancer (CC). In this study, we set out to investigate the possible role of molecular/structural indicators involved in cell cycle regulation (Ki-67, p53), apoptosis (p53 and bcl-2) and tumour neoangiogenesis (anti-VIII factor) in predicting tumour behaviour and clinical outcome in stage II CC patients. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Analysis of the above indicators was performed by immunohistochemistry on 162 CC patient samples with curative intention surgery. Clinicopathological data included tumour grade, vascular and nervous invasion, production of mucin, lymphatic permeation and carcinoembryonic antigen levels. RESULTS: p53 protein was overexpressed in 58%, bcl-2 overexpression in 21.5%, Ki-67 in 60.1% and anti-VIII factor stained positive in 40.16% of the cases. Multiple regression analysis showed that some molecular markers were correlated. A significant relationship was seen between p53 and Ki-67, and bcl-2 and p53, but there was no correlation between bcl2 and Ki- 67 overexpression. Stepwise regression selected Ki-67 and anti-VIII factor as the best combination of variables capable of predicting both disease-specific and diseasefree survival. CONCLUSIONS: Only Ki-67 and anti-VIII factor were shown to be useful for the prediction of outcome and recurrence rate in curatively treated CC patients. In conjunction with clinical and pathological staging, they may provide a stronger indication of clinical outcome than staging alone and help better select therapeutic options in CC patients.

Hemorragia alveolar pulmonar como presentación poco frecuente de infección por Leptospira spp: una enfermedad ocupacional del personal militar en zonas tropicales / Pulmonary alveolar hemorrhage as an unusual presentation of Leptospira spp: an occupational-disease of military personnel in tropical zones

Resumen La leptospirosis es una de las zoonosis endémicas más importantes en el mundo con un aumento de la incidencia en los últimos años. En el personal militar podría ser catalogada como una enfermedad ocupacional dado sus actividades específicas en áreas rurales. Su presentación clínica es variable siendo en la mayoría de los casos una enfermedad febril autolimitada. De acuerdo con diversos factores dependientes del patógeno y del hospedero pueden presentarse manifestaciones severas de la enfermedad dentro de la cual destaca el compromiso pulmonar con una alta tasa de mortalidad. Existe evidencia del uso de esteroide sistémico como parte del tratamiento de esta complicación. Presentamos el caso de un paciente joven, militar, que debuta con síndrome de hemorragia alveolar difusa secundario a leptospirosis y presenta una excelente respuesta al tratamiento con altas dosis de metilprednisolona, con una discusión del proceso diagnóstico y aspectos fisiopatológicos de esta condición.

Leptospirosis is one of the most important endemic zoonoses in the world with an increase in incidence in recent years. In military personnel it could be classified as an occupational disease given their specific activities in rural areas. Its clinical presentation is variable being in most cases a self-limited febrile disease. According to various factors dependent on the pathogen and the host, severe manifestations of the disease may occur within which the pulmonary involvement with a high mortality rate stands out. There is evidence of systemic steroid use as part of the treatment of this complication. We present a case of a young, military patient who debuts with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage syndrome secondary to leptospirosis and presents an excellent response to treatment with high doses of methylprednisolone, with a discussion of the diagnostic process and pathophysiological aspects of this condition.

Effects of local anesthetics on the passive permeability of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles to Ca2+ and Mg2+.

Sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles are used here as model membrane system to question the hypothesis of enhancement of permeability of cations by anesthetics, particularly that of Ca2+ and of Mg2+. The effects of dibucaine (up to 800 microM), tetracaine (up to 2 mM), lidocaine (up to 10 mM) and procaine (up to 10 mM) on the permeability of these membranes to Ca2+ and Mg2+ have been measured. We have used an experimental approach based on the light scattering method (Kometani, T. and Kasai, M. (1978) J. Membrane Biol. 41, 295-308). It has been found that all the local anesthetics cited above markedly increase the permeability of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles to Mg2+ and, in the concentration range tested herein, only dibucaine and tetracaine increase the permeability to Ca2+. The kinetic analysis of the time dependence of the light-scattering data after the osmotic shock shows that, in the absence of local anesthetics, the Mg2+ influx can be described as proceeding through a unique type of channel. However, Ca2+ influx appears to involve two channel of different kinetic properties. Because the relative fraction of both types of Ca2+ channel is similar to the average ratio between light and heavy vesicles in unfractionated sarcoplasmic reticulum, we suggest that each type of channel can be preferentially located in one of these fractions. The determined rate constants for Ca2+ permeability through both types of channel are 0.77 +/- 0.08 min-1 (fast channels) and 0.025 +/- 0.005 min-1 (slow channels) and that for Mg2+ is 0.08 +/- 0.02 min-1. These results agree with data obtained by other groups using different experimental approaches. Dibucaine and tetracaine significantly alter the rate of Mg2+ and Ca2+ influx through the slow channels. In addition, these two local anesthetics also produce the effect that the Mg2+ influx cannot be described with only one exponential process, thus suggesting a differential effect on vesicles of different density. The increase of Ca2+ and Mg2+ permeability by dibucaine and by tetracaine is found at concentrations of these drugs that do not produce a noticeable inhibition of the (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-ATPase activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles.

Purification and characterization of the endogenous inhibitor for proteinase B from Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

A rapid purification procedure for the endogenous inhibitor of proteinase yspB from Schizosaccharomyces pombe is described. Starting from a boiled extract, the purification procedure included an ionic exchange chromatography and two reverse phase chromatographies using a HPLC system. The molecular mass of the purified polypeptide was estimated to be 8,100 Da by gel filtration. The isoelectric point of the inhibitor was found to be 5.3 after electrofocusing of a purified preparation. The amino acid composition of the proteinase yspB inhibitor was analyzed after acid hydrolysis. The calculated number of residues was 67 and the corresponding molecular mass 7370 Da. There are several differences in the molecular characteristics between the inhibitor from Schizosaccharomyces pombe and the corresponding inhibitor previously purified from Saccharomyces cerevisiae which might reflect the evolutionary divergence between the two yeast genera.

TSH stimulates leptin secretion by a direct effect on adipocytes.

Leptin is a circulating hormone secreted by adipose tIssue which acts as a signal to the central nervous system where it regulates energy homeostasis and neuroendocrine processes. Although leptin modulates the secretion of several pituitary hormones, no information is available regarding a direct action of pituitary products on leptin release. However, it has been pointed out that leptin and TSH have a coordinated pulsatility in plasma. In order to test a direct action of TSH on in vitro leptin secretion, a systematic study of organ cultures of human omental adipose tIssue was performed in samples obtained at surgery from 34 patients of both sexes during elective abdominal surgery. TSH powerfully stimulated leptin secretion by human adipose tIssue in vitro. In contrast, prolactin, ACTH, FSH and LH were devoid of action. These results suggest that leptin and the thyroid axis maintain a complex and dual relationship and open the possibility that plasmatic changes in TSH may contribute to the regulation of leptin pulses.

The proteolytic system of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe.

Proteinase and peptidase activities of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe were investigated. Several intracellular proteolytic enzymes were found: two endoproteinases, one carboxypeptidase, one aminopeptidase and one dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase. In addition, proteinase inhibitors were detected. In fresh crude extracts an activation procedure is needed to measure maximal activities of endoproteinases and carboxypeptidase, whose level is markedly dependent on growth medium composition and on growth phase, while aminopeptidase and dipeptidyl-aminopeptidase activities are very little, if at all, regulated by the carbon source.

[First non-autologous vascular access for hemodialysis: PTFE fistula]. / Primer acceso vascular no autólogo para hemodiálisis. Prótesis de PTFE humero-antecubital curva de antebrazo.

INTRODUCTION: Since 1999 to 2003 we have tried to perform an antebraquial "loop" PTFE fistula (PTFEa) as first vascular access for hemodialysis in patients without suitable superficial venous system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We have performed a prospective study to analyze the results (permeability and complications) with this approach. RESULTS: We could perform 44 PTFEa in 46 consecutive patients (in two cases we used the axillary vein as return vessel). Early failure was 0%. One year primary and secondary permeability were 66% and 90% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: PTFEa is a good solution as first vascular access in patients without a suitable superficil venous system.

[Evaluation of transparietal hepatic cholangiography in the diagnosis of cholestatic syndrome]. / Valoración de la colangiografía transparietohepática en el diagnóstico del síndrome colestásico.

Three hundred and thirty-two percutaneous cholangiograms were done in 313 patients. The etiology was benign in 137 cases and malignant in 152 instances. The level of obstruction was correctly localized in 97.8% of cases. The total sensitivity was 88.5% and specificity 95.9%. Positive predictive value 95.4% and negative predictive value 89.6%. Major complications occurred in 3.3% of cases. Complications occurred more frequently when the bile ducts were dilated. They were not related to the number of attempts to puncture ther biliary tree or the experience of the physician.

[The biological aftereffects of preoperative and palliative percutaneous biliary drainage]. / Repercusión biológica de los drenajes biliares percutáneos preoperatorios y paliativos.

Biological repercussions in 78 patients with malignant obstructive jaundice in whom percutaneous biliary drainage was performed, are reported. In 37 cases drainage was done during operation while 41 were palliative. Biochemistry, proteinogram, hematological studies, renal function and immunology were assessed 15.7 +/- 3.4 days postoperatively and 25.2 +/- 4.7 days in palliative drainage. Results show a significant improvement of all parameters, more important in preoperative drainages especially in those combining percutaneous and internal drainage techniques.

[Winged scapula, a condition for the surgical area?]. / Escápula alada, ¿una entidad del área quirúrgica?

The winged scapula secondary to long thoracic nerve injury is an uncommon condition. It is most frequently reported in the literature associated with surgical activities, either due to poor positioning during anesthesia or by an iatrogenic traumatic event during surgical procedures. We expose 3 cases and a brief etiological and literature review, to present the multiple origins of this injury, which are not always related to this area of activity, as these are not the only causes of this injury.

Persistence and transferability of noroviruses on and between common surfaces and foods.

Human noroviruses (HuNoV) are the leading cause of foodborne disease, and poor personal hygiene practices of infected workers are the most common mode of contamination. The purpose of this study was to characterize the persistence and transferability of representative noroviruses Norwalk virus (NV), Snow Mountain virus (SMV), and murine norovirus 1 (MNV-1) on and between solid surfaces and foods. Changes in virus concentration on artificially inoculated solid surfaces (stainless steel, ceramic, and Formica) or lettuce were monitored over a period of 14 to 42 days. Virus transfer was evaluated from donor (solid surface) to recipient (food, e.g., lettuce and sliced turkey deli meat) for up to 2 h postinoculation. Viruses were recovered by elution and titered with reverse transcription quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and/or infectivity assay, as appropriate. Based on RTqPCR, the concentration of NV and SMV on surfaces dropped gradually over time, with an average reduction of 1.5 to 2.0 and 1.8 to 2.3 log, respectively, after 42 days, with no statistically significant differences by surface. When inoculated onto lettuce stored for 2 weeks at 4°C and room temperature, the titers of NV and SMV dropped by approximately 1.0 and 1.2 to 1.8 log, respectively. Comparatively, the RT-qPCR signal associated with purified HuNoV RNA placed on the same surfaces was more rapidly lost to degradation. Transfer efficiency ranged from 0 to 26 % for lettuce and from 55 to 95 % for sliced turkey deli meat, with statistically significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in transferability as a function of contact pressure (100 and 1,000 g/9 cm(2)) and inoculum drying time. When similar experiments were done with MNV-1, infectious virus failed to be detected on solid surfaces after storage day 21, although the virus did persist on lettuce. This study provides much needed quantitative data for use in risk assessment efforts intended to characterize the transmission of HuNoV during food preparation and handling.

Fortalezas y dificultades para el ajuste emocional en niños aymara desde la perspectiva de los menores, padres y profesores / Strengths and difficulties in emotional adjustment of Aymara children from the perspective of children, parents and teachers

Objective: To describe capabilities and difficulties in emotional adjustment experienced by children living in the Chilean Aymara city of Arica. Patients and Method: 610 students between 5th and 8th grade, in addition to their parents and teachers were surveyed using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ), comparing Aymara children to those without indigenous heritage. 25 items divided into five scales were evaluated: Emotional, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, relationship problems with peers and prosocial behaviors, classifying the respondents into three levels, Normal, Border and Abnormal. Results: There were no significant differences among the groups studied, where discrepancies in almost all cases show a slight effect (d ≥ -0.2-). Also, no relevant effects were observed regarding the type of assessor on the assessment of each dimension. Despite this, it was observed that Aymara children showed lower scores than their peers in "behavioral problems" according to their teachers, but this difference was also mild (partial η2> 0.01). Conclusions: Aymara Children showed similar strengths and difficulties than non-Aymara students in situations that require emotional adjustment.

Objetivo: Describir capacidades y dificultades en el ajuste emocional experimentadas por niños aymara residentes en la ciudad chilena de Arica. Pacientes y M étodo: Se encuestó a 610 alumnos de 5° a 8° año de Enseñanza General Básica de la ciudad de Arica, además de sus padres y profesores, mediante el Cuestionario de Capacidades y Dificultades (SDQ), comparando a niños aymara con aquellos sin ascendencia indígena. Se evaluaron 25 ítems divididos en 5 escalas: emocional, problemas de comportamiento, hiperactividad, problemas de relación con pares y conductas prosociales, clasificando a los encuestados en tres niveles, Normal, Límite o Anormal. Resultados: No hubo diferencias poblacionales relevantes en las dimensiones del SDQ entre grupos estudiados, donde las discrepancias en prácticamente todos los casos muestran un efecto leve (d ≥ -0,2-). Tampoco se observaron efectos poblacionales relevantes respecto del tipo de evaluador sobre la valoración de cada dimensión. Pese a esto, cabe señalar que niños aymara mostraron una menor puntuación que sus pares en "problemas de comportamiento" según sus profesores, pero dicha interacción poblacional también fue leve (η² parcial > 0,01). Conclusiones: Niños aymara mostraron fortalezas y dificultades similares a las de sus pares no aymara ante situaciones que requieren ajuste emocional.