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Los inhibidores de la bomba de protones (IBP) son fármacos utilizados frecuentemente para el manejo de diferentes enfermedades gastrointestinales. Aunque sus indicaciones y dosis están bien establecidas, se han comunicado elevadas tasas de maluso.

Nuestro trabajo tiene como objetivo aumentar la eficiencia del cribado de aneuploidías del primer trimestre de la gestación mediante la creación de modelos predictivos que sirvan para identificar gestantes en riesgo de desarrollar sobrepeso u obesidad en el tercer trimestre e instaurar medidas preventivas de obesidad a partir de ellos.

Existen discrepancias en el diagnóstico y el manejo de la alergia a las proteínas de la leche de vaca (APLV) en Iberolatinoamérica. El objetivo del estudio fue conocer la forma como el gastroenterólogo pediatra en Iberolatinoamérica realiza el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la APLV.

There are discrepancies in the diagnosis and management of cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA) in Spain and Latin America. The aim of the present study was to find out how Spanish and Latin American pediatric gastroenterologists diagnose and treat CMPA.

La esofagitis eosinofílica es una enfermedad crónica, mediada inmunológicamente, descrita en series y publicaciones alrededor del mundo. En los últimos 20 años diversos estudios han intentado evaluar la incidencia y prevalencia de la enfermedad. El objetivo del presente trabajo es estimar la prevalencia de esofagitis eosinofílica en un grupo de niños atendidos en 36 centros de gastroenterología pediátrica de 10 países latinoamericanos.

Eosinophilic esophagitis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease described in case series and publications worldwide. Over the past twenty years, the authors of different studies have attempted to evaluate its incidence and prevalence. The objetive of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of eosinophilic esophagitis in a group of children seen at 36 pediatric gastroenterology centers in ten Latin American countries.

Congenital vascular lesions affect the craniofacial skeleton in many ways, depending on the type of lesion and its location. Venous malformations and arteriovenous malformations are associated with osteolytic changes. Orthognathic abnormalities should be addressed after the soft tissues are adequately debulked.

e-ASTROGAM (‘enhanced ASTROGAM’) is a breakthrough Observatory space mission, with a detector composed by a Silicon tracker, a calorimeter, and an anticoincidence system, dedicated to the study of the non-thermal Universe in the photon energy range from 0.3 MeV to 3 GeV – the lower energy limit can be pushed to energies as low as 150 keV for the tracker, and to 30 keV for calorimetric detection. The mission is based on an advanced space-proven detector technology, with unprecedented sensitivity, angular and energy resolution, combined with polarimetric capability. Thanks to its performance in the MeV–GeV domain, substantially improving its predecessors, e-ASTROGAM will open a new window on the non-thermal Universe, making pioneering observations of the most powerful Galactic and extragalactic sources, elucidating the nature of their relativistic outflows and their effects on the surroundings. With a line sensitivity in the MeV energy range one to two orders of magnitude better than previous generation instruments, e-ASTROGAM will determine the origin of key isotopes fundamental for the understanding of supernova explosion and the chemical evolution of our Galaxy. The mission will provide unique data of significant interest to a broad astronomical community, complementary to powerful observatories such as LIGO-Virgo-GEO600-KAGRA, SKA, ALMA, E-ELT, TMT, LSST, JWST, Athena, CTA, IceCube, KM3NeT, and LISA.

Thirty-two lambs were used to study the effect of sunflower soap stocks (SS), a by-product from the vegetable oil refinery industry, on meat chemical composition, fatty acid profile, volatile compounds, and consumer acceptability. Lambs were finished (average length of fattening period 35 ± 7.3 d, 26.8 ± 0.09 kg final BW) on a pelleted total mixed ration (TMR) with no SS (00SS) or including 15, 30 or 60 g SS/kg (15SS, 30SS, and 60SS, respectively). Sunflower soap stocks decreased the percentage of SFA, increased the proportion of trans-MUFA (P< 0.05), and modified the levels of several odor-active lipid-derived volatile compounds (P <0.05).. Consumers were able to distinguish between control and 15SS meat samples in a triangular test (P< 0.05), but a well-defined preference for meat of any of these treatments was not exhibited (P> 0.05).. Atherogenicity and saturation indexes decreased by 31% and 27%, respectively, in SS groups compared to control (linear P <0.05).. However, certain volatile compounds (benzene and toluene) and 10t-18:1 fatty acid, known potential hazards for human health, were increased in meat from lambs fed TMR with SS. For this reason, only inclusion rates up to 15 g SS/kg TMR seem to sustain a satisfactory balance between beneficial and detrimental effects on lamb meat composition and quality.

Resumen:En los debates mediáticos generados en el contexto de la crisis económica y social española, hay tres elementos que parecen encarnar de manera axiomática un residuo, lo que queda después de la repartición de lugares y funciones asignados por el consenso democrático: el nacionalismo, el populismo y el feminismo. Este trabajo demuestra cómo esos términos ocupan un continuo discursivo, erigiéndose como ejemplos de excesos derivados de la propia apertura generada por la democracia; excesos que deben ser controlados (cuando no eliminados) en beneficio de ésta. Mi premisa es, por el contrario, que la reflexión sobre la presencia de elementos excesivos y su función, es la base fundamental del sistema democrático, constituyendo su paradoja, pero también su condición de posibilidad.Abstract:Among the media debates generated in the midst of a severe economic and political crisis in Spain (2008-present), there are three ideological positions that have had a particularly prominent role: nationalism, populism, and feminism. In the last few years, in particular, these terms have been identified with an excess generated by democracy's openness that must be controlled, if not eliminated, for the long-term benefit of democracy itself. By contrast, my analysis sustains that an open-ended critical reflection upon the nature and function of elements perceived as "excessive" is fundamental to democratic politics. I contend that it is precisely such dissonant remainders, such points of excess, that best illustrate the paradoxes of popular sovereignty: both its limits and its conditions of possibility.

Dysautonomia has been independently associated with training and exercise-induced bronchoconstriction. In addition, neurogenic airway inflammation was recently associated with swimmers-asthma. We aimed to assess the relation between autonomic nervous system and airway responsiveness of asthmatic elite swimmers.

Induced sputum with hypertonic saline has been suggested as a safer and cheaper alternative to bronchoalveolar lavage for evaluation of patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILD).

The application of membrane bioreactor process is investigated in the aim of evaluating the potential for removal of cyclophosphamide (CP). Two laboratory-scale membrane bioreactors (MBR) were run in parallel, one with CP and its principal metabolites (MBR1-CPs), and one without (MBR2-control). Removal of CP in an MBR and its effects on the membrane performance, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN) removal effi ciency were studied. Removals of 80% were achieved for CP and the metabolite 4-ketocyclophosphamide under the operating conditions studied. Both adsorption and degradation affect the overall removal. The toxicity of CP and its metabolites does not alter the COD or TN removal effi ciency of MBR. However, it induces a modifi cation of the biological suspended solids and so a modifi cation of the membrane fouling.

Abstract: The possibility of using lignin from the paper industry’s black liquor to absorb nickel (Ni) and vanadium (V), was studied. The work comprised two stages: first, the identification of lignin’s main functional groups and the surface characterization of the solid; second, an experimental study of lignin’s behavior towards the Ni and V cations. Results revealed the presence of aromatic groups as well as substituted methoxy groups on the lignin’s surface. This explains lignin’s adsorptive capacity exhibited in the experimental evaluations. The removal of Ni and V ions was higher than expected solely through the physical adsorption mechanism. This higher capacity is associated with a proposed complex formation on the surface of the lignin. For Ni(II), lignin showed a higher adsorption compared to commercial adsorbents. In the case of V, the behavior is reversed, in order to elucidate this result, further research is recommended.

Resistance to doxorubicin based chemotherapy is a major therapeutic problem limiting advanced breast cancer treatment. 99mTc hexakis-2-methoxyisobutylisonitrile (99mTc-MIBI) has been reported to be extruded from tumour cells by the P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance protein encoded by MDR1 and MRP1 genes, respectively. These proteins are involved in the cellular efflux of several chemotherapeutic agents including doxorubicin. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical value of a standard 99mTc-MIBI scintimammography technique in the prediction of response to chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer patients. Fifty-six lesions from 33 female patients with locally advanced (n27) or recurrent breast cancer (n6) were included in the study. MIBI scintigraphy was performed 2-8 days prior to chemotherapy (FAC regimen). Images were acquired 10 min and 1 h post-injection of 740-1110 MBq of 99mTc-MIBI. Tumour-to-normal background tissue uptake ratios were calculated on each lesion in the early (TB(e)) and delayed phase of the study (TB(d)). Both TB(e) and TB(d) ratios were significantly higher (P<0.0001) in responders (n43) than nonresponders (n13). Diagnostic values of 99mTc-MIBI in the prediction of chemotherapy response were evaluated using the arbitrary cut-off values of 1.5 for TB(e) and 1.4 forTB(d). Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 88.4, 92.3, 97.4, 70.6; and 90.7, 100.0, 100.0, 76.6, for TB(e) and TB(d), respectively. We conclude that 99mTc-MIBI scintigraphy may be a clinically valuable tool for guiding chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer patients.

Background:Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) remains the major toxicity of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). In the acute form of the disease, the differential diagnosis includes viral rash and drug eruptions. Methods:We report two patients with chronic myeloid leukemia submitted to allogeneic BMT who developed a severe form of acute cutaneous GvHD, with clinical and histological pictures mimicking toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN). Results:We found a predominance of peripheral CD8+ T lymphocytes and, at the same time, studying the cellular profile of the blister fluid, just in the beginning of blister eruption, we also found a high proportion of CD8+ T lymphocytes, mainly CD8+CD57–. Conclusion:These data are in agreement with previous reports of the presence of CD8+ T cells in the blister fluid of patients with TEN, further emphasizing similar immunoinflammatory pathways in both diseases.

Idiopathic uveitis is the most common form of chronic uveitis seen in our area. Characteristically it is a heterogeneous entity in its clinical severity, evolution and therapeutic response, and immune mechanisms are thought to be involved. The phenotype frequencies of HLA antigens were studied in 62 patients with idiopathic uveitis and compared with their frequencies in northern Portugal. The authors also included two groups with a well known immunogenetic background-Behçet's syndrome (BS: n=20) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS: n=18) which are, respectively, the most severe and the most frequent of the rheumatic forms in the area. An increased frequency of HLA B5(B51) in Behçet uveitis (55%; RR=8) was confirmed in the authors' population. They also found in idiopathic uveitis an increased risk for HLA B27 (RR=14). HLA B27 positive idiopathic uveitis was predominantly unilateral (80%) and anterior (97%), whereas B27 negative forms showed a higher prevalence of severe panuveitis. In conclusion, the authors confirmed in their population the association of HLA B27 with uveitis, and HLA B51 with Behçet uveitis. In this last entity an intermediate frequency between northern Europe and the Mediterranean area was observed.

Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) or Lyell's syndrome is an acute life-threatening disease often triggered by an adverse drug reaction and/or infection. It is characterized by an extensive epidermal loss and severe mucosal involvement. Its pathophysiology is unresolved, but several studies support the hypothesis of an immune mediation. The authors review the ocular involvement of ten drug-induced TEN cases observed in the last four years (eight females and two males; mean age=47). An epidermal loss ranging from 24 to 95% of body surface area was associated with ocular (10/10), oral (9/10), genital (6/10) and anal (4/10) involvement. Ocular findings in the acute phase were: bilateral mucopurulent conjunctivitis (9/10), with inflammatory membranes (3/10), punctate epithelial keratitis (6/10) and corneal ulcers (3/10). Skin palpebral detachment occurred in seven cases, all with extensive and severe systemic disease. In the chronic phase of the disease the authors observed keratoconjunctivitis sicca (4/7), symblepharon (3/7), entropion with trichiasis (2/7) and corneal neovascularization (2/7). HLA B44 (B12) was observed in four of eight studied patients. In conclusion, ocular involvement is frequent in TEN patients and, in those who survive, it significantly contributes to the morbidity of the disease.

The authors review the visual prognosis of 44 patients with Behçet's disease referred to the Ophthalmology and Rheumatology Departments (Hospital S. João-one of the two major referral centers in Northern Portugal), due to ocular complaints or for routine examination, in the last ten years. All fulfilled the clinical criteria for diagnosis of Behçet's disease. Twenty-six were male and 18 female, with mean age 37 years (range 23-66). The mean evolution time since the first clinical manifestations was ten years (range 1-21). Aphthous stomatitis (100%) and genital ulcers (77.3%) were the initial manifestations preceding eye involvement. HLA-B51(5) was present in 27 of 36 typed patients (75%). Ocular manifestations were present in 33 patients (75%)-22 patients with panuveitis, eight with hypopyon, four with chronic anterior uveitis and three with episcleritis. Mean age of onset of ocular complications was 32 years (range 20-54). Retinal vaso-occlusive vasculitis was diagnosed in 26 patients (22 with panuveitis and four with posterior uveitis). To prevent ocular relapses, all needed immunosuppression with corticosteroids (drops, depo or systemic), combined with cyclosporine A (CsA) (5 mg/kg/day) in 13 patients and with chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide in six patients, when sight threatening uveitis had previously been refractory to treatment with systemic steroids. The 13 patients under CsA were observed for a period ranging from eight months to five years. Lowdose CsA was found to abrogate the intraocular inflammation, was well tolerated and had no major adverse effects. Regardless of the type of treatment, 21% (14/66) of the eyes lost useful vision five to ten years after initial diagnosis.

Functional thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) receptors have been expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes following the microinjection of total and poly(A)+ RNA from GH3 rat anterior pituitary tumour cells. Under voltage-clamp conditions, application of the peptide induced a biphasic Ca(2+)-dependent chloride current. The amplitude of the initial, fast, component of the response was dependent on the concentration of the hormone and on the amount of mRNA injected. Size fractionation of poly(A)+ RNA on a continuous sucrose gradient and Northern blot analysis indicated that the receptor was encoded by an mRNA of approx. 3.5 kb. A 3.28 kbp cDNA encoding the TRH receptor has been cloned and sequenced. Full functionality of the predicted 412-amino-acid receptor protein was demonstrated by functional expression of cell surface receptors in Xenopus oocytes after both cytoplasmic injection of sense RNA transcribed in vitro from this cDNA and nuclear injection of the cDNA under the control of the Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase promoter. The predicted protein contains seven putative membrane-spanning domains and shows significant sequence identify with some G-protein-coupled receptors. RNA blot analysis indicates that the mRNA for the TRH receptor is exclusively expressed in the pituitary gland. Expression studies performed with clones in which the 3′ region of the mRNA has been successively shortened indicate that the 3′ terminal region is not an important determinant for efficient functional expression in oocytes.

Abstract: Proline and hydroxyproline are two amino acids which due to their analogous chemical structures give similar reactions and often appear together. In view of the high percentage of proline in wheat gluten we have investigated the presence of hydroxyproline in wheat flour. We have developed a method to separate the two amino acids after separation from other interfering amino acids which are present in flour. The method of separation utilizes an ion-exchange column/Dowex 50 X-8, 100–200 resin/. The separated amino acids are determined either by spectrophotometry or isotope dilution /14C/ The latter method is more rapid and more sensitive than the spectrophotometric method.

The influence of the impurity aggregation state on the absorption and luminescence spectra of KCl:Cu irradiated at room temperature has been studied. Unirradiated samples excited with UV light show two main emission bands at 400 and 420 nm, ascribed to isolated Cu+ ions and copper aggregates respectively. The same emission bands appear in the thermoluminescence spectra. The F and M bands show annealing steps simultaneous with the glow peaks. It is shown that the radiation induced Cu- and Cu0 centers can be electrically compensated by anion vacancies. It is suggested that radiation induces impurity aggregation as well as anion interstitial aggregation. Thermal release of interstitials may excite isolated Cu+ ions and copper aggregates, either through energy transfer from F + H recombination or by H+α→ Vk, Vk + Cu0 reactions.

Abstract: We analysed qualitative winter zooplankton samples, collected from the ocean surface, to test portions of proposed life-cycle models for Calanus propinquus. Nine zooplankton hauls were taken in the Bransfield Strait area during June 1996. Results show that C. propinquus is present in the ocean surface in winter. However, its presence seems to be related to ice coverage below 30%.

O diagnóstico de asma é fundamentalmente clínico, no entanto, a utilização de medidas de função pulmonar e de inflamação brônquica poderá ser útil.