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Nitric oxide (NO) seems to contribute to vascular homeostasis regulating neurotransmission. This work aimed at assessing the influence of NO from different sources and respective intracellular pathways on sympathetic neurotransmission, in two vascular beds. Electrically-evoked [3H]-noradrenaline release was assessed in rat mesenteric and tail arteries in the presence of NO donors or endothelial/neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors. The influence of NO on adenosine-mediated effects was also studied using selective antagonists for adenosine receptors subtypes. Location of neuronal NOS (nNOS) was investigated by immunohistochemistry (with specific antibodies for nNOS and for Schwann cells) and Confocal Microscopy. Results indicated that: 1) in mesenteric arteries, noradrenaline release was reduced by NO donors and it was increased by nNOS inhibitors; the effect of NO donors was only abolished by the adenosine A1 receptors antagonist; 2) in tail arteries, noradrenaline release was increased by NO donors and it was reduced by eNOS inhibitors; adenosine receptors antagonists were devoid of effect; 3) confocal microscopy showed nNOS staining in adventitial cells, some co-localized with Schwann cells. nNOS staining and its co-localization with Schwann cells were significantly lower in tail compared to mesenteric arteries. In conclusion, in mesenteric arteries, nNOS, mainly located in Schwann cells, seems to be the main source of NO influencing perivascular sympathetic neurotransmission with an inhibitory effect, mediated by adenosine A1 receptors activation. Instead, in tail arteries endothelial NO seems to play a more relevant role and has a facilitatory effect, independent of adenosine receptors activation.

Accurate and reliable daily global weather reports are necessary for weather forecasting and climate analysis. However, the availability of these reports continues to decline due to the lack of economic support and policies in maintaining ground weather measurement systems from where these reports are obtained. Thus, to mitigate data scarcity, it is required to utilize weather information from existing sensors and built-in smartphone sensors. However, as smartphone usage often varies according to human activity, it is difficult to obtain accurate measurement data. In this paper, we present a heuristic-based pairwise gossip algorithm that will calibrate smartphone-based pressure sensors with respect to fixed weather stations as our referential ground truth. Based on actual measurements, we have verified that smartphone-based readings are unstable when observed during movement. Using our calibration algorithm on actual smartphone-based pressure readings, the updated values were significantly closer to the ground truth values.

An array of 50 MHz quartz microbalances (QMBs) coated with a dendronizedpolymer was used to detect small amounts of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the gasphase. The results were compared to those obtained with the commonly used 10 MHzQMBs. The 50 MHz QMBs proved to be a powerful tool for the detection of VOCs in thegas phase; therefore, they represent a promising alternative to the much more delicatesurface acoustic wave devices (SAWs).

The purpose of this study was to use qualitative methodology to better understand patient experiences after cubital tunnel surgery, with the goal of identifying areas of improvement in delivery of care. Patients who underwent surgery (in situ decompression or anterior transposition) for cubital tunnel syndrome within the last 12 months, which was performed by one of three fellowship-trained hand surgeons, were identified. Participants were invited to an interview regarding "their experiences with ulnar nerve surgery." An interview guide with semistructured, open-ended questions regarding the decision for surgery, treatment goals, and the recovery process was used. Interim data analyses were conducted to assess emerging themes, and interviews were continued until thematic saturation was achieved. Seventeen participants completed interviews; the mean age of study participants was 57 years, and 71% were women. The mean time between surgery and the interview was 6 months. Participants identified the following two key areas that could improve their surgical experience: (1) the need for detailed preoperative education about the surgery and recovery process, (2) and the importance of discussing treatment goals and expectations. Participants suggested providing both written and online resources to patients, including specific details about incision size and recovery process in education materials, and setting expectations for symptom resolution. Although the overall patient experience after cubital tunnel surgery was positive, participants noted that there is a need for providing improved educational resources and counseling before surgery. Addressing education and counseling needs before cubital tunnel surgery will help surgeons to improve delivery of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introducción: no existe consenso en la forma en que debe realizarse el seguimiento de los pacientes operados curativa mente de cáncer colónico (CC). Es frecuente que el mismo sea exhaustivo, causando innecesaria sobre vigilancia y considerable costo sanitario. El objetivo de este estudio es pautar el seguimiento de los pacientes operados de CC, confeccionando un protocolo basado en la evidencia científica y la experiencia de nuestro grupo de trabajo

BackgroundIncreased sympathetic activity has been implicated in hypertension. Adenosine has been shown to play a role in blood flow regulation. In the present study, the endogenous adenosine neuromodulatory role, in mesenteric arteries from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats, was investigated.Methods and resultsThe role of endogenous adenosine in sympathetic neurotransmission was studied using electrically-evoked [3H]-noradrenaline release experiments. Purine content was determined by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Localization of adenosine A1 or A2A receptors in adventitia of mesenteric arteries was investigated by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscopy. Results indicate a higher electrically-evoked noradrenaline release from hypertensive mesenteric arteries. The tonic inhibitory modulation of noradrenaline release is mediated by adenosine A1 receptors and is lacking in arteries from hypertensive animals, despite their purine levels being higher comparatively to those determined in normotensive ones. Tonic facilitatory adenosine A2A receptor-mediated effects were absent in arteries from both strains. Immunohistochemistry revealed an adenosine A1 receptors redistribution from sympathetic fibers to Schwann cells, in adventitia of hypertensive mesenteric arteries which can explain, at least in part, the absence of effects observed for these receptors.ConclusionData highlight the role of purines in hypertension revealing that an increase in sympathetic activity in hypertensive arteries is occurring due to a higher noradrenaline/ATP release from sympathetic nerves and the loss of endogenous adenosine inhibitory tonus. The observed nerve-to-glial redistribution of inhibitory adenosine A1 receptors in hypertensive arteries may explain the latter effect.

Copyright of Revista Médica de Rosario is the property of Circulo Medico de Rosario and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Currently, an increasing number of surgeries are performed in an older and higher risk population, due to the inherent comorbidity and polypharmacy associated with this population group. The characterization of drug usage profiles in the perioperative period is critically needed to understand the nature of adverse events and to achieve a more efficient iatrogenic risk management.During 1 year, all adult patients (>18 years) consecutively admitted for elective surgery at "Cova da Beira" Hospital Center (CHCB) were included in the study. The demographic characteristics, and data on chronic medication use and their administration to the patients in study, in the perioperative period were collected.A total of 404 patients were evaluated. The majority of patients (69.9%) were taking chronic medication (mean 2.5 by admission), mainly "anti-hypertensive" (58.5%) and "psychotropics" (33.5%). 973 drugs were registered as chronic medication. 79.1% of these drugs were withdrawn before the surgery, 10.7% were continued and 7.7% were replaced for another drug of the same therapeutic group.The majority of patients, admitted for general surgery, take chronic medications, which were withdrawn before surgery, in the majority of cases. Additional assessment of perioperative complications, as result of drug withdrawal, is urgently needed for surgical therapeutic management.

Introducción: el cáncer de mama (CM), principal causa de muerte por cáncer en la mujer uruguaya, constituye una enfermedad heterogénea. El estudio de la expresión tumoral del receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico-2 (HER2), el receptor de estrógenos (RE) y el receptor de progesterona (RP) permite reconocer subtipos con diferentes características clínico-patológicas y evolutivas. Objetivos: conocer el perfil de expresión tumoral de HER2, RE y RP y su relación con características clínico-patológicas en pacientes uruguayas con CM. Material y método: se revisaron las historias clínicas de pacientes intervenidas quirúrgicamente por CM invasivo en un período de dos años, seleccionándose las que contaban con la determinación de RE, RP y HER2 mediante inmunohistoquímica. Se comparó el perfil de expresión de estos marcadores con la edad al diagnóstico, tipo y grado histológico (GH) y estadio patológico (TNM). Resultados: se seleccionaron 197 pacientes cuyas características fueron edad media: 55 años, carcinoma ductal: 85%, GH 1-2: 59%, estadio: I-II: 75%, metástasis axilares: 51%, RE/RP+: 78%, HER2+: 10%. Se definieron tres subtipos: HER2- RE/RP+ (73%), HER2+ (10%) y triple negativo (TN) (17%). Los subtipos TN y HER2+ se asociaron con mayor grado histológico (p

Intervento al Workshop Internazionale “Infanzie e Famiglie in Europa”, del 16 ottobre 2009, presso la Facoltà di Scienze della Formazione, Via Filippo Re, 6 Bologna (Aula Magna). L’intervento illustra i valori fondativi del Centro Nascita Montessori dalle sue origini ai giorni nostri attraverso un percorso che si è allargato nel tempo: dalla focalizzata attenzione e cura al neonato in famiglia o nel brefotrofio fino agli anni ’60 alla cura della crescita del bambino nei servizi educativi e alla cura della relazione con le famiglie dagli anni ‘70 in poi. Tale espansione del campo di interesse e d’indagine operativa ha arricchito il patrimonio di competenze e di conoscenze del C.N.M..

Copyright of Revista Médica de Rosario is the property of Circulo Medico de Rosario and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: For the 720 000 Americans expected to experience a new acute cardiac event this year, cardiac rehabilitation is an important part of recovery. Symptoms of depression and anxiety undermine recovery efforts, leaving recovering patients at risk for diminished functional capacity and heightened risk of mortality. Poor emotion regulation can worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety and hinder recovery efforts. Objective: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to evaluate the early efficacy testing of a theoretically based emotion regulation treatment (R egulating E motions to Improve Self-management of N utrition, E xercise, and S tress [RENEwS]) designed to assist survivors of an acute cardiac event in cardiac rehabilitation to optimize recovery. Methods : Survivors of an acute cardiac event in cardiac rehabilitation (n = 30, 83% men) were randomized to five 1-hour in-person group sessions of RENEwS or a phone-based attention-control group. Participants completed measures of depression and anxiety symptoms at 3 time points. Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) was objectively measured for 7 days at each time point using waist-worn actigraphy monitors. Between-group differences were calculated using analysis of variance with Cohen f effect sizes calculated to evaluate initial efficacy. Results : There was no statistically significant difference in depression, anxiety, or MVPA over time based on group assignment (all P >.05). Compared with attention control participants, in RENEwS participants, preliminary effects showed greater reductions in depression (Cohen f = 0.34) and anxiety (Cohen f = 0.40) symptoms but only modest improvements in MVPA from baseline to 5 months (Cohen f = 0.08). Conclusions : Findings show that RENEwS is a promising emotion regulation intervention to enhance cardiac rehabilitation and potentially decrease symptoms of depression and anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change challenges the traditional goals and conservation strategies of protected areas, necessitating adaptation to changing conditions. Denali National Park and Preserve (Denali) in south central Alaska, USA, is a vast landscape that is responding to climate change in ways that will impact both ecological resources and local communities. Local observations help to inform understanding of climate change and adaptation planning, but whose knowledge is most important to consider? For this project we interviewed long-term Denali staff, scientists, subsistence community members, bus drivers, and business owners to assess what types of observations each can contribute, how climate change is impacting each, and what they think the National Park Service should do to adapt. The project shows that each type of long-term observer has different types of observations, but that those who depend more directly on natural resources for their livelihoods have more and different observations than those who do not. These findings suggest that engaging multiple groups of stakeholders who interact with the park in distinct ways adds substantially to the information provided by Denali staff and scientists and offers a broader foundation for adaptation planning. It also suggests that traditional protected area paradigms that fail to learn from and foster appropriate engagement of people may be maladaptive in the context of climate change.

Patients affected by heart failure have a compromised quality of life (QOL) and in the last few years “health related quality of life” has become an important outcome indicator for the evaluation of heart failure treatment. Methods: Translation into Italian of the Left Ventricular Dysfunction Questionnaire (LVD-36), a new, 36-item, disease-specific health status instrument for patients with congestive heart failure, and its subsequent validation by administration to 50 consecutive patients in our heart failure outpatient clinic. The Italian LVD-36 was compared to the “The Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire” (MLHF). Results: The Italian version of the LVD-36 correlates well with MLHF for ejection fraction (EF), NYHA class I and II, etiology and therapy. Since, however, the LVD-36 has only one domain, it may be able to offer more synthetic information than MLHF about patients’ status. Conclusions: The Italian version of the LVD-36 appears to be a reliable instrument for assessing patients’ QOL and the degree of limitations imposed on them by the disease. It is short, clear and easy to complete. In patients with heart failure the LVD-36 correlates well with the MLHF and may be considered a new disease- specific instrument to estimate changes in health status, and an useful support in optimizing therapeutic options.

Las náuseas y los vómitos son uno de los efectos adversos más frecuentes de la quimioterapia, y uno de los más temidos por los pacientes. El adecuado control de la emesis aguda y tardía redunda en una mejor calidad de vida y una mayor adhesión de los pacientes al tratamiento. A pesar de disponerse actualmente de estrategias antieméticas más efectivas, es frecuente su empleo inadecuado ya sea por su sobre o subutilización. El objetivo de este trabajo es establecer guías precisas para la prevención y el tratamiento de náuseas y vómitos inducidos por quimioterapia, aplicables a nuestro medio, procurando mantener una adecuada relación costo-beneficio. Los factores de riesgo para las náuseas y vómitos inducidos por quimioterapia son dependientes del paciente y dependientes del tratamiento, siendo la emetogenicidad propia del plan de quimioterapia el más importante. En las situaciones de alto riesgo de náuseas y vómitos inducidos por quimioterapia (cisplatino, ciclofosfamida, adriamicina, entre otras), la combinación de un antagonista 5HT3 más corticoide previene más efectivamente la emesis aguda que otras combinaciones previamente empleadas. En la profilaxis de la emesis tardía no se ha demostrado la superioridad del uso de antagonistas 5HT3, por lo que su mayor costo no justifica su empleo inicial. En las situaciones de riesgo intermedio (5-Fu, taxanos, etopósido) el tratamiento con corticoides o metoclopramida sería suficiente, no recomendándose de inicio profilaxis de la emesis tardía. Para las situaciones de bajo riesgo (bleomicina, vinca) no se sugiere profilaxis de náuseas y vómitos inducidos por quimioterapia. Los antieméticos vía oral son igualmente efectivos que los intravenosos, por lo que por su costo y su conveniencia serían de preferencia.

El libro es una recopilación de los relatos de 17 viajeros llegados al Río de la Plata durante el primer cuarto del siglo XVIII. Estos testimonios plasman las observaciones sobre la región, los caminos que comunican al Río de la Plata con otras ciudades y pueblos del interior y las descripciones de centros de población como Córdoba y Mendoza, entre otros. El estudio preliminar de Daisy Rípodas Ardanaz presenta acabadamente las circunstancias históricas en torno a las cuales se desenvolvieron la actividad de los viajeros, la evolución política y los cambios producidos en la región tras el acceso al poder de los borbones. Esta dinastía favoreció el arribo de numerosos viajeros germanos y españoles, pero especialmente de ingleses y franceses por encontrarse generalmente vinculados con la instalación de la compañía negrera de sus respectivos países. En su mayoría llegaron por razones comerciales o religiosas. Sin embargo, también se cuenta con la presencia de un científi co francés que, en pos de las buenas relaciones con Francia, vino para realizar un estudio de las costas de América del Sur, y con la de un corso británico, llegado a raíz de la guerra entre España e Inglaterra con la intención de consolidar el poder marítimo inglés. Todos ellos dejaron por escrito sus impresiones, vivencias y conocimientos de los lugares vistos desde una perspectiva exterior. Como expresa Rípodas Ardanaz, este enfoque particular conlleva un pro y un contra. Por un lado, la ventaja de asombrarse frente a realidades que por su cotidianeidad no son llamativas para la gente del territorio. Por el otro, el defecto de interpretar mal ciertas circunstancias por falta de un conocimiento adecuado de la situación del lugar. El estudio exhibe también un análisis y evaluación de los viajeros y sus relatos, lo que proporciona importantes conocimientos que nos permiten discernir entre los testimonios erróneos en que incurren los viajeros y aquellos que constituyen un aporte veraz. De todas formas, se resalta el hecho de que, de la lectura del conjunto, surge una imagen nítida del Río de la Plata a principios del siglo XVIII, y especialmente de Buenos Aires.

Objective: "Decentering" is defined as the ability to observe one's thoughts and feelings as temporary, objective events in the mind (Safran & Segal, 1990), and is increasingly regarded as a candidate mechanism in mindfulness-based interventions. The present study sought to examine the role of decentering, and other related variables, in the efficacy of Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) as compared to two active comparison conditions. Method: Formerly depressed individuals (N = 227), randomly assigned to MBCT (n = 74), relaxation group therapy (RGT; n = 77) or Treatment as usual (TAU; n = 76), completed self-report measures of decentering and symptoms of depression at pre-, mid-, and posttreatment, and relapse was assessed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, posttreatment. Results: With regard to the acute treatment phase, results indicated that, whereas levels of depression increased in both RGT and TAU, MBCT patients remained free from symptom gains. Moreover, gains in decentering from mid- to posttreatment predicted reductions in depression from pre- to posttreatment for MBCT and TAU, but not for RGT. Participants who experienced increases in decentering, measured from mid- to posttreatment, generally evidenced the lowest levels of relapse/recurrence (during the four follow-up assessments), largely irrespective of treatment group. However, results related to change in decentering should be considered exploratory due to small cell sizes among participants who did not experience gains in decentering. Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggest that decentering is a potent mechanism for reduction of relapse in major depression, albeit one that is nonspecific to MBCT. What is the public health significance of this article?: Gains in decentering, regardless of treatment modality, are associated with reductions in relapse/recurrence in depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Médica de Rosario is the property of Circulo Medico de Rosario and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)