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We present the light-curve period analysis of 36 Beta Lyrae stars from the OMC Archive. We check the reference period of the sample by applying the phase dispersion minimization periodogram. From our research, we determine the orbital period of five stars in the sample. One of them is CP Psc, showing a prominent hump in the light curve before the deeper eclipse, and revealing a period of 0.6847936 day. Additionally, we improved the previously published orbital period for 27 stars. Within this sample, we discovered three stars with the O’Connell effect, and we identified a system with a second period known as II Per, with an orbital period of 0.4798512 day and a long period 9.2724776 days. The light curve of V 747 Cen can be reproduced with a dark spot of temperature about 70% its surroundings, which covers one of the poles of the more massive star.

In this paper we study stellar variability in the globular cluster NGC 3201 in the magnitude range V = 16–17, corresponding to the subgiant branch and blue stragglers region of the cluster. Our aim is to expand the sample of new type of variables with low amplitude and a short period found in previous papers. We used observations obtained at the Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito. We applied statistical tests and analyzed periodograms obtained by generalized Lomb–Scargle and phase dispersion minimization methods. We found five stars considered as variables and one as a possible variable. According to their periods (fluctuating between 0.33 and 0.57 days), amplitudes (between 0.03 and 0.87 V magnitudes), the position in the color–magnitude diagram, and the shape of their phased light curves, they do not resemble any known variable star. Because stellar variability could be produced by more than one process, we propose to complement this work with a spectroscopic analysis to confirm our results.

We present the analysis of 510 light curves in V and I bands of 255 giant stars in the globular cluster NGC 3201. Our aim is to expand the sample of new types of variables reported in a previous study. These variables show a short period ( P _V < 0.6 day) and a low amplitude ( A ( V ) < 0.06 mag.). We first searched for variability using the generalized Lomb–Scargle and phase dispersion minimization periodograms of the sample, discarding 167 stars as non-variables. We then applied the significance test and reduced the sample to 88 giants, of which we classified 18 as possible variables, 11 as dubious, 41 as non-variables, and 18 as variables. We finally determined the cluster membership of this sample and grouped each star based on their light-curve shape. The discovered variables show periods in the range 0.2440 < P _V < 0.5868 days and amplitudes between 0.010 < A ( V ) < 0.064 mag. Within the sample of 18 variable stars, we report the discovery of an object with a period P _V = 0.3603 ± 0.0012 and amplitude A ( V ) = 0.703 ± 0.029 mag that shows a RR Lyrae ab-type light curve. Additionally, we report two RR Lyrae ab and c types with ultralow amplitude.

Background: Secukinumab has previously demonstrated sustained efficacy and favourable safety for up to 52 weeks in paediatric patients (children and adolescents aged 6 to <18 years) with severe chronic plaque psoriasis (NCT02471144)., Objective: To investigate the long-term (104 weeks) efficacy and safety of secukinumab., Methods: After 52 weeks, patients continued to receive secukinumab low dose (LD [75/150 mg]) or high dose (HD [75/150/300 mg]). Patients on etanercept (0.8 mg/kg) until Week 52 entered follow-up. Data for patients receiving secukinumab LD from the beginning and those switching to secukinumab LD from placebo ('Any secukinumab' LD) and patients receiving secukinumab HD from the beginning and those switching to secukinumab HD from placebo ('Any secukinumab' HD) are presented., Assessments: Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score, PASI (75/90/100) responses, Investigator's Global Assessment modified 2011 (IGA mod 2011) 0/1 response, Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) score and CDLQI 0/1 response up to Week 104, and, safety up to Week 104 for all patients and up to 4 years for some patients (~320 patient-years [PY] of treatment)., Results: Secukinumab-treated patients showed sustained PASI 75/90/100 and IGA mod 2011 0/1 responses up to Week 104. Throughout the second year of treatment, efficacy was similar for the 'Any secukinumab' LD and HD groups for PASI 75 and IGA mod 2011 0/1 responses. PASI 90/100 responses were mostly comparable between the dose groups up to Week 88, but higher in the 'Any secukinumab' HD than the 'Any secukinumab' LD group at Week 104. Patients achieved a sustained CDLQI 0/1 response that was similar between the 'Any secukinumab' LD (61.1%) and HD (65.0%) groups. Safety data were consistent with the established safety profile of secukinumab., Conclusion: Secukinumab demonstrated sustained long-term efficacy (up to 2 years) and a favourable safety profile (~320 PY of treatment) in paediatric patients with severe chronic plaque psoriasis., (© 2023 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.)

Introduction: Glucose transporter type 1 (GLUT1) deficiency syndrome may present a range of phenotypes, including epilepsy, intellectual disability, and movement disorders. The majority of patients present low CSF glucose levels and/or defects in the SLC2A1 gene; however, some patients do not present low CSF glucose or SLC2A1 mutations, and may have other mutations in other genes with compatible phenotypes., Aims: We describe the clinical, biochemical, and genetic characteristics of the disease and perform a univariate analysis of a group of patients with clinical and biochemical phenotype of GLUT1 deficiency syndrome, with or without SLC2A1 mutations., Material and Methods: The study included 13 patients meeting clinical and biochemical criteria for GLUT1 deficiency syndrome. SLC2A1 sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification were performed; exome sequencing was performed for patients with negative results., Results: Six patients presented the classic phenotype; 2 paroxysmal dyskinesia, 2 complex movement disorders, 2 early-onset absence seizures, and one presented drug-resistant childhood absence epilepsy. Six patients were positive for SLC2A1 mutations; in the other 5, another genetic defect was identified. No significant differences were observed between the 2 groups for age of onset, clinical presentation, microcephaly, intellectual disability, or response to ketogenic diet. Patients with SLC2A1 mutations presented more clinical changes in relation to diet (66.7% vs. 28.6% in the SLC2A1-negative group) and greater persistence of motor symptoms (66% vs. 28.6%); these differences were not statistically significant. Significant differences were observed for CSF glucose level (34.5 vs. 46mg/dL, P=.04) and CSF/serum glucose ratio (0.4 vs. 0.48, P<.05)., Conclusions: GLUT1 deficiency syndrome may be caused by mutations to genes other than SLC2A1 in patients with compatible phenotype, low CSF glucose level, and good response to the ketogenic diet., (Copyright © 2019 Sociedad Española de Neurología. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Septic thrombosis of intracranial venous sinuses (STSV) is a rare and severe complication of cranial infections., Materials and Methods: The main objective of this paper is to describe the clinical data, diagnostic procedures, treatment and evolution of a series of cases of STSV. In addition, the current literature is reviewed. Observational retrospective study by review of medical histories (January 1995-December 2016). The data collected were: clinical, analytical, epidemiological, microbiological, radiological, management and follow-up. A descriptive and statistical analysis of the data was done., Results: Twelve children were included (86,832 admissions studied). They have a median age of 4.5 years (range 1-13) with a median time of symptoms of 6 days (range 1-25). At admission, the clinical data were: fever (11/12), vomiting (9/12) and headache (8/12). They also showed bad general status 12/12, 7/12 acute otitis media and 5/12 VI cranial nerve paresis. The lumbar puncture was pathological in 4/12. The most frequently microorganism isolated was Streptococcus sp. Prothrombotic mutations were confirmed on 2/12. Cranial computed tomography allowed diagnosis in 9/12; the magnetic resonance imaging achieves that in 12/12. Previous neurological signs or time to diagnosis did not influence the appearance of other image complications. All received antibiotic treatment, heparin 10/12 and 11/12 surgery. There were no sequels., Conclusion: In our series otitis, headache, vomiting and fever were prevalent. Complementary tests allowed the suspect but the definitive diagnosis was obtained by neuroimaging. There were no sequels and the therapies were mainly wide broad-spectrum antibiotics, heparin, and surgical.

The rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections soon led to a pandemic with serious health, economic, political, and cultural repercussions across the globe. The disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is a multisystemic disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists from all fields and levels of care. In this article, we review the literature on the diverse cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19. We also describe the pathophysiologic mechanisms proposed to date and their possible association with these manifestations. Finally, we propose a system for classifying the cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 according to their underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and prognosis., (Copyright © 2020 AEDV. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background and Purpose: Impulse control disorders (ICDs) are frequent in Parkinson's disease (PD), with associated clinical and genetic risk factors. This study was aimed at analyzing the clinical features and the genetic background that underlie ICDs in PD., Methods: We included 353 patients with PD in this study (58.9% men, mean age 62.4 ± 10.58 years, mean age at disease onset 52.71 ± 11.94 years). We used the validated Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease for ICDs screening. Motor, nonmotor, and treatment-related features were evaluated according to the presence of ICDs. Twenty-one variants related to dopaminergic, serotonergic, glutamatergic, and opioid neurotransmitter systems were assessed. Association studies between polymorphisms and ICDs were performed. The combination of clinical and genetic variables was analyzed with receiver operating characteristic curves to assess the predictability of experiencing ICDs., Results: Impulse control disorders appeared in 25.1% of the cases. Patients with ICDs were younger and presented a higher rate of anxiety. Treatment with dopamine agonists increased the risk of ICDs and it was dose dependent (P < 0.05). Genetic association studies showed that the DOPA decarboxylase gene (DDC), rs1451375, might modulate the risk of ICDs. Plotting the clinical-genetic model, the predictability of ICDs increased 11% (area under curve = 0.80; z = 3.22, P = 0.001) when adding the genotype data for single nucleotide polymorphisms., Conclusions: Polymorphisms in DDC might act as risk markers for ICDs in PD. The predictability of experiencing ICDs increased by adding genetic factors to clinical features. It is therefore important to assess the patient's genetic background to identify individuals at risk for ICDs., (© 2020 European Academy of Neurology.)

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-dependent potassium channels openers (K ATP ) protect skeletal muscle against function impairment through the activation of the mitochondrial K ATP channels (mitoK ATP ). Previous reports suggest that modulators of the mitochondrial K ATP channels have additional effects on isolated mitochondria. To determine whether the K ATP  channel opener nicorandil has non-specific effects that explain its protective effect through the mitochondrial function, chicken muscle mitochondria were isolated, and respiration rate was determined pollarographically. The activity of the electron transport chain (ETC) complexes (I-IV) was measured using a spectrophotometric method. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and lipid peroxidation were assessed using flow cytometry and thiobarbituric acid assay, respectively. Both K ATP channel opener nicorandil and K ATP channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) decreased mitochondrial respiration; nicorandil increased complex III activity and decreased complex IV activity. The effects of nicorandil on complex III were antagonized by 5-HD. Nicorandil increased ROS levels, effect reverted by either 5-HD or the antioxidant N-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (MPG). None of these drugs affected lipid peroxidation levels. These findings suggest that K ATP  channel opener nicorandil increases mitochondrial ROS production from complex III. This results by partially blocking electron flow in the complex IV, setting electron carriers in a more reduced state, which is favored by the increase in complex III activity by nicorandil. Overall, our study showed that nicorandil like other mitochondrial K ATP channel openers might not act through mitoK ATP channel activation.

Purpose: To analyse any delays in breast cancer diagnosis and surgical treatment, influence of clinical and biological factors and influence of delays on survival., Methods/patients: A descriptive, observational, and retrospective study was conducted between 2006 and 2016 on stages I-III breast cancer patients. This is a retrospective review of health records to collect data on delays, patients' clinical data, biological features of the tumour and information on treatment. Mortality data from the National Death Index., Results: In 493 evaluable patients, the median of days from the first symptom to mammography, biopsy, and surgery was 41, 57, and 92, respectively. The median of days from screening mammography to biopsy and surgery was 10 and 51, respectively. From biopsy to surgery, the median was 34 days in every case. Over the last 5 years, an increase in biopsy-surgery delay has been observed (p = 0.0001). Tumour stages I and II vs. stage III (RR 1.74. 95% CI 1.08-2.80, p = 0.027), diagnosis in screening (RR 0.66. 95% CI 0.45-0.96, p = 0.030), and use of magnetic resonance imaging (RR 2.08. 95 CI 1.21-3.56, p = 0.008) condition a greater biopsy-surgery delay. No influence of delays on survival has been identified., Conclusions: Delays in diagnosis and surgery in the case of women diagnosed on the basis of symptoms may be improved. There is a temporary tendency to a greater delay in surgery. Some clinical and biological factors must be taken into account to optimise delays. Survival results are not adversely affected by delays.

Infertility and reproductive problems have been reported in women with several neurological disorders, for example, demyelination. However, the physiology of such problems has remained unknown so far. The taiep rats are an animal neurological model that initially shows a hypomyelination followed by a progressive demyelination of the central nervous system. This animal has reproductive problems, and the aim of this work is to characterize the follicular development, secretion of ovarian hormones, and presence of noradrenaline in the ovaries of the female taiep rats in the juvenile and adult stages. The taiep rats have low body weight (approximately 19% less than that of SD rats), a delay of 4 days in the age of vaginal opening, and an irregularity in the estrous cycle by the absence or prolongation of some estral cycle stage. In the juvenile stage, we observed a decrease of approximately 44% in the total number of follicles with a 15% increase of atresia and an 80% decrease in the fluorescence intensity of catecholamines in the ovaries, with a 21% increment in plasma concentrations of testosterone. In the adult stage, we observed follicular cysts and a 50% decrease in fluorescence intensity of catecholamines in the ovaries, with changes in the secretion of ovarian hormones, an increase of 20 times in progesterone, and a decrement of a half in estradiol. The demyelination in taiep rats affects follicular development and steroidogenesis in the early stages of the animal's life, and this is maintained until adulthood.

Fatigue is a phenomenon in which force reduction has been linked to impairment of several biochemical processes. In skeletal muscle, the ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K ATP ) are actively involved in myoprotection against metabolic stress. They are present in sarcolemma and mitochondria (mitoK ATP channels). K + channel openers like nicorandil has been recognized for their ability to protect skeletal muscle from ischemia-reperfusion injury, however, the effects of nicorandil on fatigue in slow skeletal muscle fibers has not been explored, being the aim of this study. Nicorandil (10 μM), improved the muscle function reversing fatigue as increased post-fatigue tension in the peak and total tension significantly with respect to the fatigued condition. However, this beneficial effect was prevented by the mitoK ATP channel blocker 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD, 500 μM) and by the free radical scavenger N-2-mercaptopropionyl glycine (MPG, 1 mM), but not by the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 100 μM). Nicorandil also decreased lipid peroxidation and maintained both reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and an elevated GSH/GSSG ratio, whereas total glutathione (TGSH) remained unaltered during post-fatigue tension. In addition, NO production, measured through nitrite concentrations was significantly increased with nicorandil during post-fatigue tension; this increase remained unaltered in the presence of nicorandil plus L-NAME, nonetheless, this effect was reversed with nicorandil plus MPG. Hence, these results suggest that nicorandil improves the muscle function reversing fatigue in slow skeletal muscle fibers of chicken through its effects not only as a mitoK ATP channel opener but also as NO donor and as an antioxidant.

Objective: To describe the proportion of patients allergic to β-lactam antibiotics and the prevalence of preoperative conjunctival bacteria among those undergoing cataract surgery in our area., Method: Retrospective cross-sectional study of prevalence of β-lactam allergic patients consecutively scheduled for cataract surgery from 11 July 2005 to November 2012. For studying the prevalence of conjunctival bacteria and clinical characteristics in the patients' preoperative examination, those under 18 years and those with cataract surgery combined with other eye surgeries were excluded. Data from the first preoperative examination of the remaining patients were selected. Clinical data were extracted from the database generated in the evaluation made for anesthetic purposes, and the microbiological data from the laboratory database. Both bases were linked through a patient history code. A comparison was made between the prevalence of conjunctival bacteria and clinical characteristics in allergic and non-allergic patients., Results: From 12,409 adults selected for the bacteriological study, 862 (6.96%) were allergic to β-lactams, their mean age (74.45 years) was higher than that of the non-allergic (P=.005). The proportion of women (71.4%) in the allergic patient group was much higher than that of men. The prevalence of pathogenic bacteria (especially Bacillus spp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa), lung disease and heart failure, was higher in allergic patients., Conclusions: The prevalence of allergy to β-lactams in this study is within the range described in other populations. The higher prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and the predominance of women in those allergic to β-lactams are useful data to guide their surgical prophylaxis., (Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To describe the conjunctival bacterial spectrum of our patients undergoing intraocular surgery and their antibiotic sensitivity during the study period., Methods: A retrospective study of preoperative conjunctival culture of patients consecutively scheduled for intraocular surgery from 21 February 2011 to 1 April 2013. Specimens were directly seeded onto blood-agar and MacConkey-agar (aerobiosis incubation, 2 days), and on chocolate-agar (6% CO2 incubation, 7 days). The identified bacteria were divided into 3 groups according to their origin; the bacteria susceptibility tests were performed on those more pathogenic and on some of the less pathogenic when more than 5 colonies were isolated. The sensitivity of the exigent growing bacteria was obtained with disk diffusion technique, and for of the non-exigent bacteria by determining their minimum inhibitory concentration. The Epidat 3.1 program was used for statistical calculations., Results: A total of 13,203 bacteria were identified in 6,051 cultures, with 88.7% being typical colonizers of conjunctiva (group 1), 8.8% typical of airways (group 2), and the remaining 2.5% of undetermined origin (group 3). 530 cultures (8.8%) were sterile. The sensitivity of group 1 was: 99% vancomycin, 95% rifampicin, 87% chloramphenicol, 76% tetracycline. Levels of co-trimoxazole, aminoglycosides, quinolones, β-lactams and macrolides decreased since 2007. The group 2 was very sensitive to chloramphenicol, cefuroxime, rifampicin, ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin/clavulanate. In group 3, to levofloxacin 93%, ciprofloxacin 89%, tobramycin 76%, but ceftazidime 53% and cefuroxime 29% decreased., Conclusions: None of the tested antibiotics could eradicate all possible conjunctival bacteria. Bacteria living permanently on the conjunctiva (group 1) have achieved higher resistance than the eventual colonizers., (Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Oftalmología. Published by Elsevier Espana. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: To identify the risk of patients undergoing cataract surgery of having pathogenic conjunctival bacteria associated with their systemic co-morbidities., Methods: Retrospective study of consecutive patients undergoing their first cataract operation from July 2005 to April 2010. Their preoperative conjunctival bacteria were cultured, identified, and classified in bacterial groups. Their co-morbidities were defined from their clinical data and the answers to systematic questions asked in the anaesthetic evaluation. The Microsoft Access databases of the two data sets were merged for carrying out the statistical analysis. Univariate association of each bacterial group with each co-morbidity was studied by using χ(2)-test for categorical data and Student's t-test for continuous variables. Also, logistic regression models were used adjusting for age and sex. SPSS statistic programme, version 18 was used for all these analyses. Endophthalmitis cases in this surgical series were searched., Results: In the 8333 selected patients, age was associated with increased conjunctival bacteria in all groups except for Streptococcus pneumoniae and Propionibacteriae. However, male sex was associated with these two groups and also with coagulase-negative Staphylococci, Corynebacterium xerosis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Gram-negative rods. After adjusting for age and sex, S. aureus was associated with diabetes, lung diseases, and renal and heart insufficiency; Gram-negative rods with smoking habit; Enterococci with diabetes; Streptococcus pneumoniae with kyphoscoliosis; and other Streptococci with diabetes and handicapped patients., Conclusion: The more pathogenic conjunctival bacteria were more likely associated with patients' co-morbidities, such as diabetes, lung diseases, renal and heart insufficiency, kyphoscoliosis, and smoking habit, than the less pathogenic ones.

A pilot-scale ultrafiltration membrane bioreactor (MBR) was used for the aerobic treatment of urban wastewater in four experimental stages influenced by seasonal temperature and different sets of operation conditions. The structure of the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) community was profiled by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE), based on the amplification and separation of partial ammonia-monoxygenase subunit A (amoA) genes. Canonical correspondence analysis revealed that temperature, hydraulic retention time and percentage of ammonia removal had a significant effect on the fingerprints of AOB communities. Phylogenetic analysis conducted on amoA/AmoA sequences of reamplified TGGE bands showed, however, that closely related ammonia-oxidizing populations inhabited the sludge of the MBR in all experimental stages. Nitrosomonas cluster 7 populations (N. europaea-N. eutropha cluster) prevailed under all conditions tested, even when the MBR was operated under complete biomass retention or at low temperatures, suggesting that the high ammonia concentrations in the system were determinant to select r-strategist AOB.

The effect of salinity on the hydrolytic enzymatic activities (acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, glucosidase, protease and esterase) released by the microorganisms in a submerged fixed bed bioreactor for real urban wastewater treatment was investigated. The influence of salt (NaCl) on the enzymatic activities was evaluated in four different experiments with concentrations of NaCl of 0, 3.7, 24.1 and 44.1g/L, remaining constant all other operating parameters of the bioreactor. The results show that enzymatic activities were reduced when the salinity was increased in the influent and consequently the biotransformation of organic matter in the submerged fixed bed bioreactor significantly decreased. A redundancy analysis was performed to evaluate the relationships between enzymatic activities and physic-chemical parameters analyzed in the influent. According to the results obtained with the Monte Carlo permutation test, salinity and sampling day significantly contributed to explain the variation of enzymatic activities, showing a negative correlation., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Several programs of organ and tissues transplantation have been developed for over a decade at the University Hospital., Objective: To describe long term complications and survival in the liver transplant program at the University Hospital, UANL., Material and Methods: The long term complications and survival were analyzed in the liver transplant program at the University Hospital Dr. José Eleuterio González in the period between 1991 and 2011., Results: Ninety six liver transplants were performed during this period, four of them received one re-transplant and one patient received 2 retransplants. Most common long term complications were metabolic 62%, bony 31% and infectious 28%. Median survival was 78 months., Conclusions: Liver transplant program at the University Hospital UANL has grown, being the most active in the state of Nuevo Leon, with 1-, 5- and 10-years survival of 66.1, 53.3 and 46.2%, respectively.

The electron transport chain (ETC) has become a promising pharmacological target as ETC impairment by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been detected in several diseases. Therefore, for a better understanding of the actions of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, it must be considered the interplay between the sources of ROS during disease, the chemical interconversions of ROS and their differential reactivity with ETC components. This review contrasts these aspects with available data about mitochondrial damage in specific diseases to give an insight into the importance of ROS chemistry in the rational use of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, putting emphasis on the case of MitoQ.

Purpose: To ascertain the conjunctival bacterial pattern of diabetics undergoing cataract operation to reduce the risk of postoperative endophthalmitis (PE)., Methods: An observational retrospective study of the conjunctival bacteria of consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery from July 2005 to November 2008. Records of patients having eye surgical prophylaxis in the 6 months before the culture and those patients having cataract operation combined with other surgical procedures were excluded. Aerobic and microaerobic cultures were carried out. Dade-Behring panels were used for bacterial identification. The database containing the isolated bacteria was linked to another Access database containing demographic and clinical data such as diabetes presence and baseline blood glucose and creatinine levels. The conjunctival bacteria of diabetics were compared with those of the non-diabetics. Epidat 3.1 program was used for statistical calculations., Results: From 5922 selected patients, 1325 (22.37%) knew they were diabetics (higher prevalence than expected). Among self-reported non-diabetics, 900 (15.2%) could be 'unknown' diabetics; another 274 had an impaired renal function; and 3423 non-diabetics joined the control group. Diabetics have a significantly higher prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, certain Streptococci, and Klebsiella sp. than non-diabetics. Diabetics and non-diabetics having a blood creatinine level above 105.2 mumol/l had an increased conjunctival bacterial prevalence; these groups had a higher mean age and men predominated., Conclusions: Diabetics have a conjunctival flora pattern whose increased bacteria are a predominant cause of many diabetic infections. An abnormally high blood creatinine level is an indicator of increased conjunctival colonisation in diabetics and non-diabetics.

Objectives: To describe the ultrasonographic findings in liver abscesses after the administration of a second generation agent. To perform the differential diagnosis of liver abscesses with other focal liver lesions., Material and Methods: We evaluated 28 liver abscesses in 5 patients before and after the administration of SonoVue. We also evaluated liver lesions in six patients in whom the differential diagnosis with liver abscess was considered in the baseline ultrasonographic examination., Results: A typical enhancement pattern consisting of peripheral ring enhancement in the arterial phase and absence of central enhancement was observed in 21 (75%) abscesses. In another 6 (21.4%) abscesses, arterial enhancement was seen in large areas of the lesion, while other areas showed no uptake. One case (3.6%) had a multiseptated pattern of enhancement. Segmental hepatic enhancement was observed in 6 abscesses. In the liver lesions in which the differential diagnosis with abscess was carried out, 5 of the 6 showed no enhancement in any phase. The other lesion, a cystic metastasis, had irregular peripheral enhancement in the arterial phase. None of these lesions had segmental hepatic enhancement in the arterial phase., Conclusions: Contrast administration improves the performance of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of liver abscesses. There are three patterns of enhancement and these correlate well with the findings at CT and MRI. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is very useful for defining the internal architecture of the abscess, which is important for choosing the type of treatment. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography also enables the differential diagnosis with other focal liver lesions.

A longitudinal study was conducted on two dairy farms to investigate the pattern of shedding of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in goats. Faecal samples were taken from 20 goat kids once weekly during the first 4 weeks of life and then once every month for the next 5 months of life, and from 18 replacement animals and 15 adults once every month for 12 months. The proportion of samples containing VTEC was higher for replacement animals and adults (85.7% and 78.7%, respectively) than for goat kids (25.4%). About 90% of the VTEC colonies isolated from healthy goats belonged to five serogroups (O33, O76, O126, O146 and O166) but the most frequent serogroups of these isolates, except one, were different in the two herds studied. E. coli O157:H7 was found in three goat kids on only one occasion. None of the VTEC isolates, except the three E. coli O157:H7 isolates, was eae-positive. The patterns of shedding of VTEC in goat kids were variable, but, in contrast, most of the replacement animals and adults were persistent VTEC shedders. Our results show that isolates of VTEC O33, O76, O126, O146 and O166 are adapted for colonising the intestine of goats but that, in contrast, infection with VTEC O157:H7 in goats seems to be transient.

We studied whether mitochondrial functions and Ca2+ metabolism were altered in Wistar Kyoto normotensive (WKY) and spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR). Ca2+ uptake was decreased in SHR compared to WKY rats. Accumulation of Ca2+ was more efficient in WKY than in SHR rats. mDeltaPsi was lower in SHR compared to WKY rats. Basal complex IV activity was higher in SHR than WKY rats, whereas basal L-citrulline production, an indicator of nitric oxide synthesis, was decreased in SHR and dependent on Ca2+ concentration (p<0.05). Impact of Ca2+ was counteracted by EGTA. These data show an age-dependent decreased mitochondrial functions in brain mitochondria during hypertension.

Purpose: To study the prevalence, characteristics, indications for and results of strabismus treatment secondary to congenital cataracts., Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of 21 cases from 29 with congenital cataracts with strabismus (unilateral in 11 and bilateral in 10 cases). In 20 patients surgery on the cataracts was performed, with an intraocular lens inserted in 15 patients. Botulinum toxin and/or strabismus surgery were deemed to be indicated when the deviation was stable after rehabilitation therapy. A good motor end result was considered when the final deviation was < or =5 degrees, and a good sensorial result was when there was no suppression in the Worth test even without stereopsis in the TNO test., Results: The strabismus prevalence was 72.4%. Strabismus was present before cataract surgery was performed in 12 cases, 8 with esotropia (ET) and 4 with exotropia (XT). Strabismus which appeared after cataract surgery was classified as 13 ET, 5 XT, 1 ET with vertical anisotropia in <>, and 2 XT with dissociated vertical deviation (DVD). The strabismus angle was variable in 6 patients and was not treated. The other 6 cases required strabismus treatment. Botulinum toxin was injected as the only treatment in 1 patient, strabismus surgery was performed in 4, and strabismus surgery and botulinum toxin were used in another case. The average age at the time of treatment was 5.2 years. The motor result was good in 5 cases (83.3%) and the sensorial result good in two (33.3%)., Conclusions: Strabismus secondary to congenital cataracts occurred in a significant number of patients and increased after cataract extraction. Esotropia occurred twice as often as exotropia. Strabismus surgery was not required in most of the cases. The motor results were better than sensorial results.

The effects of the amino acids D-ser, D-asp, and D-ala on lipoperoxidation under conditions of hypertension, alcoholism, and ammonemia in rat liver and kidney mitochondria were studied. Under normal conditions, D-alanine increased in 54% free radicals production in liver mitochondria (p < 0.05). The D-amino acids had no effect on kidney mitochondria. D-ser and D-ala increased lipoperoxidation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) as compared with their normotensive genetic control Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats (p < 0.05). During hypertension and in oxidative stress in the presence of calcium, only D-ala produced 46% and 29% free radicals in liver and kidney mitochondria (p < 0.05), respectively. During chronic alcoholism, D-ser increased lipoperoxidation in 80% in kidney mitochondria (p < 0.05), as compared to control. During ammonemia, D-ser produced 41% free radicals.

Liquid chromatography (LC) was the method chosen to evaluate the effects of high intensity pulsed electric fields (HIPEF), with different electric field intensities (25, 30, 35 and 40 kV/cm) and different treatment times (30-340 micros), on orange juice cis/trans carotenoid contents. In parallel, a conventional heat treatment (90 degrees C, 20 s) was applied to the orange juice in order to compare the effect on the carotenoid contents. HIPEF processing of orange juice is an alternative to the thermal treatment of pasteurization, provided that it is kept refrigerated, because, when the most extreme conditions of this kind of treatment are applied, the decrease in the concentration of carotenoids with vitamin A activity is very small, and also most of the carotenoids identified have a slightly increased concentration after application of the most intense treatments, although always less than in untreated fresh juice. In any case, pasteurization treatment causes a greater decrease in the concentration of most of the carotenoids identified and the carotenoids with vitamin A activity. The total carotenoid concentration decreased by 12.6% in pasteurized orange juice with respect to untreated fresh orange juice, as opposed to decreases of 9.6%, 6.3% or 7.8% when fields of 25, 30 or 40 kV/cm were applied. Orange juice treated with HIPEF shows a greater tendency towards the colour yellow and a lesser tendency towards red with respect to untreated orange juice, while the luminance of the juice remains practically invariable. This tendency is less than in pasteurized orange juice.

The present study performed in Spain was designed to investigate the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of enterococci in faecal and bulk tank milk samples from 222 healthy Murciano-Granadina dairy goats reared on 12 farms. Enterococci were isolated in 54.5% and 63.6% of the faecal and bulk tank milk samples, respectively. Enterococci were detected more frequently from goat kids (70%) than from replacement animals (44.4%) and adults (56.4%). Seven species were found in the faecal samples but the most common species detected were Enterococcus faecium (32.3%), Enterococcus faecalis (27.6%) and Enterococcus hiriae (22%). In contrast, only E. faecium and E. faecalis were found in the bulk tank milk samples. According to NCCLS (2002), of the 134 strains studied, 17 (12.7%) were resistant to at least 7 antimicrobials and 14 of these strains were resistant to vancomycin.

Purpose: To evaluate the visual and anatomical outcomes of macular hole surgery using phacoemulsification, vitrectomy and intraocular gas tamponade without the use of postoperative face down positioning., Methods: Phacoemulsification with an intraocular lens implant, followed by vitrectomy with internal limiting membrane peeling and perfluoropropane (C3F8), was performed in patients with stage 3 or 4 macular holes. After surgery, patients had to avoid the supine position for 15 days. Patients with a gas level <50% during the first week had a fluid-gas exchange. Visual acuity and closure of the macular hole were evaluated after 1 year of follow-up., Results: 20 eyes of 20 patients, aged 60 to 75 years (median age 68 years), were included in this study. The best initial visual acuity ranged from 0.05 to 0.13 (ETDRS), with the median being 0.06. The final visual acuity was 0.05 to 0.30 with a median of 0.10. A statistically significant improvement (p=0.001, Wilcoxon) was found. The anatomic postoperative results revealed 90% (n=18) of the macular holes were closed while 10% (n=2) were not., Conclusions: Macular hole surgery has, in general, good results and patients can achieve improvement in their visual acuity without the need for uncomfortable and unbearable post operative posture positions.

The bacterial diversity of a submerged filter, used for the removal of ammonia and phenol from an industrial wastewater with high salinity, was studied by a cultivation-independent approach based on PCR/TGGE (temperature-gradient gel electrophoresis). The wastewater treatment plant (laboratory scale) combined the nitrification and denitrification processes and consisted of two separated columns (one anoxic and one aerated) connected through a valve. The spatial diversity of bacterial communities in the plant biofilms was analysed by taking samples at four different heights in the system. TGGE profiles of PCR-amplified sequences of the 16 S rRNA gene (V3-hypervariable region) showed significant variations of the bacterial diversity, mainly depending on the concentration of O(2) along the system. Several bands separated by TGGE were reamplified and sequenced, in order to explore the composition of the microbial communities in the biofilms. Most of the sequenced bands (10 out of 13) were closely related to the 16 S rRNA gene of marine alpha-proteobacteria, mainly grouping in the periphery of the genus Roseobacter. Other sequences were related to those of gamma-proteobacteria, the nitrite oxidizer Nitrospira marina and anaerobic phenol-degrading bacteria of the Desulfobacteraceae.

Nitric oxide (NO*) plays an important role in various physiological processes. The aim of the present study was to investigate if brain mitochondrial nitric oxide synthase (mtNOS) is active and functional during hypertension. L-citrulline production, an indicator of nitric oxide synthesis, was concentration-dependent on L-arginine in all strains and all ages tested, and was inhibited by 7-Nitroindazole (7-NI). Brain mitochondria of 1 month-old (prehypertensive) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) exhibited a significantly (p < 0.05) low basal L-citrulline content as compared to age-matched Wistar (W) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. L-citrulline synthesis in SHR rats showed a significant (p < 0.01) low response to L-arginine in 3 and 7 months-old rats. Respiratory rates in states 3 and 4 increased with low L-arginine concentration in all strains and all ages. The results suggest that in rat brain mitochondria, L-citrulline synthesis is constant once age-related hypertension is installed and NO* does not regulate oxidative phosphorylation.

Faecal samples from 222 healthy dairy goats on 12 farms in Spain, as well as bulk tank milk samples of these farms, were screened for the presence of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). VTEC and EPEC were isolated in 47.7 and 7.7% of the animals, respectively. VTEC were isolated more frequently from adults and replacement animals than from goat kids. In contrast, EPEC were detected more frequently from goat kids than from replacement animals and adults. VTEC or EPEC strains were not detected in the bulk tank milk samples. Although a selective enrichment protocol was used, the serotype O157:H7 was not detected. The most frequent serotypes among the 106 VTEC strains isolated from goats were O5:H-, O76:H19, O126:H8, O146:H21, ONT:H- and ONT:H21. None VTEC strain was eae-positive. The absence of the eae gene in the VTEC strains could indicate that these strains are less virulent for humans that the classical eae-positive enterohaemorrhagic E. coli types. However, 16% of VTEC strains isolated from healthy goats belonged to serotypes associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome in humans. The ehxA gene was detected in 84.9 and 52.9% of the VTEC and EPEC from goats, respectively. The beta1, theta/gamma2 and zeta were the most frequent intimin types among the 17 EPEC strains studied and the most prevalent serotypes of these strains were O156:H25 and O177:H11. Our data show that in Spain healthy goats are an important reservoir of VTEC and EPEC, and a potential source of infection for humans.

Fidel Pagés Miravé (1886-1923) was a well-known Spanish military surgeon and among the first in the world to pioneer lumbar epidural anesthesia in 1920. Between 1931 and 1936, surgeons of various nationalities spread the use of lumbar epidural anesthesia worldwide. This second debut of metameric anesthesia has given us amusing anecdotes and stories of singular old- and new-world personalities who left a wealth of literature that deserves to be reviewed and valued. This review will use their original words and idiomatic expressions which, though archaic, have beauty and significance. Special emphasis is put on dates in comparisons. Because well-known names have been associated with lumbar epidural anesthesia, this review closes with the biographies of illustrious European and Latin American surgeons who played a major role in spreading the technique in the United States of America and other parts of the world.

Objective: To ascertain the effectiveness of various antibiotic eye-drops in eradicating the preoperative conjunctival bacteria of patients undergoing cataract surgery and to differentiate the failure of these treatments due to the lack of "in vitro" sensibility from other possible causes., Methods: Retrospective study of the preoperative conjunctival flora of 4876 consecutive patients; "in vitro" sensibility was analysed by grouping bacteria into eight categories; the susceptibility percentages of the total conjunctival flora to five antibacterial agents were compared. The effectiveness of the eye-drop treatment with a single sensitive tested antibiotic (Aureomicin, Chloramphenicol, Gentamicin, Norfloxacin or Rifamicin) was evaluated in patients with pathogen bacteria., Results: The "in vitro" sensibilities of Chloramphenicol (84.4%) and Rifampicin (83.9%) were similar (p < 0.01) and statistically higher than those of the other antibiotics. Nevertheless, the Chloramphenicol pathogen bacterium treatment failed in 21.2% of cases, in spite of being "in vitro" sensitive. Gentamicin presented the best effectiveness for eradicating Staphylococcus aureus and Gram (-) rods. Aureomicin had the best effectiveness against Streptococcus and Gram (-) diplococci. Rifamicin was the most effective for eradicating the whole predominant Gram (+) flora. The effectiveness of all five antibiotics decreased when there was more than one pathogen., Conclusions: None of the five antibiotic monotherapies maintains the patients' conjunctive free of pathogen bacteria 48 hours after finishing the treatment; however, there are bacterial patrons whose treatment could be optimised. The existence of polymicrobial flora decreases the effectiveness of the treatment.

We studied the role of the D-amino acids (D-aa) D-serine, D-alanine, D-methionine, D-aspartate, D-tyrosine and D-arginine on rat liver mitochondria. The stability of D-amino acids, mitochondrial swelling, transmembrane potential and oxygen consumption were studied under oxidative stress conditions in rat liver mitochondria. In the presence of glutamate-malate all D-aas salts increased mitochondrial swelling, while in the presence of succinate plus rotenone only D-ala, D-arg and D-ser, induced mitochondrial swelling. The transmembrane potential (deltapsi) was decreased in the presence of 1 microM Ca(2+). The D-aas inhibited oxygen consumption in state 3. The D-aa studied exerted effects on mitochondria via an increase of free radicals production.

Purpose: To compare the results of combined phacotrabeculectomy by means of a one-site versus two-site approach., Materials and Methods: A retrospective study has been performed over 35 glaucomatous patients with a coexisting cataract, treated with a one-site (19 cases) or a two-site (16 cases) phacotrabeculectomy. First, effectiveness of both procedures has been proved by statisticly analysing the IOP and visual acuity changes after surgery. Normal distribution, homogeneity and homocedasticity from both groups have been checked. Finally, visual acuity and 6-month postoperatively IOP among both groups have been compared by means of a <>., Results: No statistical differences among both procedures have been found (p>0.05). Also, postoperative complications were similar among groups., Conclusions: Combined trabeculectomy and phacoemulsification surgery is a useful treatment for glaucomatous patients with coexisting cataract, and provides good visual and ocular-pressure results. One-site and two-site surgical approachs provide the same six-month follow-up results.

Trichoderma atroviride parasitizes a large variety of phytopathogenic fungi. This characteristic has allowed its use as a biological control agent. The production of hydrolytic enzymes appears to be a key element in the parasitic process. Among the enzymes released by Trichoderma, the proteinase Prb1 plays a major role. We show here that the corresponding gene ( prb1) is subject to nitrogen catabolite repression. Accordingly, induction of prb1 transcription by Rhizoctonia solani cell walls and by osmotic stress requires release from a repressed condition, which is determined by nitrogen availability. Furthermore, the transcription pattern of the prb1 gene was not affected when an inhibitor of p38-Hog1, a regulator of the response to osmotic shock, was used. In contrast, a MEK1/2 (MAPK/ERK) inhibitor blocked prb1 transcription in response to nitrogen limitation, indicating that the pathway employed in the nitrogen response involves proteins similar to p42-p44. Fusion of the prb1 promoter to the gfp reporter gene allowed the detection of a novel regulatory element, providing an initial insight into the nature of the sites that control prb1 expression.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) together with immunological characteristics of patients with occlusive retinal vascular disorders (ORVD) with and without risk factors (systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, and embolizing cardiac disease) for retinal occlusions compared to patients with ocular inflammatory diseases (OID) and healthy controls., Methods: Sixty-eight patients with ORVD, 45 patients with OID, and 49 healthy persons were prospectively studied. Serologic studies included determination of anticardiolipin antibodies, lupus anticoagulant, antinuclear antibodies (ANA), levels of complement 4 and 3, total hemolytic complement (CH100), and circulating immune complexes (CIC)., Results: Elevated levels of aPL were detected in 16 (24%) patients with ORVD compared to 4 (9%) patients with OID (OR 3.15, p < 0.05) and 4 (8%) controls (OR 3.46, p < 0.05). No significant differences were seen in the prevalence of aPL comparing risk factor-positive patients with ORVD (8 of 33, 24%) to risk factor-free patients with ORVD (8 of 35, 23%). A higher frequency of positive ANA, elevated IgA, and increased CIC were detected in aPL positive patients with ORVD compared to patients with OID., Conclusion: Detection of aPL in patients with ORVD may help determine which patients are eligible for prophylactic treatment. An immunologic profile characterized by high prevalence of ANA, CIC, and elevated IgA distinguishes ORVD patients with aPL from inflammatory ophthalmologic disorders.