Uso y efectividad de los fitofarmacos. Policlínico Hermanos Cruz. Pinar del Río. 2004. Use and effectiveness of herbal medicine. “Hermanos Cruz” Outpatient Clinic. Pinar del Río-2004

Las plantas medicinales son una fuente de sabiduría milenaria. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en los meses de noviembre del 2003 a enero del 2004, con el objetivo de evaluar el uso y efectividad de los fitofármacos, de una población de 468 pacientes se tomó una muestra de 200, pertenecientes al consultorio 58 del policlínico Hermanos Cruz de Pinar del Río, se aplicó una encuesta donde las principales variables fueron: conocimiento y utilización de los fitofármacos, frecuencia de uso, afecciones para las cuales se emplean, fitofármacos más utilizados y criterio de efectividad. La información se obtuvo a partir de dicha encuesta y entrevistas previo consentimiento y aprobación de los participantes. A los resultados se les aplicó el método porcentual aritmético. Dentro de ellos se pueden mencionar que el 100 % de la población conoce y usa los fitofármacos, las afecciones respiratorias e hipertensión arterial, los trastornos nerviosos y las diarreas son las enfermedades donde más se usan los medicamentos elaborados a partir de plantas medicinales. El mayor número de pacientes encuestados consideran efectivo este método de tratamiento. Palabras clave: FITOFÁRMACOS, PLANTAS MEDICINALES. ABSTRACT A descriptive study was aimed at assessing the use and effectiveness of the herbal medicine was conducted during November 2003 to January 2004. From a population 0f 486 patients a sample composed by 200 who belonged to Doctor's Office No. 58 at Hermanos Cruz Outpatient Clinic was taken. A survey was applied where the main variates were: experience and use of herbal medicine, frequency of use, diseases treated and criteria of effectiveness. Information was recorded taking into consideration the results of the survey and the interview to the patients previously requested. An arithmetical percentage method was used to process the results obtained, concluding the 100 % of the population studied knew and used herbal medicine. Respiratory diseases, hypertension, nervous system disorders and diarrhea were among the entities more treated using this therapy. The majority of the patients inquired considered the effectiveness of this method of treatment. Key words: HERBAL MEDICINE, HERBS

Uso y efectividad de los fitofarmacos. Policlínico Hermanos Cruz. Pinar del Río. 2004. Use and effectiveness of herbal medicine. “Hermanos Cruz” Outpatient Clinic. Pinar del Río-2004

Las plantas medicinales son una fuente de sabiduría milenaria. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo en los meses de noviembre del 2003 a enero del 2004, con el objetivo de evaluar el uso y efectividad de los fitofármacos, de una población de 468 pacientes se tomó una muestra de 200, pertenecientes al consultorio 58 del policlínico Hermanos Cruz de Pinar del Río, se aplicó una encuesta donde las principales variables fueron: conocimiento y utilización de los fitofármacos, frecuencia de uso, afecciones para las cuales se emplean, fitofármacos más utilizados y criterio de efectividad. La información se obtuvo a partir de dicha encuesta y entrevistas previo consentimiento y aprobación de los participantes. A los resultados se les aplicó el método porcentual aritmético. Dentro de ellos se pueden mencionar que el 100 % de la población conoce y usa los fitofármacos, las afecciones respiratorias e hipertensión arterial, los trastornos nerviosos y las diarreas son las enfermedades donde más se usan los medicamentos elaborados a partir de plantas medicinales. El mayor número de pacientes encuestados consideran efectivo este método de tratamiento. Palabras clave: FITOFÁRMACOS, PLANTAS MEDICINALES. ABSTRACT A descriptive study was aimed at assessing the use and effectiveness of the herbal medicine was conducted during November 2003 to January 2004. From a population 0f 486 patients a sample composed by 200 who belonged to Doctor's Office No. 58 at Hermanos Cruz Outpatient Clinic was taken. A survey was applied where the main variates were: experience and use of herbal medicine, frequency of use, diseases treated and criteria of effectiveness. Information was recorded taking into consideration the results of the survey and the interview to the patients previously requested. An arithmetical percentage method was used to process the results obtained, concluding the 100 % of the population studied knew and used herbal medicine. Respiratory diseases, hypertension, nervous system disorders and diarrhea were among the entities more treated using this therapy. The majority of the patients inquired considered the effectiveness of this method of treatment. Key words: HERBAL MEDICINE, HERBS

Impact of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (niv) in critical patients with influenza (H1N1) PDM09

The use of non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV) in patients with influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 admitted to intensive care units (ICU) has been controversial

Chondroitin sulphate mediated fusion of brain: neural folds in rat embryons

Producción CientíficaPrevious studies have demonstrated that during neural fold fusion in different species, an apical extracellular material rich in glycoconjugates is involved. However, the composi- tion and the biological role of this material remain undeter- mined. In this paper, we show that this extracellular matrix in rat increases notably prior to contact between the neural folds, suggesting the dynamic behaviour of the secretory process. Immunostaining has allowed us to demonstrate that this extracellular matrix contains chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan (CSPG), with a spatio-temporal distribution pattern, suggesting a direct relationship with the process of adhesion. The degree of CSPG involvement in cephalic neu- ral fold fusion in rat embryos was determined by treatment with specific glycosidases. In vitro rat embryo culture and microinjection techniques were employed to carry out se- lective digestion, with chondroitinase AC, of the CSPG on the apical surface of the neural folds; this was done immediately prior to the bonding of the cephalic neural folds. In all the treated embryos, cephalic defects of neural fold fusion could tant role in the fusion of the cephalic neural folds in rat em- bryos, which implies that this proteoglycan could be in- volved in cellular recognition and adhesion. Abbreviations used in this paper CSPG chondroitin sulphate proteoglycan HSPG heparan sulphate proteoglycan PBS phosphate-buffered saline SEM scanning electron microscopy be detected. These results show that CSPG plays an impor

Procalcitonin (PCT) levels for ruling-out bacterial coinfection in ICU patients with influenza: A CHAID decision-tree analysis

Objectives: To define which variables upon ICU admission could be related to the presence of coinfection using CHAID (Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detection) analysis. Methods: A secondary analysis from a prospective, multicentre, observational study (2009-2014) in ICU patients with confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 infection. We assessed the potential of biomarkers and clinical variables upon admission to the ICU for coinfection diagnosis using CHAID analysis. Performance of cut-off points obtained was determined on the basis of the binominal distributions of the true (+) and true (−) results. Results: Of the 972 patients included, 196 (20.3%) had coinfection. Procalcitonin (PCT; ng/mL 2.4 vs. 0.5, p < 0.001), but not C-reactive protein (CRP; mg/dL 25 vs. 38.5; p = 0.62) was higher in patients with coinfection. In CHAID analyses, PCT was the most important variable for coinfection. PCT <0.29 ng/mL showed high sensitivity (Se = 88.2%), low Sp (33.2%) and high negative predictive value (NPV = 91.9%). The absence of shock improved classification capacity. Thus, for PCT <0.29 ng/mL, the Se was 84%, the Sp 43% and an NPV of 94% with a post-test probability of coinfection of only 6%. Conclusion: PCT has a high negative predictive value (94%) and lower PCT levels seems to be a good tool for excluding coinfection, particularly for patients without shock

Development of an activity disease score in patients with uveitis (UVEDAI)

To develop a disease activity index for patients with uveitis (UVEDAI) encompassing the relevant domains of disease activity considered important among experts in this field. The steps for designing UVEDAI were: (a) Defining the construct and establishing the domains through a formal judgment of experts, (b) A two-round Delphi study with a panel of 15 experts to determine the relevant items, (c) Selection of items: A logistic regression model was developed that set ocular inflammatory activity as the dependent variable. The construct "uveitis inflammatory activity" was defined as any intraocular inflammation that included external structures (cornea) in addition to uvea. Seven domains and 15 items were identified: best-corrected visual acuity, inflammation of the anterior chamber (anterior chamber cells, hypopyon, the presence of fibrin, active posterior keratic precipitates and iris nodules), intraocular pressure, inflammation of the vitreous cavity (vitreous haze, snowballs and snowbanks), central macular edema, inflammation of the posterior pole (the presence and number of choroidal/retinal lesions, vascular inflammation and papillitis), and global assessment from both (patient and physician). From all the variables studied in the multivariate model, anterior chamber cell grade, vitreous haze, central macular edema, inflammatory vessel sheathing, papillitis, choroidal/retinal lesions and patient evaluation were included in UVEDAI. UVEDAI is an index designed to assess the global ocular inflammatory activity in patients with uveitis. It might prove worthwhile to motorize the activity of this extraarticular manifestation of some rheumatic diseases

SARS-CoV-2 viral load in nasopharyngeal swabs is not an independent predictor of unfavorable outcome

The aim was to assess the ability of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load at first patient’s hospital evaluation to predict unfavorable outcomes. We conducted a prospective cohort study including 321 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19 through RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swabs. Quantitative Synthetic SARS-CoV-2 RNA cycle threshold values were used to calculate the viral load in log10 copies/mL. Disease severity at the end of follow up was categorized into mild, moderate, and severe. Primary endpoint was a composite of intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or death (n = 85, 26.4%). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load over the second quartile (≥ 7.35 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.003) and second tertile (≥ 8.27 log10 copies/mL, p = 0.01) were associated to unfavorable outcome in the unadjusted logistic regression analysis. However, in the final multivariable analysis, viral load was not independently associated with an unfavorable outcome. Five predictors were independently associated with increased odds of ICU admission and/or death: age ≥ 70 years, SpO2, neutrophils > 7.5 × 103/µL, lactate dehydrogenase ≥ 300 U/L, and C-reactive protein ≥ 100 mg/L. In summary, nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 viral load on admission is generally high in patients with COVID-19, regardless of illness severity, but it cannot be used as an independent predictor of unfavorable clinical outcome

Dendritic cell deficiencies persist seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (SARS-CoV)-2 infection induces an exacerbated inflammation driven by innate immunity components. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in the defense against viral infections, for instance plasmacytoid DCs (pDCs), have the capacity to produce vast amounts of interferon-alpha (IFN-α). In COVID-19 there is a deficit in DC numbers and IFN-α production, which has been associated with disease severity. In this work, we described that in addition to the DC deficiency, several DC activation and homing markers were altered in acute COVID-19 patients, which were associated with multiple inflammatory markers. Remarkably, previously hospitalized and nonhospitalized patients remained with decreased numbers of CD1c+ myeloid DCs and pDCs seven months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the expression of DC markers such as CD86 and CD4 were only restored in previously nonhospitalized patients, while no restoration of integrin β7 and indoleamine 2,3-dyoxigenase (IDO) levels were observed. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the immunological sequelae of COVID-19

TOMO-ETNA experiment at Etna volcano: Activities on land

In the present paper we describe the on-land field operations integrated in the TOMO-ETNA experiment carried out in June-November 2014 at Mt. Etna volcano and surrounding areas. This terrestrial campaign consists in the deployment of 90 short-period portable three-component seismic stations, 17 broadband seismometers and the coordination with 133 permanent seismic station belonging to Italy’s Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV). This temporary seismic network recorded active and passive seismic sources. Active seismic sources were generated by an array of air-guns mounted in the Spanish oceanographic vessel “Sarmiento de Gamboa” with a power capacity of up to 5200 cubic inches. In total more than 26,000 shots were fired and more than 450 local and regional earthquakes were recorded. We describe the whole technical procedure followed to guarantee the success of this complex seismic experiment. We started with the description of the location of the potential safety places to deploy the portable network and the products derived from this search (a large document including full characterization of the sites, owners and indication of how to arrive to them). A full technical description of the seismometers and seismic sources is presented. We show how the portable seismic network was deployed, maintained and recovered in different stages. The large international collaboration of this experiment is reflected in the participation of more than 75 researchers, technicians and students from different institutions and countries in the on-land activities. The main objectives of the experiment were achieved with great success.PublishedS04272SR. VULCANI - Servizi e ricerca per la SocietàJCR Journalope