Análisis mecánico del brazo de biela mediante norma ASTM e8

Dos brazos de biela fueron analizados, uno nuevo y uno usado. Ambos pertenecientes al vehículo de marca Isuzu modelo Trooper año 1984. El objetivo fue determinar las propiedades mecánicas y las cargas máximas que puede soportar el elemento. Para esto, se realizaron ensayos de tracción bajo la norma ASTM E8, ensayos de compresión y un ensayo de carga a la rotura en la Máquina universal de ensayos que tiene una capacidad de 120.000 lbf/60 TON. Los resultados mostraron que el material de los brazos de biela es un acero AISI 4340 OQT 1300. Las propiedades mecánicas del elemento mejoraron con el tiempo y la temperatura de funcionamiento del motor debido al tratamiento térmico de normalización. En caso de que los esfuerzos aplicados al brazo de biela superen las cargas máximas registradas, el elemento puede sufrir una falla o deformación. A partir de los análisis realizados se determinó que el brazo de biela usado se encuentra en condiciones óptimas para ser utilizado en una reparación de motor. Asegurando así el adecuado funcionamiento y evitando el reemplazo del elemento, lo que da como resultado un ahorro económico. &nbsp

Lymphedema and nutrition: A review

Nutrition is considered a basic component in the management of any vascular disease. Lymphedema is characterised by an increase of interstitial fluid due to a lymphatic system morphological and/or functional alteration. Therapeutic management of lymphedema includes a multi-faceted approach based on compression and physiotherapy mainly. Weight control and antiinflammatory and anti-edema diet are two additional necessary components of the holistic therapy in presence of primary or secondary limb lymphedema. This narrative review provides the available information derived from the scientific literature on nutrition in lymphedema, which anyway lacks robust evidence. Additional information and speculations are provided on the role of food, diet, nutraceuticals and fasting on the basic processes at the root of the chronic progressive degeneration of tissue lymph stasis, i.e. weight excess, inflammation, edema, fibroadiposis. More targeted and randomized studies are needed in order to assess and standardise the obvious, so far neglected, role of nutrition in lymphedema patients

Maqui and Omega 3: effects on lipid profile, oxidative stress levels and psycho-physical items in human subjects

Aims: to assess short-term efficacy of supplementation with Maqui (Aristotelia Chilensis (Mol.Stuntz)), a polyphenol with antioxidant power, and EPA/DHA concerning metabolism, oxidative stress and mental/physical state. Patients and Methods: a pilot prospective observational clinical/laboratory study was performed on 17 apparently healthy subjects (8 males and 9 females, mean age 47 years). All subjects received for two months: a) Maqui 600 mg per day and b) 360 mg of EPA and 240 mg of DHA (salmon oil) daily. At day 0 and day 60 all subjects underwent nine laboratory tests related to inflammation, metabolism (lipid profile mainly) and oxidative stress parameters. Pre-post treatment weight and BMI was calculated. A few physical and mental parameters were assessed by means of Short-Form 12 questionnaire. Statistical analysis was applied to the resulting data through Wilcoxon test and t-paired test. Results: laboratory results before and after Maqui + EPA/DHA supplementation were respectively (mean and p-value for the comparison): total cholesterol 228.8/199.8 mg/dl, p=0.23; low density lipoproteins 127.4/122.1 mg/dl, p=0.13; high density lipoproteins 59.1/57.6 mg/dl, p=0.25; Reactive C Protein 0.18/0.09 mg/dl, p=0.32; triglycerides 106.1/91.1 mg/dl p=0.09, glycemia 92.9/92.8 mg/dl p= 0.92; total free radicals 338.0/303.6 U.Carr., p=0.002; serum anti-oxidant capacity 2075/2190 umol/l, p= 0.04; oxidized lipoproteins 641.8/553.1 uEq/l, p=0.10. SF12 physical and mental items (mean values and SD) were 51.2 (+/- 6.2) and 41.2 (+/- 3,3) at day 0 and 54.6 (+/- 11.6) and 47.2 (+/- 9.7) at day 60 respectively. One case of transient constipation was recorded. Conclusions: daily supplementation with Maqui 600 mg + Omega 3 fatty acids (EPA 360 mg + DHA 240 mg) in apparently healthy middle-aged subjects resulted in a statistically significant improvement of oxidative stress parameters. An overall (non statistically significant) improvement of dysmetabolism biomarkers was achieved. Mental and physical parameters have mildly improved

Sjögren's syndrome: comparison among the main imaging techniques in the study of major salivary glands

Sjögren's syndrome (SS) is a chronic inflammatory disease with an autoimmune etiology, that affects exocrine glands, in particular salivary and lacrimal glands. Among the diagnostic criteria of SS, imaging techniques play an important role. The aim of our study is to compare three imaging techniques, such as sonography, scintigraphy and sialography in the evaluation of major salivary glands. The use of the these techniques is of great importance for the diagnosis of SS. Sonography is the most frequently used for its prompt execution, non invasivity, great acceptance by the patient and low cost. In the diagnostic patient management of SS, sonography results are eventually confirmed by the other imaging techniques, sialography and scintigraph

A phlebo-lymphology humanitarian trip to Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Amigos de Salud and Vene e Linfatici Foundation took part in a volunteer medical trip in Nicaragua. A detailed description of the provided healthcare is reported

Il progetto Lab2Go per la diffusione della pratica laboratoriale nelle Scuole Secondarie di II grado

Even if laboratory practice is essential for all scientific branches of knowledge, it is often neglected at High School, due to lack of time and/or resources. To establish a closer contact between school and experimental sciences, Sapienza Università di Roma and the Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare (INFN) launched the Lab2Go project, with the goal of spreading laboratory practice among students and teachers in high schools

High rate of recurrence after lobectomy for solitary thyroid nodule

Objective: To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients treated by lobectomy for solitary thyroid nodule. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: University hospital, Patients: 83 patients admitted with a clinical diagnosis of solitary thyroid nodule. Interventions: Preoperative ultrasonography showed a solitary nodule in 32 patients and this finding was confirmed intraoperatively in 24 cases (77%). 59 patients with multinodular goitres were treated by total thyroidectomy and 24 with solitary nodule by lobectomy. Main outcome measures: Postoperative complications and freedom from nodule recurrence and/or parenchymal irregularity. Results: One patient after lobectomy and 3 after total thyroidectomy developed temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Postoperative temporary hypoparathyroidism occurred in 13 patients (22%) after total thyroidectomy and in no patient after lobectomy (p = 0.02). Neither permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury nor permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred after either procedure. Among patients who underwent lobectomy. 6 had an adenoma and IS had a nodular hyperplasia. At 4-year follow-up, the freedom rate from any thyroid nodule recurrence or parenchymal irregularity was 44.7%. and the freedom rate from nodular recurrence was 74%. Men tended to have a 4-year freedom rate from nodular relapse poorer than women (48% vs. 87%, p = 0.07). Nodular recurrence occurred in one patient operated on for an adenoma. and all the other recurrences occurred in patient,. with nodular hyperplasia, Conclusions: The mid-term freedom rate from thyroid nodule recurrence or parenchymal irregularity after lobectomy for solitary nodule of the thyroid is unsatisfactory. This observation calls for a better evaluation of long-term results after lobectomy for this condition and identification of risk factors predictive of recurrence. This would enable a more appropriate preoperative selection of patients undergoing lobectomy, indicating total thyroidectomy for those patients with solitary nodule at high risk of recurrence

Randomized study on oral administration of calcitriol to prevent. symptomatic hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy

Background: Symptomatic hypocalcemia remains the main postoperative complication, after total thyroidectomy. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the role of oral supplementation of calcitriol and calcium salts in preventing severe postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy. Methods: A. consecutive series. of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy followed by administration of 500 mg of calcium salts 3 times per day were randomized to 3 different postoperative medical treatments: in group A, .5 mu g of calcitriol twice per day was administered to 104 patients; in group B,. 1 mu g of calcitriol twice per day was administered to 111 patients; and in group C, 202 patients did not receive calcitriol. Results: The rate of postoperative tetany in group A was 2.9 %, in group B was 0 %, and in group C was 7.4 % (P = .03) and the rate of paresthesias was 28.8 %, 17.1 %, and 22.3 %, respectively (P = .19). At discontinuation of calcitriol/calcium salts treatment, intact parathyroid hormone levels did not significantly differ from the preoperative levels. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the curve for serum concentration of calcium in predicting postoperative tetany was .749, .858 and.862 on the first, second, and third postoperative day, respectively. The best cut-off value of calcemia for prediction tetany was 7.5 mg/dL, and the rate of severe hypocalcemia on the third postoperative day was 23.1 % in group A, 9.9 % in group B, and 27.2 % in group C (P = .001). Conclusions: Oral administration of 1 mu g of calcitriol twice per day and 500 mg of calcium salts 3 times per day after total thyroidectomy significantly decreases the risk of severe postoperative hypocalcemia. (c) 2005 Excerpta Medica Inc. All rights reserved