83 research outputs found
Basal cell carcinoma appearing in a facial nevus sebaceous of Jadassohn: dermoscopic features
Heart and systemic effects of statin pretreatment in a rat model of abdominal sepsis. Assessment by Tc99m-sestamibi biodistribition
PURPOSE:
To evaluate the heart and the Tc-99m-sestamibi biodistribution after statin pretreatment in a rat model of abdominal sepsis.
METHODS:
Twenty-four Wistar rats were randomly distributed into four groups (n=6 per group): 1) sepsis with simvastatin treatment, 2) sepsis with vehicle, 3) sham control with simvastatin and 4) sham control with vehicle. 24 hours after cecal ligation and puncture rats received 1.0MBq of Tc-99m-sestamibi i.v. 30min after, animals were euthanized for ex-vivo tissue counting and myocardium histological analysis.
RESULTS:
Myocardial histologic alterations were not detected 24 hours post-sepsis. There was significantly increased cardiac Tc-99m-sestamibi activity in the sepsis group with simvastatin treatment (1.90.3%ID/g, p<0.001) in comparison to the sepsis group+vehicle (1.00.2% ID/g), control sham group+ simvastatin (1.20.3% ID/g) and control sham group (1.30.2% ID/g). Significant Tc-99m-sestamibi activity in liver, kidney and lungs was also detected in the sepsis group treated with simvastatinin comparison to the other groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
Statin treatment altered the biodistribution of Tc-99m-sestamibi with increased cardiac and solid organ activity in rats with abdominal sepsis, while no impact on controls. Increased myocardial tracer activity may be a result of a possible protection effect due to increased tissue perfusion mediated by statins
Action of topical mometasone on the pigmented halos of micrografting in patients with vitiligo
Integral strategy to supportive care in breast cancer survivors through occupational therapy and a m-health system: design of a randomized clinical trial
Background: Technological support using e-health mobile applications (m-health) is a promising strategy to improve
the adherence to healthy lifestyles in breast cancer survivors (excess in energy intake or low physical activity are
determinants of the risk of recurrence, second cancers and cancer mortality). Moreover, cancer rehabilitation
programs supervised by health professionals are needed due to the inherent characteristics of these breast cancer
patients. Our main objective is to compare the clinical efficacy of a m-health lifestyle intervention system alone versus
an integral strategy to improve Quality of Life in breast cancer survivors.
Methods: This therapeutic superiority study will use a two-arm, assessor blinded parallel RCT design. Women will be
eligible if: they are diagnosed of stage I, II or III-A breast cancer; are between 25 and 75 years old; have a Body Mass
Index > 25 kg/m2; they have basic ability to use mobile apps; they had completed adjuvant therapy except for
hormone therapy; and they have some functional shoulder limitations. Participants will be randomized to one of
the following groups: integral group will use a mobile application (BENECA APP) and will receive a face-to-face
rehabilitation (8-weeks); m-health group will use the BENECA app for 2-months and will received usual care
information. Study endpoints will be assessed after 8 weeks and 6 months. The primary outcome will be Quality
of Life measured by The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core
and breast module. The secondary outcomes: body composition; upper-body functionality (handgrip, Disability of the
Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire, goniometry); cognitive function (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Trail Making
Test); anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale); physical fitness (Short version of the Minnesota
Leisure Time Physical Activity Questionnaire, Self-Efficacy Scale for Physical Activity); accelerometry and lymphedema.
Discussion: This study has been designed to seek to address the new needs for support and treatment of breast cancer
survivors, reflecting the emerging need to merge new low cost treatment options with much-needed involvement of
health professionals in this type of patients.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02817724 (date of registration: 22/06/2016).The study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness
(Plan Estatal de I + D + I 2013-2016), Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria del Instituto
de Salud Carlos III (PI14/01627), Fondos Estructurales de la Unión Europea (FEDER)
and by the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU14/01069). This is part of a Ph.D.
Thesis conducted in the Clinical Medicine and Public Health Doctoral Studies of
the University of Granada, Spain
Inflammatory responses and intestinal injury development during acute Trypanosoma cruzi infection are associated with the parasite load
MIRRAGGE – Minimum Information Required for Reproducible AGGregation Experiments
Reports on phase separation and amyloid formation for multiple proteins and aggregation-prone peptides are recurrently used to explore the molecular mechanisms associated with several human diseases. The information conveyed by these reports can be used directly in translational investigation, e.g., for the design of better drug screening strategies, or be compiled in databases for benchmarking novel aggregation-predicting algorithms. Given that minute protocol variations determine different outcomes of protein aggregation assays, there is a strong urge for standardized descriptions of the different types of aggregates and the detailed methods used in their production. In an attempt to address this need, we assembled the Minimum Information Required for Reproducible Aggregation Experiments (MIRRAGGE) guidelines, considering first-principles and the established literature on protein self-assembly and aggregation. This consensus information aims to cover the major and subtle determinants of experimental reproducibility while avoiding excessive technical details that are of limited practical interest for non-specialized users. The MIRRAGGE table (template available in Supplementary Information) is useful as a guide for the design of new studies and as a checklist during submission of experimental reports for publication. Full disclosure of relevant information also enables other researchers to reproduce results correctly and facilitates systematic data deposition into curated databases
Can the understory affect the Hymenoptera parasitoids in a Eucalyptus plantation?
The understory in forest plantations can increase richness and diversity of natural enemies due to greater plant species richness. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that the presence of the understory and climatic season in the region (wet or dry) can increase the richness and abundance of Hymenoptera parasitoids in Eucalyptus plantations, in the municipality of Belo Oriente, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. In each eucalyptus cultivation (five areas of cultivation) ten Malaise traps were installed, five with the understory and five without it. A total of 9,639 individuals from 30 families of the Hymenoptera parasitoids were collected, with Mymaridae, Scelionidae, Encyrtidae and Braconidae being the most collected ones with 4,934, 1,212, 619 and 612 individuals, respectively. The eucalyptus stands with and without the understory showed percentage of individuals 45.65% and 54.35% collected, respectively. The understory did not represent a positive effect on the overall abundance of the individuals Hymenoptera in the E. grandis stands, but rather exerted a positive effect on the specific families of the parasitoids of this order
Rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART): study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
BACKGROUND:
Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is associated with high in-hospital mortality. Alveolar recruitment followed by ventilation at optimal titrated PEEP may reduce ventilator-induced lung injury and improve oxygenation in patients with ARDS, but the effects on mortality and other clinical outcomes remain unknown. This article reports the rationale, study design, and analysis plan of the Alveolar Recruitment for ARDS Trial (ART).
METHODS/DESIGN:
ART is a pragmatic, multicenter, randomized (concealed), controlled trial, which aims to determine if maximum stepwise alveolar recruitment associated with PEEP titration is able to increase 28-day survival in patients with ARDS compared to conventional treatment (ARDSNet strategy). We will enroll adult patients with ARDS of less than 72 h duration. The intervention group will receive an alveolar recruitment maneuver, with stepwise increases of PEEP achieving 45 cmH2O and peak pressure of 60 cmH2O, followed by ventilation with optimal PEEP titrated according to the static compliance of the respiratory system. In the control group, mechanical ventilation will follow a conventional protocol (ARDSNet). In both groups, we will use controlled volume mode with low tidal volumes (4 to 6 mL/kg of predicted body weight) and targeting plateau pressure 6430 cmH2O. The primary outcome is 28-day survival, and the secondary outcomes are: length of ICU stay; length of hospital stay; pneumothorax requiring chest tube during first 7 days; barotrauma during first 7 days; mechanical ventilation-free days from days 1 to 28; ICU, in-hospital, and 6-month survival. ART is an event-guided trial planned to last until 520 events (deaths within 28 days) are observed. These events allow detection of a hazard ratio of 0.75, with 90% power and two-tailed type I error of 5%. All analysis will follow the intention-to-treat principle.
DISCUSSION:
If the ART strategy with maximum recruitment and PEEP titration improves 28-day survival, this will represent a notable advance to the care of ARDS patients. Conversely, if the ART strategy is similar or inferior to the current evidence-based strategy (ARDSNet), this should also change current practice as many institutions routinely employ recruitment maneuvers and set PEEP levels according to some titration metho
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