Ensayos mecánicos en tendones y ligamentos

El ensayo mecánico de ligamentos y tendones presenta gran variabilidad en la literatura. Ello es debido a las diferentes formas de ensayar estas estructuras y a los objetivos buscados. Hay que distinguir entre estudios mecánicos articulares, en los que conviene analizar la articulación como una unidad, y ensayos de las estructuras que componen la articulación, se ensayan estos elementos como una probeta cualquiera. EStos últimos ensayos son más homogéneos pero requieren calcular indirectamente a partir de la carga máxima y del desplazamiento, obtenidos con la máquina de ensayos, y de las dimensiones de la muestra, parámetros mecánicos, como son la tensión, la deformación y la energía absorbida durante la rotura para efectuar estudios comparativos. En el presente trabajo se presenta un método fiable y sencillo para conocer la propiedades mecánicas de los ligamentos y tendones. Estos ensayos presentan, sin embargo, algunas dificultades ya que es difícil medir las dimensiones y el área exacta de la probeta; hay que emplear deformaciones reales y el volumen no es constante durante todo el ensayo mientras que la velocidad empleada es la misma durante toda la prueba.Peer Reviewe

Balanç dels primers cinc anys de l'ICIQ

Després de cinc anys de funcionament i plenament consolidat com a centre d'investigació en química de referència, l'Institut Català d'Investigació Química (ICIQ) mira el futur amb ganes de no abaixar la guàrdia. Els èxits científics creixents i una recent ampliació de les instal·lacions donen fe de la bona marxa de l'Institut.After five years up and running and having consolidated its position as a reference research center, the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ) looks to the future willing to keep up with its high standards. Outstanding scientific achievements and the recent enlargement of our facilities give prove of the excellent progress of the work being carried out in the Institute

FIRST REPORT OF SOOTY MOLD OF LONGAN (DIMOCARPUS LONGAN L.) CAUSED BY TRIPOSPERMUM POROSPORIFERUM MATSUSHIMA AND T. VARIABILE MATSUSHIMA IN PUERTO RICO

FIRST REPORT OF SOOTY MOLD OF LONGAN (DIMOCARPUS LONGAN L.) CAUSED BY TRIPOSPERMUM POROSPORIFERUM MATSUSHIMA AND T. VARIABILE MATSUSHIMA IN PUERTO RIC

Measurement of bone lengthening forres; an experimental model in the lamb

To obtain the mechanical behaviour pattern of the lengthening process. DESIGN. IN VIVO: measurement of forces during bone engthening in lambs. BACKGROUND: A series of parameters of a mechanical and biological nature have a bearing on all lengthening processes, and most of them are not fully understood. METHODS: A strain-gauge-monitored unilateral fixator was designed and used to obtain data about the changes which took place in the forces of elongation at a rate of 1 mm/day in four lambs while a 3 cm progressive lengthening of the left tibia was being performed, analysing how these forces behaved from day to day, and how they changed in the course of a single day. RESULTS: The maximum forces in all the animals each day occur after distraction, and the forces reach their greatest magnitude between days 21 and 25 after surgery, attaining values of slightly over 8 kg (40-50% of the animal's weight). The maximum daily force starts to drop 1 h after distraction, and continues to decrease gradually throughout the day until it reaches a value slightly greater than the initial force on the previous day. CONCLUSION: This pattern is due to the distraction of soft tissues which gradually adapt to their new situation, thereby reducing the level of stress. RELEVANCE: In the daily bone lengthening procedure, the greatest forces are produced in a short period of time immediately after lengthening. they could be reduced to decrease pain in the patient and loads on the device by performing lengthening over a greater number of steps or using dynamic equipment able to absorb these forces

Mural Endocarditis: The GAMES Registry Series and Review of the Literature

Spanish Collaboration on Endocarditis—Grupo de Apoyo al Manejo de la Endocarditis infecciosa en España (GAMES).[Introduction] Mural infective endocarditis (MIE) is a rare type of endovascular infection. We present a comprehensive series of patients with mural endocarditis.[Methods] Patients with infectious endocarditis (IE) from 35 Spanish hospitals were prospectively included in the GAMES registry between 2008 and 2017. MIEs were compared to non-MIEs. We also performed a literature search for cases of MIE published between 1979 and 2019 and compared them to the GAMEs series.[Results] Twenty-seven MIEs out of 3676 IEs were included. When compared to valvular IE (VIE) or device-associated IE (DIE), patients with MIE were younger (median age 59 years, p < 0.01). Transplantation (18.5% versus 1.6% VIE and 2% DIE, p < 0.01), hemodialysis (18.5% versus 4.3% VIE and 4.4% DIE, p = 0.006), catheter source (59.3% versus 9.7% VIE and 8.8% DIE, p < 0.01) and Candida etiology (22.2% versus 2% DIE and 1.2% VIE, p < 0.01) were more common in MIE, whereas the Charlson Index was lower (4 versus 5 in non-MIE, p = 0.006). Mortality was similar. MIE from the literature shared many characteristics with MIE from GAMES, although patients were younger (45 years vs. 56 years, p < 0.001), the Charlson Index was lower (1.3 vs. 4.3, p = 0.0001), catheter source was less common (13.9% vs. 59.3%) and there were more IVDUs (25% vs. 3.7%). S. aureus was the most frequent microorganism (50%, p = 0.035). Systemic complications were more common but mortality was similar.[Conclusion] MIE is a rare entity. It is often a complication of catheter use, particularly in immunocompromised and hemodialysis patients. Fungal etiology is common. Mortality is similar to other IEs.Peer reviewe

Prognostic models for mortality after cardiac surgery in patients with infective endocarditis: a systematic review and aggregation of prediction models.

Background There are several prognostic models to estimate the risk of mortality after surgery for active infective endocarditis (IE). However, these models incorporate different predictors and their performance is uncertain. Objective We systematically reviewed and critically appraised all available prediction models of postoperative mortality in patients undergoing surgery for IE, and aggregated them into a meta-model. Data sources We searched Medline and EMBASE databases from inception to June 2020. Study eligibility criteria We included studies that developed or updated a prognostic model of postoperative mortality in patient with IE. Methods We assessed the risk of bias of the models using PROBAST (Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool) and we aggregated them into an aggregate meta-model based on stacked regressions and optimized it for a nationwide registry of IE patients. The meta-model performance was assessed using bootstrap validation methods and adjusted for optimism. Results We identified 11 prognostic models for postoperative mortality. Eight models had a high risk of bias. The meta-model included weighted predictors from the remaining three models (EndoSCORE, specific ES-I and specific ES-II), which were not rated as high risk of bias and provided full model equations. Additionally, two variables (age and infectious agent) that had been modelled differently across studies, were estimated based on the nationwide registry. The performance of the meta-model was better than the original three models, with the corresponding performance measures: C-statistics 0.79 (95% CI 0.76–0.82), calibration slope 0.98 (95% CI 0.86–1.13) and calibration-in-the-large –0.05 (95% CI –0.20 to 0.11). Conclusions The meta-model outperformed published models and showed a robust predictive capacity for predicting the individualized risk of postoperative mortality in patients with IE. Protocol registration PROSPERO (registration number CRD42020192602).pre-print270 K

Mural Endocarditis: The GAMES Registry Series and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Mural infective endocarditis (MIE) is a rare type of endovascular infection. We present a comprehensive series of patients with mural endocarditis. Methods: Patients with infectious endocarditis (IE) from 35 Spanish hospitals were prospectively included in the GAMES registry between 2008 and 2017. MIEs were compared to non-MIEs. We also performed a literature search for cases of MIE published between 1979 and 2019 and compared them to the GAMEs series. Results: Twenty-seven MIEs out of 3676 IEs were included. When compared to valvular IE (VIE) or device-associated IE (DIE), patients with MIE were younger (median age 59 years, p \0.01). Transplantation (18.5% versus 1.6% VIE and 2% DIE, p \ 0.01), hemodialysis (18.5% versus 4.3% VIE and 4.4% DIE, p = 0.006), catheter source (59.3% versus 9.7% VIE and 8.8% DIE, p \ 0.01) and Candida etiology (22.2% versus 2% DIE and 1.2% VIE, p \ 0.01) were more common in MIE, whereas the Charlson Index was lower (4 versus 5 in non MIE, p = 0.006). Mortality was similar.MIE from the literature shared many characteristics with MIE from GAMES, although patients were younger (45 years vs. 56 years, p \ 0.001), the Charlson Index was lower (1.3 vs. 4.3, p = 0.0001), catheter source was less common (13.9% vs. 59.3%) and there were more IVDUs (25% vs. 3.7%). S. aureus was the most frequent microorganism (50%, p = 0.035). Systemic complications were more common but mortality was similar. Conclusion: MIE is a rare entity. It is often a complication of catheter use, particularly in immunocompromised and hemodialysis patients. Fungal etiology is common. Mortality is similar to other IEs

Epidemiology and risk factors of mycotic aneurysm in patients with infective endocarditis and the impact of its rupture in outcomes. Analysis of a national prospective cohort

Background: Several aspects of the occurrence and management of mycotic aneurysm (MA) in patients with infective endocarditis (IE) have not been studied. Objectives: To determine the incidence and factors associated with MA presence and rupture and to assess the evolution of those initially unruptured MA. Methods: Prospective multicenter cohort including all patients with definite IE between January 2008 and December 2020. Results: Of 4548 IE cases, 85 (1.9%) developed MA. Forty-six (54.1%) had intracranial MA and 39 (45.9%) extracranial MA. Rupture of MA occurred in 39 patients (45.9%). Patients with ruptured MA had higher 1-year mortality (hazard ratio, 2.33; 95% confidence interval, 1.49-3.67). Of the 55 patients with initially unruptured MA, 9 (16.4%) presented rupture after a median of 3 days (interquartile range, 1-7) after diagnosis, being more frequent in intracranial MA (32% vs 3.3%, P = .004). Of patients with initially unruptured MA, there was a trend toward better outcomes among those who received early specific intervention, including lower follow-up rupture (7.1% vs 25.0%, P = .170), higher rate of aneurysm resolution in control imaging (66.7% vs 31.3%, P = .087), lower MA-related mortality (7.1% vs 16.7%, P = .232), and lower MA-related sequalae (0% vs 27.8%, P = .045). Conclusions: MA occurred in 2% of the patients with IE. Half of the Mas occurred in an intracranial location. Their rupture is frequent and associated with poor prognosis. A significant proportion of initially unruptured aneurysms result from rupture during the first several days, being more common in intracranial aneurysms. Early specific treatment could potentially lead to better outcomes.No funding was received for this article

Linezolid for infective endocarditis. A structured approach based on a national database experience

Current data on the frequency and efficacy of linezolid (LNZ) in infective endocarditis (IE) are based on small retrospective series. We used a national database to evaluate the effectiveness of LNZ in IE. This is a retrospective study of IE patients in the Spanish GAMES database who received LNZ. We defined 3 levels of therapeutic impact: LNZ 50% of the total treatment, and > 50% of the LNZ doses prescribed in the first weeks of treatment), and LNZ ? 7 days not fulfilling the high-impact criteria (LNZ-NHI). Effectiveness of LNZ was assessed using propensity score matching and multivariate analysis of high-impact cases in comparison to patients not treated with LNZ from the GAMES database matched for age-adjusted comorbidity Charlson index, heart failure, renal failure, prosthetic and intracardiac IE device, left-sided IE, and Staphylococcus aureus. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and one-year mortality. Secondary outcomes included IE complications and relapses

Mural Endocarditis: The GAMES Registry Series and Review of the Literature

Introduction: Mural infective endocarditis (MIE) is a rare type of endovascular infection. We present a comprehensive series of patients with mural endocarditis. Methods: Patients with infectious endocarditis (IE) from 35 Spanish hospitals were prospectively included in the GAMES registry between 2008 and 2017. MIEs were compared to non-MIEs. We also performed a literature search for cases of MIE published between 1979 and 2019 and compared them to the GAMEs series. Results: Twenty-seven MIEs out of 3676 IEs were included. When compared to valvular IE (VIE) or device-associated IE (DIE), patients with MIE were younger (median age 59 years, p < 0.01). Transplantation (18.5% versus 1.6% VIE and 2% DIE, p < 0.01), hemodialysis (18.5% versus 4.3% VIE and 4.4% DIE, p = 0.006), catheter source (59.3% versus 9.7% VIE and 8.8% DIE, p < 0.01) and Candida etiology (22.2% versus 2% DIE and 1.2% VIE, p < 0.01) were more common in MIE, whereas the Charlson Index was lower (4 versus 5 in non-MIE, p = 0.006). Mortality was similar. MIE from the literature shared many characteristics with MIE from GAMES, although patients were younger (45 years vs. 56 years, p < 0.001), the Charlson Index was lower (1.3 vs. 4.3, p = 0.0001), catheter source was less common (13.9% vs. 59.3%) and there were more IVDUs (25% vs. 3.7%). S. aureus was the most frequent microorganism (50%, p = 0.035). Systemic complications were more common but mortality was similar. Conclusion: MIE is a rare entity. It is often a complication of catheter use, particularly in immunocompromised and hemodialysis patients. Fungal etiology is common. Mortality is similar to other IEs