237 research outputs found
Profilaxis antibiótica en cirugía
Existe una abundantísima documentación en la literatura acerca de la eficacia de los
antibióticos utilizados profilácticamente en cirugía (1-10). Probablemente lo más útil
para el trabajo diario de un hospital sea la adopción de pautas concretas que permitan
ser evaluadas periódicamente a través de la colaboración, entre otros, de anestesistas,
cirujanos y microbiólogos (11,12). En esta línea hemos revisado, de una manera
intencionadamente esquemática, diversas facetas relativas a la profilaxis antibiótica en
cirugía. Para ello comentaremos algunos aspectos generales de profilaxis de la
infección postquirúrgica, unas breves normas para la utilización profiláctica de
antibióticos y resumiremos determinadas indicaciones en función del tipo de
intervención
Role of fibroblast growth factor-23 in calcinosis in women with systemic sclerosis
Objective: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex disorder of unknown etiology. The purpose of this study was to evaluate fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23) serum levels in women with SSc compared with healthy controls and to examine a possible association between FGF-23 serum levels with the presence of calcinosis in SSc patients.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in San Cecilio Hospital, Granada (Spain) from November 2017 to May 2019. Sixty-two women with SSc and 62 age and sex matched healthy controls were included in this study. FGF-23 serum concentration was evaluated by indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results: There was no significant difference in FGF-23 levels between SSc patients and healthy controls (78.2 ± 60.5 vs. 80.3 ± 56.3 pg/mL, p= 0.662). Regarding the characteristics of the disease, we found a relationship between the values of FGF-23 and the presence of calcinosis. The levels of FGF-23 are higher in patients suffering from calcinosis (p= 0.028).
Conclusion: We observed the presence of higher levels of serum FGF-23 in SSc female patients with calcinosis. Therefore, FGF-23 could be a possible therapeutic target for future treatments
Magnetite mineralization inside cross-linked protein crystals
Crystallization in confined spaces is a widespread process in nature that also has important implications for the stability and durability of many man-made materials. It has been reported that confinement can alter essential crystallization events, such as nucleation and growth and, thus, have an impact on crystal size, polymorphism, morphology, and stability. Therefore, the study of nucleation in confined spaces can help us understand similar events that occur in nature, such as biomineralization, design new methods to control crystallization, and expand our knowledge in the field of crystallography. Although the fundamental interest is clear, basic models at the laboratory scale are scarce mainly due to the difficulty in obtaining well-defined confined spaces allowing a simultaneous study of the mineralization process outside and inside the cavities. Herein, we have studied magnetite precipitation in the channels of cross-linked protein crystals (CLPCs) with different channel pore sizes, as a model of crystallization in confined spaces. Our results show that nucleation of an Fe-rich phase occurs inside the protein channels in all cases, but, by a combination of chemical and physical effects, the channel diameter of CLPCs exerted a precise control on the size and stability of those Fe-rich nanoparticles. The small diameters of protein channels restrain the growth of metastable intermediates to around 2 nm and stabilize them over time. At larger pore diameters, recrystallization of the Fe-rich precursors into more stable phases was observed. This study highlights the impact that crystallization in confined spaces can have on the physicochemical properties of the resulting crystals and shows that CLPCs can be interesting substrates to study this process
Endothelin-1 serum levels in women with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum Endothelin-1(ET-1) levels in female Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) patients compared with healthy controls, examine possible associations between ET-1 with different characteristic of the disease and investigate possible associations between ET-1 with surrogate markers of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in Vega-Baja Hospital, Orihuela (Spain) from November 2016 to May 2018. Sixty-three women with RA and sixty-five age and sex healthy controls were included in this study. Serum ET-1 was analyzed using ELISA. Results: Serum levels of ET-1 in RA female patients were higher than those in healthy controls (p ??0.001). Serum le vels of ET-1 were positively associated with Nterminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (r = 0.27, p < 0.05) and with C-reactive protein (CRP) (r = 0.36, p < 0.05). ET-1 levels in women with RA were higher in smokers. Pre dnisone use was associated with lower ET-1 levels. No association with carotid intima media thickness was found. Conclusions: we observed the presence of higher le - vels of serum ET-1 in RA women patients compared with healthy controls. These increased levels of ET-1 are associated with inflammation and smoking and reduced by prednisone intake
Time-related efficacy of liver cell isografts in fulminant hepatic failure
We and others have reported that dispersed liver cells transplanted into the
spleen parenchyma of syngeneic rats remained functional and viable for a long
time. This report describes our results with hepatocellular transplantation as a
therapeutic method in a model of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) in the rat. 60
male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 200-250 g were used. The FHF was reached
through an Eck's fistula with 2/3 hepatectomy at the same time. This model
produced lethal hepatic failure in a highly reproducible manner. Liver cells were
isolated by the collagenase method. 40 X 10(6) hepatocytes suspended in Hanks'
balanced salt solution were transplanted into the spleen parenchyma 24 hr before
(group 1), at the same time as (group 2), and 24 hr after (group 3) FHF was
achieved. Additional sham-operated animals (groups 4 and 5) and a control group
(group 6) were used. The hepatocellular transplantation markedly increased the
survival of the animals with induced FHF to 80% (group 1) and 60% (group 2)--but
not in group 3 (20%),--compared with 10% in the control group. This study shows
that dispersed liver cells transplanted into the spleen can provide sufficient
support to allow animals with lethal hepatic failure to survive and recover.
Nevertheless the efficacy of transplantation is a time-related phenomenon with
the FHF induction
Comparison Between Two Warm Ischemic Models in Experimental Liver Transplantation in Pigs
Experimental models of warm ischemia in liver transplantation have
been employed to study the mechanisms and treatment of ischemia reperfusion
injury. METHODS: We compared a control group without (group A, n = 10) versus two
models of warm ischemia of liver transplants in pigs: namely, occlusion of the
hepatic artery and portal vein for 30 minutes (group B, n = 23) and extraction of
the liver 60 minutes after cardiac arrest (group C, n = 5). Liver function tests,
coagulation studies, and liver biopsies were performed during the first 24 hours
post-liver transplant. RESULTS: Clamping of the hepatic vasculature in group B
produced a significant liver injury compared with the control group: elevation of
the ALT and an abnormal 1-hour post-revascularization biopsy similar to that
observed in the cardiac arrest group C. The transaminase levels were lower among
group A animals (P <.05). But the hepatic synthetic functions as reflected in the
protrombin time (PT) were not affected in group B versus group A. The alteration
in PT with respect to the initial value was similar among group A and group B
animals, which were significantly less than that in group C (P <.05).
CONCLUSIONS: Occlusion of the hepatic artery and portal vein, a simple surgical
maneuver, causes moderate damage to a liver graft but less alteration of hepatic
synthetic function. Clamping of the hepatic vasculture obtains more long-term
survivors after OLT than cardiac arrest
Portal Revascularization in the Setting of Cavernous Transformation Through a Paracholedocal Vein: A Case Report
Diffuse thrombosis of the entire portal system (PVT) and cavernomatous
transformation of the portal vein (CTPV) represents a demanding challenge in
liver transplantation. We present the case of a patient with nodular regenerative
hyperplasia and recurrent episodes of type B hepatic encephalopathy concomitant
with PVT as well as CTPV, successfully treated with orthotopic liver
transplantation. The portal inflow to the graft was carried out through the
confluence of 2 thin paracholedochal varicose veins, obtaining good early graft
function and recovery of the encephalopatic episodes. This alternative should be
kept in mind as an option to assure hepatopetal splanchnic flow in those cases of
diffuse thrombosis and cavernomatous transformation of portal vein.
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