Pseudiverticulosis múltiple en intestino delgado en un caballo

This paper reports one case of a horse with acute colic syndrome that was referred to the Teaching Hospital Complutense of Madrid. Based on the history, clinical signs and complementary diagnostic tests, a colon displacement was diagnosed. In the exploratory celiotomy, a right dorsal displacement of the large colon and generalized enteritis were found. During the surgery, adhesions all along the small intestine and multiple diverticula of different size in the mesenteric border in portions of the jejunum were also found. Due to these findings and the poor condition of the patient, euthanasia was performed on human grounds. This case report concludes that attending veterinarian should include this uncommon pathology in their differential diagnosis when chronic signs of colic, weight loss or diarrheas are a feature.Describimos el caso clínico de un caballo con síndrome cólico agudo que fue remitido al Hospital Clínico Veterinario Complutense. En base a los datos de la historia clínica, la sintomatología y las pruebas complementarias realizadas, se le diagnosticó un desplazamiento de colon por lo que se decidió proceder a una laparotomía exploratoria en la que se observó un desplazamiento dorsal derecho de la flexura pelviana, una severa enteritis generalizada y una peritonitis séptica. Durante la cirugía también se hallaron adherencias a lo largo de todo el intestino delgado y divertículos de diversas dimensiones en el borde mesentérico en diferentes porciones del yeyuno. Debido a estos hallazgos y a la peritonitis séptica, se decidió llevar a cabo la eutanasia humanitaria intraoperatoria del caballo. Aunque la diverticulosis es una patología infrecuente, debe ser incluida en el diagnóstico diferencial de caballos que presentan cuadros cólicos recurrentes, pérdida de peso o cuadros diarreicos

Estudio de la biocompatibilidad in vitro de polimeros metacrílicos derivados de pirrolidona-ina

Este estudio analiza la biocompatibilidad de nuevos biomateriales a base de hidrogeles metacrílicos como el poli-[metacrilato de 2-etil-(2-pirrolidona)] (PEPM) y la poli-[metacrilato de 2-etil-(2-pirrolidina)], en comparación con referentes comerciales tales como la poli-(vinil pirrolidona) (PVP) y la poli-(N-N´-dimetilacrilamida) (PDMA). Se utilizaron propiedades bioquímicas, mediante los ensayos de MTT y Alamar Blue, para conocer el efecto de citotoxicidad y proliferación en cultivo de fibroblastos (células VERO), sobre los biomateriales metacrílicos. Adicionalmente, por microscopía óptica y electrónica fueron analizados el grado de adhesión, morfología, muerte celular, proliferación, contracción celular, etc. Además se estudiaron las relaciones entre citotoxicidad y estructura química. En el MTT y en el análisis óptico se obtuvo baja citotoxicidad para PEPM y PVP, media en PEPyM y alta en PDMA. En el Alamar Blue y SEM se produjo una media proliferación-adhesión en PEPM y PEPyM, alta en PVP y muerte celular en PDMA. Sus apropiadas características físico-químicas y su aceptable grado de biocompatibilidad les hacen buenos candidatos en aplicaciones tales como lentes de contacto, sistemas de liberación de fármacos e ingeniería de tejidos.This study analyzed biocompatibility of new biomaterials based on the methacrylic hydrogels derived poly-[2-ethyl-(2-pyrrolidone) methacrylate] (PEPM) and poly-[2-ethyl-(2-pyrrolidine) methacrylate] (PEPyM), in comparison with references such as commercial poly-(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) and poly-(N, N-dimethylacrylamide) (PDMA). The biochemical properties were used to know citotoxicity and proliferation effect over fibroblast culture (VERO cells) in contact with the methacrylic biomaterials, using MTT and Alamar Blue assays. Additionally, were analyzed adhesion grade, morphology, death cell presence, proliferation, cell contraction, etc, by optical and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The relationships between their chemical structures and cytotoxicity were studied. In MTT and optical analysis, low cytotoxicity was found for PEPM and PVP, medium in the case of PEPyM, and high for PDMA. In Alamar Blue and SEM, were produced a medium proliferation and adhesion rate for PEPM and PEPyM, high in PVP, and cellular death for PDMA. Their appropriates physico-chemical characteristics and approval biocompatibility grade make them good candidates in applications such as contact lenses, drug release systems and tissue engineering

Estudio de la biocompatibilidad in vitro de formulaciones acrílicas autocurables portadoras de bisfosfonatos de nueva síntesis

En este trabajo se presenta el estudio de la biocompatibilidad in vitro, empleando cultivos celulares de fibroblastos embrionarios humanos, de tres sistemas acrílicos de liberación controlada de bisfosfonatos (BFs). Estos sistemas, basados en metacrilato de metilo (MMA), metacrilato de vitamina E (MVE) y trietilenglicol dimetacrilato (TEGDMA), han sido diseñados para su aplicación en el tratamiento de enfermedades caracterizadas por una elevada resorción osteoclástica. En su preparación se ha empleado un BP comercializado (alendronato; ALN) y dos de nueva síntesis, pertenecientes a la segunda y tercera generaciones, el ácido 1-hidroxi-2-[4-aminofenil]etano-1,1-difosfónico (APBP) y el ácido 1-hidroxi-2-[3-indolil]etano-1,1-difosfónico (IBP), respectivamente. La citotoxicidad de MVE ha sido notablemente inferior a la medida para TEGDMA. La citotoxicidad de APBP e IBP se ha comparado con la de ALN, obteniéndose unos valores para la concentración IC50, de15,56, 9,86 y 6,25 mmol/l para APBP, ALN e IBP, respectivamente. Los niveles de citotoxicidad liberada han sido superiores para la formulación portadora de ALN, situándose a continuación los cementos cargados con IBP y APBP. Cuando los cultivos se han establecido sobre la superficie de las formulaciones, se han detectado unos niveles de proliferación celular y adhesión superiores para los sistemas de liberación de IBP y APBP, siendo además inferior en estos casos la mortalidad celular.This paper reports the in vitro biocompatibility study, using human embryonic fibroblast cultures, of three acrylic systems for controlled release of bisphosphonates (BFs). These systems, that are based on methyl methacrylate (MMA), vitamin E methacrylate (MVE) and triethyleneglycol dimethacrylate (TEGDMA), have been designed for its application in the treatment of pathologies characterized by a high osteoclastic resorption. A commercial BP (alendronate; ALN) and two novel BPs, belonging to the second and third generations, 1-hydroxy-2-[4-aminophenyl]ethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid (APBP) and 1-hydroxy-2-[3-indolyl]ethane-1,1-diphosphonic acid (IBP), respectively, have been used in their preparation. The cytotoxicity of MVE has been notably lower than that measured for TEGDMA. Cytotoxicity of APBP and IBP was evaluated along with that of ALN, and the following values of the IC50, concentration were obtained for APBP, ALN and IBP respectively: 15.56, 9.86 and 6.25 mmol/l. The cytotoxicity levels obtained from the extracts of the cured systems were higher for the formulation containing ALN, followed by the cements loaded with IBP and APBP. When the cultures were seeded directly on the formulations surface, higher levels of cellular proliferation and adhesion were obtained for the systems containing IBP and APBP, the cellular mortality being also inferior in these cases

Hydrophobic-electrostatic balance driving the LCST offset aggregation-redissolution behavior of N-alkylacrylamide-based ionic terpolymers

A series of random terpolymers composed of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAAm), 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS), and N-tert-butylacrylamide (NTBAAm) monomers were synthesized by free radical polymerization. The molar fraction of the negatively charged monomer (AMPS) was maintained constant (0.05) for all studied terpolymer compositions. Turbidity measurements were used to evaluate the influence of the relative amount of NIPAAm and NTBAAm, polymer concentration, and solution ionic strength on the cloud point and redissolution temperatures (macroscopic phase separation). Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was employed to elucidate some aspects regarding the molecular scale mechanism of the temperature-induced phase separation and to determine the low critical solution temperature (LCST). The aqueous solutions of terpolymers remained clear at all studied temperatures; turbidity was only observed in the presence of NaCl. The cloud point temperature (CPT) determined by turbidimetry was found to be systematically much higher than the LCST determined by DLS; nanosized aggregates were observed at temperatures between the LCST and the CPT. Both CPT and LCST decreased when increasing the molar ratio of NTBAAm (increased hydrophobicity). It was found that above a critical molar fraction of NTBAAm (0.25-0.30) the aggregation rate suddenly decreased. Polymers with NTBAAm content lower than 0.25 showed a fast macroscopic phase separation, but the formed large aggregates are disaggregating during the cooling ramp at temperatures still higher than the LCST. On the contrary, polymers withNTBAAmcontents above 0.30 showed a slow macroscopic phase separation, and the formed large aggregates only redissolved when LCST was reached. These differences were explained on the basis of a delicate balance between the electrostatic repulsion and the hydrophobic attractive forces, which contribute cooperatively to the formation of metastable nanosized aggregates.The authors acknowledge funding from EU Marie Curie Actions, Alea Jacta Est (MEST-CT-2004-008104), and Portuguese Foundation For Science and Technology (FCT) (SFRH/BPD/34545/2007). This work was carried out under the scope of the European NoE EXPERTISSUES (NMP3-CT-2004-500283)

Morpho-sedimentary dynamics of a micro-tidal mixed sand and gravel beach, Playa Granada, southern Spain

publisher: Elsevier articletitle: Morpho-sedimentary dynamics of a micro-tidal mixed sand and gravel beach, Playa Granada, southern Spain journaltitle: Marine Geology articlelink: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.margeo.2016.05.003 content_type: article copyright: © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Measurement of vegetations in infective endocarditis: An inaccurate method to decide the therapeutical approach

Background: The European Society of Cardiology and American Heart Association guidelines give a central role to the maximal vegetation diameter in the indication for surgery to prevent embolism in left sided infective endocarditis (LSIE). Vegetation measuring is likely to be inaccurate. The hypothesis herein, is that the vegetation diameter is not an appropriate surgical criterion given the variability of its measurement. Methods: Two trained echocardiographers independently measured the maximal vegetation diameter by transesophageal echocardiogram of 76 vegetations in 67 consecutive patients with definite infective endocarditis in an off-line workstation. The interobserver variability was calculated by the interclass correlation coefficient. The relationship between the strength of agreement for the cut-off points of 10 and 15 mm was also calculated. Finally, the number of patients whose surgical indication would have changed depending on which operator measured the vegetation was evaluated. Results: Interobserver interclass correlation coefficient in the measurement of the maximal longitudinal diameter of the vegetations was 0.757 (0.642–0.839). The strength of agreement of the interobserver analysis for the cut-off point of 10 mm was 0.533 (0.327–0.759). For the cut-off point of 15 mm it was 0.475 (0.270–0.679). If heart failure or uncontrolled infections had been absent, the surgical indication would have changed in a total of 33 patients (33/76; 43%) depending on which operator measured the vegetation. Conclusions: The variability in the measurements of the maximal longitudinal diameter by transesophageal echocardiogram is high. Surgical indications based on the cut-off points recommended by the international guidelines should be revised

MEGARA, the R=6000-20000 IFU and MOS of GTC

MEGARA is the new generation IFU and MOS optical spectrograph built for the 10.4m Gran Telescopio CANARIAS (GTC). The project was developed by a consortium led by UCM (Spain) that also includes INAOE (Mexico), IAA-CSIC (Spain) and UPM (Spain). The instrument arrived to GTC on March 28th 2017 and was successfully integrated and commissioned at the telescope from May to August 2017. During the on-sky commissioning we demonstrated that MEGARA is a powerful and robust instrument that provides on-sky intermediate-to-high spectral resolutions R_(FWHM) ~ 6,000, 12,000 and 20,000 at an unprecedented efficiency for these resolving powers in both its IFU and MOS modes. The IFU covers 12.5 x 11.3 arcsec2 while the MOS mode allows observing up to 92 objects in a region of 3.5 x 3.5 arcmin^(2) . In this paper we describe the instrument main subsystems, including the Folded-Cassegrain unit, the fiber link, the spectrograph, the cryostat, the detector and the control subsystems, and its performance numbers obtained during commissioning where the fulfillment of the instrument requirements is demonstrated

Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension in Corrected Valvular Heart Disease: Hemodynamic Insights and Long-Term Survival.

Background The determinants and consequences of pulmonary hypertension after successfully corrected valvular heart disease remain poorly understood. We aim to clarify the hemodynamic bases and risk factors for mortality in patients with this condition. Methods and Results We analyzed long-term follow-up data of 222 patients with pulmonary hypertension and valvular heart disease successfully corrected at least 1 year before enrollment who had undergone comprehensive hemodynamic and imaging characterization as per the SIOVAC (Sildenafil for Improving Outcomes After Valvular Correction) clinical trial. Median (interquartile range) mean pulmonary pressure was 37 mm Hg (32-44 mm Hg) and pulmonary artery wedge pressure was 23 mm Hg (18-26 mm Hg). Most patients were classified either as having combined precapillary and postcapillary or isolated postcapillary pulmonary hypertension. After a median follow-up of 4.5 years, 91 deaths accounted for 4.21 higher-than-expected mortality in the age-matched population. Risk factors for mortality were male sex, older age, diabetes mellitus, World Health Organization functional class III and higher pulmonary vascular resistance-either measured by catheterization or approximated from ultrasound data. Higher pulmonary vascular resistance was related to diabetes mellitus and smaller residual aortic and mitral valve areas. In turn, the latter correlated with prosthetic nominal size. Six-month changes in the composite clinical score and in the 6-minute walk test distance were related to survival. Conclusions Persistent valvular heart disease-pulmonary hypertension is an ominous disease that is almost universally associated with elevated pulmonary artery wedge pressure. Pulmonary vascular resistance is a major determinant of mortality in this condition and is related to diabetes mellitus and the residual effective area of the corrected valve. These findings have important implications for individualizing valve correction procedures. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT00862043.This study was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain, the European Union–European Regional Development Fund (EC07/90772 and PI19/00649), and the Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV).S

Effectiveness and Safety of the Sequential Use of a Second and Third Anti-TNF Agent in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Results from the Eneida Registry

Background: The effectiveness of the switch to another anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agent is not known. The aim of this study was to analyze the effectiveness and safety of treatment with a second and third anti-TNF drug after intolerance to or failure of a previous anti-TNF agent in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. Methods: We included patients diagnosed with IBD from the ENEIDA registry who received another anti-TNF after intolerance to or failure of a prior anti-TNF agent. Results: A total of 1122 patients were included. In the short term, remission was achieved in 55% of the patients with the second anti-TNF. The incidence of loss of response was 19% per patient-year with the second anti-TNF. Combination therapy (hazard ratio [HR], 2.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-3; P < 0.0001) and ulcerative colitis vs Crohn''s disease (HR, 1.6; 95% CI, 1.1-2.1; P = 0.005) were associated with a higher probability of loss of response. Fifteen percent of the patients had adverse events, and 10% had to discontinue the second anti-TNF. Of the 71 patients who received a third anti-TNF, 55% achieved remission. The incidence of loss of response was 22% per patient-year with a third anti-TNF. Adverse events occurred in 7 patients (11%), but only 1 stopped the drug. Conclusions: Approximately half of the patients who received a second anti-TNF achieved remission; nevertheless, a significant proportion of them subsequently lost response. Combination therapy and type of IBD were associated with loss of response. Remission was achieved in almost 50% of patients who received a third anti-TNF; nevertheless, a significant proportion of them subsequently lost response