Proptosis, una búsqueda cada vez más rápida y certera

This is a case report corresponding to a young woman with neurological symptoms (headache and diplopia), a structural lesion of the orbit and lesions on chest radiography, where a broad differential diagnosis arises and where the challenge is to quickly locate the most accessible primary lesion that allows more thorough characterization clinical case and enables more accurate treatment.Se trata de un caso clínico correspondiente a una mujer joven con clínica neurológica (cefalea y diplopia), una lesión estructural de la órbita, junto con una radiografía de tórax patológica, donde se plantea un amplio diagnóstico diferencial y donde el reto consiste en la rápida localización de la lesión primaria más accesible que permita la tipificación más exhaustiva y posibilite el tratamiento más certero

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. Methods: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015. Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years, 65 to 80 years, and = 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. Results: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 = 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients =80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%, 65 years; 20.5%, 65-79 years; 31.3%, =80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%, <65 years;30.1%, 65-79 years;34.7%, =80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%, =80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age = 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI = 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88), and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared, the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. Conclusion: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age = 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI), and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

The SuperCam Instrument Suite on the Mars 2020 Rover: Science Objectives and Mast-Unit Description

On the NASA 2020 rover mission to Jezero crater, the remote determination of the texture, mineralogy and chemistry of rocks is essential to quickly and thoroughly characterize an area and to optimize the selection of samples for return to Earth. As part of the Perseverance payload, SuperCam is a suite of five techniques that provide critical and complementary observations via Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS), Time-Resolved Raman and Luminescence (TRR/L), visible and near-infrared spectroscopy (VISIR), high-resolution color imaging (RMI), and acoustic recording (MIC). SuperCam operates at remote distances, primarily 2-7 m, while providing data at sub-mm to mm scales. We report on SuperCam's science objectives in the context of the Mars 2020 mission goals and ways the different techniques can address these questions. The instrument is made up of three separate subsystems: the Mast Unit is designed and built in France; the Body Unit is provided by the United States; the calibration target holder is contributed by Spain, and the targets themselves by the entire science team. This publication focuses on the design, development, and tests of the Mast Unit; companion papers describe the other units. The goal of this work is to provide an understanding of the technical choices made, the constraints that were imposed, and ultimately the validated performance of the flight model as it leaves Earth, and it will serve as the foundation for Mars operations and future processing of the data.In France was provided by the Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES). Human resources were provided in part by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and universities. Funding was provided in the US by NASA's Mars Exploration Program. Some funding of data analyses at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was provided by laboratory-directed research and development funds

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group

Antioxidant and antimicrobial enhancement by reaction of protein hydrolysates derived from shrimp by-products with glucosamine

In Press.Shrimp cooking juice and shrimp carapaces are interesting sources of protein which are habitually disposed of at large quantities by crustacean industries. In this work, protein obtained from the cooking juice and carapaces of Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) was hydrolyzed by an enzyme extract of Enterococcus faecalis DM19 isolated from raw camel milk. The hydrolysates were afterwards heated separately with glucosamine (GlcN) at 100 °C for 0, 40, 60,120 and 180 min. The reaction was followed by measuring the change in absorbance at 294 and 420 nm and also by fluorescence (λexc=340 nm; λem=440 nm). Browning and intermediate products increased with heating time showing a concomitant decrease in free amino groups, while the pH decreased as well. Amino acid analysis showed that the amounts of lysine, arginine, and histidine decreased significantly after heating for 180 min. The infrared spectra suggested the appearance of new molecules after heating, presumably Schiff bases and/or aromatic compounds. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the heated hydrolysates were compared to those of the native hydrolysates. Interestingly, the reducing ferric ion activity was improved 22-fold after conjugation. Meanwhile, both scavenging radical and metal chelating ion activities were increased sevenfold. Besides, the shrimp carapace hydrolysate heated in presence of GlcN exhibited a good antibacterial activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria. To conclude, protein hydrolysates derived from the shrimp by-products studied in this work could be heated in presence of GlcN at 100 °C and be potentially used as antioxidant and/or antibacterial ingredients for different purposes.This research was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Projects AGL2011-27607, AGL2014-52825-R) and co-funded with European Union ERDF funds (European Regional Development Fund). Author M. Djellouli is funded by The National Centre of Biotechnology Research (CNRBt) of Algeria and ENP (Exceptional National Program) Scholarship provided by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Algeria.Peer reviewe

Effect of seafood peptones on biomass and metabolic activity by Enterococcus faecalis DM19

Eight seafood protein hydrolysates (SPHs) obtained from squid, shrimp and fish gelatin were incorporated as substitutes of peptones in culture media in order to evaluate its effect on survival and metabolic activity (lactic acid, acetic acid and bacteriocins production) of Enterococcus faecalis DM19. The substitution of commercial peptones in culture media by either a shrimp hydrolysate prepared with Protamex, or by squid protein hydrolysates prepared with Esperase or Alkaline protease, stimulated E. faecalis DM19 growth up to 16%. The incorporation of SPHs, mainly from shrimp, in the culture media significantly increased production of lactic and acetic acids in more than 60%. Furthermore, the media containing SPHs stimulated antimicrobial activity by E. faecalis DM19. The inhibitory activity was observed against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms, but it was remarkably observed against Listeria monocytogenes. SPHs incorporated in culture media render properties of bio-technological interest, which, together with their low price, make them suitable for industrial use.This research was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (projects AGL2011-27607, AGL2014-52825-R). Author M. Djellouli is funded by The National Centre of Biotechnology Research (CHER-Stage 06-2013) (CNRBt) of Algeria and ENP (Exceptional National Program) Scholarship provided by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Algeria (099/PNE/ENS./ESPAGNE/2015-2016). Author M. Arancibia is funded by a SENESCYT Scholarship (20100338) provided by the Ecuadorian government.Peer Reviewe