Comprehensive diagnosis in patients with morbid obesity; candidates for bariatric surgery and suggestions for preoperative treatment

Indexación: Scopus; Scielo.Objetivo El propósito del estudio fue analizar y describir las características psicológicas, metabólicas, antropométricas y de condición física de obesos candidatos a cirugía bariátrica, para determinar la intervención preoperatoria. Material y Métodos La población está conformada por 24 obesos candidatos a cirugía bariátrica; cinco hombres y 19 mujeres entre 21 y 60 años. La muestra es de tipo no-probabilística, con sujetos elegidos de manera no aleatoria por conveniencia y voluntarios. Se evaluaron variables psicológicas, antropométricas, metabólicas y de condición física. Resultados La edad promedio de los participantes corresponde a 41,0 años. En el estudio se evidencian bajos niveles en alegría empática. Los síntomas ansiosos presentaron un nivel medio: El 62,5 % presentó depresión mínima, el 29,1 % depresión leve, y el 8,4 % depresión modera. El peso corporal tuvo un promedio de 99,1 kilogramos, la talla de 1,6 metros, el Índice de Masa Coporal (IMC) de 39,3, el porcentaje de masa grasa un promedio de 41,1 y el contorno cintura de 118,0 centímetros. Con respecto a los valores plasmáticos (mg/dl) se obtuvo: colesterol total 192,9, colesterol LDL 120,0, colesterol HDL 43,3, triglicéridos 182,3, Glicemia a 105,9; y la distancia recorrida en seis minutos fue de 511,9 metros. Conclusiones Los resultados aportan información para determinar mejores estrategias de intervención preoperatorias, cambiando así los estilos de vida de los pacientes; logrando que la pérdida de peso post operatoria se sostenga en el tiempo.Objective The purpose of the study was to analyze and describe the psychological, metabolic, anthropometric and physical condition of obese candidates for bariatric surgery. This is in order to determine the preoperative intervention. Material and Methods The population is made up of 24 obese candidates for bariatric surgery; five men and 19 women between 21 and 60 years old. The sample type is non-probabilistic, with non-randomised subjects chosen conveniently and volunteers. Psychological, anthropometric, metabolic and physical condition variables were evaluated. Results The average age of participants corresponds to 41.0 years old. Low levels of empathic joy were observed. Anxiety symptoms presented an intermediate level: 62,5 % presented minimal depression, 29,1 % presented slight depression, and 8,4 % presented considerable depression. Body weight averaged 99.1 kg, height 1.6 meters, Body Mass Index (BMI) 39.3, the percentage of fat mass and contour waist averaged 41.1 118.0 centimeters in that order. With regards to plasma levels (mg / dl), the following were obtained: total cholesterol 192.9, 120.0 LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, 43.3, 182.3 triglycerides, glycerin to 105.9; and distance covered in 6 minutes was 511.9 meters. Conclusions The results provide information to determine best Preoperative intervention strategies; changing the lifestyles of patients, keeping the postoperative weight.http://www.scielo.org.co/pdf/rsap/v19n4/0124-0064-rsap-19-04-00527.pd

Born too early and too small: higher order cognitive function and brain at risk at ages 8–16

Prematurity presents a risk for higher order cognitive functions. Some of these deficits manifest later in development, when these functions are expected to mature. However, the causes and consequences of prematurity are still unclear. We conducted a longitudinal study to first identify clinical predictors of ultrasound brain abnormalities in 196 children born very preterm (VP; gestational age 32 weeks) and with very low birth weight (VLBW; birth weight 1500 g). At ages 8–16, the subset of VP-VLBW children without neurological findings (124) were invited for a neuropsychological assessment and an MRI scan (41 accepted). Of these, 29 met a rigorous criterion for MRI quality and an age, and gender-matched control group (n = 14) was included in this study. The key findings in the VP-VLBW neonates were: (a) 37% of the VP-VLBW neonates had ultrasound brain abnormalities; (b) gestational age and birth weight collectively with hospital course (i.e., days in hospital, neonatal intensive care, mechanical ventilation and with oxygen therapy, surgeries, and retinopathy of prematurity) predicted ultrasound brain abnormalities. At ages 8–16, VP-VLBW children showed: a) lower intelligent quotient (IQ) and executive function; b) decreased gray and white matter (WM) integrity; (c) IQ correlated negatively with cortical thickness in higher order processing cortical areas. In conclusion, our data indicate that facets of executive function and IQ are the most affected in VP-VLBW children likely due to altered higher order cortical areas and underlying WMThis study was supported by the Spanish Government Institute Carlos III (FIS Pl11/02860), Spanish Ministry of Health to MM-L, and the University of Castilla-La Mancha mobility Grant VA1381500149

Analysis of radiation-induced cell death in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and rat liver maintained in microfluidic devices

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate how head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) tissue biopsies maintained in a pseudo in vivo environment within a bespoke microfluidic device respond to radiation treatment. Study Design Feasibility study. Setting Tertiary referral center. Subjects and Methods Thirty-five patients with HNSCC were recruited, and liver tissue from 5 Wistar rats was obtained. A microfluidic device was used to maintain the tissue biopsy samples in a viable state. Rat liver was used to optimize the methodology. HNSCC was obtained from patients with T1-T3 laryngeal or oropharyngeal SCC; N1-N2 metastatic cervical lymph nodes were also obtained. Irradiation consisted of single doses of between 2 Gy and 40 Gy and a fractionated course of 5×2 Gy. Cell death was assessed in the tissue effluent using the soluble markers lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cytochrome c and in the tissue by immunohistochemical detection of cleaved cytokeratin18 (M30 antibody). Results A significant surge in LDH release was demonstrated in the rat liver after a single dose of 20 Gy; in HNSCC, it was seen after 40 Gy compared with the control. There was no significant difference in cytochrome c release after 5 Gy or 10 Gy. M30 demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in apoptotic index for a given increase in single-dose radiotherapy. There was a significant increase in apoptotic index between 1×2 Gy and 5×2 Gy. Conclusion M30 is a superior method compared with soluble markers in detecting low-dose radiation-induced cell death. This microfluidic technique can be used to assess radiation-induced cell death in HNSCC and therefore has the potential to be used to predict radiation response

Uso de TIC en la enseñanza de energías renovables: aplicación del HOMER a una problemática de diseño energético

El diseño, desarrollo y apropiación de tecnologías digitales son una realidad del siglo XXI que incluye todas las áreas del conocimiento y la producción. A diario se buscan soluciones tecnológicas innovadoras para ser incorporadas en proyectos de aplicación en diversos ámbitos: educativo, social, científico y laboral. El desarrollo de recursos digitales ha llegado también al campo de las energías renovables y se multiplican los programas informáticos de modelización de parques eólicos, estudio de variables climáticas, dimensionamiento de biodigestores, etc... Los futuros técnicos egresados de la Tecnicatura Superior en Energías Renovables “Desarrollará competencias específicas del campo de la energía que requieren del técnico el dominio de un “saber hacer” (…) Integración de clases teórico-prácticas, priorizando el aprendizaje de construcción del conocimiento por sobre la exclusiva transmisión”. Es por ello que en los Talleres de Energía Eólica y Solar, y en la asignatura Introducción a las Herramientas de Computación se enfatiza el aprendizaje y utilización de programas específicos: HOMER, GEOSOL, WINDPRO, SIG EOLICO, etc. Se presenta pues una actividad desarrollada por alumnos de 2° año como ejemplo de aplicación de uno de los programas mencionados en ambos talleres, de energía solar y eólica.The design, development and appropriation of digital technologies are a reality in the XXI Century which includes all areas of knowledge and production. Every day innovative technological solutions are sought to be incorporated into application projects in several fields: educational, social, scientific and professional. The development of digital resources has also reached the field of renewable energies and there are many software tools to model wind farms, study climatic variables, size biodigesters, etc... The future graduates of the “Tecnicatura Superior en Energías Renovables” (Renewable Energy Engineering) will: ... "Develop specific skills in the field of energy that require their mastery of know-how" (...) Integrate theoretical and practical classes, prioritizing knowledge construction over mere transmission". That is why in the workshops of Solar and Wind Energy, and the subject “Introduction to Software Tools”, the learning and use of specific software tools like HOMER, GEOSOL, WindPro, SIG WIND, etc. are emphasized. This activity developed by students of 2nd year is an example of application of the aforementioned software in both solar and wind energy workshops.Asociación Argentina de Energías Renovables y Medio Ambiente (ASADES

Chitosan as Source for Pesticide Formulations

Late blight and wilt caused by the oomycete, Phytophthora infestans, and the fungus, Fusarium solani f. sp. eumartii, respectively, are severe diseases in Solanaceae crops worldwide. Although traditional approaches to control plant diseases have mainly relied on toxic chemical compounds, current studies are focused to identify more sustainable options. Finding alternatives, a low molecular weight chitosan (LMWCh) obtained from biomass of Argentine Sea’s crustaceans was assayed. In an attempt to characterize the action of LMWCh alone or in combination with the synthetic fungicide Mancozeb, the antimicrobial properties of LMWCh were assayed. In a side-by-side comparison with the SYTOX Green nucleic acid stain and the nitric oxide–specific probe, diaminofluorescein-FM diacetate (DAF-FM DA), yielded a similar tendency, revealing LMWCh-mediated cell death. The efficacy of LMWCh, Mancozeb, and the mixture LMWCh–Mancozeb was in turn tested. A synergistic effect in the reduction of F. eumartii spore germination was measured in the presence of subinhibitory dosis of 0.025 mg ml−1 LMWCh and 0.008 mg ml−1 Mancozeb. This mixture was efficient to increase the effectiveness of the single treatments in protecting against biotic stress judged by a drastic reduction of lesion area in P. infestans–inoculated tissues and activation of the potato defense responses

Adjusting the Neel relaxation time of Fe3O4/ZnxCo1-xFe2O4 core/shell nanoparticles for optimal heat generation in magnetic hyperthermia

In this work it is shown a precise way to optimize the heat generation in high viscosity magnetic colloids, by adjusting the Neel relaxation time in core/shell bimagnetic nanoparticles, for magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) applications. To pursue this goal, Fe3O4/ZnxCo1-xFe2O4 core/shell nanoparticles were synthesized with 8.5 nm mean core diameter, encapsulated in a shell of similar to 1.1 nm of thickness, where the Zn atomic ratio (Zn/(Zn + Co) at%) changes from 33 to 68 at%. The magnetic measurements are consistent with a rigid interface coupling between the core and shell phases, where the effective magnetic anisotropy systematically decreases when the Zn concentration increases, without a significant change of the saturation magnetization. Experiments of MFH of 0.1 wt% of these particles dispersed in water, in Dulbecco modified Eagles minimal essential medium, and a high viscosity butter oil, result in a large specific loss power (SLP), up to 150 W g(-1), when the experiments are performed at 571 kHz and 200 Oe. The SLP was optimized adjusting the shell composition, showing a maximum for intermediate Zn concentration. This study shows a way to maximize the heat generation in viscous media like cytosol, for those biomedical applications that require smaller particle sizes