Leadless Pacemaker Implantation Via Azygos Vein in a Patient with Absence of the Hepatic Segment of the Inferior Vena Cava

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Formation of Lipofuscin-Like Autofluorescent Granules in the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Requires Lysosome Dysfunction

PURPOSE: We aim to characterize the pathways required for autofluorescent granule (AFG) formation by RPE cells using cultured monolayers. METHODS: We fed RPE monolayers in culture with a single pulse of photoreceptor outer segments (POS). After 24 hours the cells started accumulating AFGs that were comparable to lipofuscin in vivo. Using this model, we used a variety of light and electron microscopical techniques, flow cytometry and Western blot to analyze the formation of AFGs. We also generated a mutant RPE line lacking cathepsin D by gene editing. RESULTS: AFGs seem to derive from incompletely digested POS-containing phagosomes and after 3 days are surrounded by a single membrane positive for lysosome markers. We show by various methods that lysosome-phagosome fusion is required for AFG formation, and that impairment of lysosomal pH or catalytic activity, particularly cathepsin D activity, enhances AF accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that lysosomal dysfunction results in incomplete POS degradation and enhanced AFG accumulation

Tecnologías utilizadas por enfermeras gerentes en hospitales portugueses

To analyze the association between the characteristics of nurse managers and the use of information technologies in Portuguese hospitals.Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre as caraterísticas de enfermeiros gestores e o uso de tecnologias de informação e comunicação em hospitais portugueses. Método: Estudo transversal, quantitativo, envolvendo 138 enfermeiros gestores, que responderam um questionário sobre o uso das principais tecnologias de informação e comunicação na gestão. Os achados foram submetidos a análise estatistísca descritiva e analítica. Resultados: Predominaram as mulheres, com mais de 25 anos na profissão e mais de dez na gestão. Evidenciou que os gestores identificam a utilidade e facilidade de forma singular para cada tecnologia, o uso destas sofre influencia das características sócio laborais dos enfermeiros, sendo significativo o sexo, possuir especialização, o tempo de experiência nos serviços e na gestão. Conclusão: O estudo contribui para explicar e prever a intenção de uso, bem como domínio das tecnologias na gestão hospitalar, fornecendo subsídio de escolha no gerenciamento dos serviços e necessidade de qualificação para utilização.Objetivo: Analizar la asociación entre las características de las enfermeras gestoras y el uso de las tecnologías de la información en los hospitales portugueses. Método: Estudio cuantitativo y transversal realizado con 138 enfermeras gerentes, quienes respondieron un cuestionario que aborda el uso de tecnologías clave de información y comunicación en la gestión. Los resultados se sometieron a análisis estadísticos descriptivos y analíticos. Resultados: Predominaron las mujeres, con más de 25 años en la profesión y más de diez en la gestión. Se evidenció que las gerentes identifican de manera única la utilidad y facilidad de cada tecnología, cuyo uso está influenciado por las características socioocupacionales de las enfermeras, y con su género, especialización, y experiencia en servicios y en gestión. Conclusión: el estudio contribuye a explicar y predecir la intención de uso, así como el dominio de las tecnologías en la gestión hospitalaria, proporcionando un respaldo para la elección en la gestión de los servicios y la necesidad de calificación para su uso.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Omental whirl associated with bilateral inguinal hernia: a case report

INTRODUCTION: Torsion of the omentum is a rare cause of abdominal pain. It is clinically similar to common causes of acute surgical abdomen and is often diagnosed during surgery. Inguinal hernia is a common condition but not frequently related with torsion of the omentum. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old Caucasian man came to our emergency department with abdominal pain of the left quadrant and abdominal distension for 2 days. His medical history included an untreated left inguinal hernia in the last year. Computed tomography revealed densification of mesocolon with left omentum "whirl" component and other signs of omental torsion. During an exploratory laparoscopy, a wide twist of his omentum with necrotic alterations that extended to the bilateral inguinal hernial content was observed. Omentectomy and surgical repair of bilateral inguinal hernia were performed. CONCLUSIONS: Torsion of the omentum is a rare entity and usually presents a diagnostic challenge. The use of abdominal computed tomography can help diagnosing torsion of the omentum preoperatively and, thus, prevents a surgical approach. Nonetheless, some cases of torsion of the omentum require surgical repair. Accordingly, a laparoscopic approach is minimally invasive and efficient in performing omentectomy.(undefined

Karyotype and genome size of Iberochondrostoma almacai (Teleostei, Cyprinidae) and comparison with the sister-species I.lusitanicum

This study aimed to define the karyotype of the recently described Iberian endemic Iberochondrostoma almacai, to revisit the previously documented chromosome polymorphisms of its sister species I.lusitanicum using C-, Ag-/CMA3 and RE-banding, and to compare the two species genome sizes. A 2n = 50 karyotype (with the exception of a triploid I.lusitanicum specimen) and a corresponding haploid chromosome formula of 7M:15SM:3A (FN = 94) were found. Multiple NORs were observed in both species (in two submetacentric chromosome pairs, one of them clearly homologous) and a higher intra and interpopulational variability was evidenced in I.lusitanicum. Flow cytometry measurements of nuclear DNA content showed some significant differences in genome size both between and within species: the genome of I. almacai was smaller than that of I.lusitanicum (mean values 2.61 and 2.93 pg, respectively), which presented a clear interpopulational variability (mean values ranging from 2.72 to 3.00 pg). These data allowed the distinction of both taxa and confirmed the existence of two well differentiated groups within I. lusitanicum: one that includes the populations from the right bank of the Tejo and Samarra drainages, and another that reunites the southern populations. The peculiar differences between the two species, presently listed as “Critically Endangered”, reinforced the importance of this study for future conservation plans

Quantitative image analysis for the characterization of microbial aggregates in biological wastewater treatment : a review

Quantitative image analysis techniques have gained an undeniable role in several fields of research during the last decade. In the field of biological wastewater treatment (WWT) processes, several computer applications have been developed for monitoring microbial entities, either as individual cells or in different types of aggregates. New descriptors have been defined that are more reliable, objective, and useful than the subjective and time-consuming parameters classically used to monitor biological WWT processes. Examples of this application include the objective prediction of filamentous bulking, known to be one of the most problematic phenomena occurring in activated sludge technology. It also demonstrated its usefulness in classifying protozoa and metazoa populations. In high-rate anaerobic processes, based on granular sludge, aggregation times and fragmentation phenomena could be detected during critical events, e.g., toxic and organic overloads. Currently, the major efforts and needs are in the development of quantitative image analysis techniques focusing on its application coupled with stained samples, either by classical or fluorescent-based techniques. The use of quantitative morphological parameters in process control and online applications is also being investigated. This work reviews the major advances of quantitative image analysis applied to biological WWT processes.The authors acknowledge the financial support to the project PTDC/EBB-EBI/103147/2008 and the grant SFRH/BPD/48962/2008 provided by Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (Portugal)