205 research outputs found

    Resultados de los potenciales evocados miogénicos vestibulares en el vértigo posicional paroxístico benigno

    Get PDF
    Objective: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) seems to occur because of otoconia migration into the semicircular canals or their adherence to the cupula. Although the origin of these otoconia lies in the macula of the utricle, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) can be used assess saccular function. The aim of this study is to assess the saccular function in patients diagnosed with BPPV. Patients and method: Nineteen patients diagnosed with BPPV of the posterior semicircular canal were included in this study. Their auditory function and their caloric, rotatory chair, and VEMP responses were tested. Ipsilateral and contralateral VEMP thresholds, ipsilateral and contralateral p13 and n23 latencies at 100 dB, inter-peak amplitude and the interaural amplitude difference were determined. Results: We found a lack of VEMP response in 52 % of the ears with BPPV. When adjusted for bilateral absence, VEMP response was absent in 20.3 % of ears. Conclusions: Some patients with idiopathic BPPV show a degree of saccular dysfunction

    Does the use of health technology assessment have an impact on the utilisation of health care resources? Evidence from two European countries

    Get PDF
    Objectives: A centralised approach to health technology assessment (HTA) may facilitate optimal use of HTA resources. A regional approach may increase the chances of local implementation of recommendations. This study aimed to compare assessment procedures in England (centralised HTA approach) with Spain (regional HTA approach) discussing key challenges and opportunities from both approaches. Methods: We compared technology assessments of anticancer medicines in the two jurisdictions from 2008 to 2015. In order to assess the implementation of HTA recommendations, we assessed trends in medicine usage using regression methods. We used IQVIA data, from 2011 to 2016, for a sample of 11 medicines. We used CatSalut data from Catalonia to assess the implementation of local recommendations. Results: In England 66 assessments were undertaken by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), using a standardised methodology. In Spain there were 79 reports undertaken by a range of bodies using a shared process and coordinated through the GENESIS collaboration; the assessment methods used varied substantially. Overall, the recommendations in the two jurisdictions were similar. Regression analyses indicate that where there is a positive recommendation by HTA bodies, the usage of the medicine responds most strongly (p<0.001) in Catalonia (=4.892), followed by England ( =3.120) and Spain ( =1.693). Conclusions: This study suggests that medicine utilisation does respond to the positive recommendations of HTA bodies. However, if HTA capacity is organised primarily regionally, considerable effort may be required in coordination, in order to ensure consistent and rigorous assessments and adequate implementation of HTA findings

    The fidelity of synaptonemal complex assembly is regulated by a signaling mechanism that controls early meiotic progression

    No full text
    © 2014 Elsevier Inc.Proper chromosome segregation during meiosis requires the assembly of the synaptonemal complex (SC) between homologous chromosomes. However, the SC structure itself is indifferent to homology, andpoorly understood mechanisms that depend on conserved HORMA-domain proteins prevent ectopic SC assembly. Although HORMA-domain proteins are thought to regulate SC assembly as intrinsic components of meiotic chromosomes, here we uncover a key role for nuclear soluble HORMA-domain protein HTP-1 in the quality control of SC assembly. We show that a mutant form of HTP-1 impaired in chromosome loading provides functionality of an HTP-1-dependent checkpoint that delays exit from homology search-competent stages until all homolog pairs are linked by the SC. Bypassing of this regulatory mechanism results in premature meiotic progression and licensing of homology-independent SC assembly. These findings identify nuclear soluble HTP-1 as a regulator of early meiotic progression, suggesting parallels with the mode of action of Mad2 in the spindle assembly checkpoint

    Retrospective review of paediatric case reports of Stevens-Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis with lamotrigine from an international pharmacovigilance database

    Get PDF
    Objectives This study aims to characterise paediatric reports with lamotrigine (LTG) and Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN), and to explore whether potential risk factors can be identified. Design This is a retrospective review of suspected adverse drug reaction (ADR) reports. Reported time from LTG start to SJS/TEN onset, indication for use and dose was explored. To identify potential risk groups, report features (eg, ages, patient sex, co-reported drugs) for LTG and SJS/TEN were contrasted with two reference groups in the same database, using shrinkage logOR. Setting Reports were retrieved from VigiBase, the WHO global database of individual case safety reports, in January 2015. Patients Data for patients aged ≤17 years old were extracted. Results There were 486 reports of SJS/TEN in LTG-treated paediatric patients. Ninety-seven per cent of the cases with complete information on time to onset of SJS/ TEN occurred within 8 weeks of initiation of LTG therapy. The median time to onset was 15 days (IQR: 10–22 days). The proportion of SJS/TEN with LTG and valproic acid (VPA) co-reporting was significantly more than non-cutaneous ADRs (43% vs 19%, (logOR: 1.60 (99% CI: 1.33 to 1.84)). Conclusions The results suggest that VPA co-medication with LTG therapy is a risk factor for SJS/TEN in the paediatric population. Although this relationship has been identified from individual case reports, this is the first supportive study from a large compilation of cases. SJS/TEN risk is highest in first 8 weeks of treatment with LTG in children and clinicians should be aware of this risk during this period

    Printing of cotton with eco-friendly, red algal pigment from Gracilaria sp

    Full text link
    [EN] Natural dyes represent an emerging trend in the textile industry and eco-fashion due to the increasing awareness of the sustainability concept, which must be applied to the surrounding environment. In the light of the stated problem, the search for alternative sources of dyes, revealed the new, eco-friendly, biodegradable, non-carcinogenic and sustainable colorant matter, the algal biomass. In the present work, the suitability and viability of printing cotton fabrics with pigments obtained from the red macroalgae Gracilaria sp., has been investigated. For this aim, phycoerythrin, the red pigment, was extracted from fresh algal biomass, and used in a laboratory pigment-printing process, employing a natural and synthetic printing paste, for process efficiency comparison. The color values and the rubbing and laundering fastness of the printed substrates were evaluated. Results show that a light pink color can be obtained when applying both tested printing processes, and in terms of color fastness, both printing pastes show good behavior. In conclusion, the algal pigments show a high printing capacity on cotton substrates, either when employing the synthetic conventional paste and; moreover, when applying the more sustainable and eco-friendly natural paste.This work was supported by the European research project ¨SEACOLORS¨ (Demonstration of new natural dyes from algae as substitution of synthetic dyes actually used by textile industries) within the LIFE 2013 ¨Environment Policy and Governance project application¨ program.Moldovan, S.; Ferrándiz, M.; Franco, E.; Mira, E.; Capablanca, L.; Bonet-Aracil, M. (2017). Printing of cotton with eco-friendly, red algal pigment from Gracilaria sp. IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering. 254:1-6. doi:10.1088/1757-899X/254/19/192011S1625

    Técnicas digitales para la valoración laringoscópica

    Get PDF
    En 1854 con el descubrimiento del espejito laríngeo por Manuel García, profesor de canto español, nació la laringología como especialidad. Desde entonces han sido numerosos los avances en el terreno de la valoración visual de la dinámica laríngea durante la fonación. En los últimos años la tecnología digital ha permitido no sólo la obtención y registro de imágenes de manera precisa y fiable sino que permite realizar mediciones de fenómenos extremadamente rápidos y delicados, como son el desplazamiento de la mucosa de las cuerdas vocales, los cambios del área glótica durante el ciclo vocal, etc. Se revisa la historia de la estroboscopia, los protocolos de valoración, las técnicas de la estroboscopia digital y sus posibilidades diagnósticas así como sus limitaciones. Se propone así mismo dos nuevas técnicas que han irrumpido recientemente en el panorama otorrinolaringológico que son la videokimografía digital y la grabación en vídeo de alta velocidad que superan las limitaciones de la estroboscopia y probablemente se convertirán en un medio de exploración rutinario en un futuro próximo
    corecore