Occurrence of testicular microlithiasis in androgen insensitive hypogonadal mice

<b>Background</b>: Testicular microliths are calcifications found within the seminiferous tubules. In humans, testicular microlithiasis (TM) has an unknown etiology but may be significantly associated with testicular germ cell tumors. Factors inducing microlith development may also, therefore, act as susceptibility factors for malignant testicular conditions. Studies to identify the mechanisms of microlith development have been hampered by the lack of suitable animal models for TM.<BR/> <b>Methods</b>: This was an observational study of the testicular phenotype of different mouse models. The mouse models were: cryptorchid mice, mice lacking androgen receptors (ARs) on the Sertoli cells (SCARKO), mice with a ubiquitous loss of androgen ARs (ARKO), hypogonadal (hpg) mice which lack circulating gonadotrophins, and hpg mice crossed with SCARKO (hpg.SCARKO) and ARKO (hpg.ARKO) mice.<BR/> <b>Results</b>: Microscopic TM was seen in 94% of hpg.ARKO mice (n=16) and the mean number of microliths per testis was 81 +/- 54. Occasional small microliths were seen in 36% (n=11) of hpg testes (mean 2 +/- 0.5 per testis) and 30% (n=10) of hpg.SCARKO testes (mean 8 +/- 6 per testis). No microliths were seen in cryptorchid, ARKO or SCARKO mice. There was no significant effect of FSH or androgen on TM in hpg.ARKO mice.<BR/> <b>Conclusions</b>: We have identified a mouse model of TM and show that lack of endocrine stimulation is a cause of TM. Importantly, this model will provide a means with which to identify the mechanisms of TM development and the underlying changes in protein and gene expression

Impact exercise strategies in the HRQOL of the sedentary adults

El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la eficacia de diferentes estrategias de intervención del ejercicio físico y relacionarlas con la percepción de la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en adultos mayores sedentarios. Participaron 100 sujetos, con edades comprendidas entre los 60 y 70 años, que fueron divididos aleatoriamente en cuatro grupos: control, recomendación, prescripción y monitorización. La intervención de ejercicio físico tuvo una duración de 6 meses. Para la valoración de la CVRS se utilizó el cuestionario SF-36. Los grupos monitorización y prescripción obtuvieron los mayores valores en todos los dominios en el análisis intragrupos. La función física y la salud general y mental obtienen los mayores valores significativos entre grupos (p<.05). Entre los grupos prescripción y monitorización no existen diferencias significativas en ninguna dimensión. Sin embargo el grupo de monitorización obtuvo valores superiores en salud mental, no siendo así en salud físicaThe aim of the study was to analyze the effectiveness of different intervention strategies of exercise and relate the perception of quality of life related to health (HRQOL) in sedentary older adults. It involved 100 subjects, aged between 60 and 70, who were randomly divided into four groups: control, recommend, prescribe and monitor. The exercise intervention lasted 6 months. The SF-36 questionnaire was used for the assessment of HRQOL. The monitoring and prescription groups had higher values in all domains in the intragroup analysis. Physical function and health and mental health obtain the highest significant values between groups (p <.05). There are no significant differences at all in any domain among prescription and monitoring groups. However, the monitoring group obtained higher values in mental health, but were not in physical healt

Estudio a corto plazo en artroplastia total de cadera no cementada con par de fricción cerámica-cerámica

Se revisan 38 prótesis con par de fricción cerámica-cerámica en 31 pacientes intervenidos durante los años 2000 a 2003. La edad media era de 47,3 años. La valoración clínica con la escala de Harris pasó de 53 puntos de media en el preoperatorio a 97 en el postoperatorio lo que permitió establecer un 76,3% de resultados excelentes y un 23,7 de buenos. No hemos podido constatar ninguna complicación asociada al par cerámica-cerámica. Los resultados iniciales con el par cerámica-cerámica son superponibles a otras pares de fricción, su utilización en implantes que han demostrado su eficacia con otros pares de fricción, la mejoría en la fabricación y la estricta observación de la técnica quirúrgica permite obviar el riesgo de fractura. Merced a su baja incidencia de desgaste y buen comportamiento biológico representa una alternativa real para su implantación en pacientes jóvenes o con una actividad elevada.From 2000 to 2003, 38 patients underwent ceramic on ceramic bearing total hip artrhoplasty. Mean age was 47.3 years. Clinical evaluation with the harris hip score increased from 53 points preoperatively to 97 postoperatively. There were no complications associated with ceramic on ceramic bearing.Initial results are similar to those found with others bearing surfaces. The use of ceramics in implants that have shown their effectiviness with others bearing surfaces, improvement in manufactured of the ceramics and a carefull surgery decreased the risk os fracture. Low incidence of wear debris and biological caracteristics makes ceramics a real alternative in young or high activity patients

Influence of stress and depression on the immune system in patients evaluated in an anti-aging unit

Background: There is compelling evidence pointing out that stress and depression produce a dramatic impact on human well-being mainly through impairing the regular function of the immune system and producing a low-chronic inflammation status that favors the occurrence of infections, metabolic diseases, and even cancer. The present work aims to evaluate the stress/depression levels of some patients treated in an antiaging unit and detect any potential relationship with their immune system status prior of the implementation of a physical/psychological program designed to prevent health deterioration. Methods: We evaluated 48 patients (16 men and 32 women with a mean age of 55.11 ± 10.71 years) from middle-upper class from psychological and immunological points of view. In particular, we analyzed neutrophil chemotaxis and phagocytosis; lymphocyte chemotaxis and proliferation, and natural killer (NK) cell activity. Results: Women showed more depressive symptoms than men. Chemotaxis levels of lymphocytes and neutrophils in women showed a significant reduction compared with those in men. We also found a strong negative correlation between depression and NK cell function. This correlation was also significant independently of gender. Conclusion: We conclude that NK activity is affected at least by depression state, and we propose that a combined treatment consisting of cognitive behavioral therapy and physical activity programs might improve patient health deterioration

TP87 153. Implantación de dos sistemas de oxigenador de membrana extracorpórea a un paciente en dos ingresos: Uno como recuperación, otro como puente a otra asistencia

IntroducciónLos programas de asistencias mecánicas de corta duración se empiezan a desarrollar en nuestro país. Uno de los más utilizados es el oxigenador de membrana extracor-pórea (ECMO), cuya mayor indicación en nuestro entorno es como puente al trasplante. Presentamos un caso en el que se coloca como recuperación, y tras 3 meses otra nueva como puente a otra asistencia.Material y métodosPaciente de 61 años que ingresa por trombosis de stent en descendente anterior (DA), presentando shock cardiogénico refractario a fármacos y balón de contrapulsación. Dada la situación se coloca ECMO venoarterial que se retira a las 72h por mejoría, dándose de alta el paciente a los 19 días.Tres meses después el paciente ingresa con bajo gasto y edema de pulmón, implantándose un ECMO venoarterial en el box de intensivos como puente a asistencia univentricular Levitronix, que se coloca 10h después en quirófano. Se reinterviene dos veces por taponamiento y se extuba a los 7 días, momento en que se incluye en alarma 0. Tras 27 días con Levitronix izquierda, la paciente sufre un ictus y retiramos de lista, falleciendo la paciente.ResultadosLos dos ECMO cumplieron su objetivo: uno de recuperación y el otro de puente a la asistencia.ConclusionesComo describimos en este caso, el ECMO es muy útil y fácil de implantar en pacientes con el objetivo de la recuperación o como puente al trasplante. Las asistencias no están exentas de complicaciones

Complicaciones a corto plazo de la artroplastia total primaria de cadera

Objetivos: Se pretende analizar las principales complicaciones a corto plazo (seis semanas) tras la Artroplastia total primaria de cadera. ;aterial y métodos: Se revisaron todos los pacientes a los que se realizó artroplastia total de cadera durante el año 2003. Las variables estudiadas fueron el índice de luxaciones, sangrado, infección, fracturas periprotésicas, complicaciones vásculo-nerviosas y mortalidad. Resultados: Obtuvimos una tasa del 4,4% de luxaciones; 1,7% de trombosis venosa profunda con un 0,87% de embolismo pulmonar, 1,7% de infecciones superficiales sin casos de infección profunda. El 14,9% de los casos necesitaron una transfusión postquirúrgica. Intraoperatoriamente observamos apertura del cálcar en el 3,5%, y fracturas periprotésicas postoperatorias en el 0,87%. No registramos complicaciones neurológicas ni mortalidad en estas primeras seis semanas del estudio. Conclusiones: La complicación más frecuente es la luxación, fundamentalmente en los casos secundarios a fractura. La trombosis venosa profunda, a èsar de la profilaxis, continúa siendo una complicación frecuente.Objectives: Our purpose was to analyze the main early complications (six weeks) after primary total hip arthroplasty. Materials and Methods: All patients who had undergone primary total hip replacement during 2003 were reviewed. The studied outcomes were the rates of dislocation, blood loss, infection, periprosthetic fractures, neural and vascular complications, and mortality. Results: Our rates were 4,4% for hip dislocation, 1,7% for deep vein thrombosis with 0,87% for pulmonary embolism, 1,7% for wound infection without cases of deep infection. 14,9% of the patients needed postoperative transfusion. We reported 3,5% fractures of the calcar during surgery and 0,87% of postoperative periprosthetic fractures. We didn ́t reported any neural complications or mortality within six weeks postoperatively. Conclusions: The most frequent complication is dislocation, mainly in cases whose underlying diagnose was hip fracture. Although prophylaxis is done, deep vein thrombosis goes on being a frequent complication

Datos normativos de las Matrices Progresivas Coloreadas en niños indígenas yaquis

Normative data for Raven´s Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) are presented for a Mexican sample of 665 indigenous Yaqui children (Mexico) from 5 to 11.11 years old. The data are compared with the Mexican normative data used at the national level (Méndez y Palacios, 2008). Analysis of the metric properties shows good validity and reliability indices, which proves the test to be a useful tool for assessing nonverbal intelligence of Yaqui children. The comparison of these normative data with national norms shows differences in all age groups, with the Yaqui children scoring lowest. We conclude that there is a need for local standards of the test in this indigenous population to ensure the correct inferences and interpretations about the meaning of the scores.Se presentan datos normativos del Test de Matrices Progresivas Escala Coloreada (MPC) obtenidos de una muestra de 665 niños de la comunidad indígena yaqui (México) entre los 5 y los 11.11 años de edad y los resultados de la comparación de estas normas con el baremo mexicano usado a nivel nacional (Méndez y Palacios, 2008). El análisis de las características métricas del MPC indicó buenos índices de validez y fiabilidad, lo que demuestra que es un instrumento útil para evaluar la inteligencia no verbal de niños de la comunidad yaqui. Los resultados de la comparación entre las normas obtenidas y las nacionales mostraron una ejecución inferior en los niños yaquis detodos los grupos de edad, por lo que se concluye la necesidad de utilizar normas locales de este test en esta población indígena, que aseguren la realización de inferencias e interpretaciones correctas sobre el significado de las puntuaciones que obtienen estos niños

Characterization of the rat Na+/nucleoside cotransporter 2 and transport of nucleoside-derived drugs using electrophysiological methods.

The Na(+)-dependent nucleoside transporter 2 (CNT2) mediates active transport of purine nucleosides and uridine as well as therapeutic nucleoside analogs. We used the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique to investigate rat CNT2 (rCNT2) transport mechanism and study the interaction of nucleoside-derived drugs with the transporter expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes. The kinetic parameters for sodium, natural nucleosides, and nucleoside derivatives were obtained as a function of membrane potential. For natural substrates, apparent affinity (K(0.5)) was in the low micromolar range (12-34) and was voltage independent for hyperpolarizing membrane potentials, whereas maximal current (I(max)) was voltage dependent. Uridine and 2'-deoxyuridine analogs modified at the 5-position were substrates of rCNT2. Lack of the 2'-hydroxyl group decreased affinity but increased I(max). Increase in the size and decrease in the electronegativity of the residue at the 5-position affected the interaction with the transporter by decreasing both affinity and I(max). Fludarabine and formycin B were also transported with higher I(max) than uridine and moderate affinity (102 +/- 10 and 66 +/- 6 microM, respectively). Analysis of the pre-steady-state currents revealed a half-maximal activation voltage of about -39 mV and a valence of about -0.8. K(0.5) for Na(+) was 2.3 mM at -50 mV and decreased at hyperpolarizing membrane potentials. The Hill coefficient was 1 at all voltages. Direct measurements of radiolabeled nucleoside fluxes with the charge associated showed a ratio of two positive inward charges per nucleoside, suggesting a stoichiometry of two Na(+) per nucleoside. This discrepancy in the number of Na(+) molecules that bind rCNT2 may indicate a low degree of cooperativity between the Na(+) binding sites

Superior Performance of Ablative Glass Coatings Containing Graphene Nanosheets

Glass compositions in the Y₂O₃-Al₂O₃-SiO₂ (YAS) system are envisaged as promising coatings for high‐temperature protection, in particular for the thermal protection systems (TPS) looked for aerospace applications. Recently, thermally sprayed YAS hybrid coatings containing a small amount of graphene nanoplateletes (GNPs) showed enhanced performance as compared to the blank YAS coating, demonstrated by the occurrence of unusual electrical conductivity for these glasses and the development of better mechanical compliance, both phenomena associated with the presence of GNPs. Nevertheless, a crucial issue is to demonstrate if these kinds of coatings would also have superior behavior under ablation conditions, particularly regarding the mentioned TPS applications. This work goes far beyond, exploring the ablative behavior of new YAS/GNPs coatings flame sprayed over SiC substrates. These essential tests were carried out under laboratory conditions, reaching limit temperatures of 1350°C while blowing gas. Results evidence that hybrid coatings having just 1.05 vol% GNPs show enhanced ablation resistance, actually withstanding up to 30 thermal cycles (between 200°C and 1350°C) without apparent damage. This satisfactory performance is linked to the benefits of the GNP additions, and fundamentally to the higher emissivity and the directional thermal conduction characteristics of the hybrid coatings—produced by the formation of a GNP network with a preferential surface parallel arrangement—that preclude the creation of hot spots and also hinder heat propagation toward the substrate; accordingly, coating degradation is constrained to the uppermost layer of these coatings