A drug use evaluation study of psychiatric medication at the prison of Valencia, Spain

Los estudios de utilización de medicamentos (EUM) tienen como objetivo la mejora de la terapéutica farmacológica en el ámbito asistencial. Con este objetivo, se realizó un estudio de Dosis Diaria Prescrita (PDD) de los psicofármacos utilizados en el Establecimiento Penitenciario de Valencia (EPV) y su comparación con la Dosis Diarias Defi nidas (DDD) de la OMS. Para cada principio activo se calculó la PDD, el coste anual por principio activo y la proporción de internos en tratamiento en el día del estudio. En conclusión, podemos decir que en el EPV hay un elevado consumo de psicofármacos que en términos globales es similar al año anterior, y debido probablemente, al propio estado de salud de un interno preso o penado en nuestro medio. Las PDD son comparables en términos generales con las DDD por la OMS y la mayor relevancia en términos de gasto farmacéutico anual se lo lleva el grupo de los antipsicóticos atípicos.The aim of Drug Use Evaluation studies (DUE) is to improve pharmacological therapy within the fi eld of health care. With this same objective in mind, a study of the prescribed daily dosage (PDD) of psychiatric treatment drugs at a Valencia prison was carried out and compared with the Daily Defi ned Dosage (DDD) established by the WHO. The PDD of each active principle was calculated, along with its cost and percentage of inmates under treatment on the day the study was performed. The results obtained reveal that on these prison premises there was a high level of psychiatric drug consumption, which in general terms was similar to that found the previous year. This high level of consumption could probably be attributed to the particular health condition presented by one particular inmate. However, in general, the PDD was comparable to the DDD recommended by the WHO, while the most costly group of drugs in terms of annual pharmaceutical expenditure was the atypical antipsychotic drug group

Digital morphometric analysis of skin elements.

Objetivo: Proponer el uso de la infraestructura digital morfométrica para la cuantificación microscópica objetiva de elementos celulares y de la matriz extracelular en heridas y cicatrizaciones de la piel. Descripción de posibles usos, ventajas e inconvenientes. Presentación de una propuesta en diversos cortes histológicos del sistema tegumentario. Material y métodos: En el ejemplo empleado se utilizaron cortes de piel fina sana teñidos con técnicas histoquímicas e inmunohistoquímicas. Las muestras se digitalizaron con el escáner Panoramic MIDI (3D Histech Ltd.) y las imágenes obtenidas se analizaron con el software Panoramic Viewer v.1.15 (3D Histech Ltd) para cuantificar elementos celulares y con el software Image Pro-plus v.6.0 (Media Cybernetics) para cuantificar y caracterizar elementos fibrosos de la matriz extracelular. Resultados: Por un lado cuantificamos las células CD1a+ de la epidermis y la dermis detectando 164 elementos positivos por mm2 y 2.039 elementos negativos por mm2 ; representando el 7,46% de las células cutáneas y, por tanto, las células de Langerhans epidérmicas y macrófagos dérmicos. También valoramos fibras de la matriz extracelular en las capas papilar y reticular de la dermis. En relación con las fibras elásticas, se cuantificó un número mayor por unidad de área con mayor porcentaje de área teñida en la dermis profunda o capa reticular. Mientras que, para las fibras de colágeno, se detectó mayor cantidad por unidad de área con menor porcentaje de área teñida en la dermis superficial o capa papilar. Con respecto a las características de las fibras elásticas en las dos capas, distinguimos que formaban redes más ovoides, estaban dispuestas de forma más oblicua a la epidermis y eran más cortas, estrechas y rectilíneas en la dermis papilar. Para las fibras de colágeno detectamos que formaban haces más redondeados, estaban dispuestos de forma más perpendicular a la epidermis y eran más cortos, estrechos y ondulados en la dermis papilar. Conclusiones: La cuantificación objetiva de células y fibras de la matriz extracelular en imágenes microscópicas digitalizadas proporciona una herramienta rápida, fiable y discriminativa que puede ser útil para numerosos estudios cutáneos. Palabras Clave: Herida - Cicatrización - Estudio Histológico - Piel

Heterogeneity within AML with CEBPA mutations; only CEBPA double mutations, but not single CEBPA mutations are associated with favourable prognosis

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPA) mutations in AML are associated with favourable prognosis and are divided into N- and C-terminal mutations. The majority of AML patients have both types of mutations. We assessed the prognostic significance of single (n=7) and double (n=12) CEBPA mutations among 224 AML patients. Double CEBPA mutations conferred a decisively favourable overall (P=0.006) and disease-free survival (P=0.013). However, clinical outcome of patients with single CEBPA mutations was not different from CEBPA wild-type patients. In a multivariable analysis, only double – but not single – CEBPA mutations were identified as independent prognostic factors. These findings indicate heterogeneity within AML patients with CEBPA mutations

Premolis semirufa (Walker, 1856) Envenomation, Disease Affecting Rubber Tappers of the Amazon: Searching for Caterpillar-Bristles Toxic Components

Pararama, the popular name of the larval form of the moth Premolis semirufa inhabits rubber plantations in the Amazon region and the accidental contact of the skin with the caterpillar's bristles or cocoons results in immediate and intense heat, pain, edema, and itching. In many cases a chronic inflammatory reaction with immobilization of the joints occurs. The current study has evaluated the biological and immunochemical characteristics of the Pararama caterpillar bristles extract. Electrophoretic analysis showed the presence of several components, including a very intense 82 kDa band. This latter component was endowed with intense gelatinolytic activity, as observed in zymography assays. Further analysis revealed that the extract also contained hyaluronidase activity but is devoid of phospholipase A2 activity. In vivo assays, using mice, showed that the extract was not lethal, but caused significant edema and induced intense infiltration of inflammatory cells to the envenomation site. The extract also induced high specific antibody titers, but no autoantibodies were detected. The data obtained, so far, demonstrate the existence of a mixture of different enzymes in the bristles of Premolis semirufa caterpillar, which can act together in the generation and development of the clinical manifestations of the Pararama envenomation

Re-analysis of public genetic data reveals a rare X-chromosomal variant associated with type 2 diabetes.

The reanalysis of existing GWAS data represents a powerful and cost-effective opportunity to gain insights into the genetics of complex diseases. By reanalyzing publicly available type 2 diabetes (T2D) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data for 70,127 subjects, we identify seven novel associated regions, five driven by common variants (LYPLAL1, NEUROG3, CAMKK2, ABO, and GIP genes), one by a low-frequency (EHMT2), and one driven by a rare variant in chromosome Xq23, rs146662057, associated with a twofold increased risk for T2D in males. rs146662057 is located within an active enhancer associated with the expression of Angiotensin II Receptor type 2 gene (AGTR2), a modulator of insulin sensitivity, and exhibits allelic specific activity in muscle cells. Beyond providing insights into the genetics and pathophysiology of T2D, these results also underscore the value of reanalyzing publicly available data using novel genetic resources and analytical approaches

Poor Regenerative Outcome after Skeletal Muscle Necrosis Induced by Bothrops asper Venom: Alterations in Microvasculature and Nerves

artículo (arbitrado) -- Universidad de Costa Rica, Instituto de Investigaciones Clodomiro Picado. 2011Background: Viperid snakebite envenoming is characterized by prominent local tissue damage, including muscle necrosis. A frequent outcome of such local pathology is deficient skeletal muscle regeneration, which causes muscle dysfunction, muscle loss and fibrosis, thus provoking permanent sequelae that greatly affect the quality of life of patients. The causes of such poor regenerative outcome of skeletal muscle after viperid snakebites are not fully understood. Methodology/Principal Findings: A murine model of muscle necrosis and regeneration was adapted to study the effects of the venom and isolated toxins of Bothrops asper, the medically most important snake in Central America. Gastrocnemius muscle was injected with either B. asper venom, a myotoxic phospholipase A2 (Mtx), a hemorrhagic metalloproteinase (SVMP), or saline solution. At various time intervals, during one month, tissue samples were collected and analyzed by histology, and by immunocytochemical and immunohistochemical techniques aimed at detecting muscle fibers, collagen, endothelial cells, myoblasts, myotubes, macrophages, TUNEL-positive nuclei, and axons. A successful regenerative response was observed in muscle injected with Mtx, which induces myonecrosis but does not affect the microvasculature. In contrast, poor regeneration, with fibrosis and atrophic fibers, occurred when muscle was injected with venom or SVMP, both of which provoke necrosis, microvascular damage leading to hemorrhage, and poor axonal regeneration. Conclusions/Significance: The deficient skeletal muscle regeneration after injection of B. asper venom is likely to depend on the widespread damage to the microvasculature, which affects the removal of necrotic debris by phagocytes, and the provision of nutrients and oxygen required for regeneration. In addition, deficient axonal regeneration is likely to contribute to the poor regenerative outcome in this model.This study was supported by NeTropica (grant 2-N-2008), by Vicerrectoría de Investigación, Universidad de Costa Rica (project 741-A7-604). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

Institutional investors and corporate governance

We provide a comprehensive overview of the role of institutional investors in corporate governance with three main components. First, we establish new stylized facts documenting the evolution and importance of institutional ownership. Second, we provide a detailed characterization of key aspects of the legal and regulatory setting within which institutional investors govern portfolio firms. Third, we synthesize the evolving response of the recent theoretical and empirical academic literature in finance to the emergence of institutional investors in corporate governance. We highlight how the defining aspect of institutional investors – the fact that they are financial intermediaries – differentiates them in their governance role from standard principal blockholders. Further, not all institutional investors are identical, and we pay close attention to heterogeneity amongst institutional investors as blockholders