Efficacy evaluation of an oral powder supplement enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid in cancer patients

Introducción: El efecto beneficioso del ácido eicosapentaenoico en pacientes con cáncer está ampliamente descrito sobre todo en lo que respecta a su rol en la caquexia tumoral. Objetivo: Evaluar la eficacia de la administración de un nuevo suplemento oral en polvo con adición de este componente frente a un suplemento líquido estándar en un grupo de pacientes oncológicos. Pacientes y métodos: 61 adultos mayores de 18 años de ambos sexos con cáncer, fueron aleatorizados en dos grupos para recibir durante un mes 600 kcal extras añadidas a su alimentación; uno a través de un suplemento oral en polvo con 1,5 g de ácido eicosapentaenoico/día (RSI) y el otro con un producto líquido estándar (RE). Tanto al inicio como al final del estudio se realizaron las siguientes medidas: valoración global subjetiva generada por el paciente (VGS-gp), parámetros antropométricos (Pliegues, circunferencia del brazo y bioimpedancia), dietéticos (registro alimentario de 72 horas), bioquímicos e inflamatorios (bioquímica básica, citoquinas, prealbúmina y PCR). La calidad de vida fue valorada mediante el cuestionario SF-36. Así mismo se emplearon escalas de percepción sensorial, tolerancia de los productos y motivación y saciedad al comer durante el estudio. Resultados: Finalizaron el estudio 40 pacientes. Tras la intervención ambos grupos mantuvieron sus parámetros antropométricos y aumentaron significativamente la prealbúmina (RSI 16,11 ± 5,66 mg/dl vs 19.81 ± 6.75 mg/dl p < 0,05 y RE 16.55 ± 6.13 mg/dl vs 19.03 ± 5.47 mg/dl p < 0,05). El grupo RSI disminuyó significativamente los valores de interferón gamma (INF- ) (0,99 ± 0,95 vs 0,65 ± 0,92 pg/ml, p < 0,05). Sin embargo, el grupo RE los aumentó al final del estudio (1,62 ± 1,27 vs 2,2 ± 3,19 pg/ml, p < 0,05). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en la sensación de hambre, apetito, saciedad y capacidad de ingesta tras la intervención en ambos grupos. Las puntuaciones del SF-36 mejoraron en ambos grupos. Conclusión: La suplementación durante un mes de un producto en polvo enriquecido con 1,5 g de EPA en una población de pacientes con cáncer, modula positivamente ciertos parámetros inflamatorios. Este producto podría ser una opción nueva a tener en cuenta que podría sumarse a las estrategias de intervención para el tratamiento nutricional del paciente oncológico.Background and objectives: The beneficial effect of eicosapentaenoic acid in cancer patients is widely described especially in relation to its role in tumour cachexia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of administration of a new oral powder supplement enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid compared to a standard liquid supplement in cancer patients. Patients and methods: A total of 61cancer patients, aged more than 18 years, were randomized to receive during a month a bonus of 600 kcal/ day to their regular diet with an oral powder supplement enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid (1.5 g) (RSI) or with a standard liquid supplement (RE). The following data were collected at baseline and after one month: the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (pg-SGA), anthropometric measurements (skin folds, circumferences and bioimpedance), dietary parameters (3-day food record), biochemical and inflammatory parameters (basic biochemistry, cytokines, prealbumin and Reactive C Protein). Quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36 questionnaire. At the end, scales were used to asses sensory perception, tolerance and satiety induced by the products and motivation to eat. Results: 40 patients completed the study. After intervention, anthropometric parameters do not change and prealbumin values increased significantly in both groups (RSI 16.11 ± 5.66 mg/dl vs. 19.81 ± 6.75 mg/dl p < 0.05 and RE 6.13 ± 16.55 mg/dl vs. 19.03 ± 5.47 mg / dl p < 0.05). RSI group significantly decreased interferon gamma (INF- ) values (0.99 ± 0.95 vs. 0.65 ± 0.92 pg/ml, p < 0.05). In contrast, RE group increased INF- after intervention (1.62 ± 1 27 vs. 2.2 ± 3.19 pg/ml, p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in hunger, appetite, satiety and intake capacity in both groups. The SF-36 scores improved in both groups. Conclusions: Supplementation based on an oral powder formula enriched with 1.5g EPA during one month in cancer patients improved certain inflammatory parameters. This product may be a novel and valuable option to be added to the nutritional intervention strategies used for cancer patients.Este estudio fue financiado por Nestlé Health Care Nutrition SA pero no tuvo intervención en el desarrollo del diseño del estudio, la recolección de los datos, el análisis estadístico, la interpretación de los resultados, la redacción ni publicación de este artícul

Linfangioma gigante abdominal como causa de dolor abdominal inespecífico: presentación de un caso clínico

El linfangioma es una lesión benigna y poco frecuente que resulta de la malformación congénita del sistema linfático. Suele localizarse con mayor frecuencia en cabeza, cuello, axilas e ingles, aunque puede afectar cualquier localización corporal. El diagnóstico supone un reto para el pediatra, ya que, en la mayoría de las ocasiones, cursa de forma asintomática o con clínica inespecífica. Raramente cursa con síntomas derivados de alguna de sus complicaciones (rotura, hemorragia, infección). El tratamiento es quirúrgico en la mayoría de los casos. Presentamos el caso de un paciente de 9 años que acude al Servicio de Urgencias por dolor abdominal y estreñimiento de corta evolución, objetivándose en ecografía abdominal una gran masa quística cuya biopsia y PAAF revela el diagnóstico de linfangioma gigante. La resección parcial del tumor mejora el cuadro, permaneciendo a partir de entonces el paciente asintomático. Como conclusión, aunque el dolor abdominal y el estreñimiento son síntomas de etiología habitualmente banal, es importante plantearnos dentro del diagnóstico diferencial la posibilidad de masa abdominal.Lymphangioma is a benign and rare injury resulting from the congenital malformation of the lymphatic system. It is usually located in head, neck, armpits and groins, although it can affect any body location. The diagnosis is a challenge for the pediatrician, because, in most cases, is asymptomatic or nonspecific clinical. Rarely presents with symptoms resulting from some of its complications (rupture, hemorrhage, infection). The treatment is surgical in most cases. We report the case of a 9 years old boy who comes to the emergency department for abdominal pain and short evolution constipation. A large abdominal cystic mass was found with ultrasound, which biopsy revealed the diagnosis of giant lymphangioma. Partial resection of the tumor improves the symptoms, remaining thereafter asymptomatic. Although abdominal pain and constipation are usually banal symptoms, we must consider in the differential diagnosis the possibility of abdominal mass

Proyectiles en ventrículo derecho. ¿Sin puerta de entrada?

The presence of intracardiac foreign bodies and their treatment are still a controversial issue given the variety of locations, the different clinical manifestations and the prognostic implications. The number of published cases in which there is no direct entrance site of the foreign body to the cardiac cavities, diagnosing or assuming theirembolization, is much more limited. We present the case of an adult male with cervical firearm wound, and two foreign bodies in the right ventricle without a direct entry door.La presencia de cuerpos extraños intracardiacos y su tratamiento suponen todavía un tema controvertido dada la variedad de localizaciones en las que se puede presentar y las diferentes manifestaciones clínicas e implicaciones pronósticas de cada una de ellas. El número de casos publicados en los que no existe puerta de entrada directa del cuerpo a las cavidades cardiacas, diagnosticando o asumiendo su embolización a distancia, es mucho más reducido. Presentamos el caso de un varón adulto con herida cervical por arma de fuego y dos cuerpos extraños alojados en ventrículo derecho sin puerta de entrada directa

Constructing a small modular stellarator in Latin America

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84938118149&partnerID=40&md5=1d385f1e177901beaf6f30228abdd67bThis paper aims at briefly describing the design and construction issues of the stellarator of Costa Rica 1 (SCR-1). The SCR-1 is a small modular stellarator for magnetic confinement of plasma developed by the Plasma Laboratory for Fusion Energy and Applications of the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR). SCR-1 will be a 2-field period small modular stellarator with an aspect ratio > 4.4; low shear configuration with core and edge rotational transform equal to 0.32 and 0.28; it will hold plasma in a 6061-T6 aluminum torus shaped vacuum vessel with an minor plasma radius 54.11 mm, a volume of 13.76 liters (0.01 m3), and major radius R = 238 mm. Plasma will be confined in the volume by on axis magnetic field 43.8 mT generated by 12 modular coils with 6 turns each, carrying a current of 767.8 A per turn providing a total toroidal field (TF) current of 4.6 kA-turn per coil. The coils will be supplied by a bank of cell batteries of 120 V. Typical length of the plasma pulse will be between 4 s to 10 s. The SCR-1 plasmas will be heated by ECH second harmonic at 2.45 GHz with a plasma density cut-off value of 7.45 × 1016 m-3. Two magnetrons with a maximum output power of 2 kW and 3 kW will be used. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.Ad Astra Rocket Company,Instituto Tecnologico de Costa Rica,International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),Universidad Nacional de Costa Ric

Trends in Transmission of Drug Resistance and Prevalence of Non-B Subtypes in Patients with Acute or Recent HIV-1 Infection in Barcelona in the Last 16 Years (1997-2012)

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) and non-B subtypes in patients with acute/recent HIV-1 infection in Barcelona during the period 1997-2012. METHODS: Patients from the "Hospital Clinic Primary HIV-1 Infection Cohort" with a genotyping test performed within 180 days of infection were included. The 2009 WHO List of Mutations for Surveillance of Transmitted HIV-1 Drug Resistance was used for estimating the prevalence of TDR and phylogenetic analysis for subtype determination. RESULTS: 189 patients with acute/recent HIV-1 infection were analyzed in 4 time periods (1997-2000, n=28; 2001-4, n=42; 2005-8, n=55 and 2009-12, n=64). The proportion of patients with acute/recent HIV-1 infection with respect to the total of newly HIV-diagnosed patients in our center increased over the time and was 2.18%, 3.82%, 4.15% and 4.55% for the 4 periods, respectively (p=0.005). The global prevalence of TDR was 9%, or 17.9%, 9.5%, 3.6% and 9.4% by study period (p=0.2). The increase in the last period was driven by protease-inhibitor and nucleoside-reverse-transcriptase-inhibitor resistance mutations while non-nucleoside-reverse-transcriptase inhibitor TDR and TDR of more than one family decreased. The overall prevalence of non-B subtypes was 11.1%, or 0%, 4.8%, 9.1% and 20.3 by study period (p=0.01). B/F recombinants, B/G recombinants and subtype F emerged in the last period. We also noticed an increase in the number of immigrant patients (p=0.052). The proportion of men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM) among patients with acute/recent HIV-1 infection increased over the time (p=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of TDR in patients with acute/recent HIV-1 infection in Barcelona was 9%, and it has stayed relatively stable in recent years. Non-B subtypes and immigrants proportions progressively increased

Immunogenicity and efficacy of a novel multi-patch SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 vaccine candidate

23 Pág.While there has been considerable progress in the development of vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, largely based on the S (spike) protein of the virus, less progress has been made with vaccines delivering different viral antigens with cross-reactive potential.This research was supported by La Caixa Banking Foundation grant CF01-00008, Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN)/Spanish Research Agency grant PID2020-117425RB-C22, Fondo COVID-19 grant COV20/00151 (Spanish Health Ministry and Instituto de Salud Carlos III), CSIC grant 2020E84 and Ferrovial donations (to ME). AcknowledgmentsPeer reviewe

Targeted deep sequencing of CD34+ cells from peripheral blood can reproduce bone marrow molecular profile in myelodysplastic syndromes

Altres ajuts: José Carreras Leukämie-Stiftung, Award/Grant number: project AR 14/34

Delamination and tensile effect of fine z-binder reinforced on fiberglass/polyester composite for aerospace applications

Delamination propagation in laminated composite materials is a common issue that always concerns us when we consider composites for structural purpose. Many possible solutions have been studied; the most famous is the three-dimensional (3D) woven composites materials, which have promising interlaminar fracture resistance but at the cost of increasing density, which for aerospace industry is very important. In this chapter, mode 1 double cantilever beam (DCB) interlaminar fracture toughness tests according to the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) D5528 standard were performed on composite specimens made of E-Glass Saertex 830 g/m2 Biaxial (+/−45°) with Sypol 8086 CCP polyester resin with orthogonal z-axis oriented yarn woven of 0.22 mm diameter nylon monofilament. Four specimens were made with a longitudinal distance between the warp binders of 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2 cm, respectively. A tensile test according to the ASTM D3039 standard was performed to study how z-binder may affect tensile resistance. The results show a considerable increase in interlaminar fracture toughness, several stress concentrators have been created because of the new yarn and premature failure in the matrix

Multicentre, randomised, open-label, phase IV-III study to evaluate the efficacy of cloxacillin plus fosfomycin versus cloxacillin alone in adult patients with methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia: study protocol for the SAFO trial

Introduction: Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacteraemia is a frequent condition, with high mortality rates. There is a growing interest in identifying new therapeutic regimens able to reduce therapeutic failure and mortality observed with the standard of care of beta-lactam monotherapy. In vitro and small-scale studies have found synergy between cloxacillin and fosfomycin against S. aureus. Our aim is to test the hypothesis that cloxacillin plus fosfomycin achieves higher treatment success than cloxacillin alone in patients with MSSA bacteraemia. Methods: We will perform a superiority, randomised, open-label, phase IV-III, two-armed parallel group (1:1) clinical trial at 20 Spanish tertiary hospitals. Adults (≥18 years) with isolation of MSSA from at least one blood culture ≤72 hours before inclusion with evidence of infection, will be randomly allocated to receive either cloxacillin 2 g/4-hour intravenous plus fosfomycin 3 g/6-hour intravenous or cloxacillin 2 g/4-hour intravenous alone for 7 days. After the first week, sequential treatment and total duration of antibiotic therapy will be determined according to clinical criteria by the attending physician. Primary endpoints: (1) Treatment success at day 7, a composite endpoint comprising all the following criteria: patient alive, stable or with improved quick-Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, afebrile and with negative blood cultures for MSSA at day 7. (2) Treatment success at test of cure (TOC) visit: patient alive and no isolation of MSSA in blood culture or at another sterile site from day 8 until TOC (12 weeks after randomisation). We assume a rate of treatment success of 74% in the cloxacillin group. Accepting alpha risk of 0.05 and beta risk of 0.2 in a two-sided test, 183 subjects will be required in each of the control and experimental groups to obtain statistically significant difference of 12% (considered clinically significant). Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval has been obtained from the Ethics Committee of Bellvitge University Hospital (AC069/18) and from the Spanish Medicines and Healthcare Product Regulatory Agency (AEMPS, AC069/18), and is valid for all participating centres under existing Spanish legislation. The results will be presented at international meetings and will be made available to patients and funders