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Humanos , Feminino , Criança , Staphylococcus aureus/isolamento & purificação , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso Central/etiologia , Endocardite Bacteriana/complicações , Endocardite Bacteriana/diagnóstico , Endocardite Bacteriana/microbiologia , Endocardite Bacteriana/tratamento farmacológico , Anti-Infecciosos/administração & dosagem , Anti-Infecciosos/uso terapêutico , Ecocardiografia , AntibioticoprofilaxiaRESUMO
We uncover new features on the study of a two-level atom interacting with one of two cavities in a coherent superposition. The James-Cummings model is used to describe the atom-field interaction and to study the effects of quantum indefiniteness on such an interaction. We show that coherent control of the two cavities in an undefined manner allows novel possibilities to manipulate the atomic dynamics on demand which are not achievable in the conventional way. In addition, it is shown that the coherent control of the atom creates highly entangled states of the cavity fields taking a Bell-like or Schrödinger-cat-like state form. Our results are a step forward to understand and harness quantum systems in a coherent control, and open a new research avenue in the study of atom-field interaction exploiting quantum indefiniteness.
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The encapsulation of gallic acid (GA) through several methods has enhanced its shelf life and facilitated industrial applications. Polymeric matrices made of alginate and pectin were evaluated to encapsulate GA via spray drying. The pH-responsive release mechanism was monitored to validate the matrices' performances as wall materials and extend the bioactive compound stability. The microcapsules produced were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and cyclic voltammetry (CV). The retention and encapsulation efficiency ranges were 45-82% and 79-90%, respectively. The higher values were reached at 3 and 0.75% (w/v) pectin and sodium alginate, respectively. The scanning electron microscopy showed smooth spherical capsules and the average particle size ranged from 1327 to 1591 nm. Their performance and stability were evaluated with optimal results at a pH value of 7 throughout the investigation period. Therefore, this work demonstrated the suitability of gallic acid encapsulation via spray drying using pectin and alginate, which are biopolymers that can be obtained from circular economy processes starting from agro-industrial biomass. The developed formulations provide an alternative to protecting and controlling the release of GA, promoting its application in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries and allowing for the release of compounds with high bioactive potential.
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Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar la asociación entre algunos factores de riesgo y la hernia inguinal recurrente en el adulto mayor. Materiales y Método: Se realizó un estudio analítico de casos y controles en el decenio 2002-2011 en el Hospital "Celia Sánchez Manduley", de Manzanillo, Cuba. Se realizó inicialmente un análisis univariado, los factores que resultaron estadísticamente significativos en este último fueron escogidos para el análisis multivariado posterior. Resultados: En el análisis univariado se asociaron 11 variables a la recurrencia herniaria inguinal, excepto la Diabetes mellitus (p = 0,051). En el análisis multivariado se obtuvo un modelo más ajustado con las siguientes variables: demora mayor o igual a 3 años para la primera reparación (p = 0,00), cirugía urgente (p = 0,00) y deslizamiento de la hernia primaria (p = 0,00). Discusión: La demora en la cirugía implica que el paciente sea cada día más añoso y la hernia más compleja, aumentando el riesgo de padecer enfermedades crónicas que agravan el pronóstico dando lugar a la recurrencia herniaria. Por otro lado, los riesgos que implica llevar a cabo la cirugía en la hernia inguinal complicada: aumento del tiempo quirúrgico, edema y tumefacción del complejo músculo-fascioaponeurótico, así como por el riesgo de infección del sitio operatorio. En las hernias inguinales deslizadas las recidivas son más frecuentes, debiéndose probablemente al alto grado de complejidad desde el punto de vista de su reparación. Conclusión: La demora mayor o igual a 3 años para la primera reparación, la cirugía urgente y el deslizamiento de la hernia primaria se asociaron significativamente a la hernia inguinal recurrente en el adulto mayor.
Objective: To evaluate the association between some risk factors and recurrent inguinal hernia in the elderly. Materials and Method: An analytical case-control study was conducted in the 2002-2011 decade at the "Celia Sánchez Manduley" Hospital, of Manzanillo, Cuba. Initially, a univariate analysis was performed, factors that were statistically significant in the latter were chosen for the subsequent multivariate analysis. Results: In the univariate analysis, 11 variables were associated with inguinal hernia recurrence, except diabetes mellitus (p = 0.051). In the multivariate analysis a more adjusted model was obtained with the following variables: delay greater than or equal to 3 years for the first repair (p = 0.00), urgent surgery (p = 0.00) and sliding of the primary hernia (p = 0.00). Discussion: The delay in surgery implies that the patient is getting older and the hernia complex, increasing the risk of suffering from chronic diseases that aggravate the prognosis giving rise to hernia recurrence. On the other hand, the risks involved in carrying out surgery in complicated inguinal hernia: increased surgical time, edema and swelling of the muscle-fascio-aponeurotic complex, as well as the risk of infection of the operative site. In inguinal hernias slipped recurrences are more frequent, probably due to the high degree of complexity from the point of view of their repair. Conclusion: The delay greater than or equal to 3 years for the first repair, urgent surgery and the sliding of the primary hernia were associated significantly to recurrent inguinal hernia in the elderly
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Humanos , Masculino , Feminino , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Fatores de Risco , Hérnia Inguinal/patologia , Hérnia Inguinal/epidemiologia , Recidiva , Reoperação , Hérnia Inguinal/cirurgiaRESUMO
Temperate grasses, such as wheat, become compact plants with small thick leaves after exposure to low temperature. These responses are associated with cold hardiness, but their underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here we analyse the effects of low temperature on leaf morpho-anatomical structure, cell wall composition and activity of extracellular peroxidases, which play key roles in cell elongation and cell wall thickening, in two wheat cultivars with contrasting cold-hardening ability. A combined microscopy and biochemical approach was applied to study actively growing leaves of winter (ProINTA-Pincén) and spring (Buck-Patacón) wheat developed under constant warm (25 °C) or cool (5 °C) temperature. Cold-grown plants had shorter leaves but longer inter-stomatal epidermal cells than warm-grown plants. They had thicker walls in metaxylem vessels and mestome sheath cells, paralleled with accumulation of wall components, predominantly hemicellulose. These effects were more pronounced in the winter cultivar (Pincén). Cold also induced a sharp decrease in apoplastic peroxidase activity within the leaf elongating zone of Pincén, and a three-fold increase in the distal mature zone of the leaf. This was consistent with the enhanced cell length and thicker cell walls in this cultivar at 5 °C. The different response to low temperature of apoplastic peroxidase activity and hemicellulose between leaf zones and cultivar types suggests they might play a central role in the development of cold-induced compact morphology and cold hardening. New insights are presented on the potential temperature-driven role of peroxidases and hemicellulose in cell wall dynamics of grasses.
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Parede Celular/metabolismo , Temperatura Baixa , Peroxidase/metabolismo , Folhas de Planta/anatomia & histologia , Folhas de Planta/fisiologia , Triticum/anatomia & histologia , Triticum/fisiologia , Proteínas de Plantas/metabolismo , Polissacarídeos/metabolismo , Estações do AnoRESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Neuroendocrine tumors are of great scientific interest, given that they are difficult to diagnose and treat. Despite being relatively rare (< 1/100,000 individuals, 1-2% of the gastrointestinal neoplasias) and indolent, their potential malignancy must not be forgotten. An increase in the number of diagnosed tumors has been observed in recent years. The aim of the present study was to update a published case series of 19 patients suspected of presenting with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor with 51 current cases, to study and compare the new results with those of the previous case series, as well as with other recent publications from Spain, the United States, China, and India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter case series was conducted on 70 patients (19 cases published in 2011), whose data has been collected over a period of 23 years. The variables analyzed were: age, sex, symptomatology, tumor size, location, metastasis, final diagnosis, and surgery, among others. RESULTS: Mean patient age was 55 years and 60% of the patients were men. Disease location was the pancreatic head in 28.5% of the patients and the tail in 27.1%, mean tumor size was 3.9cm (0.2-10cm), 71.4% of the patients had non-functioning tumors, 32.8% had metastases (100% to the liver), 74.2% of the patients were operated on, and actuarial survival was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Differences were observed between the previously published case series and the current results. There was an increase in incidentalomas and non-functioning tumors, but no variation in the overall survival rate. The differences with other case series (age, sex, and tumor location) were dependent on the country where the cases were compiled. The increase in tumors could be related to a higher number of diagnoses made through imaging studies and to the greater sensitivity of the devices employed.
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Neoplasias Intestinais/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Intestinais/diagnóstico , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/diagnóstico por imagem , Tumores Neuroendócrinos/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Pancreáticas/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Gástricas/diagnóstico por imagem , Neoplasias Gástricas/diagnóstico , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Criança , Neoplasias Duodenais/diagnóstico , Neoplasias Duodenais/diagnóstico por imagem , Aspiração por Agulha Fina Guiada por Ultrassom Endoscópico , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Programas de Rastreamento , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The finding of new biomarkers is needed to have a better sub-classification of primary renal tumors (RCC) as well as more reliable predictors of outcome and therapy response. In this study, we evaluated the role of circulating FGF21, an endocrine factor, as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for ccRCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum samples from healthy controls (HC), clear cell and chromophobe RCC cancer patients were obtained from the serum biobank "Biobanco Público de Muestras Séricas Oncológicas" (BPMSO) of the "Instituto de Oncología "Ángel H. Roffo". Serum FGF21 and leptin were measured by ELISA while other metabolic markers were measured following routinely clinical procedures. RESULTS: One of our major findings was that FGF21 levels were significantly increased in ccRCC patients compared with HC. Moreover, we showed an association between the increased serum FGF21 levels and the shorter disease free survival in a cohort of 98 ccRCC patients, after adjustment for other predictors of outcome. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that higher FGF21 serum level is an independent prognostic biomarker, associated with worse free-disease survival.
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The use of vesicles co-incubated with plasmids showed to improve the efficiency of cytoplasmic injection of transgenes in cattle. Here, this technique was tested as a simplified alternative for transgenes delivery in porcine zygotes. To this aim, cytoplasmic injection of the plasmid alone was compared to the injection with plasmids co-incubated with vesicles both in diploid parthenogenic and IVF zygotes. The plasmid pcx-egfp was injected circular (CP) at 3, 30 and 300 ng/µl and linear (LP) at 30 ng/µl. The experimental groups using parthenogenetic zygotes were as follows: CP naked at 3 ng/µl (N = 105), 30 ng/µl (N = 95) and 300 ng/µl (N = 65); Sham (N = 105); control not injected (N = 223); LP naked at 30 ng/µl (N = 78); LP vesicles (N = 115) and Sham vesicles (N = 59). For IVF zygotes: LP naked (N = 44) LP vesicles (N = 94), Sham (N = 59) and control (N = 79). Cleavage, blastocyst and GFP+ rates were analysed by Fisher's test (p < 0.05). The parthenogenic CP naked group showed lower cleavage respect to control (p < 0.05). The highest concentration of plasmids to allow development to blastocyst stage was 30 ng/µl. There were no differences in DNA fragmentation between groups. The parthenogenic LP naked group resulted in high GFP rates (46%) and also allowed the production of GFP blastocysts (33%). The cytoplasmic injection with LP vesicles into parthenogenic zygotes allowed 100% GFP blastocysts. Injected IVF showed higher cleavage rates than control (p < 0.05). In IVF zygotes, only the use of vesicles produced GFP blastocysts. The use of vesicles co-incubated with plasmids improves the transgene expression efficiency for cytoplasmic injection in porcine zygotes and constitutes a simple technique for easy delivery of plasmids.
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Animais Geneticamente Modificados , Técnicas de Cultura Embrionária/veterinária , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/metabolismo , Óvulo/fisiologia , Injeções de Esperma Intracitoplásmicas/veterinária , Suínos/embriologia , Animais , Fragmentação do DNA , Proteínas de Fluorescência Verde/genética , Marcação In Situ das Extremidades Cortadas , Partenogênese , Plasmídeos , Injeções de Esperma Intracitoplásmicas/métodosRESUMO
background: Smoking is the leading cause of preventable morbidity and death. It is important to know the characteristics of smoking habits among physicians and their attitude toward patients who smoke. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of smoking among physicians in Argentina, the factors associated with tobacco consumption and their attitude toward their patients who smoke. Methods: An observational cross- sectional study was performed between June and December 2013 in Argentine physicians of dif-ferent specialties. Using a structured survey, the following variables were analyzed: associated cardiovascular risk factors, charac-teristics of tobacco consumption, smoking cessation training and the attitude toward the patient who smokes. results: 3,033 physicians were surveyed, ; 57% were men, and mean age was 41.3±12 years; 19.7% were current smokers and 21.7% were former smokers. The probability of being a smoker was higher among surgeons (OR 1.29) or physicians working at the emergency room (OR 1.41). Undergraduate and postgraduate tobacco cessation training was achieved by 36.6% and 40.8% of physicians, respectively. Young physicians, clinical specialties or private practice were associated with higher level of training. Tobacco cessation counseling was more frequent in physicians with higher level of training than physicians who smoked or surgeons. Former smokers presented higher prevalence of risk factors and cardiovascular events. Family history of smoking habit was more common in former smokers and current smokers. Conclusions: The prevalence of smoking among Argentine physicians is high. Different factors are involved in the probability of smoking, tobacco cessation training or the possibility of medical counseling. Higher level of training in smoking cessation must be provided.
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PURPOSE: A proportion of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) are still able to continue with active therapy after their progression to fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan regimens. Studies suggest that gemcitabine and fluoropyrimidines are synergic antimetabolites. The purpose was to evaluate gemcitabine-capecitabine (Gem-Cape) in heavily pretreated mCRC and to thus assess possible predictive factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: This analysis was performed on 119 evaluable patients pretreated with fluoropyrimidines, oxaliplatin, irinotecan, and biological agents between June 2001 and July 2011. Patients received gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) day 1 and capecitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) bid for 7 days every 2 weeks. RESULTS: The general characteristics were ECOG 0-1, 89 %; male, 68 %, and median age 63 years. In total, 61 % had received two chemotherapy lines, while 39 % had received three or more. Objective response rates and stable disease rates at 3 months were 6.72 and 37.81 %, equalling a clinical benefit of 44.53 %. The median PFS and OS were 2.87 months [95 % confidence interval (CI) 2.53-3.17 months] and 6.53 months (95 % CI 5.33-8.77), respectively. The most frequent toxicities were grades 1-2, anemia (22 %), thrombocytopenia (10 %), and hand-foot syndrome (9 %); grade ≥3, diarrhea (2 %), with no treatment-related discontinuations. No treatment-related deaths were reported. Statistical significance was obtained by subgroups, assessing clinical benefits and objective responses for PFS and OS. Moreover, patients under 65 tended to have a better PFS. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that Gem-Cape is a tolerable and feasible regimen, associated with clinical benefit in non-selected, heavily pretreated, mCRC patients.