Casiopeinas are a group of copper-based antineoplastic molecules designed as a less toxic and more therapeutic alternative to cisplatin or Doxorubicin; however, there is scarce evidence about their ...toxic effects on the whole heart and cardiomyocytes. Given this, rat hearts were perfused with Casiopeinas or Doxorubicin and the effects on mechanical performance, energetics, and mitochondrial function were measured. As well, the effects of Casiopeinas-triggered cell death were explored in isolated cardiomyocytes. Casiopeinas III-Ea, II-gly, and III-ia induced a progressive and sustained inhibition of heart contractile function that was dose- and time-dependent with an IC50 of 1.3 ± 0.2, 5.5 ± 0.5, and 10 ± 0.7 μM, correspondingly. Myocardial oxygen consumption was not modified at their respective IC50, although ATP levels were significantly reduced, indicating energy impairment. Isolated mitochondria from Casiopeinas-treated hearts showed a significant loss of membrane potential and reduction of mitochondrial Ca2+ retention capacity. Interestingly, Cyclosporine A inhibited Casiopeinas-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ release, which suggests the involvement of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening. In addition, Casiopeinas reduced the viability of cardiomyocytes and stimulated the activation of caspases 3, 7, and 9, demonstrating a cell death mitochondrial-dependent mechanism. Finally, the early perfusion of Cyclosporine A in isolated hearts decreased Casiopeinas-induced dysfunction with reduction of their toxic effect. Our results suggest that heart cardiotoxicity of Casiopeinas is similar to that of Doxorubicin, involving heart mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of membrane potential, changes in energetic metabolites, and apoptosis triggered by mitochondrial permeability.
Purpose
– The purpose of this article is to show the importance of joint actions and institutions for collaboration (IFCs) in the development and performance of information technology (IT) business ...clusters in the context of Mexico.
Design/methodology/approach
– A review of the literature suggests the types of linkages that the clusters must develop to be successful in the context of emerging countries. Two IT clusters in the region of Puebla and Jalisco are compared to highlight the factors that differentiate successful and less successful clusters in this type of environment.
Findings
– The presence of an IFC, such as the Jalisco Institute of Information Technology in Jalisco, is a determinant factor of the performance of the IT cluster there, contrary to Puebla. A model of dynamic interactions in clusters is proposed as a result of the analysis of the two cases.
Research limitations/implications
– Our analysis included clusters from IT industry in Mexico. It needs to be extended to more clusters, more industries and other emerging countries settings for the sake of comparison and generalization.
Practical implications
– In the context of the relative scarcity of formal institutions in emerging country settings, the purposive collaboration of both private and public sectors in IFCs is necessary to ensure a long-standing development and performance of business clusters.
Originality/value
– In this article, we show the specific role of institutional arrangements in cluster development and performance in emerging countries, which has seldom been investigated both theoretically and empirically.
The COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, and almost 396 million people have been infected around the globe. Latin American countries have been deeply affected, and there is a lack of data in this ...regard. This study aims to identify the clinical characteristics, in-hospital outcomes, and factors associated with ICU admission due to COVID-19. Furthermore, to describe the functional status of patients at hospital discharge after the acute episode of COVID-19.
This was a prospective, multicenter, multinational observational cohort study of subjects admitted to 22 hospitals within Latin America. Data were collected prospectively. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize patients, and multivariate regression was carried out to identify factors associated with severe COVID-19.
A total of 3008 patients were included in the study. A total of 64.3% of patients had severe COVID-19 and were admitted to the ICU. Patients admitted to the ICU had a higher mean (SD) 4C score (10 3 vs. 7 3), p<0.001). The risk factors independently associated with progression to ICU admission were age, shortness of breath, and obesity. In-hospital mortality was 24.1%, whereas the ICU mortality rate was 35.1%. Most patients had equal self-care ability at discharge 43.8%; however, ICU patients had worse self-care ability at hospital discharge (25.7% 497/1934 vs. 3.7% 40/1074, p<0.001).
This study confirms that patients with SARS CoV-2 in the Latin American population had a lower mortality rate than previously reported. Systemic complications are frequent in patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19, as previously described in high-income countries.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The coral snake Micrurus tener tener (Mtt) from the Elapidae family inhabits the southwestern United States and produces severe cases of envenomations. Although the majority of Mtt venom components ...are neurotoxins and phospholipase A2s, this study demonstrated, by SDS-PAGE and molecular exclusion chromatography (MEC), that these venoms also contain high-molecular-weight proteins between 50 and 150 kDa that target the hemostatic system. The biological aspects of other Micrurus venoms were also studied, such as the LD50s of Micrurus isozonus (from 0.52 to 0.61 mg/kg). A pool from these venoms presented a LD50 of 0.57 mg/kg, Micrurus f. fulvius (Mff) and Mtt had LD50s of 0.32 and 0.78 mg/kg, respectively. These venoms contained fibrino(geno)lytic activity, they inhibited platelet aggregation, as well as factor Xa and/or plasmin-like activities. M. isozonus venoms from different Venezuelan geographical regions inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation (from 50 to 68%). Micrurus tener tener venom from the United States was the most active with a 95.2% inhibitory effect. This venom showed thrombin-like activity on fibrinogen and human plasma. Fractions of Mtt showed fibrino(geno)lytic activity and inhibition on plasmin amidolytic activity. Several fractions degraded the fibrinogen Aα chains, and fractions F2 and F7 completely degraded both fibrinogen Aα and Bβ chains. To our knowledge, this is the first report on thrombin-like and fibrino(geno)lytic activity and plasmin or factor Xa inhibitors described in Micrurus venoms. Further purification and characterization of these Micrurus venom components could be of therapeutic use in the treatment of hemostatic disorders.
► The majority of Micrurus venom components are neurotoxins and phospholipase A2s, this study demonstrated that these venoms also contain high-molecular-weight proteins between 50 and 150 kDa that target the hemostatic system. ► The Micrurus venoms contained fibrino(geno)lytic activity, they inhibited platelet aggregation, as well as factor Xa and/or plasmin-like activities. ► This is the first report on thrombin-like and fibrino(geno)lytic activity and plasmin or factor Xa inhibitors described in Micrurus venoms.
Proceder a un análisis descriptivo de los pacientes a quienes se les realizaron embolizaciones de colaterales por vía percutánea.
Se revisaron las historias clínicas de 27 pacientes entre febrero de ...2004 y marzo de 2012. Se hace una descripción de las variables analizadas.
En el período descrito se efectuó la embolización percutánea de 33 colaterales en 27 pacientes. La edad promedio al momento del procedimiento fue de 53 meses (1-143 meses). Al 68% se les había realizado previamente cirugía de Glenn o de Fontan, al 8% fístula Blalock-Taussig y al 24% otros procedimientos quirúrgicos. En el 76% de los casos el vaso embolizado fue una colateral venovenosa, y en el 24% restante, una colateral aortopulmonar. Los dispositivos mecánicos fueron los más utilizados (coils y plug vascular). El Amplatzer Vascular Plug se usó para embolizar colaterales de mayor tamaño. Se obtuvo la oclusión inmediata en el 92% de los casos. No hubo mortalidad asociada con los procedimientos.
La embolización de colaterales por vía percutánea es un procedimiento seguro y con alta tasa de eficacia. Los dispositivos utilizados mostraron ser igualmente efectivos.
To perform a descriptive analysis of patients who underwent percutaneous embolization of collateral vessels.
We reviewed the medical records of 27 patients between February 2004 and March 2012, and made a description of the variables analyzed.
In the period described, percutaneous embolization of 33 collateral vessels was performed in 27 patients. The mean age at the time of the procedure was 53 months (1-143 months). 68% had previously undergone Glenn or Fontan surgery, 8% Blalock-Taussig shunt and 24% other surgical procedures. In 76% of cases the vessel embolized was a venovenous collateral and in the remaining 24% an aortopulmonary collateral. Mechanical devices were most commonly used (coils and vascular plug). The Amplatzer Vascular Plug was used to embolize larger collateral vessels. Immediate occlusion was obtained in 92% of cases. There was no mortality associated with the procedures.
Percutaneous embolization is a safe procedure with high success rate. The devices used were shown to be equally effective.
El absceso hepático, continúa siendo un importante problema de salud pública. El causado por Klebsiella pneumoniae, se ha descrito en un 29% de los casos en algunas series. Con una mortalidad hasta ...del 11,3%, se presenta con mayor frecuencia en pacientes con diabetes mellitus, relacionándose con complicaciones a distancia, como meningitis, absceso cerebral y afección pulmonar. Se presenta el caso de un hombre sin factores de riesgo, con síndrome de absceso hepático por Klebsiella pneumoniae con diseminación hematógena dado por la presencia de bacteriemia y meningitis. Fue manejado con cefepime y drenaje percutáneo, presentando mejoría clínica total. La infección por Klebsiella pneumoniae, representa una etiología emergente como causa de abscesos hepáticos con un comportamiento clínico diferente al resto de infecciones relacionadas con este microorganismo.
The inherent uncertainties, subjectivity, and engineering challenges in environmental problems are increasingly being worked upon computing methods based on artifi cial intelligence (AI), including ...computerized tools that allow an analyst to use approximate reasoning with incomplete and inaccurate information and with the support of an expert in the fi eld. In order to evaluate the applicability of this tool, this paper presents the development of a new water quality index based on fuzzy logic called the "fuzzy water quality index" (FWQI). This index is compared to the NSF water quality index (NSFWQI) and with the water quality index (ARWQI) obtained for the project "Red Río Fase I" for the Medellin metropolitan area environmental authority. The new FWQI provided reasonable correlations and results in comparison to the other two reference indexes. Finally, the FWQI could be used as a decision maker in the water management of Aburra River.
Las malformaciones aneurismáticas de la vena de Galeno representan aproximadamente un tercio de todas las malformaciones vasculares intracraneales en la edad pediátrica; sin embargo, existe poca ...referencia en el medio. Los pacientes con este tipo de malformación presentaban altas tasas de morbimortalidad hasta la década de los noventa; desde entonces el desarrollo en las técnicas de diagnóstico prenatal y de terapia endovascular han permitido modificar el pronóstico de esta población.
Se describe el caso de un paciente en quien se hizo diagnóstico prenatal, se realizó tratamiento con terapia endovascular a los cuatro meses de vida, y se obtuvieron buenos resultados.
Se hace enfásis en el diagnóstico temprano y en la prevención de secuelas a través de una intervención oportuna.
Aneurysmal malformations of the vein of Galen represent approximately one third of all intracranial vascular malformations in children. However, in our country we have few references. Patients with this type of malformation had high morbi-mortality rates until the early nineties; since then, the development of techniques of prenatal diagnosis and endovascular therapy have allowed to modify the prognosis of these patients.
We describe the case of a patient in whom prenatal diagnosis of aneurysmal malformation of the vein of Galen was made, and was managed at four months of age with endovascular therapy with good results.
We emphasize on early diagnosis and prevention of sequelae through appropriate intervention.
Los aneurismas de la arteria pulmonar son poco frecuentes en niños. Entre sus principales causas se encuentran procesos infecciosos como la endocarditis, que favorece el desarrollo de aneurismas ...micóticos, en especial en pacientes con defectos cardíacos congénitos y en aquellos con adicción a drogas de uso endovenoso (sobre todo en adultos), y lleva al desarrollo de aneurismas micóticos. Las opciones de tratamiento dependen de las características de la lesión y de la condición clínica del paciente.
Se presenta el caso de una paciente de siete años, quien fue referida para evaluación por endocarditis infecciosa de la válvula tricúspide debida a Staphylococcus aureus. Desarrolló aneurismas bilaterales en ramas lobulares de la arteria pulmonar secundarios a la infección valvular. El aneurisma del lado derecho era de gran tamaño y con alto riesgo de ruptura, razón de peso para que se le efectuara embolización con coils. El procedimiento fue exitoso y no se documentaron complicaciones. La lesión del lado izquierdo se trató de forma expectante teniendo en cuenta que era de menor tamaño. En la actualidad la paciente está en seguimiento ambulatorio con el fin de vigilar la evolución del aneurisma del lado izquierdo.
Pulmonary artery aneurysms are infrequent in children. Among its main causes are infectious processes such as endocarditis which favors the development of mycotic aneurysms especially in patients with congenital heart defects and in those with endovenous drug addiction (mainly in adults) that develop mycotic aneurysms. Treatment options depend on the characteristics of the lesion and the clinical condition of the patient.
We present the case of a seven year old female patient who was referred for evaluation of infectious endocarditis of the tricuspid valve due to Staphylococcus aureus. She developed bilateral aneurysms in lobular branches of the pulmonary artery secondary to the valve infection. The right aneurysm was large and had a high risk of rupture, and for this reason an embolization with coils was performed. The procedure was successful and no complications were documented. Given that the left side lesion was smaller, it received an expectant management. At present, the patient has ambulatory follow-up in order to monitor the evolution of the left side aneurysm.
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