This study concerns the distribution of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted during combustion processes in coal-fired power stations. Thermal desorption technique was employed to analyse VOC ...concentrations in gaseous emissions (trapped onto Carbotrap B sorbent) and solid samples (coal, fly ash and slag). An empirical parameter (
Y) was employed to evaluate the relationships between the compounds emitted during a real combustion process and those obtained in coal analysis by thermal desorption. The
Y calculation does not provide any information about VOC emissions through solid effluents as fly ash or slag. A comparison method was created for this purpose. The results obtained using this method confirm that combustion is almost complete for aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Chlorinated compounds are mainly formed during the combustion.
The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of α-cyclodextrin-propyl propane thiosulfinate complex (CD-PTS) as antimethanogenic compound in ruminants using in vivo and in vitro approaches. The ...in vivo trial lasted 36 days and was designed to study the effect of CD-PTS on ruminal methane production, fermentation pattern, microbial abundances and nutrient utilization in goats. Twelve adult goats fed with alfalfa hay and concentrate (50:50), were split in two groups: treated with CD-PTS complex at 200mg of active component/L rumen content per day or without any treatment (control). On days 7, 14, 21 and 28 methane emissions were recorded in chambers and rumen content samples were collected for pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA) and NH3 analyses. On day 14 and 28 rumen samples were collected for quantification of bacterial, protozoal and archaeal numbers by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and to study the archaeal population structure by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. In addition, on days 17 and 18 samples of alfalfa hay were placed into nylon bags and incubated in the rumen of each goat for 24 and 48h to determine the ruminal degradation of dry matter (DM) and neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom). During the last 5 days of the trial, nutrient digestibility, N and energy balances and urinary purine derivative (PD) excretion were determined. Additionally, an in vitro experiment with pure cultures of methanogens was conducted to test propyl propane thiosulfinate (PTS) at a dose of 200mg of active component/L culture medium and bromochloromethane (BCM) at a concentration of 10mg/L culture medium against three different archaeal strains: Methanobrevibacter ruminantium, Methanobrevibacter smithii and Methanobrevibacter millerae. In vivo, no significant (P≤0.17) reduction on methane production was observed although a numerical decrease on day 28 was observed with CD-PTS. The dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient digestibility, N and energy balances, purine derivatives, creatinine and estimated microbial N flow were not affected by the treatment (P≤0.18). Likewise, total concentration of the analyzed microbial groups in the rumen, showed no difference (P≤0.33) between treated and non-treated goats. However, on day 28, the structure of the archaeal population in the rumen of goats treated with CD-PTS was different compared with that in control goats. The in vitro culture of methanogens showed a substantial reduction of methane production in all the strains by both BCM and PTS.
Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2011; 33: 138–148
Summary
Background Liver biopsy is the reference standard to assess liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.
Aim To validate and compare the diagnostic ...performance of non‐invasive tests for prediction of liver fibrosis severity and assessed changes in extracellular matrix markers after antiviral treatment.
Methods The performances of Forns’ score, AST to platelet ratio index (APRI), FIB‐4 index and Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) score were validated in 340 patients who underwent antiviral therapy. These scores were determined 24 weeks after treatment in 161 patients.
Results Forns’ score, APRI, FIB‐4 and ELF score showed comparable diagnostic accuracies for significant fibrosis area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) 0.83, 0.83, 0.85 and 0.81, respectively. To identify cirrhosis, FIB‐4 index showed a significantly better performance over APRI and ELF score (AUROC 0.89 vs. 0.83 and 0.82, respectively). ELF score decreased significantly in patients with sustained virological response (SVR) (P < 0.0001) but remained unchanged in nonresponders. Non‐1 hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype, baseline lower HCV RNA, glucose, hyaluronic acid and higher cholesterol levels were independently associated with SVR.
Conclusions Simple panel markers and ELF score are accurate at identifying significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis C. A decrease in ELF score after antiviral treatment reflects the impact of viral clearance in hepatic extracellular matrix and probably in the improvement of liver fibrosis.
Resumen Introducción En Andalucía la mortalidad por ictus duplica la de otras autonomías lo que podría relacionarse con que, a diferencia del resto de CC. AA., sólo 3 de 17 hospitales comarcales ...cuentan con neurología. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la repercusión de la introducción de un neurólogo en un hospital comarcal de Andalucía en la evaluación y evolución de pacientes con ictus. Métodos Se realizó un estudio observacional de los ictus ingresados en el primer trimestre de 2006. Se analizaron indicadores de calidad, mortalidad y dependencia comparando los pacientes atendidos por neurología o medicina general. Resultados En el primer trimestre de 2006 ingresaron 116 pacientes con ictus. Se detectaron diferencias significativas en la realización de las pruebas complementarias necesarias para el diagnóstico (Doppler, ecocardio). La estancia media fue significativamente menor en neurología. Se detectó una reducción absoluta de 39,1% de mortalidad y un incremento absoluto del 35,7% de pacientes independientes al final del seguimiento. Los únicos factores que reducen de forma independiente la estancia y la mortalidad son la atención por neurología durante el ingreso y una menor discapacidad al ingreso. Conclusión La atención especializada por neurología es eficaz y coste-efectiva por la reducción en estancia hospitalaria, mortalidad y dependencia. La implantación de neurología en los hospitales comarcales de Andalucía es prioritaria para garantizar la equidad en el territorio nacional. Este objetivo debería incluirse en el Plan Andaluz de Atención al Ictus como paso previo para constituir una red de equipos/unidades de ictus.
Bone metastases are very common complications associated with certain types of cancers that frequently negatively impact the quality of life and functional status of patients; thus, early detection ...is necessary for the implementation of immediate therapeutic measures to reduce the risk of skeletal complications and improve survival and quality of life. There is no consensus or universal standard approach for the detection of bone metastases in cancer patients based on imaging. Endorsed by the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM), the Spanish Society of Medical Radiology (SERAM), and the Spanish Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SEMNIM) a group of experts met to discuss and provide an up-to-date review of our current understanding of the biological mechanisms through which tumors spread to the bone and describe the imaging methods available to diagnose bone metastasis and monitor their response to oncological treatment, focusing on patients with breast and prostate cancer. According to current available data, the use of next-generation imaging techniques, including whole-body diffusion-weighted MRI, PET/CT, and PET/MRI with novel radiopharmaceuticals, is recommended instead of the classical combination of CT and bone scan in detection, staging and response assessment of bone metastases from prostate and breast cancer.
Clinical trial registration:
Not applicable.
Resumen Introducción Tanto en el Plan de atención sanitaria al ictus como en la Estrategia en ictus del Sistema Nacional de Salud se establece que solo se realizará fibrinólisis en los hospitales con ...unidad de ictus. Sin embargo, en Andalucía el Plan andaluz de atención al ictus incluye dentro de la cartera de servicios del equipo de ictus en los hospitales comarcales la realización de fibrinólisis prescindiendo de la figura del neurólogo en el tratamiento agudo del ictus. El objetivo de este estudio es evaluar si los médicos de urgencias realizan adecuadamente el diagnóstico de ictus. Métodos Se recogieron los diagnósticos realizados en urgencias y al alta de hospitalización de todos los pacientes ingresados por motivos neurológicos en el hospital comarcal Infanta Elena durante el año 2006. Se analizó la validez del diagnóstico realizado en urgencias. Resultados El número de ingresos por patología neurológica fue de 655 pacientes en 2006, representando el ictus un 76%. Aunque la sensibilidad del diagnóstico de ictus en urgencias resultó alta (95%), la especificidad del diagnóstico era muy baja (52%) y el valor predictivo positivo de un 75%. Conclusiones Aplicar la fibrinólisis sobre la base del diagnóstico de ictus en urgencias implica someter a un riesgo no justificado de hemorragia cerebral a un número importante de pacientes diagnosticados erróneamente. Este riesgo hace cuestionable éticamente la administración de dicho tratamiento en los hospitales comarcales en las condiciones actuales. No solo es importante que el tratamiento fibrinolítico sea accesible a la población sino que dicho tratamiento se realice de forma segura por neurólogos en unidades de ictus.
The present study was carried out to determine whether the presence of photostimulated sedated male goats could stimulate the LH preovulatory surge and ovulation in seasonal anestrous goats. Sexually ...experienced male goats were treated with artificial long days (16 hours light per day) from 1 November to 15 January to stimulate their sexual activity in March and April, corresponding to the natural sexual rest. A female group of goats (n = 20) was exposed to non-sedated males who displayed an intense sexual behavior and provided strong odor (non-sedated group). Another female group of goats (n = 20) was exposed to the photo-stimulated male goats, but these males were sedated with Xylazine 2% to prevent the expression of sexual behavior (sedated group). The sedated males also provided a strong odor. Females of both groups had full physical and visual contact with non-sedated or sedated males. In both groups, the males remained with females during 4 days. The LH preovulatory surge of 10 female goats per group was measured by determination of LH plasma concentrations in samples taken every 3 hours. In addition, in all goats, (n = 20 by group), ovulation was determined by measuring plasma concentrations of progesterone. The proportion of female goats showing a preovulatory LH surge was higher in goats exposed to non-sedated (10/10) than in those exposed to sedated bucks (0/10; P < 0.0001). Similarly, most of does in contact with non-sedated males ovulated (19/20), but none of those in contact with sedated males did so (0/20; P < 0.0001). We conclude that the expression of an intense sexual behavior by male goats is necessary to induce LH preovulatory surge and ovulation in seasonally anovulatory goats.
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