[Percutaneous implantation of an aortic prosthetic valve on a degenerated mitral bioprosthesis. Report of one case]

Reintervention of a mitral degenerated bioprosthesis has a high surgical risk, especially in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. We report a 74 years old female with two previous cardiac surgical procedures and a new structural mitral bioprosthesis deterioration with severe mitral regurgitation. Considering her high-surgical risk, a fully percutaneous treatment was performed with a balloon-expandable aortic valve in mitral position (valve-in-valve) through a transseptal approach with a favorable outcome. This technique is an attractive and effective option with a relatively low rate of complications that could solve this challenging and complex disease.

Cypermethrin effects on the adult mice seminal glands

The insecticide cypermethrin acts upon the sodium channels. Their effects over animal health are not understood. Here, the effects of cypermethrin on the seminal glands (SGs) are studied (1/5 DL50 i.p.). Forty-five adult mice (CF1) were distributed in three groups: (1) untreated, (2) vehicle (oil), and (3) experimental (cypermethrin in oil). The animals were sacrificed at 1 and each 8.6 days. The SGs were processed for histology: Haematoxylin/P.A.S, Thyonin (0.6%) and Immunohistochemistry (Ki-67). In the SGs was quantified: the epithelium height, mastocytes, and cell proliferation. In the results, cypermethrin exerts an intense effect on epithelium height and cell proliferation. A net increase of both parameters was observed at 24 h (p0.05). However, the mastocytes increased drastically and progressively during the experimental period (p0.05). Then, the effects have acute manifestations, which would be responsible for the potential changes in the male's reproductive potentiality.

Penfigoide ampolloso relacionado con tratamiento con PUVA: aportación de dos nuevos casos

Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune disease that generally affects elderly people and is characterised by the development of subepidermal blistering. Although bullous pemphigoid is potentially photosensitive, its occurrence during the treatment course with PUVA, especially in patients with psoriasis, has exceptionally been described. The association of bullous pemphigoid and psoriasis gives rise to difficulties when initiating treatment and we consider that the use of methotrexate, with or without associated corticoids, is a good alternative in the management of such patients. We report two further cases of bullous pemphigoid related to PUVA therapy in patients with psoriasis.

Heat Illness on Operation Telic in Summer 2003: The Experience of the Heat Illness Treatment Unit in Northern Kuwait

In the mid-summer months of June and July of 2003 some 6000 British Troops deployed to northern Kuwait to heat acclimatise in preparation for the relief of Forces then deployed in Iraq who had recently fought in Operation Telic. This paper outlines the clinical presentations and primary care management of heat illness as seen at a specialist Heat Illness Unit that had been collocated with the acclimatisation camps. It discusses the limitations within current MOD heat illness guidance and makes general recommendations for future deployments. Whilst it was seen that the perception of risk by senior Commanders and the pre-deployment preparation was correct, the extreme temperatures seen, averaging 46 degrees C, still resulted in a heat illness rate of 50/1000 during the first 10-14 days of deployment.

The chemistry and biological activity of herbs used in Flor-Essence herbal tonic and Essiac

The herbal mixtures, Essiac and Flor-Essence, are sold as nutritional supplements and used by patients to treat chronic conditions, particularly cancer. Evidence of anticancer activity for the herbal teas is limited to anecdotal reports recorded for some 40 years in Canada. Individual case reports suggest that the tea improves quality of life, alleviates pain, and in some cases, impacts cancer progression among cancer patients. Experimental studies with individual herbs have shown evidence of biological activity including antioxidant, antioestrogenic, immunostimulant, antitumour, and antiocholeretic actions. However, research that demonstrates these positive effects in the experimental setting has not been translated to the clinical arena. Currently, no clinical studies of Essiac or Flor-essence are published, but a clinical study is being planned at the British Columbia Cancer Agency by the University of Texas-Center for Alternative Medicine (UT-CAM) and Tzu-Chi Institute for Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Relationship between H2S-producing strains of wine yeast and different fermentation conditions

Hydrogen sulphide formation is a problem in winemaking. One of the factors affecting formation of this unwanted metabolite is the yeast strain responsible for the process. In this experiment wines were made on a laboratory scale with different strains of H2S-producing Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The relationship between H2S production and various fermentation conditions was examined (SO2, methionine, (NH4)2SO4, (NH4)3PO4, steel, and steel-lees). The results show that in fermentations in the presence of stainless steel and lees, H2S formation is high but declines when (NH4)3PO4is added to the must.Key words: H2S formation, wine-yeast, steel-lees, wine-making, alcoholic fermentation.