Resolvin D1 and E1 promote resolution of inflammation in rat cardiac fibroblast in vitro

Cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) have a key role in the inflammatory response after cardiac injury and are necessary for wound healing. Resolvins are potent agonists that control the duration and magnitude of inflammation. They decrease mediators of pro-inflammatory expression, reduce neutrophil migration to inflammation sites, promote the removal of microbes and apoptotic cells, and reduce exudate. However, whether resolvins can prevent pro-inflammatory-dependent effects in CFs is unknown. Thus, the present work was addressed to study whether resolvin D1 and E1 (RvD1 and RvE1) can prevent pro-inflammatory effects on CFs after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. For this, CFs were stimulated with LPS, in the presence or absence of RvD1 or RvE1, to analyze its effects on intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1), monocyte adhesion and the cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Our results showed that CFs are expressing ALX/FPR2 and ChemR23, RvD1 and RvE1 receptors, respectively. RvD1 and RvE1 prevent the increase of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 protein levels and the adhesion of spleen mononuclear cells to CFs induced by LPS. Finally, RvD1, but not RvE1, prevents the LPS-induced increase of IL-6, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-10. In conclusion, our findings provide evidence that in CFs, RvD1 and RvE1 might actively participate in the prevention of inflammatory response triggered by LPS.

Removal of emerging organic contaminants in a poplar vegetation filter

Vegetation filters (VFs), a type of land application system, are a robust technology based on natural treatment mechanisms for the removal of wastewater contaminants. Their capacity to attenuate emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) has not yet been evaluated. The present study reports the results of a 2-year EOC monitoring carried out using a poplar VF receiving wastewater primarily treated by an Imhoff tank. The compounds selected included analgesics, a β-adrenergic blocker, stimulants, an anticonvulsant, an anti-depressant, an anti-inflammatory, an antibiotic and analgesic and stimulant metabolites. EOCs were analysed in the Imhoff tank effluent, in the infiltrated water at a depth of 90cm and in the groundwater at a depth of 10m. The results demonstrated that EOC attenuation was more significant in the first 90cm than in the rest of the soil profile. The removal efficiency for all of the selected EOCs was higher than 90% with the exception of ketoprofen, which may pose a higher threat of groundwater contamination. The observed attenuation correlated with the hydrophobicity and charge state of the EOCs. The higher persistence of the metabolites 4-AAA and 4-FAA shows that progression in the degradation pathway does not always imply a mitigation of contamination.

[Evidence-based ophthalmology: critical evaluation of the literature in relation to diagnostic tests]

PURPOSE

In general, articles on diagnostic tests have a very poor methodological quality. If we translate their conclusions to daily practice without a proper analysis it is easy to see a typical trend: physicians use new (and expensive) tests without increasing diagnostic capacity; they only increase the health budget. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) consists of using the best evidence in decision-making. It deals with selected and relevant information, supported by data obtained through the most rigorous scientific method: epidemiology and statistics. Critical evaluation of papers related to diagnostic tests is our aim. We provide with basic skills for evaluation and analysis of papers by means of simple topics on statistics, design of clinical assays and clinical epidemiology.

METHODS

Review of the medical literature.

RESULTS

To evaluate papers on diagnostic tests and to use a test correctly, it is necessary to know its diagnostic capacity, the level of certainty to start treatment, the probability of having the disease before using the test and the test capacity to change that probability.

CONCLUSIONS

The maximum performance of a test is reached when it is used in a maximum uncertainty situation (disease probability 50%). Its highest usefulness is obtained when pre-test probability is maximal, after a careful review of the patient's history and a complete patient examination.

The As-contaminated Elqui river basin: a long lasting perspective (1975-1995) covering the initiation and development of Au-Cu-As mining in the high Andes of northern Chile

The Elqui watershed (northern Chile) constitutes a highly contaminated river system, with arsenic exceeding by up to three orders of magnitude the average for river waters. There are three main reasons that explain this contamination: (1) the regional geology and hydrothermal (mineralizing) processes that developed in this realm during Miocene time; (2) the later unroofing-erosion-oxidation-leaching of As-Cu rich sulfide ores, a process that have been taking place for at least 10,000 years; and last but not least (3) mining activities at the high-altitude (>4000 m above sea level) Au-Cu-As El Indio mine, from the late 1970s onwards. The El Indio mineral deposit hosted large veins of massive sulfides, including the important presence of enargite (Cu(3)AsS(4)). The continuous natural erosion of these veins and their host rocks (also rich in As and Cu) during Holocene time, led to important and widespread metal dispersion along the river system. During the studied pre mining period (1975-1977), the high altitude river Toro waters already showed very large As concentrations (0.36-0.52 mg l(-1)). The initiation of full scale mining at El Indio (1980 onwards) led to an increase of these values, reaching a concentration of 1.51 mg l(-1) As in 1995. During the same year other rivers of the watershed reached peak As concentrations of 0.33 (Turbio) and 0.11 mg l(-1) (Elqui). These figures largely exceed the USEPA regulations for drinking water (0.01 mg l(-1) As), and about 10% of the total As data from the river Elqui (and 70% from the river Turbio) are above the maximum level allowed by the Chilean law for irrigation water (0.1 mg l(-1) As).

The Almadén district (Spain): anatomy of one of the world's largest Hg-contaminated sites

We present data from an early reconnaissance survey (stream sediments, soil, and water Hg chemistry; plants and water crustaceans Hg intake) of the Almadén district (central Spain), that was carried out to establish the potential environmental hazards derived from the anomalous mercury concentrations measured in this realm. The Almadén mercury district (approximately 300 km2) can be regarded as the largest geochemical anomaly of mercury on Earth. The district includes a series of mercury mineral deposits, having in common a simple mineralogy (dominant cinnabar: HgS, and minor pyrite: FeS2). The ore deposits have been mined for more than 2000 years, and the main mine of the district (Almadén), has been active from Roman times to present day with almost no interruptions. The mercury distribution in soils of the district reveals the existence of high, and extremely high mercury values (up to 8889 microg g(-1)), whereas concentrations in stream sediments and waters reach exceptional values of up to 16,000 microg g(-1) and 11,200 ng l(-1) respectively. On the other hand, very high concentrations of methylmercury (MeHg) have been detected in calcines (up to 3100 ng g(-1)), sediments (0.32-82 ng g(-1)), and waters (0.040-30 ng l(-1)). Mercury gets incorporated to edible river crustaceans and plants. The red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii, has Hg concentrations of up to 9060 ng g(-1) (muscle) and 26,150 ng g(-1) (hepatopancreas). Regarding plants, the local wild asparagus (Asparagus acutifolius) yields values of up to 298 microg g(-1) Hg. Mercury also escapes to the atmosphere, and mineral deposits, together with metallurgical activities, generate strong anomalies of atmospheric Hg. The most important concentrations relate to the emissions from the Almadén metallurgical roaster, in the order of 14,000 ng Hg m(-3). Additionally, large open pit operations also contribute to the district atmospheric pool of mercury, with high concentrations above 1000 ng Hg m(-3). Thus, no system (rocks, soils, sediments, waters, atmosphere, biota) in the Almadén district is free from strong Hg contamination.

Towards a model to predict macular dichromats' naming errors: effects of CIE saturation and dichromatism type

Thirty macular dichromat children (12 protanopes + 18 deuteranopes) and 29 controls, between 5 and 9 years old, participated in a monolexemic denomination task. Their clinical status was determined after a repeated application of a chromatic test set (Ishihara, CUCVT, and TIDA). The stimuli to be named were 12 tiles from the Color-Aid set belonging to the green, blue, and purple basic categories. Results showed that: (a) Dichromats made more naming errors when low saturation stimuli were used; (b) protanopes made more errors that deuteranopes; and (c) pseudoisochromatic lines predicted accurately the type of most frequent naming errors but they underestimated macular dichromats' functional capacity to name colors. Results are consistent with a model of macular dichromats' vision that hypothesizes a residual third type of cone in the periphery of the retina. Implications of this fact for everyday use of colors by macular dichromats' and for the validity of standard clinical diagnoses are discussed.

Depletion study of trimethoprim and sulphadiazine in milk and its relationship with mastitis pathogenic bacteria strains minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) in dairy cows

Time-related concentrations in milk of a combination of trimethoprim-sulphadiazine (TMP-SDZ) intramammary formulated infusion and its relationship with pathogenic bacteria strains minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) isolated from clinical mastitis cows were analysed. The MICs study was performed for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus sp. strains. The SDZ concentrations in milk were analysed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and TMP using a microbiological assay. Ten lactating cows milked three times daily were used in the time-concentration studies of TMP-SDZ. Milk samples (approximately 20 mL) from the treated mammary quarters were taken at 6, 12, 24, 30 and 36 h after first administration. In order to define the withdrawal time, milk samples from the treated mammary quarters were taken at 24, 36, 48, 72, 84 and 96 h, after finishing the therapy. The MICs fluctuated between 1 and 8 microg/mL. Effective therapeutic concentrations lasted for 36 h when intramammary infusion was repeated three times every 12 h. No TMP was detected in milk for 24 h after finishing therapy. Milk SDZ concentrations were below 0.1 microg/mL in all treated cows after 84 h finishing therapy. At 96 h after finishing therapy, no SDZ milk concentrations were found in six animals, although four animals of the experimental group still had concentrations of 0.07 microg/mL.

Manual nucleofragmentation and endothelial cell loss

PURPOSE

To compare corneal endothelial cell loss with two cataract surgery techniques: manual nucleofragmentation performed with the Keener nucleus divider and planned extracapsular extraction.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology "Memorial Cristóbal Garrigosa," Hospital de l'Esperança, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.

METHODS

Contact specular microscopy was performed before and 8 weeks after surgery in 51 patients who had been prospectively randomized into 2 groups: 26 patients had manual nucleofragmentation (NF) with the Keener divider and 25, planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). The analyzed parameters were preoperative and postoperative endothelial cell density and variations in cell size (polymegethism) and cell shape (pleomorphism). The results were compared and statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean percentage of endothelial cell loss in the NF group was 11.08% and in the ECCE group, 9.86%. This difference was not statistically significant. Postoperative variation in cell shape and size did not differ significantly between the two groups and was fairly constant.

CONCLUSION

The percentage of endothelial cell loss that occurred with manual NF using the Keener nucleus divider was similar to the one that occurs with other cataract surgery techniques. The small variation detected in postoperative endothelial morphology suggests that this endothelial cell population is stable.

Intraoperative complications of planned extracapsular cataract extraction versus manual nucleofragmentation

PURPOSE

To compare the intraoperative complications of planned extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) with those of manual nucleofragmentation.

SETTING

Hospital de la Esperanza, Universitat Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain.

METHODS

This retrospective study comprised 567 eyes; 444 had planned ECCE and 123, manual nucleofragmentation through a scleral tunnel incision.

RESULTS

No significant differences between techniques were found in terms of intraoperative complications (P < .05). Manual nucleofragmentation did not increase the risk of intraoperative complications (P < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Although phacoemulsification is the procedure of choice in many cases, manual nucleofragmentation is a safe and valid alternative that achieves the goals of small incision cataract surgery.

Endoscope-assisted transscleral suture fixation of intraocular lenses

We describe a new method for placing transscleral sutures when fixating posterior chamber intraocular lenses to the sulcus. An intraocular microendoscope with an 18 gauge probe is used for direct sulcus observation and needle position assessment. The straight needle of a 10-0 polypropylene suture and the tip of the probe are placed in a 16 gauge silicone rubber tube to hold them together. Fixing the needle to the endoscope allows a direct view of its tip and requires only one hand. The other hand is used to grasp the tip of the needle when it comes out under the scleral flap after passing through the sulcus. Assessment of needle position with an endoscope avoids surgically induced iris root or ciliary body damage. Fixing the needle to the endoscope simplifies the surgical technique.

[Ocular toxoplasmosis in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome]

Ocular toxoplasmosis is an uncommonly reported complication in patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Three patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and ocular toxoplasmosis are reported. In two of them, cerebral toxoplasmosis was associated. Ocular involvement presented as exudative chorioretinitis, bilateral in 2 cases and unilateral in 1. The diagnosis was made on the basis of ocular disease associated with lesions consistent with toxoplasmosis of central nervous system (CNS) and response to antitoxoplasma treatment in one case, and ocular disease with rising antitoxoplasma serologic titers in the remaining two. Initial therapy included pyrimethamine plus sulfadiazine in 2 cases and pyrimethamine plus clindamycin in 1. The 2 patients treated with sulfadiazine showed hypersensitivity features, and clindamycin had to be substituted. The response to therapy was favorable, although one patient died few days after the development of CNS lesions. When chorioretinitis develops in a patient with HIV infection, ocular toxoplasmosis should be considered. As CNS involvement is commonly associated and relapse after the withdrawal of therapy is likely, these patients should be treated as those with isolated toxoplasma encephalitis.