Emergency coronary artery revascularization: a possible therapy for acute myocardial infarction

Cardiac muscle death caused by coronary artery occlusion is a dynamic process that often takes hours or days. Emergency revascularization (saphenous vein bypass graft (SVBG) during acute myocardial infarction (MI) can interrupt myocardial necrosis, salvage ischemic myocardium and revascularize vessels with obstructive lesions not involved in the MI. In this report we describe a preliminary experimental study of 75 patients in which emergency SVBG was the therapy for acute MI. Group 1, 16 patients, required vasoactive medications and/or intraaortic balloon pumping to maintain their blood pressure preoperatively. There was one operative death and two late deaths. Group 2 consisted of 59 hemodynamically stable patients. There were no deaths. The average preop CPK in group 1 was 892 vs 504 in group 2 (p greater than 0.05). Surgical techniques were routine. The average time from the onset of chest pain that continued to surgery was 6.5 hours. Forty patients were restudied. Post- vs presurgical hemodynamics revealed ejection fraction increased by 34% (p greater than 0.05), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure reduced by 40% (p greater than 0.01). End-systolic and end-diastolic volume reduced by 30% (p greater than 0.05), and 15% (p greater than 0.01), and stroke volume improved 25% (p greater than 0.05). Operative mortality was 1.3% and late mortality 2.8%. These results suggest that cautious continued trial of emergency SVBG in patients with evolving MI is warranted.

Species diversity of Epichloë symbiotic with two grasses from southern Argentinean Patagonia

In this work we performed morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses (based on sequences of calmodulin M [calM], translation-elongation factor 1-α [tefA] and β-tubulin [tubB] genes) to characterize the diversity of Epichloë endophytes in Bromus setifolius and Phleum alpinum. The phylogenies obtained from the three genes were congruent and allowed differentiation of three lineages of endophytes that also presented morphological differences. One lineage corresponds to the previously described species Epichloë tembladerae, which is present in a wide range of native grasses from Argentina including B. setifolius and P. alpinum. Another genotype isolated only from B. setifolius is a non-hybrid endophyte, a rare condition for the South American Epichloë endophytes. Isolates of this genotype, described herein as a new variety, Epichloë typhina var. aonikenkana, presented waxy colonies at maturity and a low production of conidia. The third lineage, exclusively found in isolates from P. alpinum, is a hybrid between E. typhina and a common ancestor of E. amarillans and E. baconii. Isolates of this lineage produce abundant conidia that are variable in shape and size. Based on its unique phylogenetic position and morphology, we propose the new species, Epichloë cabralii for this lineage. The new combinations Epichloë tembladerae and E. pampeana also are proposed for the previously described Neotyphodium tembladerae and Neotyphodium pampeanum species.

The PAMPA datasets: a metagenomic survey of microbial communities in Argentinean pampean soils

BACKGROUND

Soil is among the most diverse and complex environments in the world. Soil microorganisms play an essential role in biogeochemical cycles and affect plant growth and crop production. However, our knowledge of the relationship between species-assemblies and soil ecosystem processes is still very limited. The aim of this study was to generate a comprehensive metagenomic survey to evaluate the effect of high-input agricultural practices on soil microbial communities.

RESULTS

We collected soil samples from three different areas in the Argentinean Pampean region under three different types of land uses and two soil sources (bulk and rhizospheric). We extracted total DNA from all samples and also synthetized cDNA from rhizospheric samples. Using 454-FLX technology, we generated 112 16S ribosomal DNA and 14 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon libraries totaling 1.3 M reads and 36 shotgun metagenome libraries totaling 17.8 million reads (7.7 GB). Our preliminary results suggested that water availability could be the primary driver that defined microbial assemblages over land use and soil source. However, when water was not a limiting resource (annual precipitation >800 mm) land use was a primary driver.

CONCLUSION

This was the first metagenomic study of soil conducted in Argentina and our datasets are among the few large soil datasets publicly available. The detailed analysis of these data will provide a step forward in our understanding of how soil microbiomes respond to high-input agricultural systems, and they will serve as a useful comparison with other soil metagenomic studies worldwide.

Clinical trial with a percutaneously inserted intra-aortic balloon pump: a wider spectrum of patient application

The intra-aortic balloon pump has been proven to be an effective form of therapy in a variety of situations involving actual or potential ventricular power failure. An experience with 12 newly-designed percutaneous PERCOR-TM intra-aortic balloon pumps is discussed. Emphasis is made on the ease of insertion and removal, and on the fact that a trained surgical team in an operating room setting is not necessary. Effectiveness of the balloon in comparison to the traditional intra-aortic balloon pump is also discussed.

Expanding the Trichoderma harzianum species complex: Three new species from Argentine natural and cultivated ecosystems

A study was performed on a collection of 84 isolates from decaying plant tissues and soils in Argentina previously identified as Trichoderma harzianum. Based on multiple phenotypic characters and multilocus phylogenetic analyses, 10 species were distinguished, three of which are described as new species: T. austroindianum, T. hortense, and T. syagri. Among the remaining seven identified species, the following five can be added to the Argentine mycobiota: T. afarasin, T. afroharzianum, T. endophyticum, T. guizhouense, and T. neotropicale. Trichoderma afroharzianum and T. endophyticum were the most frequent species found in the samples. In addition, a collection of isolates previously identified as T. harzianum with antagonistic abilities were reidentified as T. afroharzianum, thus highlighting the importance of correct identification of biocontrol species.

Anorectal avulsion: Management of a rare rectal trauma

INTRODUCTION

Traumatic injuries of the rectum are unusual even though their treatment is challenging and often lead to high morbidity and mortality rate.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

This paper reports a rare case of complete rectal avulsion with multiple fracture and hemoperitoneum treated with a multistep approach in our department.

DISCUSSION

The anorectal avulsion is a rare rectal trauma; only few reports are available. Treatment key points of rectal trauma are: direct repair, diverting stoma and sacral drainage.

CONCLUSION

We reported a case of anorectal avulsion with complete detachment of external sphincter muscle. A multidisciplinary approach was mandatory in this kind of lesions.

Microbiological quality, fungal diversity and aflatoxins contamination in carob flour (Prosopis flexuosa)

Carob flour is obtained from pods of some species of Prosopis, leguminous trees that abound in many desert habitats worldwide. Currently, this product is available in healthy food stores in several countries, including Argentina, as a nontraditional meal of growing interest with multiple applications for the preparation of puddings, biscuits and snacks, among others. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the microbial quality of carob flour on basis of the presence of deteriorative and pathogenic microorganisms. Fungal diversity of the mycobiota was also studied with a special interest in toxigenic fungi. Eighteen samples of carob flour (Prosopis flexuosa) were analysed. Standard plate count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria showed levels of contamination ranging from <10² (estimative) to 6.8 × 10⁵ CFU/g; total coliforms from <10² (estimative) to 4.7 × 10⁵ CFU/g; moulds and yeasts from 2.1 × 10² to 8.1 × 10⁴. In all samples, the absence of Salmonella sp. was verified in 25 g and counts of Bacillus cereus less than 10² were observed. These results indicate that from the safety point of view the carob flour studied does not have a significant microbial load. Regarding to fungal contamination, Aspergillus and Penicillium were the genera more diverse in species and were present in all the samples. Some of the species identified were potential mycotoxins producers. Among the most frequently detected species in the studied mycobiota were the Aspergillus of the Flavi section, well recognized as potential aflatoxin producers. The A. flavus species was one of the most widely distributed, since it was detected in almost all samples. A. parasiticus and A. arachidicola were found more sporadically. Aflatoxins analysis demonstrated that a high proportion of the samples were contaminated with aflatoxins in concentrations relatively low, ranging from 1.26 to 20.33 μg/kg of total aflatoxins. Type G aflatoxins are much less frequent contaminants than type B aflatoxins, which is consistent with the fact that A. parasiticus and A. arachidicola (producers of type B and G aflatoxins) were detected sporadically, while A. flavus, which produces aflatoxins B₁ and B₂, was present in a high number of samples. Results of the present work indicate that carob flour is susceptible to Aspergillus section Flavi and aflatoxin contamination and should be subjected to aflatoxin monitoring prior to marketing as required for other traditional crops.

Optimization of biomass production of a mutant of Yarrowia lipolytica with an increased lipase activity using raw glycerol

The yeast Yarrowia lipolytica accumulates oils and is able to produce extracellular lipases when growing in different carbon sources including glycerol, the principal by-product of the biodiesel industry. In this study, biomass production of a novel mutant strain of Y. lipolytica was statistically optimized by Response Surface Methodology in media containing biodiesel-derived glycerol as main carbon source. This strain exhibited distinctive morphological and fatty acid profile characteristics, and showed an increased extracellular lipase activity. An organic source of nitrogen and the addition of 1.0 g/l olive oil were necessary for significant lipase production. Plackett-Burman and Central Composite Statistical Designs were employed for screening and optimization of fermentation in shaken flasks cultures, and the maximum values obtained were 16.1 g/l for biomass and 12.2 Units/ml for lipase, respectively. Optimized batch bioprocess was thereafter scaled in aerated bioreactors and the values reached for lipase specific activity after 95 % of the glycerol had been consumed, were three-fold higher than those obtained in shaken flasks cultures. A sustainable bioprocess to obtain biomass and extracellular lipase activity was attained by maximizing the use of the by-products of biodiesel industry.

[Toxic fungi in Buenos Aires City and surroundings]

In Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales,Universidad de Buenos Aires there is a service called Servicio de Identificación de Hongos Tóxicos, directed by researchers of the Program of Medicinal Plants and Fungi Involved in Biological Degradation (PROPLAME-PRHIDEB, CONICET) that assist hospitals and other health establishments, identifying the different samples of fungi and providing information about their toxicity, so that patients can receive the correct treatment. The objective of the present study was to analyze all the cases received from 1985 to 2012. This analysis permitted the confection of a table identifying the most common toxic species. The information gathered revealed that 47% of the patients were under 18 years of age and had eaten basidiomes; the remaining 53% were adults who insisted that they were able to distinguish edible from toxic mushrooms. Chlorophyllum molybdites turned out to be the main cause of fungal intoxication in Buenos Aires, which is commonly confused with Macrolepiota procera, an edible mushroom. In the second place Amanita phalloides was registered, an agaric known to cause severe symptoms after a long period of latency (6-10 hours), and which can lead to hepatic failure even requiring a transplant to prevent severe internal injuries or even death, is not early and correctly treated.

Exploring the use of natural antimicrobial agents and pulsed electric fields to control spoilage bacteria during a beer production process

Different natural antimicrobials affected viability of bacterial contaminants isolated at critical steps during a beer production process. In the presence of 1 mg/ml chitosan and 0.3 mg/ml hops, the viability of Escherichia coli in an all malt barley extract wort could be reduced to 0.7 and 0.1% respectively after 2 hour- incubation at 4 degrees C. The addition of 0.0002 mg/ml nisin, 0.1 mg/ml chitosan or 0.3 mg/ml hops, selectively inhibited growth of Pediococcus sp. in more than 10,000 times with respect to brewing yeast in a mixed culture. In the presence of 0.1 mg ml chitosan in beer, no viable cells of the thermoresistant strain Bacillus megaterium were detected. Nisin, chitosan and hops increased microbiological stability during storage of a local commercial beer inoculated with Lactobacillus plantarum or Pediococcus sp. isolated from wort. Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) (8 kV/cm, 3 pulses) application enhanced antibacterial activity of nisin and hops but not that of chitosan. The results herein obtained suggest that the use of these antimicrobial compounds in isolation or in combination with PEF would be effective to control bacterial contamination during beer production and storage.

Surgical therapy for evolving myocardial infarction: Results in 138 patients

One hundred thirty-eight selected patients underwent emergency coronary artery revascularization as the treatment for early evolving myocardial infarction. Low early and late (3.6 and 2.9%) mortality and morbidity up to 54 months, with favorable post surgical hemodynamic improvement demonstrates the operability with beneficial results in selected patients with early evolving myocardial infarction.

Surgery for evolving myocardial infarction

One hundred fifty-six patients underwent emergency coronary revascularization during the early phases of evolving myocardial infarction (MI). There were six hospital deaths (3.8%) and two later deaths (1.3%). Thrombectomy of the MI artery was achieved in 79% of the patients, and 17% of the patients showed no observable lesion in the MI vessel on restudy. Graft patency was 99%. Late follow-up to 62 months disclosed 17 patients with residual limitations. Analysis of the data established criteria for recognizing patients with early MI who would benefit from surgical therapy. The criteria are derived by comparing preoperative and postoperative ventricular anatomy, creatine phosphokinase levels, and hemodynamics.