Effect of embryo culture media on birthweight and length in singleton term infants after IVF-ICSI.

QUESTIONS UNDER STUDY: To investigate if two distinct, commercially available embryo culture media have a different effect on birthweight and length of singleton term infants conceived after IVF-ICSI. METHODS: University hospital based cohort study. Between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004, patients conceiving through IVF-ICSI at the University Hospital, Lausanne have been allocated to two distinct embryo culture media. Only term singleton pregnancies were analysed (n = 525). Data analysis was performed according to two commercially available culture media: Vitrolife (n = 352) versus Cook (n = 173). Analysis was performed through linear regression adjusted for confounders. Media were considered equivalent if the 95% confidence interval lay between -150 g/+150 g. RESULTS: Length, gestational age and distribution of birthweight percentiles did not differ between groups (for both genders). Analysis of the whole cohort, adjusted for a subset of confounders, resulted in a statistically not different mean birthweight between the two groups (Vitrolife +37 g vs Cook, 95%CI: -46 g to 119 g) suggesting equivalence. Adjustment for an enlarged number of confounders in a subsample of patients (n = 258) also revealed no relevant mean birthweight difference of +71 g (95%CI: -45 g to 187 g) in favour of Vitrolife; however, lacking power to prove equivalence. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that significant differences in birthweight due to these two distinct, commercially available embryo culture media are unlikely.

Discursive media strategies in the journalistic construction of schistosomiasis in Jaboticatubas, Minas Gerais

Using media discourse analysis for material published by the press on schistomisasis in the city of Jaboticatubas, the possible determining factors of narrative and discursive constructions in the diffusion of information are discussed. It was observed that media discourse treats schistosomiasis in 1962 as something from the natural order. By 1997 and 1998, the media discourse strategies reveal ideological treatment in favor of certain social segments. Situations are identified in which social agents in specific contexts construct the meanings of this endemic disease. It was concluded that the economic organization of space was a determining factor in the production and circulation of the media discourses.

Media guidelines for reporting suicide and self-harm

These guidelines are for those in the media who have involvement with the reporting or portrayal of suicide and represent an important source of information to help ensure that the quality of reporting and portrayal on this important and sensitive topic is of a high standard.

RRHH Media

Dur a terme la implementació d'un portal de recerca de feina a través d'Internet. Aquest portal servirà com a punt de trobada entre empreses i treballadors. Permetrà a les empreses publicar les seves ofertes de treball i als usuaris veure aquestes ofertes i inscriure's si ho consideren oportú.

Otitis media : proceso asistencial integrado

Publicado en la página web de la Consejería de Salud y Bienestar Social: www.juntadeandalucia.es/salud (Consejería de Salud y Bienestar Social/ Profesionales / Nuestro Compromiso por la Calidad / Procesos Asistenciales Integrados)

Proceso otitis media recurrente : guía de información para pacientes

En la cub.: Respuestas sencillas a las preguntas más frecuentes

Proceso otitis media secretoria : guía de información para pacientes

En la cub.: Respuestas sencillas a las preguntas más frecuentes

Growth, cysts and kinetics of Borrelia garinii (Spirochaetales: Spirochaetacea) in different culture media

The aim of the present paper was to evaluate cyst formation and growth parameters of Borrelia garinii in a range of media differing in formulation and cost. A qualitative assessment of morphology and motility of B. garinii was conducted. All media were prepared aseptically and used in test tubes or Petri dishes. For each medium, the initial spirochete concentration was standardized to 10³ spirochets/mL. The following culture media were suitable to grow B. garinii: Barbour-Stoenner-Kelly, brain heart infusion and PMR. Growth was minimal at six weeks post-inoculation and maximum spirochete density was observed between 9-12 weeks. Often, the cultures developed cysts of different sizes, isolated or in groups, with a spiraled portion of variable sizes, mainly in unfavorable culture media. Brazilian Lyme disease-like illness, also known as Baggio-Yoshinari syndrome (BYS), is a new and interesting emerging tick-borne disease, caused by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato spirochetes, only during its cystic forms. It has been assumed that the peculiar clinical and laboratory features of BYS are consequential to the absence of a human sucker Ixodes ricinus complex tick at risk areas in Brazil, supporting the concept that the borrelia phenotypic expression pattern is modified as it is transmitted through the host.

Prevalencia y factores asociados a desnutrición entre pacientes ingresados en un hospital de media-larga estancia

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of hyponutrition at admission at a mid- to long-term stay hospital. To analyze the possible factors associated to hyponutrition; the possible relationship with mortality at one month, and the treatments for hyponutrition performed. MATERIALS AND METHOD Descriptive study from the laboratory data obtained in 140 patients. For diagnosing hyponutrition, a tool based on albumin, total cholesterol, and lymphocytes levels was used. Demographical (age and gender) and clinical data (presence of pressure soars, nasogastric tube, dementia, neoplasm, previous admission to the ICU, and main diagnosis) were gathered at admission as well as the mortality at the first month. The treatments used for hyponutrition were reviewed. RESULTS patients' age was 77.1 years and 63% were females. 17.1% of the patients presented normal nutritional status, 50.7% met the criteria for mild hyponutrition, 26.4% of moderate hyponutrition, and 5.7% of severe hyponutrition. We found no association between hyponutrition and gender, nasogastric tube, soars, dementia or neoplasm, but we did so with age (P = 0.033). We found a relationship between moderate-severe hyponutrition and pressure soars (P = 0.036). We found an association between hyponutrition and mortality at one month (OR = 1.357, 95% CI 1.121 to 1.643; P = 0.02). 35.6% of the patients with moderate-severe hyponutrition received therapy for this condition (28.9% with protein supplements and 6.7% with enteral diet). CONCLUSIONS hyponutrition affects most of the patients admitted to a mid to long-term stay hospitals and is associated with higher mortality. One third of hyponutrition patients receive nutritional therapy.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a tool to study the β-oxidation through the synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoates

Summary Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) represent a family of polyesters naturally synthesized by a wide variety of bacteria. Through their thermoplastic and elastomeric qualities, together with their biodegradable and renewable properties, they are predicted to be a good alternative to the petroleum- derived plastics. Nevertheless, as PHA production costs using bacteria fermentation are still too high, PHA synthesis within eukaryotic systems, such as plants, has been elaborated. Although the costs were then efficiently lowered, the yield of PHAs produced remained low. In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisae has been used as another eukaryotic model in order to reveal the steps which limit PHA production. These cells express the PHA synthase of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the PHAs obtained were analyzed to understand the flux of fatty acids towards and through the peroxisomal β-oxidation core cycle, generating the main substrate of the PHA synthase. When S. cerevisiae wild-type cells are grown in a media containing glucose as carbon source as well as fatty acids, the PHA monomer composition is largely influenced by the nature of the external fatty acid used. Thus, even-chain PHA monomers are generated from oleic acid (18:1Δ9cis) and odd- chain PHA monomers are generated from heptadecenoic acid (17:1Δ. 10 cis). Moreover, PHA synthesis is dependent on the first two enzymes of the 0-oxidation core cycle, the acyl-CoA oxidase and the multifunctional enzyme enoyl-CoA hydratase II / R-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase. S. cerevisiae mutant cells growing on oleic or heptadecenoic acid and deficient in either the R-3- hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase or in the 3-ketothiolase activity, the last β-oxidation cycle steps, surprisingly contained PHAs of predominantly even-chain monomers. This is also noticed in wild- type and mutants grown on glucose or raffinose, indicating that the substrate used for PHA synthesis is generated from the degradation of intracellular short- and medium-chain fatty acids by the 3- oxidation cycle. Inhibition of fatty acid biosynthesis by cerulenin blocks the synthesis of PHAs from intracellular fatty acids but still enables the use of extracellular fatty acids for polymer production. Together, these results uncovered the existence of a substantial futile cycle whereby short- and medium-chain intermediates of the cytoplasmic fatty acid biosynthetic pathway are directed towards the peroxisomal β-oxidation pathway. In this thesis, no increase of the yield of PHA produced could be obtained. But the PHA synthesis confirmed the carbon flux into and through the β-oxidation core cycle and unveiled the existence of novel mechanisms. It is thus a good tool to study in vivo the flux of carbons in S. cerevisiae cells. Résumé Les polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) sont une famille de polyesters naturellement synthétisés par un grand nombre de bactéries. Ayant des propriétés de thermoplastiques, d'élastomères et étant des ressources biodégradables et renouvelables, les PHAs représentent une bonne alternative aux plastiques dérivés du pétrole. Pour pallier aux coûts considérables de la production de PHAs par fermentation bactérienne, la synthèse de PHAs par des systèmes eucaryotes telles les plantes a été élaborée. Les coûts ont ainsi efficacement été diminués, mais le rendement de PHAs produits reste faible. Dans cette étude, Saccharomyces cerevisiae a été utilisé comme autre modèle eucaryote pour révéler les étapes limitantes de la production de PHAs. Les PHAs obtenus dans les cellules exprimant la F'HA synthase de Pseudomonas aeruginosa ont été analysés afin de comprendre le flux d'acides gras vers et à travers le cycle péroxisomal de la β-oxidation, principal producteur du substrat de la PHA synthase. Lorsque la souche S. cerevisiae de type sauvage se développe dans un milieu contenant du glucose et des acides gras, la composition des monomères de PHAs est influencée par la nature des acides gras extracellulaires. Ainsi, les monomères pairs sont générés par l'acide oléique (18:1Δ9cis), tandis que les impairs le sont par l'acide heptadécénoïque (17:1Δ10cis). La synthèse de PHAs est dépendante des deux premières enzymes de la β-oxidation; l'acyl-CoA oxidase et l'enzyme multifonctionnelle enoyl-CoA hydratase II / R-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA déshydrogénase. Les souches mutantes ne possédant pas les activités de la R-3-hydroxyacyl-CoA déshydrogénase ou de la 3- ketothiolase contiennent, en présence d'acide oléique ou heptadécénoïque, des PHAs composés essentiellement de monomères pairs. Cela a également été observé en présence de glucose ou de raffinose uniquement. Le substrat utilisé pour la synthèse de PHAs a ainsi été généré par la dégradation d'acides gras intracellulaires à chaîne courte et moyenne via le cycle de la β-oxidation. L'inhibition de la synthèse d'acides gras par la cérulénine a bloqué la synthèse de PHAs par les acides gras internes. Ces résultats ont révélés l'existence d'un cycle futile par lequel des intermédiaires à chaîne courte et moyenne de la synthèse cytoplasmique d'acides gras sont dirigés vers le cycle péroxisomal de la β-oxidation. Dans cette étude, le rendement de PHAs produits reste inchangé, mais l'analyse des PHAs permet de confirmer le flux de carbones vers et à travers le cycle péroxisomal de la β-oxidation et l'existence de nouveaux méchanismes a été dévoilée. Cette synthèse s'avère être un bon outil pour étudier in vivo le flux de carbones dans les cellules de S. cerevisiae.

Uso y percepción social de los recursos naturales en la cuenca media del río Lules, provincia de Tucumán (Argentina)

És conegut que arreu del món hi ha moltes poblacions aïllades que encara viuen a partir de l’agricultura i la ramaderia de subsistència i que utilitzen tots aquells recursos del seu entorn per tal de cobrir les serves necessitats bàsiques. Aquest ús acostuma a ser insostenible, fent que l’entorn tendeixi a degradar-se cada cop més. El projecte representa una peça bàsica en la inserció del desenvolupament sostenible per a moltes d’aquestes poblacions, com és el cas de les comunes el riu Lules (Tucumán, Argentina). Basat en entrevistes i enquestes als pobladors, es fa una anàlisi estadística per determinar l’ús i la percepció de canvi que tenen els habitants, i a la vegada, es relaciona amb altres variables com el nivell socioeconòmic i l’edat, entre d’altres. Aquesta anàlisi juntament amb l’observació directa, permet fer una diagnosi de l’àrea i, conseqüentment, una llista de propostes (i desenvolupament de les més urgents) per tal de crear un pla de gestió de la zona i poder assegurar el seu desenvolupament sostenible

The Relationship between Media and Political Agendas : Variations across Decision-Making Phases

Previous studies have demonstrated that the extent to which media coverage influences the issue priorities of policy makers is contingent on the type of issue, media, and political agenda. This article contends that the relationship between media and political agendas varies across the phases of the decision-making process. Based on a comprehensive dataset on issue attention in media coverage and various policy-making channels covering the years 1996-2003, the article analyses the level of media coverage and, more importantly, the distribution and correspondence of issue attention between media and political agendas across the four successive phases of the decision-making process (initiation, preparatory, parliamentary, and referendum phases) in Switzerland. Despite inversely distributed levels of attention for successive decision-making phases, both media and political agendas are concentrated on fewer issues in the initiation and referendum phases, and they are more strongly correlated in the most decisive stages of the process, that is, the preparatory and referendum phases.