Abstract Objective: To validate the use of the 13C-glucose breath test to assess nutritional treatment adherence. Methods: A pilot study was conducted on eleven adults. A snack made of soybean/corn-starch was enriched with U-13C-glucose. The participants were divided in three groups that consumed the snack in different periods for two weeks (A=14 days, B=10 days and C=6 days). Breath samples were collected daily to analyse the δ 13C values with isotope-ratio mass spectrometry. Results: AUC (area under the curve) median of δ 13C values of group A was higher than group C (p = 0.029); differences were found when combining groups, A and B medians, comparing them with group C (p = 0.038). A negative association was found between AUC δ13C values and treatment intensity (Spearman rho = -0.708; p = 0.015). A cut-off ≤ 3.78 identifies subjects with less than 70% accomplishment of the treatment with 100% specificity and 86% sensitivity. Conclusions: The 13C-glucose breath test suggests a good diagnostic performance to assess treatment adherence.

Resumen Objetivo: Validar el uso de la prueba de aliento con 13C-glucosa para evaluar la adherencia a un tratamiento nutricional. Métodos: Se realizó una prueba piloto, con once adultos, que ingirieron una botana compuesta de soya/almidón de maíz y enriquecida con U-13C-glucosa. Los participantes se dividieron en tres grupos de estudio y consumieron la botana en diferentes períodos de tiempo durante dos semanas (A=14 días, B=10 días, C=6 días). Diariamente se colectaron muestras de aliento para analizar los valores de δ13C, mediante espectrometría de masas de relaciones isotópicas. Resultados: La mediana del AUC (área bajo la curva) de los valores de δ 13C del grupo A fue mayor comparada con la del grupo C (p = 0.029); por otro lado, se encontraron diferencias significativas al combinar los grupos (medianas A y B) y ser comparados con el grupo C (p = 0.038). Finalmente, se encontró una asociación negativa entre los valores de AUC δ 13C y la intensidad del tratamiento (rho de Spearman = -0,708; p = 0,015). Se pudo establecer un punto de corte ≤ 3,78, para identificar a los sujetos que cumplieron con menos del 70% del tratamiento, con un 100% de especificidad y un 86% de sensibilidad. Conclusiones: La prueba de aliento con 13C-glucosa, sugiere un buen rendimiento diagnóstico para evaluar la adherencia al tratamiento.

RESUMEN Introducción: Los efectos de surgencias estacionales sobre la estructura de la columna de agua y las comunidades del mesozooplancton son pobremente entendidos en zonas costeras del Pacífico Oriental Tropical (POT), a pesar de la importancia que tienen los eventos de surgencia en modular la productividad en estas zonas. Objetivo: Evaluar los efectos de la surgencia estacional que ocurre en la Ensenada de Panamá sobre la columna de agua y las comunidades del mesozooplancton en una ensenada tropical del POT. Métodos: Los datos hidrográficos y las muestras de mesozooplankton fueron recolectados durante cuatro campañas de muestreo en la Ensenada de Utría (diciembre 2011, febrero 2012, febrero 2013, octubre 2013), un estuario ubicado en la costa norte del Pacífico colombiano. Las diferencias estacionales en las variables ambientales y bióticas se evaluaron mediante análisis no paramétricos y multivariados. Resultados: Las aguas superficiales fueron cálidas (> 25 °C) y presentaron bajas salinidades (< 30) a lo largo de todo el periodo de estudio. En contraste, las aguas subsuperficiales fueron más frías (< 20 °C), más salinas (> 33) y presentaron menores concentraciones de oxígeno disuelto (< 2.0 ml l-1) durante la época seca (enero - marzo), mientras que la columna de agua fue homogénea durante la época de lluvias (abril - diciembre). A pesar de los cambios estacionales en las condiciones ambientales, el incremento esperado en la productividad del sistema durante la época seca (i.e., mayor biomasa y abundancia del mesozooplancton) sólo se observó durante febrero 2012. Contrario a lo esperado, la abundancia del ictioplancton fue mayor durante la época de lluvias, periodo en el que el ensamblaje estuvo dominado por un Gobiidae sin identificar y la carduma (Cetengraulis mysticetus). Conclusión: La entrada de aguas de surgencia a la Ensenada de Utría es un factor importante que modula los cambios estacionales observados en la columna de agua. Sin embargo, la respuesta de las comunidades del mesozooplancton ante los eventos de surgencia presentó alta variabilidad interanual. Considerando que las aguas de surgencia son reducidas en oxígeno y más acídicas, la entrada de aguas de surgencia a la Ensenada de Utría podría estar causando estrés fisiológico a los organismos bentónicos y pelágicos que habitan las zonas más profundas de la ensenada. Esta condición podría volverse más severa en el futuro considerando las predicciones que sugieren un incremento de la desoxigenación y acidificación del océano debido al cambio climático.

Abstract Introduction: The effects of seasonal upwelling on the conditions of the water column and mesozooplankton communities are poorly understood in the coastal zones of the Eastern Tropical Pacific (ETP), despite the important role of upwelling events in the modulation of productivity in these zones.Objective:To evaluate the influence of seasonal upwelling over the Panama Bight on the structure of the water column and mesozooplankton communities in a tropical cove of the ETP. Methods:Hydrographic data and mesozooplankton samples were collected during four field campaigns in Ensenada de Utría (December 2011, February 2012, October 2013, and February 2013), an estuary located in the Northern Pacific coast of Colombia. Non-parametric and multivariate analyses were used to evaluate seasonal differences in the environmental and biotic variables. Results:Surface waters were warm (> 25 °C) and presented low salinities (< 30) throughout the study period. In contrast, subsurface waters were colder (< 20 °C), saltier (> 33), and presented low dissolved oxygen concentrations (< 2.0 ml l-1) during the dry season (January - March), whereas the water column was homogeneous during the rainy season (April - December). Despite the seasonal changes in the environmental conditions, the expected enhancement in the productivity of the system during the dry season (i.e., higher biomass and abundance of the mesozooplankton) only occurred in February 2012. Contrary to expectations, ichthyoplankton abundance was higher during the rainy season, when the assemblage was dominated by the larvae of anchovy (Cetengraulis mysticetus) and an unidentified Gobiidae.Conclusions: The entrance of upwelled waters into Ensenada de Utría is an important factor modulating the seasonal changes observed in the water column. However, there is high interannual variability in the response of mesozooplankton communities to the upwelling events. Because upwelled waters are oxygen-depleted and more acidic, the entrance of upwelled waters into Ensenada de Utría could be causing physiological stress to the benthic and pelagic organisms inhabiting the deepest zones of the cove. This condition may worsen in the future given the predicted increase of deoxygenation and ocean acidification due to climate change.

Uno de los principales factores de estrés en los corales es el asentamiento de sedimento suspendido sobre su superficie. Esto conlleva al bloqueo de la luz, el cubrimiento superficial del mucus coralino e incremento del riesgo de enfermedades. Por esta razón, la sedimentación en considerada como un variable de alta importancia en el estudio de los arrecifes coralinos. Por medio de trampas de sedimentación (en nueve estaciones: seis por zona arrecifal), este proceso fue estudiado en un arrecife coralino (La Azufrada) del Pacífico Oriental Tropical, localizado en Isla Gorgona, Colombia. En las trampas se encontró una tasa promedio de colecta de sedimento de 23.30±4.34gm-2d-1 a y no se detectaron diferencias significativas entre las zonas arrecifales. La temperatura promedio y salinidad de la columna de agua donde habitan corales en este arrecife (entre 0 y 10m) fue 26.98±0.19°C y 32.60±0.52, respectivamente. Catorce grupos taxonómicos de invertebrados fueron encontrados en las trampas de sedimentación. Los bivalvos y copépodos fueron los más abundantes y frecuentes. Los resultados presentados constituyen el primer reporte de la tasa de deposición de sedimentos y de las condiciones del agua en La Azufrada. Estos resultados representan una línea base para estudios posteriores, aunque se necesita más investigación sobre estos temas que son esenciales para el manejo de los arrecifes coralinos.

One of the major stresses on corals is the settlement of suspended sediment on their surfaces. This leads to the blocking of light, the covering of the coral mucus surface and an increased risk of disease. For this reason sediment deposition on a reef is considered a highly important variable in coral reef studies. With the use of sediment traps and oceanographic sensors, the sediment deposition rate and water conditions during a rainy season (April-May 2009) on a Tropical Eastern Pacific coral reef (La Azufrada) at Gorgona Island in Colombia were investigated. To quantify sediment deposition, sediment traps were established in nine stations along the coral reef (three stations per reef zone: backreef, flat and slope). To minimize disturbance by aquatic organisms in the sediment traps these were filled with hypersaline borax-buffered 10% formaline solution before their deployment; animals found in the filter contents were fixed and stored in a 4% formalin solution, frozen and identified in the laboratory. To determine the water conditions, discrete samples of water from 1 m and 10 m depths were collected using a Niskin bottle. Oceanographic variables (temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen) as well as turbidity, chlorophyll and nutrient concentration (nitrite, nitrate and phosphorus) were measured in the samples from both depths. Vertical records of temperature and salinity were carried out with a Seabird-19 CTD nearest to La Azufrada and water transparency was measured using a Secchi disk. We found a mean trap collection rate of 23.30±4.34gm-2d-1 and did not detect a significant difference in the trap collection rate among reef zones. The mean temperature and salinity in the coral reef depth zone (0-10m layer) were 26.98±0.19°C and 32.60±0.52, respectively. Fourteen taxonomic groups of invertebrates were detected inside the sediment traps with bivalves and copepods being the most abundant and frequen. The findings presented here constitute the first report of both the potential sediment deposition rates and the water conditions of La Azufrada coral reef. Rev. Biol. Trop. 62 (Suppl. 1): 107-116. Epub 2014 February 01.

O presente trabalho correlacionou o tempo de ruptura do ligamento cruzado cranial (RLCCr) à lesão em menisco medial e ao tipo de lesão observada em cães tratados por estabilização dinâmica (osteotomias) ou estática (sutura fabelo-tibial). Este estudo retrospectivo avaliou os registros de 104 cães (117 joelhos). As osteotomias foram realizadas em 98 articulações, a sutura fabelo-tibial em 15 joelhos e, em 4 joelhos, foi realizada apenas artrotomia exploratória. A média de idade foi 4,5 anos, 41% dos cães eram machos e 59%, fêmeas e a média da massa corporal foi 32,7kg. Os tipos de lesão do menisco medial observados foram: tipo 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 e associações dos tipos 1-4, 1-6 e 1-7. O tipo 1 foi o mais prevalente, sendo responsável por 32,5% dos casos. Não foram encontradas correlações entre a presença ou não de lesão de menisco medial e o tempo de ocorrência da RLCCr e entre o tipo de lesão de menisco medial e o tempo de RLCCr.

The study correlated the time of the cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) with medial meniscal tears and the type of injury seen in dogs treated with dynamic stabilization (osteotomies) or static (fabellotibial suture). This retrospective study evaluated the records of 104 dogs (117 stifles). The osteotomies were performed in 98 stifles, fabellotibial suture in 15 stifles and exploratory arthrotomy was perform in 4 stifles. The average age was of 4.5 years, 41% of the dogs were male and 59% female and the mean body mass was of 32.7kg. The medial meniscal tears observed were: type1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and associations of types1-4, 1-6 and 1-7. Type 1 was the most prevalent, accounting for 32.5%of cases. No correlation was found between the presence or absence of medial meniscus injury and the time of occurrence of CCLR and between the type of medial meniscal tears and CCLR time.

Ruptura de ligamento cruzado cranial (RLCCr) é a afecção ortopédica mais frequente no joelho de cães e a sutura fabelo-tibial é frequentemente utilizada na sua correção. Essa técnica pode estar associada com complicações incisionais, lesão tardia de menisco, edema associado ao material de sutura e infecção. O objetivo desta nota foi relatar a ocorrência de fratura proximal de tíbia em um cão, causada por complicação em sutura fabelo-tibial para correção de RLCCr. Um canino atendido em outro serviço foi submetido à osteossíntese com placa 2,0mm para correção de complicação em técnica extra-capsular, na qual houve fratura da tíbia na região do orifício criado para confecção da sutura fabelo-tibial. Houve falha dos implantes e a placa foi removida. A fratura foi estabilizada com fixador esquelético externo circular, sendo constatada, após 120 dias, consolidação.

Cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR) is one of the most common orthopedic diseases in dogs and extracapsular suture with nylon is often used for its correction. This technique may be associated with incisional complications, post-surgical meniscus injury, swelling associated with suture material and infection. The objective of this study is to report a tibial fracture in a dog, caused by complications after an extracapsular suture for the repair of CCLR. An adult dog, which suffered a tibial fracture after an extracapsular fixation for a CCLR, underwent surgery for the fixation of the fracture with a 2.0mm plate, by a referring veterinarian, but the implant failed. The plate was removed and the fracture was stabilized with a circular fixator. Bone consolidation was observed after 120 days.

There are no pathophysiolgical therapeutic approaches to acute kidney injury (AKI) and the mortality remains high. In addition chronic kidney disease (CKD) predisposes to AKI and AKI contributes to progression of CKD. Recently a transcriptomics approach unveiled a relationship between AKI, inflammation and the regulation of ageing. A transcriptomics analysis of experimental AKI revealed increased kidney expression of Fn14 and transmembrane chemokine CXCL16, as well as a decreased expression of the kidney-secreted anti-ageing hormone Klotho. Fn14 is the receptor for tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), a member of the TNF superfamily. In AKI kidneys there was a positive correlation between Fn14 and CXCL16 mRNA expression and an inverse correlation between Fn14 and Klotho mRNA. Tubular cells were the site of Fn14, CXCL16 and Klotho expression in vivo. Research on the relationships between these three molecules disclosed that TWEAK activation of Fn14 promoted inflammation through secretion of chemokines such as CXL16 in tubular cells in culture and in vivo. Furthermore, TWEAK activation of Fn14 decreased expression of Klotho mRNA and protein in culture and in vivo. Interestingly, both TWEAK activation of CXCL16 mRNA transcription and suppression of Klotho mRNA transcription were mediated by the NFκB transcription factor. In conclusion, TWEAK engagement of Fn14 is a central event promoting NFκB-mediated activation of inflammation pathways and suppression of anti-inflammatory/anti-ageing pathways. This information may influence future therapeutic approaches to AKI and inflammation/aging.

No existen estrategias terapéuticas y fisiopatológicas para el fracaso renal agudo (FRA), por lo que los niveles de mortalidad continúan siendo elevados. Además, la enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) predispone a sufrir FRA y el FRA, a su vez, contribuye a que la ERC avance. Recientemente, una estrategia transcriptómica reveló una relación entre el FRA, la inflamación y la regulación del envejecimiento. Un análisis transcriptómico de modelos experimentales de FRA reveló un aumento de la expresión renal de Fn14 y la quimiocina transmembrana CXCL16, así como un descenso en la expresión de la hormona Klotho antienvejecimiento secretada por el riñón. Fn14 es el receptor de la citoquina tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK), miembro de la superfamilia de factor de necrosis tumoral. En los riñones con FRA, existía una correlación positiva entre Fn14 y la expresión de ARNm de CXCL16 y una correlación inversa entre Fn14 y el ARNm de Klotho. El lugar donde se da la expresión in vivo de Fn14, CXCL16 y Klotho es las células tubulares. La investigación en las relaciones entre estas tres moléculas reveló que la activación de Fn14 por TWEAK provocó la inflamación mediante la secreción de quimiocinas como la CXCL16 en células tubulares, tanto en cultivo como in vivo. Además, la activación de Fn14 por TWEAK disminuyó la expresión de ARNm de Klotho y de proteína, en cultivo y in vivo. Curiosamente, tanto la activación TWEAK de la trascripción de ARNm de CXCL16 y la supresión de la trascripción de ARNm de Klotho estuvieron mediadas por el factor de transcripción NF-κB. Como conclusión, la unión de TWEAK y Fn14 es un elemento clave en promover de la activación mediada por NF-kB de las vías de inflamación y en la supresión de las vías antiinflamatorias y antienvejecimiento. Esta información puede influir en las futuras estrategias terapéuticas para el FRA y la inflamación/envejecimiento.

Este trabalho relata o caso de uma cadela da raça whippet, de 10 anos, com união retardada de tíbia e fíbula esquerdas, exposta, cotaminada e com grande perda de massa muscular e óssea e de pele causada por instabilidade óssea decorrente de duas intervenções cirúrgicas realizadas anteriormente. Foi realizado retalho de omento maior em camada simples, alcance ao foco de fratura via túnel subcutâneo e recobrimento por enxerto cutâneo em malha. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a capacidade de indução vascular do omento maior para foco de fratura e consequentemente consolidação óssea, tendo como hipótese a acentuada função de angiogênese do omento maior. A tíbia e fíbula esquerdas foram estabilizadas com fixador circular externo. Após 80 dias, houve consolidação óssea da tíbia, volta do apoio do membro e retirada do implante.

This research reports the case of a whippet female dog, 10 years old, with delayed union of left tibia and fibula, exposure of the fracture focus with localized infection, and extensive loss of, muscle, bone and skin after instability caused by two surgical interventions accomplished previously. A flap was made of the greater omentum in a single layer. The fracture site was reached through the subcutaneous tunnel and the coating by mesh skin grafts. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of the larger omentum to induce angiogenesis to the fracture site and the subsequent bone healing, considering the strong role of angiogenesis. The left tibia and fibula were stabilized with external circular fixator. After 80 days there was bone healing of the tibia around the support member and removal of the implant. Postoperative complications included partial necrosis of the cutaneous (25%) flap and shortening of the tibia with consequent laxity ligament of the member.