Innovative solutions: Standardized concentrations facilitate the use of continuous infusions for pediatric intensive care unit nurses at a community hospital.

The pediatric intensive care unit at a community hospital successfully implemented the use of standardized concentrations. The process included deciding the standardized concentrations, use of titration charts, and integration of smart pump technology. Since the implementation of standardized concentrations, there has been no signal or sentinel events reported. It is safe and efficacious to use standardized concentrations combined with smart pump technology and abandon the use of the rule of 6 in the pediatric population.     

Characterization of digital dermatoglyphic features in Salazar Valley: comparison with other Basque valleys

Digital dermatoglyphics of a sample from the Basque Valley of Salazar, situated in the West of the Pyrenees, were analysed. The results showed bimanual differences in both sexes, and also sexual differences for both hands. The comparative study with other Basque valleys showed that, in spite of their supposed common origin, the geographic barriers and the isolation have generated a genetic/dermatoglyphic and linguistic differentiation.     

Association of HLA-DQA1*03011-DQB1*0301 haplotype with the development of respiratory scleroma.

OBJECTIVE: Respiratory scleroma (RS) is a progressive, chronic, granulomatous disease caused by Klebsiella rhinoscleromatis. There is only one report of RS association with HLA-DQ3. In this study, molecular association of HLA class II and RS was determined. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Nine RS patients and 163 healthy controls were compared. DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1 loci were typed. RESULTS: Statistical analysis demonstrated association between DQB1*0301 and susceptibility to RS (P(c) = 0.004). Haplotype analysis showed an association of DQA1*03011-DQB1*0301 (P = 1.21E-19) and DRB1*0407-DQA1*03011-DQB1*0301 (P = 0.0002). CONCLUSIONS: Results established that DQA1*03011-DQB1*0301 haplotype is a strong risk factor for development of RS.     

Metabolic polymorphisms and the micronucleus frequency in buccal epithelium of adolescents living in an urban environment

Micronuclei and other biomarkers were evaluated in oral cells from 11- to 16-year-old girls living in a foster home in the central area of México City. Variables analyzed for possible association with these biomarkers include smoking habits, body mass index, metabolic polymorphisms for NAT1 and GSTM1 and whether the cells were obtained from the cheek or pharynx. The results indicated that individuals having the NAT1*10 homozygous genotype showed a significant increase in chromatin buds and binucleated cells. When the damage in the cheek was compared with damage in the pharynx, a significant increase in micronuclei and binucleated cells was found for the latter tissue in all the individuals analyzed.     

Isolated cardiac recurrence of acute lymphoblastic leukemia characterized by t(11;19) two years after unrelated allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

A 33-year-old male presented with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) characterized by translocation (11;19)(q23;p13.3). He received an allogeneic bone marrow transplant from a matched unrelated donor. Two years later his disease relapsed with an isolated intracardiac mass, presenting as right heart failure. He had no evidence of concomitant relapse in the bone marrow. Tumor cytogenetics revealed clonal evolution with the karyotype 46,XY,t(3;16)(q23;p13),t(11;19)(q23;p13.3), the chromosome 16 breakpoint involving the band where the genes for multidrug resistance-associated protein and CREB binding protein are known to reside. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an isolated extramedullary relapse of ALL in the heart.     

A double-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenge study with lyophilized larvae and antigen of the fish parasite, Anisakis simplex

BACKGROUND: The third-stage larvae of Anisakis simplex may be a hidden source of allergens in fish. The objective was to determine whether the ingestion of lyophilized A. simplex larvae, or antigen, induces clinical symptoms in a group of A. simplex-sensitized patients. METHODS: Double-blind, placebo-controlled oral challenges were conducted in 11 individuals who had experienced allergic reactions after eating fish. Another patient had chronic urticaria unrelated to the ingestion of fish. All patients had positive skin tests and specific IgE determinations for A. simplex and negative skin tests to a battery of fish species. Conjunctival tests with A. simplex extracts were conducted in all patients and in five controls. The 12 patients received capsules containing either lactose or one, five, or 25 lyophilized larvae of A. simplex at 2-h intervals in a double-blind fashion. The highest single dose was 100 larvae. ECP and tryptase levels in serum were measured before and after the last oral challenge. Lyophilized antigen was also given to five patients. RESULTS: None of the 12 patients experienced a positive reaction after the ingestion of the placebo, the lyophilized larvae, or the antigen. Tryptase and ECP levels before and after challenges did not change significantly. Conjunctival provocation tests were positive in 11 out of the 12 patients and in none of the controls. CONCLUSIONS: The ingestion of 100 lyophilized A. simplex larvae, or its equivalent in antigen, does not induce clinical symptoms in individuals with a clinical history and laboratory findings of hypersensitivity to A. simplex. The data suggest that only the ingestion of live larvae may be capable of inducing allergic manifestations.     

Adverse childhood experiences and the development of Down syndrome regression disorder

Down syndrome regression disorder (DSRD) is a clinical symptom cluster of acute or subacute neurocognitive regression in otherwise health persons with Down syndrome. The objective of this study was to evaluate if adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) were more prevalent in children with DSRD than those with DS alone. A survey-based, cohort-based study was performed. Caregivers of individuals with DSRD with onset of symptoms between age 10 and 30 years and DS alone were administered the ACEs questionnaire via an online REDCap survey. A total of 159 responses were collected after excluding incomplete surveys and those not meeting criteria for DSRD. Individuals with DSRD were not more likely to experience ACEs (p = 0.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43–1.17). In those with ACEs prior to the onset of symptoms, the median time prior was 7 months (interquartile range: 5–10). Individuals with DSRD were more likely to report three or more ACEs (52, 33%) compared to those with DS alone (39, 22%) (p = 0.02, 95% CI: 1.08–2.87). Exposure to ACEs were not predictive of response to particular therapeutic interventions although those with multiple ACEs 3 months prior to the onset of symptoms was associated with lower response rates to benzodiazepines and immunotherapy (p = 0.02, 95% CI: −3.64–−1.13). This study provides preliminary data that individuals with DSRD experience ACEs at a similar rate to individuals with only DS alone, although three or more ACEs, often preceding the onset of symptoms, was more prevalent in individuals with DSRD.     

A GoldenBraid-Compatible Virus-Based Vector System for Transient Expression of Heterologous Proteins in Plants

We have developed a Potato virus X (PVX)-based vector system compatible with the GoldenBraid 2.0 (GB) cloning strategy to transiently express heterologous proteins or peptides in plants for biotechnological purposes. This vector system consists of three domestication vectors carrying three GB parts—the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter with PVX upstream of the second subgenomic promoter of the PVX coat protein (PVX CP SGP), nopaline synthase (NOS) terminator with PVX downstream of the first PVX CP SGP and the gene of interest (GOI). The full-length PVX clone carrying the sequence encoding a green fluorescent protein (GFP) as GOI was incorporated into the binary GB vector in a one-step reaction of three GB parts using the four-nucleotide GB standard syntax. We investigated whether the obtained vector named GFP/pGBX enables systemic PVX infection and expression of GFP in Nicotiana benthamiana plants. We show that this GB-compatible vector system can be used for simple and efficient assembly of PVX-based expression constructs and that it meets the current need for interchange of standard biological parts used in different expression systems.     

Corrosion Behavior of Al Modified with Zn in Chloride Solution

Aluminum-based alloys have been considered candidate materials for cathodic protection anodes. However, the Al-based alloys can form a layer of alumina, which is a drawback in a sacrificial anode. The anodes must exhibit uniform corrosion to achieve better performance. Aluminum can be alloyed with Zn to improve their performance. In this sense, in the present research, the electrochemical corrosion performance of Al-xZn alloys (x = 1.5, 3.5, and 5 at.% Zn) exposed to 3.5 wt.% NaCl for 24 h was evaluated. Polarization curves, linear polarization resistance (LPR), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used to identify the electrochemical behavior. The microstructure of the samples before the corrosion assessment was characterized by means of X-ray diffraction analyses (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, microstructures of the corroded surfaces were characterized using X-ray mappings via SEM. Polarization curves indicated that Zn additions changed the pseudo-passivation behavior from what pure Al exhibited in a uniform dissolution regime. Furthermore, the addition of Zn shifted the corrosion potential to the active side and increased the corrosion rate. This behavior was consistent with the proportional decrease in polarization resistance (R_p) and charge transfer resistance (R_ct) in the EIS. The analysis of EIS was done using a mathematical model related to an adsorption electrochemical mechanism. The adsorption of chloride at the Al-Zn alloy surface formed aluminum chloride intermediates, which controlled the rate of the process. The rate constants of the reactions of a proposed chemical mechanism were evaluated.