Analysis of the conflicts of interest disclosed by the program reviewers of the scoliosis research society (SRS) congresses, 2010-2014.

Background: Conflicts of interest (COI) between industry and surgeons frequently introduce biases into surgical research. The abstracts submitted for presentation in scientific congresses are usually vetted for any indication of commercial bias. Members of review program committees regularly have recognized qualifications, and therefore certain COI are unavoidable.

The JAK2 pathway is activated in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most rapidly progressive and fatal fibrotic disorder, with no curative therapies. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein is activated in lung fibroblasts and alveolar type II cells (ATII), thereby contributing to lung fibrosis in IPF. Although activation of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) has been implicated in proliferative disorders, its role in IPF is unknown.

Novel porcine experimental model of severe progressive thoracic scoliosis with compensatory curves induced by interpedicular bent rigid temporary tethering.

Unlabelled: Using flexible tethering techniques, porcine models of experimental scoliosis have shown scoliotic curves with vertebral wedging but very limited axial rotation. The aim of this experimental work was to induce a severe progressive scoliosis in a growing porcine model for research purposes. A unilateral spinal bent rigid tether was anchored to two ipsilateral pedicle screws in eight pigs.

Extraction of polyphenols in Himanthalia elongata and determination by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector prior to its potential use against oxidative stress.

Several studies have demonstrated the antioxidant capacity of seaweeds, which can be used for the development of biopharmaceuticals with extensive medical application. Antioxidant therapies appear to attenuate the organic deterioration originated by an excessive oxidative stress, which could prevent the harmful effects of various injuries such as ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) among others. Marine brown seaweeds play a significant role, as they are the only organisms on earth producing phlorotannins, which are polyphenols that exhibit important biological activity.

Use of cyanoacrylate adhesives in general surgery.

This paper presents a review of the use of cyanoacrylate adhesives (CA) in general surgery and digestive surgery, studies the mechanisms of action and interactions of CAs in adherent tissues, and compiles data on the latest experimental and clinical applications. More than seven million traumatic injuries are estimated to occur every year, and between 26 and 90 million surgical procedures using different techniques are performed to close the resulting wounds. Traditional methods not only are both useful and effective, but also have some drawbacks.

Chromogenic silica nanoparticles for the colorimetric sensing of long-chain carboxylates.

Silica nanoparticles functionalized with chromogenic spirobenzopyran and thiourea subunits show selective colour changes in the presence of certain long-chain carboxylates.

Ferrocene-cyclam: a redox-active macrocycle for the complexation of transition metal ions and a study on the influence of the relative permittivity on the coulombic interaction between metal cations.

The reaction of 1,1'-ferrocene-bis(methylenepyridinium) salt with 1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane-5,12-dione, followed by LiAlH4 reduction results in the formation of FcCyclam. Metal complexes of FcCyclam with M2+ = Co2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, and Zn2+ were synthesized from FcCyclam and the respective metal triflates. The complexation of Cu2+ and FcCyclam in CH3CN is preceeded by a rapid electron transfer, followed by a slower complex formation reaction and a reverse electron transfer.

[Effect of LHRH agonists on testicular microcirculation with Doppler laser flowmetry].

The purpose of this paper is to present the changes that take place in testicular microcirculation measured by DLF during systemic administration of LHRH agonists. The essay includes a comparison with the variations registered in the volume of testicular interstitial fluid, the anatomopathological changes and the associated leucocyte demyeloperoxidase levels. We also examine the relationship between testicular microcirculation changes and plasma testosterone levels.

[Anatomopathologic changes in the testis following prolonged treatment with LHRH agonists. Experimental study in rats].

Presentation of a study conducted on 20 male Wistar rats treated for 3 months with Leuprolide (LHRH agonist). Analysis of pathophysiological testicular changes resulting from the treatment and extent of recovery at 3 months of therapy discontinuation, relating those changes to testosterone plasma levels in peripheral blood. Serum testosterone fell to 1.

[Role of testosterone in the testicular microcirculatory changes produced in the rat by the administration of high doses of human chorionic gonadotrophin].

A study was performed in 20 male Wistar rats weighing 250-300 gm; 10 comprised the control group and the other 10 were treated with 5 mg/day of cyproterone acetate which was given with the meal for 2 months. The rat testicular microcirculation was studied by laser Doppler flowmetry. Similarly, the testicular interstitial fluid volume and plasma testosterone in peripheral blood were determined.

Effects of Ca2+ channel antagonists in guinea-pig normal and skinned gall bladder.

CaCl2 (0.01-50 mM, in K(+)-depolarized tissues), KCl (0.1-100 mM) and acetylcholine (1 nM-10 mM) produced concentration-dependent contractions of guinea-pig isolated gall bladder.

[Testicular microcirculation in rats measured with laser-Doppler flowmetry].

Study carried out in 50 male Wistar rats distributed into 5 groups: baseline and at 2, 4, 8 and 24 hours after subcutaneous injection of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, 100 IU. It was observed that testicular microcirculatory flow shows a rhythmical fluctuating pattern (5-10 fluctuations per minute), which becomes continuous at 4 hours but recovers at 24 hours. At the same time, there is an increased volume of testicular interstitial fluid that peaks at 8 hours, and returns to baseline levels at 24 hours.

Gastric juice and analysis of basal and stimulated secretion following treatment with rice-bran oil.

In determining whether rice-bran oil (RBO) has antisecretory activity, we induced stress ulcers in 20 Wistar rats (10 controls; 10 animals given 0.2 ml/day RBO orally for 4 days prior to ulcer induction). In turn, we analyzed gastric juice for histamine, pepsin, H+ concentration ([H+]) and output volume.

[Treatment of gastroesophageal reflux by pexis to the round ligament. Report of 100 operated patients followed-up for 16 to 23 years].

In a study of 1,491 patients operated with ligament cardiopexy from 1,694 onwards, which we published in 1986, we reviewed 100 consecutive cases operated 15 years earlier or more. The review was based on a radioclinical (100), fiberscopic (53) and manometric (71) study, as well as on a measurement of the pH in doubtful cases (22). The results were distributed into categories A (normal), B (occasional disorders), C (functional disorders without recurrence) and R (recurrence), as follows: A + B 81%, C 12% and R 6%.

[Chondrosarcoma of the sinuses: an infrequent tumor].

The case of 69 year old male patient who developed sinusal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is presented. At the time of diagnosis the tumor had spread into the intracranial cavity, which explains why no surgical treatment was carried out. A combined palliative treatment of chemotherapy and radiotherapy was used which did not improve the course of the tumor.

[Is it possible to relate reflux esophagitis to epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus?].

The authors present a retrospective study of 120 cases of epidermoid carcinoma of the esophagus, in which they proposed to investigate the etiopathogenic relation between gastroesophageal reflux and noplastic development. A statistically significant relation was found between esophagitis and cancer of the distal esophageal third, indicating the need for vigilance of patients with reflux and for randomized prospective studies to clarify the problem definitively.

Effects of zinc sulphate on gastric mucosal blood flow and gastric emptying of the rat.

Zinc sulphate (50 mg kg-1 p.o.) did not modify basal gastric mucosal blood flow, as measured by [3H]aniline clearance, but inhibited its reduction by noradrenaline (3.