Notes: Renal function abnormalities and ascites in cirrhosis are the final consequence of a circulatory dysfunction characterized by marked splanchnic arterial vasodilation. This causes a reduction in effective arterial blood volume and the homoeostatic activation of vasoconstrictor and sodium-retaining systems. Albumin is very effective in preventing renal failure associated with large-volume paracentesis and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, conditions that are known to cause an impairment of circulatory function in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. Moreover, albumin administration improves survival in patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. In patients with hepatorenal syndrome the administration of vasoconstrictor drugs in combination with albumin improves circulatory and renal function markedly and survival slightly. By contrast, the administration of albumin without vasoconstrictors has marginal or no effects on renal function in this setting.

Notes: In natural conditions the mysid Metamysidopsis insularis is commonly found in the littoral lagoon of Margarita Island (Venezuela). It is used as live food in the marine fish culture. However, its nutritional quality is not well documented. In the present study we analysed the nutritional value (total protein, carbohydrate and lipids profile) of M. insularis. The mysids were collected in La Restinga lagoon (Margarita Island, Venezuela). Levels of total proteins, lipids and carbohydrates were 700 ± 28.5, 160 ± 13.9 and 20 ± 0.90 g kg−1 respectively. The lipids classes were 427 ± 2, 106 ± 98, 287 ± 113 and 179 ± 87 for phospholipids, triglycerides, cholesterol and cholesterol esters respectively. The fatty acids profile, determined by gas chromatography, showed important concentration of fatty acids for the metabolism of marine organism, such as 16:0, 18:0, 18:2n-6, 18:3n-3, 18:4-3, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3; attaining levels of 27.49% in PUFA n-3 and 2.92% in n-6. The relation of eicosapentaenoic acid/docosahexaenoic acid was 2.1 ± 0.15. The results support the use of M. insularis as food for species of fish and crustaceans under culture conditions.

Notes: Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a common complication of advanced cirrhosis characterized not only by renal failure but also by marked alterations in systemic haemodynamics and activity of endogenous vasoactive systems. Renal failure is due to a severe vasoconstriction of the renal circulation. The pathogenesis of HRS is not completely understood but it is probably the result of extreme underfilling of the arterial circulation secondary to arterial vasodilation located in the splanchnic circulation. As well as the renal circulation, all other extrasplanchnic vascular beds appear to be vasoconstricted. The diagnosis of HRS is currently based on the exclusion of nonfunctional causes of renal failure; prognosis of patients with HRS is very poor. Liver transplantation is the best option in selected patients, but it is not always applicable as survival expectancy is short. Vasoconstrictor drugs with preferential effect on the splanchnic circulation (vasopressin analogues with a predominant V1 receptor effect, such as terlipressin – Glypressin®) are very effective in improving renal function, with reversal of HRS being achieved in approximately two-thirds of patients. There is no agreement as to the terlipressin treatment regimen that is associated with a greater efficacy and lower incidence of side-effects. It appears that the administration of albumin together with terlipressin improves the therapeutic response rate. The impact of treatment on the natural course of HRS remains to be assessed in prospective investigations, but it seems that the reversal of HRS is associated with improved survival. Finally, treatment of patients with HRS with terlipressin before transplantation seems to improve post-transplantation outcome.

Notes: A comprehensive reinterpretation of the available gravity, magnetic, geothermal, geological and borehole information has been made of the Laguna Salada Basin to establish a 3D model of the basement and sedimentary infill. According to statistical spectral analysis, the residual gravity anomaly is due to sources with a mean regional depth of 2.8 km. The topography of the basement was obtained from a three-dimensional inversion carried out in the wavenumber domain using an iterative scheme. The maximum density contrast of −300 kg/m3 estimated from previous studies and the mean depth of 2.5 km finally constrained this inversion. The resulting model indicated that the sedimentary infill is up to 4.2 km thick at its deepest point. According to the gravity-derived basement topography, the basin presents an asymmetry (i.e. it is of the half-graben type). It is deeper to the east, where it is delimited from the Sierra Cucapah by a step fault. By contrast, the limit with the Sierra de Juarez is a gently sloping fault (i.e. a listric fault). The basement is not even, but it comprises a series of structural highs and lows. N–S to NW–SE and E–W to NE–SW faults delimit these structural units.The magnetic modelling was constrained by (i) the gravity-derived basement topography; (ii) a Curie isotherm assumed to be between 7 km and 10 km; (iii) assuming induced magnetization only; (iv) the available geological and borehole information. The magnetic anomalies were interpreted successfully using the gravity-derived basement/sedimentary interface as the top of the magnetic bodies (i.e. the magnetic modelling supports the gravity basement topography). An elongated N–S to NW–SE trending highly magnetized body running from south to north along the basin is observed to the west of the basin. This magnetic anomaly has no gravity signature. Such a feature can be interpreted as an intrusive body emplaced along a fault running through the Laguna Salada Basin. Treatment of the gravity and magnetic information (and of their horizontal gradients) with satellite image processing techniques highlighted lineaments on the basement gravity topography correlating with mapped faults. Based on all this information, we derived detailed geological models along four selected profiles to simulate numerically the heat and fluid flow in the basin. We used a finite-difference scheme to solve the coupled Darcy and Fourier differential equations. According to our results, we have fluid flow in the sedimentary layers and a redistribution of heat flow from the basin axis toward its rims (Sierra de Juárez and Sierra Cucapah). Our model temperatures agree within an error of 4% with the observed temperature profiles measured at boreholes. Our heat-flow determinations agree within an error of ±15% with extrapolated observations. The numerical and chemical analyses support the hypothesis of fluid circulation between the clay–lutite layer and the fractured granitic basement. Thermal modelling shows low heat-flow values along the Laguna Salada Basin. Deep fluid circulation patterns were observed that redistribute such flow at depth. Two patterns were distinguished. One displays the heat flow increasing from the basin axis towards its borders (temperature increase of 20°C). The second pattern shows an increasing heat flow from south to north of the basin. Such behaviour is confirmed by the temperature measurements in the thermometric boreholes.

Notes: Abstract. Background: In patients with IBS, many symptoms have their origin in the recto-anal segment, with motility changes in the rectum and in the internal anal sphincter, and alterations in rectal sensitivity. However, up to now, it is not known if these clinical and physiological changes are equated with morphological changes in the recto-anal segment. Methods: Sixteen consecutive patients with IBS (mean age 22, range 18–33 years; 13 females) and 10 healthy volunteers (mean age 34.5, range 19–50 yr.; 6 males) were evaluated prospectively with defaecography. Results: 1) Anorectal angle: No significant differences were observed in the anorectal angle during rest (91.6 ± 3.5° vs 92.6 ± 2.5°) and during defaecation (92 ± 5.5° vs 98.7 ± 2.6°) between patients with IBS and healthy volunteers. However, patients wih IBS were unable to widen the angle during defaecation, remaining the same at rest (91.6 ± 3.5°) as during defaecation (92 ± 5.5°). IBS patients with constipation (n = 2) compared to those with normal frequency defaecation (n = 13) showed no significant differences at rest (95 ± 6 vs 89.8 ± 4.1°) and during defaecation (100 ± 8 vs 88.9 ± 6.4°). Healthy volunteers widened the angle by more than 5° during defaecation. 2) Perineometry: although not significant, patients with IBS had less perineal descent during the simulated defaecation (1.98 ± 0.37 cm) than healthy subjects (2.1 ± 0.3 cm). Nevertheless, during squeeze there was significantly less mobility or perineal descent in patients with IBS than in control subjects (0.21 ± 0.17 vs 0.95 ± 0.21 cm; P = 0.01). Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that patients with IBS as a whole, whether constipation predominant or not, showed changes in pelvic-floor mobility.

Notes: Abstract The nonideality of the epithermal neutron flux distribution at a reactor site parameter (α) and the thermal-to-epithermal neutron ratio (f) were determined in 3 typical irradiation positions of the Triga Mark III reactor of the National Nuclear Research Institute, Salazar, Mexico, using the “Cd-ratio for multimonitor” and “bare bi-isotopic monitor” methods, respectively. This characterization is to be used in theK 0-method of NAA, recently introduced at the Institute.

Notes: Abstract The experimental dependence of the α,f andT n parameters, in function of the water thickness, for different irradiation channels of Triga Mark III reactor, were analyzed. An exponential law for the α(r) dependence was obtained in the neighborhood of the active zone of the reactor numerically modelated using theS n method for 69 neutrons groups, and this dependence is slower in light water reactors than in graphite reactors.

Notes: Abstract The main results obtained during the characterization of the Triga Mark III reactor at NNRI, Salazar, Mexico, the development of the nonconventional multimonitor HAV-1, the use of Certified Reference Material (CRM) as multimonitor fork 0-factors experimental determination, and to study the reactor power and slowing-down thickness dependencies of the reactor flux parameters and its influence ink 0-INAA are presented. The experience of thek 0-INAA group at ISCTN, in the application of this analytical technique for different purposes is resumed.

Notes: Abstract This paper explains chronologically the implementation of thek 0-standardization and other parametric methods in Cuba. Fundamental and applied results in the determination of the most important parameters are obtained, using the IBR-2 at Dubna and Triga Mark III at Mexico reactor facilities. Some modifications in the Stoughton-Halpering convention, and its comparison with the modified Westcott and Høgdahl method are presented. The application of the described methods at the CS-ISCTN low flux facility, using the big samples techniques, is presented.

Notes: Abstract Using the facilities of the Triga Mark III reactor at the NNRI, Mexico and the HAV-1 multipurpose monitor, the reactor power dependency for thek 0-standardization essential neutron flux parameters as: epithermal shape factor (α), thermal to epithermal ratio (f) and neutron temperature (T n ) were experimentally obtained. Evaluation of the obtained dependencies shows that it is unnecessary to analyze the possible introduction of correction factors in thek 0-INAA experimental results. A single experimental procedure to determine α throughf is suggested.