Enhancing Essential Oil Extraction from Lavandin Grosso Flowers via Plasma Treatment.

This study explores the impact of plasma treatment on Lavandin Grosso flowers and its influence on the extraction of essential oils (EOs) via hydrodistillation. Short plasma treatment times enhance the yield of EO extraction from 3.19% in untreated samples to 3.44%, corresponding to 1 min of plasma treatment, while longer treatment times (10 min) show diminishing returns to 3.07% of yield extraction. Chemical characterization (GC/MS and ATR-FTIR) indicates that plasma treatments do not significantly alter the chemical composition of the extracted EOs, preserving their aromatic qualities. Investigations into plasma-surface interactions reveal changes at the nanometer level, with XPS confirming alterations in the surface chemistry of Lavandin Grosso flowers by reducing surface carbon and increasing oxygen content, ultimately resulting in an increased presence of hydrophilic groups. The presence of hydrophilic groups enhances the interaction between the surface membrane of the glandular trichomes on Lavandin Grosso flowers and water vapor, consequently increasing the extraction of EOs. Furthermore, microscopic SEM examinations demonstrate that plasma treatments do not affect the morphology of glandular trichomes, emphasizing that surface modifications primarily occur at the nanoscale. This study underscores the potential of plasma technology as a tool to enhance EO yields from botanical sources while maintaining their chemical integrity.

Development of lipopolyplexes for gene delivery: A comparison of the effects of differing modes of targeting peptide display on the structure and transfection activities of lipopolyplexes.

The design, synthesis and formulation of non-viral gene delivery vectors is an area of renewed research interest. Amongst the most efficient non-viral gene delivery systems are lipopolyplexes, in which cationic peptides are co-formulated with plasmid DNA and lipids. One advantage of lipopolyplex vectors is that they have the potential to be targeted to specific cell types by attaching peptide targeting ligands on the surface, thus increasing both the transfection efficiency and selectivity for disease targets such as cancer cells. In this paper, we have investigated two different modes of displaying cell-specific peptide targeting ligands at the surface of lipopolyplexes. Lipopolyplexes formulated with bimodal peptides, with both receptor binding and DNA condensing sequences, were compared with lipopolyplexes with the peptide targeting ligand directly conjugated to one of the lipids. Three EGFR targeting peptide sequences were studied, together with a range of lipid formulations and maleimide lipid structures. The biophysical properties of the lipopolyplexes and their transfection efficiencies in a basal-like breast cancer cell line were investigated using plasmid DNA bearing genes for the expression of firefly luciferase and green fluorescent protein. Fluorescence quenching experiments were also used to probe the macromolecular organisation of the peptide and pDNA components of the lipopolyplexes. We demonstrated that both approaches to lipopolyplex targeting give reasonable transfection efficiencies, and the transfection efficiency of each lipopolyplex formulation is highly dependent on the sequence of the targeting peptide. To achieve maximum therapeutic efficiency, different peptide targeting sequences and lipopolyplex architectures should be investigated for each target cell type.

Dose-Related Side Effects of Intravitreal Injections of Humanized Anti-Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Rats: Glial Cell Reactivity and Retinal Ganglion Cell Loss.

Purpose: In a previous study, we documented that the Intravitreal injections (IVIs) of bevacizumab in rats caused a retinal inflammatory response. We now study whether the IVI of other humanized anti-VEGF: ranibizumab and aflibercept also cause an inflammatory reaction in the rat retina and if it depends on the dose administered. Finally, we study whether this reaction affects retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival. Methods: Albino Sprague-Dawley rats received a single IVI of 5 µL of PBS or ranibizumab or aflibercept at the concentration used in clinical practice (10 µg/µL or 40 µg/µL) or at a lower concentration (0.38 µg/µL and 1.5 µg/µL) calculated to obtain within the rat eye the same concentration as in the human eye in clinical practice. Others received a single 5 µL IVI of a polyclonal goat anti-rat VEGF (0.015 µg/µL) or of vehicle (PBS). Animals were processed 7 days or 1 month later. Retinal whole mounts were immunolabeled for the detection of microglial, macroglial, RGCs, and intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs). Fluorescence and confocal microscopy were used to examine retinal changes, and RGCs and ipRGCs were quantified automatically or semiautomatically, respectively. Results: All the injected substances including the PBS induced detectable side effects, namely, retinal microglial cell activation and retinal astrocyte hypertrophy. However, there was a greater microglial and macroglial response when the higher concentrations of ranibizumab and aflibercept were injected than when PBS, the antibody anti-rat VEGF and the lower concentrations of ranibizumab or aflibercept were injected. The higher concentration of ranibizumab and aflibercept resulted also in significant RGC death, but did not cause appreciable ipRGC death. Conclusions: The IVI of all the substances had some retinal inflammatory effects. The IVI of humanized anti-VEGF to rats at high doses cause important side effects: severe inflammation and RGC death, but not ipRGC death.

Patient-reported outcomes in Spanish patients diagnosed with bilateral age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the patient-reported outcomes (PRO) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) patients by using instruments for eliciting health status and vision specific issues. METHODS: PRO were assessed using the 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEIVFQ-25) and the Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-12). RESULTS: The mean age and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) in the better eye of the AMD patients were 82.53 ± 5.17 years and 0.82 ± 0.43 logMAR, respectively. The overall NEIVFQ-25 composite score was 57.89. SF-12 physical and mental component summary scores were 37.28 and 57.25, respectively. There were significant correlations (p ≤ 0.05) between CDVA and the following NEIVFQ-25 subscales: general (r = -0.73), near (r = -0.40) and distance vision (r = -0.60), role limitations (r = -0.40), social function (r = -0.48) and mental health (r = -0.38). CONCLUSIONS: Visual function is severely affected in AMD patients. It hampers their daily living without, however, deeply disturbing their social function. This may help them retain adequate mental health despite their poor physical status.

Incorporation of a Metal Catalyst for the Ammonia Synthesis in a Ferroelectric Packed-Bed Plasma Reactor: Does It Really Matter?

Plasma-catalysis has been proposed as a potential alternative for the synthesis of ammonia. Studies in this area focus on the reaction mechanisms and the apparent synergy existing between processes occurring in the plasma phase and on the surface of the catalytic material. In the present study, we approach this problem using a parallel-plate packed-bed reactor with the gap between the electrodes filled with pellets of lead zirconate titanate (PZT), with this ferroelectric material modified with a coating layer of alumina (i.e., Al2O3/PZT) and the same alumina layer incorporating ruthenium nanoparticles (i.e., Ru-Al2O3/PZT). At ambient temperature, the electrical behavior of the ferroelectric packed-bed reactor differed for these three types of barriers, with the plasma current reaching a maximum when using Ru-Al2O3/PZT pellets. A systematic analysis of the reaction yield and energy efficiency for the ammonia synthesis reaction, at ambient temperature and at 190 °C and various electrical operating conditions, has demonstrated that the yield and the energy efficiency for the ammonia synthesis do not significantly improve when including ruthenium particles, even at temperatures at which an incipient catalytic activity could be inferred. Besides disregarding a net plasma-catalysis effect, reaction results highlight the positive role of the ferroelectric PZT as moderator of the discharge, that of Ru particles as plasma hot points, and that of the Al2O3 coating as a plasma cooling dielectric layer.

Germination and First Stages of Growth in Drought, Salinity, and Cold Stress Conditions of Plasma-Treated Barley Seeds.

Numerous works have demonstrated that cold plasma treatments constitute an effective procedure to accelerate seed germination under nonstress conditions. Evidence also exists about a positive effect of plasmas for germination under environmental stress conditions. For barley seeds, this work studies the influence of cold plasma treatments on the germination rate and initial stages of plant growth in common stress environments, such as drought, salinity, and low-temperature conditions. As a general result, it has been found that the germination rate was higher for plasma-treated than for untreated seeds. Plasma also induced favorable changes in plant and radicle dimensions, which depended on the environment. The obtained results demonstrate that plasma affects the biochemical metabolic chains of seeds and plants, resulting in changes in the concentration of biochemical growing factors, a faster germination, and an initially more robust plant growth, even under stress conditions. These changes in phenotype are accompanied by differences in the concentration of biomarkers such as photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls a and b and carotenoids), reactive oxygen species, and, particularly, the amino acid proline in the leaves of young plants, with changes that depend on environmental conditions and the application of a plasma treatment. This supports the idea that, rather than an increase in seed water imbibition capacity, there are clear beneficial effects on seedling of plasma treatments.

Colloids on the frontier of ferrofluids. Rheological properties.

This paper is devoted to the steady-state rheological properties of two new kinds of ferrofluids. One of these was constituted by CoNi nanospheres of 24 nm in diameter, whereas the other by CoNi nanofibers of 56 nm in length and 6.6 nm in width. These ferrofluids were subjected to shear rate ramps under the presence of magnetic fields of different intensity, and the corresponding shear stress values were measured. From the obtained rheograms (shear stress vs shear rate curves) the values of both the static and the dynamic yield stresses were obtained as a function of the magnetic field. The magnetoviscous effect was also obtained as a function of both the shear rate and the magnetic field. The experimental results demonstrate that upon magnetic field application these new ferrofluids develop yield stresses and magnetoviscous effects much greater than those of conventional ferrofluids, based on nanospheres of approximately 10 nm in diameter. Besides some expected differences, such as the stronger magnetorheological effect in the case of ferrofluids based on nanofibers, some intriguing differences are found between the rheological behaviors of nanofiber ferrofluids and nanosphere ferrofluid. First, upon field application the rheograms of nanofiber ferrofluids present N-shaped dependence of the shear stress on the shear rate. The decreasing part of the rheograms takes place at low shear rate. These regions of negative differential viscosity, and therefore, unstable flow is not observed in the case of nanosphere ferrofluids. The second intriguing difference concerns the curvature of the yield stress vs magnetic field curves. This curvature is negative in the case of nanosphere ferrofluid, giving rise to saturation of the yield stress at medium field, as expected. However, in the case of nanofiber ferrofluid this curvature is positive, which means a faster increase of the yield stress with the magnetic field the higher the magnitude of the latter. These interesting differences may be due to the existence of strong interparticle solid friction in the case of nanofiber ferrofluids. Finally, theoretical models for the static yield stress of the ferrofluids were developed. These models consider that upon field application the ferrofluid nanoparticles are condensed in drops of dense phase. These drops tend to be aligned along the field direction, opposing the flow of the ferrofluids and being responsible for the static quasielastic deformation and the yield-stress phenomena. By considering the existence of interparticle dry friction only in the case of nanofiber ferrofluids, the developed models predicted quite well not only the magnitude of the static yield stress but also the differences in curvature of the yield stress vs magnetic field curves.

The role of retinal fluid location in atrophy and fibrosis evolution of patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration long-term treated in real world.

PURPOSE: To assess the effect of clinical factors on the development and progression of atrophy and fibrosis in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) receiving long-term treatment in the real world. METHODS: An ambispective 36-month multicentre study, involving 359 nAMD patients from 17 Spanish hospitals treated according to the Spanish Vitreoretinal Society guidelines, was designed. The influence of demographic and clinical factors, including the presence and location of retinal fluid, on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and progression to atrophy and/or fibrosis were analysed. RESULTS: After 36 months of follow-up and an average of 13.8 anti-VEGF intravitreal injections, the average BCVA gain was +1.5 letters, and atrophy and/or fibrosis were present in 54.8% of nAMD patients (OR = 8.54, 95% CI = 5.85-12.47, compared to baseline). Atrophy was associated with basal intraretinal fluid (IRF) (OR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.09-3.20), whereas basal subretinal fluid (SRF) was associated with a lower rate of atrophy (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23-0.71) and its progression (OR = 0.44, 95% CI = 0.26-0.75), leading to a slow progression rate (OR = 0.34, 95% CI = 0.14-0.83). Fibrosis development and progression were related to IRF at any visit (p < 0.001). In contrast, 36-month SRF was related to a lower rate of fibrosis (OR = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.29-0.81) and its progression (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.31-0.81). CONCLUSION: Atrophy and/or fibrosis were present in 1 of 2 nAMD patients treated for 3 years. Both, especially fibrosis, lead to vision loss. Subretinal fluid (SRF) was associated with good visual outcomes and lower rates of atrophy and fibrosis, whereas IRF yields worse visual results and a higher risk of atrophy and especially fibrosis in routine clinical practice.

Coordinated Intervention of Microglial and Müller Cells in Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration.

Purpose: To analyze the role of microglial and Müller cells in the formation of rings of photoreceptor degeneration caused by phototoxicity. Methods: Two-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to light and processed 1, 2, or 3 months later. Retinas were dissected as whole-mounts, immunodetected for microglial cells, Müller cells, and S- and L/M-cones and analyzed using fluorescence, thunder imaging, and confocal microscopy. Cone populations were automatically counted and isodensity maps constructed to document cone topography. Results: Phototoxicity causes a significant progressive loss of S- and L/M-cones of up to 68% and 44%, respectively, at 3 months after light exposure (ALE). One month ALE, we observed rings of cone degeneration in the photosensitive area of the superior retina. Two and 3 months ALE, these rings had extended to the central and inferior retina. Within the rings of cone degeneration, there were degenerating cones, often activated microglial cells, and numerous radially oriented processes of Müller cells that showed increased expression of intermediate filaments. Between 1 and 3 months ALE, the rings coalesced, and at the same time the microglial cells resumed a mosaic-like distribution, and there was a decrease of Müller cell gliosis at the areas devoid of cones. Conclusions: Light-induced photoreceptor degeneration proceeds with rings of cone degeneration, as observed in inherited retinal degenerations in which cone death is secondary to rod degeneration. The spatiotemporal relationship of cone death microglial cell activation and Müller cell gliosis within the rings of cone degeneration suggests that, although both glial cells are involved in the formation of the rings, they may have coordinated actions and, while microglial cells may be more involved in photoreceptor phagocytosis, Müller cells may be more involved in cone and microglial cell migration, retinal remodeling and glial seal formation.

Influence of irrigation conditions in the germination of plasma treated Nasturtium seeds.

Plasma treatments had emerged as a useful technique to improve seed germination. In this work we investigate the influence of different irrigation conditions and plasma treatments on the germination of nasturtium seeds. During plasma treatment, seeds experience a progressive weight loss as a function of treatment time that has been associated to water release, a process that is more pronounced after longer plasma treatment times. Seeds treated for short times (<30 s) are able to germinate more efficiently than untreated specimen under hydric stress (drought conditions), while plasma treatments for longer times (up to 300 s) impaired germination independently on irrigation conditions. Characterization analysis of plasma treated seeds by FTIR-ATR, SEM/EDX and XPS showed that plasma treatment affected the chemical state of pericarp while, simultaneously, induced a considerable increase in the seeds water uptake capacity. The decrease in germination efficiency found after plasma treatment for long times, or for short times under optimum irrigation conditions, has been attributed to that the excess of water accumulated in the pericarp hampers the diffusion up to the embryo of other agents like oxygen which are deemed essential for germination.

Frequency of high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia in Mexican population.

BACKGROUND: High-grade intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) is the only lesion regarded as precursor of prostatic carcinoma, though its frequency is unknown in many countries. Here we studied the frequency of HGPIN in a population with high grade frequency of prostatic carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 486 cases of sextant prostatic biopsies performed from January 2001 to January 2006 were reviewed. These included 280 biopsies from patients belonging to an urban population, with medium or high socioeconomic status, from two hospitals in Mexico City. For comparison, 206 cases from the Regional Hospital of Tabasco located in the tropical zone of the country were included. This hospital receives patients from a rural population with low income and socioeconomic status. RESULTS: Of the total 486 cases, 162 (33.33%) cases were diagnosed as prostatic carcinoma and 319 (65.64%) as benign conditions. Only in five (1.03%) biopsies was HGPIN found. Three of these patients were from Mexico City, and two from the Regional Hospital of Tabasco. CONCLUSIONS: Even when our results were obtained only in three hospitals, they suggest that a low frequency of HGPIN on needle prostate biopsies does not necessarily mean a low frequency of prostatic carcinoma in the same population. The reason for such a disparity could be related to a reduced extension of HGPIN areas in the prostate gland. In populations with low frequency of HGPIN and high incidence of prostatic carcinoma, perhaps more biopsy cores should be obtained in order to minimize false negative results for premalignant lesions or early adenocarcinoma.

Biofilm-forming capacity of two benthic microalgae, Navicula incerta and Navicula sp., on three substrates (Naviculales: Naviculaceae)

Benthic microalgae have the natural capacity to adhere to a diversity of fixed submerged substrates to form biofilms, which have important roles not only in natural ecosystems, but also in aquaculture systems. An experimental investigation was performed to assess the biofilm-forming capacity of two microalgae (Navicula incerta and Navicula sp.) on three different substrates (plastic net, fabric, and wood) under controlled temperature and light conditions. The substrates were arranged on curtains suspended from a wood stick, into plastic aquariums (45 L in capacity) filled with filtered marine water enriched with F/2 medium. The trial was carried out until the exponential growing phase of the microalgae was reached. After that, the incorporated biomass was gravimetrically calculated, and its biochemical composition was determined by standard methods. The greatest amount of incorporated dry matter was observed for Navicula sp. on fabric and the lowest was observed for wood. The highest number of cells associated with the biofilm was obtained for Navicula sp. on the plastic net (1.24 x 109 cells/m2), while the lowest was recorded for Navicula sp. on the wood (1.43 x 108 cells/m2). Significant differences in organic matter were found among the substrates, with the highest values for N. incerta on the fabric (3.22 g/m2) and the lowest for Navicula sp. on the wood (0.02 g/m2). The best biochemical profiles among the formed biofilms were observed for N. incerta on the plastic net and Navicula sp. on the fabric. The plastic net was considered the best substrate because of the stability of the biofilm and the easiness of harvesting the biomass.

Las microalgas bentónicas tienen la capacidad natural de adherirse a diversos sustratos fijos sumergidos para formar biopelículas, las cuales tienen roles importantes no solo en ecosistemas naturales sino también en sistemas de producción acuícolas. Se llevó a cabo una investigación experimental para evaluar la capacidad formadora de biopelículas de dos microalgas bentónicas (Navicula incerta y Navicula sp.) en tres diferentes sustratos (malla plástica, tela y madera), bajo condiciones controladas de temperatura y luz. Los sustratos fueron arreglados a manera de cortinas suspendidas de un tubo de PVC dentro de acuarios de plástico (45 L de capacidad) con agua marina enriquecida con el medio F/2. El experimento se llevó hasta que la fase de crecimiento exponencial de la microalga fue alcanzada. Posteriormente la biomasa incorporada fue calculada gravimétricamente, y su composición bioquímica fue determinada por métodos estándar. La mayor cantidad de materia seca se observó para N. incerta en el sustrato de tela y la menor se encontró en el de madera. El mayor número de células asociadas a la biopelícula fue registrado para Navicula sp. en malla plástica (1.24 x 109 cel/m2), mientras que el menor se encontró para Navicula sp. en madera (1.43 x 108 cels/m2). Diferencias significativas en cuanto a materia orgánica se encontraron entre los sustratos y las especies, con valores más altos para N. incerta en tela (3.22 g/m2) y más bajos para Navicula sp. en madera (0.02 ± 0.05 g/m2). Los mejores perfiles bioquímicos para las biopelículas correspondieron a las formadas por N. incerta sobre malla plástica y Navicula sp. sobre tela. La red de plástico se consideró el mejor sustrato debido a la estabilidad de la biopelícula y la facilidad para cosechar la biomasa.

Preparation and characterization of iron-based magnetorheological fluids stabilized by addition of organoclay particles.

Suspensions of micrometer-sized iron particles (10 vol %) dispersed in kerosene and stabilized by addition of organoclay particles were prepared. The magnetization curves of these suspensions were measured, and their sedimentation and redispersion behaviors were analyzed as a function of clay concentration by means of optical and rheological methods. Furthermore, their magnetorheological properties were investigated using a controlled rate magnetorheometer and the effect of clay concentration on these properties was also analyzed. These experiments showed that the addition of clay slows down iron particle settling and eases the redispersion of the iron-based suspensions without masking their magnetorheological properties. Two mechanisms were found to be involved in this behavior: (i) the formation of a clay gel network and (ii) the presence of heterogeneous iron-clay adhesion.

Enfermedad de Lhermitte-Duclos: Informe de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Lhermitte-Duclos disease: Case report and review of literature

Introducción. El gangliocitoma displásico del cerebelo fue descrito originalmente en 1920 por Lhermitte y Duelos, autores a quienes se les debe el epónimo de esta enfermedad. Es una entidad rara, caracterizada por ser una masa tumoral unilateral de la corteza cerebelosa, de crecimiento muy lento, que produce un aumento de la presión intracraneana. En 1991 Padberg y col. describieron la asociación de la enfermedad Lhermitte-Duclos y el síndrome de Cowden (SC). Aún no se ha comprendido completamente la biología molecular que asocia a estas enfermedades, sin embargo se ha comprobado en estudios modelos animales (ratones) mutaciones del gen homólogo de fosfatasa y tensina suprimido del cromosoma 10 (PTEN). Las imágenes de resonancia magnética son características de esta entidad, de tal manera que permiten hacer el diagnóstico preoperatorio sin la necesidad de estudios histopatológicos, permitiendo una evaluación y manejo neuroquirúrgico adecuados. Caso clínico. Se informa el caso de una mujer de 17 años con enfermedad de Lhermitte-Duclos del hemisferio cerebeloso derecho no asociado a SC, en quien el diagnóstico se estableció en el transoperatorio con improntas de la lesión cerebelosa. Conclusión. No existen publicaciones previas que describan las características cito lógicas de la lesión, y en este caso sí fue posible estudiarlas.

Introduction. Dysplastic cerebellar gangliocytoma was first described in 1920 by Lhermitte and Duelos, authors who gave their name to the entity. It is a rare condition, which is characterized by a very slowly growing unilateral tumor mass of the cerebellar cortex, producing increased intracranial pressure. In 1991 Padberg et al. described the association of Lhermitte-Duclos disease and Cowden syndrome. The relationship between these 2 entities has been associated with mutations of the phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome (PTEN) gene. Magnetic resonance imaging findings are the hallmark of this entity, and the diagnosis is established without hystopathologic studies. Case report. We inform a case of a 17 years old girl with Lhermitte-Duclos of the right cerebellar hemisphere without Cowden syndrome.

Estudio inmunohistoquímico de antígenos del condiloma y carcino embrionario en el cérvix uterino con infección por virus del papiloma humano y con neoplasia / Immunohistochemical study of condyloma and carcino embryonic antigens in uterine cervix infected with human papilloma virus and with neoplasim

Con la técnica de inmunoperoxidasa PAP se intentó demostrar antígeno carcinoembrionario (ACE) en 37 biopsias de cérvix divididas en 4 grupos: 1) condiloma solo, 2) condiloma con neoplasia intraepitelial cervical (NIC), 3) carcinoma epidermoide invasor solo y 4) cérvix normal y con inflamación crónica. De las 37 biopsias 22 correspondieron a condiloma solo y condiloma asociado a NIC de diversos grados, y en 20 de ellas o sea 90,9% se obtuvieron resultados positivos. En los 7 caos de carcinoma epidermoide in situ e infiltrante la reacción también resultó positiva para ACE. Con la misma técnica se estudiaron 20 biopsias de cérvix de los 4 grupos, para tratar de demostrar antígenos de condiloma: únicamente en las 5 muestras de condiloma solo y en 3 de 4 condiloma, con NIC las reacciones fueron positivas. En cambio, en el carcinoma invasor y en el cérvix y con inflamación crónica, la reacción resultó negativa. Se concluyó que los signos histomorfológicos de infección cervical por virus del papiloma tiene un alto grado de certeza, que aparentemente la infección por virus del papiloma provoca una alteración en la diferenciación celular que se manifiesta por reaparición de ACE, y que el virus del papiloma probablemente juega un papel muy importante en la oncogénesis del carcinoma cervicouterino

La inmunoperoxidasa: generalidades y evaluación de 500 casos / The inmunoperoxidase: fundamental knowledge and evaluation of 500 cases

Se presenta un trabajo de actualización sobre los aspectos técnicos, las generalidades, las aplicaciones, la interpretación y los resultados dela técnica de inmunoperoxidasa. Este procedimiento y sus variantes representan uno de los avances más importantes que se han dado recientemente en la anatomía patológica. Se basa en la detección objetiva por medio de anticuerpos y enzimas marcadoras, de los antígenos característicos de los tejidos normales, de los de diferentes tipos de tejidos enfermos y de los de prácticamente todos los agentes causales de las enfermedades. En otras palabras, se trata de identificar antígenos o marcadores que permitan el diagnóstico preciso de los diferentes tipos de enfermedades. Se presentan también los resultados de los primeros 500 casos estudiados en nuestro laboratorio con la técnica de inmunoperoxidasa