Mucosal immunization of BALB/c mice with DNA vaccines encoding the SEN1002 and SEN1395 open reading frames of Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis induces protective immunity.

Salmonella Enteritidis is the main cause of foodborne salmonellosis worldwide. The limited effectiveness of current interventions against this pathogen has been the main incentive to develop new methods for the efficient control of this infection. To investigate the use of DNA vaccines against S. Enteritidis in humans, immune responses stimulated by two plasmids containing the genes designated SEN1002, located in the pathogenicity island SPI-19 and encoding a Hcp protein involved in transport mechanisms, and SEN1395, located in the genomic island ΦSE14 and encoding a protein of a new superfamily of lysozymes, were evaluated. Humoral and cellular responses following intranasal immunization of two groups of BALB/c mice with the plasmids pV1002 and pV1395 plus adjuvant were evaluated and it was observed that the IgG2a/IgG1 ratios were sixfold higher than control groups. Both plasmids stimulated specific secretory IgA production. Increased proliferation of lymphocytes and IFN-γ production were detected in both experimental groups. DNA-vaccinated mice developed protective immunity against a virulent strain of S. Enteritidis, with nearly 2 logs of protection level compared to the negative control values in the spleen. Therefore, DNA vaccines are efficient at stimulating cellular and humoral immune responses at systemic and mucosal levels.

Geographical patterns of onchocerciasis in southern Venezuela: relationships between environment and infection prevalence.

Onchocerciasis is a chronic filarial infection transmitted by Simulium flies that has a focal geographical distribution in Latin America. The southern Venezuelan focus has a gradient of endemicity that includes the largest number of hyperendemic communities in the continent, many of them in remote forest and mountainous areas, where it is an important public health problem among the Yanomami indigenous population. The recent introduction of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) tools and a landscape epidemiology approach for study of vector borne diseases is helping to understand relationships between environment and transmission dynamics of onchocerciasis. Striking differences in the transmission dynamics of onchocerciasis between different river courses were detected. A significant relationship between onchocerciasis and temperature was also demonstrated. The geologic substrate, kind of landscape and vegetation seemed also to influence the transmission of onchocerciasis. In the Venezuelan Amazon, different kinds of landscapes associated with distinctive vector species, show different intensities of transmission of onchocerciasis. In this sense, landscape analysis aided by GIS, may prove to be a useful tool for better identification of the spatial distribution of onchocerciasis risk in the Orinoco basin.

Characterisation of the faecal metabolome and microbiome of Thoroughbred racehorses.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: The intestinal bacterial community of the horse is a key determinant of intestinal and whole body health. Understanding the bacterial community structure and function is an important foundation for studies of intestinal health and disease. OBJECTIVES: To describe the faecal bacterial community and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the faecal metabolome of healthy Thoroughbred racehorses and to characterise responses to dietary supplementation with amylase-rich malt extract. STUDY DESIGN: Intervention study. METHODS: Faecal samples were collected noninvasively before and 6 weeks after supplementation in 8 privately owned Thoroughbred racehorses in active race training. Faecal metabolome was characterised using thermal desorption-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (TD-GC-MS), with spectral analysis performed using AMDIS and compared against the NIST database. Taxonomic description of the faecal microbiota was achieved using error-corrected 454 pyrosequencing data from 16S rRNA gene amplicons. RESULTS: The faecal metabolome of our study population was dominated by organic acids, alcohols and ketones. We identified 81 different VOCs only 28 of which were present in >50% of samples indicating functional diversity. Faecal VOC profiles differed between first and second sampling point, some VOCs being significantly reduced post supplementation, consistent with a marked response to dietary amylase-rich malt extract. Faecal microbiota was characterised as highly diverse; samples demonstrated verifiable diversity in the range 1200-3000 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) per individual. The methods used also describe high levels of infrequent, low abundance OTUs. Faecal microbial community structure was found to be different following dietary supplementation. Differences in several low abundance bacterial taxa were detected and also some evidence of interhorse variation in response. CONCLUSIONS: The volatile faecal metabolome of Thoroughbred racehorses is dominated by organic acids, alcohols and ketones; this study demonstrates that dietary supplementation with amylase-rich malt extract may significantly alter the profile of VOCs. The faecal microbiome is highly diverse, dominated by Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Small but significant changes in microbial community structure were detected following dietary supplementation. This study describes the faecal metabolome and microbiome of healthy Thoroughbred racehorses against which future studies of disease and dietary intervention can be benchmarked.

Dominant components of the Thoroughbred metabolome characterised by (1) H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy: A metabolite atlas of common biofluids.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Metabonomics is emerging as a powerful tool for disease screening and investigating mammalian metabolism. This study aims to create a metabolic framework by producing a preliminary reference guide for the normal equine metabolic milieu. OBJECTIVES: To metabolically profile plasma, urine and faecal water from healthy racehorses using high resolution (1) H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and to provide a list of dominant metabolites present in each biofluid for the benefit of future research in this area. STUDY DESIGN: This study was performed using 7 Thoroughbreds in race training at a single time point. Urine and faecal samples were collected noninvasively and plasma was obtained from samples taken for routine clinical chemistry purposes. METHODS: Biofluids were analysed using (1) H-NMR spectroscopy. Metabolite assignment was achieved via a range of one- and 2-dimensional experiments. RESULTS: A total of 102 metabolites were assigned across the 3 biological matrices. A core metabonome of 14 metabolites was ubiquitous across all biofluids. All biological matrices provided a unique window on different aspects of systematic metabolism. Urine was the most populated metabolite matrix with 65 identified metabolites, 39 of which were unique to this biological compartment. A number of these were related to gut microbial host cometabolism. Faecal samples were the most metabolically variable between animals; acetate was responsible for the majority (28%) of this variation. Short-chain fatty acids were the predominant features identified within this biofluid by (1) H-NMR spectroscopy. CONCLUSIONS: Metabonomics provides a platform for investigating complex and dynamic interactions between the host and its consortium of gut microbes and has the potential to uncover markers for health and disease in a variety of biofluids. Inherent variation in faecal extracts along with the relative abundance of microbial-mammalian metabolites in urine and invasive nature of plasma sampling, infers that urine is the most appropriate biofluid for the purposes of metabonomic analysis.

The 120-S minute: using analysis of work activity to prevent psychological distress among elementary school teachers.

Primary school teachers in Québec suffer psychological distress, as shown by the Québec Health Survey (M. Gervais, 1993; Santè Québec, 1995). The authors applied and extended the French model (F. Guérin, A. Laville, F. Daniellou, J. Duraffourg, & A. Kerguelen, 1991) of analysis of work activity to observing classroom teaching (14 women in 10 classrooms for a total of 48 hr 24 min) to identify stressful elements. The authors observed a rapid sequence of actions, eye fixations of short duration, little physical or mental relaxation, multiple simultaneous activities, and uncomfortable temperature and humidity levels. Teachers use many strategies to teach, to create a learning environment, and to maintain attention in classrooms under adverse conditions. Examination of these strategies led to recommendations to improve relations between the teachers and their supervisors and to make the classroom an easier place to teach.

The reality of the women who make our lives easier: experience in a company that assemblies electric motors in Venezuela.

OBJECTIVE: intervene a workline throughout ergonomic approach to diminish incidence of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). METHODS AND MATERIALS: an ergonomic intervention study was developed in workstations with highest index of musculoskeletal disorder (MED) associated to cumulative trauma. The Deparis method, Reba and Ocra check list methods were used, also morbility reviewes. National and international ethics criteria were carried out. RESULTS: workers identified 3 fundamental issues using the Deparis method: repetitive activities, postures adopted and uncomfortable furniture. The analysis of the workstation with Reba and Ocra methods before the changes, evidenciated that 56% of postures adopted were high risk postures, the 44% remaining were medium and low-risk. Following the active pause program (APP), furniture changes and work rhythm decrease, was noted that the risk of suffering MED decreased. The morbility review, drop in consults of musculoskeletal system (MES) related to CTS observed. The APP was well accepted by women, but not initially men. DISCUSSION: the research show that when the work rhythm decreases, the symptom of MES related to CTS have a remarkable decrease, also that changes in the furniture, generate great ergonomic differences and changes in the work environment are not possible if workers don't empower the tools to make-it.

Development of a questionnaire in Spanish on neurotoxic symptoms.

A questionnaire in Spanish (with yes/no answers) was developed in order to study effects of neurotoxic agents in groups of workers in Nicaragua. Since many workers in Latin America are illiterate, the questions were read to the subjects. The questionnaire initially contained 34 questions, which were reduced to 16 after studying whether the questions were interpreted in the intended way by the subjects, whether the answers were reasonably reproducible over a 3-week period, and whether the questions discriminated between groups exposed to different neurotoxic agents (mercury, lead, organic solvents, and organophosphate insecticides) and nonexposed groups. In total, 851 male workers in Nicaragua and Venezuela participated in the evaluation. The questionnaire is submitted for use in the monitoring of groups exposed to neurotoxic agents, particularly in Latin America. The authors welcome further evaluation.

Neurobehavioral evaluation of Venezuelan workers exposed to organic solvent mixtures.

To assess the applicability of the World Health Organization (WHO) Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery (NCTB), we evaluated 53 male and 29 female Venezuelan workers exposed to mixtures of organic solvents in an adhesive factory, and 56 male and 11 female workers unexposed to any type of neurotoxic chemical. The average age of unexposed workers was 30 years and 33 years for those exposed, average schooling for both groups was 8 years, and the mean duration of exposure was 7 years. The NCTB, which assesses central nervous system functions, is composed of seven tests that measure simple motor function, short-term memory, eye-hand coordination, affective behavior, and psychomotor perception and speed. The battery includes: profile of mood states (POMS); Simple Reaction Time for attention and response speed; Digit Span for auditory memory; Santa Ana manual dexterity; Digit-Symbol for perceptual motor speed; the Benton visual retention for visual perception and memory; and Pursuit Aiming II for motor steadiness. In each of 13 subtests, the exposed group had a poorer performance than the nonexposed group. The range of differences in mean performance was between 5% and 89%, particularly in POMS (tension-anxiety, anger-hostility, depression-rejection, fatigue-inertia, confusion-bewilderment), Simple Reaction Time, Digit-Symbol, and Santa Ana Pegboard (p < .05). In multivariate regression analyses, controlling for the effects of age, sex, and education, significantly poorer performance in the exposed was found for tension-anxiety, hostility, depression, and confusion moods in the POMS, and in digit-symbol and simple reaction time (p < .05). These alterations were also dose-related using years of exposure in analyses of covariance. Compared to the nonexposed, the exposed subjects demonstrated an increased frequency of subjective symptoms of fatigue, difficulties with memory, confusion, paresthesias in upper and lower extremities, and sleep disturbances. We conclude that the methodology is applicable to the population studied. The tests of the NCTB were accepted by the subjects and were administered satisfactorily, except for occasional difficulties in verbal comprehension in subtests of POMS, which is the only test that requires more demanding verbal skills. The magnitude of the behavioral deficits is consistent with the probable high level of exposure and with the range of deficits previously reported in workers with long-term solvent exposures.

Levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha/cachectin (TNF alpha) in sera from patients with sickle cell disease.

Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha/cachectin (TNF alpha) were studied in a group of adult patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), which include 31 patients with homozygous SS hemoglobinopathy and 10 patients bearing double heterozygous SC hemoglobinopathy and in their matched normal controls. All patients tested did not show any form of crisis for at least 4 weeks prior to the extraction of the sample. The amount of TNF alpha in serum was quantitated by means of an immunoenzymatic assay with a lower limit of detection of 25 pg/ml. The percentage of sera with detectable levels of TNF alpha was significantly increased in SCD patients as compared with the normal controls. Mean TNF alpha values in individuals with detectable levels of the cytokine were also significantly higher in the whole group of SCD patients and in patients bearing either SS or SC hemoglobinopathies than in the control group. An inverse correlation was observed between the percentages of Hb F and the levels of TNF alpha found in the sera from the patients.

Mitogen induced lymphoproliferative responses and lymphocyte sub-populations in patients with sickle cell disease.

Mitogen induced lymphoproliferative responses and lymphocyte sub-populations were studied in a group of sickle cell disease (SCD) patients with homozygous SS hemoglobinopathy. Even though the response to a sub-optimal dose of Con A (0.5 microgram/ml of culture) was significantly decreased in patients with SCD, the proliferative responses to optimal doses of Con A, to PHA and to PWM were preserved in the patients. Addition of indomethacin to the cultures increased to a more significant degree the response to Con A of lymphocytes from patients than from the normal controls. Study of the mononuclear cell subsets indicated that the relative and absolute numbers of B lymphocytes as well as those of monocytes were significantly increased in the patients' group. The percentage of T3+ lymphocytes was found decreased in SCD. However, a rise in the number of T11+ and T4+ lymphocytes as well as in the helper/suppressor cell ratio was observed in the patients as compared to controls.

In vitro antibody synthesis by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with sickle cell disease.

To study the capacity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with sickle cell disease to synthesize antibodies in vitro, the levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA were quantitated in supernatants of cultured PBMC from a group of asymptomatic adults with sickle cell disease and from normal controls. The rates of spontaneous synthesis of IgM were similar in nonstimulated cultures of PBMC from patients and controls, whereas the amounts of IgG and IgA produced spontaneously by nonstimulated lymphocytes from the patients were significantly greater than those from controls. Similar levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA were detected in the supernatants of cultures stimulated with pokeweed mitogen from patients and controls. Thus, the capacity of PBMC to respond in vitro to pokeweed mitogen was preserved in the patients. The enhanced spontaneous synthesis of IgG and IgA suggests the presence of chronic polyclonal activation of B cells and/or defective regulation of the production of antibodies.

La extracción seriada: Manejo ortodóncico y aplicación clínica (2ª parte) / No disponible

Dentro del campo del tratamiento ortodoncico en dentición mixta, la exodoncia seriada ocupa una parcela de gran importancia. Quizás con el paso del tiempo esta terapia no tiene la vigencia que su eficiencia conlleva. Las situaciones que suponen una alteración en la secuencia eruptiva normal, -debidas fundamentalmente a la falta severa de espacio disponible en la arcada dentaria,- son su indicación preferente. Este procedimiento, mediante un manejo sencillo pero correctamente indicado, solventa estas alteraciones que pueden modificar o impedir el recambio dentario. En estos dos trabajos se intenta analizar cuales son los condicionantes, indicaciones y mecánicas a seguir, además de establecer los criterios terapéuticos para su realización (AU)

Regarding orthodontic treatment in the mixed dentition, serial extraction has an important role. This clinical approach is not used as frequent as it should be, considering the efficiency behind the procedure. The main indication for this technique is an alteration of normal eruption sequence caused by a severe arch-length-tooth-size discrepancy. This procedure, through an easy clinical management, can help tooth eruption disturbances. In this second-part series, the authors will establish the diagnostic criteria for the clinical management of serial extraction in orthodontic practice (AU)

Artículo de revisión: Sistemas y tipos de retención / No disponible

El manejo del tiempo posterior a la finalización de caso resulta de extremada importancia, tanto como el propio tratamiento en sí. Son muchas y variadas las formas de ejercerla contención del mismo. Existen diferentes corrientes acerca de estos métodos. Existen sistemas fijos o removibles, utilizados de forma temporal o permanente, así también la necesidad de retención según la calidad y estabilidad de los resultados obtenidos. En este artículo realizamos una revisión de la literatura, para intentar exponer las diferentes alternativas en los sistemas y tipos de retención y poder establecer unas pautas consensuadas sobre la actuación en la etapa siguiente al tratamiento activo (AU)

The management of the retention period after comprehensive orthodontic treatment is of paramount importance, as treatment itself. There are many retention protocols in the orthodontic literature. Different schools regarding retention needs and methods also are described in this review paper. Fixed and removable, semi-permanent and permanent retainers are found among the clinical preferences of different authors, depending on the quality and stability of treatment results. In this paper, a review of the literature was conducted to present the different approaches to orthodontic retention systems and to establish consensus clinical guidelines (AU)

La extracción seriada: manejo ortodóncico y aplicación clínica (1ª parte) / No disponible

Dentro del campo del tratamiento ortodóncico en dentición mixta, la exodoncia seriada ocupa una parcela de gran importancia. Quizás con el paso del tiempo esta terapia no tiene la vigencia que su eficiencia conlleva. Las situaciones que suponen una alteración en la secuencia eruptiva normal, -debidas fundamentalmente a la falta severa de espacio disponible en la arcada dentaria,- son su indicación preferente. Este procedimiento, mediante un manejo sencillo pero correctamente indicado, solventa estas alteraciones que pueden modificar o impedir el recambio dentario. En estos dos trabajos se intenta analizar cuáles son los condicionantes, indicaciones y mecánicas a seguir, además de establecer los criterios terapéuticos para su realización (AU)

Regarding orthodontic treatment in mixed dentititon, serial extraction has play an important role. Actually it has a less relevant paper with a certain unknown about its efficiency. Alteration of the normal eruption, due mainly to lack of space is the prefered indication. lt is a relative simple procedure if indication had been stablished in the right way. In two papers, we will try to analyze the factors involved in the indications and procedures and concluding with treatment criteria (AU)

El tratamiento ortodóncico y los trastornos temporomandibulares / Orthodontics and temporomandibular disorders

Los trastornos temporomandibulares (TMD) son una de las patologías más controvertidas debido a su origen multifactorial. Desde que lo describiera Costen en 1934, han sido numerosos los clínicos que han investigado acerca del síndrome de TMD. Durante las últimas dos décadas, algunos investigadores advirtieron de cómo la terapéutica ortodóncica podía ser un factor de riesgo en la génesis de dicha enfermedad. Son numerosos los trabajos publicados para ver qué hay de cierto o anecdótico en esto. Esta revisión quiere dar una visión global y generalizada del tema en seis tipos de estudios: 1) comparación entre pacientes que han llevado ortodoncia y personas con maloclusiones sin tratar; 2) pacientes sometidos a tratamiento ortodóncico con y sin extracciones; 3) comparación entre tres tipos de muestra: paciente sometido a tratamiento ortodóncico, normoclusivo y paciente con maloclusión sin tratar; 4) estudio de los efectos del Herbst, mentonera y otros aparatos ortodóncicos; 5) TMD después del tratamiento ortodóncico-quirúrgico y 6) artículos de opinión y revisiones bibliográficas. (AU)

La pseudo-Clase III. Consideraciones terapéuticas y casos clínicos (Parte II) / Pseudo-Class III. Terapeutic considerations and case reports (Part II)

En la segunda parte de este trabajo analizamos algunas consideraciones de carácter general referidas a la estrategia terapéutica aconsejable en pacientes afectos de pseudo-Clase III. A continuación se presentan dos casos clínicos. El primero de ellos muestra el tratamiento de un paciente con rasgos diagnósticos propios de pseuso-clase III en la segunda fase de dentición mixta. El paciente fue tratado en una sola fase mediante un manejo diferencial de los espacios de deriva en una y otra arcada dentaria. En el segundo caso clínico se presenta un paciente en la primera fase de dentición mixta que exhibe una mordida cruzada posterior y una disminución del espacio habitable en la arcada superior junto a características propias de un patrón de pseudo-Clase III. El caso fue abordado con un tratamiento de dos fases, corrigiendo en la primera el déficit transversal del maxilar superior, así como la mordida cruzada anterior y completando la corrección de la maloclusión en la segunda fase de tratamiento.Se describe el planteamiento mecánico y la estrategia terapéutica seguidos en uno y otro caso. (AU)