Flavonoids from Boldoa purpurascens inhibit proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) and the expression of COX-2.

The flavonoids comprise a large class of plant metabolites distributed in food plants. These compounds have antioxidant, antitumor, antiallergic, and anti­inflammatory effects. The molecular mechanisms of their biological activities remain to be clearly understood. We investigated the in vitro anti­inflammatory potential of a flavonoid mixture and isolated compounds from the leaves of Boldoa purpurascens. Our results provide direct evidence of the anti­inflammatory effects of the mixture, which are mediated by the inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 6 as well as the modulation of the expression of cyclooxygenase 2.

Study of mechanical resonances of Sb2O3 micro- and nanorods.

Sb2O3 microrods with orthorhombic phase were grown by an evaporation-deposition method from a pure antimony source and substrate. The incorporation of Cr into the substrate has been found to enhance the growth of thinner rods with high crystalline quality, as is revealed by high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Electric field-induced mechanical resonances of Sb2O3 nanorods were studied by in situ measurements in a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Young's modulus of rods with different lengths and cross-sectional dimensions was calculated from the resonance frequency. The E values for the different rods were in the range of 16-48 GPa. For comparison, Young's moduli of several rods were also measured from the force-displacement curve recorded in an atomic force microscope (AFM). The slight difference between the E values obtained by the resonance and by the AFM techniques is within the accepted experimental error.

Thyroid hormone activates rat liver adenosine 5,-monophosphate-activated protein kinase: relation to CaMKKb, TAK1 and LKB1 expression and energy status.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of energy status supporting cellular energy homeostasis that may represent the metabolic basis for 3,3,,5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3) liver preconditioning. Functionally transient hyperthyroid state induced by T3 (single dose of 0.1 mg/kg) in fed rats led to upregulation of mRNA expression (RT-PCR) and protein phosphorylation (Western blot) of hepatic AMPK at 8 to 36 h after treatment. AMPK Thr 172 phosphorylation induced by T3 is associated with enhanced mRNA expression of the upstream kinases Ca2+ -calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase-beta (CaMKKbeta) and transforming growth-factor-beta-activated kinase-1 (TAK1), with increased protein levels of CaMKKbeta and higher TAK1 phosphorylation, without changes in those of the liver kinase B1 (LKB1) signaling pathway. Liver contents of AMP and ADP were augmented by 291 percent and 44 percent by T3 compared to control values (p less than 0.05), respectively, whereas those of ATP decreased by 64% (p less than 0.05), with no significant changes in the total content of adenine nucleotides (AMP + ADP + ATP) at 24 h after T3 administration. Consequently, hepatic ATP/ADP content ratios exhibited 64 percent diminution (p less than 0.05) and those of AMP/ATP increased by 425 percent (p less than 0.05) in T3-treated rats over controls. It is concluded that in vivoT3 administration triggers liver AMPK upregulation in association with significant enhancements in AMPK mRNA expression, AMPK phosphorylation coupled to CaMKKbeta and TAK1 activation, and in AMP/ATP ratios, which may promote enhanced AMPK activity to support T3-induced energy consuming processes such as those of liver preconditioning.

Antihyperglycemic activity of extracts from Boldoa purpurascens leaves in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

In order to investigate the potential use of Boldoa purpurascens against diabetes, the antihyperglycemic effect of an ethanol extract obtained from its leaves was evaluated at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg in rats after induction of hyperglycemia by alloxan. Insulin 5 IU/kg was used as positive control and NaCl 0.9% as negative control. A similar experiment was performed with the aqueous extract used at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg using metformin at a dose of 50mg/kg as positive control. Statistical analysis was carried using the Kruskal-Wallis test with an interval of trust of 99%. The ethanolic and aqueous extract of B. purpurascens showed a significant decrease of blood glucose levels 72 h after administration. Phytochemical analysis of the ethanol extract showed the presence of D-pinitol, a compound known for its hypoglycemic properties. In conclusion, ethanolic as well as aqueous extracts of B. purpurascens leaves show antihyperglycemic activity, possibly due to the presence of D-pinitol and flavonoids.

Polymorphisms CYP2R1 rs10766197 and CYP27B1 rs10877012 in Multiple Sclerosis: A Case-Control Study.

BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease. Low vitamin D levels have been reported to be a risk factor for MS, and genetic variances could be implicated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of MS with rs10766197 polymorphism of CYP2R1 gene and rs10877012 polymorphism of CYP27B1 gene. The second aim was to analyse whether these polymorphisms are associated with the severity of the progression of MS. Material and Methods. In a case-control study, we included 116 MS patients and 226 controls, all of whom were Mexican Mestizo. MS was diagnosed by McDonald criteria (2017). A complete neurological evaluation was performed to evaluate the severity of disease progression. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) vitamin D] levels were measured by ELISA. Single nucleotide polymorphisms rs10766197 of CYP2R1 gene and rs10877012 SNP of CYP27B1 gene were genotyped by real-time PCR. RESULTS: Serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels were lower in MS patients than in controls (p = 0.009). No differences were observed between serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels of MS patients with severe progression compared to low progression (p = 0.88). A higher frequency of the A allele of CYP2R1 rs10766197 was observed between MS patients and controls (p = 0.05). No differences were observed in the frequency of T allele of CYP27B1 rs10877012 (p = 0.65). In subanalysis, patients with GA + AA genotypes of CYP2R1 rs10766197 had an increased risk of MS compared to controls (p = 0.03). No increased risk was observed in GT + TT genotypes of CYP27B1 rs10877012 (p = 0.63). No differences were observed in allele frequencies of either polymorphism between patients with severe vs. low disease progression. CONCLUSION: Lower serum 25(OH) vitamin D levels were observed in MS patients than in controls, although these levels were not associated with disease progression. Carriers of GA + AA genotypes of CYP2R1 rs10766197 had an increased risk of MS. None of these polymorphisms was associated with severe progression of MS.

Voids, nanochannels and formation of nanotubes with mobile Sn fillings in Sn doped ZnO nanorods.

ZnO nanorods containing different hollow structures have been grown by a thermal evaporation-deposition method with a mixture of ZnS and SnO(2) powders as precursor. Transmission electron microscopy shows rods with rows of voids as well as rods with empty channels along the growth axis. The presence of Sn nanoprecipitates associated with the empty regions indicates, in addition, that these are generated by diffusion processes during growth, probably due to an inhomogeneous distribution of Sn. The mechanism of forming voids and precipitates appears to be based on diffusion processes similar to the Kirkendall effect, which can lead to void formation at interfaces of bulk materials or in core-shell nanostructures. In some cases the nanorods are ZnO tubes partially filled with Sn that has been found to melt and expand by heating the nanotubes under the microscope electron beam. Such metal-semiconductor nanostructures have potential applications as thermal nanosensors or as electrical nanocomponents.

Growth and cathodoluminescence of Eu doped ZnO nanoneedles and branched nanoneedle structures.

Rare-earth (RE) ions are widely investigated luminescent centers because their intraionic-4f transitions generate narrow and intense emission lines. In this work Eu doped ZnO nanoneedles have been grown, by a thermal evaporation-deposition method, and structural and luminescence characterization has been carried out. Mixtures of ZnO and Eu2O3 or of ZnS and Eu2O3 powders were used as precursors. Annealing of the compacted powder mixtures leads to the growth of nanoneedles and nanoneedle networks, as well as rods. EDS and CL measurements enable to detect the incorporation of Eu in these structures. The choice of precursor, ZnO-Eu2O3 or ZnS-Eu2O3 influences the morphology as well as the luminescence properties of the obtained nanostructures. In particular, while in the samples obtained from ZnO, the defect green luminescence band is practically absent, the band is present in the ZnO nanoneedles obtained from ZnS. Besides the broad deep level band, a series of well-separated narrow-peaks characteristic of the intrinsic red luminescence of Eu+3 ions are observed in all cases, whose relative intensities vary from one set of samples to the other. The results suggest that the Eu3+ ions have at least, two possible configurations in the ZnO lattice with different symmetry in the nanoneedles.

Air entrainment and granular bubbles generated by a jet of grains entering water.

HYPOTHESIS: A water jet penetrating into a water pool produces air entrainment and bubbles that rise to the surface and disintegrate. A similar scenario can be expected when a granular jet enters into water. This phenomenon is common in natural and industrial processes but remains so far unexplored. EXPERIMENTS: A collimated jet of monodisperse silica beads was poured into water and the process was filmed with a high-speed camera. The grain size, jet impact velocity, and the liquid physical properties were systematically varied. FINDINGS: For grains of ~50-300µm in diameter, the granular jet deforms the air-water interface, penetrates the pool and produces air entrainment. Most of the entrained air is contained in the interstitial space of the jet, and its volume is linearly proportional to the volume of grains. The bubbles formed in this process are covered by a layer of grains attached to the bubble air-water interface due to capillary-induced cohesion. These "granular bubbles" are stable over time because the granular shell prevents coalescence and keeps the air encapsulated, either if the bubbles rise to the surface or sink to the bottom of the pool, which is determined by the competition of the buoyancy and the weight of the assembly.

Antibodies against recombinant heat shock proteins of 60 kDa from enterobacteria in the sera and synovial fluid of HLA-B27 positive ankylosing spondylitis patients.

OBJECTIVE: To study the association of HLA-B27 with IgG antibodies to different enterobacterial HSP60s in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). METHODS: IgG antibodies to 60 kDa enterobacterial HSPs were determined by ELISA in paired samples of sera and synovial fluid from 21 HLA-B27+ ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients; and in sera from 32 HLA-B27+ AS patients, 35 HLA-B27+ healthy relatives of AS patients, and 60 HLA-B27- healthy individuals with no family members with AS. RESULTS: HLA-B27+ patients and healthy individuals showed significantly higher IgG antibody levels to recombinant enterobacterial HSP60s than HLA-B27- healthy controls. The levels of anti-HSP60Sf and anti-HSP60Ec antibodies correlated with disease activity and anti-HSP60Ec antibodies with male gender. No association between enterobacterial HSP60 antibody levels and disease duration was observed. All groups had lower levels of IgG antibodies to rHSP60 from Streptococcus pyogenes (rHSP60 Spy). In paired samples of sera and synovial fluid from B27+ patients, IgG antibodies to enterobacterial HSP60s were detected, but in significantly higher levels in sera than in synovial fluid. The anti-rHSPSpy IgG response in these samples was lower and similar in the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: A correlation was found between HLA-B27 and the response to recombinat enterobacterial HSP60s. This response could be associated with disease activitir and gender in some proteins and the presence eof IgG antibodies to these proteins in synovial fluid could be associated with the inflammatory process and initiation of AS.

In situ and ex situ study of the enhanced modification with iron of clinoptilolite-rich zeolitic tuff for arsenic sorption from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption methods have been developed for the removal of arsenic from solution motivated by the adverse health effects of this naturally occurring element. Iron exchanged natural zeolites are promising materials for this application. In this study we introduced iron species into a clinoptilolite-rich zeolitic tuff by the liquid exchange method using different organic and inorganic iron salts after pretreatment with NaCl and quantified the iron content in all trials by XRF spectroscopy. The materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR, FTIR-DR, UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry, ESR and Mössbauer spectroscopies before and after adsorption of arsenite and arsenate. The reached iron load in the sample T+Fe was %Fe(2)O(3)-2.462, n(Fe)/n(Al)=0.19, n(Si)/n(Fe)=30.9 using FeCl(3), whereby the iron leachability was 0.1-0.2%. The introduced iron corresponded to four coordinated species with tetrahedral geometry, primarily low spin ferric iron adsorbing almost 12 mug g(-1) arsenite (99% removal) from a 360 mug(As(III)) L(-1) and 6 mug g(-1) arsenate from a 230 mug(As(V)) L(-1). Adsorption of arsenite and arsenate reached practically a plateau at n(Fe)/n(Si)=0.1 in the series of exchanged tuffs. The oxidation of arsenite to arsenate in the solution in contact with iron modified tuff during adsorption was observed by speciation. The reduction of ferric iron to ferrous iron could be detected in the electrochemical system comprising an iron-clinoptilolite impregnated electrode and was not observed in the dried tuff after adsorption.

Cathodoluminescence study of semiconductor oxide micro- and nanostructures grown by vapor deposition.

Nano- and microstructures of SnO(2), In(2)O(3) and ZnO have been grown during thermal treatment of compacted powders under argon flow. Indium-doped SnO(2) tube-shaped structures with rectangular cross-section are obtained by adding a fraction of In(2)O(3) to the starting SnO(2) powder. In-rich nanoislands were found to grow on some edges of the tubes. ZnO nanostructures doped with Sn or Eu were grown by adding SnO(2) and Eu(2)O(3) powder, respectively, to the ZnO precursor powder. All the samples have been characterized by the emissive and cathodoluminescence (CL) modes of scanning electron microscopy. CL images from SnO(2):In and In(2)O(3):Sn tubes and islands show a higher emission from the Sn-rich structures related to oxygen deficiency. CL of doped ZnO enables to detect the presence of dopant in specific regions or structures. CL appears to be a useful technique to study optical and electronic properties of semiconductor oxide nanostructures.

[Laryngeal dystonia: novel forms of therapeutic administration of botulinum toxin by direct routes]. / Distonia laringea: nuevas formas de administracion terapeutica de toxina botulinica por via directa.

AIM: To describe our experience in the treatment of laryngeal dystonia (in abduction and adduction), with special emphasis given to the technical aspects (approach procedure, dosage and type of botulinum toxin type A used), as well as treatment response and possible side effects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of a sample of patients with laryngeal dystonia treated by means of transoral administration of onabotulinumtoxinA or incobotulinumtoxinA over a period of 10 years (2007-2017). Data collected include demographic and clinical variables, treatment response (based on a self-rating scale), the duration of treatment and the appearance of side effects. SAMPLE SIZE: 15 patients (11 women; mean age: 44.06 years) with laryngeal dystonia (mean time since onset of 40 months; 12 patients with dystonia in adduction) and 174 administrations (92% incobotulinumtoxinA; average dosage of 5 U in each vocal cord). The procedure took an average of 11.7 minutes to perform. Response was good in 31% of the procedures and very good in 57.5%. Side effects were recorded in 14.4% of the procedures, although always mild and transitory, with a predominance of dysphagia and dysphonia. CONCLUSION: In our experience, transoral administration of botulinum toxin type A to treat laryngeal dystonia has proved to be a simple, quick, effective and safe technique.

TITLE: Distonia laringea: nuevas formas de administracion terapeutica de toxina botulinica por via directa.Objetivo. Describir nuestra experiencia en el tratamiento de la distonia laringea (en abduccion y aduccion), destacando los aspectos tecnicos (procedimiento de abordaje, dosis y tipo de toxina botulinica de tipo A utilizada), asi como la respuesta al tratamiento y los posibles efectos adversos. Pacientes y metodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal de una muestra de pacientes con distonia laringea tratados mediante administracion transoral de onabotulinumtoxina o incobotulinumtoxina A durante un periodo de 10 años (2007-2017). Se recogen las variables demograficas y clinicas, la respuesta al tratamiento (a partir de una escala de autoevaluacion), la duracion de este y la aparicion de efectos adversos. Resultados. Tamaño muestral: 15 pacientes (11 mujeres; edad media: 44,06 años) con distonia laringea (tiempo medio de evolucion de 40 meses; 12 pacientes con distonia en aduccion) y 174 administraciones (92% incobotulinumtoxina A; dosis media de 5 U en cada cuerda vocal). La duracion media del procedimiento fue de 11,7 minutos. La respuesta fue notable en el 31% de los procedimientos y alta en el 57,5%. Se registraron efectos adversos en el 14,4% de los procedimientos, siempre de caracter leve y transitorio, con predominio de la disfagia y la disfonia. Conclusion. En nuestra experiencia, la administracion transoral de toxina botulinica de tipo A como tratamiento de la distonia laringea ha demostrado ser una tecnica sencilla, rapida, eficaz y segura.

Safety assessment of a traditionally used extract from leaves of Boldoa purpurascens.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Boldoa purpurascens Cav. (Nyctaginaceae) is a plant species used in traditional medicine in Cuba as a diuretic. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the safety profile of a hydroalcoholic extract from leaves of Boldoa purpurascens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: First, an experimental study to assess the oral acute toxicity at a dose of 2000mg/kg body weight of the extract was carried out. Potential genotoxicity of the extract was evaluated using the Ames test and the micronucleus induction assay in mouse bone marrow. In the Ames test a concentration range of 50, 100, 150, 300 and 500µg/plate was tested. In the micronucleus induction assay, doses of 500, 1000 and 2000mg/kg of body weight were tested. For completeness, since the extract contains saponins, the evaluation of the hemolytic activity, ocular and skin irritation were included. RESULTS: No signs or symptoms of toxicity were observed in the oral acute toxicity test (body weight at baseline, seven days and end of the experiment of 236.41±20.07, 256.81±30.44 and 240.02±26.16 respectively for the treated group). The hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves was not mutagenic in the Ames test, and no genotoxicity was observed in the micronucleus assay. A hemolysis test at concentration of 1mg/mL confirmed hemolytic activity, which is not a safety concern since saponins are not absorbed after oral administration. In order to evaluate the percentage of protein denaturation, the ocular irritability index was calculated. The extract was found to be irritating. Finally, skin irritability was evaluated and the irritation index was equal to zero. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the toxicological evaluation of a traditionally used hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of Boldoa purpurascens we can confirm the safety of its oral use.

Intestinal parasites in patients with diarrhea and human immunodeficiency virus infection in Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites and risk factors for infection associated with diarrhea in HIV-infected patients in Harare, Zimbabwe. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Single stool samples were collected from 88 HIV-infected individuals presenting with diarrhea of greater than 1 week duration. Stools were examined for intestinal parasites using modified acid fast stain, fluorescence- labeled monoclonal antibody for Cryptosporidium parvum, as well as a modified trichrome stain and a PCR-based protocol for Enterocytozoon bieneusi. RESULTS: C. parvum was detected in 9% (seven out of 82) of samples evaluated, but no Cyclospora was detected. E. bieneusi was detected in 18% (10 out of 55) of stool by trichrome staining and in 51% (28 out of 55) of stool examined by PCR. Risk factors for E. bieneusi infection were: living in rural areas, consumption of nonpiped water, contact with cow dung and household contact with an individual with diarrhea. CONCLUSION: E. bieneusi infection was common in HIV-infected patients with diarrhea in Zimbabwe and may be acquired through person-to-person and fecal-oral transmission.

Cyclospora cayetanensis.

Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian pathogen in humans. Cyclosporiasis is characterized by mild to severe nausea, anorexia, abdominal cramping, and watery diarrhea. Cyclospora has now been described from patients with protracted diarrheal illness in North, Central and South America, the Caribbean, Africa, Bangladesh, south-east Asia, Australia, England, and eastern Europe, and is characterized by marked seasonality. Routes of transmission are still unknown, although the fecal-oral route, either directly or via water, is probably the major one. A recent outbreak in the USA suggested transmission of Cyclospora by ingestion of contaminated berries. Cyclospora oocysts can be detected by phase contrast microscopy, modified acid-fast staining, autofluorescence, and amplification by the polymerase chain reaction. Oocysts are not sporulated when excreted in the feces, and sporulated oocysts are needed for infection. Each sporulated oocyst contains two sporocysts and each sporocyst contains two sporozoites. Humans seem to be the only host for this parasite. Histopathological examination of jejunal biopsies from infected individuals showed mild to moderate acute inflammation of the lamina propria and surface epithelial disarray. Parasitophorous vacuoles containing sexual and asexual forms of Cycl. cayetanensis were located in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Cyclospora infections can be treated successfully with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Giardia lamblia trophozoites contain multiple alleles of a variant-specific surface protein gene with 105-base pair tandem repeats.

Giardia lamblia trophozoites undergo antigenic variation of a variant-specific surface protein (VSP). All VSPs that have been reported have had high cysteine contents, including numerous copies of a CXXC motif. The first vsp gene described (vspA6; from the cloned line, WBA6), contained 21 copies of a 195 base pair tandem repeat, but other reported VSPs have not contained repeats. In this report, we describe the vsp gene from WBC5, a cloned line derived from WBA6. The vspC5 gene contains short 5' and 3' regions flanking 26 copies of a 105-bp tandem repeat, which comprises 93% of the coding region. In addition to the copy containing 26 repeats, the genome contains other copies of the vspC5 with fewer copies of the repeat. The sequences flanking the repeats are identical, and all copies map to the same location on chromosomal Band 5, suggesting that multiple alleles of the vspC5 gene are present.

Recovery of waterborne oocysts of Cyclospora cayetanensis by Asian freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminea).

Asian freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminea) were exposed for 24 hr in 38 liters of water contaminated with 1.0 x 10(5) Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts (2.6 x 10(3) oocysts/L). The hemolyph and gill smears of 30 clams were examined by acid-fast stain on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 13, and 18 postexposure (PE). Since no oocysts were detected in the water 24 hr after contamination by the membrane filter-dissolution method, the oocyst retention rate was 4.6 X 10(2) oocysts/clam. The prevalence of oocyst-positive clams significantly decreased (P < 0.01) from 93% to 47% during 13 days PE. None of the clams contained oocysts on day 18 PE; no oocysts were detected in the clam feces. The numbers of oocysts recovered from six clam size classes varied and significantly decreased with smaller clam size (P < 0.01). The lowest prevalence values of oocyst-positive clams, 45% and 34%, were observed in the two lowest size classes: 12.1-14.0 mm and 14.1-16.0 mm, respectively. The prevalence values in the remaining four classes ranged from 84% to 100%. The sampling program demonstrated that the population of 180 clams examined during the study up to 13 day PE could be assessed for C. cayetanensis positivity by random testing of a minimum of 75 clams (42%). When the two lowest clam size classes are eliminated, the population of 114 clams could be assessed by sampling a minimum of 32 clams (28%). The results demonstrate that Corbicula fluminea can recover waterborne oocysts of C. cayetanensis, and could be used as biological indicators of contamination of water with C. cayetanensis oocysts.

Isolation of Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis from vegetables collected in markets of an endemic region in Peru.

Cryptosporidium parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis are protozoan pathogens that cause prolonged diarrhea in both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Cryptosporidium parvum can be transmitted via the fecal-oral route, while the exact mechanisms of transmission of Cyclospora cayetanensis have not been fully determined. Humans appear to be the sole host for the latter and a distinct seasonality has been observed in endemic areas around the world. Samples of vegetables were collected at several small markets in a periurban slum in Peru during the seasons of high and low incidence. The vegetables were washed, the supernatants were collected and centrifuged, and the pellets were resuspended in a solution of 2.5% potassium dichromate. Pellets were examined using direct microscopic observation, acid-fast staining, and immunofluorescent assays for C. parvum and Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts. Samples were collected during three time periods: the season of low incidence, the beginning of the season of high incidence, and end of the season of high incidence. Of the total vegetables examined, 14.5% contained C. parvum oocysts and 1.8% had Cyclospora oocysts. Thus, market vegetables may provide a route by which Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora can be transmitted. Our study also suggests that washing vegetables does not completely remove Cryptosporidium and Cyclospora oocysts.

Ocular Onchocerca infections in two dogs in western United States.

Two dogs, one from California and one from Arizona, were found to have aberrant infections caused by filarial nematodes of the genus Onchocerca. In both cases, the parasites are localized in or near the eye. In one case the worm was located in the cornea and was surgically removed. In the second case, a very marked granulomatous reaction was induced in the retrobulbar space, mimicking an abscess. This eye was enucleated. The worms in both instances were female, and were gravid, i.e. contained microfilariae in utero, indicating that a male worm(s) had been present and mating had occurred. The exact identity of the species of Onchocerca responsible cannot be determined, although the features observed are most like Onchocerca lienalis of cattle. These cases represent the fourth and fifth such cases reported from the US, and are especially interesting because of the unusual location of the worms, the small number of recognized cases, and the similarity to a recent zoonotic human infection.

A new coccidian parasite (Apicomplexa: Eimeriidae) from humans.

A new coccidian parasite has been found in stool specimens of humans with and without diarrhea. The oocyst of this parasite measures 8.6 microns in diameter (7.7-9.9 microns), with ovoid sporocysts 4.0 x 6.3 (3.3-4.4 x 5.5-7.1) microns. Each oocyst has 2 sporocysts and each sporocyst contains 2 sporozoites. Based on these characteristics and the structures observed by electron microscopy, this parasite has been classified in the genus Cyclospora. We propose the name Cyclospora cayetanensis n. sp. for this new human parasite.