Pattern ERGs suggest a possible retinal contribution to the visual acuity loss in acute optic neuritis.

PURPOSE: Macular involvement in optic neuritis (ON) is well-recognised but poorly understood and may be of clinical relevance. This study explores macular structure-function correlates in acute ON. METHODS: This cross-sectional cohort study recruited ON patients within 14 days of symptom onset. Subjects underwent pattern electroretinography (PERG), pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. PERG P50 and N95 components were correlated with OCT data. RESULTS: Twenty-six individuals with ON were recruited, comprising eleven multiple sclerosis (MS-ON), six myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated (MOG-ON) and nine with isolated ON. These were compared with 28 healthy controls. PVEPs were undetectable in 11 (42%) of individuals with ON. When detectable, PVEP P100 was delayed (median 136 ms range 110-173 ms) and amplitude reduced (median 6 µV, range 3-14 µV) in ON compared with controls (both p < 0.001). PERG P50 component amplitudes, largely reflecting macular function, were reduced in affected eyes (median 2.3 µV; range 0.8-5.0 µV) compared with controls (3.3 µV; range 2.8-5.7 µV) and compared with fellow eyes (p < 0.001). The N95:P50 ratio was below the reference range in the affected eyes of five patients. Eight cases (32%) had subnormal P50 amplitudes (< 2.0 µV), and these patients had poorer visual acuity (p = 0.020). P50 amplitudes were positively correlated with an increase in inner nuclear layer thickness (rs = 0.36; p = 0.009) and macular ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness (rs = 0.44, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: PERG P50 component reduction reveals dysfunction of inner macular layers in acute ON and correlates with structural alterations on OCT. These early macular pathologic processes are likely to contribute to the visual loss.

Landscape genetics of the key African acacia species Senegalia mellifera (Vahl)- the importance of the Kenyan Rift Valley.

Acacias across Africa have enormous ecological and economic importance, yet their population genetics are poorly studied. We used seven microsatellite loci to investigate spatial genetic structure and to identify potential ecological and geographic barriers to dispersal in the widespread acacia, Senegalia (Acacia) mellifera. We quantified variation among 791 individuals from 28 sampling locations, examining patterns at two spatial scales: (i) across Kenya including the Rift Valley, and (ii) for a local subset of 11 neighbouring locations on Mpala Ranch in the Laikipia plateau. Our analyses recognize that siblings can often be included in samples used to measure population genetic structure, violating fundamental assumptions made by these analyses. To address this potential problem, we maximized genetic independence of samples by creating a sibship-controlled data set that included only one member of each sibship and compared the results obtained with the full data set. Patterns of genetic structure and barriers to gene flow were essentially similar when the two data sets were analysed. Five well-defined geographic regions were identified across Kenya within which gene flow was localized, with the two strongest barriers to dispersal splitting the Laikipia Plateau of central Kenya from the Western and Eastern Rift Valley. At a smaller scale, in the absence of geographic features, regional habitat gradients appear to restrict gene flow significantly. We discuss the implications of our results for the management of this highly exploited species.

[Modification of nephritic colic and 24-hour calcium excretion in urine in primary hyperthyroidism after parathyroidectomy]. / Modificación de los cólicos nefríticos y de la excreción de calcio en orina de 24 horas en el hiperparatiroidismo primario tras la paratiroidectomía.

We documented the frequency of nephritic colic in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism, and determined its modification after the parathyroidectomy; we also studied laboratory parameters such as calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone in serum, and the excretion of Cao 24h, previous and later to the intervention. At sight of the results it is possible to be concluded that the parathyroidectomy is useful in the treatment of the kidney stone disease produced by the primary hyperparathyroidism.

[Renal actinomycosis: presentation of a case]. / Actinomicosis renal: presentación de un caso.

Renal actinomycosis is rarely suspected and is difficult to diagnose, limited to a few cases in any series. A 56-year-old man with renal actinomycosis and Rendu-Osler disease is described. Long-term therapy with penicillin resulted in a clinical cures. A case report is presented.

[Leiomyoma of the bladder as a cause of unilateral ureteral obstruction associated with uterine leiomyoma and polycystic ovary]. / Leiomioma de vejiga causante de una obstrucción unilateral del uréter asociado a leiomiomas uterinos y ovarios poliquísticos.

A case of a female patient with bladder leiomyoma associated to uterus containing several leiomyomatous nodules and polycystic ovaries is presented. The diagnostic convenience that ecography can provide, showing neoformations and their definition with regard to neighbouring organic structures, is highlighted. The existing relationship between uterine leiomyomas and estrogens is outlined, as well as the action of GnRH agonists on such leiomyomas after long-term therapy.

Detection of antibodies to Herpesvirus simiae and Herpesvirus hominis in nonhuman primates.

Sera from nonhuman primates, predominantly Macaca species, were assayed by a serum neutralization test for antibodies to antigenically related Herpesvirus simiae (B virus) and Herpesvirus hominis type 1. The data indicate that there would have been approximately 50% error in the diagnosis of Herpesvirus simiae infection if these sera had been tested only against Herpesvirus hominis antigen. The role of active guinea pig complement in the serum neutralization test was also evaluated and found to be required by many of the sera for reproducible and enhanced virus neutralization, particularly for B virus antibody determination. A plaque reduction assay was found to be highly sensitive, especially when complement (2.5-5.0 hemolytic units) was added, but impractical for large-scale serum surveys.

Detection of primate herpesvirus antibodies including Herpesvirus simiae by enzyme immunoassay.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was used for the detection of antibodies to Herpesvirus hominis type 1 and 2 (HVH-1 and HVH-2), SA8 and Herpesvirus simiae (HVB) in human and nonhuman primate sera. Optimal assay conditions were approximately the same for HVH-1, HVH-2, and SA8 but different for HVB. The recognized lethality of HVB required studies to determine whether or not inactivated HVB could be used in the EIA outside a biohazard safety cabinet. Ten percent buffered formalin destroyed infectivity of antigen coated discs after 5 minutes while retaining activity in the EIA. Antibody titers to HVB determined by serum neutralization were up to eightfold higher in the EIA. Using EIA to survey sera for antibodies to herpesviruses, it was determined that most humans reacted to HVH-1 (88%), HVH-2 (81%) and SA8 (94%), and 38% to HVB. Whereas baboons reacted almost exclusively to their indigenous herpesvirus SA8 (44%), rhesus monkeys demonstrated a high positive rate to HVH-1 (63%), SA8 (94%), and HVB (50%). These data indicate that EIA is rapid, sensitive, reproducible, and useful in the detection of antibodies to human and nonhuman primate herpesviruses but does not, at this point, resolve problems related to cross-reactivity among these viruses.

Serodiagnosis of herpesvirus infection in primates.

The presence of herpesviruses in various animal tissues used for vaccine production is of importance, inasmuch as these viruses may go unrecognized, residing in latent form. Of greatest concern is Herpesvirus simiae (B virus) present in the majority of macaca species, one of the more extensively used laboratory nonhuman primates. The close antigenic relationship of B virus to human herpes strains (H. hominis) and SA8 (a baboon herpesvirus) makes serologic differentiation extremely difficult, but necessary. Complicating the differential diagnosis is the frequent infection of simian species with human strains. The present study clearly shows that many animal sera negative to herpes simplex will be negative to B virus in the neutralization test. However, a sufficient number of sera will be negative to simplex, but positive to B virus, indicating that the assumed one-way cross is invalid. Also, if antibody to simplex is present, and this antibody is present in most adult macaques, then differentiation requires testing with B virus. At least 50% of these positive sera may appear to be negative for B virus if only tested with H. hominis. Approximately 25% of the remaining positive sera will have higher titers to B virus than to herpes simplex and 25% will have the same titers to both viruses. Further, complement is required by many of the test sera to detect the presence of antibodies to B virus.

[Coronary angioplasty in the treatment of symptomatic myocardial ischemia with one vessel disease]. / Angioplastía coronaria como tratamiento de isquemia miocárdica sintomática por enfermedad de un vaso.

Our group initiated a program of coronary angioplasty (CA) in patients with symptomatic one vessel disease, or multivascular lesions with a critical "culprit" stenosis. In a 16 month period we have performed CA of 28 lesions in 25 patients (20 men) with a mean age of 54 +/- 10 years. Stable angina was diagnosed in 14 patients, unstable angina in 7, and post-myocardial infarction residual angina or stenosis in 4 patients treated with streptokinase. Successful dilatation was obtained in 23 (82.1%) of 28 stenotic segments, reducing the stenosis from 90 +/- 8% (range 70-100) to 9 +/- 12% (range 0-30; p less than 0.00001). In 4 cases with total occlusion, dilatation was not obtained, and in one case the procedure was complicated by fatal brain embolism. There were 4 complications due to coronary occlusion or spasm, all of them resolved during CA without sequelae. The 20 cases with primary success have been followed during an average of 8.6 months. In three cases (15%) restenosis was detected; two of them underwent surgery, and CA was repeated successfully in the other. Disappearance of myocardial ischemia was confirmed in 14 patients, and functional improvement in the other three. In conclusion, CA is an effective and relatively safe therapeutic alternative in different clinical forms of coronary heart disease with a single vessel stenosis, or in selected cases of multivascular lesions with a critical stenosis.

Viral infections of the captive Kenya baboon (Papio cynocephalus): a five-year epidemiologic study of an outdoor colony.

Rectal swabs, throat swabs, fecal samples, tissues, and sera were collected from 334 adult and infant Kenya baboons (Papio cynocephalus) in captivity at this institution over a 5-year period. A total of 4,893 specimens were collected, resulting in the isolation of 582 viral isolates (11.9%). The month of November yielded the lowest isolation rate, while the month of January produced the highest rate. The most commonly isolated viruses in adults and infants were SV6 and SV23, followed by N125, SV15, and SV17 in that order in adults, and SA7, N125, SV15, V340, and SV17 in that order in infants. Nine serotypes, namely enteroviruses SV19, SV42, SA5, A13, and N203, as well as adenoviruses SV15, SV20, SV31, and SV37, were isolated only from adults. Two adenovirus serotypes, SA7 and V340, were recovered predominantly from infants.

The isolation of herpesvirus from trigeminal ganglia of normal baboons (Papio cynocephalus).

A herpesvirus was isolated from the trigeminal ganglia of three of six normal baboons (Papio cynocephalus). This virus possessed the virologic characteristics of SA8, A herpesvirus known to be indigenous to the baboon.

A comparison of neutralization tests for the detection of antibodies to Herpesvirus simiae (monkey B virus).

Neutralization tests used in one laboratory in the USA and one laboratory in England to detect antibodies to Herpesvirus simiae have been compared. Complete concordance in results was obtained with 53 (90%) of 59 monkey sera. The remaining six sera all had titers no greater than 1:3. Four were positive only in the American test, and two were positive only in the British test. The importance of using complement if maximum sensitivity is to be achieved in detecting antibodies to this virus has been confirmed.

Modificación de los cólicos nefríticos y de la excreción de calcio en orina de 24 horas en el hiperparatiroidismo primario tras la paratiroidectomía / Modification of nephritic colic and 24-hour calcium excretion in urine in primary hyperthyroidism after parathyroidectomy

Se documentó la frecuencia de cólicos nefríticos en pacientes con hiperparatiroidismo primario, y se determinó su modificación tras la paratiroidectomía; así mismo se estudiaron parámetros de laboratorio tales como calcio, fósforo y parathormona en suero, y excreción de calcio en orina de 24h previos y posteriores a la intervención. A la vista de los resultados se puede concluir que la paratiroidectomía es útil en el tratamiento de la enfermedad calculosa renal producida por el hiperparatiroidismo primario (AU)

We documented the frequency of nephritic colic in patients with primary hiperparathyroidism, and determined its modification after the parathyroidectomy; we also studied laboratory parameters such as calcium, phosphorus and parathyroid hormone in serum, and the excretion of Cao 24h, previous and later to the intervention. At sight of the results it is possible to be concluded that the parathyroidectomy is useful in the treatment of the kidney stone disease produced by the primary hyperparathyroidism (AU)