Identification of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli using the rpoB gene and a cryptic DNA fragment from C. jejuni.

Campylobacter jejuni (Cj) and C. coli (Cc) clinical isolates, obtained from three different sources, were characterized using two Cj DNA probes, CJ01 and CJ02. These probes were selected at random by virtue of their stability in Escherichia coli (Ec). CJ01 hybridized specifically with DNA from Cj reference strains, but not with DNA from Cc, C. lari (Cl) nor C. fetus (Cf) reference strains. Using clinical isolates characterized by genome-genome hybridization and biotype, CJ01 hybridized with DNA derived from all Cj strains. However, DNA from four out of ten Cc strains, from three different sources, also hybridized with CJ01, suggestive of this region being heterogeneous between clinical isolates of both species. The nucleotide sequence analysis of CJ01 reveals two incomplete open reading frames (ORFs) that did not show significant homology with any other known sequences. CJ02 hybridized specifically with DNA from Cj and Cc reference strains, but not with DNA from Cl and Cf reference strains. The specificity and sensitivity were maintained upon hybridization with DNA from 31 clinical isolates. CJ02 has an uninterrupted ORF whose deduced amino-acid sequence showed extensive homology with the central region of the Ec and Salmonella typhimurium (St) RNA polymerase beta subunits (52 and 66% similarity, respectively). The most conserved segments correspond to putative functional domains.

Neuroprotective effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on a Huntington's disease rat model: effects on neurotrophic factors and neuronal density.

There is evidence to suggest that the neuroprotective effect of exposure of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) may be due, at least in part, to the effect of these fields on neurotrophic factors levels and cell survival, leading to an improvement in behavior. This study was undertaken to investigate the neuroprotective effects of ELFEF in a rat model of 3-nitropropionic acid (3NP)-induced Huntington's disease. Behavior patterns were evaluated, and changes in neurotrophic factor, cell damage, and oxidative stress biomarker levels were monitored in Wistar rats. Rats were given 3NP over four consecutive days (20 mg/kg body weight), whereas ELFEF (60 Hz and 0.7 mT) was applied over 21 days, starting after the last injection of 3NP. Rats treated with 3NP exhibited significantly different behavior in the open field test (OFT) and the forced swim test (FST), and displayed significant differences in neurotrophic factor levels and oxidative stress biomarkers levels, together with a neuronal damage and diminished neuronal density, with respect neuronal controls. ELFEF improved neurological scores, enhanced neurotrophic factor levels, and reduced both oxidative damage and neuronal loss in 3NP-treated rats. ELFEF alleviates 3NP-induced brain injury and prevents loss of neurons in rat striatum, thus showing considerable potential as a therapeutic tool.

Determination of pesticides and some metabolites in different kinds of milk by solid-phase microextraction and low-pressure gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A new analytical method is proposed to determine more than 40 multiclass pesticides in different kinds of processed (whole, skimmed and powdered) and unprocessed (goat and human) milk samples using solid-phase microextraction (SPME). A comparative study between headspace (HS) and direct immersion (DI) was carried out. The effect of milk dilution and the use of acid to reduce the influence of the matrix in DI-SPME mode were also evaluated. DI of the SPME fiber into previously diluted and acidified milk samples achieved the best sensitivity results. Pesticides were determined using low-pressure gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LP-GC-MS/MS). Both of the selected techniques have been shown to be effective at reduce fat interference and can determine analytes present at very low concentrations (limits of quantification between 0.02 and 1.00 microg L(-1)). Performance characteristics such as linearity, recovery, precision, and lower limits, together with an estimation of the measurement uncertainty using validation data, are presented for each pesticide. All of the pesticides presented recovery rates of between 81 and 110% and precision values lower than 12% (expressed as the relative standard deviation). The overall uncertainty of the method was estimated at three different concentrations (10, 25 and 50 microg L(-1)) and was lower than 25.5% in all cases. The proposed analytical methodology was applied to the analysis of target pesticides in 35 samples: 15 commercial, 3 human and 17 goat milk samples. The metabolite p,p'-DDE was the compound most frequently found in both the breast and goat milk samples, at concentration levels < 20 microg L(-1). However, pesticide residues were not found in any of the other 15 commercial milk samples (skimmed, powdered and whole milk) analyzed.

[Dystonia sensitive to levodopa]. / Distonía sensible a la levodopa.

A Spanish family with the DTI variant sensitive to L-Dopa is presented with three patients, 2 first cousins and an aunt being described. The dystonic beginning of the disease during infancy is of note in the former two patients as is the later initiation of parkinsonism in the third patient. Marked improvement was observed in all of the patients with L-Dopa treatment. Some peculiarities of the cases are commented upon and the discussion includes analysis of the nosological aspects, relation with juvenile parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease. Finally, reference is made to the different hypersensitivity for presenting choreic dyskinesia which the patients had.

Assessment of metal contamination in Doñana National Park (Spain) using crayfish (Procamburus clarkii).

Water quality assessment in the Aznalcollar area was attempted using multivariate methods based on heavy metal concentrations in red swamp crayfish (Procamburus clarkii). Trace levels of four heavy metals, copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb), were detected in crayfish from eleven different stations. Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted a gradient of contamination between the sampling stations. Cluster analysis (CA) distinguished three groups of stations. Discriminant analysis also differentiated three groups. The group centroids of the first discriminant function were used to devise an index that varies according to the source of the crayfish. These standardized values are proposed for use as a water quality index. The ability of this index to successfully predict environmental quality was proved with random samples.

[Neuropsychological disorders in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Don't they exist or do they just go undetected?]. / Alteraciones neuropsicológicas en la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica. No existen o no se detectan?

AIMS: The aims of this paper is to demonstrate the existence of neuropsychological disorders in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and to perform an in depth study of the cognitive functioning of the prefrontal lobes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A neuropsychological study of 14 patients with ALS was conducted using an extensive battery of tests and were compared with a group of 14 healthy controls. Both groups were homogeneous as regards age, sex, education and manual dominance. In this clinical and research study, as well as the neuropsychological variables (subtest of the Barcelona PIEN Test neuropsychological battery), we also took the evolution of the disease, the age and neurological clinical features of the patients suffering from ALS into account. RESULTS: We found neuropsychological disorders in the ALS patients that were centred, either directly or indirectly, on functions of the prefrontal lobe, and in particular of the dorsolateral and premotor cortices, which had already been observed in other research work. No memory disorders were found, something which is usually mentioned in studies about neuropsychological disorders in this type of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Apart from the primary motor zones affected in ALS, there appears to be a degenerative process in most of the frontal lobe, and there is a need for longitudinal studies of the possible progressive disorders of the frontal lobe in these patients. This is difficult, since these patients end up with serious neurological alterations which prevent a correct neuropsychological exploration from being carried out cognitively, and hence no conclusions can be drawn either

Corticosteroids, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen for IFNbeta-1a flu symptoms in MS: a randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and prednisone in the treatment of interferon beta-1a (IFNbeta-1a) flu-like syndrome (FLS). METHODS: Patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis initiating treatment with IM IFNbeta-1a were randomized in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial to receive acetaminophen 500 mg before and 6 and 12 hours after each injection, ibuprofen 400 mg before and 6 and 12 hours after each injection, or prednisone 60 mg daily for 1 week, plus tapering. Patients were instructed to keep a daily diary of fever severity, myalgia, chills, headache, and asthenia for 27 days. The sum of the scores of individual symptoms was used to obtain a daily FLS index. The primary outcome was the FLS index area under the curve (AUC) corrected by the number of measurement days. RESULTS: Eighty-four patients were randomized at 11 hospitals: acetaminophen (n = 28), ibuprofen (n = 28), and corticosteroids (n = 28). No differences were detected between treatments in the mean AUC of the FLS index. With limitation of the analysis to the days of IM IFNbeta-1a injection, differences favoring ibuprofen were observed in the mean FLS index (p = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: No prophylactic treatment for flu-like syndrome seems to be superior to another in terms of overall well-being during the first month of IM IFNbeta-1a therapy. However, ibuprofen confers better control of symptoms immediately following IM IFNbeta-1a injection.