An alternative method for the synthesis of competitor RNA transcripts useful for specific detection and quantitation of dengue virus serotype 2 genome and replicative intermediate RNA.

The development of a quantitative-competitive reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay to quantify dengue virus (DEN) genome (vRNA) and its replicative intermediate RNA (vRI) is described. A highly conserved region located on the DEN capsid-premembrane genes was used to produce a competitor RNA molecule which contains an internal deletion of 70 nucleotides. The competitor provides a suitable internal control useful to quantify viral RNA from all four dengue virus (DEN 1-4) serotypes. The detection limit of the assay was found to be 100 copies per reaction. This is a rapid, simple, sensitive, inexpensive and easy method for quantitation of DEN RNA species.

The immunostimulant RU41740 from Klebsiella pneumoniae activates human cells in whole blood to potentially stimulate innate and adaptive immune responses.

The compound RU41740 from Klebsiella pneumoniae, when used as an immunostimulant, improves responses to bacterial and yeast infections in murine models and in human trials. The aim of this study was to determine in vitro, the capacity of RU41740 to stimulate human leukocytes in whole blood. Blood samples from healthy adult donors were incubated with RU41740 for 4 or 24 h and leukocytes were assessed for levels of activation markers and cytokine production by flow cytometry and ELISA. The early activation marker CD69 was induced at 4 h in NK cells > B cells > T cells > monocytes whereas at 24 h CD80 and CD86 levels were augmented on monocytes and IL-12 was induced; HLA-DR levels increased on both B cells and monocytes. The pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 were produced at 4 h at similar levels to that induced by LPS and monocytes appeared to be a source of TNF-alpha. IFN-gamma, was induced at 5 h just in NK cells. Activation induced by RU41740 was not abolished by polymixin B, ruling out the possible contamination with LPS. These data indicate that RU41740 can impact not only the innate immune responses but potentially enhance adaptive immune responses by up-regulating expression of molecules involved in antigen presentation on antigen presenting cells.

Intervención educativa sobre conocimientos de hipertensión arterial. Policlínico Héroes del Moncada. Municipio Cárdenas, 2015 / Educative intervention on knowledge of arterial hypertension. Policlinic Heroes del Moncada. Municipality of Cardenas, 2015

Introducción: la educación del hipertenso es un elemento primordial para elevar el conocimiento sobre hipertensión arterial, su control y la calidad de vida. Objetivo: aumentar conocimientos sobre Hipertensión Arterial a hipertensos y contribuir a elevar el control. Materiales y métodos: intervención educativa dirigida a hipertensos en Escuelas para Hipertensos, con un programa educativo y ejercicios físicos. Se seleccionaron dos muestras de 350 hipertensos antes y después de la intervención, aplicándose un cuestionario de 14 preguntas sobre temas de hipertensión arterial. Se realizaron 3 análisis: proporción de hipertensos con 8 y mas respuestas correctas, proporción de cada pregunta con más de 75% de respuestas correctas y proporción de hipertensos aprobados (70 puntos de 100). Test estadísticos, Chi2, valor p. Resultados: post-intervención, con los 3 análisis los hipertensos aumentaron los conocimientos con diferencias estadísticamente significativas, p<0,05. Conclusiones: fue efectiva la intervención aumentando los conocimientos y el control de los hipertensos (AU).

Introduction: education of patients with hypertension is a primordial element to elevate the knowledge on HBP, its control and the quality of life. Objective: to rise the knowledge of the HBP patient and its control. Materials and methods: educational intervention to the patients through the Schools of HBP, with an Educational and physical exercises Program. Two samples before and after the intervention were selected (350 patients). A questionnaire of 14 questions on topics of HBP applied. Three analysis were carried out: Proportion of patients with 8 and more correct answers, proportion of each question with more than 75% of correct answers, and proportion of approved patients (70 out of 100). Statistical Test, Chi2, p value. Results: post-intervention, knowledge increased according to test with statistically significant differences. p<0,05. Conclusions: the intervention was effective. Rise the knowledge of HBP and controlled patients (AU).

Algunos resultados postintervención en el control, tratamiento y complicaciones de la hipertensión arterial. Policlínico Universitario Héroes del Moncada. Cárdenas, 2014 / Several post-intervention outcomes in the control, treatment and complications of arterial hypertension. University Policlinic Heroes del Moncada. Cardenas 2014

Introducción: la educación del hipertenso y del equipo de salud son elementos primordiales para el mejor control de la hipertensión arterial. Objetivo: elevar los pacientes controlados al 70 %. Materiales y métodos: se realizó un estudio epidemiológico cuasiexperimetal. La intervención se dirigió a médicos de familias, grupos básicos de trabajo, comunidad e hipertensos. Se seleccionaron dos muestras (350 hipertensos diferentes), antes y después de la intervención, realizándose encuestas, mediciones con comparaciones de resultados; test estadístico: Chi2, Odds ratio, valor p. Resultados: los hipertensos controlados y adherencia al tratamiento aumentaron, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas, p<0,05. No hubo diferencias entre los 5 medicamentos más utilizados. En la postintervención, presentaron asociación estadística significativa con hipertensos controlados: adherencia al tratamiento, dieta baja en sal y grasa, consumo de frutas y vegetales, y no fumar. Las medias de presión diastólica, sistólica y las complicaciones disminuyeron, con diferencias estadísticamente significativas, p<0,05. Conclusiones: aumentaron los hipertensos controlados y se lograron mejoras en la calidad de vida de los hipertensos.

Background: the education of the hypertensive patient and the health team are important elements for the better control of arterial hypertension. Objective: increasing controlled patients to 70 %. Materials and Methods: A quasi-experimental epidemiologic study was carried out. The intervention was headed to family physicians, basic work teams, the community and hypertensive patients. Two samples were chosen (350 different hypertensive patients), before and after interventions, applying interviews, measuring with results comparisons, statistical tests: Chi2, Odds ratio and P value. Outcomes: The controlled hypertensive patients and treatment adherence increased, with significant statistical differences, p<0.05. There were not differences between the five most used medications. In the post-intervention period, treatment adherence, low salt and fat diet, fruits and vegetables consumption, and no smoking showed significant statistic association with controlled hypertensive patients. The average diastolic and systolic pressure and complications decreased, with significant statistical differences p<0.05. Conclusions: The controlled hypertensive patients increased and the life quality of the hypertensive patients improved.

Bacille Calmette-Guérin infection and disease with fatal outcome associated with a point mutation in the interleukin-12/interleukin-23 receptor beta-1 chain in two Mexican families.

Patients with Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial diseases (MSMD) mainly suffer from Mycobacterium and Salmonella infections, which are due to mutations in genes controlling the interleukin (IL)-12/IL-23-dependent IFN-γ production. We performed a molecular diagnosis in two Mexican patients with persistent mycobacterial infections. Patients 1 (P1) and 2 (P2) from two unrelated, non-consanguineous families from two villages near Mexico City developed bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) disease secondary to vaccination; patients and their families were studied at the immunological level for production and response to IFN-γ. The ß1 subunit of the IL-12 receptor (encoded by the IL12RB1 gene) was not expressed in cells from P1 or P2, or in two siblings of P1. Sequencing of the IL12RB1 gene showed the same point mutation 1791+2 T>G, homozygous in patients and heterozygous in parents. P1 and P2 died at the ages of 4 and 16 years, respectively, with disseminated and uncontrolled BCG disease and with Candida albicans infections in spite of multiple anti-mycobacterial drug treatments. One of P2's siblings also died following disseminated mycobacterial infection secondary to BCG vaccination. These are the first cases in Mexico of patients with BCG disease traced to a mutation in the IL12RB1 gene, with a fatal outcome. Doctors must be alert to the adverse reactions to BCG vaccination and to persistent Mycobacterium infections, and in such cases should investigate possible mutations in the genes of the IL-12/IL-23-IFN-γ axis.

Intervención integral educativa en hipertensión arterial. Policlínico Héroes del Moncada. Municipio de Cárdenas, 2013 / Integral educative intervention in arterial hypertension. Policlinic Heroes del Moncada. Cardenas Municipality, 2013

Se realizó la descripción de una intervención integral dirigida a médicos de familias y grupos básicos de trabajo, en consulta externa, a la comunidad y a los hipertensos del Policlínico Héroes del Moncada, del 1 de enero al 31 de diciembre de 2013. Se consignaron los temas que se impartirán a los médicos de familia y a los grupos básicos de trabajo, según la guía del Programa de Hipertensión Arterial. Se señalaron los acápites que deben ser llenados en la historia clínica y las acciones a desarrollar por el médico de familia en la consulta externa del hipertenso. Se expresaron las actividades y el procedimiento de intervención en la comunidad, así como la metodología y el programa para llevar a cabo en las escuelas de hipertensos.

We described an integral intervention directed to family physicians and basic work groups in external consultation, to the community and hypertensive patients of the Policlinic Heroes del Moncada, carried out from January 1st to December 31st 2013. The themes taught to family physicians and basic work groups were identified taking into account the Arterial Hypertension Program guidelines. We indicated the items of the clinical record that should be filled out and the actions the family physician should develop in the hypertensive patient external consultation. We explained the activities and the intervention procedure in the community, and also the methodology and program to develop in the hypertensive patients’ schools.