New Entamoeba group in howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.) associated with parasites of reptiles.

Our knowledge of the parasite species present in wildlife hosts is incomplete. Protozoans such as amoebae of the genus Entamoeba infect a large variety of vertebrate species, including NHPs. However, traditionally, their identification has been accomplished through microscopic evaluation; therefore, amoeba species have not always been identified correctly. We searched for Entamoeba spp. using a fragment of the small subunit rDNA in free-ranging howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata and A. pigra) from southeast Mexico. One hundred fifty five samples were collected, with 46 from A. palliata and 109 from A. pigra and 8 of the total samples were positive. We detected a new clade of Entamoeba, which was separated from other described species but closer to E. insolita, as well as an unnamed sequence typically found in iguana species with low shared identity values (<90%). We designated this new clade as conditional lineage 8 (CL8) and we have shown that members of this group are not exclusive to reptiles.

Innovative Design Methodology for Patient-Specific Short Femoral Stems.

The biomechanical performance of hip prostheses is often suboptimal, which leads to problems such as strain shielding, bone resorption and implant loosening, affecting the long-term viability of these implants for articular repair. Different studies have highlighted the interest of short stems for preserving bone stock and minimizing shielding, hence providing an alternative to conventional hip prostheses with long stems. Such short stems are especially valuable for younger patients, as they may require additional surgical interventions and replacements in the future, for which the preservation of bone stock is fundamental. Arguably, enhanced results may be achieved by combining the benefits of short stems with the possibilities of personalization, which are now empowered by a wise combination of medical images, computer-aided design and engineering resources and automated manufacturing tools. In this study, an innovative design methodology for custom-made short femoral stems is presented. The design process is enhanced through a novel app employing elliptical adjustment for the quasi-automated CAD modeling of personalized short femoral stems. The proposed methodology is validated by completely developing two personalized short femoral stems, which are evaluated by combining in silico studies (finite element method (FEM) simulations), for quantifying their biomechanical performance, and rapid prototyping, for evaluating implantability.

Parasitic crustaceans (Branchiura and Copepoda) parasitizing the gills of puffer fish species (Tetraodontidae) from the coast of Campeche, Gulf of Mexico.

New information on the marine parasitic crustaceans from the Campeche coast, Gulf of Mexico (GoM), can improve our baseline knowledge of the ecology of both the host and parasite by providing, for example, parameters of infection. Such knowledge is especially important for fish farming, so that appropriate quarantine measures can be established. Our aim was to morphologically identify the parasitic crustaceans infecting puffer fish of commercial importance in the coastal zone of Campeche, Mexico. We provide new information on four known species of parasitic crustaceans from 92 specimens representing five species of tetraodontid fish. The parasitic crustaceans Argulus sp. (Branchiura, Argulidae), Caligushaemulonis (Caligidae), Pseudochondracanthusdiceraus (Chondracanthidae), and Taeniacanthuslagocephali (Taeniacanthidae) (all Copepoda) were found on Lagocephaluslaevigatus, Sphoeroidesnephelus, S.parvus, S.spengleri, and S.testudineus. This study revealed the occurrence of P.diceraus, which is of importance in aquaculture, on Sphoeroidesannulatus in the Mexican Pacific. Additionally, our results and other documentary records provide the first evidence of the interoceanic occurrence of the same parasitic crustacean species in the south-southwest of Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean. Moreover, our study provides valuable information on the biodiversity of parasitic crustaceans present in the GoM on puffer fish which are of great commercial importance for human consumption, fisheries, and aquaculture.

Synthesis of sugar-based chelating surfactants for metal removal from wastewater.

Four chelating surfactants were synthesized in a few steps from octyl D-glucosides. Their main interfacial properties were determined, and their flotation properties were evaluated on a laboratory scale using Fe(III) as a model contaminant metal. The performance on metal extraction was mainly dependent on the complexing functional group, but the surfactant efficiency was also important.

Different kinetics of the regulation of respiration in permeabilized cardiomyocytes and in HL-1 cardiac cells. Importance of cell structure/organization for respiration regulation.

The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of cellular regulation of mitochondrial respiration in permeabilized cardiac cells with clearly different structural organization: (i) in isolated rat cardiomyocytes with very regular mitochondrial arrangement, (ii) in HL-1 cells from mouse heart, and (iii) in non-beating (NB HL-1 cells) without sarcomeres with irregular and dynamic filamentous mitochondrial network. We found striking differences in the kinetics of respiration regulation by exogenous ADP between these cells: the apparent Km for exogenous ADP was by more than order of magnitude (14 times) lower in the permeabilized non-beating NB HL-1 cells without sarcomeres (25+/-4 microM) and seven times lower in normally cultured HL-1 cells (47+/-15 microM) than in permeabilized primary cardiomyocytes (360+/-51 microM). In the latter cells, treatment with trypsin resulted in dramatic changes in intracellular structure that were associated with 3-fold decrease in apparent Km for ADP in regulation of respiration. In contrast to permeabilized cardiomyocytes, in NB HL-1 cells creatine kinase activity was low and the endogenous ADP fluxes from MgATPases recorded spectrophotometrically by the coupled enzyme assay were not reduced after activation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by the addition of mitochondrial substrates, showing the absence of ADP channelling in the NB HL-1 cells. While in the permeabilized cardiomyocytes creatine strongly activated mitochondrial respiration even in the presence of powerful competing pyruvate kinase-phosphoenolpyruvate system, in the NB HL-1 cells the stimulatory effect of creatine was not significant. The results of this study show that in normal adult cardiomyocytes and HL-1 cells intracellular local restrictions of diffusion of adenine nucleotides and metabolic feedback regulation of respiration via phosphotransfer networks are different, most probably related to differences in structural organization of these cells.

Non-beating HL-1 cells for confocal microscopy: application to mitochondrial functions during cardiac preconditioning.

HL-1, the first cell line with a cardiac phenotype for biological experiments, displays spontaneous electrophysiological and mechanical regular activity, and cyclic calcium movements. We isolated a derived line, devoid of transient movements, for confocal microscopy experiments. These cells do express cardiac proteins: connexin 43, the cardiac isoform of dihydropyridine receptors, desmin, and developmental myosin but have no sarcomeric arrangement. They still possess the electrophysiological characteristics and ionic currents of cardiac cells, among them the cardiac potassium current IKr. We also found diazoxide and glibenclamide sensitive potassium channels with properties similar to IK(ATP) in adult cardiac myocytes. The pacemaker current I(f) was not observed, in agreement with the cells showing excitability but lacking in pacemaker activity. The absence of movement is an advantage for studies which include changes of media in order to follow morphological changes under continuous perfusion. We observed however a basal spontaneous movement of mitochondria and we developed a method to quantify its amplitude using confocal microscopy. No mitochondrial depolarization could be detected when the membrane potential was measured by using very low light photomultiplier and confocal fluorescence imaging under the K(ATP) channel opener diazoxide. Thus cardiac pharmacological preconditioning by K(ATP) channel openers might involve other routes than mitochondrial K channels targeting.

Effects of language concordance and interpreter use on therapeutic alliance in Spanish-speaking integrated behavioral health care patients.

The discrepancy between the growing number of Spanish speakers in the U.S. and the availability of bilingual providers creates a barrier to accessing quality mental health care. Use of interpreters provides one strategy for overcoming this linguistic barrier; however, concerns about whether sessions with interpreters, versus bilingual providers, impede therapeutic alliance remain. The current study explored associations between the use of interpreters and therapeutic alliance in a sample of 458 Spanish-speaking patients seen for integrated behavioral health visits at primary care clinics. Patients completed a brief (4 item) therapeutic alliance scale at their behavioral health appointment. In addition, to supplement the quantitative study data, a pilot study of 30 qualitative interviews was conducted with a new sample of 10 Spanish-speaking patients, 10 behavioral health consultants (BHCs), and 10 trained interpreters. Quantitative results showed that interpreter use did not relate to therapeutic alliance, even when controlling for relevant demographic variables. However, qualitative interviews suggested major themes regarding the relative benefits and challenges of using interpreters for patients, interpreters, and BHCs. In interviews, patients expressed a strong preference for bilingual providers. Benefits included greater privacy, sense of trust, and accuracy of communication. However, in their absence, interpreters were seen as increasing access to services and facilitating communication with providers, thereby addressing the behavioral health needs of patients with limited English proficiency. BHCs and interpreters emphasized the importance of interpreter training and a good collaborative relationship with interpreters to minimize negative effects on the quality of care.

Tailoring the mobility of a 3D molecule adsorbed on a metal surface.

Because of its tetrahedral structure, spirobifluorene is an innovative molecule for molecular mechanics studies by means of scanning tunneling microscopy. On Cu(100), it was observed only anchored at defects because of its mobility at room temperature. To frustrate its diffusion, it was functionalized with phenyl and thiophene groups. Tetraphenylspirobifluorene is also mobile on Cu(100), whereas tetrathienylspirobifluorene is fixed in the middle of the terraces. This very different behavior is an original and unexpected result because both benzene and thiophene are reported to be weakly bound to Cu(100) with almost the same adsorption energy.

Cardiovascular medicine at face value: a qualitative pilot study on clinical axiology.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiology is characterized by its state-of-the-art biomedical technology and the predominance of Evidence-Based Medicine. This predominance makes it difficult for healthcare professionals to deal with the ethical dilemmas that emerge in this subspecialty. This paper is a first endeavor to empirically investigate the axiological foundations of the healthcare professionals in a cardiology hospital. Our pilot study selected, as the target population, cardiology personnel not only because of their difficult ethical deliberations but also because of the stringent conditions in which they have to make them. Therefore, there is an urgent need to reconsider clinical ethics and Value-Based Medicine. This study proposes a qualitative analysis of the values and the virtues of healthcare professionals in a cardiology hospital in order to establish how the former impact upon the medical and ethical decisions made by the latter. RESULTS: We point out the need for strengthening the roles of healthcare personnel as educators and guidance counselors in order to meet the ends of medicine, as well as the need for an ethical discernment that is compatible with our results, namely, that the ethical values developed by healthcare professionals stem from their life history as well as their professional education. CONCLUSION: We establish the kind of actions, communication skills and empathy that are required to build a stronger patient-healthcare professional relationship, which at the same time improves prognosis, treatment efficiency and therapeutic adhesion.

Synthesis of new chelating surfactants from octyl D-glucopyranosiduronic acid and amino acids for metal flotation.

A new family of surfactants with metal-chelating properties was synthesized in few steps from octyl D-glucopyranosiduronic acid. The complexing function was either a carboxylic acid or a hydroxamic acid function introduced after coupling with glycine, aspartic acid, or glutamic acid and finally hydroxylamine. Interfacial properties were determined. Flotation experiments on a laboratory scale have been performed with Fe(III) solutions as model contaminant metal.

Osteonecrosis disbárica de cabeza humeral en buzo pesquero tratado con artroplastia de superficie / Dysbaric osteonecrosis of humeral head in a diver treated with resurfacing arthroplasty

Describir osteonecrosis disbárica (ODB) en buzo pesquero y exponer la experiencia inédita de tratamiento con artroplastia de superficie (AS). Introducción ODB, forma de necrosis avascular secundaria a enfermedad por descompresión (EDC), cuyo tratamiento gold standard para estadios avanzados continúa siendo la artroplastia total (AT). Presentación de caso: Paciente de 49 años, buzo pesquero, antecedentes de EDC tratada el 2008 en cámara hiperbárica, con diagnóstico compatible con ODB de cabeza humeral derecha de 6 años de evolución; Constant score=29. Se realiza AS del hombro derecho, y luego de 18 meses de seguimiento se reporta una adecuada evolución clínica con remisión de la sintomatología; Constant score a 18 meses=72. Discusión: El uso de AT en el paciente joven es limitado, por lo que surge la necesidad de implementar nuevas técnicas quirúrgicas en este grupo de pacientes. Conclusión: La AS constituye una alternativa terapéutica en adultos jóvenes y activos con ODB...

Introduce and describe Dysbaric Osteonecrosis (DON) in a fishing diver patient, emphasising clinical features, use of imaging methods, and present a new experience of treatment with Resurfacing Arthroplasty (RA). Introduction: DON, a form of avascular necrosis secondary to Decompression Sickness (DCS). Total Arthroplasty (AT) remains the reference treatment for advanced stages. Case report: Male, 49 years old, fishing diver, with a history of DCS treated in a hyperbaric chamber (2008). Right humeral head DON Compatible with 6 years of onset. Constant Score=29. RA performed on right shoulder. Clinical remission of symptoms was observed after 18 months of follow-up. Constant Score at 18 months=72. Discussion: TA use in young patients is limited, so there is a need to implement new surgical techniques in this group of patients. Conclusion: RA is a therapeutic alternative in young and active subjects with DON...

Determinación de la prevalencia de conjuntivitis alérgica infantil en ochoescuelas primarias del Cono Sur de Lima, Perú / Determination of the prevalence of childhood allergic conjunctivitis in eight elementary

Introducción: En Lima con casi tres millones de niños, no se han reportado hasta la actualidad estudios de prevalencia de alergia infantil. Objetivos: Determinar las características epidemiológicas actuales de la alergia ocular infantil en los estudiantes de escasos recursos, del nivel primario del sur de Lima. Se tomó muestra significativa a escolares de 8 colegios primarios, de tres distritos del sur de Lima, con 120 000 niños. Material y método: Se hizo un estudio transversal y observacional, se evaluó y examinó, in situ en cada escuela a 2 011 escolares de educación primaria. Para el cálculo de muestras usamos Excel 2003 y para análisis usamos SPSS 15,0. Resultados: Se halló una moderada prevalencia de alergia ocular (16,3%) (p <0,01) en la población escolar entre 6 y 11 años. Con un aumento de la frecuencia de alergia ocular que se incrementa conjuntamente con la edad. La alergia ocular se correlaciona más con la blefaritis y el chalazión. Conclusiones: La prevalencia de alergia ocular de 16,3% es moderada en la población escolar primaria de Lima sur, el comportamiento de la alergia ocular es ascendente según avanza la edad de los escolares (Y=0,0305 X=0,0638); pudiera tener relación con un mayor tiempo de exposición a los alergenos, así como a peculiaridades del estilo de vida del pre adolescente.

Introduction: In Lima with a population of almost three million children it has been not reported until now child allergy prevalence studies. Objectives: To determine the current epidemiological characteristics of childrenÆs eye allergy in the poor elementary students in South of Lima. We took significant sample to students from 8 primary schools in three districts in the South of Lima, with 120,000 children. Material and method: A cross-sectional and observational study was made, assessed and considered, on-site at each school 2,011 elementary students. For the calculation of samples we use Excel 2003 and for analysis we use SPSS 15.0. Results: With an increase in the frequency of eye allergy that increases with age. Eye allergy is more correlated with the blepharitis and the chalazion. Conclusions: The prevalence of eye allergy 16.3% is moderate in the primary school population of Lima South, the eye allergy behavior is rising as advances school age (Y = 0.0305 X=0.0638); It could be related to a longer exposure to allergens, as well as the lifestyle of the teenage pre peculiarities.

Angioqueratoma nevoide circunscrito: reporte de un caso / Angiokeratoma circumscriptum naeviforme: case report

El angioqueratoma nevoide circunscrito es el más raro de los cinco tipos de angioqueratomas descritos en la literatura. Estas lesiones usualmente están presentes al nacimiento y no se relacionan con enfermedad sistémica. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 32 años con cuadro clínico de angioqueratoma nevoide circunscrito tratado con crioterapia, con buena respuesta inicial.

Effects of extracellular ATP on freshly isolated mouse skeletal muscle cells during pre-natal and post-natal development.

Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) has profound effects on membrane conductance and on the intracellular free [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](i)) in cultured skeletal muscle cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the occurrence and to characterize the properties of such responses during mammalian muscle development in vivo. The effect of ATP (0.2 mM) was tested on membrane current and [Ca(2+)](i) in freshly isolated pre- and post-natal mouse skeletal muscle cells. Pre-natal cells were from 14- to 19-day-old fetuses. In pre- and early post-natal cells, very small elevations of [Ca(2+)](i) (<50 nM) following ATP application could be detected with the fluorescent indicator fura-2. A clear subsarcolemmal rise in [Ca(2+)] was however associated to the presence of ATP, as demonstrated by increased activity of plasma membrane Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels in cells bathed in a depolarizing, high-calcium-containing solution. In cells voltage-clamped at -80 mV in external Tyrode, ATP induced an inward current associated with an increased membrane conductance. The mean maximal amplitude of the ATP-induced current was -0.84 +/- 0.07 A/F ( n=39). The response to ATP was still present after birth, although its amplitude tended to decrease with post-natal development and was completely absent in muscle cells from 3- to 6-month-old mice. The ATP-induced current could be abolished reversibly by suramin. Our results suggest that, over the range of developmental stages examined, skeletal muscle cells display an ionotropic purinergic signalling pathway with functional properties qualitatively consistent with what is observed in cultured myotubes.

Subcellular heterogeneity in mitochondrial red-ox responses to KATP channel agonists in freshly isolated rabbit cardiomyocytes.

We have used the technique of fluorescent microscopy imaging supplemented with the refined analysis of temporal cartography of the cell fluorescence to investigate the mechanisms of regulation of mitochondrial function and its red-ox state in cardiac cells in vivo. Autofluorescence of flavoproteins of the respiratory chain in the isolated rabbit cardiomyocytes was registered before and after application of mitochondrial KATP channel opener diazoxide (100 and 400 microM). Diazoxide addition resulted in oxidation of flavoproteins. Detailed analysis of these responses showed that they were heterogeneous over space and time. The local responses show rapid jumps. In a few cells, metabolic oscillations developed and could be recorded for tens of minutes. Under these conditions the cells appeared divided into a small number of regions in which mitochondria function synchronously. Local pattern of oxidation switches again and again from a reduced state to the same level of oxidation. All these phenomena where absent when the cells were permeabilized by saponin giving a direct access to mitochondrial KATP channel opener. Cross-correlation analysis revealed a high degree of homogeneity for cells presenting metabolic oscillations, contrarily to those displaying a smooth increase in fluorescence in response to diazoxide. The results are consistent with the view that mitochondria form independent functional units whose behaviour can be synchronised by some unknown cellular factors or metabolites.

Osteoclast spreading kinetics are correlated with an oscillatory activation of a calcium-dependent potassium current.

Cell movement and spreading involve calcium-dependent processes and ionic channel activation. During bone resorption, osteoclasts alternate between spread, motile and resorptive phases. We investigated whether the electrical membrane properties of osteoclasts were linked to their membrane morphological changes. Rabbit osteoclasts were recorded by time-lapse videomicroscopy performed simultaneously with patch-clamp whole cell and single channel recordings. Original image analysis methods were developed and used to demonstrate for the first time an oscillatory activation of a spontaneous membrane current in osteoclasts, which is directly correlated to the membrane movement rate. This current was identified as a calcium-dependent potassium current (IK(Ca)) that is sensitive to both charybdotoxin and apamin and was generated by a channel with unitary conductance of approximately 25+/-2 pS. Blockade of this current also decreased osteoclast spreading and inhibited bone resorption in vitro, demonstrating a physiological role for this current in osteoclast activity. These results establish for the first time a temporal correlation between lamellipodia formation kinetics and spontaneous peaks of IK(Ca), which are both involved in the control of osteoclast spreading and bone resorption.

Ametropía y ambliopía en escolares de 42 escuelas del programa ôEscuelas Saludablesõ en la DISA II, Lima, Perú, 2007-2008 / Ametropia and ambliopia in students of 42 schools of the program ôHealthful Schoolsõ in DISA II, Lima, Peru, 2007-2008

Introducción: en el Perú con casi 12 millones de niños, no se han reportado hasta la actualidad estudios de prevalencia de ametropía o ambliopía en escolares. Objetivos: determinar las características epidemiológicas actuales en tratamiento de la ambliopía severa ametropía en los estudiantes de escasos recursos del sur de Lima, en Perú. Se tomó muestra significativa a escolares de 42 colegios, de cinco distritos del sur de Lima, con 120 000 niños. Material y Método: se hizo un estudio en tres etapas, La primera transversal y observacional, evaluó agudeza visual y examen refractivo, in situ en cada escuela a 12 364 escolares. La segunda, fue de seguimiento a los amétropes moderados y severos, con examen oftalmológico, para confirmar grado de ametropía y su respectiva refracción cicloplégica. La tercera, detecto escolares ambliopes si la agudeza visual no mejoraba con su mejor corrección con lentes; asociamos ametropía severa y ambliopía y evaluó la existencia de tratamiento inicial para ambliopía con anteojos; se utilizó Exel 2003 para el calculo de muestras y análisis de resultados. Resultados: se halló una alta prevalencia de ametropía (46,3 por ciento) (p <0,01) en la población escolar en general y alta prevalencia de ambliopía en escolares amétropes severos (39 por ciento). Cuatro amétropes severos de cada diez había desarrollado ambliopía (p<0,029); y de estos el 90,25 por ciento no utilizaba anteojos (p< 0,045). Conclusiones: urge tomar medidas de prevención visual de ambliopía antes de los 5 años de edad, hasta dicha edad es recuperable ya que disminuye el rendimiento escolar. Podría ser que la desnutrición infantil precoz sea un factor de riesgo para la presencia de ametropías.

Background: There are almost 12 million children in Peru, and no studies regarding the prevalence of ametropia or amblyopia in school children have ever been reported. Objetives: To determine the epidemiologic characteristics and current therapy strategies for severe ametropia and amblyopia in students from limited-resource families in Southern Lima, Peru. Material and methods: A significant sample representative of 120,000 children from 42 schools in five districts of Southern Lima was assessed. The study was performed in three stages. The first one was a cross-sectional and observational survey, assessing visual acuity and performing refraction testing in 12,364 students. The second stage consisted in follow-up assessments in students with moderate and severe ametropy, aiming to confirm their ametropy degree and its respective cyclopegic refraction. The third stage detected students with amblyopia if visual acuty could not be corrected with the best prescription for wearing eyeglasses; we looked for a relationship between severe ametropy and amblyopia, and we determined whether the children had any eyeglasses prescription as initial therapy for amblyopia. Excel 2003 software was used for calculating sample size and for analyzing results obtained. Results: We found a high prevalence of ametropia (46,3 per cent) (p <0,01) in the general school children population and a high prevalence of amblyiopia in those children with severe ametropy (39 per cent). Four children out of ten with severe ametropy had developed amblyopia (p< 0,029); and of 90,25 per cent of them did not wear eyeglasses (p< 0.045). Conclusion: It is urgent to make prevention interventions for amblyopia before 5 years of age, since this condition may still be reversible at that age. We also postulate that infantile malnutrition may be a risk factor for the development of ametropy, as it is the case for a poor academic performance.