Ileal ganglioneuromatosis in a piglet: histopathological and immunohistochemical studies.

Ganglioneuromatosis (GNM) is a rare condition characterized by the benign proliferation of ganglion cells, nerve fibres and supporting cells of the enteric nervous system. Necropsy examination of a female piglet weighing 4 kg revealed a well-demarcated 20 cm segment of terminal ileum with thickening of the wall. Microscopically, the lamina propria was infiltrated by enteric glial cells and large ganglion cells. Within the submucosal and muscular layers, aggregates of neurons were interlaced by Schwann cells and enteric glial cells arranged in concentric rings. Immunohistochemically, the neurons were weakly labelled for S-100 and neuron-specific enolase, Schwann cells expressed S-100 and vimentin and enteric glial cells expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein and S-100. Pathological and immunohistochemical findings supported the diagnosis of ileal GNM.

Biodiversity and distribution of helminths and protozoa in naturally infected horses from the biosphere reserve La Sierra Madre de Chiapas", México.

A cross sectional survey was performed to identify gastrointestinal helminths and protozoans in naturally infected horses from the biosphere reserve known as "La Sierra Madre de Chiapas", Mexico (El Triunfo and La Sepultura). During a three-year survey, fecal samples from 90 horses and parasites from 2 necropsied animals were collected. Five families from the Nematoda class: Ascaridae, Kathlanidae, Oxyuridae, Strongylidae and Trichostrongylidae were found, whereas, only one family from the class Cestoda, was observed: Anoplocephalidae. One family from the class Insecta, was observed: Gasterophiilidae. The number of species of parasites ranged from 13 to 18 with an average of 15 per animal. Adult parasites were recovered from the large intestine luminal contents at necropsy. Species recovered included: Strongylus vulgaris, S. equinus, S. edentatus, Oxyuris equi, Parascaris equorum, Coronocyclus coronatum, C. labiatus, C. labratus, Cyathostomum tetracanthum, Cylicocyclus insigne, C. leptostomus, Cylicodontophorus bicoronatus, Cylicostephanus asymetricus, C. bidentatus, C. minutus, C. longibursatus, Petrovinema poculatum, Poteriostomum imparidentatum, Cylicostephanus goldi, Tridentoinfundibulum gobi, Triodontophorus serratus and T. tenuicollis. One species of Diptera were recovered from stomach and identified: Gasterophilus intestinalis. Furthermore, different species of protozoa were recovered from fresh horse-dung and identified in four classes: Sporozoa, Litostomatea, Ciliasida and Suctoria. Nine families: Cryptosporidiidae, Eimeriidae, Balantidiidae, Buetschliidae, Blepharocorythidae, Cycloposthiidae, Spirodiniididae, Ditoxidae, Acinetidae; and 31 ciliates species were recorded: Allantosoma dicorniger, A. intestinalis, Alloiozona trizona, Blepharosphaera intestinalis, Blepharoprosthium pireum, Blepharoconus benbrooki, Bundleia postciliata, Didesmis ovalis, D. quadrata, Sulcoarcus pellucidulus, Blepharocorys angusta, B. cardionucleata, B. curvigula, B. juvata, B. uncinata, B. valvata, Cycloposthium bipalmatum, C. edentatum, C. scutigerum, Charonina equi, Ditoxum funinucleum, Spirodinium equi, Tetratoxum unifasciculatum, Triadinium caudatum, T. galea, T. minimum and Tripalmaria dogieli. Other ciliate observed and recorded was Ochoterenaia appendiculata. This study describes the biodiversity and distribution of common and new helminths and protozoas found in the gastrointestinal tract from horses in the biosphere reserve "Sierra Madre de Chiapas" in Mexico.

[L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria: clinical, biochemical and neuroradiological findings in two Venezuelan patients]. / Aciduria L-2-hidroxiglutárica: aspectos clínicos, bioquímicos y de neuroimagen en dos pacientes venezolanos.

INTRODUCTION: L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria is a rare inborn error of metabolism, autosomal recessive, identified in about 50 patients. The primary defect is still unknown. The clinical phenotype is variable. Affected individuals show slowly progressive neurodegenerative disorder with cerebellar ataxia and mental retardation. Pyramidal, and extrapyramidal signs, seizures and macrocephaly have been reported. All patients previously described show a pattern of subcortical leukoencephalopathy with nearly empty gyral cores and cerebellar atrophy in neuroimaging studies. The diagnosis is established by detection of increased levels of L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in urine, plasma and cerebrospinal fluid. CASE REPORTS: We here describe two patients 7 and 9 years old, who presented psychomotor retardation, seizures, progressive cognitive deterioration, and pyramidal, extrapyramidal and cerebellar signs. Magnetic resonance scanning of the brain demonstrated a bilateral subcortical leukoencephalopathy pattern and areas of increased T2-weighted signal in the basal ganglia and cerebellar dentate nuclei. The analysis of organic acids in urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry showed elevated 2-hydroxyglutaric acid, 100% of it in the form of L enantiomer. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic consideration is based on clinical findings and typical neuroimaging pattern and is established by detection of L-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in body fluids. Subcortical white matter loss is an important clue to diagnosis.

Development and validation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for recombinant human gamma interferon.

A one-site ELISA for the quantification of recombinant human gamma interferon (rh-IFN-gamma) was developed and validated. A single monoclonal antibody (Mab) was used as a "catching" antibody and as a horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-labeled conjugate. Detection limit and quantification limit of this assay were estimated to be 1.26 and 15 ng/mL, respectively, and the coefficient of variation was below 15%. The ELISA was specific for rh-IFN-gamma, showing no cross reactivity to other related molecules in the range of the concentrations studied. The results correlated well with those obtained by a bioassay method. By using this assay, it was demonstrated that 0.01-1% (v/v) Tween 80 protected rh-IFN-gamma during freezing and thawing.

Tratamientos analíticos de muestras de IFN alfa 2b h-rec, para su cuantificación por ELISA / Analyticaltreatments of rec-h alpha 2b interferon samples for their quantitation by ELISA

La obtención de interferón 2b humanos recombinante (IFN alfa 2b hr) en E. coli, en forma insoluble, hace necesario el estudio del ratamiento de las muestras para su cuantificación mediante un sistema inmunoenzimático tipo ELISA. De los sistemas analíticos ensayados para la extracción de proteina insoluble, el óptimo resultó una modificación del tapón L aemmli con un 1 % de SDS y 2,5 % de 2-merceptoetanol. Las proteinas de la cepa productora y la mayoría de los sistemas tampones empleados no influyeron sobre el reconocimiento inmunológico del interferón a diluciones mayores de 1/500

Control del proceso de purificación del factor de crecimiemto epidérmico humano recombinante (r-hEGF) mediante diferentes métodos analíticos / Control of the process of purification of the recombinant human epidermal growth factor with different analytical methods

Se aplicaron diferentes métodos analíticos al control del proceso de purificación del Factor de Crecimiento Epidérmico humano recombinante (r-hEGF). El radioinmunoensayo en fase liquida con anticuerpos policlonales permitió con sensibilidad de 0,5 ng/ml cuantificar la proteína durante el proceso de producción. Se demostró la factibilidad del uso de anticuerpos monoclonales en sistemas en solución y en fase sólida para sustitución de los anticuerpos policlonales. La separación con interacción hidrofóbica permitió la caracterización cromatográfica del r-hEGF evidenciando dos especies moleculares. Se estudió el comportamiento electroforético y se establecieron las condiciones óptimas para aplicar los sistemas elecforéticos en geles de poliacrilamida con dodecil sulfato de sodio (SDS-PAGE) como críterio de pureza del producto final

Purificación rápida de anticuerpos monoclonales empleando un gel TSK -butilo 650 (S) / Rapid purification of monoclonal antibodies using TSK -butil 650 (S) gel

Se evaluó la cromatografía hidrofóbica de alta resolución a nivel analítico como método alternativo en la purificación de anticuerpos monoclonales (AcM) anti interferón alfa 2b humano recombinante. Como soporte fue utilizado un gel TSK-butilo 650(S) de alta rigidez. Se optimizaron las condiciones de corrida para obtener la maxima pureza del AcM anti interferón alfa 2b recombinante CB-IFNA2.1. Resultó necesario modificar el gradiente de elución para purificar otros AcM del mismo isotipo y especificidad, evidenciándose que el gel de butilo muestra una capacidad adicional de diferenciación entre inmunoglobulinas del tipo IgG1. La eliminación de pasos de diálisis y de dasalinización, así como la alta pureza de los anticuerpos obtenidos son las principales características de la purificación utilizando este tipo de matriz

[Pathohistology of allotransplanted kidneys. A 10-year report from Santiago, Cuba]. / Pathohistologie allotransplantierter Nieren. Ein Zehnjahresbericht aus Santiago de Cuba.

Of altogether 201 allotransplantations in Santiago de Cuba the material was histologically examined 328 times. Transplant biopsies and explants most frequently revealed a rejection nephropathy, in which case the forms of the prognostically unfavourable rejection vasculopapty were more frequent than the types of the tubulointerstitial rejection nephropath which are better to be influenced therapeutically. A histologically diagnosed acute failure of the kidney was casually based on (reversible) lesions of the donor kidney, infections and haemorrhages after the transplantation as well as on the combination with a rejection. A transplant pyelonephritis and transplant glomerulonephritis were rarely observed. Complete necroses of a transplant biopsy cylinder allow the urgent suspicion of an obliterating rejection vasculopathy with secondary transplant necroses.