A hidden gem from Northeastern Brazil: A new species of Metaphotina Piza, 1964 (Mantodea, Acontistidae) ecologically linked to the Caatinga.

A new species of praying mantis, Metaphotina austri sp. n., is described from the Caatinga biome in Brazil. The species can be easily distinguished from its congeners by its small body size and diagnostic characters found on the head, wings, and male genitalia. Distributional data compiled from specimen labels, historical literature, and the citizen science platform iNaturalist showed that M. austri sp. n. is mainly associated with the northernmost and driest region of the Caatinga, known as the Depresso Sertaneja Setentrional. Ecological and geographical data about the new species, as well as comments on the diversity of Mantodea in the Caatinga, are provided, highlighting the importance of crowdsourced data for a more comprehensive understanding of praying mantis species distribution and their natural history.

Productive behavior in growing kid goats and methane production with the inclusion of chokecherry leaf (Prunus salicifolia).

Currently for the reduction of methane (CH4) emissions are using fodder rich in condensed tannins, however, not yet known exactly how they act in the rumen is not yet clear. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of leaves of Prunus salicifolia (PS, 0%, 15%, and 30%) on the productive behavior of growing kid goats, methane production, nutritional value, fermentation, and ruminal digestibility through an in vivo and in vitro study was performed. Diets were administered ad libitum to 6 Saanen kids with live weight (LW) of 12.25 ± 2.25 kg. Three levels of inclusion were used in a diet based on ground corn grain, soybean meal, corn stover, and oat hay in substitution with P. salicifolia leaves. The in vivo productive behavior was determined, as well as the fermentation kinetics, in vitro gas production, CH4 and hydrogen (H2) in an in vitro system was determined. For the in vivo study, we used a 3 × 3 Latin square design in in vivo study and an analysis of variance with three replications for in vitro gas production. The inclusion of 30% increased (P = 0.0011) dry matter intake (DMI 589.33 g/day) compared to the control group (418.80 g/day). The highest N excretion (feces and urine) (P < 0.001) was for T0, in addition to presenting a negative nitrogen balance compared with T15 and T30. The production of CH4 (mM)/g DM incubated, and CH4 (mM)/g DM fermented, CH4 (mM/day), and H2 was lower (P < 0.05) in T30 than T0 and T15. CH4 (mM)/day was lower (P < 0.036) in T130 (283 mM/day) compared with T0 (407 mM/day) P. salicifolia is a forage that helps to reduce the production of methane and can be included in the diets of growing kid goats in amounts less than 30% without affecting production performance.

Aislamiento y producción de basidiomas de cepas nativas de Volvariella bombycina (Schaeff) Singer, utilizando desechos agrícolas / Isolation and production of basidiomes from native strains of Volvariella bombycina (Schaeff) Singer, using agro-industrial wastes

Volvariella bombycina es una especie de hongo saprófito comestible que crece en troncos de árboles muertos y sobre la cual existe abundante información acerca de su sabor y propiedades nutricionales y medicinales. En Guatemala esta especie se consume en diversas regiones templado-cálidas del país, pero a la fecha no existe ningún estudio sobre su cultivo a nivel local. La presente investigación se realizó con el fin de conocer el comportamiento de tres cepas guatemaltecas de V. bombycina cultivadas en desechos agroindustriales. Las cepas fueron aisladas de basidiomas recolectados en bosques cercanos a la Ciudad de Guatemala, utilizándose medio PDA para el aislamiento y temperatura de 30 ºC para incubación. En la producción de inóculo se calculó la tasa de extensión radial (RER) sobre granos de sorgo y trigo en cajas de Petri. Para la obtención de basidiomas se evaluaron seis sustratos de desechos agrícolas: pasto jaraguá, caña y olote de maíz, rastrojo de frijol, paja de trigo, paja de arroz y tronco de tonché (Ipomoea murucoides), en frascos de vidrio. Se encontró que no hubo diferencia estadística significativa en el análisis de la RER entre las cepas VNPNU-01 y AADM-01 (p > .05), pero sí con la cepa VNPNU-02 (p < .05). Se obtuvieron basidiomas de V. bombycina en los seis sustratos evaluados, siendo la cepa AADM-01 la más productiva. De acuerdo con este estudio, las tres cepas guatemaltecas de V. bombycina pueden ser utilizadas en la producción de basidiomas en desechos agrícolas, lo que permitiría obtener un alimento nutritivo y generar ingresos a quienes deseen cultivar este hongo.

Volvariella bombycina is a species of edible saprophyte fungus that grows on logs of dead trees and about which there is information about its taste and nutritional and medicinal properties. In Guatemala this species is consumed in several warm regions of the country, but there is still no study on its cultivation locally. The present investigation was carried out in order to know the behavior of three Guatemalan strains of V. bombycina when cultivated in agricultural wastes. The strains were isolated from basidiomata collected in forests close to Guatemala City, using PDA medium and a temperature of 30ºC for incubation. In the inoculum production, the radial extension rate (RER) was calculated using sorghum and wheat grains in Petri dishes. For obtaining basidiomata, six agricultural wastes substrates were analyzed: grazing grass, cane and corn cob, stubble of bean, wheat straw, rice straw and tonché trunk (Ipomoea murucoides), in glass jars. There was found no significant difference in the statistical analysis of the RER with the VNPNU-01 and AADM-01 strains (p > .05), but it was significant with the VNPNU-02 strain (p > .05). Basidiomata of V. bombycina were obtained in the six substrates evaluated, being the AADM-01 strain the most productive. According to this evaluation, the three Guatemalan strains of V. bombycina can be used in the production of basidiomas using agricultural wastes, what would allow the production of a nutritious food and generate another income for those who want to grow this mushroom.

A checklist of the praying mantises of Peru: new records, one new genus (Piscomantis gen. n.) and biogeographic remarks (Insecta, Mantodea).

We present a preliminary checklist of the praying mantises (Insecta: Mantodea) of Peru. A total of 67 species are reported, nine of which constitute new records from that country. The following new nomenclatural procedures are introduced: Musoniella margharethae Battiston and Picciau, 2008 is transferred to Musonia as Musonia margharethae (Battiston and Picciau, 2008) (comb. n.), and Phyllovates brevicollis Orofino, Ippolito and Lombardo, 2006 is considered a new synonym (syn. n.) of Pseudovates peruviana (Rehn, 1911). A new genus, Piscomantis gen. n., is established to accommodate Galapagia peruana Beier, 1935, which is now referred to as Piscomantis peruana (Beier, 1935) (comb. n.). Ten species are removed from the Peruvian mantis fauna and two nomina nuda are proposed. An overview of the biogeography and ecology of Peruvian praying mantises is presented.

Learning curve in single-level minimally invasive tlif: experience of a neurosurgeon / Curva de aprendizagem em tlif minimamente invasiva em um nível: experiência de um neurocirurgião / Curva de aprendizaje en tlif por mínima invasión de un nivel: experiencia de un neurocirujano

ABSTRACT Objective: To describe the learning curve that shows the progress of a single neurosurgeon when performing single-level MI-TLIF. Methods: We included 99 consecutive patients who underwent single-level MI-TLIF by the same neurosurgeon (JASS). Patient's demographic characteristics were analyzed. In addition, surgical time, intraoperative blood loss and hospital stay were evaluated. The learning curves were calculated with a piecewise regression model. Results: The mean age was 54.6 years. The learning curves showed an inverse relationship between the surgical experience and the variable analyzed, reaching an inflection point for surgical time in case 43 and for blood loss in case 48. The mean surgical time was 203.3 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] 150-240 minutes), intraoperative bleeding was 97.4ml (IQR 40-100ml) and hospital stay of four days (IQR 3-5 days). Conclusions: MI-TLIF is a very frequent surgical procedure due to its effectiveness and safety, which has shown similar results to open procedure. According to this study, the required learning curve is slightly higher than for open procedures, and is reached after about 45 cases.

RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever a curva de aprendizagem que mostra o progresso de um único neurocirurgião na realização de MI-TLIF em um só nível. Métodos: Foram incluídos 99 pacientes consecutivos submetidos a MI-TLIF de um só nível pelo mesmo neurocirurgião (JASS). Foram analisadas as características demográficas dos pacientes. Além disso, avaliou-se o tempo operatório, a perda de sangue intraoperatória e o tempo de internação hospitalar. As curvas de aprendizagem foram realizadas com um modelo de regressão segmentada. Resultados: A média de idade foi 54,6 anos. As curvas de aprendizagem mostraram uma relação inversa entre a experiência cirúrgica e a variável analisada, atingindo um ponto de inflexão para o tempo de cirurgia no caso 43 e da perda sanguínea no caso 48. O tempo médio de cirurgia foi de 203,3 minutos (amplitude interquartil [IQR] 150 - 240 minutos), de sangramento intraoperatório foi 97,4 ml (IQR 40-100 ml) e de internação hospitalar foi de quatro dias (IQR 3-5 dias). Conclusões: O MI-TLIF é um procedimento realizado com muita frequência devido à sua eficácia e segurança, que tem mostrado resultados comparáveis com o procedimento aberto. De acordo com este estudo, a curva de aprendizagem necessária é ligeiramente maior do que para os procedimentos abertos, sendo que é atingida depois de cerca de 45 casos.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Describir la curva de aprendizaje que muestre el progreso de un sólo neurocirujano para la realización de MI-TLIF de un sólo nivel. Métodos: Se incluyeron 99 pacientes consecutivos sometidos a MI-TLIF en un solo nivel por un mismo neurocirujano (JASS). Se analizaron las características demográficas de los pacientes. Además se evaluó el tiempo quirúrgico, sangrado transoperatorio y tiempo de estancia hospitalaria. Las curvas de aprendizaje se realizaron con un modelo de regresión dividida en segmentos. Resultados: Se obtuvo un promedio de edad de 54,6 años. Las curvas de aprendizaje mostraron una relación inversa entre la experiencia quirúrgica y la variable analizada, alcanzando un punto de inflexión para tiempo quirúrgico en el caso 43 y para el sangrado en el caso 48. El promedio de tiempo quirúrgico fue de 203,3 minutos (amplitud intercuartil [IQR] 150 - 240 minutos), del sangrado transoperatorio fue 97,4 ml (IQR 40 - 100 ml) y de la estancia hospitalaria fue de cutro días (IQR 3 - 5 días). Conclusiones: El MI-TLIF es un procedimiento realizado con gran frecuencia debido a su efectividad y seguridad y que ha demostrado resultados equiparables con el procedimiento abierto. De acuerdo a este estudio la curva de aprendizaje requerida es discretamente mayor que para procedimientos abiertos, alcanzándola aproximadamente tras 45 casos.

Mechanisms of interaction between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and CYP2B6: An in silico approach.

Human Cytochrome P450s (CYP450) are a group of heme-containing metalloenzymes responsible for recognition and metabolism of numerous xenobiotics, including drugs and environmental contaminants. CYP2B6, a member of CYP450, is well known for being a highly inducible and polymorphic enzyme and for its important role in the oxidative metabolism of environmental pollutants, such as the Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) and Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs). However the mechanisms of interaction of PBDEs and PCBs with CYP2B6 is not entirely known. In this work, a computational approach was carried out to study the interactions of 41 POPs (17 PBDEs, 17 PCBs, and 7 Dioxins) with four CYP2B6 protein structures downloaded from PDB data base (PDB: 3UA5, 3QOA, 3QU8 and 4I91) using molecular docking protocols with AutoDock Vina. The best binding affinity values (kcal/mol) were obtained for PBDE-99 (-8.5), PCB-187 (-9.6), and octachloro-dibenzo-dioxin (-9.8) that can be attributed to the hydrophobic interactions with important residues, such as Phe-363, in the catalytic site of CYP2B6. Molecular docking validation revealed the best values for PDB: 3UA5 (R = 0.622, p = 0.001) demonstrating the reliability of molecular docking predictions. The information obtained in this work can be useful in evaluating the modes of interaction of xenobiotic compounds with the catalytic site of CYP2B6 and provide insights on the important role of these enzymes in the metabolism of potentially toxic compounds in humans.

Some taxonomic and nomenclatural changes in American Mantodea (Insecta, Dictyoptera)--Part I.

Multiple nomenclatural problems persist in mantodean taxonomy. This constitutes an important challenge for praying mantis systematics, its forthcoming development and future consolidation. In this first contribution, we attempt solving a number of issues involving mostly Neotropical praying mantis species described by Brazilian entomologists Paulo S. Terra, Cândido F. de Mello-Leitão, Salvador de Toledo Piza Junior and Lauro J. Jantsch. We provide evidence to justify the following nomenclatural changes. In Acanthopidae, Acontiothespis travassosi Jantsch, 1986 is a new synonym of Raptrix perspicua (F. 1787). Changes in Thespidae are: Emboicy Terra, 1982 is a new synonym of Chloromiopteryx Giglio-Tos, 1915, E. mirim Terra, 1982 is transferred to Chloromiopteryx as C. mirim (Terra, 1982) (new combination); Musoniola plurilobata Mello-Leitão, 1937 is transferred to Chloromiopteryx as C. plurilobata (Mello-Leitão, 1937) (new combination); Metathespis modesta Piza, 1968 is removed from synonymy with Chloromiopteryx thalassina (Burmeister, 1838) and considered valid as C. modesta (Piza, 1968) (new combination and status revalidated); Metathespis precaria Piza, 1968 is removed from synonymy with Chloromiopteryx thalassina (Burmeister, 1838) and considered a new synonym of Miobantia rustica (Fabricius, 1781); Eumiopteryx magna Jantsch, 1991 is transferred to Anamiopteryx as A. magna (Jantsch, 1991) (new combination). For Mantidae/Amelinae, Tithrone corseuli Jantsch, 1986 and T. clauseni Jantsch, 1995 are new synonyms of Litaneutria minor (Scudder, 1872); in Mantidae/Photininae Coptopteryx gigliotosi Piza, 1960 (non Werner, 1925), its replacement name Coptopteryx ermannoi Jantsch & Corseuil, 1988 and Paraphotina precaria Piza, 1966 (the latter currently placed within Coptopteryx) are all new synonyms of Coptopteryx argentina (Burmeister, 1838), whereas Brachypteromantis bonariensis Piza 1960 (currently placed among Coptopteryx) is a new synonym of Coptopteryx gayi (Blanchard, 1851); Tithrone major Piza, 1962 is transferred to Orthoderella as O. major (Piza, 1962) (new combination); Orthoderella brasiliensis Roy & Stiewe, 2011 is a new synonym of Orthoderella major (Piza, 1962); Tithrone catharinensis Piza, 1962 is a new synonym of Photina vitrea (Burmeister, 1838); Margaromantis Piza, 1982, Rehniella Lombardo, 1999, Colombiella Koçak & Kemal, 2008 and Lombardoa Özdikmen, 2008 are all new synonyms of Photiomantis Piza, 1968 (status revalidated); Metriomantis planicephala Rehn 1916 is transferred to Photiomantis as P. planicephala (Rehn, 1916) (new combination) and Photiomantis silvai Piza, 1968 is considered a new synonym of Photiomantis planicephala (Rehn, 1916);  Margaromantis nigrolineata Menezes & Bravo, 2015 is transferred to Photiomantis as P. nigrolineata (Menezes & Bravo, 2015) (new combination). In Mantidae/Vatinae, Uromantis amazonica Jantsch, 1985 and Uromantis paraensis Jantsch, 1985 (currently placed among Stagmomantis), are new synonyms of Chopardiella latipennis (Chopard, 1911), while Pseudovates hyalostigma Mello-Leitão, 1937 and Vates obscura Toledo Piza, 1983 are new synonyms of V. biplagiata Sjöstedt, 1930. Lectotypes are designated for Chloromiopteryx thalassina (Burmeister, 1838) and Orthoderella major (Piza, 1962). Finally, we provide supplementary information about the works of S. de T. Piza and L. J. Jantsch, and a necessary critical assessment of their taxonomic contributions to the Mantodea.

Resultados de las pruebas de función renal según clase histológica en los pacientes con nefritis lúpica del Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social / Results of renal function tests according to histological class in patients with lupus nephritis from the "Instituto Salvadoreño del Seguro Social"

La Nefropatía Lúpica constituye una de las complicaciones actualmente más reconocida con el Lupus Eritematoso Generalizado. Sobre la base de las relaciones clínico patológicas se han establecido diferentes clases o tipos. Cuya importancia radica en el pronóstico y el abordaje terapéutico de cada una. Por tanto el objetivo general del presente trabajo de investigación fue describir los hallazgos histológicos y clínicos de los países con nefropatía lúpica del servicio de Reumatología del ISSS. Así como: enumerar las distintas clases de nefropatía lúpica en la cual se encuentran los pacientes, establecer el tipo histológico más frecuentemente reportado en las biopsias, enunciar las características clínicas de laboratorio en los países con nefropatía lúpica al momento de realizar la biopsia y determinar la característica clínica predominante en los pacientes con nefropatía lúpica.

On the identity and taxonomic status of the enigmatic mantid Thespoides bolivari Chopard, 1916 (Mantodea: Mantidae, Angelinae).

Chopard (1916) published a brief paper in which he cited and described a number of praying mantis species from the neotropics. The specimens he studied belonged to the prominent Spanish Entomologist Ignacio Bolívar y Urrutia (1850-1944), whose collection is now housed at the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales in Madrid (MNCN), Spain (Izquierdo et al. 1997). In this publication Chopard described Thespoides bolivari Chopard, 1916 as a new genus and species, based on a single male obtained by French coleopterist René Oberthür in Cauca, Colombia. According to Chopard (1916) the specimen was remarkable for having, among other features, an abdomen that is markedly shorter than the rest of its body-certainly an unusual morphological trait among the Mantodea. Chopard assigned Thespoides to the Miopteryginae (Thespidae), but it was later reassigned (together with Angela Serville, 1839 as the "Angelae group") to the subfamily Schizocephalinae (Mantidae) by Giglio-Tos (1927). Current classifications consider the Angelinae to comprise a distinct subfamily of the Mantidae, with Thespoides and Angela as the only representatives of this subfamily with a Neotropical distribution (e.g. Ehrmann 2002).

Plasma urate in REM sleep behavior disorder.

BACKGROUND: Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is associated with a high risk of developing Parkinson's disease (PD). Higher urate levels are associated with a lower risk of PD. We conducted a study to evaluate plasma urate levels in patients with RBD and their role in the development of PD. METHODS: We evaluated plasma urate levels in a cohort of 24 patients with idiopathic RBD. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of PD. Other known markers of the risk of developing PD, such as olfaction testing, and substantia nigra (SN) hyperechogenicity, were evaluated in the 2 groups. RESULTS: No differences were observed regarding age, years of evolution of the RBD, SN hyperechogenicity, or plasma urate levels between the 2 groups. In patients without PD, there was a positive correlation between years of evolution of RBD and the levels of uric acid (R(2) =0.88). Patients without PD and those who had more than 5 years of RBD exhibited higher levels of uric acid than patients with PD (P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels of plasma urate were associated with a longer duration of RBD without converting to PD. Future prospective studies would be needed to confirm this finding. Disorder Society

Síndrome de Sengers: comunicación de dos casos en Chile / Sengers syndrome: report of two cases in chile

El Síndrome de Sengers es una enfermedad mitocondrial autosómica recesiva, producida por mutación del gen de la Acil-Glicerol Kinasa (AGK), recientemente descubierto. Se caracteriza por cataratas congénitas bilaterales, miocardiopatía hipertrófica y acidosis láctica. Puede tener miopatía esquelética leve, intolerancia al ejercicio y desarrollo mental normal. Los pacientes fallecen tempranamente debido a falla cardíaca. Dada la alta letalidad, lo infrecuente de este síndrome y la presencia de un diagnóstico confirmado, se presenta el caso clínico de 2 hermanos chilenos, fallecidos por la enfermedad, que se presentaron con el cuadro característico de cataratas congénitas bilaterales, miocardiopa-tía hipertrófica y acidosis láctica. El mayor, se operó las cataratas a los 4 meses de edad y falleció a la edad de 13 meses debido a falla cardíaca severa refractaria y falla orgánica múltiple, descompensado por una infección respiratoria. El menor se diagnosticó a los 3 meses de edad y se le confirmó la mutación del gen de AGK en Alemania. Se decidió no operarlo de las cataratas dado el mal pronóstico vital. Presentó progresión de la miocardiopatía hipertrófica y falleció súbitamente a los 8 meses de edad.

Senger's Syndrome is a recessive autosomal mitochondrial disease due to a recently discovered mutation of the Acyl-Glycerol Kinase (AGK) gen,. It is characterized by congenital bilateral cataracts, progressive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and lactic acidosis. It may present skeletal myopathy, exercise intolerance and usually normal mental development. Patients die early in life due to heart failure. The clinical cases of two brothers with a confirmed diagnosis of Senger's syndrome are reported. The older brother was operated on for cataracts at the age of 4 months and he died when he was 13 months old due to severe refractory heart failure and multi-organ failure, decompensated by a respiratory infection. The younger brother was diagnosed at 3 month of age and the AGK gene mutation was confirmed in Germany. Cataracts were not operated on due to the the patient's extremely poor prognosis. He had progressive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and died suddenly at 8 month of age.

Manejo de la injuria quirúrgica del conducto torácico por toracoscopía asistida por video. Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura / Management of surgical injury of thoracic duct by video-assisted thoracoscopy. A case report and literature review

La lesión del conducto torácico post operatorio, es una complicación poco frecuente, pero puede ocasionar grandes alteraciones metabólicas así como aumentar la morbilidad post quirúrgica. Las formas de tratamiento de estas complicaciones pueden ser médicas o quirúrgicas, prefiriéndose la opción quirúrgica en aquellas situaciones que se pierdan volúmenes importantes de líquido linfático. Una de las alternativas quirúrgicas es mediante video toracoscopia, con la cual se logra ligar en conducto torácico, sin la necesidad de realizar una toracotomía, cirugía más elaborada y conlleva potenciales complicaciones. A continuación presentamos un caso de sección quirúrgica de conducto torácico en el área del cuello y que resolvió por ligadura a través de video toracoscopia.

Disruption of the thoracic duct is rare complication post thoracic or neck surgery. The outcomes are metabolic complications. But it can account for many metabolic complications and increases the morbidity post-surgery. A quick approach to this problem is the video assisted thoracotomy and ligation of the thoracic duct. Which is a quick and with less co morbidities than classic thoracotomy and medical approach. In this review we present a case in which the thoracic duct was disrupted after neck surgery and the ligations of the duct by VATS approach.

Necesidad de crear programas de promoción y prevención en el adulto mayor / The need of creating promotion and prevention programs in third age people

Actualmente la promoción y prevención de salud ocupan un lugar cimero en el mundo de la Estomatología, por lo que se impone evaluar y renovar nuestros programas de forma tal que sea cada vez más preventiva y educacional, con el objetivo de mejorar la calidad de vida de nuestros pacientes. La población geriátrica ha mostrado una crecimiento intenso a escala nacional e internacional, cuyo estimado de la población mayor de 60 años ascenderá para el 2010 un 17 por ciento o más. Esto hace reflexionar que cada día más personas sobrepasan las barreras cronológicas que el hombre ha situado como etapa de vejez, lo que ha convertido al envejecimiento poblacional en un reto para las sociedades modernas, ya que aunque se considera como uno de los logros más importantes de la humanidad, al mismo tiempo se transforma en un problema, si no se es capaz de brindar soluciones adecuadas a las consecuencias que del mismo se derivan. Esta revisión bibliográfica pretende actualizar conocimientos sobre la necesidad de aplicar un programa de promoción y prevención que beneficie a los pacientes con 60 años o más, rehabilitados o no protésicamente(AU)

At the present time health promotion and prevention has a significant place in Stomatology world, this is necessary to assess and to renovate our programs in such a way that each time it be more preventive and educational, to improve life quality of our patients. Geriatric population has showed a intense growing at national land international scale, whose estimate of the people older than 60 years will increase for 2010 year in a 17 percent or more. We must to think about that every day more persons exceed the chronologic barriers placed by men as a stage of old age, converting thus population aging in a challenge for present societies, since although we consider it as one of more important achievement of the mankind, and at the same time it is transformed in a problem, if we not be able to give proper solutions to consequences derived from it. These bibliographic reviews try to update the knowledges on need of to apply a promotion and prevention program that being of benefit for patients older than 60 years or more, rehabilitated or not from the point of view prosthestic(AU)

Biopharmaceutic evaluation of novel anthelmintic (1H-benzimidazol-5(6)-yl)carboxamide derivatives.

Benzimidazole 2-carbamates, such as albendazole (ABZ) and mebendazole (MBZ), used for the treatment of helmintic infections, have low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability, both of which lead to high interindividual variability when used for human systemic helmintiosis; therefore, it is necessary to search for new anthelmintics with better biopharmaceutical properties. In the present study the solubility, pKa, logP and apparent permeability in the Caco-2 cells system of four novel anthelmintic (1H-benzimidazol-5(6)-yl)carboxamide derivatives (compounds 1-4) with a 2-methylthyo group were evaluated. Also the pharmacokinetic parameters of compound 1 which in previous studies showed activity similar to ABZ against T. spirallis, was evaluated in BALB/c mice, as a representative molecule of the series. The novel anthelmintics, showed better solubility than ABZ in aqueous acid pH and in organic solvents. The logP, P(app) and Caco-2 data indicate that the 4 derivatives are highly permeable drugs, but it is possible that an efflux system could be involved in the transport of these compounds. Plasma levels of compound 1 and its sulfoxide (compound 5) were high after the first 5 min. This fact strongly suggests that compound 1 is rapidly metabolized in the small intestine. On the other hand, the sulfone metabolite (compound 6) levels were lower than those of compound 5. The half life and mean residence time (MRT) of compound 1 and its main metabolites indicate that their elimination is very rapid. More studies in mammalian species are necessary in order to understand the pharmacokinetic behavior of these novel compounds.

Diagnóstico molecular de un caso de Deficiencia de Acil CoA Deshidrogenasa de Cadena Media (MCADD) detectado por MS/MS / Molecular diagnosis of a case of Acyl CoA dehydrogenase medium chain (MCADD) detected by MSIMS

La deficiencia de Acil CoA Deshidrogenasa de Acidos Grasos de Cadena Media (MCADD) es el trastorno de la B-oxidación más comúnmente diagnosticado en humanos. Se hereda de forma autosómica recesiva y presenta una frecuencia que varía entre 1:4900 y 1:25000. La mutación más frecuente es la A985G que se observa en condición homocigoto en 81 por ciento de los casos y heterocigoto compuesto en 18 por ciento. El bloqueo enzimático lleva a la acumulación de ésteres de acilcarnitinas de cadena media lo cual permite la detección temprana de la enfermedad mediante el análisis de Espectrometría de Masas (MS/MS) y su posterior confirmación molecular. El primer caso de MCADD en Costa Rica fue detectado por MS/MS en el Laboratorio Nacional de Tamizaje y la presencia de la mutación A985G fue confirmada por métodos moleculares. La mutación afecta una región lejana del sitio activo que participa en el empaquetamiento de la proteína, proceso que es asistido por las chaperonas moleculares. Hasta la fecha, el paciente permanece asintomático lo cual podría explicarse por una serie de factores genéticos y ambientales que permiten mantener, parcialmente, la actividad de la enzima

Estudios citogenéticos en niños con Leucemia Linfocitica Aguda-B en Costa Rica / Cytogenetic studies in children with Acute Lymphocitic Leukemia-B in Costa Rica

Chromosome analyses were performed on bone marrow of 177 pediatric patients with Acute Lymphocitic Leukemia at the [quot ]Hospital Nacional de Nifios[quot ]. The standard cytogenetic techniques now belongs to the panel of mandatory analyses performed at diagnosis of our acute leukemia patients and represent a major advantage to be effective and independent prognostic factors, essential for therapeutic choices. Cytogenetic results were achieved in 83% of the bone marrow samples: normal karyotypes represented 29% and abnormal karyotypes 71% with the follow distribution: t (9;22) 3%; t (l;19) 5%; t (4;11) 3%, Hyperdiploidy 39%; other chromosomal abnormalities 21%. Systematic cytogenetic analyses are essencial to define morpho-immunologic sub-types of leukemia and to detect new translocations that allows to understand hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis.

[Cytogenetic studies in children with Acute Lymphocitic Leukemia-B in Costa Rica]. / Estudios citogenéticos en niños con Leucemia Linfocitica Aguda-B en Costa Rica.

Chromosome analyses were performed on bone marrow of 177 pediatric patients with Acute Lymphocitic Leukemia at the "Hospital Nacional de Nifios". The standard cytogenetic techniques now belongs to the panel of mandatory analyses performed at diagnosis of our acute leukemia patients and represent a major advantage to be effective and independent prognostic factors, essential for therapeutic choices. Cytogenetic results were achieved in 83% of the bone marrow samples: normal karyotypes represented 29% and abnormal karyotypes 71% with the follow distribution: t(9;22) 3%; t(l;19) 5%; t(4;11) 3%, Hyperdiploidy 39%; other chromosomal abnormalities 21%. Systematic cytogenetic analyses are essencial to define morpho-immunologic sub-types of leukemia and to detect new translocations that allows to understand hematopoiesis and leukemogenesis.

Cystic fibrosis mutations in Costa Rica.

Using polymerase chain reaction amplification of DNA in dried blood spots and a nonisotopic reverse dot blot hybridization method, we performed molecular genetic analysis for 6 and for 16 of the most common mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene (CFTR) in 24 unrelated Costa Rican individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF). While many countries and ethnic groups have been surveyed for CF mutations since the cloning of CFTR, Costa Rica has not heretofore been studied. Moreover, Costa Rica represents an especially intriguing population because of its mixed European-African-Amerindian origins and the existence of a detailed historical record of the founding Spanish families. Thus, such a study may reveal not only the population frequencies of various mutant alleles in this country, but also something about their geographic migrations and ethnic founder effects. The most common CF mutation in Caucasians, deltaF508, was found in only 11 (23%) of the CF chromosomes studied, while the G542X mutation, relatively rare in the general population but more common in southern Europe, was observed in 12 (25%). None of the other mutations tested was found in any of the subjects. We failed to detect the second mutant allele in 17 subjects and could not detect either allele in 4 subjects. The high prevalence of the G542X mutation in our cohort, which exceeds that of both the general Caucasian population and the American Hispanic population, reflects the strong genetic influence of the original Spanish founding families of Costa Rica. These results highlight important differences in Costa Rican CF genotypes as compared both to other North American and European populations and to American Hispanics, raising important implications about isolated founder effects and strategies for population screening in that country.