First report of cystic echinococcosis caused by Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto/G1 in Felis catus from the Patagonian region of Argentina.

Two domestic cats from the Patagonia rural area in Argentina were found to be naturally infected with Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto/G1 genotype; so far, the only species/genotype of E. granulosus sensu lato complex described to infect domestic cats. The felines developed abdominal disseminated larval disease; the diagnosis was performed by ultrasound, exploratory laparotomy, and molecular techniques. These results indicate that cystic echinococcosis must be considered for differential diagnosis of felines with abdominal distension and/or observation of vesicles through ultrasound, from endemic areas. Even though cats and dogs are carnivores, differences in digestive physiology and immunological characteristics between them could allow the development of larval or adult worm parasites. Domestic cats with cystic echinococcosis show to be environmentally infected with E. granulosus s. s./G1 eggs.

Detection of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infection by using extracts derived from a protoscoleces G1 cell line.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) can be diagnosed by means of several serological approaches, but their results vary among laboratories due to the molecular characteristics of the reference antigens used. Thus, this study aimed to address both the relevance of an EGPE cell line previously obtained from Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces G1 and the complexity of the immune response by using two different in vitro growth stages as separate sources of parasite antigens. The serum reactivity was investigated by western blotting (WB) in 21 CE patients from an endemic area in a matched case-control design and also in seven experimentally infected sheep and five healthy control sheep. EGPE-antigen-human serum sensitivity by WB was higher than that of hydatid fluid (HF) WB, ELISA and DD5 (P < .05, Chi-square test). EGPE protein extract was immunogenic in mice and hyperimmune plasma reacted with HF proteins, and AgB2 expression was detected by molecular analysis. Proteins of 37 to 60 kDa were recognized by 95.24% of the CE patients' sera but, with poor specificity. Statistically significant differences were found between serum protein extract recognition at 7 and 20 days of cell growth. The EGPE cell line is a laboratory source of antigens for improvement of CE serological diagnosis.

Los Bisfosfonatos como agentes ovicidas, acción sobre el ambiente / Bisphosphonates as ovicidal agents, action on the environment

La Hidatidosis es una de las Zoonosis más prevalentes en nuestro país. Es producida por Equinococcus granulosus, teniendo al perro como principal hospedador definitivo. El perro elimina los huevos del parasito con sus heces, contaminado el ambiente y ofertándolos a los hospedadores intermediarios. Los programas de control están orientados a la desparasitación periódica y sistemática de los perros con la droga praziquantel, tenicida, no ovicida. Los bisfosfonatos (BF), han sido propuestos como agentes antiparasitarios. Y se ha demostrado su actividad antiproliferativa y desestabilizante de las colonias quísticas formadas en agarosa por las células provenientes de protoescólices de E. granulosus G1 de origen bovino, EGPE. En este trabajo se testeó el efecto ex vivo de diferentes BF sobre la viabilidad de huevos de tenias. Los proglótides grávidos se expusieron a diferentes concentraciones de compuestos, Olpadronato monosodico (OPD), Acido Zoledronico trihidrato (Ac.Zol) e Ibandronato de sodio (IB), por diferentes periodos de tiempo para determinar la dosis efectiva y el tiempo de incubación necesario para obtener la actividad ovicida. Se evaluó la viabilidad de los huevos expuestos mediante el test de inactivación de la oncósfera (TON), registrando en cada ensayo el % de oncósferas no viables (ONV) observadas. Se conservaron muestras para histología, histoquímica para calcio, Von Kossa, y microscopia electrónica de barrido. La viabilidad "ex vivo" de las oncósferas disminuyó significativamente con la incubación de los proglótides con el Ac Zol e IB. La evaluación histológica e histoquímica de los proglótides confirmó el efecto deletéreo del Ac Zol sobre los embriones contenidos en las oncósferas, El Ac Zol resultó el más efectivo, a concentraciones finales de 1.5% con una incubación de 3 días, que el IB, mientras que el OPD es el menos efectivo. Por lo que se concluye que los BF representan un posible agente ovicida a aplicar en las heces eliminadas de perros infectados

[Paraoxonase: its multiple functions and pharmacological regulation]. / Paraoxonasa: sus múltiples funciones y regulación farmacológica.

Homocysteine, a non-protein amino acid, important risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombosis, causes dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells traduced in inadequate vasodilatation mechanism, is pro-inflammatory and induces endoplasmic reticulum stress. The more reactive conformation is the homocysteine thiolactone (HcyT), product to the nonspecific action of methionyl-tRNA synthetase, which is incorporated into proteins by disulfide bonds (S-homocysteinilation) or amide bonds (N-homocysteinilation) affecting protein structure and function leading to cell toxicity, autoimmune responses and atherogenesis. The enzyme paraoxonase-1 (PON1), part of high density lipoprotein (HDL), had been studied only for its ability to hydrolyze organophosphate derivatives. But, more recently it has been attributed other important role. The enzyme activities are involving in protecting against the development of atherosclerosis, by preventing oxidation of lipoproteins and hydrolyze HcyT. There is growing evidence about the protective role of PON1 in vascular disease. Genetic factors (polymorphisms of the PON1), environmental and lifestyle influence their concentration and biological activity, but drugs used as cardioprotectives and lipid-lowering or others, such as antibiotics and steroids, are also important modulators. This review is an updated of the most prominent information on clinical and experimental studies for understanding the role of the PON-1 in the protection against development of atherosclerosis.

Paraoxonasa: sus múltiples funciones y regulación farmacológica / Paraoxonase: its multiple functions and pharmacological regulation

La homocisteína, aminoácido no-proteico, es un importante factor de riesgo de aterosclerosis y trombosis, afecta la vasodilatación y la función normal del endotelio vascular, es pro-inflamatoria e induce estrés de retículo endoplásmico. Su conformación más reactiva, la homocisteína tiolactona, producto de la acción no específica de la metionil-t RNA sintetasa, se incorpora a proteínas mediante puentes disulfuro (S-homocisteinilación) o uniones amida (N-homocisteinilación) produciendo graves efectos sobre la estructura y función proteica conduciendo a toxicidad celular, respuestas autoinmunes y aterogénesis. La enzima paraoxonasa-1, integrante de la lipoproteína de alta densidad, fue inicialmente considerada por su capacidad de hidrolizar derivados organofosfato, pero luego se le atribuyó un importante papel protector contra la aterosclerosis por prevenir la oxidación de lipoproteínas e hidrolizar homocisteína tiolactona. Existen evidencias acerca del papel de paraoxonasa-1 en la enfermedad vascular. Los factores genéticos (polimorfismos de la paraoxonasa-1), ambientales y el estilo de vida influyen sobre su concentración y actividad biológica, pero distintos fármacos como hipolipemiantes o cardioprotectores y otros, como antibióticos y esteroides, son también importantes moduladores. En la presente revisión se actualiza la más destacada información sobre los estudios clínicos y experimentales que permiten entender el papel que cumple esta enzima en la protección ante el desarrollo de la aterosclerosis.

Homocysteine, a non-protein amino acid, important risk factor for atherosclerosis and thrombosis, causes dysfunction of vascular endothelial cells traduced in inadequate vasodilatation mechanism, is pro-inflammatory and induces endoplasmic reticulum stress. The more reactive conformation is the homocysteine thiolactone (HcyT), product to the nonspecific action of methionyl-tRNA synthetase, which is incorporated into proteins by disulfide bonds (S-homocysteinilation) or amide bonds (N-homocysteinilation) affecting protein structure and function leading to cell toxicity, autoimmune responses and atherogenesis. The enzyme paraoxonase-1 (PON1), part of high density lipoprotein (HDL), had been studied only for its ability to hydrolyze organophosphate derivatives. But, more recently it has been attributed other important role. The enzyme activities are involving in protecting against the development of atherosclerosis, by preventing oxidation of lipoproteins and hydrolyze HcyT. There is growing evidence about the protective role of PON1 in vascular disease. Genetic factors (polymorphisms of the PON1), environmental and lifestyle influence their concentration and biological activity, but drugs used as cardioprotectives and lipid-lowering or others, such as antibiotics and steroids, are also important modulators. This review is an updated of the most prominent information on clinical and experimental studies for understanding the role of the PON-1 in the protection against development of atherosclerosis.

Liver micro-organs transcribe albumin and clotting factors and increase survival of 92% hepatectomized rats.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Currently there is no effective non-surgical therapy for most patients with fulminant or end stage chronic liver disease. METHODS: We have prepared rat liver micro-organs (LMOs), which preserve the liver micro-architecture and ensure that no cell is more than 150 microm away from a source of nutrients and gases. The function of LMOs has been evaluated in vitro and in a new extra-corporeal liver device termed aLIVE in which LMOs are exposed to liver-like hemodynamic conditions. RESULTS: In vitro LMOs maintain normal physiological and biochemical functions including oxygen consumption, glucose metabolism, conversion of ammonia to urea, secretion of albumin and de novo transcription of genes coding for albumin and clotting factors. Inside the aLIVE bioreactor, LMOs also display sustained oxygen consumption, glucose metabolism and transcription of albumin and clotting factors IX and X, when connected both to normal and to 92% hepatectomized rats. Survival of 92% hepatectomized rats was 40% longer following a single 4-h treatment with aLIVE, compared to untreated animals. CONCLUSIONS: An extra-corporeal liver device, aLIVE, which provides key liver functions, has been developed. When tested in 92% hepatectomized rats, aLIVE improved the clinical condition and significantly increased survival time of the treated rats.