EGFR gene polymorphisms -216G>T and -191C>A are risk markers for gastric cancer in Mexican population.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane glycoprotein with tyrosine-kinase activity that plays an important role in multiple cellular functions. EGFR overexpression has been observed in several types of tumors and it is significantly associated with disease stage, survival, prognosis, and progression of cancer. The polymorphisms -216G>T, -191C>A, and (CA)n first intervening sequence (IVS1) have been related to EGFR overexpression and have been studied in several types of cancer, but not in gastric cancer (GC). The aim of this study was to determine the association of these 3 polymorphisms and GC. Genomic DNA from 68 GC patients and 102 healthy blood donors were analyzed. Polymorphisms were identified by DNA-sequencing (-216G>T and -191C>A) and GeneScan (CA)n IVS1. The results showed that the distribution of the -216G>T and -191C>A genotypes differed between groups (P < 0.05). The odds ratio for the -216TT genotype was 4.59 (95% confidence interval = 1.55-13.54, P < 0.05) and 10.71 (95% confidence interval = 2.31-49.59, P < 0.05) for the -191AA genotype, both in a recessive model. The genotype and allele distributions of the (CA)n IVS1 repeat was similar in both groups. In conclusion, the -216TT and -191AA genotypes and GA haplotype of the EGFR gene were found to be associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer in a Mexican population.

[Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with systemic aspergillosis. Case report and literature review.]. / Síndrome de Budd-Chiari asociado a aspergilosis sistémica; informe de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Budd-Chiari syndrome is a very rare disease related to hepatic vein obstruction. Vascular invasion by fungus is seldom seen and reported. After thorough research of the literature only three cases have been reported. We reported a case of a diabetic patient who showed an acute and aggressive disease, characterized by sepsis, acute hepatic failure and death. Postmortem examination showed disseminated aspergillosis, massive hepatic necrosis, hepatic vein thrombosis and venous occlusion by the fungus.

[Thiamine retention as a function of thermal processing conditions: canned salmon]. / Retención de tiamina como función de las condiciones de proceso térmico en salmón en conserva.

The present work studied the effect of different treatments at high temperatures on the nutritional properties of thiamine retention and color measurement experimentally. Canned salmon (Salmo salar) was processed under different temperatures and time conditions (110 degrees C for 135 minutes; 114 degrees C for 89 minutes; 118 degrees C for 69 minutes and 121 degrees C for 62 minutes). Thiamine was determined by HPLC before and after the process. Color changes, due to processing conditions, were also measured utilizing a Hunter colorimeter. The canning was prepared in 300 x 407 cans and sterilized until Fo value reached 6 min. The nutritional value or index represented by the B1 vitamin or thiamine was affected by high temperature and time exposition. The lowest loss of thiamine of 19.2% was obtained in the canned salmon sterilized at 114 degrees C for 89 minutes. The color in canned salmon was different from the raw material, with a severe loss of red color and a greater clarity of the meat.

Retención de Tiamina como función de las condiciones de proceso térmico en Salmón en conserva / Thiamine retention as a function of thermal processing conditions: canned salmon

Se estudió el efecto de distintos tratamientos de esterilización sobre la calidad nutricional expresada como retención de tiamina y sobre la pérdida de color en conservas de salmón (Salmo salar). En la materia prima y en las conservas se determinó el contenido de tiamina mediante HPLC y la variación de color mediante colorímetro triestímulo Hunter. Las conservas se elaboraron en envase salmonero y se esterilizaron hasta alcanzar el valor Fo = 6 min. El valor nutricional representado por la tiamina se vio afectado por las altas temperaturas y por el tiempo de exposición al calor. La mayor retención de tiamina fue de 19,2% y se obtuvo en las conservas que se procesaron a 114°C por 89 min. El color de las conservas de salmón varió significativamente respecto a la materia prima, se produjo pérdida de coloración roja y mayor claridad de la carne.

The present work studied the effect of different treatments at high temperatures on the nutritional properties of thiamine retention and color measurement experimentally. Canned salmon (Salmo salar) was processed under different temperatures and time conditions (110°C for 135 minutes; 114°C for 89 minutes; 118°C for 69 minutes and 121°C for 62 minutes). Thiamine was determined by HPLC before and after the process. Color changes, due to processing conditions, were also measured utilizing a Hunter colorimeter. The canning was prepared in 300 x 407 cans and sterilized until Fo value reached 6 min. The nutritional value or index represented by the B1 vitamin or thiamine was affected by high temperature and time exposition. The lowest loss of thiamine of 19.2% was obtained in the canned salmon sterilized at 114°C for 89 minutes. The color in canned salmon was different from the raw material, with a severe loss of red color and a greater clarity of the meat.

Manaca, batata y ñame: posibles sustitutos del trigo en alimentos para dos etnias del Amazonas venezolano / Manaca, sweet potato and yam: possible substitutes of wheat in foods for two ethnic population in Venezuelan Amazon

En este estudio se obtuvieron harinas a partir de la manaca o acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart), de la batata (Ipomea batatas), y del ñame (Dioscorea spp.), especies vegetales cultivadas en el Amazonas venezolano. A dichas harinas se les determinó su composición proximal, actividad de agua (aw), contenido de Fe, Ca, Zn, Mg, Cu, Na y K y se usaron como ingredientes de productos destinados a dos etnias del Amazonas Venezolano (Piaroa y Hiwi). Se formularon dos tipos de productos que tradicionalmente contienen harina de trigo en su formulación (ingrediente que ellos conocen por la transculturización), a los fines de sustituirla total o parcialmente por las harinas de manaca, batata y/o ñame. Para seleccionar los productos a formular se consideraron los gustos y hábitos alimentarios de las dos etnias, la facilidad y sencillez de las preparaciones. Los productos que se formularon fueron galletas y "torticas". Para decidir la(s) formulación(es) definitiva(s) se realizaron evaluaciones sensoriales a nivel de laboratorio y en las comunidades indígenas Piaroa y Hiwi. Destaca el alto contenido de grasa (16%), fibra dietética (59,7%) y hierro (73,7mg/100g) de la harina de manaca. Dos tipos de galletas y dos de "torticas" fueron igualmente aceptadas por las comunidades indígenas Las galletas aportan un alta cantidad de hierro (aproximadamente 24mg/100g). Se demostró la factibilidad de sustituir la harina de trigo por harina de manaca, batata y ñame en productos aceptados por dos etnias del amazonas venezolano.

In this study, flours from manaca or acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart), sweet potato (Ipomea batatas), and yam (Dioscorea spp.), species grown in the Venezuelan Amazon, were obtained. The proximal composition, water activity (aw), Fe, Ca, Zn, Mg, Cu, Na and K content were determined for the flours of manaca, sweet potato and yam. These flours were used as ingredients of products for the inhabitants of the indigenous populations of the Venezuelan Amazon (Piaroa and Hiwi). Two types of products that traditionally contain wheat flour in their formulation (ingredient they know by transculturation) were formulated; an attempt to substitute it totally or partially by the manaca, sweet potato and/or yam flours was made. For the selection of the products to be formulated, the preferences and eating habits of the indigenous communities and ease and simplicity of the preparations to be developed, were considered. The two products formulated were cookies and "small cakes". To decide on the formulation(s) of the final product(s), sensorial evaluations were made in the laboratory and in the indigenous communities Piaroa and Hiwi. High fat content (16%), dietetic fiber (59.7 %) and iron (25mg/100g) in manaca or acai flour were remarkable. Two types of cookies and two of "small cakes" were equally accepted by the indigenous communities. Cookies supply a high iron amount (about 24%). The feasibility of substituting the wheat flour by manaca, sweet potato and yam flour in products accepted by two ethnic populations of the Venezuelan Amazon was demonstrated.

Antibacterial resistance of community-acquired respiratory tract pathogens recovered from patients in Latin America: results from the PROTEKT surveillance study (1999-2000).

PROTEKT (Prospective Resistant Organism Tracking and Epidemiology for the Ketolide Telithromycin) is a global surveillance study established in 1999 to monitor antibacterial resistance of respiratory tract organisms. Thirteen centers from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico participated during 1999-2000; they collected 1806 isolates (Streptococcus pneumoniae 518, Haemophilus influenzae 520, Moraxella catarrhalis 140, Staphylococcus aureus 351, S. pyogenes 277). Overall, 218 (42.1%) of the S. pneumoniae isolates had reduced susceptibility to penicillin, 79 (15.3%) were penicillin-resistant and 79 (15.3%) were erythromycin-resistant. Mexico had the highest prevalence of penicillin (76.5%) and erythromycin (31.2%) resistance. Of 77 erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae tested for resistance genotype, 43 possessed mef(A), 33 possessed erm(B) and 1 possessed both erm(B) and mef(A) mechanism. All S. pneumoniae isolates were fully susceptible to telithromycin, linezolid, teicoplanin and vancomycin. Among H. influenzae isolates, 88 (16.9%) produced beta-lactamase, ranging from 11% (Brazil) to 24.5% (Mexico). Among M. catarrhalis isolates, 138 (98.6%) produced beta-lactamase. Twenty-four (8.7%) of the S. pyogenes isolates were erythromycin-resistant; resistance being attributable to mefA (n=18), ermTR (n=5) and ermB (n=1). All H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis and S. pyogenes were fully susceptible to telithromycin. Methicillin resistance was found in 26.5% of the S. aureus isolates (Argentina 15%; Mexico 20%; Brazil 31.3%). Telithromycin was effective against 97.7% of methicillin-susceptible isolates. PROTEKT confirms that antibacterial resistance is an emerging problem in Latin America. The previously reported high levels of pneumococcal resistance to the beta-lactam and macrolides were exceeded. New agents that do not induce resistance or that exert low selective pressure, e.g. telithromycin, are essential to safeguard future antibacterial efficacy.

Antibacterial resistance of community-acquired respiratory tract pathogens recovered from patients in Latin America: results from the PROTEKT surveillance study (1999-2000)

PROTEKT (Prospective Resistant Organism Tracking and Epidemiology for the Ketolide Telithromycin) is a global surveillance study established in 1999 to monitor antibacterial resistance of respiratory tract organisms. Thirteen centers from Argentina, Brazil and Mexico participat ed during 1999-2000; they collected 1,806 isolates (Streptococcus pneumoniae 518, Haemophilus influenzae 520, Moraxella catarrhalis 140, Staphylococcus aureus 351, S. pyogenes 277). Overall, 218 (42.1 percent) of the S. pneumoniae isolates had reduced susceptibility to penicillin, 79 (15.3 percent) were penicillin-resistant and 79 (15.3 percent) were erythromycin-resistant. Mexico had the highest prevalence of penicillin (76.5 percent) and erythromycin (31.2 percent) resistance. Of 77 erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae tested for resistance genotype, 43 possessed mef(A), 33 possessed erm(B) and 1 possessed both erm(B) and mef(A) mechanism. All S. pneumoniae isolates were fully susceptible to telithromycin, linezolid, teicoplanin and vancomycin. Among H. influenzae isolates, 88 (16.9 percent) produced b-lactamase, ranging from 11 percent (Brazil) to 24.5 percent (Mexico). Among M. catarrhalis isolates, 138 (98.6 percent) produced b-lactamase. Twenty-four (8.7 percent) of the S. pyogenes isolates were erythromycin-resistant; resistance being attributable to mefA (n=18), ermTR (n=5) and ermB (n=1). All H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis and S. pyogenes were fully susceptible to telithromycin. Methicillin resistance was found in 26.5 percent of the S. aureus isolates (Argentina 15 percent; Mexico 20 percent; Brazil 31.3 percent). Telithromycin was effective against 97.7 percent of methicillin-susceptible isolates. PROTEKT confirms that antibacterial resistance is an emerging problem in Latin America. The previously reported high levels of pneumococcal resistance to the b-lactam and macrolides were exceeded. New agents that do not induce resistance or that exert low selective pressure, e.g. telithromycin, are essential to safeguard future antibacterial efficacy

Mucormicosis: estudio de cinco casos hallados en los hospitales San Juan de Dios y Sor María Ludovica, La Plata, Argentina / Mucormicosis: study of five cases found in San Juan de Dios and Sor María Ludovica Hospitals of La Plata, Argentina

Se estudiaron cinco casos de micromicosis en los hospitales San Juan de Dios y Sor María Ludovica de La Plata entre los años 1980 y 1997. La mucormicosis se presenta como una enfermedad oportunista, grave, frecuentemente mortal, que afecta a individuos con una afección primaria que favorece la invasión del microorganismo (diabetes, inmunodepresión, linfomas, leucemia, quemados, etc.). En este trabajo presentamos tres casos de mucormicosis cutáneas en niños de 3, 10 y 11 años de edad, secundarias a politrautamismos y fracturas expuestas sufridas en accidentes automovilísticos; un caso de mucormicosis pulmonar en un adulto de 28 años de edad que había recibido corticoterapia prolongada y una mucormicosis rinocerebral en un paciente de 38 años de edad, cuya enfermedad primaria era una leucemia linfoide aguda

Mucormicosis: estudio de cinco casos hallados en los hospitales San Juan de Dios y Sor María Ludovica, La Plata, Argentina / Mucormicosis: study of five cases found in San Juan de Dios and Sor María Ludovica Hospitals of La Plata, Argentina

Se estudiaron cinco casos de micromicosis en los hospitales San Juan de Dios y Sor María Ludovica de La Plata entre los años 1980 y 1997. La mucormicosis se presenta como una enfermedad oportunista, grave, frecuentemente mortal, que afecta a individuos con una afección primaria que favorece la invasión del microorganismo (diabetes, inmunodepresión, linfomas, leucemia, quemados, etc.). En este trabajo presentamos tres casos de mucormicosis cutáneas en niños de 3, 10 y 11 años de edad, secundarias a politrautamismos y fracturas expuestas sufridas en accidentes automovilísticos; un caso de mucormicosis pulmonar en un adulto de 28 años de edad que había recibido corticoterapia prolongada y una mucormicosis rinocerebral en un paciente de 38 años de edad, cuya enfermedad primaria era una leucemia linfoide aguda(AU)

[Mucormycosis: Study of five cases found in San Juan de Dios hospital and Sor Maria Ludovica hospital in La Plata, Argentina]. / Mucormicosis: estudio de cinco casos hallados en los hospitales San Juan de Dios y Sor María Ludovica, La Plata, Argentina.

Hospital San Juan de Dios and Sor María Ludovica in La Plata, between 1980 and 1997. Mucormicosis is a frequently fatal, opportunistic fungal infection, that affects immunocompromised patients. The risk factors include diabetes mellitus, leukemia, lymphoma, burns, etc. We present three cases of cutaneous mucormicosis in children 3, 10 and 11 years old, who had been sent to the hospital due to compound fractures in a car crash; one case of pulmonary mucormicosis in an adult 28 years old with prolonged corticotherapy and rhinocerebral mucormicosis in a patient 38 years old with a diagnosis of acute lymphoid leukemia.

Prevalencia de infección por virus VIH en pacientes tuberculosos / Prevalence of HIV infection in patients with tuberculosis

La infección simultánea con el virus VIH y el bacilo de Koch aumenta la susceptibilidad para desarrollar una tuberculosis activa, al mismo tiempo que acelera la conversión de la infección VIH en SIDA. Fueron estudiados 182 pacientes tuberculosos internados en nuestra Cátedra con el test de inmunoensayo (ELISA) VIH, hallándose tres pacientes positivos, en uno de los cuales confirmamos esta positividad por el método Inmunobloting (Western Blott). Este hallazgo, original en nuestro país, representa una prevalencia de infección VIH de 1,65 por ciento en los pacientes tuberculosos investigados. Comparando esta tasa con la de otros países latinoamericanos, podemos estimar que la futura magnitud del problema VIH-tuberculosis en Paraguay será intermedia entre las de los países vecinos (0,3-5 por ciento) con todas las implicancias epidemiológicas, sociales y sanitarias emergentes del caso

Prevalencia de la infección por virus VIH en pacientes tuberculosos de la cátedra de neumología de Asunción / Prevalence of HIV infection in tuberculous patients in neumology department of Asuncion

La infeción simultánea con el virus VIH y el bacilo de Koch aumenta la susceptibilidad para desarrollar una tuberculosis activa, al mismo tiempo que acelera la conversión de la infección VIH en SIDA. Fueron testados 182 pacientes tuberculosos internados en nuestra Cátedra con el test de enzimoinmunoensayo (ELISA) VIH, hallándose 3 pacientes positivos, en uno de los cuales confirmamos esta positividad con el método Immunobloting (Western Blott). Este hallazgo, original en nuestro país, representa una prevalencia de infección VIH de 1,65 por ciento en los pacientes tuberculosos investigados. Comparando esta tasa con las de otros países latinoamericanos, podemos estimar que la futura magnitud del problema VIH-tuberculosis en Paraguay será intermedia entre las de los países vecinos (0,3 - 5 por ciento), con todas las implicancias epidemiológicas, sociales y sanitarias emergentes del caso.

Prevalencia de la infección por virus VIH en pacientes tuberculosos de la cátedra de neumología de Asunción / Prevalence of HIV infection in tuberculous patients in neumology department of Asuncion

La infeción simultánea con el virus VIH y el bacilo de Koch aumenta la susceptibilidad para desarrollar una tuberculosis activa, al mismo tiempo que acelera la conversión de la infección VIH en SIDA. Fueron testados 182 pacientes tuberculosos internados en nuestra Cátedra con el test de enzimoinmunoensayo (ELISA) VIH, hallándose 3 pacientes positivos, en uno de los cuales confirmamos esta positividad con el método Immunobloting (Western Blott). Este hallazgo, original en nuestro país, representa una prevalencia de infección VIH de 1,65 por ciento en los pacientes tuberculosos investigados. Comparando esta tasa con las de otros países latinoamericanos, podemos estimar que la futura magnitud del problema VIH-tuberculosis en Paraguay será intermedia entre las de los países vecinos (0,3 - 5 por ciento), con todas las implicancias epidemiológicas, sociales y sanitarias emergentes del caso. (AU)

Prevalencia de infección por virus VIH en pacientes tuberculosos / Prevalence of HIV infection in patients with tuberculosis

La infección simultánea con el virus VIH y el bacilo de Koch aumenta la susceptibilidad para desarrollar una tuberculosis activa, al mismo tiempo que acelera la conversión de la infección VIH en SIDA. Fueron estudiados 182 pacientes tuberculosos internados en nuestra Cátedra con el test de inmunoensayo (ELISA) VIH, hallándose tres pacientes positivos, en uno de los cuales confirmamos esta positividad por el método Inmunobloting (Western Blott). Este hallazgo, original en nuestro país, representa una prevalencia de infección VIH de 1,65 por ciento en los pacientes tuberculosos investigados. Comparando esta tasa con la de otros países latinoamericanos, podemos estimar que la futura magnitud del problema VIH-tuberculosis en Paraguay será intermedia entre las de los países vecinos (0,3-5 por ciento) con todas las implicancias epidemiológicas, sociales y sanitarias emergentes del caso (AU)

Enterotoxigenicity of Staphylococcus strains isolated from Spanish dry-cured hams.

The ability of 135 Staphylococcus strains isolated from Spanish dry-cured hams to produce enterotoxins in culture was investigated by the reversed passive latex agglutination method. A high percentage of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus strains (85.9%) was recorded, and 54.3% of these produced enterotoxin A. One of the two Staphylococcus epidermidis strains produced enterotoxin C. The reversed passive latex agglutination method yielded satisfactory results.