Controlling bovine leukemia virus in dairy herds by identifying and removing cows with the highest proviral load and lymphocyte counts.

The objective of this field trial was to reduce bovine leukemia virus (BLV) transmission and prevalence in commercial dairy herds using proviral load (PVL) and lymphocyte count (LC) measurements as indicators of the most infectious animals for culling or segregation. Bovine leukemia virus causes lymphoma in <5% of infected cattle, and increased lymphocyte counts (lymphocytosis) in about one-third. Recent research has shown that dairy cows infected with BLV have altered immune function associated with decreases in milk production and lifespan. Recent findings show that a minority of infected cattle have PVL concentrations in blood and other body fluids of over 1,000 times that of other infected cattle. In combination with a high LC, these animals are thought to be responsible for most transmission of BLV in a herd. Milk or blood samples from adult cows in our 3 Midwestern dairy farm field trials were tested semiannually with ELISA for BLV antibodies, and ELISA-positive cattle were then retested using a blood LC and a quantitative PCR test for PVL to identify the animals presumed to be most infectious. Herd managers were encouraged to consider PVL and LC status when making cull decisions, and to segregate cows with the highest PVL and LC from their BLV ELISA-negative herd mates where possible. After 2 to 2.5 yr of this intervention, the incidence risk of new infections decreased in all 3 herds combined, from 13.8 to 2.2, and the overall herd prevalence decreased in all 3 herds combined from 62.0 to 20.7%, suggesting that this approach can efficiently reduce BLV transmission as well as prevalence. This is encouraging, because a very low prevalence of BLV infection would make it economically feasible to cull the remaining ELISA-positive cattle, as was achieved in national eradication programs in other countries decades ago.

Un caso particular de hidrocele abdominoescrotal bilateral / Unusual presentation of bilateral abdominoscrotal hydrocele

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HLA polymorphism in a Guarani-Indian population from Paraguay and its usefulness for the Hispano-Indian admixture study in Paraguay.

In this study we investigated the human leucocyte antigen-A (HLA-A), -B and DRB1 polymorphism of Native American population of Paraguay, the Guarani Indians. We found that the HLA variability consisted of 5 HLA-A, 7 HLA-B and 6 HLA-DRB1 groups of alleles and of several specific alleles (B*1504, B*3505, B*3912, B*4004, B*5104, DRB1*0411, DRB1*1413) common in other Native American populations. The comparison of the HLA polymorphism of the Guaranis from Paraguay with the «Mestizos¼ of Paraguay and the Spaniards showed that the «Mestizos¼ of Paraguay are genetically very distant from the Guarani Indians of Paraguay but much more close to the Spaniards. This can be explained, at least in part, by the history of the country. Our results are of importance in transplantation, in particular in the search for an unrelated donor for a Paraguayan patient requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Analysis of the HLA population data (AHPD) submitted to the 15th International Histocompatibility/Immunogenetics Workshop by using the Gene[rate] computer tools accommodating ambiguous data (AHPD project report).

During the 15th International Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Workshop (IHIWS), 14 human leukocyte antigen (HLA) laboratories participated in the Analysis of HLA Population Data (AHPD) project where 18 new population samples were analyzed statistically and compared with data available from previous workshops. To that aim, an original methodology was developed and used (i) to estimate frequencies by taking into account ambiguous genotypic data, (ii) to test for Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) by using a nested likelihood ratio test involving a parameter accounting for HWE deviations, (iii) to test for selective neutrality by using a resampling algorithm, and (iv) to provide explicit graphical representations including allele frequencies and basic statistics for each series of data. A total of 66 data series (1-7 loci per population) were analyzed with this standard approach. Frequency estimates were compliant with HWE in all but one population of mixed stem cell donors. Neutrality testing confirmed the observation of heterozygote excess at all HLA loci, although a significant deviation was established in only a few cases. Population comparisons showed that HLA genetic patterns were mostly shaped by geographic and/or linguistic differentiations in Africa and Europe, but not in America where both genetic drift in isolated populations and gene flow in admixed populations led to a more complex genetic structure. Overall, a fruitful collaboration between HLA typing laboratories and population geneticists allowed finding useful solutions to the problem of estimating gene frequencies and testing basic population diversity statistics on highly complex HLA data (high numbers of alleles and ambiguities), with promising applications in either anthropological, epidemiological, or transplantation studies.

Esclerosis múltiple y síndrome nefrótico por enfermedad glomerular de cambios mínimos: coincidencia de dos enfermedades autoinmunes / Multiple sclerosis and nephrotic syndrome in minimal change disease

La coincidencia de dos o más enfermedades autoinmunes ha sido ocasionalmente reportada en los últimos años. Mostramos a continuación el caso de un pacientejóven con diagnóstico de esclerosis múltiple quien siete meses más tarde presentó un síndrome nefrótico con recaídas frecuentes por enfermedad glomerular de cambiosmínimos. El tratamiento con ciclosporina en dosis de 3,8 mg/kg/día asociado con 10 mg/día de prednisona durante 18 meses evitó la aparición de nuevas recaídas.La documentación e investigación de tales casos contribuirá notablemente a una mejor comprensión de la inmunopatogénesis de estas enfermedades (AU)

The coinciding suffering of two or more autoimmune diseases has been occasionally reported during the last years. We report a multiple sclerosis case in a youngmale patient who presented minimal-change nephrotic syndrome with frequent relapses seven months later. New relapses have been prevented with cyclosporine therapyin a dose of 3,8 mg/kg bw/day associated to prednisone 10 mg/day during eighteen months. Documentation and investigation of such cases will help to thebest understanding of the immunopathogenesis of those diseases (AU)

Indicadores de predicción evolutiva en la nefropatía primaria por inmunoglobulina A. Estudio Cooperativo Cubano / Evolutive prediction indicators at the primary immunoglobulin a nephropathy. Cuban cooperative study

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Response of the exocrine pancreas to the CCK on offspring rats of ethanol dams. Effects of folic acid.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to study the reverse effect of folic acid administered during gestation and lactation to ethanol-treated dams, on cholecystokinin Cholecystokinin (CCK) stimulus-secretion coupling in pancreatic exocrine secretion in offspring rats. METHODS: Animals were randomized into three groups: Control group (C) received water and basic diet during pregnancy and lactation period; ethanol-treated rats (E) received ethanol and basic diet; the ethanol+folic acid group (EF) received folic acid supplement concomitantly with ethanol administration. RESULTS: Body and pancreatic weight was lower in offsprings after ethanol treatment. Folic acid supplementation increased these parameters with respect to ethanol rats. After CCK stimulation, a significant decrease in amylase, lipase and chymotrypsin activities in the duodenal juice were detected in ethanol, this trend was partially corrected with folate supplementation. CONCLUSION: Ethanol exerts its action on exocrine pancreatic secretion by two pathways: 'per se' and diminishing the folic acid content, because a folic acid supplement in rats during pregnancy and lactation periods produces an advantageous effect on amylase, lipase and chymotrypsin secretion in their offspring. Although extrapolation from animal studies may be tenuous, the present findings may explain the use of folic acid in the prevention of ethanol-induced damage by increasing the enzyme levels to adequate physiological concentrations.

[Multiple sclerosis and nephrotic syndrome in minimal change disease]. / Esclerosis múltiple y síndrome nefrótico por enfermedad glomerular de cambios mínimos: coincidencia de dos enfermedades autoinmunes.

The coinciding suffering of two or more autoimmune diseases has been occasionally reported during the last years. We report a multiple sclerosis case in a young male patient who presented minimal-change nephrotic syndrome with frequent relapses seven months later. New relapses have been prevented with cyclosporine therapy in a dose of 3,8 mg/kg bw/day associated to prednisone 10 mg/day during eighteen months. Documentation and investigation of such cases will help to the best understanding of the immunopathogenesis of those diseases.

Indicadores de predicción evolutiva en la nefropatía primaria por inmunoglobulina A: estudio Cooperativo Cubano / Indicators in predicting the evolutionary primary immunoglobulin A nephropathy Cooperative Study Cubano

La nefropatía por inmunoglobulina A (NIgA) se reconoce como la forma más frecuente de enfermedad glomerular primaria (EGP) 1,2, .Su evolución variable3 y comúnmente prolongada, está asociada con un importante riesgo de progresión hacia la insuficiencia renal crónica terminal (IRCT) 3,4. Por este motivo se creo un grupo de colaboración entre tres hospitales de la capital cubana, con el propósito de identificar en esta entidad, marcadores de predicción evolutiva

Esclerosis múltiple y síndrome nefrótico por enfermedad glomerular de cambios mínimos: coincidencia de dos enfermedades autoinmunes / Multiple sclerosis and nephrotic syndrome in minimal change disease

La coincidencia de dos o más enfermedades autoinmunes ha sido ocasionalmente reportada en los últimos años. Mostramos a continuación el caso de un paciente jóven con diagnóstico de esclerosis múltiple quien siete meses más tarde presentó un síndrome nefrótico con recaídas frecuentes por enfermedad glomerular de cambios mínimos. El tratamiento con ciclosporina en dosis de 3,8 mg/kg/día asociado con 10 mg/día de prednisona durante 18 meses evitó la aparición de nuevas recaídas. La documentación e investigación de tales casos contribuirá notablemente a una mejor comprensión de la inmunopatogénesis de estas enfermedades(AU)

The coinciding suffering of two or more autoimmune diseases has been occasionally reported during the last years. We report a multiple sclerosis case in a young male patient who presented minimal-change nephrotic syndrome with frequent relapses seven months later. New relapses have been prevented with cyclosporine therapy in a dose of 3,8 mg/kg bw/day associated to prednisone 10 mg/day during eighteen months. Documentation and investigation of such cases will help to the best understanding of the immunopathogenesis of those diseases(AU)

Gender difference in the pancreatic trypsinogen response to ethanol withdrawal in rat pups.

This study was designed to examine the effects of ethanol withdrawal on offspring rats that consumed ethanol during gestation and lactation, in order to examine whether there was an improvement in pancreatic trypsinogen and lipase activities at 2 months postpartum with respect to offspring that fed on ethanol until death. A second purpose for our study was to determine if a folic acid supplement during gestation and lactation was sufficient or insufficient to reverse the negative effects of ethanol consumption. Both genders were used with the aim of investigating any differential pancreatic behaviour. The animals were randomized into five groups: the control group (CG) received water and a basic rat diet during pregnancy, lactation and growth; the ethanol group (EG) was fed an ethanol diet during pregnancy, the suckling period and growth until death; the ethanol-water group's (E+WG) ethanol was eliminated after lactation; The ethanol-folic acid group (E+FG) received a folic acid supplemented diet during pregnancy and the suckling period and in the ethanol+folic acid group (E+FG+FG) this supplementation continued during growth. Our results showed that ethanol administration or ethanol withdrawal did not significantly alter lipase activity in the pancreas. Ethanol administration decreased trypsinogen levels in the pancreas of males and females. However, in males, as opposed to females, the withdrawal of ethanol did not recover the values of pancreatic trypsinogen content, nor did a folic acid supplementation significantly alter the parameters we studied. Our treatment produced no effect on lipase levels. There was a gender-related difference in pancreatic trypsinogen content, the implication being that in future all results on exocrine pancreas function in male and female animals should be analysed separately.

Prolonged ethanol ingestion increases renal AQP2 and AQP3 expression in adult rats and in their offspring.

This study evaluates the effect of prolonged ethanol ingestion on the renal ability to concentrate urine. Suckling Wistar rats born to mothers given ethanol before and during gestation and suckling periods (ethanol-exposed offspring) were used and the results were compared with those obtained from offspring of dams given diets containing no ethanol. Comparisons were also made between progenitors with or without prolonged ethanol ingestion. Body and kidney weights; arginine-vasopressin (AVP) and aldosterone plasma levels; plasma, urine and renal papillary osmolality; urine outflow; kidney AQP2, AQP3 and AQP4 expression and diencephalon AVP mRNA expression were determined. As compared with control offspring, the ethanol-exposed offspring present i) lower body and kidney weights; ii) lower urine outflow; iii) higher renal AQP2 and AQP3 mRNA; iv) higher renal AQP2 protein content and v) higher urine and renal papillary osmolality. These changes were also observed in the ethanol-treated progenitors, although they were of smaller magnitude. Plasma osmolality, renal AQP4 mRNA, AVP plasma levels and diencephalon AVP mRNA expression were not affected by the ethanol treatment. Plasma levels of aldosterone were only significantly increased in the ethanol-exposed suckling rats. It is concluded that maternal ethanol ingestion before and during gestation and suckling periods affects the renal function of the offspring, up-regulating renal AQP2 expression by an AVP-independent mechanism. Ethanol-treated progenitors manifest similar renal changes, although of lesser magnitude than the offspring.

Modelo Pedagógico para la formación y desarrollo de Habilidades en las asignaturas Inglés I y II

La adquisición de una lengua extranjera requiere de una adecuada competencia comunicativa teniendo en cuenta la competencia estrátegica, dicursiva, linguistica y sociolinguistica en la que no se puede obviar las cuatros abilidades fundamentales escuchar, hablar, leer, escribir. Para lograr un buen desarrollo de esas habilidades se requiere por parte del docente, dominar estrategias pedagógicas que proporciones a los estudiantes vias de aprendizaje. para esto es preciso desarrollar en ellos hábitos, habilidades y capacidades intelectuales, de las que carecen los programas de la disciplina Inglés...[AU]

Hispano-Indian admixture in Paraguay studied by analysis of HLA-DRB1 polymorphism.

The genetic polymorphism of the Paraguayan population results from the admixture between South American Indians named Guaranis and Spaniards. In order to evaluate the genetic predominance in the Paraguayan population, we typed 50 healthy Paraguayans for HLA-DRB1 by molecular biology and compared their HLA-DRB1 polymorphism to that of the Guaranis and of two Spanish populations. Six significant differences of alleles frequencies were observed between Paraguayans and Guaranis--DRB1*01, 06 (13, 14), 15, 16, 07--whereas only one difference was observed with the Spaniards (DRB1*14). The DRB1*14 frequency was higher in Paraguayan than in the Spanish populations essentially due to the presence of DRB1*1402 related alleles (1402,06,13). These alleles are extremely rare in the Spanish populations whereas frequent in the Guaranis from Brazil and in South American Indian tribes living in the lymitrophe regions of Paraguay (Toba, Wichi and Terena). Thus, the presence of the DRB1*1402 related alleles (6%) in the Paraguayan population constitutes the major Indian contribution to the HLA-DR polymorphism of the Paraguayan population. The genetic distances between Paraguayans and the two Spanish populations were closer (.494 and .415) than that between Paraguayans and Guaranis (.958). Altogether these results suggest the predominance of the Spanish genetic in the Paraguayan population. Historical events are discussed to explain this predominance.

Detection of platelet-associated immunoglobulins by flow cytometry for the diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia: a prospective study and critical review.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Flow cytometry (FC) to identify platelet-associated (PA) immunoglobulin (Ig) is a potentially useful diagnostic test for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). However, the restricted application of PAIg measurement to thrombocytopenic populations primarily comprised of ITP patients will artificially enhance the test's diagnostic specificity. For this reason, we performed a prospective study in which the results of a sensitive technique for detecting PAIg, as is FC, were correlated to the cause of the thrombocytopenia. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 118 patients with platelet counts <100 x 10(9)/L and 30 normal donors with a platelet count >200 x 10(9)/L were studied for PAIg employing a flow cytometer. Forty-two children and 20 adults were diagnosed as having immune thrombocytopenia and 27 children and 29 adults had nonimmune thrombocytopenia of different etiology. RESULTS: Raised levels of PAIg were found in 56/62 patients with immune thrombocytopenia and in 34/56 patients with non-immune thrombocytopenia. Diagnostic values of PAIg for the detection of immune thrombocytopenia were: sensitivity 90.3% and specificity 39. 3%. An enzyme-linked immunoabsorbant assay (ELISA) for the detection of autoantibodies to platelet glycoprotein (GP) complexes was used in adults, 9 with immune-related thrombocytopenia and 16 with non-immune thrombocytopenia, in order to determine the true non-specific nature of the positive PAIg test. By ELISA, 8/9 patients with immune thrombocytopenia and 7/16 with non-immune thrombocytopenic disorders showed autoantibodies to platelet GP complexes. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: PAIg detection by FC constitutes a sensitive but non-specific assay thus making it unnecessary and inappropriate for establishing the diagnosis of ITP.

[Classification of acute leukemias according to the first latin-american consensus conference for the immunophenotyping of leukemias]. / Clasificación de las leucemias agudas de acuerdo con el consenso de la primera conferencia latinoamericana en la tipificación inmunológica de las leucemias.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recommendations of the First Latinamerican Consensus Conference for the Immunophenotyping of Acute Leukemia in untreated patients with de novo disease immunologically classified employing flow cytometry and an extended panel of monoclonal antibodies. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In that conference it was recommended the use of the following antibodies: cytoplasmic CD79a (cCD79a) and CD19 to define B-progenitor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL); cCD3 and CD7 for T-cell ALL (T-ALL), and CD13, CD33 and myeloperoxidase (cMPO) for acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML). We analyzed the expression of these cellular antigens in 91 non-consecutive patients classified with the extended panel as: B-ALL 28 cases; T-ALL 7; B-T-ALL 2; AML 47; and mixed-lineage acute leukemia 7 cases. RESULTS: All 28 B-ALL cases were positive with each of the two recommended antibodies cCD79a and CD19, whereas in 24 AML cases (the expression of cCD79a was not assayed in 23 cases) and in 7 T-ALL patients both antigens were absent. cCD3 and CD7 antigens were identified in 71% and 100% of T-ALL, respectively. CD7 antigen was not detected in any of the 28 patients with B-ALL but it was expressed in 6 of 47 AML cases, while none of 75 B-ALL and AML cases were positive to cCD3. Forty nine percent of AML were positive for the three recommended markers: cMPO, CD13 and CD33, and 51% of AML cases reacted with one or two of these three monoclonal antibodies. Six out of 28 cases of B-ALL had aberrant expression of myeloid antigen (CD33 in 3 cases and CD13 in 3 cases). CONCLUSIONS: There was no difference in the definition of AL lineage between employing the extended antibody panel and that recommended by the Latinamerican consensus.

[Oxidative stress in neurodegeneration]. / Estrés oxidativo en las neurodegeneraciones.

INTRODUCTION: The aetiology of the neuronal death which occurs in neurodegenerative diseases is still unknown. These disorders are of insidious onset and follow an inexorable, gradually progressive course. The best known and most frequent are Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). DEVELOPMENT: Advances in molecular genetics and neurobiochemistry towards the understanding of processes involved in cell death, suggest the association of phenomena of excito-toxicity and oxidation damage in the selective degeneration of neuronal populations, characteristic of these disorders. CONCLUSION: The evidence presented here suggests that the species reactive to oxygen (SRO) play a direct part in the aetiology and/or pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders, although it is still very difficult to establish whether these reactive species represent the primary etiological factor, or are toxic products secondary to tissue damage.

Estrés oxidativo en las neurodegeneraciones / Oxidative stress in neurodegeneration

Introducción. La etiología de la muerte neuronal que tiene lugar en las enfermedades neurodegenerativas es aún desconocida. Estas enfermedades son insidiosas y siguen un curso inexorable y gradualmene progresivo. Las más conocidas por su alta incidencia son la enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA), la enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) y la esclerosis lateral amiotrófica (ELA). Desarrollo. Los avances en genética molecular y neurobioquímica, en el conocimiento de los procesos involucrados en la muerte celular, sugieren la asociación de los fenómenos de excitotoxicidad y daño oxidativo en la degeneración selectiva de las poblaciones neuronales características de estas entidades. Conclusiones. Las evidencias que han sido presentadas aquí sugieren que las especies reactivas del oxigeno (ERO) desempeñan un papel directo en la etiología y/o patogénesis de las enfermedades neurodegenerativas, aunque aún es muy difícil establecer si estas especies reactivas representan el factor etiológico primario primario o son productos tóxicos secundarios al daño tisular(AU)

[The action of epidermal growth factor on the development of cultured striatum cells]. / Acción del factor de crecimiento epidérmico sobre el desarrollo de las células estriatales en cultivo.

INTRODUCTION: Epidermic growth factor (EGF) has a neurotrophic mitogenic effect on different cell populations in the nervous system. This is modulated by the stage of development and microenvironment of the cells. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In this paper we describe the action of EGF on embryonic striatum cells of a culture system dissociated from neurons and glias. The cell culture is prepared from 16-17 day rat embryos. In the system used, the cell population was cultured for 20-24 hours in a medium containing serum. This medium was later replaced by a mixture of specific nutrients and treated for 6 days with 20 mg/ml of EGF. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The substitution of serum during the initial period of development led to an appreciable reduction in the living cells in the treated cultures and in the controls. The surviving cells were mainly cellular precursors, taking into account their morphological characteristics and capacity for proliferation. The effect of EGF was seen in an increase in the number of cells and was shown to be a stimulus to the proliferation of neuronal and astrocyte precursors. The specific activity of choline acetyl-transferases determined in the cultures at 16 days showed differentiation of a cholinergic neurons subpopulation, which responded to treatment with nerve growth factor with an increase in the activity of this enzyme.