Health status assessment through an integrative biomarker approach in mussels of different ages with a different history of exposure to the Prestige oil spill.

A battery of cell and tissue-level biomarkers was applied in mussels of 6 size-classes collected from Galicia and the Basque coast in summer 2007 in an attempt to examine the health status of individuals affected as adults (mature before 2003), affected during their developmental or juvenile stages (2003-2004 offspring), or not directly affected by the Prestige oil spill (POS) exposure (presumably 2005-2006 offspring). This battery of biomarkers was akin to those formerly applied on mussels of 3.5-4.5 cm shell length for which there exist biomarker reference values in the studied geographical areas. The cause-effect relationship between biological responses and the different history of exposure to POS fuel oil was intricate for different reasons: (a) growth rate was dissimilar in mussels of the two studied localities and much lower than expected, (b) a chronological basis could not be directly associated to POS events (all mussels except the smallest from Galicia had been subjected to the direct POS impact at one or another stage of their life-cycle); and (c) some biomarkers and histopathology seemingly depended on size/age irrespectively of the locality and the POS chronology. As a whole, the present study gives a very useful set of reference values of biomarkers obtained for Mytilus galloprovincialis of different size-classes. Finally, it is recommended that Mussel Watch programmes should be designed by standardising the age of the sentinel mussels rather than their size, especially if the programme covers large or diverse geographical areas, if long-term trends are relevant or if significant pollution effects on growth are expected.

Metagenomics and antibiotics.

Most of the bacterial species that form part of the biosphere have never been cultivated. In this situation, a comprehensive study of bacterial communities requires the utilization of non-culture-based methods, which have been named metagenomics. In this paper we review the use of different metagenomic techniques for understanding the effect of antibiotics on microbial communities, to synthesize new antimicrobial compounds and to analyse the distribution of antibiotic resistance genes in different ecosystems. These techniques include functional metagenomics, which serves to find new antibiotics or new antibiotic resistance genes, and descriptive metagenomics, which serves to analyse changes in the composition of the microbiota and to track the presence and abundance of already known antibiotic resistance genes in different ecosystems.

Effects of antalarmin and nadolol on the relationship between social stress and pulmonary metastasis development in male OF1 mice.

It has been found that acute social stress in male OF1 mice produced a general immunosuppression and increased B16F10 tumor development. This study examined the effects of blocking either the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis or the sympathetic adrenomedullary (SAM) system on the impact of such stress on tumor development. Naive male OF1 mice were individually housed for 12 days before being inoculated with tumor cells or vehicle. Six days later, tumor-bearing mice were inoculated with antalarmin (a corticotropin-releasing factor receptor antagonist), nadolol (a beta-adrenergic antagonist) or vehicle. All these mice were subjected to social stress by pairing them for 24h with counterparts selected for their high and homogeneous levels of aggressiveness. The pairs were only in physical contact for three 5-min periods, being in sensory contact for the rest of this period. One hour after social stress, serum corticosterone and IFN-gamma levels were analyzed in each experimental group. Fifteen days later, lungs were removed to determine the number of metastatic foci with their areas, and blood samples were taken to assess serum titers of corticosterone and IFN-gamma. Both antalarmin and nadolol-treated mice developed significantly fewer metastatic foci with smaller areas than vehicle-treated subjects although only the group treated with antalarmin had reduced corticosterone levels. This study confirms that social stress has complex effects on immune system and tumor development that are not simply linked to corticosterone titers.

[Quantification of liver iron concentration using 1-Tesla MRI]. / Cuantificación de la concentración de hierro en hígado mediante RM de 1 Tesla.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quantification of liver iron concentration using 1-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and its ability to diagnose or rule out hemochromatosis. To evaluate the role of 1.5-Tesla MRI in inconclusive cases. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 2002 and 2006, we used 1-Tesla MRI (Gandon method) and liver biopsy to quantify the liver iron concentration in 31 patients. Moreover, we used 1.5-Tesla MRI (according to Alústiza's model) and liver biopsy to determine the liver iron concentration in 10 additional patients and to check the results of 10 patients in whom 1-Tesla MRI detected iron overload. RESULTS: In the first group of 31 patients, liver biopsy classified the liver iron concentration as normal (<36 micromol.Fe/g) in 11 patients, as hemosiderosis (36-80 micromol.Fe/g) in 15, and as hemochromatosis (>80 micromol.Fe/g) in 5. The correlation with the values calculated at MRI was 100% in the 5 cases with hemochromatosis; in the 15 patients with hemosiderosis, 5 were correctly classified and the liver iron concentration was overestimated in 10; of the 11 patients with normal liver iron concentration, 6 were correctly classified and 5 were overestimated. Quantification >80 at MRI has a sensitivity and negative predictive value of 100% and specificity of 50% for the diagnosis of hemochromatosis. Quantification <36 at MRI has a positive predictive value and specificity of 100% to identify the absence of iron overload. In the 10 patients with liver biopsy that underwent 1.5-Tesla MRI, there was a high correlation between the two techniques. CONCLUSION: The reliability of the evaluation of liver iron concentration using 1-Tesla MRI is useful for ruling out hemochromatosis and identifying patients without iron overload. We observed a tendency to overestimate liver iron concentration in both patients with overload and in those without, and this limits the reliability of the technique. 1.5-Tesla MRI is a good alternative for quantifying liver iron concentration more precisely.

[Neuroschistosomiasis: a challenging diagnosis]. / Neuroesquistosomiasis: un reto para el diagnóstico.

INTRODUCTION: Neuroschistosomiasis is an uncommon and under diagnosed disease in our country because of the no clinical suspicion. The most common neurological manifestations are epileptic seizures as central nervous system involvement or different types of myelopathies: transverse myelitis, myeloradiculopathy, cauda equina syndrome or Brown-Sequard syndrome. CASE REPORT: A 27 years-old male from an endemic area, with atypical neurological affectation as he presented myelopathy and multifocal neuritis. Diagnosis was based on the epidemiological exposure datums, the myelopathy, the positive serological studies for Schistosoma haematobium, no detection of other parasitic infections and the clinical and radiological improvement after treatment. Cervical and thoracic magnetic resonance showed areas of hyper signal in T2 as it was described in other cases. It was detected S. haematobium in the bladder, the rest of serological and microbiological studies were negative. Besides, eosinophils on the biopsy of sural nerve orientative to parasitic etiology. CONCLUSION: In patient with myelopathy or another unexplained neurological manifestation we have to suspect neuroschistosomiasis. In a world where migrations and travels are so frequent we have to think in this type of diseases.

Neuroesquistosomiasis: un reto para el diagnóstico / Neurochistosomiasis: a challenging diagnosis

Introducción. La neuroesquistosomiasis es una entidad poco frecuente e infradiagnosticada en nuestro medio por la falta de sospecha clínica. Las formas más habituales de presentación son afectación cerebral o distintas variantes de mielopatías: mielitis transversa, mielorradiculopatía, síndrome de cola de caballo, síndrome de Brown-Séquard. Caso clínico. Varón de 27 años oriundo de zona endémica, con afectación neurológica atípica, pues presenta sintomatología medular y neuropatía multifocal. Los datos epidemiológicos de exposición, la clínica de mielopatía, la serología positiva para Schistosoma haematobium, el descarte de otras posibles parasitosis y la mejoría tanto clínica como radiológica tras el tratamiento nos han permitido llegar al diagnóstico. Las imágenes cervicales y dorsales observadas en la resonancia magnética son similares a las descritas en otras ocasiones. En la investigación etiológica se detecta S. haematobium vesical, siendo el resto de serologías y análisis microbiológicos negativos. Además la presencia de eosinófilos en la biopsia del nervio sural orienta hacia el origen parasitario de dicha afectación. Conclusión. Ante un paciente con mielopatía u otra afectación neurológica no explicada debemos sospechar neuroesquistomiasis. En un mundo donde las migraciones y los viajes son tan frecuentes, cada día debemos pensar más en este tipo de enfermedades de origen tropical

Introduction. Neuroschistosomiasis is an uncommon and under diagnosed disease in our country because of the no clinical suspicion. The most common neurological manifestations are epileptic seizures as central nervous system involvement or different types of myelopathies: transverse myelitis, myeloradiculopathy, cauda equina syndrome or Brown-Séquard syndrome. Case report. A 27 years-old male from an endemic area, with atypical neurological affectation as he presented myelopathy and multifocal neuritis. Diagnosis was based on the epidemiological exposure datums, the myelopathy, the positive serological studies for Schistosoma haematobium, no detection of other parasitic infections and the clinical and radiological improvement after treatment. Cervical and thoracic magnetic resonance showed areas of hyper signal in T2 as it was described in other cases. It was detected S. haematobium in the bladder, the rest of serological and microbiological studies were negative. Besides, eosinophils on the biopsy of sural nerve orientative to parasitic etiology. Conclusion. In patient with myelopathy or another unexplained neurological manifestation we have to suspect neuroschistosomiasis. In a world where migrations and travels are so frequents we have to think in this type of diseases

Uso subcutáneo de furosemida en insuficiencia cardiaca terminal / Use of subcutaneous furosemide in terminal heart failure

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Time-dependent behavioral, neurochemical, and immune consequences of repeated experiences of social defeat stress in male mice and the ameliorative effects of fluoxetine.

This study attempted to determine whether differing numbers of days of repeated defeat experience altered behavior, immune measures, and neuroendocrine mediators in mice. OF1 male mice were socially stressed by repeated experiences of defeat in a sensorial contact model. Subjects exposed to nine defeats showed more stretch-attend postures and fewer active defense elements than counterparts exposed to 23 defeats. Submissive subjects with nine experiences of defeat also had a lower splenocyte proliferative response than unmanipulated controls. The proliferation index progressively increased but at a higher rate in manipulated controls than in socially stressed subjects, resulting in a significant immunosuppressive effect after 23 days of exposure to social stressors. Nine days of such exposure resulted in higher hypothalamic ratios of serotonin and dopamine to their major metabolites than in unmanipulated or manipulated controls and subjects socially stressed for 23 days. The data generally indicate that the acute social stressors (such as nine defeats) produce a profile of behavioral and physiological variables characteristic of a state of anxiety. The proliferation index was also lower after 52 days of social stress than in manipulated controls. Fluoxetine treatment appeared to have an anxiolytic effect, reducing immobility, and even seemed to protect subjects from the immune impairment and endocrine alteration caused by social stressors. The results generally provide clues that improve our knowledge of the consequences of social stressors and their possible treatment.

Antifungal activity of actinomycetes from Cuban soils.

This study reports on the capacity of actinomycete strains isolated from Cuban soils to produce antifungal agents. The antimicrobial activities were determined by susceptibility disk assay methods. We isolated 563 different actinomycetes and 286 produced compounds with antifungal activity. Our screening method indicated the presence of many possible polyene macrolide antibiotics and the important antifungal activity in the soils rich in minerals.

Endocrine and lymphoproliferative response changes produced by social stress in mice.

Daily dyadic resident-intruder encounters and uninterrupted cohabitation in pairs were used to assess the impact of different durations (5 and 15 days) of dominance and subordination experiences on splenic lymphoproliferative responses in male OF1 strain mice. HPA axis activity was assessed by measuring serum corticosterone levels, whereas splenic norepinephrine (NE) content provided a sympathetic activity index. Corticosterone levels in subordinate subjects were generally higher than in their control or dominant counterparts in both treatment paradigms. Corticosterone levels in dominant subjects were lower than in their control counterparts in both. Increasing the duration of treatments generally decreased such titers, especially so in subordinate subjects. No differences were detected in splenic NE content. Animals subjected to social interaction generally showed greater proliferation than their control counterparts. This effect was more pronounced in subordinates than dominants and after longer- rather than short-duration treatments. There was no inverse relation between proliferative responses and the subject's corticosterone levels. While corticosterone may have a general immunomodulating effect, other mediators apparently account for the effects produced by these social stress paradigms on splenic proliferative response.

Effects of chronic mild stress (CMS) and imipramine administration, on spleen mononuclear cell proliferative response, serum corticosterone level and brain norepinephrine content in male mice.

There is increasing evidence that stress and emotional reactions produce changes in various immune processes. These changes may be due to alterations of the stress responses endocrine and for autonomic mediating mechanisms. In order to study such effects, the impact of chronic mild stress (CMS) application, and of subsequent imipramine administration were studied on the spleen mononuclear cell proliferative response period. OFI strain male mice were subjected to 4 or 7 weeks of CMS. The effects of these treatments on serum corticosterone levels and hypothalamic and hippocampal norepinephrine (NE) contents were also assessed. Subjects submitted to CMS had a higher spleen mononuclear cell proliferative response after either treatment duration. Imipramine treatment diminished this response enhancement in CMS exposed animals, but did not alter the proliferative responses of control subjects. Serum corticosterone levels, as well as hypothalamic and hippocampal nonrepinephrine contents did not significantly vary between groups. Taken together, these results suggest that CMSs effects on immune reactivity are not related to serum glucocorticoids or NE changes in these locations associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary- adrenocortical (HPA) axis.

Clozapine: strong antiaggressive effects with minimal motor impairment.

Clinical studies have shown clozapine to be effective in the treatment of schizophrenia and associated with an extremely low incidence of extrapiramidal side effects. Diverse studies indicate that clozapine is an atypical neuroleptic with a preferential activity on the mesolimbic structures and a lower affinity for striatal D2 receptors than the classical antipsychotics. The purpose of this study was to assess the behavioral properties of clozapine, especially its effects on aggressive and motor behaviors. Individually housed male mice of the OF1 strain were exposed to anosmic "standard opponents" 30 minutes after the last drug administration. One category of animals received a single IP dose of the compound (0.2, 0.5, 1 or 1.5 mg/kg). Another category received daily doses (0.5, 1 or 1.5 mg/kg) for 21 days. Encounters were videotaped and behavior evaluated using an ethologically based analysis. Clozapine, in the acute treatment condition, produced a significant decrease in "attack" and "threat" behaviors without "immobility" being significantly increased. These results suggest a rather specific antiaggressive action of the compound with little motor impairment. In the chronic administration, no significant change in aggressive behavior was observed which may be attributed to the development of some degree of tolerance.