A model of traumatic brain injury in rats is influenced by neuroprotection of diurnal variation which improves motor behavior and histopathology in white matter myelin.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) represents a significant public health concern and has been associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. TBI generates two types of brain damage: primary and secondary. Secondary damage originates a series of pathophysiological processes, which include metabolic crisis, excitotoxicity, and neuroinflammation, which have deleterious consequences for neuronal function. However, neuroprotective mechanisms are also activated. The balance among these tissue responses, and its variations throughout the day determines the fate of the damage tissue. We have demonstrated less behavioral and morphological damage when a rat model of TBI was induced during the light hours of the day. Moreover, here we show that rats subjected to TBI in the dark lost less body weight than those subjected to TBI in the light, despite no change in food intake. Besides, the rats subjected to TBI in the dark had better performance in the beam walking test and presented less histological damage in the corpus callosum and the cingulum bundle, as shown by the Klüver-Barrera staining. Our results suggest that the time of day when the injury occurs is important. Thus, this data should be used to evaluate the pathophysiological processes of TBI events and develop better therapies.

Chemical modulation of the metabolism of an endophytic fungal strain of Cophinforma mamane using epigenetic modifiers and amino-acids.

Endophytic fungi are capable of producing a great diversity of bioactive metabolites. However, the presence of silent and lowly expressed genes represents a main challenge for the discovery of novel secondary metabolites with different potential uses. Epigenetic modifiers have shown to perturb the production of fungal metabolites through the induction of silent biosynthetic pathways leading to an enhanced chemical diversity. Moreover, the addition of bioprecursors to the culture medium has been described as a useful strategy to induce specific biosynthetic pathways. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of different chemical modulators on the metabolic profiles of an endophytic fungal strain of Cophinforma mamane (Botryosphaeriaceae), known to produce 3 thiodiketopiperazine (TDKP) alkaloids (botryosulfuranols A-C), previously isolated and characterized by our team. Four epigenetic modifiers, 5-azacytidine (AZA), sodium butyrate (SB), nicotinamide (NIC), homoserine lactone (HSL) as well as 2 amino acids, l-phenylalanine and l-tryptophan, as bioprecursors of TDKPs, were used. The metabolic profiles were analysed by UHPLC-HRMS/MS under an untargeted metabolomics approach. Our results show that the addition of the two amino acids in C. mamane culture and the treatment with AZA significantly reduced the production of the TDKPs botryosulfuranols A, B and C. Interestingly, the treatment with HSL significantly induced the production of different classes of diketopiperazines (DKPs). The treatment with AZA resulted as the most effective epigenetic modifier for the alteration of the secondary metabolite profile of C. mamane by promoting the expression of cryptic genes.

First report of porcine respirovirus 1 in South America.

Porcine respirovirus 1 (PRV1) is an emerging virus in pigs that has been previously described in the USA and China. There are no reports of its presence in the rest of the world. The objective of this study was to determine the occurrence of PRV1 in Chile and to determine its phylogeny. Thus, we collected samples (oral fluids, nasal swabs, and lungs) from a swine influenza A virus (IAV) surveillance program, most of which belonged to pigs with respiratory disease. The samples were analyzed by RT-PCR, and the viral sequencing was obtained using RNA whole-genome sequencing approach. Maximum likelihood phylogeny was constructed with the available references. Thirty-one of 164 samples (18.9 %) were RT-PCR positive for PRV1: 62.5 % oral fluids, 19.0 % nasal swabs, and 8.6 % lungs. All 6 farms in this study had at least one positive sample, with 6-40 % of positive results per farm, which suggests that PRV1 is disseminated in Chilean swine farms. Twenty-one of 31 (677%) PRV1-positive samples were also positive for IAV, so the role of PRV1 as secondary pathogen in respiratory disease needs to be further evaluated. Near to complete genome of two PRV1s were obtained from two farms. The phylogenies, in general, showed low bootstrap support, except the concatenated genome and the L gene trees which showed clustering of the Chilean PRV1 with Asian sequences, suggesting a close genetic relationship. This is the first report of PRV1 in the Southern Hemisphere. Further studies are necessary to determine the genetic diversity of this virus in Chile.

Tratamiento de pseudoaneurisma iatrogénico con compresión ecoguiada / Treatment of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm with echo-guided compression

Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad obtenida con la compresión ecoguiada como primera elección para lograr la trombosis del pseudoaneurisma iatrogénico post estudio o intervencionismo. Material y Método: Estudio retrospectivo observacional de 9 pacientes en quienes se realizó la compresión ecoguiada como primera alternativa de manejo frente a pseudoaneurismas iatrogénicos secundarios a procedimientos diagnósticos o terapéuticos ocurridos entre agosto de 2012 y diciembre de 2015 en el Hospital Regional de Talca. Resultados: De 4.070 procedimientos se presentó la complicación en 9 pacientes, un 0,22%; 7 posterior a procedimientos terapéuticos (0,4%), y 2 en el grupo de diagnósticos (0,08%). La muestra se compone por 6 hombres y 3 mujeres de edad promedio 70 años. El vaso comprometido fue principalmente la arteria femoral con un 77%. Los pseudoaneurismas ocurrieron mayoritariamente posteriores a procedimientos terapéuticos (77%); y el éxito de la compresión ecoguiada se obtuvo en el 67%. No hubo complicaciones asociadas al tratamiento. Conclusiones: La compresión ecoguiada tiene un porcentaje de éxito menor en esta pequeña serie que los obtenidos por otros autores, pero al no presentar complicaciones y por su bajo costo creemos debe mantenerse como primera alternativa.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness obtained with echo guided compression as the first choice to achieve thrombosis of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm after study or interventionism. Material and Method: Retrospective observational study of 9 patients who underwent echo-guided compression as the first management alternative to iatrogenic pseudoaneurysms following diagnostic or therapeutic procedures that occurred between August 2012 and December 2015 at the Regional Hospital of Talca. Results: Of 4,070 procedures the complication was presented in 9 patients, 0.22%; 7 after therapeutic procedures (0.4%), and 2 in the diagnostic group (0.08%). The sample consists of 6 men and 3 women of average age 70 years. The involved vessel was mainly the femoral artery with 77%. Pseudoaneurysms occurred mostly after therapeutic procedures (77%); and the success of the echogenic compression was obtained in 67%. There were no complications associated with treatment. Conclusions : Image guided compression has a lower success rate in this small series than those obtained by other authors, but since there are no complications and because of its low cost, we believe that it should be kept as the first alternative.

Heating without heat: Thermodynamics of passive energy filters between finite systems.

Passive filters allowing the exchange of particles in a narrow band of energy are currently used in microrefrigerators and energy transducers. In this Rapid Communication, we analyze their thermal properties using linear irreversible thermodynamics and kinetic theory, and discuss a striking phenomenon: the possibility of simultaneously increasing or decreasing the temperatures of two systems without any supply of energy. This occurs when the filter induces a flow of particles whose energy is between the average energies of the two systems. Here we show that this selective transfer of particles does not need the action of any sort of Maxwell demon and can be carried out by passive filters without compromising the second law of thermodynamics. This phenomenon allows us to design cycles between two reservoirs at temperatures T_{1}

[Incidence of admissions due to pneumonia in children under 24 months old before and after the introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into the National Immunization Program of Chile]. / Incidencia de egresos por neumonía en niños menores de 24 meses antes y después de la implementación de la vacuna conjugada antineumocócica 10-valente en el Programa Nacional de Inmunizaciones de Chile.

INTRODUCTION: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia in children, especially in the hospitalized population. The 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine was included in the National Immunization Program of Chile in 2011. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of pneumonia in hospitalized children<24 months of age in the Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital before and after the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine into the National Immunization Program. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Passive surveillance study. Patients<24 months with discharge diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia from Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital were studied between 2009 and 2013. Data were obtained from the Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital's Statistical Service. The incidence of pneumonia was evaluated in the pre-vaccination period (2009-2010) and in the post-vaccination period (2012-2013). RESULTS: During the study period, an average of 4,321 discharges/year was observed in children<24 months (range: 3,587-4,702), with a significant decrease from pre- to post-vaccination vaccine period (4,644 vs 4,013, P<.001). The average incidence of pneumonia ranged from 3.4/100,000 to 1.5/100,000 in the pre- and post-vaccine period, respectively (P=.009), with an annual mean of 157 cases of pneumonia in the pre- vaccine period, and 62 cases in the postvaccine period (P<.001) and a decrease in incidence between the two periods of 56%. CONCLUSION: This study confirms information previously obtained in other countries, which show a decrease in the incidence of pneumonia associated with the implementation of a pneumococcal vaccine at the population level. Ongoing surveillance is required to evaluate if this effect is maintained over time and expands to older populations.

Incidencia de egresos por neumonía en niños menores de 24 meses antes y después de la implementación de la vacuna conjugada antineumocócica 10-valente en el Programa Nacional de Inmunizaciones de Chile / Incidence of admissions due to pneumonia in children under 24 months old before and after the introduction of the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine into the National Immunization Program of Chile

Introducción: Streptococcus pneumoniae es la primera causa de neumonía bacteriana en niños, principalmente en hospitalizados. La vacuna antineumocócica 10-valente fue introducida al Programa Nacional de Inmunizaciones de Chile el año 2011. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar la incidencia de egresos por neumonía en niños < 24 meses en el Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna, Santiago, Chile, antes y después de la implementación de vacuna antineumocócica 10-valente en el Programa Nacional de Inmunizaciones. Pacientes y método: Estudio de vigilancia pasiva; se estudiaron los pacientes < 24 meses egresados desde el Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna entre los años 2009-2013 con diagnóstico de neumonía bacteriana. Los datos fueron obtenidos desde el Servicio de Estadística del Hospital Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna. Se evaluó la incidencia de neumonía durante el período prevacuna (2009-2010) y posvacuna (2012-2013). Resultados: Durante el período de estudio se observó un promedio de 4.321 egresos/año en niños < 24 meses (rango: 3.587-4.702), con una disminución significativa desde el período pre- al posvacuna (4.644 versus 4.013; p < 0,001). La incidencia media de egresos por neumonía varió de 3,4/100.000 a 1,5/100.000 en el período pre- y posvacuna, respectivamente (p = 0,009), con un promedio anual de casos de neumonía de 157 en el primer período y de 62 en el segundo (p < 0,001) y una disminución de incidencia entre ambos períodos del 56%. Conclusión: Este estudio corrobora la información obtenida en otros países, mostrando una disminución en la incidencia de neumonía al implementar la vacuna antineumocócica a nivel poblacional. Es necesaria una vigilancia permanente para evaluar si este efecto se mantiene en el tiempo y se expande a poblaciones de mayor edad.

Introduction: Streptococcus pneumoniae is the leading cause of bacterial pneumonia in children, especially in the hospitalized population. The 10-valent pneumococcal vaccine was included in the National Immunization Program of Chile in 2011. This study aims to evaluate the incidence of pneumonia in hospitalized children < 24 months of age in the Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital before and after the introduction of the pneumococcal vaccine into the National Immunization Program. Patients and methods: Passive surveillance study. Patients < 24 months with discharge diagnosis of bacterial pneumonia from Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital were studied between 2009 and 2013. Data were obtained from the Luis Calvo Mackenna Hospital's Statistical Service. The incidence of pneumonia was evaluated in the pre-vaccination period (2009-2010) and in the post-vaccination period (2012-2013). Results: During the study period, an average of 4,321 discharges/year was observed in children < 24 months (range: 3,587-4,702), with a significant decrease from pre- to post-vaccination vaccine period (4,644 vs 4,013, P < .001). The average incidence of pneumonia ranged from 3.4/100,000 to 1.5/100,000 in the pre- and post-vaccine period, respectively (P = .009), with an annual mean of 157 cases of pneumonia in the pre-vaccine period, and 62 cases in the postvaccine period (P < .001) and a decrease in incidence between the two periods of 56%. Conclusion: This study confirms information previously obtained in other countries, which show a decrease in the incidence of pneumonia associated with the implementation of a pneumococcal vaccine at the population level. Ongoing surveillance is required to evaluate if this effect is maintained over time and expands to older populations.

Probabilistic metrology attains macroscopic cloning of quantum clocks.

It has recently been shown that probabilistic protocols based on postselection boost the performances of the replication of quantum clocks and phase estimation. Here we demonstrate that the improvements in these two tasks have to match exactly in the macroscopic limit where the number of clones grows to infinity, preserving the equivalence between asymptotic cloning and state estimation for arbitrary values of the success probability. Remarkably, the cloning fidelity depends critically on the number of rationally independent eigenvalues of the clock Hamiltonian. We also prove that probabilistic metrology can simulate cloning in the macroscopic limit for arbitrary sets of states when the performance of the simulation is measured by testing small groups of clones.

Technology-driven dietary assessment: a software developer's perspective.

Dietary researchers need new software to improve nutrition data collection and analysis, although the creation of information technology is difficult. Software development projects may be unsuccessful as a result of an inadequate understanding of needs, management problems, technology barriers or legal hurdles. Cost over-runs and schedule delays are common. Barriers facing scientific researchers developing software include workflow, cost, schedule and team issues. Different methods of software development and the role that intellectual property rights play are discussed. A dietary researcher must carefully consider multiple issues to maximise the likelihood of success when creating new software.

Mechanism of pyrogallol red oxidation induced by free radicals and reactive oxidant species. A kinetic and spectroelectrochemistry study.

Pyrogallol red (PGR) presents high reactivity toward reactive (radical and nonradical) species (RS). This property of PGR, together with its characteristic spectroscopic absorption in the visible region, has allowed developing methodologies aimed at evaluating the antioxidant capacity of foods, beverages, and human fluids. These methods are based on the evaluation of the consumption of PGR induced by RS and its inhibition by antioxidants. However, at present, there are no reports regarding the degradation mechanism of PGR, limiting the extrapolation to how antioxidants behave in different systems comprising different RS. In the present study, we evaluate the kinetics of PGR consumption promoted by different RS (peroxyl radicals, peroxynitrite, nitrogen dioxide, and hypochlorite) using spectroscopic techniques and detection of product by HPLC mass spectrometry. The same pattern of oxidation and spectroscopic properties of the products is observed, independently of the RS employed. Mass analysis indicates the formation of only one product identified as a quinone derivative, excluding the formation of peroxides or hydroperoxides and/or chlorinated compounds, in agreement with FOX's assays and oxygen consumption experiments. Cyclic voltammetry, carried out at different pH's, shows an irreversible oxidation of PGR, indicating the initial formation of a phenoxy radical and a second charge transfer reaction generating an ortho-quinone derivative. Spectroelectrochemical oxidation of PGR shows oxidation products with identical UV-visible absorption properties to those observed in RS-induced oxidation.

Quantum metrology assisted by abstention.

The main goal of quantum metrology is to obtain accurate values of physical parameters using quantum probes. In this context, we show that abstention, i.e., the possibility of getting an inconclusive answer at readout, can drastically improve the measurement precision and even lead to a change in its asymptotic behavior, from the shot-noise to the Heisenberg scaling. We focus on phase estimation and quantify the required amount of abstention for a given precision. We also develop analytical tools to obtain the asymptotic behavior of the precision and required rate of abstention for arbitrary pure states.

Quantum learning without quantum memory.

A quantum learning machine for binary classification of qubit states that does not require quantum memory is introduced and shown to perform with the minimum error rate allowed by quantum mechanics for any size of the training set. This result is shown to be robust under (an arbitrary amount of) noise and under (statistical) variations in the composition of the training set, provided it is large enough. This machine can be used an arbitrary number of times without retraining. Its required classical memory grows only logarithmically with the number of training qubits, while its excess risk decreases as the inverse of this number, and twice as fast as the excess risk of an "estimate-and-discriminate" machine, which estimates the states of the training qubits and classifies the data qubit with a discrimination protocol tailored to the obtained estimates.

Mejora en la sensibilidad a la insulina con un programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida para control de obesidad en niños y adolescentes en el primer nivel de atención

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de un programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida para el control de peso sobre la sensibilidad a la insulina en niños y adolescentes en el primer nivel de atención. El estudio incluyó a 42 niños y adolescentes de 9 a17 años (n=23 grupo intensivo, n=19 grupo control) que participaron en un estudio clínico aleatorizado para el tratamiento de obesidad. El programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida incluyó consultas mensuales con el médico del primer nivel de atención, asesoría dietética con el nutriólogo (semanal los primeros 3 meses y luego mensual) y 12 sesiones grupales en un protocolo de cambio de conducta. El grupo control incluyó solamente las consultas médicas mensuales. La sensibilidad a la insulina se estimó por el índice de sensibilidad a la insulina (ISI(0,120)) al inicio y a los 6 meses de intervención. Los niños y adolescentes del programa intensivo mostraron un mayor efecto en la sensibilidad a la insulina a los 6 meses en comparación al grupo control ([media ± DE], + 46.8 ± 56 vs. + 5.6 ± 47, diferencia 41.2 [IC 95%, 8.5, 73.9], p= 0.01) y 65% lograron aumentar la sensibilidad a la insulina >9 unidades vs. 32% en el grupo control (p=0.03). Este estudio muestra evidencia preliminar que un programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida puede ser un modelo alternativo para mejorar la sensibilidad a la insulina en los niños y adolescentes con obesidad en el primer nivel de atención.

Improvement of insulin sensitivity after an intensive lifestyle program for youth´s weight management in the primary care. The aim of this study was to evaluate an intensive lifestyle intervention for weight management among youth in a primary care setting on insulin sensibility, compared to a control group. The study included 42 youths 9-17 years old (n=23 intensive lifestyle intervention, n=19 control group) who completed a randomized trial for weight management in a primary care setting which included an oral glucose tolerance test. The intensive lifestyle intervention included monthly consultations with the primary care physician, nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian (weekly first 3 months and then monthly) and 12 group sessions in a behavioral change protocol. The control group attended monthly consultations with the primary care physician. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by the Insulin Sensitivity Index ISI(0,120) at baseline and 6 months posttreatment. At 6 months, the mean ± DE, increase in insulin sensitivity was greater in the intensive lifestyle intervention than the control group (+46.8 ± 56 vs. +5.6 ± 47, betweengroup difference 41.2 [CI 95%, 8.5, 73.9], p= 0.01). Sixty five percent of youths on the intensive lifestyle intervention increased insulin sensitivity over 9 units vs. 32% in the control group (p=0.03). This study shows preliminary evidence that an intensive lifestyle intervention program can be an alternative model to improve insulin sensitivity among youths in the primary care setting.

Solvent effects in ionic liquids: empirical linear energy-density relationships.

Multiparameter linear energy-density relationships to model solvent effects in room temperature ionic liquids (RTILs) are introduced and tested. The model incorporates two solvent dependent and two specific solute-solvent parameters represented by a set of electronic indexes derived from the conceptual density functional theory. The specific solute-solvent interactions are described in terms of the electronic chemical potential for proton migration between the anion or cation and the transition state structure of a specific reaction. These indexes provide a quantitative estimation of the hydrogen bond (HB) acceptor basicity and the hydrogen bond donor acidity of the ionic solvent, respectively. A sound quantitative scale of HB strength is thereby obtained. The solvent dependent contributions are described by the global electrophilicity of the cation and nucleophilicity of the anion forming the ionic liquid. The model is illustrated for the kinetics of cycloaddition of cyclopentadiene towards acrolein. In general, cation HB acidity outweighs the remaining parameters for this reaction.

[Improvement of insulin sensitivity after an intensive lifestyle program for youth's weight management in the primary care]. / Mejora en la sensibilidad a la insulina con un programa intensivo de cambio en el estilo de vida para control de obesidad en niños y adolescentes en el primer nivel de atención.

The aim of this study was to evaluate an intensive lifestyle intervention for weight management among youth in a primary care setting on insulin sensibility, compared to a control group. The study included 42 youths 9-17 years old (n=23 intensive lifestyle intervention, n=19 control group) who completed a randomized trial for weight management in a primary care setting which included an oral glucose tolerance test. The intensive lifestyle intervention included monthly consultations with the primary care physician, nutrition counseling with a registered dietitian (weekly first 3 months and then monthly) and 12 group sessions in a behavioral change protocol. The control group attended monthly consultations with the primary care physician. Insulin sensitivity was estimated by the Insulin Sensitivity Index ISI(0,120) at baseline and 6 months posttreatment. At 6 months, the mean +/- DE, increase in insulin sensitivity was greater in the intensive lifestyle intervention than the control group (+46.8 +/- 56 vs. +5.6 +/- 47, between-group difference 41.2 [CI 95%, 8.5, 73.9], p = 0.01): Sixty five percent of youths on the intensive lifestyle intervention increased insulin sensitivity over 9 units vs. 32% in the control group (p=0.03). This study shows preliminary evidence that an intensive lifestyle intervention program can be an alternative model to improve insulin sensitivity among youths in the primary care setting.

Local discrimination of mixed States.

We provide rigorous, efficiently computable and tight bounds on the average error probability of multiple-copy discrimination between qubit mixed states by local operations assisted with classical communication (LOCC). In contrast with the pure-state case, these experimentally feasible protocols perform strictly worse than the general collective ones. Our numerical results indicate that the gap between LOCC and collective error rates persists in the asymptotic limit. In order for LOCC and collective protocols to achieve the same accuracy, the former can require up to twice the number of copies of the latter. Our techniques can be used to bound the power of LOCC strategies in other similar settings, which is still one of the most elusive questions in quantum communication.

Caracterización psiquiátrica del delito de parricidio: [revisión] / Psychiatric characterization of parricide: [review]

In Chile, legally commits parricide the one that, knowing the relationships that binds them, kills his/her father, mother or child, or any other of his/her ascendants or descendants, or spouse or couple. It is a rare crime, being around 4 percent of the homicides. The objective of this review is to characterize parricide psychiatrically, which is done basically using international literature. There are different profiles of parricides depending on the characteristics of the situation in which the crime is committed. The most frequent profile is that of a young male adult, with acute psychotic pathology, associated to drug and alcohol abuse. A second type is represented by adolescents in three situations: the severely abused child, the severely mentally ill child, and the dangerously antisocial child. To kill own children is a form of parricide as well, and there are differences between the psychiatric profiles of neonaticide, infanticide and filicide committers. Femicide is the murder of women committed by men on grounds of gender, and legally constitutes parricide. The most frequent is the intimate femicide, and it is associated with prior violence and drug and alcohol abuse. Parricide, even though it is an infrequent event, it is an important fact between psychiatric patients, being, in consequence, very relevant for the psychiatrist and mental health workers, the knowledge of this issue.

En Chile, legalmente, comete parricidio el que, conociendo las relaciones que los ligan, mate a su padre, madre o hijo, a cualquier otro de sus ascendientes o descendientes o a su cónyuge o conviviente. Es un delito poco frecuente, siendo alrededor del 4 por ciento de los homicidios. El objetivo de esta revisión es caracterizar psiquiátricamente el parricidio, lo que se realiza principalmente en base a la literatura internacional. Se describen distintos perfiles parricidas según las características de la situación en que se comete el crimen. El perfil más frecuente sería el del adulto varón, joven, con patología psicótica descompensada asociada a consumo de drogas y alcohol. Un segundo perfil parricida estaría representado por adolescentes en tres situaciones: el joven gravemente maltratado, el joven gravemente enfermo mental, y el joven peligrosamente antisocial. Dar muerte a los hijos es también una forma de parricidio y existirían diferencias en los perfiles psiquiátricos de los hechores de neonaticidio, infanticidio, y filicidio. El femicidio es el homicidio cometido por hombres en contra de mujeres por razones de género, y legalmente constituye parricidio. El más frecuente es el femicidio íntimo, y estaría asociado a violencia previa y abuso de alcohol y drogas. El delito de parricidio, aunque sea de baja frecuencia en la población general, es un hecho relativamente mayor entre los pacientes psiquiátricos, siendo para el médico psiquiatra y los trabajadores de la salud mental de suma relevancia el conocimiento de este tema.

Analysis of ten Brucella genomes reveals evidence for horizontal gene transfer despite a preferred intracellular lifestyle.

The facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen Brucella infects a wide range of warm-blooded land and marine vertebrates and causes brucellosis. Currently, there are nine recognized Brucella species based on host preferences and phenotypic differences. The availability of 10 different genomes consisting of two chromosomes and representing six of the species allowed for a detailed comparison among themselves and relatives in the order Rhizobiales. Phylogenomic analysis of ortholog families shows limited divergence but distinct radiations, producing four clades as follows: Brucella abortus-Brucella melitensis, Brucella suis-Brucella canis, Brucella ovis, and Brucella ceti. In addition, Brucella phylogeny does not appear to reflect the phylogeny of Brucella species' preferred hosts. About 4.6% of protein-coding genes seem to be pseudogenes, which is a relatively large fraction. Only B. suis 1330 appears to have an intact beta-ketoadipate pathway, responsible for utilization of plant-derived compounds. In contrast, this pathway in the other species is highly pseudogenized and consistent with the "domino theory" of gene death. There are distinct shared anomalous regions (SARs) found in both chromosomes as the result of horizontal gene transfer unique to Brucella and not shared with its closest relative Ochrobactrum, a soil bacterium, suggesting their acquisition occurred in spite of a predominantly intracellular lifestyle. In particular, SAR 2-5 appears to have been acquired by Brucella after it became intracellular. The SARs contain many genes, including those involved in O-polysaccharide synthesis and type IV secretion, which if mutated or absent significantly affect the ability of Brucella to survive intracellularly in the infected host.

Short-term intake of beta-carotene-supplemented diets enhances ovarian function and progesterone synthesis in goats.

The effect of beta-carotene supplementation upon luteal activity, measured as number (CLT) and volume (VLT) of corpus luteum, and P4 synthesis in goats, was evaluated. Goats (n = 22, 34 months) were randomly assigned to one of two experimental groups: (i) beta-carotene [Beta, n = 10; body weight (BW = 44.8 +/- 1.45 kg), body condition score (BCS = 3.25 +/- 0.07)], and (ii) Control (Control, n = 12; BW = 45.30 +/- 1.32 kg, BCS = 3.33 +/- 0.06). Upon oestrus synchronization, the Beta group received 50 mg of beta-carotene per day during 35 days pre- and 17 days post-ovulation. The day 4, 8, 12 and 16 post-ovulation, blood samples were collected for quantification of serum P4 concentrations by radioimmmunoassay, and transrectal ultrasonographic scanning was performed at day 18 for evaluating CLT and VLT. Overall, CLT and VLT mean were 3.10 and 2211.1 mm(3) respectively. The Beta-goats depicted both the largest values for CLT (p = 0.07) and serum P4 levels (p = 0.05), with no differences (p = 0.53) for VLT between treatments. Results suggest a higher efficiency within the cellular-enzymatic groups defining the steroidogenic pathways in the beta-carotene-supplemented goats, generating a larger P4 synthesis. The last is essential for ovulation of healthy oocytes, maintenance of uterine quiescence, nourishment and survival of the embryo around implantation; all of them of paramount significance during the maternal recognition of pregnancy process.

Arteritis de Takayasu: informe de un caso con compromiso supraaórtico y tratamiento quirúrgico / Takayasu's arteritis: report of a case with supraaortic compromise and surgical treatment

La arteritis de Takayasu es una vasculitis inflamatoria crónica de grandes vasos. Fue descrita por primera vez por el oftalmólogo japonés Nikito Takayasu, en el año 1908. Presentamos un caso de arteritis de Takayasu, diagnosticada clínicamente de acuerdo a los criterios del American College of Rheumatology de 1990. Se trata de una paciente de 23 años que ingresa al Hospital Regional de Talca por un accidente vascular encefálico hemisférico y sintomatología de robo subclavio. Se realiza un angio TAC que muestra compromiso severo (oclusión total) del tercio medio y distal del tronco braquiocefálico, carótida común derecha e inicio de la subclavia derecha. Además, este examen demuestra un flujo retrógrado en la arteria vertebral derecha, compatible con el síndrome de robo subclavio. Se decide corregir la oclusión subclavia mediante angioplastía, sin éxito tanto en el abordaje anterogrado como retrógrado. Finalmente se opta por un bypass protésico (politetrafluoroetileno expandido) desde la carótida común izquierda a la subclavia derecha a través de un túnel subcutáneo en la cara anterior del cuello.

Takayasu's arteritis is a chronic inflammatory vasculitis of large vessels. It was first identified by Japanese ophthalmologist Nikito Takayasu, in 1908. A case of Takayasu's arteritis is presented, clinically diagnosed according to the criteria of the American College of Rheumatology of 1990. This is a 23 year oíd patient, entering Talca's Regional Hospital for a stroke, also presenting symptoms of subclavian steal. An angio CT was made, showing severe commitment (total occlusion) in the middle and distal third of the brachiocephalic trunk, right common carotid and the beginning of right subclavian artery. In addition, this test shows retrograde flow on the right vertebral artery, compatible with the subclavian steal syndrome. It was decided to correct the subclavian occiusion through angioplasty, without success, in both the anterograde and retrograde approach; finally opting for a prosthetic bypass (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene) from left common carotid to right subclavian artery through a tunnel of the subcutaneous front of the neck.