Extended composite index of anthropometric failure in Argentinean preschool and school children.

OBJECTIVE: The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) can only be applied to children under 5 years of age and does not contemplate obesity. The aim of this study was to propose an Extended CIAF (ECIAF) that combines the characterization of malnutrition due to undernutrition and excess weight, and apply it in six Argentine provinces. DESIGN: ECIAF excludes children not in anthropometric failure (group A) and was calculated from a percentage of children included in malnutrition categories B: wasting only; C: wasting and underweight; D: wasting, stunting and underweight; E: stunting and underweight; F: stunting only; Y: underweight only; G: only weight excess; and H: stunting and weight excess. SETTING: Cross-sectional study conducted in Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chubut, Jujuy, Mendoza and Misiones (Argentina). PARTICIPANTS: 10 879 children of both sexes aged between 3 and 13·99. RESULTS: ECIAF in preschool children (3 to 4·99 years) was 15·1 %. The highest prevalence was registered in Mendoza (16·7 %) and the lowest in Misiones (12·0 %). In school children (5 to 13·99 years) ECIAF was 28·6 %. Mendoza also recorded the highest rate (30·7 %), while Catamarca and Chubut had the lowest values (27·0 %). In the whole sample, about 25 % of the malnutrition was caused by undernutrition and 75 % by excess weight. CONCLUSIONS: The ECIAF summarizes anthropometric failure by both deficiency and excess weight and it highlights that a quarter of the malnutrition in the Argentine population was caused by undernutrition, although there are differences between Provinces (P < 0·05). ECIAF estimates are higher than those of CIAF or under-nutrition.

Effect of probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii in experimental giardiasis.

The aim of the study was to assess the efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii in experimental treatment of giardiasis and its impact on intestinal integrity and some functions of gerbils infected with Giardia lamblia. 28 gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus), aged 4-6 weeks, were divided into four groups: untreated and uninfected control (CT); infected with G. lamblia (IGL); treated with S. boulardii (SB); and infected with G. lamblia and treated with S. boulardii (ITSB). The SB and ITSB groups received S. boulardii 15 days prior to being infected with G. lamblia. The treatment continued until completion of the experiment (22nd day). The IGL and ITSB groups were gavage-inoculated with G. lamblia ensuring one-week infection. 4 h before euthanasia, all animals were gavaged with a solution containing diethylenetriamine-pentaacetic acid (DTPA) marked with technetium-99mTc DTPA to determine intestinal permeability. The small intestine was removed for histopathological, morphometric analysis and count of trophozoites adhered to the mucosa. The selected probiotic caused an approximate reduction of 70% of parasite load, which was determined by attached trophozoites (P<0.01) and immune-marked trophozoites (P<0.05). Treatment with S. boulardii (SB and ITSB groups) also increased the height of the intestinal villi and crypt depth compared to the CT and IGL groups (P<0.05). The area of mucus production and the number of goblet cells of the SB and ITSB groups were higher compared to the CT and IGL groups (P<0.01). The animals treated with S. boulardii also exhibited a significant increase of intraepithelial lymphocytes counts (P<0.01). There was no difference in the intestinal permeability between the groups studied. The efficacy of S. boulardii in reducing damages caused by Giardia was demonstrated, with an approximate reduction of 70% of the parasite load, suggesting its use as a coadjuvant in giardiasis treatment.

Correction to: A comparative genomic analysis of putative pathogenicity genes in the host-specific sibling species Colletotrichum graminicola and Colletotrichum sublineola.

Following the publication of this article [1], the authors informed us of the following error.

A comparative genomic analysis of putative pathogenicity genes in the host-specific sibling species Colletotrichum graminicola and Colletotrichum sublineola.

BACKGROUND: Colletotrichum graminicola and C. sublineola cause anthracnose leaf and stalk diseases of maize and sorghum, respectively. In spite of their close evolutionary relationship, the two species are completely host-specific. Host specificity is often attributed to pathogen virulence factors, including specialized secondary metabolites (SSM), and small-secreted protein (SSP) effectors. Genes relevant to these categories were manually annotated in two co-occurring, contemporaneous strains of C. graminicola and C. sublineola. A comparative genomic and phylogenetic analysis was performed to address the evolutionary relationships among these and other divergent gene families in the two strains. RESULTS: Inoculation of maize with C. sublineola, or of sorghum with C. graminicola, resulted in rapid plant cell death at, or just after, the point of penetration. The two fungal genomes were very similar. More than 50% of the assemblies could be directly aligned, and more than 80% of the gene models were syntenous. More than 90% of the predicted proteins had orthologs in both species. Genes lacking orthologs in the other species (non-conserved genes) included many predicted to encode SSM-associated proteins and SSPs. Other common groups of non-conserved proteins included transporters, transcription factors, and CAZymes. Only 32 SSP genes appeared to be specific to C. graminicola, and 21 to C. sublineola. None of the SSM-associated genes were lineage-specific. Two different strains of C. graminicola, and three strains of C. sublineola, differed in no more than 1% percent of gene sequences from one another. CONCLUSIONS: Efficient non-host recognition of C. sublineola by maize, and of C. graminicola by sorghum, was observed in epidermal cells as a rapid deployment of visible resistance responses and plant cell death. Numerous non-conserved SSP and SSM-associated predicted proteins that could play a role in this non-host recognition were identified. Additional categories of genes that were also highly divergent suggested an important role for co-evolutionary adaptation to specific host environmental factors, in addition to aspects of initial recognition, in host specificity. This work provides a foundation for future functional studies aimed at clarifying the roles of these proteins, and the possibility of manipulating them to improve management of these two economically important diseases.

The protein fraction from wheat-based dried distiller's grain with solubles (DDGS): extraction and valorization.

Nowadays there is worldwide interest in developing a sustainable economy where biobased chemicals are the lead actors. Various potential feedstocks are available including glycerol, rapeseed meal and municipal solid waste (MSW). For biorefinery applications the byproduct streams from distilleries and bioethanol plants, such as wheat-based dried distiller's grain with solubles (DDGS), are particularly attractive, as they do not compete for land use. Wheat DDGS is rich in polymeric sugars, proteins and oils, making it ideal as a current animal feed, but also a future substrate for the synthesis of fine and commodity chemicals. This review focuses on the extraction and valorization of the protein fraction of wheat DDGS as this has received comparatively little attention to date. Since wheat DDGS production is expected to increase greatly in the near future, as a consequence of expansion of the bioethanol industry in the UK, strategies to valorize the component fractions of DDGS are urgently needed.

Análisis de las características clínicas y patológicas de pacientes HER2 positivo: estudio en dos poblaciones socioculturales diferentes / Analysis of clinical and pathological features of HER2-positive patients: study in two different socio-cultural populations

Introducción: La sobreexpresión del receptor de membrana HER2/neu se ha asociado a un pronóstico más desfavorable. La importancia clínica de medición, radica en que la sobreexpresión de la proteína sugiere peor pronóstico; por lo tanto, se ha convertido en mandatorio su estudio. Objetivo: Analizar las cualidades clínicas y patológicas de tumores que sobreexpresan HER2 en dos poblaciones con diferente nivel sociocultural y económico, subagrupadas acorde a su atención hospitalaria o a través de una cobertura médica. Resultados: Se observó que la proteína se encontraba sobreexpresada en un 13,42%,con una mediana de edad de 59,19 años. La mediana de tamaño tumoral fue de 22,58 mm, encontrándose una diferencia significativa entre el grupo hospitalario (27,76 mm) y el de atención privada (17,15 mm). Un 65,10% de estas pacientes presentaban un tamaño tumoral menor a 1 cm, pero un 55,82% de las pacientes presentaban compromiso ganglionar axilar y un 11,63% eran estadio IV. Al analizar el compromiso metastásico, se observó un mayor porcentaje en el subgrupo HER+ con respecto al RH+ HER–, pero menor al subgrupo TN (11,63% vs. 7,48% vs. 37,03%), teniendo valor estadísticamente significativo (p<0,0001). Conclusión: A pesar de no encontrar datos fidedignos que nos permitan aseverar la vinculaciónentre el "ambioma" a través de mecanismos epigenéticos, en la diferenciación tumoral, creemos probable que las diferencias socioculturales tengan injerencia directa o indirectamente en la promoción, supresión o diferenciación tumoral.

[Comparative analysis of growth and sexual maturation in girls of Santa Rosa (La Pampa) and La Plata (Buenos Aires), Argentina]. / Análisis comparativo del crecimiento y la maduración sexual entre niñas de Santa Rosa (La Pampa) y La Plata (Buenos Aires), Argentina.

The aim of this study was to analyze growth in relation to menarche in girls from two Argentinean urban populations. We performed a comparative-descriptive cross sectional study in 2474 schoolchildren between 8.0 and 16.9 years old from Santa Rosa (SR) and La Plata (LP) cities. We registered the presence of menarche and anthropometrics variables of body weight, total and sitting heights, arm circumference, triceps and subscapular skinfolds. Body mass index, subscapular/triceps index and muscle and fat arm areas were calculated. The study group was divided into 4 groups according to the city and menarche. The socio-environmental structured survey indicated significant differences between cities with these variables: tenure status, building materials and services, health care coverage, cash assistance, educational level and parents' occupation, therefore establishing a higher welfare in youngsters of SR. Menarche at a mean age of 12.7 years old was more prevalent in SR (40.6%) than in LP (33.7%) (c2 = 12.9; p < 0.01). The ANOVA indicated significant differences between cities in total and sitting heights and muscle area (p < 0.01), body weight and arm circumference (p < 0.05) which were generally held in the post hoc comparison by age in pre-menarche and post-menarche groups. The presence of a small body size at the expense of lowering in: total height, muscle area and leg length in LP youngsters, associated with a lower prevalence of menarche in this city, it would represents the adaptive cost of a lower welfare environment.

Fish fauna as an indicator of environmental quality in an urbanised region of the Amazon estuary.

This study describes the biological importance of Guajará Bay (Belém, Pará, Brazil) for fish fauna and presents a diagnosis of water quality in the main channel and creeks, using the icthyofauna as an ecological indicator. A total of 567 individuals from 40 species were identified. About 58% of these use Guajará Bay as a nursery ground, 49 and 81% use the bay as a breeding and feeding ground, respectively. There were no significant differences between environments as measured by the diversity index; however, fish relative abundance (catch per unit of effort) was greater in the creeks than in the main channel. A significant difference was detected in the fish fauna inhabiting the main channel compared with the creeks. In the main channel, icthyofauna significantly differed during December relative to other months.

Reduced ratio of protective versus proinflammatory cytokine responses to commensal bacteria in HLA-B27 transgenic rats.

Germ-free HLA-B27 transgenic (TG) rats do not develop colitis, but colonization with specific pathogen-free (SPF) bacteria induces colitis accompanied by immune activation. To study host-dependent immune responses to commensal caecal bacteria we investigated cytokine profiles in mesenteric lymph node (MLN) cells from HLA-B27 TG versus nontransgenic (non-TG) littermates after in vitro stimulation with caecal bacterial lysates (CBL). Supernatants from CBL-stimulated unseparated T- or B- cell-depleted MLN cells from HLA-B27 TG and non-TG littermates were analysed for IFN-gamma, IL-12, TNF, IL-10 and TGF-beta production. Our results show that unfractionated TG MLN cells stimulated with CBL produced more IFN-gamma, IL-12 and TNF than did non-TG MLN cells. In contrast, CBL-stimulated non-TG MLN cells produced more IL-10 and TGF-beta. T cell depletion abolished IFN-gamma and decreased IL-12 production, but did not affect IL-10 and TGF-beta production. Conversely, neither IL-10 nor TGF-beta was produced in cultures of B cell-depleted MLN. In addition, CD4(+) T cells enriched from MLN of HLA-B27 TG but not from non-TG rats produced IFN-gamma when cocultured with CBL-pulsed antigen presenting cells from non-TG rats. Interestingly, IL-10 and TGF-beta, but not IFN-gamma, IL-12 and TNF were produced by MLN cells from germ-free TG rats. These results indicate that the colitis that develops in SPF HLA-B27 TG rats is accompanied by activation of IFN-gamma-producing CD4(+) T cells that respond to commensal bacteria. However, B cell cytokine production in response to components of commensal intestinal microorganisms occurs in the absence of intestinal inflammation.

Effect of the flow field on the rheological behavior of aqueous cetyltrimethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate solutions.

It is well-known that solutions of cetyltrimethylammonium p-toluenesulfonate in water exhibit a pronounced shear-thickening phenomenon in a specific concentration range (0.1-0.8%) when they are subjected to simple-shear flows, as a consequence of flow-induced self-assembly of wormlike micelles. This work shows that a strong elongational flow field (opposed-jets flow), applied to the same solutions, does not lead to extension thickening because the extensional flow prevents or destroys micellar association. In flow through a porous medium, a substantial increase in apparent viscosity is observed beyond a critical apparent shear rate, which surpasses increases observed in simple-shear flows. This is explained as the result of a synergistic effect of shear and relatively weak elongation on the solution microstructure.

Reparação microcirúrgica de nervo periférico por meio de sutura, cola de fibrina ou bainha de BioFill® em ratos Wistar / Microsurgical repair of peripheral nerve by means of suture, fibrin glue or BioFill® sheath in Wistar rats

Com o objetivo de comparar três técnicas de neuroanastomose, foram utilizados 54 ratos fêmeas, distribuídos em três grupos de 18 animais, cujos nervos ciáticos direitos foram transeccionados e, em seguida, tratados mediante o emprego das seguintes técnicas: três pontos de sutura epineural, um ponto de sutura epineural associado à bainha de BioFill® e um ponto de sutura epineural com cola de fibrina. A presença do material de sutura foi responsável pelo mau direcionamento das fibras nervosas e formação de neuroma na área da anastomose devido à colisão das fibras nervosas em regeneração com a reação granulomatosa ao fio de sutura. Alterações como degeneração Walleriana, formação de neuroma e proliferação de tecido fibroso foram observadas nos três tratamentos, sendo mais evidentes no grupo que recebeu três pontos de sutura epineural. Os resultados histológicos superiores obtidos com o emprego da bainha de BioFill® e da cola de fibrina comprovaram a eficiência dessas duas técnicas na reparação de nervos periféricos lesados. O uso da bainha de BioFill® oferece vantagens como disponibilidade, simplicidade técnica e baixo custo, tornando-a a melhor alternativa na reparação microcirúrgica do nervo periférico.

Cluster of Mycobacterium chelonae keratitis cases following laser in-situ keratomileusis.

PURPOSE: To describe a cluster of Mycobacterium chelonae keratitis cases involving patients who underwent laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK) at a single refractive surgery center. DESIGN: Descriptive case series of four patients and cohort study to identify disease associations. METHODS: Examination schedules, diagnostic tests, and therapy were based on best medical judgment. Isolates from three patients were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Epidemiologic studies were performed to identify the source of infection. RESULTS: Seven of eight eyes developed M. chelonae keratitis following bilateral simultaneous LASIK. Each patient was thought to have diffuse lamellar keratitis initially, but all seven eyes were noted to have opacities suggestive of infectious keratitis by 13 to 21 days after surgery. All eyes had undergone hyperopic LASIK over four days in April 2001 by one surgeon in a community-based refractive surgery center. A cohort study of all patients undergoing LASIK at the same center in April 2001 revealed that M. chelonae keratitis occurred only in persons undergoing correction of hyperopia (seven of 14 eyes vs. none of 217 eyes undergoing myopic LASIK, P <.001). The only difference identified between procedures was use of masks created from a soft contact lens in hyperopic LASIK. Three isolates (three patients) were indistinguishable by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Eyes were treated with a combination of antimicrobial agents, including topical azithromycin in three patients, with resolution of infection in all eyes over 6 to 14 weeks. The source of infection was not identified on environmental cultures. CONCLUSION: Postoperative nontuberculous mycobacterial keratitis can occur in an epidemic fashion following LASIK. Topical amikacin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, ciprofloxacin, or a combination of these agents, appears to be effective treatment for these infections.

Norfloxacin monodose use in patients with cholera in Salta Argentina.

The use of monodose (800 mg) per os of Norfloxacin was evaluated in 32 patients with cholera at Salvador Mazza's Hospital, Salta, Argentina. It was considered the celerity in negativization of stool culture (100% of cases: 12 hours post administration), it efficiency along time (24/24 controlled patients were negative at 10th day) and MIC of isolated strains (100% of strains were sensitive: range 0.008 to 0.016 micrograms/ml). It was included oral administration of sorbitol 70% in peanut oil in order to study patients at 10th day's control. This method could be an alternative one in the study of asymptomatic carrier. Norfloxacin monodose shows good performance in early negativization of stool culture and it was also effective along the whole observation period, suggesting it could prevent carriage.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in Guatemala: isoenzyme characterization of isolates from humans.

Leishmania organisms cultivated from cutaneous lesions of humans in Guatemala were characterized by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Six isolates had electrophoretic enzyme patterns identical to World Health Organization reference strains of Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis, and 5 had patterns identical to reference strains of Leishmania mexicana mexicana.

Screening of antimicrobial activity of plants popularly used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatomucosal diseases.

Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted among traditional healers and local market vendors; about 200 plants used in Guatemala for the treatment of dermatomucosal diseases were detected. By literature review and according to local availability, 89 plants were selected for in vitro screening for antimicrobial activity against the microorganisms usually causing skin and mucosal infections. Ethanolic macerations were prepared and impregnated in absorbent paper; once dried, these were applied over standardized inocula of Candida albicans, Escherichia, coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. After incubation, inhibition zones were measured, demonstrating that 28 of the plants exhibited some in vitro inhibition of the tested microorganisms.

Nocardiosis pulmonar en Guatemala: primer caso confirmado. / Pulmonary nocardiosis in Guatemala: first confirmed case

Se presenta el primer caso de nocardiosis pulmonar en Guatemala, confirmado microbiologicamente por el aislamiento de Nocardia asteroides a partir de puncion pulmonar directa, y lesiones pustulosas en la cara. El paciente, oficinista de 53 anos de edad, consulto al medico por sintomatologia compatible con neumonia cronica o tuberculosis, la cual no cedio a pesar del tratamiento con diferentes antibioticos de amplio espectro y drogas antituberculosas.El diagnostico etiologico exacto permitio la administracion del tratamiento con sulfadiazina y trimetoprim-sulfametoxazol y revertir el proceso. No se logro detectar ningun factor predisponente a la infeccion o alguna deficiencia inmunologica en el paciente