Cu2+-dependent hydrolysis of O-hexyl 2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidate by reptile sera.

This study shows the EDTA-resistant, Ca2+ and Cu2+-dependent hydrolysis of O-hexyl 2,5-dichlorophenyl phosphoramidate (HDCP) compound in reptiles sera determined by spectrophotometry UV/Vis and chiral chromatography. Samples of ten reptile species were incubated with aliquot of 100 or 400 µM HDCP in presence of 100 or 300 µM Cu2+, or 2.5 mM Ca2+ or 5 mM EDTA at 37 °C for 30-60 min. The results shown an activator effect of Cu2+ on HDCP hydrolysis in freshwater turtles sera (Trachemys scripta, Chelydra serpentina and Macrochelys temminckii) because the levels of 2,5-dichlorophenol (DCP; product hydrolysis) were similar (∼37 µM DCP) to chicken serum (positive control group). The marine turtles (Chelonia mydas and Eretmochelys imbricata) and crocodiles (Crocodylusacutus and Crocodylus moreletii) showed ∼50% less HDCPase activity (13-17 µM DCP) compared to the HDCPase activity of the freshwater turtle species. Terrestrial reptile species (snakes and lizards) showed around 25% of activity (7-13 µM DCP) with both copper concentrations. These Cu2+-dependent hydrolysis were stereospecific to R(+)-HDCP (p˂0.05) in the three freshwater turtle species that showed similar hydrolysis to the chicken serum. However, the Ca2+ did not show a significant activating effect on the HDCPase activity (1-8 µM DCP) in any reptile serum. Their hydrolysis levels were very similar to those of EDTA-resistant activity. The present study demonstrates a Cu2+-dependent A-esterase (HDCPase) activity in turtles and points serum albumin as the cuproprotein responsible for this activity, reinforcing its N-terminal sequence (DAEH) as a catalytic center.

Severe COVID-19 patients have severe vitamin D deficiency in Northeast Mexico / Los pacientes graves con COVID-19 tienen deficiencia grave de vitamina D en el noreste de México

Objective: the association between vitamin D and COVID-19 severity is not consistent. We compared prevalences and analyzed the association between vitamin D deficiency and COVID-19 severity in Northeast Mexico. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study with individuals consecutively included at a referral diagnostic center during March-September 2020 (n = 181). Concurrently, every patient admitted to intensive care was also consecutively included (n = 116). Serum 25(OH)D < 20 ng/mL was considered vitamin D deficiency. Descriptive, ANOVA, and multivariate ordinal regression analyses were performed. Results: vitamin D deficiency prevalence was 63.8 % (95 % CI, 54.7, 72.0) in severe COVID-19; 25.6 % (95 % CI, 17.4, 36.0) in mild COVID-19; and 42.4 % (95 % CI, 33.2, 52.3) in non-diseased individuals. Vitamin D deficiency increased 5 times the odds of severe COVID-19 (95 % CI, 1.1, 24.3), independently of sex, age, body mass index, and inflammatory markers. Conclusions: this study is the first report of vitamin D deficiency in Northeast Mexico. Vitamin D deficiency was associated with COVID-19 severity (AU)

Objetivo: la asociación entre la vitamina D y la gravedad de la COVID-19 no es consistente. Se comparó la prevalencia y se analizó la asociación de la deficiencia de vitamina D con la gravedad de los pacientes con COVID-19 en el noreste de México. Métodos: este fue un estudio transversal. Se incluyó consecutivamente a individuos de un centro de diagnóstico de referencia durante marzo-septiembre de 2020 (n = 181). Paralelamente, se reclutó a todos los pacientes que ingresaron a cuidados intensivos en ese mismo periodo (n = 116). Se consideró que había deficiencia de vitamina D ante cifras de 25(OH)D sérica < 20 ng/ml. Se realizaron un análisis descriptivo, un ANOVA y una regresión ordinal multivariante. Resultados: la prevalencia de la deficiencia de vitamina D fue del 63,8 % (IC del 95 %: 54,7; 72,0) en la COVID-19 grave, del 25,6 % (IC del 95 %: 17,4; 36,0) en la COVID-19 leve y del 42,4 % (IC del 95 %: 33,2; 52,3) sin COVID-19. La deficiencia aumentó 5 veces las probabilidades de una COVID-19 grave (IC del 95 %: 1,1; 23,9) independientemente del sexo, la edad, el índice de masa corporal y los marcadores inflamatorios. Conclusiones: este estudio es el primer informe de la deficiencia de vitamina D en el noreste de México. La deficiencia de vitamina D se asoció con la gravedad de la COVID-19 (AU)

Detección microscópica y molecular de Plasmodium spp. en flamencos (Phoenicopterus ruber) mantenidos bajo cuidado humano en Zoofari, Centro de Conservación, Morelos, México / Microscopic and molecular detection of Plasmodium spp. in American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber) kept under human care in Zoofari Conservation center in Morelos, Mexico

Objetivos: Establecer la prevalencia de Plasmodium en la población de Phoenicopterus ruber mantenidos bajo cuidado humano en el Centro de Conservación Zoofari, Morelos, México. Configuración y Diseño: Se han presentado reportes de vectores de malaria aviar pertenecientes a la familia Culicidae en estado de Morelos, México. La malaria aviar puede afectar diversas especies de aves incluyendo Phoenicopteriformes (Phoeniconaias minor, Phoenicopterus chilensis) la población de interés podría ser portadora subclínica de Plasmodium. Materiales y Métodos: se realizó un estudio exploratorio en el total de la población de Phoenicopterus ruber. En la investigación se implementaron dos técnicas de diagnóstico de hemoparásitos, la primera corresponde a análisis de frotis sanguíneos teñidos con una tinción rápida tipo Romanowsky los cuales fueron evaluados mediante microscopía óptica convencional y la segunda concierne la realización de la PCR utilizando iniciadores para amplificar ADN mitocondrial de tres especies de hemoparásitos (Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon). Análisis Estadístico utilizado. los resultados negativos del estudio no permiten realizar análisis estadístico. Resultados: En la evaluación mediante microscopía convencional no se evidenció en ningún frotis sanguíneo, presencia de merogonias o gránulos de hemozoína, obteniendo una totalidad de 80 muestras negativas. Las PCR realizadas bajo las condiciones utilizadas no demostraron amplificación exitosa de ADN parasitario. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio corresponde al primero de este tipo en la región. Después de implementar dos técnicas diferentes de diagnóstico para malaria aviar no se obtiene evidencia de la presencia de hemoparásitos en la población de Phoenicopterus ruber. Este tipo de investigaciones permite entender la dinámica e identificar enfermedades emergentes que puedan afectar a los animales y al hombre en una determinada región geográfica.(AU)

Aims: The goal of the current study was to determine the prevalence of Plasmodium in the population of Phoenicopterus ruber kept under human care at Zoofari Conservation Center, Morelos, Mexico. Settings and Design: Avian malaria vectors belonging to the family Culicidae has been reported at different Mexican States. Malaria infections compromise different host ranges including Phoenicopteriformes (Phoeniconaias minor, Phoenicopterus chilensis). The singled population housed in Zoofari, Conservation Center may harbor subclinical malaria (Plasmodium) infections. Methods and Material: A descriptive cross- sectional study in a singled population of American flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber). We compared and contrasted two diagnostic techniques, microscopy and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for avian haemosporidia. In this study 80 blood smears stained in a Romanowsky stain were examined by microscopy, also molecular analysis were conducted, PCR was performed with the use of primers that amplifies parasite mtDNA from species of Haemoproteus, Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon. Results: A total of 80 Phoenicopterus ruber birds were examined for malarial parasites using both microscopy and PCR diagnostic methods, none of them were positives. Conclusions: Our study corresponds to the first of its kind in the region. After implementing two different diagnostic methods for avian malaria, no evidence was obtained of the presence of hemoparasites in the Phoenicopterus ruber population. This type of research allows us to understand the dynamics and identify emerging diseases that can affect animals and man in a certain geographic region.(AU)

Use of coumarins as complementary medicine with an integrative approach against cervical cancer: background and mechanisms of action.

Cervical cancer is characterized by the cellular transformation caused by Human Papillomavirus (HPV), favoring cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Cervical cancer is conventionally treated with radiation therapy, and chemotherapy focused on the destruction of tumor cells. However, chemoresistance and low selectivity between tumor and non-tumor cells have been reported, causing side effects in patients. Metabolites of natural origin have shown selectivity against tumor cells, suggesting their use for reducing the side effects caused by drugs used in conventional therapy. Among these compounds, several natural coumarins stand out, such as auraptene, scopoletin, osthole, and praeruptorin, of which antiproliferative, anti-migratory, and anti-invasive activity have been reported. Auraptene, scopoletin, osthole, and praeruptorin show a cytotoxic or antiproliferative effect on cervical tumor cells, arresting the cell cycle by inducing the overexpression of negative regulators of the cell cycle, or inducing cell death by increasing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins and decreasing that of anti-apoptotic proteins. On the other hand, auraptene, scopoletin, and praeruptorin inhibit the capacity for migration, invasion, and metastasis of cervical tumor cells, mainly by inhibiting the expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and -9. The PI3K/Akt signal pathway appears to be central to the anti-tumor activity of the coumarins analyzed in this review. In addition, auraptene, osthole, and praeruptorin are useful in sensitizing tumor cells to radiotherapy or chemotherapeutic molecules, such as FOLFOX, cisplatin, or DOX. Coumarins offer an excellent possibility for developing new drugs as complementary medicine with an integrative approach against cervical cancer.

Evidence for Succession and Putative Metabolic Roles of Fungi and Bacteria in the Farming Mutualism of the Ambrosia Beetle Xyleborus affinis.

The bacterial and fungal community involved in ambrosia beetle fungiculture remains poorly studied compared to the famous fungus-farming ants and termites. Here we studied microbial community dynamics of laboratory nests, adults, and brood during the life cycle of the sugarcane shot hole borer, Xyleborus affinis We identified a total of 40 fungal and 428 bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs), from which only five fungi (a Raffaelea fungus and four ascomycete yeasts) and four bacterial genera (Stenotrophomonas, Enterobacter, Burkholderia, and Ochrobactrum) can be considered the core community playing the most relevant symbiotic role. Both the fungal and bacterial populations varied significantly during the beetle's life cycle. While the ascomycete yeasts were the main colonizers of the gallery early on, the Raffaelea and other filamentous fungi appeared after day 10, at the time when larval hatching happened. Regarding bacteria, Stenotrophomonas and Enterobacter dominated overall but decreased in foundresses and brood with age. Finally, inferred analyses of the putative metabolic capabilities of the bacterial microbiome revealed that they are involved in (i) degradation of fungal and plant polymers, (ii) fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, and (iii) essential amino acid, cofactor, and vitamin provisioning. Overall, our results suggest that yeasts and bacteria are more strongly involved in supporting the beetle-fungus farming symbiosis than previously thought.IMPORTANCE Ambrosia beetles farm their own food fungi within tunnel systems in wood and are among the three insect lineages performing agriculture (the others are fungus-farming ants and termites). In ambrosia beetles, primary ambrosia fungus cultivars have been regarded essential, whereas other microbes have been more or less ignored. Our KEGG analyses suggest so far unknown roles of yeasts and bacterial symbionts, by preparing the tunnel walls for the primary ambrosia fungi. This preparation includes enzymatic degradation of wood, essential amino acid production, and nitrogen fixation. The latter is especially exciting because if it turns out to be present in vivo in ambrosia beetles, all farming animals (including humans) are dependent on atmospheric nitrogen fertilization of their crops. As previous internal transcribed spacer (ITS) metabarcoding approaches failed on covering the primary ambrosia fungi, our 18S metabarcoding approach can also serve as a template for future studies on the ambrosia beetle-fungus symbiosis.

Anterior chamber associated immune deviation to cytosolic neural antigens avoids self-reactivity after optic nerve injury and polarizes the retinal environment to an anti-inflammatory profile.

It has been hypothesized that anterior chamber-associated immune deviation (ACAID) to neural antigens induced prior to central nervous system injury can inhibit self-reactivity and lessen secondary degeneration. This work evaluated the effect of ACAID induced to three neural tissue-derived extracts (whole extract, cytosolic extract, CE; or organelle-membrane extract) prior to optic nerve injury on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival. The results show that only ACAID to the CE increased RGC survival at 7 and14 days post-injury (dpi). This effect was achieved by retinal polarization towards an anti-inflammatory profile, driven by regulatory T cells and M2-type macrophages at 7 dpi.

Partnerships Between Ambrosia Beetles and Fungi: Lineage-Specific Promiscuity Among Vectors of the Laurel Wilt Pathogen, Raffaelea lauricola.

Nutritional mutualisms that ambrosia beetles have with fungi are poorly understood. Although these interactions were initially thought to be specific associations with a primary symbiont, there is increasing evidence that some of these fungi are associated with, and move among, multiple beetle partners. We examined culturable fungi recovered from mycangia of ambrosia beetles associated with trees of Persea humilis (silk bay, one site) and P. americana (avocado, six commercial orchards) that were affected by laurel wilt, an invasive disease caused by a symbiont, Raffaelea lauricola, of an Asian ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus. Fungi were isolated from 20 adult females of X. glabratus from silk bay and 70 each of Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus bispinatus, Xyleborus volvulus, Xyleborinus saxesenii, and Xylosandrus crassiusculus from avocado. With partial sequences of ribosomal (LSU and SSU) and nuclear (ß-tubulin) genes, one to several operational taxonomic units (OTUs) of fungi were identified in assayed individuals. Distinct populations of fungi were recovered from each of the examined beetle species. Raffaelea lauricola was present in all beetles except X. saxesenii and X. crassiusculus, and Raffaelea spp. predominated in Xyleborus spp. Raffaelea arxii, R. subalba, and R. subfusca were present in more than a single species of Xyleborus, and R. arxii was the most abundant symbiont in both X. affinis and X. volvulus. Raffaelea aguacate was detected for the first time in an ambrosia beetle (X. bispinatus). Yeasts (Ascomycota, Saccharomycotina) were found consistently in the mycangia of the examined beetles, and distinct, putatively co-adapted populations of these fungi were associated with each beetle species. Greater understandings are needed for how mycangia in ambrosia beetles interact with fungi, including yeasts which play currently underresearched roles in these insects.

Helicobacter pylori vacA and cagA genotype diversity and interferon gamma expression in patients with chronic gastritis and patients with gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main risk factor for the development of chronic gastritis, gastric ulcer, and gastric cancer. In H. pylori-infected individuals, the clinical result is dependent on various factors, among which are bacterial components, the immune response, and environmental influence. AIMS: To compare IFN-γ expression with the H. pylori vacA and cagA genotypes in patients with chronic gastritis and patients with gastric cancer. METHODS: Ninety-five patients diagnosed with chronic gastritis and 20 with gastric cancer were included in the study. Three gastric biopsies were taken; one was used for the molecular detection and genotyping of H. pylori; another was fixed in absolute alcohol and histologic sections were made for determining IFN-γ expression through immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: No differences were found in the cells that expressed IFN-γ between the patients with chronic gastritis (median percentage of positive cells: 82.6% in patients without H. pylori and 82% in infected persons) and those with gastric cancer (70.5% in H. pylori-negative patients and 78.5% in infected persons). IFN-γ expression was 69% in chronic gastritis patients infected with H. pylori vacAs2m2/cagA⁻ it was 86.5% in patients infected with H. pylori vacAs1m2/cagA⁻, 86.5% in vacAs1m1/cagA⁻, and 82% in vacAs1m1/cagA⁺. Similar data were found in the patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSIONS: IFN-γ expression varied depending on the H. pylori vacA and cagA genotype, but not in accordance with the presence of chronic gastritis or gastric cancer.

Construction of a WMR for trajectory tracking control: experimental results.

This paper reports a solution for trajectory tracking control of a differential drive wheeled mobile robot (WMR) based on a hierarchical approach. The general design and construction of the WMR are described. The hierarchical controller proposed has two components: a high-level control and a low-level control. The high-level control law is based on an input-output linearization scheme for the robot kinematic model, which provides the desired angular velocity profiles that the WMR has to track in order to achieve the desired position (x∗, y∗) and orientation (φ∗). Then, a low-level control law, based on a proportional integral (PI) approach, is designed to control the velocity of the WMR wheels to ensure those tracking features. Regarding the trajectories, this paper provides the solution or the following cases: (1) time-varying parametric trajectories such as straight lines and parabolas and (2) smooth curves fitted by cubic splines which are generated by the desired data points {(x1∗, y1∗),..., (x(n)∗, y(n)∗)}. A straightforward algorithm is developed for constructing the cubic splines. Finally, this paper includes an experimental validation of the proposed technique by employing a DS1104 dSPACE electronic board along with MATLAB/Simulink software.

Hemorrhagic cholecystitis and hemobilia: two infrequent complications of systemic lupus erythematosus.

INTRODUCTION: the patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often suffer gastrointestinal symptoms. The differential diagnosis should contemplate pathology of the gall bladder. We present the case of a patient with hemorrhagic lithiasic cholecystitis and hemobilia. CASE REPORT: 24 year old female diagnosed with SLE under treatment with Sintrom®, Dacortin® and Dolquine® that presented acute lithiasic cholecystitis and hemobilia with a distal calculus. Cholecystectomy and aperture of the ductus choledochus were performed allowing to confirm the hemobilia and to extract the calculus. DISCUSSION: The treatment of cholecystitis in the patients with SLE is controversial due to the fact that most reviewed cases have been solved with cholecystectomy, or in other cases with conservative treatment with corticosteroids. We believe that the presence of cholelithiasis in a patient with SLE with pain on the right hypochondrium and ultrasound confirming the suspicion of cholecystitis demands a surgical treatment since the cause may be vascular, lithiasic or combined. Besides, the possible complications will not respond to pharmaceutical treatment.

Sun exposure induces rapid immunological changes in skin and peripheral blood in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has immunosuppressive effects and heliotherapy is a well-described treatment modality for psoriasis. OBJECTIVES: To characterize early sun-induced immunological changes both local and systemic in patients with psoriasis. METHODS: Twenty patients with moderate to severe psoriasis were subjected to controlled sun exposure on Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain. Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores were evaluated. Skin biopsies were obtained from lesional and nonlesional skin in 10 patients at baseline and on day 16 and from five additional patients on day 2. Specimens were examined with immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction. Blood samples were obtained from all patients at the same time points and were examined for T-cell subsets and cytokine production. RESULTS: Significant clinical improvement was achieved during the study period. CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in lesional skin were significantly reduced in both the epidermis and dermis. In contrast, dermal FOXP3+ T cells were relatively increased. In the peripheral blood skin homing cutaneous lymphocyte-associated antigen (CLA)+ T cells were significantly decreased after only 1 day in the sun and in vitro stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells demonstrated reduced capacity to secrete cytokines after 16 days. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that clinical improvement of psoriasis following sun exposure is preceded by a rapid reduction in local and systemic inflammatory markers, strongly suggesting that immune modulation mediated the observed clinical effect. We cannot completely rule out that other mechanisms, such as stress reduction, may contribute, but it is extensively documented that UV irradiation is a potent inducer of immunosuppression and we therefore conclude that the observed effect was primarily due to sun exposure.

Efectos en la sintomatología y la respuesta inmune de paciente con asma y rinitis alérgicas con el uso de bacterias ambientales no-patógenas sobre los ácaros del polvo doméstico / Effects on symptoms and the immune response of patienes with asthma and allergic rhinitis with the use of environmental non-pathogenic bacteria on dust mites

Los ácaros del polvo de casa constituyen una fuente importante de alergenos para los pacientes con asma y rinitis alérgica. Obrjetivos: En este estudio se mide la utilidad de una mezcla de bacterias ambientales no patógenas (BANP) sobre: 1) el impacto sobres los ácaros, 2) el efecto sobre la sintomatología alérgica y el control del estado alérgico, y 3) modificaciones en la respuesta inmune del paciente. Material y métodos: Estudio prospectivo, aleatorio y controlado realizado en 30 pacientes con asma y rinitis. 15 aplicaron una mixtura de BANP sobre su colchón una vez al día por siete días y despúes cada tres días, hasta el día 30 de tratamiento. Otros 15 pacientes fueron conrtroles que no utilizaron las BANP. La población estudiada tuvo una edad promedio de 30 años y un tiempo promedio enfermedad de 16 y 14 años, para asma y rinitis, respectivamente. Al inicio y al final del estudio se evaluaron la concentracion de ácaros de los colchones, los parámetros clínicos de control y calidad de vida, niveles de citokinas TH1 y TH2, y la lg A secretora en saliva. Resultados: 1) El grupo que utilizó las BANP, alcanzó unan mayor tasa de migración de estado clínico no-controlado (50 por ciento vs 7.69 por ciento) comparado al grupo control (p menor que 0.05). 2) El grupo que utilizó las BANP manifestó mejora de sus síntomas y mayor calidad de vida a los 15 y 30 días del estudio en forma más significativa que el grupo control (p menor que 0.05), 3) en el grupo que utilizó las BANP dsiminuyeron la citokina TH2 en forma significativa comparado al grupo control (p menor que 0.05), pero no se encontró diferencia en las concentraciones de lgA salival entre ambos grupos. Conclusiones: Los pacientes con asma y rinitis alérgica que utilizaron una mezcla de BANP sobre sus colchones obtuvieron en forma significativa un mejor control de la enfermedad, mayor calidad de vida, cambios imunológicos favorables y disminución de la población de ácaros, comparados a un grupo control.

Dust mites of house constitute a major source of allergens for patients with asthma and rhinitis. Objectives. In this study is measured the usefulness of a mix of environmental bacterial non-pathogenic (EBNP) on: 1) the impact on the dust mites, 2) the effect on the allergic symptoms and the control of the allergic state, and 3) modifications in the immune reply. Material and methods. Prospective trial, randomized and controlled fulfilled in 30 patients with asthma and rhinitis. 15 applied the EBNP on this mattress once a day for 7 days and later every 3 days, until the 30-day of treament. Other 15 patients were controls and they did not use the EBNP. The populations had an average age of 30 years-old and a time average illness of 16 and 14 years, for asthma and rhinitis, respectively. The dust mite concentration of matresses, clinical parameters of control and life quality, levels of citokins assessed to the beginning and at the ending of the study. Results. 1) Group that used the EBNP reached a great migration rate of no-controlled clinical condition to controlled condition than control group (50 por ciento vs 7.69) (p minor that 0.05). 2) Group that used BANP reached improvenment of symptoms and great quality life more significant than control group (p minor that 0.05) at days 15 and 30;3) the study found a major decrease of the mite population by gram of dust in the group treated with BANP compared to the control group, 4) group that used EBNP decreased significantly the citokins TH2 compared to the control group (p minor that 0.05) however, the study not found differences in the concentrations of salivary lg A secretory between both groups. Conclusions. Patients with asthma and rhinitis that used EBNP on their mattressess obtained a significant control of the illness, great quality of life, immunological chages and decrease of the population of dust mites, compared to a control group.

[Molecular characterization of variable tandem repeat sequence determined during RAPD analysis among Posidonia oceanica insular and coastline populations]. / Molekuliarnye kharakteristiki variabel'noi tandemno povtoriaiushcheisia posledovatel'nosti, vyiavlennoi v khode RAPD-analiza ostrovnoi i pribrezhnoi populiatsii.

The seagrass Posidonia oceanica plays a multifunctional role in the coastal area as an important and productive component of ecosystems in the Mediterranean Sea. We detected by RAPD analysis with two arbitrary primers genetic differences in P. oceanica collected from several sites in the Southern Mediterranean. By AMOVA analysis we observed a level of about 20% genetic difference among individuals within a population and 80% among populations. A common band of 200 bp was found in all the amplified samples. Cloning and sequencing analysis of this band revealed the presence of a simple tandem repeat sequence (minisatellite) that we called PoTR (Posidonia oceanica tandem repeat). Finally, the ability of PoTR to detect genetic variability in P. oceanica genome was demonstrated by the presence of amplification products of different lengths utilizing primers internal to this sequence.

Systemic lupus erythematosus: mortality and survival in Argentina. A multicenter study.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the factors associated with mortality, survival and causes of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Argentina. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A series of 366 patients with SLE (45 men and 321 women), mean age 29 y (range 11-70 y) and mean disease duration 6 y, was evaluated from 1990 to 1998. A total of 57 clinical, serological and therapeutic variables were studied. RESULTS: Five- and 10-year survival was 91% and 85% respectively. Forty four patients died (12%): 54% due to sepsis and 32% due to active SLE. Mortality risk factors included heart involvement CRR 3.82), hyperlipidemia (RR 2.72), renal damage (RR 2. 62), infections (RR 2.44), lung disease (RR 2.20) and myositis (RR 2. 07). High-dose prednisone (RR 3.4) or cyclophosphamide (RR 9.19) treatments increased the risk of sepsis (P=0.003) as a cause of death. However, corticosteroids, antimalarial agents and accumulated cyclophosphamide doses proved to be protective factors in overall mortality figures (RR <1). CONCLUSIONS: The main risk factors of death in SLE were heart involvement, hyperlipidemia and renal damage. Treatment with steroids, antimalarial agents and cyclophosphamide improved survival. High-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide were associated with sepsis as a cause of death.

Transición a la facoemulsificación: artículo informativo sobre la cirugía de catarata y sus avances

La cirugía de catarata ha experimentado muchos cambios y avances en los últimos 30 años. Este artículo informa a los médicos generales y de otras especialidades sobre las técnicas de cirugía de catarata y en especial sobre la moderna técnica de facoemulsificación y sus ventajas. Al mismo tiempo presenta un análisis comparativo de los resultados visuales y de asigmatismo postoperatorio en pacientes del Servicio de Oftalmología del HVQ sometidos a cirugía por catarata senil en el último año. En un total de 108 cirugías no complicadas, 39 por ciento corresponden a extracción extracapsular (EEC) y 61 por ciento a facoemulsificación. La visión espontánea al tercer día postoperatorio fue de 20/400 a 20/100 en 47 por ciento...

Ambliopía causada por errores refractivos / Ambliopía caused by refracting errors

Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo en historia clínicas de pacientes, para relacionar los errores refractivos como causa de ambliopatía. Revisando 8.000 historias clínicas de la consulta externa del HVQ, de pacientes comprendidos entre 10 a 40 años, en los que se tomaron datos de agudeza visual mediante optotipos con y sin correctivos, más refracción ciclopléjica y visión final manifiesta con la mejor corrección. Se excluyeron en este grupo los casos que tenían ambliopía secundaria a causas orgánicas y otras causas funcionales. De los 8.000 casos analizados, 194 (2.4 por ciento) fueron diagnosticados como ambliopes. De éstos 170 (87.6 por ciento) presentaron ambliopía unilateral y 24 (12.4 por ciento) ambliopía bilateral, 177 (91,24 por ciento) fueron anisométropes y 17 (8.76 por ciento) amétropes. En cuanto al tipo de error refractivo se encontró: astigmatismo hipermetrópico 36 (18.6 por ciento), miopía pura 5 casos (2.6 por ciento), e hipermetropía 2 casos (1 por ciento). Se demuestra que la anisometropía es causa principal de ambliopía relacionada con errores refractivos. El porcentaje de ambliopes de este estudio, coincide con otras estadísticas publicadas, que varían del 2 por ciento al 4 por ciento...

Nefropatía primaria del adulto en nefrectomías pretransplante / Primary Nefropatía of the adults in nefrectomías pretransplants

Estudia 74 pacientes en los que se había efectuado nefrectomía previa al transplante, 47 hombres y 27 mujeres. Los pacientes que tenían un promedio de edad de 29 años, permanecieron en hemodiálisis durante un período promedio de 6.6 meses y uno (femenino) en diálisis peritoneal continua ambulatoria. El análisis macroscópico y microscópico de los especímenes por microscopía de luz, inmunofluorescencia y microscopía electrónica identificó 54 casos de glomerulonefritis crónica (73 por ciento), 5 casos de pielonefritis (6.8 por ciento), 5 casos de nefritis tubulo intersticial (6.8 por ciento), un caso de nefroesclerosis (1,3 por ciento), 2 casos de enfermedades congénitas (2,7 por ciento), y 7 casos de riñón calificado como no clasificable (9,4 por ciento). Adicionalmente se encontraron 6 casos con tumores tipo carcinoma primario (8,5 por ciento) y 31 muestras con quistes (41 por ciento) aparentemente relacionados con hemodiálisis. Los nódulos celulares arteriales, supuestamente relacionados con hemodiálisis e hipertensión, fueron observados en 18 muestras (24,3 por ciento). Un segundo propósito de la investigación fue el establecer una correlación clínico-patológica, según la cual se demostró un índice de error diagnóstico clínico del 27 por ciento.

Estudio de las causas de ceguera en el Hospital Vozandes Quito / Study of the causes of blindness in exempt the Vozandes Hospital Quito

Objetivo: Investigar la epidemiología de las causas de ceguera en nuestro medio, conociendo de este modo la magnitud y distribución de las necesidades. Método: Se realizó un estudio proespectivo considerando a aquellos pacientes que acudían por primera ocasión a la Consulta Externa de Oftalmología del Hospital Vozandes Quito (FVQ). Estos pacientes recibieron un chequeo oftalmológico que incluyó datos de historia actual, antecedentes médicos y quirúrgicos, agudeza visual sin y con correctivos, presión intraocular, examen objetivo-biomicroscopía y fondo de ojo. Resultados: De los 1457 pacientes examinados, 192 fueron considerados ciegos para el presente trabajo lo que representa el 13.18xciento. De los 192 pacientes 155 (80.73xciento) presentaron ceguera unilateral y 37 (19.27xciento) ceguera bilateral. Las causas más frecuentes de ceguerta en el presente trabajo fueron: catarata senil con 63 ojos (24.42xciento), patología corneal 38 (14.73xciento), por trauma 33 (12.79xciento), glaucoma secundario 117 (6.59xciento), glaucoma primario 16 (6.20xciento), y retinopatía diabética 16 (6.20xciento)...