New additions to the herpetofauna of the Dois Irmãos State Park, an urban Atlantic Rainforest fragment in northeastern Brazil

The Atlantic Rainforest is the second largest forest block in the Neotropics, which originally comprised more than 150 million ha in highly heterogeneous environmental conditions. In this study, we updated the list of amphibians and reptiles in the Dois Irmãos State Park (PEDI), a conservation unit that is an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. Active and passive surveys were carried out weekly, from June 2008 to April 2009, respectively by searching different forest microenvironments and by using pitfall traps. We recorded 34 species of amphibians belonging to 10 families and 27 species of reptiles belonging to 17 families. This study adds three species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles to previous surveys of the herpetofauna at the PEDI. The PEDI comprises a richness equivalent to 49% of the anurans and 32% of the reptiles recorded in the Atlantic Rainforest in Pernambuco State. This area makes up the group of urban protected areas in which the local herpetofauna has been inventoried, as well as isolated areas in the metropolitan region of the municipality of Recife. Regarding these urban areas, the PEDI Reserve comprises 38.7% of the local richness, being considered a well-maintained remnant in an urban area. Thus, we highlight the need to invest in the conservation of urban forest fragments, given the significant richness that PEDI displays in relation to other extremely impoverished Atlantic Rainforest areas.

New additions to the herpetofauna of the Dois Irmãos State Park, an urban Atlantic Rainforest fragment in northeastern Brazil

The Atlantic Rainforest is the second largest forest block in the Neotropics, which originally comprised more than 150 million ha in highly heterogeneous environmental conditions. In this study, we updated the list of amphibians and reptiles in the Dois Irmãos State Park (PEDI), a conservation unit that is an Atlantic Rainforest remnant in Pernambuco State, northeastern Brazil. Active and passive surveys were carried out weekly, from June 2008 to April 2009, respectively by searching different forest microenvironments and by using pitfall traps. We recorded 34 species of amphibians belonging to 10 families and 27 species of reptiles belonging to 17 families. This study adds three species of amphibians and 18 species of reptiles to previous surveys of the herpetofauna at the PEDI. The PEDI comprises a richness equivalent to 49% of the anurans and 32% of the reptiles recorded in the Atlantic Rainforest in Pernambuco State. This area makes up the group of urban protected areas in which the local herpetofauna has been inventoried, as well as isolated areas in the metropolitan region of the municipality of Recife. Regarding these urban areas, the PEDI Reserve comprises 38.7% of the local richness, being considered a well-maintained remnant in an urban area. Thus, we highlight the need to invest in the conservation of urban forest fragments, given the significant richness that PEDI displays in relation to other extremely impoverished Atlantic Rainforest areas.

Evaluation of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis SO2 vaccine using a natural tuberculosis infection model in goats.

The development of new vaccines against animal tuberculosis (TB) is a priority for improving the control and eradication of this disease, particularly in those species not subjected to compulsory eradication programmes. In this study, the protection conferred by the Mycobacterium tuberculosis SO2 experimental vaccine was evaluated using a natural infection model in goats. Twenty-six goats were distributed in three groups: (1) 10 goats served as a control group; (2) six goats were subcutaneously vaccinated with BCG; and (3) 10 goats were subcutaneously vaccinated with SO2. Four months after vaccination, all groups were merged with goats infected with Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium caprae, and tested over a 40 week period using a tuberculin intradermal test and an interferon-γ assay for mycobacterial reactivity. The severity of lesions was determined at post-mortem examination and the bacterial load in tissues were evaluated by culture. The two vaccinated groups had significantly lower lesion and bacterial culture scores than the control group (P<0.05); at the end of the study, the SO2 vaccinated goats had the lowest lesion and culture scores. These results suggest that the SO2 vaccine provides some protection against TB infection acquired from natural exposure.

Antibody detection tests improve the sensitivity of tuberculosis diagnosis in cattle.

We evaluated the sensitivity (Se) of the single cervical intradermal tuberculin (SIT) test, two interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assays and three different antibody detection techniques for bovine tuberculosis (bTB) diagnosis in 131 mixed beef breed cattle. The results of the diagnostic techniques performed over the whole herd, and over the animals confirmed as infected based on the presence of lesions compatible with the disease and/or M. bovis isolation were compared to determine apparent prevalence (AP) and Se. The Se of the SIT test (severe interpretation) was 63.7% (95% CI, 54.54-72.00), while the Se of the IFN-γ assays ranged between 60.2% and 92%. The proportion of infected cattle detected by the different antibody detection techniques ranged from 65.5% to 87.6%. Three of the antibody detection techniques yielded a significant higher (p<0.05) Se than that achieved with the official diagnostic techniques. In addition, the interpretation in parallel of cellular and antibody detection techniques reached the highest Se: 98.2% (95% CI, 93.78-99.51) suggesting that the use of diagnostic techniques detecting both cellular and humoral responses could be considered as an alternative in the control of bTB outbreaks in high prevalence settings.

Goats challenged with different members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex display different clinical pictures.

Tuberculosis (TB) in goats (Capra hircus) is due to infection with members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC), mainly Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium caprae. We report a comparative experimental infection of goats with M. bovis, M. caprae and M. tuberculosis strains. We hypothesized that goats experimentally infected with different members of the MTC would display different clinical pictures. Three groups of goats were challenged with either M. bovis SB0134 (group 1, n=5), M. caprae SB0157 (group 2, n=5) and M. tuberculosis SIT58 (group 3, n=4). The highest mean total lesion score was observed in M. bovis challenged goats (mean 15.2, range 9-19), followed by those challenged with M. caprae (10.8, 2-23). The lowest score was recorded in goats challenged with M. tuberculosis (3, 1-6). Culture results coincided with the lesion scores in yielding more positive pools (7/15) in M. bovis challenged goats. By contrast, only three pools were positive from goats challenged M. tuberculosis (3/12) and with M. caprae (3/15), respectively. Differences in the performance of the intradermal and gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) tests depending of the group were observed since all goats from group 1 were diagnosed using intradermal test and these goats reacted earlier to the IFN-γ assay in comparison to the other groups. This study confirmed that goats experimentally infected with different members of the MTC display different clinical pictures and this fact may have implications for MTC maintenance and bacterial shedding.

Osteonecrosis de maxilares relacionada con el uso de bifosfonatos / Osteonecrosis of the jaws related with the use of biphosphonates

Cada vez es mayor el número de pacientes que recibimos en nuestras consultas para suspender, de manera temporal, el tratamiento con bifosfonatos para ser sometidos a procedimientos odontológicos.A raíz de la nota informativa "Recomendaciones para la prevención de osteonecrosis de maxilar asociada al tratamiento con bifosfonatos" de 2009, de la Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios, hemos intentado comprender mejor el problema. La posibilidad de realizar períodos de "vacaciones terapéuticas" y la contraindicación de hacerlo en casos oncológicos son las conclusiones principales. Pero más allá, se plantea la buena indicación de los bifosfonatos en el tratamiento de la osteoporosis, sobre la que abundan numerosos datos en la bibliografía, para establecer criterios de diagnóstico basados en el riesgo de fractura. Y cómo no, la discusión que parece abrirse actualmente con la aparición de efectos secundarios a largo plazo, y el tiempo adecuado que debe mantenerse la terapia en los casos de osteoporosis (AU)

Every time there is major the number of patients that we receive in our consultations to suspend the treatment with bifosfonatos, in a temporary way, to be submitted to dental procedures. Soon after the informative note "Recommendations for the Prevention of Osteonecrosis of the jaw associated with the treatment with bifosfonatos" of September 25, 2009, of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Sanitary Products, we have tried to understand better the problem. The possibility of realizing periods of drug holidays and the contraindication of doing it in oncology patients are the principal conclusions. But beyond, there is a good indication of bisphosphonates in osteoporosis, on which numerous information abounds in the bibliography, existing a great effort to establish criteria of diagnosis based on the risk of fracture. And as not, the discussion that seems to be opened nowadays by the appearance of side effects in the long term and the suitable time that must be kept the therapy in the cases of osteoporosis (AU)

Evaluation of two cocktails containing ESAT-6, CFP-10 and Rv-3615c in the intradermal test and the interferon-γ assay for diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis.

The intradermal tuberculin tests and the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) assay are the principal tests used worldwide for the ante-mortem diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis. The conventional reagent currently in use in these tests is purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin obtained from Mycobacterium bovis culture. The components of PPD are poorly characterized and difficult to standardize. To overcome this issue, antigens specific to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex are being studied. Here we have assessed the biological potency of ESAT-6, CFP-10 and Rv-3615c presented as peptide or recombinant protein cocktails in comparison with the standard bovine PPD used routinely in Spanish eradication campaigns. The study was performed in cattle (n=23) from a herd with natural M. bovis infection. Animals were simultaneously injected with PPD and the peptide and protein cocktails. The percentages of cattle reacting positively to single intradermal test were 60.9% (bovine PPD), 47.8% (peptide cocktail) and 60.9% (protein cocktail), with no significant difference between the actual skin fold thickness increases (p>0.05). The IFN-γ assay detected 60.9% of animals when stimulation was performed with bovine PPD, but decreased to 52.2% when stimulation was performed with the peptide cocktail and to 47.8% when stimulation was performed with the protein cocktail. However, no significant differences were found between IFN-γ responder frequencies (p>0.05). These results show a potential use of these defined reagents for in vivo tuberculosis diagnosis.

Estudio de viabilidad de un sello de calidad del servicio de atención farmacéutica en una farmacia comunitaria (II): encuesta a farmacéuticos / Feasibility study of a quality seal of the pharmaceutical care service in communitary pharmacy (II). Survey to pharmacists

Un sello de calidad en atención farmacéutica (AF) que garantice que se cumplen unos estándares mínimos en indicación, dispensación y seguimiento fármaco terapéutico sería una herramienta útil para medir la calidad del servicio prestado. Comenzamos por diseñar un cuestionario dirigido a farmacéuticos interesados en prestar servicios de AF que nos proporcionara los indicadores que nos permitieran valorar la aceptabilidad del sello. Éstos se consensuaron en un cuestionario que se distribuyó a través de webs, la Sociedad Española de Farmacia Comunitaria y el Colegio de Farmacéuticos. Se realizó la valoración a partir de los cuestionarios recopilados, con lo que se pudo comprobar que los farmacéuticos estarían «bastante dispuestos a participar» en la elaboración-implantación del sello certificador de calidad. Este sello se considera mayoritariamente imprescindible y/o conveniente (AU)

A quality control on pharmaceutical care that guarantees the compliance of minimum standards as regards instructions, dispensing and pharmaco-therapeutic follow-up would be a useful tool in order to measure the quality of the rendered service. We started designing a questionnaire addressed to pharmacists interested in rendering PC services that will provide us with the indicators that will allow us into assessing the seal acceptance. These reached a consensus through a questionnaire that has been distributed through distributors, web, Sefac and Associations of pharmacists. From the gathered questionnaires the corresponding assessment has been carried out, proving that the pharmacists who had taken part would be «well-disposed to participate» in the elaboration-implementation of the quality certifier seal and this seal is considered by the most like indispensable and/or convenient (AU)

Primary molars in severe infraocclusion: a retrospective study.

UNLABELLED: The term severe infraocclusion is used to describe teeth located at the level of or below the alveolar crest and is rare. AIM: The aims of the study were to evaluate the influence of age of diagnosis and treatment on the outcome of the successors of primary molars with severe infraocclusion and to propose a treatment protocol based on the age of diagnosis. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with primary molars in severe infraocclusion (PMSI) in the period 1987-2001 was carried out. Parameters assessed were age, sex, degree of infraocclusion based on radiographs, altered position of adjacent and successor teeth and treatment outcome. RESULTS: The sample comprised 19 patients with 23 cases of PMSI, all were second primary molars (47.8% maxillary and 52.2% mandibular). Migration of the neighbouring tooth was present in 51.5% of cases. The PMSI treatment was by extraction in all cases, a space maintainer was fitted and remained in place until the eruption of the successor. The outcome was favourable in 82.6% of cases. CONCLUSION: Successful treatment of PMSI depends on prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment and follow-up of the cases. The earlier the age of detection, the more favourable the outcome.

Spectrographic measures of the speech of young children with cleft lip and cleft palate.

Twenty-two consecutive children with repaired cleft lip and/or palate [isolated cleft lip (CL) 6, isolated cleft palate (CP) 7, unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) 7, and bilateral cleft lip and palate 2] with a mean age of 27 months underwent spectrographic measures of tape-recorded speech (DSP Sona-Graph digital unit). Controls were 22 age- and sex-matched noncleft children. Data analyzed included (1) the Spanish vocalic variables [a, i, u, e, o]: first formant, second formant, duration, and context; (2) obstruent variables [p, t, k]: burst, voice onset time, and duration, and (3) nasal variables [m]: first formant, second formant, and duration. Statistically significant differences were observed between the CL group and the control group in the first formant of [e] and in the increase of the frequency of the [t] burst. Comparison between UCLP and controls showed differences in the second formant of [a], in the first formant of [o], and in the second formant of [o]. These results suggest a small but significant influence of either the cleft lip or its repair on lip rounding for [o] and [u]. In addition, tongue position differences were most likely responsible for the differences seen with [a] and [e]. Spectrographic differences in the current patients did not contribute to meaningful differences in speech sound development. Individualized care (orthodontics, surgery, speech therapy) in children with cleft lip and/or palate attended at specialized craniofacial units contributes to normalization of speech development.

Role of calmodulin in the differentiation/activation of microglial cells.

In the present work the role of calmodulin (CaM) in regulating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation and in the spontaneous microglial differentiation has been investigated. We used pure rat microglial cell cultures to examine the effects of W13, a specific inhibitor of CaM, on microglial activation produced by LPS and the effect of CaM inhibition on microglial proliferation induced by the macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). Microglial morphological transformation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) immunostaining were determinate. Results show that CaM does not participate in the microglial increase of iNOS produced by LPS. In contrast, it is involved in spontaneous microglial ramification and in the activation of proliferation from quiescence. Multiple second-messenger pathways are involved in the transduction of signals initiated by LPS. The study of these mechanisms may allow us to extend our knowledge of the signals controlling the expression of these mediators.

Elongación ósea progresiva del área máxilo-facial: Distracción mandibular / Progressive osseous lengthening of the maxilofacial área: Mandibular distraction

La creación de hueso nuevo en el área máxilo-facial es actualmente posible gracias a la técnica de distracción ósea. Entre enero de 1997 y marzo de 1999 hemos efectuado 20 distracciones del área máxilo-facial de las que 15 corresponden a distracciones mandibulares. Presentamos nuestra experiencia en esta nueva técnica que hemos efectuado en 10 pacientes (5 unilaterales y 5 bilaterales). Se trata de 7 varones y 3 mujeres con edades comprendidas entre los 2 y 14 años, afectos de microsomia hemifacial, síndrome de Goldenhar: 3; retrognatia con maloclusión severa: 4; asimetría facial por anomalías de la ATM: 2; y asimetría facial: 1.La elongatión se pudo conseguir en todos los casos. La mejoría no fue sólo ósea, sino que existió también una ganancia y remodelación de los tejidos blandos de la cara. La distracción mandibular constituye un tratamiento precoz en las anomalías del área máxilo-facial con evidentes ventajas para los pacientes en crecimiento (AU)

[Progressive bone elongation of the maxillo-facial area: mandibular distraction]. / Elongación ósea progresiva del área máxilo-facial: distracción mandibular.

Thanks to the distraction osteogenesis technique, it is nowadays possible to create new bone in the facial area. Between january 1997 and march 1999 we have performed 20 such procedures, from which 15 were mandibular. We present our experience in 10 patients with this new technique, 5 unilateral and 5 bilateral. Those were 7 boys and 3 girls, aged 2 to 14 years, affected with hemifacial microsomia, Goldenhar syndrome: 3; retrognatism with severe malocclusion: 4; facial assimetry due temporomandibular joint abnormalities: 2; and facial assimetry: 1. The proposed elongation was achieved in all cases. There was not only a skeletal improvement, but also growth and remodeling of the facial soft tissues. Distraction osteogenesis is the early treatment of the mandibulofacial deformities and offers a great deal of advantages to the growing patient.

Examination of craniofacial morphology in 10-month to 5-year-old children with cleft lip and palate.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess craniofacial growth in children from 10 months to 5 years of age with cleft lip and/or palate and to develop a systematic method of cephalometric measurements. DESIGN: A case-control study. SETTING: Craniofacial unit of a teaching hospital for children. PATIENTS: A consecutive series of the first 22 patients with cleft lip and/or palate who underwent early reconstructive treatment [isolated cleft lip (CL) 6; isolated cleft palate (CP) 7; unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) 7; and bilateral complete cleft lip and palate (BCLP) 2] (mean age, 27.9 months) and 22 age- and sex-matched noncleft children. INTERVENTIONS: Lateral cephalometric headfilms of the children were taken using a pediatric cephalostat. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cephalometric landmarks were measured according to Ricketts cephalometry. RESULTS: As compared with controls, CL patients had a lingual position and inclination of maxillary and mandibular incisors, an increase of interincisal angle and a decrease of incisor overjet, an increase in facial convexity, and a decrease in facial depth and mandible body length. In CP patients, palatal plane inclination and mandible arch were significantly reduced. In UCLP patients, there was a decrease in molar relation and incisor overbite, an increase in interincisal angle, reduced position and inclination of maxillary incisors and inclination of mandibular incisors, an increase in facial convexity, and lower facial height. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the absence of midface growth reduction, these short-term results suggest a tendency toward normal maxillomandibular growth.