Adenopatía dermatopática simulando quiste branquial / Dermatopathic lymphadenopathy mimicking brachial cyst

Resumen La adenopatía dermatopática es una entidad histopatológica que consiste en un aumento del tamaño ganglionar en respuesta a enfermedades cutáneas crónicas. En el análisis histopatológico se observa una hiperplasia paracortical con presencia de células dendríticas, células de Langerhans e histiocitos. La presentación clínica más habitual es la aparición de adenopatías de características benignas con o sin prurito en pacientes con antecedentes de enfermedad cutánea. La aparición de masas laterocervicales es un motivo de consulta frecuente en otorrinolaringología. Presentamos el caso de un paciente exfumador de 41 años que consultó por aparición brusca de una masa cervical quística, sugestiva de quiste braquial o de una adenopatía quística. Una vez descartada malignidad, se procedió a realizar exéresis de la lesión mediante cervicotomía para diagnóstico patológico. El estudio de la muestra confirmó el diagnóstico de adenopatía dermatopática en un paciente sin antecedente de enfermedad cutánea previa.

Abstract Dermatopathic lymphadenopathy is a histopathologic entity which consists on reactive lymphadenopathy in the setting of chronic cutaneous diseases. The histologic examination is characterized by paracortical hyperplasia with presence of dendritic cells, Langerhans cells and histiocytes. The most common clinical presentation is the presence of lymphadenopathy with benign characteristics with or without pruritus in patients with prior history of cutaneous disease. The appearance of laterocervical masses is a frequent reason for consultation in otorhinolaryngology. We present the case of a 41-year-old ex-smoker who consulted due to the sudden appearance of a cystic cervical mass, suggestive of a brachial cyst or cystic adenopathy. Once malignancy had been ruled out, excision of the lesion within cervicotomy was performed in order to reach a pathological diagnosis. The histologic study confirmed the diagnosis of dermatopathic adenopathy in a patient with no history of previous skin disease.

Tumoración en el colículo inferior como causa de acúfeno unilateral / Tumor at inferior colliculus causing unilateral tinnitus

Resumen La patología del sistema nervioso central, habitualmente, no provoca síntomas auditivos unilaterales, ya que la vía auditiva central está formada por una red de conexiones cruzadas entre los diferentes núcleos que la forman. Además, hay que considerar que una lesión pequeña puede extenderse a más de una estructura provocando varios déficits neurológicos debido a la proximidad de los tractos y núcleos nerviosos. Las lesiones unilaterales circunscritas en el colículo inferior son infrecuentes. No obstante, se han descrito casos en los que lesiones unilaterales de diversas etiologías en esta localización causaban síntomas auditivos. Ya que la vía auditiva central es cruzada, síntomas auditivos detectados con más frecuencia afectaban concretamente a la capacidad de localización del sonido o la comprensión verbal. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 44 años con acúfeno unilateral derecho de larga evolución, sin otra clínica asociada quien fue diagnosticado de un tumor en el colículo inferior derecho mediante resonancia magnética cerebral. Se exponen los hallazgos clínicos y radiológicos del caso.

Abstract Central nervous system diseases usually do not cause auditory symptoms because the central auditory pathway consists on a network of crossed connections between the different nuclei that form it. In addition, we must consider that a small lesion might extend to more than one structure producing many neurologic symptoms due to the proximity of tracts and nuclei in the midbrain. Unilateral circumscribed lesions at inferior colliculus are rare. Nevertheless, lesions at this location causing auditory symptoms have been described. Because of the crossed central auditory pathway, the most commonly detected auditory symptoms specifically affected the ability to locate sound or verbal comprehension. We present the case of a 44-year-old man with a long-term monoaural right-sided tinnitus without other complaints who was diagnosed of a tumour at right inferior colliculus by neuroimaging. Clinical and radiological findings of this case are discussed.

Impact of the national program More Smiles for Chile on women's quality of life.

More Smiles for Chile (MSCH) is a national program that helps women to access comprehensive dental care. OBJECTIVE: To assess the changes in oral health related quality of life (OHRQoL) of women attending the MSCH program. METHODS: Uncontrolled cohort study including all women registered in the National Health Fund (FONASA), who were at least 20 years old and received dental treatment in the MSCH program during 2016 or 2017 and completed OHIP-7 pre and post treatment. The median was used to describe central tendency and interquartile range to evaluate dispersion. RESULTS: The study included 11782 women in 2016 and 16533 in 2017. The median OHIP-7 scores pre and post treatment were 8 and 6 respectively. Reductions were significant (p⟨0.001) for the total score and OHIP-7 dimensions, especially physical pain, physiological discomfort and psychological disability. CONCLUSION: The OHRQoL of women improved after treatment in the Chilean MSCH program.

Propuesta de una dosis de marbofloxacina para el tratamiento de infecciones asociadas a Escherichia coli en cabras de tres semanas de vida

Se estimó una dosis de marbofloxacina (MFX) para tratar infecciones gastrointestinales asociadas a Escherichia coli en cabras de tres semanas de vida. La farmacodinamia de MFX sobre E. coli se evaluó in vitro estimando las concentraciones inhibitoria mínima (CIM), bactericida mínima (CBM) y preventiva de mutantes (CPM). Marbofloxacina se administró en cabras de tres semanas de edad por vía subcutánea a una dosis de 2 mg/kg. Los parámetros farmacocinéticos se estimaron mediante análisis no compartimental. La dosis de MFX capaz de proteger al 95% de una población se calculó considerando la distribución poblacional de los parámetros farmacocinéticos. La eficacia de MFX se evaluó con la relación entre el área bajo la curva y la CPM (ABC/CPM) con un valor de corte de 22 h. Los resultados mostraron que la dosis estimada de MFX para alcanzar la remisión clínica de infecciones gastrointestinales causadas por E. coli y prevenir la emergencia de cepas resistentes en el 95% de una población de cabras de tres semanas de vida fue de 3,179 mg/kg, que a los fines prácticos se fijó en 3,5 mg/kg.

A dose of marbofloxacin (MFX) to treat gastrointestinal infections caused by Escherichia coli in 3-week-old goats was estimated. The pharmacodynamics of MFX against E. coli was evaluated in vitro by estimation of mínimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), mínimum bactericide concentration (MBC) and mutant prevention concentration (MPC). Marbofloxacin was administered to 3-week -old goats by subcutaneous route at the dose of 2 mg/kg. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental analysis. The dose of MFX capable to protect the 95% of population was calculated considering the population distribution of pharmacokinetic parameters. The efficacy of MFX was evaluated by the relationship between the area under curve and MPC (AUC/MPC) with a cut-off value of 22 h. The results showed that the estimated dose of MFX to reach the clinical outcome of gastrointestinal infections caused by E. coli and to prevent the bacterial resistance at the 95% of the population of 3-week-old goats was 3.179 mg/kg, which for practical reasons was fixed at 3.5 mg/kg.

Comparative evaluation of Schistosoma mansoni, Schistosoma intercalatum, and Schistosoma haematobium alkaline phosphatase antigenicity by the alkaline phosphatase immunoassay (APIA).

To know if alkaline phosphatase (AP) from schistosomes other than Schistosoma mansoni can be used as diagnostic marker for schistosomiasis in alkaline phosphatase immunocapture assay (APIA), we comparatively tested n-butanol extracts of adult worm membranes from a Venezuelan (JL) strain of S. mansoni (Ven/AWBE/Sm); a Cameroonian (EDEN) strain of Schistosoma intercalatum (Cam/AWBE/Si) and a Yemeni strain of Schistosoma haematobium (Yem/AWBE/Sh). APIA was evaluated with sera of patients from Venezuela, Senegal, and Gabon infected with S. mansoni, from Gabon infected with S. intercalatum or S. haematobium, from Chine infected with Schistosoma japonicum and from Cambodian patients infected with Schistosoma mekongi. Results indicate that 92.5% (37/40) of Venezuela sera, 75% (15/20) of Senegal sera, 39.5% (17/43) of S. haematobium sera, and 19.2% (5/26) S. intercalatum sera were APIA-positive with the Ven/AWBE/Sm preparation. APIA with the Cam/AWBE/Si preparation showed that 53.8% of S. intercalatum-positive sera had anti-AP antibodies, and 51.2% S. haematobium-positive sera cross-immunocapturing the S. intercalatum AP. APIA performed with Yem/AWBE/Sh showed that 55.8% S. haematobium sera were positive. Only two out of nine S. japonicum sera were APIA-positive with the Ven/AWBE/Sm and Cam/AWBE/Si, and no reaction was observed with Cambodian S. mekongi-positive sera. AP activity was shown to be present in all the schistosome species/strains studied. The use of APIA as a tool to explore the APs antigenicity and the presence of Schistosoma sp. infections through the detection of anti-Schistosoma sp. AP antibodies in a host, allowed us to demonstrate the antigenicity of APs of S. mansoni, S. intercalatum, and S. haematobium.

First Report of Recombinant Potato virus Y Strains in Potato in Jalisco, Mexico.

Potato virus Y (PVY) is a serious problem for potato production worldwide. The virus reduces both tuber yield and quality, and recent spread of recombinant strains of PVY in potato production areas is largely credited with the spread of potato tuber necrotic ringspot disease (PTNRD) (1). In Mexico, recombinant strains of PVY were reported in at least two states, Chihuahua (4) and the State of Mexico (3); however, no surveys have been conducted in other potato-producing areas, and the spectrum of PVY isolates circulating in the country has remained uncharacterized. In October 2011, a small-scale survey of seed potato was conducted in the state of Jalisco, Mexico, to identify PVY isolates present in fields. Twelve seed potato fields were inspected visually. These represented various generations of seed potato, from nuclear to G2. Leaf samples were collected from plants displaying mosaic, crinkling, and yellowing symptoms, and were tested for PVY. Fifty samples were collected from cultivars Fabula, Mondial, Fianna, Gigant, Caesar, and Adora. Of the 50 leaf samples collected, seven were PVY-positive using the Immuno-strip Kit (Agdia, Elkhart, IN), and six of these were determined to have a N-serotype according to the typing by the Pocket Diagnostics lateral flow kit (Forsite Diagnostics, Ltd., York, UK). PVY-positive samples came from cultivars Fabula (2 with N serotype), Mondial (4 with N serotype), and Fianna (1 with O serotype). Extracts of the seven PVY-positive leaf samples were applied to Whatman FTA cards (Sigma, St. Louis, MO), dried, and transported to the Plant Virology Laboratory at the University of Idaho for further characterization. All samples immobilized on FTA cards were subjected to RNA extraction and standard reverse transcriptase (RT)-PCR typing using a set of PVY-specific primers (2) to determine the strain type. All PVY isolates were recombinant. The six N-serotype samples were found to contain recombinant PVYNTN isolates and produced characteristic bands of 181 and 452 bp in RT-PCR, which indicated the presence of two recombination junctions in the HC-Pro/P3 and VPg regions typical of European PVYNTN isolates. The one O-serotype sample was identified as a recombinant PVYN-Wi/N:O isolate, and produced 181 and 689 bp bands in RT-PCR, which indicated the presence of one recombination junction in the HC-Pro/P3 region. Sequence analysis of RT-PCR products amplified from five samples with N serotype identified them as PVYNTN isolates, and from the one with O serotype identified it as PVYN-Wi/N:O isolate. Sequence comparisons confirmed that N serotype samples contained PVY isolates most closely related to typical PVYNTN sequences (Accession No. EF026075), while the O serotype sample contained the PVY isolate most closely related to PVYN-Wi from Europe (HE608963). The data obtained suggest the presence of two different types of PVY recombinants, PVYNTN and PVYN-Wi, in seed potato in Jalisco. Additional surveillance for these recombinant isolates may be needed, as well as a survey of their effects on tuber quality in production areas. This is the first report of recombinant isolates of PVY often associated with PTNRD circulating in seed potato in Jalisco, Mexico. References: (1) S. M. Gray et al. Plant Dis. 94:1384, 2010. (2) J. H. Lorenzen et al. Plant Dis. 90:935, 2006. (3) V. R. Ramirez-Rodriguez et al. Virol. J. 6:48, 2009. (4) L. Robles-Hernandez et al. Plant Dis. 94:1262, 2010.

Enzymatic synthesis of S-adenosylhomocysteine: immobilization of recombinant S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase from Corynebacterium glutamicum (ATCC 13032).

Recombinant S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase from Corynebacterium glutamicum (CgSAHase) was covalently bound to Eupergit® C. The maximum yield of bound protein was 91% and the catalytic efficiency was 96.9%. When the kinetic results for the immobilized enzyme were compared with those for the soluble enzyme, no decrease in the catalytic efficiency of the former was detected. Both soluble and immobilized enzymes showed similar optimum pH and temperature ranges. The reuse of immobilized CgSAHase caused a loss of synthetic activity due to NAD(+) release, although the binding to the support was sufficiently strong for up to 5 cycles with 95% conversion efficiency. The immobilized enzyme was incubated every 3 cycles with 100 µM NAD(+) to recover the loss of activity after 5 cycles. This maintained the activity for another 50 cycles. The purification of S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) provided an overall yield of 76% and 98% purity as determined by HPLC and NMR analyses. The results indicate the suitability of immobilized CgSAHase for synthesizing SAH and other important S-nucleosidylhomocysteine.

Latent tuberculosis infection among health care workers at a general hospital in Santiago de Cuba.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and its predictors in general hospital personnel. METHODS: Two tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) were carried out within 2 years in a sample of 371 health care workers (HCWs) at a general hospital in Santiago de Cuba Province, along with an interview to explore the association of LTBI with age, sex, occupation, contact history of TB and bacille Calmette-Guérin scar. A 10 mm cut-off point was used; an increase of ≥10 mm in the second TST was considered as tuberculin conversion. RESULTS: Of the 350 HCWs with available TST re- sults, 82% were female; the mean age was 37.6 years. LTBI prevalence was 15.4%: it was highest in professionals (20.6%); 60.3% were non-reactors, and at the second test a year later 1.4% were converters. Among the HCWs, physicians had the highest prevalence (21.8%), followed by nurses (19.6%), while administrative staff had the lowest prevalence (3.3%). The mean induration was 3.78 mm; it was highest in professionals (4.4 mm) and the lowest among support staff (2.6 mm). Contact with TB cases was found to be a risk factor for LTBI. CONCLUSIONS: Even at low levels, TB transmission in this hospital could be associated with risk exposure. It is recommended that preventive chemotherapy be given to tuberculin converters as an infection control measure in this hospital.

[Dispositional optimism in patients on chronic haemodialysis and its possible influence on their clinical course]. / Optimismo disposicional en pacientes en hemodiálisis y su influencia en el curso de la enfermedad.

INTRODUCTION: Dispositional optimism is a personality trait significantly associated with the use of positive adaptive coping strategies as well as with perceived psychological and physical well-being, and it appears to be an important predictor of illness. OBJECTIVES: To analyse if dispositional optimism is significantly associated with the number of hospital admissions of our chronic haemodialysis patients, as well as its relationship with perceived state of health. METHODS: We studied 239 patients on chronic haemodialysis. Patients were categorised into two groups according to the variables: hospital admissions/no. of admissions in the last year and dispositional optimism (DO). We used the following variables and questionnaires: 1) Dispositional O/P using the Spanish-validated cross-cultural adaptation of the revised version of the Life Orientation Test (LOT-R) (Scheier, 1994): higher scores mean a higher degree of dispositional optimism. 2) Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the different aspects of the COOP/WONCA (CW) charts and its total score. In this case higher scores mean lower HRQoL. 3) Modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (mCCI). 4) Age, gender, and time on dialysis. RESULTS: Mean age was 64.8 ± 14.3 years; median time on dialysis 2.9 years (range: 0-32); and median LOT-R 21 (range 6-30). Patients considered DO had a lower risk of hospital admissions than pessimists (DP) (OR: 0.55; IC 95%: 0.32-0.94; P<.05). PD Patients that were admitted in the last year showed a significantly lower score on LOT-R (they were more pessimistic) than those that had no hospital admissions (19.4 ± 5.7 vs 22.3 ± 4.6; P=.001). We found no significant differences between admitted and not admitted patients in age, gender, time on haemodialysis and comorbidity. Admitted patients showed worse HRQoL (higher scores in total CW) than those that were not (Total CW: 22.37 vs 19.42; P<.001). PD patients had significantly higher scores than OD patients in all COOP-WONCA aspects except in aspect 1 (physical fitness) and 5 (change in health). CONCLUSIONS: Pessimistic personality trait is significantly associated with hospital admissions in chronic haemodialysis patients, regardless of age, gender and comorbidity. Optimistic patients perceived a better state of health.

[Calcific uremic arteriolopathy. a case report and review of the literature]. / Arteriolopatía cálcica urémica: comunicación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

BACKGROUND: Calcific uremic arteriolopathy is defined as a syndrome consisting of ischemic skin ulceration due to calcification of the wall of the arterioles of the subcutaneous tissue as a result of hyperparathyroidism in uremic patients. CASE REPORT: A 55-year old female patient, hypertense, with heart failure and kidney failure treated with hemodialysis, who presented lower limb pain and hypercalcemia. On physical examination, skin lesions with symmetrical peripheral pulses present in the limbs. Laboratory tests revealed hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and very high parathyroid hormone levels. Parathyroidectomy was performed and biopsy of skin lesions, the patient having a torpid course causing exitus. Autopsy was performed, with histologic features characteristic of calcific uremic arteriolopathy. CONCLUSIONS: Calcific calcium uremic arteriolopathy or calciphylaxis is a complex and variable disease that is difficult to diagnose and whose treatment is complicated. Despite the efforts of the investigators, there are still many questions regarding its pathogenesis. This acts as an incentive for further research to establish the most appropriate actions to take to maintain an adequate quality of life for the patients and avoid complications that trigger death in some cases.

Admixture estimates for the population of Havana City.

BACKGROUND: The Cuban population is essentially a result of the admixture between Spanish, West African and, to a lesser degree, Amerindian tribes that inhabited the island. AIM: The study analysed the genetic structure of the three principal ethnic groups from Havana City, and the contribution of parental populations to its genetic pool. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: According to genealogical information and anthropological traits, 206 subjects were classified as Mulatto, of Spanish decent or of African descent. Seventeen Ancestry Informative Markers, with high difference in frequency between parental populations, were selected to estimate individual and group admixture proportions. The statistical analyses were performed using the ADMIX, ADMIX95 and STRUCTURE 2.1 packages. RESULTS: The results demonstrate a high level of European and African admixture in Mulattos (57-59% European; 41-43% West African). The European contribution was higher in those of Spanish descent (85%) while in those of African descent, the West African contribution ranged between 74% and 76%. Genetic structure was only detected in Mulattos and those of African descent. An Amerindian contribution was not detectable in the studied sample. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate the existence of admixture and genetic structure in the population of Havana City. This study represents one of the first steps towards understanding Cuban population admixture in order to produce successful experimental designs for admixture mapping.

Evaluación de la influencia de distintos componentes de la dieta sobre la biodisponibilidad potencial de minerales en alimentos complementarios / Evaluation of the influence of different dietary components on potential mineral bioavailability in complementary foods

Iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca) potential bioavailability (Ba) was evaluated in complementary foods fortified with vitamins and minerals: a commercial infant cereal (IC), the mixture of IC with a commercial infant dessert (IC+ID) and a mixture of IC with orange (IC+O). Each sample was combined with 5 different beverages (tea, mate, chocolate milk, a cola soft drink and artificial orange juice). Mineral's dialysis ability (D%) as an indicator of potential Ba was assessed using an in vitro method. Fe D % showed no significant differences between IC (19.9) and IC+ID (17.8) but was significantly increased in the IC+O sample (35.4). The IC+ID mixture had the lowest Zn D% (11.4) while the IC+O sample showed a very high value (24). There were no significant differences in Ca D% among the three samples. Regarding the beverages, both chocolate milk and mate had a depressing effect on mineral dialysis ability in all cases. There was no modification due to cola soft drink. Artificial juice caused a considerable increase in D% for all of the minerals. Mineral potential bioavailability in these complementary foods may be significantly modified by other habitual dietary components.

Se evaluó la biodisponibilidad potencial (Bd) de hierro (Fe), zinc (Zn) y calcio (Ca) en alimentos complementarios fortificados con vitaminas y minerales: un cereal comercial infantil (CI), la mezcla de CI con un postre comercial infantil (CI+PI) y mezcla de CI con naranja (CI+N). Cada muestra se combinó con 5 bebidas diferentes (té, mate cocido, leche chocolatada, bebida cola y «jugo¼ artificial de naranja). La dializabilidad (D%) mineral como indicador de la Bd potencial, fue determinada con un método in vitro. La D % de Fe fue muy similar en CI (19,9) y CI+PI (17,8) pero mostró un aumento muy significativo en la mezcla CI+N (35,4). La muestra CI+PI presentó la menor D % Zn (11,4) mientras que en CI+N fue muy elevada (24). La D% de Ca no presentó diferencias significativas entre las tres muestras. En relación con las bebidas, la leche chocolatada y el mate cocido tuvieron un efecto depresor en todos los minerales. No se observaron modificaciones con la bebida cola. El «jugo¼ artificial provocó un incremento considerable en la D% de todos los minerales. La biodisponibilidad potencial de los minerales estudiados en estos alimentos complementarios puede verse significativamente modificada por otros componentes habituales de la dieta.

One-dimensional gapless magnons in a single anisotropic ferromagnetic nanolayer.

Gapless magnons in a plane ferromagnet with normal axis anisotropy are shown to exist besides the usual gapped modes that affect spin dependent transport properties only above a finite temperature. These magnons are one-dimensional objects, in the sense that they are localized inside the domain walls that form in the film. They may play an essential role in the spin dependent scattering processes even down to very low temperatures.

Optimizing ammonia processing conditions to enhance susceptibility of legumes to fiber hydrolysis: alfalfa.

An ammonia process was applied at several ammonia loadings, moisture contents, temperatures, and dwell times. A cellulase loading of 5 FPU/g dry matter and a 24 h incubation time were used to produce the sugars, which were measured as reducing sugars and by HPLC. Optimal processing conditions caused a 76% of theoretical yield (2.9-fold above untreated). Cellulose and hemicellulose conversions were 68 and 85% (vs 38 and 34% in untreated, respectively). The short hydrolysis time and relatively low enzyme loading suggests great potential to produce sugars from alfalfa.

Optimizing ammonia processing conditions to enhance susceptibility of legumes to fiber hydrolysis: Florigraze rhizoma peanut.

A warm-season legume, Florigraze rhizoma peanut (FRP), was used as the source of fiber to produce sugars. FRP was subjected to several ammonia-processing conditions using temperature, biomass moisture content, and ammonia loading as process variables during a 5-min treatment. A cellulase loading of 2 FPU/g DM and 24 h incubation were used to produce the sugars. Total sugar yield was 3.34-fold higher in the optimal treatment (1.5 g ammonia/g DM-60%-90 degrees C) compared to untreated and was 65.3% of theoretical. Cellulose and hemicellulose conversions increased from 30 and 15.5% in untreated FRP to 78 and 34% in treated FRP.

Agronomic use of biotechnologically processed grape wastes.

Grape waste was composted by biodegradation and subsequently used as an organic fertilizer for 20 day-corn. Combinations of recently compressed grape waste and hen droppings (10% w/w) were prepared to study the activating effect of hen droppings and the effect of aeration on the composting process. The final hydrogen potential (pH), %C, %N and C/N ratio, indicated an adequate development of the bioprocess. Satisfactory results were observed when the products were applied at several doses (1,000-4,000 kg/ ha) as a soil conditioner for corn seed germination in greenhouses. Only the addition of hen droppings had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on corn dry matter (14% increase). A dose of 3000 kg/ha was considered as optimal and was used supplemented with triple superphosphate (TSP) in agronomic trials. All the treatments produced greater corn dry matter (P < 0.05) than the chemical industrial fertilizer used as a control (0.52-0.71 g/pot for the organic fertilizers vs 0.45 g/pot for the control). Anaerobic conditions and hen droppings addition significantly produced (P < 0.05) higher corn dry matter.

Proteolytic activation of latent Paraguaya peach PPO. Characterization of monophenolase activity.

The kinetics of the activation process of latent peach PPO by trypsin was studied. By coupling this activation process to the oxidation of 4-tert-butylcatechol (TBC) to its corresponding quinone, it was possible to evaluate the specific rate constant of active PPO formation, k(3), which showed a value of 0.04 s(-1). This proteolytic activation of latent peach PPO permitted us to characterize the monophenolase activity of peach PPO for the first time using p-cresol as substrate, and it showed the characteristic lag period of the kinetic mechanism of monophenols hydroxylation, which depended on the enzyme and substrate concentration, the pH and the presence of catalytic amounts of o-diphenol (4-methylcatechol). The enzyme activation constant, k(act), was 2 microM.

Blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome.

The blue rubber nevus syndrome consists of multiple venous malformations in the skin and gastrointestinal tract associated with intestinal hemorrhage and iron deficiency anemia. Other organs may be involved. The causes of this syndrome are unknown. Its most common presentation is in the form of sporadic cases, but dominant autosomal inheritance has been described. It is a condition that affects both sexes equally, and its occurrence is rare in the black race. We present a case of this syndrome diagnosed in a 11-year-old patient. He had severe anemia and a venous swelling on the trunk. Similar lesions were found in the stomach, bowel, and on his foot. We emphasize the main clinical aspects: intestine, eyes, nasopharynx, parotids, lungs, liver, spleen, heart, brain, pleura, peritoneum, pericardium, skeletal muscles, bladder, and penis lesions, systemic complications that may occur to these patients which are thrombosis and calcification, as well as consumptive coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia that may occur within the nevi.

Optimizing ammonia pressurization/depressurization processing conditions to enhance enzymatic susceptibility of dwarf elephant grass.

An ammonia pressurization/depressurization process was investigated to evaluate the potential of producing reducing sugars from dwarf elephant grass, a warm-season forage. Moisture, temperature, and ammonia loading affected sugar yield (p < 0.0001). At optimal conditions, ammonia processing solubilized 50.9% of the hemicellulose and raised the sugar yield (percentage of theoretical) from 18 to 83%. Glucose and xylose production were increased 3.2- and 8.2-fold, respectively. The mild processing conditions of the ammonia treatment (90-100 degrees C, 5 min), the low enzyme loading (2 international filter paper units/g), and the short hydrolysis time (24 h), greatly enhance the potential of using forages to produce sugars valuable for several applications.