[Presence of Helicobacter pylori in gastric biopsies and feces of pediatric patients with celiac disease]. / Presencia de Helicobacter pylori en biopsias gástricas y heces de pacientes pediátricos con enfermedad celíaca.

BACKGROUND: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the main etiologic agent of chronic gastritis and it is an important cause of gastric damage. The celiac disease can affect the morphology and the function of the gastrointestinal tract from the stomach to the colon and it is frequently associated with chronic gastritis. AIM: to assess the presence of H. pylori in gastric biopsies and in feces of pediatric patients with celiac disease and to relate it with the symptoms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Pediatric patients with celiac disease attending the Gastroenterology Service at the "Avelino Castelán" Hospital in Resistencia (Argentina) were included in the study. Gastric biopsies samples were obtained by endoscopy for histological studies, the symptoms and socio-epidemiological characteristics were recorded and the polimerase chain reaction(PCR) was applied in feces in order to detect the presence of H. pylori. RESULTS: Thirty one patients with celiac disease were studied (16 female and 15 male; age range:1-14 years; median 6.7 years); 14 (45.2%) were positive for H. pylori in gastric biopsy and among them, only 2 (14.2%) were positive for H. pylori in stool samples. There were not significant differences between symptoms between H. pylori positive and negative patients. CONCLUSION: 45.2% of the patients with celiac disease were infected by H. pylori. There was no correlation between the frequencies of bacterial detection in feces and in gastric biopsies. The clinical manifestations of celiac disease did not increase in children infected with H. pylori.

Cytotoxicity and morphological analysis of cell death induced by Bothrops venoms from the northeast of Argentina

Bothrops snake venoms have been proved toxic to a variety of cell types, in both in vivo and in vitro models. Studies on the pharmacological actions of Bothrops venoms from Argentina are relatively secarce and the direct action of the crude venoms has not been assessed using cell culture models. In this work, we investigated the cytotoxicity of crude venoms from B. alternatus and B. diporus in a skeletal muscle (C2C12) cell line, which is commonly used as a model for studying the myotoxic action of snake venom. Both venoms (1.25-50 miug/mL) induced an early and significant decrease in cell viability. The cytotoxic concentration 50 (CC50), determined three hours after exposure, revealed that B. diporus venom was significantly more cytotoxic (CC50: 2 miug/mL) than B. aftematus (CC50: 5.8 miug/mL). To investigate the cell death mechanism involved, myoblast cells were examined by phase contrast microscopy and after acridine orange and ethidium bromide fluorescence staining, respectively. Our data clearly demonstrated that an apoptotic mediated this cell line destruction. The current study aimed to provide new information on the citotoxicity meohanisms of Argentine Bothrops snake venoms on a skeletal muscle cell line

Toxocara seroprevalence in children from a subtropical city in Argentina.

Most studies from Argentina have focused on toxocariasis as an environmental problem of big cities, and there are no available data about children infection from small or middle-sized cities. In order to assess the prevalence of anti-Toxocara antibodies in infantile population, 206 children from Resistencia, of both sexes, aged 1-14 years old were studied by Elisa testing with E/S T. canis L2 antigens. Hematological parameters and immunoglobulin levels were determined; five days' stool samples were studied and epidemiological data were obtained by means of a questionnaire to parents. Results showed that 73% of the children had one or more dogs living at home, 57% reported geophagia and 37.9% were positive for Toxocara serology, but there was no significant difference in prevalence neither for boys and girls, nor concerning age. An increased risk of infection was observed in age groups 5-6 and 7-8 for boys, and in age groups 3-4 and 5-6 for girls.

[Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infection in a subtropical region with important environmental changes]. / Infection par Paracoccidioides brasiliensis dans une région subtropicale avec changements importants de l'environnement.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is a systemic mycoses caused by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a dimorphic fungus that infects man through respiratory ducts. It has been accepted that its ecological niche is located in the soil and plants of subtropical forests of Latin America. The Province of Corrientes is located at the northeastern border of Argentina, in a subtropical area where important environmental modifications have been introduced in the last decade as consequence of damming the Paranà river at Yacyretà, one of the biggest hydroelectric dams in the world. Since there are no data on human infection provoqued by this fungal agent in Corrientes, the purpose of this study was to obtain information at present time about infection indexes and to assess if environmental changes introduced in the area could impact on the epidemiology of the disease. Skin tests with paracoccidioidin and histoplasmin were performed on 455 persons of both sexes, from 1 to 73 years of age, who live permanently in the area and voluntarily accepted to be included in the study. Both antigens were employed at the same time in order to evaluate crossed type reactions. Of the 455 persons, 52 (39 males-13 females) were reactive to paracoccidioidin (11.4%), with an increasing prevalence with age. According to previous data, these results would indicate an increase in the index of human infection by P. brasiliensis, and this may be related to the important changes in climatic and environmental conditions introduced in the area in the last years.

Respuesta inmunológica a microbacterias oportunistas en un área subtropical / Immunologic response to opportunist mycobacterial in subtropical area

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el perfil de sensibilización a las microbacterias oportunistas (MO) y al M. tuberculosis, en una población adulta de un área subtropical argentina (ciudad de Mercedes, Prov. de Corrientes), relacionándolo con la vacuna BCG. Se estudiaron 259 pobladores permanentes de la citada localidad (193 hombres y 66 mujeres) mayores de 18 años de edad, mediante tests cutáneos con PPD preparados a partir de M. Tuberculosis (PPD-t), M. avium, M. chelonei y M. fortuitum (PPD-s). En todos los casos se confeccionó ficha clínica y se interrogó sobre la aplicación de la vacuna BCG. En los casos que el paciente no recordaba, se constató la presencia de cicatriz vacunal. Luego de efectuadas las lecturas, se dividió la población en estudio en cuatro grupos: NEGATIVOS, REACTORES PUROS AL PPD-t, REACTORES SIGNIFICATIVOS A LOS PPD-s Y REACTORES MIXTOS AL PPD-t Y A LOS PPD-s. Los resultados obtenidos señalan que 65,25 por ciento de la población había recibido la vacuna BCG o presentaba cicatriz vacunal. Tuvieron respuesta positiva al PPD-t el 26,25 por ciento de la población total, de los cuales el 64,7 por ciento había recibido BCG. De los 126 sujetos PPD-t negativos, el 66 por ciento habían sido vacunados. El 22,7 por ciento de la población (59 personas) reaccionó a uno o más PPD-S, con franco predominio a la microbacteria aviar. Los valores de sensibilización a las MO encontrados en esta experiencia difieren de los reportados por los autores para otras regiones de nuestro país.

Respuesta inmunológica a microbacterias oportunistas en un área subtropical / Immunologic response to opportunist mycobacterial in subtropical area

El objetivo de este trabajo fue determinar el perfil de sensibilización a las microbacterias oportunistas (MO) y al M. tuberculosis, en una población adulta de un área subtropical argentina (ciudad de Mercedes, Prov. de Corrientes), relacionándolo con la vacuna BCG. Se estudiaron 259 pobladores permanentes de la citada localidad (193 hombres y 66 mujeres) mayores de 18 años de edad, mediante tests cutáneos con PPD preparados a partir de M. Tuberculosis (PPD-t), M. avium, M. chelonei y M. fortuitum (PPD-s). En todos los casos se confeccionó ficha clínica y se interrogó sobre la aplicación de la vacuna BCG. En los casos que el paciente no recordaba, se constató la presencia de cicatriz vacunal. Luego de efectuadas las lecturas, se dividió la población en estudio en cuatro grupos: NEGATIVOS, REACTORES PUROS AL PPD-t, REACTORES SIGNIFICATIVOS A LOS PPD-s Y REACTORES MIXTOS AL PPD-t Y A LOS PPD-s. Los resultados obtenidos señalan que 65,25 por ciento de la población había recibido la vacuna BCG o presentaba cicatriz vacunal. Tuvieron respuesta positiva al PPD-t el 26,25 por ciento de la población total, de los cuales el 64,7 por ciento había recibido BCG. De los 126 sujetos PPD-t negativos, el 66 por ciento habían sido vacunados. El 22,7 por ciento de la población (59 personas) reaccionó a uno o más PPD-S, con franco predominio a la microbacteria aviar. Los valores de sensibilización a las MO encontrados en esta experiencia difieren de los reportados por los autores para otras regiones de nuestro país. (AU)