Interculturalidad e infancia rural: trabajo y cuidado en La Araucanía, Chile / Interculturality and rural childhood: work and care in La Araucanía, Chile

(analítico) Desde una mirada intercultural, se exploraron los significados de infancia en la agricultura familiar campesina, así como sus implicaciones en términos de trabajo y provisión de cuidados a niños y niñas. A partir de la tensión entre los significados universales de infancia basados en un enfoque de derechos y el trabajo en el campo del cual participan las personas desde temprana edad, se realizó un estudio cualitativo con diseño de teoría fundamentada y aplicación de entrevistas a mujeres cuidadoras y profesionales de programas de desarrollo rural en Chile. Se evidenció que a medida que la infancia aumenta en actoría social, disminuyen las prácticas de trabajo y se profundizan las de cuidado. Los resultados alientan a pensar en la proyección de una ontología de la niñez rural.

(analytical) Using an intercultural perspective, this study explores the meanings of childhood in the rural peasant population, as well as the implications of these meanings on the allocation of tasks and providing care to boys and girls. Taking into account the tension between universal meanings of childhood that draw on rights-based perspectives and the traditional practice of children working in agriculture, we conducted a qualitative study using a grounded theory methodology. Interviews were conducted with women caregivers and staff who work in rural development programs in Chile. The study's results show that as childhood has had an increasing value with children becoming more and more recognized as social actors, traditional child work practices in agriculture have decreased and care practices have been strengthened. The author concludes that the results of the research have consequences when thinking about an ontology for rural children.

(analítico) A partir de uma perspectiva intercultural, exploramos os significados da infância entre famílias voltadas para agricultura familiar camponesa, bem como suas implicações em termos de trabalho e prestação de cuidados às meninos e meninas. Considerando a tensão existente entre os significados universais da infância a partir de uma abordagem de direitos e o trabalho no campo, no qual as pessoas se engajam desde muito cedo, realizamos um estudo qualitativo, com base na teoria fundamentada, onde realizamos entrevistas com mulheres cuidadoras e profissionais dos programas de desenvolvimento rural no Chile. Evidenciamos que à medida que a infância adquiriu um valor ao nível da atuação social, as práticas de trabalho diminuíram e as práticas de cuidado se aprofundaram. Conclui-se sobre as consequências dos resultados para pensar uma ontologia da infância rural.

Uncovering the Work-Family Interface: The Impact of Facilitators and Stressors on the Health of Farm Women.

Work-family interface (WFI) theory has identified many stressors that influence work-family dynamics from the standpoint of employees. However, work-family facilitators, as well as the effects of gender differences and the impact of sociocultural environments that differ from a formal employment situation, have received much less attention. Our research aimed to fill these theoretical gaps by analyzing the facilitators and stressors involved in work-family dynamics and determining their consequences for farm women's physical, psychological, and social health. We used a qualitative method with a grounded theory design to collect data via semi-structured interviews with 46 farm women from the region of Araucanía in Chile. Our results explain how facilitators, stressors, and outcomes take place in a process of work-family balance that, paradoxically, implies exhausting journeys, a gender-based overload, a risk of diffuse body pain and distress, and a lack of time for personal healthcare and productive autonomy. Addressing these issues requires a comprehensive approach involving improved healthcare infrastructure and services focused on changing the pressures that the farming WFI exerts on rural women.

Intron mutations and early transcription termination in Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy.

DMD pathogenic variants for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy are detectable with high sensitivity by standard clinical exome analyses of genomic DNA. However, up to 7% of DMD mutations are deep intronic and analysis of muscle-derived RNA is an important diagnostic step for patients who have negative genomic testing but abnormal dystrophin expression in muscle. In this study, muscle biopsies were evaluated from 19 patients with clinical features of a dystrophinopathy, but negative clinical DMD mutation analysis. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction or high-throughput RNA sequencing methods identified 19 mutations with one of three pathogenic pseudoexon types: deep intronic point mutations, deletions or insertions, and translocations. In association with point mutations creating intronic splice acceptor sites, we observed the first examples of DMD pseudo 3'-terminal exon mutations causing high efficiency transcription termination within introns. This connection between splicing and premature transcription termination is reminiscent of U1 snRNP-mediating telescripting in sustaining RNA polymerase II elongation across large genes, such as DMD. We propose a novel classification of three distinct types of mutations identifiable by muscle RNA analysis, each of which differ in potential treatment approaches. Recognition and appropriate characterization may lead to therapies directed toward full-length dystrophin expression for some patients.

Inventario de Sexismo Ambivalente (ISA) en adolescentes chilenos: estructura factorial, fiabilidad, validez e invarianza por sexo / Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI) in Chilean adolescents: Factor structure, reliability, validity and sex invariance

El sexismo ambivalente es un constructo multidimensional compuesto por creencias y actitudes hostiles y benévolas que se legitiman entre sí parajustificar el poder masculino estructural. Los estudios sobre sexismo en adolescentes cobran relevancia al ser una etapa evolutiva fundamental paraasentar creencias acerca de las relaciones de género. Sin embargo, los instrumentos para medir representaciones sexistas en este grupo son escasos.Este estudio evaluó las propiedades psicométricas del Inventario de Sexismo Ambivalente (ISA) en adolescentes chilenos, concretamente se analizóla estructura factorial y su fiabilidad, validez e invarianza factorial por sexo. La muestra estuvo conformada por 546 estudiantes entre 15 y 18 años(M=15.52; DT=.66), de los cuales el 58.8% fueron mujeres. Los métodos que se utilizaron fueron Análisis Factorial Exploratorio y Análisis FactorialConfirmatorio. El resultado del análisis exploratorio sugirió retener los 20 ítems de la escala original agrupados en dos factores. Los resultados delanálisis confirmatorio corroboraron la estructura original de la escala y precisaron un modelo de dos factores correlacionados, Sexismo Hostil y SexismoBenévolo (χ2(166) = 302.34; CFI = .99; TLI = .98, RMSEA = .05, SRMR = .07), que considera al Sexismo Benévolo como un factor de segundo ordencon tres subcomponentes (Paternalismo Protector, Intimidad Heterosexual y Diferenciación de Género). El modelo seleccionado coincidió con la pro-puesta teórica y explicó el 56% de la varianza. El análisis de fiabilidad indicó un alfa ordinal total de 0.93 y el análisis correlacional demostró evidencia devalidez discriminante. El análisis de invarianza factorial evidenció que el grado de equivalencia del instrumento por sexo es plausible a un nivel estricto.Se concluyó que el ISA presenta adecuadas propiedades psicométricas para su uso en adolescentes de Chile.(AU)

Ambivalent sexism is a multi-dimensional construct conformed by hostile and benevolent beliefs and attitudes that tend to legitimize each other justifying male structural power.Sexism studies in adolescent population become relevant as it is a fundamental evolutive stage for settle gender relations beliefs. However, thetools that measures sexist representations in adolescents are scarce. The main goal was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the AmbivalentSexism Inventory (ASI) in Chilean adolescents, and analyze invariance by sex. Sample was composed of 546 students between 15–18 years (M=15.52; SD=.66), of which 58.8% were women. Exploratory factor analyses and confirmatory factor analyses were the method of the study. Theresults of the exploratory factor analyses suggested to hold back the 20 items from the original structure grouped in two factors. Confirmatory factoranalyses results showed suitability of the two factors theoretical proposal, hostile sexism and benevolent sexism (χ2(166) = 302.34; CFI = .99; TLI= .98; RMSEA = .05; SRMR = .07), which includes benevolent sexism as a second-order factor conformed by three subcomponents (protectivepaternalism, complementary gender differentiation, and heterosexual intimacy). The factorial structure of the selected model explained 56% of thetotal variance. The reliability of the ASI reached a satisfactory levels of ordinal alpha (αordinal = .93) for the complete instrument and the correlationanalyses provide evidences of discriminant validity. The Invariance factorial analyses showed that the equivalence level of the ASI is plausible in thestrict level. It is concluded that the ASI presents adequate psychometric properties for its use in Chilean adolescent population.(AU)

Apparent False Lateralization of Seizure Onset by Scalp EEG in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Associated with Cerebral Cavernous Malformation: A Case Report and Overview.

False lateralization of ictal onset by scalp electroencephalogram (EEG) is an infrequent entity that has been reported in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy associated with hippocampal sclerosis (HS). In these cases, a tendency for rapid seizures that spread through the frontal-limbic system and hippocampal commissural pathways to the contralateral hemisphere has been proposed. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs), which constitute a collection of abnormally configured small blood vessels with irregular structures, is a well-defined epilepsy-associated pathology. Their primary association with seizures might be explained either as a result of physiological changes affecting the cerebral cortex immediately surrounding the CCM (an epileptogenic mechanism that is relevant for both, temporal and extratemporal lesions) or as a result of promoting epileptogenicity in remote but anatomo-functionally connected brain regions, a mechanism that is particularly relevant for temporal lobe lesions. To date, there have been only two publications on falsely lateralizing ictal onsets by EEG in temporal cavernoma, but not in other regions. Here, we report a rare case of apparent false lateralization of ictal onset by scalp EEG in a patient with a left medial frontal gyrus cavernoma (supplementary motor area), and discuss some relevant pathophysiological mechanisms of false lateralization.

Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Cognitive Impairment and Neurodegeneration by Toxoplasma gondii Infection.

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite considered one of the most successful pathogens in the world, owing to its ability to produce long-lasting infections and to persist in the central nervous system (CNS) in most warm-blooded animals, including humans. This parasite has a preference to invade neurons and affect the functioning of glial cells. This could lead to neurological and behavioral changes associated with cognitive impairment. Although several studies in humans and animal models have reported controversial results about the relationship between toxoplasmosis and the onset of dementia as a causal factor, two recent meta-analyses have shown a relative association with Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is characterized by amyloid-ß (Aß) peptide accumulation, neurofibrillary tangles, and neuroinflammation. Different authors have found that toxoplasmosis may affect Aß production in brain areas linked with memory functioning, and can induce a central immune response and neurotransmitter imbalance, which in turn, affect the nervous system microenvironment. In contrast, other studies have revealed a reduction of Aß plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau protein formation in animal models, which might cause some protective effects. The aim of this article is to summarize and review the newest data in regard to different pathophysiological mechanisms of cerebral toxoplasmosis and their relationship with the development of AD and cognitive impairment. All these associations should be investigated further through clinical and experimental studies.

TV-based assistive integrated service to support European adults living with mild dementia or mild cognitive impairment (TV-AssistDem): study protocol for a multicentre randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia progressively compromise the ability of people to live independently and can have a negative impact on their quality of life. Within the current European Active and Assisted Living programme (AAL), project TV-AssistDem has been developed to deliver a TV-based platform service to support patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and provide relief to their caregivers. The application is intended to be used daily at home, mainly by the participants themselves, with the help of their informal caregivers. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of TV-AssistDem to improve quality of life in people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. METHODS: This is a 12-month European multicentre randomized controlled trial which will be performed in two countries: Spain and Romania. Two hundred and forty older adults will be recruited using identical inclusion/exclusion criteria. The primary outcome will be the change from baseline of TV-AssistDem on patient quality of life at 12 months. The secondary outcomes will be the changes from baseline of: 1) informal caregiver quality of life, 2) informal caregiver burden, 3) patient treatment adherence, 4) patient treatment compliance, 5) patient functional status, and 6) healthcare cost-effectiveness at 12 months. Patients in the intervention group will have access to an interactive platform which offers remote assistive services through a device connected to the television. The core services of the platform are: 1) Calendar and reminders, 2) Health monitoring and data transmission to a health server and 3) Videoconference; service-oriented applications are: 4) Cognitive stimulation; 5) Reminiscences; and 6) Patient and caregiver healthcare education. The analysis will be made following an intention-to-treat procedure. Linear and Generalized Mixed Model analysis will be performed. DISCUSSION: We hypothesize that the regular use of TV-AssistDem will result in an improvement in patient quality of life. The uniqueness of this home TV-based intervention lies on its widespread accessibility and its integrative approach to quality of life in people with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and their informal caregivers. However, several anticipated challenges will need to be faced: poor engagement and connectivity problems. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03653234 , Date of registration: 31 August 2018.

Proton Pump Inhibitors and Dementia: Physiopathological Mechanisms and Clinical Consequences.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia, mainly encompassing cognitive decline in subjects aged ≥65 years. Further, AD is characterized by selective synaptic and neuronal degeneration, vascular dysfunction, and two histopathological features: extracellular amyloid plaques composed of amyloid beta peptide (Aß) and neurofibrillary tangles formed by hyperphosphorylated tau protein. Dementia and AD are chronic neurodegenerative conditions with a complex physiopathology involving both genetic and environmental factors. Recent clinical studies have shown that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated with risk of dementia, including AD. However, a recent case-control study reported decreased risk of dementia. PPIs are a widely indicated class of drugs for gastric acid-related disorders, although most older adult users are not treated for the correct indication. Although neurological side effects secondary to PPIs are rare, several preclinical reports indicate that PPIs might increase Aß levels, interact with tau protein, and affect the neuronal microenvironment through several mechanisms. Considering the controversy between PPI use and dementia risk, as well as both cognitive and neuroprotective effects, the aim of this review is to examine the relationship between PPI use and brain effects from a neurobiological and clinical perspective.

Evaluation of proadrenomedullin as a diagnostic or prognostic biomarker of acute appendicitis in children.

INTRODUCTION: A delay in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis (AA), with the added complication of symptoms that mimic other self-limited causes of abdominal pain, can lead to an increase in ruptured appendices and morbimortality. None of the serum biomarkers evaluated to date have shown a predictive value for early diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of proadrenomedullin (MR-proADM) in the diagnosis of AA in children presenting with acute abdominal pain. METHODS: A single-center prospective observational study was conducted in 136 children who presented to the emergency department with suspected AA. RESULTS: Forty-four (32.5%) children had AA, and 9 (20.5%) had perforated appendicitis. The mean concentration of MR-proADM was significantly higher in children with AA than in children with nonspecific abdominal pain (NAP) (0.54 nmol/L; 95% confidence interval, 0.46-0.55 and 0.37 nmol/L; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.40, respectively). Performance characteristics of MR-proADM alone were not optimal. However, after combining best cutoff points, the combination of a C-reactive protein level of <0.3 mg/dL and a MR-proADM level of <0.34 nmol/L showed 100% sensitivity and negative predictive value, with 61% specificity. CONCLUSIONS: Although MR-proADM values are higher in children with AA than in children with nonspecific abdominal pain, these values do not help in the early diagnosis of AA. The combination of low C-reactive protein and low MR-proADM levels is useful for the identification of children with a low risk of AA.

Mycobacterial disease in patients with chronic granulomatous disease: A retrospective analysis of 71 cases.

BACKGROUND: Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a rare primary immunodeficiency caused by inborn errors of the phagocyte nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase complex. From the first year of life onward, most affected patients display multiple, severe, and recurrent infections caused by bacteria and fungi. Mycobacterial infections have also been reported in some patients. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess the effect of mycobacterial disease in patients with CGD. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively the clinical features of mycobacterial disease in 71 patients with CGD. Tuberculosis and BCG disease were diagnosed on the basis of microbiological, pathological, and/or clinical criteria. RESULTS: Thirty-one (44%) patients had tuberculosis, and 53 (75%) presented with adverse effects of BCG vaccination; 13 (18%) had both tuberculosis and BCG infections. None of these patients displayed clinical disease caused by environmental mycobacteria, Mycobacterium leprae, or Mycobacterium ulcerans. Most patients (76%) also had other pyogenic and fungal infections, but 24% presented solely with mycobacterial disease. Most patients presented a single localized episode of mycobacterial disease (37%), but recurrence (18%), disseminated disease (27%), and even death (18%) were also observed. One common feature in these patients was an early age at presentation for BCG disease. Mycobacterial disease was the first clinical manifestation of CGD in 60% of these patients. CONCLUSION: Mycobacterial disease is relatively common in patients with CGD living in countries in which tuberculosis is endemic, BCG vaccine is mandatory, or both. Adverse reactions to BCG and severe forms of tuberculosis should lead to a suspicion of CGD. BCG vaccine is contraindicated in patients with CGD.

Diagnostic accuracy and prognostic utility of D Dimer in acute appendicitis in children.

UNLABELLED: The objective was to determine the uselfulness of D Dimer (DD) as a diagnostic or prognostic marker in acute appendicitis (AA) in children using a prospective observational study in the pediatric emergency department of a tertiary hospital. We enrolled 135 patients aged 1-16 years presenting with abdominal pain consistent with AA, who required laboratory studies. We analyzed clinical, analytical variables and histopathology findings (when they underwent surgery). Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS. 38.5% of the children were clinically diagnosed with AA (n = 52), confirmed by pathology in 51 patients. 55.8% were gangrenous appendicitis. Leucocyte count, C-reactive protein (CRP), and DD were higher in the AA group and in the gangrenous appendicitis group (p < 0.05), with highest values of DD in the gangrenous group. The area under the receiving operating characteristics (ROC) curve for DD in the diagnosis of AA is 0.66 (95% CI 0.56-0.75). For DD cut-off point of 230 ng/mL, sensitivity (Se) was 0.40, specificity (Sp) 0.80, positive predictive value (PPV) 0.57, and negative predictive value (NPV) 0.66. The area under the ROC curve for DD in children with gangrenous appendicitis is 0.93 (95% CI 0.87-1). A DD cut-off point of 230 ng/mL exhibited: Se = 0.69, Sp = 1, PPV = 1 and NPV = 0.72. CONCLUSION: DD levels increase in patients with AA. Although it does not constitute a useful diagnostic marker, it could be a good prognostic marker.

Sexualidad(es) y colectividad. La vigilancia y el juzgamiento social como mecanismos de producción corporal / Sexualidade(es) e coletividade. A vigilância e o julgamento social como mecanismos de produção corporal / Sexualities and colectivity: The surveillance and the social judgment as mechanisms for the corporal production

Este artículo aborda la vigilancia y el juzgamiento social como mecanismos de producción y legitimación del cuerpo, claves para comprender los procesos de socialización de mujeres pertenecientes a la clase media de Santiago de Chile. Se basa en la revisión crítica de los resultados de un estudio empírico sobre significados que mujeres santiaguinas de estratos sociales medios construyen en relación a su cuerpo, a través de entrevistas acerca de sus prácticas sexuales, en particular, respecto del uso de juguetes sexuales. Los procesos de socialización de género que regulan el comportamiento sexual de dichas mujeres involucran prácticas de legitimación social de las corporalidades, así como de vigilancia y juzgamiento interpersonal en sus entornos inmediatos.

Este artigo aborda a vigilância e o julgamento social como mecanismos de produção e legitimação do corpo, que são chaves para compreender os processos de socialização de mulheres pertencentes à classe média de Santiago do Chile. Se baseia na revisão crítica dos resultados de um estudo empírico sobre significados que mulheres santiaguinas de estratos sociais médios constroem em relação ao seu corpo, atraves de entrevistas respeito de suas práticas sexuais, especificamente quanto ao uso de brinquedos sexuais. Os processos de socialização de gênero que regulam o comportamento sexual de tais mulheres envolvem práticas de legitimação social das corporalidades, assim como de vigilância e julgamento interpessoal nos seus entornos imediatos.

This article addresses surveillance and social judgment as mechanisms of female body production and legitimation, which play a key role in the gender socialization of middle-class women in Santiago, Chile. It is based on a critical review of the main findings of a study on the meanings produced by middle-class women about their bodies, while interviewed about their sexual practices, in particular about their use of sex toys. The socialization processes whereby women’s sexuality is regulated involve the legitimation of women’s bodies, as well as their surveillance and social judgment in everyday settings.

Síndrome opalski: reporte de caso / Opalski syndrome: case report

El síndrome de Opalski se considera una variante del síndrome de Wallenberg, la presencia de hemiplejia ipsilateralen el primero representa la diferencia. El síndrome de Wallenberg o síndrome medular lateral se genera por laoclusión de la arteria cerebelosa posteroinferior o la arteria vertebral intracraneal (1), que el comprometer la zonasuperior de la médula espinal en la región posterolateral del bulbo, lleva al desarrollo de síntomas como hipoestesiaipsilateral de la cara, hipoestesia en hemicuerpo contralateral, pérdida del reflejo nauseoso, disfagia, ronquera ydisartria, pérdida ipsilateral de la coordinación, vértigo, nauseas, vómito, nistagmos, síndrome de Horner ipsilateraly lateropulsión (2). El componente motor (hemiplejia ipsilateral) que acompaña al síndrome de Opalski es causadopor la extensión de la lesión hasta un plano más inferior de la médula espinal, en la decusación de las pirámideslo que afecta las fibras corticoespinales caudales. Se presenta un caso clínico de un paciente con diagnóstico deSíndrome de Opalski causado por una disección arterial posterior, secundario a un accidente automovilístico.

Boosting with mycobacterial heparin-binding haemagglutinin enhances protection of Mycobacterium bovis BCG-vaccinated newborn mice against M. tuberculosis.

Heterologous prime-boost regimens are a valuable strategy to improve the generation of effector-memory T cell responses against intracellular pathogens. In this study we show that newborn mice vaccinated with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and boosted with heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA) had enhanced protective immunity against intranasal or aerosol Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge over non-boosted mice, as evidenced by a considerable reduction of mycobacterial load in spleen and lung. The route of HBHA delivery had a differential impact on cytokine and antibody production in BCG-primed mice. The prime-boost regimen induced not only HBHA-specific IFN-gamma, but also other cytokines, such as IL-12 and TGF-beta, which may be associated with the generation of lung Th1 effector-memory lymphocytes, responsible for the enhanced protection against M. tuberculosis challenge.

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields differentially regulate estrogen receptor-alpha and -beta expression in the rat olfactory bulb.

Recently, the effects of extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF) on biological systems have been extensively investigated. In this report, the influence of ELF EMF on olfactory bulb (OB) estrogen receptor-alpha (ER alpha) mRNA and -beta (ER beta) mRNA expression was studied by RT-PCR in adult female and male rats. Results reveal for the first time that ELF EMF exerted a biphasic effect on female OB ER beta mRNA gene expression, which increased during diestrous and decreased during estrous. We did not observe any influence of ELF EMF on female OB ER alpha mRNA expression. Our data demonstrate a fluctuating pattern of ER-alpha and -beta mRNA expression in the female OB throughout the phases of the estrous cycle in non-ELF EMF-exposed animals. Thus the highest ER alpha expression was observed in diestrous and the lowest in proestrous. The pattern of ER beta mRNA was less variable, the lowest expression was observed in diestrous. ER-alpha mRNA and -beta mRNA expression level in the male OB did not exhibit any variation either in ELF EMF-exposed or non-ELF EMF-exposed animals. In summary, ELF EMF modulate ER beta gene expression in the OB of female adult rats but not in males.

Three types of single voltage-dependent potassium channels in the sarcolemma of frog skeletal muscle.

Patch-clamp experiments in the sarcolemma of frog skeletal muscle evidenced the presence of three types of voltage-dependent single-channel K(+) currents. According to their unitary conductance at a membrane voltage of +40 mV, we classified them as 16-, 13-, and 7-pS K(+) channels. The 16-pS K(+) channels are active close to a membrane voltage of -80 mV and they do not become inactivated during voltage pulses of 100 ms. Within 10 min after beginning the recording, these channels developed rundown with an exponential time course. The 13-pS K(+) channels are active near -60 mV; upon a 100-ms depolarization, they exhibited inactivation with an approximate exponential time course. The 7-pS K(+) channels were recorded at voltages positive to 0 mV. In patches containing all three types of K(+) channels, the ensemble average currents resemble the kinetic properties of the macroscopic delayed rectifier K(+) currents recorded in skeletal muscle and other tissues. In conclusion, the biophysical properties of unitary K(+) currents suggest that these single-channel K(+) currents may underlie the macroscopic delayed K(+) currents in frog skeletal muscle fibers. In addition, since the 16- and 13-pS channels were more frequently recorded, both are the main contributors to the delayed K(+) currents.

The coiled-coil N-terminal domain of the heparin-binding haemagglutinin is required for the humoral and cellular immune responses in mice.

Heparin-binding haemagglutinin (HBHA) is a 28-kDa mycobacterial adhesin, composed of three functional domains. Previous work has shown that the C-terminal methylated domain is important for adherence, and it is involved in protective T cell immunity in mouse models. However, the role of the coiled-coil N-terminal domain of HBHA in its overall immunogenic capacity remains elusive. Herein, a comparison of the antibody and cellular immune responses after subcutaneous and intranasal immunization of mice with HBHA (native and recombinant) revealed that the methylation pattern is important but not essential for this property. Subcutaneous immunization of mice with a truncated protein, rHBHADeltaC, which lacks the C-terminal methylated domain, was sufficient to trigger humoral and cellular immune responses to HBHA in mice. Altogether we provide evidence that the coiled-coil N-terminal domain is required for HBHA immunogenicity in vivo.

Effects of 17 b-estradiol and extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields on social recognition memory in female rats: a possible interaction?

We have investigated a potential memory-enhancing effect of exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF EMF) in female rats and its dependence on estrogen, using a social recognition task. A juvenile social recognition paradigm was used and memory retention tested at 30 and 300 min after an adult was exposed to a juvenile during two 4-min trials. Results showed that an intact social recognition memory was present at 30 min in both gonadally intact and ovariectomized rats with, or without, ELF-EMF. However, whereas gonadally intact control females failed to show retention of the recognition memory at 300 min, those additionally exposed to ELF EMF did. This shows that the enhanced duration effect of ELF EMF on social recognition memory occurs in gonadally intact females as well as in males. In addition, results showed that the ELF EMF facilitation of memory retention was prevented by ovariectomy but restored by exogenous treatment with estrogen. This suggests that this ELF EMF effect on social recognition memory is estrogen-dependent.