Clinicopathological findings in sick dogs naturally infected with Leishmania infantum: Comparison of five different clinical classification systems.

A wide spectrum of clinical and clinicopathological findings in dogs with canine leishmaniosis (CanL) due to Leishmania infantum exists. However, the majority of clinical descriptions have been published a long time ago and recent studies in Europe are almost lacking. In addition, clinical classification of sick dogs is not well-standardized, with different classification systems used by clinical and epidemiological studies, making comparison of studies a difficult task. The aims of the study were to describe the clinicopathological findings of dogs naturally infected with L. infantum at the time of diagnosis and to review and compare the various clinical classification systems for CanL available in the literature. Eighty-one healthy dogs and fifty-one dogs with CanL were studied and clinical and clinicopathological data were recorded. The most common clinical findings at diagnosis were skin lesions (78.4%), lymphadenomegaly (64.7%) and weight loss (47.1%). The most frequent clinicopathological abnormalities included mild to moderate non-regenerative anemia (62.7%), lymphopenia (25.5%), hyperproteinemia (52.9%) dysproteinemia (78.4%). and proteinuria (47.8%). Renal azotemia was rare (5.9%). Only 5.9% of the patients studied were classified in similar categories (mild, moderate and severe disease) when five clinical classifications systems were compared, while 11.8% of cases were classified in similar categories when only two clinical classification systems were considered based on the fact that they included therapeutic and prognosis recommendations. In conclusion, anemia and protein-related alterations are common in dogs with CanL. In contrast, renal azotemia is infrequent despite the high percentage of diseased dogs with proteinuria, indicating kidney involvement. Adequate clinical staging system is desirable in order to establish proper management, treatment and prognosis in dogs with CanL and to facilitate the comparison of clinical and epidemiological studies.

Presence of influenza viruses in backyard poultry and swine in El Yali wetland, Chile.

In South America little is known regarding influenza virus circulating in backyard poultry and swine populations. Backyard productive systems (BPS) that breed swine and poultry are widely distributed throughout Chile with high density in the central zone, and several BPS are located within the "El Yali" (EY) ecosystem, which is one of the most important wetlands in South America. Here, 130 different wild bird species have been described, of them, at least 22 species migrate yearly from North America for nesting. For this reason, EY is considered as a high-risk zone for avian influenza virus. This study aims to identify if backyard poultry and swine bred in the EY ecosystem have been exposed to influenza A virus and if so, to identify influenza virus subtypes. A biosecurity and handling survey was applied and samples were collected from BPS in two seasons (spring 2013 and fall 2014) for influenza seroprevalence, and in one season (fall 2014) for virus presence. Seroprevalence at BPS level was 42% (95% CI:22-49) during spring 2013 and 60% (95% CI 43-72) in fall 2014. rRT-PCR for the influenza A matrix gene indicated a viral prevalence of 27% (95% CI:14-39) at BPS level in fall 2014. Eight farms (73% of rRT-PCR positive farms) were also positive to the Elisa test at the same time. One BPS was simultaneously positive (rRT-PCR) in multiple species (poultry, swine and geese) and a H1N2 virus was identified from swine, exemplifying the risk that these BPS may pose for generation of novel influenza viruses.

Clinical, Cytological, Histological and Immunohistochemical Features of Cutaneous Mast Cell Tumours in Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo).

Cutaneous mast cell tumours (cMCTs) are one of the most common cutaneous tumours in ferrets (Mustela putorius furo). However, limited information is available regarding cytological and histological features of these tumours and studies evaluating KIT expression are lacking in this species. The aims of this prospective study were to describe the most common clinical, cytological and histological features of cMCTs in ferrets and to compare the usefulness of different staining techniques in the diagnosis of these tumours in ferrets as well as evaluating KIT expression in neoplastic mast cells (MCs) by immunohistochemistry. Macroscopically, the tumours were small, round to plaque-like and frequently associated with surface crusting. The most common locations were the extremities and the trunk. MC granules were stained in all cases using toluidine blue (TB) and Wright-Giemsa stains in cytological specimens, but none stained with modified Wright's stain. Haematoxylin and eosin and TB on histological sections failed to stain MC granules in all the cases. Cytological and histological examination revealed low to moderate anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. An infiltrative rather than a delineated or encapsulated growth pattern was noted histologically in all cases. Eosinophilic infiltration was not uncommon and 'collagenolysis' was detected on cytological and histological examination. KIT expression was detected in all cases evaluated. In approximately one third of the cases the MCs exhibited KIT labelling pattern I and in the remaining ferrets, KIT pattern III. No correlation was found between KIT expression pattern and biological behaviour.

Evaluation of the Relationship between Selected Reticulocyte Parameters and Inflammation determined by Plasma C-reactive Protein in Dogs.

Anaemia secondary to inflammatory disease is one of the main causes of anaemia in veterinary and human medicine and impairment of iron homeostasis due to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines is one of the aetiological mechanisms involved. Because reticulocytes are recently produced cells, reticulocyte indices are early indicators of iron deficiency anaemia in man and dogs and reticulocyte indices may be affected during the course of inflammatory processes earlier than indices related to mature red blood cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible influence of inflammation on reticulocyte parameters including concentration, mean reticulocyte volume, volume distribution width, percentage of microcytic reticulocytes, percentage of macrocytic reticulocytes, mean reticulocyte haemoglobin content (CHr), haemoglobin distribution width, cell haemoglobin concentration, mean percentage of hypochromic reticulocytes, percentage of reticulocytes with low CHr and immature reticulocyte factor medium and high, and on white blood cell concentration by using C-reactive protein (CRP) as an inflammatory biomarker. Samples from 175 diseased dogs and 16 healthy dogs were included in the study. The diseased dogs were grouped according to plasma CRP and ferritin concentrations, the presence and type of anaemia and different aetiopathological categories. Dogs with high plasma CRP concentrations had lower CHr (median 23.3 pg) and percentage of reticulocytes with high CHr (median 35.5%) and higher percentage of reticulocytes with low CHr (median 14.6%) compared with dogs without inflammation (median 24.9 pg, median 50.9% and median 7.8%, respectively) and healthy dogs (median 25.1 pg, median 50.0% and median 6.1%, respectively), with no differences between the last two groups. Reticulocyte parameters, particularly those related to haemoglobin concentration, are therefore affected by inflammatory conditions in anaemic and in non-anaemic dogs.

Prevalencia de obesidad central y obesidad por índice de masa corporal en un centro de atención primaria / Prevalence of central obesity and obesity on the body mass index at a primary care centre

No disponible

Induction of latent human cytomegalovirus by conventional gamma irradiation and prevention by treatment with INACTINE PEN110.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Two different leucocyte-inactivation technologies--gamma irradiation and INACTINE PEN110--were evaluated for their effects on cell-associated human cytomegalovirus (CMV). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In vitro CMV-infected cells were spiked into leucoreduced red blood cell concentrates (RCC) or medium at a final concentration of 0.5 - 1 x 10(7) cells/ml to mimic non-leucoreduced levels of leucocytes. The spiked RCC/medium was divided into three equal units and treated with gamma irradiation at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved dose of 25 Gy, with 0.1% v/v PEN110 at 22 degrees C for 24 h, or stored at 4 degrees C as a control. The treated and control cells were recovered and tested using infectivity, viability and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. RESULTS: Gamma-irradiated CMV-infected cells produced active virus, as shown by both infectivity assays and PCR quantification of viral DNA. PCR analysis demonstrated higher CMV DNA levels in gamma-irradiated, latently infected monocytic THP-1 cells than untreated control cells. The increased virus production in gamma-irradiated cells was paralleled by an increased metabolic rate and the development of enlarged multinuclear cells. In contrast, PEN110 treatment terminated virus replication and completely inactivated the infected cell. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that gamma irradiation, at levels currently used to treat RCC, has the capacity to induce expression of CMV, whereas PEN110 inhibits CMV replication and efficiently inactivates the infected cells.

Sedación terminal: el último recurso ante una "mala muerte" / Terminal sedation: the last resort to avoid a bad death

OBJETIVOS: Una "mala muerte" es siempre una emergencia médica, y la asistencia al moribundo una obligación clínica ineludible. Nuestro propósito claro fue demostrar empíricamente que esto es posible en el ámbito clínico de un hospital general. MÉTODO: Investigación clínica observacional y prospectiva, que describe los efectos de la intervención clínica "sedación terminal" en una serie de pacientes asistidos y en tiempo real. RESULTADOS: Un total de 36 enfermos moribundos (20 varones [55,5 por ciento] y 16 mujeres [44,6 por ciento], con una edad media ñ desviación estándar [DE] de 70,47 ñ 13,7 años), que presentaban una diversidad de afecciones médicas avanzadas e irreversibles (fallo respiratorio, 30 por ciento; neoplasia extensa, 23,3 por ciento; fallo cardíaco, 11 por ciento; fallo renal, 11,6 por ciento, etc.), recibieron como intervención de sedación, destinada a superar el último y extremo sufrimiento, uno de los siguientes fármacos por vía parenteral: propofol (5 pacientes [13 por ciento], con un rango de dosis de 8-480 mg; dosis media, 164 mg), midazolam (13 pacientes [36,1 por ciento], 2-100 mg; dosis media, 19,6 mg) y/o cloruro mórfico (23 pacientes [64 por ciento], 5-600 mg; dosis media, 156 mg).Todos los pacientes contaron con garantías sistemáticas, que incluyeron tanto el consentimiento informado (autonomía) como la proporcionalidad, la segunda opinión y un registro sistemático documentado según el protocolo escrito. Se obtuvo el consentimiento de 25 (69,4 por ciento) pacientes a través de un familiar de primer grado, 8 (22,2 por ciento) mediante directiva verbal avanzada, y 3 (8,3 por ciento) directamente por el propio paciente aún lúcido.El intervalo desde el inicio de la sedación y la muerte fue (media ñ DE) de 39,56 ñ 17,32 h. La moda fue de 12 h, la mediana de 22,5 h, y el rango de 1-216 h. En todos los casos se alcanzó el bienestar necesario. CONCLUSIONES: La asistencia que han recibido los pacientes de nuestro estudio facilitó el derecho a no sufrir inútilmente, y lo hemos probado empíricamente en el ámbito de un hospital general. Sugerimos que éste es un objetivo alcanzable y digno del mayor respeto, algo sustantivo, no propiamente retórico (AU)

Broad-spectrum virus reduction in red cell concentrates using INACTINE PEN110 chemistry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The risk of transmission of blood-borne pathogens by transfusion is a persistent problem in medicine. To address this safety issue, INACTINE PEN110 chemistry is being utilized to develop a process for preparing pathogen-reduced red blood cell concentrates (RBCC). The purpose of this study was to characterize the virucidal effectiveness of the INACTINE PEN110 chemistry in full units of RBCC by using a panel of viruses with diverse properties in composition, size and shape. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The panel included four enveloped (bovine viral diarrhoea virus, pseudorabies virus, vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus and sindbis virus), six non-enveloped (porcine parvovirus, human adenovirus 2, reovirus 3, vesicular exanthema of swine virus, bluetongue virus, and foot and mouth disease virus) and cell-associated (human immunodeficiency) viruses. All viruses were individually spiked into CPD/AS-1, CP2D/AS-3 and CPD/AS-5 RBCC units and treated with 0.1% PEN110 (vol/vol) at 22 +/- 2 degrees C for up to 22 +/- 2 h. The PEN110 treatment reaction was stopped by chemical quenching, and residual virus was assayed. The cytotoxicity effect of PEN110-treated RBCC on indicator cells and the potential interference with the ability of the virus to infect indicator cells was determined and taken into consideration for calculating the virus-reduction factors, to avoid underestimation or overestimation of the virus reduction. RESULTS: The kinetics of inactivation for viruses spiked into CPD/AS-1, CP2D/AS-3 and CPD/AS-5 RBCC were equivalent. All viruses analysed in this study were reduced to the limit of detection of the assay. The reduction factors for the virus panel ranged from 4.2 to 7.5 log10/ml. CONCLUSIONS: The results from the study demonstrate for the first time that a pathogen-reduction technology for RBCC can achieve a broad-spectrum virucidal effect against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The broad spectrum of virucidal activity of INACTINE PEN110, and equivalent kinetics of virus inactivation in RBCC prepared using different commercially available RBC storage solutions, demonstrate the robustness of this pathogen-reduction process.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans de mama: a propósito de un caso / Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans of the breast: a case report

El dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans es un raro tumor de la piel que se extiende formando masas protuberantes, nodulares o multinodulares, de crecimiento lento. Habitualmente no son necesarias técnicas de imagen para realizar el diagnóstico. Sin embargo, en el presente artículo, estudiamos las alteraciones senográficas y ecográficas identificadas en un dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans dependiente de la piel de la mama. Describimos los hallazgos radiológicos y hacemos una revisión de la literatura (AU)

Photochemical decontamination of red blood cell concentrates with the silicon phthalocyanine PC 4 and red light.

Various approaches are being developed for virus inactivation of red blood cell concentrates (RBCC) in order to increase the safety of the blood supply. We have been studying the silicon phthalocyanine Pc 4 for this purpose, a photosensitizer activated with red light. Pc 4 targets the envelope of pathogenic viruses such as HIV. To protect RBC during the process two main approaches are used: (i) inclusion of quenchers of reactive oxygen species produced during the treatment. Tocopherol succinate was found to be most effective for this purpose; (ii) formulation of Pc 4, a lipophilic compound, in liposomes that reduce its binding to RBC but not to viruses. As a light source we used a light emitting diode array emitting at 670-680 nm. An efficient mixing device ensures homogenous light exposure during treatment of intact RBCC. Treatment of 50 ml RBCC with 5 microM Pc 4 and 18 J/cm(2) light results in the inactivation of > or = 5.5 log(10) HIV, > or = 6.3 log(10), VSV and > or = 5 log(10) of PRV and BVDV. The relative sensitivities of these viruses based on the slope of virus kill versus light dose are 1.0, 1.25, 1.5 and 1.9 for HIV, VSV, PRV and BVDV, respectively. To achieve the same level of virus inactivation in 350 ml RBCC, the light dose needed is 40 J/cm(2). HIV actively replicating in CEM cells is as sensitive as cell-free and HIV in latently infected cells is 3-4 times more sensitive. Parasites that can be transmitted by blood transfusion (P. falciparum and T. cruzi) are even more sensitive than viruses. Following treatment, RBCC can be stored for 28 days at 4 degrees C with haemolysis below 1%. Previous studies under less favourable conditions showed that baboon RBC circulated with an acceptable 24 hr recovery and half-life. Genetic toxicological studies of Pc 4 with or without light exposure (mutagenicity in bacteria, mammalian cells in vitro and clastogenicity in vivo) were negative. We conclude that a process using Pc 4 and red light can potentially reduce the risk of transmitting pathogens in RBCC.

Nuevos casos de amanitismo en Chile / New cases of amanitism in Chile

Nueve personas padecieron de un severo micetismo en junio de 1999 por comer basidiomas de amanita phalloides (Vaill. ex Fr.) Secr. recolectadas en Linares (VII región). Dos de los pacientes fallecieron. Se hace referencia también a algunos de los hongos venenosos más comunes en Chile

Virus inactivation by solvent/detergent treatment and the manufacture of SD-plasma.

Solvent/Detergent (SD) is an extraordinarily effective means for eliminating enveloped viruses from plasma and plasma products. The safety margin suggested by the rapid and complete kill of enveloped viruses observed in the laboratory has been confirmed repeatedly by groups worldwide and by thirteen years of routine clinical use encompassing an estimated 35 million doses of a wide variety of products. Throughout this time, there has not been a single documented case of enveloped virus transmission by an SD-treated product. This record of safety spawned the development of SD-treated plasma as a substitute for fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and has encouraged the adoption of SD for the treatment of non-blood products such as monoclonal antibodies and those derived from recombinant DNA procedures. This review summarizes the use of SD treatment, including its use in combination with other viral elimination procedures, and also summarizes Vitex's initial experience in the manufacture of SD-Plasma, recently licensed by the U.S. FDA.

Introducción al estudio de los hongos superiores IV / Introduction to the study of higher fungi IV

Se presentan descripciones e ilustraciones en color de 12 hongos comunes de Chile: el ascomycete sarcoscypha coccinea y los basidiomycetes thelephora terretris, trametes versicolor, ganoderma australe, stereum hirsutum, suillus luteus, volvariella speciosa, psilocybe semilanceata, panaeolus retirugis, hebeloma nidipes, setchelliogaster tenuipes, cyathus stercoreus

Acción antimicótica in vitro de hojas y ramitas de canelo (drimys winteri j. r. & g. forster) / In vitro antimycotic action of leaves and twigs of canelo (drimys winteri j. r. & g. forster)

La decocción y el extracto en acetato de etilo de hojas y ramitas trozadas de canelo (drimys winteri) inhibieron el desarrollo in vitro de candida albicans, aspergillus niger, a. fumigatus, rhizopus oryzae, mucor racemosus y m. hiemalis

Constitutive cytokine release by simian T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (STLV-I) and human T-cell lymphotrophic virus types I/II (HTLV-I/II) transformed cell lines.

Simian T-cell lymphotrophic virus type I (STLV-I) and human T-cell lymphotrophic virus types I/II (HTLV-I/II) contain the tax gene which can transactivate the transcription of viral and cellular genes including several cytokines. These investigations used two STLV-I and four different HTLV-I/II transformed cell lines to quantitate constitutive cytokine release, p24 antigen production, and to correlate gag p24 antigen and cytokine release. These investigations are the first to report 1) quantitative comparison of constitutive release of multiple cytokines by several STLV-I and HTLV-I/II transformed cell lines and to determine the cytokines constitutively released by STLV-I transformed cell lines as IL-6, b-FGF, and GM-CSF (and TNF-beta, and PDGF in a higher viral producing line); 2) statistically significant differences in levels of cytokines produced by STLV-I and HTLV-I/II transformed cell lines, dependent on the method of results quantification; and 3) a correlation between levels of STLV-I and HTLV-I/II and gag p24 antigen production and cytokine production.

Algunos ascomycetes y basidiomycetes interesantes de Chile / Some interesting ascomycetes and basidiomycetes of Chile

La mayoría de las especies fúngicas nativas de Chile son poco conocidas, algunas de ellas, notables por el aspecto de sus carpóforos, nunca se han publicado ilustraciones (Lazo, 1984). En esta publicación se describen e ilustran 11 especies interesantes, con un breve comentario acerca de los hongos comestibles y venenosos más importantes del país

Especies fúngicas de Chile: índice alfabético / Fungal species of Chile: alphabetical index

El presente trabajo, aún incompleto, presenta un listado de especies fúngicas descritas para chile. Se obtuvo al consultar diversas publicaciones pertinentes, muchas de las cuales se citan en las referencias. La información micológica del país está muy dispersa a nivel nacional e internacional y no es fácil obtenerla, por lo cual el lector encontrará algunas carencias respecto a autores, especies, sinonímias

Correlation between AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma histological grade and in vitro behavior: reduced exogenous growth factor requirements for isolates from high grade lesions.

Kaposi sarcoma, the most common AIDS-associated malignancy, affects 10-30% of all AIDS patients. To date, research into the biological characteristics of AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma (AIDS-KS) derived cell lines has been based on cultures established from skin explants or pleural effusions/peritoneal fluids. We have established several AIDS-KS lines from biopsy confirmed oral mucosal and epidermal AIDS-KS lesions and have found a correlation between AIDS-KS lesional grade and in vitro cellular growth characteristics. In comparison to epidermal AIDS-KS lesions, mucosal AIDS-KS lesions frequently possessed both a more advanced histologic grade and demonstrated a greater capacity to proliferate in minimal medium. We report the ability of AIDS-KS isolates from high grade lesions to sustain proliferation (greater than 60 population doubling levels) in medium not supplemented with endothelial cell growth supplement and/or cytokine rich conditioned medium. These findings indicate that AIDS-KS cells isolated from high grade lesions have reduced requirements for exogenously provided growth supplements, and suggest that increased autologous cytokine production accompanies AIDS-KS lesional progression.

Comparison of constitutive cytokine release in high and low histologic grade AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma cell strains and in sera from HIV+/KS+ and HIV+/KS- patients.

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is both an AIDS-defining disease and the most common HIV-associated malignancy. A cytokine-mediated pathogenesis for AIDS-KS is implicated because AIDS-KS-derived cell strains both respond to and express a variety of cytokines. We have reported the establishment of several (n = 18) AIDS-KS cell strains and determined that reduced exogenous growth factors are necessary to sustain proliferation in isolates from high histologic grade KS lesions. This current investigation explored the possibility that there are histologic grade-associated differences in either the qualitative and/or quantitative constitutive release of AIDS-KS growth stimulatory cytokines. Our findings showed that the incorporation of HTLV-II cytokine-rich conditioned media induced both qualitative and significant quantitative cytokine release, suggesting that exogenous growth promoters stimulate constitutive cytokine release. ELISA of our AIDS-KS cell strains demonstrated constitutive release of IL-6 (seven of seven), FGF-2 (five of seven), GM-CSF (three of seven), and IL-1 beta (one of seven). None of our AIDS-KS cell strains constitutively released detectable levels of Onco-M, IL-4, PDGF, TNF-alpha, or TNF-beta. In addition, we report that the method of cytokine result quantitation significantly affects reported cytokine levels. We determined that there was no significant histologic grade-dependent difference in the constitutive release of soluble cytokines by in vitro grown cultures of AIDS-KS cells. The presence of HIV influenced the sera cytokine profiles by elevating IL-6 and decreasing PDGF concentrations of HIV+ individuals relative to HIV- healthy controls. However, the presence of KS was not associated with unique serum cytokine profiles, because no differences were noted in comparisons of HIV+/KS+ versus HIV+/KS- individuals. Our findings suggest that the local environment is key in modulating AIDS-KS cytokine expression and that KS growth-promoting factors function at the local or paracrine, not the systemic, level. In conclusion, our previous results demonstrated a histologic grade-associated difference in the in vitro growth capacity of AIDS-KS cells; with high histologic grade isolates displaying a marked growth advantage during culture in minimally supplemented media. Findings from this current study reveal that although the potential for a constitutive growth loop exists in the high-grade isolates, it is not reflected in the free levels of soluble cytokines secreted into the culture medium.