Validación del inventario evolutivo acuático idea de 6 a 12 Meses / Validation of the Inventory of evolutionary aquatic development iead (idea) in 6 to 12 moth old babies

Son escasos los instrumentos que evalúen el desarrollo global del niño en el medio acuático. El objetivo de este estudio fue crear, diseñar y validar un "Inventario del desarrollo evolutivo acuático (IDEA)" para bebés de 6 a 12 meses. La validación se llevó a cabo a través de dos estudios. En el primer estudio participaron 211 bebés, de los cuales 110 eran niños y 101 niñas, mientras que el segundo estudio estuvo compuesto por un total de 831 bebés (448 niños y 383 niñas) de 6 a 12 meses. Se diseñó una escala compuesta por 14 ítems agrupados en cuatro áreas teóricas (social, cognitiva, lenguaje y acuática). Tanto la consistencia interna como las evidencias de validez permiten concluir que la escala puede ser una herramienta eficaz y puede ser utilizada con ciertas garantías en contextos educativos y de investigación

There are very few instruments that evaluate children’s overall development in an aquatic environment. This study aimed to create, design and validate an "Inventory of evolutionary aquatic development" IEAD (IDEA) for 6 to 12 month old babies. Two studies were used to carry out the validation: the first study involved 211 babies (110 boys and 101 girls), while the second study involved 831 babies (448 boys and 383 girls). A scale was comprised of 14 items grouped into four theoretical areas (social, cognitive, language and aquatics). Internal consistency as well as evidence of validity led to the conclusion that the resulting scale could be an effective tool and could be used with certain guarantees in educational and research contexts

High precision measurement of silicon in naphthas by ICP-OES using isooctane as diluent.

An analytical protocol for the accurate and precise determination of Si in naphthas is presented by using ICP-OES, optimizing from the sample preparation to the measurement conditions, in order to be able to analyze for the first time silicon contents below 100µgkg-1 in a relatively short time thus being used as a control method. In the petrochemical industry, silicon can be present as a contaminant in different petroleum products such as gasoline, ethanol, or naphthas, forming different silicon compounds during the treatment of these products that are irreversibly adsorbed onto catalyst surfaces decreasing its time life. The complex nature of the organic naphtha sample together with the low detection limits needed make the analysis of silicon quite difficult. The aim of this work is to optimize the measurement of silicon in naphthas by ICP-OES introducing as an improvement the use of isooctane as diluent. The set up was carried out by optimizing the measurement conditions (power, nebulizer flow, pump rate, read time, and viewing mode) and the sample preparation (type of diluent, cleaning process, blanks, and studying various dilution ratios depending on the sample characteristics).

Development of new tolerant strains to hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic solvents by the yeast surface display methodology.

Yeast surface display is a research methodology based on anchoring functional proteins and peptides onto the surface of the cells of this eukaryotic organism. Its development has resulted in the construction of a good number of new whole-cell biocatalysts with diverse applications in biotechnology, pharmacy, and medicine. In this work, we describe the design of new yeast strains in which several proteins and peptides have been introduced at the N-terminal position of protein agglutinin Aga2p. In all cases, proteins were correctly expressed and displayed on the cell surface according to the western blot, fluorescence microscopy, and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses. The introduction of a glycosylable, Ser/Thr-rich protein (S1) resulted in improved resistance to ethanol, nonane, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) stress. The protein with a very high hydrophobic content (S2d) proved to confer tolerance to acetonitrile, ethanol, nonane, salt, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The introduction of five leucine residues at the N-terminal position of S1 and S2 resulted in similar or increased resistance to the above-mentioned stress conditions. The adverse effects described in a previous work, when these residues were introduced into the N-terminus of Aga2p, with no other protein acting as a spacer, were not observed. Indeed, these strains grew better in the presence of hydrophilic solvents such as acetonitrile and ethanol. The new strains reported in this work have biotechnological potentiality given their behavior under adverse conditions of interest for biocatalytic and industrial processes.

Yeast arming by the Aga2p system: effect of growth conditions in galactose on the efficiency of the display and influence of expressing leucine-containing peptides.

The amino or carboxy-terminal regions of certain cell wall proteins are capable of anchoring foreign proteins or peptides on the cell wall of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This possibility has resulted in the development of a methodology known as yeast display which has powerful applications in biotechnology, pharmacy, and medicine. This work describes the results of experiments in which the agglutinin Aga2p protein is used as an anchor and several leucine-based peptides have been introduced into its N-terminal or C-terminal position. We found that the sequence of these peptides can affect plasmid stability, growth kinetics, and levels of the fusion protein displayed, and we analyzed how the incubation conditions influence these parameters. Besides, we show that the introduction of these small peptides can modify the properties of cell cover; in particular, fusing five or ten leucine residues to the Aga2p protein results in greater hydrophobicity of the cell wall and also in increased resistance to the presence of the organic solvents acetonitrile and ethanol and to high salt concentrations. The introduction of the RLRLL sequence also results in higher resistance to the exposure of yeast cells to NaCl stress.

Environmental isolation and characterisation of Cryptococcus species from living trees in Havana city, Cuba.

Cryptococcus isolates from Cuban patients were identified as C. neoformans var. grubii. Although this species has since long been associated with bird droppings, a recent genotyping study provided strong evidence for additional origins of exposure. We sampled different species of trees in Havana, Cuba to identify other potential sources of exposure to this fungus. A total of 662 samples were collected from 331 trees and cacti from Havana, Cuba. Initial selection of the isolates was carried out by conventional techniques. Isolates were further characterised using a combination of AFLP analysis and DNA sequence analysis. Identification by conventional methods yielded 121 C. neoformans and 61 C. gattii isolates. Molecular analyses showed that none of these isolates was C. gattii and only one isolate proved to be C. neoformans var. grubii. A total of 27 different other species were identified. The most prevalent species was C. heveanensis (33%). Sixty-five unidentifiable isolates segregated into ten potentially novel species. Conventional cultivation methods have a low specificity for C. neoformans complex and molecular analyses need to be applied to confirm identification of isolates from environmental sources. Environmental niches responsible for most of human cryptococcal infections in Cuba remain to be identified.

[Preservation of high risk fungal cultures of Histoplasma and Cryptococcus]. / Conservación de cultivos fúngicos de alto riesgo de Histoplasma y Cryptococcus.

INTRODUCTION: culture collections are responsible for providing the microbial resources for development of biological sciences. Storage in distilled water is one of the easiest and least expensive method for long-term fungal preservation. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the usefulness of this preservation method in fungal culture of Histoplasma and Cryptococcus. METHODS: the preservation condition of the highest biological risk species from Histoplasma y Cryptococcus genera, included in the fungal culture collection of "Pedro Kouri" Institute of Tropical Medicine in Havana, was evaluated in this study. One hundred and two strains stored in distilled water, 92% of which had been preserved for more than 10 years, were analyzed. RESULTS: the percentages of recovered strains from H. capsulatum, C. neoformans and C. gattii were 64.3%; 79.1% and 100% respectively. This method of preservation proved to be satisfactory for fungal culture in labs with limited financial resources. A web-based database with interesting information about the collection was made. The importance of strict compliance with the biosafety measures in these collections, particularly with high risk pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: preservation of fungal cultures in distilled water is a very useful method for laboratories with limited resources. Culture collections should be assumed as an essential activity in order to solve increasing challenges in the development of biomedical sciences.

Acidic ribosomal protein 60S: A new tomato allergen.

Three tomato allergens (Lyc e 1, Lyc e 2 and Lyc e 3) have been characterised until now. Previous studies have demonstrated the existence of other proteins with capacity to bind IgE. The objective of this study was to identify new tomato allergens by molecular biology techniques. A tomato peel cDNA library was screened using a specific pool of sera from sensitised individuals. A clone was obtained and its sequence compared to other described allergens. This clone contained 34 aminoacids from the C-terminal region of an acidic ribosomal protein 60S. This protein showed more than 85% of homology with fungal allergens and 93.8% of homology with the almond allergen Pru du 5. The clone also contains 169 base pairs without homology with other known genes and could correspond to non-coding sequences. The IgE detection with a pool of sera was positive which confirms that is a new tomato allergen.

[Histoplasmosis updating]. / Una actualización acerca de histoplasmosis.

Histoplasmosis, an infection caused by the fungus Histoplasma capsulatum, has been reported all over the world and is considered endemic in the American continent, including Cuba. This fungus grows on the soils contaminated with bird and bat excreta, where it produces a great number of microconidia that could cause the infection when they are inhaled. The clinical spectrum varies from asymptomatic infections to serious disseminated diseases involving one or many organ systems and affects mainly AIDS patients, patients with hematological neoplasias, transplant recipients or other immunosuppressed patients. The main risk groups include those individuals whose working activities make them be exposed to aerosols contaminated with H. capsulatum. Lab diagnosis is based on the microscopic observation, isolation and identification of the fungus in fluid or tissue samples of patients, and on specific antigen and antibodies detection. The molecular methods based on polymerase chain reaction have not been sufficiently defined, and they could be an important advance in the early diagnosis of this mycosis. Itraconazole is recommended for treatment of moderate, localized and chronic infection whereas amphotericin B is the drug of choice for disseminated and serious manifestations, particularly in its lipidic formulations. At present, histoplasmosis is considered one of the most important systemic mycoses in the Americas, and it is widely spread over all regions of Cuba.

[Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: radiologic-pathologic correlation]. / Chondrosarcomes dédifférenciés: revue iconographique radio-pathologique.

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas are highly malignant tumors characterized by conventional low-grade chondrosarcoma with abrupt transition to foci that have dedifferentiated into a higher-grade noncartilaginous more aggressive sarcoma. The dedifferentiated component, an osteosarcoma or fibrosarcoma, determines the prognosis. Its identification is key for management. A diagnosis of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma should be suggested by the presence of "tumoral dimorphism" with cartilaginous component and aggressive lytic component invading adjacent soft tissues.

Allergenic differences among pollens of three Salsola species.

BACKGROUND: Sensitivity to Chenopodiaceae is a frequent cause of allergic respiratory diseases in geographic areas where sensitization to Salsola kali and Chenopodium album has been reported. The objective of this study was to evaluate the pattern of sensitization to 3 Salsola species in patients residing on the Mediterranean coast of south-eastern Spain. METHODS: S. kali, S. vermiculata and S. oppositifolia pollen extracts were prepared. Patients reporting respiratory and/or cutaneous symptoms were skin prick tested with the 3 Salsola extracts. Individuals with positive skin prick tests to at least 1 of the 3 Salsola species were included. Specific IgE was determined by direct ELISA. SDS-PAGE and 2-D analysis were conducted to elucidate the protein profile. The allergenic profile was investigated by immunoblot. Inhibition experiments were conducted to establish cross-reactivity between different species. RESULTS: 246 patients were included. 237 patients (96.3%) tested positive to S. oppositifolia, 189 (76.8%) to S. kali and 185 (75.2%) to S. vermiculata. Protein profile and immunoblot demonstrated similar patterns in all extracts, except in low-molecular-weight allergens of S. oppositifolia. Immunoblot inhibition experiments demonstrated that most high-molecular-weight allergens of S. oppositifolia were inhibited by S. kali whereas low-molecular-weight allergens were totally inhibited only by C. album. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the allergenic importance of other Salsola species, especially S. oppositifolia. We have demonstrated that the 3 species show a high degree of cross-reactivity, but S. oppositifolia shares more allergenic similarities with C. album than S. kali.

Engineering of major house dust mite allergens Der p 1 and Der p 2 for allergen-specific immunotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Specifically designed recombinant allergens with reduced IgE reactivity are promising candidates for a more defined, effective, and safer specific immunotherapy (SIT). OBJECTIVE: We sought to obtain hypoallergenic hybrid molecules which could potentially be applied to house dust mite (HDM) allergy treatment. METHODS: Two hybrid molecules (QM1 and QM2) derived from the two major Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus allergens, Der p 1 and Der p 2, were engineered by PCR, produced in Escherichia coli, and purified. The overall IgE-binding capacity of the hybrids was compared with their single components by Western blot, specific IgE, skin prick test (SPT), and IgE-inhibition assays. T cell proliferation assay were performed to confirm their retention of T cell reactivity. Immune responses to the hybrid molecules were studied in BALB/c mice. RESULTS: The IgE reactivity of both hybrid proteins was strongly reduced as evaluated by in vitro methods. Furthermore, in vivo SPTs performed on 106 HDM-allergic patients showed that the hybrid proteins had a significantly lower potency to induce cutaneous reactions than the individual components. Hybrid molecules induced higher T cell proliferation responses than those produced by an equimolecular mixture of Der p 1 and Der p 2. Immunization of mice with the hybrid proteins induced Der p 1- and Der p 2-specific IgG, which inhibited the binding of allergic patients' IgE to these natural allergens. CONCLUSION: QM1 and QM2 hybrids exhibited less IgE-binding activity but preserved immunogenicity and fulfilled the basic requirements for hypoallergenic molecules suitable for a future SIT of HDM allergy.

Sensitization to tomato peel and pulp extracts in the Mediterranean Coast of Spain: prevalence and co-sensitization with aeroallergens.

BACKGROUND: Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) are consumed world-wide. The prevalence of sensitization to tomatoes remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of skin test reactivity to tomato and to describe the characteristics of tomato-sensitized subjects. METHODS: Individuals attending for the first time during the period of the study to six Allergy centres, located along the Mediterranean coast of Spain, reporting respiratory and/or cutaneous symptoms, were included. All patients were skin prick tested with a battery of inhalant allergens and with peel and pulp of Canary tomato extracts. RESULTS: The study included 1734 individuals (757 males, 977 females; 31.9+/-17.8 years old). The prevalence of sensitization to tomato was 6.52% (113 patients; 65 males, 48 females; 29.5+/-13 years old). The peel extract was positive in 110 patients and the pulp extract in 47 patients; three patients were positive exclusively to pulp. Only 1.8% of individuals reported symptoms with tomato; 44% of them had skin test negative to both extracts. Among tomato-sensitized subjects, 16% reported symptoms with tomato, 97% were sensitized to inhalant aeroallergens, including 84% to pollens (mainly Artemisia vulgaris and Platanus hybrida), with differences between Northern and Southern centres. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence found of skin test sensitivity to tomato is high. Peel extracts detected most of the sensitized subjects. Most of the sensitized subjects were asymptomatic and some patients reported symptoms without skin test sensitivity. Positive subjects were very frequently sensitized to pollens, suggesting allergen cross-reactivity. Regional differences may exist, possibly related to the pattern of sensitization to cross-reacting pollens.

Tolerance and immunological changes of chemically modified allergen vaccine of Parietaria judaica in accelerated schedules.

The physicochemical modification of allergen vaccines provides a chance for administering higher doses in a shorter period of time. We sought to assess the safety and immunological changes of using a biologically standardized and modified Parietaria judaica pollen extract in accelerated schedules. Two accelerated schedules were tested in 45 P. judaica-allergic patients: 20 patients reached the maximum dose after two visits using two different concentrations and 25 patients reached the maximum dose after only one visit with two injections of the maximum concentration vial. The tolerance was assessed by recording all side effects related with immunotherapy. Specific antibody levels against native extract and rPar j 2 allergen were evaluated at the beginning and the end of the study. Allergenic potency determined by enzyme allergosorbent test (EAST) inhibition and skin prick test showed that modified P. judaica pollen had a 99.9% less allergenicity than native extract. After 650 doses administered, two clinically irrelevant local reactions (diameter<0 x 5 cm) and no systemic reactions were registered. Significant increases in allergen-specific IgG4 and IgG against P. judaica extract and rPar j 2 and significant decrease of specific IgE against Par j 2 were observed. The modified extract of P. judaica is safe to treat sensitive patients, even at accelerated regimens, and induces significant immunological changes.

Diagnosis of Parietaria judaica pollen allergy using natural and recombinant Par j 1 and Par j 2 allergens.

BACKGROUND: Parietaria judaica pollen is one of the main causes of allergic diseases in the Mediterranean area and contains two major allergens, called Par j 1 and Par j 2. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the diagnostic potential of natural and recombinant forms of Par j 1 and Par j 2 in comparison with standardized P. judaica pollen extract. METHODS: Thirty patients allergic to P. judaica pollen and 15 control patients were investigated. Skin prick tests and determination of specific IgE levels were performed with commercial P. judaica extract, natural Par j 1 and Par j 2, and recombinant forms of both allergens expressed in P. pastoris. RESULTS: The whole group of patients with allergy to P. judaica had a positive skin test reaction to purified nPar j 1-Par j 2 and rPar j 2 at 5 microg/mL, and no false-positive reactions were detected. Natural and recombinant Par j 1 and Par j 2 showed no significantly different responses in skin tests compared with P. judaica extract. A high correlation was found between the serum-specific IgE levels to P. judaica extract vs. natural (R=0.996; P<0.001) and recombinant allergens (R=0.887 and 0.982 for rPar j 1 and rPar j 2, respectively; P<0.001). rPar j 2 displayed a 100% sensitivity and specificity among P. judaica-allergic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In vivo and in vitro diagnosis of P. judaica pollen allergy could be simplified using rPar j 2. This protein showed comparable IgE response and skin prick reactivity with those produced by P. judaica pollen extract.

Sensibilización a piel y pulpa de tomate en pacientes residentes en la costa mediterranea remitidos a consultas de alergia / Direct costs derived from healthcare assistance of a patient in an ambulatory allergology service of an University Hospital

Introducción: El consumo de tomate es muy frecuente en España, tanto ensaladas y sopas frías, como en productos elaborados. Objetivos: Estudiar la prevalencia de sensibilización cutánea al tomate en pacientes con clínica respiratoria, cutánea o de ambos tipos (rinitis,a sma, urticaria, dermatitis...). Material y Métodos: Se evaluaron todos los pacientes estudiados por primera vez en las consultas de alergia de varios hospitales del Mediterráneo: dos comarcas de Alicante (Vega Baja, Marina Baixa), una de Murcia (Campo de Cartagena) y otra de Gerona entre septiembre de 2004 y julio de 2005. Se incluyeron todos aquéllos que referían síntomas respiratorios, cutáneos o de ambos tipos independientemente del motivo de consulta. En todos se realizaron pruebas cutáneas mediante técnicas prick con una batería habitual de aeroalergenos estandarizados (Laboratorios LETI, SL) y con extractos (10 mg/ml) de piel y pulpa de tomate canario preparados mediante extracción en PBS/PVPP, centrifugado, recogida de sobresaliente, diálisis con punto de corte en 3,5 kDa, filtrado, centrifugado y liofilizado. Resultados: Se incluyeron 1.498 pacientes (675 varones y 823 mujeres, edad estudiada 31,4 +/-17,8). La prevalencia de sensibilización al tomate en la población estudiada fue del 5,94% (89 pacientes); respecto al extracto de piel fue del 5,81% y al de pulpa del 2,2%. Se observaron pruebas cutáneas positivas a aeroalérgenos en el 63,6% de la población estudiada y en el 95,5% (p<0,001) de los pacientes sensibilizados al tomate. Referían clínica con la ingestión o contacto con el tomate el 1,4% de la población (21 pacientes). Nueve de ellos tuvieron una prueba cutánea positiva con el extracto del tomate (0,6%). De los 89 pacientes sensibilizados al tomate, 77 (86,5%) presentarion sensibilización a los pólenes, 52 (58,4%) a los ácaros, 33 (37,1%) a los epitelios y 16 (18%) a los hongos (p<0,001 en todos los casos). Conclusiones: La prevalencia de pruebas cutáneas positivas frente al tomate en la población estudiada es alta, pero la relevancia clínica de esta sensibilización parece baja. El extracto de piel de tomate ha sido más sensible que el extracto de pulpa. La mayoría de los pacientes sensibilizados al tomate es atópica y está sensibilizada a los pólenes

Introduction: Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) are widely consumed in Spain, either in salads, cold soups (gazpacho), or cooked. Objective: To study the prevalence of skin sensitisation to tomato in patients with respiratory or cutaneous symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of skin test reactivity to tomato allergens in this group of patients living in the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Methods: All the patients evaluated for respiratory and/or cutaneous symptoms (independently of the reason for submission) at the allergy units of 4 hospitals located in the Mediterranean coast in Spain between September 2004 and July 2005 were included in the study. All patients were skin prick tested with a battery of standardized common inhalant allergens and with extracts of peel and pulp of ripe Canary Islands tomatoes at 10 mg/ml. After tomatoes were peeled, homogenisation in PBS/PVPP, extraction under continuous magnetic stirring, centrifugation, dialysis, filtration and freeze-drying were performed separately with the peel and pulp to elaborate the extracts used. The X2, Fisher exact test and OR were used to evaluate the results. Results: One thousand and four hundred ninety-eight consecutive individuals (675 males and 823 females; mean age, 31.4 +/- 17.8 years-old) were included in the study. The prevalence of sensization to tomato was 5.94% (89 patiens; 51 males and 38 females; mean age, 30.2+/-12.9 years). The tomato peel extract was positive in 87 patients (5.81%) and the pulp extract in 33 patients (2.2%); 2 patients were positive exclusively to pulp. In the totalpopulation, skin prick tests to inhalants were positive in 953 subjects (63.6%), whereas 85 (95.5%) of the tomato sensitised patients were positive to at least one inhalant allergen (p<0.001): 77 (86.5%) to pollens; 52 (58.4%) to mites, 33 (37.1%) to epithelia, and 16 (18.0%) to moulds (p<0.01 in all cases compared with the non-sensitized population). Most of the sensitised subjects (91.1%) were asymptomatic and did not refer symptoms after tomato contact or ingestion. Twenty one subjects, 9 positive and 12 negative to both tomato extracts, referred mild symptoms with tomato ingestion or contact (1.4%, o.6%, and 0.8%, respectively of the total population). Conclusions: The prevalence of sensitisation to tomato in this population is high. However, most sensitised subjects are asymptomatic. Peel extract has been more sensitive than pulp extract. Sensitisation to tomato is more prevalent among atopic and pollen sensitised individuals, suggesting allergen cross-reactivity

Tolerance of a Salsola kali extract standardized in biological units administered by subcutaneous route. Multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Sensitivity to Salsola kali is a frequent cause of allergic respiratory disease in various regions of Spain. However, there are very few articles in which this allergen has been studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: In order to evaluate the tolerance of this extract, a prospective study has been performed. This study was observational, multi-centred and open, involving 88 patients with allergic respiratory disease due to sensitivity to Salsola, aged between 5 and 52 years. The administration of the extract was performed subcutaneously, through one of two treatment schedules: cluster (8 doses in 4 visits) or conventional (13 doses in 12 visits). A total of 42 adverse reactions were registered, in 26 patients (35 local reactions in 21 patients and 7 systemic reactions in 6 patients). Among the 7 systemic reactions, 4 were registered with the cluster protocol and 2 with the conventional protocol (p = 0.329). In no patients were serious adverse reactions registered. CONCLUSION: The subcutaneous administration of a Salsola extract is safe and well tolerated, both when administered using a conventional schedule and when using a cluster schedule.

Tolerance of a Salsola kali extract standardized in biological units administered by subcutaneous route. Multicenter study

Background: Sensitivity to Salsola kali is a frequent cause of allergic respiratory disease in various regions of Spain. However, there are very few articles in which this allergen has been studied. Methods and Results: In order to evaluate the tolerance of this extract, a prospective study has been performed. This study was observational, multi-centred and open, involving 88 patients with allergic respiratory disease due to sensitivity to Salsola, aged between 5 and 52 years. The administration of the extract was performed subcutaneously, through one of two treatment schedules: cluster (8 doses in 4 visits) or conventional (13 doses in 12 visits). A total of 42 adverse reactions were registered, in 26 patients (35 local reactions in 21 patients and 7 systemic reactions in 6 patients). Among the 7 systemic reactions, 4 were registered with the cluster protocol and 2 with the conventional protocol (p = 0.329). In no patients were serious adverse reactions registered. Conclusion: The subcutaneous administration of a Salsola extract is safe and well tolerated, both when administered using a conventional schedule and when using a cluster schedule

Antecedentes: La sensibilización a Salsola kali es una causa frecuente de enfermedad alérgica respiratoria en varias zonas de España. Sin embargo, apenas existen publicaciones en las que se estudie este alergeno. Métodos y resultados: Para valorar la tolerancia de este extracto, se ha realizado un estudio prospectivo, observacional, multicéntrico y abierto, en el que se han incluido 88 pacientes, de edad entre 5 y 52 años, con enfermedad alérgica respiratoria por sensibilización a Salsola. La administración del extracto se ha realizado por vía subcutánea, mediante dos esquemas de tratamiento: agrupada (8 dosis en 4 visitas) o convencional (13 dosis en 12 visitas). Se han registrado un total de 42 reacciones adversas en 26 pacientes (35 locales en 21 pacientes y 7 sistémicas en 6 pacientes). De las 7 reacciones sistémicas, 4 se registraron con la pauta agrupada y 2 con la convencional (p = 0,329). No se registró ninguna reacción adversa grave. Conclusión: La administración subcutánea de un extracto de Salsola es segura y bien tolerada, tanto cuando se administra con una pauta convencional como con una pauta agrupada

Role of leukemia inhibitor factor (LIF) in decidualisation of murine uterine stromal cells in vitro.

Decidualisation of uterine stromal cells is a prerequisite for implantation of the embryo in mice. Here we have used an in vitro culture system in which stromal cells decidualise as indicated by a number of markers, including an increase in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. The latter was used as a quantitative marker of decidualisation in the presence of low (2%) fetal calf serum. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), which is known to induce decidualisation, increased ALP activity, and this effect was blocked in a dose-dependent manner by indomethacin. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) was then examined, but it had no effect on PGE(2) secretion. However, LIF suppressed ALP activity in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of 2% serum, while an inhibitor of LIF that competes for binding to its receptor reversed the effect of LIF and increased ALP activity above the control level. In serum-free cultures, stromal cells differentiated rapidly, and no differences were observed between LIF-treated and untreated cultures. Stromal cells produce LIF during in vitro culture, and this peaked at 48 h. Freshly collected stromal cells from both day-2 and -4 pregnant mice expressed mRNA for the LIF receptor, and the transcript level was higher in cells isolated on day 4. However, no differences were observed in the relative levels of transcripts in cells from day 2 and day 4 after culture, nor were there differences between the LIF-treated cultures and controls. Therefore, in this study, we have shown that LIF suppresses decidualisation of murine uterine stromal cells in the presence of serum, this is not due to the regulation of PGE(2) secretion by stromal cells.