Establishment and characterization of a new cell line (SSP-9) derived from Atlantic salmon Salmo salar that expresses type I ifn.

In the present work, the establishment and biological characterization of a new cell line, SSP-9, derived from the pronephros of the Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, are reported. These cells grew well in Leibovitz's (L15) medium supplemented with 10% foetal calf serum at temperatures from 15 to 25° C, and they have been sub-cultured over 100 passages to produce a continuous cell line with an epithelial-like morphology. The SSP-9 cells attached and spread efficiently at different plating densities, retaining 80% of cell viability after storage in liquid nitrogen. When karyotyped, the cells had 40-52 chromosomes, with a modal number of 48. Viral susceptibility tests showed that SSP-9 cells were susceptible to infectious pancreatic necrosis virus and infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus, producing infectious virus and regular cytopathic effects. Moreover, these cells could be stimulated by poly I:C, showing significant up-regulation in the expression of the genes that regulate immune responses, such as ifn and mx-1. SSP-9 cells constitutively express genes characteristic of macrophages, such as major histocompatibility complex (mhc-II) and interleukin 12b (il-12b), and flow cytometry assays confirmed that SSP-9 cells can be permanently transfected with plasmids expressing a reporter gene. Accordingly, this new cell line is apparently suitable for transgenic manipulation, and to study host cell-virus interactions and immune processes.

[Group psychotherapy with young alcoholics: specialization or integration?]. / Grupos de terapia para alcohólicos jóvenes: especialización o integración?

INTRODUCTION: Group therapy (GT) is widely used in the treatment of alcoholism. Nevertheless, few data are available on the inclusion criteria for specific individual, as well as on specific group, techniques for the management of some types or groups of patients with homogeneous characteristics. METHOD: Compliance with group therapy has been analyzed in a sample of 459 alcoholics under 36 years of age, 303 of whom were placed in specific GT for young people (Y groups) and 156 were allocated in standard GT (NY) groups. RESULTS: Similar rates of discharge (16.8% vs 18.6%), withdrawals and drop-outs (63.4% vs 61.5%) of patients have been found in both groups. No differences were found in the survival function of time of compliance adjusted for gender and age (Y: 27.2%, and NY: 33.3% at one year, and Y: 18.4%, and NY: 21% at 2 years). CONCLUSIONS: There is no scientific evidence to support the use of Y groups in the treatment of young alcoholics. On the other hand, the possibility still exists that the use of groups with composition, techniques and specific objectives may provide improvement in compliance and in the therapeutic results as long as they adequately identify the characteristics of the patients who may benefit from a homogeneous treatment.

Grupos de terapia para alcohólicos jóvenes: ¿especialización o integración? / Group psychotherapy with young alcoholics: specialization or integration?

Introducción. A pesar de la amplia utilización de la terapia grupal (TG) para tratar el alcoholismo no existen criterios para su indicación individualizada a los distintos pacientes ni para el diseño de tipos o técnicas específicas de TG para algunas clases o grupos de enfermos con características homogéneas.Método. Se ha comparado la adherencia a la TG de 459 pacientes alcohólicos menores de 36 años, de los cuales 303 fueron asignados a grupos de TG específicos para jóvenes (grupos J) y 156 a grupos de TG convencionales (grupos NJ).Resultados. Los resultados del estudio han revelado similares porcentajes de altas (16,8 frente a 18,6 %), bajas y abandonos (63,4 frente a 61,5 %), así como similar supervivencia una vez ajustada la edad y el sexo, en ambos tipos de grupos de TG (J: 27,2 % y NJ: 33,3% al año; J: 18,4 % y NJ: 21 % a los 2 años).Conclusiones. Se concluye que no hay evidencias científicas que apoyen el uso de grupos de TG especializados para pacientes jóvenes. En cambio sigue abierta la posibilidad de que el empleo de grupos con composición, técnicas y objetivos específicos puede proporcionar una mejora en la adherencia y en los resultados terapéuticos siempre que se identifiquen convenientemente las características de los enfermos que pueden beneficiarse de un tratamiento homogéneo

Introduction. Group therapy (GT) is widely used in the treatment of alcoholism. Nevertheless, few data are available on the inclusion criteria for specific individual, as well as on specific group, techniques for the management of some types or groups of patients with homogeneous characteristics.Method. Compliance with group therapy has been analyzed in a sample of 459 alcoholics under 36 years of age, 303 of whom were placed in specific GT for young people (Y groups) and 156 were allocated in standard GT (NY) groups.Results. Similar rates of discharge (16.8 % vs 18.6 %), withdrawals and drop-outs (63.4 % vs 61.5 %) of patients have been found in both groups. No differences were found in the survival function of time of compliance adjusted for gender and age (Y: 27.2 %, and NY: 33.3 % at one year, and Y: 18.4 %, and NY: 21 % at 2 years).Conclusions. There is no scientific evidence to support the use of Y groups in the treatment of young alcoholics. On the other hand, the possibility still exists that the use of groups with composition, techniques and specific objectives may provide improvement in compliance and in the therapeutic results as long as they adequately identify the characteristics of the patients who may benefit from a homogeneous treatment

Eficacia de tiapride en el mantenimiento de la abstinencia en alcohólicos desintoxicados. Resultados de un ensayo clínico a doble ciego frente a placebo / Efficacy of tiapride in the maintenance of abstinence in weaned alcoholics. Reults of a double blind trial against placebo

Fundamentos: Diversos trabajos han descrito la utilidad de Tiapride tanto en la intoxicación como en la deshabituación alcohólica. Este estudio intenta demostrar su eficacia en la deshabituación de una muestra de alcohólicos espeñoles. Material y método: 81 alcohólicos desintoxicados procedentes de 4 Centros distintos y cumpliendo criterios DSM III-R de dependencia, fueron aleatóriamente colocados en el grupo experimental (Tiapride, n=38) o en el grupo control (Placebo n=43). Todos recibieron Tiapride 100mg o placebo cada 8 horas y durante de 24 semanas. Se realizaron 11 visitas de control y análisis de sangre las semanas 8, 16 y 24. El análisis estadístico se realizó bajo el principio de la intención de tratar considerándose como variables principales el tiempo hasta la primera recaida (TPR) y la duración acumulada de la abstinencia (DAA). Resultados: Ambos grupos resultaron comparables en cuanto a características sciodemográficas y clínicas. En el grupo placebo las tasas de abandono fueron ligeramente más altas (18 por ciento versus 35 por ciento) sin llegar a ser significativas (p<.09). A los 6 meses, 49 por ciento pacientes en el grupo placebo y 37 por ciento en el grupo Tiapride permanecían abstinentes, con un TPR de 97 versus 88 días a favor del grupo placebo (p<.27). Igualmente, la DAA en ambos grupos fue similar (130 días en el grupo placebo versus 138 en el grupo tiapride; p<.57). Conclusión: Nuestros resultados no apoyan la hipótesis de que tiapride pueda mejorar las tasas de abstinencia en la fase de deshabituación (AU)

Introduction: Tiapride has been proposed as an adjunct in pharmacological treatment in the postweaning phase of alcoholism treatment, as well as in the detoxification period. This trial attempts to test its efficacy in a sample of alcoholics in Spain. Material and method: 81 detoxified alcoholics from 4 different centres and with a clinical diagnosis of alcohol dependence (DSM III-R), were randomly allocated to the experimental (tiapride, n= 38) and control (placebo, n= 43) groups. All patients were given tiapride 100 mg (or matching placebo tablets), to be taken every 8 hours for 24 weeks. 11 controls were scheduled and blood samples were collected on weeks 8, 16 and 24. Statistical analysis was performed under the ITT principle, and Time to first Relapse (TFR) and Cumulated Abstinence Duration (CAD) were used as the main outcome measures. Results: No significant differences were found between both samples in terms of sociodemographic variables, clinical characteristics of alcohol dependence and biological markers of alcoholism. Attrition rates were slightly higher in the placebo group (18% versus 35%) without reaching statistical significance (p>.09). At the 6 months follow up, 49% patients in the placebo group and 37% in the tiapride group were still abstinent, with a mean TFR of 97 versus 88 days in favour of the placebo group (p<.27). CAD values were also similar for both groups (130 versus 138 days in favour of tiapride; p<.57). Conclusion: Our data do not support the hypothesis that tiapride can enhance abstinence rates in weaned alcoholics (AU)

Relation of Apo E and ACE genes to cognitive performance in chronic alcoholic patients.

Apolipoprotein E epsilon4 and ACE genes have been related to several conditions involving cognitive impairment, including Alzheimer's disease, normal ageing and cerebrovascular disease. However, it has not been established whether their genotypes are associated with alcoholism or its cognitive functioning. Genotypic distributions of 140 chronic alcoholic patients were compared with a non-alcoholic sample, and the cognitive performance of a subsample of the alcoholic subjects was assessed with standard neuropsychological tests. No differences in allele or genotype distributions of Apo E or ACE genes were found when comparing controls and alcoholics (Apo E epsilon2/2; patients 1.4%, controls 0% p < 0.06; epsilon2/epsilon3; patients 9.3%, controls 6.6% p < 0.29; epsilon2/epsilon4; patients 0%, controls 1% p < 0.31; epsilon3/epsilon3 patients 71.4%, controls 72% p < 0.89; epsilon3/epsilon4; patients 15.7%, controls 19.2%, p < 0.36; epsilon4/epsilon4; patients 2.1%, controls 1.2% p < 0.44; ACE D/D; patients 35%, controls 28.5% p < 0.14; I/D; patients 47.5%, controls 51.1% p < 0.51; I/I; patients 14.5%, controls 20.4% p < 0.19). In terms of cognitive performance, epsilon4/epsilon3 patients did better on visuoconstructive (p < 0.001) and visual memory (p < 0.04) functions compared with epsilon2/epsilon3 bearers. Furthermore, ACE D/D patients performed better on a test of abstract reasoning (p < 0.03) compared with the ACE I/I homozygous group. The cognitive results suggest that Apo E or ACE genotypes may modify the effects of ethanol on cognitive deterioration in alcoholic patients. However, the data do not support an association between the Apo E epsilon4 allele and reduced cognitive performance in alcoholism.

[Efficacy of group therapy of alcoholics. Results of a controlled clinical trial]. / Eficacia de la terapia de grupo para alcohólicos. Resultados de un ensayo clínico controlado.

BACKGROUND: Group therapy is widely used in psychiatry and psychology, specially in the treatment of alcoholism. Nevertheless, scientific evidence of its efficacy is scarce, and professionals tend very often to doubt about its usefulness. METHODS: Clinical trial to test the efficacy of group therapy to improve abstinence and compliance of alcoholics (CIE-10 criteria) randomly assigned to standard treatment plus group therapy (TG+, n = 45) versus standard treatment alone (TG-, n = 43) during 12 months. RESULTS: At 6 months follow up, the percentage of alcohol consumers (26 vs 20%) and dropouts (49 vs 36%), was slightly higher among the TG- group; while Cumulated Abstinence Duration (131 days [SD 57] versus 135 days [SD 64]) tended to be higher in the TG+ group. Differences increase at the one year follow up, reaching a significant level when measuring time to first relapse (233 vs 382 days; p = 0.04). Also, the probability to remain abstinent is clearly lower in the TG- (31 vs 76%). CONCLUSIONS: These results clearly show the efficacy of group therapy. Its effect appears from the 3rd month and increases from 6th to 12th months. Some patients, specially those who will have worse clinical evolution, refuse to attend group sessions. Also, some others who don't accept an abstinence oriented treatment, may interfere in group dynamics. In order to maximize group efficacy, extreme care should be taken in selection of patients, group composition, setting and leadership style.

Indicaciones de terapia grupal para alcohólicos / Indications of group psychotherapy for alcoholism

Introducción: Existe una necesidad general de mejorar la eficacia de la psiquiatría y la psicología basándonos más en la evidencia e individualizando los tratamientos. Las terapias grupales (TG) para alcohólicos se usan extensamente y en la mayoría de centros españoles especializados, indicándose muchas veces de forma rutinaria e indiscriminada. A pesar de ello están escasamente evaluadas y no existen criterios homogéneos, contrastados y objetivos acerca de su indicación. Material y método: Seguimiento hasta el final del tratamiento grupal o su abandono de una cohorte de 329 pacientes alcohólicos incluidos consecutivamente en cinco grupos de terapia. Resultados: Las mujeres muestran menores tasas de abandono de la TG (51 por ciento a los dos años) que los hombres (61 por ciento) y lo hacen significativamente más tarde (98 vs. 34 semanas de media). En los pacientes más jóvenes se da el caso contrario: se retienen menos y abandonan antes a pesar de contar con grupos específicos para ellos. Sujetos con niveles educativos medios abandonan más pronto que los de niveles altos o bajos. De todos los antecedentes psicopatológicos, alcohológicos o sociodemográficos, sólo la presencia de celotipia o de alucinosis empeora significativamente el pronóstico grupal. Discusión: Se plantea la conveniencia de evitar indicaciones de TG cuando exista peor pronóstico grupal y de minimizarlas en pacientes jóvenes o varones, o bien extremar los cuidados terapéuticos en ellos durante la fase crítica de los dos primeros meses. Otra alternativa es identificar las características personales y psicológicas de las mujeres y los adultos que favorecen la adherencia para elaborar estrategias terapéuticas para maximizarlas en el resto de pacientes (AU)

[Indications of group therapy for alcoholism treatment]. / Indicaciones de terapia grupal para alcohólicos.

INTRODUCTION: It exist a general need of improving the efficiency of psychiatry and psychological treatment based on evidence and individualized treatments. Group psychotherapy (GP) for alcoholics are used extensively in most specialized centers of Spain, but in our knowledge they are mostly indicated by routine and in a indiscriminate way. Furthermore, this therapies are scarcely evaluated and they do not exist homogeneous and objective criteria about their indication. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A cohort of 329 alcoholic patients was followed up until they finish the group psychotherapy treatment or either they drop out. RESULTS: Women show smaller drop out rates of the GP (51% to 2 years) that men (61%) and abandoned significantly afterwards (98 vs. 34 average weeks). In the younger patients is given the otherwise: they are retained less and they abandon before in spite of counting with specific groups for them. Subjects with medium educational level abandon sooner than those of high or low educational levels. Of all the psychiatric, alcohological and demographic antecedents only the presence of jealousy or of alcoholic hallucinations worsens significantly the outcome of GP. DISCUSSION: It is outlined the convenience of avoiding indications of GP when exist one of these worsening indicators and of minimizing indications of GP in younger patients or male patients, or otherwise to improve the therapeutic cares given to them during the critical phase of the first two months. Other alternative are to identify the personal and psychological characteristic of women and adults that favor the GP adherence to elaborate therapeutic strategies to maximize them in the other patients.

[Report of a case of purulent rhinitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a patient with HIV/AIDS]. / Reporte de 1 caso de rinitis purulenta por Streptococcus pneumoniae en un paciente VIH/SIDA.

This paper reports a case of acute purulent rhinitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in a HIV/AIDS patient seen at the Hospitalization Center of "Pedro Kourí" Tropical Medicine Institute. The clinical findings were fever, severe purulent rhinorrea and affected general condition. Streptococcus pneumoniae was isolated with standard and advanced diagnosis techniques. Antimicrobial sensitivity test revealed that it was sensitive to cefaloridien, ampicillin, penicillin G and oxacillin. The patient was treated with a dose of 2 g of ampicillin daily for 10 days. The clinical picture of the patient improved and there was a total remission of the symptoms.

[Characterization of Haemophilus influenzae strains using sugar fermentation]. / Caracterización de cepas de Haemophilus influenzae mediante fermentación de azúcares.

64 Haemophilus influenzae strains circulating in Havana City during a year were characterized by the carbohydrate fermentation method for the first time in Cuba. The fermentative pattern D was the most frequently found. Patterns D and G together were 72% of the total of strains studied. The combination of the carbohydrate fermentation with serotyping and biotyping allowed a greater differentiation of strains (14 groups). Patterns A, B, C and F appeared in children over 6 months of age, and pattern G in the group from 6 to 18. Patterns D and G predominated in the bacterial meningoencephalitis. A higher heterogeneity was observed among the strains isolated from acute respiratory infections. Some of the advantages of the Haemophilus influenzae strains subtyping method are stressed, such as: simplicity, easiness to be applied and interpreted, and the fact that it is not necessary a qualified personnel or a specialized laboratory for its implementation.

[The surveillance of nosocomial bacteremia in the Intensive Care Unit of the Hospital Pediátrico Docente Centro Habana]. / Vigilancia de la bacteriemia nosocomial en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Pediátrico Docente Centro Habana.

A prospective study was carried out in order to assess nosocomial bacteremia in the Intensive Care Unit of the Centrohabana Teaching Pediatric Hospital, from January to May 1988. 66.7% of the bacteremia episodes diagnosed were of a nosocomial origin, mostly secondary. Nosocomial bacteremia rate was 15.5 per 100 admissions, with predominance in the age group under 1 year of age. Risk factors for acquiring nosocomial bacteremia were hospital stay longer than 72 hours, age under 1 year, tracheal intubation, deep venous catheterization and urinary catheterization. The most frequently associated microorganisms were Staphylococcus epidermis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

[Epidemiologic markers in the study of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a pediatric intensive care unit]. / Marcadores epidemiológicos en el estudio de Pseudomonas aeruginosa procedentes de una unidad de cuidados intensivos pediátrica.

A study was made on 198 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated at a pediatric intensive care unit from January to August 1988, using pyocin typing and antibiotic typing as markers. The most frequent circulating pyocin types were 31.83 and atypical 23578. The germ showed high resistance in vitro to the antimicrobial drugs used and the resistance patterns were distributed in 19 different antibiotic types.

[Microbiologic aspects of bacteremia in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit]. / Aspectos microbiologicos de la bacteriemia en pacientes ingresados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos.

The microbiologic aspects of the bacteriemia were prospectively studied in patients hospitalized in a pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Thirty six episodes of bacteriemia were detected in 29 patients. Secondary bacteriemia prevailed on the primary ones. The most frequent infectious foci associated with bacteriemia were the infections of respiratory tract, followed by intravascular catheterism. The microorganisms more frequently associated with bacteriemia were: Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Eacherichia coli and Pseudomonas seruginosa.

[Identification of non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria. "Havana Center" Pediatric Teaching Hospital. December 1986 through May 1987]. / Identificación de bacterias gramnegativas no fermentadoras. Hospital Pediátrico Docente "Centro Habana". Diciembre de 1986 a mayo de 1987.

A study is made of non-fermenting gram-negative bacterial strains isolated at the Microbiology Lab, "Centro Habana" Pediatric Teaching Hospital. The strains studied come from various types of samples with prevalence of exudates and smears. A definite biotyping of 100% of strains is made. 90.0% are classified within the genus Pseudomonas. In addition, organisms of the genera Acinetobacter, Alcaligenes, Achromobacter, and Moraxella are identified. The most frequent species turned out to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which accounted for 68.4% of the total.

[Introduction of King A and King B media for the diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the Teaching Pediatric Hospital of Centro Habana]. / Introducción de los medios King A y King B para el diagnóstico de Pseudomonas aeruginosa en el Hospital Pediátrico Docente de Centro Habana.

The use of King A and King B media for the faster diagnosis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa is introduced in the Microbiology Laboratory of Centro Habana Pediatric Teaching Hospital. The appropriate use of these media allows to classify as Pseudomonas aeruginosa 77.2% of the Pseudomonas sp. strains studied, which represent 95.2% of the total of strains identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, according to Hugh and Gilardi conventional technique. There are no significant differences in the implementation of the two procedures (X2: 0.5; p less than 0.05). The demonstrations of pyocines with King A medium is significantly superior to the method for extraction and solubility of the pigment in chloroform (X2: 15.05; p less than 0.01).