Increased urban seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infecting swine in Panama.

Toxoplasmosis gondii causes one of the most common zoonoses worldwide. The rate in Panama is one of the highest in the world. Infections are primarily asymptomatic in immune competent individuals; however, in immunocompromised patient and congenital cases can be lethal. Exposure to the pathogen is hypothesized to occur when handling or consuming infected food such as swine meat. In this study, we analyzed 290 swine sera collected from six provinces in Panama by Indirect Immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) against T. gondii. Toxoplasma-specific IgG were found in 32.1% of the samples. The highest seroprevalence was found in the province of Panama.

From genes to brain oscillations: is the visual pathway the epigenetic clue to schizophrenia?

Molecular data and gene expression data and recently mitochondrial genes and possible epigenetic regulation by non-coding genes is revolutionizing our views on schizophrenia. Genes and epigenetic mechanisms are triggered by cell-cell interaction and by external stimuli. A number of recent clinical and molecular observations indicate that epigenetic factors may be operational in the origin of the illness. Based on the molecular insights, gene expression profiles and epigenetic regulation of gene, we went back to the neurophysiology (brain oscillations) and found a putative role of the visual experiences (i.e. visual stimuli) as epigenetic factor. The functional evidences provided here, establish a direct link between the striate and extrastriate unimodal visual cortex and the neurobiology of the schizophrenia. This result support the hypothesis that 'visual experience' has a potential role as epigenetic factor and contribute to trigger and/or to maintain the progression of the schizophrenia. In this case, candidate genes sensible for the visual 'insult' may be located within the visual cortex including associative areas, while the integrity of the visual pathway before reaching the primary visual cortex is preserved. The same effect can be perceived if target genes are localised within the visual pathway, which actually, is more sensitive for 'insult' during the early life than the cortex per se. If this process affects gene expression at these sites a stably sensory specific 'insult', i.e. distorted visual information, is entering the visual system and expanded to fronto-temporo-parietal multimodal areas even from early maturation periods. The difference in the timing of postnatal neuroanatomical events between such areas and the primary visual cortex in humans (with the formers reaching the same development landmarks later in life than the latter) is 'optimal' to establish an abnormal 'cell- communication' mediated by the visual system that may further interfere with the local physiology. In this context the strategy to search target genes need to be rearrangement and redirected to visual-related genes. Otherwise, psychophysics studies combining functional neuroimage, and electrophysiology are strongly recommended, for the search of epigenetic clues that will allow to carrier gene association studies in schizophrenia.

Use of the polymerase chain reaction for diagnosing bovine tuberculosis in Panama.

In addition to causing large losses to the cattle industry, Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent for bovine tuberculosis, is a serious public health issue because it can potentially infect humans. Diagnosis based on isolation and identification of the bacillus is tedious and may take weeks. The diagnosis of M. bovis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using species-specific primers, is fast, highly sensitive and of great value in epidemiological studies. In this study, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from 60 nasal mucus samples collected from three different farms, all located in an area where M. bovis is endemic. Two farms tested negative for an antibody response to the M. tuberculosis purified protein derivative (PPD) antigen, whereas the other farm gave a positive result. The amplified fragment of DNA was 460 base pairs with a sequence similar to that previously reported. Only 5% of the samples from the third farm tested positive for the presence of antibodies against PPD, whereas 65% of samples (from all three farms) gave a positive result when PCR was used. Thus, the authors suggest the use of the PCR species-specific primers test to support the programme against bovine tuberculosis in Panama.

Abnormal functional asymmetry in occipital areas may prevent frontotemporal regions from achieving functional laterality during the WCST performance in patients with schizophrenia.

There is much evidence of frontotemporal lateralized abnormalities in schizophrenia. However, the relationship has not yet been examined between performance on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, with supposed anterior left dominance and event-related potential (ERP) asymmetry. ERPs recorded at homologous bilateral sites were compared using statistical permutation methods. Patients had an unexpected abnormal lateralization over occipital regions, preceding slow anterior potentials. This indicates a defect in early stages of information processing, which may contribute to prevent further hemispheric lateralization during performance.

Induced oscillations and the distributed cortical sources during the Wisconsin card sorting test performance in schizophrenic patients: new clues to neural connectivity.

Prefrontal dysfunction has been associated with schizophrenia. Activation during Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST) is a common approach used in functional neuroimaging to address this failure. Equally, current knowledge states that oscillations are basic forms of cells-assembly communications during mental activity. Promising results were revealed in a previous study assessing healthy subjects, WCST and oscillations. However, those previous studies failed to meet the functional integration of the network during the WCST in schizophrenics, based on the induced oscillations and their distributed cortical sources. In this research, we utilized the brain electrical tomography (variable-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography) technique to accomplish this goal. Task specific delta, theta, alpha and beta-2 oscillations were induced and simultaneously synchronized over large extensions of cortex, encompassing prefrontal, temporal and posterior regions as in healthy subjects. Every frequency had a well-defined network involving a variable number of areas and sharing some of them. Oscillations at 11.5, 5.0 and 30 Hz seem to reflect an abnormal increase or decrease, being located at supplementary motor area (SMA), left occipitotemporal region (OT), and right frontotemporal subregions (RFT), respectively. Three cortical areas appeared to be critical, that may lead to difficulties either in coordinating/sequencing the input/output of the prefrontal networks-SMA, and retention of information in memory-RFT, both preceded or paralleled by a deficient visual information processing-OT.

Dynamic event-related potentials and rapid source analysis reveals an intermittent short-lasting dysfrontality in schizophrenia.

Neuroimaging studies have identified regional brain dysfunctions in schizophrenia, but their dynamic consequences remain unclear. This study reports electrophysiological evaluation of medicated schizophrenic patients during performance of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. Using event-related potentials (ERPs), averaged after passing through several band pass filters, and source analysis with variable-resolution brain electrical tomography, cerebral sources were visualized at every latency point of the evoked potential. ERPs which differed from the control group were elicited principally in frontal, central, and parietal regions, within the delta and theta frequency ranges. Significant differences emerged at three different latencies (S1, S2, S3) in frontal/midline areas and at the anterior temporal electrode site T3 for slow potentials. The left occipitoparietal region showed significant differences within the alpha and beta 2 ranges, respectively. Medial fronto-orbital area and anterior cingulate cortex contributed to the development of the frontal ERPs and the lateral inferior frontal area to the temporal (T(3)) evoked-potential, while the precuneus/medial region generated the posterior activity recorded on the scalp. The significant intervals S1 and S3 were synchronous between the medial frontal and lateral inferior frontal region, while in the S2 interval the medial frontal areas were parallel with the precuneus/medial occipitotemporal region. A simultaneous functional imbalance between frontal subregions and posterior areas was uncovered. Here, we show for the first time an intermittent functional deficiency of specific brain areas during task-directed mentation in schizophrenia, which by its brevity is not accessible by neuroimaging methods measuring hemodynamic activity.

Estudio retrospectivo de sífilis / Retrospective study of sífilis

Presenta una revisión retrospectiva de los pacientes que ingresaron en el Hospital Francisco de Ycaza Bustamante con diagnóstico de sífilis en un período comprendido entre sep. 1985 a dic. 1995. Se obtuvo un total de 38 pacientes con diagnóstico de sifilis al egreso, observándose la mayor incidencia en el año 1980 (18.4xciento). Un 34xciento de los casos se presentaron en la etapa neonatal a 2 años de edad. Hubo predominio en el sexo masculino (29xciento). Con respecto a la procedencia el mayor número de casos (44.7xciento) era de la zona urbana periférica. Las manifestaciones clínicas predominantes fueron hepatomegalia (76.3xciento), anemia (68.4xciento) y lesiones cutáneas (57.8xciento). La sifilis es una enfermedad que dentro de nuestro medio se presenta en la población de residencia urbano-marginal que debido a las condiciones ambientales sociales y de promiscuidad favorecen su propagación... (AU)

Estudio retrospectivo de sífilis / Retrospective study of sífilis

Presenta una revisión retrospectiva de los pacientes que ingresaron en el Hospital Francisco de Ycaza Bustamante con diagnóstico de sífilis en un período comprendido entre sep. 1985 a dic. 1995. Se obtuvo un total de 38 pacientes con diagnóstico de sifilis al egreso, observándose la mayor incidencia en el año 1980 (18.4xciento). Un 34xciento de los casos se presentaron en la etapa neonatal a 2 años de edad. Hubo predominio en el sexo masculino (29xciento). Con respecto a la procedencia el mayor número de casos (44.7xciento) era de la zona urbana periférica. Las manifestaciones clínicas predominantes fueron hepatomegalia (76.3xciento), anemia (68.4xciento) y lesiones cutáneas (57.8xciento). La sifilis es una enfermedad que dentro de nuestro medio se presenta en la población de residencia urbano-marginal que debido a las condiciones ambientales sociales y de promiscuidad favorecen su propagación...

Primer Congreso Nacional de Avances en Ginecología y Obstetricia: pre-eclampsia a propósito de un caso

Presentamos un caso de pre-eclampsia inducida por el embarazo diagnósticado en el servicio de Ginecología del HCAM, HCL 442390, en noviembre de 1995, el cual luego de 7 meses de realizada la cesaréa, presenta HTA a pesar de la medicación antihipertensiva que recibe, teniendo en cuenta que la paciente ha sido nomotensa. Se describe el caso su tratamiento y evolución. (AU)

Primer Congreso Nacional de Avances en Ginecología y Obstetricia: pre-eclampsia a propósito de un caso

Presentamos un caso de pre-eclampsia inducida por el embarazo diagnósticado en el servicio de Ginecología del HCAM, HCL 442390, en noviembre de 1995, el cual luego de 7 meses de realizada la cesaréa, presenta HTA a pesar de la medicación antihipertensiva que recibe, teniendo en cuenta que la paciente ha sido nomotensa. Se describe el caso su tratamiento y evolución.

Pre-eclampsia a propósito de un caso clínico

Presentamos un caso de pre-eclampsia inducida por el embarazo diagnosticado en el servicio de Ginecología del HCAM en 1995, el cual luego de 7 meses de realizada la cesarea presenta HTA a pesar de la medicación antihipertensiva que recibe, teniendo en cuenta que la paciente ha sido normotensa. Se describe el caso su tratamiento y evolución. (AU)

Pre-eclampsia a propósito de un caso clínico

Presentamos un caso de pre-eclampsia inducida por el embarazo diagnosticado en el servicio de Ginecología del HCAM en 1995, el cual luego de 7 meses de realizada la cesarea presenta HTA a pesar de la medicación antihipertensiva que recibe, teniendo en cuenta que la paciente ha sido normotensa. Se describe el caso su tratamiento y evolución.