Chemical effects in biological systems--data dictionary (CEBS-DD): a compendium of terms for the capture and integration of biological study design description, conventional phenotypes, and 'omics data.

A critical component in the design of the Chemical Effects in Biological Systems (CEBS) Knowledgebase is a strategy to capture toxicogenomics study protocols and the toxicity endpoint data (clinical pathology and histopathology). A Study is generally an experiment carried out during a period of time for the purpose of obtaining data, and the Study Design Description captures the methods, timing, and organization of the Study. The CEBS Data Dictionary (CEBS-DD) has been designed to define and organize terms in an attempt to standardize nomenclature needed to describe a toxicogenomics Study in a structured yet intuitive format and provide a flexible means to describe a Study as conceptualized by the investigator. The CEBS-DD will organize and annotate information from a variety of sources, thereby facilitating the capture and display of toxicogenomics data in biological context in CEBS, i.e., associating molecular events detected in highly-parallel data with the toxicology/pathology phenotype as observed in the individual Study Subjects and linked to the experimental treatments. The CEBS-DD has been developed with a focus on acute toxicity studies, but with a design that will permit it to be extended to other areas of toxicology and biology with the addition of domain-specific terms. To illustrate the utility of the CEBS-DD, we present an example of integrating data from two proteomics and transcriptomics studies of the response to acute acetaminophen toxicity (A. N. Heinloth et al., 2004, Toxicol. Sci. 80, 193-202).

Proposed association between the COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes and otosclerosis is not supported by a case-control study in Spain.

Otosclerosis (OTSC) is one of the most common causes of hearing loss in white adults. The COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes coding for type-I collagen have been proposed as candidate genes in the development of OTSC. The COL1A1 gene was recently reported to be associated with the condition on the basis of a population-based case-control study. We report here an independent study of association between COL1A1 and COL1A2 gene polymorphisms and OTSC, in a case-control sample from a population of Caucasian individuals living in Northwest Spain. Specifically, we studied two COL1A1 polymorphisms previously reported to be associated with OTSC, and six COL1A2 polymorphisms. We performed diverse association analyses based on alleles, genotypes, and two-locus haplotypes. We found no evidence supporting the putative link of COL1A1 and COL1A2 genes with OTSC.

Elevada prevalencia de blastocystis hominis en manipuladores de alimentos de los mercados públicos de la zona sud de la ciudad de La Paz / A alta prevalência de Blastocystis hominis entre manipuladores de alimentos em mercados públicos na zona sul da cidade de La Paz

Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de blastocystis hominis y otros enteroparásitos en manipuladores de alimentos de los mercados públicos de la zona sud de la ciudad de La Paz. Diseño. Descriptivo transversal. Participantes. Manipuladores de alimentos de los mercados: Achumani, Corazón de Jesus, 16 de Julio y la Merced de la ciudad de La Paz. Lugar. Departamento de patología, cátedra de parasitología. Laboratorio de parasitología. Material y Métodos. Se evaluaron318 muestras de heces, correspondientes a 106 vendedores de alimentos, por examen directo, método de concentracíon de Ritchie modificado y sedimentación espontánea en tubo. Resultados. La prevalencia de la protozoosis intestinal fue de 89,6 por ciento. Los protozoos detectados fueron blastocystis hominis, giardia duodenalis, entamoeba coli, chilomastix mesnili, endolimax nana, lodamoeba butschlii y retortamonas intestinalis. B.hominis fue el protozoo mas frecuente (80,2 por ciento). Se destaca la ausencia de helmintos. En las 101 mujeres y 5 varones, se observó que B. hominis fue más común en el rango de edad de 26 a 37 años (31,8 por ciento) ( p)0.05 ). Las secciones de abarrotes, verduras, comida, jugos y otras mostraron prevalencias entre 29,4 por ciento y 12,9 por ciento, sin embargo, no hubo diferencias significativas ( p)0.05 ). De los 85 manipuladores de alimentos infectados con B. hominis, 13 tenían únicamente este parásito y 72 estaban asociados a otras especies. La combinación estuvo representada por dos, tres y cuatro especies diferentes. Las asociaciones más frecuentes y estadísticamente significativas ( p(0.05 ) fueron con los protozoarios, E. coli y Ch. mesnili. Conclusión. Este es el primer trabajo en Bolivia, donde se determina los valores más altos de prevalencia de B. hominis en la población estudiada, lo que indica...

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of Blastocystis hominis and other intestinal parasites among food handlers in South markets, La Paz City.DesignCross-sectional descriptive,ParticipantsFood handlers of the Achumani, Corazón de Jesus, 16 de Julio, and la Merced south markets, La Paz City.PlaceDepartment of Pathology, Laboratory of Parasitology.Material and methodsA serial coproparasitological analysis was performed (3 samples) in 106 food handlers (308 samples) were evaluated by direct examination (saline solution and lugol), modified Ritchie, and simple sedimentation in tube.ResultsThe prevalence of intestinal protozoosis was 89,6%. The detected protozoos was Blastocystis hominis, Giardia duodenalis, Entamoeba coli, Chilomastix mesnili, Endolimax nana, Iodomoeba bütschlii. Retortamonas intestinalis. B. hominis was the most frequently detected protozoa (80,2%). There is absence of helminths.In the 101 women and 5 men, B. hominis was more common in the age range from 26 to 37 years (31,8%) (p>0.05).The sections of groceries, vegetables, food, juices and others, showed prevalences between 29,4% and 12,9%, however, no significant differences were found (p>0.05).Of the 85 food handlers infected with B. hominis, 13 had this parasite only, and in 72 cases B. hominis was associated to other species. The combination was of two, three, and four different species. The most frequent and statistically significant associations (p <0.05) were with the protozoa: E. coli and C. mesnili.ConclusionThis is the first time in Bolivia that a highest prevalence of B. hominis is found in a population group, what indicates a high index of fecal contamination.Therefore, this should be a high-priority group to take into account when measures of promoting prevention and control of these parasites are taken in the population, because the food handlers are an epidemically important group for the dissemination of intestinal parasites.

Blastocystis hominis: parásito enigmático / Blastocystis Hominis: Enigmatic parasite

Blastocystis hominis es el protozoario que con mayor frecuencia se encuentra en las heces de las personas sintomáticas, asintomáticas, inmunocompetentes e inmunodeprimidos. Este parásito presenta varias controversias e indefiniciones, especialmente, a nivel de su patogenicidad. Diferentes aspectos merece atención como la biología, el diagnóstico, mecanismo de transmisión, tratamiento y otros. El desconocimiento o la poca importancia que se le da a este microorganismo por los profesionales del área de la salud son frecuentes. Consideramos que B. hominis es digno de atención y en ese sentido, la presente revisión enfoca los siguientes aspectos: taxonomia, patogénesis, manifestaciones clínicas, diagnóstico, mecanismos de transmisión y tratamiento.

Blastocystis hominis is the protozoal infection most frequently found in stool samples of symptomatic, asymptomatic, immunocompetent and immunodeficient persons. This parasite is ill defined, especially on the subject of his pathogenesis. Different aspect are worthy of attention like the diagnosis, mode of transmission and other characteristics. Health personnel frequently fail to recognize this microorganism and give him little attention. B. hominis needs our attention; this revision report the taxonomy, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, modes of transmission and treatment.