Antimicrobial effect of Moringa oleifera seed powder against Vibrio cholerae isolated from the rearing water of shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) postlarvae.

Shrimp farming has experienced rising costs as a result of disease outbreaks associated with Vibrio spp. Suitable strategies for disease prevention and control are therefore urgently needed. This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of Moringa oleifera seed powder against Vibrio cholerae in the rearing water of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) postlarvae. In vitro assays included the determination of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of M. oleifera seed powder against V. cholerae, whereas in vivo assays included the effect of M. oleifera seed powder on bacterial load and water quality parameters in the rearing tanks, as well as its effect on shrimp postlarvae survival. M. oleifera seed powder inhibited the growth of V. cholerae with MIC values of 62·5 µg ml-1 . Moreover, seawater pH of treated tanks (8·66) was significantly lower (P < 0·01) than pH of the control tanks (9·02), whereas the visibility of treated tanks (37·08 cm) was significantly higher (P < 0·01) as compared to control tanks (35·37 cm). Likewise, V. cholerae load was significantly reduced (P < 0·01) from 4·7 × 104 to 3·1 × 103  CFU per ml in tanks treated with M. oleifera seed powder. Altogether, this study demonstrates the antimicrobial activity of M. oleifera against V. cholerae in shrimp culture.

Mortality attributable to passive smoking in Spain, 2002.

OBJECTIVE: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is associated with a variety of health effects, including lung cancer and ischaemic heart disease. The objective of this study was to estimate the number of deaths caused by exposure to ETS among non-smokers in Spain during the year 2002 METHODS: Prevalence of ETS exposure among never smokers was gathered from three region based health interview surveys. The relative risks of lung cancer and ischaemic heart diseases were selected from three meta-analyses. Population attributable risk (PAR) was computed using a range of prevalences (minimum-maximum). The number of deaths attributable to ETS was calculated by applying PARs to mortality not attributable to active smoking in 2002. The analyses were stratified by sex, age and source of exposure (home, workplace and both combined). In addition, a sensitivity analysis was performed for different scenarios. RESULTS: Among men, deaths attributable to ETS ranged from 408 to 1703. From 247 to 1434 of these deaths would be caused by the exposure only at home, 136-196 by exposure only in the workplace and 25-73 by exposure at both home and the workplace. Among women, the number of attributable deaths ranged from 820 to 1534. Between 807 and 1477 of these deaths would be caused by exposure only at home, 9-32 by exposure only in the workplace and 4-25 by exposure both at home and in the workplace. CONCLUSION: Exposure to ETS at home and at work in Spain could be responsible for 1228-3237 of deaths from lung cancer and ischaemic heart disease. These data confirm that passive smoking is an important public health problem in Spain that needs urgent attention.

Behcet's disease associated with HLA-B51 and DRw52 antigens in Italians.

Thirty-eight Italian patients with Behcet's disease, all with ocular involvement, (28 complete type and ten incomplete) were typed for HLA A,B,DR, and DQ antigens. A significant increase of HLA-B51 (p less than 0.00001) and DRw52 (p = 0.045) with no significant difference between complete and incomplete syndrome was found. The involvement of B51 antigen as the main immunogenetic factor in the disease is suggested by the high value of relative risk (RR = 16.03). However, the association with the II class antigen DRw52 (RR = 2.77) cannot be easily explained as a secondary association due to linkage disequilibria with B51.

Quantitation of hypertensive nephrosclerosis on an objective rational scale of measure in adults and children.

The development of a precise, mathematical relationship between blood pressure and renal microvascular abnormalities would be highly desirable. Such a relationship would require that abnormalities be quantitative on a rational scale. The dominant abnormality in nephrosclerosis occurs in arcuate and cortical arteries of 50 to 400 micron outer diameter. This abnormality consists of acquired inner layers of fibroplastic tissue accompanied by variable fibrosis or withering of the preexisting vessel wall. It is this pathologic variable of interest, the amount of fibroplasia, that can be measured by its thickness in a direction perpendicular to the arterial axis. A method for quantitating the fibroplasia is described. Use of this method in a series of 93 autopsies suggests two tentative conclusions. The outer diameter of 141 micron marks the size of artery in which fibroplasia best correlates with blood pressure. The linear function, mean blood pressure = 1.60 X microvascular lesions +79.7, with correlation coefficient 0.698, governs a relationship similar at all ages. This relationship can be used to compute expected blood pressure from measurements of microvascular abnormalities in kidneys obtained at autopsy. Because all ages include ages 14 to 21 years, the observations imply that the initial tissue changes of hypertensive disease occur early in life.

Clinical serological correlations in the evaluation of Sjögren's syndrome.

Fifty-six subjects (46 females and 10 males) with signs of Sjögren's Syndrome (SS) have been evaluated for clinical and serological parameters. In 12 subjects such clinical signs were associated with a definite connective tissue disease (secondary SS): Rheumatoid Arthritis (2 cases), Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (4 cases), Progressive Systemic Sclerosis (4 cases), Essential Mixed Cryoglobulinemia (2 cases). All patients underwent a lip biopsy which was evaluated according to the Chisholm-Mason scale. Six out of 56 subjects (10.7%) had a normal salivary gland with few lymphocytes (class I); 5 (10%) had a scattered lymphoid infiltrate containing less than 1 focus/4 mm2 (class II); 36 (64.3%) had one focus/4 mm2 (class III) and, finally, 9 (16%) had more than 1 focus/4 mm2 (class IV). The great majority (91%) of the patients had some abnormalities at the ophthalmological examination (Schirmer test, Break up times, van Bijsterveld score): even those with a class I lip biopsy. Xerostomia was present in 69% of the patients, xerophthalmia in 78%, arthralgias in 78%, parotid swelling in 19%, Raynaud's phenomenon in 16%, recurrent abortion in 9 patients. The prevalence of autoantibodies in the group of primary SS was high: ANA 43.2%, anti-Ha 40%, anti-Ro 12%, anti-phospholipids 52.2%, rheumatoid factor (RF) 45.7%. A decrease of lysozyme concentration in tears and saliva has been demonstrated and a correlation between level of lysozyme and lip-biopsy has been observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The lactoferrin tear test in the diagnosis of Sjögren's syndrome.

PURPOSE: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of the lactoferrin tear test (LTT) in the diagnosis of keratoconjunctivitis sicca due to Sjögren's syndrome (SS), comparing it with the other lacrimal tests and with immunological tests. METHODS: 25 patients suffering from SS (24 women and 1 man, median age 51.5 years, s.d. 16.3); control group: 20 patients with various kinds of conjunctivitis without dry eye. Tests in both groups: Schirmer I (ST), BUT, ferning test, lactoferrin immunoassay, fluorescein and Rose Bengal staining. Immunological tests: serum titers of anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-DNA, anti-ENA (SS-A, SS-B, RNP, FR) antibodies. In the patients with SS, labial salivary gland biopsy was also performed. RESULTS: LTT had a specificity of 95% and a sensitivity of 72%, compared to 85% and 64% for the Schirmer I test. The ferning test has the highest sensitivity (92%), and none of the cases positive to BUT was negative to the ferning test. The combination of LTT and ferning test gave a value of 78% compared to 70% with ST. The correlations between positive LTT and positive ANA, SS-A and labial biopsy were respectively 83%, 67% and 80%, as against 67%, 50% and 65% for the Schirmer I test. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, LTT showed very high specificity, good sensitivity particularly when combined with qualitative tear tests, and a good correlation with the immunological and bioptic tests for SS. Since it is easy to perform, in our opinion LTT can be included in the diagnostic routine for keratoconjunctivitis sicca in SS.

[Housework, gender and health in the working population]. / Trabajo doméstico, género y salud en población ocupada.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relation between domestic workload and self-perceived health status among workers and to examine whether there are gender inequalities. METHODS: The selected population were the 215 men and 106 women younger than 65 years interviewed in the Terrassa Health Survey, 1998 who had a paid work and were married or cohabiting. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) by domestic workload, age and occupational social class with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: Whereas among men domestic workload was not associated with health status, among women poor self-perceived health status was positively related to household size (aOR = 3.65; 95% IC = 1.06-12.54) and to lack of a person for doing domestic tasks (aOR = 4.43; 95% CI = 1.05-18.62). CONCLUSION: Both household characteristics and having a support for facing domestic tasks play an important role in gender health inequalities.

ANÁLISIS DE BIOMATERIALES PARA USO EN INGENIERÍA DE TEJIDO DE PIEL: REVISIÓN / ANALYSIS OF BIOMATERIALS FOR SKIN TISSUE ENGINEERING: REVIEW / ANÁLISE DE BIOMATERIAIS PARA USO EM ENGENHARIA DE TECIDOS DA PELE: PATCH

La ingeniería de tejidos es un área que ha venido creciendo desde los últimos treinta años con diferentes aplicaciones en piel, hueso, tejido neural, tejido cardiovascular, entre otras. Una de las áreas más trabajadas y de mayores aplicaciones es la relacionada con el tejido de la piel, con importantes avances en el desarrollo de sustitutos. En este trabajo se hace una revisión sobre los biomateriales más usados para desarrollos en el área de ingeniería de tejidos con aplicaciones específicas al tejido de piel. La información obtenida fue clasificada de acuerdo a los biomateriales más usados de origen natural o sintético, y de acuerdo a sus aplicaciones como sustitutos dérmicos, epidérmicos o dermo-epidérmicos. A su vez las ventajas y desventajas de su implementación in vivo o clínica fueron consideradas. Adicionalmente, se presenta una introducción al uso de los nanomateriales en diferentes áreas relacionadas con la ingeniería de tejidos. Según esta revisión, la biocompatibilidad de los materiales naturales es adecuada, al igual que la recepción al momento del injerto, pero su resistencia mecánica es baja. Los materiales sintéticos, por su parte, presentan más alta resistencia mecánica y siguen siendo objeto de investigación para mejorar su biocompatibilidad y controlar su degradación. Dentro del estudio se presentaron los nanomateriales como un área de amplio desarrollo y de alta proyección para su aplicación en ingeniería tisular.

Tissue engineering is a research field that has grown over the last thirty years with different applications in skin, bone, neural tissue and cardiovascular tissue, among others. One of the most studied and promising application relates to the engineering of skin tissue, which has led to important advances in the development of skin substitutes. This work reviews the most used biomaterials for applications in the field of skin tissue engineering. The reviewed literature was classified according to the most used natural or synthetic biomaterials and according to their application as dermal, epidermal, or dermal-epidermal substitutes. At the same time, advantages and disadvantages of their in vivo or clinical implementation were considered. Based on this literature review, the biocompatibility of natural materials is appropriate, as well as their grafting efficiency, but their mechanical strength is low. Synthetic materials, in contrast, show higher mechanical strength and are subject of investigations that seek to improve their biocompatibility and biodegradability. This review also showed that the use of nanomaterials is a very promising research area with excellent prospects for applications in tissue engineering.

Engenharia de tecidos é uma área que tem crescido desde os últimos trinta anos, com diferentes aplicações em pele, osso, tecido neural, tecido cardiovascular, entre outros. Uma das áreas de aplicação mais elaborados e maiores está relacionada com o tecido da pele, com um progresso significativo no desenvolvimento de substitutos. Este trabalho apresenta uma revisão dos biomateriais mais utilizados para desenvolvimentos na área da engenharia de tecidos com aplicações específicas para o tecido da pele. As informações obtidas foram classificadas de acordo aos biomateriais mais utilizados de origem natural ou sintética, e de acordo às suas aplicações como substitutos de pele, epidérmica ou dermo-epidérmica. Por sua vez, as vantagens e desvantagens da sua implementação in vivo ou clínica foram considerados. Além disso uma introdução ao uso de nanomateriais em diferentes áreas relacionadas com a engenharia de tecidos é apresentado. De acordo com esta revisão, a biocompatibilidade de materiais naturais é adequado, como o tempo de recepção da enxertia, mas a sua resistência mecânica é baixa. Os materiais sintéticos, por sua vez, tem alta resistência mecânica e ainda estão sob investigação para melhorar a sua biocompatibilidade e controle de degradação. Dentro deste estudo apresentaram-se os nanomateriais como um área de desenvolvimento global e alta projeção para uso em engenharia de tecidos.

Concepciones de los profesores de postgrado de la Facultad de Medicina de la Universidad Nacional de Colombia sobre la evaluación académica / Conceptions of post-graduate professors of the Medicine School Universidad Nacional de Colombia on the academic assessment

Antecedentes. Proyectos en pregrado desarrollados en la línea de investigación en evaluación, creada hace once años, en el Grupo de Apoyo Pedagógico y Formación Docente de la Facultad de Medicina. Objetivo. Indagar las concepciones de los docentes de posgrado sobre la evaluación del estudiante. Material y métodos. Metodología de la teoría fundamentada para construir una teoría que explique las conceptualizaciones que subyacen al proceso de evaluación del estudiante de posgrado. Se entrevistaron 33 profesores, en 10 grupos focales, según nivel de formación (especialización, especialidad médico-quirúrgica, maestría y doctorado), se discutió: el papel del profesor en la evaluación; la metodología, los propósitos, los problemas y sugerencias para mejorar este proceso. Resultados. Los docentes conceptualizaron la evaluación como proceso, independiente del nivel de formación; sin embargo, hay diferencias en el papel de la evaluación según el tipo de formación en posgrado; en las disciplinas (maestrías de investigación y doctorados) se fundamenta en proyectos de investigación y en las profesiones (especialidades médico-quirúrgicas) en el desempeño, con el paciente y la familia, contempla no solo conocimientos sino aptitudes y actitudes. Conclusiones. Los requisitos de ingreso a la carrera docente evalúan la capacitación en la disciplina o profesión pero no la pedagógica, esto explica por qué los profesores tienen concepciones y criterios heterogéneos para evaluar y guiar al estudiante de posgrado. Las concepciones de los docentes reflejan la evaluación como un proceso funcional que involucra retroalimentación del discípulo y el profesor pero desligado del aprendizaje y para clasificar al estudiante al aprobar o reprobar..

[Reliability and validity of self-reported drug use among secondary school students]. / Fiabilidad y validez del autoinforme sobre el consumo de drogas en la población escolarizada de secundaria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the reliability and validity of self-reported use among secondary school students. METHOD: Validity was assessed in a representative sample of nearly 1,300 students by analyzing: a) the proportion of questions on drug use left unanswered compared with that for other questions; b) the proportion of inconsistencies between related questions; c) the proportion of questions wrongly completed; d) admision of ficticious drug use; e) the relationship between self-reported drug use and that of friends', and f) willingness to admit cannabis and ecstasy use. Reliability was analyzed using the kappa index, the proportion of specific agreement, and the intra-class correlation coefficient in a test-retest procedure in a randomized subsample of 349 students. RESULTS: The response rate to questions on drug use was high and was similar to that for more neutral questions. Only 0,3% of the secondary school students reported having used a fictitious drug. Except in the case of heroin, individual drug use was directly related to friends' perception of consumption. A very low proportion of students would not be willing to admit to use of cannabis (2%) or ecstasy (3,4%). Questions referring to drug use at some time during students' lives showed greater reliability than those referring to more recent drug use (last 12 months). The kappa indexes for drug consumption at some time during students lives ranged from 0.65 to 0.87, except for ecstasy and LSD (0.51 and 0.52 respectively). The age of first drug consumption was highly reliable (intra-class correlation coefficients ranged from 0.71 to 1). CONCLUSIONS: Except for ectasy, amphetamines and LSD, indexes of reliability and validity were generally good and similar to those obtained in other studies. These findings support the idea that information about self-reported drug use obtained through a questionnaire is reliable and valid, although the absolute prevalences of the use of some drugs should be interpreted with caution. The indicator of consumption at some time during students' lives is especially useful in studies monitoring drug use among this population.

Personality dimensions through the schizophrenia borderline.

While the schizoid dimension of personality has often been thought to be unitary, it has recently been suggested that several dimensions may be involved. In this study two separately derived normal population personality scales from within the psychoticism domain, the Rust Inventory of Schizotypal Cognitions (RISC), a scale designed to measure the positive cognitive schizotypal dimension, and the Eysencks' P scale from within the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, were administered to a group of 608 Venezuelan university students. It was found that the RISC and the EPQ had only a small correlation of 0.12. It was concluded that at least two dimensions were involved in the schizophrenic/normal spectrum, and that the EPQ Psychoticism scale was in fact measuring a dimension of personality disorder rather than a general factor of psychoticism.

Angiotropic (intravascular) large cell lymphoma. A clinicopathologic study of seven cases with unique clinical presentations.

The authors recently reported the antigenic phenotypes of three cases of so-called "malignant angioendotheliomatosis" and suggested that angiotropic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is a more appropriate designation for this disease. The authors now report an additional seven cases of ALCL with unique clinical presentations. One patient presented with prostate enlargement, the second with lytic bone lesions and thickened nasal sinus mucosa, the third had diffuse myalgia, the fourth had dyspnea and pulmonary infiltrates, the fifth had gangrene of the lower extremities, total-body skin involvement, and pancytopenia, the sixth had a lesion of the foreskin mimicking squamous cell carcinoma, and the seventh had a mediastinal mass. In all cases histologic features were characteristic of ALCL with, in two cases, extravascular spread into soft tissue. Immunohistologic studies showed a B-cell phenotype in five cases and a T-cell phenotype in one case. Two patients received combination chemotherapy using established treatment protocol for large cell lymphoma, and remain in complete clinical remission and two patients are responding clinically to combination chemotherapy. Two patients died shortly after receiving combination chemotherapy. One patient has only recently been diagnosed as having ALCL and no long-term follow-up is available. These data indicate that, although ALCL affects predominantly the central nervous system and skin, unusual clinical presentations may occur, and patients with ALCL may respond to combination chemotherapy for large cell lymphoma.