RESUMEN
Efforts to locate missing persons resulting from conflict often centre of excavation. Although this approach is the only way to definitively confirm the presence of human remains, it can be costly and labour-intensive, particularly when large areas need to be searched. This paper discusses a wide range of emerging non-invasive digital methods implemented with a view to locating burials and mass graves and increase the excavation recovery rate of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP). Aerial and terrestrial survey and subsequent 3D modelling were combined with geophysical survey in order to record sites, two of which were excavated to ground-truth the findings. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of these techniques in defining the search parameters of potential burial sites and prioritizing features for investigation. The nature of the collaboration between archaeologists, digital technologists, and forensic experts allowed mutual trust to be built between all parties, whilst also testing the effectiveness of the methods employed.
RESUMEN
Monilinia spp. are responsible for brown rot decay of stone and pome fruit in the field as well as in postharvest. Monilinia laxa and M. fructigena are considered indigenous to Europe, while M. fructicola is a quarantine pathogen in the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization area included in the A2 List. In Italy, it was first reported in 2009 in Piedmont (northern Italy) and rapidly spread to central Italy. We carried out a monitoring program on the occurrence of Monilinia spp. in southern Italy and a comparative characterization of the three main fungal pathogens. Molecular assays based on direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time quantitative PCR for molecular identification of Monilinia spp. from rotted fruit were set up, validated, and applied in a monitoring program. Of the tested 519 isolates from 26 orchards, 388 (74.8%) were identified as M. fructicola, 118 (22.7%) as M. laxa, 10 (1.9%) as M. fructigena, and 3 (0.6%) were M. polystroma. M. fructicola colonies grew faster and had a higher optimal temperature for growth (26°C) than M. laxa (23°C) and M. fructigena (20°C). No relevant difference in virulence could be observed on artificially inoculated apricot, cherry, and peach fruit. The fungal species showed different responses to fungicides, because M. fructicola was more sensitive than M. laxa, especially to cyflufenamid, and M. fructigena revealed a lower sensitivity to succinate dehydrogenase inhibitors (boscalid, fluopyram, and fluxapyroxad) and quinone outside inhibitors (mandestrobin). In summary, the two species M. fructicola and M. polystroma were first detected in southern Italy where M. fructicola has largely displaced the two indigenous pathogens M. laxa and M. fructigena; the relative proportions of the three pathogens in orchards should be considered when defining the management of brown rot of stone fruit due to differences in their responses to fungicides.
Asunto(s)
Ascomicetos/aislamiento & purificación , Fungicidas Industriales/farmacología , Enfermedades de las Plantas/microbiología , Prunus/microbiología , Ascomicetos/clasificación , Ascomicetos/efectos de los fármacos , Ascomicetos/patogenicidad , Frutas/microbiología , Italia , Reacción en Cadena de la PolimerasaRESUMEN
AIM: This study aimed to determine the morphological renal impairment in pregnant rats spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) submitted to swimming when compared with those who did not perform the activity, and to analyze the relationship of expression of cytokines in inflammatory fibrotic and protrained and sedentary animals. METHODS: SHRs and their respective control normotensive rats (WKY) were submitted or not to a swimming protocol during 9 weeks, resulting in four pregnant experimental groups: sedentary hypertensive (HS), trained hypertensive (HT), sedentary normotensive (NS), and trained normotensive (NT). RESULTS: Pregnant untrained hypertensive rats presented higher resting mean blood pressure (MAP) compared with both sedentary and trained normotensive groups (P<0.05). We can observe too, that the exercise training did not change the heart rate (HR) in both hypertensive and normotensive groups (P=0.127). The HT rats showed lower area of mesangial matrix (MM) compared to NT group (P=0.018). The perceptual of fibrosis (%F) in hypertensive rats was significantly higher compared with the % F in normotensive rats (P<0.001). The rats in the HT group showed higher expression of TGF-b (P<0.001) and of IL-10 (P<0.001) when compared with the other groups. CONCLUSION: The main conclusion is that in SHR rats it is shown a greater expression of TGF-beta, resulting in increased fibrosis in renal parenchyma due to the increased number of inflammatory cells that secrete this cytokine, and thus the practice of swimming can attenuate inflammatory processes, and mitigate the blood pressure of these animals.
Asunto(s)
Riñón/patología , Factor de Crecimiento Transformador beta/metabolismo , Animales , Presión Sanguínea/fisiología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Femenino , Frecuencia Cardíaca/fisiología , Condicionamiento Físico Animal/fisiología , Embarazo , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas SHR , Ratas Endogámicas WKYRESUMEN
SETTING: St Peter's TB Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of mutations that cause resistance to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RMP) and assess the effects of these mutations on second-line anti-tuberculosis treatment. DESIGN: GenoType(®)MTBDRplus assay results and clinical data documented at St Peter's TB Specialized Hospital over 3 years were retrospectively collected and analysed. RESULTS: The results indicated that 68.7% (n = 470) of RMP-resistant isolates had mutations at codon 531 (S531L) of the rpoB gene, while 93% (n = 481) of the INH-resistant isolates had mutations at codon 315 (S315T1) of the katG gene. The proportion of inhA mutations was 0.8% (n = 481). Treatment outcome was unfavourable in 23.7% (n = 76) of patients treated with second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Mutations in other codons of the rpoB gene (P > 0.05) and in the inhA promoter region (P > 0.05) were not associated with unfavourable treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: The predominant mutations in RMP and INH resistance were observed at codons 531 and 315 in the rpoB and katG genes, respectively. Mutations in the inhA region were rare, which shows its minimal contribution to the development of resistance to ethionamide. This also suggests that treating multidrug-resistant TB patients with high doses of INH may have little effect.
Asunto(s)
Antituberculosos/farmacología , Isoniazida/farmacología , Rifampin/farmacología , Tuberculosis Resistente a Múltiples Medicamentos/tratamiento farmacológico , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Antituberculosos/administración & dosificación , Antituberculosos/uso terapéutico , Niño , Codón/genética , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana Múltiple/genética , Etionamida/farmacología , Etionamida/uso terapéutico , Etiopía , Femenino , Humanos , Isoniazida/administración & dosificación , Isoniazida/uso terapéutico , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Mutación , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/efectos de los fármacos , Mycobacterium tuberculosis/genética , Estudios Retrospectivos , Rifampin/uso terapéutico , Resultado del Tratamiento , Tuberculosis Resistente a Múltiples Medicamentos/microbiología , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
P. hsyterophorus is an exotic invasive annual weed now causing severe infestation in Ethiopia. Studies on diagnosis, incidence and distribution of pathogens associated with parthenium weed in Ethiopia were carried out from 1998-2002. Several fungal isolates were obtained from seed and other parts of parthenium plants. Among them were putative pathogenic fungal species of the genus Helminthosporium, Phoma, Curvularia, Chaetomium, Alternaria, and Fusarium. However, pathogenecity test of the isolates obtained showed no or non-specific symptoms. It was concluded that these pathogens could be opportunistic with insignificant potential for biological control of parthenium. Two most important diseases associated with parthenium were a rust disease, caused by Puccinia abrupta var. partheniicola, and a phyllody disease, caused by a phytoplasma of fababean phyllody (PBP) phytoplasma group. The rust was commonly found in cool mid altitude (1500-2500 m) areas while phyllody was observed in low to mid altitude regions (900-2500 m) of Ethiopia, with a disease incidence up to 100% and 75%, respectively, in some locations. Study of the individual effects of the rust and phyllody diseases under field conditions showed a reduction on weed morphological parameters (plant height, leaf area, and dry matter yield). Parthenium seed production was reduced by 42% and 85% due to rust and phyllody, respectively. Phyllody and rust diseases of parthenium showed significant potential for classical biological control of parthenium after further confirmation of insect vectors that transmit phyllody and host range of phyllody disease to the related economic plants in Ethiopia.
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Asteraceae/microbiología , Hongos/crecimiento & desarrollo , Control Biológico de Vectores/métodos , Enfermedades de las Plantas/microbiología , Alternaria/crecimiento & desarrollo , Alternaria/aislamiento & purificación , Asteraceae/crecimiento & desarrollo , Chaetomium/crecimiento & desarrollo , Chaetomium/aislamiento & purificación , Etiopía , Hongos/aislamiento & purificación , Fusarium/crecimiento & desarrollo , Fusarium/aislamiento & purificación , Helminthosporium/crecimiento & desarrollo , Helminthosporium/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To determine the botanical identity, cytotoxicity, and antibacterial property of the commonly used toothbrush sticks in Ethiopia. SETTING: Research laboratories of the departments of Biology and Chemistry, Addis Ababa University between December 1993 and May 1995. METHODS: The study was performed by purchasing the commonly used toothbrush sticks from street markets in various towns of Ethiopia. Voucher specimens were collected and their botanical identity was determined following floral keys. The toothbrush sticks were ground in a mill and soaked in absolute methanol for 24 hours and filtered. The filtrates were dried in a rotary evaporator and the crude extracts were stored at 4 degrees C. The crude methanol extracts were used to test their antibacterial activity by impregnating into filter paper discs and placing on test plates of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cerues. Their lethality to brine shrimp (Artemia salina) was performed following standard procedures. RESULTS: Twenty different species of plant used as toothbrush were collected and their botanical identity determined. Crude methanol extracts of only Agave sisalana, Birbira and Hypericum revolutum test concentrations up to 500 micrograms/ml showed weak toxicity to brine shrimp. All the extracts showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus by agar diffusion method. CONCLUSION: Toothbrush sticks can be used by the vast majority of people who cannot afford buying the commercial toothbrush and toothpaste. The toothbrush sticks may be important for the oral and dental hygiene of the users and hence may be useful in decreasing dental caries. Further studies should focus on the effect of the toothbrush sticks against other common bacteria that are associated with dental diseases.
Asunto(s)
Medicinas Tradicionales Africanas , Extractos Vegetales/química , Plantas Medicinales/química , Plantas Medicinales/fisiología , Cepillado Dental/instrumentación , Actitud Frente a la Salud/etnología , Bacterias/efectos de los fármacos , Evaluación Preclínica de Medicamentos , Etiopía , Etnobotánica , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Humanos , Cepillado Dental/psicologíaRESUMEN
Previous studies have demonstrated that maturation of cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific antibodies in solid organ transplant recipients is delayed after primary CMV infection. To investigate the clinical significance of this finding, the avidity indices of anti-CMV antibody were determined in parallel with other serologic and virologic parameters in serial serum samples from 24 solid organ transplant recipients who had primary CMV infection that began during the first 3 months after transplantation. The data obtained show that a delay in antibody maturation is significantly correlated with a long persistence of positive antigenemia.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Afinidad de Anticuerpos , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/inmunología , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , Trasplante de Órganos , Adulto , Femenino , Trasplante de Corazón , Humanos , Trasplante de Riñón , Trasplante de Pulmón , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
The diagnostic problems linked to human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) in pregnancy are many and not all have been fully defined. In long-term seropositive women there is a tacit agreement that no laboratory testing for HCMV should be carried out. In seronegative women a test for HCMV-specific IgG should be performed at least twice during the first 4 months of pregnancy, and if the seronegativity persists, further follow-up might be stopped. On the other hand, if a seropositivity appears the diagnosis of a primary HCMV infection is established and prenatal diagnosis should be offered to the mother. Finally, in the case of a pregnant woman with unknown serological status, the diagnosis of HCMV infection is a complex problem and several different questions need to be addressed. In our opinion they should be screened with a reliable IgM test (confirmed by blot if necessary) followed, in the case of positivity, by an avidity assay. Pregnant women undergoing a primary HCMV infection should be encouraged to seek prenatal diagnosis to be performed by PCR and virus isolation from amniotic fluid at the 21st to 23rd week of gestation.
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Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/diagnóstico , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/virología , Femenino , Humanos , Embarazo , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/virología , Diagnóstico Prenatal , Pruebas SerológicasRESUMEN
Characterization of Candida albicans isolates from the oral cavity of Ethiopian Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-positive patients and HIV-negative individuals was undertaken. After identification of isolates using conventional methods and determination of carbohydrate assimilation profiles, serotyping was performed by slide agglutination with the Iatron IF6 serotyping system. Sensitivity of the isolates to 5-Fluorocytosine (5-FC) was assessed using the broth macrodilution method. There was no difference in phenotype, by any of the three methods used, between the HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals. Serotype A was found to be dominant in strains isolated from both HIV-positive (34/40 = 85%) and HIV-negative (17/20 = 85%) study subjects. These data suggest that the C. albicans strains causing oral candidiasis in patients with HIV infection are identical to the commensal ones found in healthy individuals.
Asunto(s)
Candida albicans/aislamiento & purificación , Seropositividad para VIH/microbiología , Boca/microbiología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/complicaciones , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/epidemiología , Infecciones Oportunistas Relacionadas con el SIDA/microbiología , Adulto , Candida albicans/clasificación , Candida albicans/efectos de los fármacos , Candidiasis Bucal/complicaciones , Candidiasis Bucal/epidemiología , Candidiasis Bucal/microbiología , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Farmacorresistencia Microbiana , Femenino , Flucitosina/farmacología , Seronegatividad para VIH , Seropositividad para VIH/complicaciones , Seropositividad para VIH/epidemiología , Humanos , Masculino , SerotipificaciónRESUMEN
Diagnosis of primary human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is accomplished exclusively by serologic testing. Among the possible methods, the determination of immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity is one of the least explored. In this work, we used a commercially available kit to test anti-HCMV IgG avidity in 336 serum samples from pregnant women and transplant recipients undergoing virologically proven HCMV primary or nonprimary infections and from latently infected blood donors. Our results demonstrate that the anti-HCMV IgG avidity test differentiates primary from nonprimary HCMV infections in both pregnant women and solid organ transplant recipients. In fact, 88.6% of primary infections and no secondary infections showed low-avidity IgG to HCMV. In particular, low IgG avidity is a marker of primary infection for 18 to 20 weeks after onset of symptoms in both immunocompromised and immunocompetent subjects.
Asunto(s)
Anticuerpos Antivirales/inmunología , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/diagnóstico , Huésped Inmunocomprometido , Inmunoglobulina G/inmunología , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/inmunología , Afinidad de Anticuerpos/inmunología , Infecciones por Citomegalovirus/inmunología , Femenino , Humanos , Inmunoglobulina M/inmunología , Embarazo , Factores de Tiempo , Inmunología del TrasplanteRESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Microalbuminuria is an early and sensible marker of renal impairment; furthermore, many authors consider it an independent predictive index for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In our study we observed this parameter in hypertensive patients treated respectively with ACE-inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and their combination. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Open comparative trial, 6 months follow-up. ENVIRONMENT: Outpatients, with no changes from usual lifestyle; office measurements. PATIENTS: Forty patients (22 men and 18 women) aged 52-78 years, with essential hypertension and microalbuminuria; diabetics and subjects with renal impairment were excluded. TREATMENT: Chronic antihypertensive drug therapy, respectively with nitrendipine 20 mg/die (Group A, n = 10), lisinopril 20 mg/die (Group B, n = 20), and lisinopril 20 mg/die+nitrendipine 20 mg/die (Group C, n = 10); all drugs were administered orally. MEASUREMENTS: Detection of urinary albumin excretion with immunochemical method (Micral Test); urine samples were taken immediately after arousal for three consecutive days; office blood pressure monitoring (sitting and standing) during the same day, with at least 2 separate readings. RESULTS: Out of 34 patients examined at follow-up, (8 from Group A, 17 from Group B and 9 from Group C) urinary albumin excretion rates were as follows: Group A: reduction (but not disappearance) in 3 patients (37%), no change in 4 patients (50%), increase in 1 patient (13%); Group B: disappearance in 11 patients (65%), reduction in 3 patients (17.5%), no changes in 3 patients (17.5%); Group C: reduction (but not disappearance) in 5 patients (55.5%), no changes in 4 patients (44.5%). CONCLUSIONS: In hypertensive patients not diabetics and not renally impaired with microalbuminuria, ACE-inhibitors appear to be a move suitable drug therapy than calcium channel blockers or the combination ACE-inhibitor+calcium channel blocker.
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Albuminuria/etiología , Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina/uso terapéutico , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Calcio/uso terapéutico , Hipertensión/tratamiento farmacológico , Lisinopril/administración & dosificación , Nitrendipino/administración & dosificación , Anciano , Inhibidores de la Enzima Convertidora de Angiotensina/administración & dosificación , Bloqueadores de los Canales de Calcio/administración & dosificación , Complicaciones de la Diabetes , Quimioterapia Combinada , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de RiesgoAsunto(s)
Alquinos/aislamiento & purificación , Antifúngicos/aislamiento & purificación , Compuestos Epoxi/aislamiento & purificación , Polyporaceae/química , Alquinos/química , Alquinos/farmacología , Antifúngicos/química , Antifúngicos/farmacología , Bacterias/efectos de los fármacos , Compuestos Epoxi/química , Compuestos Epoxi/farmacología , Hongos/efectos de los fármacos , Espectroscopía de Resonancia Magnética , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , PoliinosRESUMEN
This clinical study was carried out in our division on 106 patients undergoing surgery for various pathologies in the period from May to September 1991; the aim of this study was the evaluation of short-term antibiotic prophylaxis before and after surgery: either imipenem-cilastatin, or cephalosporin or no treatment. Imipenem-cilastatin was found to be the antibiotic of choice for short-term prophylaxis.
Asunto(s)
Cefalosporinas/administración & dosificación , Cilastatina/administración & dosificación , Imipenem/administración & dosificación , Infección de la Herida Quirúrgica/prevención & control , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Niño , Combinación de Medicamentos , Evaluación de Medicamentos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Periodo Posoperatorio , Cuidados PreoperatoriosRESUMEN
Previous reports have suggested that patients with heart failure and coexistent ventricular tachyarrhythmias have a 1-year mortality of 40% to 60%. To assess whether an antiarrhythmic management program could reduce mortality, we studied 20 consecutive patients with ventricular fibrillation (12) or ventricular tachycardia (eight) and heart failure. Coronary disease was the most common underlying cardiac disorder (85%). Heart failure was managed with digoxin (16), diuretics (16), and vasodilators (seven). All patients received antiarrhythmic drug therapy guided by both noninvasive and invasive studies. This included single (10) or combination drug therapy (10). Beta blockers were used alone or in combination for arrhythmia control in 11 patients. One-year survival was 89%. We conclude that an effective program can be developed for patients with life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias and heart failure. Combination antiarrhythmic drug therapy is often required. Despite impaired left ventricular function, beta-blocking drugs can be used, and may be important.
Asunto(s)
Arritmias Cardíacas/mortalidad , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/mortalidad , Antiarrítmicos/administración & dosificación , Arritmias Cardíacas/tratamiento farmacológico , Arritmias Cardíacas/fisiopatología , Estimulación Cardíaca Artificial , Electrocardiografía , Prueba de Esfuerzo , Estudios de Seguimiento , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/tratamiento farmacológico , Insuficiencia Cardíaca/fisiopatología , Humanos , Taquicardia/tratamiento farmacológico , Taquicardia/mortalidad , Taquicardia/fisiopatología , Fibrilación Ventricular/tratamiento farmacológico , Fibrilación Ventricular/mortalidad , Fibrilación Ventricular/fisiopatologíaAsunto(s)
Clavícula/lesiones , Fracturas Óseas/epidemiología , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Italia , Estudios ProspectivosRESUMEN
The combined occurrence of impaired left ventricular function and ventricular tachyarrhythmias portend a high annual mortality. Although antiarrhythmic drugs can reduce ventricular arrhythmias, the prognosis may be unchanged. We administered propafenone to 12 patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and left ventricular ejection fractions less than 40%. Propafenone significantly reduced isolated ventricular premature depolarizations, couplets, and ventricular tachycardia on ambulatory monitoring. Propafenone eliminated all exercise provocable ventricular tachycardia. Propafenone additionally abolished ventricular tachycardia inducible by programmed stimulation in five of six patients. In eight patients studied before and during therapy, there was no significant change in left ventricular ejection fraction determined by nuclear ventriculography. Propafenone was discontinued in three patients due to side effects. All patients remain alive and without recurrence of clinically significant arrhythmia over a mean follow-up period of 14 months. Propafenone is an effective drug for the management of ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and may be used in patients with impaired left ventricular function.