RESUMEN
In the last decade, several studies demonstrated the effectiveness of ecological network analysis to a better understanding of the structure bee-plant interaction networks; however, such approaches involving urban areas are still scarce. Here, we analyzed two assemblages of corbiculate bees (Apoidea, Apidae) in two geographically distinct urban areas in Brazil. In both study areas, apid bees visiting flowers were captured with an insect net. Surveys were performed biweekly and alternately in each area, over a 1-year period. Both urban areas were very similar for most indices. The two social bee-plant networks were significantly nested, a pattern usually described for bee-plant networks and somehow expected in our study, considering the recognized behavior of social apid bees in exploring a wide range of plant species. The modularity measures were low and very similar for the networks of both urban areas, a finding that could be due at least in part to the low phylogenetic distance between corbiculate bees and the broad dietary habits of the social apid bees. Network-level indices showed that both bee assemblages had a relatively low niche overlap, indicating that the set of social apid species studied exploited differently the arrays of plants available. Species level index (resource range) showed that in both urban areas, Trigona spinipes (Fabr.) and Apis mellifera L. showed the higher number of interactions, a result that demonstrates the importance of these species in social bee-plant interaction networks in urban areas. Similarly to other ecosystems, these two apid species behaved as super-generalists in the two urban areas surveyed herein.
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Abejas , Filogenia , Plantas , Animales , Brasil , Ciudades , Ecosistema , FloresRESUMEN
The MSH2 c.388_389del mutation has occasionally been described in Lynch families worldwide. At the Portuguese Oncology Institute in Porto, Portugal, we have identified 16 seemingly unrelated families with this germline mutation. To evaluate if this alteration is a founder or a recurrent mutation we performed haplotype analysis in the 16 Portuguese index cases and 55 relatives, as well as in four index cases and 13 relatives reported from Germany, Scotland, England, and Argentina. In the Portuguese families we observed a shared haplotype of approximately 10 Mb and all were originated from the north of Portugal. These results suggest that this alteration is a founder mutation in Portugal with a relatively recent origin. In the reported families outside Portugal with this mutation different haplotype backgrounds were observed, supporting the hypothesis that it occurred de novo on multiple occasions. We also conclude that the high proportion of families with the MSH2 c.388_389del mutation indicates that screening for this alteration as a first step may be cost-effective in the genetic testing of Lynch syndrome suspects of Portuguese ancestry, especially those originating from the north of Portugal.
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Neoplasias Colorrectales Hereditarias sin Poliposis/genética , Efecto Fundador , Proteína 2 Homóloga a MutS/genética , Eliminación de Secuencia , Argentina , Secuencia de Bases , Inglaterra , Mutación de Línea Germinal , Alemania , Haplotipos , Humanos , Repeticiones de Microsatélite , Motivos de Nucleótidos , Polimorfismo de Nucleótido Simple , PortugalRESUMEN
The current status of mercury concentrations in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) were assessed using the Mussel Watch Program (MWP) contaminant monitoring data, which is based on the analysis of oyster tissue and sediment samples. In both matrices, tHg and MeHg concentrations varied broadly. Significant concentration differences (p<0.05) between the sub-regions of the eastern, central and western Gulf were observed with maximum concentrations (hotspots) found at specific sites all across the Gulf. Compared to the Food and Drug Administration's action level in seafood, maximum mercury values were low. Based on the long-term MWP data, tHg in tissues show fairly static temporal trends along the central and western Gulf coast, while strong decreasing trends were observed in the eastern Gulf. However, the presence of mercury hotspots indicates that mercury is still a concern in the GOM. The results complement existing information to further the understanding of mercury distributions in the GOM.
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Monitoreo del Ambiente , Mercurio/análisis , Compuestos de Metilmercurio/análisis , Ostreidae/metabolismo , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Animales , Sedimentos Geológicos/química , Programas de Gobierno , Golfo de México , Mercurio/metabolismo , Compuestos de Metilmercurio/metabolismo , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/metabolismo , Contaminación Química del Agua/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Many resource limited settings (RLS) suffer from high rates of both cervical cancer and HIV. Limited HPV serology data are available from RLS; such data could help describe local patterns of HPV infection and predict vaccine efficacy. OBJECTIVES: To determine seropositivity to HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18 in HIV-infected women from South Africa (SA), Botswana and Brazil. STUDY DESIGN: HPV serotyping for high-risk types 6, 11, 16 and 18 was performed on samples collected from HIV-infected women from 2003-2010 using competitive Luminex Immuno Assay (HPV-4cLIA). We examined the association between seropositivity to these HPV types and country of enrollment, CD4, HIV-1 RNA level, and Pap smear. RESULTS: HPV serology results were available for 487 HIV-infected women (157, 170 and 160 from SA, Botswana and Brazil respectively). Approximately 65% of women had serum antibodies to one of the 4 HPV types and less than 3% of women had antibodies all 4 serotypes. Approximately 30% women demonstrated antibodies to type 16 HPV. Rates of seropositivity to HPV 11, and HPV 16+18 varied significantly between countries. Statistical difference was also shown in women in different age categories in the different countries. There was no difference in serology results compared by CD4 count, HIV viral load or Pap smear results. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the quadrivalent vaccine may be effective in preventing HPV infection in these countries.
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Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Infecciones por VIH/complicaciones , Papillomaviridae/inmunología , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/complicaciones , Adulto , Botswana , Brasil , Recuento de Linfocito CD4 , Femenino , VIH-1 , Papillomavirus Humano 11/genética , Papillomavirus Humano 11/inmunología , Papillomavirus Humano 16/genética , Papillomavirus Humano 16/inmunología , Papillomavirus Humano 18/genética , Papillomavirus Humano 18/inmunología , Papillomavirus Humano 6/genética , Papillomavirus Humano 6/inmunología , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Papillomaviridae/clasificación , Papillomaviridae/genética , Infecciones por Papillomavirus/virología , Vacunas contra Papillomavirus , ARN Viral/análisis , ARN Viral/sangre , Estudios Seroepidemiológicos , SudáfricaRESUMEN
A number of different system identification techniques have been proposed to assess dynamic cerebral autoregulation in critically ill patients. From these methods, the response to a standard stepwise change in blood pressure can be estimated. Responses lacking physiological consistency are a common occurrence and could be the consequence of particular system identification procedures or, alternatively, caused by measurements with a poor signal-to-noise ratio. A multi-observer approach was adopted in this paper to classify cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) step responses to spontaneous changes in arterial blood pressure in a group of 43 neonates with a mean gestational age of 33.7 weeks (range 24-42 weeks) and a mean birthweight of 1,980 g (range 570-3,910 g). Three experienced observers independently analysed the estimated step responses in 191 recordings each lasting 100 s; for an autoregressive (ARX) model, 124 (65%) of the step responses were accepted by at least two of the three observers. Two other system identification methods, transfer function analysis and the moving average Wiener-Laguerre model, gave 90 (45%) and 98 (51%) acceptable responses, respectively. Only 54 epochs (28%) were accepted with all three methods. With 88 (46%) responses rejected by at least two methods, it can be concluded that signal quality was the main reason for nonphysiological step responses. To avoid the need for subjective visual selection, an automatic procedure for classifying step responses was implemented leading to sensitivities and specificities in the range 85-90%, with respect to the agreement with subjective evaluations. Objective selection of CBFV step responses is thus feasible and could also be adapted for other physiological measurement techniques relying on system identification methods.
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Velocidad del Flujo Sanguíneo/fisiología , Presión Sanguínea/fisiología , Circulación Cerebrovascular/fisiología , Homeostasis , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Análisis de Regresión , Procesamiento de Señales Asistido por Computador/instrumentaciónRESUMEN
Interpretation and quantification of cerebral blood flow autoregulation can be carreid out from step responses to arterial blood pressure changes estimated with various identification methods. However estimates usually need to be visually inspected to rejected some that are not physiologically acceptable...
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Circulación Cerebrovascular , Encéfalo/irrigación sanguínea , Recién Nacido , Presión IntracranealRESUMEN
A trial is described, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, as one of a series suggested to investigate the effects of strategic but selective acaricide treatments of cattle within herds against Boophilus microplus. They are aimed at considering the repercussions of farmer attempts at immediate reductions in acaricide costs and the potential for creation of 'refugia' of untreated ticks. Half (Group 1) of a small experimental herd of European breed heifers were treated strategically against ticks, three times during the late spring-early summer and twice during autumn (southern hemisphere), with an injectable avermectin endectocide, designed to act directly against the first and third generations of parasitic B. microplus per 'cattle tick year' at this site, respectively. The consequent levels of infestations on all of the member cattle in their common pasture were monitored. Group 1 showed low to zero tick counts during the 28-day treatment interval periods and up to ca. 14 days after the last of such a series. Treated cattle, however, became re-infested outside of these periods and to levels that would be considered as unacceptable by farmers in the state. The untreated cattle (Group 2) showed infestations at generally higher levels, than their contemporaries, within and outside of the treatment periods. There were thus ample sources of larvae in the pasture, derived principally from falling, untreated engorged female ticks, re-infesting both the treated and untreated cattle. Advantages of maintaining chemically untreated cattle ticks within a herd, compared to their disadvantages as contaminants to classical strategic control procedures, merit re-evaluation, especially in relation to the recent, world-wide resurgence of acaricide resistance in B. microplus.
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Enfermedades de los Bovinos/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , Insecticidas/uso terapéutico , Ivermectina/análogos & derivados , Ivermectina/uso terapéutico , Control de Ácaros y Garrapatas , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/tratamiento farmacológico , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Garrapatas/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Brasil , Cruzamiento , Bovinos , Europa (Continente) , Insecticidas/administración & dosificación , Ivermectina/administración & dosificaciónRESUMEN
A review of the ticks (Acari, Ixodida) of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, was completed as a step towards a definitive list (currently indicated as 12) of such species, their hosts and distribution. The ticks: Argas miniatus (poultry), Ixodes loricatus (opossums), Amblyomma aureolatum (dogs), A. calcaratum (anteaters), A. cooperi (capybaras), A. nodosum (anteaters), A. tigrinum (dogs) (Neotropical) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (dogs) (introduced, cosmopolitan, Afrotropical) were confirmed as present, in addition to the predominant, Boophilus microplus (cattle) (introduced, pan-tropical, Oriental). Of the further 18 species thus far reported in the literature as present in the state, but unavailable for examination: only Ornithodoros brasiliensis (humans and their habitations) (Neotropical), Ixodes affinis (deer) (Nearctic/Neotropical) and I. auritulus (birds) (Nearctic/Neotropical/Afrotropical/ Australasian) are considered likely; 13 species would benefit from corroborative local data but the majority appear unlikely; reports of A. maculatum (Nearctic/Neotropical, but circum-Caribbean) are considered erroneous; the validity of A. fuscum is in doubt. The very recent, first known report of the tropical Anocentor nitens (horses)(Nearctic/Neotropical), but still apparent absence of the tropical A. cajennense (catholic) (Nearctic/Neotropical) and the sub-tropical/temperate Ixodes pararicinus (cattle) (Neotropical) in Rio Grande do Sul are important for considerations on their current biogeographical distribution and its dynamics in South America. The state has relatively long established, introduced ("exotic"), Old World tick species (B. microplus, R. sanguineus) that continue to represent significant pests and disease vectors to their traditional, introduced domestic animal hosts, cattle and urban dogs. There are also indigenous, New World ticks (A. miniatus, O. brasiliensis, A. aureolatum, A. nitens), as both long established and possibly newly locally introduced species in the state, that should be considered as potential and emergent pests and pathogen vectors to humans and their more recently acquired, introduced domestic animal hosts; rural poultry, dogs and horses.
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Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , Bovinos/parasitología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Garrapatas/clasificación , Animales , Animales Domésticos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Perros , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos/fisiología , Humanos , Ixodes/patogenicidad , Ixodes/fisiología , Características de la Residencia , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/epidemiología , Garrapatas/fisiologíaRESUMEN
A review of the ticks (Acari, Ixodida) of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, was completed as a step towards a definitive list (currently indicated as 12) of such species, their hosts and distribution. The ticks: Argas miniatus (poultry), Ixodes loricatus (opossums), Amblyomma aureolatum (dogs), A. calcaratum (anteaters), A. cooperi (capybaras), A. nodosum (anteaters), A. tigrinum (dogs) (Neotropical) and Rhipicephalus sanguineus (dogs) (introduced, cosmopolitan, Afrotropical) were confirmed as present, in addition to the predominant, Boophilus microplus (cattle) (introduced, pan-tropical, Oriental). Of the further 18 species thus far reported in the literature as present in the state, but unavailable for examination: only Ornithodoros brasiliensis (humans and their habitations) (Neotropical), Ixodes affinis (deer) (Nearctic/Neotropical) and I. auritulus (birds) (Nearctic/Neotropical/Afrotropical/ Australasian) are considered likely; 13 species would benefit from corroborative local data but the majority appear unlikely; reports of A. maculatum (Nearctic/Neotropical, but circum-Caribbean) are considered erroneous; the validity of A. fuscum is in doubt. The very recent, first known report of the tropical Anocentor nitens (horses)(Nearctic/Neotropical), but still apparent absence of the tropical A. cajennense (catholic) (Nearctic/Neotropical) and the sub-tropical/temperate Ixodes pararicinus (cattle) (Neotropical) in Rio Grande do Sul are important for considerations on their current biogeographical distribution and its dynamics in South America. The state has relatively long established, introduced ("exotic"), Old World tick species (B. microplus, R. sanguineus) that continue to represent significant pests and disease vectors to their traditional, introduced domestic animal hosts, cattle and urban dogs. There are also indigenous, New World ticks (A. miniatus, O. brasiliensis, A. aureolatum, A. nitens), as both long established and possibly newly locally introduced species in the state, that should be considered as potential and emergent pests and pathogen vectors to humans and their more recently acquired, introduced domestic animal hosts; rural poultry, dogs and horses.
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Animales , Humanos , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/parasitología , Bovinos/parasitología , Ixodes/fisiología , Infestaciones por Garrapatas/veterinaria , Garrapatas/clasificación , Animales Domésticos/parasitología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos/fisiología , Ixodes/patogenicidad , Características de la Residencia , Garrapatas/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Data on the public health importance of intestinal parasites in Grenada have not been available for over 60 years and this study aimed to redress this information gap. Between May and June 1999, a cross-sectional point prevalence study of intestinal protozoans and helminths was carried out in school children aged 6-12 years of age in three schools in St George's Parish, Grenada. After receiving informed consent, a single stool sample was obtained which was immediately aliquoted and samples stored in either the refrigerator or freezer. The refrigerator sample was processed by a salt flotation concentration technique. The frozen sample was analysed by ELISA assay for antigens of intestinal protozoa. A total of 315 samples was collected. For protozoans, prevalence rates of 36, 12 and 3 percent were obtained for Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba histolytica and Cryptosporidium parvum, respectively. For helminths, prevalence rates were 0.4, 1.3, 5.3 and 1.4 percent for hookworm, Enterobius vermicularis, Trichuris trichuria and Ascaris lumbricoides, respectively. Protozoans are prevalent in Grenadians school children but helminths are not as common. These differences in prevalence rates may reflect the easy availability of broad spectrum antihelmintics whilst drugs for protozoan infections are obtained by prescription only. The dramatic difference in the prevalence of intestinal helminths from earlier in the 20th century may also reflect a considerable improvement in the socio-economic status of the population. (Au)
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Niño , Humanos , Infecciones por Protozoos/epidemiología , Helmintiasis/epidemiología , Estudios Transversales , Grenada/epidemiología , Manejo de Especímenes , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/métodosRESUMEN
Enzootic stability (herd immunity) in bovine babesiosis occurs when the rate of transmission (inoculation rate) of Babesia spp by the tick vector is sufficient to immunize a majority of susceptible calves before the loss of calfhood resistance. The effect of three tick (Boophilus microplus) control strategies (none, threshold, and strategic) on enzootic stability and the likelihood of babesiosis (Babesia bovis) outbreaks was studied using a spreadsheet age-class computer simulation model. The model was driven by weekly bovine tick counts from Brazil and Uruguay. The Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brazil bovine population (30 degrees 05' South latitude) was found to be in a naturally occurring state of enzootic stability, corresponding to an inoculation rate exceeding 0.005 throughout the year. Threshold dipping strategies should not increase the risk of babesiosis in cattle so managed. Strategic dipping resulted in an extended period of enzootic instability lasting 30 weeks, which requires protection of the herd through immunization. Because of the more prolonged low winter temperature conditions, the Tacuarembó, Uruguay bovine population (31 degrees 40' South latitude) was found to be in a naturally occurring state of enzootic instability, characterized by a 28 week period in which the inoculation rate was below 0.005. Strategic dipping should lead to eradication of the babesial parasite from tick and bovine populations, but would not result in eradication of the tick vector. This could lead to subsequent outbreaks if Babesia carrier animals were to be introduced into the herd. In both populations, strategic tick control could be accompanied by concurrent babesiosis vaccination.
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Babesia bovis , Babesiosis/veterinaria , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/prevención & control , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/veterinaria , Animales , Babesiosis/epidemiología , Babesiosis/prevención & control , Brasil/epidemiología , Bovinos , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/transmisión , Simulación por Computador , Brotes de Enfermedades/veterinaria , Ixodes/parasitología , Masculino , Orquiectomía , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/epidemiología , Enfermedades por Picaduras de Garrapatas/prevención & control , Uruguay/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
An essential step toward the effective processing of the medical language is the development of representational models that formalize the language semantics. These models, also known as semantic data models, help to unlock the meaning of descriptive expressions, making them accessible to computer systems. The present study tries to determine the quality of a semantic data model created to encode chest radiology findings. The evaluation methodology relied on the ability of physicians to extract information from textual and encoded representations of chest X-ray reports, whilst answering questions associated with each report. The evaluation demonstrated that the encoded reports seemed to have the same information content of the original textual reports. The methodology generated useful data regarding the quality of the data model, demonstrating that certain segments were creating ambiguous representations and that some details were not being represented.
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Inteligencia Artificial , Radiografía Torácica , Sistemas de Información Radiológica , Terminología como Asunto , Adulto , Femenino , Humanos , Almacenamiento y Recuperación de la Información , Masculino , Sistemas de Registros Médicos Computarizados , Semántica , Vocabulario ControladoRESUMEN
The cagA gene was detected in 100% of 16 Helicobacter pylori isolates from patients with gastric carcinoma versus 78% of 18 isolates from patients with duodenal ulcers (P = 0.344) and only 64% of 22 isolates from patients with gastritis only (P = 0.005) in Brazil. Also, there was a significant association between isolation of cagA+ s1-type vacA H. pylori in cases of stomach cancer and ulcers as opposed to cases of gastritis only (P = 0.004), but this was not true in Houston (P = 0.238), where 94% of all isolates were cagA+.
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Antígenos Bacterianos , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Úlcera Duodenal/microbiología , Gastritis/microbiología , Infecciones por Helicobacter/microbiología , Helicobacter pylori/genética , Helicobacter pylori/aislamiento & purificación , Neoplasias Gástricas/microbiología , Alelos , Secuencia de Bases , Brasil/epidemiología , Cartilla de ADN/genética , Úlcera Duodenal/complicaciones , Gastritis/complicaciones , Genes Bacterianos , Infecciones por Helicobacter/complicaciones , Infecciones por Helicobacter/epidemiología , Humanos , Epidemiología Molecular , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Neoplasias Gástricas/complicaciones , Texas/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Thyroid hormone mediates its many actions by binding to thyroid receptors which are ligand-dependent nuclear transcription factors bound to specific DNA sequences known as thyroid hormones response elements. There are three isoforms of the thyroid hormone receptor, namely TR, TRB 1 and TRB 2, which differ in their tissue distribution and transcriptional activity. Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) is a dominantly inherited condition which occurs when an affected individual harbours a mutation in one allele of the thyroid hormone receptor beta gene (TRB 1 and B2). Most affected patients exhibit elevated thyroid hormone concentrations associated with inappropriate secretion of thyrotropin (TSH). The clinical presentation of these patients is variable. Patients with generalised RTH exhibit varying degrees of peripheral insensitivity to thyroid hormone which manifests itself in some families as growth retardation and learning disabilities. In contrast, individuals with pituitary resistance present with signs and symptoms of thyrotoxicosis. To further elucidate the roles of these mutant receptors on the pituitary-hypothalamic thyroid axis, we have developed a transgenic mouse model of RTH by expressing a mutual thyroid hormone receptor (TRB 1) selectively in the pituitary. The mice developed profound pituitary resistance to thyroid hormone as demonstrated by markedly elevated baseline non T3 suppressible, serum TSH and pituitary TSHB and rnRNA. Paradoxically serum T4 levels were normal suggesting bioinactive TSH. The reduced biologic activity of the TSH in transgenic mice was reversed by throtropin releasing hormone (TRH) administration which resulted in markedly elevated T4 concentrations intransgenic but not in wild type mice.(AU)
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Receptores de Hormona Tiroidea/análisis , Hormonas Tiroideas/análisis , Tirotropina/metabolismo , Receptores de Hormona Liberadora de Tirotropina/administración & dosificación , Hormonas Tiroideas/administración & dosificaciónRESUMEN
Estudos de diagnostico, caracterizacao parasitaria e identificacao foram conduzidos em pacientes humanos com lesoes cutaneas de leishmaniose na Provincia de Santiago del Estero, no norte da Argentina. Os procedimentos de diagnostico foram: biopsias de lesoes para utilizacao em esfregacos e inoculacao em hamster; aspiracao (com agulha) de ulceras, para cultura "in vitro". As tecnicas a IFAT-IgG e o teste intradermico de Montenegro. Oito cepas de parasitas foram isoladas, sendo estas obtidas de pacientes com lesoes ativas...
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Humanos , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/inmunología , Leishmania braziliensis/aislamiento & purificación , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/epidemiología , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/análisis , Argentina , Isoenzimas/análisis , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/diagnóstico , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Diagnostic and parasite characterization and identification studies were carried out in human patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in Santiago del Estero, Northern Province of Argentina. Diagnostic procedures were biopsies of lesions for smears and inoculations in hamster, needle aspirations of material from ulcers for "in vitro" cultures. Immunodiagnostic techniques applied were IFAT-IgG and Montenegro skin test. Primary isolation of eight stocks of leishmanial parasites was achieved from patients with active lesions. All stocks were biologically characterized by their behaviour in hamster, measurements of amastigote and promastigotes and growth "in vitro". Eight stocks were characterized and identified at species level by their reactivity to a cross-panel of sub-genus and species-specific Monoclonal Antibodies through an Indirect Immunofluorescence technique and a Dot-ELISA. We conclude from the serodeme analysis of Argentina stocks that: stocks MHOM/AR/92/SE-1; SE-2; SE-4; SE-8; SE-8-I; SE-30; SE-34 and SE-36 are Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. Three Leishmania stocks (SE-1; SE-2 and SE-30) did not react with one highly species-specific Monoclonal Antibody (Clone: B-18, Leishmania-(Viannia) braziliensis marker) disclosing two serodeme group patterns. Five out of eight soluble extracts of leishmanial promastigotes were electrophoresed on thin-layer starch gels and examined for the enzyme MPI, Mannose Phosphate Isomerase; MDH, Malate Dehydrogenase; 6PGD, 6 Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase; NH, Nucleoside Hydrolase, 2-deoxyinosine as substrate; SOD, Superoxide Dismutase; GPI, Glucose Phosphate Isomerase and ES, Esterase. From the isoenzyme studies we concluded that stocks: MHOM/AR/92/SE-1; SE-2; SE-4; SE-8 and SE-8-I are isoenzymatically Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis. We need to analyze more enzymes before assigning them to a braziliensis zymodeme.
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Isoenzimas/análisis , Leishmania braziliensis/aislamiento & purificación , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/parasitología , Animales , Anticuerpos Monoclonales/análisis , Argentina , Cricetinae , Humanos , Leishmania braziliensis/inmunología , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/diagnóstico , Leishmaniasis Cutánea/enzimología , MesocricetusRESUMEN
BACKGROUND & AIMS: An association between water sources and the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Peruvian children was shown previously. The aim of this study was to confirm the presence of H. pylori in drinking water in the same community. METHODS: Forty-eight drinking water samples from different locations in pueblo jovenes (new towns) near Lima were collected. Samples were frozen until technology advanced to the point to the point at which H. pylori might be reliably detected. Immunomagnetic beads coated with anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin Gs were used to concentrate H. pylori, and two polymerase chain reaction assays based on different H. pylori genes were used. One was a polymerase chain reaction for the detection of the H. pylori adhesin subunit encoding gene, and the second was a previously validated H. pylori 16S ribosomal RNA reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: The expected 375-base pair fragment from the adhesin gene was amplified from 24 water samples. The expected 500-base pair fragment of the 16S ribosomal RNA and the 375-base pair fragment of the adhesin gene were amplified from 11 of the samples. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm the presence of H. pylori in drinking water in Peru and are consistent with conclusions from a previous epidemiological study of the same population. This provides additional evidence for waterborne transmission of H. pylori in some environments.
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Helicobacter pylori/aislamiento & purificación , Microbiología del Agua , Abastecimiento de Agua , Adhesinas Bacterianas/genética , Secuencia de Bases , Genes Bacterianos , Helicobacter pylori/genética , Helicobacter pylori/metabolismo , Separación Inmunomagnética , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Hibridación de Ácido Nucleico , Perú , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , ARN Bacteriano/análisis , ARN Ribosómico 16S/análisis , Sensibilidad y EspecificidadRESUMEN
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) is the major secondary and tertiary health care facility in Barbados, and patients who reach this hospital either present directly to the Accident and Emergency Department (A+E), or are referred by physicians. Over a six-month period all diabetic admissions to the hospital were identified, each patient was interviewed and examined, and hospital progress and outcome recorded. Of the 539 patients identified, 201 (37 percent) came directly to the A+E, while 338 (63 percent) had been referred to hospital. Three hundred and sixty-two (69 percent) had seen a physician within three months of admission. The main reasons for admission were the diabetic septic foot (33 percent), followed by heart failure (13 percent) and acute myocardial infarct 12.5 percent. Because the diabetic septic foot is considered a largely preventable problem, the high admission rate suggests that preventive care, assessment and management at the primary care level are inadequate. Patients who visited their primary care physicians within three months of admission, but nevertheless ended up in hospital, had lower mortality rates but prolonged hospital stays (AU)
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Humanos , Diabetes Mellitus , Admisión del Paciente , Pie Diabético , Barbados/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
1. Tissue kallikrein (TK) cleaves low molecular weight kininogen (LK) at two sites to release kallidin: site I (between Arg389 and Ser390) is a typical cleavage point for a trypsin-like enzyme whereas site II (between Met379 and Lys380) is unusual and unique to TK. In order to learn more about the structural requirements and mechanism of cleavage at site II, we studied the hydrolysis by TK of several synthetic LK fragments varying in length between 4 and 22 residues and containing either site II only or both sites I and II. 2. Blocking site I cleavage in LK fragments by substituting DArg for LArg at position 389 or omitting site I from the sequence still allowed cleavage to proceed at site II. Replacement or deletion of selected amino acid residues in these fragments demonstrated that the presence of Arg381 was essential for site II cleavage to occur whereas Pro383, Phe385 and Ser386 could be replaced with Ala without affecting binding or cleavage by TK. Ki values towards TK were determined for all LK fragments in order to compare their binding affinities to the enzyme. Short peptides containing site II only exhibited high Ki values (> or = 100 microM) whereas longer fragments containing both sites I and II had Ki values of 2-7 microM. 3. In order to bring sites I and II into close proximity spatially and thus facilitating efficient cleavage in the enzyme-substrate complex, we prepared several cyclic analogs of the longer LK fragments.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Asunto(s)
Calicreínas/metabolismo , Quininógenos/metabolismo , Fragmentos de Péptidos/metabolismo , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Sitios de Unión , Humanos , Hidrólisis , Calidina/metabolismo , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Conformación Proteica , Calicreínas de TejidoRESUMEN
We have recently developed synthetic low molecular weight inhibitors of both tissue and plasma kallikreins. Several of these were evaluated in vivo in the ovalbumin-sensitised guinea pig for their ability to prevent the bronchoconstriction elicited by antigen challenge. The selective tissue kallikrein inhibitor CH-694 (but not the selective plasma kallikrein inhibitor CH-684) caused highly significant falls in airways resistance when it was administered at 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally 15 min before and 90 min after challenge. There was also a highly significant fall in the tissue kallikrein activity measured in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid. Inhibitors of tissue kallikrein may prove effective in the treatment of allergic inflammation in man.