RESUMEN
Lithium is used in man for the treatment and prevention of manic depressive psychoses. The collective use of lithium was proposed in intensive livestock farming in order to reduce stress and aggressive behaviour. This objective was thwarted by the pharmacokinetic properties of lithium: slow intracerebral penetration, narrow therapeutic index, high individual variability plus unpleasant secondary effects. The neuroprotective and neurotrophic properties of lithium recently discovered could create renewed interest in lithium in livestock farming for neurodegenerative diseases such as sub-acute transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). With this in mind, prior pharmacokinetic tests are proposed on mink and cattle.
Asunto(s)
Crianza de Animales Domésticos/métodos , Litio/farmacocinética , Animales , Bovinos , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/tratamiento farmacológico , Humanos , Litio/administración & dosificación , Litio/uso terapéutico , Visón , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas/veterinaria , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/administración & dosificación , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/farmacocinética , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/uso terapéutico , Enfermedades por Prión/tratamiento farmacológico , Enfermedades por Prión/veterinaria , Especificidad de la EspecieRESUMEN
Bovine spastic paresis (BSP) is a rare and little-known disease of cattle. The etiology remains unknown. A pathogenesis close to the sub-acute transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) has repeatedly been advanced. In order to confirm an infectious origin, intra- and inter-species transmission studies are proposed. A positive result would bring a major advance in knowledge.
Asunto(s)
Paraparesia Espástica/etiología , Enfermedades por Prión/complicaciones , Animales , Bovinos , Litio/metabolismo , Paraparesia Espástica/tratamiento farmacológico , Paraparesia Espástica/epidemiología , Paraparesia Espástica/fisiopatología , Oligoelementos/metabolismoRESUMEN
Pediatric burn survivors are reported to present optimistic pictures of themselves; it has been suggested that their reports of high self-esteem may reflects a coping mechanism. The purpose of this study was to compare burned children's self-perceptions of competence and adequacy to normative population with the use of two standardized instruments. A random sample of 32 pediatric burn survivors was administered two standardized instruments: the Piers-Harris and the Harter Self-Perception Profiles for children and adolescents. Paired t tests revealed significantly higher self-concepts by the burned children than the nonclinical reference groups on five of the six Piers-Harris clusters and on two of the nine Harter Self-Perception Profiles domains. Also, the relationship between the children's perceived self-worth in each domain, and the importance they attributed to that domain, indicate that the burned children are satisfied with themselves in those areas they perceive as important. Results from both tests suggest that the burn survivors' report of positive self-esteem may reflect a necessary defense mechanism in the adjustment process, which should be supported by the burn team.
Asunto(s)
Adaptación Psicológica , Quemaduras , Sobrevivientes/psicología , Adolescente , Niño , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Valores de Referencia , Muestreo , AutoimagenRESUMEN
Using a model amphotropic recombinant retrovirus encoding the Escherichia coli lacZ gene and quantitative assays to measure virus infection, we have determined the effects of time and target cell number on infectivity. Infection of various numbers of NIH 3T3 fibroblasts showed that the extent of lacZ virus infection was dependent on virus concentration and independent of target cell number. These results demonstrate that multiplicity of infection is not an accurate predictor of the efficiency of retroviral infection. Varying the time of viral infection revealed that maximal infection occurred after greater than 24 h of exposure of the cells to the lacZ virus. Half-maximal infection occurred after 5 h of exposure. After 2 h of adsorption at 37 degrees C, the majority of infectious virus was not adsorbed to cells but was unbound and able to infect other cells. These results are discussed in terms of both their relevance to the fundamental biology of retrovirus infection and the use of recombinant retroviruses for retrovirus-mediated gene transfer with purposes of gene therapy.