RESUMEN
Neurocysticercosis is a leading cause of seizures in adults, but in paediatric patients, the diagnosis is controversial. The aim of this study was to search for antibodies to Taenia solium cysticerci in paediatric patients with seizures. We retrospectively studied a cohort of 41 serum samples from paediatric patients and 40 serum samples from healthy children. Antibodies were analysed by ELISA (vesicular fluid) and by Western blot (glycoproteins). Clinical, image and socio-demographic data were obtained from the medical records. The frequency of positive by ELISA was of 12% (n=5) in patients with seizures, while no positive samples were found in the healthy group. Results of Western blot were negatives. The analysis of the medical records showed a cyst of unknown origin in 2/5 ELISA positive samples. According to the diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis, three minor criteria (positive serology, active seizures and compatible image) were associated to an epidemiological condition (Mexico is endemic for neurocysticercosis); thus, the probable frequency of neurocysticercosis in the studied sample of patients with seizures was 4.9% (2/41 patients). The three remaining positive samples were associated with problems of noninfectious origin. The positivity was associated with the identification of cysts by magnetic resonance imaging (p = 0.047; chi-square), but found no association with the socio-economic characteristics of the patients, family history or to clinical symptoms. In conclusion, scarce frequency of antibodies to T. solium cysticerci was determined in paediatric patients with seizures. The low prevalence of antibodies detected in children is an indirect indicator of the interruption of T. solium transmission. Further studies are needed to design an algorithm for the conclusive diagnosis of seizures.
RESUMEN
Some drugs blocking glutamate release produce reduced brain injury in some animal models of cerebral ischemia whereas others lack a clear effect. Meta-analysis is a widely used technique in clinical and epidemiological studies. However, it has never been used in the analysis of preclinical studies. In order to estimate quantitatively the current state of the knowledge concerning the neuroprotective effect of drugs inhibiting glutamate release and to attempt to resolve the apparent controversy in relation to the neuroprotective properties of these drugs, a meta-analysis was performed. It identified a significant difference between drugs blocking glutamate release and controls. Therefore, we hypothesize that inhibition of presynaptic glutamate release could be a major goal in neuroprotection when ischemic brain damage is present and that meta-analysia could be a useful tool for preclinical studies,
Asunto(s)
Isquemia Encefálica/metabolismo , Ácido Glutámico/metabolismo , Fármacos Neuroprotectores/farmacología , Sinapsis/efectos de los fármacos , Humanos , Metaanálisis como AsuntoRESUMEN
Simplified reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method with ultraviolet detection at 280 nm without extraction procedure is described to quantify furosemide in rabbit and human urine. An internal standard was not used. The lower limit of quantitation was 0.750 microg/ml using 50 microl urine samples (100 microl of total injection volume), and linear response was tested from 0.750 to 250 microg/ml in both humans and rabbits. Within and between-day accuracy and precision were always below 10% at all analyzed concentrations. Validation data showed that this method is linear, sensitive, selective, specific, accurate and reproducible.