RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the occurrence of papillomavirus (PV) infection in non-human primates (NHPs) in northeastern Argentina. We also explored their evolutionary history and evaluated the co-speciation hypothesis in the context of primate evolution. METHODS: We obtained DNA samples from 57 individuals belonging to wild and captive populations of Alouatta caraya, Sapajus nigritus, and Sapajus cay. We assessed PV infection by PCR amplification with the CUT primer system and sequencing of 337 bp (112 amino acids) of the L1 gene. The viral sequences were analyzed by phylogenetic and Bayesian coalescence methods to estimate the time to the most common recent ancestor (tMRCA) using BEAST, v1.4.8 software. We evaluated viral/host tree congruence with TreeMap v3.0. RESULTS: We identified two novel putative PV sequences of the genus Gammapapillomavirus in Sapajus spp. and Alouatta caraya (SPV1 and AcPV1, respectively). The tMRCA of SPV1 was estimated to be 11,941,682 years before present (ybp), and that of AcPV1 was 46,638,071 ybp, both before the coalescence times of their hosts (6.4 million years ago [MYA] and 6.8 MYA, respectively). Based on the comparison of primate and viral phylogenies, we found that the PV tree was no more congruent with the host tree than a random tree would be (P > 0.05), thus allowing us to reject the model of virus-host coevolution. CONCLUSION: This study presents the first evidence of PV infection in platyrrhine species from Argentina, expands the range of described hosts for these viruses, and suggests new scenarios for their origin and dispersal.

Assuntos

Alouatta , Sapajus , Vírus não Classificados , Animais , Argentina/epidemiologia , Teorema de Bayes , Papillomaviridae/genética , Filogenia , Platirrinos

RESUMO

The province of Misiones is considered a region with a high mortality rate due to cervical cancer (CC). To gain insight into this problem, we explored the association between genetic variation in the E6 and E7 oncogenes of HPV16 and the risk of CC. We studied 160 women with cytological diagnoses of negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignity, low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion/CC and a positive test for HPV16 infection. The genetic characterization of E6 and E7 genes was undertaken through PCR amplification and direct Sanger sequencing. Phylogenetic classification was conducted using Bayesian methods. To estimate the odds ratio (OR) for an association between genetic variants in the E6 and E7 genes and the risk of CC, we used ordinal logistic regression adjusted by age. The final data set comprised 112 samples. Diagnostic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and phylogenetic trees confirmed the presence of Lineage A (95.5%) and D (4.5%) in the samples. For the E6 gene, we identified eleven different sequences, with the most common ones being Lineage A E6 350G (58.9%) and E6 350T (37.5%). The E6 350G was associated with progression to HSIL/CC, with an OR of 19.41 (4.95-76.10). The E7 gene was more conserved than E6, probably due to the functional constraints of this small protein. Our results confirmed the association of the E6 350G SNP with a higher risk of developing CC. These data will contribute to understanding the biological bases of CC incidence in this region.

Assuntos

Papillomavirus Humano 16/genética , Proteínas Oncogênicas Virais/genética , Proteínas E7 de Papillomavirus/genética , Infecções por Papillomavirus/virologia , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/virologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Argentina , Teorema de Bayes , Bases de Dados Factuais , Feminino , Variação Genética , Papillomavirus Humano 16/patogenicidade , Humanos , Modelos Logísticos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Filogenia , Estudos Retrospectivos , Lesões Intraepiteliais Escamosas/virologia , Adulto Jovem

RESUMO

In Puerto Iguazú City, Argentina, human and canine Visceral Leishmaniasis cases have been recorded since the year 2010, with Leishmania infantum as the etiological agent and Lutzomyia longipalpis as its main vector. In the present study, polymerase chain reaction and sequencing were used to detect L. infantum DNA in 3.9% of the female sandflies captured in Puerto Iguazú City. This is the first report of L. infantum DNA detection in Micropygomyia quinquefer, and the second one in Lu. longipalpis and Nyssomyia whitmani for Argentina. Although the detection of Leishmania DNA itself is not enough to determine a Phlebotomine species as a vector, these results are significant in setting the direction of further investigations of vectorial competence and capacity, necessary to define the roles of different sandflies species as specific or permissive vectors in the transmission VL cycle.

Assuntos

DNA de Protozoário/genética , DNA de Protozoário/isolamento & purificação , Leishmania infantum/genética , Psychodidae/parasitologia , Animais , Argentina/epidemiologia , Cidades , Feminino , Humanos , Insetos Vetores , Leishmaniose Visceral/transmissão , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase

RESUMO

American Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (ACL) is caused by protozoan parasites of the Leishmania genus, and transmitted by females of the Phlebotominae family. The role of wild and domestic hosts in the cycle of Leishmania is still unknown. ACL is endemic in the province of Formosa where Nyssomyia neivai was the most abundant species in several captures and 31 cumulative ACL human cases were reported between 2005 and 2011 in the province. The present report describes the detection, by PCR-RFLP and confirmed by sequencing, of subgenus Leishmania (Viannia) DNA in four free-ranging owl monkeys (Aotus azarai azarai) from Formosa Province. The sequence amplified was the mini-exon gene present in tandem repeats in all species of the Leishmania genus from buffy coat samples. The absence of inhibitors in the samples was checked by a ß-globin protocol originally designed to amplify the human ß-globin gene. However, other free-ranging primates were found with natural infections of L. (V) braziliensis complex and Leishmania (Viannia) subgenus by parasitological means in America. To the best of our knowledge, there are no published reports on detection of subgenus Leishmania (Viannia) DNA by PCR-RFLP in argentinean free-ranging primates. Additional eco-epidemiological and parasitological studies are necessary to confirm owl monkeys, or any other natural infected mammal species detected by PCR, as a reservoir, incidental host or to propose it as an animal model for research on this topic.

Assuntos

Aotidae/parasitologia , Leishmania/genética , Leishmaniose/veterinária , Doenças dos Macacos/parasitologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Animais , Argentina/epidemiologia , Feminino , Leishmania/isolamento & purificação , Leishmaniose/epidemiologia , Leishmaniose/parasitologia , Masculino , Doenças dos Macacos/epidemiologia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Psychodidae/parasitologia

RESUMO

The aim of this study is to describe genetic variation in the TNF promoter in the ethnically diverse population of Misiones, north-eastern Argentina. We analysed 210 women including 66 Amerindians of the Mbya-Guarani ethnic group and 144 white-admixed individuals from urban and rural areas of Misiones. Their DNA samples were surveyed for TNF polymorphisms -376 A/G, -308 A/G -244 A/G and -238 A/G by PCR amplification and direct sequencing and for the Amerindian marker -857 C/T by real-time PCR. Our main findings are as follows:(i) a distinctive pattern of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) distribution among these groups, (ii) genetic differentiation between the Mbya-Guarani and the white-admixed populations (P < 0.05), (iii) lower gene diversity (~0.05) in Mbya-Guarani compared with the white-admixed group (~0.21); and (iv) linkage disequilibrium between the -376A and -238A SNPs in white-admixed populations. These data highlight the principal role of population history in establishing present-day genetic variation at the TNF locus and provide a framework for undertaking ethnographic and disease association studies in Misiones.

Assuntos

Etnicidade/genética , Polimorfismo de Nucleotídeo Único , Regiões Promotoras Genéticas , Fatores de Necrose Tumoral/genética , Adulto , Alelos , Argentina , Feminino , Frequência do Gene , Genótipo , Humanos

RESUMO

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence and potential risk factors associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) cervical infection among women residing in a region of northeastern Argentina with a high incidence of cervical cancer. METHODS: A case-control study of 330 women participating in a cervical cytological screening program conducted in Posadas city, Misiones, Argentina, from February 1997 to November 1998 was carried out. Standardized questionnaires were administered, and clinical examination including colposcopy was performed. Fresh endocervical specimens for HPV DNA detection by generic polymerase chain reaction were collected and the products typed by dot-blot hybridization. RESULTS: Human papillomavirus DNA was found in 61% of samples analyzed (185/301). Samples with normal cytology had a 43% infection rate (85/199), while those classified as low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and invasive cervical carcinoma had an infection rate of 96% (53/55), 100% (29/29), and 100% (18/18), respectively. Human papillomavirus typing showed a 64% (118/185) prevalence of type 16 among all the infected population analyzed; type 16 was detected among 49% (42/85) of infected samples with normal cytology and in an average of 74% (74/100) with abnormal cytology. Sexual behavior, residence in southern Paraguay, and history of a previous sexually transmitted diseases were the main risk factors associated with high-grade cervical lesions. CONCLUSIONS: An elevated prevalence of HPV infection was detected in this population, which also has a high incidence of cervical cancer. The broad distribution of high-risk HPV type 16 in women with normal cytology and colposcopy suggests that viral infection is an important determinant of regional cancer incidence.

Assuntos

Carcinoma/epidemiologia , Papillomaviridae/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Papillomavirus/epidemiologia , Infecções Tumorais por Vírus/epidemiologia , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , Argentina/epidemiologia , Carcinoma/virologia , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Intervalos de Confiança , DNA Viral/análise , Feminino , Humanos , Programas de Rastreamento , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Razão de Chances , Infecções por Papillomavirus/diagnóstico , Gravidez , Prevalência , Fatores de Risco , Infecções Tumorais por Vírus/diagnóstico , Neoplasias do Colo do Útero/virologia

RESUMO

Despite the trend in the use of electromechanical left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), the highly compact, long lasting, and endurance characteristics of the new pneumatic system has its place in the treatment of end-stage chronic heart failure. The ProCor Model 1 LVAD has an implantable pump which is small in size and has a double pusher plate design. The portable power pack is small, too. It is easy to carry, and it is synchronized to the ECG to pump during the patient's diastolic period. Constant driving conditions are set as follows: frequency rate, 60 bpm; systolic percentage, 25 (250 ms); dP/dt, 1,800 (45 ms) mm Hg.s; and driving pressure, 250 mm Hg to have a basic 3.500 L/min pump output for prolonged circulatory assistance. The 6 mm internal diameter (ID) percutaneous multipurpose pneumatic tube contains within its wall both a spiral of MP35N alloy wire connected to the myocardial lead for ECG sensing and a spiral serving as mass ready to be used for cardiac pacing with an external pacemaker when necessary. The aortic porcine bioprosthesis maintains the aortic root and the sinus ridge.

Assuntos

Aorta/cirurgia , Prótese Vascular , Insuficiência Cardíaca/terapia , Coração Auxiliar , Animais , Aorta/ultraestrutura , Materiais Biocompatíveis , Eletrocardiografia , Polietilenotereftalatos , Implantação de Prótese , Suínos , Transdutores de Pressão

RESUMO

After cardiac surgery, healing can be delayed by sternal wound infection, particularly if mediastinitis develops. Because of the technical simplicity of omentopexy, we recommend the use during open-heart surgery of an omental pedicle graft in selected cases to prevent postoperative complications. This article describes our experience over a 4-month period (from 30 March 1989 through 2 August 1989) with this technique in 50 consecutive patients at moderate-to-high risk for postoperative sternal and mediastinal problems. The patients included 39 men (78%) and 11 women (22%), whose ages ranged from 22 to 83 years (mean, 55 years). Preoperative risk factors included extreme obesity, 13 patients (26%); chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 13 patients (26%); diabetes mellitus, 6 patients (12%); obesity and diabetes, 8 patients (16%); and obesity, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 3 patients (6%). Operative risk factors included cardiac reoperation involving prolonged surgery, 6 patients (12%); bilateral mammary grafting, 17 patients (34%); and the need for prolonged (greater than 72-hour) mechanical respiratory assistance, 2 patients (4%). Three of the 50 patients (6%) were considered to be at moderate risk due to an increase in nosocomial infections at the time of their surgical procedures. Although the omentopexy itself caused no complications, 5 patients had major complications related to the cardiac procedure. Two of these patients died, for an operative mortality of 4%; death was caused by progressive peritonitis in 1 case and by cardiac tamponade in the other case. At least 2 of the remaining 3 patients withstood localized mediastinal infection and had thereafter an extremely benign postoperative course. We conclude that an omental pedicle graft, placed prophylactically in patients at risk for sternal wound infection, can serve as a valuable adjunct to healing after cardiac surgery.

RESUMO

From January 1983 to July 1985, 64 patients underwent left ventricular aneurysmectomy in our surgical unit. In 11 (17%) of these cases, the lesion was a variant of the true aneurysm that included an extremely thin (1- to 2-mm), well-defined area of myocardium. In 9 of the cases, the aneurysm was confirmed preoperatively by means of high-quality ventriculography (high resolution and many hues of gray). Surgical and pathologic criteria established the lesion's clinical significance. To the best of our knowledge, these aneurysms constitute a heretofore undescribed variant of the classic true left ventricular aneurysm, exhibiting certain gross characteristics of the false left ventricular aneurysm and sharing with false aneurysms their greater risk of rupture. While it is impossible to tell whether these aneurysms are progressing toward rupture, we believe that all such lesions should undergo urgent repair in the presence of cardiac symptoms. Following aneurysmectomy, ventriculoplasty or septoplasty using an elliptical woven Dacron patch helps to preserve the internal contour and surface anatomy of the ventricle. In our series, this procedure resulted in early and late postoperative mortality figures comparable to those associated with the surgical treatment of classic true left ventricular aneurysms.

RESUMO

Elective treatment of descending thoracic aneurysms involves direct surgery, with Dacron graft replacement of the diseased aortic segment. When the patient's condition contraindicates major surgery, however, the surgeon should consider using an extraanatomic approach-implanting an ascending aorta-to-abdominal aorta Dacron bypass graft in a ventral position and leaving the diseased segment undisturbed. After such a procedure, the descending thoracic aorta must be excluded from the normal circulation. For this purpose, we have designed an intraaortic occluding technique in which an umbrella-like device is implanted immediately distal to the left subclavian artery. This technique has proved safe and uncomplicated in canine experiments and is ready for clinical trials.

RESUMO

A method for supporting the porcine valve was devised to approximate more closely the normal porcine anatomy. This mounting technique resulted in a low profile valve with a greater valve orifice and a lower transvalvular gradient than other porcine bioprostheses (Liotta BioImplant L.P.B., BioImplant, Canada, Inc). There were 297 valves implanted in 279 patients operated on from November 1978 through December 1981. Of these, there were 132 aortic valve replacements (AVR), 129 mitral valve replacements (MVR), and 18 double valve replacements (DVR). The actuarial curve at 72 months showed a late patient survival of 78.48% +/- 5.68% for AVR, 86.27% +/- 4.3% for MVR, and 77.78% +/- 12.2% for DVR. Of these, 93.6% of the AVR patients and 81% of the MVR patients remained in the New York Heart Association Class I postoperatively.

RESUMO

This paper indicates the vital importance of considering prosthesis articulation in the design of cardiac valves. The prosthesis articulation interrelates with the fixed and the movable prosthetic components. Two basic physiological hemodynamic principles are reviewed: [List: see text] A bileaflet, free-tilting, swivelling prosthesis with a central articular mechanism is undergoing investigation. The four articulations have their own perennial preserving mechanisms to prevent potential failure mode by collecting blood elements in the valve tilting design.

Assuntos

Coração Artificial , Animais , Pressão Sanguínea , Bovinos , Estudos de Avaliação como Assunto , Hemodinâmica , Circulação Pulmonar

RESUMO

This report summarizes results of the first 453 consecutive patients who had 491 low profile bioprostheses implanted at the Italian Hospital in Buenos Aires over a 5-year period. During this time, with the goal of long-term durability, the valve mounting technique was slightly modified, whereas the materials and design of the annulus underwent more extensive changes.