Trypanosoma cruzi detection in blood by xenodiagnosis and polymerase chain reaction in the wild rodent Octodon degus

We detected Trypanosoma cruzi in blood samples of the wild rodent Octodon degus by xenodiagnosis and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the domestic and wild vectors of Chagas disease, Triatoma infestans and Mepraia spinolai, respectively. We captured 35 rodents and extracted DNA from blood samples and intestinal contents of vectors fed on O. degus. Our results indicate that the percentage of rodents naturally infected with T. cruzi depends on the biologic sample used for PCR and on the vector species for xenodiagnosis. The PCR with blood samples did not detect T. cruzi DNA, but the PCR with intestinal contents showed that both vectors were positive for T. cruzi. The PCR performed with M. spinolai intestinal contents detected four times more T. cruzi-positive O. degus than the PCR with Triatoma infestans intestinal contents (22.9% and 5.7%, respectively). We report the improvement of T. cruzi detection in sylvatic animals by a combination of PCR and xenodiagnosis using sylvatic vectors, especially in disease-endemic areas with low parasitemias in mammals.

A systematic study of brain base arteries in the wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa)

This study aimed at describing and systematizing the arteries of the base of the brain of the wild boar (Sus scrofa scrofa). Thirty-three heads were used, of which 30 were injected with latex, and three with acrylic dental resin through the common carotid arteries. The brain carotid artery arose from the rostral epidural rete mirabile, and divided into a rostral and a caudal branch. The rostral branch gave off the middle cerebral artery and then continued as rostral cerebral artery. The latter branched into lateral rhinal, internal ethmoidal and medial rhinal arteries. The rostral cerebral artery joined its contralateral homologue, becoming the single rostral inter-hemispheric artery. The caudal branch emitted the caudal cerebral artery and the tectal arteries, and then fused with the branch of the opposite antimere, joining the basilar artery. The rostral cerebellar arteries derived from this point. The basilar artery originated from the anastomosis between the arteries derived from the caudal epidural rete mirabile of each antimere. The basilar artery extended rostrally, giving off as main collateral branch the caudal cerebellar artery. The basilar artery presented a significant decrease in diameter before joining the caudal branches of the brain carotid arteries. The cerebral arterial circle was rostrally and caudally closed.

1,3-dihydroxy-5-(tridec-4',7'-dienyl)benzene: a new cytotoxic compound from Lithraea molleoides

A dichloromethane extract from the leaves of Lithraea molleoides (Anacardiaceae), an argentine medicinal plant, showed cytotoxicity on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Bioassay guided fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of a new active 5-alkyl resorcinol: 1,3-dihydroxy-5-(tridec-4',7'-dienyl)benzene. Chemical structure was established based on spectroscopic data (UV, IR, MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, COSY). This compound presented cytotoxic activity on 3 human tumoral cell lines: hepatocellular carcinoma cell line-Hep G2 (IC50 +/- SD of 68 +/- 2 microM), mucoepidermoid pulmonary carcinoma cell line-H292 (IC50 +/- SD of 63 +/- 5 microM) and mammary gland adenocarcinoma cell line -MCF7 (IC50 +/- SD of 147 +/- 5).

A communication intervention for training southern European oncologists to recognize psychosocial morbidity in cancer. I--development of the model and preliminary results on physicians' satisfaction

BACKGROUND

The detection of psychosocial distress is a significant communication problem in Southern Europe and other countries. Work in this area is hampered by a lack of data. Because not much is known about training aimed at improving the recognition of psychosocial disorders in cancer patients, we developed a basic course model for medical oncology professionals.

METHODS

A specific educational and experiential model (12 hours divided into 2 modules) involving formal teaching (ie, journal articles, large-group presentations), practice in small groups (ie, small-group exercises and role playing), and discussion in large groups was developed with the aim of improving the ability of oncologists to detect emotional disturbances in cancer patients (ie, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders).

RESULTS

A total of 30 oncologists from 3 Southern European countries (Italy, Portugal, and Spain) participated in the workshop. The training course was well accepted by most participants who expressed general satisfaction and a positive subjective perception of the utility of the course for clinical practice. Of the total participants, 28 physicians (93.3%) thought that had they been exposed to this material sooner, they would have incorporated the techniques received in the workshop into their practices; 2 participants stated they would likely have done so. Half of the doctors (n = 15) believed that their clinical communication techniques were improved by participating in the workshop, and the remaining half thought that their abilities to communicate with cancer patients had improved.

CONCLUSIONS

This model is a feasible approach for oncologists and is easily applicable to various oncology settings. Further studies will demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for improving oncologists skills in recognizing emotional disorders in their patients with cancer.

Large changes in Pluto's atmosphere as revealed by recent stellar occultations

Pluto's tenuous nitrogen atmosphere was first detected by the imprint left on the light curve of a star that was occulted by the planet in 1985 (ref. 1), and studied more extensively during a second occultation event in 1988 (refs 2-6). These events are, however, quite rare and Pluto's atmosphere remains poorly understood, as in particular the planet has not yet been visited by a spacecraft. Here we report data from the first occultations by Pluto since 1988. We find that, during the intervening 14 years, there seems to have been a doubling of the atmospheric pressure, a probable seasonal effect on Pluto.

Antiviral activity of Petiveria alliacea against the bovine viral diarrhea virus

BACKGROUND

Natural products are a relevant source of antiviral drugs. Five medicinal plants used in Argentina have been assayed to detect inhibition of viral growth.

METHODS

Antiviral activity of the infusions and methanolic extracts of Aristolochia macroura, Celtis spinosa, Plantago major, Schinus areira, Petiveria alliacea and four extracts obtained from the leaves and stems of the last plant were evaluated by the plaque assay.

RESULTS

P. alliacea, unlike A. macroura, C. spinosa, P. major and S. areira, inhibited bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) replication. Neither P. alliacea nor the assays of the other plants were active against herpes simplex virus type 1, poliovirus type 1, adenovirus serotype 7 and vesicular stomatitis virus type 1. Four extracts of P. alliacea were assayed to detect anti-BVDV activity. Ethyl acetate (EC(50) of 25 microg/ml) and dichloromethane (EC(50) of 43 microg/ml) extracts were active; moreover, promising SI (IC(50)/EC(50)) values were obtained.

CONCLUSION

BVDV is highly prevalent in the cattle population, there are no antiviral compounds available; additionally, it is a viral model of the hepatitis C virus. For these reasons and in view of the results obtained, the isolation and characterization of the antiviral components present in the P. alliacea extracts is worth carrying out in the future.

[Belgian law on the Régime de l'alcool of 1919: from the individual measures to social well-being]

There was a tightening up of the fight against alcoholism in various European countries and the United States during the first world war. The individual and private initiatives were relegated to second place in Belgium during the period 1914-1918, and the state took the reins in the fight against alcoholism on behalf of the general interests of the health interests and general well-being of the population. The promulgation of "La loi sur le Régime de l'alcool" and "La loi concernant les débits des Boissons Fermentés" on August 29 1919 was the final step in this change in opinion. There were three factors which coincided during the armed conflict and which played a definitive part in the preparation of these laws: 1) the legislation against alcohol which the Belgian authorities promulgated during the war in order to keep order and discipline in the army; 2) the problems of national reconstruction and 3) the influence that Emile Vandervelde, the leader of the Belgian Workers Party had on his entry into the government of the "Union Sacreé".

Indigo degradation with purified laccases from Trametes hirsuta and Sclerotium rolfsii

The degradation of the textile dye indigo with purified laccases from the fungi Trametes hirsuta (THL1 and THL2) and Sclerotium rolfsii (SRL1) was studied. All laccases were able to oxidize indigo yielding isatin (indole-2,3-dione), which was further decomposed to anthranilic acid (2-aminobenzoic acid). Based on the oxygen consumption rate of the laccases during indigo degradation, a potential mechanism for the oxidation of indigo involving the step-wise abstraction of four electrons from indigo by the enzyme was suggested. Comparing the effect of the known redox-mediators acetosyringone, 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HOBT) and 4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid (PHBS) on laccase-catalyzed degradation of indigo, we found a maximum of about 30% increase in the oxidation rate of indigo with SRL1 and acetosyringone. The particle size of indigo agglomerates after laccase treatment was influenced by the origin of the laccase preparation and by the incubation time. Diameter distributions were found to have one maximum and compared to the indigo particle size distribution of the control, for all laccases, the indigo agglomerates seemed to have shifted to smaller diameters. Bleaching of fabrics by the laccases (based on K/S values) correlated with the release of indigo degradation products.

[Contraception knowledge and practices in pregnant adolescents]

The purpose of this article is to describe the knowledge and the background in the use of contraceptive methods in 100 pregnant adolescents in the prenatal care of the Hospital General "Dr. Manuel Gea González". In our study it was showed a lack of knowledge regarding the methods during the first sexual intercourse in the half of cases. At the time of the interview, only one-third of the adolescents had a suitable knowledge on at least one constraceptive method. It is very important for pregnant adolescents to have access to sex education including the use of contraceptive methods. This in turn, should impact positively to postpone the next pregnancy.

Genetic analysis and mapping of biochemical markers in an F2 intercross of two inbred strains of the rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

A total of 40 biochemical and four immunological markers found to be polymorphic in the rabbit in previous studies were screened in the AX/JU and IIIVO/JU inbred strains. Although the strains are considered unrelated, only eight (biochemical) markers werefound to be polymorphic between the two strains. These eight markers were analyzed in an F2 intercross population. Linkage was found for Est-5 and C on chromosome 1 and for Es-1, Est-2, Est-4, Est-6 and HP on linkage group VI. Two polymorphic markers, Es-3 and Mhr-1 could not be linked to any of the other markers.

IgA and IgM anti-Naegleria fowleri antibodies in human serum and saliva

Antibodies from IgA and IgM classes that recognize Naegleria fowleri (Nf) proteins were detected by the ELISA assay in serum and saliva from three groups of people: (i) subjects with upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) living in the parasite-endemic area, (ii) healthy persons from the same area, and (iii) healthy persons from a parasite-nonendemic area. In serum and in saliva the titers of IgA antibodies to Naegleria fowleri in the group of patients with URTI was significantly higher than that of the healthy group in the parasite-endemic area; also the titers of IgM antibodies in serum were significantly higher in patients. On the contrary, in saliva the antibodies were higher in healthy people from the parasite-endemic area. In all cases the subjects from the parasite-nonendemic area had lower antibody titers in serum and saliva.

Combined therapy with interferon and ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C does not affect serum quasispecies diversity

Our aim was to investigate if interferon plus ribavirin has any effect on serum HCV quasispecies distribution and the relationship between diversity of HCV quasispecies and treatment response. In all, 21 patients were treated with interferon plus ribavirin for 48 weeks. The presence of HCV quasispecies was determined in serum samples at baseline and at the fourth week of treatment by SSCP analysis of the hypervariable region. SSCP pattern was defined as single or multiple band. A single band was found in six patients and multiple bands in nine. No significant difference was found between SSCP pattern in pretreatment samples and response to the therapy. In none of the patients were observed changes in number of SSCP bands between samples taken at baseline and in the fourth week of the therapy. In conclusion, the complexity of HCV quasispecies before the therapy was not related to treatment response; combined therapy did not affect serum HCV quasispecies.

Relationship between diversity of hepatitis C quasispecies and histological severity of liver disease

The aim of this work was to assess if the diversity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) quasispecies is related to histological severity and duration of infection in a cohort of untreated patients with an estimated onset of the disease. A total of 27 patients with diagnosis of chronic liver disease and history of blood transfusion (n = 16) or intravenous drug use (IDU) (n = 11) were included. All were anti-HCV positive and had detectable serum HCV-RNA. The onset and the duration of the disease were estimated from the time of the transfusion or the first drug injection. Patients who consumed drugs for more than 2 years, or were coinfected with HBV or HIV were excluded. History of alcohol intake (> 80 g/day), ALT level and age at infection were recorded. Histological assessment of grading and staging was performed according to Knodell score. The quasispecies diversity was investigated by single strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) targeted to HVR-E2 region and SSCP pattern was evaluated as a single or multiple bands. The number of quasispecies did not correlate with the estimated duration of the disease. Patients who acquired hepatitis C by blood transfusion did not differ in number of bands from patients who were IDU. There was no correlation between the heterogeneity of HCV quasispecies and age, serum ALT, Knodell score, HAI and fibrosis. In conclusion the quasispecies diversity of E2 had no correlation with grade and stage of chronic HCV infection and the presence of quasispecies was independent of the duration of the disease.

In vivo down regulation of HIV replication after hepatitis C superinfection

There are increasing molecular and clinical evidences that the effects of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can be modified by coinfection with other viruses. The objective was to investigate the viral interaction between HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) after HCV superinfection. A 16 year-old pregnant woman was evaluated because of icteric acute hepatitis. Admission laboratory tests showed the following results: ALT 877 IU/L; AST 1822 IU/L; bilirubin 6.79 mg/dl. Diagnosis of acute HCV was based on detection of serum HCV RNA by PCR and anti-HCV seroconversion. ELISA for anti HIV testing was positive and confirmed by western blot. Serum markers for other viruses were negative. The patient was followed during 19 months; serum samples were taken monthly during this period for detection of plasma HIV and HCV RNA. Levels of plasma HIV-RNA were positive in all samples tested before and after the onset of acute hepatitis C. Six months later and a for two month period, and 13 months later for a period of one month HIV viremia was undetectable; then HIV-RNA in plasma was detectable again. In conclusion, HCV superinfection may have temporarily interfered with HIV replication in our patient. The following observations support our hypothesis: it has been demonstrated that HIV-1 replication is suppressed by HCV core protein which has transcriptional regulation properties of several viral and cellular promoters. Clinical implications of this event are not generally known and the interaction between these two viruses in dual infections is worth considering.

[Multinational European project and multicenter Spanish study of quality improvement of assistance on consultation-liaison psychiatry in general hospital: clinical profile in Spain]

BACKGROUND

In the frame of the European study on quality assurance in consultation liaison psychiatry and psychosomatics (supported by the BIOMED 1 program), the clinical <<process>> of consultation-liaison psychiatry units pertaining to six Spanish general hospitals is analyzed.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

A sample of 3. 608 consecutive patients referred to the consultation-liaison psychiatry units of five public general hospitals (Clínico of Zaragoza, Clínico of Barcelona, General of Alicante, Ramón y Cajal of Madrid, Princesa of Madrid) and one private gynecological hospital (Dexeus of Barcelona) was studied. The data were recorded with a standardized instrument (CL-BDoK-P), validated in a previous study.

RESULTS

Consult request took place 10.6 days (on average) after the patients admission (<<lagtime 1>>), half the requests were urgent, and psychiatric consultants examined the patients 1.9 days (on average) after the request (<<lagtime 2>>). The most frequent reasons for referral were current psychiatric symptoms (50.3%), unexplained physical symptoms (15.2%), substance abuse (9.2%), psychiatric history (8.5%), suicide risk (6%) and coping with illness (5.8%). The main referral services were internal medicine (17.5%), traumatology (7.5%) and general surgery (7.3%). An important clinical activity is documented in patients frequently considered to be <<complex>>, with broad spectrum diagnostic and interventions processes and both in-hospital and out-patient follow-up. However, some problems were also detected in the clinical <<process>>.

CONCLUSIONS

The results outline the clinical importance of Spanish consultation-liaison psychiatry in the general hospital, but the possibility of improving its efficiency through the implementation of integrative models, organizational changes and modern models of <<quality assurance>> is also emphasized.

[Steroid treatment of acute psychosis associated with multiple sclerosis]]

INTRODUCTION

Psychiatric disorders are common in patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). Psychosis is a rare complication in this condition. We present two patients with MS and psychosis.

CLINICAL CASES

Case 1. A 45-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because an acute psychosis. The diagnosis of clinical definitive MS was made two years before. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and single positron emission computerized tomography (SPECT) showed lesions in the left temporal lobe. He was treated with a 3-day course of high-dose corticosteroid and neuroleptic. The patient's status gradually improved within the following weeks. Case 2. A 41-year-old man with MS was hospitalized in a Psychiatric Department for acute psychosis. He was treated with high-dose of neuroleptic. Thereafter two remissions and relapses of MS have occurred. In 1998, the patient was evaluated in the Service of Psychiatric for new paranoid acute psychosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Psychosis is not a prominent feature of the disease, occurring in 5% of cases. The relationship between lesions of the central nervous system and psychiatric illness has not been established although some reports have implicated the temporal lobe. The propensity of steroids to exacerbate psychosis usually argues against this option, but steroids could theoretically improve psychosis related to acute demyelination.

Characterization of prostaglandin E(2) receptors and their role in 24,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-mediated effects on resting zone chondrocytes

Resting zone chondrocyte differentiation is modulated by the vitamin D metabolite, 24,25-(OH)(2)D(3), via activation of protein kinase C (PKC). In previous studies, inhibition of prostaglandin production with indomethacin caused an increase in PKC activity, suggesting that changes in prostaglandin levels may mediate the 24, 25-(OH)(2)D(3)-dependent response and act as autocrine or paracrine regulators of chondrocyte metabolism. Supporting this hypothesis is the fact that resting zone cells respond directly to prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). The aim of the present study was to identify which PGE(2) receptor subtypes (EP) mediate the effects of PGE(2) on resting zone cells. Using primers specific for EP1-EP4, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplified EP1 and EP2 cDNA in a RT-dependent manner. A variant form of the EP1 cDNA, EPlv, was also amplified in an RT-dependent manner. In parallel experiments, we used EP subtype-specific agonists to examine the role of EP receptors in 24,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-mediated cell proliferation and differentiation. 17-phenyl-trinor-PGE(2) (PTPGE(2)), an EP1 agonist, increased [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation in a dose-dependent manner and reversed the 24, 25-(OH)(2)D(2)-induced inhibition of [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation. SC-19220, an EP1 antagonist, caused a further dose-dependent decrease in 24,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-induced inhibition of [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation. PTPGE(2) also caused a biphasic increase in [(35)S]-sulfate incorporation and increased alkaline phosphatase enzyme activity at high concentrations (10(-8) M). 24, 25-(OH)(2)D(3)-induced alkaline phosphatase activity was synergistically stimulated in a dose-dependent manner by PTPGE(2). In contrast, 24,25-(OH)(2)D(3)-induced PKC activity was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by PTPGE(2) and SC-19220, the EP1 antagonist, elevated PKC activity at high concentrations (10(-8) M). The EP2 agonist, misoprostol, only affected [(35)S]-sulfate incorporation, but in a dose-dependent manner. The EP3 and EP4 agonists had no effect on cell response. These results suggest that the EP1 receptor subtype mediates some of the PGE(2)-induced cellular responses in resting zone cells that lead to both increased proliferation and differentiation. Because 24,25-(OH)(2)D(3) inhibits PGE(2) synthesis in these cells, EP1-mediated induction of proliferation is blocked, encouraging cellular maturation and activation of PKC activity.

The antihemorrhagic factor of the Mexican ground squirrel, (Spermophilus mexicanus)

The Mexican ground squirrel (Spermophilus mexicanus) has a natural resistance to western diamondback rattlesnake venom (Crotalus atrox). The LD50 for the Mexican ground squirrel is 53 mg/kg body weight, which is 13 times higher than that of BALB/c mice. An antihemorrhagic factor from serum of the Mexican ground squirrel was isolated using Sephadex G-200 gel filtration, ion exchange A-50, G-75 gel filtration and HPLC DEAE 5PW ion exchange chromatography. The purified factor neutralized proteolytic and hemorrhagic activity of crude C. atrox venom. The results of this research suggest that the antihemorrhagic factor in the serum of the Mexican ground squirrel is not an antibody and neutralizes hemorrhagic activity of C. atrox venom.

Biological and chemical characterization of the fraction with antiherpetic activity from Achyrocline flaccida

The in vitro antiviral activity demonstrated by aqueous extract (AE) of Achyrocline flaccida on herpes simplex virus type-1 is exerted early during the viral replication, essentially during the viral adsorption to host cells. A bioguided purification process of the AE indicated that negatively charged polysaccharides were responsible for this antiviral activity.

Antiviral activity in Argentine medicinal plants

In an ethnopharmacological screening of selected medicinal plants used in Argentina for the treatment of infectious diseases, aqueous extracts of five species were assayed in vitro to detect antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and adenovirus serotype 7 (ADV-7). Polygonum punctatum, Lithraea molleoides, Sebastiania brasiliensis and Sebastiania klotzschiana but not Myrcianthes cisplatensis showed in vitro antiherpetic activity with 50% effective dose (ED50) ranging from 39 to 169 microg/ml. P. punctatum, L. molleoides and M. cisplatensis showed antiviral activity against RSV with ED50 ranging from 78 to 120 microg/ml. None of the extracts had antiviral activity against ADV-7. The differences between their maximal non cytotoxic concentration and their antiviral activity values were high enough to justify further analysis.