Dissociation between individual differences in self-reported pain intensity and underlying fMRI brain activation

Pain is an individual experience. Previous studies have highlighted changes in brain activation and morphology associated with within- and interindividual pain perception. In this study we sought to characterize brain mechanisms associated with between-individual differences in pain in a sample of healthy adolescent and adult participants (N = 101). Here we show that pain ratings varied widely across individuals and that individuals reported changes in pain evoked by small differences in stimulus intensity in a manner congruent with their pain sensitivity, further supporting the utility of subjective reporting as a measure of the true individual experience. Furthermore, brain activation related to interindividual differences in pain was not detected, despite clear sensitivity of the Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent (BOLD) signal to small differences in noxious stimulus intensities within individuals. These findings suggest fMRI may not be a useful objective measure to infer reported pain intensity.

Previous work had suggested that fMRI measures can be used as a marker of pain experience. Here the authors find no evidence for a link between perceived pain intensity and fMRI activation.

Constraints on Cosmic Strings Using Data from the Third Advanced LIGO-Virgo Observing Run

We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection. We also use the stochastic gravitational-wave background energy density upper limits derived from the O3 data to constrain the cosmic string tension Gμ as a function of the number of kinks, or the number of cusps, for two cosmic string loop distribution models. Additionally, we develop and test a third model that interpolates between these two models. Our results improve upon the previous LIGO-Virgo constraints on Gμ by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude depending on the model that is tested. In particular, for the one-loop distribution model, we set the most competitive constraints to date: Gμ≲4×10^{-15}. In the case of cosmic strings formed at the end of inflation in the context of grand unified theories, these results challenge simple inflationary models.

Constraints on Cosmic Strings Using Data from the Third Advanced LIGO-Virgo Observing Run

We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection. We also use the stochastic gravitational-wave background energy density upper limits derived from the O3 data to constrain the cosmic string tension Gμ as a function of the number of kinks, or the number of cusps, for two cosmic string loop distribution models. Additionally, we develop and test a third model that interpolates between these two models. Our results improve upon the previous LIGO-Virgo constraints on Gμ by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude depending on the model that is tested. In particular, for the one-loop distribution model, we set the most competitive constraints to date: Gμ≲4×10^{-15}. In the case of cosmic strings formed at the end of inflation in the context of grand unified theories, these results challenge simple inflationary models.

GW170817: Observation of Gravitational Waves from a Binary Neutron Star Inspiral

On August 17, 2017 at 12∶41:04 UTC the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo gravitational-wave detectors made their first observation of a binary neutron star inspiral. The signal, GW170817, was detected with a combined signal-to-noise ratio of 32.4 and a false-alarm-rate estimate of less than one per 8.0×10^{4}  years. We infer the component masses of the binary to be between 0.86 and 2.26  M_{⊙}, in agreement with masses of known neutron stars. Restricting the component spins to the range inferred in binary neutron stars, we find the component masses to be in the range 1.17-1.60  M_{⊙}, with the total mass of the system 2.74_{-0.01}^{+0.04}M_{⊙}. The source was localized within a sky region of 28  deg^{2} (90% probability) and had a luminosity distance of 40_{-14}^{+8}  Mpc, the closest and most precisely localized gravitational-wave signal yet. The association with the γ-ray burst GRB 170817A, detected by Fermi-GBM 1.7 s after the coalescence, corroborates the hypothesis of a neutron star merger and provides the first direct evidence of a link between these mergers and short γ-ray bursts. Subsequent identification of transient counterparts across the electromagnetic spectrum in the same location further supports the interpretation of this event as a neutron star merger. This unprecedented joint gravitational and electromagnetic observation provides insight into astrophysics, dense matter, gravitation, and cosmology.

Initial assessment of strategic plans for improving the performance of veterinary services in developing countries: a review of OIE PVS gap analysis reports

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) carries out Gap Analysis missions (if a country so wishes) as part of its programme to assess and improve the Performance of Veterinary Services (the 'PVS Pathway') in Member Countries. These Gap Analysis missions have found that many national Veterinary Services comply to only a limited extent with the international standards established by the OIE and that their competence is compromised by poor governance. This failure threatens animal and public health not only nationally but also internationally. The OIE PVS Gap Analysis reports reviewed found that all the Veterinary Services have a strong vision and commitmentto improvement but are held back by a weak chain of command, inadequate and outdated legislation, insufficient funding, weak technical competencies, compromised technical independence, poor communications and limited joint programmes. There are weaknesses across all the core technical areas of trade, animal health, veterinary public health and veterinary laboratories and also in the overall management of the Veterinary Services. The OIE PVS Gap Analysis missions recommend significant increases in budget in all countries.

Phase II open clinical trial to evaluate efficacy and safety of neoadjuvant trastuzumab in HER2-positive locally advanced breast cancer (LABC)

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Background: LABC in Mexico represents between 50–60% of the new diagnosed cases, and 25–30% of those cancers are HER-2/neu positive. Primary systemic therapy trastuzumab-based combination chemotherapy (ChT) has shown clinical benefit and pathologic complete response rates are obtained between 17%-67%. The aim of this study was evaluate the complete pathologic response (pR) rate with the combination of four cyles of FAC (5FU/Doxorubicin/Cyclophosphamide) followed by weekly paclitaxel (PTX) and trastuzumab. As secondary endpoint was evaluate cardiac safety. Methods: All patients with LABC HER-2 positive (IHC 3+ or FISH amplification) with stages IIb-IIIc were included, patients with palpable nodes underwent fine needle aspiration to confirm metastatic nodal disease (MND), other inclusion criteria was FEVI ≥55% determined by MUGA, hematologic, renal and hepatic function normal. We exclude inflammatory breast cancer. All patients received 4 cycles of FAC followed by weekly PTX (80 mg/m2) concomitantly with trastuzumab, 2 mg/kg, at the end of treatment surgery was performed, and pR was evaluable. Complete pR was defined as the absence of tumor cells in breast and axillary nodes. Disease free survival (DFS) was calculated with Kaplan-Meier method. Protocol was approved by local ethical committee. NCT 00533936. Results: We included 92 patients, median age was 48 (27–68) yrs. Median tumor size was 6 (5.4–6.5) cm, 84.9% had MND. Efficacy analysis was made in 71 patients; 21 patients are still under treatment. Overall clinical response was reached in 71% (complete 37% and partial 42%). Eleven patients were considered inoperable (skin affection, larger size > 5 cm or fixed to chest wall and received radiotherapy 50 Gy). Complete pR was reported in 48% of cases. Median follow-up was 17.4 (CI95% 14.9, 17.6) mo and media of DFS was 25.1 (CI95% 23.5, 26.7) mo. We found cardiac toxicity (CT) grade 3 in 1.1%, and grade 2 in 3.2%. Conclusions: Combination of PTX and trastuzumab after 4 cycles of FAC is highly active in terms of complete pR. This scheme was tolerated, with CT grade 3–4 in less than 2%.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

IL-6 Induces Osteoblastic Differentiation of Periodontal Ligament Cells

Interleukin (IL)-6 has been considered as an osteolytic factor involved in periodontal disease. However, the function of IL-6 in osteoblastic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells is not clear. We examined the effects of IL-6 and its soluble receptor (sIL-6R) on osteoblastic differentiation of periodontal ligament cells. Osteoblastic differentiation was induced by ascorbic acid. Osteoblast markers, including alkaline phosphatase activity and Runx2 gene expression, were examined. The mechanism of action of IL-6 on osteoblastic differentiation was evaluated by insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I production and specific inhibitors for the IL-6-signaling molecule. IL-6/sIL-6R enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity and Runx2. Alkaline phosphatase activity was reduced by anti-IGF-I antibody. Mitogen-activated protein kinase and Janus protein tyrosine kinase inhibitors diminished alkaline phosphatase induced by IL-6/sIL-6R. We conclude that IL-6/sIL-6R increases ascorbic-acid-induced alkaline phosphatase activity through IGF-I production, implying that IL-6 acts not only as an osteolytic factor, but also as a mediator of osteoblastic differentiation in periodontal ligament cells.

Pallister-Killian syndrome: tetrasomy of 12pter→12p11.22 in a boy with an analphoid, inverted duplicated marker chromosome

Supernumerary marker chromosomes (SMCs) without detectable alphoid DNA are predicted to have a neocentromere and have been referred to as mitotically stable neocentromere marker chromosomes (NMCs). Here we report the molecular cytogenetic characterization of a new case of Pallister-Killian syndrome (PKS) in a boy with an analphoid, inverted duplicated NMC derived from 12pter-->12p11.22 in his fibroblasts by using high-resolution comparative genetic hybridization (HR-CGH), multiplex fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) and bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-FISH mapping analyses with various alpha-satellite DNA probes, subtelomere probes and BAC-DNA probes. Precise identification of SMCs and NMCs is of essential importance in genetic counseling. HR-CGH is a more informative and often a faster way of precisely identifying the origin of SMCs. This case is the third report of PKS with an NMC containing an inverted duplication of partial 12p with available clinical data. These observations may help to determine the critical region for PKS and the mechanisms leading to the origin of the NMC derived from 12pter-->12p11.22 - a region that appears to be susceptible to the formation of neocentromeres. The use of subtelomeric probe PCP12p in buccal cells appears superior to the use of the centromere probe D12Z3 for the diagnosis of the PKS.

Fosfomycin prevents cisplatin-induced ototoxicity: Results of a randomized, double blind, placebo controlled trial

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Background: Cisplatin is one of the most frequently used chemotherapy agents. The main dose-limiting toxicity for its use is hearing-loss, present in 40–100% of patients. To date, no treatment has proven efficacy in preventing or reducing cisplatin acoustic damage. Fosfomycin, acting as a free-radical scavanger, has shown to reduce cisplatin-induced ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity in animal models, without affecting its antineoplastic activity. This trial evaluated the effect of fosfomycin in cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Methods: 22 chemotherapy naive patients with normal audition, scheduled to receive cisplatin-based chemotherapy (cumulative dose =200mg/m2) were randomized to receive placebo (n=11) or 1g of IV fosfomycin concurrent with each cisplatin administration (2–4 cycles). Primary outcome was ototoxicity when comparing audiometric studies (low and high frequencies and otoaccustic emissions) at baseline and at completion of chemotherapy. With β=0.8 and a=0.05 the study was powered to detect differences =20 dB at any given frequency. Fisher's test, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney test were used. Results: Groups were balanced for baseline characteristics, cisplatin dose and response rates. No differences were found when comparing ototoxicity at low frequency ranges. When analyzing high frequencies and otoaccustic emissions, 9 patients (82%) in the placebo group developed ototoxicity vs 4 (36%) in the fosfomycin group (p=0.04). The degree of hearing-loss, evaluated by comparing percentage of change in each evaluated frequency, was significantly lower in patients receiving fosfomycin (p=0.04). Other chemotherapy toxicities were similar in both groups. Conclusions: In patients with audiometric integrity, the concurrent administration of fosfomycin with cisplatin significantly reduces ototoxicity. The degree of hearing-loss is lower in patients receiving fosfomycin than in those receiving placebo. The use of fosfomycin in combination with cisplatin is safe and does not interfere with its antineoplastic activity. To our knowledge this is the first clinical-trial that demonstrates prevention and reduction of cisplatin-induced hearing-loss.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Real-time Physiological Emotion Detection Mechanisms: Effects of Exercise and Affect Intensity

The development of systems capable of recognizing and categorising emotions is of interest to researchers in various scientific areas including artificial intelligence. The traditional notion that emotions and rationality are two separate realms has gradually been challenged. The work of neurologists has shown the strong relationship between emotional episodes and the way humans think and act. Furthermore, emotions not only regulate human decisions but could also contribute to a more satisfactory response to the environment, i.e., faster and more precise actions. In this paper an analysis of physiological signals employed in real-time emotion detection is presented in the context of Intelligent Inhabited Environments (IIE). Two studies were performed to investigate whether physical exertion has a significant effect on bodily signals stemming from emotional episodes with subjects having various degrees of affect intensity: 1) a statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon Test, and 2) a cluster analysis using the Davies-Bouldin Index. Preliminary results demonstrated that the heart rate and skin resistance consistently showed similar changes regardless of the physical stimuli while blood volume pressure did not show a significant change. It was also found that neither physical stress nor affect intensity played a role in the separation of neutral and non-neutral emotional states.

Optimised attribute selection for emotion classification using physiological signals

Researchers in medicine and psychology have studied emotions and the way they influence human thinking and behaviour for decades. Recently computer scientists have realised the importance of emotions in human interactions with the environment and a considerable amount of research has been directed towards the identification and utilisation of affective information. Particular interest exists in the detection of emotional states with the intention of improving both human-machine interaction and artificial human-like inference models. Emotion detection has also been employed to explore applications that relate emotional states, habits and ambient conditions inside inhabited environments. Valuable information can be obtained by analysing the way affective states that influence behaviour are altered by environmental changes. In this paper an analysis of the properties of four physiological signals employed in emotion recognition is presented. Class separation analysis was used for determining the best physiological parameters (among those from a list chosen a priori) to use for recognizing emotional states. Results showed that the masseter electromyogram was the best attribute when distinguishing between neutral and non-neutral emotional states. Using Autoassociative Neural Networks for improving cluster separation, the gradient of the skin conductance provided the best results when discriminating between positive and negative emotions.

Synthesis, characterization and biological evaluation of a novel "3 + 1" mixed ligand 99mTc complex having an aliphatic thiol as coligand

A novel "3 + 1" mixed ligand 99mTc complex with N,N-bis(2-mercaptoethyl)-N'N'-diethyl-ethilenediamine as ligand and 1-octanethiol as coligand was prepared and evaluated as potential brain radiopharmaceutical. Preparation at tracer level was accomplished by substitution, using 99mTc-glucoheptonate as precursor and a coligand/ligand ratio of 5. Under these conditions the labeling yield was over 80% and a major product with radiochemical purity >80% was isolated by HPLC methods and used for biological evaluation. Chemical characterization at carrier level was developed using the corresponding rhenium and 99gTc complexes. Results were consistent with the expected "3 + 1" structure and X-ray diffraction study demonstrated that the complex adopted a distorted trigonal bipyramidal geometry. All sulphur atoms underwent ionization leading to the formation of a neutral compound. Biodistribution in mice demonstrated early brain uptake, fast blood clearance and excretion through hepatobiliary system. Although brain/blood ratio increased significantly with time, this novel 99mTc complex did not exhibit ideal properties as brain perfusion radiopharmaceutical since brain uptake was too low.

Spraying houses in the Peruvian Andes with lambda-cyhalothrin protects residents against cutaneous leishmaniasis

A household vector control trial was carried out in the Peruvian Andes to measure the effect of spraying inside walls and ceilings with lambda-cyhalothrin on the risk for residents of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania peruviana. The mortality rates of Lutzomyia verrucarum measured with WHO contact bioassay cones set on adobe walls characteristic of the endemic region indicated an LD95 for lambda-cyhalothrin of about 20 mg/m2, and no reduction in effectiveness for at least 6 months on indoor adobe walls sprayed with 25 mg/m2. A random selection of 112 houses were sprayed (starting in 1992/93) at 6-monthly intervals with a mean dose of 34 mg/m2, leaving 154 control houses (with closely matched pre-intervention measurements of incidence and sandfly abundance). Comparisons of pre- and post-intervention sandfly indoor abundance, measured at regular intervals for up to 2 years using CDC light traps, in 22 sprayed and 21 control houses demonstrated that spraying significantly reduced the indoor abundance of Lu. verrucarum by an average of 78% and of Lu. (Helcocyrtomyia) peruensis by 83%. Spraying was also associated with a significant reduction of 77% in the proportion of bloodfed sandflies collected in light traps. The proportion of susceptible householders acquiring leishmaniasis during the trial was significantly reduced by 54% as a result of spraying. The observed impact of spraying was greatest, 81% (95% confidence intervals 20-95%), when the cases detected during the first 6 months after the intervention were excluded from the analysis, suggesting a significant pre-patent period.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis in the Peruvian Andes: factors associated with variability in clinical symptoms, response to treatment, and parasite isolation rate

The severity of cutaneous leishmaniasis may be determined by host immunity, parasite virulence, and host or vector behavior. We performed a multivariate analysis to identify the main causes of the variability in clinical symptoms, response to treatment, and parasite isolation rate among Peruvian patients. The effect of host immunity was demonstrated first by the finding that secondary infections induced smaller lesions associated with a lower parasite isolation rate than did primary infections and, second, by the finding of fewer lesions in older patients. Phenotypic differences between parasite populations were suggested by the observation that the mean scar size and number varied between villages: patients had more scars in villages where the transmission rates were higher. Human behavior probably determined the site of lesions on the body, since most lesions in the cooler South were on the head, whereas in the North, lesions were equally frequent on the extremities. In addition, older patients, who were more likely infected through occupational exposure, had fewer head lesions. Geographic variation in the pattern of exposure to sandflies indicates that uta control strategies should be region specific.

Clinical behavior and prognostic factors of periampullary adenocarcinoma

OBJECTIVE

The authors evaluated the outcome and potential prognostic factors of 60 patients with surgically resected periampullary tumors.

SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA

Periampullary carcinomas exhibit different clinical behaviors according to their site of origin. There are no prognostic factors for deciding the type of surgery to be used or for choosing patients with tumors that have a poor prognosis for adjuvant treatment.

METHODS

A retrospective review was performed of 15 clinical and pathologic variables encountered among 60 patients with periampullary tumors. Tumors were divided into four groups according to their site of origin. Kaplan-Meier survival curves of the four groups were plotted and differences were evaluated with the log-rank test. Cox's proportional hazards model was used to test for separate and combined independent predictors of disease-free survival.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine ampullary carcinomas, 20 ductal pancreatic carcinomas, 7 distal common bile duct carcinomas, and 4 carcinomas of the periampullary duodenum were found. Five-year disease-free survival was 43%, 0%, 0%, and 75%, respectively. According to the Cox analysis, absence of neural invasion and use of adjuvant chemotherapy were significant factors for longer survival of patients with ampullary tumors. Lymphatic invasion was related to a shorter survival in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

Five-year disease-free survival of patients with periampullary tumors is related to tumor type. Prognosis was better for ampullary tumors if neural invasion was absent and if adjuvant chemotherapy was used. Lymphatic invasion was associated with a shorter recurrence-free survival among patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

The fall and rise of Andean cutaneous leishmaniasis: transient impact of the DDT campaign in Peru

A retrospective analysis was carried out on census data collected from house-to-house surveys during 1991-1992 in 4 areas endemic for Andean cutaneous leishmaniasis (uta) in the Department of Lima, Peru. Major changes in mean annual incidence in susceptible persons have taken place in these sites during the last 60 years. In particular, there is strong support for the hypothesis that, from the 1950s to the 1970s, the transmission rate was temporarily suppressed, largely as a by-product of the DDT house spraying campaign against malaria. These results are consistent with (i) anecdotal evidence, contemporary with the spraying campaign, and (ii) the official Ministry of Health records for the annual number of uta cases in the Departments of Lima and Ancash.

Farrowing disorders in the sow: a field study

A prospective study was carried out in three intensive farms. 150 sows were individually followed from 20 days prior to farrowing to 5 days after farrowing. During the five post farrowing days, the prevalences of fever (rectal temperature greater than or equal to 39.8 degrees C), anorexia, vulval discharges and mammary gland disorders were 15.3%, 20%, 64.5% and 3.3% respectively. Parturition duration (piglet delivery) was 197 minutes on average. Farrowing lasted over 300 minutes for 10% of the sows. The 5 parameters were combined to build a score on farrowing disorders. The sows getting the highest rate of disorders tended to show specific physical features prior to farrowing. The oldest sows, the heaviest, those showing urinary infections or locomotor disorders were more predisposed to problems. Moreover affected sows gave birth to larger litters for a given parity.

Variation in the CD4+ and CD8+ populations in lymph nodes does not reflect that in the blood during SIVMNE/E11S infection of macaques

The decline in the CD4% and CD4/CD8 ratios have been compared in lymph nodes and blood from SIVMNE/E11S infected rhesus macaques. The results indicate that loss from the LN CD4+ cell pool does not occur until CD4/CD8 ratios of less than 0.5 is reached in blood. These changes also correlate with the ability to isolate virus from the blood and the transition of CD45RAhi to highly activated CD45RAlo CD8+ cells both of which may play a role in eliminating CD4+ cells. In end-stage disease, CD8+ cells also decline in LN and mitogen responsiveness no longer exists in any nodes. Interestingly at this stage, the circulating CD8% increases significantly and represents the only source of functional T cells remaining in the body.

Field evaluation of an exoantigen-containing Babesia vaccine in Venezuela

Bovine babesiosis is endemic in Venezuela, causing significant losses in highly susceptible imported cattle. Current immunoprophylactic methods include the less desirable use of live parasites. Inactivated vaccines derived from exoantigen-containing supernatant fluids of in vitro Babesia bovis and B. bigemina cultures have been developed and constitute a major improvement in vaccine safety, stability and ease of handling. Vaccination trials conducted under field conditions provide the final evaluation of a culture-derived B. bovis-B. bigemina vaccine. During a 5-year period, approximately 8,000 cattle were vaccinated and 16 clinical trials carried out in 7 states of Venezuela. Clinical, serologic and parasitologic data were collected monthly from 10% of the animals over a 2-year period. Data were also collected from a similar number of nonvaccinated control cattle. Analysis of results from these trials demonstrated a reduction in the incidence of clinical disease among vaccinated animals and complete protection against mortality caused by babesiosis. Vaccine efficacy was measured calculating the incidence rates of disease and mortality among vaccinated and nonvaccinated cattle. Use of this inactivated vaccine offers the best combination of safety, potency and efficacy for the effective immunoprophylactic control of bovine babesiosis.

Molecular approaches to malaria and Babesisosis diagnosis

The development of additional methods for detecting and identifying Babesia and Plasmodium infections may be useful in disease monitoring, management and control efforts. The preliminary evaluate synthetic peptide-based serodiagnosis, a hydrophilic sequence (DDESEFDKEK) was selected from the published BabR gene of B. bovis. Immunization of rabbits and cattle with the hemocyanin-conjugated peptide elicited antibody responses that specifically detected both P. falciparum and B. bovis antigens by immunofluorescence and Western blots. Using a dot-ELISA with this peptide, antisera from immunized and naturally-infected cattle, and immunized rodents, were specifically detected. Reactivity was weak and correlated with peptide immunization or infection. DNA-based detection using repetitive DNA was species-specific in dot-blot formats for B. bovis DNA, and in both dot-blot and in situ formats for P. falciparum; a streamlined enzyme-linked synthetic DNA assay for P. falciparum detected 30 parasites/mm3 from patient blood using either colorimetric (2-15 h color development) or chemiluminescent detection (0.5-6-min exposures). Serodiagnostic and DNA hybridization methods may be complementary in the respective detection of both chronic and acute infections. However, recent improvements in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) make feasible a more sensitive and uniform approach to the diagnosis of these and other infectious disease complexes, with appropriate primers and processing methods. An analysis of ribosomal DNA genes of Plasmodium and Toxoplasma identified Apicomplexa-conserved sequence regions. Specific and distinctive PCR profiles were obtained for primers spanning the internal transcribed spacer locus for each of several Plasmodium and Babesia species.

Efficacy of purified Anaplasma marginale initial bodies as a vaccine against anaplasmosis

Anaplasma marginale initial bodies of the Florida strain were purified from infected erythrocytes using a combination of ultrasonic disruption, nonionic detergent and differential centrifugation. Immunochemical analysis revealed at least 12 A. marginale proteins in the molecular mass (m) range 81-15 kDa with a prominent band at 38 kDa. Several of these proteins remained insoluble in the presence of nonionic detergent. Preparations of purified Anaplasma initial bodies contained negligible erythrocytic contamination, as confirmed by the minimal induction of isoantibodies against bovine blood group antigens and the absence of delayed-type hypersensitivity to erythrocytic antigens in immunized animals. A total of 33 crossbred and purebred Holstein cattle were vaccinated with either 1.5, 1.0, or 0.1 mg protein of intact initial bodies, or with 1.0 mg of solubilized Anaplasma protein. The immunogens were supplemented with 3.0 mg Quil-A saponin adjuvant and administered in 2 subcutaneous injections given at a 4-week interval. A similar number of nonvaccinated cattle served as controls. Three months after vaccination, all cattle were challenged by inoculation of 10(9) virulent A. marginale of either the homologous (Florida) or heterologous (Venezuelan) strains. Vaccinated cattle showed solid protection after homologous and heterologous challenge, characterized by parasite clearance and minimal hematocrit reductions. Initial data from four field vaccine trials revealed a reduced incidence of clinical anaplasmosis among immunized animals. Use of immunogens consisting of purified A. marginale initial bodies offers a potential immunoprophylactic approach to control of bovine anaplasmosis.

Foods with a low glycemic index do not improve glycemic control of both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients after one month of therapy

Twenty four diabetic patients (12 type 1 and 12 type 2) were studied to determine the influence of using foods rich in carbohydrates with either low or high glycemic indexes on the glycemic control of Diabetes Mellitus. All patients were treated with insulin. During 2 periods of 4 weeks the patients received, at lunch, 2 types of foods rich in carbohydrates as part of their usual diet. Meal A: foods with a low glycemic index and Meal B: foods with a high glycemic index. During the last 7 days of each period the patients determined, at home, their capillary glucose levels before and 1, 2, and 3 hours after lunch by means of a reflectometer. At the end of each period HbA1 levels were also determined. No differences in insulin dose or changes in body weight were found during the two periods of the study for both types of diabetic patients. Capillary glucose levels before lunch were similar on both diets and for both types of diabetic patients. Similarly, postprandial capillary glucose levels 1, 2, and 3 hours later were not different for both died A and diet B. No statistically significant differences were found either in HbA1 values for both periods of the study. These results confirm previous ones obtained in acute studies. The present findings indicate that the glycemic response of foods rich in carbohydrates is modified when included in a mixed meal by the other components of the meal. From these date it can be inferred that the use in a diet of foods with a low glycemic index does not improve the glycemic control of patients affected of Diabetes Mellitus.

Bovine babesiosis: induction of protective immunity with culture-derived Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina immunogens

The comparative protective efficacy of culture-derived Babesia bovis and B. bigemina immunogens against challenge exposure of susceptible crossbred cattle to heterologous strains was examined and correlated with the antigenic threshold requirements for induction of protective immunity. Strong protection was observed in animals vaccinated with 10 ml-equivalent doses of soluble, B. bovis exoantigen-containing supernatant fluids. Similar protective responses to B. bigemina exoantigens were evident even at 1 ml-equivalent dosages. In addition, the efficacy of a combined B. bovis-B. bigemina immunogen was assessed with a dose-response analysis in highly susceptible, purebred cattle. Vaccinated animals were protected against clinical babesiosis, and significant weight gains were recorded after challenge infection with virulent parasites.

Heterologous strain immunity in bovine babesiosis using a culture-derived soluble Babesia bovis immunogen

The cross-protective capacity of culture-derived soluble immunogens against heterologous Babesia bovis strains from different geographical locations of Latin America was examined. Susceptible yearling cattle were either immunized with immunogens derived from Venezuelan or Mexican strains, or were administered a multi-component immunogen containing antigens of the Australian, Mexican and Venezuelan strains. Cattle were challenged with virulent B. bovis organisms of the Argentinian, Colombian, Ecuadorean, Mexican and Venezuelan strains. The major parameters used to evaluate cross-protection were the following: presence, level and duration of parasitemia; maximal PCV reduction; level and duration of fever; determination of fibrinogen and cryofibrinogen; homologous and heterologous antibody levels; and net gains in body weight. Results showed good protection with a Venezuelan B. bovis immunogen after homologous and heterologous challenge exposures. A low degree of cross-immunity was observed when cattle vaccinated with the Mexican immunogen were challenged with each of the heterologous strains.