Comparación nutricional de huevos azules de gallina Araucana y una línea de gallina

Se comparó ceniza proteína, grasa, ácidos grasos y colesterol en huevos de gallina Araucana y Hy-line, bajo la administración de dos dietas (concentrado y granos más pastoreo), estandarizando la etapa productiva y el peso del huevo. Se generaron 4 tratamientos con 3 pools formados de 12 huevos, yemas y albumenes. Los análisis se efectuaron con protocolos de la Association of Analytical Communities, esterificación y cromatografía. Los resultados se evaluaron mediante análisis de varianza. El contenido de ceniza fue mayor (P

Arsenic removal procedure for the electrolyte from a hydro-pyrometallurgical complex

Commercial copper (Cu) is obtained by a hydro-pyrometallurgical process, where the Cu anodes obtained in the furnaces (Cu > 99.5%) are enriched up to 99.99% in "cathodes" by electrorefining at an electrolysis plant. During this process, some impurities accumulate in the electrolyte, mainly arsenic (As), which decrease the quality of the Cu cathode. For this reason, the electrolyte is sent to an electrolyte cleaning plant (ECP) for its purification. Electrolyte sludge (ES) is produced in the last stage of purification and is recirculated back to the furnace due to the high Cu content. This recirculation involves a severe problem of As accumulation in the industrial process. The objective of this work was to develop a procedure to fully dissolve the ES, removing the As and recovering its Cu content. The ES dissolution process was optimised (dissolution efficiency > 99%) in H₂SO₄ (1.4 M)/HNO₃ (1.8 M) medium using a 1:20 g mL^-1 solid-to-liquid ratio. As was removed from the ES solution by its precipitation as iron (III) arsenate, with high efficiency (more than 70%). After As removal, the Cu can be precipitated as copper sulphate, which is used in several applications.

Impact of durum wheat milling on deoxynivalenol distribution in the outcoming fractions

The milling behaviour of two naturally infected samples of durum wheat grain with contrasting levels of mycotoxins was studied. Although the two samples showed a similar milling behaviour, an increase of approximately 20% in deoxynivalenol (DON) levels was found in semolina from the sample containing the higher level of mycotoxin. However, even if the highest concentration of DON was found in fractions originating from the grain outer layers, the mycotoxin contamination in semolina and flours were not related to the amount of two compounds (ash or phytic acid) used to monitor these external tissues. The presence of the trichothecene-producing fungi in the inner-most semolina fraction was also shown using specific DNA primers and PCR amplification. Comparison of DON concentrations in the feed stock and corresponding output at each milling step or grinding of semolina fractions followed by sizing showed that concentration of mycotoxin occurs in the finest particles at the first processing steps. Therefore, DON contamination of milling fractions is not simply due to the presence of peripheral grain tissues.

438 REPEATED ULTRASOUND-GUIDED FOLLICULAR ASPIRATION IN PREGNANT SUCKLED BEEF COWS PRETREATED WITH OR WITHOUT eCG

In vivo oocyte recovery during the first trimester of pregnancy may be an alternative method of obtaining gametes for IVM/IVF/IVC from genetically valuable females. This study was conducted to evaluate i) the influence of the day of gestation on the follicular growth and number and quality of oocytes recovered by ovum pick-up (OPU) in pregnant suckled beef cows with or without eCG pre-stimulation, and ii) the possible effects on pregnancy outcome. Twelve pregnant suckled Angus cows (40 days after FTAI) were randomly assigned to 2 groups (n = 6/group). Group 1 treatment included: Day 0 = dominant follicle ablation (DFA) to synchronize the emergence of a new follicular wave, Day 1 = eCG treatment (2,000 IU, i.m. Syntex, Argentina) and Day 5 = OPU (follicles >3 mm were aspirated). Group 2: as for Group 1 with no eCG treatment. In both groups, OPU was repeated 5 times (Days 45, 59, 73, 87, and 101 of gestation) and ovarian follicles were classified into 3classes according to diameter (class I, <5 mm; class II, 5-9 mm; and class III, ≥10 mm). The collected COCs were categorized in 4 categories (I to IV) on the basis of both cumulus cells and appearance of oocyte cytoplasm. Categories I + II were considered as viable. Data were analyzed by PROC MIXED (SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). There was a significant treatment by follicular class interaction (P < 0.001). The numbers (mean ± SEM) of class II (4.3 ± 0.9) and III (2.5 ± 0.4) follicles/cow/session observed in eCG-treated cows were greater than for nontreated cows (0.9 ± 0.1 and 0.9 ± 0.1, respectively). In contrast, the number (mean ± SEM) of class I follicles/cow/session was lower for cows with eCG treatment (2.8 ± 0.4) than for nontreated cows (5.7 ± 0.5). A significant treatment by day of gestation interaction for aspirated follicles was observed (P = 0.03). The numbers (mean ± SEM) of recovered oocytes and viable oocytes/cow/session were greater (P < 0.05) for eCG-treated cows (2.2 ± 0.2 and 1.6 ± 0.4 respectively) than for nontreated cows (1.0 ± 0.2 and 0.9 ± 0.2, respectively). No donor pregnancies were lost either during or following OPU procedure. The overall efficiency of OPU procedure is shown in Table 1. We can conclude that (1) eCG-treated pregnant suckled cows can be a source of oocytes for IVF to at least 100 days of gestation and (2) repeated DFA/eCG treatment/OPU procedures did not affect the pregnancy outcome. Table 1.Overall efficiency of repeated DFA/eCG treatment/OPU procedures in pregnant suckled cows

Quark-mass dependence of the rho and sigma mesons from dispersion relations and chiral perturbation theory

We use the one-loop chiral perturbation theory pipi-scattering amplitude and dispersion theory in the form of the inverse amplitude method to study the quark-mass dependence of the two lightest resonances of the strong interactions, the f(0)(600) (sigma) and the rho meson. As the main results, we find that the rhopipi coupling constant is almost quark mass independent and that the rho mass shows a smooth quark-mass dependence while that of the sigma shows a strong nonanalyticity. These findings are important for studies of the meson spectrum on the lattice.

Nature of the f0(600) scalar meson from its Nc dependence at two loops in unitarized chiral perturbation theory

By using unitarized two-loop chiral perturbation theory partial waves to describe pion-pion scattering we find that the dominant component of the lightest scalar meson does not follow the qq dependence on the number of colors that, in contrast, is obeyed by the lightest vectors. The method suggests that a subdominant qq component of the f0(600) possibly originates around 1 GeV.

Toxicity of the crude oil water-soluble fraction and kaolin-adsorbed crude oil on Daphnia magna (Crustacea: Anomopoda)

Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons entering aquatic environments from accidental or normal marine and transportation activities. Toxicologic crude oil analysis is usually performed on the basis of the water-soluble fraction. However, this yields only a partial estimate of the damage caused by these contaminants because a substantial hydrophobic amount can be adsorbed onto suspended solids (biotic and abiotic), which directly affects filter-feeding species and permits bioaccumulation through trophic relationships. This study determined the acute toxic damage sustained after 48 hours caused by seven types of crude oil from Tabasco, Mexico on the cladoceran Daphnia magna. Comparisons were documented based on the responses of D. magna from application of the water-soluble fraction and exposure to entire crude oil samples adsorbed on kaolin clay. Oil-sorbed kaolin was more toxic than the water-soluble fraction in acute exposure. This confirms that tests of the water-soluble fraction tend to underestimate the toxic damage that can be produced in natural environments. Furthermore, chronic toxicity (21 days) was evaluated for crude oil samples adsorbed on kaolin at sublethal concentrations as established from Application Factors (AF) criteria. Results showed that in most cases, it is impossible to predict safe concentrations on the basis of LC(50) values because samples with lower acute toxicity exercised a greater influence on D. magna reproduction and survival when subjected to chronic exposure.

The expression of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAL1 gene increases salt tolerance in transgenic watermelon [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsun. & Nakai.]

An optimised Agrobacterium-mediated gene transfer protocol was developed in order to obtain watermelon transgenic plants [Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsun. & Nakai.]. Transformation efficiencies ranged from 2.8% to 5.3%, depending on the cultivar. The method was applied to obtain genetically engineered watermelon plants expressing the Saccharomyces cerevisiae HAL1 gene related to salt tolerance. In order to enhance its constitutive expression in plants, the HAL1 gene was cloned in a pBiN19 plasmid under control of the 35S promoter with a double enhancer sequence from the cauliflower mosaic virus and the RNA4 leader sequence of the alfalfa mosaic virus. This vector was introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 for further inoculation of watermelon half-cotyledon explants. The introduction of both the neomycin phosphotransferase II and HAL1 genes was assessed in primary transformants (TG1) by polymerase chain reaction analysis and Southern hybridisation. The expression of the HAL1 gene was determined by Northern analysis, and the diploid level of transgenic plants was confirmed by flow cytometry. The presence of the selectable marker gene in the expected Mendelian ratios was demonstrated in TG2 progenies. The TG2 kanamycin-resistant plantlets elongated better and produced new roots and leaves in culture media supplemented with NaCl compared with the control. Salt tolerance was confirmed in a semi-hydroponic system (EC=6 dS m(-1)) on the basis of the higher growth performance of homozygous TG3 lines with respect to their respective azygous control lines without the transgene. The halotolerance observed confirmed the inheritance of the trait and supports the potential usefulness of the HAL1 gene of S. cerevisiae as a molecular tool for genetic engineering of salt-stress protection in other crop species.

The ploidy level of transgenic plants in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato cotyledons ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is genotype and procedure dependent [corrected]

A protocol avoiding the feeder-layer cell system was optimized for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato cotyledonary explants. Over 500 transgenic plants from five tomato cultivars were regenerated in 15 independent experiments. Depending on both genotype and procedure, transformation frequencies ranged from 1.8% to 11.3%. The optimal transformation rate was obtained by inoculating explants with a bacterial suspension in exponential growth ( D(600) = 10(2)-10(3) cells/ml) and transferring cotyledon explants to fresh selective regeneration medium every 3 weeks. The ploidy level of both tomato genotypes used as explant source and primary transformants, was studied by flow cytometry. The inbred lines and cultivars were diploid but a polysomatic pattern in the cotyledon explant was confirmed. The rate of tetraploid transgenic plants ranged from 24.5% to 80% and depended on both the genotype and the transformation procedure. Surprisingly, the percentages of transformed plants with higher ploidy levels were not related to the proportion of 4C and 8C nuclei in the cotyledonary tissue. For some genotypes the optimisation of the transformation rate resulted in an increase of tetraploid transgenic plants. Results obtained in this work indicate the convenience of checking the ploidy level of the primary transformants before performing basic studies or introducing tomato transgenic material in a breeding program.

The ploidy level of transgenic plants in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato cotyledons ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) is genotype and procedure dependent [corrected]

A protocol avoiding the feeder-layer cell system was optimized for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of tomato cotyledonary explants. Over 500 transgenic plants from five tomato cultivars were regenerated in 15 independent experiments. Depending on both genotype and procedure, transformation frequencies ranged from 1.8% to 11.3%. The optimal transformation rate was obtained by inoculating explants with a bacterial suspension in exponential growth ( D(600) = 10(2)-10(3) cells/ml) and transferring cotyledon explants to fresh selective regeneration medium every 3 weeks. The ploidy level of both tomato genotypes used as explant source and primary transformants, was studied by flow cytometry. The inbred lines and cultivars were diploid but a polysomatic pattern in the cotyledon explant was confirmed. The rate of tetraploid transgenic plants ranged from 24.5% to 80% and depended on both the genotype and the transformation procedure. Surprisingly, the percentages of transformed plants with higher ploidy levels were not related to the proportion of 4C and 8C nuclei in the cotyledonary tissue. For some genotypes the optimisation of the transformation rate resulted in an increase of tetraploid transgenic plants. Results obtained in this work indicate the convenience of checking the ploidy level of the primary transformants before performing basic studies or introducing tomato transgenic material in a breeding program.

Basement membrane and connective tissue proteins in intestinal mucosa of patients with coeliac disease

AIMS

Gluten ingestion in coeliac disease is associated with alterations of the intestinal mucosa, especially the expansion of the lamina propria. Antiendomysium and antireticulin antibodies may result from interactions between gliadin and extracellular matrix components. By behaving as autoantigens, connective tissue proteins could initiate mucosal damage. This study evaluates changes in the distribution of laminin, type IV collagen, and fibronectin in the mucosa of patients with coeliac disease in an attempt to explain the alterations of mucosal morphology.

METHODS

Intestinal biopsies were obtained from patients with coeliac disease on admission and while on a gluten free diet. The distribution of type IV collagen, laminin, fibronectin, and alpha-smooth muscle actin was evaluated by immunofluorescence and by immunogold labelling and electron microscopy.

RESULTS

In patients with coeliac disease, the intensity of type IV collagen, laminin, and fibronectin immunofluorescent staining was decreased and less well defined than in controls, with frequent breaches in the basement membrane; fibronectin staining was weak in the distal third of the elongated crypts and absent under the flat surface. The distribution of smooth muscle fibre in the distal lamina propria of flat mucosae was altered. The distribution of these proteins was normal as assessed by immunoelectron microscopy.

CONCLUSIONS

The intensity of staining of some components of the basement membrane is decreased in coeliac disease and the distribution of smooth muscle fibres is altered. These changes may result from interactions between gliadin and components of the extracellular matrix and may play a role in the genesis of mucosal lesions and in the damage to the epithelium.

Instrumental planar chromatographic determination of benzodiazepines: comparison with liquid chromatography and gas chromatography

Diazepam, chlordiazepoxide, and midazolam are determined by high-perfromance, thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Results are compared with those obtained by liquid chromatography (LC) and gas chromatography (GC). Analytical conditions for all the methods are also described. Validation parameters for linearity, precision, detection, and quantitative limits are informed. Correlation study of HPTLC with LC and GC gave a correlation factor between 0.98 and 0.99. The obtained results showed that HPTLC, LC, and GC techniques are comparable for determination of such benzodiazepins in the requested working range to be analyzed in raw materials.

[Celiac disease in adolescents and young adults. A challenge for gastroenterologists of children and adults]

BACKGROUND

Follow-up of celiac patients in Chile is often interrupted when adolescents are referred to adult gastroenterologists.

AIM

To study the evolution of patients with celiac disease when they reach adolescence or young adulthood.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Current adherence to gluten-free diet and its relation to symptoms and circulating antiendomysial antibodies were evaluated in the 58 confirmed celiac patients older than 12 years of age controlled at 3 hospitals in Santiago.

RESULTS

Mean age at the moment of this assessment was 17.8 +/- 5 years, 65.5% were women, 12.5% were at nutritional risk (-IDS) while 20% were overweight/obese. Although all patients declared themselves asymptomatic, a focused questionnaire revealed that 26% suffered some symptoms. Only 24.1% followed a strict gluten-free diet. Eight of 20 patients who ate gluten-containing diets had negative antiendomysial antibodies (EMA), three of whom turned positive within 6 to 9 months. In three of four (asymptomatic) cases that accepted a new jejunal biopsy, histology was abnormal. One patient who followed a strict diet had EMA (+) and normal histology.

CONCLUSIONS

These results confirm that after childhood, symptoms abate significantly in celiac patients. The observed sensitivity and specificity of EMA makes necessary to maintain small intestinal biopsies as the gold standard for diagnosis and confirmation of the disease.

Genetic differences in HLA-DQA1* and DQB1* allelic distributions between celiac and control children in Santiago, Chile

Celiac disease is a permanent gluten intolerance strongly associated with HLA class II antigens. The over presentation of particular HLA alleles and haplotypes has been described in several populations. Different lines of evidence obtained during the last years suggest that a particular HLA-DQ heterodimer, encoded by the DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0201 genes in cis or trans conformation, confers the primary disease susceptibility. We report the HLA class II allelic distribution and DQA1/ DQB1 genotypes in 62 Chilean celiac patients compared with 124 control subjects in Santiago, Chile. We found a pronounced increase of the "susceptible" alleles :DQA1*0501 (0.480 vs 0.169, Pc < 0.0005), DQB1*0302 (0.430 vs 0.242, Pc = 0.002) and DQB1*0201 (0.250 vs 0.125, Pc = 0.037) in celiac patients in comparison with control children. As for "protective" alleles, we detected a high frequency of DQA1*0101 (0.310 vs 0.160, Pc = 0.01), DQA1*0201 (0.105 vs 0.010, Pc < 0.0075) and DQB1*0301 (0.250 vs 0.100, Pc = 0.010) in controls. In relation to risk haplotypes, the main combination observed was the conformation DQ8 (DQB1*0302/DQA1*0301) over DQ2 (DQB1*0201/DQA1*0501). In conclusion, results show that celiac disease in Chilean patients is primarily associated with DQ8 conformation. This is concordant with the high frequency of DR4 alleles (in linkage disequilibrium with DQB1*0302) detected in Amerind groups in Chile, where DQB1*0302 is more frequent than DQB1*0201.

Efficacy of radiosynovectomy of the knee in rheumatoid arthritis: evaluation with magnetic resonance imaging

The intra-articular injection of a radiopharmaceutical agent (radiosynovectomy) produces a reduction of the synovial inflammatory process. The inflammed synovial membrane can be identified with magnetic resonance imaging after the intravenous administration of gadolinium (MRI-Gd). A 6-month prospective study was carried out in 10 patients with rheumatoid arthritis after radiosynovectomy of the knee. The efficacy was evaluated with clinical parameters and MRI-Gd. A progressive amelioration of synovial effusion, pain, articular range of mobility, total leucocytes count in synovial fluid and synovial membrane thickness through MRI-Gd was observed. The global efficacy was considered to be good in six patients, fair in three and bad in one. The study shows for the first time that MRI-Gd allows the evaluation of the response of the synovial membrane to radiosynovectomy.

[Bone mass in celiac patients]

Bone mineral content was measured in the whole body, the spine (L2-L4) and hip by Dual Photonic Absorpciometry (densitometer Norland 2600 Gd-153), in seventeen celiac patients, aged 6 to 12 years, with good adherence to the gluten free diet. The diagnosed was made before 30 months of age in 50% of cases. Average treatment duration was 69.8 +/- 36 months. The randomly selected control group was composed of 48 school age children, of the same age and sex of patients. Total bone mass (TBM) and bone mineral density (BMD) were expressed as Z scores on the basis of normal values established by the authors in Chilean children. Celiac patients had lower TBM and BMD of whole body, than controls (-1.11 +/- 0.94 vs 0.00 +/- 0.85 and -0.59 +/- 0.76 vs 0.06 +/- 0.84, respectively) and at the spine (-0.79 +/- 1.04 vs 0.003 +/- 0.92 and -1.49 +/- 0.99 vs 0.06 +/- 0.87 respectively). A lower TBM was founded at the hip (-0.62 +/- 1.28 vs -0.08 +/- 0.82) without differences in BMD. Celiac patients had a lower bone mass than controls despite early diagnosis and good compliance with the gluten-free diet. These differences could not be atributed entirely to the lower height of celiac patients. These results suggest that celiac patients constitute a risk group for development of osteoporosis later in life. This fact should be taken into consideration in the treatment of this condition.

[Dissection of the ascending aorta (type A): diagnostic aspects, surgical treatment and long-term follow-up]

Aortic replacement is the treatment of choice and improves the natural history of dissections involving the ascending aorta. Forty patients (23 male), aged 49.4 years, have been operated at the hospital Clínico de la Universidad Católica. Twenty six presented with acute dissections. Angiography conformed the dissection in 63.3% and computed axial tomography in 84.6% of patients; lately, transesophageal echocardiography has become the most sensitive diagnostic method. Twenty three patients (57.5%) were subjected to emergency operations and 17 to semielective procedures. In 24 patients (60%) ascending aorta was replaced and in 16 a composite graft was used. Operative mortality was 27.5%. Univariate analysis showed that the period in which the operation was performed and the presence of limb ischemia were the only independent predictors of operative mortality. Long term follow up was achieved in 26 patients (89.6%). Actuarial 5 year survival without considering operative mortality was 87.9%. It is concluded that patients with acute dissections involving the ascending aorta should be operated as soon as the imaging diagnosis is complete and, since this is a palliative procedure, a close follow up is required for early detection of complications.

[Computed tomography guided fine needle aspiration biopsies]

Computed tomography (CT) allows the performance of fine needle aspiration biopsies in situations in which ultrasound or conventional X rays do not correctly visualize the lesion or the needle tract. One hundred four patients with a clinical suspicion of neoplasia were subjected to CT guided percutaneous aspiration biopsies in a lapse of 6 years. The most frequently biopsied organs were the lung (39.5%), liver and gallbladder (20.2%) and pancreas (15.4%). Forty nine percent of procedures were performed in the thorax and 51% in the abdomen. Of 51 patients with suspicion of thoracic cancer, there was only one false negative and no false positive results, with an overall accuracy of 98%. For abdominal procedures, there were no false positive results, although there were 6 false negative results, specially for pancreatic or retroperitoneal lesions. Overall accuracy for abdominal procedures was 88%. It is concluded that CT guided fine needle biopsy is a safe and accurate method for the diagnosis of thoracic and abdominal lesions.

[Complications of rigid ureteroscopy]

Peri- and post-operative complications higher than 37c (15%) encountered in 250 urethroscopies performed between May 1985 and January 1989 are presented in this paper. These experiences are compared to those from other 20 series (2,599 urethroscopies) representing 14.5% complications. In order to study their pathogeny, the sample was divided into four groups:

CONTROL GROUP

27 patients where normality of urinary tract was demonstrated in 92.6% of all evaluations made at intervals of about 20 months. Technical scope: Two groups chronologically different: 16% complications in urethroscopies performed in 1985 and 7% complications in those performed in 1986. Differences in the techniques applied: classic extraction (14%) vs. urethroscopy (13%) and electrohydraulic lithotrity (42%) vs ultrasonic lithotrity (12%). Finally, a description is made of those cause believed to be responsible for major complications: perforation, avulsion and ureteral stenosis.

[Thoracic actinomycosis]

Thoracic actinomycosis was identified in a 14 year old girl. The disease is infrequent in children and diagnosis is difficult. The occurrence of a protracted pulmonary lesion, together with osteomyelitis of several ribs and by fistulae formation in the chest wall, with production of characteristic "sulfur granules", were the key elements to suspect the right diagnosis, which was confirmed by a bacteriological and histological studies. Treatment with high doses of intravenous penicillin, 3 million U four times a day for 4 weeks, followed by long term oral therapy with the same drug was done, with remission of pulmonary, osseous and cutaneous lesions.