Effectiveness of a digital application to improve stroke knowledge for kids

INTRODUCTION

Stroke is highly prevalent in Latin America and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Educating children about stroke has been established as an effective method to detect symptoms early, reduce hospital visits, and raise awareness among adults.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the effectiveness of a mobile application to improve knowledge and understanding of stroke among children.

METHOD

We conducted a focus group session including 12 children in order to analyze the behavior of 6 questions previously validated by expert neurologists. Subsequently, 105 primary school students between the ages of 7 and 12 completed a questionnaire on stroke symptoms and how to contact the emergency services before and after using an application on stroke symptoms. Qualitative analyses and the Student t test were used to verify the existence of differences between pre- and post-intervention test results.

RESULTS

After a single 40-min working session with the application, between 50% and 67% of the children were able to identify the signs of stroke, and 96.2% knew the national emergency services telephone number. Statistical analysis revealed statistically significant differences before and after the intervention with the digital application (t=19.54; p<0.001) and intragroup differences in the post-intervention test results (t=40.71; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Primary school children who used our digital application increased their knowledge, understanding, and learning of stroke symptoms.

Modeling road traffic safety based on point patterns of wildlife-vehicle collisions

Wildlife-vehicle collisions represent one of the main coexistence problems that appear between human populations and the environment. In general terms, this affects road safety, wildlife management, and the building of road infrastructures. These accidents are a great danger to the life and safety of car drivers, cause property damage to vehicles, and affect wildlife populations. In this work, we develop a new approach based on algorithms used to obtain minimum paths between vertices in weighted networks to get the optimal (safest) route between two points (departure and destination points) in a road structure based on wildlife-vehicle collision point patterns together with other road variables such as traffic volume (traffic flow information), road speed limits, and vegetation density around roads. For this purpose, we have adapted the road structure into a mathematical linear network as described in the field of Graph Theory and added weights to each linear segment based on the intensity of accidents. Then, the resulting network structure allows us to consider some graph theory methodologies to manipulate and apply different calculations to analyze the network. This new approach has been illustrated with a real data set involving the locations of 491 wildlife-vehicle collisions in a square region (40 km × 40 km) around the city of Lleida, during the period 2010-2014, in the region of Catalonia, North-East of Spain. Our results show the usefulness of our new approach to model road traffic safety based on point patterns of wildlife-vehicle collisions. As such, optimal path selection on linear networks based on wildlife-vehicle collisions can be considered to find the safest path between two pairs of points, avoiding more dangerous routes and even routes containing hotspots of accidents.

Neurocognitive Impairment in Well-Controlled HIV-Infected Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study

The reported prevalence of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders in HIV people depends on the population studied and the methodology used. We analyze the prevalence of neurocognitive impairment (NCI) and associated factors in patients on successful antiretroviral therapy (ART), without comorbidities. Cross-sectional observational study in HIV subjects, ≥18 years old, on stable ART, and HIV viral load of <50 copies/mL. Patients with medical or psychiatric comorbidities and substance abuse were excluded. NCI was diagnosed using Frascati criteria, examining seven neurocognitive domains (NDs). We analyzed the association between NCI and HIV-related clinical variables, carotid intima-media thickness, bacterial translocation, and plasma inflammatory biomarkers [soluble CD14, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α]. The prevalence of NCI was calculated with a 95% confidence interval (CI). We fitted a logistic regression model to assess the strength of the associations. Eighty-four patients were included with an observed NCI prevalence of 29.8% (95% CI: 21.0-40.2): 19% had asymptomatic NCI, 8.3% had mild neurocognitive disorder, and 2.4% had HIV-associated dementia. Delayed recall was the most commonly affected ND (27.4%). People diagnosed at least 10 years ago (odds ratio [OR]: 6.5, 95% CI: 1.6-21.7) and those with IL-6 levels above 1.8 pg/mL (OR: 6.0, 95% CI: 1.1-31.3) showed higher odds of NCI in adjusted analyses. Participants with carotid plaques had lower scores for delayed recall: -0.9 ± 1.1 versus -0.2 ± 1.1 (p = .04). Prevalence of NCI is high in otherwise healthy adults with HIV-infection. In this population, more than 10 years since HIV diagnosis and high IL-6 levels are associated with NCI. Delayed recall ND is worse in patients with subclinical atherosclerosis.

Elevation of isoprostanes in polycystic ovary syndrome and its relationship with cardiovascular risk factors

PURPOSE

To evaluate the plasma level of 8-isoprostanes in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. To also investigate whether there is a relationship between 8-isoprostanes and several cardiovascular risk factors.

METHODS

A total of 125 women with polycystic ovary syndrome and 169 healthy women were enrolled in this case-control study. 8-Isoprostanes and different parameters were measured in all subjects. Patients were evaluated for the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome according to the Rotterdam Consensus Conference criteria.

RESULTS

8-Isoprostanes levels were significantly higher in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (138.4 ± 104.1 pg/mL) compared with control group (68.6 ± 34.3 pg/mL) (p < 0.001). The mean of triglycerides, lipid accumulation product, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance were significantly higher in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with high 8-isoprostanes than those with normal 8-isoprostanes (p < 0.05). The Pearson correlation analyses showed that 8-isoprostanes levels in polycystic ovary syndrome group had a positive correlation with waist circumference, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, apolipoprotein B, homocysteine, insulin, homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with polycystic ovary syndrome have higher 8-isoprostanes levels and it is associated with several cardiovascular risk factors.

Non-invasive Diagnostic of Helicobacter pylori in Stools by Nested-qPCR

The aim of this study was to develop a non-invasive diagnostic test for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in stool samples from digestive symptomatic patients, using a new protocol of nested-qPCR. A total of 143 patients were invited to participate in the study. A gastric biopsy of each patient was collected for Rapid Urease Testing (RUT) and histology by Giemsa stain. A fecal sample for nested-qPCR analysis was also obtained. DNA was extracted from the fecal samples, and conventional PCR followed by qPCR of the ureC gene of H. pylori was carried out. We evaluated the presence of H. pylori, in 103 females and 40 males, mean (± SD) age of 56.5 ± 14.18. The sensitivity of RUT to detect the infection was 67.0% (95% C.I.: 57.2 - 75.8) and specificity was 92.3% (95% C.I.: 76.5 - 99.1). Histology by Giemsa stain, commonly used as a reference for H. pylori detection, showed a sensitivity of 98.6% (95% C.I.: 92.5 - 100.0) and a specificity of 89.7% (95% C.I.: 72.7 - 97.8). In contrast, detection of H. pylori infection in stools by nested-qPCR showed a sensitivity of 100% (95% C.I.: 94.9 - 100.0) and a specificity of 83.9% (95% C.I.: 66.3 - 94.6). Our test, based in nested-qPCR is a better diagnostic alternative than conventional RUT, and is similar to histology by Giemsa stain in the detection of H. pylori, by which the test could be used for non-invasive diagnosis in clinical practice.

Subclinical atherosclerosis in low Framingham risk HIV patients

BACKGROUND

Pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is complex, and differences between HIV-infected patients and general population cannot be completely explained by the higher prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors. We aimed to analyse the association between inflammation and subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV patients with low Framingham risk score.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Case-control study.

SETTING

Outpatient Infectious Diseases clinic in a university hospital.

SUBJECTS

HIV-1-infected patients aged > 35 years receiving antiretroviral treatment with viral load < 50 copies/mL and Framingham risk score < 10%.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

inflammatory diseases; dyslipidaemia requiring statins; smoking > 5 cigarettes/day; diabetes; hypertension; vascular diseases.

MAIN OUTCOME

subclinical atherosclerosis determined by ultrasonography: common carotid intima-media thickness greater than 0·8 mm or carotid plaque presence. Explanatory variables: ribosomal bacterial DNA (rDNA), sCD14, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and TNF-α.

RESULTS

Eighty-four patients were included, 75% male, mean age 42 years and mean CD4+ cells 657 ± 215/mm³ . Median Framingham risk score was 1% at 10 years (percentile 25-75: 0·5-4%). Eighteen patients (21%) had subclinical atherosclerosis; the associated factors were older age (P = 0·001), waist-hip ratio (P = 0·01), time from HIV diagnosis (P = 0·02), rDNA (P = 0·04) and IL-6 (P = 0·01). In multivariate analysis, OR for subclinical atherosclerosis was 7 (95% CI, 1.3-40, P = 0.02) and 9 (95% CI, 1.0-85, P = 0.04) for patients older than 44 years and IL-6 > 6·6 pg/mL, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Well-controlled HIV patients with low Framingham risk score have a high prevalence of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis, and the main risk factors are age and inflammation. These patients are not receiving primary prophylaxis for cardiovascular events according to current guidelines.

Cerebellar atrophy supporting diagnosis of alcohol dependence: A case report

Chronic use of alcohol is a known cause of cerebellar atrophy. This finding could be a valuable diagnosis support when there are not other information sources. In this case report, we describe a 65-year-old male patient who was referred from primary care to specialized consultation because a depressive syndrome it was unresponsive to treatment with desvenlafaxine and lorazepam. In psychopathological exploration we found overvalued ideas of suffering some kind of injury and damage by the family, which oriented the diagnostic hypothesis of delusional disorder with secondary mood symptoms, although the clinical suspicion of abuse of alcohol was proposed as a differential diagnosis. The continuing minimization and denial of consumption by the patient as well as their reluctance to incorporate an external informant made that the workup was a key element to elucidate the diagnosis. We found a discrete increase in transaminases, gamma glutamyl transferase and alkaline phosphatase. Magnetic resonance imaging showed cerebellar atrophy (vermian and, in a lesser extent, in both hemispheres). Once the patient was confronted with these results, he agreed to disclose his problem, which fulfilled alcohol dependence criteria. After that, he accepted to initiate treatment and detoxification in a specialized unity.

Conclusions

Although psychiatric diagnosis is based on the clinical features and the exclusion of associated medical conditions, in this case the workup provided support to our clinical suspicion, favouring recognition of the problem and willingness to treatment by the patient.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Posterior vitreous detachment and electroconvulsive therapy: Insights from a case

A case of bilateral posterior vitreous detachment after electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has been reported previously in the literature. There is not enough evidence about ocular side effects of this treatment. The literature supports a slight increase in intraocular pressure (IOP), although no ocular complications have been reported in normal, glaucomatous or postsurgical eyes. In this case report, we describe a 73-year-old female patient suffering a recurrent depressive disorder, who was admitted to acute psychiatric unit because a treatment-resistant major depressive episode (after an adequate trial of antidepressant drugs and transcranial magnetic stimulation) and clinical suspicion of visual delusions by her reference psychiatrist. The nonpsychiatric history consisted of hypertension, glaucoma and ulcerative colitis in treatment with azathioprine and mesalazine. After a careful examination in the emergency room, we consulted to ophthalmologist because miodesopsias and glaucoma history. The IOP was normal, but a bilateral posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) was identified. Because this entity is not an absolute contraindication for ECT, and there is scarce evidence, we informed the patient and her family. After that, and through informed consent, we decided to undergo ECT. After fourteen sessions, the patient could be discharged because significant clinical benefit and no ocular complications. Outpatient continuation ECT was indicated.

Conclusions

ECT can be a safe treatment choice in cases of PVD.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Addictive behaviour and bariatric surgery: Case report and literature review

Even though the scientific evidence supports the benefits of bariatric surgery, its indications and contraindications must be continually revised in order to avoid psychiatric complications. Substance use is more common in patients subjected to bariatric surgery than in the general population. There are reports of increased incidence of alcohol abuse in patients after bariatric surgery.

Objective

To review the available evidence, after treat the case of a 50-year-old man with addiction history whose addictive behaviour worsened after undergoing bariatric surgery, with decreased tolerance to alcohol effect and increase of the intake, as well as changes in the graduation of alcohol used (including antiseptic). As a result, a dangerous revolving door that led him to repeated admissions, including Intensive Care Unit.

Results

The case is consistent with the literature that suggests that there is an increased risk of later alcohol-related problems after bariatric surgery. This risk is higher several years post surgery, in patients with previous history of problems related to alcohol, young, men, and Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass procedure.

Conclusions

The indications for bariatric surgery should thoroughly consider the history of addiction, an adequate assessment of the patient's mental status and psychoeducation about the possible psychiatric side effects, in order to develop preventive strategies.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Managing the computational chemistry big data problem: the ioChem-BD platform

We present the ioChem-BD platform ( www.iochem-bd.org ) as a multiheaded tool aimed to manage large volumes of quantum chemistry results from a diverse group of already common simulation packages. The platform has an extensible structure. The key modules managing the main tasks are to (i) upload of output files from common computational chemistry packages, (ii) extract meaningful data from the results, and (iii) generate output summaries in user-friendly formats. A heavy use of the Chemical Mark-up Language (CML) is made in the intermediate files used by ioChem-BD. From them and using XSL techniques, we manipulate and transform such chemical data sets to fulfill researchers' needs in the form of HTML5 reports, supporting information, and other research media.

Hormona de crecimiento en sujetos varones de diferentes altitudes

Objetivos: Determinar los niveles de hormona de crecimiento (GH) en sujetos varones adultos, a nivel del mar (Lima, 150 msnm) y en la altura (Cajamarca: 2 750 msnm; Huancayo: 3 280 msnm; Morococha: 4 540 msnm). Diseño: Estudio descriptivo, observacional, transversal y prospectivo. Lugar: Ciudades de Lima, Cajamarca, Huancayo y Morococha, Perú. Participantes: Adultos varones, nativos de localidades de diferentes altitudes. Intervenciones: Previo consentimiento informado, a 41 adultos varones nativos de su localidad de origen [12 sujetos alnivel del mar (Lima 150 m), 10 sujetos en Cajamarca (2 750 m), 12 sujetos en Huancayo (3 280 m) y 7 sujetos en Morococha (4 540 m)] se tomó muestras de sangre en ayunas y en condiciones de reposo. Principales medidas de resultados: Niveles sanguíneos de hormona de crecimiento (GH) en sangre. Resultados: La edad promedio de los participantes fue 28 años (rango de 20 a 35 años). Los valores promedios de GH encontrados fueron: a 4 540 m, 3,87 ± 0,16 ng/mL; a 3 280 m, 1,31 ± 0,09 ng/mL; a 2 750 m, 0,63 ± 0,08 ng/mL; y a 150 m, 0,54 ± 0,04 ng/mL. Hubo diferencia significativa (p &lt; 0,05) entre los valores de GH encontrados en la altura a 4 540 m y 3 280 m con respecto al nivel del mar 150 m. No se encontró diferencia significativa entre los valores encontrados a 2 750 m con respecto a 150 m. Conclusiones: Los niveles de GH son mayores en los sujetos nativos a 3 280 m (Huancayo, n=12) y 4 540 m (Morococha, n=7) respecto a los sujetos que viven a 150 m (Lima, n=12).

[Drugs of abuse acute intoxication in paediatric emergencies]

Documented cases show that acute drugs of abuse intoxication in children usually is the Fritz clinical evidence of a chronic exposure. Published clinical reports of drugs of abuse acute poisonings in children are reviewed, above all those with an underlying chronic exposure to the same or another substance. Biological matrices and exposure biomarkers useful in toxicology analysis in Paediatrics are reviewed. In toxicology, biomarkers refer to original parental substances and its metabolites and matrices refer to body substances where biomarkers are detected. In these matrices acute and chronic (previous days, weeks or months) exposures can be detected. Hair analysis has become the gold standard of drugs of abuse chronic exposure. Recommendation includes to confirm previous chronic exposure to drugs of abuse by hair analysis of children and their parents. This protocol must be applied in all cases with suspicion of acute drugs of abuse intoxication, parental consumption and/or children living in a risk environment.

Engineering the electronic band structure for multiband solar cells

Using the unique features of the electronic band structure of GaN(x)As(1-x) alloys, we have designed, fabricated and tested a multiband photovoltaic device. The device demonstrates an optical activity of three energy bands that absorb, and convert into electrical current, the crucial part of the solar spectrum. The performance of the device and measurements of electroluminescence, quantum efficiency and photomodulated reflectivity are analyzed in terms of the band anticrossing model of the electronic structure of highly mismatched alloys. The results demonstrate the feasibility of using highly mismatched alloys to engineer the semiconductor energy band structure for specific device applications.

First Report of Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 5 in Spain

Grapevine leafroll-associated viruses (GLRaVs) cause significant reductions in yield and quality in the wine industry worldwide. At least nine different GLRaVs have been found in different regions of the world. In the process of virus indexing of candidate grapevine clones for certification, which includes grafting of scions onto rootstocks, we observed strong leafroll symptoms 1 year after grafting with one vine of cv. Estaladina in Castilla y León, Spain and one vine of cv. Tempranillo in La Rioja, Spain, collected in 2008 and 2007, respectively. Both vines tested positive by real-time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with TaqMan probes specific for Grapevine leafroll-associated virus 5 and double-antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA with a mix of monoclonal antibodies that recognizes GLRaV-4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 (Bioreba, Reinach, Switzerland). RNA extracts of both GLRaV-5 positive vines were analyzed by conventional RT-PCR with a pair of consensus degenerated primers derived from GLRaV-5 hsp70 sequences available in GenBank: LR5HYF (5'-TGGGATGAAYAARTTCAATGC-3') and LR5HYR (5'-TGAAATTCCTCATRTARGAGC-3') that amplified a 250-bp fragment. Amplicons were cloned and the comparison of the amino acid sequences (Estaladina isolate, Est110: Accession No. HM208622; Tempranillo isolate, Tem020: Accession No. HM208618) showed in the case of the Est110 isolate, 100 and 82.6% identity, respectively, with the homologous genes of one GLRaV-5 isolate from the United States (AF233934 [3]) and Argentina (EU815935 [2]). For isolate Tem020, the hsp70 gene showed 97.1 and 81.2% amino acid identity with the homologous hsp70 genes of the United States and Argentina isolates. The coat protein (cp) genes of both isolates were also amplified and cloned using the specific GLRaV-5 primers, LR53413 (5'-CGTGATACAAGGTAGGACAACCGT-3') and LR53843 (5'-CTTGCACTATCGCTGCCGTGAAT-3'), designed according to the sequence of AF233934. Fragments were of the expected size (430 bp) and the nucleotide sequences were obtained (Est110: Accession No. HM363522; Tem020: Accession No. HM363523) and used for pairwise nucleotide comparisons. The Est110 isolate showed 96.7 and 97.5% amino acid identity with the isolates from the United States and Argentina, respectively, while the Tem020 isolate showed 94.8 and 95.6% identity, respectively. Amino acid identity of Est110 and Tem020 cp genes was 100% when compared with the homologous genes of isolates AF233934 and EU815935. To our knowledge this is the first report of GRLaV-5 in Spain. Since 2008, we have detected eight additional vines positive for this virus in 200 clones analyzed for certification, suggesting that the incidence of GLRaV-5 in Spain could be widespread. This research indicates that virus indexing for GLRaV should be included in certification schemes for grapevine candidate clones (1) in Spain. References: (1) Anonymous. OEPP/EPPO Bull. 38:422, 2008. (2) S. Gomez Talquenca et al. Virus Genes 38:184, 2009. (3) F. Osman et al. J. Virol. Methods 141:22, 2007.

Dietary l-leucine supplementation of lactating rats results in a tendency to increase lean/fat ratio associated to lower orexigenic neuropeptide expression in hypothalamus

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of dietary leucine supplementation in lactating dams, particularly on energy homeostasis through signaling mechanisms in the central nervous system. Dams were fed ad libitum with standard diet during pregnancy (control dams) or supplemented with 2% leucine (leucine-supplemented dams) from delivery onwards. Food intake, body weight and composition were periodically recorded. Hypothalamus was collected at the end of lactation, and the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related protein (AgRP) pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART), insulin receptor (InsR), ghrelin receptor (GSHR), melanocortin receptor (MCR4), leptin receptor (Ob-Rb) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) were analyzed. Dietary leucine supplementation to lactating rats increased plasma leucine by 56%, modulated body composition and contributed to a tendency of higher ratio of lean/fat mass content of dams during lactation, without affecting food intake, thermogenesis capacity or body or tissue/organs weights. No differences in body weight of offspring from control and leucine-supplemented dams were found. The expression of orexigenic peptides (NPY and AgRP) decreased in leucine-dams, whereas the expression of anorexigenic peptides (POMC and CART), the hypothalamic receptors of insulin, ghrelin, melanocortin and leptin and SOCS3 did not change by leucine supplementation. In conclusion, increased leucine intake during lactation may contribute to a healthier profile of body composition in dams, without compromising the growth and development of the progeny by a mechanism associated with lower expression of orexigenic neuropeptides in hypothalamus.

Bidimensional versus tridimensional oxygen vacancy diffusion in SnO(2-x) under different gas environments

Metal oxides present oxygen defects that induce different chemical and physical properties. Experiments performed in SnO(2-x) sensors show that the dynamics of these vacancies are strongly affected by the presence of different gases in the environment. Experimentally, the electrical resistance of individual metal oxide SnO(2-x) nanowires shows modulation: when the environment is oxygen rich long term drifts (hours) are observed indicating extended vacancy dynamics. Instead, if CO is present, drifts disappear in minutes. Density functional theory indicates that changes in resistance follow the extension of reoxidation. For oxygen-poor environments, oxygen vacancy excorporation and healing are confined to the near-surface layer of SnO(2-x) (bidimensional or near-surface diffusion), and completed in short times. Under oxygen-rich conditions, tridimensional diffusion of oxygen vacancies towards the surface takes place at room temperature. In this case, a push-pull mechanism allows bulk-to-surface diffusion and as a consequence resistance drifts are longer and the vacancy quenching is more extensive.

[An experience with multi-family groups in patients with schizophrenia]

The experience of the application of McFarlane's multiple family group intervention in seven schizophrenic patients and their eighth caregivers in a middle-stay unit in order to improve burden and social support for the caregivers and to improve patient functioning is reported. A baseline evaluation and another post-intervention evaluation were made. Improvement in the knowledge about the disease and in the family burden was observed. Social support for the family and general functioning of the patient was not changed after family intervention.

[Calcinosis cutis: on one case]

We present the case of a woman of 72 years with high blood pressure evaluated in Surgery Outpatient Unit for overinfected and recurring pretibial cutaneous ulcers. In the radiographies of the extremity, calcifications were observed in soft parts and the biopsy showed calcified subepidermic nodules. Because of these findings, she was sent to Internal Medicine Consultations to complete the study. In the anamnesis, traumatism in the zone was ruled out, and was there consumption of calcium or phosphorous rich medicines; the physical exploration was normal, except for the lesions described previously. A study was requested to rule out any underlying pathology that might justify the clinical picture, without a possible etiological pathological cause in evidence. Given that the cutaneous calcinosis of the patient was not secondary to titular lesions, nor was there evidence of metabolic alterations or medical procedures that might justify it, and no lesions at another level were found, the diagnosis was established of idiopathic localised cutaneous calcinosis. It was treated with diltiazem.

Production of photocurrent due to intermediate-to-conduction-band transitions: a demonstration of a key operating principle of the intermediate-band solar cell

We present intermediate-band solar cells manufactured using quantum dot technology that show for the first time the production of photocurrent when two sub-band-gap energy photons are absorbed simultaneously. One photon produces an optical transition from the intermediate-band to the conduction band while the second pumps an electron from the valence band to the intermediate-band. The detection of this two-photon absorption process is essential to verify the principles of operation of the intermediate-band solar cell. The phenomenon is the cornerstone physical principle that ultimately allows the production of photocurrent in a solar cell by below band gap photon absorption, without degradation of its output voltage.

First Outbreak of Bacterial Leaf Spot Caused by Xanthomonas campestris on Canola in Argentina

Canola (Brassica napus) is an alternative crop to wheat in Argentina and ~16,000 ha are grown commercially in southern Buenos Aires Province. During 2003, experimental field plots of canola plants located at Agronomy Faculty, University of Buenos Aires, in Buenos Aires were severely damaged by a bacterial leaf spot. Average disease incidence across 25 2- to 5-month-old canola cultivars was 58% (range = 27 to 89%). During 2004, identical infection associated with blackened veins (8 to 12% of plants) were found in two commercial fields and experimental crops (rosette and flowering stages) in Tres Arroyos in southern Buenos Aires Province. Symptoms observed on adaxial surfaces consisted of v-shaped necrotic lesions on leaf margin surrounded by yellow halos. Yellow bacterial ooze was found on young lesions. The advanced phases of the disease included lesion enlargement, foliar chlorosis, and death of leaves. The disease developed from the lower leaves to the apex, resulting in complete leaf necrosis and defoliation. Ten samples (five plants per sample) with lesions were arbitrarily collected from 2003 to 2004 from commercial and experimental canola crops. Diseased leaf tissue was surface sterilized in 0.50% sodium hypochlorite for 30 s and rinsed in sterile distilled water (SDW). Leaf sections were macerated in SDW, and the extract was streaked onto nutrient agar. Plates were incubated at 28°C for 3 days. Resultant colonies were yellow, mucoid, and convex. Gram-negative, aerobic, and rod-shaped bacteria were obtained. Eight strains were biochemically characterized using API 20NE (BioMerieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) and identified as Xanthomonas campestris (1). Strains hydrolyzed starch, gelatine, and aesculin and were positive for catalase and negative for oxidase, nitrate reduction, ureasa, and triptophanase. Strains were capable of utilizing D-glucose, D-mannose, D-maltose, malic acid, and N-acetyl-glucosamine. X. campestris. pv. campestris 8004 was used as a reference strain (2). Pathogenicity and host range for three isolates were completed by injecting a bacterial suspension (10⁷ CFU/ml) into leaves of 2-week-old canola plants (cvs. Eclipse, Impulse, Master, and Mistral), cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata), and cauliflower (B. oleracea var. botrytis) seedlings (two-leaf stage). The experiment (four inoculated and two control plants for each cultivar and each strain) was conducted in a greenhouse at 24°C and 75% relative humidity. Inoculated and control plants were enclosed in a plastic bag for 48 h after inoculation. Chlorotic patches on the leaves followed by a dry, brown necrosis spread beyond the initial injected area were observed in inoculated plants 8 days after inoculation. Enlarged spots caused death of leaves. The pathogen was successfully reisolated. Control plants, inoculated only with SDW, remained symptomless. The results suggest that the bacterium represents a potential threat to canola production in Argentina and indicate the need for further study to identify the pathovar involved in canola leaf spots. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an outbreak of X. campestris causing leaf spot of canola and in which the bacteria affecting canola commercial crops was biochemically characterized and host range was carried out in Argentina. References: (1) N. W. Schaad et al. Laboratory Guide for Identification of Plant Pathogenic Bacteria. 3rd ed. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul. MN, 2001. (2) P. Turner et al. Mol. Gen. Genet. 195:101, 1984.

Effect of cumulative etoposide doses on the outcome of autologous peripheral-blood progenitor-cell transplantation for lymphoma

Studies evaluating the effects of previous chemotherapy on stem-cell yield and hematological recovery after autologous peripheral-blood progenitor-cell transplantation (PBPCT) have shown conflicting results. We have retrospectively analyzed 103 consecutive lymphoma patients treated with the BEAM regimen and autologous PBPCT. The impact of the different chemotherapeutic drugs (cumulative doses) on stem-cell yield and transplant-related toxicity was investigated. Highly significant differences in platelet recovery (>20 x 10(9)/l) were observed between patients receiving less or more than 750 mg/m(2) of etoposide before transplant (15 vs 29 days, P=0.001), and between patients receiving less or more than 1.2 x 10(6)/kg CD34(+) cells (27 vs 14 days, P<0.001). Differences in neutrophil engraftment between groups were not clinically significant. Pre-transplant cumulative doses of etoposide >750 mg/m(2) were associated with low CD34(+) cell collections on multivariate analysis. The actuarial incidence of transplant-related mortality (TRM) was 14% at 5 years. Pre-transplant cumulative doses of etoposide >350 mg/m(2) and previous administration of procarbazine were found to be independent prognostic factors for TRM.

Shielding analysis of the Microtron MT-25 bunker using the MCNP-4C code and NCRP Report 51

A cyclic electron accelerator Microtron MT-25 will be installed in Havana, Cuba. Electrons, neutrons and gamma radiation up to 25 MeV can be produced in the MT-25. A detailed shielding analysis for the bunker is carried out using two ways: the NCRP-51 Report and the Monte Carlo Method (MCNP-4C Code). The walls and ceiling thicknesses are estimated with dose constraints of 0.5 and 20 mSv y(-1), respectively, and an area occupancy factor of 1/16. Both results are compared and a preliminary bunker design is shown.

Allergy to local anaesthetics in dentistry. Myth or reality?

BACKGROUND

Local anesthetics (LA) are frequently used in dentistry. Although these drugs are usually well-tolerated, they can sometimes provoke adverse reactions of various types and severity. The true incidence of LA allergic reactions is unknown. The objectives of this study were (i) to evaluate the incidence of immediate adverse events in subjects requiring local anesthetic injection in order to receive dental treatment; (ii) to assess the incidence of anaphylactic allergic reactions among those recorded as adverse events and (iii) to analyze the relationship between the atopic antecedents of these patients and documented allergic reactions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A prospective, open-label, non-comparative study including 5,018 subjects who received LA during dental treatment, despite their age, was carried out in 7 private or public odontological centers. All the possible reactions that could appear during the first hour of anesthetic administration were assessed.

RESULTS

Twenty-five adverse reactions were diagnosed, representing 0.5 % of the study population. None of these reactions was due to an allergic cause. Most (22/25) were mild, quickly reversible psychogenic or vasovagal reactions. One case was related to defects in the anesthetic technique. In two further cases, allergic etiology was ruled out after skin and dose provocative challenge tests with the anesthetic. In conclusion, allergic reactions to LA are very rare. Most adverse reactions are psychogenic or vasovagal. Physicians and dentists should be aware of these facts in order to minimize the frequent fears and myths concerning the use of LA in the dentist's office.

Transcription and RNA replication of tacaribe virus genome and antigenome analogs require N and L proteins: Z protein is an inhibitor of these processes

Tacaribe virus (TV), the prototype of the New World group of arenaviruses, comprises a single phylogenetic lineage together with four South American pathogenic producers of hemorrhagic disease. The TV genome consists of two single-stranded RNA segments called S and L. A reconstituted transcription-replication system based on plasmid-supplied TV-like RNAs and TV proteins was established. Plasmid expression was driven by T7 RNA polymerase supplied by a recombinant vaccinia virus. Plasmids were constructed to produce TV S segment analogs containing the negative-sense copy of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) flanked at the 5' and 3' termini by sequences corresponding to those of the 5' and 3' noncoding regions of the S genome (minigenome) or the S antigenome (miniantigenome). In cells expressing N and L proteins, input minigenome or miniantigenome produced, respectively, encapsidated miniantigenome or minigenome which in turn produced progeny minigenome or progeny miniantigenome. Both minigenome and miniantigenome in the presence of N and L mediated transcription, which was analyzed as CAT expression. Coexpression of the small RING finger Z (p11) protein was highly inhibitory to both transcription and replication mediated by the minigenome or the miniantigenome. The effect depended on synthesis of Z protein rather than on plasmid or the RNA and was not ascribed to decreased amounts of plasmid-supplied template or proteins (N or L). N and L proteins were sufficient to support full-cycle RNA replication of a plasmid-supplied S genome analog in which CAT replaced the N gene. Replication of this RNA was also inhibited by Z expression.