Integration of Trypanosoma cruzi kDNA minicircle sequence in the host genome may be associated with autoimmune serum factors in Chagas disease patients

Integration of kDNA sequences within the genome of the host cell shown by PCR amplification with primers to the conserved Trypanosoma cruzi kDNA minicircle sequence was confirmed by Southern hybridization with specific probes. The cells containing the integrated kDNA sequences were then perpetuated as transfected macrophage subclonal lines. The kDNA transfected macrophages expressed membrane antigens that were recognized by antibodies in a panel of sera from ten patients with chronic Chagas disease. These antigens barely expressed in the membrane of uninfected, control macrophage clonal lines were recognized neither by factors in the control, non-chagasic subjects nor in the chagasic sera. This finding suggests the presence of an autoimmune antibody in the chagasic sera that recognizes auto-antigens in the membrane of T. cruzi kDNA transfected macrophage subclonal lines.

Risk of death due to chronic chagasic cardiopathy

In this longitudinal study 5,710 people were included. The inclusion criteria were two positive serological results for Trypanosoma cruzi infection, 15 and 50 years old and no other demostrable diesease at the time of study. In the five year follow up 1,117 patients were lost. The follow up involved yearly evaluation of serology, clinical examination, X-ray of torax, and ECG, for 4,593 patients and 263 were contacted at home because they did not assist for their clinical consultant. Time average of follow up was 5.3 years. Eighty nine (1.5%) of the 4,593 patients died during the follow-up period, 63 (71%) by cardiac insufiency (CI) and 26 (29%) by severe ventricular arrithmias. Diagnosis of cardiomegaly was present in all the patients with diagnosis of CI and in 15 (5%) of the patients with diagnosis of arrithmias.The ECG alterations of these pacients show 61 right bundle brunch block (RBBB), associated or not with left anterior hemiblock (LAHB), 47 pathological Q wave and 70 primary repolarization alterations; 61 had polyfocal ventricular arrithmia. The death rate was similar in the sexes and was more frequent between 40 and 50 years of age. Information on 1,380 recuperated patients shows that 15 died with no previous symptoms and without medical assistance and were interpretate as sudden death. The latest ECG in three follow-up of these pacients indicates (before death) that only one had normal study and 14 presented 12 RBBB; 9 LAHB; 7 isolated ventricular arrithmia; 10 repolariz alterations; 2 patological Q wave, 10 patients of them with RBBB and repolariz alterations. In all the cases we had people between 35 and 43 years old, 9 men and 6 women. This study shows that in Chagas disease is possible to differenciate two risk groups. A low risk death group that have normal ECG and clinical evaluation during the follow up, and a high risk group associate ECG with RBBB and primary alterations of repolarization and/or inactivation zones with not anual clinical evaluation.

Frequency of specific anti-Toxoplasma gondii IgM, IgA and IgE in Colombian patients with acute and chronic ocular toxoplasmosis

We studied the frequency of specific anti-Toxoplasma IgM, IgA and IgE antibodies in serum of 28 immunocompetent Colombian patients, selected by ophthalmologists and with lesions that were compatible with ocular toxoplasmosis. Patients were classified in three groups: (i) group 1 consisted of ten patients with a first episode; (ii) group 2, with seven patients with a recurrence and (iii) group 3, consisted of eleven patients with chronic chorioretinal lesion without uveitis. We found that 10/28 (35%) of Colombian patients with ocular toxoplasmosis possessed at least one serological marker for Toxoplasma infection different from IgG. In group 1 (first episode), we found simultaneous presence of specific IgM plus IgA plus IgE in 1/10 (10%). In group 2 (recurrences) in 1/7 (14%) we found IgM and IgA test positives and in 1/7 (14%) we found IgM and IgE tests positives. In group 3 (toxoplasmic chorioretinal scar) the IgA serological test was positive in 2/11 (18%). These results show that serum IgM or IgA or IgE can be present during recurrences.

Avaluació clínico-terapèutica de la infiltració de plasma ric en plaquetes en genolls osteoartrítics

Treball de recerca experimental, prospectiu sense grup control on s’han inclòs 30 pacients als quals s’ha realitzat tractament amb plasma ric en plaquetes (PRP) en genolls amb artrosi moderada per tal d’avaluar el possible benefici en quant a dolor i situació funcional, mitjançant la valoració de l’escala EVA y els tests funcionals SF-36 i KOOS amb controls al mes i tres mesos posteriors a la finalització del tractament.

Tratamiento quirúrgico del Hallux Valgus severo mediante cirugía percutánea. Estudio estadístico de los resultados clínicos, radiológicos y funcionales del tratamiento mediante la colocación de un implante intermetatarsiano

La cirurgia percutània en el tractament del hallux valgus és cada vegada més utilitzada, encara que compta amb limitacions en els casos severs. Es tracta d'un estudi retrospectiu en el qual s'analitzen estadísticament els resultats clínics, radiològics i funcionals del tractament quirúrgic del Hallux Valgus sever mitjançant cirurgia percutània amb la col•locació d'un dispositiu intermetatarsiano. Hi ha una bona correcció de l'angle intermetatarsiano i de l'angle hallux valgus, així com una millora clínica i funcional estadísticament significativa amb la utilització d'aquesta tècnica, sent els seus resultats comparables a aquells obtinguts amb la cirurgia oberta.

Estudi de les luxacions de pròtesi de maluc intervingudes en el nostre hospital en els últims 11 anys

El treball de recerca consta d’un estudi descriptiu retrospectiu on es determina la incidència de luxació en les artroplàsties de maluc implantades i la distribució de les diferents variables que influeixen en la luxació de pròtesi del maluc en la població atesa en la nostra àrea sanitària del 2000 al 2010.

Current millennium biotechniques for biomedical research on parasites and host-parasite interactions

The development of biotechnology in the last three decades has generated the feeling that the newest scientific achievements will deliver high standard quality of life through abundance of food and means for successfully combating diseases. Where the new biotechnologies give access to genetic information, there is a common belief that physiological and pathological processes result from subtle modifications of gene expression. Trustfully, modern genetics has produced genetic maps, physical maps and complete nucleotide sequences from 141 viruses, 51 organelles, two eubacteria, one archeon and one eukaryote (Saccharomices cerevisiae). In addition, during the Centennial Commemoration of the Oswaldo Cruz Institute the nearly complete human genome map was proudly announced, whereas the latest Brazilian key stone contribution to science was the publication of the Shillela fastidiosa genomic sequence highlythed on a Nature cover issue. There exists a belief among the populace that further scientific accomplishments will rapidly lead to new drugs and methodological approaches to cure genetic diseases and other incurable ailments. Yet, much evidence has been accumulated, showing that a large information gap exists between the knowledge of genome sequence and our knowledge of genome function. Now that many genome maps are available, people wish to know what are we going to do with them. Certainly, all these scientific accomplishments will shed light on many more secrets of life. Nevertheless, parsimony in the weekly announcements of promising scientific achievements is necessary. We also need many more creative experimental biologists to discover new, as yet un-envisaged biotechnological approaches, and the basic resource needed for carrying out mile stone research necessary for leading us to that "promised land"often proclaimed by the mass media.

Domestic and peridomestic transmission of American cutaneous leishmaniasis: changing epidemiological patterns present new control opportunities

Predictions that deforestation would reduce American cutaneous leishmaniasis incidence have proved incorrect. Presentations at a recent international workshop, instead, demonstrated frequent domestication of transmission throughout Latin America. While posing new threats, this process also increases the effectiveness of vector control in and around houses. New approaches for sand fly control and effective targeting of resources are reviewed.

Colitis ulcerosa con afectación periapendicular. Estudio de casos y controles

La colitis ulcerosa (CU) es caracteritza per una afectació contínua de la mucosa rectal en sentit proximal cap a altres zones del còlon. Hi ha formes de CU amb afectació distal i periapendicular (CU-PA). Objectius: avaluar la prevalença de la CU-PA, i comparar les seves característiques clíniques, terapèutiques i evolutives. Mètodes: 14 pacients amb CU-PA van ser comparats en termes d'evolució clínica amb 25 pacients amb CU distal sense afectació periapendicular. Resultats: Es va trobar una major freqüència de CU-PA en homes (p = 0,047), sense diferències en la resta de les variables comparades entre els dos grups de pacients.

Research development of terahertz imaging systems

The electromagnetic radiation at a terahertz frequencies (from 0.1 THz to 10 THz) is situated in the frequency band comprised between the optical band and the radio band. The interest of the scientific community in this frequency band has grown up due to its large capabilities to develop innovative imaging systems. The terahertz waves are able to generate extremely short pulses that achieve good spatial resolution, good penetration capabilities and allow to identify microscopic structures using spectral analysis. The work carried out during the period of the grant has been based on the developement of system working at the aforementioned frequency band. The main system is based on a total power radiometer working at 0.1 THz to perform security imaging. Moreover, the development of this system has been useful to gain knowledge in the behavior of the component systems at this frequency band. Moreover, a vectorial network analyzer has been used to characterize materials and perform active raster imaging. A materials measurement system has been designed and used to measure material properties as permittivity, losses and water concentration. Finally, the design of a terahertz time-domain spectrometer (THz-TDS) system has been started. This system will allow to perform tomographic measurement with very high penetration resolutions while allowing the spectral characterization of the sample material. The application range of this kind of system is very wide: from the identification of cancerous tissues of a skin to the characterization of the thickness of a painted surface of a car.

A new automated method versus continuous positive airway pressure method for measuring pressure-volume curves in patients with acute lung injury

Objective: To compare pressure–volume (P–V) curves obtained with the Galileo ventilator with those obtained with the CPAP method in patients with ALI or ARDS receiving mechanical ventilation. P–V curves were fitted to a sigmoidal equation with a mean R2 of 0.994 ± 0.003. Lower (LIP) and upper inflection (UIP), and deflation maximum curvature (PMC) points calculated from the fitted variables showed a good correlation between methods with high intraclass correlation coefficients. Bias and limits of agreement for LIP, UIP and PMC obtained with the two methods in the same patient were clinically acceptable.

IS6110 fingerprinting of sensitive and resistant strains (1991-1992) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Colombia

The standardized method to study the polymorphism of IS 6110 was used to characterize 53 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis obtained during 1991-1992 from 14 regions in Colombia. In Valle region cluster rate was 25% (4/16). The mean number of IS6110 band was 10 ± 3. Similarity between strains was of 60% in 81% of strains and this tended to be correlated with geographic origin. For the first time M. tuberculosis without IS6110 bands in restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was found in Colombia. Additional studies are necessaries in order to best characterize the situation in relation to human immunodeficiency virus epidemic and recent changes in tuberculosis control program.

Disseny d'un protocol objectiu de valoració clínica amb pacients amb Trastorn per Afartament (TA)

En aquest treball es pretén dissenyar un protocol de valoració clínica objectiu del Trastorn per Afartament (TA). Per dur-lo a terme, hem començat per delimitar els símptomes dels Trastorns de la Conducta Alimentària (TCA). Seguidament hem revisat la literatura i les investigacions sobre el trastorn. Per poder explicar les característiques més importants, les hem dividit en tres apartats, nosologia, prevalença i factors de risc. Arrel dels factors psicològics i psicopatològics, més transcendents en la gènesis clínica i l’evolució dels Trastorns de la Conducta Alimentària (TCA) hem valorat quins instruments, són més útils per valorar aquesta patologia, detectant els factors psicològics més rellevants en la definició i l’evolució vital del trastorn. Finalment els hem descrit i comparat amb els altres instruments més utilitzats per valorar la patologia alimentària.

A novel reiterated family of transcribed oligo(A)-terminated, interspersed DNA elements in the genome of Trypanosoma cruzi

We report the molecular characterization of a novel reiterated family of transcribed oligo(A)-terminated, interspersed DNA elements in the genome of Trypanosoma cruzi. Steady-state level of transcripts of this sequence family appeared to be developmentally regulated, since only in the replicative forms the parasite showed expression of related sequences with a major band around 3 kb. The presence of frame shifts or premature stop codons predicts that transcripts are not translated. The sequence family also contains truncated forms of retrotransposons elements that may become potential hot spots for retroelement insertion. Sequences homologous to this family are interspersed at many chromosomes including the subtelomeric regions.