Identificação de rotavirus associado ao sorotipo G2 em Yucatan, México

Neste estudo reporta-se a identificação de rotavirus sorotipo G2 proveniente de amostras fecais de crianças com gastroenterite, da Cidade de Mérida, Yucatán, México. O diagnóstico virológico foi feito através da eletroforese em gel de poliacrilamidia e ensaio imunoenzimático. Das 149 amostras estudadas, 25 (16,7%) foram positivas para rotavirus do grupo A; dessas 23 (92%) foram sorotipo G2, subgrupo I e padrão eletroforético curto e 2 (8%) subgrupo II e padrão eletroforético longo, porém, não foi possível determinar o sorotipo G. Desde 1985, até hoje, foi a única vez que o sorotipo G2 foi identificado, em mais de 90% das amostras analisadas. Acredita-se que, provavelmente, nos últimos anos tem acumulado na população, um grupo de pessoas suscetíveis ao sorotipo de RV, e num futuro poderia ter um surto importante de gastroenterite, associado ao sorotipo G2 de rotavirus.

Serological and parasitological study and report of the first case of human babesiosis in Colombia

A study on the presence of Babesia in humans was performed in Puerto Berrío (Latitude 6.50deg. Longitude: -74.38deg. River: Magdalena. Area: 74.410km², Colombia-South America). Indirect immunofluorescence, thin and thick blood smears were used to study 194 individuals. Patients were grouped according to their risk-factors for Babesia infection: (group 1) individuals with fever, chills, sweating and other malaria-type symptoms; (group 2) symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals from local cattle ranches, which were enrolled in an active form, and (group 3) workers from the local slaughterhouse. Seven individuals were serologically positive for Babesia: Three individuals presented IgM antibodies against B. bovis, while one had IgG against this species; one individual had IgM against B. bigemina, another had IgG and a third both IgM and IgG against this species. Only one individual was parasitologically positive for Babesiaand serologically positive for Babesia bovis (IgM 1:64)

Simultaneous occurrence of brain tumor and myeloradiculopathy in schistosomiasis mansoni: case report

Simultaneous occurrence of brain tumor and myeloradiculopathy in cases of Manson's schistosomiasis have only rarely been described. We report the case of a 38-year-old man who developed seizures during a trip to Puerto Rico and in whom a brain tumor was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging: brain biopsy revealed the diagnosis of schistosomiasis. He was transferred to a hospital in the United States and, during hospitalization, he developed sudden paraplegia. The diagnosis of myeloradiculopathy was confirmed at that time. He was administered praziquantel and steroids. The brain tumor disappeared, but the patient was left with paraplegia and fecal and urinary dysfunction. He has now been followed up in Brazil for one year, and his clinical state, imaging examinations and laboratory tests are presented here.

Análisis cuantitativo de las importaciones de efectos europeos en Córdoba, 1816-1825. (Segunda Etapa)

A comienzos del siglo XIX se encuentra en sus inicios el proceso de incremento de las relaciones mercantiles con Europa por parte de todo el espacio económico colonial, lo que origina una interpretación historiográfica habitual que considera que, debido al consecuente aumento de las importaciones, se genera una frustración de los procesos de industrialización incipientes. Estos tendrían que haberse desarrollado en base a la supuesta transformación de la actividad artesanal o manufacturera textil que debería convertirse en producción industrial, siguiendo los pasos habituales del desarrollo del capitalismo en Inglaterra. Todos estos planteos, de posible veracidad general pero con escasas precisiones, se basan en fuentes con información general en tanto no se ha realizado aún una investigación que cuantifique el monto y la composición de las importaciones europeas y las contraste con los movimientos de las exportaciones del mismo tipo de efectos o de la materia prima relacionada con ellos. Nuestro proyecto pretende enfrentar este tipo de tarea para una región de reconocida especialización en la producción artesanal de textiles como es Córdoba, durante el período en que se enfrenta este problema y que las fuentes lo permitan. Objetivo general Registro y análisis de las importaciones de efectos europeos ingresados para el consumo de Córdoba desde 1808 a 1850, con el objeto de comparar sus resultados con el movimiento de las exportaciones y concluir sobre las relaciones entre ambos procesos. Objetivo específico Se ingresarán los datos y se realizará un primer proceso de la información sobre las importaciones de efectos europeos ingresados por el puerto de Buenos Aires para el consumo de la jurisdicción de Córdoba en el período de 1816 y 1825.

Notas e descrições em Parandrini (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae, Parandrinae)

The genus Parandra is reviewed and four genera are recognized: Parandra Latreille, 1804, Neandra Lameere, 1912, stat. nov., Archandra Lameere, 1912, stat. nov. and Acutandra gen. nov. The genus Parandra is subdivided in two subgenera: Parandra (Parandra) s. str. and Parandra (Birandra) subgen. nov. The geographical distribution of P. (P.) laevis Latreille, 1804 is commented and the probable synonymy between P. cubaecola Chevrolat, 1862 and P. (P.) cribrata Thomson, 1861 is discussed. New species described: P. (P.) tavakiliani from Puerto Rico and P. (Birandra) mariahelenae from Jamaica. New combinations: Neandra brunnea (Fabricius, 1798), Neandra marginicollis (Schaeffer, 1929), Archandra caspia (Ménétriès, 1832), Acutandra punctatissima (Thomson, 1861), A. degeeri (Thomson, 1867), A. murrayi (Lameere, 1912), A. araucana (Bosq, 1951), A. ubitiara (Santos-Silva & Martins, 2000), all from Parandra. Keys to genera of Parandrini, subgenera of Parandra and American species of Parandra and Acutandra are added.

Morphological development of Corydoras aff. paleatus (Siluriformes, Callichthyidae) and correlation with the emergence of motor and social behaviors

Here we examine major anatomical characteristics of Corydoras aff. paleatus (Jenyns, 1842) post-hatching development, in parallel with its neurobehavioral evolution. Eleutheroembryonic phase, 4.3-8.8 days post-fertilization (dpf); 4.3-6.4 mm standard length (SL) encompasses from hatching to transition to exogenous feeding. Protopterygiolarval phase (8.9-10.9 dpf; 6.5-6.7 mm SL) goes from feeding transition to the commencement of unpaired fin differentiation, which marks the start of pterygiolarval phase (11-33 dpf; 6.8-10.7 mm SL) defined by appearance of lepidotrichia in the dorsal part of the median finfold. This phase ends with the full detachment and differentiation of unpaired fins, events signaling the commencement of the juvenile period (34-60 dpf; 10.8-18.0 mm SL). Eleutheroembryonic phase focuses on hiding and differentiation of mechanosensory, chemosensory and central neural systems, crucial for supplying the larval period with efficient escape and nutrient detection-capture neurocircuits. Protopterygiolarval priorities include visual development and respiratory, digestive and hydrodynamic efficiencies. Pterygiolarval priorities change towards higher swimming efficacy, including carangiform and vertical swimming, necessary for the high social interaction typical of this species. At the end of the protopterygiolarval phase, simple resting and foraging aggregations are seen. Resting and foraging shoals grow in complexity and participant number during pterygiolarval phase, but particularly during juvenile period.

Apedilum griseistriatum comb. nov., placement of Chironomus (Polypedilum) griseistriatum (Diptera, Chironomidae)

The study of the type material of Chironomus (Polypedilum) griseistriatum Edwards, 1931 described from Patagonia lead us to formally transfer the species to Apedilum Townes, 1945 as a new combination, and a reared specimen allows us to describe its pupa. Based on several larvae belonging to Apedilum collected in the proximity of the localities in which the adults and pupae were found, we tentatively describe the larval stage. Subfossil larval head capsules of the same species were found in Laguna Stibnite at 46°S in Chile dated to about 2,500 years ago and in Puerto Blest, Lago Nahuel Huapi at 41°S in Argentina dated about 2,000 years ago. We discuss the habitat of the species based on both modern and subfossil material. Identification keys to male adult, pupae and fourth instar larvae are also provided.

Lymnaea viatrix and Lymnaea columella in the neotropical region: a distributional outline

A review of lymnaeid samples collected by the author from 106 localities in Mexico, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay andBrazil showed that one of them (from Ecuador) belonged to Lymnaea cousini Jousseaume, 1887, and all the others to either L. viatrix Orbigny, 1835 or l. columella Say, 1817. The ranges of L. viatrix and L. columella overlap in Middle America, and in northern and southern South America (Venezuela-Colombia-Ecuador and northeastern Argentina-Uruguay-southernmost Brazil, respectively). L. viatrix was the only species found in Peru west of the Andes and in Chile, and is supposed to have migrated eastward to Argentina via the Negro river basin. The range of L. columella in South America is discontinuous. The species has been recorded from Venezuela, Colombia and Ecuador and, east of the Andes, from latitudes 15º S (central-west Brazil) to 35º S (La Plata, Argentina). Such a gap may be attributed to either introduction from the northern into the southern area, or migration along the unsampled region on the eastern side of the Andes, or extinction in the now vacant area. No lymnaeids have been found so far in Brazil north of latitude 15º S and in the Guianas.

Sistema de comunicació sense fils utilitzant Zigbee per PDA

En aquest projecte es presenta el disseny i desenvolupament d'un conjunt d'interfícies per a un sistema de comunicació basat en l'estàndard Zigbee. El sistema està composat per una tarja que integra el mòdul Zigbee, un microcontrolador i una FPGA, que es vol controlar des d'un sistema Pocket PC a través del port SD. La implementació consta d’un driver SDIO per Windows CE 4.2, el controlador SDIO a la FPGA i l'enllaç de comunicació entre la FPGA i el microcontrolador.

Drug resistance in Schistosomiasis: a review

Drug resistance associated with the treatment of human schistosomiasis appears to be an emerging problem requiring more attention from the scientific community than the subject currently receives. Drug-resistant strains of Schistosoma mansoni have been isolated by various investigators as a result of laboratory experimentation or from a combination of field and laboratory studies. Review of this data appears to indicate that the lack of susceptibility observed for some of the isolated strains cannot be ascribed solely to previous administration of antischistosome drugs and thus further studies are required to elucidate this phenomena. Strains of S. mansoni have now been identified from Brazil which are resistant to oxamniquine, hycanthone and niridazole; from Puerto Rico which are resistant to hycanthone and oxamniquine; and from Kenya which are resistant to niridazole and probably oxamniquine. Strains derived by in vitro selection and resistant to oxamniquine and possibly to oltipraz are also available. All of these strains are currently maintained in the laboratory in snails and mice, thus providing for the first time an opportunity for indepth comparative studies. Preliminary data indicates that S. haematobium strains resistant to metrifonate may be occurring in Kenya. This problem could poise great difficulty in the eventual development of antischistosomal agents. Biomphalaria glabrata from Puerto Rico and Brazil were found to be susceptible to drug-resistant S. mansoni from each country.

Anàlisi dels contaminants orgànics persistents en Citharus linguatula en el litoral català

S’ha estudiat la bioacumulació de contaminants orgànics persistents en el múscul d’una espècie de peix en dos punts del litoral català: al Port de Barcelona i a la costa de Blanes. Citharus linguatula ha estat escollida per les seves característiques d’hàbitats (està més exposada a la contaminació al ser una espècie bentònica). La metodologia emprada consisteix en la homogeneïtzació amb sulfat de sodi i una extracció assistida amb microones amb n-hexà-acetona(1:1 v/v) durant 20 minuts. Els extractes es netegen i es fraccionen amb una columna cromatogràfica d’alúmina que permet la separació dels extractes en dos fraccions: un amb la majoria dels compostos organoclorats (hexaclorbenzè, DDTs, ciclodiens clorats i policlorbifenils) i l’altre amb els isòmers hexaclorciclohexans i els PAHs. Aquestes dos fraccions són posteriorment analitzades en el GC-MS. S’ha pogut corroborar l’elevada presència de PCBs a Barcelona, així com que en aquest punt de mostreig les espècies estan més exposades a la contaminació per organoclorats. S’ha identificat la presència de DDTs en els dos llocs estudiats. Pel que fa als PAHs s’ha pogut observar que a Barcelona també hi ha més presència d’aquests. Cal destacar que la concentració obtinguda dels compostos no es pot donar com a vàlida per l’existència d’indicis d’errors experimentals o d’injecció.