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Objective. Characterize the genomic environment of the sequences adjacent to human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) in patients with HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) in different regions of Colom- bia and Japan. Methods. A total of 71 recombinant clones with human genome sequences adjacent to 5' LTR in patients with HAM/TSP were compared to the Genome Browser and GenBank databases. Sixteen structural and compositional genome variables were identified, and statistical analysis was conducted in the R computer program, version 2.8.1, in a 0.5 Mb window. Results. A total of 43.0% of the proviruses were located in the group C chromosomes; 74% of the sequences were located in the telomeric and subtelomeric regions (P < 0.05). A cluster analysis was used to establish the hierarchical relations between the genome characteristics included in the study. The analysis of principal compo- nents identified the components that defined the preferred genome environments for proviral integration in cases of HAM/TSP. Conclusions. HTLV-1 was integrated more often in chromatin regions rich in CpG islands with a high density of genes and LINE type repetitions, and DNA transposons which, overall, would form the genomic environments targeted for integration. This new scenario will promote substantial changes in the field of public health and in epi- demiological management of infectious diseases. It will also foster the development of powerful tools for increasing the efficiency of epidemiological surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An observation study, which analyzed cases and controls, was realized with 1850 adults subjected to upper digestive endoscopy, who were sent to the Endocentro Ltda. Medical center in Bogota, Colombia, due to diverse symptoms, and who had not received previous treatment with antibiotics, antibacterial medication or medication that altered gastric secretion. Chronic follicular gastritis was found in 8.4% (102 patients), 73 women and 29 men, with an average age of 33.5 years. Inflammation activity was detected in 99% and H. pylori in 98% of the patients. The controlled group was made up of 1100 patients with other kinds of chronic gastritis different from follicular gastritis. With these 1100 patients, 698 women and 412 men, with an average age of 48.3 years, inflammatory activity was found in 72.1% and H. pylori in 63.3%. In the feminine gender, a minimum risk increase was determined, without presenting changes in chronic follicular gastritis of statistical significance OR = 1.48 (95% IC 0.93-2.41). In the young patients who were less than 35 years old and in those infected by H. pylori, a higher risk for follicular gastritis changes was observed OR = 7.57 (95% IC 4.82-11,97) and OR =28.94 (95% IC 7.72-243.23) respectively. A greater inflammatory activity was observed in patients with chronic follicular gastritis, OR = 38.96 (95% IC 6.76-1558.64). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytogenetic characterization of the neotropical fish Brycon henni (Pisces: Characidae). Brycon henni, is a native fish from Western Colombia is important as food and in sport fishing, and could be cultured in waters between 18 and 28°C. A previous cytogenetic study in branchial cells indicated different chromosomal complements. Total blood samples were seeded in 4 ml Ham-F12 culture medium, supplemented with 0.5 ml Bovine Fetal Serum and 0.7 ml Phyitohemaglutinin M (Gibco®) during 96 hr at 28°C; an antimitotic factor (100μl Colcemid® 10%) was added. Cells were incubated in 10 ml KCl hypotonic solution (0.56%) for 24 min at 37°C, fixed in methanol; acetic acid (3: 1) three times, separated by centrifugations, extended drip, and the chromosomes slides were stained with 5% Giemsa (5%). The best metaphases (6 males and 8 females) were photographed. There was a diploid number of 50 chromosomes: Metacentrics (26M), Submetacentrics (16SM) and Subtelocentrics (8ST). The fundamental number is 100 arms. The evolutionary tendency is type B with no supernumerary chromosomes; a first pair of big metacentric chromosomes is characteristic for Brycon, while no chromosomic sexual heteromorfism was detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]