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An histology and pathological survey on carpet-shell clam cultured in the south of Galicia (NW Spain) (Ruditapes decussatus) was carried out for a two years period (2000-2001). A temporal distribution of the potentially pathogenic agents were determined by histological analysis. In addition, stocks of molluscs reported to suffer mortalities during the studied period were also analyzed and the pathogenic burden determined. Pathogens do not follow a temporal pattern over studied period and no significant differences were detected nor on the presence nor in prevalence of these pathogens among all the analysed stocks. Therefore, no direct relationship can be established between infection by any pathogen and mortality episodes.

In recent years, the cultured production of the flat oyster Ostrea edulis has suffered a dramatic decrease in Europe partially attributed to the protozoan parasite Bonamia ostreae, the causative agent of the Bonamiosis. In this paper the results of a PCR assay for the diagnosis of B. ostreae were compared with those obtained using two classical methods of diagnosis recommended by the OIE (Office International des Epizooties) and the European Union, histology and cytology. The same samples were analyzed by two different laboratories, showing that the results obtained with the PCR method have high sensitivity and good correlation between laboratories. This method is cheaper and faster than histopathology and cytology, with no need of specifically trained personnel to perform the diagnoses. It is appropriate for fast screening of stocks of great numbers of oysters.

Two episodes of mortality of cultured carpet shell clams (Ruditapes decussatus) associated with bacterial infections were recorded during 2001 and 2002 in a commercial hatchery located in Spain. Vibrio alginolyticus was isolated as the primary organism from moribund clam larvae that were obtained during the two separate events. Vibrio splendidus biovar II, in addition to V. alginolyticus, was isolated as a result of a mixed Vibrio infection from moribund clam larvae obtained from the second mortality event. The larval mortality rates for these events were 62 and 73%, respectively. Mortality was also detected in spat. To our knowledge, this is the fist time that these bacterial species have been associated with larval and juvenile carpet shell clam mortality. The bacterial strains were identified by morphological and biochemical techniques and also by PCR and sequencing of a conserved region of the 16S rRNA gene. In both cases bacteria isolated in pure culture were inoculated into spat of carpet shell clams by intravalvar injection and by immersion. The mortality was attributed to the inoculated strains, since the bacteria were obtained in pure culture from the soft tissues of experimentally infected clams. V. alginolyticus TA15 and V. splendidus biovar II strain TA2 caused similar histological lesions that affected mainly the mantle, the velum, and the connective tissue of infected organisms. The general enzymatic activity of both live cells and extracellular products (ECPs), as evaluated by the API ZYM system, revealed that whole bacterial cells showed greater enzymatic activity than ECPs and that the activity of most enzymes ceased after heat treatment (100°C for 10 min). Both strain TA15 and strain TA2 produced hydroxamate siderophores, although the activity was greater in strain TA15. ECPs from both bacterial species at high concentrations, as well as viable bacteria, caused significant reductions in hemocyte survival after 4 h of incubation, whereas no signific

Aim: To apply quality criteria of computerized tomography (CT) of the lumbar spine as defined in the European Guidelines, in four hospitals of the Community of Madrid, using spiral CT (SCT) in the clinical indication of disc hernia. Materials and Methods: There were selected 20 lumbar spine studies from each center. These were evaluated by five independent radiologists in order to determine the degree of adherence to criteria quality of the European Guidelines for such studies. Dosimetric measurements were performed in parallel in order to estimate values of CT dose index (CTDIw), dose length product (DLP) and effective dose for each patient. Results: The results showed a high degree of adherence to image quality criteria in four centers (97-100)%. Median CTDIw values per center were (34-60) mGy; those of DLP were (242-499) mGy·cm, and those of effective dose between 4 and 7 mSv. Conclusion: There has been a good adherence to the quality criteria. In some cases, however, it seems that doses could very well be reduced through a re-thinking of the protocols., Depto. de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Depto. de Radiología, Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia, Fac. de Ciencias Matemáticas, Fac. de Medicina, TRUE, pub

El objetivo último de esta investigación es el de realizar una amplia evaluación de los efectos que determinados niveles de hormonas gonadales, así como el estradiol y la testosternoan, puederan tener sobre la funcionalidad del sistema nervioso central (SNC) del adulto. Mi objetivo es el de medir los niveles hormonales gonadales en saliva, evaluados mediante radioinmunología con kits (I 125) de estradiol 17-b, testosterona y cortisol, de hombres y mujeres después del periodo de la pubertad, momento en el que la secreción hormonal ya está establecida dentro del rango normal del adulto. Se ha evaluado la posible correlación existente entre estos niveles y determinadas medidas fisiológicas, emocionales y cognitivas, hallándose diversas diferencias significativas.

We have demonstrated that carpet shell clam (Ruditapes decussatus ) hemocytes produce nitric oxide (NO) in response to zymosan or bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). This NO production was partially inhibited by the NO synthase inhibitor, N-vnitro- L-arginine (L-NAME). The capability of clam hemocytes to produce NO in response to the bacterial pathogen Vibrio tapetis was also studied. Incubation with bacteria induced a significant NO production by clam hemocytes, even though exogenous NO only slightly decreased the growth of V. tapetis. The effect of exogenous NO on the capability of clam hemocytes to phagocytose labeled Escherichia coli was studied using two different NO donors S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP), and diethylenetriamine NO adduct (DETA/NO). Exogenous NO did not increase hemocyte phagocytosis, indicating that NO does not mediate phagocytosis in this species. These results are in accordance to those observed in other mollusk species, in which NO was independent of phagocytosis and constitutes an alternative method of killing invading pathogens.

We have applied criteria for CT quality defined in the European Guidelines to a sample of thoracic CT examinations - for the indication of pulmonary carcinoma - of 5 institutions of the Community of Madrid that have spiral CT equipment. The selected examinations have been evaluated independently by five radiologists to determine the degree of adherence to the quality criteria for image defined in the Guideliness for examinations of general thorax. Dosimetric measurements carried out in parallel have served to estimate the values of CT (CTDIw) dose indices, dose-length product (DLP) and effective dose for every patient. The results show a high global adherence to the quality criteria (96%), with averages per institution being between 94% (in two institutions) and 98% (in three institutions). There are 10 of 16 criteria that are adhered to in all examinations of the sample; those which are not adhered to systematically are: two of visualization (1.1 and 1.4), with 92-96% fulfillment, and four of critical reproduction (2.6; 2.8; 2.9 and 2.10), with percentages of adherence between 91% and 96%. The average CTDIw values per institution are in the interval 12.9-19.1 mGy; those of DLP between 263 and 577 mGy cm and those of effective dose between 4.2 and 9.2 mSv. The DLP-image quality correlation in institutions with the best image quality was null in two of them and direct and moderate in the third. In both institutions with the poorest image quality, the correlation was inverse and moderate in one and direct and weak in the other. Reasons for these results are analyzed, as well as possible ways of optimizing quality in relation to dose and parameters used., Depto. de Estadística e Investigación Operativa, Depto. de Radiología, Rehabilitación y Fisioterapia, Fac. de Ciencias Matemáticas, Fac. de Medicina, TRUE, pub

La producción televisiva en el Ecuador ha evolucionado, aunque aún para alcanzar el nivel de las grandes potencias en este plano, le falta "algo"". Sin embargo la televisión ecuatoriana tiene pocos o quizá ningún programa cultural, debido a que la cultura, dicen los ejecutivos, no produce plata. Son preferidas del público, las series extranjeras, las películas de acción violenta. Los hacedores de la cultura y los gobiernos siempre han vivido una relación de odio y amor. La relación ideal es la que equilibra al sector público, mediante una erogación de parte de un presupuesto