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In Panama, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is caused by Choclo virus, a species phylogenetically related to Andes and Maporal viruses. Up to 60% of the population has been positive for specific serum antibody in community-based surveys, but mortality is very uncommon. In four western Panama clinics, we tested individuals presenting with a severe febrile prodrome for acute hantavirus (HV) infection by immunoglobulin M enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction as well as clinically similar infections, such as dengue and leptospirosis. From 2006 to 2009, at least 21% of 117 patients diagnosed with HV infection had HV Fever (HF) with no evidence of pulmonary edema (no respiratory distress or radiographic lung infiltrates), and 44% of patients had very mild HPS (radiographic pulmonary edema but no respiratory insufficiency). HV infection caused by Choclo virus in Panama presents often as HF, which contrasts with HV in the Americas but is consistent with the high seroprevalence in endemic regions.

The present study aimed to determine oxytetracycline (OTC), florfenicol (FLO) and oxolinic acid (OXO) MICs and zone diameters for 24 Chilean Vibrio ordalii isolates using the methods for broth dilution susceptibility testing of bacteria isolated from aquatic animals and the methods for antimicrobial disk susceptibility testing of bacteria isolated from aquatic animals guidelines published by the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The results were then used in a normalized resistance interpretation (NRI) analysis to establish tentative laboratory-specific epidemiological cut-off (ECOFF) values. MIC results were similar at the two tested temperatures (22 °C and 18 °C). At 18 °C, the NRI analysis of OTC, FLO and OXO MIC data calculated laboratory-specific ECOFF values and non-wild-type (NWT) rates to be ≤4 mg/l (24%), ≤16 mg/l (4%) and ≤8 mg/l (25%), respectively. Tests performed with all V. ordalii isolates following the officially recommended incubation temperature (22 °C) revealed difficulties in measuring inhibition zone diameters. When disk diffusion tests were performed using Mueller-Hinton agar with 1% NaCl (MHA-1) at 18 °C the inhibition zone diameter distributions showed the formation of WT populations which could be defined using NRI analysis. For OTC the laboratory-specific ECOFF value was ≥38 mm with NWT rate of 16.7%. For FLO and OXO, the laboratory-specific ECOFF values were ≥38 and ≥40, respectively, generating NWT rates of 25 and 46%, respectively. Although the CLSI suggests testing Vibrio spp. on MHA-1 at 22 °C, we found measurements of the 24 isolates were better defined and normally distributed at 18 °C. This is the first study determining the MIC and disk diffusion test of V. ordalii isolated from diseased salmonids, where laboratory-specific ECOFF values could be established. Also resistance to OTC, FLO and OXO among some Chilean isolates was demonstrated., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although polypharmacy may be justified in elderly patients with multiple diseases, it may be dangerous, especially when it includes potentially inappropriate medications (PIM)., Aim: To identify inappropriate medication and factors associated with the most relevant prescriptions among older people., Material and Methods: Cross-sectional observational analysis of drugs prescribed during the first trimester of 2010 to 179 older adults aged 77 ± 8 years (98 women), living in a geriatric reference hospital in Argentina. The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIM) in elderly patients was analyzed using Beers Criteria updated to 2012., Results: The mean number of drugs prescribed per individual was 6.1 ± 2.7. The most commonly used drugs were anti-ulcer agents (58.1%), agents acting on the renin-angiotensin system (54.2%), antithrombotic medications (50.8%) and benzodiazepines (50.8 %). The use of antacids and anti-ulcer agents, psychotropic drugs and PIM was significantly higher among patients using six or more drugs daily, compared to the less medicated group (odds ratio (OR) = 6.8, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 3.5-13.2; OR=15.0, 95%CI 5.9-38.4; OR=5.0; 95%IC 2.6-9.8, respectively). Thirty one percent of participants using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, were not receiving medications for gastric protection. One to four drugs included in the Beers list were prescribed to 66% of participants., Conclusions: Despite the high prevalence of use of antacids and anti-ulcer agents, these drugs were not prescribed to a significant proportion of patients using non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Strategies to optimize pharmacotherapy in the elderly population are urgently required.

This paper presents and discusses archaeological samples of Pediculus humanus capitis nits/eggs in Arica, northern Chile, dating between 2000 B.C. and A.D. 500. Eight samples of nits/eggs taken directly from seven mummified bodies of both the valley and the coast of Arica, were collected and studied. Samples were analysed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), uncoated, using low and variable pressure modes. The aim was to study the morphology of the nits/eggs, the different degrees of preservation and their research potential. All samples were in good external condition and due to manipulation before SEM analysis, the oldest ones were fractured allowing the observation in situ of the hatching ad portas of an embryo. This inside view of the egg allowed observation and identification of microstructures of the embryo such as abdominal and thoracic spiracles and claws. In the most recent and best preserved samples, external structures characteristic of the egg such as aeropyles and operculum were observed. SEM can contribute significantly to the study of ectoparasites that affected ancient American populations and in this particular case to illustrate the stages and morphology of Andean archaeological specimens of P. humanus capitis., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Most of the lizards of the Liolaemus genus present precloacal pores in males, with few exceptions in species of the lineomaculatus and neuquensis groups, and in the elongatus-kriegi complex. The elongatus-kriegi complex, belonging to the Liolaemus (sensu stricto) subgenus, is composed of medium sized, saxicolous, viviparous and insectivorous or omnivorous lizards, distributed between the Andean and Patagonian zones of Chile and Argentina. We reviewed the taxonomic history of this group, and we describe two new species, Liolaemus carlosgarini, found in the vicinity of the Maule Lagoon, in the Maule Region, Chile, and Liolaemus riodamas, described from the population that was originally designated as Liolaemus cf ceii, from Las Damas River, near the Termas del Flaco locality, in the Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins Region, thereby based on this research L. ceii is eliminated from the species belonging to Chile. Both species have as a diagnostic character the absence of precloacal pores, and we suggest here their presumptive systematic relationships in Liolaemus. We analyzed ten species of Liolaemus, in order to perform a phylogenetic analysis based on external morphology, using mostly squamation and morphometric characters. The analysis was performed using PAUP, with the Maximum Parsimony criterion. In addition, through diaphanisation, we studied and described the osteology of the new species. We conclude that species lacking precloacal pores do not form a monophyletic group, and that constructing a phylogeny using only external morphology, at least for this group of reptiles, is insufficient to establish solid phyletic relationships. Other sort of characters should complement the morphological ones.

Dendritic cells (DCs) control the type and location of immune responses. Ulcerative colitis (UC) is considered a Th2 disease mediated by IL-13 where up to one third of patients can develop extraintestinal manifestations. Colonic biopsies from inflamed and noninflamed areas of UC patients were cultured in vitro and their supernatants were used to condition human blood enriched DCs from healthy controls. Levels of IL-13 in the culture supernatants were below the detection limit in most cases and the cytokine profile suggested a mixed profile rather than a Th2 cytokine profile. IL-6 was the predominant cytokine found in inflamed areas from UC patients and its concentration correlated with the Mayo endoscopic score for severity of disease. DCs conditioned with noninflamed culture supernatants acquired a regulatory phenotype with decreased stimulatory capacity. However, DCs conditioned with inflamed culture supernatants acquired a proinflammatory phenotype with increased expression of the skin-homing chemokine CCR8. These DCs did not have decreased T-cell stimulatory capacity and primed T cells with the skin-homing CLA molecule in an IL-6-dependent mechanism. Our results highlight the role of IL-6 in UC and question the concept of UC as a Th2 disease and the relevance of IL-13 in its etiology., (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The light path function (LPF) of an Offner spectrometer is presented. The evaluation of the LPF of this spectrometer enables its imaging properties to be studied for arbitrary object and image positions, while avoiding the more complicated analysis of intermediate images generated by the diffraction grating, which is often involved. A power series expansion of the LPF on the grating coordinates directly determines pupil aberrations of the generated spectrum and facilitates the search for configurations with small low-order aberrations. This analysis not only confirms the possibility of reducing low-order aberrations in Rowland-type mounts, namely astigmatism and coma, as predicted in previous studies, but also proves that all third-order terms in the series expansion of the aberration function can be canceled at the image of the design point and for the corresponding design wavelength, when the design point is located on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis. Furthermore, fourth-order terms are computed and shown to represent the most relevant contribution to image blurring. Third- and fourth-order aberrations are also evaluated for Rowland mounts with the design point located outside the aforementioned plane. The study described in this manuscript is not restricted to small angles of incidence, and, therefore, it goes beyond Seidel and Buchdahl aberrations.

Liver cells respond to copper loading upregulating protective mechanisms. However, to date, except for liver content, there are no good indicators that identify individuals with excess liver copper. We hypothesized that administering high doses of copper to young (5.5 mg Cu · kg⁻¹ . d⁻¹) and adult (7.5 mg Cu · kg⁻¹ . d⁻¹) capuchin monkeys would induce detectable liver damage. Study groups included adult monkeys (2 females, 2 males) 3-3.5 y old at enrollment treated with copper for 36 mo (ACu); age-matched controls (1 female, 3 males) that did not receive additional copper (AC); young monkeys (2 female, 2 males) treated from birth with copper for 36 mo (YCu); and young age-matched controls (2 female, 2 males) that did not receive additional copper (YC). We periodically assessed clinical, blood biochemical, and liver histological indicators and at 36 mo the hepatic mRNA abundance of MT2a, APP, DMT1, CTR1, HGF, TGFβ, and NFκΒ only in adult monkeys. After 36 mo, the liver copper concentration was 4-5 times greater in treated monkeys relative to controls. All monkeys remained healthy with normal routine serum biochemical indices and there was no evidence of liver tissue damage. Relative mRNA abundance of HGF, TGFβ and NFκB was significantly greater in ACu than in AC monkeys. In conclusion, capuchin monkeys exposed to copper at doses up to 50 times the current upper level enhanced expression of genes related to inflammation and injury without clinical, blood biochemical, or histological evidence of liver damage.

We aim to show that Dyson imaging spectrometers can be easily designed by applying the concept of the Rowland circle to refracting surfaces. This allows us to conceive an analytical procedure that is based on the removal of astigmatism at two wavelengths. Following this procedure, high-optical-quality spectrometers can be designed even for high speeds. Root-mean-square spot radii less than 2.5 μm are obtained for speeds as high as f/1.5, slit lengths of 15 mm, and wavelength ranges of 0.4-1.7 μm. Design examples are presented for classical Dyson spectrometers in which the detector is glued to the glass plane surface and for spectrometers with an air gap between this surface and the image plane., (© 2011 Optical Society of America)

This is a proposal and description of a new spectrometer based on the Schwarzschild optical system. The proposed design contains two Schwarzschild optical systems. Light diverging from the spectrometer entrance slit is collimated by the first one; the collimated light beam hits a planar diffraction grating and the light dispersed from the grating is focused by the second system, which is concentric with the first. A very simple procedure obtains designs that are anastigmatic for the center of the slit and for a particular wavelength. A specific example shows the performance of this type of spectrometer.

Hurricanes have increased in strength and frequency as a result of global climate change. This research was conducted to study the spatio-temporal distribution and changes of Thalassia testudinum, the dominant species in Bahia de la Ascension (Quintana Roo, Mexico), when affected by heavy weather conditions. To complete this objective, a 2001 Landsat ETM+ image and the information from 525 sampling stations on morpho-functional and coverage of T. testudinum were used, and the seeds generated for the classification of eight benthic habitats. To quantify the changes caused by two hurricanes, we used two images, one of 1988 (Gilberto) and another of 1995 (Roxanne); other three data sets (2003, 2005 and 2007) were also used to describe the study area without major weather effects. Six categorial maps were obtained and subjected to analysis by 8 Landscape Ecology indexes, that describe the spatial characteristics, structure, function, change of the elements (matrix-patch-corridor), effects on ecosystems, connectivity, edges, shape and patch habitat fragmentation. Models indicate that T. testudinum may be classified as a continuum (matrix), since the fragments were not observed intermittently, but as a progression from minimum to maximum areas in reference to their coverage (ecological corridors). The fragments do not have a regular shape, indicating that the impacts are recent and may be due to direct effects (high-intensity hurricanes) or indirect (sediment). Fragments of type "bare soils" have a discontinuous distribution, and are considered to be the sites that have remained stable over a long timescale. While more dense coverage areas ("beds", "medium prairie" and "prairie") have low fragmentation and high connection of fragments. Features have an irregular perimeter and radial growth of formal; suggesting that the impact of meteors has no effect on the resilience of T. testudinum in this ecosystem, indicating good environmental quality to grow in this bay.

Background: A chondroblastoma is a primary benign bone tumor typically involving the epiphysis of long tubular bones. The occurrence of chondroblastoma in the vertebral column is exceptional. To the best of our knowledge, aspiration biopsy (AB) findings of a lumbar chondroblastoma have only been reported in 1 previous case., Case: A 30-year-old female presented with lower back pain with a duration of 1 month. A CT scan of the 4th lumbar vertebra showed a heterogeneous lytic zone within the body and the right side pedicle surrounded by marginal sclerosis. A CT-fluoroscopy-guided AB was performed and rendered a relatively cellular material with round to oval-shaped cells with a discrete amount of cytoplasm and small nuclei. These cells were distributed in a single-cell manner as well as in groups along with multinucleated osteoclast-like cells. A cytological diagnosis of chondroblastoma was issued., Conclusion: Identification of infrequent benign bone lesions in the vertebral column through AB is a challenge, yet it is of the utmost importance in order to render a correct diagnosis., (Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Background: The non-invasive diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis is a difficult one. Studies confirm MRI as the gold standard with 92% sensitivity and 94% specificity. Scintigraphy combined with Tc99-Ga67 used to be the procedure of choice before the advent of PET with labeled glucose, which has a high sensitivity and specificity, but cannot distinguish a focus of infection from inflammation. Scintigraphy with UBI29-41 is an infection-specific study that was recently described in the literature. There are no studies showing its value in the diagnosis of vertebral osteomyelitis., Objective: The purpose of the study is to show that the Tc99-UBI29-41 scan has 99% sensitivity for vertebral osteomyelitis., Methods: This is a study of a diagnostic test. The case series was composed of the records of UBI scans performed at the Nuclear Medicine Department, HcHMAE. The scans were interpreted in a blind and independent fashion by 2 experienced observers. The final diagnosis was obtained with the histopathologic study or a microbiologic culture or with the clinical findings after a follow-up of at least 6 months. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and the positive and negative probability ratio were determined, always using a 95% confidence interval (CI). The sample size necessary to show 99% sensitivity with a 95% CI and a statistical power of 80% was 15 patients. The concordance with the kappa index was determined., Results: Twenty-seven patients with suspected vertebral osteomyelitis were included; 15 males and 12 females, with a mean age of 50 years (SD = 16). Fourteen patients had a history of surgery and 12 had metallic implants. Nine patients had a history if spinal infiltrations. The number of patients with a positive scan was 20. The sensitivity for detecting pyogenic vertebral osteomyelitis was 100% (CI: 0.901-1) and the specificity was 87.5% (CI: 0.647-0.875). The positive predictive value was 0.95 (CI: 0.859-0.950), and the negative predictive value was 1 (CI: 0.739-1). The intra- and interobserver kappa value was 1., Conclusions: The UBI scan showed 100% sensitivity and 88% specificity for vertebral osteomyelitis. Although the role of this method in the diagnostic protocol of the patient with suspected vertebral osteomyelitis has not yet been defined, the scan was useful in this group of patients to arrive at a certain diagnosis.

Prenatal undernutrition induces hypertension later in life, possibly by disturbing the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis through programming decreased expression of hypothalamic glucocorticoid receptors. We examined the systolic blood pressure, heart rate and plasma corticosterone response to intra-paraventricular dexamethasone, mifepristone and corticosterone in eutrophic and prenatally undernourished young rats. Undernutrition was induced during fetal life by restricting the diet of pregnant mothers to 10 g daily (40% of diet consumed by well-nourished controls). At day 40 of postnatal life (i) intra-paraventricular administration of dexamethasone significantly reduced at least for 24h both the systolic pressure (-11.6%), the heart rate (-20.8%) and the plasma corticosterone (-40.0%) in normal animals, while producing lower effects (-5.5, -8.7, and -22.3%, respectively) on undernourished rats; (ii) intra-paraventricular administration of the antiglucocorticoid receptor ligand mifepristone to normal rats produced opposite effects (8.2, 20.3, and 48.0% increase, respectively) to those induced by dexamethasone, being these not significant in undernourished animals; (iii) intra-paraventricular corticosterone did not exert any significant effect. Results suggest that the low sensitivity of paraventricular neurons to glucocorticoid receptor ligands observed in prenatally undernourished rats could be due to the already reported glucocorticoid receptor expression, found in the hypothalamus of undernourished animals., (Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

beta-Adrenergic receptor stimulation can significantly facilitate synaptic potentiation in the hippocampus and enhance memory processes, but its effect on neocortical plastic mechanisms is less conclusive. In the present study we determined the effect of propranolol, a beta-adrenoceptor antagonist, on long-term potentiation (LTP) induced in vivo in rat occipital cortex by tetanizing stimulation of corpus callosum and observed a dose-dependent inhibition of LTP. We further administered propranolol through mini-osmotic pumps during 3 days, and observed the performance of rats in a complex operant conditioning learning paradigm and assessed the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the occipital cortex. Propranolol exposure depressed both the number of reinforced responses in the operant conditioning task and BDNF expression in occipital cortex. Taken together, our results suggest that propranolol impairs memory formation by inhibiting cortical LTP induction and associated BDNF expression., (Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

High-quality Dyson imaging spectrometers are designed by applying a telecentric condition for off-axis image points. By imposing this condition for two different wavelengths, designs presenting low aberrations for the whole spectral range of the system are obtained. A UV-TO-NIR fast design (f/1.5) exhibiting excellent optical performance is presented.

Classic copper indicators are not sensitive and specific for detecting excess copper exposure when this is higher than customary but not markedly elevated. Serum copper and ceruloplasmin (Cp) are the most commonly used indicators to assess nutritional status of copper. The objective of this paper was to study the influence of estrogens on these indicators and others used to assess early effects of excess copper exposure in humans and the expression of a set of copper related proteins in a hepatic cellular model. For the studies in humans, 107 healthy participants (18-50 years) were allocated as follows: group 1 (n = 39), women assessed on day 7 of their hormonal cycle; group 2 (n = 34), women assessed on day 21 of their hormonal cycle, and group 3 (n = 34, comparison group), healthy men. Participants received 8 mg Cu/day (as copper sulfate) during 6 months. Serum Cp and Cu, Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase activity, liver function indicators [aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT)], and serum Fe and Zn concentrations were measured monthly. In addition, the influence of estradiol on intracellular total copper content, hctr1, dmt1 and shbg mRNA abundance and hCTR1, and DMT1 expression was measured in HepG2 cells. Serum Cu, Fe, and Zn and liver aminotransferases but not Cu-Zn-superoxide dismutase varied depending on sex. Fe nutrition indicators, GGT, and ALT activities showed significant differences between the hormonal phases. Cellular experiments showed that estradiol increased cellular Cu concentration and hCTR1 and DMT1 mRNA expression and changed these proteins expression patterns. Estradiols significantly influence the responses to copper at the whole body and the cellular levels, suggesting that they help maintaining copper availability for metabolic needs.

We review the theory of spherical diffraction gratings with regard to their imaging properties in off-plane arrangements. Our study is restricted to gratings with equally spaced grooves, and it is focused on the quadrature configuration, where the incident and diffraction planes are orthogonal to each other. We identify regions of low astigmatism and propose some monochromator mounts.

Background: Most clinical isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus produce a major virulence factor known as the thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH). TDH is encoded by the tdh gene which is located in a genomic pathogenicity island (PAI). Most environmental isolates are described as tdh negative., Aim: To assess if environmental strains lack the full pathogenicity island or if only the tdh gene is deleted., Material and Methods: Thirty eight clinical and 66 environmental strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were studied. PAI was characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of tdhA and tdhS genes, was determined by Southern blot., Results: Fifty three environmental strains (80%) lacked a full PAI when compared with clinical strains. In environmental strains, Southern blot and sequence analysis showed that a genetic region of 80 kilobase pairs including genes from VPA1310 to VPA1396 was missing., Conclusions: These results highlight the genetic dynamism of Vibrio parahaemolyticus pathogenecity island region and suggest that new pathogenic strains could appear by horizontal transfer of the island between toxigenic and non-toxigenic strains.

Prenatal undernutrition induces a variety of cardiovascular alterations in mammals when adults, including hypertension and hypercortisolism, which are thought to be caused by decreased glucocorticoid feedback control of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis programmed during fetal life. Hypothalamic CRH seems to be involved in blood pressure elevation of spontaneously hypertensive rats and in primary hypertension of humans, but the influence of prenatal undernutrition on CRH expression has deserved little attention. Here, we studied the expression of both CRH mRNA and CRH protein in the hypothalamus of neonatal and juvenile offspring of rats undernourished during fetal life, as well as the plasma levels of CRH and corticosterone. Prenatal undernutrition of pups was induced by submitting pregnant rats to diet restriction (10g daily of 21% protein standard laboratory diet). Pups born from dams with free access to the standard laboratory diet served as controls. At day 2 of postnatal age, undernourished pups showed lower body and brain weights, but higher plasma CRH and corticosterone than normal pups. At day 40 of age, brain weight was significantly decreased in the undernourished rats, while plasma corticosterone, plasma CRH and systolic pressure were significantly increased in these animals. At days 2 and 40 of postnatal age, increased CRH mRNA expression and CRH concentration were found in the hypothalamus of undernourished rats. Results indicate that, in the rat, prenatal undernutrition led to fetal programming of CRH overexpression, a neuropeptide serving as activating signal to the HPA axis and/or to extrahypothalamic brain regions concerned with cardiovascular regulation.

Reduction of the protein content from 25 to 8% casein in the diet of pregnant rats results in impaired neocortical long-term potentiation (LTP) of the offspring together with lower visuospatial memory performance. The present study was aimed to investigate whether this type of maternal malnutrition could result in modification of plastic capabilities of the entorhinal cortex (EC) in the adult progeny. Unlike normal eutrophic controls, 55-60-day-old prenatally malnourished rats were unable to develop LTP in the medial EC to tetanizing stimulation delivered to either the ipsilateral occipital cortex or the CA1 hippocampal region. Tetanizing stimulation of CA1 also failed to increase the concentration of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the EC of malnourished rats. Impaired capacity of the EC of prenatally malnourished rats to develop LTP and to increase BDNF levels during adulthood may be an important factor contributing to deficits in learning performance having adult prenatally malnourished animals.

Prenatal undernutrition is known to disturb the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, possibly through the programming of decreased expression of hypothalamic and pituitary glucocorticoid receptors. To test this hypothesis, we examined the corticosterone response to moderate subcutaneous (100 microg/kg) and intra-paraventricular (50 pmol, bilaterally) dexamethasone (DEX) challenges in normal eutrophic and prenatally undernourished young rats. Undernutrition was induced during fetal life by restricting the diet of pregnant mothers to 10 g daily, while mothers of eutrophic rats received the same diet ad libitum. At day 40 of postnatal life (i) undernourished rats showed increased plasma corticosterone concentration compared to normals; and (ii) subcutaneous and intra-paraventricular administrations of DEX led to reduced corticosterone levels in normal and undernourished animals, the effect of DEX (administered either peripherally or centrally) being significantly lower in the latter group. Results suggest that the low sensitivity of the HPA axis to DEX as well as the increased plasma corticosterone observed in prenatally undernourished rats could be due to the already reported glucocorticoid receptor underexpression found in the hypothalamus and pituitary of in utero undernourished animals, but alternative explanations involving central noradrenergic adaptive changes could also be possible.

The effects of intracoerulear CRH and intraparaventricular prazosin on systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and heart rate were studied in prenatally malnourished hypertensive rats. At day 40 of life, (i) malnourished rats showed enhanced systolic pressure, heart rate, and plasma corticosterone; (ii) intracoerulear CRH increased systolic pressure and heart rate only in controls; (iii) intraparaventricular prazosin decreased systolic pressure and heart rate only in malnourished rats; (iv) in controls, prazosin did not prevent the stimulatory effect of CRH on the cardiovascular parameters; in malnourished rats, prazosin allowed CRH regain its stimulatory effects. Thus, coerulear activation by CRH would be involved in hypertension and tachycardia developed by prenatally malnourished animals.

Glutamyl-tRNA (Glu-tRNA), formed by Glu-tRNA synthetase (GluRS), is a substrate for protein biosynthesis and tetrapyrrole formation by the C(5) pathway. In this route Glu-tRNA is transformed to delta-aminolevulinic acid, the universal precursor of tetrapyrroles (e.g., heme and chlorophyll) by the action of Glu-tRNA reductase (GluTR) and glutamate semialdehyde aminotransferase. GluTR is a target of feedback regulation by heme. In Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, an acidophilic bacterium that expresses two GluRSs (GluRS1 and GluRS2) with different tRNA specificity, the intracellular heme level varies depending on growth conditions. Under high heme requirement for respiration increased levels of GluRS and GluTR are observed. Strikingly, when intracellular heme is in excess, the cells respond by a dramatic decrease of GluRS activity and the level of GluTR. The recombinant GluRS1 enzyme is inhibited in vitro by hemin, but NADPH restores its activity. These results suggest that GluRS plays a major role in regulating the cellular level of heme.

Objective: To report one case of gunshot bladder trauma and to review its diagnosis and treatment in the related literature., Methods: We report the case of a 43-year-old-male with an abdominal firearm wound and gross haematuria. Imaging diagnosis by abdominal and pelvic CT and CT-cystography. Surgical treatment., Results: CT-cystography showed extraperitoneal bladder rupture. Exploratory laparotomy to evaluate for other associated injuries. Bladder wall surgical closure and ureteroneocystostomy with transvesical technique because of complete distal ureter tear. Broad spectrum antibiotherapy. Favourable progress. The patient was discharged at 14th day., Conclusions: Firearm bladder traumas are a rare entity. Surgical exploration and closure is mandatory. In haemodynamicaly stable patients, abdomen and pelvis CT and CT-cystography allow us to rule out associated injuries and to classify the bladder trauma type. Ureteral damage associated in 5-8,9%, diagnosed during surgical exploration. Broad-spectrum antibiotherapy in all patients.

This paper reports the synthesis, structure solution, and magnetic characterization of four new DIMMAL-containing compounds (H2DIMMAL = 2-di1H-2-imidazolylmethylmalonic acid), H2DIMMAL x H2O (1), Na2(DIMMAL) x 5H2O (2), [Cu(HDIMMAL)2] (3), and [Cu2(DIMMAL)2(H2O)2] x 2H2O (4). Compound 1, containing two carboxylates and two protonated imidazole rings, adopts the dizwitterion configuration. These monohydrate MBBs pack together into a 3D array driven, as in the other three cases herein reported, by a combination of multiple-path H-bonds and aromatic-aromatic interactions. Compound 2 consists of centrosymmetric Na+ tetramers in which four NaO6 distorted octahedra are interconnected by carboxylate and water bridges. Compound 3 consists of mononuclear [Cu(HDIMMAL)2] units in which HDIMMAL- acts as a tridentate ligand through two imidazole N atoms and the deprotonated O from a carboxylate. Compound 4 consists of centrosymmetric cyclic dinuclear [Cu2(DIMMAL)2(H2O)2] x 2H2O units involving propionate-arm bridges. The building-block units described above, in each case, are interconnected into 3D networks by multiple H-bonding paths and aromatic-aromatic interactions. The EPR spectra are indicative of an essentially d(x2-y2) ground state for the copper(II) ions in 3 and 4 (CuN4O2 and CuN2O2O' chromophores, respectively). Magnetic susceptibility measurements in the range of 1.8-200 K for compound 4 show weak antiferromagnetic exchange between the copper(II) ions (2J = -1.6(1) cm(-1)). The effectiveness of the propionate-arm bridges, involving C-C sigma bonds, in propagating magnetic exchange between the copper(II) ions is discussed.

Two types of glutamyl-tRNA synthetase exist: the discriminating enzyme (D-GluRS) forms only Glu-tRNA(Glu), while the non-discriminating one (ND-GluRS) also synthesizes Glu-tRNA(Gln), a required intermediate in protein synthesis in many organisms (but not in Escherichia coli). Testing the capacity to complement a thermosensitive E. coli gltX mutant and to suppress an E. coli trpA49 missense mutant we examined the properties of heterologous gltX genes. We demonstrate that while Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans GluRS1 and Bacillus subtilis Q373R GluRS form Glu-tRNA(Glu), A. ferrooxidans and Helicobacter pylori GluRS2 form Glu-tRNA(Gln) in E. coli in vivo.

Among the adult bladder sarcomas it's extremely rare as an histological variety the malignant fibrous histiocytoma. We present a case of a 25 years old young male with bladder and prostate both affected, successfully treated with radical surgery and poliquimiotherapy. We also reviewed the bibliography about this neoplasias up to now.

We present a new case of retroperitoneal hemangiopericytoma with the special feature of a big size tumour. Due to this feature and also to the hypervascularitation we proceeded a preoperative arterial embolization that made possible its complete removal. We did a bibliographic review showing the fundamental clinic pathologic and therapeutical basic aspects of this tumours.

We report a case of left testicular torsion four months after a similar homolateral case in which we did detorsion and bilateral fixation of both testicles. The antecedent orchiopexy was accomplished using 3-0 silk and transseptal fixation of the contralateral testicle. A history of bilateral orchiopexy should nor interfere with diagnosing torsion in the acute scrotum. We recommend the use of nonabsorbable suture material joining the testis to the dartos muscle in 3 locations and the contralateral hemiscrotum must be explored.

Reports on fracture of the penis are scarce in the spanish urological literature and in most cases injury appear limited to the corpora cavernosa. In this report a case of rupture of both corpora cavernosa and the urethra during sexual intercourse is presented. Early surgical treatment rendered good results. A literature review on currently recommended diagnostic and treatment practices is presented.

A study was established to evaluate concentration temperatures (25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 degrees C) on kiwi fruit pulp concentrated to 32 degrees Brix, with vacuum regulation. Munsell and sensorial colour, ascorbic acid and chlorophyll amount remanent were analyzed. Both, 25 and 30 degrees C concentration temperatures treatments, in the most of variables, experimented low deteriorate and differ with the other treatments. Ascorbic acid measurements had not significative differences (P < 0.95). Chlorophyll assays showed a decreased (70%) in the amount remanent over 35 degrees C in comparison to 25 degrees C treatments. 40 and 45 degrees C treatments showed traces of chlorophyll. Sensorial colour did not showed variations on 25 and 30 degrees C treatments; they were classified as bright green. Other treatments present colour deteriorate: 35 degrees C treatment was green-yellowish classified, and 45 degrees C treatments brown-greenish categories. Munsell colour showed the same relations, were increasing the concentration temperatures, decrease the green colour and increase the yellow colour.

Two central Chile lizards differ in their response to the approach of potential predators: Liolaemus lemniscatus escapes from rocky patches into grassy patches, and Liolaemus fuscus runs away from a rock onto another within the same rocky patch. These escaping responses are associated with concealing coloration and comparatively shorter legs in L. lemniscatus, as compared to L. fuscus. The adequacy of the behavior of L. lemniscatus is discussed.