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In Argentina, the family Diplostomidae is composed of eight genera

Background and Aims: Disease progression in children with primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is variable. Prognostic and risk-stratification tools exist for adult-onset PSC, but not for children. We aimed to create a tool that accounts for the biochemical and phenotypic features and early disease stage of pediatric PSC. Approach and Results: We used retrospective data from the Pediatric PSC Consortium. The training cohort contained 1,012 patients from 40 centers. We generated a multivariate risk index (Sclerosing Cholangitis Outcomes in Pediatrics [SCOPE] index) that contained total bilirubin, albumin, platelet count, gamma glutamyltransferase, and cholangiography to predict a primary outcome of liver transplantation or death (TD) and a broader secondary outcome that included portal hypertensive, biliary, and cancer complications termed hepatobiliary complications (HBCs). The model stratified patients as low, medium, or high risk based on progression to TD at rates of

Out-of-hospital circulatory arrest represents a challenging situation in emergency medicine even until today. Despite optimal emergency care and clinical treatment pathways, we are faced with a mortality rate above 90 %. It is possible to improve the survival rate to more than 40 % under ideal clinical and preclinical conditions. Thus, more people's life could be saved by standardized SOPs and networks in emergency medicine. About 14.000 preclinical resuscitation cases are reported in Germany per year. The prognosis out-of-hospital circulatory arrest patients is determined by best preclinical treatment including early resuscitation by bystanders. However, ethical considerations for not performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation include comorbidities, advanced age, and prognostic markers of intensive care medicine like lactate level or neuron-specific enolase. Since myocardial infarction is the underlying disease in about 3 quarters of acute circulatory arrest cases, early angiography and coronary revascularization is of upmost importance. In addition, it is essential to provide hemodynamic stabilization for prevention of multiorgan dysfunction syndrome. Neuroprotection by therapeutic hypothermia may further help to improve survival and quality of life. Mechanical circulatory support devices may be considered adjunct to pharmacological measures for hemodynamic stabilization. Due to lack of evidence, these devices are currently under evaluation and prospectively randomized trials. We expect new treatment algorithms for optimal care of these high-risk patients in the near future.

In the Laboratory of Parasites of Fishes, Crustaceans and Mollusks (CEPAVE), we undertook a parasitological study on three species of fish from the Espinal and Esteros del Iberá ecoregions of Argentina. Clinostomid metacercariae were found parasitizing Characidium rachovii, Crenicichla vittata and Gymnogeophagus balzanii. In this study, we analysed the damage that these parasites inflict on their hosts through the evaluation of histological sections. In addition, Clinostomum metacercariae were identified using morphological characters and DNA barcoding. In the pathological analysis, we observed that muscle tissue was the most affected. The inflammatory response showed vascular congestion areas and infiltration of numerous inflammatory cells, mainly lymphocytes. The molecular and morphological approach supports the presence of three new lineages of clinostomid metacercariae in Argentina. This could lead to the discovery of a high number of lineages or species of Clinostomum from South America.

The Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has recently issued a position paper on the role of sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in heart failure (HF). The present document provides an update of the position paper, based of new clinical trial evidence. Accordingly, the following recommendations are given:. • Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin empagliflozin, or ertugliflozin are recommended for the prevention of HF hospitalization in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and established cardiovascular disease or at high cardiovascular risk. • Dapagliflozin or empagliflozin are recommended to reduce the combined risk of HF hospitalization and cardiovascular death in symptomatic patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction already receiving guideline-directed medical therapy regardless of the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. © 2020 European Society of Cardiology

Heart failure (HF) is common and associated with a poor prognosis, despite advances in treatment. Over the last decade cardiovascular outcome trials with sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have demonstrated beneficial effects for three SGLT2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, canagliflozin and dapagliflozin) in reducing hospitalisations for HF. More recently, dapagliflozin reduced the risk of worsening HF or death from cardiovascular causes in patients with chronic HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus. A number of additional trials in HF patients with reduced and/or preserved left ventricular ejection fraction are ongoing and/or about to be reported. The present position paper summarises recent clinical trial evidence and discusses the role of SGLT2 inhibitors in the treatment of HF, pending the results of ongoing trials in different populations of patients with HF. © 2020 European Society of Cardiology

Acute revascularization is of utmost importance in acute heart failure and infarct-related cardiogenic shock. Besides this therapy of the underlying disease, methods for rapid restoration of arterial blood pressure and sufficient organ perfusion are at the forefront. If conventional means such as volume management, inotropic support, or infusion of vasopressors fail in this situation, mechanical circulatory support may be indicated in selected cases. Noninvasive systems for automatic thorax compression are used for extended cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation (IABP) and axial turbine pumps provide circulatory support and left ventricular unloading. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) devices consisting of a membrane oxygenator in combination with a centrifugal pump also support the gas exchange in cases of acute pulmonary failure. Using mechanical circulatory support allows lifesaving further diagnostic and therapeutic measures in selected cases, despite limited evidence. They help to restore sufficient arterial blood pressure and therefore organ perfusion in acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock.

Objectives: To describe dietary glycaemic index (GI) and glycaemic load (GL) values in the population participating in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study according to food groups, nutrients and lifestyle characteristics. Methods: Single 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs) from 33 566 subjects were used to calculate dietary GI and GL, and an ad hoc database was created as the main reference source. Mean GI and GL intakes were adjusted for age, total energy intake, height and weight, and were weighted by season and day of recall. Results: GI was the lowest in Spain and Germany, and highest in the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Denmark for both genders. In men, GL was the lowest in Spain and Germany and highest in Italy, whereas in women, it was the lowest in Spain and Greece and highest in the UK health-conscious cohort. Bread was the largest contributor to GL in all centres (15-45%), but it also showed the largest inter-individual variation. GL, but not GI, tended to be lower in the highest body mass index category in both genders. GI was positively correlated with starch and intakes of bread and potatoes, whereas it was correlated negatively with intakes of sugar, fruit and dairy products. GL was positively correlated with all carbohydrate components and intakes of cereals, whereas it was negatively correlated with fat and alcohol and with intakes of wine, with large variations across countries. Conclusions: GI means varied modestly across countries and genders, whereas GL means varied more, but it may possibly act as a surrogate of carbohydrate intake. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2009) 63, S188-S205; doi: 10.1038/ejcn.2009.81

The ability of ACTH-(1-24) to prolong survival and to extend the deadline for effective blood reinfusion has been studied in a model of lethal hypovolemic shock in the rat. Anesthetized rats were bled to a mean arterial pressure of 18 to 25 mm Hg and then subjected to one of the following iv treatments: a) saline; b) ACTH-(1-24), 160 micrograms/kg; c) blood reinfusion; d) ACTH-(1-24), 160 micrograms/kg; c) blood reinfusion; d) ACTH-(1-24), with saline 5 min after bleeding died within 0.05 h. On the other hand, the treatment with ACTH-(1-24) induced an almost complete and sustained recovery of cardiovascular and respiratory functions associated with a survival time of 44 +/- 18 h, while four of six rats reinfused with the withdrawn blood were still alive 15 days later. The time-lapse between bleeding and treatment was of crucial importance, and neither ACTH-(1-24) injection nor blood reinfusion had any effect if performed 25 min after bleeding. However, treatment with ACTH-(1-24) shortly after bleeding (5 min) greatly improved the effect of a later blood reinfusion. These data indicate that ACTH-(1-24) can prolong survival and permit the time-lapse between blood loss and blood reinfusion to be extended.

Summary The inhibition of protein synthesis in the neonatal period, in the rat, (chloramphenicol 100 mg/Kg/day, s.c., during the first 3 days of life), seriously impairs the hetero- and homo-sexual behavior in the male and causes a disruption of the estrous cycles and a marked reduction of the sexual receptivity in the female. The administration of chloramphenicol during the fetal life (50 mg/Kg/day s.c., from days 7 to 21 of gestation) reduces the avoidance learning ability in the adulthood, whereas stanozolol (0.5 mg/Kg/day during the same period) definitively improves it. Preliminary data indicate that the rate of DNA synthesis in the brain hemispeheres is higher in the fetuses of rats treated with stanozolol than in those of controls.

In vitro , hemicholinium n°3 antagonizes reversibly and selectively the action of acetylcholine on the terminal ileum, the uterine horn and the isolated atrium of guinea pig. It also antagonizes he action of acetylcholine on the isolate rabbit ileum, but depre s ses only slightly the response to acetylcholine of the frog rectus muscle. The antiacetylcholine action of hemicholinium on guinea pig ileum is not prevented by choline. In the anaesthetized cat, hemicholinium suppresses the effect of carbacholine on the gut, but does not modify that on arterial blood pressure.

d -Penicillamine inhibits poliovirus growth in vitro. This effect is related to a parallel inhibition of viral RNA synthesis. d -Penicillamine possesses a very narrow antiviral spectrum. In fact it exerts a weak inhibition against Coxsackie and ECHO viruses and shows no inhibitory effect against herpes simplex, vaccinia, and vesicular stomatitis viruses. The inhibitory action of d -penicillamine is suppressed by phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophan, and leucine and by Cu and Fe salts. l -penicillamine is ineffective as an antiviral agent.

Intracerebral or intraspinal cord, but not intraperitoneal, injection of low doses of colchicine in rats induces specific toxic symptoms. This paper deals in particular with the effect of colchicine on micturition. After the injection of 5-25 micrograms/rat in cerebral ventricle or 2.5-20 micrograms/rat intraspinal cord, bladder content was markedly increased, due to a dramatic urine retention. Time of latency of vesical retention was related to the dose and to the route of colchicine administration. Cystometrographic analyses were performed in control and treated rats at various intervals of time after the injection: bladder tone, as expressed by the delta P/delta V ratio, monitored from 12 to 120 hr after colchicine injection, decreased more and more during time, suggesting that the observed vesical hypotonicity is an irreversible phenomenon.

A series of 3,4-dihydro derivatives of 6-chloro-, 7-chloro-, 5,7-dichloro-, 6,7-dichloro-, 5,7-dibromo-, 5-nitro-7-chloro-, 7-nitro-, 7-amino-1,2,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide, various substituted on the heterocyclic carbon, was prepared and tested for cardiovascular activity. It was found that in this series of compounds cardiac activity predominates and is exclusively of the depressant type. Bradycardial activity seems to be affected both by the nature of the substituent on the heterocyclic carbon atom and by the substituents on the benzene ring. An alkyl chain of three carbon atoms, normal or alpha-ethylsubstituted, on C3 and the presence of a chlorine atom in positions 6 or 7 seem to be the most significant structural features for this activity. Some of the substances tested showed a pressor effect (hypotension and/or increase in differential pressure).

THE presence of a guanidine moiety in a number of antiviral drugs1–5 prompted us to investigate whether some simple guanidine derivatives may reduce the infectivity of viruses for cultured mammalian cells. The following compounds were examined: guanidine hydrochloride, aminoguanidine bicarbonate, creatine hydrate, arginine, uridine, urea, thiourea, decyl- and dodecyl-bis-guanidine, N,N′-bis(beta-hydroxyethyl)biguanide. The chemicals dissolved in water were boiled for about 15 min. and then added to the culture media.