Phytochemical profile and nematicidal activity of a hydroalcoholic extract from Cazahuate flowers (Ipomoea pauciflora M. Martens & Galeotti) against Haemonchus contortus infective larvae

@#Haemonchus contortus (Hc) is a hematophagous parasite affecting the health and productivity of flocks. The administration of chemical anthelmintic drugs (AH) is the common method of deworming; however, generates resistance in the parasites to AH and it is a public health risk due to drug residues in milk, meat and sub-products. Natural compounds from plants are explored to diminish this parasitosis, improving their health and productivity, without the negative effects of AH. Ipomoea genus is a group of climbing plants belonging to the Convulvulaceae family possessing perennial leaves and tuberous roots. Medicinal properties has been attributed to this plant including nutritional agents, emetics, diuretics, diaphoretics, purgatives and pesticides. The objective of this study was assessing the in vitro nematocidal activity of a hydroalcoholic extract (HA-E) obtained from Ipomoea pauciflora (Cazahuate) flowers against Hc infective larvae (L3) and to identify its phytochemical profile (PhC-P). The assay was carried out using microtiter plates (MTP). Four HA-E concentrations were assessed and Ivermectin and distilled water were used as positive and negative control groups, respectively. Approximately 100 Hc L3 were deposited in each well (n=12) and incubated at 25–35°C for 7 days. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and a General Linear Model (GLM) followed by Tukey test (P<0.05). The treatments showing a concentration-dependent effect (CDE) were analyzed to identify their 50% and 90% lethal concentrations (CL50, 90) via a Probit Analysis. The highest mortality was observed at 50 mg/mL (82.64 ± 0.71%) and the lowest at 6.25 mg/mL (56.46 ± 2.49%), showing a CDE with increasing mortality from 6.25 to 50 mg/mL. The PhC-P revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins and triterpenes/ sterols. A HA-E from flowers of I. pauciflora will be considered to assess its potential use in the control of haemonchosis in small ruminants.

Immune response in Blackbelly lambs to Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis mixed infection in a hot and humid climate

@#The main objective was to determine the immune response of Blackbelly lambs infected with Haemonchus contortus, Trichostrongylus colubriformis, or both species. In the first stage, an experimental challenge was performed with 200 infective larvae (L3)/kg body weight (BW) of H. contortus (Hct, n = 8). Additionally, eight animals were infected with 500 L3/kg BW of T. colubriformis (Tcl), eight lambs with the mixed infection at the same dose (HctTcl), and lambs without infection were the control group. In the second infection, the same lambs were reinfected with high doses: 400 L3/kg BW of Hct and 900 L3/kg BW of Tcl. The third stage consisted of a natural reinfection in grazing. Faecal samples were taken to determine the faecal egg count (FEC) of gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs). IgA was determined in serum and saliva by an indirect Enzyme-Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay (ELISA). The haematological parameters were recorded. With the first challenge, it was not possible to promote an immune response, whereas in the second infection, FEC were higher than 1000 eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) in infected animals. During the third stage, FECs were higher in lambs infected with Tcl. Eosinophils (EOS) did not show differences in the first and second stages, but during grazing the infected lambs had higher counts than the control group (P < 0.05). IgA activity values showed the same trend, and lambs infected with HctTcl had a higher response (33% of the positive standard) than groups mono-infected (16.5% and 22.6%, respectively).

GMM y LDA aplicado a la detección de enfermedades pulmonares / GMM and LDA Applied to Lung Diseases Detection

El propósito de este artículo es presentar metodologías que pueden ser usadas para la valoración cuantitativa de los sonidos del pulmón, así como los indicadores de desórdenes respiratorios. En este contexto, se realizaron experimentos utilizando señales normales y anormales de la respiración (LS), las cuales fueron modeladas y evaluadas utilizando principalmente la base de datos RALE y señales de sujetos saludables y no saludables, logrando hasta un 98% de eficiencia. En la práctica médica la evaluación de enfermedades respiratorias involucra a la auscultación, pero la aplicación de métodos de análisis cuantitativos de señales podría mejorar estas valoraciones. En particular, se sugiere una metodología de evaluación acústica basada en representaciones de vectores acústicos MFCC (Coeficientes Cepstrales en Frecuencia Mel), GMM (Modelos Mezclados Gaussianos) y LDA (Análisis Discriminante Lineal). Estas técnicas podrían asistir en un análisis más amplio, identificación y diagnóstico de desórdenes pulmonares manifestados por sonidos respiratorios peculiares tales como sibilancias, crepitancias y asma, y distinguiéndolos de los sonidos respiratorios normales.

This study presents experimentally tested methods, which can be used for a quantitative assessment of respiratory sounds as the indicators of pulmonary disorders. In particular, conducted experiments considered both normal and abnormal lung sounds (LS). As a part of the RALE Database, signals were recorded from healthy subjects and those with respiratory disorders. Current medical practices including evaluation of respiratory diseases often involve qualitative and frequently subjective auscultation. However, the application of quantitative signal analysis methods could improve the assessments of these diseases. In particular, we utilized acoustic evaluation methodologies based on the MFCC (Mel frequency Cepstral Coefficients) acoustic vectors representation, GMM (Gaussian Mixed Models), and LDA (Linear Discriminant Analysis). To assure the validity of determined class models representing diagnostic classification, the LS signals were cross validated within sequential sets of respiratory cycles for a given subject as well as cross correlated within the specific groups of subjects representing particular conditions of normal or given class of abnormal pulmonary functions. Higher order MFCC vectors, including 9, 10 and 11 Gaussian mixtures, resulted in improved classification of the LS attributes, reached up to 98% of efficiency recognition. This documented automated classification of LS makes it suitable for a more efficient mass screening of respiratory disorders. In particular, the presence of peculiar sounds such as crackles and wheezes lead to more robust models thus reflecting the useful applicability of the presented diagnostic tool. These techniques can assist in broader analysis, identification, and diagnosis of pulmonary disorders manifested by peculiar auscultatory findings.

Megavejiga fetal en el segundo trimestre: síndrome de Berdon- un signo fácil, un diagnóstico difícil / Fetal megabladder in the second trimester: Berdon syndrome a simple sign, a difficult diagnosis

El diagnóstico de megavejiga en el embarazo es infrecuente más aun si se trata de un feto femenino. Este hecho nos permite delimitar bastante las alternativas diagnósticas, dentro de un espectro bastante heterogénico. El síndrome Megavejiga-Microcolon Hipoperistalsis Intestinal(MMIHS) es una patología de muy mal pronóstico que asocia megavejiga y alteraciones intestinales severas. Es por esto que es importante tenerla presente, para poder dar a los padres una información fidedigna y certera en cuanto al pronóstico. Presentamos 2 casos de nuestro servicio en el período 1998-2003. Se comentan los aspectos diagnósticos, terapéuticos y la evolución.

Diagnostico por escanografia de la apendicitis aguda de dificil diagnostico clinico / Diagnosis by CT of acute appendicitis in the atypical and difficult clinical situation

Se realizó un estudio prospectivo de concordancia para determinar el desempeño de la escanografía de abdomen en el diagnóstico de apendicitis aguda de cuadro clínico atípico y de difícil diagnóstico. Se compararon las escanografías de alta resolución de 65 pacientes atendidos en el servicio de urgencias del Hospital San Ignacio, con el diagnóstico definitivo de anatomía patológica o el seguimiento clínico del paciente. Se determinó una sensibilidad diagnóstica de 75 por ciento y especificidad de 88 por ciento , con Valor Predictivo Positivo (VPP) 75 por ciento de y Valor Predictivo Negativo (VPN) de 87 por ciento , y coeficiente de concordancia Kappa de 0.63. La razón de probabilidades para un examen positivo es de 4 : 1 y para un examen negativo de 0.17 : 1. Los resultados demuestran un acuerdo sustancial entre el diagnóstico escanográfico y el patrón de oro constituido por el diagnóstico anatomopatológico o la evolución clínica del paciente, indicativo de la importancia y utilidad de la escanografía en pacientes con apendicitis aguda de difícil diagnóstico

Invalidez en el sistema privado de pensiones en Chile / Disability in the private allowances system in Chile

We analyzed 13,456 consecutive cases judged between August 1990 and April 1992. Mortality was registered up to 12 months after judgement. Total incapacity was determined in 4,158 cases (30.9 percent), parcial incapacity in 1,340 (9,9 percent) and minor incapacity in 7,958 (59,1 percent). Osteoarticular diseases were the main cause of disability in 4,460 patients (33,1 percent) and 77,8 percent of patients with malignant tumors were considered as having total incapacity. Mortality was 17 percent among subjects with total incapacity, 1,5 percent among those with partial disability and 1 percent among those with minor disability. The cause of death was related to the main disabling disease in 94 percent of subjects with total incapacity and 66,6 percent of those with partial incapacity. Osteoarticular diseases are the main cause of inability among workers ascribed to a private pension system

Harina de Cassia aphylla. Estudio de la composicion quimica y calidad biologica de la proteina. / Cassia aphylla flour.Study of the chemical composition and biological quality of the protein

El presente estudio se realizo con el objeto de establecer las caracteristicas quimicas y biologicas de la harina de Cassia aphylla. El estudio quimico porcentual evidencio un buen contenido proteinico, asi como de calcio, fosforo, hierro, acido ascorbico, niacina y tiamina. La determinacion de aminoacidos demostro que la harina en estudio es una fuente muy buena de lisina y aminoacidos azufrados.La utilizacion proteinica neta (NPU) encontrada fue de 54.70 mas o menos 2.45, la digestibilidade, de 71.00 mas o menos 0.3 y el valor biologico, de 77.00. La razon de eficiencia proteinica (PER) fue de 1.74 corregida con respecto a la caseina. Para determinar su inocuidad se realizaron ensayos toxicologicos en ratas durante un periodo de 30 dias.Los analisis hematologicos, peso de organos, composicion del higado y rinon, no mostraron dano patologico en las condiciones en que se realizo el ensayo. A partir de estos resultados, es posible concluir que el producto estudiado es un buen recurso para la alimentacion animal