ABSTRACT
Introducción. Toxocara canis es un nematodo patógeno de cánidos que accidentalmente puede ser transmitido a los humanos. A pesar de la importancia de la serología para el diagnóstico de esta zoonosis, los kits diagnósticos usan antígenos crudos de excreción-secreción, en su mayoría glucoproteínas que no son específicas de especie, por lo cual pueden presentarse reacciones cruzadas con anticuerpos generados contra otros parásitos. Objetivos. Producir el antígeno recombinante TES-30 de T. canis y evaluarlo para el inmunodiagnóstico de la toxocariasis. Materiales y métodos. Se clonó el gen que codifica TES-30 en el vector de expresión pET28a (+), usando oligonucleótidos de cadena sencilla unidos mediante reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR). La proteína rTES-30 se purificó por cromotografia de afinidad (Ni 2+ ). La reacción serológica de rTES-30 se evaluó mediante immunoblot . Teniendo en cuenta que no existe una prueba de referencia , se observó el comportamiento del antigeno en comparación con la prueba de rutina para el inmunodiagnóstico de la toxocariasis, es decir, la técnica ELISA convencional con antígenos de excreción-secreción. Resultados. El rTES-30 se produjo a partir de un cultivo de Escherichia coli LB, con un rendimiento de 2,25 mg/l y 95 % de pureza. La concordancia de la reacción entre el immunoblot rTES-30 y la ELISA convencional, fue de 73 % (46/63) y de 100 % con los 21 sueros no reactivos. De los 21 sueros con diagnóstico de otras parasitosis, 19 fueron reactivos con ELISA, mientras que tan solo siete fueron positivos con el immunoblot rTES-30. La concordancia entre la ELISA y el immunoblot fue moderada (índice kappa de 0,575; IC 95% 0,41-0,74). Conclusiones. Los datos presentados respaldan la utilidad del immunoblot r TES-3 0 para la confirmación de los posibles positivos por ELISA, no solo en los estudios epidemiológicos, sino también, como candidato para el desarrollo de pruebas diagnósticas de la toxocariasis ocular en Colombia.
Introduction: Toxocara canis is a pathogenic nematode of canines which can be accidentally transmitted to humans. Although serology is the most important diagnostic tool for this zoonosis, diagnostic kits use crude excretion/secretion antigens, most of them being glycoproteins which are not species-specific and may cross-react with antibodies generated against other parasites. Objectives: To produce the rTES-30 recombinant antigen of Toxocara canis and evaluate it in the immunodiagnosis of toxocariasis. Materials and methods: The gene that codes for TES-30 was cloned in the expression vector pET28a (+) using single-stranded oligonucleotides united by PCR. The protein rTES-30 was purified by Ni 2+ affinity chromotography. Seroreactivity of rTES-30 was evaluated by immunoblot. Given that there is no gold standard test, the behaviour of the antigen was compared with the method that is routinely used to immunodiagnose toxocariasis, i.e., the conventional ELISA technique using excretion/secretion antigens. Results: The rTES-30 was produced from an Escherichia coli LB culture which yielded 2.25 mg/L of the antigen with a purity of 95%. The results obtained showed 73% (46/63) concordance of reactivity between the rTES-30 immunoblot and the conventional ELISA, and 100% concordance with the non-reactive sera (21). Nineteen of the 21 sera positive for other parasitoses reacted with ELISA, while only seven of these were positive with the rTES-30 immunoblot. Concordance between the ELISA and the immunoblot was moderate (kappa coefficient: 0.575; 95% CI: 0.41- 0.74). Conclusions: The data presented show the potential of the rTES-30 inmunoblot for confirmation of possible ELISA positives, not only in epidemiological studies, but also as a candidate for the development of diagnostic tests for ocular toxocariasis in Colombia.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Immunoblotting , Toxocariasis/diagnosis , Toxocara canis/immunology , Antigens, Helminth/blood , Peptide Fragments/isolation & purification , Peptide Fragments/analysis , Peptide Fragments/genetics , Peptide Fragments/immunology , Solubility , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/isolation & purification , Recombinant Fusion Proteins/analysis , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Base Sequence , Toxocariasis/blood , Eye Infections, Parasitic/diagnosis , Chromatography, Affinity , Escherichia coli , Genes, Synthetic , Antigens, Helminth/isolation & purification , Antigens, Helminth/geneticsABSTRACT
Background: Falls are extremely common among elderly population, accounting for substantial morbidity and mortality, and are often potentially preventable. Approximately 28-35% of people aged 65 yrs & above fall every year, increasing to 32-42% for those over 70 yrs (WHO). This study was designed for identification of risk factors among elderly, so that the future falls can be prevented. Objective: 1.To assess the prevalence of falls in elderly aged ≥60 yrs residing in a rural area in Bangalore 2.To assess the risk for falls and 3.To study the factors associated with the falls risk among these elderly. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted in a village in Bangalore Urban District, Bangalore of Karnataka, among people aged ≥60 yrs during the period of July to August 2011. Demographic details, history of fall in the last one year were col-lected and falls risk was assessed. Data was analysed using SPSS16. Results: A total of 124 people aged ≥60 yrs participated in the study, 51(41%) were males and 73(59%) females. Prevalence of falls: 39(31.45%) people had history of at least one fall in the last one year averaging 1.25 falls per person per year. 32(82%) of them had one fall and 7(17.95%) experienced recurrent falls. Slip was the most common cause (51.3%) of the last fall. Risk for falls: 78(63%) elderly were having low risk, 12(9.6%) were in medium risk and 34(27.4%) were having high risk for falls. Risk was highest in 70–79 yrs age group and in females (P=0.003). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, people with hearing impairment (OR=10.09, CI=1.24-81.94), psychological im-pairment (OR=3.0, CI=1.19-7.55) and with history of falls in the last one year (OR=5.17, CI=1.98-13.49) had higher risk for falls and hypertensives (OR=0.25, CI=0.09-0.64) had lower risk. Conclusion: The study showed that there is a high prevalence of falls in elderly and more than 1/4th of the study population was at high risk. Psychological impairment, hearing impairment and history of previous falls significantly increased the risk of falling. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and address these problems and educate them on falls preven-tion.
Subject(s)
Accidental Falls/epidemiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , India , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Rural PopulationABSTRACT
Se investigó el efecto del jugo clorofílico de germinado de maíz, con una dosis de 30 ml diarios durante dos meses, sobre el perfil lipídico, la glicemia, la uricemia, la hemoglobina y el hematocrito, en nueve adultos con edad promedio de 44 años y que presentaban hipertrigliceridemia como trastorno principal. Las concentraciones promedio iniciales en mgl dl que eran de 6.9 (ácido úrico), 259 (triglicéridos) y 199 (colesterol total) descendieron en forma progresiva y significativa a los 30, 45 y 60 días de tratamiento hasta valores respectivos de 5.0, 171 y 169 (p = 0.010,0.015 y 0.034 respectivamente). La hemoglobina ascendió de manera progresiva y significativa (p = 0.008) durante el experimento. Este tratamiento natural podría ser útil en la regulación de los lípidos sanguíneos y otros factores biológicos de riesgo para el desarrollo de ateromatosis coronaría, sin los efectos tóxicos que se han demostrado con algunas drogas hipolipemiantes.
The effect was studied of clorophilic juice from germinated corn on blood seric lipids, uric acid, glucose, hemoglobine and hematocrite. Nine adults with average age 44 years and who presented hypertriglyceridemia received daily 30 ml doses of the juice during 2 months. Initial average concentrations in mg/dl were 6.9 (uric acid), 259 (triglycerides) and 199 (total cholesterol); they decreased progressively and significantly at 30, 45 and 60 days of treatment reaching values of 5.0, 171 and 169 respectively (p:0.01 0,0.015 and 0.034). Hemoglobin increased significantly (p:0.008). This natural treatment could be useful in regulating blood lipids and other biologic risk factors for coronary arteriosclerosis, without the toxic efects shown by some lipid control drugs.