Validación de una versión argentina del Health Assessment Questionnaire-II (HAQ-II) / Validation of an Argentine version of the Health Assessment Questionnaire-II (HAQ-II)

La versión argentina de Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ-A) es un instrumento útil para documentar el estado clínico, la evolución y el pronóstico funcional de nuestros pacientes con Artritis Reumatoidea (AR). Sin embargo, presenta algunas limitaciones. Esto dio lugar a una versión más simple: el HAQ-II, el cual consta de 10 preguntas. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar la reproducibilidad y validez de una versión argentina del HAQ-II en pacientes con AR. Material y métodos: Se incluyeron pacientes consecutivos con diagnóstico de AR (ACR ‘87) de 4 centros reumatológicos de Argentina. La versión original del HAQ-II fue traducida por 3 reumatólogos argentinos y retraducida al inglés por un individuo bilingüe no relacionado. La reproducibilidad del cuestionario fue evaluada en el 30% de los pacientes con un segundo cuestionario completado dentro de los 3 a 7 días de la primera visita. La validez constructiva fue evaluada comparando el HAQ-II con parámetros clásicos de actividad de la enfermedad, capacidad funcional y compromiso radiológico (medido por el método de Sharp van der Heijde). Se evaluó también el tiempo y dificultad para realizarlo, así como la confiabilidad y correlación con HAQ-A. Resultados: 97 pacientes fueron incluidos, de los cuales el 82% eran mujeres, 95% seropositivas para factor reumatoideo, 87% erosivas y 22% nodulares. La reproducibilidad del HAQ-II fue buena (r=0,94). En la correlación intraítem se halló una única redundancia (entre la pregunta 8 y 9 (r=0,92)), por este motivo la pregunta 8 fue reemplazada manteniendo excelente correlación con la versión original (r=0,99). El HAQ-II tuvo buena correlación con EVA (escala visual análoga) para dolor, EVA para actividad y articulaciones dolorosas; regular correlación con recuento de articulaciones inflamadas, menor nivel educativo y eritrosedimentación (ERS). No se observó correlación con daño radiológico.

Demencias frontotemporales: casos ilustrativos de las diferentes presentaciones de una mismaenfermedad / Frontotemporal dementia: illustrative cases of the same disease

Las demencias frontotemporales y las demencia de cuerpos de Lewy, son la segunda causa de demencias degenerativasdespués de la enfermedad de Alzheimer. Estas demencias son un grupo complejo y variado que tiene dentrode sus variantes mas frecuentes: la demencia de tipo frontal, la cual compromete más el comportamiento; la afasiaprimaria progresiva y la demencia semántica, que implican un mayor deterioro del lenguaje y unas variantes menosfrecuentes, pero no menos importantes, como parálisis supranuclear progresiva, y la degeneración corticobasal lacual compromete algunas praxias. Debido a la importancia de estas demencias en este artículo se presentan cuatrocasos ilustrativos.

Antígenos de larva de Taenia solium em ELISA para diagnóstico da cisticercose bovina / Taenia solium metacestode antigens in ELISA for the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis

Foram avaliados alguns parâmetros inerentes ao ELISA, por meio de ensaios de reatividade de soros-controle positivos e negativos para a cisticercose bovina com relação a três tipos de antígenos de larva de Taenia solium: total, de escólex e de membrana. As concentrações de antígeno de 0,25; 0,5; 1; 2 e 4µg por orifício, e as diluições de soro de 1:25, 1:50, 1:100 e 1:200, foram os parâmetros que menos influenciaram no desempenho do teste. A substância bloqueadora, o leite desnatado e as diluições de conjugado, 1:1.250, 1:2.500 e 1:5.000, representaram os melhores indicadores de desempenho do teste. Concluiu-se que essa combinação de critérios deve ser considerada no diagnóstico da cisticercose bovina, em atividades de rotina ou de padronização do referido teste, considerando os três antígenos de larva de T. solium estudados.

Some parameters of ELISA were evaluated using positive and negative bovine sera for cysticercosis and three types of antigens of Taenia solium larvae: total, scolex and membrane. The antigen concentrations (0.25; 0.5; 1; 2 and 4µg/well) and the serum dilutions (1:25, 1:50, 1:100 and 1:200) were the parameters that influenced less the test performance; while blocking substance, skimmed milk, and conjugate dilutions, 1:1.250, 1:2.500 and 1:5.000 were the best indexes of the test performance. It was concluded that this combination of criteria should be considered in the diagnosis of bovine cysticercosis, in routine diagnosis and for the ELISA test standardization.

Perfil fenotípico de linfócitos periféricos de bovinos de raças européias / Phenotypic profile of peripheral blood lymphocytes from European bovines

The phenotypic profile of bovine lymphocytes was evaluated in 18 bovines (Bos taurus) from three different breeds, being nine Holstein, six Hereford, and three Brown Swiss. All animals were free from ticks and hemoparasites, as determined after jugular vein blood sampling. The immunophenotypes of peripheral lymphocytes were evaluated by flow cytometry. Peripheral lymphocytes were exposed to bovine fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies including anti-CD4, anti-CD8, and anti-purified bovine CD21 specificities. After lysing the erythrocytes with a commercial lysing solution (FACS TM ), the lymphocytes were washed, fixed, and evaluated by flow cytometry. Significant differences in the phenotypic profiles of peripheral lymphocytes among all breeds were found. Holstein animals showed a lower percentage of total T lymphocytes (CD4 and CD8) and higher percentage of B lymphocytes (CD21). In addition, the lymphocytes from Holstein animals showed a lower T/B ratio than the lymphocytes from Hereford animals. These results suggest the existence of different phenotypic profiles of peripheral lymphocytes from European breeds of cattle. Such differences may be related to the different pattern of immune response described for these breeds in the literature and may account to varying disease resistance among breeds.

Obtencion de extractos organicos con actividad antimicrobiana a partir de Penicillium sp. (Moniliales) aislado de la esponja Ircinia felix (Porifera: Demospongiae) / Organic extracts with antimicrobian activity from Penicillium sp. (Moniliales) isolated from the sponge Ircinia felix (Porifera: Demospongiae)

This research expresses the potential of the bacterial activity present in the organic extracts obtained from Penicillium sp., isolated from the esponge Irciniafelix. This activity was evaluated through agar diffusion test and Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The susceptibility trials of organic fractions were carried out against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Bacillus cereus and B. subtilis. The use of the chromatographic techniques (CLV and TLC), permitted to obtain bioactive organic extracts of different polarities, of which only the EtOAc and MeOH fractions inhibited the growth of the bacteria used. Of the EtOAc fractionation, only fraction number 3 EtOAc/Hex presented greatest activity against the Gram-positive bacteria. Number 1 EtOAc/Hex fraction increased its activity against S. aureus (24 mm) and S. epidermidis (25 mm), which can be explained by the loss of possible antagonistic effect during the fractionation process. The CMI trials were carried out for the EtOAc number I subfraction against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, B. cereus and B. subtilis, wich was clinical interest, and shows the potential of this organic extract as antimicrobial agent.

Subcutaneous fat distribution and body form of Filipino women

The present study is on Filipino women who by reason of race, diet and climate provide a wide contrast with their foreign sisters. It is therefore desirable, for comparison with other women, to have definite information on the distribution of subcutaneous fat in our local subjects. At the same time, it is our aim to map out the patterns of body form and subcutaneous fat distribution to show their relationship with age. (Author)

Studies on the thiamine content of rice, vegetables and other foods in Bataan Province

Studies on the thiamine content of rice, vegetables, and other foods from animal sources in Bataan Province were made. Effects of washing on rice thiamine and of cooking on thiamine values of vegetables were investigated. The data obtained from these studies correlated with the dietary practices of rice-eaters in Bataan Province may explain why beriberi was prevalent in Bataan previous to the introduction of artificially enriched rice. (Summary)

Science and religion

The relation between science and religion, a topic which has long held the interest of intellectuals for ages, is discussed in a deeply erudite dissertation by a person fully capable in both fields by reason of the positions he actually holds

Avaliação da eficácia do artesunato associado à tetraciclina na terapêutica da malária falciparum / The evaluation of the efficacy of artesunate combined with tetracycline in the therapy of falciparum malaria

Realizou-se um ensaio clínico, randomizado e controlado, comparando o artesunato com o quinino e a mefloquina, em casos de malária não grave. Foram tratados 42 pacientes em regime de internação e o seguimento durou 28 dias. Realizou-se exame de gota espessa cada 12 horas até sua negativação, hemograma e bioquímica sanguínea, pré e pós-tratamento. A média da parasitemia inicial foi 42.568 parasitas/ml. Vinte e seis pacientes foram acompanhados durante 28 dias e 16 durante menos de 28 dias. Um paciente de cada grupo apresentou R I tardia e um paciente do grupo do quinino apresentou R III. As porcentagens de cura foram 88,8%, 85,7% e 81,8% para o artesunato, a mefloquina e o quinino, respectivamente, sem mostrar diferença significativa. O tempo de desaparecimento da febre não mostrou diferença significativa entre os grupos. O grupo do artesunato teve um tempo menor de clareamento da parasitemia (37,33 ± 11,52 horas) quando comparado com o quinino (65,25 ± 17,44 horas), sendo estatisticamente significativa (p = 0,0016). O grupo da mefloquina (58,9 ± 16,68 horas) não mostrou diferença com os outros grupos. Não se apresentaram efeitos adversos importantes em nenhum dos esquemas usados, sendo bem tolerados pelos pacientes.

A controlled clinical therapeutic study in hospitalized patients compared artesunate with quinine and mefloquine in patients with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Forty two patients entered the trial and the follow up was for 28 days with thick blood film taken every 12 hours until became negative. Laboratory examinations included haematological and biochemical tests before and after treatment. Patients had a mean parasitaemia of 42.568 per microliter. Twenty six patients completed 28 days of follow up but 16 did not fulfil this protocol. One in each of the therapeutic groups showed delayed R I resistance. A further patient in the quinine group showed R III resistance. The cure rate was 88.8% for artesunate. 85.7% for mefloquine and 81.8% for quinine; no significant difference was found, the same occurring with the clearance of fever. The artesunate group had a quicker parasitaemia clearance time (37.3 +/- 11.5 hours) when compared with quinine (65.2 +/- 17.4) showing a significant difference (p = 0.0016). Parasite clearance with mefloquine, was intermediate (58.9 +/- 16.6 ours) between the artesunate and quinine. No important side effects were observed with any of the therapeutic regimens and no deaths registered.

Tentativa de transmitir Anaplasma marginale através de carrapatos Boophilus microplus / Attempted transmission of Anaplasma marginale by infected Boophilus microplus

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a ocorrência da transmissäo transovariana de Anaplasma marginale em fêmeas de Boophilus microplus, que apresentaram multiplicaçäo da rickettsia em suas células intestinais. Larvas oriundas destas fêmeas foram colocadas em um bovino adulto, livre de infecçöes por hemoparasitos. O animal foi examinado diariamente através de tomada de temperatura, esfregaços sangüíneos e, semanalmente, através de exames sorológicos de Dot-ELISA. Durante 80 dias da fase experimental, o animal näo apresentou nenhum exame positivo. Os períodos de pré-postura, postura e a fase parasitária de fêmeas de B. microplus infectadas com A. marginale foram semelhantes às de fêmeas livres de infecçäo

Estudio clinico epidemiologico en indigenas ayoreos de Zapoco del Coyote Santa Cruz Bolivia / Clinical study epidemiologycal indigene ayoreos of Zacapoco Santa Cruz Bolivia

Un estudio clinico-epidemiologico fue realizado en 124 indigenas Ayoreos en Zapoco de Coyote, zona rural, 150 Km.al nor-oeste de la ciudad de Santa Cruz, con miras a pesquisar algunas enfermedades bacterianas, parasitarias y nicoticas, para ello se utilizaron criterios de sospecha clinica en examenes individuales efectuados a cada uno de los habitantes. Se observo una poblacion con malas condiciones de vida, en la cual la prevalencia de parasitosis intestinales y el grupo no sospechoso del mismo grupo etareo. La TBC dio prevalencia de 0.8 % y las micosis superficiales de 4.8 % la prevalencia de enfermedad de chagas fue del 17 % (HAI) no encontrandose sospechosos de chagas agudo ni cronico. La encuesta estomolica dio un 45.5 % de casos con triatominas, que casi en su totalidad fueron T. sordida, de ellos ninguno infectado con T.cruzi el unico T infestan capturado no positivo a T.cruzi. No se encontro T.rangeli. No hubieron casos sospechosos de malaria, espundia, larva migrans cutanea, lepra, triponematosis ni micosis profunda.