Hernia Umbilical Asintomática en la Cirrosis Hepática / ASYMPTOMATIC UMBILICAL HERNIA IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS

La hernia umbilical es una complicación que puede constituirse en una amenaza para la vida en la cirrosis hepática. Aquí, demostramos dos interesantes casos de cirrosis hepática que se presentaron con hernia umbilical asintomática, pero que no fueron sometidos a ningún tipo de cirugía

Umbilical hernia is a life-threatening complication of liver cirrhosis. Herein, we demonstrated two interesting cases with liver cirrhosis that presented with asymptomatic umbilical hernia, but did not undergo any surgery.

Biochemical adaptations of mammalian hibernation: exploring squirrels as a perspective model for naturally induced reversible insulin resistance

An important disease among human metabolic disorders is type 2 diabetes mellitus. This disorder involves multiple physiological defects that result from high blood glucose content and eventually lead to the onset of insulin resistance. The combination of insulin resistance, increased glucose production, and decreased insulin secretion creates a diabetic metabolic environment that leads to a lifetime of management. Appropriate models are critical for the success of research. As such, a unique model providing insight into the mechanisms of reversible insulin resistance is mammalian hibernation. Hibernators, such as ground squirrels and bats, are excellent examples of animals exhibiting reversible insulin resistance, for which a rapid increase in body weight is required prior to entry into dormancy. Hibernator studies have shown differential regulation of specific molecular pathways involved in reversible resistance to insulin. The present review focuses on this growing area of research and the molecular mechanisms that regulate glucose homeostasis, and explores the roles of the Akt signaling pathway during hibernation. Here, we propose a link between hibernation, a well-documented response to periods of environmental stress, and reversible insulin resistance, potentially facilitated by key alterations in the Akt signaling network, PPAR-γ/PGC-1α regulation, and non-coding RNA expression. Coincidentally, many of the same pathways are frequently found to be dysregulated during insulin resistance in human type 2 diabetes. Hence, the molecular networks that may regulate reversible insulin resistance in hibernating mammals represent a novel approach by providing insight into medical treatment of insulin resistance in humans.

Construction of three different recombinant scorpion fusion proteins with bifunctional activity.

This is the first report of three different fusion proteins with an antitumor-analgesic peptide obtained from Chinese scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch (BmKAGAP). The fusion proteins were constructed in the form of chimeric toxins, aiming to obtain bifunctional analgesic and antitumor activity. The fusion proteins consisted of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH), three different types of flexible linkers (L1, Ser-Ser-His-His-His-His-His-His-Ser-Ser-Gly-Leu-Val-Pro-Arg-Gly-Ser-His-Met; L2, Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser; L3, Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Ser-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser-Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly-Ser), and BmKAGAP. The genes coding three fusion proteins were cloned and expressed in E. coli in soluble form. Following two successive column chromatographic separations, purified fusion proteins were obtained. These fusion proteins exhibited analgesic activity in mice and were cytotoxic to a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line Hep3B.

A sieving method for collecting the metacercariae of trematode parasites from freshwater fish.

This study describes a sieving method for the collection of metacercariae from frozen (-20 degrees C) freshwater fish. Digested fish tissue is filtered through a series of sieves; the crude filtrate is then centrifuged. Centrifugation produces a sediment from which metacercariae can be removed. Half of the metracercariae that were obtained from the fish meat that had been frozen for 10 days (-20 degrees C) were dead; the other half were alive and some larvae were moving slowly.

Serological investigation on human trichinellosis spiralis in Hubei Province of PR China.

PVC-ELISA for detection of human trichinellosis and its value of field application was explored during 1988-1994. Sera of 56 cases of clinically confirmed trichinellosis were tested for serum Trichinella antibodies by way of PVC-ELISA, and the positive rate was 100%. When the sera of 80 cases of healthy persons from non-endemic areas were tested for trichinellosis, they were all negative. For the purpose of exploring the cross-reaction of PVC-ELISA used for detection of trichinellosis, sera from 144 cases of other parasitoses were tested. Among them, the sera of 80 cases of schistosomiasis japonica for trichinellosis were negative; 30 cases of paragonimiasis and 30 cases of clonorchiasis were also negative. Among sera of 4 cases of cysticercosis, there was only one positive. The results showed that PVC-ELISA for trichinellosis had a high sensitivity and specificity. For field application, a population of 800 from endemic areas were examined by PVC-ELISA, 85 (10.63%) were positive. The infected persons were mainly in Xiangfan region of Hubei Province. The percentage of the positive of trichinellosis in Xiangfan region was 64.71% (55/85). The positive rate of males and females was 13.41% (57/425) and 7.47% (28/375), respectively. There was a difference among the age groups, with the highest in those > or = 20 years. The findings of this field investigation suggested that the infection rate of trichinellosis spiralis was high in this province, especially in the Xiangfan region; and that PVC-ELISA was suitable for field application. The emphasis of trichinellosis control and research of this province should be in the Xiangfan region.

Effects of gastric cancer cells on lymphocyte proliferation.

Lack of lymphocyte infiltration into gastric cancer tissue appears to be an ominous prognostic indicator. The effects of gastric cancer cells on PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation were studied. Peripheral lymphocytes were co-cultured for 72 hours with either gastric cancer cells or normal mucosal cells. Pairs of cancerous and normal mucosal cells from stomachs of eight patients, were separately co-cultured with peripheral lymphocytes either from patients or from normal volunteers. The degree of PHA-induced lymphocyte proliferation was measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation. The lymphocyte proliferation was inhibited by the presence of either gastric cancerous or normal mucosal cells in a dose-related manner. The lymphocytes from the normals proliferated twice as much as did the lymphocytes from the patients. The isotope incorporation occurred in lymphocytes rather than in gastric cells since the later incorporated insignificant amounts of isotope. There was no difference between gastric cancerous or normal mucosal cells inhibiting the proliferation of either normal or patients' lymphocytes (p greater than 0.05). In conclusion, gastric cancerous cells (up to 10(6)/ml) have no enhanced inhibition on lymphocyte proliferation when compared with normal gastric mucosal cells.

Alterations of humoral immunity in patients with gastric cancer.

For better understanding of the alterations of humoral immunity in gastric cancer patients, IgG, IgA, IgM, complement C3, C4, CH50, natural antibody (isohemagglutinin-IgM class), ESR, CRP, albumin and globulin were quantitated in sera taken preoperatively from 81 patients with gastric cancer and from 29 control patients with hernia. The results from patients with gastric cancer were grouped according to pTNM staging (including stage I + II, III, and IV). Serum globulin and IgG levels in all stages of cancer patients were significantly lower than that of the controls (p less than 0.05). The CRP and ESR levels in stage III and IV cancer patients were significantly higher (p less than 0.05). There was no difference between cancer and hernia patient groups in IgA, IgM, isohemagglutinin-IgM class, C3, C4, CH50, albumin, WBC and total lymphocyte counts. In conclusion, the significant changes in humoral immunity in patients with gastric cancer include: (1) decrease in serum IgG and globulin levels, and (2) increased levels of acute phase reactants (ESR, CRP). These results imply that patients with gastric cancer have lower acquired humoral immunity and have acute phase reactions.

Laboratory transmission of lymphatic filariasis by vector mosquitoes.

Aedes togoi and Ae. aegypti were used to examine the transmission potential of Brugia pahangi to one of its natural hosts, the domestic cat. Although a larger proportion of microfilariae taken in by Ae. togoi developed into infective larvae, the total number of B. pahangi larvae recovered from a cat exposed to Ae. aegypti was larger than from a cat exposed to Ae. togoi. Factors influencing the transmission dynamics included: development of microfilariae to infective larvae; survival of mosquitoes; willingness to take repeated blood meals; and proportion of infective larvae that egress from mosquitoes during the feeding process. From 19 to 25% of infective larvae were transferred to a susceptible host. The feasibility of using a Brugia-cat model to do comparative vector efficiency studies was demonstrated.

Experimental infection of subperiodic Brugia malayi in laboratory rats with emphasis on evaluation by four techniques.

Infective larvae of subperiodic B. malayi from South Kalimantan (Borneo), Indonesia collected from laboratory-raised Ae. togoi mosquitoes after feeding on infected mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus) were inoculated subcutaneously into the groin areas of 15 SD and 36 LE rats. Blood was examined weekly by membrane filtration and thick smears starting 10 weeks post-infection. Microfilariae were found in 3 SD and 4 LE rats, the mf infection rate of 20% and 11% respectively. The prepatent period was significantly shorter in the SD rats (99-112 days) than those in the LE rats (110-153 days). The patent period was longer in the LE rats (208-703 days) than in the SD rats (236-543 days), and the mf density was similar (17.5 mf/20 c.mm blood against 16 mf/20 c.mm blood). At necropsy, 6 (3 female and 3 male) adult worms were recovered from 3 of 6 SD rats and 12 (9 female and 3 male) adult worms from 4 of 20 LE rats; all worms were found in the testes. The results of xenodiagnostic, histochemical staining and measuring spicules and protuberances, demonstrated clearly the difference between both species of Brugia. All dissected Ar. subalbatus mosquitoes exposed to B. pahangi became infected (100%), but none of those to subperiodic B. malayi were infected (0%). The mf of both species of Brugia in thick films stained with naphthol-AS-TR-phosphate showed that the excretory and anal pores of subperiodic B. malayi mf exhibited acid phosphatase activity and only a little activity was seen in other parts; while B. pahangi mf showed heavy diffuse acid phosphatase activity along the entire length of the body.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Further studies on the susceptibility of new Taiwan foci of Oncomelania hupensis to geographic strains of Schistosoma japonicum.

Two known colonies of O.h chiui in Alilao and of O.h. formosana in Changhua and four new foci of snails in Nantou, Chiayi, Hualien and Taitung on Taiwan were exposed each to 5 miracidia of Changhua Zoophilic strain and Chinese, Philippine and Indonesian anthropopilic or human strains of S. Japonicum. The results showed that all four new foci demonstrated various degrees of susceptibility to this parasite. Infectivity of Chinese strain of S. japonicum in 4 new foci of snails is reported for the first time. Changhua race of O. hupensis was also found slightly susceptible to Chinese strain of the parasite. The average infection rate to both zoophilic and human strains of S. japonicum was 39.0%, 14.5%, 10.8% and 9.8% for Taitung, Chiayi, Hualien and Nantou snails respectively. Susceptible snails now been found in 7 counties and if by chance human pathogenic strains of the parasite were accidentally introduced into Taiwan, a public health problem could possibly develop.