Brote de "pie de festuca" en un rodeo de cría de Salta, Argentina / Outbreak of fescue foot in a livestock in Salta, Argentina

Festuca arundinacea es una gramínea perenne de uso forrajero muy difundida mundialmente. Aquí se describe un brote de “pie de festuca” en el Noroeste Argentino que afectó a un rodeo de cría con una incidencia del 5%. Los signos clínicos fueron claudicación, edema en los miembros, gangrena en las extremidades y exungulación. La pastura donde los animales permanecían correspondía a un lote naturalizado de festuca siendo el nivel de infestación con Neotyphodium coenophialum del 71%. El cuadro de pie de festuca es muy conocido pero poco informado en Argentina. En el brote el diagnostico se confirmó por los antecedentes clínicos y epidemiológicos sumado al elevado grado de infestación del hongo en la pastura. La toxicidad de la festuca es un problema mundialmente distribuido y en Argentina ha sido más estudiado en la región centro del país. Los antecedentes de toxicidad de esta especie son escasos y aislados en el Noroeste Argentino.

Festuca arundinacea is a perennial grass which use as forage is widespread worldwide. This report describes a “fescue foot” outbreak in the Northwest of Argentina. Beef cattle herd were affected and the incidence was 5%. The clinical signs were claudication, edema in the limbs, gangrene in the extremities and exungulation. The grazing areas where the animals remained corresponded to a natural batch of fescue. Neotyphodium coenophialum infestation level was 71%. The clinical presentation of fescue root is well described but barely reported in Argentina. In the outbreak presented here diagnosis was confirmed by the clinical and epidemiological antecedents as well as the high level of infestation of the pasture. The toxicity of fescue is a worldwide distributed problem. In Argentina, the disease is well known in the central region of the country. Scarce information is available regarding the toxicity of this species for northwestern Argentina.

Ergotismo del sistema nervioso central: Reporte de dos muertes maternas asociadas a vasoespasmo cerebral por medicamentos derivados del ergot en Antioquia, Colombia, y revisión de la literatura / Ergotism of the central nervous system: Report of two maternal deaths associated with cerebral vasospasm due to ergot-derived drugs in Antioquia, Colombia, and review of the literature

Objetivo: presentar dos casos de muerte materna asociados al uso de medicamentos derivados del ergot (ergotismo agudo severo), y realizar una revisión de la literatura de la presentación de eventos adversos en el sistema nervioso central en puérperas expuestas a estos medicamentos. Materiales y métodos: se presentan dos casos de muerte materna posparto, el primero se asoció al uso de bromocriptina para supresión de lactancia y el segundo al uso metilergometrina para controlar hemorragia poscesárea. Las pacientes fueron atendidas en instituciones de tercer nivel de complejidad en la ciudad de Medellín, Colombia. Se realizó revisión de la literatura, registrada en la base de datos Medline vía PubMed. Los términos empleados para la búsqueda fueron: derivados del ergot, bromocriptina, angeítis cerebral posparto, ergotismo, enfermedad vascular cerebral posparto. Se buscaron, sin límite de tiempo, reportes de caso, reportes de series de caso y revisiones de tema. Se buscaron informes o alertas de seguridad de agencias reguladoras tales como: la Federal Drugs Administration (FDA), la European Medicines Agency (EMA) y del Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos (Invima). Se consultaron artículos en inglés, francés y español. Resultados: se incluyeron 16 publicaciones que cumplieron con los criterios de búsqueda. Se lograron identificar 33 casos. Dos fueron fatales, uno asociado al uso de metilergonovina venosa para el alumbramiento y el otro a ergometrina oral usado como abortivo en la semana 20 de gestación. En las neuroimágenes predominan los hallazgos isquémicos (sugestivos de vasoespasmo cerebral). En tres casos se reportó hemorragia intracerebral, uno de estos fue un caso fatal. Los síntomas más frecuentes de presentación fueron la cefalea intensa, seguida de la convulsión. Solo en nueve casos se logró identificar el antecedente de hipertensión o preeclampsia, y en cuatro migraña. La indicación para el uso de bromocriptina en todos los casos fue suprimir la lactancia. En los tres casos reportados en que se usó metilergonovina fue para realizar alumbramiento. En el sistema de farmacovigilancia colombiano no se encontraron reportes de eventos adversos serios asociados a estos medicamentos. Conclusión: se debe reconocer el ergotismo del sistema nervioso central en el puerperio por el uso de medicamentos tales como la bromocriptina y la metilergonovina, como una entidad potencialmente fatal. Es importante crear una cultura de reporte de eventos adversos serios de estos medicamentos en nuestro país.

Objective: To report two cases of maternal death associated with ergot-derived drugs (acute sever ergotism), and to conduct and review of the literature on central nervous system adverse events during the postpartum period in women exposed to these medications. Materials and methods: Two cases of maternal death during the postpartum period. The first was associated with the use of bromocriptine for breast milk suppression, and the second was associated with the use of methylergometrine for the control of bleeding after Cesarean section. The patients received care at Level III institutions in the city of Medellín, Colombia. A review of the literature was conducted in the Medline database through Pubmed. The terms used for the search were: ergot derivatives, bromocriptine, postpartum cerebralangiitis, ergotism, postpartum cerebral vascular disease. The search was conducted without a time limitation and included, case reports, case series reports, and reviews. The search also included safety reports or alerts from regulatory agencies such as the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Invima. Articles in English, French and Spanish were reviewed. Results: Overall, 16 publications that met the search criteria were included, and 33 cases were identified. Two of the cases were fatal, one associated with the use of intravenous methylergonovine for delivery and the second one was associated with the use of oral ergometrine to induce abortion at 20 weeks of gestation. Neuroimaging studies show, predominantly, ischemic findings (suggestive of cerebral vasospasm). In three cases, intracranial haemorrhage was reported, and one of the three cases was fatal. The most frequent presenting symptoms were intense headache, followed by seizures. It was possible to identify a history of hypertension and/or preeclampsia only in nine cases, and a history of migraine in four. The vast majority of patients were otherwise healthy. In all the cases, the indication for using bromocriptine was breast milk suppression. In the three reported cases in which methylergonovine was used, the indication was to assist delivery. No reports of serious adverse events associated with these drugs were found in the Colombian pharmacovigilance system. Conclusion: Ergotism of the central nervous system due to the use of drugs such as bromocriptine and methylergonovine must be recognised during the postpartum period because it is life-threatening. It is important to create a culture of reporting of serious adverse events associated with these medications in our country.

Establishment of transformation system of Claviceps purpurea Cp-1 strain / 药学学报

Claviceps pururea Cp-1 strain established in our lab is capable of producing variety of bioactive ergot alkaloids, and is broadly used by the pharmaceutical companies. To engineer the strain genetically for the production of specific ergot alkaloid, an effective transformation system must be set up first. However, the reported transformation system is not suitable for this strain due to different genetic backgrounds and the heterogeneity of Claviceps. Thus, in this paper, the hyphae of Cp-1 strain were used to prepare protoplasts by lywallzyme. The formation of protoplasts was investigated under different concentrations and incubation time of enzyme. The strain was tested for sensitivity to several antibiotics at different concentrations. Finally, the genetic transformation system of Cp-1 strain was established. The results suggest that protoplasts were formed efficiently by using 1% lywallzyme at 25℃ for 2 h. Transformants were obtained by PEG mediated protoplast transformation of Cp-1 strain with plasmid pAN7-1, using 1.5 mg·mL-1 hygromycin B as the selective marker. The exogenous gene in the plasmid pAN7-1 was integrated into the genome of Cp-1 strain transformant as demonstrated by PCR result. This study laid an important foundation for genetic manipulation of Cp-1 strain.

Fumigaclavine I, a new alkaloid isolated from endophyte Aspergillus terreus / 中国天然药物

The present study was designed to isolate and purify chemical constituents from solid culture of endophyte Aspergillus terreus LQ, using silica gel column chromatography, gel filtration with Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC. Fumigaclavine I (1), a new alkaloid, was obtained, along with seven known compounds, including fumigaclavine C (2), rhizoctonic acid (3), monomethylsulochrin (4), chaetominine (5), spirotryprostatin A (6), asperfumoid (7), and lumichrome (8). The structure of compound 1 was elucidated by various spectroscopic analyses (UV, MS, 1D and 2D NMR). The in vitro cytotoxicity of compound 1 was determined by MTT assay in human hepatocarcinoma cell line SMMC-7721, showing weaker cytotoxicity, compared with cisplatin, a clinically used cancer chemotherapeutic agent.

Clinical Observation of Self-made Headache Prescription on Migraine without Aura / 浙江中医药大学学报

[Objective] To observe the therapeutic effects of headache prescription on migraine without aura. [Methods] 54 patients with migraine were randomly divided into two groups: Patients in control group(n=27) were treated by nimodipine and flunarine,etc; Patients in treatment group(n=27) were treated by self made headache prescription, the treatment period was both 5 days; then determine efficacy.[Results] 27 patients in treatment group had 6 cases in clinical cure,14 in excellent,6 in effect,1 in vain, the clinical total effective rate of Chinese medicine group was 96.30%,while,27 patients in treatment group had 2 cases in clinical control ed,8 in excellent,9 in effect,8 in vain, the clinical total effective rate of Chinese medicine group was 70.37%. The difference between the two groups had the remarkable significance.[Conclusion] The therapeutic effects of headache prescription on migraine without aura has better therapeutic effects on migraine.

Metabolic pathway of oligosaccharides in sorghum honeydew caused by Claviceps africana / Rota metabólica de oligossacarídeos em exsudato da "doença açucarada" do sorgo causado por Claviceps africana

The occurrence of the alditol oligosaccharides in the Claviceps afriana honeydew is partly as a rational expression of the pathogen's selective nutritive metabolism of the sucrose supplied by the host plant. The experiments were carried out in laboratory and when 14C-D-sucrose, 14C-D-fructose or 14C-D-mannitol radiolabelled saccharides were incorporated into: a) sorghum plant infected by C. africana, b) whole and macereted micelia tissue and c) cell-free honeydew of C. africana, it was observed that the glucose moiety of sucrose was not involved in oligosaccharides formation. Glucose was used by the pathogen as nutritional source. Part of the unused fructose moiety was reduced to mannitol by the pathogen's enzymes which was also excreted into honeydew where reductase activity accepted 14C mannitol. The mannitol was linked with fructose in a 2-position synthesizing the disaccharide 1-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-D-mannitol and then the process was repeated by the mannitol moiety of the disaccharide to yield the trisaccharide 1,6-di-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-D-mannitol, which became dominant. The direct formation of alditol saccharides from monosaccharides in this way seems to be unique to C. africana, contrasting with the fructosyl transfer from sucrose to sucrose which is usual in others ergot parasites.

A ocorrência de oligossacarídeos contendo alditol em exsudações da doença açucarada produzidos por Claviceps africana é em parte uma expressão racional do metabolismo seletivo de nutrição do patógeno na tansformação da sacarose fornecida pela planta. Quando açúcares radioativos marcados com 14C (D-sucrose, D-fructose e D-mannitol) foram incorporados em: a) planta do sorgo infectada por C. africana, b) tecido micelial inteiro e macerado isolado de C. africana e c) exsudato livre de células de C. africana, foi observado que a glicose da sacarose não estava envolvida na formação de oligossacarídeos, sendo usada pelo patógeno como fonte nutritiva. Parte da frutose não utilizada da sacarose foi reduzida a mannitol por enzimas do patógeno. As enzimas envolvidas também atuaram no exsudato da "doença açucarada", ativando a ação da redutase pela incorporação do 14C manitol. O manitol foi ligado na posição 2 da fructose, formando o dissacarídeo 1-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-D-mannitol e, posteriormente, adicionada mais uma fructose ao mannitol do dissacarídeo, formando o trisacarídeo 1,6-di-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-D-manitol, que se tornou predominate. A formação direta de oligossacarídeos contendo alditol a partir de monossacarídeos parece ser exclusiva em C. africana, contrastando com a ação enzimática da frutose transferase a partir de sucrose para sucrose, a qual é muito comum em outros patógenos tipo "ergot".

Forensic Consideration of Postpartum Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated with Ergot Derivatives Administration in Old Aged Woman: A Case Report / 대한법의학회지

Cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) that occurs during pregnancy or postpartum are rarely reported. Ergot derivatives were known to induce spasmodic contraction of coronary arteries. Administration of ergot derivatives can cause AMI even in normal healthy people. Several cases are also reported that ergot derivatives may trigger severe AMI in postpartum period. Here, we report a case of a forty-year-old pregnant woman who was succeeded to be pregnant by artificial fertilization died after treatment with ergot derivatives. Examinations of autopsy have revealed AMI with severe coronary atherosclerosis. This case is the first report which shows aggravation of preexistent severe coronary atherosclerosis after postpartum infusion of ergot derivatives.

An Autopsy Case of Postpartum Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated with Postpartum Ergot Alkaloids Administration in Old-Aged Pregnant Women

Cases of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) that occur during pregnancy or postpartum are rarely reported. Ergot derivatives are known to induce the spasmodic contraction of coronary arteries. Administration of ergot derivatives can cause AMI, even in normal healthy people. In several reported cases, ergot derivatives triggered severe AMI during the postpartum period. Here, we report the case of a forty-year-old woman who was successfully impregnated by artificial fertilization and died after treatment with ergot derivatives. The autopsy revealed AMI with severe coronary atherosclerosis. This is the first case that reports aggravation of pre-existent severe coronary atherosclerosis after postpartum infusion of ergot derivtives.

Acute Pulmonary Edema During a Cesarian Section - A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Pulmonary edema may be defined broadly as excessive fluid accumulation in the interstitial and air spaces of the lung. We recently a previously healthy parturient with ritodrine treatment who suddenly developed severe pulmonary edema during a Cesarian Section under Genera) Anesthesia, For this presented cases, we believe that overloading, Ritodrine, oxytocin, ergot derivatives wi11 be the causative factors. We had good result with PEEP, diuretics, and morphines.

Acute Pulmonary Edema During a Cesarian Section - A case report / 대한마취과학회지

Pulmonary edema may be defined broadly as excessive fluid accumulation in the interstitial and air spaces of the lung. We recently a previously healthy parturient with ritodrine treatment who suddenly developed severe pulmonary edema during a Cesarian Section under Genera) Anesthesia, For this presented cases, we believe that overloading, Ritodrine, oxytocin, ergot derivatives wi11 be the causative factors. We had good result with PEEP, diuretics, and morphines.