ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To describe the volume and patterns of alcohol consumption up to and including 2012, and to estimate the burden of disease attributable to alcohol consumption as measured in deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost in the Americas in 2012. METHODS: Measures of alcohol consumption were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Information System on Alcohol and Health (GISAH). The burden of alcohol consumption was estimated in both deaths and DALYs lost based on mortality data obtained from WHO, using alcohol-attributable fractions. Regional groupings for the Americas were based on the WHO classifications for 2004 (according to child and adult mortality). RESULTS: Regional variations were observed in the overall volume of alcohol consumed, the proportion of the alcohol market attributable to unrecorded alcohol consumption, drinking patterns, prevalence of drinking, and prevalence of heavy episodic drinking, with inhabitants of the Americas consuming more alcohol (8.4 L of pure alcohol per adult in 2012) compared to the world average. The Americas also experienced a high burden of disease attributable to alcohol consumption (4.7% of all deaths and 6.7% of all DALYs lost), especially in terms of injuries attributable to alcohol consumption. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol is consumed in a harmful manner in the Americas, leading to a high burden of disease, especially in terms of injuries. New cost-effective alcohol policies, such as increasing alcohol taxation, increasing the minimum legal age to purchase alcohol, and decreasing the maximum legal blood alcohol content while driving, should be implemented to decrease the harmful consumption of alcohol and the resulting burden of disease.
OBJETIVO:Describir el volumen y los modelos de consumo de alcohol hasta el año 2012 incluido, y calcular la carga de morbilidad atribuible al consumo de alcohol medida según el número de defunciones y los años de vida ajustados en función de la discapacidad (AVAD) perdidos en la Región de las Américas en el 2012. MÉTODOS: Los datos sobre el consumo de alcohol se obtuvieron a partir del Sistema Mundial de Información sobre el Alcohol y la Salud (GISAH, por sus siglas en inglés) de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). La carga del consumo de alcohol se calculó según la mortalidad y según los AVAD perdidos con base en los datos de mortalidad obtenidos de la OMS, tomando en consideración las fracciones atribuibles al alcohol. La división en subregiones se basó en las clasificaciones de la OMS del año 2004 (según la mortalidad en niños y adultos). RESULTADOS: Se observaron variaciones regionales en el volumen total de alcohol consumido, la proporción del mercado del alcohol atribuible al consumo de alcohol no registrado, los hábitos de consumo, la prevalencia del consumo y la prevalencia de los episodios de consumo excesivo de alcohol. Los habitantes de la Región de las Américas consumieron más alcohol (8,4 litros de alcohol puro por adulto en el 2012) en comparación con el promedio mundial. La Región también experimentó una alta carga de morbilidad atribuible al consumo de alcohol (4,7% de las defunciones y 6,7% de los AVAD perdidos), especialmente en forma de lesiones atribuibles al consumo de alcohol. CONCLUSIONES: El alcohol se consume de una manera perjudicial en la Región de las Américas y ello comporta una alta carga de morbilidad, especialmente en forma de lesiones. Con objeto de disminuir el consumo perjudicial de bebidas alcohólicas y la carga de morbilidad resultante, es preciso introducir nuevas políticas en materia de consumo de alcohol que sean eficaces en función de los costos, tales como el incremento de los impuestos sobre el alcohol, el aumento de la edad mínima legal para adquirir alcohol, y la disminución de la concentración máxima legal de alcohol en sangre mientras se conduce.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/chemistry , Neuraminidase/chemistry , Streptococcus pneumoniae/enzymology , Virulence Factors/chemistry , Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Binding Sites , Lactose/analogs & derivatives , Lactose/metabolism , Models, Molecular , Neuraminidase/metabolism , Protein Binding , Protein Folding , Protein Structure, Tertiary , Sialic Acids/metabolism , Streptococcus pneumoniae/chemistry , Virulence Factors/metabolismABSTRACT
Biological characterization of three natural isolates of the porcine rubulavirus (Mexico). Porcine rubulavirus (PoRV) produces a neurological and reproductive syndrome in pigs called the blue-eye disease, known only from Mexico. Several isolates were grouped by the main symptoms presented during outbreaks: a) neurotropic in piglets, b) broadly neurotropic in piglets and gonadotropic in adults, and c) gonadotropic in adults. We studied some biological properties of three strains, which fall in one of each virus group: La Piedad Michoacán (LPM) and Producción Animal Cerdos 1 (PAC1) and 3 (PAC3), respectively. The analyzed viral properties are mainly related with the trans-membrane hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) and fusion (F) proteins, such as cytopathic effect, hemolysis, hemagglutinating (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) activities. In the infection assays PAC1 strain presented the highest fusogenicity level; however, the most cytolytic strain was PAC3. In addition, HA and NA activities and viral genome of PAC3 strain was detected in supernatants during cell infection earlier than in the other two strains, which shows that PAC3 virions release from the host cell earlier than LPM and PAC1. Experimental determination in purified viruses shows that PAC3 presented a higher HA and NA activities; however, PAC1 shows other interesting properties, such as a high thermostability of HN and differences about substrate profile respect to LPM and PAC3. Our data suggest that NA activity is associated with the virulence of RVP. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (2): 487-499. Epub 2008 June 30.
El Rubulavirus porcino causa un síndrome neurológico y reproductivo en cerdos, hasta ahora reportado sólo en México. Los virus aislados se agrupan de acuerdo con los síntomas principales observados durante los brotes en: a) neutrópicos en lechones, b) neurotrópicos en lechones/gonadotrópicos en adultos y c) gonadotrópicos en adultos. En este trabajo se estudiaron tres cepas: La Piedad Michoacán (LPM) y Producción Animal "Cerdos" 1 (PAC1) y 3 (PAC3), ubicadas respectivamente en cada grupo. Las propiedades estudiadas se relacionan principalmente con dos proteínas de la envoltura viral, la hemaglutinina-neuraminidasa (HN) y la proteína de fusión (F). Se cuantificaron el efecto citopático y las actividades de hemólisis, hemaglutinación (HA) y neuraminidasa (NA). En cultivo celular la cepa PAC1 presentó una mayor actividad fusogénica, sin embargo PAC3 presentó la mayor actividad citolítica. La cepa PAC3 fue la primera en ser detectada en sobrenadante de células infectadas (HA, NA y genoma), lo que muestra que sus viriones son liberados al medio antes que las otras dos cepas. PAC3 tuvo las actividades más altas de HA y NA, sin embargo, PAC1 presentó una mayor termoestabilidad en estas actividades de HN y un perfil de substrato algo distinto de los observados para LPM y PAC3. Estos datos sugieren que la actividad de NA está relacionada con la virulencia del RVP.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rubulavirus Infections/virology , Rubulavirus/isolation & purification , Swine Diseases/virology , Hemagglutination, Viral , HN Protein/metabolism , Mexico , Neuraminidase/metabolism , Rubulavirus/enzymology , Rubulavirus/genetics , Rubulavirus/pathogenicity , SwineABSTRACT
Cloning of the T-cell receptor genes is a critical step when generating T-cell receptor transgenic mice. Because T-cell receptor molecules are clonotypical, isolation of their genes requires reverse transcriptase-assisted PCR using primers specific for each different Valpha or Vß genes or by the screening of cDNA libraries generated from RNA obtained from each individual T-cell clone. Although feasible, these approaches are laborious and costly. The aim of the present study was to test the application of the non-palindromic adaptor-PCR method as an alternative to isolate the genes encoding the T-cell receptor of an antigen-specific T-cell hybridoma. For this purpose, we established hybridomas specific for trans-sialidase, an immunodominant Trypanosoma cruzi antigen. These T-cell hybridomas were characterized with regard to their ability to secrete interferon-gamma, IL-4, and IL-10 after stimulation with the antigen. A CD3+, CD4+, CD8- interferon-gamma-producing hybridoma was selected for the identification of the variable regions of the T-cell receptor by the non-palindromic adaptor-PCR method. Using this methodology, we were able to rapidly and efficiently determine the variable regions of both T-cell receptor chains. The results obtained by the non-palindromic adaptor-PCR method were confirmed by the isolation and sequencing of the complete cDNA genes and by the recognition with a specific antibody against the T-cell receptor variable ß chain. We conclude that the non-palindromic adaptor-PCR method can be a valuable tool for the identification of the T-cell receptor transcripts of T-cell hybridomas and may facilitate the generation of T-cell receptor transgenic mice.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Mice , Antigens, Protozoan/genetics , Genes, T-Cell Receptor/genetics , Glycoproteins/genetics , Immunodominant Epitopes/genetics , Interferon-gamma/genetics , Neuraminidase/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Amino Acid Sequence , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Genes, T-Cell Receptor/immunology , Glycoproteins/immunology , Glycoproteins/metabolism , Hybridomas/metabolism , Immunodominant Epitopes/immunology , Interferon-gamma/immunology , Interferon-gamma , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Molecular Sequence Data , Neuraminidase/immunology , Neuraminidase/metabolism , Transcription, GeneticABSTRACT
La vaginosis bacteriana (VB) es un síndrome caracterizado por el sobrecrecimiento bacteriano deflora endógena Gram negativa, que desplaza a la flora lactobacilar normal. Dentro de las enzimasbacterianas, las sialidasas han sido consideradas factores de virulencia de muchos microorganismos patógenosque colonizan las distintas mucosas. Su presencia en fluidos vaginales puede estar correlacionada con VB. Elpropósito de este estudio fue comprobar la actividad de dicha enzima en mujeres con este síndrome y sin evidenciaclínica de infección genital. Se estudiaron 112 mujeres (51 fueron pacientes con VB y 61 mujeres conflora colonizante habitual). Para la cuantificación de la actividad sialidasa se empleó la técnica basada en lahidrólisis enzimática de un derivado ácido del ácido metoxifenil acetil murámico. En la población estudiada seencontró que ambos grupos mostraron valores comprendidos entre 0.5 a 5.1 nmoles de metoxifenol, mientrasque 11 de 52 pacientes con VB (21.17%), registraron valores superiores a 5.1 nmoles. La presencia de actividadsialidasa solamente no es índice de VB, excepto para valores mayores de 5.5 nmoles de metoxifenol, producidosen la reacción enzimática.
Bacterial vaginosis (VB) is a syndromecharacterized by overgrowth of endogenous Gram negative bacterial flora and the lack of the normalflora. Within bacterial enzymes, sialidases have been considered a virulence factor of many pathogenic microorganismscolonizing the different mucous membranes. Their presence in vaginal discharges can be correlatedwith VB. The aim of this study was to detect the activity of this enzyme in women with this syndrome andwithout clinical evidence of genital infection. Out of a total 112 women studied, 51 were patients with VB andthe other 61 women presented normal vaginal flora. For the quantification of enzyme activity, the technique basedon the enzymatic hydrolysis of a derivative acid of the acetyl metoxifenil muramic acid was used. In the studiedpopulation both groups shared values from 0.5 to 5.1 nmoles of metoxifenol, whereas only 11 out of 52 patientswith VB (21.17%), registered more than 5.1 nmoles. The presence of sialidase activity is not enough to confirmVB, except for values greater than 5.5 nmoles of the metoxifenol produced in the enzymatic reaction.
Subject(s)
Humans , Female , Neuraminidase/metabolism , Vagina/enzymology , Vaginosis, Bacterial/enzymology , Body Fluids/enzymology , Body Fluids/microbiology , Case-Control Studies , Gardnerella vaginalis/isolation & purification , Statistics, Nonparametric , Syndrome , Vagina/microbiology , Vaginosis, Bacterial/diagnosis , Vaginosis, Bacterial/microbiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a disorder of the vaginal ecosystem characterized by a shift in the vaginal flora form the normally predominated lactobacillus to one dominated by sialidase enzyme-producing mixed flora. OBJECTIVES: To compare the sensitivity of BVBLUE test for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis with Gram stain by using Nugent score as a gold standard. MATERIAL AND METHOD: From April to June, 2004, a total of 173 pregnant women who received antenatal care at Phramongkutklao Hospital had reached the study criteria. The speculum for this exam, used in the process of collecting vaginal secretions, must not be lubricated with any lubricants. The vaginal discharge was collected from the lower 1/3 of the vaginal wall. Gram stain score and BVBLUE test were conducted and compared. RESULTS: 173 patients were enrolled in the present study. BVBLUE test was compared to the standard method for the diagnosis of BV by Gram stain using Nugent score as a gold standard. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value of BVBLUE test versus the Gram stain score for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis were 94%, 96%, 96% 86%, and 98%, respectively. CONCLUSION: BVBLUE test for diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis had high sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive and negative predictive value (94%, 96%, 96%, 86%, and 98%, respectively).
Subject(s)
Adult , Bacteriological Techniques/methods , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Humans , Neuraminidase/metabolism , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/diagnosis , Prenatal Diagnosis , Sensitivity and Specificity , Thailand , Vaginosis, Bacterial/diagnosisABSTRACT
This report describes that P. falciparum produces a neuraminidase like activity on invasion into erythrocytes in culture on the basis of biochemical and immunological investigations. This activity in turn modifies the surface glycoprotein receptors of red cells and may be of help in the inhibition of further invasion by merozoites. The characterization of this enzyme activity may help elucidate the mechanism of cerebral malaria.
Subject(s)
Animals , Chymotrypsin/metabolism , Epitopes/metabolism , Erythrocytes/parasitology , Glycophorins/immunology , Humans , Neuraminidase/metabolism , Pepsin A/metabolism , Plasmodium falciparum/enzymology , Trypsin/metabolismABSTRACT
El homogenizado de rata, en la etapa de preimplatanción, es capaz de transferir residuos sialil desde citidina monofosfato-3H-siálico (CMP-[3H]-siálico) hacia substratos aceptores endógenos y exógenos (desialo fetuína). La transferencia parece ser debida a la actividad de la enzima N-acetil-neuraminil transferasa E.C. 2.4.99; esta actividad es mayor en el endometrio receptivo para el blastocisto (ER) 0.75 ñ 0.15 nmoles/h/mg de proteína, que en el endometrio no receptivo (ENR)0.40 ñ 0.14 nmoles/h/mg de proteína. La incorporación de [3H]-siálico hacia desialo fetuína es un poco mayor del 60%. Los productos de la reacción enzimática fueron sometidos a condiciones reductoras y analizadas por electroforesis en un gradiente lineal de poliacrilamida, 5 a 22% y cuantificada la radiactividad a lo alrgo del gel. La mayor radiactividad entre ER y ENR es cualitativamente semejante. Los productos de reacción tratados con neuraminidasa liberan casi el 60% del [3H]-siálico incorporado