Sustainable use of giant reed to produce industrialized enzymes.

The giant reed (Arundo donax) is a fast-growing plant adapted to different climatic and soil conditions; although its origin is Asian, the species has spread throughout the world. During its development, it consumes three times more water than typical native vegetation and is responsible for changing the landscape of riparian areas; the high biomass productivity and the annual harvest period make this crop an alternative to produce and/or extract industrial bioproducts. The main objective of this research was to evaluate the feasibility of using giant reed in a bioprocess that produces enzymes by a solid-state fermentation experiment, four fungal species were tested (Aspergillus niger GH1, Aspergillus niger PSH, Trichoderma harzianum, and Rhizopus oryzae); enzyme activities were performed using reported methodologies varying only reaction volumes. The A. niger GH1 and PSH strains were the best adapted to the plant material, A. niger GH1 was capable to produce 4 of the 5 evaluated enzymes (cellulase-endoglucanase (174.39 ± 19.62 U/L), xylanase (1313.31 ± 39.25 U/L), invertase (642.22 ± 23.55 U/L), and polyphenol oxidase (6094.01 ± 306.54) while A. niger PSH was able to produce 3 of the 5 evaluated enzymes (cellulase-endoglucanase (147.09 ± 13.88 U/L), xylanase (1307.76 ± 31.40 U/L), and invertase (603.92 ± 3.14 U/L).

Role of HLA-DQB1 alleles in the risk, signs and symptoms, and severity of celiac disease in a Venezuelan population.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: Celiac disease (CD) is a complex condition, whose main genetic determinant involves HLA molecules, specifically the HLA-DQ2 and/or HLA-DQ8 heterodimers. Nevertheless, the frequency of the alleles encoding those molecules has not been reported in Venezuelan celiac patients. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the frequency of the HLA-DQB1 alleles in individuals with symptoms suggestive of CD and define the diagnostic markers of the condition in a Venezuelan population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study included 516 individuals with symptoms suggestive of CD. Molecular typing of the HLA-DQB1 locus was performed using a polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide procedure (PCR-SSO). RESULTS: A total of 58.3% of the individuals with clinical manifestations consistent with CD presented with at least one risk allele (DQB1*0201 and/or DQB1*0302), and the diagnosis was confirmed in 40 of them. The patients with CD had a higher frequency of the DQB1*0201 risk allele (26.25%), followed by the DQB1*0302 (17.5%) allele. There was an association between the presence of risk alleles and the presence of lesions characteristic of CD (P = 0.001), and a correlation was found between the genetic predisposition to develop CD and the presence of anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (P = 0.0127). CONCLUSIONS: The results support the role of the DQB1*02 and DQB1*0302 alleles in CD susceptibility and the histologic alterations of the intestinal mucosa, in a Venezuelan population.

Resonancia magnética orbitaria para desenmascarar arteritis de células gigantes / Orbital Magnetic Resonance Imaging to unmask giant cell arteritis

La captación del nervio óptico es un signo visualizado en diferentes patologías; sin embargo, el realce perineural es menos frecuente. Se presenta el caso de una paciente con clínica de amaurosis bilateral en la que se sugirió el diagnóstico de arteritis de células gigantes por la captación perineural detectada en una resonancia magnética (RM) orbitaria, que se confirmó por biopsia de la arteria temporal. La clínica es, en ocasiones, inespecífica y puede presentarse con síntomas visuales, incluso ceguera si afecta a ramas de la arteria oftálmica; en estos casos, la RM orbitaria puede ser de gran utilidad para un diagnóstico precoz. Si bien los hallazgos por RM son poco frecuentes, se han descrito distintos patrones de captación de contraste, entre los que el realce perineural es el más característico. Este patrón de afectación del nervio óptico es poco conocido pero relevante, pues orienta al diagnóstico de una patología que puede conducir a la ceguera permanente

Optic nerve enhancement is a sign seen in different disease states; however, perineural enhancement is less common. This article presents the case of a patient with bilateral amaurosis in whom the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was suggested by perineural enhancement on orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confirmed by biopsy of the temporal artery. The clinical presentation of giant cell arteritis is occasionally nonspecific; patients can have visual symptoms, even blindness if the branches of the ophthalmic artery are affected; in these cases, orbital MRI can be very useful for early diagnosis. Although the MRI findings are uncommon, distinct patterns of enhancement have been reported, the most characteristic of which is perineural enhancement. The pattern of optic nerve involvement is relatively unknown, but important because it orients the diagnosis of a disease that can lead to permanent blindness

Orbital Magnetic Resonance Imaging to unmask giant cell arteritis. / Resonancia magnética orbitaria para desenmascarar arteritis de células gigantes.

Optic nerve enhancement is a sign seen in different disease states; however, perineural enhancement is less common. This article presents the case of a patient with bilateral amaurosis in whom the diagnosis of giant cell arteritis was suggested by perineural enhancement on orbital magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and confirmed by biopsy of the temporal artery. The clinical presentation of giant cell arteritis is occasionally nonspecific; patients can have visual symptoms, even blindness if the branches of the ophthalmic artery are affected; in these cases, orbital MRI can be very useful for early diagnosis. Although the MRI findings are uncommon, distinct patterns of enhancement have been reported, the most characteristic of which is perineural enhancement. The pattern of optic nerve involvement is relatively unknown, but important because it orients the diagnosis of a disease that can lead to permanent blindness.

The database of the PREDICTS (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems) project.

The PREDICTS project-Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems (www.predicts.org.uk)-has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.

Papel de las variantes GSTM1, GSTT1 y MnSOD en el desarrollo de enfermedad de Alzheimer de aparición tardía y su relación con el alelo 4 de APOE / Role of genes GSTM1, GSTT1, and MnSOD in the development of late-onset Alzheimer disease and their relationship with APOE*4

Introducción: Diversos estudios han descrito que en los cerebros de pacientes con enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) hay una mayor oxidación de lípidos, proteínas y ADN. Además, en estos pacientes se ha observado diferencias en la actividad y polimorfismos de los genes que codifican las enzimas GST (T1 y M1) y MnSOD. En virtud de ello se planteó estudiar la variabilidad de los genes GSTT1, GSTM1 y MnSOD en individuos venezolanos sanos y con EA. Métodos: Se incluyeron 179 individuos venezolanos, no relacionados, agrupados en pacientes con EA (n = 79) e individuos sanos (n = 100). La presencia o ausencia de los genes GSTT1/GSTM1 se determinó por PCR-SSP y los polimorfismo de los genes MnSOD y APOE por PCR-RFLP. Resultados: El genotipo GSTT1+/GSTM1− parece favorecer el desarrollo de la EA (OR = 2,06; p = 0,01), siendo el riesgo mayor al estar en combinación con el alelo ε4 del gen APOE: GSTT1+/GSTM1−/ ε3 ε4 (OR = 3,07; p = 0,05), GSTT1+/GSTM1−/ ε4 ε4 (OR = 5,52; p = 0,02). El polimorfismo Ala-9Val por sí solo no parece estar relacionado con la EA, sin embargo, la presencia del genotipo Ala/Ala incrementa el riesgo que proporciona el alelo ε4 del gen APOE: AlaAla/ ε3 ε4 (OR = 3,47; p = 0,03), AlaAla/ ε4 ε4 (OR = 6,3; p = 0,01). Conclusiones: Los resultados apoyan la hipótesis de que el deterioro de la función mitocondrial y el aumento de daño oxidativo están involucrados en la patogénesis de la EA. Es importante estudiar otros genes relacionados con estrés oxidativo y vías antioxidantes, los cuales pudiesen estar involucrados en la susceptibilidad a desarrollar la EA

Introduction: Several studies have reported increased oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Moreover, these patients display differences in the activity and polymorphisms of the genes encoding the enzymes GST (T1, M1) and MnSOD. For these reasons, we designed a study of the variability in GSTT1, GSTM1, and MnSOD genes in healthy and AD groups from a Venezuelan population. Methods: We included 179 unrelated Venezuelan subjects classified as either AD patients (n = 79) or healthy individuals (n = 100). Presence or absence of the GSTT1/GSTM1 genes was determined using PCR-SSP, and polymorphisms of MnSOD and APOE genes were identified with PCR-RFLP. Results: The genotype GSTT1+/GSTM1− seems to favour development of AD (OR = 2.06, P = .01). The risk level is higher when it is combined with the ε4 allele of the APOE gene: GSTT1+/GSTM1−/ ε3 ε4 (OR = 3.07, P = .05), GSTT1+/GSTM1−/ ε4 ε4 (OR = 5.52, P = .02). The Ala-9Val polymorphism does not appear to be related to AD. However, the presence of the Ala/Ala genotype increases the risk provided by the ε4 allele of the APOE gene: AlaAla/_3_4 (OR = 3.47, P = .03), AlaAla/ ε4 ε4 (OR = 6.3, P = .01). Conclusions: The results support the hypothesis that impaired mitochondrial function and increased oxidative damage are involved in the pathogenesis of AD. It is important to study other genes related to oxidative stress and antioxidant pathways which could be involved in susceptibility to AD

Role of genes GSTM1, GSTT1, and MnSOD in the development of late-onset Alzheimer disease and their relationship with APOE*4. / Papel de las variantes GSTM1, GSTT1 y MnSOD en el desarrollo de enfermedad de Alzheimer de aparición tardía y su relación con el alelo 4 de APOE.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have reported increased oxidation of lipids, proteins and DNA in the brains of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Moreover, these patients display differences in the activity and polymorphisms of the genes encoding the enzymes GST (T1, M1) and MnSOD. For these reasons, we designed a study of the variability in GSTT1, GSTM1, and MnSOD genes in healthy and AD groups from a Venezuelan population. METHODS: We included 179 unrelated Venezuelan subjects classified as either AD patients (n=79) or healthy individuals (n=100). Presence or absence of the GSTT1/GSTM1 genes was determined using PCR-SSP, and polymorphisms of MnSOD and APOE genes were identified with PCR-RFLP. RESULTS: The genotype GSTT1+/GSTM1- seems to favour development of AD (OR=2.06, P=.01). The risk level is higher when it is combined with the ɛ4 allele of the APOE gene: GSTT1+/GSTM1-/ɛ3ɛ4 (OR=3.07, P=.05), GSTT1+/GSTM1-/ɛ4ɛ4 (OR=5.52, P=.02). The Ala-9Val polymorphism does not appear to be related to AD. However, the presence of the Ala/Ala genotype increases the risk provided by the ɛ4 allele of the APOE gene: AlaAla/ɛ3ɛ4 (OR=3.47, P=.03), AlaAla/ɛ4ɛ4 (OR=6.3, P=.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results support the hypothesis that impaired mitochondrial function and increased oxidative damage are involved in the pathogenesis of AD. It is important to study other genes related to oxidative stress and antioxidant pathways which could be involved in susceptibility to AD.

Utilidad de la biopsia guiada cognitivamente por resonancia magnética multiparamétrica para diagnosticar la lesión dominante del cáncer de próstata / Usefulness of cognitive targeting in multiparametric MRI-guided biopsy to diagnose the dominant lesion in prostate cancer

Objetivo. Evaluar la seguridad y eficacia de la biopsia guiada cognitivamente (BGC) con la resonancia magnética multiparamétrica (RMmp) para obtener muestras del nódulo dominante del cáncer de próstata. Material y métodos. Realizamos una BGC en 53 pacientes por elevación progresiva del PSA tras hacer una RMmp. Todos los pacientes firmaron el consentimiento informado. Las biopsias se realizaron por vía transperineal con control ecográfico. Las 3 primeras muestras se obtuvieron de la lesión diana determinada por la RMmp, utilizando criterios PIRADS (corresponden a las BGC). Posteriormente se obtuvieron 9 cilindros del resto de los segmentos de la próstata (biopsias sistemáticas). El anatomopatólogo valoró los 12 cilindros sin saber cuáles correspondían a las BGC y cuáles a las biopsias sistemáticas. Definimos como lesión dominante la de mayor valor Gleason y volumen tumoral en lesiones multifocales y a la única lesión detectada en tumores unifocales. Resultados. Diagnosticamos 29 tumores de próstata. En el 89,7% (26/29), el nódulo dominante fue diagnosticado por las BGC. De haber realizado únicamente las BGC no se hubieran diagnosticado 2 pacientes (3,8%, 2/53) y se hubiera infraestadificado solo uno (1,8%, 1/53) en el que no se obtuvo muestra de la lesión con mayor valor Gleason. La tasa de positividad de la BGC fue del 50,9% (27/53), y en los pacientes con biopsias previas negativas del 46,3% (19/41). No observamos complicaciones significativas inmediatas ni tardías. Conclusión. La BGC es una técnica segura y eficaz para detectar la lesión dominante del cáncer de próstata (AU)

Objective. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cognitive targeting in multiparametric MRI-guided biopsy to obtain samples of the dominant nodule in prostate cancer. Material and methods. We performed cognitive-targeted biopsy after multiparametric MRI in 53 patients with progressive elevation of PSA. All patients provided written informed consent. Biopsies were done via a transperineal route under ultrasound guidance. The first three samples were obtained by cognitive targeting, with the target lesion determined by multiparametric MRI according to the PI-RADS (prostate imaging, reporting, and data system) criteria. Then 9 cylinders were obtained from the remaining segments of the prostate (systematic biopsies). The pathologist evaluated the 12 cylinders without knowing which ones were obtained by cognitive targeting. In patients with multifocal lesions, we defined the dominant lesion as the one with the highest Gleason score and tumor volume; in patients with unifocal lesions, we defined the dominant lesion as the lesion identified. Results. We diagnosed 29 prostate tumors. In 89.7% (26/29), the dominant nodule was diagnosed by the cognitive-targeted biopsy. If only cognitive-targeted biopsy had been done, the dominant nodule would not have been diagnosed in two (3.8%, 2/53) patients and only one (1.8%, 1/53) patient, in whom no sample was obtained from the lesion with the highest Gleason score, would have been understaged. The rate of positivity of cognitive-targeted biopsy was 50.9% (27/53) in the entire group of patients and 46.3% (19/41) in the group of patients with previous negative biopsies. No significant immediate or late complications were observed. Conclusion. Cognitive targeting is safe and efficacious for detecting the dominant lesion in prostate cancer (AU)

Usefulness of cognitive targeting in multiparametric MRI-guided biopsy to diagnose the dominant lesion in prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of cognitive targeting in multiparametric MRI-guided biopsy to obtain samples of the dominant nodule in prostate cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed cognitive-targeted biopsy after multiparametric MRI in 53 patients with progressive elevation of PSA. All patients provided written informed consent. Biopsies were done via a transperineal route under ultrasound guidance. The first three samples were obtained by cognitive targeting, with the target lesion determined by multiparametric MRI according to the PI-RADS (prostate imaging, reporting, and data system) criteria. Then 9 cylinders were obtained from the remaining segments of the prostate (systematic biopsies). The pathologist evaluated the 12 cylinders without knowing which ones were obtained by cognitive targeting. In patients with multifocal lesions, we defined the dominant lesion as the one with the highest Gleason score and tumor volume; in patients with unifocal lesions, we defined the dominant lesion as the lesion identified. RESULTS: We diagnosed 29 prostate tumors. In 89.7% (26/29), the dominant nodule was diagnosed by the cognitive-targeted biopsy. If only cognitive-targeted biopsy had been done, the dominant nodule would not have been diagnosed in two (3.8%, 2/53) patients and only one (1.8%, 1/53) patient, in whom no sample was obtained from the lesion with the highest Gleason score, would have been understaged. The rate of positivity of cognitive-targeted biopsy was 50.9% (27/53) in the entire group of patients and 46.3% (19/41) in the group of patients with previous negative biopsies. No significant immediate or late complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Cognitive targeting is safe and efficacious for detecting the dominant lesion in prostate cancer.

[Anesthesia for cesarean delivery in a woman with congenital aortic stenosis]. / Anestesia para la cesárea a una paciente afecta de estenosis aórtica congénita.

The patient was a 26-year-old primipara diagnosed in the first trimester with aortic stenosis and coarctation of the descending aorta. She had remained stable until the 37th week, when she developed dyspnea, edema in the lower extremities, crepitations, oliguria, hypotension, and mild sinus tachycardia consistent with left ventricular insufficiency. A cesarean was performed under general anesthesia with remifentanil, with good outcomes for mother and infant. Aortic stenosis causes left ventricular hypertrophy that increases the risk of myocardial ischemia and left ventricular insufficiency in combination with the physiological changes that pregnancy produces in the cardiovascular system. An emergency cesarean section in such patients requires preservation of hemodynamic stability, which is difficult to achieve with epidural or subarachnoid techniques. Remifentanil is an alternative to drugs used until now in this context.

Assessment of mathematical models for predicting Staphylococcus aureus growth in cooked meat products.

The growth of Staphylococcus aureus in commercially available vacuum-packaged cooked ham, turkey breast meat, and chicken breast meat stored at 2.3, 6.5, 10, 13.5, and 17.7 degrees C was studied. Growth rates observed in these food products were compared with those predicted on the basis of various growth models found in the literature and with those generated by the Pathogen Modeling Program and the Food MicroModel software using graphical and mathematical analysis for performance evaluation. In general, the models studied overestimated the growth of S. aureus. The Dengremont and Membré model most closely matched the observed behavior of S. aureus in ham and chicken breast meat, with bias factors of 1.56 and 1.09, respectively. The Eifert et al. model accurately described the growth of S. aureus in turkey breast meat, with a bias factor of 1.51. The remaining models provided safe predictions of the growth rate of S. aureus, but with poor accuracy. Predictive microbiology models have an immediate practical application in improving microbial food safety and quality and are very useful decision support tools, but they should not be used as the sole determinant of product safety.

Evaluation of the efficacy of health education on the compliance with antituberculosis chemoprophylaxis in school children. A randomized clinical trial.

Chemoprophylaxis against tuberculosis with isoniazid for 1 year is very useful, but patient compliance is very low. A controlled clinical trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of three alternative health education strategies and to observe which of them improves compliance with antituberculosis chemoprophylaxis in healthy tuberculin-reactor children. Although all three strategies achieved positive, statistically significant results as compared with the control group, that performed by nursing personnel at the patient's home is the most effective, followed by that performed by the same health professionals by telephone. The least effective strategy by far was that performed by the physician in his surgery.

[Influence of health education on compliance with antituberculous chemoprophylaxis in children: a community trial]. / Influencia de la educación sanitaria en el cumplimiento de la quimioprofilaxis antituberculosa en niños: ensayo comunitario.

Antituberculous chemoprophylaxis with isoniazide during a period of one year is very useful although it is not readily accepted. A community trial is designed in order to test if three health education interventions increase patients compliance with such treatment in case of tuberculin positive children who are not ill. The two interventions performed by nurses, one by phone, and the second one by a home visit, resulted in statistically significant difference when compared to the control group. This did not occur, however, with the intervention performed by the doctor in his office. A cost-effectiveness study demonstrates that the most efficient intervention has been the phone call.

Long survival after ovarian and hepatic metastasis from carcinoma of the large bowel: report of a case.

Herein we present the case of a woman who is now 19 years post abdominoperineal resection for a Dukes' C1 rectal carcinoma, 10 years post right hemicolectomy for a Duke's C1 carcinoma of the ascending colon and removal of a solitary hepatic metastasis and now 9 years post resection of an ovarian metastasis. She had 5-fluoracil, postoperatively. This is the ninth case reported in the literature of a 5-year survivor free of disease following oophorectomy for metastatic adenocarcinoma of the large bowel. The finding of ovarian and hepatic metastases from her colorectal carcinoma would have indicated a poor prognosis. We feel that those rare patients who have an unexpected long survival should be reported for accumulation of clinical data, illustration of their clinical management, and analyses of the applied therapeutic interventions.

Adenocarcinoma of the colon masquerading as primary ovarian neoplasia. An analysis of ten cases.

This paper reviews the clinical characteristics of a group of patients in whom unsuspected primary adenocarcinoma of the colon presented with signs and symptoms of a primary ovarian neoplasia. In most patients, the ovaries were removed, the correct diagnosis was established at a later time, and a second surgery for resection of the primary adenocarcinoma of the colon was then performed. Preoperative use of colonoscopy or barium-enema examination would have helped. We compared these patients to a group of patients with similar clinical characteristics, but in whom the ovarian metastases were clinically apparent months after the resection of a primary colorectal cancer. We found that, in both groups, age of the patients, anatomic distribution of the primary tumor, histologic differentiation, serosal or mesenteric lymph node tumor involvement, and timing of the oophorectomy in relationship to removal of the primary colorectal tumor did not affect the overall survival. Once ovarian metastases were documented, patients died regardless of treatment, approximately 16 1/2 months after the diagnosis.