Retinal toxicity induced by antimalarial drugs: literature review and case report. / Toxicidad retiniana asociada al uso de medicamentos antipalúdicos: revisión de la literatura y presentación de un caso.

Antimalarial drugs are widely used in several countries for control of rheumatologic diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis. They are still used in Mexico because of their low cost and few secondary effects, most of which are mild and reversible. Even so, at an ophthalmological level, they could produce irreversible visual damage, which is why it is important to have ophthalmological evaluation and proper follow up. We present a clinical case as an example of characteristic ophthalmological findings as well as risk factors for retinal toxicity. We then discuss guidelines for diagnosis and follow up of patients who use antimalarial drugs for the treatment of rheumatologic illnesses.

Los antipalúdicos son fármacos ampliamente utilizados en varios países para el control de enfermedades reumatológicas como el lupus eritematoso sistémico y la artritis reumatoide. En México continúan siendo muy aceptados por su bajo costo y pocos efectos adversos, la mayoría de ellos no graves y reversibles. Sin embargo, a nivel oftalmológico se produce acúmulo de los metabolitos de estos medicamentos que provoca un daño visual que puede llegar a ser irreversible. Por esta razón es importante una evaluación oftalmológica y un seguimiento adecuado de estos pacientes. A través de un caso clínico ejemplificamos los hallazgos oftalmológicos característicos así como los factores de riesgo de la toxicidad retiniana y finalmente se discuten los lineamientos actuales para el diagnóstico y seguimiento en pacientes que utilizan estos medicamentos.

Asociación de infección por Chlamydia trachomatis con el diagnóstico de cervicitis aguda / Associação da infecção de Chlamydia trachomatis com o diagnóstico de cervicite aguda / Association of Chlamydia trachomatis with the Diagnosis of Acute Cervicitis

La infección por Chlamydia trachomatis es la enfermedad de transmisión sexual mßs frecuente en el mundo y causa una importante morbilidad en las mujeres. Actualmente existen pocos estudios sobre su prevalencia en nuestra población, por lo que se hace pertinente la implementación de un estudio piloto que aporte información sobre su frecuencia en mujeres asintomßticas y con cervicitis aguda. Objetivo: determinar la asociación existente entra la infección por Chlamydia trachomatis y la presencia de cervicitis aguda en la población consultante a los servicios de urgencias y consulta externa del Hospital Universitario de Santander (HUS). Metodología: estudio de casos y controles en el cual se incluyeron 284 pacientes mayores de edad, no embarazadas y que no estuvieran menstruando, atendidas en el HUS. Se tomaron como casos las pacientes con diagnóstico de cervicitis aguda y controles aquellas sin el mismo. En los dos grupos se realizó un frotis endocervical al cual se aplicó un método de diagnóstico rßpido para infección por Chlamydia trachomatis, Bioline Chlamydia SD®...

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most frequent sexually transmitted disease in the world causing heightened morbidity in women. Currently there are few studies about its prevalence in our population; therefore, the implementation of a pilot study about its frequency in women with and without acute cervicitis is necessary. Objective: Determine the association between Chlamydia trachomatis infection and the diagnosis of acute cervicitis in the consulting women in both the outpatient and inpatient services of the Hospital Universitario de Santander (HUS). Method: Case control study including 284 patients of adult age, non-pregnant and without menses who consulted HUS. Cases with acute cervicitis diagnosis and routine control ones were considered for the purpose of this study. Endocervical samples and a quick diagnostic method for Chlamydia trachomatis, Bioline Chlamydia SD were applied. Results: Mean age was 32.08 and 28.82 years for cases and controls, mean difference was 3.27, p = 0.001. There were also differences in the evaluation of marital status; 82.40% controls have a marital relationship versus 71.83% cases, p = 0.014; occupation, more students in the cervicitis group, p = 0.020; and alcohol consumption, 21.13% in cervicitis patients versus 11.27% in the control group, p = 0.024. Chlamydia prevalence was 7.04% in controls and 11.97% in cases, p = 0.157. There was no association between acute cervicitis and Chlamydia infection, OR = 1.79 (IC 95% 0.74 û 4.55). This lack of association persists after adjusting for confusing factors (OR = 1.71, IC 95% 0.72 û 4.04). In the multivariate analysis only alcohol consumption is associated with acute cervicitis, OR = 4.442 (IC 95% 1.362 û 14.215)...

A infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis é a doença sexualmente transmissível mais comum no mundo, causando significativa morbidade nas mulheres. Atualmente, existem poucos estudos sobre sua prevalência nossa população, por isso torna-se relevante a implementação de um estudo piloto para fornecer informações sobre a sua frequência em mulheres assintomßticas com cervicite aguda. Objetivo: Determinar a associação entre a infecção por Chlamydia trachomatis e a presença da cervicite aguda nas pessoas que frecuentam e consultam no pronto socorro e o ambulatorio do Hospital Universitßrio de Santander (HUS). Metodologia: No estudo dos casos e nos controles de 284 pacientes foram incluídas mulheres idosas, não grßvidas e as que não estavam no periodo menstrual atendidas pelo HUS. Para o estudo dos casos foram selecionadas aquelas com o diagnóstico de cervicite aguda e para o control as que não tinham a doença. Em ambos grupos é realizado um esfregaço endocervical para ao qual é aplicado um método de diagnóstico rßpido para Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydia SD ® Bioline. Resultados: A idade média foi de 32.08 e 28.82 para casos e controles, com uma diferença média de 3.27, p = 0.001. Houve também diferenças na avaliação de estado civil; 82.40% dos controles têm um vínculo conjugal contra 71.83% dos casos, p = 0.014; ocupação, mais alunos no grupo que, em casos cervicite, p = 0.020; e consumo de ßlcool, 21.13% dos pacientes com cervicite, contra 11.27% dos controlos, p = 0.024. A prevalência da infecção por Chlamydia nos controlos era 7.04% e 11.97% nos casos, p = 0.157. O estudo revelou que não ha uma associação entre cervicite aguda e infecção por Chlamydia, OR = 1.79 (IC 95% 0.74-4.55). Esta falta de associação permanece após o ajuste dos potenciais fatores de confusão (OR = 1.71, CI 0.72 95% - 4.04). Na anßlise multivariada só o ßlcool permanece associado com a presença de cervicite, OR = (IC 95% 1.362-14.215) 4.442...

Pathogen-induced production of the antifungal AFP protein from Aspergillus giganteus confers resistance to the blast fungus Magnaporthe grisea in transgenic rice.

Rice blast, caused by Magnaporthe grisea, is the most important fungal disease of cultivated rice worldwide. We have developed a strategy for creating disease resistance to M. grisea whereby pathogen-induced expression of the afp (antifungal protein) gene from Aspergillus giganteus occurs in transgenic rice plants. Here, we evaluated the activity of the promoters from three maize pathogenesis-related (PR) genes, ZmPR4, mpi, and PRms, in transgenic rice. Chimeric gene fusions were prepared between the maize promoters and the beta-glucuronidase reporter gene (gus A). Histochemical assays of GUS activity in transgenic rice revealed that the ZmPR4 promoter is strongly induced in response to fungal infection, treatment with fungal elicitors, and mechanical wounding. The ZmPR4 promoter is not active in the seed endosperm. The mpi promoter also proved responsiveness to fungal infection and wounding but not to treatment with elicitors. In contrast, no activity of the PRms promoter in leaves of transgenic rice was observed. Transgenic plants expressing the afp gene under the control of the ZmPR4 promoter were generated. Transformants showed resistance to M. grisea at various levels. Our results suggest that pathogen-inducible expression of the afp gene in rice plants may be a practical way for protection against the blast fungus. Most agricultural crop species suffer from a vast array of fungal diseases that cause severe yield losses all over the world. Rice blast, caused by the fungus Magnaporthe grisea (Herbert) Barr (anamorph Pyricularia grisea), is the most devastating disease of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), due to its

Fungus- and wound-induced accumulation of mRNA containing a class II chitinase of the pathogenesis-related protein 4 (PR-4) family of maize.

Pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins are plant proteins that are induced in response to pathogen attack. PR proteins are grouped into independent families based on their sequences and properties. The PR-4 family comprises class I and class II chitinases. We have isolated a full-length cDNA encoding a chitinase from maize which shares a high degree of nucleotide and amino acid sequence homology with the class II chitinases of the PR-4 family of PR proteins. Our results indicate that fungal infection, and treatment either with fungal elicitors or with moniliformin, a mycotoxin produced by the fungus Fusarium moniliforme, increase the level of ZmPR4 mRNA. In situ mRNA hybridization analysis in sections obtained from fungus-infected germinating embryos revealed that ZmPR4 mRNA accumulation occurs in those cell types that first establish contact with the pathogen. ZmPR4 mRNA accumulation is also stimulated by treatment with silver nitrate whereas the application of the hormones gibberellic acid or acetylsalicylic acid has no effect. Wounding, or treatment with abscisic acid or methyl jasmonate, results in accumulation of ZmPR4 mRNA in maize leaves. Furthermore, the ZmPR4 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and used to obtain polyclonal antibodies that specifically recognized ZmPR4 in protein extracts from fungus-infected embryos. Accumulation of ZmPR4 mRNA in fungus-infected maize tissues was accompanied by a significant accumulation of the corresponding protein. The possible implications of these findings as part of the general defence response of maize plants against pathogens are discussed.