Isolation and Characterization of vB_MsmS_Celfi: A New Mycobacterium tuberculosis Bacteriophage.

Introduction: Because of the clinical relevance of Mycobacteria, and from a therapeutic perspective, there is an increasing interest to study phages that infect bacteria belonging to this genus. Materials and Methods: A phage was isolated from a soil sample, using Mycobacterium smegmatis as host. Its characterization included sequencing, annotation, and analysis of the genome, host range determination, and electron microscopy imaging. Results: Mycobacterium phage vB_MsmS_Celfi is a temperate phage able to infect Mycobacterium tuberculosis with high efficiency. From electron microscopy images, Celfi belongs to the Siphoviridae family. Genome analysis classified phage Celfi into cluster L, subcluster L2 of Actinobacteriophage clusters. Mycobacterium phage Celfi exhibits a Lysin B distant to those present in other members of the subcluster and other mycobacteriophages. Conclusions: The discovery of new phages that infect M. tuberculosis could contribute to the development of novel tools for detection systems and future treatment of the disease.

Genome Sequence and Characterization of Lactobacillus casei Phage, vB_LcaM_Lbab1 Isolated from Raw Milk.

Introduction: Only a few Lactobacillus casei phages have so far been characterized. As several L. casei strains are part of probiotic formulations, bacteriophage outbreaks targeting these strains can lead to critical losses within the dairy industry. Materials and Methods: A new L. casei phage was isolated from raw milk obtained from a milking yard from the province of Buenos Aires. The phage genome was sequenced, annotated, and analyzed. Morphology was determined by electron microscopy and the host range was established. Results: Lactobacillus phage vB_LcaM_Lbab1 is a member of the Herelleviridae family and features a host range including L. casei/Lactobacillus paracasei and Lactobacillus kefiri strains. We further analyzed the baseplate proteins in silico and found putative carbohydrate binding modules that are responsible for host recognition in other Lactobacillus phages. Conclusions: A new Lactobacillus phage was isolated and characterized. The focus was made on its host recognition mechanism, pointing toward the development of future strategies to avoid deleterious infections in the dairy industry.

The interplay between viperin antiviral activity, lipid droplets and Junín mammarenavirus multiplication.

Junín arenavirus infections are associated with high levels of interferons in both severe and fatal cases. Upon Junín virus (JUNV) infection a cell signaling cascade initiates, that ultimately attempts to limit viral replication and prevent infection progression through the expression of host antiviral proteins. The interferon stimulated gene (ISG) viperin has drawn our attention as it has been highlighted as an important antiviral protein against several viral infections. The studies of the mechanistic actions of viperin have described important functional domains relating its antiviral and immune-modulating actions through cellular lipid structures. In line with this, through silencing and overexpression approaches, we have identified viperin as an antiviral ISG against JUNV. In addition, we found that lipid droplet structures are modulated during JUNV infection, suggesting its relevance for proper virus multiplication. Furthermore, our confocal microscopy images, bioinformatics and functional results also revealed viperin-JUNV protein interactions that might be participating in this antiviral pathway at lipid droplet level. Altogether, these results will help to better understand the factors mediating innate immunity in arenavirus infection and may lead to the development of pharmacological agents that can boost their effectiveness thereby leading to new treatments for this viral disease.

Identifying Restriction Factors for Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses: Dengue and Junín.

Host restriction factors are cellular components that interfere with viral multiplication. They are up-regulated and expressed upon viral infection and in consequence their activity is specific. So far several important restriction factors have been described against diverse viruses. The cellular antiviral mechanisms defined include proteins with the ability to interfere with early steps of viral replication and others that have been shown to block viral morphogenesis. However, other strategies by which the antiviral action is exerted still remain elusive. An additional interesting matter is how viruses also developed ways to by-pass these host-specific obstacles. Thus, unusual cell localization or re-localization represents a frequent virus choice to evade the cellular surveillance. In the present chapter, we summarize methods to identify cell restriction factors, their antiviral activity, and possible subcellular locations where their activity can take place.

Raman study of the shockwave effect on collagens.

The Raman spectra (1800-200 cm(-1)) of isolated dried collagen types I and III were recorded at different times after shockwave (SW) application in aqueous media. SWs were applied in a single session. One week after the SW application the vibrational data analysis indicates changes in the conformation of the collagens; orientational changes are also inferred. During the next three weeks collagens tended to recover the conformation and orientation existing before SW application.

Influence of electron transport proteins on the reactions catalyzed by Fusarium fujikuroi gibberellin monooxygenases.

The multifunctional cytochrome P450 monooxygenases P450-1 and P450-2 from Fusarium fujikuroi catalyze the formation of GA14 and GA4, respectively, in the gibberellin (GA)-biosynthetic pathway. However, the activity of these enzymes is qualitatively and quantitatively different in mutants lacking the NADPH:cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CPR) compared to CPR-containing strains. 3beta-Hydroxylation, a major P450-1 activity in wild-type strains, was strongly decreased in the mutants relative to oxidation at C-6 and C-7, while synthesis of C19-GAs as a result of oxidative cleavage of C-20 by P450-2 was almost absent whereas the C-20 alcohol, aldehyde and carboxylic acid derivatives accumulated. Interaction of the monooxygenases with alternative electron transport proteins could account for these different product distributions. In the absence of CPR, P450-1 activities were NADH-dependent, and stimulated by cytochrome b5 or by added FAD. These properties as well as the decreased efficiency of P450-1 and P450-2 in the mutants are consistent with the participation of cytochrome b5:NADH cytochrome b5 reductase as redox partner of the gibberellin monooxygenases in the absence of CPR. We provide evidence, from either incubations of GA12 (C-20 methyl) with cultures of the mutant suspended in [18O]H2O or maintained under an atmosphere of [18O]O2:N2 (20:80), that GA15 (C-20 alcohol) and GA24 (C-20 aldehyde) are formed directly from dioxygen and not from hydrolysis of covalently enzyme-bound intermediates. Thus these partially oxidized GAs correspond to intermediates of the sequential oxidation of C-20 catalyzed by P450-2.

Evaluation of a PCR assay for the detection and identification of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in retail poultry products.

A PCR-based method was applied to Campylobacter detection in poultry samples at the retail level. In total, 73 retail poultry samples purchased from supermarkets in the Basque Country area in the north of Spain were examined using both culture and molecular (alternative) methods. In our routine method, the worldwide ISO 10272:1995 standard of Preston broth incubated at 42 degrees C for conventional Campylobacter detection was adopted. The molecular method was comprised of a DNA extraction kit consisting of a single polypropylene spin column and PCR amplification of the Campylobacter 16S rRNA gene. A total of 54 raw samples were positive by either PCR or culture; among these, 50 were found to be positive by conventional plating and 54 by PCR. Concordant results, i.e., positive and negative in both methods, were found in 64 samples (94.1%). All positive samples by culture were also positive by PCR, resulting in 100% of positive concordance. Two samples (2.9%) positive after retesting by PCR were considered to be false-negatives. The detection limit of the PCR method was 5 CFUs that corresponded to 0.2 CFUs per 5 mul in the PCR mixture. The percentages of samples that required enrichment to prove Campylobacter presence were moderate, 18% by culture and 13% by PCR. Total analysis time was reduced to a few hours (within the working day) or 24 h when enrichment was required. Therefore, this PCR method proved to be useful as a routine diagnostic test for Campylobacter detection and confirmation of C. jejuni and C. coli in naturally contaminated poultry samples.

Ruptura hepática en el embarazo: presentación de un caso / Hepatic rupture: presentation of case

La ruptura hepática en la mujer embarazada es una complicación rara, pero con morbimortalidad materna y fetal elevada. Se diagnostica en base a clínica, laboratorio, ultrasonografía (USG), tomografía axial computarizada (TAC), resonancia magnética (RMN), angiografía. Se presenta el caso de: paciente femenina de 29 años, embarazo de 30 semanas gestacionales, epigastralgia intensa, considerándose patología biliar a su ingreso. Al agravarse estado general, se considera descartar pancreatitis hemorrágica versus Ruptura uterina. Se diagnosticó ruptura hepática en el acto operatorio

Nifedipina: una opción en uteroinhibición comparado con el uso de Fenoterol / Nifedipine: an option in utero inhibition compared with the use of Fenoterol

La prematuridad y el bajo peso al nacer, continúan siendo críticos problemas de salud pública. El diagnóstico y la prevención del parto pretérmino por tanto constituyen un objetivo primordial en obstetricia. Existen diversos protocolos de manejo de la amenaza de parto pretérmino, con riesgo de cada uno de ellos tanto materno como fetal, por lo que muy diversos esquemas terapéuticos los cuales son en su gran mayoría inaccesibles por su alto costo para la población general en nuestro país. El presente estudio pretende determinar si la Nifedipina ejerce alguna acción terapéutica sobre esta patología comparada con el uso de Fenoterol. La Nifedipina, una dihidropiridina, bloqueadora de la entrada de calcio ha diso usada en el tratamiento de parto pretérmino. Se studiaron en este trabajo prospectivo 40 pacientes, usando Nifedipina y un grupo control tratado con Fenoterol, de 40 pacientes. Encontramos que el 92.5 por ciento de pacientes manejados con Nifedipina su actividad uterina desapareció en la primera hora de tratamiento y el 94 por ciento para el grupo de Fenoterol. Los efectos adversos más frecuentes para Nifedipina fueron taquicardia leve (72 por ciento) y cefalea (59 por ciento) para el grupo de fenoterol taquicardia leve (72 por ciento) y cefalea (25 por ciento)

Nifedipina: una opción en útero ihibición / Nifedipine: a tocolysis option

Nifedipina, una dehidropirina, bloqueadora de la entrada de calcio, ha sido usada con frecuencia incrementada en el tratamiento del parto pretérmino; nosotros estudiamos veinticinco pacientes en este trabajo prospectivo, evaluando la efectividad de nifedipina para hacer desaparecer las contracciones uterinas, y por ende la progresión de cambios cervicales en pacientes con diagnóstico de amenaza de parto pre-término, y la presencia de efectos secundarios maternos y/o fetales con su uso. Encontramos que en 96 por ciento de pacientes el esquema usado con nifedipina fue efectivo para hacer desaparecer la actividad uterina, y los efectos adversos más frecuentes fueron: cefalea y vómitos (54 y 23 por ciento respectivamente)

Mortalidad materna: estudio de tres años en el Hospital Materno Infantil / Maternal mortality: three years study at the Hospital Materno Infantil

El presente estudio fue realizado prospectivamente en el Hospital Materno Infantil del 1 de enero de 1994 al 31 de diciembre de 1995. Los datos revelan la mortalidad materna intrahospitalaria, los cuales son contradictorios a los publicados por el Ministerio de Salud Pública de 175 muertes maternas por cada 100,000 nacidos vivos y de 72.1 por 100,000 nacidos vivos en nuestro estudio; lo anterior refleja una dismunición de la mortalidad intrahospitalaria a pesar de que las fallas detectadas en el sistema de información estadística fueran grandes. Se analizó retrospectivamente la tasa de mortalidad materna (TMM) de 1993 de 72.6/100,000 (n=14) y prospectivamente, 1994: 107.6/100,000 (n=15). Las tres principales causas de mortalidad materna fueron: de índole infecciosa: 28.6 por ciento (n=10), Enfermedad Hipertensiva en el Embarazo (EHE) 34.2 por ciento (n=12) y SIDA 14.3 por ciento (n=5) La mortalidad obstétrica directa fue de 60 por ciento e indirecta de 40.0 por ciento, el 31.4 por ciento (n=11) se consideró evitable, probablemente evitable, 48.6 por ciento (n=17) y no evitable 20 por ciento (n=7). Se analizan los factores de riesgo reproductivo, obstétrico y responsabilidad médica-hospitalaria y materno-comunitaria.

Embarazo ectópico: revisión de un año / Ectopic pregnancy: one year review

1. Frecuencia Hospital-Escuela fue de uno de 1962 nacidos vivos frecuencia Instituto Hondureño de Seguridad Social fue de uno en 305 nacidos vivos. 2. Edad de presentación más frecuente 20-34 años, que coincide con mayor actividad sexual. 3. Más frecuente en multíparas. 4. En 46% de los casos de la edad gestacional fue entre 6-10 semanas. 5. En 55.8% de los pacientes se encontró antecedentes quirúrgicos abdominales. 6. Los síntomas más comunes dolor pélvico, S.T.U. y síntomas hipovolémicos. 7. El gravindex como prueba diagnóstica solo fue positiva en el 59.8%, si es negativo, no descarta el diagnóstico. 8. El presente estudio no puede concluir acerca de la relación DIU-EPI respecto al embarazo ectópico, ya que la falta de información en los expedientes fue grande. 9. La culdocentesis no fue necesaria por la evidencia del cuadro clínico en 55 pacientes (53.9%). 10. El TBA solo fue realizado en 52 pacientes (50.9%), en el resto fue posible hacer diagnóstico con el examen ginecológico rutinario. 11. El 58.8% de casos, se practicó cirugía antes de las 6 horas de su ingreso. 12. Se transfundieron 74 pacientes (72.5%) a pesar de que la hemoglobina menor de 10grs% soslo estuvo en 37 pacientes (32.2%) en este aspecto la hemoglobina que se revisó fue la de ingreso y las transfusiones fueron realizadas en trans y post-operatorio. 13. En 77.4% de las pacientes el embarazo ectópico se encontró roto al momento de la cirugía. 14. El sitio de la trompa más frecuente fue la ampula, seguida del istmo. 15...

Mortalidad materna: revisión de los años Hospital Escuela-Tegucigalpa / Maternal mortality: 2 year's review at the Hospital Escuela, Tegucigalpa

Se presenta la revision que en forma retrospectiva se hizo de todos los casos de muerte materna ocurridos en el Departamento de Ginecología y Obstetricia del Hospital Escuela de Tegucigalpa, Honduras, del 1§ de julio de 1983 al 30 de junio de 1985. Hubo 28,541 nacidos vivos y 25 muertes maternas, lo que significa una tasa de Mortalidad Materna (T.M.M.) de 8075. El mayor número de Muertes Maternas correspondio al grupo de Obstetricas Directas 15 (60%), de ellas 12 (48%) fueron debidas a infección. No Obstétricas 9 (36%), insuficiencia renal aguda 4, y hepatopatías 2. La edad materna varió de 16 a 45 años, siendo el grupo mas frecuente el de 26 a 30. La paridad varió de 0 a 12, el mayor número (11) de 5-6 partos. Se consideró muerte no evitable en 12 (48%), 11 probablemente evitable y 2(8%) evitable. Responsabilidad médica, hospitalaria o ambas se encontró en 7 casos, 18 casos se atribuyo a responsabilidade de las pacientes y la comunidad, siendo la causa mas frecuente el retraso de acudir al médico