Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) Associated with Calf Mortality in Uruguay.

In Uruguay, the mortality of dairy calves due to infectious diseases is high. Escherichia coli is a natural inhabitant of the intestinal microbiota, but can cause several infections. The aim of the work was to characterize E. coli isolates from intestinal and extraintestinal origin of dead newborn calves. Using PCR, virulence gene characteristics of pathogenic E. coli were searched. The pathogenic E. coli were molecularly characterized and the phylogroup, serogroup and the Stx subtype were determined. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes with PCR. Finally, clonal relationships were inferred using PFGE. Gene characteristics of the Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and Necrotoxigenic E. coli (NTEC) were identified. The prevalence of the iucD, afa8E, f17, papC, stx1, eae and ehxA genes was high and no f5, f41, saa, sfaDE, cdtIV, lt, sta or stx2 were detected. The prevalence of STEC gene stx1 in the dead calves stood out and was higher compared with previous studies conducted in live calves, and STEC LEE+ (Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)) isolates with stx1/eae/ehxA genotypes were more frequently identified in the intestinal than in the extraintestinal environment. E. coli isolates were assigned to phylogroups A, B1, D and E, and some belonged to the O111 serogroup. stx1a and stx1c subtypes were determined in STEC. A high prevalence of multi-resistance among STEC and qnrB genes was determined. The PFGE showed a high diversity of pathogenic strains with similar genetic profiles. It can be speculated that EHEC (stx1/eae/ehxA) could play an important role in mortality. The afa8E, f17G1 and papC genes could also have a role in calf mortality. Multidrug resistance defies disease treatment and increases the risk of death, while the potential transmissibility of genes to other species constitutes a threat to public health.

Virulence genes of Escherichia coli in diarrheic and healthy calves.

Escherichia coli ETEC, EPEC, NTEC and STEC/EHEC pathotypes are often isolated from bovine feces. The objective of this study was to detect 21 E. coli virulence genes in feces from 252 dairy calves in Uruguay (149 with neonatal diarrhea - NCD - and 103 asymptomatic). Genes iucD, f17A, afa8E, papC, clpG and f17G(II) were the most prevalent (81.3%; 48.4%; 37.3%; 35.7%; 34.1%; 31.3%, respectively). Genes eae, stx1and stx2 were poorly represented; 13/252 animals harbored one or a combination of these genes. The prevalence of the cnf gene was 4.4%, while that of cdt-IV and cdt-III genes was 24.2% and 12.7% respectively. This study reports updated data about the virulence profiles of E. coli in dairy calves in Uruguay. A large number of adhesins and toxin genes were detected. Our results demonstrate that E. coli from bovine feces has diarrheagenic and extraintestinal profiles although other NCD risks factors may contribute to the disease outcome.

índice psa libr//psa total: una herramienta para la detección precoz del cáncer de póóstata / Free PSA / total PSA index: a tool for the early detection of prostate cancer

El cáncer es un problema de salud mundial y en Cuba fallecen alrededor de 14 000 enfermos por año, constituye la segunda causa de muerte para todas las edades del país, (solo precedidas por las enfermedades cardiovasculares) y en particular el cáncer de próstata es la neoplasia más común en el hombre del mundo occidental, se estima que ocupa el segundo lugar en el hombre en Cuba. Es por ello que se han desarrollado múltiples estrategias para detectar esta enfermedad en formas tempranas curables y así reducir la tasa de mortalidad. Se propuso implantar una nueva herramienta para la detección del PSA, el índice de PSA libre/ PSA total, evaluando sus valores de referencia, comparando los métodos de medición del PSA total, estableciendo la factibilidad de su determinación en nuestro medio, así como validando su prevalencia y correlación clínica en la enfermedad prostática benigna y maligna. Se consideró que las implicaciones sociales y bioéticas del proyecto se corresponden con la inclusión dentro de las investigaciones ramales de los proyectos de medios auxiliares en el diagnóstico y del pesquisaje de enfermedades que constituyen problemas de salud, como la entidad en cuestión. Por tanto, el alcance y cumplimiento de los objetivos propuestos, constituyen una aspiración que deseamos hacerla tangible a partir del impacto social que representa el proyecto, destacando asimismo que los recursos materiales que interesa en esta investigación son prácticamente irrelevantes.

Cancer is a worldwilde health problem and in Cuba died about 14 000 sickpeople per year, constitutes the second cause of death for all the ages of the country, (just preceded by cardiovascular diseases) and particularly prostate cancer is the most common neoplasia in the western world man, it is estimated that occupies the second place in Cuba. That is why multiple strategies to detect this disease in curable early forms and thus to reduce the mortality rate has developed. A new tool for the PSA detection, the free PSA / total PSA index was proposed to establish, evaluating its reference values´, comparing the measurement methods of the total PSA, establishing the feasibility of its determination in our environment, as well as validating its prevalence and clinical correlation in the malignant and benign prostatic disease. It was considered that social and bioethics implications of the project correspond with the inclusion within the branch researches of the auxiliary means projects in the diagnosis and research of diseases that constitute health problems, as the entity in question. Therefore, the reach and fulfilment of the objectives proposed constitute an aspiration that we desire to do it tangible from the social impact that the project represents, likewise emphasizing that the material resources that really matter in this investigation are practically irrelevant.

Indice psa libre/psa total: una herramienta para la detección precoz del cáncer de próstata / Free PSA / total PSA index: a tool for the early detection of prostate cancer

El cáncer es un problema de salud mundial y en Cuba fallecen alrededor de 14 000 enfermos por año, constituye la segunda causa de muerte para todas las edades del país, (solo precedidas por las enfermedades cardiovasculares) y en particular el cáncer de próstata es la neoplasia más común en el hombre del mundo occidental, se estima que ocupa el segundo lugar en el hombre en Cuba. Es por ello que se han desarrollado múltiples estrategias para detectar esta enfermedad en formas tempranas curables y así reducir la tasa de mortalidad. Se propuso implantar una nueva herramienta para la detección del PSA, el índice de PSA libre/ PSA total, evaluando sus valores de referencia, comparando los métodos de medición del PSA total, estableciendo la factibilidad de su determinación en nuestro medio, así como validando su prevalencia y correlación clínica en la enfermedad prostática benigna y maligna. Se consideró que las implicaciones sociales y bioéticas del proyecto se corresponden con la inclusión dentro de las investigaciones ramales de los proyectos de medios auxiliares en el diagnóstico y del pesquisaje de enfermedades que constituyen problemas de salud, como la entidad en cuestión. Por tanto, el alcance y cumplimiento de los objetivos propuestos, constituyen una aspiración que deseamos hacerla tangible a partir del impacto social que representa el proyecto, destacando asimismo que los recursos materiales que interesa en esta investigación son prácticamente irrelevantes(AU)

Cancer is a worldwilde health problem and in Cuba died about 14 000 sickpeople per year, constitutes the second cause of death for all the ages of the country, (just preceded by cardiovascular diseases) and particularly prostate cancer is the most common neoplasia in the western world man, it is estimated that occupies the second place in Cuba. That is why multiple strategies to detect this disease in curable early forms and thus to reduce the mortality rate has developed. A new tool for the PSA detection, the free PSA / total PSA index was proposed to establish, evaluating its reference values, comparing the measurement methods of the total PSA, establishing the feasibility of its determination in our environment, as well as validating its prevalence and clinical correlation in the malignant and benign prostatic disease. It was considered that social and bioethics implications of the project correspond with the inclusion within the branch researches of the auxiliary means projects in the diagnosis and research of diseases that constitute health problems, as the entity in question. Therefore, the reach and fulfilment of the objectives proposed constitute an aspiration that we desire to do it tangible from the social impact that the project represents, likewise emphasizing that the material resources that really matter in this investigation are practically irrelevant

Germline PTEN promoter mutations and deletions in Cowden/Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome result in aberrant PTEN protein and dysregulation of the phosphoinositol-3-kinase/Akt pathway.

Germline intragenic mutations in PTEN are associated with 80% of patients with Cowden syndrome (CS) and 60% of patients with Bannayan-Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome (BRRS). The underlying genetic causes remain to be determined in a considerable proportion of classic CS and BRRS without a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-detectable PTEN mutation. We hypothesized that gross gene deletions and mutations in the PTEN promoter might alternatively account for a subset of apparently mutation-negative patients with CS and BRRS. Using real time and multiplex PCR techniques, we identified three germline hemizygous PTEN deletions in 122 apparently mutation-negative patients with classic CS (N=95) or BRRS (N=27). Fine mapping suggested that one deletion encompassed the whole gene and the other two included exon 1 and encompassed exons 1-5 of PTEN, respectively. Two patients with the deletion were diagnosed with BRRS, and one patient with the deletion was diagnosed with BRRS/CS overlap (features of both). Thus 3 (11%) of 27 patients with BRRS or BRRS/CS-overlap had PTEN deletions. Analysis of the PTEN promoter revealed nine cases (7.4%) harboring heterozygous germline mutations. All nine had classic CS, representing almost 10% of all subjects with CS. Eight had breast cancers and/or benign breast tumors but, otherwise, oligo-organ involvement. PTEN protein analysis, from one deletion-positive and five PTEN-promoter-mutation-positive samples, revealed a 50% reduction in protein and multiple bands of immunoreactive protein, respectively. In contrast, control samples showed only the expected band. Further, an elevated level of phosphorylated Akt was detected in the five promoter-mutation-positive samples, compared with controls, indicating an absence of or marked reduction in functional PTEN. These data suggest that patients with BRRS and CS without PCR-detected intragenic PTEN mutations be offered clinical deletion analysis and promoter-mutation analysis, respectively.

Missense mutations in the regulatory domain of PKC gamma: a new mechanism for dominant nonepisodic cerebellar ataxia.

We report a nonepisodic autosomal dominant (AD) spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) not caused by a nucleotide repeat expansion that is, to our knowledge, the first such SCA. The AD SCAs currently comprise a group of > or =16 genetically distinct neurodegenerative conditions, all characterized by progressive incoordination of gait and limbs and by speech and eye-movement disturbances. Six of the nine SCAs for which the genes are known result from CAG expansions that encode polyglutamine tracts. Noncoding CAG, CTG, and ATTCT expansions are responsible for three other SCAs. Approximately 30% of families with SCA do not have linkage to the known loci. We recently mapped the locus for an AD SCA in a family (AT08) to chromosome 19q13.4-qter. A particularly compelling candidate gene, PRKCG, encodes protein kinase C gamma (PKC gamma), a member of a family of serine/threonine kinases. The entire coding region of PRKCG was sequenced in an affected member of family AT08 and in a group of 39 unrelated patients with ataxia not attributable to trinucleotide expansions. Three different nonconservative missense mutations in highly conserved residues in C1, the cysteine-rich region of the protein, were found in family AT08, another familial case, and a sporadic case. The mutations cosegregated with disease in both families. Structural modeling predicts that two of these amino acid substitutions would severely abrogate the zinc-binding or phorbol ester-binding capabilities of the protein. Immunohistochemical studies on cerebellar tissue from an affected member of family AT08 demonstrated reduced staining for both PKC gamma and ataxin 1 in Purkinje cells, whereas staining for calbindin was preserved. These results strongly support a new mechanism for neuronal cell dysfunction and death in hereditary ataxias and suggest that there may be a common pathway for PKC gamma-related and polyglutamine-related neurodegeneration.

A role for mitochondrial enzymes in inherited neoplasia and beyond.

Mitochondrial defects have been associated with neurological disorders, as well as cancers. Two ubiquitously expressed mitochondrial enzymes--succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and fumarate hydratase (FH, fumarase)--catalyse sequential steps in the Krebs tricarboxylic-acid cycle. Inherited heterozygous mutations in the genes encoding these enzymes cause predispositions to two types of inherited neoplasia syndromes that do not share any component tumours. Homozygous mutations in the same genes result in severe neurological impairment. Understanding this link between inherited cancer syndromes and neurological disease could provide further insights into the mechanisms by which mitochondrial deficiencies lead to tumour development.

A new dominant spinocerebellar ataxia linked to chromosome 19q13.4-qter.

BACKGROUND: The autosomal dominant spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) are a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of neurodegenerative disorders. Although molecular genetic studies have so far implicated 16 loci in the etiology of these diseases, approximately 30% of families with SCAs remain unlinked. OBJECTIVES: To report the location of a gene causing a "pure" autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia in one family and to describe the clinical phenotype. PATIENTS: We have identified a 4-generation American family of English and Dutch ethnicity with a pure cerebellar ataxia displaying an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance. The disease typically has its onset in the third and fourth decades of life, shows no evidence of anticipation, progresses slowly, and does not appear to decrease life expectancy. Clinical DNA testing excluded SCA1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 8. METHODS: A genome-wide linkage analysis at a 10 centimorgan (cM) level was performed with samples from 26 family members (11 affected, 10 clinically unaffected at risk, and 5 spouses). RESULTS: Assuming 90% penetrance, we found suggestive evidence of linkage to chromosome 19, with a lod score of 2.49 for D19S571. More detailed mapping in this region provided a maximum 2-point lod score of 2.57 at theta = 0 for D19S254 and a maximum multipoint lod score of 4.72 at D19S926. By haplotype construction a 22-cM critical region from D19S601 to the q telomere was defined. CONCLUSIONS: We have mapped a gene for an autosomal dominant SCA to chromosome 19q13.4-qter in one family. The critical region overlaps with the locus for SCA14, a disease described in a single Japanese family and characterized by axial myoclonus. Myoclonus was not seen in the family we studied, but it remains possible that the 2 disorders are allelic variants.

The expanding role of PTEN in neoplasia: a molecule for all seasons? Commentary re: M. A. Davies, et al., Adenoviral-mediated expression of MMAC/PTEN inhibits proliferation and metastasis of human prostate cancer cells. Clin. Cancer Res., 8: 1904-1914, 2002.

Not since the discovery of p53 has another molecule received as much attention as PTEN. In the 5 years since the discovery of PTEN, encoding a dual specificity phosphatase tumor suppressor on 10q23, it has been shown to be a susceptibility gene for an inherited cancer syndrome, Cowden syndrome, and for several developmental disorders; it has been shown to play a prominent role in normal murine and human development; and it has been shown to be instrumental in cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and/or possibly cell migration and cytoskeletal affairs. Initial work on cancer cell lines had suggested that PTEN caused every type of cancer because it was reported that a relatively high frequency of a variety of cancer cell lines, whether derived from solid tumors or hematological malignancies, had homozygous or compound heterozygous genetic alterations involving PTEN. Such data, together with the germ-line human and murine model data, suggested that PTEN mutations occurred "early" in sporadic tumorigenesis. However, subsequent painstaking work in noncultured primary tumors and in careful in vitro overexpression studies over the last 4 years demonstrated that the mechanism of PTEN inactivation can be varied and might be cell type dependent. Furthermore, apart from sporadic endometrial carcinoma, PTEN alteration in noncultured sporadic neoplasias likely occurs "late," promoting progression and metastasis. The article by Davies et al. (Clin Cancer Res., 8: 1904-1914, 2002) sheds light on all of these issues when they report on data that derive from a "triple threat" strategy, i.e., in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo, to demonstrate that adenoviral infection of PTEN into PTEN-null PC3 prostate cancer cell lines results in decreased metastatic potential without significantly altering tumor size via the predominant mechanism of G(1) cell cycle arrest but not apoptosis.

Autosomal dominant sensory/motor neuropathy with Ataxia (SMNA): Linkage to chromosome 7q22-q32.

The autosomal dominant (AD) spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs) and hereditary sensory neuropathies (HSN) are heterogeneous disorders characterized by variable clinical, electrophysiological, and neuropathological profiles. The SCAs are clinically characterized by slowly progressive incoordination of gait often associated with poor coordination of hands, speech, and eyes. Peripheral neuropathy is not a frequent part of the SCA syndrome. In contrast, the HSNs are primarily characterized by progressive sensory loss. There is substantial clinical overlap between the various SCAs and the various HSNs, and they often cannot be differentiated on the basis of clinical or neuro-imaging studies. We have identified a five-generation American family of Irish ancestry with a unique neurological disorder displaying an AD pattern of inheritance. There was variable expressivity and severity of symptoms including sensory loss, ataxia, pyramidal tract signs, and muscle weakness. Nerve conduction studies were consistent with a sensory axonal neuropathy. Muscle biopsy revealed neurogenic atrophy and brain MRI showed mild cerebellar atrophy. To identify the responsible locus we pursued a whole genome linkage analysis. After analyzing 114 markers, linkage to D7S486 was detected with a two point LOD score of 4.79 at theta = 0.00. Evaluation of additional markers in the region provided a maximum LOD score of 6.36 at theta = 0.00 for marker D7S2554. Haplotype analysis delimited an approximately 14-cM region at 7q22-q32 between markers D7S2418 and D7S1804 cosegregating with the disease. Because this disorder does not easily fall into either the SCA or HSN categories, it is designated sensory/motor neuropathy with ataxia (SMNA).