Selection of animal bone surrogate samples for orthopaedic screw testing based on human radius CT-derived bone morphology.

Animal bones are commonly used to test the mechanical competence of bone screws since they are easier to obtain compared to human bones. Nevertheless, selecting an appropriate animal sample that correctly represents the human bone architecture where the screw is implanted is frequently overlooked. This study presents a protocol for bone sample selection for screw mechanical testing based on a characterization of the local CT-derived bone morphology. For this, 36 human radii were used to quantify the local peri-implant bone morphology of 360 osteosynthesis screws, 10 per bone, whose implantation site and depth were fully known. A cylindrical volume of interest was created along the screw path and used to measure the local morphology. With this, 10 average peri-implant bone morphologies were defined. Additionally, two animal models, pig, and sheep, were selected and used as potential sample sources. From each model, six bones were selected for analysis. Based on a surface mesh of each bone a computational algorithm was created to automatically extract cylindrical probes in several locations from which the local bone morphometry was calculated. A multi-parametric bone similarity score was developed and used to compare the local morphology of each animal bone to that of the human average peri-implant bone morphology. The score was then mapped to the surface of the bone thus allowing to visually identify regions on the animal bone with human-like bone morphology. By using this methodology, the use of human bones can be avoided since samples with human-like bone morphologies can be found on animal bones. This is not only useful in cases where strict ethical constrains must be fulfilled, but also in studies where the relationship between morphology and screw competence is to be studied, something that is hard to replicate with commercially available synthetic alternatives.

Comparación de velocidad lineal y fuerza en miembros superiores entre deportistas no paralímpicos y paralímpicos con lesión medular / Comparison of linear speed and upper limb strength between non-paralympic and paralympic athletes with spinal cord injury

El rendimiento deportivo considera factores relacionados con el éxito en la ejecución del gesto, como la fuerza y la velocidad, que pueden influir notablemente en la competencia. Dado que los deportistas paralímpicos realizan compensaciones en su práctica deportiva, se requiere evidencia científica que facilite la iniciación y el desempeño de la destreza y habilidad, así como el fundamento de la normativa. Objetivo Describir la velocidad lineal y la fuerza en el miembro superior de deportistas convencionales y paralímpicos con lesión medular. Materiales y método Estudio descriptivo transversal, en el que participaron 25 deportistas entre 18 y 44 años, con un mínimo de un año de entrenamiento, una vez por semana, sin lesiones asociadas, pertenecientes a Indervalle y a la Escuela Nacional del Deporte de Cali, que fueron valorados con dinamometría y cuantificación cinemática 3D usando cámaras optoelectrónicas QUALISYS. El análisis consideró medidas de tendencia central, Shapiro-Wilk, pruebas t de Student y Wilcoxon, a través de SPSS v. 21. Este es un estudio de mínimo riesgo en el cual se consideraron las normas del Comité de Ética institucional. Resultados Se evidenció que el peso e índice de masa corporal en mujeres y hombres paralímpicos supera al de no paralímpicos en 7,6kg y 5,9kg/m2, respectivamente, el tiempo de entreno en deportistas paralímpicos supera a los no paralímpicos en unas 5 h, existe diferencia significativa (p=0) en la fuerza entre hombres y mujeres no paralímpicas y también existe diferencia (p=0) en la velocidad lineal fase 1 de la mano izquierda entre no paralímpicos y paralímpicos. Conclusiones Existen diferencias entre deportistas no paralímpicos y paralímpicos en velocidad lineal de movimiento de la mano izquierda durante la preparación. Respecto a la fuerza y velocidad entre deportistas paralímpicos, no se presentaron diferencias significativas; sin embargo, sí la hubo en la fuerza entre los deportistas no paralímpicos (AU)

Sports performance covers factors related to success in the execution of a gesture, such as strength and speed that can be of significant influence in competition. Paralympic athletes are those who make compensations to their sports practice. Scientific evidence is required to facilitate the initiation and performance of skill and ability, as well as to support the regulations. Objective To describe the lineal velocity and strength in the upper limbs of non-paralympic and paralympic athletes with spinal injury. Materials and method Cross-sectional descriptive study, involving 25 athletes, between 18 and 44 years, with minimum one year of training, once a week, without associated injuries; belonging to Indervalle and the National School of Sport of Cali; assessed with dynamometry, 3D kinematic quantification using optoelectronic cameras QUALISYS. The analysis considered measures of central tendency, Shapiro-Wilk, Student's T and Wilcoxon tests, using SPSS v. 21. A minimum risk study that considered the institutional Ethics Committee standards. Results It was shown that weight and body mass index in paralympic women and men exceeds non-paralympic weight by 7.6kg and 5.9kg/m2 respectively, the training time in paralympic athletes exceeds that of non-paralympic athletes by approximately 5hours, there is a significant difference (P=.00) in strength between non-paralympic men and women, there is also a difference (P=.00) in lineal velocity phase 1, left hand, between the non-paralympic and paralympic athletes. Conclusions There are differences between non-paralympic and paralympic athletes in lineal speed of left-hand movement during preparation of the same. Regarding strength and speed between paralympic athletes, there were no significant differences, however, there were significant differences between the non-paralympic athletes (AU)

PIMA: A population informative multiplex for the Americas.

We describe an ancestry-informative autosomal SNP multiplex designed to be a small-scale, flexible panel that can complement uniparental markers in assessing the American variability (i.e. pre-Colombian) found in contemporary indigenous American populations. This study centered on choosing SNPs with the specific characteristics of: 1) extreme allele frequency differences between indigenous Americans and the African, European and East Asian population groups that contribute to present-day population variation in the Americas; 2) high informativeness-for-assignment In values; and 3) well-spaced genomic distribution and chromosomal separation from existing small-scale forensic ancestry marker sets. The resulting capillary electrophoresis SNaPshot single base extension test was named: PIMA (Population Informative Multiplex for the Americas), comprising 26 autosomal SNPs, a single X-chromosome SNP plus the amelogenin sex marker adapted for SNaPshot. PIMA complements the established 34plex forensic ancestry panel to provide a powerful and simple tool for the analysis of American populations, including those with admixed histories, commonly encountered in America. Comparing the results obtained with the combined marker panels of PIMA and 34plex to SNP data from a much larger ancestry panel allowed us to gauge their relative efficiency. PIMA+34plex gives equivalent power to the 314-SNP 'LACE' genomic ancestry control panel, while requiring a much smaller genotyping effort. The ancestry profiles and genetic structure of 22 populations spread across the American continent were estimated using PIMA+34plex data, and those estimates were contrasted with information provided by uniparental markers (mtDNA and Y-chromosome loci) for a small set of admixed individuals from Venezuela. Our results indicate that an American genetic component is efficiently detected in contemporary American populations using a small set of ancestry informative SNPs, and these co-ancestry estimates are consistent with the known history and demography of the Americas. The small scale and high population differentiation power of PIMA, particularly when combined with 34plex, provides a practical and powerful tool for genetic studies of American populations as well as forensic DNA analyses.

The design and methodology of a usability protocol for the management of medications by families for aging older adults.

BACKGROUND: Health research apps often do not focus on usability as a design priority. This is problematic when the population of interest is disproportionately underrepresented as users of mobile apps, especially observed with aging older adults (> = 75). Challenges with the adoption of health information technology (HIT) among this group are exacerbated by poor design and user interface/experience (UI/UX) choices. This protocol describes the testing and evaluation process of one HIT app for the family-based collaboration platform InfoSAGE. METHODS: We aim to recruit twenty subjects from both informal family-caregivers and aging older adults to examine the usability of the InfoSAGE mobile medication manager. Participants will be audio and visually recorded, in addition to the use of screen capture recordings, while 'thinking aloud' as they complete eight common use-case scenarios. Multiple independent reviewers will code video and audio recordings for thematic analysis and use problems will be evaluated. Success and failure of each scenario will be determined by completion of sub-events. Time-to-complete analysis will be used to ascertain the learning curve associated with the app. DISCUSSION: Frequently observed problem areas will be used as the basis of further evolution of the app, and will further inform generalized recommendations for the design of HIT apps for research and public use. This study aims to improve the model of development for dual user populations with dissimilar technological literacy to improve retention and use. Results of this study will form the foundation of a design framework for mobile health apps.

Predictive score and probability of CTX-like toxicity in fish samples from the official control of ciguatera in the Canary Islands.

This research identifies factors associated with the contamination by ciguatoxins (CTXs) in a population of fish and proposes a predictive score of the presence of CTX-like toxicity in amberjack samples from the official control program of ciguatera in the Canary Islands of the Directorate-General (DG) Fisheries (Canary Government). Out of the 970 samples of fish studied, 177 (18.2%) samples showed CTX-like toxicity. The fish were classified according to the species, amberjack (Seriola dumerili and S. rivoliana) (n = 793), dusky grouper (Epinephelus marginatus) (n = 145) and wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri) (n = 32). The data were separated by species category and statistically examined, resulting in 137 (17.3%) amberjack and 39 (26.9%) grouper samples showing CTX-like toxicity; regarding wahoo species, only 1 toxic sample (3.1%) was found. According to fishing location the contamination rates suggested grouping the islands in four clusters; namely: {El Hierro: HI; La Gomera: LG; La Palma: LP}, {Gran Canaria: GC; Tenerife: TF}, {Fuerteventura: FU} and {Lanzarote: LZ}. For the amberjack species, the multivariate logistic regression showed the factors that maintained independent association with the outcome, which were the warm season (OR = 3.617; 95% CI = 1.249-10.474), the weight (per kg, 1.102; 95% CI = 1.069-1.136) and the island of fish catching. A prediction score was obtained for the probability of contamination by CTX in amberjack fish samples. The area under de curve (AUC) obtained using the validation data was 0.747 (95% CI = 0.662-0.833). Regarding grouper species, the island of fishing was the only factor that showed significant differences associated with the presence of CTX-like toxicity. We provide herein data for a better management and prediction of ciguatera in the Canary Islands, suggesting a review of the minimum limits of fish weight established by the Canary Government for the control program.

Control of entanglement dynamics in a system of three coupled quantum oscillators.

Dynamical control of entanglement and its connection with the classical concept of instability is an intriguing matter which deserves accurate investigation for its important role in information processing, cryptography and quantum computing. Here we consider a tripartite quantum system made of three coupled quantum parametric oscillators in equilibrium with a common heat bath. The introduced parametrization consists of a pulse train with adjustable amplitude and duty cycle representing a more general case for the perturbation. From the experimental observation of the instability in the classical system we are able to predict the parameter values for which the entangled states exist. A different amount of entanglement and different onset times emerge when comparing two and three quantum oscillators. The system and the parametrization considered here open new perspectives for manipulating quantum features at high temperatures.

Generation of entanglement in quantum parametric oscillators using phase control.

The control of quantum entanglement in systems in contact with environment plays an important role in information processing, cryptography and quantum computing. However, interactions with the environment, even when very weak, entail decoherence in the system with consequent loss of entanglement. Here we consider a system of two coupled oscillators in contact with a common heat bath and with a time dependent oscillation frequency. The possibility to control the entanglement of the oscillators by means of an external sinusoidal perturbation applied to the oscillation frequency has been theoretically explored. We demonstrate that the oscillators become entangled exactly in the region where the classical counterpart is unstable, otherwise when the classical system is stable, entanglement is not possible. Therefore, we can control the entanglement swapping from stable to unstable regions by adjusting amplitude and phase of our external controller. We also show that the entanglement rate is approximately proportional to the real part of the Floquet coefficient of the classical counterpart of the oscillators. Our results have the intriguing peculiarity of manipulating quantum information operating on a classical system.

The impact of a cadaver-based airway lab on critical care fellows' direct laryngoscopy skills.

This study sought to determine the impact of a cadaver-based airway lab on critical care medicine fellows' direct laryngoscopy skills and hypothesised that fellows can improve their self-reported percentage of glottic opening (POGO) scores in cadaver models to achieve POGO scores similar to that of expert faculty. Nineteen fellows attended an airway management skills laboratory utilising five modified cadavers. Initial fellow POGO (POGOi) visualised was recorded at the onset with direct laryngoscopy. Maximum fellow POGO score with optimised direct laryngoscopy was recorded after two additional hours of teaching and also during a testing phase several days later. Data was assessed for significant differences between trainee POGO scores at each time interval and between trainee POGO scores and expert scores. A departmental procedural database was utilised to examine success rates of intubation as a clinical correlation. Fellows' mean POGOi scores, averaged across all five specimens, were significantly lower than both their maximum POGO scores and their testing phase POGO scores. Mean POGOi scores for fellows, averaged over all five cadavers, were lower than the instructors' POGOi scores. There was no difference between fellows' and instructors' mean maximum POGO or mean testing phase POGO scores. Clinical success rates of intubation were over 98%. A short training session using modified cadavers can be utilised to teach new critical care medicine fellows additional techniques for airway management and assist them in obtaining higher POGO scores, similar to those of expert instructors. Success rates of clinical intubations were favourable in the wake of this training.

Effect of storage temperature in a Cambodian field setting on the fatty acid composition in whole blood.

Fatty acid analysis requires standardized collection and storage of samples, which can be a challenge under field conditions. This study describes the effect of storage temperature on fatty acid composition in two sets of whole blood samples collected from 66 children in a rural area in Cambodia. The samples were stored with butylated hydroxytoluene at -20 °C and -80 °C and the latter required extra transfers due to storage facility limitation. Fatty acid composition was analyzed by high-throughput gas-chromatography and evaluated by paired t-tests and Bland-Altman plots. Total amounts of fat in -20 °C and -80 °C samples did not differ, but there was relatively more highly unsaturated fatty acids (15.8 ± 2.7 vs. 14.4 ± 2.5%, p < 0.001) and a lower n-6/n-3 ratio (6.4 ± 1.4 vs. 6.9 ± 1.4, p < 0.001) in the -20 °C samples. Our results indicate that the importance of storage temperature should be evaluated in the context of storage facility availability and risk of temperature fluctuations during transport.

Incidence and risk factors for cytomegalovirus disease in a Colombian cohort of kidney transplant recipients.

Incidence and risk factors for cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in a Colombian cohort of kidney transplant recipients. CMV infection and disease are important causes of morbidity and mortality in kidney transplant recipients, and its prevalence varies with economic, geographic, and ethnic factors. Among 1620 records from a Colombian reference center, CMV immunoglobulin (Ig)G seroprevalence was found to be 90.9% among recipients and 90.2% among donors. In 86% (n = 264) of the cases, CMV disease occurred during the first 6 months after the transplantation, and the most frequent clinical presentation was CMV syndrome, followed by gastrointestinal disease. The following parameters were independent predictors of CMV disease: serological status of D+/R+ (hazard ratio [HR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03-2.63) and D+/R- (HR, 2.72; 95% CI, 1.49-4.93), age of the recipient (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), and receiving more than 30 mg of prednisolone by the end of the first month after transplantation (HR, 1.59; 95% CI, 1.22-2.07). Acyclovir prophylaxis or other antiviral agents significantly decreased the risk of disease (HR, 0.41; 95% CI, 0.29-0.58 and HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.20-0.58, respectively). In conclusion, we found a high prevalence of CMV infection in a cohort of Latin American transplant recipients. In accord with findings from other regions, serological status is the main risk factor, prophylaxis with acyclovir is effective, and induction with alemtuzumab does not increase the risk of CMV disease.

EPA and DHA levels in whole blood decrease more rapidly when stored at -20 °C as compared with room temperature, 4 and -75 °C.

High-throughput n-3 fatty acid profiling is enabled by collection techniques such as venous whole blood and fingertip prick (FTP) sampling, but the resulting increased sample numbers increases storage demand. Highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFA) in erythrocytes are susceptible to oxidation, but this tendency is poorly characterized in venous and FTP whole blood. Presently, whole blood samples with low and high n-3 content collected with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid were stored on chromatography paper with and without BHT pre-treatment for up to 180 days at different temperatures (room, 4, -20, -75 °C). Whole blood prepared with heparin and BHT and stored in cryovials was also examined. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3) is relatively stable when stored at -75 °C under various conditions but rapidly decreases in whole blood when stored at -20 °C. At -20 °C, BHT + heparin prepared whole blood can prevent decreases in cryovials up to 180 days but BHT only slows the decreases on chromatography paper. Surprisingly, whole blood stored at 4 °C and room temperature was less susceptible to decreases in EPA + DHA as compared with -20 °C storage. Assessments of n-3 blood biomarkers indicate the % n-3 HUFA in total HUFA was more stable as compared with the sum of the relative % of EPA + DHA. In conclusion, FTP and venous whole blood for fatty acid analysis should be stored at -75 °C whenever possible. In the absence of -75 °C storage conditions, BHT should be added and 4 °C or room temperature appear to be better alternatives to -20 °C.

Survival of renal transplantation patients older than 60 years: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Elderly patients are the fastest growing population requiring renal replacement therapy. It has been stated that renal transplantation may be the best treatment option for these patients. However, it has been observed that older patients have a higher mortality rate than those who are younger. Yet the factors that determine post-transplantation outcomes in this population remain poorly defined. The aims of this study were to evaluate the graft and patient survival in kidney transplant recipients who are older than 60 years of age to identify relevant predictive factors. METHODS: In this population-based retrospective cohort study of 201 kidney transplantations performed in elderly patients from January 2002 throughout June 2009, we estimated the 1-,3-,and 5-year patients and graft survival rates. We also evaluated the complications and the predictors of poor outcomes. Survival times were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival differences assessed with Mantel-Cox log rank-test. We performed a Cox proportional hazards regression models to evaluate the impact of baseline and treatment characteristics on patient and graft survival. RESULTS: Graft and patient survival rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 76.4%, 71.3%, and 54.3%, and 78.2%, 73.8%, and 56.4%, respectively. Graft survival rates censored for patient death with a functioning graft were 93.1, 92.1, and 89%. Patient survival rates differed between diabetic and nondiabetic subjects at 1, 3 and 5 years (69.5% versus 83.6%; 59.8% versus 72.3%; 43.6% versus 65.7%; P = .008). On multivariate analysis, the factors associated with patients survival were diabetes mellitus (hazard ratio [HR] 2.058, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.173-3.611, P = .012) and the 1-month serum creatinine value was > 1.6 mg/dL (HR 2.108 for each point increase, 95% CI 1.521-2.921, P = .000). Furthermore, there was an insignificant trend forward an association between active or past smoker and lower patient survival (HR 1.689, 95% CI 0.937-3.043, P = .08). The main causes of graft loss were patient death (79.5%). acute rejection (6.8%), and chronic allograft nephropathy (5.5%). CONCLUSION: Renal transplantation can be performed safely and with acceptable outcomes in elderly patients after appropriate clinical evaluation. The grafts show excellent survival albeit that deaths with a functional graft continue to be an important issue.

Genetic variability of the SNPforID 52-plex identification-SNP panel in Central West Colombia.

A set of autosomal single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci was analyzed using the 52-plex assay previously described by Sanchez et al. [J.J. Sanchez, C. Phillips, C. Borsting, K. Balogh, M. Bogus, M. Fondevila, C.D. Harrison, E. Musgrave-Brown, A. Salas, D. Syndercombe-Court, P.M. Schneider, A. Carracedo, N. Morling, A multiplex assay with 52 single nucleotide polymorphisms for human identification, Electrophoresis 27 (2006) 1713-1724] in 140 samples of unrelated individuals born in the Colombian regions of, Risaralda, Caldas, Quindio, Antioquia, Tolima and Valle, and 164 samples of unrelated individuals with declared Native American ancestry from Colombia. Allele frequencies and statistical parameters of forensic interest are presented for the 52 SNPs. All loci were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium while comparisons with population samples of Argentina, Portugal, Spain, Mozambique, and Taiwan revealed significant differences in allele frequency distributions.

Carácterísticas histológicas de piel cultivada in vitro / Histological Characteristics Of Skin Culture In Vitro

Los injertos de piel cultivados in vitro han sido utilizados tanto en la regeneración de tejidos de áreas cruentas de la piel (úlceras crónicas y quemaduras de diversos grados), como para el tratamiento de genodermatosis. En nuestro medio existe un alto índice de pacientes con úlceras crónicas y un total de 2319 pacientes quemados, en un período de 10 años. El tratamiento convencional de estos pacientes genera estadías de hospitalización prolongadas y costos hospitalarios muy elevados. En este trabajo se establecieron las condiciones para el cultivo y expansión de queratinocitos y fibroblastos humanos, con el propósito de generar un equivalente cutáneo. A su vez, se evaluaron sus características histológicas con el objeto de ofrecer otras opciones de tratamiento. Las células se obtuvieron a partir de piel proveniente de donantes de órganos y de sobrantes de procedimientos quirúrgicos. Se logró un mayor éxito en la obtención de cultivos primarios, con muestras provenientes de donantes menores de 40 años (65%), comparado con los obtenidos de mayores (33%). En el equivalente cutáneo producido con estas células se demostró que los queratinocitos y los fibroblastos, presentan características funcionales, estructurales y morfológicas semejantes a la piel intacta. El equivalente cutáneo además de conservar las características funcionales y estructurales de la piel intacta, presenta otras ventajas en términos de costos, manipulación y estabilidad frente a otros productos similares importados.

In vitro skin culture have been used in the regeneration of skin wound (chronic ulcers and burns), and for genodermatosis treatment. In our country there is a high patient number with chronic ulcers and 2319 burned in a period of 10 years. Conventional treatment generates long hospitalization stays and high costs. We established culture conditions of keratinocytes and fibroblasts expansion, to generate a cutaneous substitute in order to offer other treatment options. Skin cells were obtained from organs donors and surgical surpluses procedures. Major success was achieved in primary cultures obtained from 40-year-old younger donors samples (65%), compared with older donors (33%). In one cutaneous substitute produced with these cells, was demonstrated that keratinocytes and fibroblasts, presented functional, structural and morphologic characteristics similar to normal skin. Cutaneous substitute besides preserve normal skin functional and structural characteristic, compared with other similar imported products, our cutaneous substitute, showed many advantages in terms of costs, manipulation and stability.

Genetic polymorphism of 15 STR loci in central western Colombia.

Fifteen autosomal short tandem repeat (STR) loci were analyzed using the AmpFISTR Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit in 1944 samples of healthy unrelated individuals, born in the regions of Caldas, Quindio and Risaralda, Colombia. Allele frequencies and statistical parameters of forensic interest are presented for all markers (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, THO1, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA). All loci of the pooled data were in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, after Bonferroni correction. Comparisons with neighboring Latin American populations and Andalucia (Spain) revealed significant differences in allele distributions. Genetic data presented in this study can be used for routine forensic applications in the region.

Kidney graft survival in patients with hepatitis C: a single center experience.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is highly prevalent in renal transplant candidates; however, its effect on the transplant outcome is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of HCV infection in the outcome of kidney transplantation in a single transplant center. The study population 144 HCV- randomized selected patients and 64 HCV+ patients transplanted from 1973 to 2000, followed for up to 60 months post-transplantation. This retrospective study included the following variables: type of dialysis, time on renal replacement therapy, number of transfusions before and after transplantation, number of transplants, type of donor, immunosuppression, and rejection episodes. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate graft and patient survival. Log-rank test was used to assess the difference in survival between HCV+ and HCV-. A multivariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the relation between graft and patient survival. HCV+ and HCV- patients had similar demographic and clinical characteristics; however, a higher number of HCV+ patients received blood transfusions after transplantation. Patient survival was not significantly different in 39 HCV+ and 96 HCV- patients transplanted with living-related donors (71% and 77% at five yr, respectively). Similarly, there was not significant difference in 25 HCV+ and 48 HCV- patients transplanted with kidneys from deceased donors, although there was a tendency to better outcome in HCV- patients (55% and 72% at five yr respectively). Regarding graft survival, there was also no differences in HCV+ and HCV- recipients of living-related grafts (61% and 66% at five yr post-transplant, respectively) and recipients of kidneys from deceased donors (44% and 41%, respectively). The results show that HCV+ patients can be transplanted with the same success than HCV- patients.

Detection of amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi in a kidney graft with acute dysfunction.

We described a case of allograft kidney dysfunction associated with renal parenchymal infection with amastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. The patient was diagnosed as being chronically infected prior to transplantation. The infection was probably acquired by blood transfusion. He could not complete antiparasitic treatment due to drug toxicity. He was transplanted from a cadaver who showed a negative test for Chagas' disease. One year after transplantation the serum creatinine progressively increased. Histological examination of renal biopsy revealed intracytoplasmic amastigotes of T cruzi. No evidence of other specific alterations in the graft was detected. It was unknown whether graft dysfunction was only due to parasitic infection. The present case confirmed that T cruzi can infect kidney grafts and that immunosuppression in kidney transplantation is potentially a cause of dissemination of Chagas' disease.

Polymorphic variants of the beta2-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) gene and ADRB2-related propanolol-induced dyslipidemia in the Colombian population.

Different polymorphisms of the ADRB2 gene encoding the beta-adrenergic receptor (ADRB2) are associated with changes in a variety of responses of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). In this study, we have investigated the distribution of frequencies of ADRB2-related allelic variants (Arg16Gly, Gln27Glu, Thr164Ile) in the Colombian population, as well as the influence of the Gln27Glu polymorphism as a risk factor for the development of dyslipidemia following propranolol administration. Genotyping was performed in unrelated Colombian volunteers, using PCR-RFLP methods. To examine the association between the Gln27Glu polymorphism of the ADRB2 gene and dyslipidemia induced by propranolol, we recruited 19 healthy individuals who were homozygous for either the Gln27 (wild-type, N = 11) or the Glu27 (homozygous mutant, N = 8) genotype. Electrocardiography (ECG), heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), serum lipid levels (T-CHO, HDL-CHO, TG), and fibrinogen were determined before and after propranolol administration. The distribution of genotypes was as follows: Arg16Arg 46%, Arg16Gly 47.4%, Gly16Gly 6.6%, Gln27Gln 44.7%, Gln27Glu 48.2%, and Glu27Glu 7.1%, with allelic frequencies of 69.7% for Arg16, 30.3% for Gly16, 68.8% for Gln27, and 31.2% for Glu27. The Thr164Ile polymorphism was found only in one subject, who was heterozygous for the isoleucine variant. Significant changes in physiological parameters (HR, SBP, DBP) have been found in association with ADRB2 variants in both native and mutant subgroups after propranolol intake. HDL-CHO levels diminished (p = 0.005) in native homozygous individuals (Gln27Gln), whereas TG levels were found increased (p = 0.012) in the mutant homozygous individuals (Glu27Glu). T-CHO levels and serum fibrinogen levels remained unaltered in both subgroups. The evidence that subjects homozygous for Gln27 in the ADRB2 gene show a significant reduction of HDL-CHO levels, as well as the increased TG levels in subjects homozygous for Glu27 after propranolol administration, suggest that the Gln27Glu polymorphism represents a risk factor for dyslipidemia induced by propranolol. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying dyslipidemia induced by ADRB2 antagonists.

Antigenic profile of human bronchial gland.

Bronchial glands have been regarded as modified salivary glands. It is well known that there no previous reviews concerning the antigenic profile of the bronchial wall. The aim of this study is a systematic survey of the antigenic profile and to describe the histology of normal human bronchial glands. Six formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded surgical specimens were studied using a panel of 22 polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase method. Bronchial glands disclosed a tubuloacinar structure. The smallest ducts intercalated originated from a cluster of secretory acini and converge to form an excretory duct. No striated duct was observed. Acinar united is composed by mucous, serous and mixed units. Myoepithelial cells are found in relation to the intercalated ducts and secretory acinis. Secretory cells of bronchial glands reacted strongly with cytokeratin AE1 and moderately for CK7, CK18. Additionally, serous acinar cells reacted with AE3, CK19, CK5/6/8/18, CK8/18/19, and Leu7. Myoepithelial cells reacted strongly with a-smooth muscle actin, CD10 and CK34betaE12. Ductal system cells differed from acinar secretory cells in expressing CK34betaE12 and HSP27. In conclusion, the detailed knowledge of the immunohistochemical reactivities of normal cell types of normal human bronchial glands will prove useful in studies of bronchial pathology, especially of neoplastic processes.