[Bacterial corneal ulcer treated with intrastromal antibiotic. Experimental model in vivo]. / Ulcera corneal bacteriana tratada con antibiótico intraestromal. Modelo experimental in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic effectiveness of a single intrastromal dose of gentamycin, tobramycin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin for the treatment of corneal ulcers due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. METHODS: Twelve white female New Zealand rabbits underwent mechanical removal of corneal epithelium; then one drop of salt suspension containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (75,000,000 colony forming units) was instilled over the Bowman's layer. Rabbits were distributed in five groups according to the type of antibiotic used: group A: gentamycin, group B: tobramycin, group C: ciprofloxacin, group D: ofloxacin and control groups. A single intrastromal dose of antibiotic (0.3 mg/ml) was injected 48 to 72 hours post-inoculation. A clinical digital picture was taken daily for a week. Then rabbits were sacrificed, all the corneas were collected and a histopathologic study was performed. RESULTS: We observed a significant reduction of the size of the corneal ulcer in all groups (F = 8.861; p = 0.000). Rabbits treated with ciprofloxacin, had a significant reduction in the size of the ulcer (21.1 SD 5.7 mm(2)). The epithelial growth was slow and incomplete in all groups. The histopathologic study showed Bowman's layer absence. The antibiotic used was not effective in groups A, B and D for the control of the corneal ulcer showing tissular necrosis. CONCLUSION: Group C showed greater degree of epithelization, with increased number of keratocites as well as inflammatory infiltrate as a result of greater therapeutic effectiveness (CIM < 1 mcg).

Úlcera corneal bacteriana tratada con antibiótico intraestromal. Modelo experimental in vivo / Bacterial corneal ulcer treated with intrastromal antibiotic. Experimental model in vivo

Objetivo: Estudio experimental in vivo con la finalidad de comparar la efectividad terapéutica de la administración intraestromal en dosis única diaria de gentamicina, tobramicina, ciprofloxacina y ofloxacinapara el tratamiento de úlceras corneales por Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Métodos: Se incluyeron 12 conejas blancas de Nueva Zelanda. Se les practicó desepitelización corneal central con hoja de bisturí No. 15 y se lesaplicó una gota de cultivo Pseudomonas aeruginosa en suspensión (75.000.000 unidades de colonias formadoras de bacterias). Todas las conejas recibieronantibioticoterapia a través de infiltraciónintraestromal. Se distribuyeron en cinco grupos según el antibiótico empleado: Grupo A: gentamicina, grupo B: tobramicina, grupo C: ciprofloxacina,grupo D: ofloxacina y grupos controles. A todos los ojos se les inyectó en el estroma corneal 0,3 mg/ml como dosis única antibiótica (9 mcg/0,03 ml), iniciando la terapia entre las 48-72 horas a partir de la formación de la úlcera corneal. Para su control se tomaron diariamente fotografías clínicas digitales. A los siete días los ojos fueron enucleados y las córneas extraídas para su estudio histopatológico.Resultados: Se observó disminución del tamaño de la úlcera en forma significativa en cada uno de losgrupos estudiados (F = 8,861; p = 0,000). Las conejas tratadas con ciprofloxacino, tuvieron una reducciónmás importante del tamaño de la úlcera (21,1 DE 5,7 mm2). La reepitelización corneal fue lenta y en ningún grupo se completó. El estudio histopatológicomostró ausencia de la membrana de Bowman. La concentración de los antibióticos utilizados en los grupos A, B y D no fue lo suficientementeefectiva para controlar la infección corneal por lo que ocasionó necrosis tisular.Conclusión: El grupo C presentó mayor grado de epitelización, con incremento del número de queratocitos,así como infiltrado inflamatorio mixto,como resultado de la mayor efectividad terapéutica (CIM establecida < 1 mcg)(AU)

Objective: To compare the therapeutic effectivenessof a single intrastromal dose of gentamycin,tobramycin, ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin for the treatmentof corneal ulcers due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Methods: Twelve white female New Zealand rabbitsunderwent mechanical removal of corneal epithelium;then one drop of salt suspension containingPseudomonas aeruginosa (75,000,000 colonyforming units) was instilled over the Bowman’slayer. Rabbits were distributed in five groups accordingto the type of antibiotic used: group A: gentamycin,group B: tobramycin, group C: ciprofloxacin,group D: ofloxacin and control groups. A singleintrastromal dose of antibiotic (0.3 mg/ml) wasinjected 48 to 72 hours post-inoculation. A clinicaldigital picture was taken daily for a week. Then rabbitswere sacrificed, all the corneas were collectedand a histopathologic study was performed.Results: We observed a significant reduction of thesize of the corneal ulcer in all groups (F = 8.861;p = 0.000). Rabbits treated with ciprofloxacin, hada significant reduction in the size of the ulcer (21.1SD 5.7 mm2). The epithelial growth was slow and incomplete in all groups. The histopathologic studyshowed Bowman’s layer absence. The antibioticused was not effective in groups A, B and D for thecontrol of the corneal ulcer showing tissular necrosis.Conclusion: Group C showed greater degree ofepithelization, with increased number of keratocitesas well as inflammatory infiltrate as a result of greatertherapeutic effectiveness(AU)

Comparison of the efficacy and safety of a novel meloxicam ophthalmic formulation with a reference diclofenac solution in cataract surgery.

A novel topical ophthalmic formulation of the preferential COX-2 inhibitor meloxicam has recently been developed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this novel 0.03% meloxicam solution with regard to a reference 0.1% diclofenac formulation in a prospective, parallel, randomized, multicenter, double-blind study. Two groups of patients submitted to phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation were formed. Patients in one group were treated with meloxicam and those in the other group with diclofenac. Dosing was 1 drop t.i.d. for 30 days, beginning the first day after surgery, for both treatments. Inflammation was assessed by the presence of cells in the anterior chamber, anterior chamber flare, ciliary flush, photophobia and pain. Both treatments significantly reduced these indicators. Topical meloxicam and diclofenac produced a similar degree of burning sensation and conjunctival hyperemia. There was no significant difference between treatments in any of the measured parameters. It is concluded that the novel meloxicam solution is effective and safe. Meloxicam, however, did not offer any significant benefit over the diclofenac formulation in patients submitted to cataract surgery.

[Phacoemulsification cataract surgery in vitrectomized eyes]. / Facoemulsificación en ojos post-vitrectomía pars plana.

OBJECTIVE: This study focuses on determining the intra- and post-operative complications stemming from technical difficulties, anatomical aspects, intraoperatory management and visual outcome of post-vitrectomized patients that undergo phacoemulsification. METHOD: In this prospective, longitudinal, observational and descriptive study phacoemulsification was performed in 25 post-vitrectomized eyes that required cataract surgery. Pre-surgical variables: sex, age, affected eye, visual accuity, underlying vitreoretinal disease, anterior segment morphological findings such as: cataract density and pupil alterations. Intrasurgical variables: characteristic of anterior chamber and pupil, phacoemulsification technique and time and the presence of complications. Post-surgical variables were also registered: visual capacity and the presence of complications. Minimum six-month follow-up period. RESULTS: The average interval between pars plana vitrectomy and phacoemulsification was 18.5 months. Silicone oil was the most frequent tamponade used in our serie (44%). Biomicroscopical findings were miosis 28% and posterior synechies 24%. The average interval of phaco time was 2.26 minutes. The intraoperative findings were fluctuations in the anterior chamber depth (24%) and anterior capsular tears (12%). The postoperative complications most frequently seen were posterior capsular plaque (28%) and corneal edema (16%). CONCLUSIONS: Phacoemulsification is a safe and effective technique in eyes after pars plana vitrectomy that require cataract surgery. The surgeon must be aware of the morphological and anatomical findings of these eyes. Visual rehabilitation will generally be determined by the presence of an underlying vitreo-retinal pathology.

Facoemulsificación en ojos post-vitrectomía pars plana / Phacoemulsification cataract surgery in vitrectomized eyes

Objetivo: Determinar las complicaciones intra y postoperatorias en ojos de pacientes post-vitrectomizados que ameritan cirugía de catarata con técnica de facoemulsificación. Método: Estudio prospectivo, longitudinal observacional y descriptivo en 25 ojos de 25 pacientes, previa vitrectomía pars plana que requerían cirugía de catarata. Variables prequirúrguicas: edad, sexo, ojo afectado, capacidad visual, patología vitreorretiniana, características morfológicas del segmento anterior tales como grado de opacidad del cristalino, características de la cámara anterior y de la pupila. Variables intraoperatorias: técnica, tiempo de facoemulsificación y complicaciones intraoperatorias. Variables post-operatorias: Complicaciones y capacidad visual. Seguimiento no menor de 6 meses. Resultados: El tiempo promedio entre la vitrectomía pars plana y la facoemulsificación fue de 18,5 meses. La silicona fue el material de tamponamiento utilizado con mayor frecuencia 44%. Hallazgos biomicroscópicos: miosis 28% y sinequias posteriores 24%. El tiempo promedio de facoemulsificación: 2,26 minutos. Complicaciones intraoperatorias: cámara anterior inestable 24% y el desgarro de la capsulorrexis anterior 12%. La complicación post-operatoria más frecuente fue la placa subcapsular posterior 28% y el edema corneal 16%. Conclusiones: La facoemulsificación en ojos con vitrectomía pars plana previa que ameriten cirugía de catarata, es una técnica bastante segura y efectiva. El cirujano debe familiarizarse con los hallazgos y modificaciones anatómicas que sufren estos ojos. La rehabilitación visual por lo general va a estar limitada por la patología vitreo-retiniana de base(AU)

Objective: This study focuses on determining the intra- and post-operative complications stemming from technical difficulties, anatomical aspects, intraoperatory management and visual outcome of post-vitrectomized patients that undergo phacoemulsification. Method: In this prospective, longitudinal, observational and descriptive study phacoemulsification was performed in 25 post-vitrectomized eyes that required cataract surgery. Pre-surgical variables: sex, age, affected eye, visual accuity, underlying vitreoretinal disease, anterior segment morphological findings such as: cataract density and pupil alterations. Intrasurgical variables: characteristic of anterior chamber and pupil, phacoemulsification technique and time and the presence of complications. Post-surgical variables were also registered: visual capacity and the presence of complications. Minimum six-month follow-up period. Results: The average interval between pars plana vitrectomy and phacoemulsification was 18.5 months. Silicone oil was the most frequent tamponade used in our serie (44%). Biomicroscopical findings were miosis 28% and posterior synechies 24%. The average interval of phaco time was 2.26 minutes. The intraoperative findings were fluctuations in the anterior chamber depth (24%) and anterior capsular tears (12%). The postoperative complications most frequently seen were posterior capsular plaque (28%) and corneal edema (16%). Conclusions: Phacoemulsification is a safe and effective technique in eyes after pars plana vitrectomy that require cataract surgery. The surgeon must be aware of the morphological and anatomical findings of these eyes. Visual rehabilitation will generally be determined by the presence of an underlying vitreo-retinal pathology(AU)

[Heart valve diseases: which is procedure, for which patients and with which prosthesis?]. / Valvulopatías: cuál es el procedimiento, en cuál paciente y con cuál prótesis?

Therapeutic procedures to correct valve-pathies, with hemodynamic, intervention methods, as well as with reconstructive surgery or through the application of valve prosthesis, are analyzed. Furthermore, a synthesis is made by which patients must be considered for any of the referred procedures, and in the case of using prosthesis, an analysis is made about the most convenient patient and position. Finally, statistical data about our Institution related to reparative mitral as well as tricuspid surgery, with the application of prosthesis, is provided.

The adult patient with Ebstein anomaly. Outcome in 72 unoperated patients.

Knowledge of the long-term outcome in unoperated adult patients with Ebstein anomaly is limited, and the therapeutic approach is still controversial. We studied unoperated adult patients with Ebstein anomaly to define the patterns of presentation, anatomic characteristics, outcome, and predictive factors for survival. Seventy-two unoperated survivors of Ebstein anomaly aged over 25 years attended from 1972 to 1997 were reviewed and followed-up from 1.6 to 22.0 years. Patients were classified in 3 groups of severity according to the echocardiographic appearance of the septal leaflet attachment of tricuspid valve. The mean age at diagnosis was 23.9 +/- 10.4 years, and the most common clinical presentation was an arrhythmic event (51.4%). There were 30 (42%) deaths, including 6 from arrhythmia, 12 related to heart failure, 7 sudden, 2 unrelated, and 3 unascertained. According to Cox regression analysis, predictors of cardiac-related death included age at diagnosis (hazard ratio 0.89 for each year of age, 95% confidence intervals CI[ 0.84-0.94), male sex (3.93, 95% CI, 1.50-10.29), degree of echocardiographic severity (3.34, 95% CI, 1.78-6.24), and cardiothoracic ratio > or = 0.65 (3.57, 95% CI, 1.15-11.03). During follow-up, morbidity was mainly related to arrhythmia and refractory late hemodynamic deterioration. The magnitude of tricuspid regurgitation, cyanosis, and the New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class at time zero were significant risk factors according to the univariate analysis, but not after multivariable confrontation. The results of this study suggest that pattern of presentation, clinical course, and prognosis of unoperated adult patients with Ebstein anomaly are influenced by several factors. Although the initial symptoms are usually mild and commonly related to supraventricular arrhythmias, these are not associated with the long-term outcome. The severity of the morbid anatomy was the main determinant of survival only in extreme cases, but not in those with mild or moderate deformations, which are more common in adults. Other independent risk factors such as cardiothoracic ratio, sex, age at diagnosis, and the echocardiographic evaluation may help to determine the therapeutic approach. Adult patients with Ebstein anomaly should not be considered as a simple low-risk group.

Pericardium-covered stent for septal myocardial ablation in hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

This report describes a patient with severe hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy in New York Heart Association functional class III. Complete reduction of left ventricular outflow tract gradient was achieved by the selective occlusion of three target septal arteries with a pericardium-covered stent. The patient's in-hospital course was uneventful and has improved to functional class I.

Ebstein's anomaly. Clinical profile in 174 patients.

The study population consisted of 148 patients who did not undergo surgical treatment and 26 who were operated, most of them diagnosed after the age of 2, with a follow-up from 6 months to 25.3 years. Patients were divided in three groups of clinical deterioration according to their functional class and cardiothoracic index (CTR) long-term follow-up in 148 nonoperated patients showed significant differences for mortality between groups I and III (p < 0.001), and between groups II and III (p < 0.02). Predictors of death included the association among functional class III or IV CTR > or = 65% with either cyanosis or arrhythmias (p < 0.05). The multivariate analysis showed that clinical deterioration (p < 0.0001), CTR (p < 0.0002) and functional class (p < 0.001), were significant for mortality. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed a survival rate of 81% in the overall patients free from surgical treatment. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the rate of survival was lower in patients with CTR > or = 65% (63.5%), in patients who had functional class IV (52.5%) and in patients included in group III of clinical deterioration (38.2%). Despite the fact that the association of functional class III or IV plus CTR > or = 65% with either cyanosis or arrhythmias is a good predictor for death, the mortality in patients who had only one of these variables was lower. Patients included in group II of clinical deterioration in stable condition presented long survival with medical treatment. Due to the high mortality rate found in group III, surgical treatment of Ebstein's anomaly must be done before deteriorating into group III. Surgical indication must be done considering the surgical risk of each group according to the experience of the Institution and comparing the rate of surgical mortality with the rate of survival without surgery.

Transjugular liver biopsy in 52 patients with an automated Trucut-type needle.

A three-year prospective study was conducted to assess the efficacy and safety of transjugular liver biopsy with a Trucut-type needle employing an automated device. Fifty-two consecutive patients (39 women and 13 men), ages 46.3+/-14.6 years, in whom percutaneous liver biopsy was contraindicated were included in the study. An 18-gauge transjugular hepatic needle with a 20-mm throw length, a cutting cannula at the distal end, and an automated trigger device on the proximal end was used. All procedures were performed under fluoroscopic control, and the following variables were assessed: (1) number of passes, (2) size and average number of the obtained fragments, (3) number of portal triads, and (4) adequacy of the specimen for histologic diagnosis. The procedure was successful in 49/52 patients, and all samples obtained were satisfactory for histologic analysis even when cirrhosis or bridging fibrosis were present. Mean biopsy specimen length was 1.7+/-0.88 cm; mean number of passes was 2.42+/-1.01, the mean number of biopsy fragments and portal triads per attempt were 2.5+/-1.01 and 6.24+/-3.18, respectively. No major complications were observed. Transjugular hepatic biopsy with this new cutting system is an effective and safe procedure in patients with contraindication for percutaneous liver biopsy.

Treatment of severe mitral stenosis with percutaneous balloon valvotomy in pregnant patients.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy can cause life-threatening complications in women with mitral stenosis. Frequently, there is an urgent need to increase the mitral valve area mechanically. In selected cases, percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy (PMBV) has emerged as a safe and effective alternative to surgical commissurotomy. HYPOTHESIS: The study evaluates the effects of PMBV by the Inoue technique in nine pregnant patients with severe symptomatic mitral stenosis. METHODS: The patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II to IV and had echocardiographic scores of < or = 8. The mean gestational age was 24.8 +/- 6.1 weeks. The patient's pelvic and abdominal regions were covered with a lead apron to protect the fetus from radiation. A stepwise dilatation technique was used. Fluoroscopy time was kept to 10 to 15 min. RESULTS: One patient developed severe mitral regurgitation requiring emergency valve replacement. The remaining eight patients showed marked immediate symptomatic and hemodynamic improvement. After dilatation, the transmitral pressure gradient decreased from 20.8 +/- 6.5 to 7.3 +/- 1.4 mmHg (p = 0.001) and the calculated mitral valve area increased from 0.9 +/- 0.1 to 1.8 +/- 0.4 (p < 0.001). All patients had uneventful term deliveries of normal babies. On follow-up they were in NYHA functional class I. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous mitral balloon valvotomy is a safe and effective procedure for selected pregnant patients with severe mitral stenosis. The procedure is well tolerated by the fetus. Severe mitral regurgitation requiring immediate surgery may occur occasionally. The possible harmful effects to the fetus from its exposure to radiation during PMBV are unknown.

Relationship between the site of a myocardial infarction and signal-averaged electrocardiogram indices.

We evaluated the relationship between the site of a myocardial infarction (MI) and signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) indices in both time-domain (TDA) and spectral turbulence (STA) analyses, and their implications in the prediction of infarct-related artery (IRA) patency, in 114 survivors of a first MI. They were divided into two groups based on MI location (57 anterior and 57 inferior). Patients with bundle branch block were not included. Fifty patients had been treated with thrombolytic therapy (TT). The STA was done in both XYZ-leads and in vector magnitude. Forty patients had an abnormal SAECG in TDA and 37 in STA, but only 22 (19%) in both (71% of agreement, kappa=0.35). Fifty-four patients (47%) had an occluded IRA. The best predictors from multivariate analysis of having an occluded IRA in the inferior MI group were: an abnormal Y-lead in STA (odds ratio 4.9; P=0.005); an abnormal RMS40 in TDA (odds ratio, 4.8; P=0.02); absence of TT (odds ratio, 9.15; P=0.001). Conversely, in the anterior MI group they were: an abnormal SAECG in TDA (odds ratio 6.83; P=0.005); absence of TT (odds ratio, 4.3; P=0.02). The multivariate receiver operator characteristic curves clearly showed the effect of MI location on the SAECG indices. This study suggests that the myocardial infarction site is an important factor for the variability and poor concordance between TDA and STA. Such differences may alter the predictive accuracy of SAECG. TDA and STA should be complementary methods, and the exploration in each orthogonal lead appears to be better than in vector magnitude.

[A case of elevated transaminases caused by congestive heart failure simulating chronic hepatitis]. / Un caso de transaminasas altas por insuficiencia cardiaca congestiva que simulan hepatitis crónica.

We report the case of a young man first seen by is in 1989 at the age of 20 years. The diagnoses of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Wolf-parkinson-White syndrome, congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension were made. One month later the patient had jaundice and hepatomegaly and a diagnosis of acute viral hepatitis A was established by laboratory findings. The ALT and AST levels were persistently elevated, seven times the normal mean, during six years. Two liver biopsies in 1991 and 1993 showed liver injury secondary to congestive heart failure (CHF) as the only abnormality. This case illustrates the importance of liver injury secondary to CHF as a cause of a marked and persistent increase of ALT and AST that resembles that of other liver diseases.

[Tetralogy of Fallot in adults]. / Tetralogía de Fallot en adultos.

We present the clinical and hemodynamic profile of 33 patients, older than the 18 year with tetralogy of Fallot. Cardiac catheterization and selective angiocardiography were performed in all cases. We excluded patients with valvular pulmonary atresia associated with tetralogy of Fallot. Most of the patients were in functional class II or IV of the New York Heart Association and all presented with cyanosis. In the electrocardiogram of 23 patients we found right bundle branch block. None had significant cardiomegaly, 19 of 20 cases had reduced pulmonary blood flow and reticular pattern in the lung fields as observed in the chest X-ray. We did not find correlation between the age and the degree of cyanosis, but the level of arterial desaturation correlated with the functional class. The right ventricular systolic pressure was elevated in all patients. In all cases but one the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure were normal of slightly increased. One case with mild pulmonary infundibular stenosis had pulmonary systolic pressure similar to the systemic pressure. Multivariate analysis for functional class showed significant value for cyanosis. Systemic-pulmonary shunt was performed in 10 patients with hypoplastic pulmonary arteries plus reduced pulmonary blood flow, with one postoperative death. We did not find postoperative mortality in patients who underwent corrective surgery. The anatomic and functional behavior of patients who underwent surgery, allowed better tolerance to their heart defects.

[Coronary angioplasty in patients not accepted for surgical treatment. The initial experience of the Ignacio Chávez Instituto Nacional de Cardiología]. / Angioplastía coronaria en pacientes no aceptados para tratamiento quirurgico. Experiencia inicial del Instituto Nacional de Cardiología "Ignacio Chávez".

Coronary angioplasty has shown its efficacy in "high-risk" patients for surgical treatment (severe left ventricular failure, serious pulmonary or systemic disease). We studied a subgroup with multivessel coronary heart disease treated with coronary angioplasty because they were no candidates for surgery due to unsuitable coronary anatomy. Revascularization rate was determined in each patient as revascularization percentage obtained, compared with all the technically suitable lesions for coronary angioplasty. Ten patients (mean age 63 years) were studied, eight of them had unstable angina. Overall, 44 lesions were considered technically suitable for angioplasty and thirty-five could be dilated, technical success rate was 88% (31/35 lesions) and revascularization rate was 71% (31/44 lesions). Primary success rate was achieved in nine patients. Clinical follow-up varied from two to thirteen months (mean 7.8 months); eight patients have remained asymptomatic (class I of NYHA), another patient had stable angina and the other one had sudden death six months after the procedure. In conclusion, we demonstrated a high success rate in a short and long term with coronary angioplasty in a subgroup of patients with multivascular coronary heart disease that had been rejected for surgery due to unsuitable coronary anatomy.

[Detection of early occlusion of aortocoronary by-passes. Usefulness of a non-angiographic method]. / Detección de la oclusión temprana de puentes aortocoronarios. Utilidad de un método no angiográfico.

A total of 83 bypasses were studied. Angiographic results demonstrated occlusion in 3 of 24 bypass of internal mammary artery placed in the anterior descending artery, 2 in the right coronary artery, 1 in the posterolateral of the circumflex and 1 in the first diagonal branch, with a total occlusion average of 8.4% within the first 8 days. We found a good correlation between the coronarographic angiograms and the positivity or negativity of the echo-electrocardiographic tests, during atrial pacing. We believe that this simple method could be done routinely in all the patients after coronary surgery, to decide the need of a new coronary angiogram. Furthermore, this study shows that the occlusion of a single coronary bypass does not produce myocardial infarction, detectable by enzymatic measures or by resting EKG. This method also detects the early post-operatory sinus sick syndrome.

[Envelope and membrane glycoproteins of Herpes simplex virus]. / Envoltura y glicoproteínas de membrana del virus Herpes simplex.

A bibliographic update on the herpes simplex virus (HSV) envelope is made with special emphasis on the membrane glycoproteins and their role in adsorption, spreading and escape of the immune response. The HSV has at least seven glycoproteins on its envelope; three out of them are essential for in vitro replication, they are designated as gB, gD and gH; four are dispensable: gC, gE, gI and gG. Their main functions are: gC, gB and gD attach the virion to the cell surface, binding to molecules of heparan sulfate on the plasma membrane. Later, the three essential glycoproteins induce fusion of the viral envelope with the plasma membrane, through the gD receptor. To evade the immune response, the HSV has two major mechanisms: gE and gI are Fc receptors of immunoglobulin G; while gC acts as a receptor for the C3b fragment of the third component of complement. Finally, gG and gC have epitopes responsible for the antigenic differences between HSV type 1 and HSV-2. These glycoproteins have several possible applications for the development of a synthetic vaccine, and for treatment of herpetic recurrent disease.

Degenerative ultrastructural changes observed in the neuropil of caudate nuclei from Parkinson's disease patients.

Degenerative changes of the pars compacta of the substantia nigra are considered the main physiopathological basis of Parkinson's disease, while most authors believe that the neostriatum is well preserved in these cases. This paper deals with the preliminary ultrastructural observations made in the neuropil of the caudate nucleus of Parkinson's disease patients. We have observed (1) astrocytic proliferation, neuronal degeneration, degenerated axons, and hyperdense postsynaptic neurites (dendrites), and (2) that degenerative patterns vary from one case to another. Physiopathological and therapeutical implications are discussed.

Multidisciplinary analysis of the effectiveness of autologous neural transplant (adrenal medulla) as treatment of Parkinson's disease.

The neurobiological aspects of human neural transplants are far from being understood. We have approached their study by means of a multidisciplinary working team. Nine patients with Parkinson's disease were subjected to open brain surgery for grafting of autologous adrenal medulla. Not all patients improved. Those patients that did so showed different patterns of improvement. Rigidity was the sign most relieved in this group of patients. Electroencephalographic changes were attributable to surgical manipulation. High-performance liquid chromatographic quantification of catecholaminergic metabolites did not correlate with post-grafting outcome. Biopterin levels showed a significant increment after surgery. More interdisciplinary studies ought to be done on neural transplants.