Circulation of zoonotic flaviviruses in wild passerine birds in Western Spain.

We explore the presence of zoonotic flaviviruses (West Nile virus (WNV) and Usutu virus (USUV)) neutralizing antibodies in rarely studied passerine bird species. We report, for the first time in Europe, WNV-specific antibodies in red avadavat and cetti's warbler, and USUV in yellow-crowned bishop. The evidence of WNV and USUV circulating in resident and migratory species has implications for both animal and public health. Future outbreaks in avian reservoir hosts may occur and passerines should be considered as priority target species in flavivirus surveillance programmes.

Serosurvey Reveals Exposure to West Nile Virus in Asymptomatic Horse Populations in Central Spain Prior to Recent Disease Foci.

West Nile fever/encephalitis (WNF) is an infectious disease affecting horses, birds and humans, with a cycle involving birds as natural reservoirs and mosquitoes as transmission vectors. It is a notifiable disease, re-emerging in Europe. In Spain, it first appeared in horses in the south (Andalusia) in 2010, where outbreaks occur every year since. However, in 2014, an outbreak was declared in horses in central Spain, approximately 200 km away from the closest foci in Andalusia. Before that, evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) circulation in central Spain had been obtained only from wildlife, but never in horses. The purpose of this work was to perform a serosurvey to retrospectively detect West Nile virus infections in asymptomatic horses in central Spain from 2011 to 2013, that is before the occurrence of the first outbreaks in the area. For that, serum samples from 369 horses, collected between September 2011 and November 2013 in central Spain, were analysed by ELISA (blocking and IgM) and confirmed by virus neutralization, proving its specificity using parallel titration with another flavivirus (Usutu virus). As a result, 10 of 369 horse serum samples analysed gave positive results by competitive ELISA, 5 of which were confirmed as positive to WNV by virus neutralization (seropositivity rate: 1.35%). One of these WNV seropositive samples was IgM-positive. Chronologically, the first positive samples, including the IgM-positive, corresponded to sera collected in 2012 in Madrid province. From these results, we concluded that WNV circulated in asymptomatic equine populations of central Spain at least since 2012, before the first disease outbreak reported in this area.

West Nile virus-neutralizing antibodies in wild birds from southern Spain.

West Nile virus (WNV) is an emerging vector-borne arbovirus with a zoonotic life-cycle whose main reservoir hosts are birds. In humans and horses, WNV infections rarely result in clinical disease but on occasions - depending on factors such as climatic conditions, insect communities and background immunity levels in local populations - they can lead to outbreaks that threaten public and animal health. We tested for the presence of WNV antibodies in 149 birds belonging to 32 different species. Samples were first tested using a bird-specific ELISA kit and then both positive and doubtful results were confirmed by neutralization tests using WNV and Usutu virus. WNV antibodies were confirmed in a resident Sylvia melanocephala juvenile, supporting the idea of local transmission of WNV in southern Spain in 2013. In addition, the serum from an adult blackbird (Turdus merula) showed neutralization of both WNV and Usutu virus. We discuss our results in light of the occurrence of WNV on horse farms in southern Spain in 2013.

Effect of the administration program of 2 ß-adrenergic agonists on growth performance and carcass and meat characteristics of feedlot ram lambs.

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of 3 feeding dose programs of the ß-adrenergic agonists (ß-AA) ractopamine hydrochloride (RH) or zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH) for the final 30 d before slaughter on growth performance and carcass and meat characteristics of feedlot ram lambs. Eighty-four Dorper × Katahdin ram lambs (30.0 ± 1.6 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to pens (4 lambs per pen and 3 pens per treatment). Pens within a block were assigned randomly to 1 of 7 dietary treatments: 1) control (CTL) = diet without ß-AA; 2) RH constant (RHC) = 20.0 mg/kg of RH, d 1 to 30; 3) RH increasing (RHI) = 10.0 mg/kg, d 1 to 10; 20.0 mg/kg, d 11 to 20; and 30.0 mg/kg, d 21 to 30; 4) RH decreasing (RHD) = 30.0 mg/kg, d 1 to 10; 20.0 mg/kg, d 11 to 20; and 10.0 mg/kg, d 21 to 30; 5) ZH constant (ZHC) = 6.0 mg/kg of ZH, d 1 to 30; 6) ZH increasing (ZHI) = 3.0 mg/kg, d 1 to 10; 6.0 mg/kg, d 11 to 20; and 9.0 mg/kg d 21 to 30; and 7) ZH decreasing (ZHD) = 9.0 mg/kg, d 1 to 10; 6.0 mg/kg, d 11 to 20; and 3.0 mg/kg, d 21 to 30. Overall, ß-AA supplementation reduced DMI (P < 0.001) compared with CTL lambs, but lambs fed RHI and ZHI programs had greater (P < 0.05) total BW gain, ADG, and G:F. Carcass weight was improved (P < 0.05) by RHI and ZHI programs, but dressing percentage was enhanced (P < 0.05) by only ZHC or ZHI treatments. Fat thickness and yield grade were reduced (P < 0.05) by ZH or RH regardless of feeding program. Most LM characteristics (pH, moisture loss, and chemical composition) were not different among treatments (P > 0.05), with the exception of fat content that was reduced (P < 0.001) in lambs fed ß-AA, and diameter of muscle fibers that was increased (P < 0.05) by ZHI treatment. Constant and increasing doses of ZH reduced (P < 0.05) the a* value of LM and semitendinosus muscles, with no effects on L* or b* values. The mass of liver was reduced (P < 0.05) in ZHI-treated lambs compared with CTL lambs, and plasma urea concentration was reduced (P < 0.05) by RH or ZH administration regardless of feeding program, although there were no other differences in organ mass weight (P ≥ 0.35) or blood metabolites (P ≥ 0.16). Increasing doses of RH or ZH augmented the growth performance response without negative effects on organ mass weight or blood metabolites. Although a ZHI program improved carcass characteristics, the increased LM fiber diameter of lambs fed ZHI program could be unfavorable because of the potential negative effect on tenderness.

[Maternal non-diagnosed celiac disease and risk of low birth weight]. / Enfermedad celiaca materna no diagnosticada y riesgo de tener hijos con bajo peso al nacimiento.

AIMS: In order to know the prevalence of celiac disease in mothers with newborns weighing less or more than 2,500 g at birth we carried out a case-control study. PATIENTS: mothers of newborns in Cabueñes Hospital. Case group: Mothers with babies weighing less than 2,500 g at birth. CONTROLS: Mothers with babies weighing more than 2,500 g at birth. One control for each case. METHODS: epidemiological and clinical interviews, and celiac disease serology. RESULTS: We studied 1103 women: 577 cases and 526 controls. We diagnosed 4 celiac disease cases, 2 in the case group and 2 in the control group. These 4 mothers had 3 term newborns (1 case in each 235 mothers; prevalence 0.42%) and 1 preterm newborn (1 case in each 389 mothers; prevalence 0.26%). Two cases had babies with adequate birth weight for their gestational age (1 case in each 419 mothers; prevalence 0.24%) and two cases had babies with low birth weight for their gestational age (1 in each 132 mothers; prevalence 0.75%). The odds ratio for low birth weight was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.12-6.49), the odds ratio for preterm birth was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.06-5.89), ad the odds ratio for low birth weight for gestational age was 3.19 (95% CI: 0.44-22.79). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of celiac disease in fertile women in our geographic area was 0.36% (1 case in each 275 mothers), and no differences were found between study groups.

Enfermedad celiaca materna no diagnosticada y riesgo de tener hijos con bajo peso al nacimiento / No disponible

Objetivo: conocer la prevalencia de enfermedad celiaca enmadres de neonatos mayores y menores de 2.500 gramos depeso al nacimiento.Pacientes: sujetos: casos: madres de neonatos menores de2.500 g al nacimiento. Controles: madres de neonatos mayoresde 2.500 g al nacimiento. Un control por cada caso. Instrumentalización:encuesta clínico-epidemiológica y serología celiaca.Métodos: estudio caso-control. Ámbito: mujeres del Área SanitariaV (Gijón) del Principado de Asturias que den a luz en elHospital de Cabueñes.Resultados: se analizaron 1.103 mujeres: 577 madres de niñosmenores de 2.500 g y 526 madres de niños mayores de 2.500 g.Se diagnosticaron 4 casos de celiaquía, 2 en cada grupo. De las 4madres, 3 dieron a luz a niños a término (1 caso cada 235 madres,prevalencia 0,42%) y 1 dio a luz a un niño prematuro (1 caso cada389 madres, prevalencia 0,26%). Dos madres dieron a luz a niñosde peso adecuado para su edad gestacional (1/419 madres, prevalencia0,24%) y 2 madres dieron a luz niños de bajo peso para suedad gestacional (1/132 madres, prevalencia 0,75%). La odds ratiopara peso menor de 2.500 g al nacimiento fue 0,91 (IC 95% 0,12-6,49), para prematuridad 0,61 (IC 95% 0,06-5,89) y para bajo pesopara su edad gestacional 3,19 (0,44-22,79).Conclusiones: la prevalencia de enfermedad celiaca en mujeresfértiles de Gijón es de un caso cada 275 madres (prevalencia0,36%), sin que hayamos encontrado diferencias entre los dosgrupos estudiados

Aims: in order to know the prevalence of celiac disease inmothers with newborns weighing less or more than 2,500 g atbirth we carried out a case-control study.Patients: mothers of newborns in Cabueñes Hospital. Casegroup: Mothers with babies weighing less than 2,500 g at birth.Controls: Mothers with babies weighing more than 2,500 g atbirth. One control for each case.Methods: epidemiological and clinical interviews, and celiacdisease serology.Results: we studied 1103 women: 577 cases and 526 controls.We diagnosed 4 celiac disease cases, 2 in the case groupand 2 in the control group. These 4 mothers had 3 term newborns(1 case in each 235 mothers; prevalence 0.42%) and 1preterm newborn (1 case in each 389 mothers; prevalence0.26%). Two cases had babies with adequate birth weight for theirgestational age (1 case in each 419 mothers; prevalence 0.24%)and two cases had babies with low birth weight for their gestationalage (1 in each 132 mothers; prevalence 0.75%). The odds ratiofor low birth weight was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.12-6.49), the odds ratiofor preterm birth was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.06-5.89), ad the odds ratiofor low birth weight for gestational age was 3.19 (95% CI: 0.44-22.79).Conclusions: the prevalence of celiac disease in fertilewomen in our geographic area was 0.36% (1 case in each 275mothers), and no differences were found between study groups

Factores predisponentes en la vasoplejía posoperatoria. Azul de metileno (réplica) / Predisposing factors in post-operative vasoplegia. Methylene blue (reply)

No disponible

[Use of methylene blue in the treatment of vasoplegic syndrome of post-operative heart surgery]. / Utilización de azul de metileno en el tratamiento del síndrome vasopléjico del postoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca.

Vasoplegia is a frequent complication in post-operative heart surgery and determines a significant increase in morbidity-mortality. When vasoplegia persists in spite of optimized fluid therapy with the use of Swan-Ganz catheter, we have a safe, effective and economical alternative, methylene blue. We present the case of a patient who developed vasoplegia refractory to treatment and shock in the scheduled post-operative period of myocardial revascularization. The use of a single dose of methylene blue resolved the hemodynamic instability and allowed for total discontinuation of vasoactive drugs. Thus, we present this new indication of methylene blue, still not approved by the corresponding bodies, for which no national publications have been found and its clinical management and the absence of adverse effects after its use.

Utilización de azul de metileno en el tratamiento del síndrome vasopléjico del postoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca / Use of methylene blue in the treatment of vasoplegic syndrome of post-operative heart surgery

La vasoplejía es una complicación frecuente en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca y determina un importante aumento en la morbi-mortalidad. Cuando a pesar de una fluidoterapia optimizada con el uso del catéter Swan-Ganz y una perfusión de noradrenalina persiste la vasoplejía, disponemos de una alternativa segura, eficaz y económica, el azul de metileno. Presentamos el caso de un paciente que en el postoperatorio programado de revascularización miocárdica desarrolló una vasoplejía refractaria al tratamiento y shock. La utilización de una sola dosis de azul de metileno resolvió la inestabilidad hemodinámica y permitió la suspensión total de los fármacos vasoactivos. Por tanto, se expone esta novedosa indicación del azul de metileno, aún no aprobada por los organismos correspondientes, de la que no hemos encontrado publicaciones nacionales, así como su manejo clínico y la ausencia de efectos adversos tras su utilización

Vasoplegia is a frequent complication in post-operative heart surgery and determines a significant increase in morbidity-mortality. When vasoplegia persists in spite of optimized fluid therapy with the use of Swan-Ganz catheter, we have a safe, effective and economical alternative, methylene blue. We present the case of a patient who developed vasoplegia refractory to treatment and shock in the scheduled post-operative period of myocardial revascularization. The use of a single dose of methylene blue resolved the hemodynamic instability and allowed for total discontinuation of vasoactive drugs. Thus, we present this new indication of methylene blue, still not approved by the corresponding bodies, for which no national publications have been found and its clinical management and the absence of adverse effects after its use

Bursitis: análisis clínico de 52 casos / Bursitis: clinical analysis of 52 patients

Estudio retrospectivo longitudinal que evalúa las características clínicas de los pacientes diagnosticados de bursitis durante un año en una sección de reumatología de un hospital terciario, comparándolos con resultados previos de la bibliografía. Se incluyó a 52 pacientes, diagnosticados todos de bursitis según criterios clínicos y ecográficos. De ellos, 19 pacientes (36,5 por ciento) presentaban bursitis superficial, y 33 (63,5 por ciento) bursitis profunda. La mayoría de las bursitis superficiales ocurrieron en varones (84,2 por ciento), con una media de 49,2 años de edad. En cambio, las bursitis profundas se dieron predominantemente en mujeres (78,8 por ciento) con una edad media de 53,8 años. Entre los factores predisponentes para las bursitis superficiales encontramos diferentes profesiones (albañil, fontanero, carpintero y ama de casa), frente a las profundas, en que los pacientes eran predominantemente sedentarios (el 100 por ciento de las bursitis glúteas). Las radiografías simples fueron normales, excepto en un 18,8 por ciento de las bursitis superficiales, en las que se observó un aumento de partes blandas. El diagnóstico clínico fue confirmado ecográficamente en todos los casos. Se obtuvo líquido de las bursas en 17 de las bursitis superficiales (89,4 por ciento), y en todos ellos se practicó examen en fresco y cultivo. En ningún caso se observaron cristales. El cultivo fue positivo en 8 pacientes (47 por ciento), y Staphylococcus aureus fue el germen aislado con más frecuencia (75 por ciento). Otros microorganismos aislados fueron: Streptoccus piogenes y Staphylococcus epidermidis. Sólo en cinco (15,1 por ciento) de las bursitis profundas se obtuvo líquido bursal: el cultivo fue negativo en todos los casos, detectándose la presencia de cristales de hidroxiapatita en un caso. El tratamiento más empleado en las bursitis superficiales consistió en la administración de antibióticos (89,5 por ciento); en cambio, en las bursitis profundas, predominó el uso de la infiltración local de esteroides (57,5 por ciento).Conclusiones: Las diferencias etiológicas encontradas entre las bursitis superficiales y las profundas pueden ser de utilidad a la hora de escoger el tratamiento correcto desde el inicio (AU)

La troponina I como predictor de morbilidad tras cirugía cardíaca con circulación extracorpórea / Troponin i for prediction of morbidity after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass

Fundamento. La troponina I es un marcador específico y muy sensible del daño miocárdico. El infarto de miocardio perioperatorio tiene implicaciones pronósticas en la evolución del postoperatorio. El objetivo de nuestro estudio fue determinar la utilidad de la troponina I como predictor de morbilidad, así como de la estancia prolongada en la unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) en los pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardíaca. Material y método. Estudio prospectivo, observacional, analítico de cohortes. Se analiza la utilidad de la determinación de la troponina I en 217 pacientes intervenidos de cirugía cardíaca con circulación extracorpórea, en los días primero y cuarto del postoperatorio, estableciéndose mediante curvas ROC un punto de corte para obtener el mayor poder predictivo de morbilidad y estancia prolongada en UCI. Resultados. El valor de la troponina I a las 24 h en los pacientes que desarrollaron morbilidad fue de 20,8 (DE 17,8) ng/ml, frente a 8,7 (8,8) ng/ml en los pacientes que no la presentaron (p 4 días) para el mismo punto de corte presentó una sensibilidad del 64 por ciento y una especificidad del 67 por ciento. Conclusiones. La determinación de la troponina I sérica en el primer día del postoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca con circulación extracorpórea es un buen predictor de morbilidad y de estancia prolongada en UCI (AU)

A freezing-sensitive mutant of Arabidopsis, frs1, is a new aba3 allele.

To investigate the molecular mechanisms controlling the process of cold acclimation and to identify genes involved in plant freezing tolerance, mutations that impaired the cold acclimation capability of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh were screened for. A new mutation, frs1 (freezing sensitive 1), that reduced both the constitutive freezing tolerance as well as the freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis after cold acclimation was characterized. This mutation also produced a wilty phenotype and excessive water loss. Plants with the frs1 mutation recovered their wild-type phenotype, their capability to tolerate freezing temperatures and their capability to retain water after an exogenous abscisic acid (ABA) treatment. Measurements of ABA revealed that frs1 mutants were ABA deficient, and complementation tests indicated that frs1 mutation was a new allele of the ABA3 locus showing that a mutation in this locus leads to an impairment of freezing tolerance. These results constitute the first report showing that a mutation in ABA3 leads to an impairment of freezing tolerance, and not only strengthen the conclusion that ABA is required for full development of freezing tolerance in cold-acclimated plants, but also demonstrate that ABA mediates the constitutive freezing tolerance of Arabidopsis. Gene expression in frs1 mutants was altered in response to dehydration, suggesting that freezing tolerance in Arabidopsis depends on ABA-regulated proteins that allow plants to survive the challenges imposed by subzero temperatures, mainly freeze-induced cellular dehydration.

[Chronic monoarthritis caused by osteoid osteoma]. / Monoartritis crónica por osteoma osteoide.

Osteoid osteoma is a nonmalignant tumour that rarely localizes intraarticularly. When this happens, the tumour provokes arthritis and its recognition is delayed from months to years. We report the case of a 34 year old man with a previously known HIV infection, but no evidence of immunosuppression. He develops a chronic monoarthritis of the left elbow that is initially interpreted as infectious disease. CT provides diagnostic suspicion of osteoma, that is confirmed by pathologic examination two years after the onset of the clinical complaints. CT is the radiologic technique of election in the evaluation of osteoid osteoma. Synovitis is interpreted in the literature as secondary to prostaglandin secretion by the tumour.

Sex influence on recombination frequency in Secale cereale L.

The variation in recombination frequency (rf) is important to plant breeders since their major objective is to obtain favorable recombinants of linked genes. One source of variation in rf is sex. Sex differences for recombination frequencies were studied in four of the seven chromosomes of Secale cereale L. cv 'Ailés' using isozyme and storage protein loci and were determined on the basis of reciprocal crosses between heterozygous plants of cv. 'Ailés' and homozygous plants of the inbred line 'Riodeva'. The differences were found to be strongly segmentspecific. In some cases the level of crossing-over in male and female meiosis was about the same (between Pgm1 and Ndh1 loci on chromosome arm 4RS). However, for most of the chromosome segments in 1R, 3RL and 6RL the male rf was significantly higher than the female rf. Different hypotheses about the mechanisms of plant sex differences for recombination are discussed.

A map of rye chromosome 4R with cytological and isozyme markers.

The progeny of two crosses between a structural heterozygote for a reciprocal translocation (4RL/5RL) and a homozygote for the standard chromosome arrangement and of four crosses between standard chromosome homozygotes were analysed in rye (Secale cereale L. cv 'Ailés') for the electrophoretic patterns of five different leaf and endosperm isozymes (LAP, PGM, NDH, ADH and EPER). The presence or absence of the quadrivalents at metaphase I (MI) was also tested. Loci Adh-1, Pgm-1 and Ndh-1 were located on chromosome arm 4RS, and locus Eper-1 on chromosome arm 4RL. Locus Lap-2 was located on the 4RS chromosome arm. The estimated distances among the different linked loci support the following gene order: Eper1¨ (breakpoint-centromere)¨Lap-2¨ ¨Adh-1 ¨Pgm-1¨Ndh-1. These results provide evidence for the chromosomal location of Lap-2 locus on chromosome arm 4RS in cv 'Ailés'. A high negative interference was detected between the zones delimited by centromere and Lap-2, and Lap-2 and Pgm-1 in plants with the 4RL/5RL translocation.

[Intralymphatic administration of adoptive (LAK) immunotherapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic cancer resistant to conventional therapies]. / Administración intralinfática de inmunoterapia adoptiva (LAK) en el tratamiento de enfermos afectos de cáncer metastásico y resistentes a las terapéuticas convencionales.

Between January, 1990 and May, 1991, we administered LAK immunotherapy using the intralymphatic route to 25 patients with metastatic cancer resistant to conventional therapies. In the preparation of the immunotherapy, we followed the technique described by Pizza G. et al. The age of our patients ranged between 50 and 75 years and their Karnofsky's indexes were above 70%. The histological type of the metastasis were determined by Rx, ECO and/or CAT before and after the administration of the immunotherapy. In the intralymphatic administration, we followed the technique described by Pizza G. et al. The immunological therapy was administered on days 1, 21, 90 and 111 and the clinical response was assessed by RC, RP, EE and F. The immunological behaviour of the host was assessed through the determination of lymphoid populations (CD2, CD4, CD5 and CD8) and cytolytic cells were studied with monoclonal antibodies CD and CD16. Such immunological study was carried out before the administration of each immunotherapy series. In 7 out of 25 patients (28%), we were able to administer the four LAK series. Such patients were subsequently studied, observing that, although tumoral lesions did not increase in size, they did not disappear and, thus, they were classified as clinically stable. Clinical and analytical toxicity was null. The immunological study did not show any statistically significant changes and the activity of cytotoxic cells (NK) was not modified.

Successful thrombolysis on a mechanical tricuspid prosthesis.

Recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is presently used for the treatment of different clinical entities, mostly myocardial infarction. Its use for treatment of thrombotic dysfunction of prosthetic cardiac valves is more recent and has been only rarely reported. A 33-year-old woman with a St Jude Medical prosthesis in the tricuspid position, had suffered from thrombotic dysfunction of her prosthesis for more than 2 months. She was treated with rt-PA, and after infusion of 70 mg, the prosthesis functioned normally. She showed a moderate systemic fibrinolytic state associated with mild bleeding complications.

[Hepatotoxicity induced by cyanamide. A review of the anatomicopathological changes apropos a case]. / Hepatotoxicidad inducida por cianamida. Revisión de las alteraciones anatomopatológicas a propósito de un caso.

A case of toxic liver disease induced by cyanamide in a patient in treatment with this drug during 18 months, is presented. We reviewed the different liver cell alterations produced by a long-term treatment with cyanamide, which produces fibrosis and portal inflammation, as well as polished cells with different characteristic features. These alterations forced the establishing of close controls of patients in treatment with this type of anti-alcoholism drug, as well as the reduction of the duration of therapy, this questioning the efficacy of the treatment of chronic alcoholism with this aversive drug.