Transient chaos under coordinate transformations in relativistic systems.

We use the Hénon-Heiles system as a paradigmatic model for chaotic scattering to study the Lorentz factor effects on its transient chaotic dynamics. In particular, we focus on how time dilation occurs within the scattering region by measuring the time with a clock attached to the particle. We observe that the several events of time dilation that the particle undergoes exhibit sensitivity to the initial conditions. However, the structure of the singularities appearing in the escape time function remains invariant under coordinate transformations. This occurs because the singularities are closely related to the chaotic saddle. We then demonstrate using a Cantor-like set approach that the fractal dimension of the escape time function is relativistic invariant. In order to verify this result, we compute by means of the uncertainty dimension algorithm the fractal dimensions of the escape time functions as measured with an inertial frame and a frame comoving with the particle. We conclude that, from a mathematical point of view, chaotic transient phenomena are equally predictable in any reference frame and that transient chaos is coordinate invariant.

Brain alterations in GABA, glutamate and glutamine markers after chronic atrazine exposure in the male albino rat.

Atrazine (ATR; 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-s-triazine) is an herbicide widely used to kill annual grasses and broadleaf weeds in crops such as corn, sorghum, and sugarcane. Studies in rodents have shown that chronic ATR exposure is associated with alterations in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway such as hyperactivity, decreased striatal dopamine levels, and diminished numbers of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in substantia nigra pars compacta. However, the effects of ATR on neurotransmitters such as GABA and glutamate have been scarcely studied. To evaluate the impact of ATR on motor and anxiety tasks, tissue levels of GABA, glutamate, glutamine, and extracellular and potassium-evoked release of glutamate in the striatum, we daily exposed Sprague-Dawley male rats to 1 or 10 mg ATR/kg of body weight for 12-14 months. As previously reported, chronic ATR exposure causes hyperactivity in the group exposed to 10 mg ATR/kg and increased anxiety in both groups exposed to ATR. GABA, glutamate, and glutamine levels were differentially altered in brain regions related to nigrostriatal and mesolimbic systems, the amygdala, and the prefrontal cortex. The groups exposed to 10 mg ATR/kg showed increased extracellular levels and release of glutamate in the striatum. These neurochemical alterations could underlie the behavioral changes observed in rats. These results indicate that chronic exposure to the herbicide ATR disrupts the neurochemistry of several brain structures and could be a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative diseases.

The effect of aromatherapy with lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) on serum melatonin levels.

OBJECTIVE: Physiologically, blood melatonin levels decrease as a person ages and the older adult commonly presents with insomnia and other types of sleep disorders. Alternative therapies can be used to attenuate sleep disturbances. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of aromatherapy with lavender on serum melatonin levels in the noninstitutionalized older adult (OA). DESIGN AND SETTING: A pre-experimental, quantitative study with a pre-test - post-test design was conducted on 67 OAs that included both sexes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum melatonin levels were measured before and after eight sessions of aromatherapy with lavender that lasted 4 weeks. The results were expressed as mean ±â€¯standard deviation of melatonin levels (pg/ml). The differences were compared using the Student's t-test and statistical significance was set at a p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Blood melatonin levels significantly increased in the total population after the intervention with aromatherapy (pg/ml): 102.3 ±â€¯33.4 VS 132.5 ±â€¯42.3, p = 0.000004. There were significant differences in the pre-test and post-test phases in the women and men measured as separate groups (p = 0.00005 and p = 0.026), respectively. However, those differences were not observed when the measurements were compared between the two sexes, before (p = 0.64) or after (p = 0.31) the intervention. CONCLUSION: Aromatherapy with lavender essential oil similarly favors an increase in blood melatonin levels in both older adult men and women.

Subchronic mycotoxicoses in Wistar rats: assessment of the in vivo and in vitro genotoxicity induced by fumonisins and aflatoxin B(1), and oxidative stress biomarkers status.

Some evidence suggests that fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)), a worldwide toxic contaminant of grains produced by Fusarium verticillioides, exhibits an oxidative stress mediated genotoxicity. We studied the DNA damage (by the alkaline comet and the micronucleus tests) and biomarkers of cellular oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, MDA; catalase, CAT; and superoxide dismutase, SOD) in spleen mononuclear cells of male Wistar rats subchronically (90 days) fed on a control experimental diet (CED) or poisoned with experimental diets contaminated with a culture material containing 100 ppm of FB(1) (FED), with 40 ppb of aflatoxin B(1) (a common toxic co-contaminant in cereals, AFB(1)ED), and with a mixture of both toxins (MED). The DNA damage was found in 13.7%, 81.7%, 98.0% and 99.3% (comet assay) and in 2.8%, 7.0%, 10.8% and 8.8% (micronucleus technique) in groups CED, FED, AFB(1)ED and MED, respectively. The MDA levels as well as the CAT and SOD activities were increased in all the poisoned animals. A similar behavior was observed in cells exposed in vitro to the toxins. These data support the hypothesis of an oxidative stress mediated genotoxicity induced by FB(1). Furthermore, the extent of DNA damage assessed by the comet assay suggests a possible protective effect of the fumonisins-AFB(1) mixtures in vitro against the genotoxicity induced individually by the toxins.

Zoonosis emergentes / Emerging zoonosis

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Subchronic mycotoxicoses in rats. Histopathological changes and modulation of the sphinganine to sphingosine (Sa/So) ratio imbalance induced by Fusarium verticillioides culture material, due to the coexistence of aflatoxin B1 in the diet.

Mycotoxicoses are diseases caused by consumption of diets contaminated with mycotoxins, a special class of fungal secondary metabolites. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), the main toxins synthesized by toxicogenic stocks of Fusarium spp. and Aspergillus spp., respectively, can coexist in grains and in its by-products. We investigated a probable synergism of a fumonisins-containing Fusarium verticillioides culture material and AFB1 in the induction of hepatocyte apoptosis in rats subchronically fed on a mixture of them. Furthermore, the possibility of modifications in the fumonisins-induced Sa/So ratio imbalance in tissues and urine from rats poisoned with this mycotoxin, due to the presence of AFB1 in the diet, was evaluated. The co-exposure to fumonisins and AFB1 produced a higher liver toxicity, with respect to their individual administration, inducing apoptosis and mitotic hepatocytes. There was an inversion of the typical Sa/So ratio in rats fed on the culture material as well as in those subjected to a diet co-contamined with fumonisins and AFB1. Moreover, the later had a synergistic effect in the induction of Sa/So variations in kidneys. Therefore, the mixture of fumonisins and AFB1 induced toxic responses which could not be considered a sum of the effects caused individually by these mycotoxins.

Inhibitory effect of cyclic terpenes (limonene, menthol, menthone and thymol) on Fusarium verticillioides MRC 826 growth and fumonisin B1 biosynthesis.

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cyclic terpenes (limonene, menthol, menthone and thymol) against Fusarium verticillioides MRC 826 was assessed by using the semisolid agar antifungal susceptibility (SAAS) technique. Limonene, menthol, menthone and thymol were evaluated at final concentrations of 25, 50, 75, 150, 200, 250, 500 and 1000 microL/L of culture medium. Limonene and thymol showed the highest inhibitory effects on F. verticillioides development. Thus, the effects of monoterpenes on fumonisin B1 (FB1) biosynthesis were evaluated by using corn grain (Zea mays) as substrate. The monoterpenes were inserted on maize 1 day before inoculation with a conidial suspension of F. verticillioides to give final concentrations of 75 ppm. At this concentration, thymol was the most active inhibitor on FB1 biosynthesis.

Depressive disorders and anti-parkinson drug treatment: a case register study.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the rate of treatment with anti-parkinson drugs (APD) among patients with depression. METHOD: In a nationwide case register linkage study, all persons with a main diagnosis of depression during 5 years were identified. A control group of persons with diagnoses of osteoarthritis was included. The subsequent risk of getting treatment with APD was estimated for the two groups. Statistical analyses involved Poisson's regression and competing risk models. RESULTS: A total of 14 991 persons were included. The rate of getting APD was 2.57 (95% CI: 1.46-4.52) times higher for persons with depression than for persons with osteoarthritis. Overall, the rate was highest for men. However, women with depression had a 3.89 (95% CI: 1.98-7.62) times higher rate of APD treatment as women with osteoarthritis while no significant difference was found among men. CONCLUSION: Provided that prescription of APD reflects the presence of Parkinson's disease, results support a positive statistical association between depressive disorders and Parkinson's disease.

Temporal changes in suicide rates for persons treated and not treated with antidepressants in Denmark during 1995-1999.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the temporal changes in suicide rate among patients treated with antidepressants with the change in suicide rate among persons who have not been treated with antidepressants during 1995-1999. METHOD: In a historic prospective national pharmacoepidemiological register linkage study by using four Danish registers we included 438,625 patients who had purchased antidepressants, and compared them with 1,199,057 population based control persons. The annual rate of suicide was estimated using Poisson regression analyses. RESULTS: The suicide rate decreased for persons treated with antidepressants as well as for persons not treated with antidepressants. The proportion of persons, who committed suicide and who had not been treated with antidepressants decreased. The reduction in suicide rate was more pronounced among persons treated with SSRIs or older antidepressants than among persons not treated with antidepressants. CONCLUSION: Several factors contribute to the decreasing suicide rate. The most pronounced decrease in suicide rate was found among persons treated with antidepressants.

Aromatic plants essential oils activity on Fusarium verticillioides Fumonisin B(1) production in corn grain.

The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Origanum vulgare, Aloysia triphylla, Aloysia polystachya and Mentha piperita essential oils (EOs) against Fusarium verticillioides M 7075 (F. moniliforme, Sheldon) were assessed, using the semisolid agar antifungal susceptibility (SAAS) technique. O. vulgare, A. triphylla, A. polystachya and M. piperita EOs were evaluated at final concentrations of 10, 20, 40, 50, 100, 200, 250, 500, 1000 and 1500 epsilonl per litre (epsilonl/l) of culture medium. A. triphylla and O. vulgare EOs showed the highest inhibitory effects on F. verticillioides mycelial development. This inhibition was observed at 250 and 500 epsilonl/l for EOs coming from Aloysia triphylla and O. vulgare, respectively. Thus, the effects of EOs on FB(1) production were evaluated using corn grain (Zea mays) as substrate. The EOs were inserted on the 5th, 10th, 15th and 20th day of maize postinoculation with a conidia suspension of F. verticillioides. O. vulgare and A. triphylla were applied to give final concentrations of 30 ppm and 45 ppm, respectively. Different effects were observed in the toxicogenicity at the 20th day treatment. The O. vulgare EO decreased the production level of FB(1) (P < 0.01) while A. triphyla EO increased it (P < 0.001) with respect to those obtained in the inoculated maize, not EOs treated. Results obtained in the present work indicate that fumonisin production could be inhibited or stimulated by some constituents of EOs coming from aromatic plants. Further studies should be performed to identify the components of EOs with modulatory activity on the growth and fumonisins production of Fusarium verticillioides.

Immunobiological effects of AFB1 and AFB1-FB1 mixture in experimental subchronic mycotoxicoses in rats.

Maize co-contamination with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and fumonisin B1 (FB1) is frequently found in several countries. Although the alterations on nutritional and immunologic parameters induced by these mycotoxins, when administered individually, are partially characterised, little is known about the effects induced in animals by a subchronic administration of both toxins mixtures. We have studied the nutritional and immunological alterations induced in rats fed during 90 days with a diet without mycotoxins, containing 40 ppb AFB1, and with a diet containing a mixture of 40 ppb AFB1 and 100 ppm FB1. Animals fed with the mixture of toxins obtained lower body weight than the control ones. The mitogenic response of spleen mononuclear cells (SMC) in vivo was higher in animals fed with AFB1. In in vitro studies, lower proliferations of SMC pre-exposed to AFB1 and to the mixture of toxins were detected. The SMC of animals fed with AFB1 produced lower levels of IL-2, higher of IL-4 and equal levels of IL-10. The SMC of animals fed with both toxins produced higher levels of IL-4, lower of IL-10 and equal levels of IL-2. The SMC preincubated with an AFB1-FB1 mixture produced higher concentrations of IL-4, lower of IL-10 and equal levels of IL-2. The peritoneal macrophages of animals that consumed AFB1 released less H(2)O(2), while animals fed with the mixture of toxins produced higher levels. In in vitro studies, macrophages pre-exposed to the mixture of toxins released less H(2)O(2). These results show different immunobiological effects produced by a mixture of mycotoxins in comparison to the individual action of the same toxins.

Immunobiological effects of fumonisin B1 in experimental subchronic mycotoxicoses in rats.

Fumonisin B1 (FB1), the principal secondary metabolite produced by the fungus Fusarium verticillioides (Gibberella fujikuroi mating population A), is a potent toxin that can be found in fungus-contaminated corn and corn-based food products. We have investigated the immunobiological effects of subchronic dietary exposure to FB1 in male Wistar rats. Animals were fed with diets containing 0 (control) or 100 ppm of FB1 for 12 weeks. The total FB1 intake on day 90 was 810 mg/kg of body weight. Food consumption, body weight, and body weight gain on day 90 were reduced in animals exposed to FB1. Histopathologic changes consisted of histiocytic perivascular infiltrate and an increased number of Kupffer cells in the liver, necrosis and apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells in the kidney, and increased mitotic figures and lymphocytic infiltrate in the small intestine. Serum enzyme alkaline phosphatase was significantly elevated in rats fed FB1, while triglyceride levels decreased compared to controls. Treatment with FB1 in vivo or in vitro did not have a significant effect on mitogen-induced proliferation of spleen mononuclear cells. However, increased levels of interleukin-4 (IL-4) and decreased levels of IL-10 were released by these cells in culture compared to controls. FB1 in vivo or in vitro decreased the hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) released by peritoneal macrophages, while no changes in levels of superoxide anion produced by total peritoneal cells were detected. The results from the present work demonstrate that subchronic FB1 intake could affect the small intestine and alter the interleukin profile and some main functions of macrophages in antitumor activity.

Evaluation of PCR-restriction profile analysis and IS2404 restriction fragment length polymorphism and amplified fragment length polymorphism fingerprinting for identification and typing of Mycobacterium ulcerans and M. marinum.

Mycobacterium ulcerans and M. marinum are emerging necrotizing mycobacterial pathogens that reside in common reservoirs of infection and exhibit striking pathophysiological similarities. Furthermore, the interspecific taxonomic relationship between the two species is not clear as a result of the very high phylogenetic relatedness (i.e., >99.8% 16S rRNA sequence similarity), in contrast to only 25 to 47% DNA relatedness. To help understand the genotypic affiliation between these two closely related species, we performed a comparative analysis including PCR restriction profile analysis (PRPA), IS2404 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) on a set of M. ulcerans (n = 29) and M. marinum (n = 28) strains recovered from different geographic origins. PRPA was based on a triple restriction of the 3' end region of 16S rRNA, which differentiated M. ulcerans into three types; however, the technique could not distinguish M. marinum from M. ulcerans isolates originating from South America and Southeast Asia. RFLP based on IS2404 produced six M. ulcerans types related to six geographic regions and did not produce any band with M. marinum, confirming the previous findings of Chemlal et al. (K. Chemlal, K. DeRidder, P. A. Fonteyne, W. M. Meyers, J. Swings, and F. Portaels, Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. 64:270-273, 2001). AFLP analysis resulted in profiles which grouped M. ulcerans and M. marinum into two separate clusters. The numerical analysis also revealed subgroups among the M. marinum and M. ulcerans isolates. In conclusion, PRPA appears to provide a rapid method for differentiating the African M. ulcerans type from other geographical types but is unsuitable for interspecific differentiation of M. marinum and M. ulcerans. In comparison, whole- genome techniques such as IS 2404-RFLP and AFLP appear to be far more useful in discriminating between M. marinum and M. ulcerans, and may thus be promising molecular tools for the differential diagnosis of infections caused by these two species.

Subwavelength surface-relief gratings fabricated by microcontact printing of self-assembled monolayers.

We have designed and tested subwavelength diffractive optical elements consisting of surface-relief gratings made by microcontact printing of self-assembled monolayers. The first device is a beam deflector for 1.55-mum operation consisting of a surface-relief grating made up of eight pillars over one period (9.3 mum) of the grating. The widths of the pillars vary to approximate a linear phase profile within each grating period. The second device is a quarter-wave plate for 632.8-nm operation consisting of a subwavelength surface-relief grating with a 300-nm period and 58% duty cycle.

Incidence of E. coli O157:H7 and other enteropathogens in a Spanish hospital.

From January to December 1997, stools submitted for routine culture were also screened for E. coli O157:H7 to investigate its incidence in our area. Bloody and non-bloody stools were studied. E. coli O157:H7 was not recovered from any of the samples tested. We believe, therefore, that we are in a low rate of infection area, and accordingly do not recommend routine screening of this pathogen.

The production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor by murine macrophages infected with mycobacterial strains differing by hemolytic activity.

In this study, we compared the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) by murine macrophages infected in vitro with hemolytic or unhemolytic mycobacteria isolates. We observed that unhemolytic mycobacteria induced more intensive NO production by macrophages and were more susceptible to bactericidal effect of mononuclear phagocytes than hemolytic mycobacterial strains. In contrast, the high-virulence hemolytic isolates induced significantly stronger TNF-alpha production by infected macrophages than the low-virulence unhemolytic bacilli.

[Maternal and perinatal morbidity-mortality in pregnant women with renal transplant]. / "Morbimortalidad materna y perinatal en pacientes embarazadas con trasplante renal".

The outcome of 32 pregnancies in renal allograft recipients is reported. The mean age at the time of conception was 27.3 years (range, 20 to 37) with an average interval of 47 months from the time of transplantation to conception (range, 2 to 163). Twenty-nine patients received the graft from a living related donor, one from a living no related donor an 2 from cadaver donors. All patients continued their immunosuppressive regimen during pregnancy and only 6 patients were taking cyclosporine A. Hypertension during pregnancy was observed in 10 patients (31%), superimposed preeclampsia in 4 (14%), preterm labor in 4 (14%) and premature rupture of membranes in 2 (7%). Twenty-eight pregnancies resulted in 28 liveborn infants and there were 4 miscarriages. Cesarean section was performed in 17 cases and 11 had vaginal delivery. Intrauterine growth retardation was observed in 4 cases (14%), fetal distress in 2 (7%) and one neonatal death due to multiple malformations. There was not significative impairment of renal function in this group.