[Delayed diagnosis of osteosarcoma in adults: a prognostic factor to be considered]. / Retraso en el diagnóstico de osteosarcoma en adultos: un factor pronóstico que debemos considerar.

INTRODUCTION: different variables have been associated with a worse prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma (OS), highlighting tumor size, location in the axial skeleton and the presence of metastases. The objective of this study is to analyze the prognostic impact of diagnostic delay in osteosarcoma in adults in the Mexican population in a center specialized in sarcomas. MATERIAL AND METHODS: retrospective cohort study from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2016, 96 patients over 21 years of age with a diagnosis of osteosarcoma were analyzed. RESULTS: the median time to diagnosis from the onset of symptoms was six months (range: 2-36). This variable was dichotomized by applying the operator-dependent curve (ROC) analysis and we determined a cut-off value greater than five months, with an area under the curve (AUC) = 0.93 [95% CI 0.86-0.97], sensitivity 93.2% and specificity 94.6%. CONCLUSION: time until diagnosis is a critical factor in the survival of adult patients with osteosarcoma, highlighting its influence on disease progression and the appearance of metastasis. The correlation between diagnostic delay and an unfavorable prognosis reinforces the need for rapid and efficient evaluation in suspected cases of osteosarcoma.

INTRODUCCIÓN: diferentes variables se han asociado con un peor pronóstico de los pacientes con osteosarcoma, destacando el tamaño tumoral, la localización en esqueleto axial y la presencia de metástasis. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el impacto pronóstico del retraso diagnóstico en osteosarcoma en adultos en población mexicana en un centro especializado en sarcomas. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: estudio de tipo cohorte retrospectiva del 1 de Enero del 2005 al 31 de Diciembre de 2016, se analizaron 96 pacientes mayores de 21 años con diagnóstico de osteosarcoma. RESULTADOS: la mediana de tiempo al diagnóstico desde el inicio de síntomas fue de seis meses (rango: 2-36). Esta variable se dicotomizó aplicando el análisis de curva dependiente de operador (ROC) y determinamos un valor de corte mayor a cinco meses con un área bajo la curva (AUC) = 0.93 [IC95% 0.86-0.97], sensibilidad 93.2% y especificidad 94.6%. CONCLUSIÓN: el tiempo hasta el diagnóstico es un factor crítico en la supervivencia de los pacientes adultos con osteosarcoma, destacando su influencia en la progresión de la enfermedad y la aparición de metástasis. La correlación entre el retraso diagnóstico y un pronóstico desfavorable refuerza la necesidad de una evaluación rápida y eficiente en casos sospechosos de osteosarcoma.

Characterization, Directed Evolution, and Targeting of DNA Virus-Encoded RNA Capping Enzymes Using Phenotypic Yeast Platforms.

The constant and the sudden emergence of zoonotic human and animal viruses is a significant threat to human health, the world economy, and the world food supply. This has necessitated the development of broad-spectrum therapeutic strategies to combat these emerging pathogens. Mechanisms that are essential for viral replication and propagation have been successfully targeted in the past to develop broad-spectrum therapeutics that can be readily repurposed to combat new zoonotic pathogens. Because of the importance of viral RNA capping enzymes to viral replication and pathogenesis, as well as their presence in both DNA and RNA viruses, these viral proteins have been a long-standing therapeutic target. Here, we use genome sequencing information and yeast-based platforms (YeRC0M) to identify, characterize, and target viral genome-encoded essential RNA capping enzymes from emerging strains of DNA viruses, i.e., Monkeypox virus and African Swine Fever Virus, which are a significant threat to human and domestic animal health. We first identified and biochemically characterized these viral RNA capping enzymes and their necessary protein domains. We observed significant differences in functional protein domains and organization for RNA capping enzymes from emerging DNA viruses in comparison to emerging RNA viruses. We also observed several differences in the biochemical properties of these viral RNA capping enzymes using our phenotypic yeast-based approaches (YeRC0M) as compared to the previous in vitro studies. Further, using directed evolution, we were able to identify inactivation and attenuation mutations in these essential viral RNA capping enzymes; these data could have implications on virus biocontainment as well as live attenuated vaccine development. We also developed methods that would facilitate high-throughput phenotypic screening to identify broad-spectrum inhibitors that selectively target viral RNA capping enzymes over host RNA capping enzymes. As demonstrated here, our approaches to identify, characterize, and target viral genome-encoded essential RNA capping enzymes are highly modular and can be readily adapted for targeting emerging viral pathogens as well as their variants that emerge in the future.

Transmission dynamics and associated mortality of nosocomial COVID-19 throughout 2021: a retrospective study at a large teaching hospital in London.

BACKGROUND: The impact of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infections has changed significantly since 2020. However, there is a lack of up-to-date evidence of the epidemiology of these infections which is essential in order to appropriately guide infection control policy. AIMS: To identify the secondary attack rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated mortality across different variants of concern. METHODS: A single-centre retrospective study of all nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 exposure events was conducted between 31st December 2020 and 31st December 2021. A secondary attack rate was calculated for nosocomial acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection and time to positivity. Positive contacts were assessed for all-cause 30-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 346 sequential index exposure events were examined, and 1378 susceptible contacts identified. Two hundred susceptible contacts developed SARS-CoV-2 infection (secondary attack rate of 15.5%). The majority of index cases (59%) did not result in any secondary SARS-CoV-2 infection. Where close contacts developed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 80% were detected within the first five days since last contact with the index case. The overall associated mortality among positive contacts across 2021 was 9%, with an estimated reduction of 68% when comparing periods of high Omicron versus Alpha transmission. CONCLUSION: Our findings describe that most SARS-CoV-2 infections are detected within five days of contact with an index case; we have also demonstrated a considerably lower mortality rate with the Omicron variant in comparison to previous variants. These findings have important implications for informing and supporting infection control protocols to allow movement through the hospital, and ensure patients access care safely.

Synthetic Platforms for Characterizing and Targeting of SARS-CoV-2 Genome Capping Enzymes.

Essential viral enzymes have been successfully targeted to combat the diseases caused by emerging pathogenic RNA viruses (e.g., viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase). Because of the conserved nature of such viral enzymes, therapeutics targeting these enzymes have the potential to be repurposed to combat emerging diseases, e.g., remdesivir, which was initially developed as a potential Ebola treatment, then was repurposed for COVID-19. Our efforts described in this study target another essential and highly conserved, but relatively less explored, step in RNA virus translation and replication, i.e., capping of the viral RNA genome. The viral genome cap structure disguises the genome of most RNA viruses to resemble the mRNA cap structure of their host and is essential for viral translation, propagation, and immune evasion. Here, we developed a synthetic, phenotypic yeast-based complementation platform (YeRC0M) for molecular characterization and targeting of SARS-CoV-2 genome-encoded RNA cap-0 (guanine-N7)-methyltransferase (N7-MTase) enzyme (nsp14). In YeRC0M, the lack of yeast mRNA capping N7-MTase in yeast, which is an essential gene in yeast, is complemented by the expression of functional viral N7-MTase or its variants. Using YeRC0M, we first identified important protein domains and amino acid residues that are essential for SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 N7-MTase activity. We also expanded YeRC0M to include key nsp14 variants observed in emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 (e.g., delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 encodes nsp14 A394V and nsp14 P46L). We also combined YeRC0M with directed evolution to identify attenuation mutations in SARS-CoV-2 nsp14. Because of the high sequence similarity of nsp14 in emerging coronaviruses, these observations could have implications on live attenuated vaccine development strategies. These data taken together reveal key domains in SARS-CoV-2 nsp14 that can be targeted for therapeutic strategies. We also anticipate that these readily tractable phenotypic platforms can also be used for the identification of inhibitors of viral RNA capping enzymes as antivirals.

Characterization of kidney complications in patients with sickle cell anemia. / Caracterización de las complicaciones renales en pacientes con anemia de células falciformes.

INTRODUCTION: Sickle cell nephropathy (SCN) is a poorly studied complication of pediatric patients. It appears in different forms, including glomerulopathy, and tubulopathies. OBJECTIVE: To describe acute and chronic renal complications in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Re trospective study. Pediatric patients with confirmed diagnosis of sickle cell disease were included who had a nephro-urology study. Hemoglobin electrophoresis pattern, presence and type of renal involvement, and presence of cardiac involvement were recorded. Bivariate analysis was perfor med to compare patients with and without SCN. RESULTS: 79 patients were included, 59.5% of them were men, and the most frequent electrophoresis pattern was Hb-SS (60.9%). The SCN oc curred in 70% of patients with an average age of 114 months (RIQ 65-157). The most frequently observed alterations were glomerular hyperfiltration, microalbuminuria, acute kidney injury, ar terial hypertension, and hyposthenuria. In the bivariate analysis, an abnormal echocardiogram result was presented more frequently in patients with SCN (84.8% vs. 54.3% p = 0.01), as well as more frequent use of nephrotoxic drugs (74.5% vs. 54.2% p = 0.07). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that sickle cell nephropathy may occur at an early age, where glomerular hyperfiltration is very common. Cardiopulmonary complications in patients with SCA may be related to the presence of SCN.

Translocation of Bacillus thuringiensis in Phaseolus vulgaris tissues and vertical transmission in Arabidopsis thaliana.

AIMS: To demonstrate the ability of Bacillus thuringiensis to penetrate as spore-crystal complex to the internal tissues of bean plants, and keep its insecticidal activity. To test the vertical transmission of the spore-crystal complex in Arabidopsis thaliana. METHODS AND RESULTS: The experimental strain was transformed with the pMUTIN-gfp plasmid which labelled the spores of B. thuringiensis HD-73 with the GFP protein. Once the rhizosphere of the bean plants was inoculated with the labelled strain, the bacterium was recovered from leaves, stems, and petioles. Furthermore, toxicity of treated plants was significantly higher than control plants when bio-assayed on cabbage looper larvae. The labelled strain was recovered from the dead insects. When the rhizosphere of A. thaliana plants was inoculated with the labelled strain, mature seeds from these plants were surface-sterilized and grown under in vitro conditions. The labelled strain was recovered from the seedlings. CONCLUSIONS: We showed that B. thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki (HD-73) in the rhizosphere can translocate to upper tissues of bean plants, and keep its insecticidal activity. Transmission of the labelled B. thuringiensis strain passed to the next generation of A. thaliana. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The role of B. thuringiensis as a potential facultative endophyte bacterium and the possible biotechnological repercussions are discussed.

La contribución de la ocupación en la construcción de la cultura en la feria libre de la comuna de Valdivia / Contribution of occupation in the construction of cultures in the street markets of Valdivia city

Estudio cualitativo de diseño narrativo. Las técnicas utilizadas fueron, la entrevista en profundidad semi estructurada y observación participante pasiva. Para ello se realizaron cuatro visitas de campo a la Feria libre Valdivia; se eligieron a cinco actores claves y a su vez, se aplicó una pauta de observación de forma y función del contexto, elaborada por las investigadoras. Los resultados fueron analizados y contrastados con elementos teóricos relacionados. El objeto de esta investigación guarda relación con la necesidad de abordar la complejidad contextual de esta comunidad bajo la intervención con relevancia cultural desde Terapia Ocupacional, y a su vez responder a la interrogante: ¿Contribuye la ocupación (productiva) a la conformación de cultura en la feria libre Valdivia? ¿Cómo? Los resultados dan cuenta de la relación de su ocupación productiva, tanto en forma, función y signifcado, con las características que lo constituyen como tal, y dan forma a la cultura feriante.

Qualitative study with narrative design. Theused techniques were a deep semi – structured interview and passive participant observation. For this, four feld visits were performed in Valdivia’s Fair, fve key players were selected and a context’s function and shape observation guideline made by the investigators was applied. The results was analyzed and compared with related theoretical elements. The purpose of this research is related with the need to approach to the contextual complexity of this community under the culturally relevant intervention from Occupational Therapy and in turn answer to the question: Does the occupation (productive occupation) contributes in culture’s conformation in the Valdivia’s fair? how?. The results show the relationship of their productive occupations, in form, function and meaning, with features that constitutes it as such and shape the culture in Valdivia’s fair.

Revisión de los aspectos inmunológicos de la enfermedad periodontal en pacientes pediátricos con síndrome de Down

La enfermedad periodontal en niños con síndrome de Down (SD) se desarrolla en etapas tempranas y aumenta progresivamente con la edad. Son diversos los factores que contribuyen en el progreso de las periodontopatías: factores locales, morfología capilar y desórdenes en el tejido conectivo. Actualmente, la mayor prevalencia de la enfermedad se relaciona con el sistema inmunológico, el cual es incapaz de controlar la invasión bacteriana por defecto en los elementos celulares de defensa, así como en la regulación de enzimas. Por tal motivo, es importante que el odontólogo reconozca todos los factores que intervienen en la aparición de la enfermedad periodontal en niños con SD

Hematoma subcapsular hepático por fasciolasis / Hepatic subcapsular hematoma caused by fascioliasis

Hepatic fasciolasis is a worldwide spread zoonoses mainly affecting cattle-raising countries. It is caused by the trematode Fasciola hepßtica and it is characterized by abdominal pain, fever, nausea and vomitus, weight loss, diahrrea, paleness, general malaise, and hypereosinophilia. Immunological diagnosis as well as stool eggs count may be performed. Hepatic subcapsular and intraparenchymatous hematoma is an infrequent complication of human fascioliasis. Nevertheless, for establishing a proper diagnosis and treatment, any suspicion of its presence must be carefully discarded through, clinical epidemiology, laboratory and imaging exams and procedures. The aim of this study is to expand knowledge on this unfrequently dealt pathology in medical literature by presenting four case reports related to patients undergoing a two-year treatment. All of them had been referred from Departamento de Cajamarca, Peru.

La fasciolasis hepática es una zoonosis mundialmente difundida, sobre todo en los países productores de ganado; causada por la fasciola hepática. Se manifiesta por dolor abdominal, fiebre, nauseas y vómitos, baja de peso, diarrea, palidez, malestar general e hipereosinofilia. El diagnóstico es inmunológico y también puede hacerse por recuento de huevos en heces. El hematoma subcapsular e intraparenquimatoso hepático es una complicación rara de la fasciolasis humana pero se debe tener un alto índice de sospecha uniendo epidemiología, clínica, laboratorio e imaginologia para un adecuado diagnóstico y tratamiento. El propósito de reportar estos casos es dar a conocer una patología poco frecuente en la literatura, con una casuística de cuatro pacientes tratados en el lapso de dos años, todos referidos del Departamento de Cajamarca.

In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic and trypanocidal activities of Ampelozizyphus amazonicus (Rhamnaceae)

Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke is a tree commonly found in the Amazon region and an extract of its stem bark is popularly used as an antimalarial and anti-inflammatory agent and as an antidote to snake venom. Ursolic acid; five lupane type triterpenes: betulin, betulinic acid, lupenone, 3ß-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid, and 2a,3ß-dihydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid, and three phytosteroids: stigmasterol, sitosterol and campesterol, have been isolated from stem extracts of A. amazonicus Ducke. Their structures were characterized by spectral data including COSY and HMQC. In an in vitro biological screening of the isolated compounds, 3ß-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid was cytotoxic against the SKBR-3 human adenocarcinoma cell line (1 to 10 mg/mL), while 2a,3ß-dihydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid exhibited cytotoxicity against both SKBR-3 human adenocarcinoma and C-8161 human melanoma tumor cell lines (>0.1 mg/mL). In the present study, different extracts and some fractions of this plant were also investigated for trypanocidal activity due to the presence of pentacyclic triterpenes. The triterpene classes are potent against Trypanosoma cruzi. The bioassays were carried out using blood collected from Swiss albino mice by cardiac puncture during the parasitemic peak (7th day) after infection with the Y strain of T. cruzi. The results obtained showed that A. amazonicus is a potential source of bioactive compounds since its extracts and fractions isolated from it exhibited in vitro parasite lysis against trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi at concentrations >100 æg/mL. Fractions containing mainly betulin, lupenone, 3ß-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid, and 2a,3ß-dihydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid showed more activity than crude extracts.

In vitro evaluation of the cytotoxic and trypanocidal activities of Ampelozizyphus amazonicus (Rhamnaceae).

Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke is a tree commonly found in the Amazon region and an extract of its stem bark is popularly used as an antimalarial and anti-inflammatory agent and as an antidote to snake venom. Ursolic acid; five lupane type triterpenes: betulin, betulinic acid, lupenone, 3beta-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid, and 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid, and three phytosteroids: stigmasterol, sitosterol and campesterol, have been isolated from stem extracts of A. amazonicus Ducke. Their structures were characterized by spectral data including COSY and HMQC. In an in vitro biological screening of the isolated compounds, 3beta-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid was cytotoxic against the SKBR-3 human adenocarcinoma cell line (1 to 10 mg/mL), while 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid exhibited cytotoxicity against both SKBR-3 human adenocarcinoma and C-8161 human melanoma tumor cell lines (>0.1 mg/mL). In the present study, different extracts and some fractions of this plant were also investigated for trypanocidal activity due to the presence of pentacyclic triterpenes. The triterpene classes are potent against Trypanosoma cruzi. The bioassays were carried out using blood collected from Swiss albino mice by cardiac puncture during the parasitemic peak (7th day) after infection with the Y strain of T. cruzi. The results obtained showed that A. amazonicus is a potential source of bioactive compounds since its extracts and fractions isolated from it exhibited in vitro parasite lysis against trypomastigote forms of T. cruzi at concentrations >100 microg/mL. Fractions containing mainly betulin, lupenone, 3beta-hydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid, and 2alpha,3beta-dihydroxylup-20(29)-ene-27,28-dioic acid showed more activity than crude extracts.

Revisión de los aspectos inmunológicos de la enfermedad periodontal en pacientes pediátricos con síndrome de Down / A review of the immunological aspects of periodontal disease in pediatric patients with Down syndrome

La enfermedad periodontal en niños con síndrome de Down (SD) se desarrolla en etapas tempranas y aumenta progresivamente con la edad. Son diversos los factores que contribuyen en el progreso de las periodontopatías: factores locales, morfología capilar y desórdenes en el tejido conectivo. Actualmente, la mayor prevalencia de la enfermedad se relaciona con el sistema inmunológico, el cual es incapaz de controlar la invasión bacteriana por defecto en los elementos celulares de defensa, así como en la regulación de enzimas. Por tal motivo, es importante que el odontólogo reconozca todos los factores que intervienen en la aparición de la enfermedad periodontal en niños con SD.

Poliposis adenomatosa familiar: presentación de un caso clínico: Hospital Universitario de Caracas / Famylial adenomatous polyposis: presentation of a case clinical: Hospital Universitario of Caracas

Se presenta caso de un paciente masculino de 20 años de edad, que ingrersó al Hospital Universitario de Caracas con diarrea crónica de 3 años de evolución, en quien la colonoscopia evidenció colon tapizado de cientos de pólipos de superficie lisa, diferentes tamaños. Se realizó endoscopia digestiva superior encontrando pólipos a nivel de segunda porción de duodeno no en la papila y en la enteroscopia, pólipos en duodeno y yeyuno. Tenía antecedente de madre con diagnóstico de adenomatosis familiar y Cáncer de Colon diagnosticado en el año 2002. La póliposis adenomatosa familiar es un desórden hereditario autosómico dominante caracterizado por la presencia de cientos y miles de pólipos en el colon. Todos los pacientes desarrollan cáncer de colon si no son tratados. Más del 90 por ciento de los casos presentan pólipos gastro-duodenales y el carcinoma de papila es una de las manifestaciones malignas más común en este síndrome

The heart of Daphnia magna: effects of four cardioactive drugs.

We used Daphnia magna bioassays to determine the LC(50) and the effects on the heart of the cardioactive drugs ouabain, verapamil, metaproterenol and metoprolol. Distinctions were made between the pharmacological and toxicological effects of these drugs and the adequacy of physicochemical characteristics of its habitat (reconstituted water). Video microscopy and digital image processing were used to study the pharmacological effects on the heart. D. magna exhibited the expected sensitivity to the reference toxicant sodium dodecyl sulfate with a LC(50) of 15.6+/-4.5 mg/l. All drugs were toxic with 48 h-LC(50) of 2.03 mg/l ouabain, 7.04 mg/l verapamil, 32.45 mg/l metaproterenol and 76.21 mg/l metoprolol. Ouabain was the most toxic and caused a positive concentration-dependent inotropic effect. Verapamil caused positive chronotropic and inotropic effects, while metaproterenol showed positive concentration-dependent chronotropic effects at high concentrations (10(-3) and 10(-4) M). Metoprolol induced a positive chronotropic effect at low concentrations (10(-8), 10(-7), 10(-6) M) and a negative chronotropic effect at high concentration (10(-4) M). Ouabain, metaproterenol and metoprolol in D. magna caused similar effects to those produced in mammals. In contrast, verapamil caused opposite effects. The results suggest the presence of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase receptors to verapamil and of non-specific adrenergic receptors in heart of D. magna.

IL-13 gene-deficient mice are susceptible to cutaneous L. mexicana infection.

Recent studies have demonstrated that IL-13 mediates susceptibility to cutaneous L. major infection via IL-4-independent pathway. To determine whether IL-13 also plays a similar role in pathogenesis of cutaneous L. mexicana infection, we analyzed the course of L. mexicana infection in IL-13(-/-) and IL-4/IL-13(-/-) C57BL/6x129sv/Ev mice and compared with that in similarly infected wild-type mice. IL-13(-/-) mice were as susceptible as the wild-type mice to L. mexicana and developed rapidly progressing, large non-healing lesions following cutaneous L. mexicana infection. In contrast, similarly infected IL-4/IL-13(-/-) mice were highly resistant and developed either no lesions or small lesions containing few parasites that totally resolved by 12 weeks following infection. Throughout the course of infection IL-13(-/-) and the wild-type mice produced significantly more Th2-associated L. mexicana antigen (LmAg)-specific IgG1 than IL-4/IL-13(-/-) mice. All three groups produced comparable levels of Th1-associated IgG2a. At week 12 post infection, LmAg-stimulated spleen cells from L. mexicana-infected IL-4/IL-13(-/-) produced significantly higher levels of IL-12 and IFN-gamma as compared to those from similarly infected wild-type and IL-13(-/-) mice. Although both IL-13(-/-) and the wild-type spleen cells produced IL-4 following in vitro antigenic stimulation, the wild-type mice produced significantly more. These findings demonstrate that IL-13 is not involved in mediating susceptibility to L. mexicana. Moreover, they also indicate that IL-4 not IL-13 is a dominant cytokine involved in pathogenesis of cutaneous L. mexicana infection.

[Familial pituitary tumor with somatotropic compromise]. / Tumor hipofisario familiar de compromiso somatomamotrópico.

Pituitary adenoma, familiar type, with apparent affection over the involved somatomammotropin of secretion of growth hormone and prolactin, with dominant autosomic transmission, is described for the first time. It was seen that a couple of members without demonstrable tumour, showed clinical data (phenotype) of acromegaly. On investigation of histocompatibility antigens it was observed that the patients with tumour and other symptomatic ones, but without tumour, shared the same haplotypes, and so is very possible that investigation of HLA antigens in patients with pituitary tumour, contributes to better identify its nature and frequency.

[Sporulation of the entomopathogenic fungi Hirsutella thompsonii Fisher and H. nodulosa petch in mixed culture]. / Esporulación de los hongos entomopatógenos Hirsutella thompsonii Fisher y H. nodulosa petch en cultivo mixto.

A large-scale method for producing fungal pathogens for mites, Hirsutella thompsonii and H. nodulosa in two phase culture (liquid and solid), was developed to induce conidiogenesis. The vegetative growth that was obtained in the liquid media of soy meal with shaking, from an inoculum 0.5 g wet weight equivalent to 0.1 g of dry weight, was inoculated on eight solid supports. Generally for most of the strains, the three supports yielding greater conidiogenesis were rice, barley and bran, excluding the strains whose greater sporulation is achieved in rice, oats and sorghum, sorghum and oats as compared to barley and bran, respectively. Maximum production of conidia was obtained with HtM2, HtM4481 and HtC59 strains of H. thompsonii, which reached on solid support 334.75, 269.68 and 137.12 x 10(7) conidia/g, respectively.

[Control of the nutritional status of women in their fertile years as a factor influencing the decline in infant mortality. Province of Havana, 1979-1983]. / Control del estado nutricional de las mujeres en edad fertil como factor influyente en la disminucion de la mortalidad infantil. Provincia La Habana, 1979-1983.

PIP: The impact of the nutritional status of reproductive-age women on infant mortality in Cuba is analyzed for the period 1979-1983. The risk of having low-birth-weight babies is measured using nutritional indexes based on women's height, weight, and age group. Data are from a survey of 69,655 women aged 15-49 in the province of Havana. (SUMMARY IN ENG AND FRE)^ieng

[The importance of fertility control among women of childbearing age in the decrease of infant mortality in Havana province.1979-1983]. / Importancia del control de mujeres en edad fertil en la disminucion de la mortalidad infantil en la provincia de la Habana. Anos 1979-1983.

PIP: The program of fertility control developed for the approximately 133,000 women of fertile age living in the Cuban province of Havana between 1979 and 1984 is described. The focus is on the program's impact on infant mortality (SUMMARY IN ENG AND FRE)^ieng

[Factors that influence infant mortality. Havana Province. 1983]. / Factores que influyen en la mortalidad infantil. Provincia La Habana. Ano 1983.

PIP: An analysis of infant mortality in the province of Havana, Cuba, is presented. The data, which concern the 133 infant deaths that occurred in 1983, were collected using questionnaires completed by physicians responsible for local health areas. (SUMMARY IN ENG AND FRE)^ieng