Ceratocystis fimbriata agente causal de la enfermedad de marchitez vascular de Tectona grandis L.f. (teca) en Ecuador / Ceratocystis fimbriata causative agent of vascular wilt disease of Tectona grandis L.f. (teak) in Ecuador

Tectona grandis L.f. es una especie forestal de madera dura que, a pesar de no ser nativa de América, su plasticidad de adaptación ha permitido que en Ecuador se establezcan plantaciones intensivas con fines de exportación. Una compleja enfermedad con características de marchitez vascular está matando miles de árboles de diferentes edades en el país. Se planteó conocer el agente fitopatógeno causante de la patogénesis y muerte de los árboles. Se aislaron los hongos Fusarium sp. y Ceratocystis fimbriata Ellis & Halst. desde árboles enfermos. A nivel de invernadero se plantearon los postulados de Koch, para el efecto 30 plantas de T. grandis de cuatro meses de edad por cada tratamiento, se inocularon con los microrganismos como se describe a continuación: T1= C. fimbriata, T2 = Fusarium sp., T3 = C. fimbriata + Fusarium sp., T4 = agar-agar (control). Se empleó un diseño completo al azar (DCA) y las plantas se evaluaron a los 45 días después de inoculadas. Los tratamientos C. fimbriata, y C. fimbriata + Fusarium sp., mostraron mayores volúmenes aparentes de necrosis, con 1.52 cm3 y 1.93 cm3, y plantas muertas por la infección durante el tiempo de evaluación, mientras que Fusarium sp. mostró baja o nula patogenicidad y comportamiento similar al control, con 0.27 cm3 y 0.16 cm3 respectivamente. Estos resultados sugieren que el agente causal de la enfermedad de marchitez vascular en T. grandis es C. fimbriata y sería el primer reporte del fitopatógeno atacando teca en Ecuador. (AU)

Tectona grandisL.f. it is a hardwood forest species, which despite not being native to America, its adaptive plasticity has allowed intensive plantations to be established for export purposes in Ecuador. A complex disease with characteristics of vascular wilt is killing thousands of trees of different ages in the country. It was proposed to know the phytopathogenic agent causing the pathogenesis and death of the trees. Fusarium sp. andCeratocystis fimbriata Ellis & Halst. were isolated from diseased trees. At the greenhouselevel, Koch's postulates were proposed, for the effect 30 four month old T. grandisplants for each treatment were inoculated with the microorganisms as described below: T1 = C. fimbriata, T2 = Fusariumsp ., T3 = C. fimbriata+ Fusariumsp., T4 = agar-agar (control). A complete randomized design (DCA) was used and the plants were evaluated 45 days after inoculation. The treatments C. fimbriata, and C. fimbriata+ Fusariumsp. showed higher apparent volumes of necrosis, with 1.52 cm3and 1.93 cm3, and plants killed by the infection during the evaluation time, while Fusariumsp. showed low or no pathogenicity and behavior similar to the control, with 0.27 cm3and 0.16 cm3respectively. These results suggest that the causative agent of vascular wilt disease in T. grandisis C. fimbriataand it would be the first report of phytopathogen attacking teak in Ecuador. (AU)

Chronic monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure in patients with severe heart failure: multicentre experience of the monitoring Pulmonary Artery Pressure by Implantable device Responding to Ultrasonic Signal (PAPIRUS) II study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of home monitoring of chronic heart failure (CHF) patients using acoustic wireless communication with an implant directly measuring pulmonary artery (PA) pressures. DESIGN: The PAPIRUS (Pulmonary Artery Pressure by Implantable device Responding to Ultrasonic Signal) II trial was a prospective, multicentre phase I study. PATIENTS: 31 patients with CHF in New York Heart Association class III-IV. INTERVENTIONS: Implantation of a miniature device in the right pulmonary artery (PA) responding to ultrasonic signal that enables wireless recording of a complete PA pressure curve. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary end points were rates of serious adverse device- or implantation-related events at 6 months. Secondary end points included accuracy of the measured PA pressure, functionality of the system and evaluation of pressure readings at different postures. RESULTS: The two safety end points were met with no serious adverse events related to the device or implantation. Pressure tracings at 6 months were almost identical to those obtained simultaneously by Millar catheter. Variations of PA diastolic pressure were observed in relation to posture (standing 6.4 (SD 3.4) mm Hg lower than supine, p<0.001). A total of 4627 home measurements were successfully performed by 23 patients using a simple-to-operate hand-held home-unit for daily measurements. The median compliance with daily monitoring was 86%. CONCLUSIONS: Meeting the prespecified safety objective of this study warrants a randomised trial to fully evaluate the potential of home monitoring by this miniature PA implant in guiding long-term management in CHF.

Prevalencia de síndrome metabólico en funcionarios del servicio de medicina interna del hospital Dr. Gustavo Fricke Viña del Mar, agosto-noviembre 2006 / Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in health care personnel. Internal medicine service. Dr. Gustavo Fricke hospital, august-november 2006

El síndrome metabólico (SM) ha sido ampliamente estudiado por su rol en la patogenia cardiovascular y en Chile su prevalencia es de 22,6 por ciento. Concientes del rol que le compete al equipo de salud en educación y prevención, quisimos conocer la prevalencia de este síndrome entre aquellos que deben educar sobre el tema. Objetivos: Determinar la prevalencia de SM entre los funcionarios del Servicio de Medicina y correlacionar su presencia con los hábitos de vida de éstos. Material y Método: Previo consentimiento informado (evaluado y aprobado por el Comité de Ética del Hospital Dr. Gustavo Fricke), se aplicó una encuesta estandarizada sobre estilo de vida y se realizó examen físico y exámenes de laboratorio a los funcionarios de Medicina entre el 1 de Agosto al 13 de Noviembre 2006. Los criterios diagnósticos utilizados fueron los del NCEP-ATPIII. Se utilizó los programas Excel 2003 y EpiInfo 6.0. Resultados: Se encuestó a 45 funcionarios, de un total de 92. De ellos 33,3 por ciento eran hombres y 66,7 por ciento mujeres. La edad media fue de 39,82 años (más ,menos 12,79). La distribución correspondió a 20,o por ciento personal paramédico, 8,9 por ciento enfermeras y 71,1 por ciento médicos. La prevalencia global de SM fue de 4,44 por ciento; (2 mujeres mayores de 40 años). Se pesquisó hipertensión arterial en el 31,1 por ciento de los funcionarios encuestados, perímetro de cintura aumentada en el 20 por ciento; hipertrigliceridemia en el 28,9 por ciento; HDL bajo en el 31,1 por ciento y glicemia basal alterada en el 2,2 por ciento. Un 73,3 por ciento lee las etiquetas de los alimentos. El consumo de grasas fue elevado en 13,3 por ciento del total encuestado (100 por ciento de las funcionarias con SM) y el consumo de frutas y verduras deficiente en 73,4 por ciento del total y el 100 por ciento de los funcionarios con SM. El 57,8 por ciento realiza alguna actividad física de intensidad moderada o alta.

The metabolic syndrome (SM) has been widely studied for its role in cardiovascular pathogenia and because in Chile the prevalence is 22.6 percent. Aware of the role that health personnel has in education and prevention of disease, we studied the prevalence on this syndrome among themselves. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of SM among the employees of the Internal Medicine Service and correlate its presence with their life habits. Materials and method: After a signed informed consent (evaluated and approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hospital Gustavo Fricke) was available, a standardized life style survey plus a physical examination and laboratory tests was applied to the personnel of the Internal Medicine Service between August 1º to November 13, 2006. The diagnostic criteria used were those of the NCEP-ATPIII. The data was processed through Excel 2003 and EpiInfo 6.0. Results: 45 employees, of a total of 92, were included. Of them, 33.3 percent were men and 66.7 percent women. The average age was of 39.82 years old (+ o - 12.79). Job distribution was 20.0 percent paramedic personnel, 8.9 percent nurses and 71.1 percent physicians. The global prevalence of SM was 4.44 percent; 2 women older than 40. In the group studied, arterial hypertension was found in 31.1 percent; increased waist perimeter in 20 percent; hipertrigliceridemia in 28.9 percent; low HDL in 31.1 percent and abnormal basal glicemia in 2.2 percent. Of them, 73,3 percent read the labels and components of the foods they eat. Fat consumption was elevated in 13,3 percent, (100 percent of those affected with SM) and deficient consumption of fruits and vegetables occurred in 73,4 percent of the group and in 100 percent of those with SM. Only 57.8 percent make some physical activity of moderate or high intensity.

La detección antígeno-específica de linfocitos T y sus aplicaciones clínicas / Clinical applications of antigen-specific detection of T lymphocytes

The important role that T lymphocytes play during the immune response against pathogens and tumor cells has encouraged the development of technologies aimed to detect these immune cells in an antigen-specific fashion. Recently, a methodology consisting of the production of soluble ligands that bind the T lymphocyte receptor was developed. Such ligands consist of molecules from the Major Histocompatibility Complex loaded with either pathogen or tumor derived peptides. These molecular complexes are tetramerized to enhance the binding efficiency to the T cell receptor (TCR), which improves the detection sensitivity of antigen specific T lymphocytes. This new technology is currently used successfully during the follow up patients that were vaccinated against certain tumor antigens, to evaluate the expansion of tumor specific T lymphocytes. This methodology is also promising for the detection and specific deletion of autoreactive T lymphocytes as a treatment for autoimmune disorders. In this article we review the molecular components involved in antigen recognition by T lymphocytes, and the potential benefits for Biomedicine that could result from the detection of these cells by soluble specific ligands (Rev MÚd Chile 2004; 132: 371-80).

Acute myocardial infarction caused by coronary embolism complicated by left ventricular free wall rupture.

Acute myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries is a relatively infrequent finding. This report describes a rare combination of an embolic event to a normal coronary artery, presumably originating from a left atrial thrombus. An anomalous origin of the infarct-related coronary artery presumably enabled preferential penetration of the clot into the artery. The infarction was further complicated by rupture of the left ventricular free wall.

Rest and effort hemodynamic responses during prolonged treatment with felodipine, 24-h blood pressure monitoring, and echocardiographic changes.

In an open study, 16 patients with moderate essential hypertension were treated with 5 or 10 mg felodipine daily for 3 months. Hemodynamic (HD) indices were assessed at rest and during isometric effort (IE) at days 0, 3 to 7, 30, 60, and 90. Treatment efficacy was evaluated by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for (ABPM) 24 h and divided between awake and sleep periods. Left ventricular mass (LVM) was determined before and at the end of treatment. Treatment normalized blood pressure (BP) in all patients (5 mg in 7 and 10 mg in 9). Systolic diastolic and mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased significantly during the study (P < .01). The decrease in BP was significant on day 3 to 7 (P < .01) and tended to decrease further with treatment. Resting heart rate (HR) did not change. After 3 months systolic and diastolic pressure and MAP decreased significantly. Mean HR during ABPM differed between awake and sleep hours but did not change with treatment. When ABPM was divided into daytime and nighttime the awake BP decreased after 3 months (P < .01), but sleep measurements showed only a borderline decrease (P = .05). MAP after 3 months decreased in both awake and sleep periods. LV maximal and minimal dimensions did not change during treatment. Interventricular septum, posterior wall thickness, LVM, LVM/body surface area, and LVM/height tended to decrease, however this change was not significant. Hemodynamic measurements were measured at rest, at peak IE and posteffort. During treatment rest systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and MAP decreased, and there was no difference in ventricular ejection time, HR, and cardiac index. The increase in BP at IE was not prevented by treatment. After effort MAP decreased significantly and SVR tended to decrease in treated patients. Felodipine normalized resting BP in all patients. The main antihypertensive effect came at daytime and was less during sleep. No reflex tachycardia was seen during treatment. Echocardiographic measurements showed preservation of systolic and diastolic function and a tendency of decrease in LVM. Probably longer period of treatment is needed for clear-cut regression of LVM. Felodipine did not prevent the increase in BP and SVR during isometric effort, implying that normal cardiovascular reflexes are preserved during treatment.