Using CDOM spectral shape information to improve the estimation of DOC concentration in inland waters: A case study of Andean Patagonian Lakes.

For the last two decades different scientific disciplines have focused on lacustrine dissolved organic matter (DOM) given its importance in the biogeochemistry of carbon and in ecosystem functioning. New satellites supply the appropriate resolutions to evaluate chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in inland waters, opening the possibility to estimate DOM at appropriate spatiotemporal scales. This requires, however, a robust relationship between CDOM and dissolved organic carbon (DOC). In this work, we evaluated the use of CDOM as a proxy of DOC in 7 Andean Patagonian lakes. Considering the entire data set, CDOM absorption coefficients (a355 and a440) were linearly related with DOC. Shallow lakes, however, drove this relationship showing a moderate relationship, whereas, deep lakes with lower colour presented a weaker relationship. Therefore, we assessed the use of CDOM spectral shape information to improve DOC estimates regardless of observed DOM differences due to climatic seasonality and lakes' morphometry. The use of well-known CDOM spectral shape metrics (i.e., S275-295 and a250:a365 ratio) significantly improved DOC estimation. Particularly, using a Gaussian decomposition approach we found that much of the variation in the spectral shape, associated with the variability of CDOM:DOC ratio, was explained by differences in two dynamic regions centred at 270 and 320 nm. A strong nonlinear relationship was found between the a270:a320 ratio and the DOC-specific absorption coefficients a*355 and a*440. This was translated into a further improvement in DOC estimation yielding the higher R2 and lower mean absolute differences (MAPD < 16%), either considering the entire data set or shallow and deep lakes separately. Our results highlight that incorporating the CDOM spectral shape information improves the characterization of the DOC pool of inland waters, which is particularly relevant for remote and/or inaccessible sites and has significant implications for the environmental management, biogeochemical studies and future remote sensing applications.

Identifying the ideal body size and shape characteristics associated with children's physical performance tests in Peru.

We used allometric models to identify the optimal body size/shape characteristics associated with physical and motor performance tests in Peruvian schoolchildren. The sample consisted of 3624 subjects (1669 boys and 1955 girls) aged 11-17 years from 31 public schools belonging to four cities located in the three natural regions in central Peru. Motor performance included 12-min run, standing long jump, grip strength, curl-ups, shuttle run, and sit and reach. The reciprocal Ponderal index (RPI), a characteristic sometimes referred to as the somatotype "ectomorphy," was found to be the most suitable body shape indicator associated with 12-min run, standing long jump, curl-up, and shuttle run performance. A positive maturation offset parameter was also associated with greater standing long jump, grip strength, shuttle run, and sit-and-reach performances. With the exception of the sit-and-reach flexibility, sex differences are pervasive in all tests favoring boys. Rainforest schoolchildren are best performers in the power and flexibility tests, whereas those from high altitude were superior in the 12-min endurance test even after taking their much lighter body size characteristics into account. This latter finding suggests that living at high altitude in Peru benefits children's endurance performance both before and even after controlling for differences in the confounding variable of body size/shape.

[Patterns of rare congenital diseases in patients admitted to a regional hospital]. / Patrones de las enfermedades raras congénitas en pacientes ingresados en un hospital regional.

BACKGROUND: To describe the pattern of patients admitted due to rare diseases corresponding to congenital anomalies in a regional hospital. METHODS: Retrospective transversal study. We considered hospital discharges for the years 2009-2012 with principal diagnosis between codes CIE 9R MC 740-759. The source of information was the Basic Minimum Data Set. Socio-demographic and clinical variables were analyzed. RESULTS: One point six percent (1.6%) of the population was admitted to hospital due to rare congenital diseases. Fifty-eight point five percent (58.5%) were male, with average age 21.4 ± 21.5 years. The major diagnostic categories were: diseases of the nervous system (86.9%), circulatory systems diseases (51.7%) and musculoskeletal system diseases (50.3%). Eighteen percent (18%) of hospital admissions corresponded to patient readmissions. The service with the greatest number of episodes was Pediatric Surgery, 29%, followed by Neurosurgery, 20%. CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of rare congenital disease in the "Virgen de Nieves" University Hospital corresponds to a young patient, with a disease belonging to the diseases of the nervous system group of the major diagnostic categories, treated surgically, and with a low percentage of readmissions.

Influence of resin cement and post configuration on bond strength to root dentine.

AIM: To evaluate the effect of luting agent and fibreglass post design on bond strength to root dentine at different depths within the canal. METHODOLOGY: Ninety single-rooted teeth were root filled and prepared to receive either a parallel-sided and serrated fibreglass post (Reforpost no. 2) or a tapered and smooth fibreglass post (Exato Cônico). The posts were cemented with the following resin cements: dual-cured resin cement (Rely X ARC), two self-adhesive resin cements (Rely X Unicem and MaxCem) and a self-cured resin cement (Cement-Post). The roots were cross-sectioned to obtain two 1-mm-thick discs for each cervical, middle and apical third of the prepared root portion. The posts were submitted to a micropush-out test at a speed of 0.5 mm min(-1), and the bond strength values (MPa) were submitted to anova in a split-plot arrangement and Tukey's test (P < 0.05). RESULTS: The RelyX Unicem demonstrated significantly higher bond strength values (P < 0.001) along the root dentine. The RelyX ARC and Cement-Post had similar bond strength values in the cervical third; however, the bond strength decreased significantly (P < 0.001) in an apical direction for the RelyX ARC. Significantly lower bond strength values (P < 0.001), irrespective of canal region, were found for MaxCem cement. The bond strength was similar for both post configurations irrespective of the resin cement and canal region. CONCLUSIONS: The retention of glass fibre posts remained unaffected by surface roughness but was influenced by resin cement type. The self-adhesive cement RelyX Unicem yielded a significantly greater (P < 0.001) bond strength value when cementing the fibreglass posts.

Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-contaminated saline-alkaline soils of the former Lake Texcoco.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as phenanthrene, anthracene and Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are toxic for the environment. Removing these components from soil is difficult as they are resistant to degradation and more so in soils with high pH and large salt concentrations as in soil of the former lake Texcoco, but stimulating soil micro-organisms growth by adding nutrients might accelerate soil restoration. Soil of Texcoco and an agricultural Acolman soil, which served as a control, were spiked with phenanthrene, anthracene and BaP, added with or without biosolid or inorganic fertilizer (N, P), and dynamics of PAHs, N and P were monitored in a 112-day incubation. Concentrations of phenanthrene did not change significantly in sterilized Acolman soil, but decreased 2-times in unsterilized soil and >25-times in soil amended with biosolid and NP. The concentration of phenanthrene in unsterilized soil of Texcoco was 1.3-times lower compared to the sterilized soil, 1.7-times in soil amended with NP and 2.9-times in soil amended with biosolid. In unsterilized Acolman soil, degradation of BaP was faster in soil amended with biosolid than in unamended soil and soil amended with NP. In unsterilized soil of Texcoco, degradation of BaP was similar in soil amended with biosolid and NP but faster than in the unamended soil. It was found that application of biosolid and NP increased degradation of phenanthrene, anthracene and BaP, but to a different degree in alkaline-saline soil of Texcoco compared to an agricultural Acolman soil.

Helicobacter pylori vacA s1a and s1b alleles from clinical isolates from different regions of Chile show a distinct geographic distribution.

AIM: To establish the most common vacA alleles in Helicobacter pylori (H pylori) strains isolated from Chilean patients and its relationship with gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcers. METHODS: Two hundred and forty five H pylori clinical isolates were obtained from 79 biopsies from Chilean infected patients suffering from gastrointestinal diseases. An average of 2-3 strains per patient was isolated and the vacA genotype was analyzed by PCR and 3% agarose electrophoresis. Some genotypes were checked by DNA sequencing. RESULTS: The most prevalent vacA genotype in Chilean patients was s1b m1 (76%), followed by s1a m1 (21%). In contrast, the s2 m2 genotype was scarcely represented (3%). The s1b m1 genotype was found most frequently linked to gastropathies (P<0.05) rather than ulcers. Ulcers were found more commonly in male and older patients. Curiously, patients living in cities located North and far South of Santiago, the capital and largest Chilean city, carried almost exclusively strains with the s1b m1 genotype. In contrast, patients from Santiago and cities located South of Santiago carried strains with either one or both s1a m1 and s1b m1 genotypes. Regarding the s2 m2 genotype, comparison with GenBank sequences revealed that Chilean s2 sequence was identical to those of Australian, American, and Colombian strains but quite different from those of Alaska and India. CONCLUSION: Differences in geographic distribution of the s and m vacA alleles in Chile and a relationship of s1b m1 genotype with gastritis were found. Sequence data in part support a hispanic origin for the vacA genotype. Asymmetric distribution of genotypes s1b m1 and s2 m2 recedes H Pylori strain distribution in Spain and Portugal.

Changes in the concentration of trigonelline in a semi-arid leguminous plant (Prosopis laevigata) induced by an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus during the presymbiotic phase.

An in vitro presymbiotic system between mesquite [Prosopis laevigata(Willd.) M.C. Johnst], a semi-arid leguminous plant, and pregerminated spores of Gigaspora rosea Nicol. & Schenck was established. After characteristic hyphal branching, high performance liquid chromatographic analyses of methanol extracts from P. laevigata roots revealed a concentration change in one ultraviolet-detectable product. This product was identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry as trigonelline, a pyridine alkaloid. The concentration of trigonelline was constant in the aerial parts of the plant with or without G. rosea, but its concentration in the roots increased 1.8-fold when G. roseawas present. Trigonelline may be a regulatory factor during early signal events in the establishment of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis in P. laevigata.

Efficacy of N-acetylcysteine to reduce the effects of aflatoxin B1 intoxication in broiler chickens.

N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been used safely in humans and in other mammals as an antidote against several toxic and carcinogenic agents, including aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). The aim of this study was to evaluate the capability of dietary supplementation with NAC to ameliorate the effects of subacute intoxication with AFB1 in broiler chickens. One hundred twenty male Hubbard 1-d-old chickens were allocated into one of four dietary treatments: 1) control group without treatment, 2) purified AFB1 added to diet (3 mg/kg of feed) for 21 d, 3) NAC (800 mg/kg BW, daily), or 4) AFB1 plus NAC at the same doses as Groups 2 and 3. Broilers treated with AFB1 plus NAC were shown to be partially protected against deleterious effects on BW (57.8%), daily weight gain (49.1%), feed conversion index (21.4%), plasma and hepatic total protein concentration (45.2, 66.7%), plasma alanine aminotransferase (67.4%), hepatic glutathione-S-transferase (18.8%), and reduced glutathione liver concentration (75.0%). In addition, they showed less intense liver fading, friable texture, and microvesicular steatosis. In the kidney, thickening of glomerular basement membrane was also less severe in NAC+AFB1-treated chickens than in AFB1-treated chickens. Our results suggest that NAC provided protection against negative effects on performance, liver and renal damage, and biochemical alterations induced by AFB1 in broiler chickens. Effects of NAC alone on chick performance were also evaluated. Addition of NAC to diet (800 mg/kg BW) did not negatively affect feed consumption, conversion index, or serum chemistry and did not induce structural changes in the liver or kidney.

Biotransformation of n-hexadecane by cell suspension cultures of Cinchona robusta and Dioscorea composita.

This manuscript evaluates the phytotoxicity and biotransformation of n-hexadecane as well as peroxidase activity and cytochrome P450 concentration in microsomes for cell suspension cultures of Cinchona robusta and Dioscorea composita. Phytotoxicity was evaluated based on viability and growth. Cell cultures were exposed to a 2 and 4% (v/v) dose of n-hexadecane. The biotransformation of n-hexadecane was determined based on labeled recovery in polar, nonpolar, and cell residue fractions after cell culture extraction during exponential cell growth phase and stationary phase. Differences were observed in accumulation of label during cell growth phase and stationary phase for the cells of the two plants. Differences also were observed between phases for label in polar and nonpolar fractions. Thin-layer chromatography determined labeled intermediates and some were identified. The activity of peroxidase and concentration of cytochrome P450 was lower in C. robusta than in controls and greater in D. composita than in controls. In vitro biotransformation was not successful.

Isolation and identification of adenovirus in hospitalized children, under five years, with acute respiratory disease, in Havana, Cuba.

Nine Adenovirus (Ad) strains isolated in Cuba, from 128 nasopharingeal swab specimens of children below five years old, with acute respiratory diseases, during 1996 and 1997, were studied by restriction enzyme analysis of genomic DNA with two endonucleases BamH I and Sma I. All different fragment patterns were compared with the respective prototypes. The identified adenoviruses were Ad 1 (n=4), Ad 2 (n=1) and Ad 6 (n=4). Males were more frequently infected than females. The analysis of the occurrence of these Adenovirus strains of subgenus C revealed that Ad 1 and Ad 6 were the predominant serotypes in 1996 and in 1997, respectively.

Detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasopharyngeal secretions by 24-well plate precentrifugation assay using a monoclonal antibody against F protein.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is responsible for 50% of all bronchiolitis and 25% of pneumonia cases during the first month of life. Detection of the RSV antigen by immunofluorescence in exfoliated nasal epithelium or by other methods in nasopharyngeal swabs is useful in the potentially infected patient because results are available within a few hours. In contrast, RSV antigen detection in cell culture may require as much as 3 weeks. METHODS: Three methods for detection of respiratory syncytial virus in 131 clinical respiratory specimens from patients with acute respiratory disease and bronchiolitis were compared utilizing the following: a precentrifugation immunofluorescence assay using Hep-2 cells, indirect immunofluorescence assay, and conventional tube cell culture using Hep-2 cells. RESULTS: Respiratory syncytial virus was identified in 36 specimens by the three methods previously described. The virus was recovered in 41 (31.3%) samples by precentrifugation immunofluorescence assay, 40 (30.5%) were identified by the immunofluorescence technique, and 38 (29.0%) cases were positive by conventional cell culture. The sensitivity of the precentrifugation assay in relation to the immunofluorescence technique was 90%, the specificity 94.5%, and the agreement, 96.2%. A positive predictive value of 90.2% was obtained. Sensitivity, specificity, agreement, and positive predictive values obtained by the precentrifugation assay variant compared to the conventional cell were 90.8%, 94.5%, 93.1%, and 87.8%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The precentrifugation immunofluorescence assay method was as sensitive as the remainder of the methods used in our study and represents a valid alternative for rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus in clinical samples.

Effects of aflatoxin B(1) on the liver and kidney of broiler chickens during development.

Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) negatively affects chicken (Gallus domesticus) growth. This effect is more severe during development. We studied the influence of age on the toxic effects of AFB(1) on plasma, renal and hepatic enzymes, under two protocols, in adult and in developing Arbor-Acres chickens. Protocol A: 100 male 4-week-old chickens (640 g), received AFB(1), 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 microg/g of feed (daily p.o.), a fourth group received an aflatoxin-free diet. Five birds/group were slaughtered at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of treatment. Body, hepatic and renal weights, succinate-dehydrogenase (SDH) and glutamate-dehydrogenase (GluDH) in plasma and liver were measured. Hepatic SDH and GluDH decreased (P<0.05). Protocol B: two groups of 24 male 1-week-old chickens (106 g) received either aflatoxin-free feed (n=24) or AFB(1) feed (2.0 microg/g). At days 7, 14, 21 and 28, the same parameters of Protocol A were measured. AFB(1) markedly reduced body weight gain (20-30%), plasma proteins, albumin, renal and hepatic protein content (P<0.05) and increased absolute and relative weights of the kidney (P<0.05). SDH and GluDH were reduced (P<0.05), while total renal gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) increased (P<0.05). Results suggest that serum proteins, SDH and GluDH are sensitive early indicators of this toxicity that was more severe in developing chickens. Decrease in serum albumin might be used as an early and suitable indicator of the deleterious effect of this mycotoxin in developing chickens.

Antigenic and genetic characterization of twenty-six strains of human respiratory syncytial virus (subgroup A) isolated during three consecutive outbreaks in Havana city, Cuba.

Twenty-six human respiratory syncytial virus strains (subgroup A) isolated from three outbreaks in Havana City during the period 1994/95, 1995/96 and 1996/97 were analyzed to determine their antigenic and genetic relationships. Analyses were performed by monoclonal antibodies and restriction mapping (N gene) following amplification of the select region of the virus genome by polymerase chain reaction. All isolated strains were classified as subgroup A by monoclonal antibodies and they showed a restriction pattern NP4 that belonged to subgroup A. Thus the results obtained in this work, showed a close relation (100%) between antigenic and genetic characterization of the isolated strains in our laboratory. These methods permit the examination of large numbers of isolates by molecular techniques, simplifying the researchs into the molecular epidemiology of the virus.

Unusual antigenic and genetic characteristics of human respiratory syncytial viruses isolated in Cuba.

The G protein of 23 strains of human respiratory syncytial virus isolated in Havana, Cuba, between October 1994 and January 1995 was analyzed at the antigenic and genetic level. All viruses reacted with 10 of 11 antibodies specific for the Long strain. Moreover, the G protein gene of the Cuban isolates had only five nucleotide differences from the sequence of the Long gene. The homogeneity of the Cuban isolates and their resemblance to an ancient strain, such as Long, are at odds with previous findings for viruses isolated in countries with a temperate climate and different socioeconomic status. The G proteins of three of four other viruses isolated in Havana 2 years later (1996) were also identical to those of the 1994-to-1995 isolates, and the fourth virus had a single extra nucleotide difference. This, again, is unusual, since no identical viruses had been isolated in different epidemics previously. The singular characteristics of the Cuban isolates reported here are discussed in terms of the epidemiological, climatic, and socioeconomic characteristics of Cuba.

Molecular characterization of an outbreak of respiratory syncytial virus (subgroup A) in Havana, Cuba, by monoclonal antibodies and restriction mapping (N gene).

Twenty-one respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) strains isolated from one outbreak in Havana, Cuba (1994 to 1995), were analyzed to determine their relatedness. All isolated strains were classified as subgroup A by monoclonal antibodies. Of 21 RSV strains examined, 20 were classified as having restriction pattern NP4 and only 1 was classified as having restriction pattern NP5.

Analysis of respiratory syncytial virus in clinical samples by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction restriction mapping.

The aim of this study was to develop a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) genomes. The primers were designed from published sequences and selected from conserved regions of the genome encoding for the N protein of subgroups A and B of RSV. PCR was applied to 20 specimens from children admitted to the respiratory ward of "William Soler" Pediatric Hospital in Havana City with a clinical diagnosis of bronchiolitis. The PCR was compared with viral isolation and with an indirect immunofluorescence technique that employs monoclonal antibodies of subgroups A and B. Of 20 nasopharyngeal exudates, 10 were found positive by the three assayed methods. In only two cases, samples that yielded positive RNA-PCR were found negative by indirect immunofluorescence and cell culture. Considering viral isolation as the "gold standard" technique, RNA-PCR had 100% sensitivity and 80% specificity. RNA-PCR is a specific and sensitive technique for the detection of the RSV genome. Technical advantages are discussed.

[Application of the polymerase chain reaction for detecting respiratory syncytial virus]. / Aplicación de la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa para la identificación del virus sincitial respiratorio.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was developed in order to identify the respiratory syncytial virus by using the reference strain. The high sensitivity and specificity obtained show the PCR utility for detecting the RSV genoma and its application on the diagnosis.

[The standardization of an ultramicro ELISA assay for the detection of IgG antibodies to the respiratory syncytial virus]. / Normalización de un ensayo de ultramicroELISA para la detección de anticuerpos IgG al virus sincitial respiratorio.

An ultramicro ELISA assay of double antibody for the detection of IgG antibodies to the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was standardized. It was used a RVS antiprotein F monoclonal antibody produced by the Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Center (GEBC) in Havana. The use of this antibody allowed to include crude antigenic preparations instead of purified fractions, which caused a significant reduction of the reactivity obtained with the antigen control. The assay conditions were determined by crossed titration. It was obtained a sensitivity of 97.2%, a coincidence of 91%, and a specificity of 83.3% of the UMELISA as regards the complement fixation. The results may be qualitatively expressed or by antibody titres using only one serum dilution (1:40) and a pattern curve.

[Subgroups classification of strains of the respiratory syncytial virus isolated in an outbreak in Ciudad de La Havana]. / Clasificación en subgrupos de cepas del virus sincitial respiratorio aisladas de un brote en Ciudad de La Habana.

A high number of acute respiratory diseases was detected among children under one year admitted in a hospital of Havana City. 25 respiratory syncytial virus strains were obtained from 93 patients studied. Viral isolations were multiplied in HEP-2 cells and after observing a cytopathic effect of 80%, they were classified into subgroups by the indirect immunofluorescence technique, using anti-protein G antibodies from the respiratory syncytial virus. All the samples studied were classified within subgroup A. It is the first time a study like this is conducted in our country, which allowed us to deepen into the viral cause of these diseases and to know that the subgroup A of the respiratory syncytial virus circulated during the outbreak.