Evaluation of the genetic diversity of microsatellite markers among four strains of Oreochromis niloticus.

Different strains of Nile tilapia can be found worldwide. To successfully use them in breeding programs, they must be genetically characterized. In this study, four strains of Nile tilapia - UFLA, GIFT, Chitralada and Red-Stirling - were genetically characterized using 10 noncoding microsatellite loci and two microsatellites located in the promoter and first intron of the growth hormone gene (GH). The two microsatellites in the GH gene were identified at positions -693 to -679 in the promoter [motif (ATTCT)8 ] and in intron 1 at positions +140 to +168 [motif (CTGT)7 ]. Genetic diversity was measured as mean numbers of alleles and expected heterozygosity, which were 4 and 0.60 (GIFT), 3.5 and 0.71 (UFLA), 4.5 and 0.57 (Chitralada) and 2.5 and 0.42 (Red-Stirling) respectively. Genetic differentiation was estimated both separately and in combination for noncoding and GH microsatellites markers using Jost's DEST index. The UFLA and GIFT strains were the least genetically divergent (DEST  = 0.10), and Chitralada and Red-Stirling were the most (DEST  = 0.58). The UFLA strain was genetically characterized for the first time and, because of its unique origin and genetic distinctness, may prove to be an important resource for genetic improvement of Nile tilapia. This study shows that polymorphisms found in coding gene regions might be useful for assessing genetic differentiation among strains.

Isolation and characterization of 20 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the migratory freshwater fish Leporinus obtusidens (Characiformes: Anostomidae) using 454 shotgun pyrosequencing.

Twenty polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the Neotropical fish Leporinus obtusidens using a next generation sequencing approach and tested in two other characifomes species, Schizodon platae and Prochilodus lineatus. Microsatellite loci alleles in L. obtusidens ranged between 2 and 20 alleles per locus (mean = 5·7), with expected heterozygosity values ranging from 0·097 to 0·956 (mean = 0·578) and observed heterozygosity values ranging from 0·000 to 0·800 (mean = 0·400) in a sample of 20 specimens from the lower Paraná River (Argentina). Most of these markers will be a valuable tool for captive breeding and stocking programmes, as well as for analyses of population connectivity and genetic structure in this broadly distributed Neotropical migratory fish.

All-oral combination of oral vinorelbine and capecitabine as first-line chemotherapy in HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer: an International Phase II Trial.

BACKGROUND: This multicentre, international phase II trial evaluated the efficacy and safety profile of a first-line combination of oral vinorelbine plus capecitabine for women with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). METHODS: Patients with measurable, HER2-negative disease received, as a first line in metastatic setting, 3-weekly cycles of oral vinorelbine 80 mg m(-2) (after a first cycle at 60) on day 1 and day 8, plus capecitabine 1000 mg m(-2) (750 if >or=65 years of age) twice daily, on days 1-14. Treatment was continued until progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients were enrolled and 54 were treated (median age: 58.5 years). Most (78%) had visceral involvement and 63% had received earlier (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. The objective response rate (RECIST) in 49 evaluable patients was 51% (95% confidence interval (CI), 36-66), including complete response in 4%. The clinical benefit rate (response or stable disease for >or=6 months) was 63% (95% CI, 48-77). The median duration of response was 7.2 months (95% CI, 6.4-10.2). After a median follow-up of 41 months, median progression-free survival was 8.4 months (95% CI, 5.8-9.7) and median overall survival was 29.2 months (95% CI, 18.2-40.1). Treatment-related adverse events were manageable, the main grade 3-4 toxicity was neutropaenia (49%); two patients experienced febrile neutropaenia and three patients had a neutropaenic infection (including one septic death). A particularly low rate of alopaecia was observed. CONCLUSION: These results show that the all-oral combination of oral vinorelbine and capecitabine is an effective and well-tolerated first-line regimen for MBC.

Vinorelbine plus trastuzumab combination as first-line therapy for HER 2-positive metastatic breast cancer patients: an international phase II trial.

The aim of this international phase II trial was to determine the efficacy and safety profile of weekly vinorelbine plus trastuzumab as first-line chemotherapy for women with HER 2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancer. Sixty-nine patients with tumours overexpressing HER 2 received vinorelbine: 30 mg m-2 week-1 and trastuzumab: 4 mg kg-1 on day 1 as a loading dose followed by 2 mg kg-1 week-1 starting on day 8. Sixty-two patients were evaluable for response and 69 patients were evaluable for toxicity. The overall response rate was 62.9%. The median time to response was 8.4 weeks, the median duration of response was 17.5 months, the median progression-free survival was 9.9 months (95% CI, 5.6-12.1) and the one-year progression-free survival was 39.1%. The median survival for all patients was 23.7 months (95% CI, 18.4-32.6). This regimen was safe: grade 3-4 neutropenia were observed over 17.7% of courses in 83.8% of patients, with only two episodes of febrile neutropenia (0.1%) in two patients (2.9%). Only one patient discontinued treatment due to grade 3 symptomatic cardiac dysfunction that resolved with therapy. Vinorelbine plus trastuzumab is one of the most active treatment regimens for patients with HER 2-positive metastatic breast cancer and demonstrates a very favourable safety profile allowing prolonged treatment with long-term survival. This study has been presented in part at the following conferences: The San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, San Antonio, TX, USA, 2003; The American Society of Clinical Oncology, Orlando, FL, USA, 2005.

[Non conventional virological markers in HIV-infected patients: T-HIV DNA, 2LTR-HIV DNA and HIV RNA]. / Marcadores virológicos no convencionales en pacientes infectados con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: ADN HIV-T, ADN HIV-2LTR y ARN de HIV.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) induces a persistent reduction of the plasmatic viremia, contributing to decrease mortality and morbidity of infected people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Thus, viral load (VL) is the reference method to evaluate therapy effectiveness. However, even in the presence of efficient HAART viral eradication was yet not achieved. In this study, we analyzed the presence of total HIV DNA (T-HIV DNA), non-integrated DNA with 2LTR (2LTR-HIV DNA) and HIV RNA in a group of 55 HIV-positive subjects from Rosario City, with different clinical stages, with and without HAART. All markers were evaluated by PCR assays optimized in our laboratory that included colorimetric detection in microplate. HIV RNA clinical sensitivity was compared with a reference test, bDNA, resulting in 74% and 64% respectively, with an 85% of agreement. Thus, our HIV RNA assay could be used to monitor patients under HAART and at risk of infection. The 2LTR-HIV DNA was 54% positive although it was absent in patients with high VL. This marker was considered a labile product therefore its presence was associated with recent infection. However, current evidences question its stability. Thus, its clinical significance should be reconsidered. The absence of 2LTR-HIV DNA in patients with detectable VL may relate to the heterogeneity of the sequence used for its detection. T-HIV DNA was present in 100% of the samples and could be a relevant remission marker when therapies that effectively eradicate the infection became available.

Marcadores virologicos no convencionales en pacientes infectados con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: ADN HIV-T, ADN HIV-2LTR y ARN de HIV / Non conventional virological markers in HIV-infected patients: T-HIV DNA, 2LTR-HIV DNA and HIV RNA

La terapia antirretrovial de alta eficacia (TAAE) induce una reducción marcada y persisatente de la viremia plasmática, contribuvendo a disminuir la mortalidad de los pacientes HIV-positivos. Así, la carga viral (CV) es el método de referencia para evaluar la eficacia terapéutica. Sin embargo, aun en presencia de una TAAE eficiente no se ha logrado la erradicación viral. En este estudio analizamos la presencia del ADN total de HIV (ADN HIV-T), del ADN no integrado con 2LTR (ADN HIV-2LTR) y del ARN de HIV, en un grupo de 55 pacientes HIV-positivos en distintos estadios clínicos, con y sin TAAE, mediante ensayos de PCR con revelado colorimétrico en microplaca, optimizados en nuestro laboratorio. La sensibilidad clínica de ARN del HIV fue evaluada con el bDNA, resultando del 74% y del 64%, respectivamente, con una concordancia del 85%. Este ensayo podría utilizado en el seguimiento de pacientes bajo TAAE. EI ADN HIV-2LTR resultó positivo en el 54% aunque estuvo ausente en pacientes con elevada CV. Este marcador se considereba un producto lábil y su presencia se asociaba a infección reciente. Sin embargo, actuales evidencias ponen en discusión su estabilidad por lo que su significado clínico debe ser reconsiderado. La ausencia del ADN HIV-2LTR en pacientes con CV detectable puede relacionarse con la heterogeneidade de la secuencia utilizada para su detección. EI ADN HIV-T estuvo presente en el 100% de las muestras y resultaría relevante como marcador de remisión cuando se dispongan de terapias que efectivamente erradiquen la infección. (AU)

Marcadores virologicos no convencionales en pacientes infectados con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: ADN HIV-T, ADN HIV-2LTR y ARN de HIV / Non conventional virological markers in HIV-infected patients: T-HIV DNA, 2LTR-HIV DNA and HIV RNA

La terapia antirretrovial de alta eficacia (TAAE) induce una reducción marcada y persisatente de la viremia plasmática, contribuvendo a disminuir la mortalidad de los pacientes HIV-positivos. Así, la carga viral (CV) es el método de referencia para evaluar la eficacia terapéutica. Sin embargo, aun en presencia de una TAAE eficiente no se ha logrado la erradicación viral. En este estudio analizamos la presencia del ADN total de HIV (ADN HIV-T), del ADN no integrado con 2LTR (ADN HIV-2LTR) y del ARN de HIV, en un grupo de 55 pacientes HIV-positivos en distintos estadios clínicos, con y sin TAAE, mediante ensayos de PCR con revelado colorimétrico en microplaca, optimizados en nuestro laboratorio. La sensibilidad clínica de ARN del HIV fue evaluada con el bDNA, resultando del 74% y del 64%, respectivamente, con una concordancia del 85%. Este ensayo podría utilizado en el seguimiento de pacientes bajo TAAE. EI ADN HIV-2LTR resultó positivo en el 54% aunque estuvo ausente en pacientes con elevada CV. Este marcador se considereba un producto lábil y su presencia se asociaba a infección reciente. Sin embargo, actuales evidencias ponen en discusión su estabilidad por lo que su significado clínico debe ser reconsiderado. La ausencia del ADN HIV-2LTR en pacientes con CV detectable puede relacionarse con la heterogeneidade de la secuencia utilizada para su detección. EI ADN HIV-T estuvo presente en el 100% de las muestras y resultaría relevante como marcador de remisión cuando se dispongan de terapias que efectivamente erradiquen la infección.

Marcadores virológicos no convencionales en pacientes infectados con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana: ADN HIV-T, ADN HIV-2LTR y ARN de HIV. / [Non conventional virological markers in HIV-infected patients: T-HIV DNA, 2LTR-HIV DNA and HIV RNA]

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) induces a persistent reduction of the plasmatic viremia, contributing to decrease mortality and morbidity of infected people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Thus, viral load (VL) is the reference method to evaluate therapy effectiveness. However, even in the presence of efficient HAART viral eradication was yet not achieved. In this study, we analyzed the presence of total HIV DNA (T-HIV DNA), non-integrated DNA with 2LTR (2LTR-HIV DNA) and HIV RNA in a group of 55 HIV-positive subjects from Rosario City, with different clinical stages, with and without HAART. All markers were evaluated by PCR assays optimized in our laboratory that included colorimetric detection in microplate. HIV RNA clinical sensitivity was compared with a reference test, bDNA, resulting in 74

and 64

respectively, with an 85

of agreement. Thus, our HIV RNA assay could be used to monitor patients under HAART and at risk of infection. The 2LTR-HIV DNA was 54

positive although it was absent in patients with high VL. This marker was considered a labile product therefore its presence was associated with recent infection. However, current evidences question its stability. Thus, its clinical significance should be reconsidered. The absence of 2LTR-HIV DNA in patients with detectable VL may relate to the heterogeneity of the sequence used for its detection. T-HIV DNA was present in 100

of the samples and could be a relevant remission marker when therapies that effectively eradicate the infection became available.

Effects of SR 49059, a non-peptide antagonist of vasopressin V1a receptors, on vasopressin-induced coronary vasoconstriction in conscious rabbits.

The effect of SR 49059, a new potent non-peptide vasopressin (AVP) V1a receptor antagonist, was investigated on AVP-induced electrocardiogram modifications. A high intravenous dose of AVP (0.5 IU or 1.23 micrograms/animal) produced an important transient t-wave elevation (from 4.7 +/- 0.2 to 8.9 +/- 0.7 mm) and heart rate decrease (from 199 +/- 5 to 99 +/- 6 bpm) in conscious rabbits. The t-wave increase was a significant index of coronary vasoconstriction-induced cardiac ischemia. SR 49059 had potent protective effects in this model both by intravenous (0.125 to 0.5 mg/kg) and oral (2.5 to 10 mg/kg) routes. After a 30-min pre-treatment, SR 49059 showed dose-dependent protection on t-wave elevation and heart rate decrease with ED50's of 95 (95% CL:168-22) and 30 (95% CL:54-6) micrograms/kg i.v., respectively. Complete blockade occurred with doses of 2 mg/kg i.v. and upwards. By the oral route, SR 49059 was rapidly absorbed and a dose of 10 mg/kg displayed a protective effect lasting more than 6 hours on both electrocardiogram parameters. Moreover, SR 49059 exerted a high stereospecific inhibitory effect since its enantiomer was totally inactive at 0.5 mg/kg i.v., suggesting that protection occurred by interaction with vascular AVP V1a receptors. Thus, SR 49059 is the first specific non-peptide V1a antagonist with long-lasting oral activity on AVP-induced coronary vasoconstriction and bradycardia. With this original profile, SR 49059 could be a promising therapeutical antivasospastic agent for preventing AVP-induced cardiac damage.

Biochemical and pharmacological properties of SR 49059, a new, potent, nonpeptide antagonist of rat and human vasopressin V1a receptors.

SR 49059, a new potent and selective orally active, nonpeptide vasopressin (AVP) antagonist has been characterized in several in vitro and in vivo models. SR 49059 showed high affinity for V1a receptors from rat liver (Ki = 1.6 +/- 0.2) and human platelets, adrenals, and myometrium (Ki ranging from 1.1 to 6.3 nM). The previously described nonpeptide V1 antagonist, OPC-21268, was almost inactive in human tissues at concentrations up to 100 microM. SR 49059 exhibited much lower affinity (two orders of magnitude or more) for AVP V2 (bovine and human), V1b (human), and oxytocin (rat and human) receptors and had no measurable affinity for a great number of other receptors. In vitro, AVP-induced contraction of rat caudal artery was competitively antagonized by SR 49059 (pA2 = 9.42). Furthermore, SR 49059 inhibited AVP-induced human platelet aggregation with an IC50 value of 3.7 +/- 0.4 nM, while OPC-21268 was inactive up to 20 microM. In vivo, SR 49059 inhibited the pressor response to exogenous AVP in pithed rats (intravenous) and in conscious normotensive rats (intravenous and per os) with a long duration of action (> 8 h at 10 mg/kg p.o). In all the biological assays used, SR 49059 was devoid of any intrinsic agonistic activity. Thus, SR 49059 is the most potent and selective nonpeptide AVP V1a antagonist described so far, with marked affinity, selectivity, and efficacy toward both animal and human receptors. With this original profile, SR 49059 constitutes a powerful tool for exploring the therapeutical usefulness of a selective V1a antagonist.

Cutaneously applied erythromycin base reduces various types of inflammatory reactions in mouse ear.

Erythromycin base was tested by brushing a solution onto the skin in various models of non-immune and immune inflammation produced in mouse ear, namely inflammations induced by croton oil and cantharidin, primary irritation by picryl chloride, and contact hypersensitivity reactions to oxazolone and picryl chloride. On the non-immune inflammations, erythromycin displayed a greater effect than indomethacin, phenylbutazone or acetylsalicylic acid, though less than that of hydrocortisone acetate. It inhibited the hypersensitivity reactions less well. These results suggest some participation of an anti-inflammatory mechanism in the clinical effectiveness of cutaneously applied erythromycin base in some forms of acne.

Pharmacological study of cantharidin-induced ear inflammation in mice.

Cantharidin applied to the Swiss mouse ear induced a clearly observable inflammatory reaction after 6 hr, maximal after 24 hr, and persisting several days. Desonide and hydrocortisone strongly inhibited the acute (6 hr) and delayed (24 hr) phases after their local application, while, after oral treatment, a reduction in the acute edema was obtained only when using high doses. The cutaneous application of high doses of mepyramine, disodium cromoglycate, methysergide, and (at a quite lower level) cimetidine reduced the 6-hr inflammation. Phenylbutazone and acetylsalicylic acid showed little activity on the same phase after their cutaneous administration. All the nonsteroid compounds produced little or no effect on the 24-hr inflammation after their cutaneous application and were quite inactive on both phases after their systemic treatment. The cantharidin-induced inflammatory reaction in Swiss mouse seems thus to be characterized by two phases. The chronic delayed phase is an example of chronic inflammation without the involvement of immunological processes. Histamine and serotonin might be involved in the acute inflammation.

Pharmacological comparison of the immune and non-immune inflammations induced by picryl chloride and oxazolone in mice.

Picryl chloride applied to the ears of Swiss mice induced a clearcut primary irritation inflammation (maximal after 3 to 6 hr) and after contact sensitization performed 7 days before a delayed hypersensitivity reaction. Oxazolone produced only a weak primary irritation reaction. After contact sensitization in the same conditions as above, oxazolone induced an immune response that was already substantial 3 to 6 hr after the challenge and generally reached a maximum after 24 hr. We tried to alter these four types of inflammation (the primary irritation and delayed hypersensitivity to picryl chloride, and the 6-hr and 24-hr phases of hypersensitivity to oxazolone) by various types of compounds administered cutaneously or sytemically. Mepyramine, methysergide, cimetidine, disodium cromoglycate, phenylbutazone, and acetylsalicylic acid reduced to varying degrees after cutaneous application the primary irritation and the delayed hypersensitivity inflammation induced by picryl chloride. Methysergide was the only one of these drugs that on topical application clearly reduced the immune response to oxazolone (decrease in the 6-hr phase). After systemic administration, these same drugs had no effect on the four types of reaction. Both the corticosteroids tested (hydrocortisone acetate and desonide) reduced all the inflammations to various degrees and were always more active (particularly desonide) when applied topically than when administered systemically. On the other hand indomethacin, which inhibited all types of inflammation, was more active when administered systemically. Study of the kinetics and trials of pharmacological modulation of the various reactions induced by picryl chloride and oxazolone in Swiss mice provided evidence of differences in behavior between the two agents.

Lotifazole (F 1686), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent with an unusual pharmacological spectrum.

Lotifazole (F 1686) - 4-phenyl-2-(2',2',2-trichloroethoxycarboxamido) thiazole - has a range of anti-inflammatory activities in animals that differs from the activities of classic non-steroidal drugs. It reduces carrageenin-induced oedema in rats, UV-induced erythema in guinea pigs, and Arthus pleurisies in rats only at high doses. It does not affect Freund's-adjuvant polyarthritis, and it only slightly affects passive skin anaphylaxis in rats and anaphylactic shock in guinea pigs. Lotifazole does not greatly inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. However, at low doses and after various conditions of treatment, F 1686 reduces PPD- and Bordetella- pertussis-induced delayed-hypersensitivity pleurisy in guinea pigs and rats, respectively, and contact hypersensitivity reactions to picryl chloride and oxazolone in mice. Its action on the two models of delayed-hypersensitivity pleurisy is reflected in a decrease of the pleural exudate and of the number of mononuclear cells in the focus of inflammation. At active doses, Lotifazole does not cause changes in the differential leukocyte count in normal animals. It appears, furthermore, to be a T-lymphocyte stimulant.

[Comparative antiallergic and anti-inflammatory action of F1865, mepyramine maleate, desonide and disodium cromoglycate after cutaneous administration]. / Action antiallergique et anti-inflammatoire comparative du F1865, du maléate de mépyramine, du désonide et du cromoglycate disodique après application cutanée.

The actions of F 1865 (ethyl 4' methoxy 4 phenyl thiazolyl 2 oxamate), an inhibitor of the release of histamine from mast cell, desonide, a corticosteroid, mepyramine maleate, an anti-H1 antihistaminic, and disodium cromoglycate were compared after cutaneous application in various experimental models of allergy and inflammation. F 1865 decreased IgE- and IgG-dependent passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats at doses having no effect on histamine- and serotonin-induced capillary permeability. Disodium cromoglycate showed the same activity spectrum, but its action was only found after intradermal application. The reduction of cutaneous anaphylaxis by desonide was found parallel to its inhibition of histamine effects, and to a lesser extent of serotonin effects. In the case of mepyramine, the antiallergic effect may be explained by its antihistaminic action. Desonide was highly active on cantharidin-induced non-immune inflammation and on non-immune and delayed hypersensitivity reactions induced by picryl chloride in mouse ear. Although far less active than the corticosteroid, F 1865, mepyramine and disodium cromoglycate did reduce the three types of reactions in mice. This evidenced a part played by histamine in such inflammations. Then it is likely that the inhibition of histamine release by F 1865 plays an important part in the effect of the compound observed in the various inflammations studied. However we cannot exclude actions against other mediators involved in these reactions.

Diagnostico e tratamento da litiase da via biliar principal. / Diagnosis and treatment of lithiasis of the commom bile duct

Realizou-se uma revisao retrospectiva de 328 pacientes submetidos a operacoes das vias biliares, sendo que em 66 foi explorado o coledoco. Destes, 39 (59%) apresentavam ictericia durante o internamento e 56 (85%) relatavam historia pregressa de ictericia. A exploracao do coledoco foi negativa em 3 pacientes, 1 com fistula colecistocoledociana e 2 com resultados falso-positivos da colangiografia peroperatoria. Coledocolitiase foi encontrada em 53 pacientes, estenose da papila em 5 e estenose do coledoco terminal em 6. Em 14 pacientes, realizou-se a papiloplastia e em 17 a coledocoduodenostomia, cujas indicacoes foram litiase primaria, litiase recidivada ou calculos multiplos da via biliar principal, estenose do coledoco terminal e papilite estenosante. A litiase residual foi observada em 9 pacientes, 4 dos quais apresentavam calculos intra-hepaticos que foram impossiveis de serem removidos durante o ato operatorio, associando-se portanto a coledocoduodenostomia ou papiloplastia. Discute-se as indicacoes de exploracao da via biliar principal, da coledocoduodenostomia e da papiloplastia

Modification of two models of Arthus reaction in the rat by various drugs.

The action of several steroidal and non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents, immunosuppressives, and antirheumatics (levamisole, chloroquine, sodium aurothiopropanol sulphonate, D-penicillamine) was studied in two models of Arthus-passive reaction in the rat: paw oedema induced by an anti-ovalbumin serum, and pleurisy induced by an anti-bovine-albumin serum. The steroidal antiinflammatory agents reduced both types of reaction. In pleurisy, they acted on exudate and the number of neutrophils. The non-steroidal compounds were not active on the inflammatory reaction of the paw, but they decreased the volume of exudate in pleurisy without having any clear effect on cellular phenomena. The antirheumatics and immunosuppressives showed little or no action on the two models: of these only gold salt decreased Arthus reaction in the paw.