Histomorphometric and vascular changes in equine endometrium after the infusion of conceptus fragments.

This experiment aimed to verify if the proteins present in a 13th day conceptus induce changes in the equine endometrial ultra-structure, histology, and vascularization, two days after its infusion. Ten healthy cyclic mares were used. Once estrus was confirmed, mares were examined daily to detect ovulation (day 0). After ovulation, mares were examined daily until day seven by transrectal palpation and B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography. In this first cycle, intrauterine biopsies were collected at day seven after ovulation, constituting the Cyclic group (n = 10). In the second cycle, the same mares daily were examined until ovulation was detected. After ovulation, mares were examined daily by transrectal palpation and B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography until day 7. On day 5, after ovulation, fragments from previously collected 13-day-old concepti were infused into the uterus of each mare. Intrauterine biopsies were collected at day 7 in all mares (n = 10), constituting the Fragment group. The percentage of ciliated and flattened cells decreased in the Fragment group. Protruded cells, superficial and intraglandular secretion, glandular lumen and diameter, blood vessel diameter, endometrial vascularization, and immune cells were higher in the Fragment group than in the Cyclic group. In summary, proteins of 13th day equine conceptus fragments infused at day five after ovulation signaled histological and vascular changes in the endometrium at the 7th day after ovulation.

Imported cysticercosis in Spain: A retrospective case series from the +REDIVI Collaborative Network.

BACKGROUND: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the most common parasitic neurological disease worldwide and a major cause of epilepsy. Spain is the country reporting the highest number of NCC imported cases in Europe. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective case series of NCC patients registered in the +REDIVI Network from October 1, 2009 to July 2018. A specific questionnaire, including clinical and diagnostic characteristics, was created and sent to the collaborator centers. RESULTS: 46 cases were included in the analysis. 55% were male, mean age of 40 years. 95.6% were migrants. The median duration since migration from an endemic area was 10 years. Predominant nationalities were Ecuadorians (50%) and Bolivians (30.4%). Frequent locations were parenchymal (87%), subarachnoid (26.1%) and intraventricular cysts (10.9%). Serological analysis was performed in 91.3%, being 54.8% positive. Most prevalent clinical manifestations were persistent headache (60.9%), epilepsy (43.5%) and visual changes (13%). Patients were mainly treated with albendazole (76.1%), corticosteroids (67.4%), and anticonvulsionants (52.2%). 82.5% had a favorable clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Most NCC cases were long-standing migrants. Few clinical differences were observed depending on the cysticerci location. The treatment was often not according to current recommendations, and no uniform criteria were followed when it came to the therapeutic regimen. NCC case management in Spain (including clinician awareness and laboratory capacity improvements) needs to be strengthened.

Uterine infusion of conceptus fragments changes the protein profile from cyclic mares.

This experiment aimed to compare at day seven after ovulation, the protein profile of uterine fluid in cyclic mares with mares infused two days before with Day 13 conceptus fragments. Experimental animals were ten healthy cyclic mares, examined daily to detect ovulation (Day 0) as soon as estrus was confirmed. On day seven, after ovulation, uterine fluid was collected, constituting the Cyclic group (n = 10). The same mares were examined in the second cycle until ovulation was detected. On day five, after ovulation, fragments from a previously collected concepti were infused into each mare's uterus. Two days after infusion, uterine fluid was collected, constituting the Fragment group (n = 10). Two-dimensional electrophoresis technique processed uterine fluid samples. A total of 373 spots were detected. MALDI-TOF/TOF and NanoUHPLC-QTOF mass spectrometry identified twenty spots with differences in abundance between the Cyclic and Fragment group. Thirteen proteins were identified, with different abundance between groups. Identified proteins may be related to embryo-maternal communication, which involves adhesion, nutrition, endothelial cell proliferation, transport, and immunological tolerance. In conclusion, conceptus fragments signalized changes in the protein profile of uterine fluid seven days after ovulation in comparison to the observed at Day 7 in the same cyclic mares.

Ceruloplasmin, serotransferrin and albumin presented different abundance in mares' uterine fluid five days after insemination.

Characterization of the uterine proteome before the entry of the conceptus to the uterus is essential to know the factors involved in the physiological events of gestation. The objective of the study was to compare proteomic profile of uterine fluid collected on day 5 post ovulation of cyclic and inseminated mares. Samples of endometrial secretion were recovered over 2 cycles during the fifth day post ovulation. The first cycle constituted the Cyclic group and in the following cycle, the same mares were inseminated and considered as the Inseminated group. All the samples were subjected to two-dimensional electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). A total of 107 spots were visualized by 2D-PAGE. Three spots with differences in abundance between the inseminated and cyclic mares and with presence in at least 80% in one of the groups were selected and identified. The selected spots were extracted, digested by trypsin and analyzed by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) for protein identification. Three proteins were identified: ceruloplasmin (CP) serotransferrin (TF) and albumin (ALB). The identified proteins in this study were related to iron metabolism and immunological tolerance suggesting that changes in their abundance during the 5 days after ovulation are probably a signaling mechanism of the potential equine conceptus to the maternal immune system for its immunological recognition. Probably changes in abundance of CP, ALB and TF represent a mechanism of endometrial preparation for the maternal recognition, attachment and development of a potential equine embryo. There is also evidence to support an alternative hypothesis suggesting that protein changes are inflammatory events, resulting from a previous inflammation due to residual seminal effects.

The role of artesunate for the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Efficacy of artemisinin derivatives alone or in combination compared to praziquantel alone for the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren. METHODS: Randomized clinical trials comparing praziquantel with artemisinin derivatives in the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren were included. Medline, EMBASE, LILACS, CENTRAL, African Index Medicus, and Scielo were searched. We also analyzed the abstracts of the main conferences on infectious diseases and tropical medicine during the years 2009-2011. Google Scholar and OpenSIGLE were also searched. The last search was performed in July 2012. The primary endpoint was the cure rate. The main outcome data were retrieved using a standardized form; three independent researchers (WP, HC, and SS) performed the search, retrieved data, and evaluated the risk of bias. Disagreements were resolved by discussion. Risk ratios were used and heterogeneity was evaluated. A fixed or random-effects model was used according to the results of heterogeneity testing. An intention-to-treat analysis was done. Data were analyzed using Revman 5·0·24 (Copenhagen: The Nordic Cochrane Centre). RESULTS: Seven studies were selected for full text review and only five studies were finally included. The cure rate for praziquantel was superior to that of artesunate (RR: 1·66; 95% CI: 1·18-2·33). Artesunate was not clearly superior to placebo (artesunate versus placebo, RR: 3·21; 95% CI: 0·50-20·74). Combination of artesunate with praziquantel could prove more beneficial than praziquantel alone (RR: 1·15; 95% CI: 1·01-1·31). The frequency of adverse events was equivalent for both drugs (praziquantel versus artesunate, RR: 1·11; 95% CI: 0·80-1·55). CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis showed that praziquantel was significantly more effective than artesunate for the treatment of urinary schistosomiasis in schoolchildren. Artesunate at best had a marginal role in combination therapy.

Identificación de Bartonella bacilliformis por métodos moleculares / Bartonella bacilliformis diagnosis by molecular methods

Introducción: La técnica de PCR amplifica una secuencia de ADN con la enzima polimerasa; es muy sensible y especifica. Objetivo: Estandarizar una técnica de PCR para identificar Bartonella bacilliformis en sangre total de pacientes con bartonelosis aguda. Material y métodos: Se usó muestras de sangre total de seis pacientes con diagnóstico clínico y microbiológico de bartonelosis aguda. Se extrajo el ADN de sangre total usando el detergente guanidina DNAZOL BD. Se amplificó el ADN usando los cebadores de extensión "primers" 16S y 23S del espaciador de trascripción interna (ITS). Se hizo electroforesis de los productos de amplificación en gel de agarosa. Se compararon los pesos moleculares de las bandas observadas en la electroforesis con un marcador de 100 pares de bases. Resultados: Se determinó que la concentración de ADN extraído por DNAZOL BD corresponde alrededor de 6 ng de ADN. El producto amplificado de muestras de sangre total fue alrededor de 1000 pares de bases, idéntico al extraído de los hemocultivos de B. bacilliformis y claramente diferente del de otras especies. Las diluciones de las extracciones mejor detectadas por PCR fueron 1/5 y 1/10. Conclusiones: El ADN de B. bacilliformis extraído con DNAZOL BD de sangre total de pacientes con bartonelosis aguda es amplificado por PCR utilizando los primers 16S y 23S; es posible usar esta técnica para el diagnóstico etiológico rápido.

Background: The PCR methodology amplifies a sequence of DNA with the Polimerase enzyme; the sensibility and specificity is very high. Objective: To develop a PCR methodology designed to work on extracts from whole blood samples rather than from isolated, cultured organisms. Methods. The whole blood of six patients with clinical and microbiologic diagnosis of acute bartonelosis by B. bacilliformis was used. The DNA was extracted with DNAZOL® BD (lysis solution with guanidine detergent), and the extract subjected to PCR using primers 16S and 23S for the Intergenic Transcribed Spacer (ITS). The amplified products were subjected to electrophoresis on 1 per cent agarose gels. Results: The concentration of the extracted product with DNAZOL® BD was around 6 ng. The amplified single sized product of 1000 base pairs was identical to that from authentic cultures of B. bacilliformis and clearly different from that of other species. The dilutions detected by PCR were 1/5 and 1/10. Conclusion: The amplification of the DNA of B. bacilliformis extracted with DNAZOL® BD from whole blood of patients with acute bartonelosis using the primers 16S and 23S is possible using this method for a fast etiologic diagnosis. ( Rev Med Hered 2002; 13: 58-63 ).

Carcinoma broncogenico:clinica diagnostico y tratamiento / Carcinoma bronchogenic: clinic diagnostic and treatment

Estudio de 28 casos de cancer en el pulmon, que fueron atendidos, desde marzo de 1980 hasta mayo de 1986, en el Hospital 2 de CNSS. El sistoma predominante fue la tos, el diagnostico se baso principalmente en la radiografia del torax. Treinta y cuatro por ciento de los pacientes acudieron con derrame pleural y el 71,4 % de los casos se encontraba en estadio III. No hubo predominio en cuanto al sexo. Predomino el tipo histologico de Adenocarcinoma con 32,1 % . El manejo terapeutico fue eminentemente conservador, sometiendose a radioterapia al 46,4 % de los pacientes estudiados.