[Application of SensiScript enzyme to a RT-PCR system for the obtention of RNA of HIV-1 starting serum samples stored at -20 degrees C during a decade]. / Aplicación de la enzima SensiScript a un sistema RT-RCP para la obtención de ARN de VIH-1 a partir de muestras de suero almacenadas a -20 degrees C durante una década.

The efficiency of SensiScript reverse transciptase to obtain useful genetic material in the sequencing of the nucleic acid from HIV-1, starting from sera collected between 1989 and 1998 and kept at suboptimal temperatures, was proved. On using the SensiScript enzyme it was obtained an amplification of the RNA of the HIV-1 in 86.5 % of the studied samples, compared with 20 % on using the AMV-RT enzyme . No amplification was obtained in 13.5 % of the studied samples with any of the 2 enzymes used.

Monitoreo de la infección por citomegalovirus en pacientes con trasplante renal: primera experiencia en Cuba / Monitoring of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with kidney transplantation: the first experience in Cuba

Kidney transplantation is at present the most efficient therapeutic tool to treat end-stage chronic kidney failure. Graft rejection and infections are the most important barriers to the success of transplantation, whereas cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been the most reported causal agent of morbidity in this type of patients. The evolution of a group of 12 patients who underwent kidney transplantation at the Nephrology Institute was studied during 16 weeks aimed at monitoring the infection caused by CMV. 58.4 of these patients were positive and 28 showed clinical evidences of the disease. Most of the infected patients were observed between the 4th and the 12th week after transplantation. CMV infection was confirmed in 70 of the individuals undergoing a high immunosuppression. 50 of the total of patients developed graft rejection episodes some time during the evolution and 83.3 were diagnosed CMV infection.