Polychaeta (Annelida) associated with Thalassia testudinum in the northeastern coastal waters of Venezuela

Seasonal variations of polychaetes in a Thalassia testudinum bed were studied from June 2000 to April 2001 in Chacopata, northeastern Venezuela. Eight replicate samples were taken monthly with a 15 cm diameter core and the sediment was passed through a 0.5 mm mesh sieve. A total of 1,013 specimens, belonging to 35 species, was collected. The monthly density ranged from 387 ind/m2 (September) to 1,735 ind/m2 in May (x = 989+/-449 ind/m2). Species richness was lowest in August and September (8) and highest (25) in April (x = 18.00+/-5.29). The shoot density of Thalassia showed an average of 284+/-77.60 shoots/m2, with extreme values in February (164) and May (422). Species diversity ranged from 1.25 in August and 3.33 bits/ind in December (x = 2.47+/-0.64). Significant positive correlations were detected among the number of Thalassia shoots, polychaete abundance and species richness, as well as among species richness, polychaete abundance and species diversity. Species number and average density were found within the intervals of mean values reported in similar studies. The higher number of species and organisms obtained in March-April and June-July can be attributed to the recruitment correlated with the regional up-welling.

Echovirus 4 and type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the association between exposure to enteroviruses and Type 1 diabetes. METHODS: We measured neutralizing antibodies to the following enteroviruses: Coxsackievirus CA9, CB1, CB2, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB6, and Echovirus E4, E6, E9, E11 in the sera of (1) Type 1 diabetic patients at diagnosis (n = 33), (2) healthy offspring of parents with Type 1 diabetes without islet cell antibodies (ICA) (n = 43) and (3) normal controls (n = 57). All subjects were less than 20 years old. We performed the neutralization test determining the cytopathogenic effect on Vero cells. HLA DR serotyping was also performed in Group 2. RESULTS: Type 1 diabetic patients showed a higher frequency (21.2%, p < 0.01) of neutralizing antibodies to E4 in relation to controls (1.8%), although there were no differences comparing with offspring of Type 1 diabetic patients (20.9%). Healthy offspring carrying Type 1 diabetes HLA DR susceptibility genes were also exposed to E4 (15.0%). High frequencies of neutralizing antibodies to most enteroviruses were found in the control group. CONCLUSION: This study shows the association between Type 1 diabetes and the presence of neutralizing antibodies to Echovirus 4, suggesting the possible participation of this virus as an environmental trigger of this autoimmune disease. Interestingly, our population displays high frequencies of exposure to enterovirus (including CB4) although the incidence for Type 1 diabetes is low (2.9 per 100,000 inhabitants).

Mortality of childhood-onset IDDM patients. A cohort study in Havana City Province, Cuba.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival pattern and the underlying cause of death in a cohort of childhood-onset IDDm subjects from Havana City Province, Cuba. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: This was a descriptive study carried out on a historical cohort of IDDM subjects with disease onset before 15 years of age in Havana City Province, Cuba. The cohort was assembled from several sources. Subjects were diagnosed from 1965 to 1980, and their vital status was assessed at 31 December 1991. Cumulative survival rate was calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method, and a univariate analysis was performed. To test survival differences between groups, the Cox-Mantel test was used. To compare the cohort mortality with the general population, standardized mortality ratios by sex and age were calculated. Specific causes of death were determined by a committee examining death certificates, clinical records, and necropsy reports. RESULTS: A total of 504 subjects were identified, and the mean follow-up time was 17.5 years. Of the subjects, 70 (13.9%) had died at 31 December 1991. Overall, the cohort had a 71% cumulative survival rate at 25 years of IDDM duration. There were no survival differences according to sex or calendar period of IDDM diagnosis. Statistically significant differences were found among age-at-diagnosis groups. The group with a peripubertal age at diagnosis showed the worst prognosis. The cohort experienced 8.5 times the all-causes death rate, compared with the general population. Renal disease accounted for almost half the deaths. CONCLUSIONS: IDDM subjects from Havana City Province, Cuba, showed a better survival pattern than IDDM subjects from other developing countries. However, when compared with IDDM populations from developed countries, there is a survival reserve to be achieved by reducing mortality due to renal disease and infections.

[Glycosylated hemoglobin as a prognostic index of the appearance of vascular complications in diabetic patients]. / La hemoglobina glucosilada como índice predictor de la aparición de complicaciones vasculares en pacientes diabéticos.

One hundred and fourty seven diabetic patients of both sexes with ages between 40 and 65 (44% Type 1 and 56% Type II), were studied and followed for a period of five years in order to evaluate the possible association between blood glucose control and the appearance and progression of vascular complications. A clinical metabolic characterization was performed in all patients both at the beginning and at the end of the study. Process of the results after 5 years was carried out dividing the total study sample in two groups, A and B, according to the level of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1) at the beginning of the study (HbA1 less than 10% or greater than 10%). The most frequent vascular complications both at the beginning and at the end of the study were retinopathy, hypertension, and angina pectoris, outstanding the high incidence of retinopathy (83%) found at the end of the study in the group of patients who were considered poorly controlled given the initial HbA1 values. A subset of 111 patients who did not present retinopathy at the beginning of the study were particularly analyzed, demonstrating in these cases a significant association between HbA1 levels at the beginning of the study and the appearance of retinopathy five years later. Type II diabetics particularly showed a 3 fold risk of developing this complication if their initial HbA1 levels were equal to or higher than 10%. This finding gives HbA1 determination a predictive value for the development of retinopathy and highlights the influence of glycemic control on the appearance and progression of this complication in diabetic patients.

[Detection and prevention of oral complications in diabetics]. / Detección y prevención de las complicaciones estomatológicas en el diabetico.

Oral affections are important causes of disorders in diabetes, within them, periodontal disease is the most common one, which comprises gingivitis and periodontitis. Dental plaque, high concentrations of salivary calcium and glucose, hyperglycemia and a lower resistance to infections, are main factor contributing to periodontal disease, dental caries, mycotic stomatitis and aphthae. Even though with the most advanced surgical methods and using antibiotics, systematically, the treatment of periodontal disease is rather difficult and often unsuccessful, therefore, to prevent it is the best treatment available, hence the importance of teaching oral health to the diabetic patient, which should comprise a good metabolic control, right tooth-brushing and visits to the stomatologist every six months or in the presence of gingival bleeding or gingival pus emanation. Diabetic condition is not a contraindication for the extraction of carious dental teeth, on the contrary, such teeth must be extracted when required or adequately treated.

Posibilidades de un programa de prevención de diabetes mellitus. Revisión bibliográfica. (I. Prevención primaria) / Possibilities of diabetes mellitus prevention programme. Bibliographical review. (I. Primary prevention)

Se analizan posibilidades de prevención en los diferentes tipos de diabetes al enfocar la importancia de los factores ambientales y genéticos. Los factores ambientales se estudian separadamente dividiéndolos en secundarios (aquellos que actúan indirectamente) y primarios (aquellos que actúan directamente). Se analizan los factores virales, la obesidad, la desnutrición, ciertas drogas y el estrés como causas probables de diabetes. Se recomiendan las medidas con potencial éxito para la prevención de las causas más importantes del síndrome diabético. Se precisa la importancia de que estas medidas sean tomadas básicamente sobre los grupos de riesgo, los cuales se enumeran(AU)