Cutaneous leishmaniosis due to Leishmania mexicana in a cat treated with cryotherapy.

We report the novel use of cryosurgery to treat cutaneous feline leishmaniosis (FeL) in a domestic cat from mid-western Venezuela. Amastigotes, evident by microscopy in aspirates from the nodular, erythematous nose lesions, were identified as Leishmania mexicana by cytochrome b gene sequence analysis. Lesions resolved completely without relapse after 14 months.

Nous décrivons une nouvelle utilisation de la cryochirurgie pour traiter la leishmaniose féline cutanée (FeL) chez un chat domestique du centre-ouest du Venezuela. Les amastigotes, observés par microscopie dans les cytoponctions des lésions nodulaires et érythémateuses du nez, ont été identifiés comme Leishmania mexicana par analyse de la séquence du gène du cytochrome b. Les lésions ont complètement disparu sans rechute après 14 mois.

Describimos el uso novedoso de la criocirugía para tratar la leishmaniosis cutánea felina (FeL) en un gato doméstico del medio oeste de Venezuela. Los amastigotes, evidentes por microscopía en los aspirados de las lesiones nasales nodulares eritematosas, se identificaron como Leishmania mexicana mediante el análisis de la secuencia del gen del citocromo b. Las lesiones se resolvieron completamente sin recidiva tras 14 meses.

Neste estudo, relatamos a utilização inédita de criocirurgia para tratar leishmaniose felina cutânea (FeL) em um gato doméstico no centro-oeste da Venezuela. Amastigotas, evidentes à microscopia de aspirados da lesão nodular e eritematosa na região nasal, foram identificadas como Leishmania Mexicana por sequenciamento do gene do citocromo b. As lesões se resolveram completamente sem recidiva após 14 meses.

Strongly correlated superfluid order parameters from dc Josephson supercurrents.

The direct-current (dc) Josephson effect provides a phase-sensitive tool for investigating superfluid order parameters. We report on the observation of dc Josephson supercurrents in strongly interacting fermionic superfluids across a tunneling barrier in the absence of any applied potential difference. For sufficiently strong barriers, we observed a sinusoidal current-phase relation, in agreement with Josephson's seminal prediction. We mapped out the zero-resistance state and its breakdown as a function of junction parameters, extracting the Josephson critical current behavior. By comparing our results with an analytic model, we determined the pair condensate fraction throughout the Bardeen-Cooper-Schrieffer-Bose-Einstein condensation crossover. Our work suggests that coherent Josephson transport may be used to pin down superfluid order parameters in diverse atomic systems, even in the presence of strong correlations.

Autochthonous cutaneous leishmaniasis in urban domestic animals (Felis catus / Canis lupus familiaris) from central-western Venezuela.

Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic disease caused by intracellular protozoa of the Leishmania genus that are spread and transmitted by sandflies. Natural infection and clinical disease in domestic cats and dogs appear to be rare or perhaps largely under-reported in endemic areas. However, previous reports on infected domestic animals usually implicate the same Leishmania species that affect humans in tropical and subtropical areas of the world suggesting a potential role for zoonotic transmission. In the present study we assessed a representative sample of cats and dogs from endemic urban / suburban areas of Lara state in central western Venezuela. In both dogs and cats, cutaneous disease exhibits a spectrum of manifestations that range from single papules or nodules, which may evolve into ulcerative, plaque-like or scaly lesions. Cytochrome b (cyt b) PCR gene sequence analysis revealed L. mexicana as the causative agent in all cases, including two human cases proceeding from the same study area at the same time the study was carried out. In order to improve our understanding on feline/canine infection with Leishmania mexicana, and address potential zoonotic concerns it is necessary to characterize its enzootic reservoirs and vectors as well as the possible anthropophilic players linking to the peridomestic and domestic cycles.

Prevention of functional gastrointestinal disorders in neonates: clinical and socioeconomic impact.

Infantile colic, gastro-oesophageal reflux and constipation are the most common functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) affecting infants during the first months of life. Despite infantile colic, functional constipation and regurgitation had a self-limited pattern, they are considered a risk factor for developing different disorders later in life. The pathophysiology of these functional diseases is still controversial but there is growing evidence that an abnormal gut microbiota colonisation may play a crucial role. An early probiotic supplementation could determine a change in colonisation and may represent a new strategy for preventing FGIDs.

Vasopressin release induced by hypothension is blunted in patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy.

The response of arginin-vasopressin (AVP) to baroreceptor activation (tilt testing) was investigated in patients with diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN). The present data show that hypothension induced by upright position showed a slight increase of AVP in patients with DAN in comparison with normal subjects and diabetic patients without DAN. These findings suggest that the blunted AVP response to hypothension may be due to lesions of afferent autonomic pathways present in DAN and plays a role in the pathogenesis of postural hypothension.

Lack of bone stiffness/strength contribution to osteoarthritis--evidence for primary role of cartilage damage.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess osseous contributions to osteoarthritis, obviating the analysis challenges presented by confounding factors in humans and rarity of osteoarthritis in free-ranging mammals. METHODS: Frequency of osteoarthritis in 21 bird species was examined and contrasted with measures of afflicted element bone stiffness and strength and compression/tension-resistant characteristics. RESULTS: Osteoarthritis was present in the ankle of 0-16% of bird species analysed, independent of bone laminarity, cortical thickness, circularity, polarization, cross-sectional diameter, length and pneumatization. CONCLUSIONS: No correlation of frequency of osteoarthritis with parameters of bone strength and biomechanical parameters was found, suggesting that bone is only secondarily affected in osteoarthritis and that cartilage is the initial target of the disease.

Plasma immunoreactive thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) values in normal newborns.

The study reported here extends investigation on the pituitary thyroid axis in newborn infants, including the assay of plasma immunoreactive TSH levels at different intervals after delivery. Blood samples were collected at birth and after 30, 60, 120 minutes, 6, 24 and 48 hours. Plasma TRH levels were also estimated in normal adult subjects and pregnant women. No significant difference was observed with regard to sex, pregnancy or age, except for a marked increase in newborn infants after delivery. Plasma TRH values, already moderately high at birth (mean 46 pg/ml, range 34-57) reached rapidly a peak of 78 pg/ml (range 60-93) 30 minutes after delivery, decreased rapidly between 30 minutes and 2 hours post-partum, then fell gradually to normal range at 24 hours. A comparison of plasma TRH and TSH levels measured simultaneously suggests that the acute TSH surge at delivery is mediated by TRH secretion.