Environmental enrichment induces neuroplastic changes in middle age female Balb/c mice and increases the hippocampal levels of BDNF, p-Akt and p-MAPK1/2.

Hippocampus is one of the brain regions in which neuroplastic changes occur. Paradigms such as environmental enrichment (ENR) have been used to prevent or delay the neuroplastic changes of the hippocampus during aging. Here, we investigated the beneficial effects of ENR on dendritic spines and hippocampal neurogenesis in middle age Balb/c mice. ENR increased the number of dendritic spines, cell survival, and intermediate stages of the hippocampal neurodevelopment process. Also, ENR alters the distribution of cells involved in the neurogenic process along the dorsal-ventral dentate gyrus. In addition, ENR increased the proportion of cells with more mature dendritic morphology and net hippocampal neurogenesis. Whole-hippocampus protein extracts revealed that ENR increases the levels of BDNF, phospho-Akt and phospho-MAPK1/2, suggesting that the positive effects of ENR on neuroplasticity in middle age Balb/c mice involve the participation of these key-signaling proteins. Our results suggest that ENR is a relevant strategy to prevent neuroplastic decline by increasing the formation of both dendritic spines and new neurons in the hippocampus during middle age.

Insuficiencia respiratoria global como forma de presentación de un hipotiroidismo: Comunicación de un caso / Global respiratory failure as the presentation form of hypothyroidism: Report of one case

We report a 36 years male, admitted to the hospital for progressive respiratory failure. Chest X ray and CT scan were normal. On admission, a severe bradycardia and slow intellectual activity were noted. Serum thyroid function tests showed a TSH over 150 æU/ml and T3 of 75 ng/ml. Thyroid substitution therapy was associated with a progressive improvement of respiratory function. Diaphragmatic dysfunction, central hypoventilation, airway obstruction, sleep apnea and pleural effusion have been previously reported in patients with hypothyroidism. Therefore, we recommend to measure TSH in patients with unexplained respiratory failure (Rev Méd Chile 2004; 132: 81-4).

Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis A, B, C, and E viruses in a healthy population in Leon, Nicaragua.

A cross-sectional survey of the seroprevalence of hepatitis A virus (HAV), B (HBV), C (HCV), and E (HEV) antibodies in a healthy population in Leon, Nicaragua was conducted and associated with demographic data. The overall prevalence of antibodies to HAV was 94.6%, to HBV 6.5% and to HEV between 4.6% and 8.0%, whereas none of 399 tested subjects showed confirmed seropositivity to HCV. A high HAV seropositivity rate (72.7%) was observed even in the lowest age groups tested (2-4 years of age). In contrast, HBV and HEV seropositivity was observed mainly in adults, the seroprevalence in > 40-year-old individuals being 15.4% and 17.6%, respectively. The overall mean hepatitis B surface antigen carrier rate was estimated to be 0.9%, and in individuals more than 20 years of age, 2.0%. The prevalence of anti-HAV as well as anti-HEV was significantly higher in people having their water supply outside rather than inside the house. Furthermore anti-HAV seroprevalence correlated with lack of access to a flush toilet. Hepatitis B virus seropositivity was more frequent in people living in a crowded environment than in those living with few household members. These findings indicate that hepatitis A is a childhood infection in Nicaragua and that the spread of the infection is facilitated by poor socioeconomic conditions. In contrast, HBV infection is relatively infrequent in the country and HCV seems to be very uncommon. Hepatitis E virus infection may occur in all age groups and is apparently associated with water-borne transmission.

[Local synthesis of immunoglobulins in neuropathies]. / Síntesis local de inmunoglobulinas en neuropatías.

It is essential to know how the immune system acts in different neurological diseases, some of them non very well known or of unknown etiology at all. It was applied Reiber and Felgenhauer's formula in 56 patients with different diseases. IgA, IgM, IgG and albumin were quantified in sera and cerebrospinal fluid by simple immunodiffusion. It was observed more frequent IgG local synthesis and IgA in this sample.

Estudio de Puriscal. VII. Desarrollo psicomotor del nino menor de dos anos / Puriscal study. VII. Psychomotor development of the infant with less than 2 years of age

Se realizo un estudo prospectivo del desarrollo psicomotor en lactantes de Puriscal utilizando la prueba de desarrollo psicomotor de Gessel y la prueba de desarrollo intelectual (sensoriomotor) de Casati-Lezine. Todos los ninos fueron evaluados a los 3, 6, 9, 12 y 18 meses, en sus hogares Como no hay datos longitudinales sobre el desarrollo psicomotor del nino en Costa Rica, las pruebas se utilizan para obtener informacion basica y comparar los indices de desarrollo, dentro de una misma area y no para comparalos con ninos de otras culturas. Los resultados muestran una tendencia ascendente en el desarrollo psicomotor pues se presentan indices de desarrollo mas bajos en la pruebas iniciales que en las realizadas a edades mas avanzadas, observacion que no ha sido reportada por otros estudios en Costa Rica. Una causa de esto puede ser que las madres tienden a no proporcionar juguetes a los ninos en esta epoca, de lo que se puede deducir que la estimulacion de las madres juega un papel de vital importancia en el desarrollo del nino. Tomando en consideracion este aspecto, se pueden elaborar medidas correctivas que sin alterar las normas culturales de las madres, prevengan problemas en el desarrollo infantil