Morfología y respuesta de anticuerpos IgM e IgG anti-Blastocystis sp. en pacientes con síntomas gastrointestinales / Morphology and response of IgM and IgG anti-Blastocystis sp. in patients with gastrointestinal symptoms

Es importante definir criterios diagnósticos que permitan dilucidar el papel patógeno de Blastocystis sp. Se evaluó morfología y se estimó el diámetro de las formas, número de parásitos por campo y por gramo de heces y los anticuerpos IgM e IgG anti- Blastocystis sp. mediante ELISA, en sujetos con sintomatología general y portadores sanos. Se encontró 77% de muestras positivas para Blasctocystis sp, 52% provenientes de pacientes con síntomas como flatulencia 6 (24%), dolor abdominal 5 (20%), náuseas 2 (8%), diarrea 6 (24%) y estreñimiento 6 (24%). Los rangos de parásitos por campo más frecuente en sintomáticos fueron 0-3 (74%) y 10-12 (26%), mientras que 100% de los pacientes asintomáticos presentaron Blastocystis sp. en el rango 0-3. Los pacientes asintomáticos presentaron menor número de parásitos por gramo de heces, en el rango de 0-3 y el rango 7-10 con altas cargas parasitarias solo fue observado en sintomáticos. Se encontró menor cantidad de formas granulares en ambos grupos, en el rango 0-3 en sintomáticos: 85% vacuolares y 15% granulares; 76% vacuolares y 24% granulares, en asintomáticos. En el rango 10-12, 98% vacuolares y 2% de granulares, en sintomáticos. El diámetro promedio de las formas vacuolares fue 11,9±2 μm en los pacientes sintomáticos y 7,9±3,7 μm en asintomáticos. En los granulares fue 9,3±2,3 μm en sintomáticos y 8,2±0,1 μm en asintomáticos. Observándose diferencias significativas entre las formas vacuolares de ambos grupos (P=0,000026), pero no en los granulares (P=0,346). El 3,5% de los pacientes sintomáticos presentaron anticuerpos IgG anti-Blastocystis sp. El estudio morfológico empleado contribuyó en la optimización del diagnóstico, mientras que las técnicas inmunoenzimáticas resultaron de baja sensibilidad.

It is important to define diagnostic criteria to elucidate the pathogenic role of Blastocystis sp. Morphology was assessed and diameter of the shapes, number of parasites per field and per gram of faeces and Blastocystis sp. IgM and IgG antibodies was estimated by ELISA in subjects with constitutional symptoms and healthy carriers. Seventy percent Blasctocystis sp positive samples were found, 52% from patients with symptoms such as flatulence 6 (24%), abdominal pain 5 (20 %), nausea 2 (8%), diarrhea 6 (24%) and constipation 6 (24%). Ranges of parasites per field found more frequently in symptomatic patients were 0-3 (74%) and 10-12 (26%), while 100% of asymptomatic patients had Blastocystis sp. in the range 0-3. Asymptomatic patients showed lower number of parasites per gram feces in the range of 0-3 and the 7-10 range with high parasitic load was only observed in symptomatic. Less granular forms in both groups was found, in the range 0-3 in symptomatic patients: 85% vacuolar and 15% granular; 76% vacuolar and 24% granular in asymptomatics. In the range 10-12, 98% vacuolar and 2% granular in symptomatic patients. The average diameter of the vacuolar forms was 11.9 ± 2 μm in symptomatic patients and 7.9 ± 3.7 μm in asymptomatics . In the granular form was 9.3 ± 2.3 μm in symptomatic and 8.2 ± 0.1 μm in asymptomatics. Significant difference was found among vacuolar forms of both groups (P= 0.000026), but not in the granular form (P= 0.346). Only 3.5 % of symptomatic patients had IgG antibodies to Blastocystis sp. The morphological study employed contributed to the diagnosis optimization while immunoenzymatic techniques were of low sensitivity.

Cholestasis as the initial presentation of relapsing polychondritis.

Relapsing polychondritis is an immune-mediated disease associated with inflammation in cartilaginous structures and other tissues throughout the body, particularly the ears, nose, eyes, joints, and respiratory tract. Although association with other conditions is seen in about one-third of the cases, liver involvement is not usually observed in those patients. We described a case of liver involvement in relapsing polychondritis, presenting with a predominantly cholestatic pattern. Other conditions associated with abnormal liver tests were excluded and the patient showed a prompt response to steroid therapy. We discuss the spectrum of the liver involvement in relapsing and review the literature.

Bioética y el empleo de animales de experimentación en investigación

Los adelantos científicos y biotecnológicos propios de la postmodernidad, han planteado nuevos paradigmas en relación a la ética. Las implicaciones bioéticas del empleo de animales de experimentación en investigación son analizadas en la presente revisión. La investigación con humanos se rige desde el punto de vista ético por el código de Nürenberg, las Declaraciones de Helsinki y normas del Consejo de Organizaciones Internacionales de Ciencias Médicas. Estas normativas aún cuando contemplan algunos aspectos relacionados con el empleo de animales de experimentación, presentan el dilema entre el beneficio para el humano, el daño potencial para el animal y el no obstaculizar la investigación. Por esta razón, es importante la creación de comités institucionales para el cuidado y uso de los animales, en especial en las Facultades de Ciencias de la Salud, que se encarguen de concebir y asesorar en la aplicación de códigos de bioética que contemplen pautas para el uso de animales de laboratorio acordes con la normativa internacional y con las particularidades del ámbito nacional que rodea la investigación.

Postmodern advances in science and biotechnology have raised new paradigms in relation to bioethics. The bioethical implications of the use of animals in research are discussed in this review. Nürnberg Code, Helsinki´s Declarations and Norms of the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences supply international ethical guidelines for research involving human subjects. These regulations provide some aspects related to the use of experimental animals but rise some dilemmas such as the benefit to humans, the potential harm to the animal, and not obstructing the research. For this reason, it is important the creation of an Animal Care and Use Committee in each research institution, especially in the faculties of health science, which will be responsible for designing and advising bioethics codes implementations that provide guidelines for the use of laboratory animals in accordance with international standards and the particularities of the research rules of each country.

Características morfológicas e fitossanitárias de variedades de roseira na etapa de classificação

The quality of the rose's floral stem can be affected by numerous faults as small button or diseases and injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological (length and rightness of stem and rose bud) and fitossanitary (downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold and caterpillar damage) characteristics in seven varieties of rose grown in a greenhouse. The characteristics were analyzed three times. The average length of floral stems ranged from 56.1 to 83.3cm, while the average length of buttons ranged from 4.7 to 5.2cm in the varieties evaluated. Symptoms of downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold and damage caused by caterpillar were observed, although powdery mildew were the main problem witch affect from 2,9 to 41,3% of floral stems. About 70% of the stems of all varieties showed characteristics of type C or D during the classification stage. These results reinforce the necessity of evaluating new varieties before the implementation of commercial cultivation.

A qualidade da haste floral de roseira é afetada por inúmeros defeitos, como botão pequeno ou presença de doenças e ferimentos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as características morfológicas (comprimento e retidão da haste e do botão floral) e fitossanitárias (incidência de míldio, oídio, mofo cinzento e dano causado por lagarta) de sete variedades de roseira cultivadas em ambiente protegido. As características foram observadas em três avaliações. O comprimento médio de haste floral variou de 56,1 a 83,3cm, enquanto que o comprimento médio dos botões variou de 4,7 a 5,2cm. Foram observados sintomas de míldio, oídio, mofo cinzento e injúria causada por lagarta nas hastes florais, sendo o oídio o principal problema fitossanitário observado, tendo afetado de 2,9 a 41,3% das hastes, dependendo da variedade. Cerca de 70% das hastes de cada variedade apresentaram características do tipo de C ou D durante a etapa de classificação. Esses resultados reforçam a necessidade da avaliação das diversas características das variedades adquiridas, antes da implementação do cultivo comercial.

Características morfológicas e fitossanitárias de variedades de roseira na etapa de classificação

The quality of the rose's floral stem can be affected by numerous faults as small button or diseases and injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological (length and rightness of stem and rose bud) and fitossanitary (downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold and caterpillar damage) characteristics in seven varieties of rose grown in a greenhouse. The characteristics were analyzed three times. The average length of floral stems ranged from 56.1 to 83.3cm, while the average length of buttons ranged from 4.7 to 5.2cm in the varieties evaluated. Symptoms of downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold and damage caused by caterpillar were observed, although powdery mildew were the main problem witch affect from 2,9 to 41,3% of floral stems. About 70% of the stems of all varieties showed characteristics of type C or D during the classification stage. These results reinforce the necessity of evaluating new varieties before the implementation of commercial cultivation.

A qualidade da haste floral de roseira é afetada por inúmeros defeitos, como botão pequeno ou presença de doenças e ferimentos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as características morfológicas (comprimento e retidão da haste e do botão floral) e fitossanitárias (incidência de míldio, oídio, mofo cinzento e dano causado por lagarta) de sete variedades de roseira cultivadas em ambiente protegido. As características foram observadas em três avaliações. O comprimento médio de haste floral variou de 56,1 a 83,3cm, enquanto que o comprimento médio dos botões variou de 4,7 a 5,2cm. Foram observados sintomas de míldio, oídio, mofo cinzento e injúria causada por lagarta nas hastes florais, sendo o oídio o principal problema fitossanitário observado, tendo afetado de 2,9 a 41,3% das hastes, dependendo da variedade. Cerca de 70% das hastes de cada variedade apresentaram características do tipo de C ou D durante a etapa de classificação. Esses resultados reforçam a necessidade da avaliação das diversas características das variedades adquiridas, antes da implementação do cultivo comercial.

Características morfológicas e fitossanitárias de variedades de roseira na etapa de classificação

The quality of the rose's floral stem can be affected by numerous faults as small button or diseases and injuries. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological (length and rightness of stem and rose bud) and fitossanitary (downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold and caterpillar damage) characteristics in seven varieties of rose grown in a greenhouse. The characteristics were analyzed three times. The average length of floral stems ranged from 56.1 to 83.3cm, while the average length of buttons ranged from 4.7 to 5.2cm in the varieties evaluated. Symptoms of downy mildew, powdery mildew, gray mold and damage caused by caterpillar were observed, although powdery mildew were the main problem witch affect from 2,9 to 41,3% of floral stems. About 70% of the stems of all varieties showed characteristics of type C or D during the classification stage. These results reinforce the necessity of evaluating new varieties before the implementation of commercial cultivation.

A qualidade da haste floral de roseira é afetada por inúmeros defeitos, como botão pequeno ou presença de doenças e ferimentos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar as características morfológicas (comprimento e retidão da haste e do botão floral) e fitossanitárias (incidência de míldio, oídio, mofo cinzento e dano causado por lagarta) de sete variedades de roseira cultivadas em ambiente protegido. As características foram observadas em três avaliações. O comprimento médio de haste floral variou de 56,1 a 83,3cm, enquanto que o comprimento médio dos botões variou de 4,7 a 5,2cm. Foram observados sintomas de míldio, oídio, mofo cinzento e injúria causada por lagarta nas hastes florais, sendo o oídio o principal problema fitossanitário observado, tendo afetado de 2,9 a 41,3% das hastes, dependendo da variedade. Cerca de 70% das hastes de cada variedade apresentaram características do tipo de C ou D durante a etapa de classificação. Esses resultados reforçam a necessidade da avaliação das diversas características das variedades adquiridas, antes da implementação do cultivo comercial.