Fusion of foreign T-cell epitopes and addition of TLR agonists enhance immunity against Neospora caninum profilin in cattle.

We demonstrated recently that immunization with recombinant Neospora caninum profilin (rNcPRO) induces limited protection and a regulatory T-cell response in mice. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immune response elicited by rNcPRO in cattle and assess a strategy to enhance its immunogenicity, combining the addition of T-cell epitopes and immune modulators. We developed a chimeric recombinant profilin fused to functional T-cell epitopes present in the N-terminal sequence of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) glycoprotein G (rNcPRO/G). Groups of three cattle were immunized with two doses (2 weeks apart) of rNcPRO or rNcPRO/G formulated with alum hydroxide or a nanoparticulated soya-based adjuvant enriched with Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and TLR9 agonists, aimed to tackle the MyD88 pathway (AVECplus). rNcPRO induced only a primary immune response (IgM mediated), while antibodies in rNcPRO/G-vaccinated animals switched to IgG1 after the booster. The vaccine formulated with rNcPRO/G and AVECplus improved the production of systemic IFN-γ and induced long-term recall B-cell responses. Overall, our study provides data supporting the use of T-cell epitopes from VSV glycoprotein G and TLR agonists to enhance and modulate immunity to peptide antigens in bovines, particularly when using small proteins from parasites for which immune responses are usually feeble.

[Clinical utility of attenuation correction with X-rays in myocardial perfusion SPECT studies]. / Utilidad clínica de la corrección de atenuación con rayos X en los estudios SPECT de perfusión miocárdica.

OBJECTIVE: We have compared the uncorrected images of SPECT myocardial perfusion plus gated data with corrected images with X-rays in the management of coronary artery disease. METHODS: In 60 patients (p) a stress/rest-gated myocardial perfusion SPECT was performed with attenuation correction with a hybrid gammacamera. All patients underwent cardiac catheterization. 3 types of images were qualitatively evaluated: uncorrected stress/rest (NC), uncorrected stress/rest plus gated (NCG) and stress/rest corrected for attenuation with scatter correction (AC). McNemar's test was used to analyze the statistical differences in assessing the diagnostic accuracy of each type of images; p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Fourteen p did not have significant lesions in the coronary arteries (NSL), 46 p showed lesions in coronary arteries: 29 in anterior descending, 26 in right coronary and 18 in circumflex. In right coronary territory, diagnostic accuracy was significantly higher on AC than on NC images (p < 0.001) and on AC than on NCG images (p < 0.01). In NSL group there are significant differences between NC and AC (p < 0.02) and between NCG and AC (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Attenuation correction with X-rays significantly improves diagnostic accuracy of uncorrected images and uncorrected images plus gated.

Analysis of mRNA quality in freshly prepared and archival Papanicolaou samples.

OBJECTIVE: To study the feasibility of utilizing mRNA recovered from cytologic Papanicolaou (Pap) specimens as a resource for gene expression studies of normal and diseased cells. STUDY DESIGN: To assess the effects of fixation on mRNA recovery and analysis, fresh Pap samples were processed by three separate methods: (1) routine cytologic fixation (2) 70% ethanol fixation, and (3) air drying without fixation. One-week-old, 1-month-old, 1-year-old and 10-year-old samples were studied to determine the quality of mRNA in archival samples. mRNA quality was analyzed by RT-PCR for the HPRT gene, and by complete transcript amplification. Both heterogeneous (whole slide scrapes) and microdissected cell populations were studied. RESULTS: Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosil transferase gene was positive in all fresh and archival samples and was not affected by fixative, processing methodology or microdissection. Complete transcript amplification followed by gel electrophoresis showed cDNA smears in all fresh samples with a maximum intensity between 1 and 2 kilobases (kb). Amplification of mRNA was not affected by fixation. Smaller cDNA smears were seen in archival specimens with a maximum intensity between 0.5 and 1.5 kb in both one-week-old and one-month-old samples. Smears of approximately 500 base pairs were observed in the 1-year-old and 10-year-old samples. Successful mRNA amplification was possible from microdissected cell populations. CONCLUSION: Messenger RNA recovery and analysis is possible from archival cytologic specimens, suggesting that they can serve as a useful template for RT-PCR analysis of individual genes as well as newly developing high-throughput gene expression methodologies, such as microarrays. Cytologic samples may be particularly useful for study of archival samples as well as diseases from which tissue samples amenable to mRNA-based studies are not available.

[Cytodiagnosis of focal hepatic lesions by image guided fine needle biopsy]. / Citodiagnóstico de lesiones focales hepáticas mediante punción con aguja fina dirigida por imágenes.

BACKGROUND: Image guided fine needle cytological diagnosis of hepatic lesions has become a routine diagnostic procedure. AIM: To analyze the diagnostic yield of fine needle cytological aspirates of the liver. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Two hundred two aspirates, obtained in 201 patients were studied. Procedures were performed under ultrasound guidance in 77.9% of cases and under CT scan guidance in 22.1%. Cytological diagnosis was compared with definitive pathological diagnosis in 136 patients and with clinical follow up in 66. RESULTS: Cytology was positive for malignant cells in 81.2% of cases, negative for malignant cells in 15.3%, inconclusive in 1% and the sample was inadequate in 2.5%. Cytology was false negative for malignant lesions in 17 cases and there were no false positives. It had a sensitivity of 90.6%, a specificity of 100%, a positive predictive value of 100% and a negative predictive value of 55.3%. The histological types of malignant lesions were adenocarcinoma in 48.2% of cases, hepatocellular carcinoma in 16.5% and non specified carcinoma in 20.7%. The main sites of the primary tumors were the liver in 24.4% of cases, gallbladder and biliary tract in 20.9%, intestine in 15.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Cytological diagnosis of fine needle aspirates of the liver obtained under image guidance are a valuable support in the diagnosis of focal liver lesions.

[Cytological diagnosis of cervico-uterine cancer in pregnant and puerperal women]. / Citodiagnóstico del cáncer cérvico-uterino en el estado grávido-puerperal.

The 23 year experience in the Laboratory of Cytology of the Catholic University with the Papanicolaou (PAP) test in pregnant and puerperal women was analyzed. Six hundred eighty eight cases (1,9%) with abnormal smears were collected from a total of 36,524 women. A cytological diagnosis of invasive carcinoma was made in 8 cases, of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in 130 cases, of low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in 292 cases, and a "non conclusive" diagnosis was made in 258 cases. In 6 out of the 8 cases with a cytological diagnosis of invasive carcinoma, this diagnosis was confirmed by histology, and in two other cases the histology showed an in situ carcinoma. Histology was negative in only 3 cases with cytological diagnosis of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia. The PAP test is also highly effective during pregnancy and puerperium, and its rate of false negative cases is low. We suggest to take advantage of the opportunity the prenatal control offers for taking a PAP test.

[Miniature squamous cells in gynecological smears: high association with epithelial lesions]. / Celulas escamosas en miniatura (CEM) en frotis ginecológicos: alta asociacion con lesiones epiteliales.

The frequence of abnormal smears in gynecological cytologies containing miniature squamous cells (MSC) was studied. Every smear containing MSC was collected from 5.000 consecutive smears. Two hundred thirty three cases (4.66%) containing MSC collected. The general frequence of abnormal smears was 2.04%, while this frequence was 24.89% in cases with MSC (p < 10(-8). 114 cases with MSC had an atrophic pattern, 10.5% of them being abnormal smears; 119 cases with MSC had an estrogenic/progestative pattern, 38.7% of them being abnormal smears (p < 0.05). 53.2% of smears containing MSC and keratohyaline granules had a cytological diagnosis of epithelial lesion or were atypic, while only 10.4% of cases with MSC and without keratohyaline granules had these diagnosis (p < 10(-6)). The frequence of abnormal smears was significantly higher in cases with MSC than the general frequence of abnormal smears, especially in cases also having a non-atrophic pattern or containing keratohyaline granules.

[Comparative psychosocial study of social values]. / Estudio psicosocial comparado de valores sociales.

A culturally readapted scale of the classical Rokeach scale was applied to a 200-subject sample. Subjects were male and female workers on the one hand, and university men and women, on the other hand. The results of the different subsamples were compared by means of statistical techniques. Later, the same comparison was carried out with data from a similar study performed in Venezuela.

Estudio psicosocial comparado de valores sociales. / [Comparative psychosocial study of social values]

A culturally readapted scale of the classical Rokeach scale was applied to a 200-subject sample. Subjects were male and female workers on the one hand, and university men and women, on the other hand. The results of the different subsamples were compared by means of statistical techniques. Later, the same comparison was carried out with data from a similar study performed in Venezuela.

Estudio psicosocial comparado de valores sociales. / [Comparative psychosocial study of social values]

A culturally readapted scale of the classical Rokeach scale was applied to a 200-subject sample. Subjects were male and female workers on the one hand, and university men and women, on the other hand. The results of the different subsamples were compared by means of statistical techniques. Later, the same comparison was carried out with data from a similar study performed in Venezuela.

[Mirror-drawing technic as a diagnostic element in the study of personality]. / La técnica de dibujo en espejo como un elemento diagnóstico en el estudio de la personalidad.

This paper begins outlining a short history of mirror-drawing used as a psychological technique, related at fist to the learning process, then extended to the field of personality. From this later point of view, the obligatory inversion of the spatial schemes acts as a conflictual and frustrating stimulus and elicits specific responses based on the personality traits. As a psychological test the mirror-drawing may be evaluated according to the speed and accuracy in tracing, as well as can be judged in terms of qualitative reactions (blockage, task abandonment, effort to control, etc.) After such an introduction our first personal experience with this technique 11, 12 is commented. It consisted in exploring the relations between the motivational level, the manifest anxiety and the mirror-drawing performance, all this within the Yerkes-Dodson Law formulations. The main conclusions emphasize the interaction of the two independent variables (motivation and anxiety) as they affect strongly and differentially the speed and accuracy in the mirror-drawing. However, the principal purpose of this paper is to present a study in which a voluntary sample of 39 adults is described according to their speed and accuracy performance in tracing a star-shaped figure in two trials. Owing to this learning progress in both aspects can be evaluated. Our main findings do not agree with Fraisse's postulate of a hypothetical dimension between "speed-inaccuracy" and "slowness-accuracy" ends and our resultas rather suggest a "speed-accuracy" and "slowness-inaccuracy" continuum. It seems that a good performance involves the two requirements, and the subjects do not show preference for either of them. It also seems that the speed may be due to the situational factors and more influenced by learning, while the accuracy stems from the personality characteristics and can hardly be improved by a voluntary effort.

La tecnica del dibujo en espejo como un elemento diagnostico en el estudio de la personalidad. / The mirror-drawing technique as a diagnostic element in the study of personality

A partir de una tarea viso-motora conflictual como lo es la tecnica del dibujo en espejo,se exploro en un grupo de adultos jovenes las posibilidades de la misma, desde una doble perspectiva: como favorecedora del progreso en el aprendizaje y como instrumento diagnostico de personalidad, tomando como marco teorico las dimensiones de personalidad de Eysenck. Esta tecnica abre un atractivo panorama al estudio de nuevos enfoques en el diagnostico de la personalidad

La tecnica del dibujo en espejo como un elemento diagnostico en el estudio de la personalidad. / The mirror-drawing technique as a diagnostic element in the study of personality

A partir de una tarea viso-motora conflictual como lo es la tecnica del dibujo en espejo,se exploro en un grupo de adultos jovenes las posibilidades de la misma, desde una doble perspectiva: como favorecedora del progreso en el aprendizaje y como instrumento diagnostico de personalidad, tomando como marco teorico las dimensiones de personalidad de Eysenck. Esta tecnica abre un atractivo panorama al estudio de nuevos enfoques en el diagnostico de la personalidad

La técnica de dibujo en espejo como un elemento diagnóstico en el estudio de la personalidad. / [Mirror-drawing technic as a diagnostic element in the study of personality]

This paper begins outlining a short history of mirror-drawing used as a psychological technique, related at fist to the learning process, then extended to the field of personality. From this later point of view, the obligatory inversion of the spatial schemes acts as a conflictual and frustrating stimulus and elicits specific responses based on the personality traits. As a psychological test the mirror-drawing may be evaluated according to the speed and accuracy in tracing, as well as can be judged in terms of qualitative reactions (blockage, task abandonment, effort to control, etc.) After such an introduction our first personal experience with this technique 11, 12 is commented. It consisted in exploring the relations between the motivational level, the manifest anxiety and the mirror-drawing performance, all this within the Yerkes-Dodson Law formulations. The main conclusions emphasize the interaction of the two independent variables (motivation and anxiety) as they affect strongly and differentially the speed and accuracy in the mirror-drawing. However, the principal purpose of this paper is to present a study in which a voluntary sample of 39 adults is described according to their speed and accuracy performance in tracing a star-shaped figure in two trials. Owing to this learning progress in both aspects can be evaluated. Our main findings do not agree with Fraisses postulate of a hypothetical dimension between [quot ]speed-inaccuracy[quot ] and [quot ]slowness-accuracy[quot ] ends and our resultas rather suggest a [quot ]speed-accuracy[quot ] and [quot ]slowness-inaccuracy[quot ] continuum. It seems that a good performance involves the two requirements, and the subjects do not show preference for either of them. It also seems that the speed may be due to the situational factors and more influenced by learning, while the accuracy stems from the personality characteristics and can hardly be improved by a voluntary effort.