Prognostic value of plasma pentraxin 3 levels in patients with septic shock admitted to intensive care.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of a new marker, pentraxin, as a prognostic marker in septic shock patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Single-centre prospective observational study that included all consecutive patients 18 years or older who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with septic shock. Serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C-reactive protein (CRP) and pentraxin (PTX3) were measured on ICU admission. RESULTS: Seventy-five septic shock patients were included in the study. The best predictors of in-hospital mortality were the severity scores: SAPS II (AUC = 0.81), SOFA (AUC = 0.79) and APACHE II (AUC = 0.73). The ROC curve for PTX3 (ng/mL) yielded an AUC of 0.70, higher than the AUC for PCT (0.43) and CRP (0.48), but lower than lactate (0.79). Adding PTX3 to the logistic model increased the predictive capacity in relation to SAPS II, SOFA and APACHE II for in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.814, 0.795, and 0.741, respectively). In crude regression models, significant associations were found between in-hospital mortality and PTX3. This positive association increased after adjusting for age, sex and immunosuppression: adjusted OR T3 for PTX3 = 7.83, 95% CI 1.35-45.49, linear P trend = 0.024. CONCLUSION: Our results support the prognostic value of a single determination of plasma PTX3 as a predictor of hospital mortality in septic shock patients.

Lección MOODLE de anatomía e histología de la placenta humana / MOODLE lesson of the anatomy and histology of the human placenta

RESUMEN: La falta de muestras biológicas humanas existentes, debido principalmente a las limitaciones ético-morales relacionadas con su obtención, ponen en relieve la necesidad de buscar otras alternativas de enseñanza y aprendizaje de las ciencias morfológicas. En este sentido, la implementación de lecciones a través de la plataforma MOODLE proporciona la oportunidad al estudiante de interactuar en un entorno que simula una situación de aprendizaje propio del laboratorio tradicional. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue generar una lección MOODLE sobre la anatomía e histología placentaria humana, como complemento a la clase teórica presencial, para estudiantes de la carrera de Obstetricia y Puericultura. Para tal cometido, se realizó búsqueda de información, imágenes y recursos TIC en bibliotecas e internet. Paralelamente, se llevó a cabo un proceso de captura fotográfica de muestras histológicas de placenta, así como también la grabación de un alumbramiento. Posteriormente, se procedió a la articulación y montaje de las actividades en la plataforma MOODLE con un enfoque constructivista. Además, se elaboró una encuesta de satisfacción, la cual fue validada por 3 expertos. La muestra estuvo constituida por 137 estudiantes de la carrera de Obstetricia. Se confeccionó un laboratorio virtual MOODLE de anatomía e histología de la placenta humana, el cual esta constituido por múltiples actividades con orientación clínica, las cuales permiten autoevaluarse. El laboratorio virtual nos ha ayudado ha subsanar la carencia de muestras humanas y los resultados de la encuesta de satisfacción aplicada a los estudiantes señalan una valoración positiva de la iniciativa.

SUMMARY: The lack of existing human biological samples, mainly due to the ethical-moral restrictions related to obtaining these, highlights the need to search for other teaching and learning alternatives in morphological science. In this sense, the implementation of lessons by means of the MOODLE platform provides the students with the opportunity to interact in a setting that simulates a learning situation that belongs to traditional laboratories. The purpose of this work was to generate a MOODLE lesson on the anatomy and histology of the human placenta, as a complement of the traditional theoretical classroom for students of Obstetrics. To that end, TIC information, images, and resources were sought in libraries and in the Internet, and at the same time a set of histological photographs of placenta samples was made, as well as a video recording of a placental delivery. Later, the coordination and set up of activities was made in the MOODLE platform with a constructivist approach. Furthermore, a satisfaction survey was prepared which was validated by three experts. The total sample consisted of 137 students in the 2th year of obstetrics. A virtual MOODLE laboratory of the anatomy and histology of the human placenta was made, which is constituted by multiple activities with a clinical orientation that allow self-evaluation. The virtual laboratory has helped overcome the lack of human samples, and results of the satisfaction survey applied to the students indicate a positive evaluation of this initiative.

Transplantation of Human Amniotic Membrane over the Liver Surface Reduces Hepatic Fibrosis in a Cholestatic Model in Young Rats.

PURPOSE: Biliary atresia precedes liver cirrhosis and liver transplantation. Amniotic membrane (AM) promotes tissue regeneration, inhibits fibrosis, and reduces inflammation. Here, we test amniotic membrane potential as a therapeutic tool against cholestatic liver fibrosis. METHODS: Three groups of rats were used: sham surgery (SS), bile duct ligature (BDL), and bile duct ligature plus human amniotic membrane (BDL + AM). After surgery, animals were sacrificed at different weeks. Biochemical and histopathological analyses of liver tissue were performed. Collagen was expressed as a percentage of total liver tissue area. qPCR was performed to analyse gene expression levels of transforming growth factor-ß1 (Tgfb1) and apelin (Apln). Statistical analysis performed considered p < 0.05 was significant. RESULTS: Groups undergoing BDL developed cholestasis. Biochemical markers from BDL + AM group improved compared to BDL group. Ductular reaction, portal fibrosis, and bile plugs were markedly reduced in the BDL + AM group compared to BDL group. Collagen area in BDL + AM group was statistically decreased compared to BDL group. Finally, expression levels of both Apln and Tgfb1 mRNA were statistically downregulated in BDL + AM group versus BDL group. CONCLUSION: AM significantly reduces liver fibrosis in a surgical animal model of cholestasis. Our results suggest that AM may be useful as a therapeutic tool in liver cirrhosis.

Perinatal outcome and placental apoptosis in patients with late-onset pre-eclampsia and abnormal uterine artery Doppler at diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the rate of placental apoptosis and adverse perinatal outcome in patients with late-onset pre-eclampsia (PE) and abnormal uterine artery (UtA) Doppler at diagnosis. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of women with singleton pregnancy diagnosed with late PE, performed between August 2011 and January 2014 at the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit of Hospital Carlos Van Buren. Patients were stratified according to UtA Doppler status at diagnosis (pulsatility index (PI) ≤ or > 95th percentile). Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify associations between abnormal UtA Doppler and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. In a subset of this cohort for whom placental samples were available, immunohistochemical analysis of the placenta was performed to identify the rate of apoptosis and its association with UtA Doppler by comparing samples from those with normal and those with abnormal UtA Doppler and normotensive controls. Non-parametric linear trend analysis was performed for assessment of the apoptotic index. RESULTS: Eighty-six patients were included in the final analysis. Of these, UtA-PI was above the 95th percentile in 33 (38.4%) patients. Gestational age at diagnosis and delivery were significantly lower in this group compared with patients with normal UtA Doppler. Abnormal UtA Doppler was associated with increased risk of severe PE (odds ratio (OR) = 7.5; 95% CI, 2.76-20.46; P < 0.001), late preterm delivery (OR = 13.7; 95% CI, 4.53-41.46; P < 0.001), small-for-gestational age at birth (OR = 12.3; 95% CI, 3.17-47.57; P < 0.001) and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (OR = 12.8; 95% CI, 2.61-62.36; P = 0.002). Moreover, UtA Z-score demonstrated a significant inverse correlation with birth-weight Z-score (r = -0.34; P = 0.0013). Mean placental apoptotic index demonstrated an ascending linear trend according to UtA Doppler status (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with late PE, UtA Doppler was useful for clinical classification and as an indicator of placental histological findings. Correlation between UtA Doppler and the apoptotic index provides new evidence of a subgroup of late PE with a placental origin. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Increased placental angiogenesis in late and early onset pre-eclampsia is associated with differential activation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2.

INTRODUCTION: Placentas from both early-onset (EOPE) and late-onset pre-eclampsia (LOPE) exhibit signs of underperfusion, which in turn, may be associated with altered angiogenesis. Tyrosine 951 (Y951) and Y1175 phosphorylation of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2) induced by VEGF triggers the angiogenesis process. Endothelial markers such as CD31 and CD34 have been used for estimating angiogenic processes in several tissues, including placenta. We asked whether vascular density in placental villi was related to Y951/Y1175 phosphorylation of VEGFR2 in LOPE or EOPE. METHODS: We obtained placental samples from women with normal pregnancies (n = 22), LOPE (n = 13), EOPE (n = 15) and preterm deliveries (n = 10). Slices from placental tissue were used for CD31 immunostaining. We estimated the expression of CD31, CD34, VEGF, and VEGFR2 by western blot and quantitative PCR. Y951 phosphorylation of VEGFR2 was estimated by western blot, whereas Y1175 phosphorylation was analyzed by ELISA. RESULTS: Vessel density in terminal villi and CD31 and CD34 protein abundance were increased in LOPE and EOPE compared to normal pregnancy. However, mRNA levels for CD31 and CD34 were lower in LOPE than in normal pregnancy and VEGF mRNA was higher in EOPE. VEGFR2 protein concentration was not different among the studied groups. Y951 and Y1175 phosphorylation of VEGFR2 was higher in LOPE than in the normotensive group, but only Y951 exhibited greater phosphorylation in EOPE compared to normal pregnancy. DISCUSSION: Changes in vessel formation in the pre-eclamptic placenta are controversial. Our study suggests a pro-angiogenic state in both LOPE and EOPE. These changes are however, associated with differential expression of endothelial markers and VEGFR2 activation. CONCLUSION: There is evidence of increased placental angiogenesis in LOPE and EOPE that is associated with differential activation of VEGFR2.

Stat3 and Socs3 expression patterns during murine placenta development.

Signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (Stat3) has been identified as an important signal transducer in the invasive phenotype of the trophoblasts cells in in vitro studies. However, the in situ distribution and patterns of expression of this molecule in trophoblast cells during the development of the placenta are still under-elucidated. Mice uteri of gestational ages between 7 and 14 days of pregnancy (dop) were fixed in methacarn and processed with immunoperoxidase techniques for detection of Stat3 and its phosphorylation at serine (p-ser727) residues, as well as the suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (Socs3) expression. Stat3 was observed at 7 through 9 dop in both the antimesometrial and mesometrial deciduas, while continued immunoreactivity between 10 and 13 dop was seen only in the mesometrial decidua. In the placenta, Stat3 was detected in the cytotrophoblast cells of labyrinth and giant trophoblast cells between 10 and 14 dop. Immunoreactivity for Stat3 was also seen in trophoblast cells surrounding the maternal blood vessels. On days 10 and 11 of pregnancy, p-ser727 was detectable in the mesometrial decidua and in giant trophoblasts, while during 12-14 dop in the spongiotrophoblast region. In addition, Socs3 was immunodetected in maternal and placental tissues, principally in the giant trophoblast cells during the whole period of the study. The present in situ study shows the distribution of Stat3, its serine activation and Socs3 in different maternal and fetal compartments during murine placental development, thus further supporting the idea that they play a role during physiological placentation in mice. 

The human lung during the embryonic period: vasculogenesis and primitive erythroblasts circulation.

Vascularization and blood cell circulation are crucial steps during lung development. However, how blood vessels are generated and when lung circulation is initiated is still a matter of debate. A morpho-functional analysis of pulmonary vasculature was done using human lung samples between 31 and 56 days post-fertilization (pf). The immunolocalization and expression of CD31, CD34, FLT-1, KDR and the vascular growth factor (VEGF) were investigated. The results showed that at day 31 pf, a capillary plexus is already installed, and a few primitive erythroblasts were seen for the first time within the lumen of some blood vessels. Around day 45 pf, an increase in the amount of primitive erythroblasts was detected in the parenchyma surrounding the distal segment of the bronchial tree. The expression of FLT-1, KDR, CD31 and CD34 was observed in endothelial cells of the capillary plexus and the VEGF was detected in the endodermal epithelium. Our results support the hypothesis that the initial formation of the capillary plexus around the tip of the growing airway bud occurs by vasculogenesis, probably regulated by VEGF and KDR. We also showed a very early onset of blood circulation, starting from day 34 pf, concomitant with the generation of new lung buds. In addition, the increasing number of primitive erythroblasts from week 6 onward, associated with a change in the shape of the blood vessels, suggests a remodeling process and that the generation of new distal vessels at the tip of the lung bud occurs mainly by a process of angiogenesis.

Effect of normobaric hypoxia on the testis in a murine model.

High-altitude hypoxia generates spermiogram impairment due to germinal epithelium, Leydig cells, sperm and seminal plasma alterations, but precise mechanisms involved are unknown. The objective of this work was to analyse the effect of normobaric hypoxia on the morphology of testicular interstitium and some associated molecular and hormonal factors. Twenty-four mice were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (8.1% inspired oxygen fraction) during 20 days. The effects on body weight, testicular weight, vascularisation, testosterone, HIF1-α and VEGF were analysed at different periods of exposure and compared to controls. Hypoxic mice had lower body weight than mice kept in normoxia. Testicular weight raised significantly the 1st day, but remained normal during the rest of experiment. Number of blood vessels per field and mean diameter of vessels were higher in hypoxic mice. Plasmatic and testicular testosterone raised during first 24 h of hypoxia, but decreased on the 5th day. Vascular/interstitial ratio (proportion of interstice occupied by blood vessels) duplicated at the end of the experiment. Most substantial early effects of hypoxia were testicular oedema, increase in number and diameter of blood vessels and elevation of plasmatic and testicular testosterone. Normobaric hypoxia generates similar effects to those induced by hypobaric hypoxia.

The effects of fibrin and fibrin-agarose on the extracellular matrix profile of bioengineered oral mucosa.

Several studies have developed efficient oral mucosa constructs using different types of scaffold. However, the changes in the morphology and gene and protein expression profile that could occur in these artificial constructs remain unknown. This study compared the histology and expression of several extracellular matrix molecules in human artificial oral mucosa developed using two different types of scaffolds: fibrin and fibrin-agarose. To that end, bioengineered oral mucosa stromas were constructed from biopsy samples of human oral mucosa and the substitute generated was analyzed at different periods of time in culture. Histological analysis was carried out by light and transmission electron microscopy and the expression of collagen types I, III, and VI, the proteoglycans decorin and biglycan, and the different chains of laminin, were assessed by immunoperoxidase technique. This study found that fibrin scaffolds accelerated fibroblast growth and remodeling of the scaffold, thus enhancing collagen fibrillogenesis. In the fibrin-agarose scaffold, the morphology and organization of the fibroblasts did not change during the culture period. All extracellular matrix proteins analyzed were expressed in both scaffolds. However, in fibrin scaffolds, these proteins were widely distributed and replaced the scaffold during the follow-up period. These results show that the substitutes generated showed histological and molecular similarities with native human oral mucosa stroma. In addition, it was observed that the nature of the biomaterial influenced the behaviour of the oral stromal fibroblasts, thereby modulating their growth, protein synthesis, and collagen fibrillogenesis.

Proteoglycan and collagen expression during human air conducting system development.

The lung is formed from a bud that grows and divides in a dichotomous way. A bud is a new growth center which is determined by epithelial-mesenchymal interactions where proteins of the extracellular matrix (ECM) might be involved. To understand this protein participation during human lung development, we examined the expression and distribution of proteoglycans in relation to the different types of collagens during the period in which the air conducting system is installed. Using light microscopy and immunohistochemistry we evaluate the expression of collagens (I, III and VI) and proteoglycans (decorin, biglycan and lumican) between 8 to 10 weeks post fertilization and 11 to 14 weeks of gestational age of human embryo lungs. We show that decorin, lumican and all the collagen types investigated were expressed at the epithelium-mesenchymal interface, forming a sleeve around the bronchiolar ducts. In addition, biglycan was expressed in both the endothelial cells and the smooth muscle of the blood vessels. Thus, the similar distribution pattern of collagen and proteoglycans in the early developmental stages of the human lung may be closely related to the process of dichotomous division of the bronchial tree. This study provides a new insight concerning the participation of collagens and proteoglycans in the epithelial-mesenchymal interface during the period in which the air conducting system is installed in the human fetal lung.

Role of arginase-2 and eNOS in the differential vascular reactivity and hypoxia-induced endothelial response in umbilical arteries and veins.

The main vasodilator in the placenta is nitric oxide (NO), which is synthesized by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS). Arginase-2 competes with eNOS for l-arginine, and its activity has been related with vascular dysfunction. Recently, we showed that hypoxia induces arginase-2, and decreases eNOS activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). However there is evidence that vascular responses to hypoxia are not similar throughout the placental vascular tree. We studied whether arginase-2 plays a role controlling vascular tone in human umbilical vessels, and the changes in the expression of arginase-2 and eNOS proteins by hypoxia in endothelial cells from umbilical arteries (HUAEC) and veins (HUVEC). In isolated umbilical vessels the presence of eNOS and arginase-2 was determined in the endothelium, and the NO-dependent vasoactive responses in the presence and absence of S-(2-boronoethyl)-L-cysteine (BEC, arginase inhibitor) were studied. Additionally, HUAEC and HUVEC were exposed (0-24 h) to hypoxia (2% O2) or normoxia (5% O2), and protein levels of eNOS (total and phosphorylated at serine-1177) and arginase-2 were determined. In umbilical arteries and veins arginase-2 and eNOS were detected mainly at the endothelium. BEC induced a higher concentration-dependent relaxation in umbilical arteries than veins, and these responses were NOS-dependent. In HUAEC exposed to hypoxia there were no changes in eNOS and arginase-2 levels, however there was a significant increase of p-eNOS. In contrast, HUVEC showed an increase in arginase-2 and a reduction of p-eNOS in response to hypoxia. These results show that arginases have a vascular role in placental vessels counteracting the NOS-dependent relaxation, which is differentially regulated in placental artery and vein endothelial cells.

Maternal diabetes affects cell proliferation in developing rat placenta.

Placentation starts with the formation of a spheroidal trophoblastic shell surrounding the embryo, thus facilitating both implantation into the uterine stroma and contact with maternal blood. Although it is known that diabetes increases the placental size and weight, the mechanisms responsible for this alteration are still poorly understood. In mammals, cellular proliferation occurs in parallel to placental development and it is possible that diabetes induces abnormal uncontrolled cell proliferation in the placenta similar to that seen in other organs (e.g. retina). To test this hypothesis, the objective of this work was to determine cell proliferation in different regions of the placenta during its development in a diabetic rat model. Accordingly, diabetes was induced on day 2 of pregnancy in Wistar rats by a single injection of alloxan (40 mg/kg i.v.). Placentas were collected on days 14, 17, and 20 postcoitum. Immunoperoxidase was used to identify Ki67 nuclear antigen in placental sections. The number of proliferating cells was determined in the total placental area as well as in the labyrinth, spongiotrophoblast and giant trophoblast cell regions. During the course of pregnancy, the number of Ki67 positive cells decreased in both control and diabetic rat placentas. However, starting from day 17 of pregnancy, the number of Ki67 positive cells in the labyrinth and spongiotrophoblast regions was higher in diabetic rat placentas as compared to control. The present results demonstrate that placentas from the diabetic rat model have a significantly higher number of proliferating cells in specific regions of the placenta and at defined developmental stages. It is possible that this increased cell proliferation promotes thickness of the placental barrier consequently affecting the normal maternal-fetal exchanges.

Recomendaciones para el análisis de datos acumulados de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana en instituciones de salud / Recommendations for the analysis of cumulated data in antimicrobial susceptibility in health institutions

Due to the great variability in antimicrobial resistance patterns, local reports of cumulative antimicrobial susceptibility data are necessary in every health center. The purpose is to guide clinical decisions and the early detection of patterns that allow preventive measures to avoid dissemination of resistant strains. The main objective of this guide is to provide recommendations for the analysis of antimicrobial susceptibility data and elaboration of a local report. Recommendations provided in this guide are based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) document "Analysis and Presentation of Cumulative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Data" (3). Key aspects related to information gathering and data processing, analysis and presentation are described.

Considerando la gran variabilidad en la distribución de la resistencia microbiana, es una necesidad que cada centro de salud genere reportes locales de datos acumulados de susceptibilidad, con el propósito de guiar las decisiones clínicas y detectar tendencias que permitan establecer medidas de prevención para evitar la diseminación de cepas resistentes. Esta guía tiene como objetivo entregar recomendaciones para el análisis de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana y aportar datos útiles para la elaboración del informe local. Las recomendaciones que contenidas em este documento están basadas en el documento "Analysis and Presentation of Cumulative Antimicrobial Susceptibility Test Data de Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) (3). Se describen aspectos claves relacionados con los requerimientos de la información, el procesamiento de los datos, el análisis y presentación de éstos.

[Multicenter study on the monitoring of in vitro susceptibility to tigeeyeline in Santiago, Chile]. / Estudio multicéntrico de la vigilancia de la susceptibilidad in vitro a tigeciclina en Santiago de Chile.

The objective of this multicenter study was to determine tigecycline susceptibility rates, measured by agar diffusion, in nine hospitals in Santiago and to compare these rates with other antimicrobials. Each center studied 20 strains per month. All intermediate and fully resistant strains as well as 10% of susceptibile strains were also studied by the broth microdilution method. Overall, 2301 strains were studied displaying the following susceptibility rates for tigecycline: 100% for Streptococcus sp, Enterococcus sp, and E. coli respectively, 99.8% for Staphylococcus sp, 93% for Klebsiella and 80% for Acinetobacter baumarmii. For Proteus, Providencia and Morganella the susceptibility rates were 4%. For cefotaxime-resistant Klebsiella and imipenem-resistant A. baumarmii susceptibility rates were 95% and 80% respectively. The agar diffusion and broth dilution method were 100% concordant for tigecycline susceptible strains but only 27% for resistant or intermediate strains represented mostly by Acinetobacter baumannii. The majority of these strains (57/59) proved to be susceptible after retesting. The great majority (96,6%) of strains tested from nine Chilean hospitals proved to be susceptible to tigecycline with exception for Proteus, Providencia and Morganella (66% resistance). Using the agar diffusion method for measuring tigecycline susceptibility to A. baumannii may be misleading.

Estudio multicéntrico de la vigilancia de la susceptibilidad in vitro a tigeciclina en Santiago de Chile / Multicenter study on the monitoring of in vitro susceptibility to tigeeyeline in Santiago, Chile

The objective of this multicenter study was to determine tigeeyeline susceptibility rates, measured by agar diffusion, in nine hospitals in Santiago and to compare these rates with other antimicrobials. Each center studied 20 strains per month. All intermedíate and fully resistant strains as well as 10 percent of susceptibile strains were also studied by the broth microdilution method. Overall, 2301 strains were studied displaying the foliowing susceptibility rates for tigeeyeline: 100 percent for Streptococcus sp, Enterococcus sp, and E. coli respectively, 99.8 percent for Staphylococcus sp, 93 percent for Klebsiella and 80 percent for Acinetobacter baumarmii. For Proteus, Providencia and Morganella the susceptibility rates were 4 percent. For cefotaxime-resistant Klebsiella and imipenem-resistant A. baumarmii susceptibility rates were 95 percent and 80 percent respectively. The agar diffusion and broth dilution method were 100 percent concordant for tigeeyeline susceptible strains but only 27 percent for resistant or intermedíate strains represented mostly by Acinetobacter baumannii. The majority of these strains (57/59) proved to be susceptible after retesting. The great majority (96,6 percent) of strains tested from nine Chilean hospitals proved to be susceptible to tigeeyeline with exception for Proteus, Providencia and Morganella (66 percent resistance). Using the agar diffusion method for measuring tigeeyeline susceptibility to A. baumannii may be misleading.

Para conocer la susceptibilidad a tigeciclina por difusión en agar en nueve hospitales de Santiago y comparar la susceptibilidad con otros antimicrobianos, se diseñó este estudio multicéntrico. Cada centro estudió 20 cepas mensualmente. Las intermedias, resistentes y 10 por cientoo de las susceptibles se re-testearon y estudiaron por microdilución en caldo. Se incluyeron 2.304 cepas. Fueron susceptibles a tigeciclina Strep-tococcus sp (100 por cientoo), Enterococcus sp (100 por ciento), E. coli (100 por cientoo), Staphylococcus sp (99,8 por ciento), Klebsiella pneumoniae (93 por ciento) y Acinetobacter baumannii (80 por ciento). En Proteus, Providencia y Morganella la susceptibilidad fue 4 por cientoo. Klebsiella resistente a cefotaxima y Acinetobacter resistente a imipenem, 95 por cientoo y 80 por cientoo fueron susceptibles a tigeciclina, respectivamente. La concordancia en cepas susceptibles y en las enviadas como resistentes o intermedias (A. baumannii) fue 100 por cientoo y 27 por cientoo respectivamente. El re-testeo confirmó que la mayoría eran susceptibles. Los patrones de susceptibilidad bacteriana muestran muy buena actividad in vitro a tigeciclina. La resistencia in vitro de A. baumannii por difusión en agar debe interpretarse con precaución.

Maternal diabetes affects specific extracellular matrix components during placentation.

During embryo implantation, invasive trophoblast cells mediate embryo invasion into the decidualized stroma, forming a rich network of lacunae that connect the embryonic tissues to the maternal blood vessels. Placentation is probably guided by the composition and organization of the endometrial extracellular matrix. Certain pathological conditions that occur during pregnancy, including diabetes, have been linked to abnormal placental morphology and consequent fetal morbidity. We used immunoperoxidase techniques to identify members of the collagen, proteoglycan and glycoprotein families in the various compartments of the rat placenta and to determine whether experimentally induced diabetes affects placental morphology and alters the distribution of these molecules during pregnancy. Single injections of alloxan (40 mg kg(-1) i.v.) were used to induce diabetes on day 2 of pregnancy in Wistar rats. Placentas were collected on days 14, 17, and 20. Type I and III collagen, as well as the proteoglycans decorin and biglycan, were found to be distributed throughout the placentas of control and diabetic rats. In both groups, laminin expression decreased at the end of pregnancy. In contrast, fibronectin was detected in the labyrinth region of diabetic rats at all gestational stages studied, whereas it was detected only at term pregnancy in the placentas of control rats. These results show for the first time that some extracellular matrix molecules are modulated during placental development. However, as diabetic rats presented increased fibronectin deposition exclusively in the labyrinth region, we speculate that diabetes alters the microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface, leading to developmental abnormalities in the offspring.

Modeling normal and altered human erythrocyte shapes by a new parametric equation: application to the calculation of induced transmembrane potentials.

We present simple parametric equations in terms of Jacobi elliptic functions that provide a realistic model of abnormal variations in size which maintain the biconcave shape of a normal erythrocyte (anisocytosis) and abnormal variations in shape which maintain the original volume of the erythrocyte (poikilocytosis), as well as continuous deformations from the normal to the altered shapes. We illustrate our results with parameterizations of microcytes, macrocytes, and stomatocytes, and we apply these parameterizations to the numerical calculation of the induced transmembrane voltage in microcytes, macrocytes, and stomatocytes exposed to an external electromagnetic field of 1800 MHz.

[Fusarium species of the Quebrada de Lozano, Jujuy, Argentina]. / Especies de Fusarium de la Quebrada de Lozano, Jujuy, Argentina.

A soil sampling was made in 50 cultivated places with horticultural and floral species where there were fusariosis records. For the isolation Bengal rose agar, peptone dichloran chloramphenicol agar and cayote dichloran chloramphenicol agar were used, being this last one, the more convenient. The isolates were identified as F. acuminatum, F. avenaceum, F. graminearum, F. merismoides, F. oxysporum, F. poae, F. proliferatum, F. semitectum, F. solani, F. subglutinans and F. sporotrichioides. It was proven the pathogenesis of F. acuminatum and F. proliferatum strains isolated from cultivated places with Cucurbita ficifolia and Vicia faba respectively, and of the strains of F. oxysporum obtained of soils with cultivations of Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Ocimum basilicum and Zea mays. The F. merismoides, F. semitectum and F. subglutinans strains coming from places with these three vegetable species, were recovered as secondary invaders.