Sodium Cholate Interactions with Rabbit’s Pulmonary Surfactant

In order to assay the possibility that sodium cholate interacts with pulmonary surfactant, we obtained bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from lungs of adult rabbits and measured the hysteresis area of surface tension-area loops of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in a Wilhelmy surface tension balance, before and after the addition of sodium cholate to reach different concentrations. We observed a biphasic behavior: at a low concentration of sodium cholate (1.5 x 10(5) mol/l; n = 6) the hysteresis area increased (p less than 0.05) as compared to its control (initial) area, meanwhile at a higher concentration (5 x 10(-5) mol/l; n = 6) the hysteresis area decreased (p less than 0.025), revealing a likely interaction of sodium cholate with pulmonary surfactant. We conclude that sodium cholate is able to interact in vitro with lung surfactant.

413 ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF FETAL LIVER SIZE DURING PREGNANCY IN BOVINE CLONED FETUSES

In ruminants, abnormal increased liver size is a common description cited in many postmortem studies performed on aborted fetuses and stillborn cloned calves (Heyman et al. 2002 Biol. Reprod. 66, 6–13). Although fetal liver size can be accurately determined throughout pregnancy using ultrasonography as a method of monitoring fetal health in humans, there are no reports of this being done in cattle. Thus, the aim of this study was to prospectively characterize the ultrasonographic fetal liver growth pattern in IVF-derived pregnancies, and then to establish comparisons with measurements taken from cloned fetuses. For this purpose, (A) IVF-derived pregnancies were used as the control group (n = 10), and the cloned ones were split into 2 groups according to the outcome of their pregnancies: (B) clones that died between 110 and 282 days (n = 21), and (C) clones born alive (n = 16). All recipients were multiparous, nonlactating, and Aberdeen Angus breed. Measurements were done by ultrasonography (Toshiba Nemio 20, Tokyo, Japan) using a 5–10 MHz intraoperative finger probe from 72 to 114 days (transrectal) and a 3–6 MHz linear-array probe between 143 and 212 days (transabdominal). Three parameters of liver size were measured: (a) in a coronal (longitudinal) plane of the fetus, cephalocaudal diameter (CC) was taken from the dome of the right hemi-diaphragm to the tip of the right lobe; (b) in an axial (transverse) plane at right angles to one another passing through or slightly caudal to the portal umbilical venous complex: (b1) transverse diameter (TD) and (b2) sagittal diameter (SD) were determined (Gimondo et al. 1995 J. Ultrasound Med. 14, 327–333). A repeated-measure ANOVA detected significant interaction for the 3 variables included in this study (P < 0.01); therefore, differences between groups at each week of gestation were analyzed using the Wald-Wolfowitz test (InfoStat V1.5; FCA, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina). Results showed that CC, TD, and SD were statistically smaller in the IVF group throughout pregnancy (P < 0.05). No significant differences between (B) and (C) groups were found at 72 and 87 days (P > 0.05). However, from 143 days onward, liver of fetuses from the (B) group were statistically larger in CC, TD, and SD diameters than those values obtained in the (A) and (C) groups (P < 0.05) (Table 1). To conclude, the present study showed that fetal liver size can be measured throughout gestation in cows using noninvasive ultrasonography. Secondly, since fetuses from (A) and (C) groups were born alive, increased abnormal size measurements after 140 days can be used as indicator of clones that fail late in gestation (B). Also, this methodology may enhance sonographic assessment of fetal growth abnormalities and conditions with fetal liver involvement. Further studies will be necessary to evaluate differences between naturally conceived and IVF fetuses and the correspondence of this three-dimensional evaluation of the liver and to estimate its weight. Table 1. TD and SD at 72, 143, and 212 days of gestation in (A), (B), and (C) groups (n = 16) (mean ± SD)

How healthy are clones and their progeny: 5 years of field experience

There is considerable concern regarding the health of cloned cattle and their safety as a source of food. The objective was to summarize 5 years of commercial experience with cloning in three countries (United States, Argentina and Brazil). Overall, only 9% of transferred embryos resulted in calves; efficiency ranged from 0 to 45% (most were from 1 to 10%, but 24% of cell lines never produced live calves). There was no significant difference in pregnancy rate following transfer of one versus two embryos. Before 90 days of gestation, two ultrasound markers for embryo death were found, either crown rump length (CRL) or heart beat less than 7.5mm and 150bpm, respectively, were observed alone or together in 27% of clones that died. In addition, after 100 days of pregnancy, placental edema, hydrops fetalis and increased abdominal circumference size were used as ultrasound findings of a fetus at risk of loss. At 114 days of gestation, abdominal circumference in clones that died was statistically larger than in clones that survived alive to term and from MOET- and IVF-derived pregnancies (P<0.05). Since elective cesarean section (C-section) was partially replaced by natural or assisted parturition, C-section rates decreased from 100% in 2000 to 54% in 2005. On average, 42% of cloned calves died between delivery and 150 days of life; the most common abnormalities were: enlarged umbilical cord (37%), respiratory problems (19%), calves depressed/prolonged recumbency (20%) and contracted flexor tendons (21%). From 11 blood parameters evaluated during the first week of life, lactate decreased twice and glucose doubled its original value from 24h to 7 days. Adult cloned females had normal breeding and calving rates and cloned bulls produced good quality semen and had normal fertility when used for AI or natural mating. In conclusion, cloning had no risks qualitatively different from those encountered in animals involved in modern agricultural practices, although the frequency of the risks appeared to be increased in cattle during the early portions of the life cycle of cattle clones.

414 COLOR DOPPLER EVALUATION OF UMBILICAL BLOOD FLOW DURING PREGNANCY IN COWS

There are few reports describing the use of Doppler for reproductive imaging in large animals; only one study (in mares) assessed umbilical blood flow (Bollwein et al. 2004 Theriogenology 61, 499–509). Conditions that constrict the placental vascular bed (i.e. hemorrhage, thrombosis, abnormal development, etc.) increase resistance to incoming blood. Thus, blood flow in umbilical arteries can be used to monitor placental development and function (Giles et al. 1985 Brit. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. 92, 31–38). The objective of the present study was to characterize the Doppler flow velocity waveform in umbilical arteries of cows with apparently normal pregnancies. Twenty-three multiparous, nonlactating Aberdeen Angus cows with pregnancies achieved after transfer of embryos derived by IVF (n = 10) or multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) (n = 13) were examined weekly from 5 to 38 weeks of gestation. Ultrasonography (Toshiba Nemio 20, Tokyo, Japan) was done using a 5–10 MHz intraoperative finger transducer (transrectal) from 5 to 17 weeks of pregnancy and thereafter using a 3–6 MHz linear-array transducer (transabdominal). The interrogation angle (between the ultrasound beam and the artery) ranged from 45° to 60°. Three resistance indices were calculated: A/B ratio, Resistance Index (RI) = (A − B)/A, and Pulsatility Index (PI) = (A − B)/M. [A = systole, B = diastole, and M = mean maximum Doppler-Shift frequency over the cardiac cycle.] The mean ± SEM duration of pregnancy was 285 ± 1.6 days (range: 269 to 291 days). A repeated measure ANOVA was used to detect differences between groups for every week using the Wald-Wolfowitz test (InfoStat V1.5, FCA, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina). All 3 resistance indices decreased (by &gt;50%) until 26 weeks, with no substantial change thereafter (Table 1). From 5 to 18 weeks of pregnancy, blood flow was characterized by a systolic pattern (i.e. high resistance with absence of diastolic flow); at 20 weeks, all fetuses had a diastolic flow, consistent with low resistance. There were differences (P &lt; 0.05) between IVF- and MOET-derived pregnancies for RI and PI at 38 and 26 weeks of gestation, respectively, indicating differences in the placental vascular development at these weeks of gestation. In conclusion, umbilical cord blood flow in cattle was characterized by high resistance (5 weeks of gestation), but resistance decreased until 26 weeks; consequently, blood flow was initially systolic but became diastolic. Doppler sonography was useful for assessment of umbilical blood flow from 5 to 38 weeks of pregnancy, and may be useful for assessing placental function in pregnancies under risk, e.g. clone-derived pregnancies (Bertolini et al. 2002 Theriogenology 57, 181–187). Table 1. RI and PI at 19, 22, 26, 30, and 38 weeks of pregnancy in IVF- and MOET-derived pregnancies (mean ± sd)

Safety conditions for irradiation, transporting, and melting of sintered TeO2 during the industrial production of 131I

The development of a program to produce 131I by neutron activation of previously sintered TeO2, was started at the Nuclear Center of Mexico 3 y ago. Since then, the problems related to producing high purity, sintered TeO2 for neutron activation, transport of the activated samples and melting of the samples to retrieve the 131I have been satisfactorily solved. The main problems, related to health physics, arise when the process is conducted on a daily basis. Described are the irradiation conditions for sintered TeO2, retrieval of the sample from the pool, and the transport of the radioactive source after a 4-d cooling time. The radiation dose in the room where the hot cell is located increases from 2 microSv h(-1) (0.2 mrem h(-1)) to 4 microSv h(-1) (0.4 mrem h(-1)) during the melting of the radioactive (131+131m)TeO2, and the pumping out and dissolution of gaseous 131I. These measurements are below the maximum permissible levels and the ALARA concept has been assured through each step of the process and no leaks have been found in the system.

Endemic Trypanosoma cruzi infection in Indian populations of the Gran Chaco territory of South America: performance of diagnostic assays and epidemiological features

The relative specificities and sensitivities of several serological assays for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi infection were estimated in Indian populations of Argentina and Paraguay. The results obtained with the assays, which proved to be most reliable, were used to study the distribution of the parasite in these populations. Serological evidence of T. cruzi infection was demonstrated in 256 (37.7%) of 679 Indians living in relatively small and isolated communities in the Salta province of northern Argentina and in western Paraguay, regions that are part of the tropical territory called Gran Chaco. In contrast, none of the 94 Indians examined in south-western Argentina was positive. Infection in the Gran Chaco Indians increased with age and clustered in families. Marked differences in seroprevalence were observed between the 16 Indian communities examined in Gran Chaco. These differences seem to be associated both with the risk of transmission from the sylvatic reservoirs of the parasite and with the frequency with which vector-spraying campaigns have been implemented.

High prevalence of hantavirus infection in Indian communities of the Paraguayan and Argentinean Gran Chaco

Serologic evidence of past infection with a Sin Nombre-like hantavirus(es) was demonstrated in 78 (40.4%) of 193 Indians living in western Paraguay and in 38 (17.1%) of 222 Indians inhabiting the Salta province of northern Argentina. In both populations seroprevalence increased with age, with the most striking increase occurring at 18 years of age in the Paraguayan population and at 35 years of age in the Salta population. The peak prevalences in both populations (66.6% and 44.0%, respectively) were seen in Indians > 53 years old. Although no sex difference was observed in the Paraguayan Indians, in the Salta population seroprevalence was greater in males than in females. Familiar clustering of the infection was observed. The data indicate that the Indian populations of the Gran Chaco are frequently exposed to and survive infection with a Sin Nombre-like virus(es). Possible explanations of this novel epidemiology are discussed.

Endemic infection with human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus type IIB in Argentinean and Paraguayan Indians: epidemiology and molecular characterization

Human T cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV-II) type II infection was detected by polymerase chain reaction or serologic analyses (or both) in 22% of 697 Indians of six different ethnic back-grounds inhabiting the Argentinean and Paraguayan Gran Chaco. None was infected with HTLV-I. The prevalence of HTLV-II increased with age (14% in those < 13 years and 23% in those > or = 13 years). HTLV-II infection was found in all 20 Gran Chaco communities studied, but marked differences (44%-4%) in the rate of infection were observed even in communities separated by only a few miles. These variations correlated closely with ethnicity. In the high-incidence communities, infection clustered within families, with evidence for both sexual and perinatal transmission, primarily via breast-feeding. By contrast, only 2% of 94 Mapuche Indians from southern Argentina were positive for HTLV-II. Analyses of pol and long terminal repeat sequences from 15 Gran Chaco HTLV-II strains indicated that they constitute a highly conserved branch of the HTLV-IIB substrain.

High rate of infection with the human T-cell leukemia retrovirus type II in four Indian populations of Argentina

Sera from 215 non-drug-injecting Toba and Mataco-Mataguayo pure Indians belonging to four communities in northern Argentina were examined using assays that allow differentiation between reactivities due to type-specific antigens of the human T-cell leukemia/lymphoma virus (HTLV). Three of these populations have very little contact with non-Indian groups and reside in remote, isolated areas. HTLV-II type-specific seroreactivity was present in 24 (13.7%) of the 175 Indians older than 13 years of age and in none of the 40 who were of younger ages. None of the Indians had antibodies reacting with HTLV-I type-specific antigen. Seroreactivity was more prevalent and appeared at younger ages in females than in males. The majority of the HTLV-II-seropositive Indians belonged to the more isolated communities. The seroprevalences among the Tobas and Mataco-Mataguayo Indians were comparable. With the exception of a Toba who was positive in a test for Treponema pallidum, no serological evidence of sexually transmitted infections with this spirochete, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, and human immunodeficiency virus was found among the Indians tested. None of the 55 non-Indian people tested in the region showed HTLV-II type-specific seroreactivity. PCR analysis of DNA isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes of seropositive Indians confirmed that the virus present in these populations is HTLV-II. Sequence analysis of PCR-amplified genomic segments showed that the virus belongs to the HTLV-II subtype which has been found to be endemic in other Paleo-American Indians.

[Congenital Chagas disease in the city of Salta, Argentina]

The immune response to Trypanosoma cruzi was studied in our hospital in 937 pregnant women(PW) and their 929 newborns(NB), group I; 4 NB from this center not included in the first group, group II and 35 NB derived from other centers, group III. Two positive results among indirect hemagglutination (IHA), complement fixation(CF) and indirect hemagglutination(IHA), complement fixation(CF) and indirect immunofluorescence(IIF) tests were considered as the criterion of previous infection with T. cruzi in PW. The presence of T. cruzi in blood, explored in fresh smears by serial micro-hematocrite and/or by xenodiagnosis, was the only criterion to define infection in NB. All NB were followed up by direct agglutination (DA) with or without 2 mercaptoethanol (DA-w2ME, DA-wo2ME) and IIF in order to establish the specific antibody kinetics. Clinical studies on NB with T. cruzi infection include routine laboratory tests. Benznidazole (3 to 7 mg/kg/day) and, in 1 case, nifurtimox (15 mg/kg/day) were employed as therapeutic agents. T. cruzi infection was confirmed in 149 PW(15.9%), table I. These chagasic mothers delivered 6 chagasic NB (CCHD-NB), (4%). Diagnosis of congenital Chagas' disease accounted for a total of 12 NB out of the 968 studied. 4 out of them were positive by both microhematocrite and blood smears and 7 by microhematocrite alone. Xenodiagnosis was performed in 2 NB resulting positive in both cases, table II. The most usual clinical findings included hepatomegaly (present in all cases), splenomegaly 8/12, jaundice 10/12 and prematurity 5/12, table 3. Laboratory findings showed anemia to be of hypochromic microcytic type in all cases.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Polymorphic reticulosis: a type of lymphoma? Report of 3 cases]

Three patients seen at the Medicine Department of Del Salvador Hospital between 1986 and 1990 are reported. All had a history of purulent or bloody nasal discharge and recurrent sinusitis, before the appearance of progressive and painful destructive phenomena that affected the rhino faucial region. The diagnosis was made with the histopathological study that disclosed and angiocentric polymorphic infiltrates and perivascular necrosis. The three patients received similar treatment consistent in prednisone 1 mg/kg/day per os, cyclophosphamide 2 mg/kg/day per os and local radiotherapy. The response to therapy was bad and survival was less than three months. It is concluded that although this entity is infrequent, its severity requires and aggressive workup and management by a multidisciplinary team. Notwithstanding the mortality remains to be high.

Distribution of antibodies against beta-adrenoceptors in the course of human Trypanosoma cruzi infection

We examined the possible role of altered humoral immunity in Chagas' disease by analyzing the effect of sera on the binding of radioligand to beta-adrenoceptors during the course of human Trypanosoma cruzi infection. We described two circulating IgG which bind with myocardial beta 1- and spleen cell beta 2-adrenoceptor. Both chagasic IgG against beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptors increased intracellular levels of cAMP, which could be blocked by specific beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor antagonists. The IgG against the beta 1-adrenoceptor inhibited the action of norepinephrine on the contractility of atria. We also found differences in the distribution of beta 1- and beta 2-adrenoceptor antibodies in the course of infection. The anti-beta 2-adrenoceptor IgG appears during the acute stage, peaks on the group with less than 10 years of infection, and then decreases. The prevalence of anti-beta 1-adrenergic antibody is low in the acute stage, but it increases over time since infection, being higher in the group with more than 15 years of infection. The probable pathogenic role of both beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic chagasic antibodies is discussed.

[Spontaneous tendon rupture in disseminated lupus erythematosus. A clinical case]

A 37-year-old female with systemic lupus erythematosus and chronic treatment with steroids developed spontaneous bilateral rupture of tendons of both quadriceps muscles below the patella. Surgical treatment was undertaken with good results. The histologic features and a review of the literature are included.

Tube feeding and lethal aspiration in neurological patients: a review of 720 autopsy cases

A study of 720 autopsy cases from the Instituto Nacional de Neurologia, SSA (INN) and the Centro Hospitalario 20 de Noviembre ISSTE (CH 20 N) was made in order to investigate the frequency of aspiration in postmortem material of neurological cases. Aspiration occurred in 12.5% and 6.5%, respectively, of the cases under study. The clinical features of both groups were quite similar, and slight differences could not account for the uneven proportion of aspiration. When correlating the presence or absence of aspiration in both groups with and without the use of a gastric tube, a significant correlation was found between the use of a tube and the postmortem finding of aspiration. Gastric tube (tube feeding) increases the risk of aspiration six times. Our results support the view that opposes the early, indiscriminate and incautious use of tube feeding in the comatose patient.