High frequency of CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizer genotypes in an Ashkenazi Jewish population from Argentina

A twofold higher frequency of CYP2D6 ultrarapid metabolizers (estimated from genotype: gUMs) was reported among Ashkenazi Jews (AJ) living in New York (USA) than in other North American Caucasians, which might be important to guide the prescription for CYP2D6 substrates in AJ communities around the world. This study was aimed to determine whether the high frequency of CYP2D6 gUMs described in AJ from USA was replicated in AJ from Argentina when compared with other multiethnic admixture Argentines (GA). The frequency of the most common allelic variants and of CYP2D6 gUMs (>2 active genes) and poor metabolizers (0 active genes, gPMs) was also compared among the studied Argentine populations. CYP2D6 genotyping was performed in 173 AJ and 246 GA DNA samples of unrelated donors from the metropolitan area of Buenos Aires. CYP2D6 alleles (*2, *3, *4, *5, *6, *10, *17, *35, *41 and multiple copies), genotypes and functional phenotype frequencies were determined. The frequencies of gUMs and gPMs in AJ from Argentina were 11.5% and 5.2%, respectively, whereas in GA, the frequencies of gUM and gPMs were 6.5% and 4.9%, respectively. Comparisons between AJ and GA showed that gUMs frequencies were twofold higher (P<0.05) in AJ than GA. CYP2D6*35 allele was more frequent in GA than AJ, whereas CYP2D6*41 and *1xN were more frequent in AJ than in GA (P<0.05). This study supports the previously reported high frequency of gUMs on another Ashkenazi population in New York. The present findings also support the interethnic variability of CYP2D6 genetic polymorphism in the overall Argentine population.

Selection of woody species for wastewater enhancement and restoration of riparian woodlands

Growth and nutrient uptake of seven tree species were evaluated with the goal of selecting the species that can be used for wastewater enhancement by dendro-purification, or green tree filtering, and for restoration of riparian woodlands. Trees were grown in pots with an inert mixture of perlite and vermiculite and irrigated with either nutrient solution or treated wastewater We measured the effects of species and irrigation water on biomass and nutrient content of leaves, stems and roots. For most of the species, treated wastewater had a positive effect on final biomass and above ground: below ground ratio compared to that of nutrient solution. However, growth of Cupressus sempervirens and Populus nigra were inhibited by water sodium concentration. Nerium oleander, Tamarix africana and Vitex agnus-castus were the species with the greatest final biomass. Pistacia terebinthus had the highest nitrogen and phosphorus content in leaves, stems and roots, while N. oleander and V. agnus-castus showed the best potassium accumulation. In general, P. terebinthus, N. oleander, T. africana and V. agnus-castus were the best qualified species for purification of wastewater.

Two cases of confined placental mosaicism for chromosome 4, including one with maternal uniparental disomy

Two cases of trisomy 4 mosaicism are reported including one with molecularly confirmed uniparental disomy (UPD) of chromosome 4. Cytogenetic analysis of a chorionic villus sample (CVS) in Case 1 showed complete trisomy 4 in trophoblast and diploidy in chorionic stroma. Amniotic fluid analysis demonstrated a 46,XX complement. After intrauterine fetal death at 30 weeks, molecular analysis confirmed the presence of trisomy 4 of maternal meiotic origin, while fetal tissues showed maternal UPD for chromosome 4. Cultured CVS in Case 2 revealed trisomy 4 in 2/30 cells analyzed. This pregnancy resulted in a healthy livebirth with biparental inheritance of chromosome 4. Molecularly confirmed UPD4 has not been previously reported, and therefore, although the adverse outcome in Case 1 is likely due to the trisomy 4 in the placenta, an imprinting effect associated with UPD4 cannot be excluded.

[Primary ciliary dyskinesia. Experience in 6 patients]

BACKGROUND

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is characterized by a congenital alteration of the ciliary ultrastructure and function. As a consequence, their respiratory tract sweeping action is lost and recurrent respiratory infections ensue.

AIM

To analyze a clinical series of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia, their clinical and laboratory features.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia seen a University Hospital, between 1994 and 1998. Bronchial biopsies were obtained with 3.6 mm diameter Olympus fibrobronchoscope, using a cayman type forceps. Ultrastructural alterations of respiratory tract ciliated cells were recorded.

RESULTS

Six patients (four male) aged 9 months to 13 years old were reviewed. Three patients had situs inversus. All had repeated bouts of obstructive bronchitis and pneumonia, five had sinusitis, four atelectasis, three recurrent otitis and three had bronchiectasis. Cystic fibrosis and immunological alterations were ruled out in five children. Ultrastructural analysis revealed absence of dynein arms in three cases, absence of the internal dynein arm in one, additional peripheral microtubules and absence of dynein arms in one case.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary ciliary dyskinesia must be considered in the differential diagnosis of recurrent respiratory infections. Ultrastructural analysis of ciliary structure can be done in bronchial biopsies obtained through bronchoscopy.

[Obtention and characterization of murine beta-NGF. Application in a model of cerebral aging]

INTRODUCTION

beta-NGF is a basic protein of 118 aminoacids which acts are a trophic factor for sensory and sympathetic neurons of the peripheral nervous system, and on cholinergic neurons of the anterior basal cerebrum.

OBJECTIVES

In view of the functional effect of beta-HGF and its possibilities as a therapeutic agent in neurodegenerative disease, including Alzheimer's disease in this study our aim was to obtain, characterize and show the main results of the application of beta-NGFm in a model of cerebral ageing in rats with cognitive disorders.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

For the obtention of beta-NGFm we followed Mobley's method as modified by Ebendal and used mouse submaxillary gland as a source of raw material. The characterization studies were carried out by application of seven techniques which allowed physicochemical characterization and demonstration of the biological activity of the product. Application of beta-NGF obtained under these conditions was carried out in a mode of cerebral ageing and the effects of treatment were assessed by conduct studies, measurement of the activity of the enzyme acetyl cholinesterase and study of neural plasticity.

CONCLUSIONS

Characterization studies carried out on the beta-NGFm showed that the protein obtained consists of a mixture of molecules of beta-NGFm which are intact at their extreme N-Terminal, and molecules which have lost the octapeptide of the N-terminal position and show some modification increasing hydrophobicity. All these species were recognized immunologically by the specific antibody anti-NGFm and showed biological activity.

Severe fetal malformations associated with trisomy 16 confined to the placenta

Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) and amniocentesis were performed on a pregnant woman during her 24th week of amenorrhoea following an ultrasound scan which showed a fetus with hydrocephaly, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and a single umbilical artery. The direct karyotype from the cytotrophoblast was non-mosaic 47,XXX,+16, while in amniotic fluid and several fetal tissues, studied post-mortem, a normal 46,XX karyotype was found in more than 400 cells. Uniparental disomy (UPD) was excluded by molecular genetic studies. Autopsy confirmed the echographic findings; in addition, agenesis of the corpus callosum and polysplenia were observed. This is the second example of congenital abnormality associated with confined placental mosaicism (CPM) for trisomy 16, without evidence of either UPD or an apparent contribution of abnormal cells to the fetus.

Effect of chronic thyroid hormone treatment on cycling, ovulation, serum reproductive hormones and ovarian LH and prolactin receptors in rats

We studied the effect on cycling, ovulation and hormone secretion of a chronic thyroxine treatment (HT, 1 mg/kg,S.C., daily, initiated at oestrus) on female rats. HT rats showed normal 4-day vaginal cycles on the first three cycles after initiation of the treatment, but on the fourth cycle had a prolonged oestrus and subsequently entered in constant di-oestrus. In spite of the normal vaginal cycles only 66%, 50%, 33% and 10% of the HT rats ovulated on cycles 1 to 4 respectively. In contrast, during cycles 2 and 3, ovulating HT rats shed a significantly greater number of ova than controls. Hormones were measured at 12.00 and 18.00 h (pre-ovulatory) on prooestrus and at 11.00 h on oestrus. HT ovulating rats had normal LH levels on the first two cycles, but low levels on the third one, while non-ovulating HT rats had low preovulatory LH levels. Serum FSH concentrations were elevated in all the HT rats on cycles 1 and 2 and on pro-oestrus morning in cycle 3 and may have been responsible for the increase in ovulation rate. On oestrus, ovulating HT rats had higher FSH values than nonovulating ones. Serum prolactin levels were similar to controls in all the HT rats on cycle 1, but on the subsequent cycles pre-ovulatory levels were lower than controls in all the HT rats, while values were increased in the non-ovulating HT rats on the third and fourth oestrus mornings. Pro-oestrous serum oestradiol concentrations in all the HT rats were not different from controls on cycles 1 and 2 and diminished on 3 and 4. Oestrous levels were significantly lower on the cycle 1 and only on the nonovulating HT rats on cycle 2. Serum progesterone levels had values similar to those of FSH, with increased values in the first two cycles. Serum corticosterone levels were increased in the mornings of cycles 2 and 3, but values were normal on the fourth one. Ovarian prolactin and LH receptor mRNAs, measured on HT rats on the third prooestrus by Northern blotting, showed significant increases in all the majoritary molecular forms (2.5 and 7 kb for LH receptor and 0.9, 2.9-3, 5 and 10 kb for the prolactin receptor) with respect to control pro-oestrous rats. These results show a progressive disruption of cycling, ovulation and hormonal secretion after the initiation of a chronic thyroid hormone treatment in rats, which eventually lead to an anovulatory state. These results may be of importance for the interpretation of the reproductive disfunctions provoked by hyperthyroidism in women.

[General and psychopathologic aspects of sexual abuse in children]

Fifteen cases of sexually abused children, who were treated at a neuropsychiatry unit were reviewed. Age at offense ranged from 5 to 14 years and two thirds of them occurred to girls. Seven cases were rapes. Nine offenders were family members, five were acquaintances and only one was a complete stranger. There cases were those of "father attacking daughter". Two were of "father abusing son", one of which was the rape of a son. Most frequent symptoms after sexual abuse were sleeping disorders (9/15) different kinds of fears (8/15) and depression (6/15). The most common psychopathological features in the parents, were alcoholism (6 cases) and open psychopathic traits in 3 cases (two fathers and one mother). The outcome of these patients was better the greater the family support. The situation is most serious when the aggressor is a family member.