Molecular characterization and antifungal susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans strains collected from a single institution in Lima, Peru.

Background: Cryptococcosis is a fungal infection with a worldwide distribution, mainly caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii.

Aims: To molecularly characterize the mating-types, serotypes, genotypes and antifungal susceptibility profiles of a set of retrospectively isolated C. neoformans strains from Lima, Peru.

Nerve growth factor-induced cell cycle reentry in newborn neurons is triggered by p38MAPK-dependent E2F4 phosphorylation.

Cumulative evidence indicates that activation of cyclin D-dependent kinase 4/6 (cdk4/6) represents a major trigger of cell cycle reentry and apoptosis in vertebrate neurons. We show here the existence of another mechanism triggering cell cycle reentry in differentiating chick retinal neurons (DCRNs), based on phosphorylation of E2F4 by p38(MAPK). We demonstrate that the activation of p75(NTR) by nerve growth factor (NGF) induces nuclear p38(MAPK) kinase activity, which leads to Thr phosphorylation and subsequent recruitment of E2F4 to the E2F-responsive cdc2 promoter.

Prognostic value of serum progesterone and LH values on the day of hCG administration in IUI GnRH antagonist cycles.

Objective: to evaluate the effect of LH surge and progesterone rise in IUI cycles under gonadotropin stimulation with GnRH antagonist coadministration on pregnancy rates (PR).

Study Design: The population under study consisted of 152 women prospectively studied and subjected to IUI.

Results: The higher the progesterone cutoff value, the lower the PR were 26.

Seroprevalence of human toxocariasis in Andean communities from the Northeast of Lima, Peru.

The aim of this study was to assess the seroprevalence of human toxocariasis in three Andean communities from the Northeast of Lima, Peru. A total of 303 subjects including children and adults were studied and blood samples were collected to detect anti-Toxocara antibodies by ELISA-IgG test and by hematological examination; stool samples were collected also for parasitological examination. The overall seroprevalence of toxocariasis observed in the total population was 20.