First time identification of Pandoraea sputorum from a patient with cystic fibrosis in Argentina: a case report.

Background: Pandoraea species are considered emerging pathogens in the context of cystic fibrosis (CF) and are difficult to identify by conventional biochemical methods. These multidrug resistant bacteria remain poorly understood particularly in terms of natural resistance, mechanisms of acquired resistance and impact on the prognosis of the disease and the lung function. Among them, Pandoraea sputorum has been previously described in few cases of CF patients from Spain, Australia, France and United States, underlining the need of more clinical data for a better knowledge of its pathogenicity.

Pharmacotherapy in the extreme longevity.

The increased longevity brings to the appearance of more polypathologies, being frequently of chronic-degenerative type, and also an increased use of pharmaca. The present study evaluated the usual drug consumption in the ultralongevous people in comparison with their clinical conditions. A total of 602 centenarians were involved: clinical anamnesis, objective examinations and clinico-functional evaluations were performed.

C4, BF, C3 allele distribution and complement activity in healthy aged people and centenarians.

The aim of this study was to examine the complement system and the distribution of some human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class III alleles (C4, BF) in healthy aged people (77 centenarians and 89 elderly subjects). We have also studied the alleles of C3, a complement component genetically unrelated to HLA, the immunochemical levels of C4 and C3 and serum functional hemolytic activity for classical (CH50) and alternative (AP50) complement pathway. The levels of C3 and C4 and the CH50 and AP50 were found to be within the normal range.

Lipoprotein profile and high-density lipoproteins: subfractions distribution in centenarians.

In order to assess the role of HDL on longevity, we studied HDL subfraction distribution in centenarian women compared with a group of weight- and gender-matched healthy normolipidemic controls. We did not find any significant difference in the mean plasma lipid, apolipoprotein, and Lp(a) levels. On the contrary, in spite of similar HDL-cholesterol concentrations (1.

Prevalence of organ-specific and non organ-specific autoantibodies in healthy centenarians.

In the present study we have investigated the prevalence of organ-specific and non organ-specific autoantibodies in 26 healthy centenarians (6 men, 20 women; age range 101-106 years), using as controls 54 healthy old (33 men and 21 women, age range 71-93) and 56 young subjects (29 men and 27 women, age range 26-60). We assayed sera of each group for the following organ-specific autoantibodies, anti-gastric mucosa (anti-PCA), anti-thyroglobulin (anti-Tg) and non organ-specific autoantibodies, anti-cardiolipin (anti-APA IgG and IgM), anti-nuclear antigens (anti-ANA), anti-double strand DNA (anti-ds-DNA), anti-extractable nuclear antigens (anti-ENA). Finally, natural anti-alpha-galactosyl (anti-alpha-GAL) antibodies were also analyzed.

Plasma lipid, apolipoprotein and Lp(a) levels in elderly normolipidemic women: relationships with coronary heart disease and longevity.

The relation between plasma lipids and coronary heart disease (CHD) in the elderly is still debated, as well as the proposed role of lipoproteins as markers of longevity. In this study both normolipidemic elderly and middle-aged women with CHD showed higher triglycerides and apolipoprotein B levels and lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and apolipoprotein A-I levels in comparison with age-matched subjects without CHD. In the middle-aged group, hypertension and HDL-cholesterol levels and, in the elderly group, only HDL-cholesterol levels were independently associated with CHD.

[Chronic renal insufficiency of single kidney associated with genital, bone, and palpebral malformations].

Authors describe renal failure in a young woman with solitary pelvic kidney. Renal malformation was associated with genital and bone malformations that can be accounted for by the close relationship linking the genito-urinary and vertebral apparatuses during the first weeks of intrauterine life. Palpebral malformation which occurs very rarely in cases with renal malformations as reported in the literature was ascribed to hereditary factors.

[A case of Martorell's ulcer: considerations on the use of hyperbaric oxygenotherapy].

A case of hypertensive ulcer of martorell in a diabetic patient is described standing out the fast cure by means of Hyperbaric oxygenotherapy.

[Influence of high environmental temperature on various parameters of blood coagulation in healthy subjects and in thrombosis risk patients].

The effects of environmental hyperthermia (exposure to a hot, dry microclimate) on the human body were investigated with particular reference to certain clotting parameters in healthy subjects and patients at risk of thrombosis. The study covered 70 volunteers, 10 of them clinically healthy (6 males and 4 females) aged 37.7 +/- 9.

Influence of gastric acid secretion on interdigestive gastric motor activity and serum motilin in the elderly.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of gastric secretion on the interdigestive gastric motor activity and related serum motilin variations in elderly subjects. The study was carried out on two groups of elderly subjects: one with achlorhydria or marked hypochlorhydria due to chronic atrophic gastritis and the other with normal acid secretion. A group of nonelderly subjects with normal acid secretion was also examined as control.

Interdigestive plasma motilin concentrations in aged adults.

The interdigestive plasma motilin concentrations were evaluated in 13 over-65 healthy adults with no evidence of significant disease and in 19 younger individuals. Plasma motilin levels were determined every 15 min during a 3-hr fasting period, using a radioimmunological method. The individual median values of plasma motilin concentrations during the entire study period were significantly higher in aged than younger adults.

[A case of voluminous serous cystadenoma of the ovary. Clinico-social considerations].

The case of a voluminous serous cystadenoma of the ovary in a young woman is reported. At a time when health education and diagnostic progress have significantly modified the evolution of such neoplastic growths, the remarkable size of the tumour (28 litres of serous liquid), the absence of any complications whatsoever and the youth of the patient make the case particularly interesting and trigger a number of remarks on social factors.

[Ischemic syndrome of the lower extremities from immersion in hot water].

The present paper deals with an ischaemic syndrome which may affect an area of lower limb vessels with latent arteriopathy if limbs or whole body are immersed in very warm water. Two cases are described in which ischaemia appeared when the limbs involved were immersed in warm water (38 degrees C). Ischaemia may be explained by the occurrence of both haemometakinesia and insufficient reserve blood flow in the limbs involved.

Serum potassium levels, red-blood-cell potassium and alterations of the repolarization phase of electrocardiography in old subjects.

Seventeen elderly patients are described, who showed minor changes in the e.c.g.

[Hormone changes during the sirocco].

The results of a study of 15 subjects on the occasion of a sirocco wind are reported. Behaviour of ARP, aldosteronaemia, cortisolaemia, Ht and serum electrolytes was assessed. A significant increase in ARP, aldosteronaemia and Ht was observed during the sirocco, while serum electrolytes went down.