Infections in systemic connective tissue diseases: systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, and polymyositis/dermatomyositis.

In SLE, scleroderma, and PM/DM, infections are important causes of morbidity and mortality. This increased risk of developing infections is the result of immune abnormalities and of organ system manifestations associated with these diseases and their treatments. Common bacteria are responsible for most mild and lethal infections; however, opportunistic microorganisms cause death in some patients, particularly in those receiving high doses of corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy.

In vitro propagation of Opuntia ellisiana Griff. and acclimatization to field conditions.

The genus Opuntia is a valuable forage resource in arid and semiarid lands during periods of drought and shortage of herbaceous plants. However, absolute minimum temperatures in the plains of Mendoza represent a limiting factor to cultivate several species. Opuntia ellisiana is a cold hardy species, so the goals of this study were to massively propagate is using in vitro culture techniques, and then to acclimatize plantlets obtained to field conditions.

Cuticular hydrocarbons of Chagas disease vectors in Mexico.

Capillary gas-liquid chromatography was used to analyse the cuticular hydrocarbons of three triatomine species, Triatoma dimidiata, T. barberi and Dipetalogaster maxima, domestic vectors of Chagas disease in Mexico. Mixtures of saturated hydrocarbons of straight and methyl-branched chains were characteristic of the three species, but quantitatively different.

[The Apgar Score. Is it still valid after a half century?].

In 1952, Virginia Apgar MD, proposed to assess the clinical condition of newborns, during the first minutes of life and to evaluate anesthetic and obstetrical practices. She proposed five objectives and easily measured clinical signs: cardiac frequency, respiratory effort, muscle tone, irritability and color. The test was later named "Apgar Score Test".

Mineral balance in milk heated using microwave energy.

Milk heated to 75 and 85 degrees C in a water bath or in a microwave oven was assayed for changes in salt partitioning after cooling to room temperature. To properly to assess differences and draw valid comparisons, the two heating methods used in the experiment were applied to samples for identical exposure times, and the samples were heated to attain the same final temperatures. Although the soluble Ca and P(i) contents were lower in the heated milk samples, no significant differences in salt partitioning were found between microwave and conventional heating.

Characterization of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis region containing the mpt83 and mpt70 genes.

Like the products of the genes mpt83 and mpt70, the putative protein encoded by the gene located between these genes was undetectable in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with an antiserum raised against the recombinant protein. The protein showed 100% homology with M. tuberculosis Rv2874 and similarities with CcdA and DipZ proteins involved in cytochrome-c biogenesis in bacteria.

Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis phosphate specific transport system in Mycobacterium smegmatis. Characterization of recombinant 38 kDa (PstS-1).

The functionality of the putative Mycobacterium tuberculosis phosphate transport operon was studied by operon- lacZ promoterless fusions in Mycobacterium smegmatis. The expression of the operon genes was evaluated in transformed M. smegmatis growing in medium with low and high phosphate concentration.

Current Status and New Natural Hosts of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) in Spain.

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) is a major constraint to tomato production in Spain. This virus was observed for the first time in several tomato fields in Murcia (Spain) in the autumn of 1992 and Canary Islands in 1999. Currently the virus is prevalent along the Mediterranean coast of Spain (provinces of Málaga, Granada, Almería, Murcia, Alicante, Valencia, and Barcelona) and in the Canary Islands.

[Clinico-microbiological characteristics of meningitis caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae]].

Objective: To evaluate the susceptibility to antibiotics of Streptococcus pneumoniae isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of children with meningitis. To describe and compare the clinical and microbiological characteristics, treatment and outcome among children infected with strains either susceptible or resistant to penicillin and cephalosporin.

Material And Methods: A total of 38 children with pneumococcal meningitis were prospectively enrolled in the Institutional Surveillance Program for Pneumococcal Infections during 1994-1998.

Mechanism of dexamethasone-mediated interleukin-8 gene suppression in cultured airway epithelial cells.

The effects of dexamethasone, a glucocorticoid analog, on interleukin 8 (IL-8) gene expression were studied in cultures of primary human tracheobronchial epithelial cells and an immortalized human bronchial epithelial cell line, HBE1 cells. Dexamethasone inhibited IL-8 mRNA and protein expression in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. The inhibition did not occur at the transcriptional level since both nuclear run-on activity and IL-8 promoter-reporter gene expression assay revealed no significant effect.

Characterization and carbon metabolism in fungi pathogenic to Triatoma infestans, a chagas disease vector.

The pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Ma) and Beauveria bassiana (Bb) isolates against Triatoma infestans, the major vector of Chagas disease in Argentina is reported. A 100% mortality was achieved with mean lethal times varying form 5.8 (Ma6) to 7.

Effects of organic acids on lipid synthesis and ecdysis in Triatoma infestans eggs.

Medium chain fatty acids are known inhibitors of the activity of lipogenic enzymes at the transcriptional level. Mature Triatoma infestans eggs incorporate [14C]-acetate into phospholipid (PL), triacylglycerol (TG), and free fatty acid (FFA) fractions. In the presence of sodium octanoate (SO) or sodium phenylethylpropionate (PHEP), lipid synthesis is inhibited in a dose-dependent manner.

New Natural Hosts of Tomato spotted wilt virus.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) has caused epidemics in recent years in many crops throughout the Mediterranean Region. Tomato, pepper, and lettuce are the crops most affected in Spain. To determine the reservoir hosts for the virus in the area, 210 samples from 95 species of plants were collected and tested for TSWV by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with commercial antisera (Loewe Biochemica, Germany: BR-01, serogroup I or TSWV-L).

Effect of different membrane separation technologies (Ultrafiltration and microfiltration) on the texture and microstructure of semihard low-fat cheeses.

Semihard low-fat cheeses made from ultrafiltered (UF) or microfiltered (MF) milk were compared. The use of MF membranes and milder pasteurization of the milk reduced the retention of whey proteins in the retentate to 35%, compared with approximately 100% retained in the UF process. Microbiological development, physicochemical composition, and cheese ripening were not altered by the concentration processes.

Leaf senescence is delayed in tobacco plants expressing the maize homeobox gene knotted1 under the control of a senescence-activated promoter.

Leaf senescence is an active process involving remobilization of nutrients from senescing leaves to other parts of the plant. Whereas senescence is accompanied by a decline in leaf cytokinin content, supplemental cytokinin delays senescence. Plants that overexpress isopentenyl transferase (ipt), a cytokinin-producing gene, or knotted1 (kn1), a homeobox gene, have many phenotypes in common.

Fatty acid composition of caprine milk: major, branched-chain, and trans fatty acids.

The fatty acid composition of caprine milk fat was studied using capillary gas chromatography. Milk was obtained from five goat herds belonging to different breeders in the Murcia region (Spain) and collected monthly (from November to May). The results showed significant differences among herds mainly in long-chain fatty acids (C16:0, C18:0, and C18:2).

Effects of high pressure and heat treatment on the mineral balance of goats' milk.

Changes in the distribution of minerals in skim goats' milk by high pressure (400 MPa) and/or heat (85 degrees C for 30 min) treatment have been studied. Heat treatment caused reduced solubility of the calcium, magnesium and phosphorus, and this increased with the severity of heating. In contrast, high pressure released different levels of micellar elements into the soluble phase without causing appreciable changes in pH or ionic calcium concentration.

Salt balance and rennet clotting properties of cow's, ewe's, and goat's milks preserved with carbon dioxide.

Cow's, ewe's, and goat's milk samples were treated with carbon dioxide gas until a pH of 6.1 was reached and stored at 4 degrees C to determine the resulting modifications in the mineral balance. The amounts of calcium and phosphorus dissolved during the acidification were similar in the three species.

[Evaluation of food consumption in overweight women before starting voluntary dieting programs].

The dietary intake of 50 premenopausal, overweight women, aged between 18 and 50 years old (31 +/- 9 years), with a mean body mass index of 29.9 +/- 3.1 kg/m2, was evaluated using the 24 hour recall method, the day before the start of a voluntary dietetic treatment.

Autolysis of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and Lactobacillus casei ssp. casei. Cell lysis induced by a crude bacteriocin.

Autolytic properties of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis IFPL359, its Lac Prt derivative Lc. lactis Tl and Lactobacillus casei subsp.

Entomopathogenous fungi degrade epicuticular hydrocarbons of Triatoma infestans.

Studies were undertaken to analyze the ability of entomopathogenous fungi to degrade insect hydrocarbons. Strains of Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae pathogenic to the blood-sucking bug Triatoma infestans were grown on hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon insect lipid extracts and on synthetic hydrocarbon-enriched media as the sole carbon source. Entomopathogenous fungi were shown to utilize hydrocarbons as the only carbon source for their growth.

[Evaluation of vitamin intake in a group of people at the University of Murcia].

The aim of this study was to evaluate the daily intake of vitamins in a group of adults of the University of Murcia. A sample of 116 individuals (69 men and 47 women) aged 25 to 45 was used. Data were derived from 7-day dietary records done by the individuals, and the intakes of vitamins were compared with the Spanish Recommended Dietary Allowances.

A strategy to enhance caring and community in the learning environment.

The authors describe the implementation and evaluation of faculty-facilitated small groups that encourage dialogue between nursing faculty members and students about teaching/learning concerns and events. These groups promoted student perceptions of caring behaviors from their faculty and peers and developed students' sense of cohesiveness within the learning community.