Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli infection by duplex PCR assay based on telomeric sequences.

We used the species specificity and repetitious nature of subtelomeric kinetoplastida sequences to generate a duplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli in experimentally and naturally infected triatomine (Reduviid) bugs and in infected human subjects. The assay was species specific and was capable of detecting 1/20th of T. cruzi and 1/4th of T.

Potentiation of atrial contractility by paired pacing augments ventricular preload and systolic performance.

Background: Paired electrical stimulation and postextrasystolic potentiation (PESP) of contractility has been extensively studied in ventricular myocardium, but less is known about PESP of atrial contractility. Our aim was to determine whether PESP of atrial contractility could augment left ventricular (LV) preload and improve LV systolic performance.

Methods And Results: A paired electrical stimulus closely following the pacing stimulus was applied to isolated atrial and ventricular myocardium from 4 dog hearts, and the interval dependent force potentiation was examined.

Elastic interaction of surface steps: effect of atomic-scale roughness.

Elastic interactions of atomic steps can greatly impact surface morphology. Recent atomistic calculations and experimental observations find the standard dipole model of steps is valid only for very large step separations. In this Letter, a new model is presented that displays remarkable agreement with atomistic predictions for step separations larger than just a few step heights.

Symptom management in hospice and palliative care.

Managing the symptoms of advanced disease at the end of life is one of the most challenging aspects of medicine for most clinicians. Traditional textbooks provide limited resources for treating patients at this stoichiometric point in their disease. This article provides an overview in the treatment of common symptoms at the end of life, such as anxiety, anorexia and cachexia, constipation, delirium, dyspnea, fatigue and asthenia, nausea and vomiting, malignant intestinal obstruction, and terminal restlessness.

The class III antiarrhythmic effect of sotalol exerts a reverse use-dependent positive inotropic effect in the intact canine heart.

Objectives: We sought to study the rate related effects of sotalol on myocardial contractility and to test the hypothesis that the class III antiarrhythmic effect of sotalol has a reverse use-dependent positive inotropic effect in the intact heart.

Background: Antiarrhythmic drugs exert significant negative inotropic effects. Sotalol, a beta-adrenergic blocking agent with class III antiarrhythmic properties, may augment contractility by virtue of its ability to prolong the action potential duration (APD).

Induction of a protective antibody response to foot and mouth disease virus in mice following oral or parenteral immunization with alfalfa transgenic plants expressing the viral structural protein VP1.

The utilization of transgenic plants expressing recombinant antigens to be used in the formulation of experimental immunogens has been recently communicated. We report here the development of transgenic plants of alfalfa expressing the structural protein VP1 of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV). The presence of the transgenes in the plants was confirmed by PCR and their specific transcription was demonstrated by RT-PCR.

Combined use of non-thoracotomy cardioverter defibrillators and endocardial pacemakers.

Objective: To study the potential interactions in patients with endocardial permanent pacemakers and non-thoracotomy implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) systems.

Design: Case series and cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary referral centre.

Medical physics is alive and well and growing in South East Asia.

In recent years there has been a significant economic growth in South East Asia, along with it a concurrent development of medical physics. The status of four countries--Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia are presented. Medical physicists in these countries have been experiencing the usual problems of lack of recognition, low salaries, and insufficient facilities for education and training opportunities.

Undersensing of ventricular fibrillation in a noncommitted nonthoracotomy cardioverter defibrillator system.

Objective: Evaluation of the impact of undersensing on VF detection time and the relationship of undersensing to the programmed shock energy.

Background: Failure to reconfirm an ongoing arrhythmia due to undersensing by a noncommitted ICD might prolong the time to therapy.

Methods: We measured initial detection times and redetection times at predischarge and at 2 and 6 months in 29 patients (22 men, mean age 60 years) with a noncommitted nonthoracotomy ICD.

Evolution of patients with clinical neurocardiogenic (vasovagal) syncope not subjected to specific treatment.

The purpose of this prospective study was to analyze the natural history of patients with clinical neurocardiogenic syncope. The results obtained with some therapeutic strategies in the prevention of neurocardiogenic syncope are encouraging. However, the benefit they represent when compared with the natural history of syncope has not been clearly established.

[Use-dependence of propafenone. Clinical demonstration of the hypothesis of modulated receptors].

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to assess use-dependence in patients with ventricular premature contractions (VPC's) treated with propafenone, by means of the increase in heart rate using transesophageal atrial pacing. It was also analyzed whether this phenomenon was related to the antiarrhythmic effect. Fifteen patients with more than 30 symptomatic VPC's/sour were evaluated.

Cyst of the septum pellucidum and Korsakoff's psychosis.

Noncommunicating cysts of the septum pelludicum are rare and diagnostic experience with CT scan is scanty. They may cause hydrocephalus because of obstruction of Monro's foramina. In this report we describe a young patient with acute Korsakoff's syndrome.

[Growth retardation, GH deficiency, hyperprolactinemia and delayed puberty].

A case of a male eleven years and three months old, brought to medical attention for short height, is reported. A deficiency of growth hormone associated with hyperprolactinemia without previous clinical manifestations is appreciated in endocrinological study. Detectable tumor is not apparent in any of the investigations performed.

[Trisomy 5p: a report of 2 cases].

Authors report two patients from different families who present similar abnormalities caused by an "almost complete" trisomy of the short arm of chromosome 5 [case No. 1: 46, XY, der (20), t (5; 20) (p11;p13), mat; case No.2: 46, XY, dup (5p)].

[Precocious pseudopuberty secondary to granulosa cell tumor].

A case report of pseudoprecocity secondary to a unilateral ovarian tumor of granulosa cells is presented in a 13 month old female. Clinical manifestations appeared at two months of age as unilateral enlargement of the breast, development of pubic hair and vaginal discharge. Plasma estrogen levels were elevated, whereas there was no response of FSH and LH to LH-RH stimulation.

[Early detection of congenital hypothyroidism. Study of 31,609 determinations].

As a result of congenital hypothyroidism (CH) early detection program carried out in our clinic during the period 1978-1981, 31.609 capillary blood samples (35,7% from newborn infants) were taken on filter paper cards. An evaluation of TSH following the specific radioimmunoanalysis technique was made in all the samples, and an evaluation of T4 whenever TSH values were higher than 25 microU/ml serum.

[A new concept for the training of odontological human resources].

This article describes different aspects, and particularly those of the academic-administrative structure of the Dentistry Program in the Health Sciences Faculty of Universidad Católica "Madre y Maestra," in the Dominican Republic. It presents a general account of the University's approach to the problems of health, and of the events leading up to the establishing of the Program, the basis on which this was done, the theoretical framework in which the curriculum is embedded, and the methodological principles applied. It also gives a detailed description of the curriculum, including the general and specific objectives, the structure and organization, and the modules comprised in each academic year.

[Partial 10q trisomy (q24;q ter) caused by a balanced maternal translocation t(6;10)(q26;q24)].

Authors have had the opportunity to study a patient affected by a malformative syndrome with severe motricity and mental retardation. Physical findings (namely: spacious forehead, flat and round face, small palpebral fissures, hypotonicity and growth retardation) are similar to the phenotype previously described in trisomy 10q. Chromosomal diagnosis failed until G, Q and R banding technique was applied.