A search for H I in nine southern galactic clusters

The results of a search for H I features in nine galactic clusters are reported. In six of the clusters the earliest spectral types represented are in the range B0–B9. On the whole, twelve H I features (nine maxima and three minima) were detected, of which seven were disregarded as they were not related to any cluster. The conclusion is that at least in six clusters (Cr 121, Cr 140, Cr 132a, b, Ru 3 and Ru 106) no related H I could be detected. For the remainder (NGC 5460, Cr 135 and Cr 394), the evidence was inconclusive. Our results are in agreement with the qualitative conclusion from earlier work that interstellar H I should be expected only in relatively young clusters.Universidad Nacional de La Plat

A search for HI in nine southern galactic clusters

The results of a search for H I features in nine galactic clusters are reported. In six of the clusters the earliest spectral types represented are in the range B0–B9. On the whole, twelve H I features (nine maxima and three minima) were detected, of which seven were disregarded as they were not related to any cluster. The conclusion is that at least in six clusters (Cr 121, Cr 140, Cr 132a, b, Ru 3 and Ru 106) no related H I could be detected. For the remainder (NGC 5460, Cr 135 and Cr 394), the evidence was inconclusive. Our results are in agreement with the qualitative conclusion from earlier work that interstellar H I should be expected only in relatively young clusters.Instituto Argentino de Radioastronomí

Demographic, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic data of hereditary spherocytosis in our country. A study on 143 cases belonging to 84 families

Introducción. La esferocitosis hereditaria (ESH) es la anemia hemolítica hereditaria más frecuente, pero es muy escasa la información sobre su comportamiento en nuestro país. Objetivos. Comunicar aspectos demográficos, clínicos, diagnósticos y terapéuticos de la enfermedad. Pacientes y métodos. Se revisaron datos de los pacientes estudiados desde 2007, año en que incorporamos al estudio de laboratorio clásico - fragilidad osmótica eritrocitaria (FOE) y autohemólisis (AH) - criohemólisis hipertónica (CH), citometría de flujo con eosina-5’-maleimida (5’EMA-CF) y electroforesis de proteínas de membrana (SDS-PAGE); desde 2009 también incorporamos FOE por citometría de flujo (FOE-CF). Criterios diagnósticos para ESH: visualización de esferocitos en frotis y dos pruebas positivas. Portador sano (PS): familiar con deficiencia de proteína de membrana, pero asintomático y con las otras pruebas negativas. Resultados. Se analizaron 281 individuos, identificando 121 ESH y 22 PS. Porcentajes de positividad de las pruebas: FOE 92,2%, AH 75,7%, SDS-PAGE 72,2%, CH 93,3%, 5’EMA-CF 91,3%, FOE-CF 86,3%. De los 69 casos en que se realizaron las tres nuevas técnicas, todos tuvieron al menos una positiva; 63 (91,3%) presentaron 2 positivas. La SDS-PAGE mostró que las deficiencias más frecuentes fueron ankirina y espectrina. Clasificación por formas clínicas: leves 33,7%, moderadas 44,2%, severas 22,1%. Presentaron manifestaciones en periodo neonatal el 80,9% de los casos, siendo mayor la incidencia en las formas moderadas/ severas que en las leves (p<0,05). No hubo diferencia en el resultado de las pruebas entre los subgrupos de severidad. Se esplenectomizaron 24 pacientes. Todos alcanzaron valores de hemoglobina normales después de la operación, sostenidos en el tiempo. No hubo ningún episodio infeccioso severo. Conclusiones. Las deficiencias más frecuentes en nuestro país son ankirina y espectrina. El uso simultáneo de CH, 5’EMA-CF y FOE-CF permite diagnosticar más del 91% de los casos; la realización de las pruebas convencionales quedaría limitada a casos con fuerte sospecha diagnóstica no confirmados por las mismas. A excepción de mayor incidencia de manifestaciones neonatales, el comportamiento clínico en nuestra población no presentó diferencias con lo informado por la mayoría de los autores. No hubo casos de muerte o sepsis fulminante postesplenectomía.Background. Hereditary spherocytosis (HS) is the most common inherited hemolytic anemia; however, information concerning its behavior in our country is scarce. Aim. To report demographic, clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic data on the disease. Patients and methods. In 2007 we started performing hypertonic cryohemolysis (HC), 5’EMA flow cytometry (5’EMA-FC), and membrane proteins electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) in addition to standard tests – osmotic fragility (OF) and autohemolysis (AH) - for evaluation of patients with HS. Since 2009 we added flow cytometric OF (OF-FC). Data from all patients studied from 2007 were analyzed. Diagnostic criteria for HS: spherocytes in blood smear plus two positive tests. Silent carrier (SC): family member with protein deficiency but otherwise asymptomatic and negative for other tests. Results. The study included 281 individuals; 121 HS and 22 SC were identified. Tests positivity rates were: OF 92.2%, AH 75.7%, SDS-PAGE 72.2%, HC 93.3%, 5’EMAFC 91.3%, OF-FC 86.3%. All of the 69 cases in whom the three new procedures were performed had at least one positive test; 63 of them (91.3%) presented two positive tests. The SDS-PAGE showed that the most frequent deficiencies were ankyrin and spectrin. Classification by severity of anemia: mild 33.7%, moderate 44.2%, severe 22.1%. Neonatal manifestations were seen in 80.9% of cases; the incidence was higher in moderate/severe than in mild anemias (p<0.05). Comparison of tests results in relation to severity showed no difference between groups. Splenectomy was performed in 24 patients. All of them reached sustained normal hemoglobin values after the procedure. No life-threatening infection occurred. Conclusions. Most frequent deficiencies in our country are ankyrin and spectrin. The simultaneous use of HC, 5’EMA-FC y OF-FC allows confirming the diagnosis in more than 91% of cases. Except for a higher incidence of neonatal manifestations, the clinical pattern in our population showed no difference with that reported by most authors. No case of death or overwhelming fulminant sepsis post-splenectomy was seen.Fil: Donato, Mariano Humberto. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Crisp, R. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas; ArgentinaFil: García, E. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Rapetti, MC. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posada; ArgentinaFil: Solari, L. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posadas; ArgentinaFil: Vota, Daiana Marina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Chamorro, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Schvartzman, G. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posada; ArgentinaFil: Miguez, G. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posada; ArgentinaFil: Gammela, D. Hospital Nacional Profesor Alejandro Posada; ArgentinaFil: Vittori, Daniela Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Nesse, Alcira Beatriz. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentin

Systematic Review of Potential Health Risks Posed by Pharmaceutical, Occupational and Consumer Exposures to Metallic and Nanoscale Aluminum, Aluminum Oxides, Aluminum Hydroxide and Its Soluble Salts

Aluminum (Al) is a ubiquitous substance encountered both naturally (as the third most abundant element) and intentionally (used in water, foods, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines); it is also present in ambient and occupational airborne particulates. Existing data underscore the importance of Al physical and chemical forms in relation to its uptake, accumulation, and systemic bioavailability. The present review represents a systematic examination of the peer-reviewed literature on the adverse health effects of Al materials published since a previous critical evaluation compiled by Krewski et al. (2007). Challenges encountered in carrying out the present review reflected the experimental use of different physical and chemical Al forms, different routes of administration, and different target organs in relation to the magnitude, frequency, and duration of exposure. Wide variations in diet can result in Al intakes that are often higher than the World Health Organization provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI), which is based on studies with Al citrate. Comparing daily dietary Al exposures on the basis of “total Al”assumes that gastrointestinal bioavailability for all dietary Al forms is equivalent to that for Al citrate, an approach that requires validation. Current occupational exposure limits (OELs) for identical Al substances vary as much as 15-fold. The toxicity of different Al forms depends in large measure on their physical behavior and relative solubility in water. The toxicity of soluble Al forms depends upon the delivered dose of Al+ 3 to target tissues. Trivalent Al reacts with water to produce bidentate superoxide coordination spheres [Al(O2)(H2O4)+ 2 and Al(H2O)6 + 3] that after complexation with O2•−, generate Al superoxides [Al(O2•)](H2O5)]+ 2. Semireduced AlO2• radicals deplete mitochondrial Fe and promote generation of H2O2, O2 • − and OH•. Thus, it is the Al+ 3-induced formation of oxygen radicals that accounts for the oxidative damage that leads to intrinsic apoptosis. In contrast, the toxicity of the insoluble Al oxides depends primarily on their behavior as particulates. Aluminum has been held responsible for human morbidity and mortality, but there is no consistent and convincing evidence to associate the Al found in food and drinking water at the doses and chemical forms presently consumed by people living in North America and Western Europe with increased risk for Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD). Neither is there clear evidence to show use of Al-containing underarm antiperspirants or cosmetics increases the risk of AD or breast cancer. Metallic Al, its oxides, and common Al salts have not been shown to be either genotoxic or carcinogenic. Aluminum exposures during neonatal and pediatric parenteral nutrition (PN) can impair bone mineralization and delay neurological development. Adverse effects to vaccines with Al adjuvants have occurred; however, recent controlled trials found that the immunologic response to certain vaccines with Al adjuvants was no greater, and in some cases less than, that after identical vaccination without Al adjuvants. The scientific literature on the adverse health effects of Al is extensive. Health risk assessments for Al must take into account individual co-factors (e.g., age, renal function, diet, gastric pH). Conclusions from the current review point to the need for refinement of the PTWI, reduction of Al contamination in PN solutions, justification for routine addition of Al to vaccines, and harmonization of OELs for Al substances

Suicidal Ideation and Alcohol Use Among Ethiopian Adolescents in Israel

Recent figures point to alarming rates of suicidal tendencies and risk behaviors among Ethiopian adolescents (first and second generation) in Israel. This study tries to understand this phenomenon through an examination of the relationship between ethnic identity (Israeli and Ethiopian) and parental support with suicidal ideation and alcohol use. Two hundred adolescents aged 15–18 years from the Ethiopian community in Israel completed questionnaires examining the degree to which they felt a sense of (positive) Israeli and Ethiopian identity and parental support as well as suicidal ideation, drinking behavior, and depression. Results showed significant correlations between both Israeli and Ethiopian identities and suicidal ideation and alcohol use and a significant relationship between suicidal ideation and parental support. Regression analysis highlighted the pivotal role of a strong and positive heritage (Ethiopian) identity in lower levels of suicidal ideation and alcohol use. Results suggest the important role of ethnic identity for well-being among immigrant and minority youth, in particular in the ability of minority youth to consolidate a coherent ethnic identity incorporating a positive connection to their heritage culture as providing a protective role against suicidal tendencies and risk behaviors. </jats:p

A search for H I in nine southern galactic clusters

The results of a search for H I features in nine galactic clusters are reported. In six of the clusters the earliest spectral types represented are in the range B0–B9. On the whole, twelve H I features (nine maxima and three minima) were detected, of which seven were disregarded as they were not related to any cluster. The conclusion is that at least in six clusters (Cr 121, Cr 140, Cr 132a, b, Ru 3 and Ru 106) no related H I could be detected. For the remainder (NGC 5460, Cr 135 and Cr 394), the evidence was inconclusive. Our results are in agreement with the qualitative conclusion from earlier work that interstellar H I should be expected only in relatively young clusters.Universidad Nacional de La Plat