Development of a species-specific coproantigen ELISA for human taenia solium taeniasis

Taenia solium causes human neurocysticercosis and is endemic in underdeveloped countries where backyard pig keeping is common. Microscopic fecal diagnostic methods for human T. solium taeniasis are not very sensitive, and Taenia saginata and Taenia solium eggs are indistinguishable under the light microscope. Coproantigen (CoAg) ELISA methods are very sensitive, but currently only genus (Taenia) specific. This paper describes the development of a highly species-specific coproantigen ELISA test to detect T. solium intestinal taeniasis. Sensitivity was maintained using a capture antibody of rabbit IgG against T. solium adult whole worm somatic extract, whereas species specificity was achieved by utilization of an enzyme-conjugated rabbit IgG against T. solium adult excretory-secretory (ES) antigen. A known panel of positive and negative human fecal samples was tested with this hybrid sandwich ELISA. The ELISA test gave 100% specificity and 96.4% sensitivity for T. solium tapeworm carriers (N = 28), with a J index of 0.96. This simple ELISA incorporating anti-adult somatic and anti-adult ES antibodies provides the first potentially species-specific coproantigen test for human T. solium taeniasis

Analysis of Latin American scientific output in medicine

En la última década se produjo un aumento del gasto en investigación en países en vías de desarrollo. Ante la ausencia de análisis recientes, decidimos evaluar la producción científica en medicina de Latinoamérica y su correlación con variables demográficas y económicas. Analizamos el número total de documentos producidos en cada país y su índice H. Realizamos un subanálisis de los 4 países con mayor índice H y analizamos la correlación existente entre la población de cada país, su PBI y el gasto en investigación. Brasil está en primer lugar en relación con el índice H y número total de documentos, seguido por la Argentina y México, en ese orden. El crecimiento de documentos publicados fue de 530% para Brasil, 331% para Chile, 267% para Argentina y 239% para México. Los 4 países presentaron aumentos de su participación en la producción mundial. Brasil presenta mayor inversión porcentual destinada a investigación, comparado con Argentina y México, mientras que la Argentina supera en inversión porcentual a México. Brasil, Argentina, México y Chile lideran la producción científica médica regional, con importante crecimiento de su producción. Este crecimiento podría encontrarse asociado a la situación económica regional y al aumento observado de la inversión en investigación. La influencia de la región a nivel mundial se encuentra en aumento aunque continúa siendo limitada.Introduction. Over the last decade the global spending on research, the number of researchers and the number of scientific publications have been markedly increased. This increment was especially significant in developing countries. Therefore, considering the absence of recent evaluations, we decided to study the scientific output of Argentina in medicine as compared with other Latin American countries as well as the possible correlations between scientific output and demographics or economical variables. Methods. The countries included in our study were: Argentina, Bolivia, Brasil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela. We analyzed the total number of documents produced in each country for the period 1996-2010 and its H index, in the category “medicine” and within the categories available for each specialty. Then, we performed a sub-analysis of the 4 countries with the highest H index and analyzed the correlation between the population of each country, GDP and the research expenditures. Results. Brazil ranks first in relation to the H index and total number of papers published, followed by Argentina and Mexico respectively. The increase of papers published between 1996 and 2010 was of 530% for Brazil, 331% for Chile, 267 % for Argentina and 239% for Mexico. The 4 four countries increased their share in total world production. Brazil presents a higher research spending, as compared with Argentina and Mexico, while Argentina investment exceeds the Mexican. The GDP showed significant correlations with the H index and the total number of produced documents by each country. Conclusion. Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Chile lead the regional scientific output and presented considerable increments in their production over the past fifteen years. This growth may be associated with the regional economic situation and the observed increase investment in research and development. Moreover, the influence of the region in global production is increasing but still limited.Fil: Mc Loughlin, Santiago. Centro Médico Florida; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez Granillo, Gaston Alfredo. Sanatorio "Otamendi y Miroli S. A."; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Macromolecular composition of phloem exudate from white lupin (Lupinus albus L.)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Members of the legume genus <it>Lupinus </it>exude phloem 'spontaneously' from incisions made to the vasculature. This feature was exploited to document macromolecules present in exudate of white lupin (<it>Lupinus albus </it>[L.] <it>cv </it>Kiev mutant), in particular to identify proteins and RNA molecules, including microRNA (miRNA).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Proteomic analysis tentatively identified 86 proteins from 130 spots collected from 2D gels analysed by partial amino acid sequence determination using MS/MS. Analysis of a cDNA library constructed from exudate identified 609 unique transcripts. Both proteins and transcripts were classified into functional groups. The largest group of proteins comprised those involved in metabolism (24%), followed by protein modification/turnover (9%), redox regulation (8%), cell structural components (6%), stress and defence response (6%) with fewer in other groups. More prominent proteins were cyclophilin, ubiquitin, a glycine-rich RNA-binding protein, a group of proteins that comprise a glutathione/ascorbate-based mechanism to scavenge oxygen radicals, enzymes of glycolysis and other metabolism including methionine and ethylene synthesis. Potential signalling macromolecules such as transcripts encoding proteins mediating calcium level and the Flowering locus T (FT) protein were also identified. From around 330 small RNA clones (18-25 nt) 12 were identified as probable miRNAs by homology with those from other species. miRNA composition of exudate varied with site of collection (e.g. upward versus downward translocation streams) and nutrition (e.g. phosphorus level).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This is the first inventory of macromolecule composition of phloem exudate from a species in the Fabaceae, providing a basis to identify systemic signalling macromolecules with potential roles in regulating development, growth and stress response of legumes.</p

Inspection of floating platform mooring chains with a climbing robot

This paper describes the development of Moorinspect, a novel robot that can climb on platform mooring chains both underwater and in air to non-destructively test (NDT) each link with long range ultrasound guided waves. The prototype robot is designed to be able to climb up/down a mooring chain for up to twenty metres below the surface, climb up through the splash zone to the first link which is located in air and connected to the turret of a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility. This first link suffers the most intense stresses and fatigue failure and thus it is important to test its integrity. A robot that can climb through the splash zone (considered to be the most dangerous zone for human divers) will be the first of its kind. The robot is able to cope with link dimension variations due to corrosion and biological fouling and link curvatures caused by bent links, chain curvature due to gravity, and links twisted at angles of up to eight degrees around a nominal angle of ninety degrees. The robot places an NDT collar consisting of ultrasound probes around the full circumference of each link to be tested. The design has been analysed extensively using Von Mises stress analysis to ensure that the robot is strong and robust enough to carry a sensor payload of more than 70 kg and a robot weighing 500 kg in air and is able to operate in the splash zone. A first prototype chain climbing robot has been tested via trials on a four link mooring chain suspended in air and while immersed in a diving tank

Vibrational Relaxation and Redistribution Dynamics in Ruthenium(II) Polypyridyl-Based Charge-Transfer Excited States: A Combined Ultrafast Electronic and Infrared Absorption Study

Ultrafast time-resolved electronic and infrared absorption measurements have been carried out on a series of Ru­(II) polypyridyl complexes in an effort to delineate the dynamics of vibrational relaxation in this class of charge transfer chromophores. Time-dependent density functional theory calculations performed on compounds of the form [Ru­(CN-Me-bpy)x(bpy)3‑x]2+ (x = 1–3 for compounds 1–3, respectively, where CN-Me-bpy is 4,4′-dicyano-5,5′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine and bpy is 2,2′-bipyridine) reveal features in their charge-transfer absorption envelopes that allow for selective excitation of the Ru­(II)–(CN-Me-bpy) moiety, the lowest-energy MLCT state(s) in each compound of the series. Changes in band shape and amplitude of the time-resolved differential electronic absorption data are ascribed to vibrational cooling in the CN-Me-bpy-localized 3MLCT state with a time constant of 8 ± 3 ps in all three compounds. This conclusion was corroborated by picosecond time-resolved infrared absorption measurements; sharpening of the CN stretch in the 3MLCT excited state was observed with a time constant of 3.0 ± 1.5 ps in all three members of the series. Electronic absorption data acquired at higher temporal resolution revealed spectral modulation over the first 2 ps occurring with a time constant of τ = 170 ± 50 fs, in compound 1; corresponding effects are significantly attenuated in compound 2 and virtually absent in compound 3. We assign this feature to intramolecular vibrational redistribution (IVR) within the 3MLCT state and represents a rare example of this process being identified from time-resolved electronic absorption data for this important class of chromophores

Optimum quantum dot size for highly efficient fluorescence bioimaging

Semiconductor quantum dots of few nanometers have demonstrated a great potential for bioimaging. The size determines the emitted color, but it is also expected to play an important role in the image brightness. In this work, the size dependence of the fluorescence quantum yield of the highly thermal sensitive CdTe quantum dots has been systematically investigated by thermal lens spectroscopy. It has been found that an optimum quantum yield is reached for 3.8-nm quantum dots. The presence of this optimum size has been corroborated in both one-photon excited fluorescence experiments and two-photon fluorescence microscopy of dot-incubated cancer cells. Combination of quantum yield and fluorescence decay time measurements supports that the existence of this optimum size emerges from the interplay between the frequency-dependent radiative emission rate and the size-dependent coupling strength between bulk excitons and surface trapping states

Effects of ocean acidification on invertebrate settlement at volcanic CO<inf>2</inf> vents

We present the first study of the effects of ocean acidification on settlement of benthic invertebrates and microfauna. Artificial collectors were placed for 1 month along pH gradients at CO2 vents off Ischia (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy). Seventy-nine taxa were identified from six main taxonomic groups (foraminiferans, nematodes, polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans and chaetognaths). Calcareous foraminiferans, serpulid polychaetes, gastropods and bivalves showed highly significant reductions in recruitment to the collectors as pCO2 rose from normal (336-341 ppm, pH 8.09-8.15) to high levels (886-5,148 ppm) causing acidified conditions near the vents (pH 7.08-7.79). Only the syllid polychaete Syllis prolifera had higher abundances at the most acidified station, although a wide range of polychaetes and small crustaceans was able to settle and survive under these conditions. A few taxa (Amphiglena mediterranea, Leptochelia dubia, Caprella acanthifera) were particularly abundant at stations acidified by intermediate amounts of CO2 (pH 7. 41-7.99). These results show that increased levels of CO2 can profoundly affect the settlement of a wide range of benthic organisms. © 2010 Springer-Verlag

Metabolic disturbances and worsening of atherosclerotic lesions in ApoE-/- mice after cola beverages drinking.

Atherosclerosis is a major health burden. Metabolic disorders had been associated with large consumption of soft drinks. The rising incidence of atherosclerosis and metabolic alterations warrants the study of long-term soft drink consumption´ effects on metabolism and atherosclerosis in genetic deficiency of apolipoprotein E which typically develops spontaneous atherosclerosis and metabolic alterations.Fil: Otero-Losada, Matilde Estela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Mc Laughlin, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Rodriguez-Granillo, Gastón. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Müller, Angélica. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Ottaviano, Graciela Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Moriondo, Marisa Mabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Cutrin, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina;Fil: Milei, Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigacines Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas (i); Argentina

Heat in optical tweezers

Laser-induced thermal effects in optically trapped microspheres and single cells have been investigated by Luminescence Thermometry. Thermal spectroscopy has revealed a non-localized temperature distribution around the trap that extends over tens of microns, in agreement with previous theoretical models. Solvent absorption has been identified as the key parameter to determine laser-induced heating, which can be reduced by establishing a continuous fluid flow of the sample. Our experimental results of thermal loading at a variety of wavelengths reveal that an optimum trapping wavelength exists for biological applications close to 820 nm. This has been corroborated by a simultaneous analysis of the spectral dependence of cellular heating and damage in human lymphocytes during optical trapping. Minimum intracellular heating, well below the cytotoxic level (43 °C), has been demonstrated to occur for optical trapping with 820 nm laser radiation, thus avoiding cell damage