La reactogenicidad y los aspectos inmune específicos de la vacuna pentavalente combinada: DTPw-HepB-Hib en el lactante menor de un año en el Hospital Distrital de Lambaré, Paraguay en 2007-2008

La vacunación rutinaria de difteria, pertussis y tétanos a células enteras (DPTw) está presente desde 1940 y con elevadas coberturas en muchos países del mundo. La Organización Mundial de la Salud ha aprobado el uso universal de la vacuna anti-hepatitis B (HB) y combinaciones con DPT, en los últimos años ha sido incorporada la vacuna anti-Haemophilus influenzae tipo b (Hib) en programas de vacunación del niño. Es aplicada en Paraguay desde el 2002 a través del Programa Ampliado de Inmunizaciones del Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social. Determinamos la reactoinmunogenicidad secundaria a la vacunación primaria pentavalente combinada en infantes concurrentes al Hospital Distrital de Lambaré–Paraguay en los años 2007-2008. Estudio longitudinal, observacional prospectivo de los efectos secundarios y los aspectos inmune- específicosde la vacuna Berna DTPw-HepB-Hib (QUINVAXEMTM) en lactantes menores de un año, a los 2 meses de edad, datos basales y post vacunales (1 mes luego de 3ª dosis). Efectos locales: 30(75%); rubor 17 (42.5%); tumefacción (menos 20 mm); 13 (32.5%); calorlocal 11 (27.5%). Efectos generales: fiebre: 37 (92.5%) llanto fuerte y persistente:32(80%); irritabilidad: 23 (57.5%); hiporreactividad 16 (40%), anorexia 8 (20%); Inmunogenicidad: antes de la 1ª dosis; antitetánica IgG (+) 38/40 (95%), anti-difteria (+) IgG 29/40 (72.5%); anti-HBsAg 0/40 (0%) negativos. Respuesta post-vacuna penta comb. (7m. edad): antitetánica IgG 14/14 (100%) (+); anti-difteria IgG 12/14 (83%) (+); anti-HBsAg 14/14 (100%) positivos. Se evidencia la reactogenicidad de grado variable y decreciente. Niveles de anticuerpos de los componentes DT, satisfactorios y la Hep B excelentes

A breakthrough on Amanita phalloides poisoning: an effective antidotal effect by polymyxin B

Amanita phalloides is responsible for more than 90 % of mushroom-related fatalities, and no effective antidote is available. a-Amanitin, the main toxin of A. phalloides, inhibits RNA polymerase II (RNAP II), causing hepatic and kidney failure. In silico studies included docking and molecular dynamics simulation coupled to molecular mechanics with generalized Born and surface area method energy decomposition on RNAP II. They were performed with a clinical drug that shares chemical similarities to a-amanitin, polymyxin B. The results show that polymyxin B potentially binds to RNAP II in the same interface of a-amanitin, preventing the toxin from binding to RNAP II. In vivo, the inhibition of the mRNA transcripts elicited by a-amanitin was efficiently reverted by polymyxin B in the kidneys. Moreover, polymyxin B significantly decreased the hepatic and renal a-amanitin-induced injury as seen by the histology and hepatic aminotransferases plasma data. In the survival assay, all animals exposed to a-amanitin died within 5 days, whereas 50 % survived up to 30 days when polymyxin B was administered 4, 8, and 12 h post-a-amanitin. Moreover, a single dose of polymyxin B administered concomitantly with a-amanitin was able to guarantee 100 % survival. Polymyxin B protects RNAP II from inactivation leading to an effective prevention of organ damage and increasing survival in a-amanitin-treated animals. The present use of clinically relevant concentrations of an already human-use-approved drug prompts the use of polymyxin B as an antidote for A. phalloides poisoning in humans.Juliana Garcia, Vera Marisa Costa, Ricardo Dinis-Oliveira and Ricardo Silvestre thank FCT-Foundation for Science and Technology-for their PhD grant (SFRH/BD/74979/2010), Post-doc grants (SFRH/BPD/63746/2009 and SFRH/BPD/110001/2015) and Investigator grants (IF/01147/2013) and (IF/00021/2014), respectively. This work was supported by the Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) - project PTDC/DTPFTO/4973/2014 - and the European Union (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and National Funds (FCT, Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia) through project Pest-C/EQB/LA0006/2013

Karyotypes and DNA content in Bignoniaceae

Cytogenetic studies in 22 Bignoniaceae species were performed. Most taxa are from Argentina, one from Brazil, and two are cultivated (from South Africa and USA). All data are new, including first counts for Bignonia binata, Handroanthus ochraceus, Tabebuia aurea and the genus Podranea. Most taxa are diploid (2n= 40): members of tribes Bignonieae (Adenocalymma, Amphilophium, Bignonia, Cuspidaria, Dolichandra, Fridericia, and Tynanthus), Catalpeae (Catalpa) and the Tabebuia alliance (Handroanthus and Tabebuia). Dolichandra unguis-cati and Handroanthus chrysotrichus were polyploid (2n= 80). Tribes Jacarandeae (Jacaranda) and Tecomeae (Tecoma) were unusual (with 2n= 36), whereas Podranea ricasoliana(Tecomeae) had 2n=38. The basic numberx= 20 is proposed as the base number for the family. Chromosomes are small. The average length was 1.21 μm. Average haploid karyotype length was 28.13μm, ranging from 18.63 in Dolichandra cynanchoidesto 37.63 in D. unguis-cati. Type m chromosomes were the most common. One to five sm pairs were found in 16 species and one st pair inCuspidaria convolutaandPodranea ricasoliana. One to four microsatellites, in long or short arms, were detected in nine species. Karyotypes are symmetrical. Asymmetry indices ranges were: A1= 0.11?0.23, A2= 0.14?0.22. The karyotypes of P. ricasoliana and C. convoluta were the most asymmetrical. Most species were karyologically indistinguishable based on conventional staining, but some could be distinguished by a combination of traits. 1C nuclear DNA content for 12 species were within the range 0.64?2.02 pg. In Bignoniaceae there is a common karyotypical pattern of mostly small m chromosomes with few cryptic chromosomal rearrangements.Fil: Piazzano, Marianela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Las Peñas, Maria Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Chiarini, Franco Ezequiel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Bernardello, Gabriel Luis Mario. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (p); Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentin

Self-interest in the thought of Adam Ferguson

Adam Ferguson (1723–1816) was a prominent member of the Scottish Enlightenment. His most famous work An Essay on the History of Civil Society (1767) has often been read as a dissenting voice from the positive view of commerce found in the work of his friends Adam Smith and David Hume. Readings of Ferguson tend to focus on the Essay and to see him as either a civic republican worried about the impact of commerce on citizenship, or as a precursor to Marxian ideas of alienation and the anti-social impact of economic development. This paper argues against both of these interpretations, and against the practice of reading Ferguson through the Essay alone. Taking his discussion of self-interest as its focus, the paper shows how, in Ferguson’s other writings, he develops a complex and nuanced understanding of the place of self-interest in moral and political life. Central to this is Ferguson’s concept of ambition: an idea crucial to his moral philosophy and one which places Ferguson at the heart of eighteenth century debates about the nature of self-regarding behaviour