Population structure of <i>Citrus tristeza virus</i> from field Argentinean isolates

We studied the genetic variability of three genomic regions (p23, p25 and p27 genes) from 11 field Citrus tristeza virus isolates from the two main citrus growing areas of Argentina, a country where the most efficient vector of the virus, Toxoptera citricida, is present for decades. The pathogenicity of the isolates was determinated by biological indexing, single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis showed that most isolates contained high intra-isolate variability. Divergent sequence variants were detected in some isolates, suggesting re-infections of the field plants. Phylogenetic analysis of the predominant sequence variants of each isolate revealed similar grouping of isolates for genes p25 and p27. The analysis of p23 showed two groups contained the severe isolates. Our results showed a high intra-isolate sequence variability suggesting that re-infections could contribute to the observed variability and that the host can play an important role in the selection of the sequence variants present in these isolates.Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecula

Fatal gemcitabine-induced pulmonary toxicity in metastatic gallbladder adenocarcinoma

Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy agent that may cause unpredictable side effects. In this report, we describe a fatal gemcitabine-induced pulmonary toxicity in a patient with gallbladder metastatic adenocarcinoma. A 72-year-old patient was submitted to an elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and a tubular adenocarcinoma in the gallbladder was incidentally diagnosed. CT scan and ultrasound before the surgery did not show any tumor. After the surgery a Pet scan was positive for a hot-spot in the left colon. The colonic lesion was conveniently removed and the histology evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma tubular. The patient was then submitted to three sections of 1,600 mg/m2 of gemcitabine with intervals of 1 week. Three weeks later he developed severe respiratory distress. A helicoidal CT scan showed diffuse and severe interstitial pneumonitis, and lung biopsy confirmed accelerated usual interstitial pneumonia consistent with drug-induced toxicity. The patient presented unfavorable evolution with progressive worsening of respiratory function, hypotension, and renal failure. He died 1 month later in spite of methylprednisolone pulse therapy, large spectrum antimicrobial therapy, and full support of respiratory, hemodynamic and renal systems. Gemcitabine-induced pulmonary toxicity is usually a dramatic condition. Physicians should suspect pulmonary toxicity in patients with respiratory distress after gemcitabine chemotherapy, mainly in elderly patients

ELEMENTS OF VARIANCE ANALYSIS, EVALUATION OF DIFFICULTIES BY QUESTIONNAIRE

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Statistical inference plays a prominent role in various human sciences, including Psychology, with its research based on data collected in population samples, which needs to extend its conclusions. However, the use and interpretation of statistics for publications in Psychology is not always appropriate, as shown in several reviews (Borges, San Luis Sanchez, &amp; Cañadas, 2001; Batanero &amp; Diaz, 2006). Also occur in college students, as shown by many studies Are almost nonexistent research related to learning or teaching variance analysis, its various models, choice of model assumptions and verification thereof or the interpretation and understanding of how a table of variance analysis or experiment´s design is obtained by which we think that our work provide new results. Rubin and Rosebery (1990) Planned and found a teaching experiment aimed at studying the difficulties of interpretation of some of the basic ideas of experimental design. One is the difference between dependent and independent variable. Another important factor in the variance analysis is the concept of interaction. The presence of interaction is what stands out in ANOVA models on several factors, as it allows to evaluate the effect varies as a factor on the response at different levels of another. Rosnow and Rosenthal (1991, p. 574) indicated that the interaction is the result most universally misunderstood in Psychology. Green (2007) also emphasized that students have difficulty understanding the concept of interaction in variance analysis. In sum, the number of elements involved makes research on ANOVA complex, and few studies have been done that directly monitor what students actually learn or test whether learning objectives have been achieved at the end of the course. In our research project, we, in collaboration with the art teacher, monitored students&apos; progress during a two-year data analysis course and included relevant questions as part of their final evaluation. Below we describe the methodology employed and discuss the results

Measles Virus-Specific Antibody Levels in Individuals in Argentina Who Received a One-Dose Vaccine

In spite of active measles virus (MV) vaccination strategies, reemergence continues to occur, impairing global eradication programs. The immune status against measles was evaluated in 350 vaccinated healthy Argentine children and teenagers who received a single dose of the MV Schwarz strain Lirugen vaccine (Aventis Pasteur). Sera were assessed for immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies by a commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (Enzygnost; Behring), an in-house EIA, and neutralization EIA. Results obtained with these methods showed a marked decline in IgG level with increasing age. At 1 to 4 years of age, 84% of children had IgG antibodies above 200 mIU/ml, conventionally accepted as protective levels, whereas only 32% of older children and teenagers had antibody levels exceeding 200 mIU/ml. Moreover, the MV IgG content in the teenage group was significantly lower than the IgG antibody level of the group of younger children (P < 0.0001). In contrast, screening for IgG antibody levels to inactivated tetanus vaccine showed that, on average, 80% of this population was fully protected and that this high level of protection remained through the teenage years. This study suggests that within this population a considerable proportion of individuals had low measles antibody levels that may be insufficient to protect against reinfections or clinical disease