Control of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, a neglected disease: results of a control programme in Satipo Province, Peru.

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) is an important health problem in many rural areas of Latin America, but there are few data on the results of programmatic approaches to control the disease. We report the results of a control programme in San Martin de Pangoa District, which reports one of the highest prevalences of MCL in Peru. For 2 years (2001--2002), the technicians at the health post were trained in patient case management, received medical support and were supplied with antimonials. An evaluation after 2 years showed the following main achievements: better diagnosis of patients, who were confirmed by microscopy in 34% (82/240) of the cases in 2001 and 60% of the cases (153/254) in 2002; improved follow-up during treatment: 237 of 263 (90%) patients who initiated an antimonial therapy ended the full treatment course; improved follow-up after treatment: 143 of 237 (60%) patients who ended their full treatment were correctly monitored during the required period of 6 (cutaneous cases) or 12 (mucosal cases) months after the end of treatment. These achievements were largely due to the human and logistical resources made available, the constant availability of medications and the close collaboration between the Ministry of Health, a national research institute and an international non-governmental organization. At the end of this period, the health authorities decided to register a generic brand of sodium stibogluconate, which is now in use. This should allow the treatment of a significant number of additional patients, while saving money to invest in other facets of the case management

Hybrid Catalysts Comprised of Graphene Modified with Rhodium-Based N-Heterocyclic Carbenes for Alkyne Hydrosilylation

Thermally partially reduced graphene oxide has been covalently modified with 3-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3-triazolium salts making use of the epoxy functionalities on the carbon nanomaterial. Characterization of the functionalized materials through adequate solid characterization techniques, particularly X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), allows one to follow the stepwise building up of the triazolium fragments on the graphene oxide attached to the wall via covalent C-N linkage. The hydroxyl-triazolium-functionalized materials have been used to prepare rhodium hybrid materials containing either alkoxo or triazolylidene molecular rhodium(I) complexes depending on the protection of the hydroxyl groups present in the material. Characterization of the heterogeneous systems, especially by means of XPS and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy, has evidenced the coordination sphere of the supported rhodium(I) complexes in both rhodium hybrid materials. The graphene-oxide-supported rhodium triazolylidene hybrid catalysts show excellent activity, comparable to that of the homogeneous [RhI(cod)(Triaz)] (Triaz = 1, 4-diphenyl-3-methyl-1, 2, 3-triazol-5-ylidene) catalyst, for the hydrosilylation of terminal and internal alkynes. In addition, these catalysts have shown good selectivity to the beta-(Z) vinylsilane isomers (for the not hindered terminal substrates) or syn-additions (for the internal substrates). In contrast to the rhodium(I)-alkoxo-based hybrid material, the silyl-protected rhodium(I)-triazolylidene-based hybrid catalyst can be reused in consecutive cycles without loss of activity maintaining the selectivity. The lack of leaching of active rhodium species demonstrates the strength of the C-N covalent bond of the triazolylidene linker to the graphitic wall

Relationship Between Jump Capacity and Performance in BMX Cycling

The objective of this study is to assess the relationship between the results obtained on different vertical jump tests and the top score recorded during a BMX (Bicycle Moto-Cross) test and the rider''s performance. To do so, 10 BMX pilots participated in this study; 5 regarded as the elite group (EG) (age: 18.8 +/- 3.7, weight: 68.4 +/- 8.5 kg, height: 174 +/- 9 cm and previous BMX experience: 8 +/- 3.8 years) and 5 regarded as the recreational group (RG) (age: 19.8 +/- 4.8, weight: 69.2 +/- 11.7 kg, height: 170 +/- 9 cm, previous BMX experience: 4.2 +/- 1.3 years). Vertical jump capacity was obtained using the Bosco protocol, i.e. vertical squat jump (SJ), vertical countermovement jump (CMJ), drop jump (DJ) and repetitive jump (RJ), and time in race in a BMX circuit was determined. The results indicate a direct relationship between the time used to complete the circuit and the height of the jump reached in SJ (r: -.801; p:.017), CMJ (r : -.798; p :.018) and DJ (r : -.782; p:.022). This all suggests that assessing jump capacity using the Bosco test may be a useful tool for assessing BMX performance

Junctophilin-2 tethers T-tubules and recruits functional L-type calcium channels to lipid rafts in adult cardiomyocytes

Aim: In cardiomyocytes, transverse tubules (T-tubules) associate with the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR), forming junctional membrane complexes (JMCs) where L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) are juxtaposed to Ryanodine receptors (RyR). Junctophilin-2 (JPH2) supports the assembly of JMCs by tethering T-tubules to the SR membrane. T-tubule remodeling in cardiac diseases is associated with down-regulation of JPH2 expression suggesting that JPH2 plays a crucial role in T-tubule stability. Furthermore, increasing evidence indicate that JPH2 might additionally act as a modulator of calcium signaling by directly regulating RyR and LTCCs. This study aimed at determining whether JPH2 overexpression restores normal T-tubule structure and LTCC function in cultured cardiomyocytes. Methods and results: Rat ventricular myocytes kept in culture for 4 days showed extensive T-tubule remodeling with impaired JPH2 localization and relocation of the scaffolding protein Caveolin3 (Cav3) from the T-tubules to the outer membrane. Overexpression of JPH2 restored T-tubule structure and Cav3 relocation. Depletion of membrane cholesterol by chronic treatment with Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (MβCD) countered the stabilizing effect of JPH2 overexpression on T-tubules and Cav3. Super-resolution scanning patch-clamp showed that JPH2 overexpression greatly increased the number of functional LTCCs at the plasma membrane. Treatment with MβCD reduced LTCC open probability and activity. Proximity ligation assays showed that MβCD did not affect JPH2 interaction with RyR and the pore-forming LTCC subunit Cav1.2, but strongly impaired JPH2 association with Cav3 and the accessory LTCC subunit Cavβ2. Conclusions: JPH2 promotes T-tubule structural stability and recruits functional LTCCs to the membrane, most likely by directly binding to the channel. Cholesterol is involved in the binding of JPH2 to T-tubules as well as in the modulation of LTCC activity. We propose a model where cholesterol and Cav3 support the assembly of lipid rafts which provide an anchor for JPH2 to form JMCs and a platform for signaling complexes to regulate LTCC activity

Reticulocyte Maturation Parameters Are Reliable Early Predictors of Hematopoietic Engraftment after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

AbstractEarly detection of donor-derived hematopoietic restoration after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is a crucial issue in the management of heavily immunocompromised patients. The aim of this prospective study was to validate our previously defined cutoff values for reticulocyte maturation parameters as early predictors of hematopoietic engraftment. Importantly, the effect of clinical variables in reticulocyte engraftment was also sought. For this purpose, we prospectively studied 136 consecutive patients undergoing allo-SCT from related (n = 89) or unrelated (n = 47) donors. High fluorescence reticulocytes (RETH), immature reticulocyte fraction (IRF), mean fluorescence index (MFI), and mean reticulocyte volume (MRV) were automatically measured in peripheral blood samples drawn on a daily basis. We previously defined reticulocyte engraftment when MFI ≥10, RETH ≥3%, IRF ≥10%, and MRV ≥110 fL. Median neutrophil engraftment was 18 days (range, 10-35 days); for reticulocyte parameters, the values were 14 days for IRF (range, 7-45 days), 14 days for MFI (range, 7-43 days), 15 days for RETH (range, 7-43 days), and 21 days for MRV (range, 9-74 days). These differences reached statistical significance for MFI and IRF when compared with standard neutrophil recovery, even when analyzing siblings or unrelated donors separately. In univariate analysis, donor-recipient ABO disparity adversely influenced erythroid engraftment (P = .04 for IRF, P = .03 for MFI), but the infusion of >2.9 × 106/kg of CD34+ cells was associated with a shorter time to reach erythroid engraftment (P = .02 for IRF and MFI). In Cox regression analysis, ≥100/μL neutrophils and IRF ≥10% were predictive parameters for standard neutrophil engraftment. Based on these findings, we suggest that serial measurement of IRF or MFI should be routinely used to trace hematopoietic restoration after allo-SCT because these preceded standard neutrophil recovery by a median of 4 days and are therefore very useful to make clinical decisions

Perivellosa disease massive fibrin deposition, association with Down syndrome: case report and literature review

The disease perivellosa massive fibrin deposition (MPFD), is a condition characterized by uncontrolled mainly fibrin deposition intervillous space. The incidence worldwide is 0.028% per 1000 live births, there is only one case report where this condition is associated with trisomy 21, in our country there are no reports of this disease. The MPFD has high morbidity, obstetric mortality, recurrence, as well as neurodevelopmental significance of newborns. The etiology until the moment is unknown, difficult diagnosis and management for the obstetrician. The aim is to report MPFD association with trisomy 21 (T21) and a review of the medical literature regarding this condition