Platelet interactions with viruses and parasites

Abstract

While the interactions between Gram-positive bacteria and platelets have been well characterized, there is a paucity of data on the interaction between other pathogens and platelets. However, thrombocytopenia is a common feature with many infections especially viral hemorrhagic fever. The little available data on these interactions indicate a similarity with bacteria-platelet interactions with receptors such as FcγRIIa and Toll-Like Receptors (TLR) playing key roles with many pathogens. This review summarizes the known interactions between platelets and pathogens such as viruses, fungi and parasites.     

Pseudoathetosis: report of three patients.

We report on 3 patients with pseudoathetosis, which are involuntary, slow, writhing movements due to loss of proprioception.     

Partial Portal Vein Ligation Plus Thioacetamide: A Method to Obtain a New Model of Cirrhosis and Chronic Portal Hypertension in the Rat

To obtain a new model of chronic portal hypertension in the rat, two classical methods to produce portal hypertension, partial portal vein ligation and the oral administration of thioacetamide (TAA), have been combined. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: 1 (control; n?=?10), 2 [triple partial portal vein ligation (TPVL); n?=?9], 3 (TAA; n?=?11), and 4 (TPVL plus TAA; n?=?9). After 3 months, portal pressure, types of portosystemic collateral circulation, laboratory hepatic function tests (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) and liver histology were studied. The animals belonging to group 2 (TPVL) developed extrahepatic portosystemic collateral circulation, associated with mesenteric venous vasculopathy without hepatic destructurization or portal hypertension. Animals from group 3 (TAA) developed cirrhosis and portal hypertension but not extrahepatic portosystemic collateral circulation, or mesenteric venous vasculopathy. Finally, the animals from group 4 (TPVL?+?TAA) developed cirrhosis, portal hypertension, portosystemic collateral circulation, and mesenteric venous vasculopathy. The association of TPVL and TAA can be used to obtain a model of chronic portal hypertension in the rat that includes all the alterations that patients with hepatic cirrhosis usually have. This could, therefore, prove to be a useful tool to study the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in these alterations.     

Local excision for ypT2 rectal cancer--much ado about something.

BACKGROUND: The role of local excision for pT2 distal rectal cancer has been challenged because of the observation of high rates of lymph node metastases and local failure. However, neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) has led to increased local disease control and significant tumor downstaging, possibly decreasing rates of lymph node metastases. In this setting, a possible role for local excision of ypT2 has been suggested. METHODS: A total of 401 patients with distal rectal cancer underwent neoadjuvant CRT. Tumor response assessment was performed after at least 8 weeks from CRT completion. One hundred and twelve patients with complete clinical response were not immediately operated on and were excluded from the study, and 289 patients with incomplete clinical response were managed by radical surgery. Patients with final pathological stage ypT2 were analyzed to determine the risk of unfavorable pathological features that could represent unacceptable risk for local failure after local excision. RESULTS: Eighty-eight (30%) patients had ypT2 rectal cancer. Final ypT status was not associated with pretreatment radiological staging (p = 0.62). ypT status was significantly associated with the risk of lymph node metastases, risk of perineural and vascular invasion, and recurrence (p = 0.001). Lymph node metastases were present in 19% of patients with ypT2 rectal cancer. The risk of lymph node metastases in ypT2 was associated with the presence of perineural invasion (47% vs 4%; p = <0.001), vascular invasion (59% vs 6%; p < 0.001), and decreased mean interval CRT surgery (12 vs 18 weeks; p < 0.001), but not with mean tumor size (3.2 vs 3.1 cm; p = 0.8). Disease-free and overall survival rates were significantly better for patients with ypT2N0 (p = 0.02 and 0.006, respectively). Fifty-five (63%) patients with ypT2 had at least one unfavorable pathological feature for local excision (lymph node metastases, vascular or perineural invasion, mucinous type or tumor size >3 cm). CONCLUSION: Lymph node metastases were present in 19% of patients with ypT2 and were significantly associated with poor overall and disease-free survival rates. The risk of lymph node metastases could not be predicted by radiological staging or tumor size. Radical surgery should be considered the standard treatment option for ypT2 rectal cancer after CRT.     

The nurse's work in the care plan for families in the mountains

In this investigation is demonstrated that the nurse needs, in order to carry out a successful work, to learn about the composition of the population of the area under her care. In Patana, a Maisí municipality with 165 inhabitants, 93 male and 72 females, prevailing ninth grade school level and an initial low hygienic culture level, which is considered as regular at the present time, intestinal parasitism and malnutrition are the main diseases in the zone. It is well demonstrated that there is a wide relationship between hygienic conditions at home and community and the incidence of the fore-mentioned diseases and that the educational work performed by the nurse in the area under her care exerts a positive influence, but the support of grassroot mass organizations is required.     

Non-linear tissue binding of amikacin in rats: the effect of renal impairment

Amikacin levels in serum and tissues were determined in 115 Wistar rats, 70 with normal renal function (NRF) and the remaining 45 with terminal renal impairment (TRI). The results obtained in the animals with NRF show an accumulation of the antibiotic in all the tissues studied as compared with plasma levels, specially in the renal cortex and medulla. In the rats with TRI important alterations in the plasma and tissue kinetics of the antibiotics were observed. The plasma kinetics of amikacin in rats with TRI are characterised by significant alterations in the pharmacokinetic parameters, specially those defining the distribution processes of the antibiotic. In the tissues of the latter, a significant increase in the antibiotic concentration takes place, particularly in the renal cortex. The average half-lives of the antibiotic in the tissues of rats with TRI increase compared with the group of rats with NRF, though the difference are not so significant as in the case of the plasma half-life. The use of a specific kinetic distribution model, with linear and non-linear tissue binding, showed that significant variations occur in the partition coefficient and in the Michaelis-Menten parameters, which characterize the saturable binding of Amikacin to tissue in rats with NRF and TRI.     

Strategies for Reducing Risks in Smoking: Opportunity or Threat?

The smoking control policies recommended by the World Health Organisation have achieved a slight decrease in smoking prevalence in developed countries, although associated mortality is still very high. The use of tobacco products other than cigarettes and even medicinal nicotine (known as nicotine replacement therapy [NRT]) has been proposed as a risk reduction strategy. Among the tobacco products with less individual risk than cigarettes would be any type of tobacco without smoke (smokeless) with a low content in nitrosamines and modified cigarettes; both forms included under the PREP (Potentially Reduced Exposure Products) concept. The idea would be to promote these products among patients who cannot quit smoking or wish to reduce their risk without giving up nicotine intake. The possible effects of risk reduction strategies, including PREP, on the decreased prevalence and morbidity and mortality are reviewed, and the possible implications that this measure could have in Spain are analysed. Tobacco control measures in Spain have only been made recently and are still insufficient. Therefore, the current priority in Spain is to develop control policies that have proven to be more than effective. The marketing and advertising of new tobacco products, even with reduced potential risk, seems more a serious threat than an opportunity for developing smoking control policies.     

Relationship between oxidative stress and essential hypertension.

This study investigated the association of blood pressure with blood oxidative stress-related parameters in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. A cross-sectional design was applied to 31 hypertensive patients and 35 healthy normotensive subjects. All subjects were men between the ages of 35 and 60 years. Exclusion criteria were obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking and current use of any medication. All patients underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and sampling of blood and urine. Antioxidant enzymes activity, reduced/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) were determined in erythrocytes. Parameters measured in the plasma of test subjects were plasma antioxidant status, lipid peroxidation (8-isoprostane), plasma vitamin C and E, and the blood pressure modulators renin, aldosterone, endothelin-1 and homocysteine. Daytime systolic and diastolic blood pressures of hypertensives were negatively correlated with plasma antioxidant capacity (r=-0.46, p<0.009 and r=-0.48, p<0.007), plasma vitamin C levels (r=-0.53, p<0.003 and r=-0.44, p<0.02), erythrocyte activity of antioxidant enzymes, and erythrocyte GSH/GSSG ratio, with hypertensives showing higher levels of oxidative stress. Blood pressures showed a positive correlation with both plasma and urine 8-isoprostane. Neither plasma vitamin E nor the assessed blood pressure modulator levels showed significant differences between the groups or correlation with blood pressures. These findings demonstrate a strong association between blood pressure and some oxidative stress-related parameters and suggest a possible role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension.     

Parvalbumin immunoreactive neurons and fibres in the teleost cerebellum

Summary The distribution of parvalbumin-(PV) immunopositive cell bodies and fibres in the cerebellum of two species of freshwater teleosts (Salmo gairdneri and Barbus meridonalis) was studied using a monoclonal antibody and the avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase technique. A clear laminated pattern of PV immunoreactivity was observed. After PV-immunostaining, Purkinje cells were strongly labelled in their cell bodies, the initial segments of the axons and the dendritic trees. In the molecular layer, only the dendritic branches of the Purkinje cells were PV-positive. In the granule cell layer, extensive axonal plexuses and scattered cell bodies were observed. Most of the immunopositive perikarya were unequivocally identified as displaced Purkinje cells, whereas a reduced number of smaller neurons with unstained dendrites was also found. Eurydendroid cells, the efferent neurons of the teleost cerebellum, were negative; however, they were impinged upon by numerous PV-positive boutons, corresponding to terminals of Purkinje cell axons. Parallel fibres and climbing fibres, as well as stellate cells and granule cells were negative. Basket cells (or deep stellate cells) whose existence in the teleost cerebellum is discussed, were also not observed. The immunoreactivity distribution pattern for PV in the teleost cerebellum differs from previous observations on the localization of this protein in the cerebellum of amniotes.