Cellular and segmental distribution of Ca2+-pump epitopes in rat intestine

We used a monoclonal antibody (5F10) specific for the human erythrocyte plasma membrane Ca⁺⁺-pump to demonstrate the presence and distribution of Ca⁺⁺-pump epitopes in rat intestine. In paraffin embedded tissue sections, antibody 5F10 binds to epitopes in the basolateral membranes of absorptive cells in rat duodenum and portions of jejunum but not ileum. Western blot analysis of intestinal mucosal proteins with antibody 5F10 shows binding of antibody to major bands of Mr 135,000 and Mr 72,000, and to lesser bands of Mr 125,000 and Mr 27,000. This pattern was seen in mucosal homogenates of rat duodenal and jejunal cells and to a lesser extent in ileal cells. The Mr 135,000 band corresponds to the molecular weight of Ca⁺⁺-pumps in other tissues. The other bands correspond in size to known proteolytic fragments of the Ca⁺⁺-pump. Slot-blot analysis of nitrocellulose immobilized mucosal homogenates shows binding of 5F10 to be greatest in duodenum and least in ileum. Ca⁺⁺- transport studies by the everted gut sac technique show a correlation between vitamin D induction of active Ca⁺⁺-transport and the segmental distribution of Ca⁺⁺-pump epitopes.     

Genetic Variability of HIV-1 Protease from Nigeria and Correlation with Protease Inhibitors Drug Resistance

In Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, the characterization of HIV-1 strains has been limited. In this study we evaluated the genetic diversity of the protease coding region, one of the anti-retroviral therapy target, and investigated the presence of mutations related to resistance to HIV protease inhibitors. We analyzed samples collected during 1996 and all patients were anti-retroviral drug na¨ves. Ten samples were evaluated by sequencing of the protease gene. The majority, 80%, were classified as subtype A and the two others were unclassified-divergent strains, something in between A and G subtypes. The gag region from these outliners were sequenced and the phylogenetic analysis classified them as subtype G. The protease amino acid consensus sequence of the Nigerian subtype A are in complete agreement with the consensus A differing from the USA subtype B consensus in 10 positions (L10V, I13V, K14R, I15V, K20I, M36I, R41K, P63L, H69K and L89M).The secondary substitutions associated with protease inhibitor resistance were observed in all Nigerian sequences at the positions L10V, M36I and L89M. The majority of sequence variation was concentrated in the interval between aminoacids 70–90 where the protease substrate binding region is located.     

Manejo de la hiperglucemia con fármacos no insulínicos en pacientes adultos con diabetes tipo 2

Treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) includes healthy eating and exercise (150 minutes/week) as basic pillars. For pharmacological treatment, metformin is the initial drug except contraindication or intolerance; in case of poor control, 8 therapeutic families are available (6 oral and 2 injectable) as possible combinations. An algorithm and some recommendations for the treatment of DM2 are presented. In secondary cardiovascular prevention, it is recommended to associate an inhibitor of the sodium-glucose cotransporter type 2 (iSGLT2) or a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (arGLP1) in patients with obesity. In primary prevention if the patient is obese or overweight metformin should be combined with iSGLT2, arGLP1, or inhibitors of type 4 dipeptidylpeptidase (iDPP4). If the patient does not present obesity, iDPP4, iSGLT2 or gliclazide, sulfonylurea, recommended due to its lower tendency to hypoglycaemia, may be used.     

Construction and biological properties of yellow fever 17D/dengue type 1 recombinant virus

Dengue virus, a mosquito-borne flavivirus, is one of the most formidable public health threats in tropical and subtropical regions. As yet, there is no licensed vaccine to protect against the disease. A chimeric yellow fever (YF) 17D/dengue (DEN) type 1 virus was constructed by replacing the pre-membrane and envelope genes of YF 17D virus with those from DEN 1 VeMir95 virus, a Venezuelan isolate. The chimeric YF 17D/DEN 1 VeMir95 virus was regenerated from full-length infectious clones stably propagated in Escherichia coli by transfection of Vero cells with in vitro transcribed RNA. The chimeric virus proliferated efficiently in Vero cells ( approximately 6.6 log(10) plaque-forming units/ml). The chimeric virus was not neurovirulent to 3-week-old Swiss Webster mice inoculated by the intracerebral route, in contrast to the YF 17DD vaccine strain that was lethal for 90% of the mice. The YF 17D/DEN 1 virus at Passage 6 was more attenuated for rhesus monkeys than the YF 17DD commercial vaccine after intracerebral inoculation according to the standard neurovirulence test. This virus is a potential candidate to be included in a tetravalent DEN vaccine formulation. The availability of the cloned cDNA allows further structure/function studies on the viral envelope.     

Regional myocardial lidocaine concentration following continuous intravenous infusion early and late after myocardial infarction

The regional concentration of lidocaine using a double constant infusion technique (250 μg/kg/min × 15 minutes followed by 35 μg/kg/mg/min × 120 minutes) was studied immediately (2 hours) in seven dogs and 24 hours (six dogs) after myocardial infarction. Tissue levels were determined by gas chromatography and related to regional myocardial blood flow as determined by the radioactive microsphere technique in multiple samples. At 2 hours after infarction a significantly higher lidocaine concentration (4.1 ± 0.42 μg/g) was found in zones with greatly reduced blood flow (regional myocardial blood flow less than 0.2 ml/min per g) when compared with that (2.6 ± 0.19 μg/g) in zones with normal blood flow (regional myocardial blood flow greater than 0.8 ml/min per g) (p < 0.01). In contrast, in the 24 hour model the opposite situation was observed. Although the concentration of lidocaine in the infarct zone was substantial, a significant decline in lidocaine tissue concentration was found in the zones of lowest blood flow (regional myocardial blood flow less than 0.2 ml/min per g) when compared with that in normal zones (1.76 ± 0.21 versus 3.38 ± 0.21 μg/g, p < 0.001). In addition, no significant differences in lidocaine concentrations were found between endocardium and epicardium in any of the groups other than those related to regional myocardial blood flow.Thus, with the double constant infusion technique, lidocaine reached normal and ischemic myocardium in concentrations equivalent to therapeutic plasma concentrations, even in lower infarct blood flow zones, with no significant differences between endocardium and epicardium. Of perhaps greater significance, the age of the ischemic insult is an important determinant of lidocaine tissue distribution in infarcted myocardium.