Frecuencia de dermatofitos en una muestra de felinos del área urbana del Gran Mendoza,Argentina

BackgroundThe cat, considered the main reservoir of Microsporum canis, lives in urban areas, and also plays an important role in the emergence of dermatomycoses.AimsTo determine and analyse the frequency of zoonotic dermatophytes in a sample of cats in an urban area of the Gran Mendoza region.MethodsThe animals selected were household cats and cats less than one year old that came from shelters and kennels from urban areas in the Gran Mendoza region. A total of 45 samples from cats with and without dermatological lesions were analysed. These samples were collected through skin scraping, hair removal and Mackenzie brush, respectively. Direct observation was made with KOH and glycerol after heat exposure. Samples were cultured on Sabouraud and Lactrimel agar slants with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide for 30 days.ResultsThe frequency of dermatophytes isolated in this preliminary study was 13.3%. There were not statistically significant differences by source, age, sex, race or dermatological condition. Zoonotic dermatophytes were found in 2 household cats out of the 21 that had direct contact with children or the elderly. M. canis was isolated in 83.3% cases.ConclusionsThe frequency of isolation of zoonotic dermatophytes in the sample of cats in an urban area of the Gran Mendoza region was 13.3%, a value higher than expected. M. canis was the most isolated species.     

Consideraciones quirúrgicas del bocio amiloide

Amyloidosis is an uncommon syndrome consisting of a number of disorders having in common an extracellular deposit of fibrillary proteins. This results in functional and structural changes in the affected organs, depending on deposit location and severity.Amyloid infiltration of the thyroid gland may occur in 50% and up to 80% of patients with primary and secondary amyloidosis respectively. Amyloid goiter (AG) is a true rarity, usually found associated to secondary amyloidosis. AG may require surgical excision, usually because of compressive symptoms.We report the case of a patient with a big AG occurring in the course of a secondary amyloidosis associated to polyarticular onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis who underwent total thyroidectomy. Current literature is reviewed, an attempt is made to provide action guidelines, and some surgical considerations on this rare condition are given.     

Especie nueva del género Megastigma (Rutaceae), del estado de Guerrero,México

Megastigma balsense, from the Río Balsas basin, in Guerrero, Mexico, is described as new and illustrated. It is related to M. galeottii.     

La Struttura Dell'Apice del Rizoma in Confronto Alla Struttura Dell'Apice del Fusto Aereo in “Equisetum Ramosissimum„ Desf

Riassunto

L'A. mette in rilievo le differenze esistenti fra l'apice dei fusti sotterranei e quello dei fusti aerei di Equisetum ramosissimum Desf. Tali differenze sono : secrezione di abbondante mucillaggine da parte delle cellule dell'epidermide esterna delle guaine pi[ugrave] periferiche che incappucciano l'apice dei rizomi, mentre le cellule epidermiche esterne delle guaine dei fusti aerei si differenziano nello stesso senso delle cellule epidermiche degli internodi; presenza di tricomi nella parte interna delle guaine che incappucciano l'apice del rizoma, tricomi che mancano nelle guaine dei fusti aerei; localizzazione dell'acerescimento in lunghezza al primo internodio del rizoma (quello pi[ugrave] vicino alla gemma apicale), mentre nei fusti aerei l'acerescimento è scaglionato su diversi internodi.

La mucillaggine che viene secreta dalle cellule epidermiche delle guaine del rizoma prende origine direttamente dai granuli d'amido, che sono abbondantissimi e particolarmente grossi in talli cellule all'inizio del processo di formazione della mucillaggine.     

Evaluación de la realización del cribado del pie diabético en Atención Primaria

AimTo ascertain whether patients with type 2 diabetes are screened for diabetic foot, and to analyze the factors related to patients and centers associated to performance of such screening.Material and methodsA multicenter, epidemiological, cross-sectional study was conducted. The clinical records of 443 patients with type 2 diabetes monitored at Primary Care for at least 12 months were reviewed. Demographic and healthcare variables and characteristics of the primary care center were recorded.ResultsIn the previous year, 51.2% of patients had been trained on foot self-care, 56.4% had undergone foot inspection, 39.5% had been examined with a monofilament, and palpation of peripheral pulses and measurement of the ankle-brachial index were performed in 45.8 and 10.1% of patients, respectively. Diabetic foot screening (inspection, monofilament testing, and palpation of peripheral pulses) was performed in 37% of study patients. Ulcer risk stratification was done in 12.4% of patients. A significant association was found between diabetic foot screening and presence of foot deformities (P < .001), history of neuropathy (P = .005), and history of peripheral artery disease (P < .05). Screening was also associated to some characteristics of the center, such as reception of information about goal achievement (P < .001) and economic incentives for goal attainment (P < .001).ConclusionsCompliance with diabetic foot screening and ulcer risk stratification in patients with type 2 diabetes in Primary Care was poor.     

Il Numero Dei Cromosomi Dell' “Agropyrum Junceum” P. B. del Litorale Atlantico e del Litorale Mediterraneo

Riassunto

L'A. prende in considerazione un'interessante differenziazione cariologica fra l'Agropyrum junceum del litorale atlantico e quello del litorale mediterraneo, segnalata per le coste francesi dal Simonet, il quale ha messo in rilievo che l'entità atlantica è tetraploide (2n=28), mentre quella mediterranea è esaploide (2n = 42). Con l'esame di individui del litorale toscano e della Linguadoca, nonchè di individui del litorale portoghese, viene nel presente studio confermato il reperto dell'A. francese e viene rilevata cariologicamente l'esistenza dell'entità atlantica nell'ambito della Flora lberica, nonchè quella dell'entità mediterranea nell'ambito della Flora Italiana.     

Ciclo annuale del fitoplancton nelle acque costiere del Parco Naturale della Maremma II. Flora e variazioni delle comunità

Abstract

Annual cycle of phytoplankton in the coastal waters of the « Parco Naturale della Maremma ». II. Flora and communities variations.—The hydrology of the marine coastal area of the Parco Naturale della Maremma and the annual cycle of phytoplankton standing crop have been examined in a preceding paper (Lenzi Grillini e Lazzara, 1978). In the present paper the species list and the main features of marine phytoplankton communities of the same area are reported as a result of an annual cycle of monthly collections effected in seven stations. The most conspicuous seasonal bloomings are due to Skeletonema costatum (Grev.) Cleve in February and to some species of the Chaetoceros gen. in November; the dinoflagellates play a minor role throughout the year, except for Gonyaulax minima Matz. with a light blooming episode in summer. The annual cycle of bottom living diatoms found in the samples appears to be very similar in its shape to the cycle of the pelagic species, as for the standing crop and for the species number. The community structure variations have been analyzed by means of diversity and dominance indexes and of species frequency diagrams. As it concerns the differences in species composition among the seven stations, the area in front of the rocky shore, with deeper and more saline waters, appears to be very homogeneous, whereas some differences have been observed in the shallow waters, in front of the sandy shore and under the influence of the Ombrone River mouth.     

Sul Valore Sistematico del “ Peucedanum Venetum „ Koch

Riassunto

L'A. si è proposto di chiarire il valore sistematico del Peucedanum venetum Koch. nei confronti della specie Linneana P. alsaticum L., in base all'esame dei caratteri morfologici esterni ed a quello dei caratteri anatomici del caule, del picciolo e del lembo fogliare, dei raggi dell'ombrella, del frutto. In questo esame (particolarmente in quello anatomico) ha ritenuto opportuno il confronto con altre entità di questo genere, onde cercare di precisare il valore sistematico dei vari caratteri. Conclude con l'affermare che il Peucedanum venetum Koch. è da considerarsi come specie autonoma, ben distinta dal P. alsaticum L.     

Excavations at new sites of early man in Murcia: Sima de las Palomas del Cabezo Gordo and Cueva Negra del Estrecho del Río Quípar de la Encarnación

Two new sites with hominid, palaeolithic and faunal remains from the late Middle and early Upper Pleistocene in Murcia, S.E. Spain, are presented in the light of recent ongoing excavations and multidisciplinary research. The article outlines the origins and development of the research project with reference to aspects of field strategy and methodology, and comments upon the significant hominid and middle palaeolithic findings.     

Rapporti Fra Endosperma ed Embrione Nella Germinazione di Pinus Pinea L.: Nota i: Effetti del Grado di Maturità del Seme

Abstract

Endosperm embryo interrelationships during germination of PINUS PINEA L. 1rst note. — Seeds and excised embryos have been cultured in vitro in the dark. Experiments with ripe seeds and embryos have been paralleled with exper. with unripe ones (6 months before natural seed dispersal). The results are as follows:

Both ripe and unripe seeds germinate in the dark into green seedlings.

In both types of seedlings the rootlet is the only part which rapidly increases in length, actually growing, but the growth speed of the root is greater in ripe seeds than in the unripe ones.

Both ripe and unripe excised embryos grow slowly, with greenles cotyledons and dwarf roots, showing a very slight geotropic curve.

The root stops growing more sharply in ripe embryos than in unripe ones.

The hypothesis is raised that the rootlet reaches its full growing power, under the endosperm control, and that this control encreases more and more, as the seed approaches its full maturity.     

Evolución del estado de nutrición de yodo en los escolares de la Comunidad Autónoma del País Vasco

BackgroundAn epidemiologic survey showed in 1992 iodine deficiency and endemic goiter in schoolchildren from the Basque Country.Objectives1) To determine the percentage of homes of schoolchildren where iodized salt (IS) is used; 2) to assess iodine nutrition status in schoolchildren and to compare the data collected to those available from previous epidemiological studies.Design and MethodsA cross-sectional study in 720 randomly selected schoolchildren. Urinary iodine concentration (UIC) was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) with electrochemical detection.ResultsIS was used at 53.0% of the homes (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.2-56.7%). Median UIC has increased by 226%, from 65 μg/L in 1992 to 147 μg/L (percentile [P], P₂₅, 99 μg/L; P₇₅, 233 μg/L) today. Both schoolchildren consuming IS and those using unfortified salt at their homes had UICs corresponding to adequate iodine intakes (165 and 132 μg/L respectively). UICs experienced great seasonal fluctuations, being 55% higher during the November-February period than in June-September period (191 μg/L vs 123 μg/L; p < 0.001)ConclusionsSchoolchildren from the Basque Country have normalized their iodine nutrition status. The strong seasonal pattern of UICs suggests that consumption of milk and iodine-rich dairy products coming from cows feed iodized fodder is one of the most significant factors involved in the increase in iodine intake since 1992.