Our goal was to determine the presence of neutralizing antibodies against St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and West Nile virus (WNV) in sera of wild and domestic birds from Buenos Aires City, Argentina. From October 2012 to April 2013, 180 samples were collected and processed by the microneutralization technique. A 7.2 % of the sampled birds were seropositive for SLEV, while no seropositive birds for WNV were detected.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to analyze the larvicidal activity of different crude extracts of Larrea cuneifolia and its most abundant lignan, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), against Culex quinquefasciatus. METHODS: Chloroform, methanol, and aqueous extracts from L. cuneifolia and NDGA were tested against larvae of Cx. quinquefasciatus under laboratory conditions. RESULTS: The chloroform extract showed the highest larvicidal effect, with an estimated LC50 of 0.062 mg/ml. NDGA also demonstrated significant larvicidal activity with an estimated LC50 of 0.092 mg/ml. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that the chloroform extract of L. cuneifolia and NDGA are promising insecticides of botanical origin that could be useful for controlling Cx. quinquefasciatus.

Estudios previos han demostrado que los aminobisfosfonatos, como el alendronato de sodio es un potente inhibidor de la resorción ósea, incrementa la densidad mineral del hueso y reducen los riesgos en fracturas de mujeres postmenopáusicas. El objetivo de este trabajo fue desarrollar una nueva formulación en base a alendronato para ser aplicada en forma subcutánea, ya que no existe en el mercado, e investigar sus efectos sobre un defecto óseo creado experimentalmente. La fórmula farmacéutica fue preparada con una dosificación de 0,5 mg/Kg de peso, se le añadió Cloruro de Na y citrato de Na, pH final de 5,5 en medios estériles. El control fueron buffers sin principios activos. Tanto la droga en estado puro como a la formulación se le realizaron curvas de citotoxicidad (Neutral Red Uptake Method), para comprobar que ambas drogas no producían efectos adversos. El efecto de alendronato se evaluó en cavidades realizadas en las tibias de ratas machos Wistar, las cuales fueron divididas en dos grupos uno control y otro problema. Los animales fueron inyectados con buffers sin droga (grupo control) y con 0,5 mg/Kg de alendronato (grupo experimental) Tanto el alendronato como el control fueron administrados en forma subcutánea, inmediatamente posterior a la cirugía, cercana a la zona de trabajo, en tiempos 0, 7, 14 y 30 días. Los parámetos de estudio fueron Rx de la zona bajo estudio a los tiempos establecidos. Todos los animales fueron sacrificados por sobredosis con éter. El análisis estadístico se realizó con Anova. La curva muestra que a bajas concentraciones la viabilidad es mayor al 98%, al aumentar la concentración de la droga las células comienzan a verse afectadas, pero la viabilidad nunca baja del 70%, por más que se siga agregando droga. Las Rx muestran diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p=0,05) entre los dos grupos, observándose formación ósea en cuanto a volumen. Estos estudios preliminares sugieren que el alendronato colocado en forma parenteral podría ser efectivo en la prevención de la pérdida ósea en las patologías óseas de la cavidad oral.

Previous studies have demonstrated that the bisphosphonates, as the alendronate of sodium is a powerful inhibitor of the bone resorption, it increases the mineral density of the bone and reduce the risks in fractures of postmenopausal women. The objective of this study was to develop and to investigate a new formulation on the basis of alendronate, since it does not exist in the market, to be placed in subcutaneous form in the surgical site. The pharmaceutical formula was prepared with a metering of 0.5 mg/Kg of weight, him it added Chloride of Na and citrato of Na, pH final of 5.5 in sterile means. The control was buffers without active principles. As much the drug in pure state as to the formulation cytotoxicity curves in fibroblast cell were made to him (Neutral Network Uptake Method), in order to verify that as much the pure drug as the prepared one did not produce adverse effects. The alendronate effect was evaluated in cavities made in the male tibias of rats Wistar, which were divided in two groups one control and another problem. The animals were injected with buffers without drug (group control) and with 0.5 mg/Kg of alendronate (experimental group) As much the alendronate as the control were administered in subcutaneous form, immediately later to the surgery, near the zone of work, in times 0, 7, 14 and 30 days. The parameters of study were Rx of the zone under study to the established times. All the animals were sacrificed by overdose with ether. The statistical analysis was made with Anova. the curved sample that to low concentrations the viability is greater to 98%, when increasing the concentration of the drug the cells begin to see themselves affected, but the viability never lowers of 70%, no matter how hard it is continued adding drug. The Rx both shows statistically significant differences (p=0,05) between groups, being observed bone formation as far as volume. These preliminary studies suggest the alendronate placed in parenteral form could be effective in the prevention of the bone loss in the bony pathologies of the oral cavity.