The herbicide isoproturon (IPU) is a strong contaminant due to it water solubility and low microbial degradation. Environmental concerns arised from the worldwide use of this herbicide in conventional agriculture, urban areas and algicide in antifouling paints. Several fungi have shown the ability to degrade IPU and its derivatives; however, hydroxylated metabolites were frequently detected in agricultural areas. The aims of this study were to isolate representatives fungi from polluted soils, to study their IPU-degradation potential and to identify the transformation products. Aspergillus ochraceus, Fusarium flocciferum, Talaromyces helicus, Acremonium strictum, Mucor hiemalis, Paecilomyces lilacinus and Penicillium frequentans uptook the herbicide and produced significant amounts of diverse derivatives. The fungi produced 1-OH-IPU and 2-OH-IPU, being the source of the hydroxylated IPU-derivatives detected in environment. Therefore, this study demonstrated that selected fungi could be used for the polluted soils bioremediation.

El herbicida isoproturon (IPU) es un contaminante fuerte debido a su elevada solubilidad acuosa y bajo potencial para la degradación microbiana. El problema ambiental se debe a su amplio empleo en la agricultura convencional, áreas urbanas, algicida y aditivo de pinturas. Especies fúngicas degradaron el herbicida en cultivos in-vitro, produciendo derivados hidroxilados frecuentes en areas agrícolas. Los objetivos planteados fueron aislar las especies fúngicas representativas de suelos tratados con IPU, evaluar su potencial transformador, e identificar los derivados. La mayoría de los aislamientos produjeron 1 -OH-IPU y 2-OH-IPU, indicando que los hongos pueden ser la causa de estos compuestos en las muestras ambientales. De los 35 aislamientos, 10 de ellos fueron especies dominantes y activas degradadoras. Aspergillus ochraceus, Fusarium flocciferum, Talaromyces helicus, Acremonium strictum, Mucor hiemalis, Paecilomyces lilacinus y Penicillium frequentans transformaron el herbicida produciendo cantidades significativas de diversos derivados. Esta es la primera mención de dicha actividad para estas especies.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar as causas mais freqüentes de emergências em pacientes com doença de Chagas. Entre janeiro de 1998 e janeiro de 1999, foram incluídos num estudo prospectivo, indivíduos com doença de Chagas que ingressaram no pronto socorro do Hospital Santojanni da Cidade de Buenos Aires. Para a análise estatística, utilizou-se o teste de X² com correção de Yates. De um total de 1.680 pacientes ingressados, houve 95 (6%) com sorologia reativa para doença de Chagas. Em 31 indivíduos, a causa de ingresso foi síncope, em 28 insuficiência cardíaca, em 18 eventos coronários agudos, em 5 acidentes vasculares cerebrais, em 3 hipertensão arterial com edema agudo de pulmão e em 2 encefalite aguda associada à SIDA. Como conclusão observou-se uma associação significativa entre: 1) presença de cardiopatia e hospitalização, 2) insuficiência cardíaca, síncope, encefalite aguda e mortalidade, 3) progresso de cardiopatia e mortalidade e 4) lugar de procedência e mortalidade.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the most frequent causes of emergency in patients with Chagas disease. Between January 1998-January 1999, individuals with Chagas disease inside the shock-room of Santojanni Hospital in Buenos Aires city, were included in a prospective study. For the statistical analysis, X² test with Yates correction has been used. From a total of 1.680 patients entered, there were 95 (6%) with reactive serology for Chagas disease. In 31 individuals the enter cause was syncope, in 28 cardiac insufficiency, in 18 acute coronary events, in 5 stroke, in 3 acute edema of hypertensive lung and in 2 acute encephalitis associated to AIDS. In conclusion, significant association has been observed between: 1) presence of cardiopathy and hospitalization, 2) cardiac insufficiency, syncope, acute encephalitis and mortality, 3) cardiopathy development and mortality and 4) origin place and mortality.

The aim of the study was to compare the degree of cardiac compromise between two patient groups infected with Chagas' disease, A) those permanently residing in endemic areas and B) those sporadically exposed to the parasite and indirectly (non-vector) infected (transfusion , mother-to-child transmission, etc.). The results show that patients sporadically infected presented a lower prevalence of cardiopathy, and when they do present cardiopathy, there is a lower prevalence of dilation when compared to infected patients residing in endemic areas. Also, the role of the parasite, number of reinfections, immunopathogenic mechanisms, quality of life and occupation are considered in the study of disease progression in each patient.

El objetivo del trabajo fue comparar el grado de compromiso cardíaco entre dos poblaciones de chagásicos, con residencia permanente en área endémica y con exposición ocasional al parásito y con contagio por vía no vectorial (transfusional, connatal, y otras). Los resultados mostraron que los infectados ocasionales presentan menor presencia de cardiopatía; y cuando presentan cardiopatía, tienen menor prevalencia de miocardiopatía dilatada que los infectados con residencia permanente en el área endémica. También se plantea el rol del parásito, la cantidad de infecciones, los mecanismos inmuno-patogénicos desarrollados, la calidad de vida y el tipo de tareas laborales en la diferente evolución de estos pacientes.

The aim of the study was to compare the degree of cardiac compromise between two patient groups infected with Chagas' disease, A) those permanently residing in endemic areas and B) those sporadically exposed to the parasite and indirectly (non-vector) infected (transfusion , mother-to-child transmission, etc.). The results show that patients sporadically infected presented a lower prevalence of cardiopathy, and when they do present cardiopathy, there is a lower prevalence of dilation when compared to infected patients residing in endemic areas. Also, the role of the parasite, number of reinfections, immunopathogenic mechanisms, quality of life and occupation are considered in the study of disease progression in each patient.

El objetivo del trabajo fue comparar el grado de compromiso cardíaco entre dos poblaciones de chagásicos, con residencia permanente en área endémica y con exposición ocasional al parásito y con contagio por vía no vectorial (transfusional, connatal, y otras). Los resultados mostraron que los infectados ocasionales presentan menor presencia de cardiopatía; y cuando presentan cardiopatía, tienen menor prevalencia de miocardiopatía dilatada que los infectados con residencia permanente en el área endémica. También se plantea el rol del parásito, la cantidad de infecciones, los mecanismos inmuno-patogénicos desarrollados, la calidad de vida y el tipo de tareas laborales en la diferente evolución de estos pacientes.

Se investigó si la serología reactiva para la enfermedad de Chagas es motivo de discriminación laboral en Argentina y se evaluó si está relacionada con la existencia de cardiopatía chagásica. Se incluyeron al azar 705 personas con serología reactiva para Chagas estudiadas durante el año 2000. A la totalidad de estos pacientes se les realizó una encuesta referida a su situación laboral y se comparó con datos de la población general del país, de acuerdo a las cifras del Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censo del mismo año. De esta forma se agrupó a ambas poblaciones en población económicamente activa, ocupados, subocupados, desocupados y población económicamente inactiva. Al mismo tiempo se agrupó a los pacientes en Grupo I: serología positiva sin cardiopatía, Grupo II: cardiopatía sin dilatación y Grupo III: cardiopatía dilatada. Se observó que el porcentaje de chagásicos ocupados fue menor, 21 %, que en la población general del país y que las personas subocupadas y desocupadas fueron más numerosas, 29 %, en la población de personas con serología positiva. La falta de ocupación entre los pacientes chagásicos trae aparejados problemas psicosociales que influyen negativamente en su vida personal y familiar. En conclusión, se señala la necesidad de un abordaje interdisciplinario del paciente chagásico y de la población en riesgo siguiendo un esquema bio-psico-social para complementar y optimizar las medidas de control convencionales.

The present study was conducted to find out whether Chagas reactive serology is a cause for discrimination at the work place in Argentina, and if such discrimination was related to the existence of chagasic cardiopathy. 705 patients with Chagas reactive serology - randomly chosen - were studied during the year 2000. These patients were surveyed about their work situation and the results were compared to the work situation of the population in general, according to the figures gathered by the Statistical and Census National Institute, in the same year. Both groups were divided into: economically active, permanently employed, temporarily employed, unemployed and economically inactive people. Later, patients were classified as Group I (with positive serology but with no cardiopathy), Group II (with cardiopathy but no dilation), Group III (with dilated cardiopathy). It was observed that the proportion of permanently employed patients with Chagas disease was lower, 21 %, than that of the general population and that the proportion of both temporarily employed and unemployed people were considerably higher, 29 %, in patients with positive serology. Unemployment brings forth psychological and social problems with negative side effects in the personal lives of the infected people. In conclusion, it should be highlighted that an interdisciplinary approach aimed at patients with Chagas disease and population at risk of infection is needed. This approach should follow a biological, psychological and sociological scheme and in order to complement and optimize the conventional measures of control.