ABSTRACT The lionfish is the first invasive species that came to the western Atlantic region to establish itself as an ecological and economic threat to coral ecosystems and commercially important consumption species. Fifteen specimens were collected in Quintana Roo, Mexico, to analyze the chemical composition of the lionfish (Pterois volitans) as a strategy to promote its consumption by the population. They were gutted, filleted, homogenized and chemically analyzed. The analyzed LF had an energetic protein content of 103.89 kcal 100 g-1 of the fillet (20.19%) and a fat percentage of 2.56%. The content of P, Ca, Na, K and Mg were 174.15, 26.09, 81.47, 339.73 and 30.27 mg 100 g-1, respectively. The most abundant essential amino acid was lysine (12.98 g 100 g-1 protein). The present work is important because it reports that the LF could be used as food with the right quantity and quality of protein, and its consumption would diminish its environmental impact.

Background: Endocervical infection by Chlamydia trachomatis is considered one of the leading causes of infertility worldwide. During pregnancy, it can lead to serious complications such as premature rupture of membranes and premature births. Aim: To determine the prevalence of genital infection by C. trachomatis in pregnancy and infertile women from Mexico City. Methods: The detection of C. trachomatis was performed by real-time PCR with the commercial kit COBAS® TaqMan CT Test v2.0 (Roche Molecular System). Results: We analyzed 2,352 endocervical swabs; 102 were positive (4.3%). Age prevalence showed that pregnant adolescents (15 to 19 years of age) had the highest risk of infection (10.9%, RR = 3.23 [95% IC: 1.79-5.84]), followed by young women aged 20 to 24 years, with a prevalence of 5.6% (RR = 1.65 [95% IC: 0.82-3.34]). Discussion: The results indicate that the prevalence is within the range reported worldwide. However, pregnant adolescents were those with a higher prevalence than infertile women were. Conclusion: A systematic screening of C. trachomatis infection in women younger than 24 years of age, and in pregnant women is necessary to reduce the incidence of infertility and perinatal complications.

Resumen Introducción: La infección endocervical por Chlamydia trachomatis es considerada una de las principales causas de infertilidad en todo el mundo. Durante el embarazo puede conducir a complicaciones graves como la ruptura prematura de membranas y los partos prematuros. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de infección genital por C. trachomatis en mujeres embarazadas e infértiles de la Ciudad de México. Métodos: La detección de C. trachomatis fue mediante reacción de polimerasa en cadena tiempo real (RPC-TR) con el kit comercial COBAS® TaqMan CT Test v2,0 (Roche Molecular System). Resultados: Se analizaron 2.352 muestras; 102 fueron positivas (4,3%). La prevalencia por edad mostró que las adolescentes embarazadas (15 a 19 años) fueron las de mayor riesgo de infección (10,9%, RR = 3,23 [IC 95%: 1,79-5,84]), seguido de mujeres jóvenes de 20 a 24 años, con prevalencia de 5,6% (RR = 1,65 [IC 95%: 0,82-3,34]). Discusión: Los resultados indican que la prevalencia está dentro del rango reportado en el concierto mundial. Sin embargo, las adolescentes embarazadas tuvieron mayor prevalencia que las mujeres infértiles. Conclusión: Es imperioso realizar un rastreo sistemático de infección por C. trachomatis en mujeres bajo 24 años de edad, y en mujeres embarazadas para disminuir los casos de infertilidad y las complicaciones perinatales.

OBJETIVO: determinar se a C. trachomatis está presente em neonatos com infecção, porém sem patógeno isolado, que morreram durante a primeira semana de vida.MÉTODOS: casos de óbito neonatal precoce cujas causas de óbito haviam sido anteriormente determinadas pelo Comitê de Mortalidade da instituição foram aleatoriamente selecionados. Foram utilizadas as reações em cadeia da polimerase convencional e em tempo real do gene omp1 da C. trachomatis, para identificar, às cegas, a presença de DNA de clamídia nas amostras desparafinizadas de cinco órgãos (de autópsias autorizadas) de cada um dos neonatos mortos. Além disso, foram realizados diagnósticos diferenciais por amplificação de um fragmento do rRNA 16S de Mycoplasma ssp.RESULTADOS: em cinco casos (35,7%) a presença de DNA de C. trachomatis foi detectada em um ou mais órgãos. Havia infecção neonatal grave em três casos; um deles correspondente ao genótipo D de C. trachomatis. Curiosamente, outro caso preencheu os mesmos critérios, porém possuía uma reação em cadeia da polimerase positiva para Mycoplasma hominis, um patógeno conhecido por causar sepse em recém-nascidos.CONCLUSÃO: a utilização de técnicas de biologia molecular nos casos de mortalidade infantil precoce mostrou que a C. trachomatis poderia desempenhar um papel no desenvolvimento de infecção grave e no óbito neonatal precoce semelhante ao observado com a Mycoplasma hominis. São necessários estudos adicionais para determinar a patogênese dessa infecção perinatal.

OBJECTIVE:to determine whether C. trachomatis was present in neonates with infection, but without an isolated pathogen, who died during the first week of life.METHODS:early neonatal death cases whose causes of death had been previously adjudicated by the institutional mortality committee were randomly selected. End-point and real-time polymerase chain reaction of the C. trachomatis omp1 gene was used to blindly identify the presence of chlamydial DNA in the paraffinized samples of five organs (from authorized autopsies) of each of the dead neonates. Additionally, differential diagnoses were conducted by amplifying a fragment of the 16S rRNA of Mycoplasma spp.RESULTS:in five cases (35.7%), C. trachomatis DNA was found in one or more organs. Severe neonatal infection was present in three cases; one of them corresponded to genotype D of C. trachomatis. Interestingly, another case fulfilled the same criteria but had a positive polymerase chain reaction for Mycoplasma hominis, a pathogen known to produce sepsis in newborns.CONCLUSION:the use of molecular biology techniques in these cases of early infant mortality demonstrated that C. trachomatis could play a role in the development of severe infection and in early neonatal death, similarly to that observed with Mycoplasma hominis. Further study is required to determine the pathogenesis of this perinatal infection.

Of the proteins present in the egg albumin, ovalbumin, ovotransferrin and lysozyme have the most important bactericidal properties. However, such properties have not been reported for egg albumen of the sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea. The objective of this study was to determine the bactericidal activity of egg white of L. olivacea at different concentrations. The results showed both a bactericidal effect on Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus and Micrococcus luteus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae), as well as a proliferative effect on Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and M. luteus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, K. pneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida).

Messenger RNA (RNAm) detection was done by a reverse-transcription assay coupled to the polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) specific for human interleukin-1 alpha on armadillo leukocytes stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). This strategy allowed amplifying a DNA fragment of 491 bp. Furthermore, the sequence showed high nucleotide homology with the human (99%), monkey (93%), pig (82%), horse (81%) and llama (81%) cDNA. Meanwhile, the deduced amino acid sequence was compatible with the precursor of the human interleukin-1 alpha. These results suggest the presence of the interleukin-1 gene in the armadillo genome. However, it is necessary to characterize the complete sequence of the gene and prove the functionality of the translated protein to clarify the immune response mechanisms in the armadillo against Mycobacterium leprae.

Se realizó detección del ARN mensajero (ARNm) mediante un ensayo de transcripción reversa acoplada a la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (RT-PCR) específico para la detección de Interleucina-1 alfa humana en leucocitos de armadillo estimulados con acetato de forbol miristato (PMA, por su siglas en inglés); esta estrategia permitió amplificar un fragmento de ADN de 491 pares de bases. Adicionalmente, la secuencia mostró alta homología nucleotídica con las secuencias de ADNc humano (99%), mono (93%), cerdo (82%), caballo (81%) y llama (81%), mientras que la secuencia deducida de aminoácidos fue compatible con el precursor de la proteína IL-1a humana. Estos resultados sugieren presencia del gen de interleucina-1 en el genoma del armadillo; sin embargo, es necesario caracterizar la secuencia completa del gen y comprobar la funcionalidad de la proteína traducida para dilucidar los mecanismos de la respuesta inmune del armadillo contra Mycobacterium leprae.

Objective.To determinate the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in male partners of infertile couples who attend to the infertility clinic at Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia, as well as to compare the clinical data and lifestyle between C. trachomatis-inifected and uninfected men to establish a possible association with gynecological damage in their sexual female partners. Methods. An open prospective study was performed in infertile couples, whose follow up was carried out at Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia between June 2000 and April 2001. Urethral and cervical swabs were obtained from each couple and the specimens were subjected to a C. trachomatis-specific liquid-phase hibridization test (PACE-2) and routine microbiological analysis. Semen analysis were also included. A relative risk (RR) test was done to analyze variables and square chi test was used to analize clinical and gynecological data from female partners and data from semen examination. Statistical differences were considered as significant when the p value was below 0.05. Results. C. trachomatis active infection was found in 14 out of 384 urethral swabs (3.6%). No significant alterations were observed in semen samples of C. trachomatis-infected men, as compared to non-infected individuals. Microbiological analyses of semen showed a significant isolation o/Mycoplasma sp (RR = 5.87, IC95% 1.4-24.7). Eight out of fourteen female partners of C. trachomatis-infected men were also infected with C. trachomatis (RR= 10.57, IC95% 5.67-19.7), Candida albicans was other pathogen isolated from 8/14 of those women (RR = 1.89, IC95% 1.17-3.05). Gynecological and obstetrical associations found among female partners of C. trachomatis-infected men were as follows: tubal adhesions in 10/14 (RR = 1.54, IC95% 1.08-2.18), salpingitis in 2/14 (RR = 2.2), history of ectopic pregnancies in 11/14 (RR =2.94, IC95% 1.01-8.53) and abnormal pregnancy loss in 9/14 (RR = 1.5). Conclusion. A low prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was observed among male partners of infertile couples as compared with other reports, but this discrepancy could be attributable to the specimen collection and diagnostic assay used. Otherwise, this data suggests that a chronic pathogen's antigenic stimulation may result in an increased formation of tubal adhesions and/or in ectopic pregnancies among female partners of C. trachomatis-infected individuals. Thus, preventive and control measures must be introduced into men's healthcare services, through laboratory and clinical examination, since these subjects are the main reservoirs of C trachomatis.

Objetivo. Determinar la frecuencia de infección por Chlamydia trachomatis y comparar la información clínica y el estilo de vida de varones con y sin infección por este patógeno, así como su asociación con las alteraciones ginecológicas que presenta su compañera sexual en un grupo de parejas que asisten a la Clínica de Infertilidad del Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia de la Ciudad de México. Métodos. Se realizó un estudio abierto, longitudinal y prospectivo en un grupo de parejas con diagnóstico de infertilidad, que fueron tratadas en el Instituto Nacional de Perinatologia durante el periodo de junio del 2000 a abril del 2001. Se recolectaron muestras uretrales y cervicales de cada pareja para el diagnóstico de C. trachomatis mediante la prueba de hibridación en fase líquida (PACE-2). También se recolectaron muestras de semen para el análisis de espermatobioscopia y se hicieron cultivos microbiológicos de rutina a las muestras cervicales y de semen. Los datos microbiológicos, clínicos y ginecológicos de los participantes fueron comparados por %z, el análisis de tendencia para proporciones fue usado para establecer el nivel de riesgo en las variables (RR). Las diferencias fueron consideradas estadísticamente significativas si p < 0.05. Resultados. Se analizaron un total de 384 muestras uretrales de varones, 14 presentaron infección activa por C. trachomatis (3.6%), Los datos de espermatobioscopia de los individuos positivos a C. trachomatis no mostraron alteraciones significativas con respecto al de varones no infectados con esta bacteria. El análisis microbiológico del semen mostró un número de aislamientos significativos de infección por Mycoplasma sp. (RR = 5.87, IC95% 1.40-24.70). En cuanto a las muestras cervicovaginales de mujeres con compañero sexual infectado por C. trachomatis, los patógenos aislados con mayor frecuencia fueron: Candida albicans en ocho de 14 (RR = 1.89, IC95% 1.17-3.05) y C. trachomatis en ocho de 14 (RR = 10.57, IC95% 5.67-19.7). Las asociaciones ginecológicas y obstétricas de la compañera sexual de varones positivos a C. trachomatis fueron adherencias tubáricas en 10 de 14 (RR = 1.54, IC95% 1.08-2.18), salpingitis en dos de 14 (RR = 2.2), antecedentes de embarazos ectópicos en 11 de 14 casos (RR = 2.94, IC95% 1.01-8.53) y abortos previos en nueve de 14 (RR = 1.5). Conclusión. Se observó una baja prevalencia de infección por C. trachomatis en los varones de mujeres infértiles en comparación con lo reportado por otros autores, esta diferencia puede estar dada por el método de diagnóstico y la toma del producto. Estos resultados sugieren que el estímulo constante del patógeno produce un aumento de adherencias tubáricas y embarazos ectópicos en las compañeras sexuales de los varones infectados con C. trachomatis. Por lo que una evaluación diagnóstica y de laboratorio deberá ser llevada a cabo en el varón como una medida de prevención y control para la infección por este patógeno, ya que estos individuos actúan como reservónos importantes de infección.