ABSTRACT This research study tested the protective effect of prolonged exposure of shrimp food supplemented with glucans from shrimp-pond related yeasts on shrimp Penaeus vannamei reared under the presence of the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The glucans extracted and purified from isolated marine yeasts identified as Debaryomyces hansenii, Candida tropicalis, Candida humilis, Candida glabrata, Pichia kudriavzevyi, Wickerhamomyces anomalus and the terrestrial Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast were characterized by the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The treatments were prepared with food enriched with the yeast beta-glucans and the control groups without beta-glucans. Shrimp were fed thrice a day and challenged orally with WSSV on days 31, 54, 66 and muscularly at day 70. The animals were assessed for the protective effect in terms of post-infection total hemocyte counts, and survival rate. The results indicated that marine yeasts possessed ß-1,3/1,6-glucans, and that D. hansenii was an excellent source yielding 30% of its dry biomass of pure glucans. For the positive control group where no glucans were added, WSSV challenges showed 100% survival when the virus was provided orally, and 40% when the virus was injected. These results also indicated that the shrimp line selected for this study was a resistant line for WSSV. Shrimp groups fed with glucans of the marine yeasts D. hansenii and C. humillis showed a significant protection, allowing shrimp survival of 66% while terrestrial yeast showed 57.14%. These results indicated that marine yeasts growing in the shrimp pond were an excellent source of beta-glucans that allowed extra protection against the mortality caused by this pathogenic virus.

RESUMO. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a resposta ao acúmulo de refrigeração artificial de dois cultivares de maça de baixo requerimento de frio. Coletaram-se ramos a campo das cultivares "Caricia" e "Princesa", e da cultivar "Gala" (utilizada como controle), com e sem gemas apicais (ramos intactos e decapitados, respectivamente), as quais foram expostas ao acúmulo de refrigeração artificial (4.0 ± 0.5°C) de zero a 1200 unidades de frio (UF). A brotação das gemas em ambos os tipos de ramos foi maior do que 50% em todo o intervalo de acumulação de frio avaliado em "Caricia" e "Princesa". No entanto, em "Gala·" a brotação excedeu 50% somente nos ramos intactos depois de acumular 900 UF. Observou-se que o tempo médio para a brotação das gemas de "Caricia" e "Princesa" estabilizou-se acima das 600 UF, dependendo do tipo de ramo e do ano de experimentação. As gemas dos cultivares avaliados neste trabalho mostraram uma dormência pouco profunda, no entanto precisaram de acumulação moderada de frio (800 - 1150 UF) para satisfazer seus requerimentos ecofisiológicos. Portanto, apesar da dormência pouco profunda permitir que estes cultivares sejam adequadamente cultivados em zonas com invernos amenos, não podem ser considerados de baixo requerimento de frio.

ABSTRACT. The purpose of this work was to study the response of two apple cultivars bred for low chilling environments to artificial chilling accumulation. Two trials were carried out; in experiment one, excised shoots were randomly taken from "Caricia" and "Princesa", and in experiment two, intact and excised shoots of "Caricia", "Princesa" and "Gala" (control) were collected. After collection, both shoot types were exposed to artificial chilling accumulation (4.0 ± 0.5°C) from 0 to 1200 chill units (CU). Bud break of mixed buds of "Caricia" and "Princesa" was higher than 50% between 0 CU to 1200 CU, irrespective of shoot type. Bud break of "Gala" mixed buds exceeded 50% only in intact shoots after accumulating 900 CU. The mean time to bud break of "Caricia" and "Princesa" diminished with increasing chilling accumulation and stabilized after ~600 CU, depending on the type of shoot and the year of experimentation. The low-chill apple cultivars tested in this work showed shallow dormancy, but they required moderate cold accumulation (800 - 1150 CU) to fully satisfy their chilling requirements. Thus, although their shallow dormancy makes them suitable for cultivation in chill-deficient environments, they cannot be considered low-chill cultivars.

The crop load level of an apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) tree impacts fruit yield and quality parameters, tree vigor and biennial bearing. The optimal crop load is that which allows for consistent annual cropping and fruit quality acceptable to the market. We evaluated the effect of crop load on yield and fruit quality of two low-chill apples cv. ‘Caricia’ and ‘Eva’, growing in a mild winter area. During 2010 and 2011 crop load was manually adjusted from 2 or 3 to 17 fruits cm−2 of trunk cross-sectional area (TCSA). Fruit yield was positively related to crop load in both cultivars but mean fruit weight diminished as the crop load increased. For both cultivars, the production of non-commercial and small-sized fruit increased, whereas production of middle-sized fruit diminished as the fruit load increased. Shoot length was not affected by crop load in ‘Eva’ whereas it was reduced in ‘Caricia’. Red skin color (RSC %) had a quadratic response to crop load in ‘Caricia’. On the other hand, the RSC % of ‘Eva’ fruit was adjusted to a negative logarithmic model as an effect of crop load increment. No biennial bearing was observed in either cultivar. This research study suggests that the maximum limit of crop load for both cultivars is 7 fruits cm−2 of TCSA, and the lower limit of crop load was 3 fruits cm−2 of TCSA for ‘Eva’ and 5 fruits cm−2 of TCSA for ‘Caricia’.

Sickle cell disease is associated with a wide range of renal disorders resulting from the falciformation of erythrocytes in vessels of the renal medulla, leading to ischemia, microinfarctions and tubular function abnormalities. Reversible glomerular functional renal self-regulation disorders (hyperfiltration) also occur, which may lead to irreversible anatomical changes with focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. These anomalies are expressed at an early stage as microalbuminuria and proteinuria, and at a later stage as nephrotic syndrome and chronic renal failure. Therapeutic measures such as the use of angiotensin-II converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor blockers, associated or not with hydroxyurea, may either prevent or delay glomerular damage. The paper succinctly presents the physiopathology of renal damage in drepanocytosis and its treatment.

La drepanocitosis está asociada con un amplio espectro de alteraciones renales que tienen su base en la falciformación de los eritrocitos en los vasos de la médula renal, que conduce a fenómenos de isquemia, microinfartos y anomalías de la función tubular. Se producen también alteraciones glomerulares funcionales reversibles de la autorregulación renal (hiperfiltración), que pueden conducir a cambios anatómicos irreversibles con glomeruloesclerosis segmentaria focal. Estas anomalías se expresan tempranamente como microalbuminuria, proteinuria y de forma mas tardía, como síndrome nefrótico e insuficiencia renal crónica. Medidas terapéuticas como el uso de inhibidores de la enzima convertidora de la angiotensina II, de los bloqueadores del receptor de la angiotensina II, asociados o no con la hidroxiurea, pueden prevenir o retardar el daño glomerular. En el presente trabajo se exponen de forma resumida aspectos relacionados con la fisiopatología del daño renal en la drepanocitosis y su tratamiento.

INTRODUCTION. The small newborns and infants have a functional and anatomical immaturity justifying that the liver diseases present in these ages have the jaundice as the main sign. The list of processes causing cholestasis during this period is very large including structural, extrahepatic, intrahepatic anomalies and also processes altering the mechanisms synthesis and the excretion of bile salts. The aim of present study was to describe the behavior of the cases of infants presenting with cholestasis seen in the Hepatology Service of the "William Soler" Children General Hospital, assessed in a programmed way between January, 2004 and December, 2006. METHODS. A retrospective and descriptive study was conducted. Sample included 76 patients diagnosed with cholestasis, assessed in a programmed way during this period. Variables analyzed were: sex, gestational age and birth weight, perinatal and postnatal backgrounds, presence or absence of cholestasis. A database was designed in SPSS (version 12) and the variables were analyzed in percentage way. RESULTS. There was predominance of male newborns (45, 59,2%), term (63, 82,9%) of normal weight (50,65,7%) and without perinatal and postnatal backgrounds. Only in the 9,2% of cases the cholestasis was associated with a liver failure. Frequency of intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholestasis was similar. The major causes of cholestasis present were: biliary tracts atresia (24, 31,5%), idiopathic neonatal hepatitis(15, 19,8%), cytomegalovirus infection (14, 18,5%) and bile thickening (9,11,9%). CONCLUSIONS. Behavior of different causes of cholestasis is heterogeneous and the differences as regards the frequencies of cholestasis causes is in some extent a reflection of the differences in the composition of the group of series.

INTRODUCCIÓN. Los recién nacidos y lactantes pequeños tienen una inmadurez funcional y anatómica que justifica que las enfermedades hepáticas que se manifiestan en estas edades tengan a la ictericia como signo principal. La lista de procesos que causan colestasis en este período es muy extensa e incluye anomalías estructurales, extrahepáticas e intrahepáticas, y procesos que alteran los mecanismos de síntesis y excreción de las sales biliares. El objetivo del estudio fue describir el comportamiento de los casos de colestasis del lactante atendidos en el Servicio de Hepatología del Hospital Pediátrico «William Soler», evaluados de forma protocolizada entre enero del 2004 y diciembre del 2006. MÉTODOS. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo. La muestra estuvo constituida por 76 lactantes con diagnóstico de colestasis, que fueron evaluados de forma protocolizada en el período referido. Se analizaron las variables sexo, edad gestacional y peso al nacer, antecedentes peri y posnatales, presencia o ausencia de signos de insuficiencia hepática, así como localización regional y causas de la colestasis. Se elaboró una base de datos en SPSS (versión 12) y las variables fueron analizadas de forma porcentual. RESULTADOS. Se encontró predominio de recién nacidos del sexo masculino (45; 59,2 %), a término (63; 82,9 %), de peso normal (50; 65,7 %) y sin antecedentes peri y posnatales. Solo en el 9,2 % de los casos la colestasis se asoció a insuficiencia hepática. La frecuencia de colestasis intrahepática y extrahepática fue similar. Las principales causas de colestasis encontradas fueron atresia de las vías biliares (24; 31,5 %), hepatitis neonatal idiopática (15; 19,8 %), infección por citomegalovirus (14; 18,5 %) y síndrome de espesamiento de la bilis (9; 11,9 %). CONCLUSIONES. El comportamiento de las diferentes causas de colestasis es heterogéneo y las diferencias en cuanto a frecuencias de las causas de colestasis es reflejo en alguna medida de las diferencias en la composición de las distintas series.

The small newborns and infants have a functional anatomical immaturity justifying that liver diseases present at these ages have the jaundice as leading sign and that other extra-hepatic or systemic processes may conditioning the Cholestasis. Infant Cholestasis is a clinical syndrome characterized by jaundice, acholia or hypoacholia and choluria evolving with a rise of direct bilirubin and of serum biliary acids. The diagnostic assessment of infant presenting with Cholestasis made by a multidisciplinary staff must to minimize the carrying out of unnecessary tests to obtain an appropriate diagnosis in less time, to differentiate among the intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholestasis and to achieve an etiologic diagnosis including the processes threatening the life or that requiring a medical or surgical specific treatment. The aim of present paper is to review the leading causes, diagnostic procedures and the therapeutical approach of cholestasis en the newborn and in the infant to contribute to its early diagnosis and its appropriate treatment.

Los recién nacidos y lactantes pequeños tienen una inmadurez funcional y anatómica que justifica que las enfermedades hepáticas que se manifiestan en estas edades tengan la ictericia como signo principal y que otros procesos extrahepáticos o sistémicos puedan condicionar colestasis. La colestasis del lactante es un síndrome clínico caracterizado por ictericia, acolia o hipocolia, y coluria, que evoluciona con elevación de la bilirrubina directa y de los ácidos biliares séricos. La evaluación diagnóstica del lactante con colestasis, realizada por un equipo multidisciplinario, debe minimizar la realización de pruebas innecesarias para lograr un diagnóstico correcto en el menor tiempo posible, diferenciar entre colestasis intrahepática o extrahepática y lograr un diagnóstico etiológico, que incluya aquellos procesos que ponen en peligro la vida o requieren un tratamiento específico médico o quirúrgico. El presente trabajo pretende revisar las principales causas, procedimientos diagnósticos y el enfoque terapéutico de la colestasis del recién nacido y del lactante en aras de contribuir a su diagnóstico temprano y su tratamiento adecuado.

The recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa, NovoSeven®) has been used in the treatment of bleedings in hemophilic patients with inhibitors. It has also been used for treating uncontrolled bleedings associated with trauma or surgery. The treatment with rFVIIa in 7 non-hemophilic patients with a wide range of hemorrhagic events is described: 3 that underwent liver transplant and presented posttransplant without response to the conventional treatment; 1 with severe medullary aplasia and retinal hemorrhage; 1 with Rendú-Osler-Weber's disease that had severe gastrointestinal bleeding; and 1 patient with cutaneous and pulmonary hemorrhagic manifestations due to a viral disease. The dose of rFVIIa used was between 90 and 100 µg/kg of weight, both for the prophylactic and therapeutic treatment. The activated rFVII reached an effective hemostasis in all cases. We consider that the activated FVII may be applied when the combination of hemoderivatives and the surgical advances have failed in the control of bleedings endangering life

El factor VII activado recombinante (rFVIIa, NovoSeven®) ha sido utilizado en el tratamiento de los sangramientos en los pacientes hemofílicos con inhibidores. También ha sido usado para el tratamiento de los sangramientos no controlados asociados con trauma o cirugía. Se describe el tratamiento con rFVIIa en 7 pacientes no hemofílicos con un amplio rango de eventos hemorrágicos: 3 a quienes se les realizó trasplante hepático y presentaron sangramiento postrasplante sin respuesta al tratamiento convencional; 1 con aplasia medular severa y hemorragia retiniana; 1 con enfermedad de Rendú-Osler-Weber, quien tuvo un sangramiento gastrointestinal severo; y 1 paciente con manifestaciones hemorrágicas cutáneas y pulmonares debido a una enfermedad viral. La dosis de rFVIIa utilizada fue entre 90_100 µg/kg de peso, tanto para el tratamiento profiláctico como terapéutico. El rFVII activado alcanzó una hemostasia efectiva en todos los casos. Consideramos que el FVII activado puede ser aplicado cuando la combinación de los hemoderivados y los avances quirúrgicos han fallado en el control de los sangramientos que ponen en peligro la vida