Abstract Background: Autism spectrum disorder is an alteration of neurodevelopment with a conspicuous display of behaviors in children between 2 and 3 years of age. Basic behavioral manifestations are social isolation, language impairment, and motor problems. However, there are also manifestations related to sensory perception, although knowledge about tactile stimulation is yet poorly understood. Objective: We aimed to determine changes in the cutaneous sensitivity of autistic boys following a program of tactile and emotional stimulation. Methods: Sensory stimulation was applied as therapy to six autistic boys 5-12 years old. As stimuli, we used bubble paper and a skin massager twice a week for 1 year. During stimulation, kids were allowed to walk in socks during 2 min on a 2 × 2 m carpet made of bubble paper and asked to burst the bubbles. In addition, a handheld massager was used to stimulate the skin on the forearm and face cheek with level 2 of intensity for 2 min. Following stimulation, the cutaneous sensitivity threshold was obtained using von Frey fibers on the forearm and face cheek. Kids were asked to keep their eyes closed and to indicate their perception by pointing with a finger toward the stimulated area. Results: Our data indicate that kids were capable of perceiving smaller fibers with consecutive therapy sessions. Conclusion: Tactile and sensory stimulation to autistic children modifies cutaneous sensitivity, perhaps with an improved perception of the general environment and consequently social behavior.

Resumen Antecedentes: El trastorno del espectro autista es una alteración del neurodesarrollo con manifestaciones conductuales particulares en niños entre los 2-3 años de edad. Las conductas básicas son el aislamiento social, alteraciones del lenguaje y problemas motores. Sin embargo, existen también modificaciones relacionadas con la percepción sensorial, aunque el conocimiento sobre ello es aún pobre. Objetivo: Tuvimos el propósito de determinar la sensibilidad cutánea de niños con autismo siguiendo un programa de estimulación táctil y emocional. Métodos: Aplicamos dos estímulos sensoriales a 6 niños con autismo de 5 a 12 años de edad. Los estímulos utilizados fueron papel burbuja y un masajeador, dos veces por semana durante un año. Un cuadro de 2 x 2 m de papel burbuja se colocó en el piso y la prueba consistió en que cada niño caminara en calcetas por dos minutos tratando de reventar las burbujas. Un masajeador manual fue utilizado para estimular la piel del antebrazo y la mejilla a un nivel 2 de intensidad por dos minutos. Después de los estímulos, el umbral a la sensibilidad cutánea se obtuvo usando fibras de von Fray sobre el antebrazo y la mejilla, pidiendo a los niños mantener los ojos cerrados y señalando la percepción con un dedo el área estimulada. Resultados: A medida que la terapia se aplicó continuamente, cada niño fue capaz de percibir fibras más pequeñas. Conclusiones: Una estimulación enriquecida táctil y sensorial de niños con autismo modifica la sensibilidad cutánea, probablemente con una percepción mejorada del ambiente en general y consecuentemente de la conducta social.

ABSTRACT Considering that thiol-containing enzymes like kinases are critical for several metabolic pathways and energy homeostasis, we investigated the effects of cystine dimethyl ester and/or cysteamine administration on kinases crucial for energy metabolism in the kidney of Wistar rats. Animals were injected twice a day with 1.6 µmol/g body weight cystine dimethyl ester and/or 0.26 µmol/g body weight cysteamine from the 16th to the 20th postpartum day and euthanized after 12 hours. Pyruvate kinase, adenylate kinase, creatine kinase activities and thiol/disulfide ratio were determined. Cystine dimethyl ester administration reduced thiol/disulfide ratio and inhibited the kinases activities. Cysteamine administration increased the thiol/disulfide ratio and co-administration with cystine dimethyl ester prevented the inhibition of the enzymes. Regression between the thiol/disulfide ratio, and the kinases activities were significant. These results suggest that redox status may regulate energy metabolism in the rat kidney. If thiol-containing enzymes inhibition and oxidative stress occur in patients with cystinosis, it is possible that lysosomal cystine depletion may not be the only beneficial effect of cysteamine administration, but also its antioxidant and thiol-protector effect.

The prevalence of primary cardiac tumors is low worldwide, with a predominance of benign tumors. Malignant tumors, even more rare, present high mortality and low survival rates despite surgery or chemotherapy. Its clinical diagnosis is inaccurate, but there are very reliable diagnostic tools. This report describes the case of a patient with no cardiovascular risk factors or significant family history, who asked for medical care due to dyspnea on moderate exertion as the only symptom. She was performed imaging studies, which revealed a mass in the left atrium. Surgical resection and analysis of the tumor were performed, concluding that its diagnosis was cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma. Chemotherapy was indicated in order to improve survival. Also, a review of the literature was made for the diagnosis and management of malignant primary cardiac tumors.

Los tumores cardíacos primarios son una patología de baja prevalencia a nivel mundial, con predominio de los tumores benignos. Los malignos, mucho más infrecuentes, son de alta mortalidad y poca supervivencia a pesar de tratamiento quirúrgico o quimioterápico. Son de diagnóstico clínico impreciso, pero se cuenta con herramientas diagnósticas muy confiables. En esta presentación se describe el caso de una paciente sin factores de riesgo cardiovascular y sin antecedentes familiares de importancia, que solicitó atención médica por disnea a esfuerzos moderados como único síntoma, por lo que se le realizaron estudios por imágenes que revelaron una masa en la aurícula izquierda. Se efectuaron la resección quirúrgica de la masa tumoral y su posterior estudio, en el que se arribó al diagnóstico de rabdomiosarcoma cardíaco. Posteriormente se indicó quimioterapia, con la intención de mejora en la supervivencia. Asimismo, se realiza una revisión de la bibliografía en el diagnóstico y el manejo de los tumores cardíacos primarios malignos.

La mastitis en novillas es un problema que ha alcanzado importantes dimensiones a medida que las explotaciones lecheras se han especializado. Las hembras bovinas son susceptibles a infecciones intramamarias (IIM) desde el momento en que la glándula mamaria se ha desarrollado completamente en el feto. Factores relacionados al animal, al medio en que se desarrolla y al manejo incrementan o reducen el riesgo de contraer IIM. El grupo de bacterias mas usualmente asociadas con IIM en novillas gestantes son los Staphylococcus coagulasa negativos (SCN), pero otras bacterias como Staphylococus aureus, Mycoplasma spp, Streptococcus uberis y Streptococcus agalactiae, son tambien importantes agentes etiológicos de IIM. Las alternativas al manejo de la mastitis en novillas están dirigidas a la reducción de factores de riesgo y se complementan con la administración de terapias de sellamiento físico del pezón, desinfectantes o antibióticas, previa evaluación de los programas de sanidad de hato con que cuenta cada explotación.

Mastitis in dairy heifers is a problem that has reached remarkable importance since the development of highly specialized dairy operations. The bovine female is susceptible to intramammary infections (IMI) from the moment at which the mammary gland is completely developed in the fetus. A number of features, from individual-based variability to environmental and managerial practices can increase or decreased the risk to acquire IMI. The bacteria most commonly associated with IMI are coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS), however, other pathogens including Staphylococus aureus, Mycoplasma spp, Streptococcus uberis y Streptococcus agalactiae, are also ethiological agents of IMI. Management alternatives for mastitis in dairy heifers are aimed towards the reduction of risk factors, and are complemented by the inclusion of teat sealants, disinfectants, and antibiotics, in addition to a prior evaluation of herd health programs in each dairy farm.

Enterococcus faecalis is considered a pathogen responsible for hospital infections and, due to its frequent multi-resistant profile, has caused preoccupations among many medical authorities. The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of 74 strains isolated from blood cultures and purulent secretions to vancomycin and ciprofloxacin through the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) by using the Microdilution test. The results showed a greater efficacy of vancomycin compared to ciprofloxacin (98.6% of the strains were inhibited by vancomycin at lower concentrations: 0.06 - 1 µg/ml). However, in the MBC analysis 73% of the strains showed a MBC of vancomycin only at high concentrations (equal to or higher than 64 µg/ml). For ciprofloxacin, the strains showed a broad sensitivity with MICs and MBCs distributed along all the MIC classes. Results also revealed a probability that some strains are tolerant to vancomycin, which indicates the need of other tests to confirm this characteristic.