Wasted cladodes from the cactus pear (Opuntia ficus spp.) are an environmental nuisance, and alternative measures are required to utilize this product, such as utilizing it as a ruminant feedstuff. By simulating ruminal fermentation through in vitro gas production, the fermentation characteristics of dried cladodes were compared with that of lucerne hay and oat hay. A completely randomized design with six replications was used to assess the kinetic parameters of gas production (lag time, rate of gas production and maximum volume of gas (V-max)), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), and volatile fatty acid (VFA) and ammonia nitrogen (N-NH3) production during an incubation period of 96 h. Cladodes were collected from containers for organic wastes at large food stores in Mexico. The Vmax was similar between the substrates but the rate of gas production and IVDMD was higher for dried cladodes than for lucerne and oat hays, though the lag time of the cladodes was longer (9.5 vs. 6.5 and 6.7 h, respectively). Acetic and total VFA concentrations were similar during fermentation of dried cladodes and lucerne hay. These results suggested that ruminal microorganism fermented dried cladodes as well as when lucerne hay or oat hay were used as substrates in an in vitro fermentation system.

Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome is diagnosed when two or more endocrine systems are dysfunctional, along with other non-endocrine immune disorders, specially autoimmune skin diseases. Glands dysfunctions are often descrived at Primary Health Care. After that, it is necessary an active searching of associations to get the diagnosis of a possible syndrome. A correct diagnosis give as more information, to improve the threatment and start a correct familiar following, specially when it is proven a genetic heredity as in this case.

Los síndromes poliglandulares autoinmunes se diagnostican por la disfunción conjunta de dos o más glándulas asociadas a otras enfermedades no endocrinológicas de etiología autoinmune. Las disfunciones glandulares son de diagnóstico frecuente en Atención Primaria, siendo necesaria la búsqueda activa de posibles asociaciones para llegar a diagnósticos más precisos en el caso de existir asociaciones. Un correcto diagnóstico del paciente nos aporta información válida, tanto para su tratamiento como para realizar el seguimiento familiar, adecuado en enfermedades con herencia demostrada.

Potato apyrase, a soluble ATP-diphosphohydrolase, was purified to homogeneity from several clonal varieties of Solanum tuberosum. Depending on the source of the enzyme, differences in kinetic and physicochemical properties have been described, which cannot be explained by the amino acid residues present in the active site. In order to understand the different kinetic behavior of the Pimpernel (ATPase/ADPase = 10) and Desirée (ATPase/ADPase = 1) isoenzymes, the nucleotide-binding site of these apyrases was explored using the intrinsic fluorescence of tryptophan. The intrinsic fluorescence of the two apyrases was slightly different. The maximum emission wavelengths of the Desirée and Pimpernel enzymes were 336 and 340 nm, respectively, suggesting small differences in the microenvironment of Trp residues. The Pimpernel enzyme emitted more fluorescence than the Desirée apyrase at the same concentration although both enzymes have the same number of Trp residues. The binding of the nonhydrolyzable substrate analogs decreased the fluorescence emission of both apyrases, indicating the presence of conformational changes in the neighborhood of Trp residues. Experiments with quenchers of different polarities, such as acrylamide, Cs+ and I- indicated the existence of differences in the nucleotide-binding site, as further shown by quenching experiments in the presence of nonhydrolyzable substrate analogs. Differences in the nucleotide-binding site may explain, at least in part, the kinetic differences of the Pimpernel and Desirée isoapyrases.