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Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a rare disease characterized by neurodegenerative alterations, telangiectasia, primary immunodeficiency, extreme sensitivity to radiation, and susceptibility to neoplasms. A-T patients have inactivation of ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) protein, which controls DNA double-strand break repair and is involved in oxidative stress response, among other functions; dysfunctional control of reactive oxygen species may be responsible for many of the clinical manifestations of this disease. To the best of our knowledge, hepatic lesions of steatohepatitis have not previously been reported in A-T patients. The present study reports the case of a 22-year-old man diagnosed with A-T at the age of 6 years who was referred to our Digestive Disease Unit with a three-year history of hyperlipidemia and liver test alterations. Core liver biopsy showed similar lesions to those observed in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Immunohistochemical staining disclosed the absence of ATM protein in hepatocyte nuclei. We suggest that the liver injury may be mainly attributable to the oxidative stress associated with ATM protein deficiency, although other factors may have made a contribution. We propose the inclusion of A-T among the causes of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which may respond to antioxidant therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fundamento: la enseñanza del diagnóstico de las afecciones pulpares y periapicales se enmarca como un contenido esencial del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje en la asignatura de Operatoria Clínica, para cumplir las funciones principales declaradas en el perfil profesional del modelo de formación del estomatólogo general en Cuba. Objetivo: determinar el estado actual de la enseñanza del diagnóstico de afecciones pulpares y periapicales en la asignatura de Operatoria Clínica de la carrera de Estomatología. Métodos: investigación observacional, descriptiva y de corte transversal realizada en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Cienfuegos sobre una población conformada por 8 docentes y los 37 estudiantes de tercer año del curso 2017-2018. Se utilizó una guía para observar de forma directa cómo se realiza la enseñanza del diagnóstico de las afecciones pulpares y periapicales y se aplicó una encuesta a profesores y estudiantes con preguntas cerradas. Resultados: se evidenció como fortaleza que predomina la educación en el trabajo como forma organizativa y existen referencias de la enseñanza del método clínico en la carrera de medicina. Se constataron limitaciones en el claustro respecto a las categorías docentes, científicas y años de experiencia; limitado aprovechamiento de la caracterización de los estudiantes y sus resultados así como deficiente aplicación de las acciones esenciales correspondientes a la etapa diagnóstica del método clínico y prevalencia del papel autoritario del docente. Conclusiones: aún existen limitaciones en la enseñanza actual del diagnóstico de las afecciones pulpares y periapicales en la población objeto de estudio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The immunological properties of the Trypanosoma cruzi paraflagellar rod proteins (PFR2 and PFR3) administered alone as well as fused to HSP70 have been analyzed in mice in the context of genetic immunization. The immunization of mice with the DNA vectors containing the PFRs gene or PFRs-HSP70 fused genes induced high level of IgG2a anti-PFRs. However, only the immunization with the PFR2-HSP70 fused genes triggers in spleen cells a statistically significant enhancement of expression of IL-12 and IFN-γ and a decrease in the percentage of cells expressing IL-4. Likewise, the PFR2-HSP70 molecule elicits a statistically significant activation of PFR2 antigen specific CTLs. Immunization with the PFR2-HSP70 chimeric gene provided a protective response against a T. cruzi experimental infection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this study, we developed a quantitative method with digital image analysis to evaluate the degree of gingival overgrowth (GO). and compared GO in kidney transplant patients treated with cyclosporin A (CsA) (n=21) or CsA-nifedipine (n=8) and a group of healthy controls (n=30). The method was reproducible and reliable. Our findings showed significant differences in papillary and gingival surface between controls and transplant patients treated with GO inducers. Gingival overgrowth index also differed significantly between controls and each patient group (p<0.01, Kruskal-Wallis test). The administration of the calcium channel blocker nifedipine potentiated the adverse effect of CsA: comparison of the morphometric findings revealed significant differences between patients treated with CsA alone and CsA 1 nifedipine in papillary area, dental area, and GO index (p<0.01, Mann-Whitney U-test). We conclude that the method of image analysis we developed is useful in assessing the degree of GO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]