Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a common central nervous system (CNS) infection caused by Taenia solium metacestodes. Despite the well-documented importance of the granulomatous response in the pathogenesis of this infection, there is limited information about the types of cells and cytokines involved. In fact, there has been limited characterization of human brain granulomas with any infectious agent. In the present study a detailed histological and immunohistochemical analysis of the immune response was performed on eight craniotomy specimens where a granuloma surrounded each T. solium metacestode. The results indicated that in all the specimens there was a dying parasite surrounded by a mature granuloma with associated fibrosis, angiogenesis, and an inflammatory infiltrate. The most abundant cell types were plasma cells, B and T lymphocytes, macrophages, and mast cells. Th1 cytokines were prevalent and included gamma interferon, interleukin-18 (IL-18), and the immunosuppressive, fibrosis-promoting cytokine transforming growth factor ␤. The Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10 were also present. These observations indicate that a chronic immune response is elicited in the CNS environment with multiple cell types that together secrete inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, both collagen type I and type III deposits were evident and could contribute to irreversible nervous tissue damage in NCC patients.

Vasconcellea species, often referred to as highland papayas, consist of a group of fruit species that are closely related to the common papaya (Carica papaya). The genus deserves special attention as a number of species show potential as raw material in the tropical fruit industry, fresh or in processed products, or as genetic resources in papaya breeding programs. Some species show a very restricted distribution and are included in the IUCN Red List. This study on Vasconcellea distribution and diversity compiled collection data from five Vasconcellea projects and retrieved data from 62 herbaria, resulting in a total of 1,553 georeferenced collection sites, in 16 countries, including all 21 currently known Vasconcellea species. Spatial analysis of species richness clearly shows that Ecuador, Colombia and Peru are areas of high Vasconcellea diversity. Combination of species occurrence data with climatic data delimitates the potential distribution of each species and allows the modeling of potential richness at continent level. Based on these modeled richness maps, Ecuador appears to be the country with the highest potential Vasconcellea diversity. Despite differences in sampling densities, its neighboring countries, Peru and Colombia, possess high modeled species richness as well. A combination of observed richness maps and modeled potential richness maps makes it possible to identify important collection gaps. A Principal Component Analysis (PCA) of climate data at the collection sites allows us to define climatic preferences and adaptability of the different Vasconcellea species and to compare them with those of the common papaya

Background/Aims: Recent studies have implicated a region on chromosome 1q21-23, including the NOS1AP gene, in susceptibility to schizophrenia. However, replication studies have been inconsistent, a fact that could partly relate to the marked psychopathological heterogeneity of schizophrenia. The aim of this study is to evaluate association of polymorphisms in the NOS1AP gene region to schizophrenia, in patients from a South American population isolate, and to assess if these variants are associated with specific clinical dimensions of the disorder. Methods: We genotyped 24 densely spaced SNPs in the NOS1AP gene region in a schizophrenia trio sample. The transmission disequilibrium test (TDT) was applied to single marker and haplotype data. Association to clinical dimensions (identified by factor analysis) was evaluated using a quantitative transmission disequilibrium test (QTDT). Results: We found significant association between eight SNPs in the NOS1AP gene region to schizophrenia (minimum p value = 0.004). The QTDT analysis of clinical dimensions revealed an association to a dimension consisting mainly of negative symptoms (minimum p value 0.001). Conclusions: Our findings are consistent with a role for NOS1AP in susceptibility to schizophrenia, especially for the ‘negative syndrome’ of the disorder.

Estado nutricional de niños y niñas indígenas de hasta seis años de edad en el resguardo Embera-Katío, Tierralta, Córdoba, Colombia Introducción. El conocimiento del estado nutricional de la población infantil es un valioso indicador del desarrollo de una población. Objetivo. Determinar la prevalencia de desnutrición en niños y niñas indígenas Embera-Katío de hasta seis años de edad e identificar algunos de sus factores condicionantes. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio transversal en el resguardo Embera-Katío, municipio de Tierralta, departamento de Córdoba, Colombia, en 272 niños de hasta seis años de edad a quienes se les midió el peso, la estatura y el perímetro cefálico. En 194 hogares se realizó una encuesta sobre aspectos alimentarios y de salud y a 172 niños y niñas se les practicó un examen de materia fecal.Resultados. La prevalencia de desnutrición crónica moderada y grave fue de 63,6% y de desnutrición aguda leve y moderada fue de 8,8%. La desnutrición crónica se asoció con el incremento de la edad (p < 0,005) y fue mayor en hombres que en mujeres (89,9 vs. 80,4%: p = 0,028). Se observó mayor prevalencia de desnutrición crónica en los niños con infección respiratoria aguda, con enfermedad diarreica aguda y en hogares con más de tres niños y niñas menores de cinco años. En 74% de los niños y niñas, el perímetro cefálico fue inferior al percentil 5. La alimentación de los niños y niñas después del destete fue básicamente arroz y maíz (92,8%) y plátano (80,9%). Sólo 28,9% consumió carne, 4,6% huevos y 4,1% leche. La prevalencia de parasitosis intestinal fue de 78,1%. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de desnutrición crónica en los niños y niñas Embera-Katio fue elevada, lo cual es el reflejo de las condiciones adversas a las que están sometidos.Palabras clave: salud de la población indígena, preescolar, niño, estado nutricional, desnutrición, morbilidad. Nutritional status of indigenous children aged up to six years in the Embera-Katio Indian reserve in Tierralta, Cordoba, ColombiaIntroduction. Knowledge of the nutritional state of the children is an valuable indicator of the general state of development in an entire population.Objective. The prevalence of malnutrition was determined in Embera-Katio's indigenous children, aged 0-6 years, and associated factors associated with malnutrition were identified. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in the Resguardo EmberaKatío, in Tierralta in the Province of Cordoba, located in northern Colombia. The weight, height and cephalic perimeter was assessed for each of 272 children under six years of age. Nutritional paramterers were surveyed in194 homes; fecal samples of 172 children were examined for evidence of intestinal parasites.Results. Prevalence of moderate and severe chronic malnutrition was found in 63.6% of the children's; 8.8% were categorized with slight and moderate acute malnutrition. Chronic malnutrition was associated with age increase (p=0.005) and was greater in males than in females (89.9% versus 80.4%; p=0.028). Chro...