María Patricia Sánchez

Properties of platelet rich plasma (PRP) were attributed specially of high levels of growth factors (GFs), action of antiplatelet agents could alter the release of GFs from PRP. This study assessed the level of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF) from PRP of 20 healthy participants before and after treatment with antiplatelet agents. Venous blood samples were collected from the 20 participants to obtain PPP and PRP by the single centrifugation method of Anitua. The same 20 participants were divided in two groups: 10 received a dairy oral dose of Aspirin (100 mg) and 10 of Clopidogrel (75 mg) for 7 days. The procedure to obtain PPP and PRP was repeated after treatment. Levels of GFs were measured using the technique of ELISA. When pretreatment and posttreatment levels were compared, a significant decrease was found in the group treated with Aspirin in the PDGF-BB (PPP: <0,05) and EGF (PPP: <0,05/ PRP: <0,04) and group treated with Clopidogrel in PDGF-BB (PPP: <0,009/ PRP:<0,0001), VEGF-A (PPP: <0,001/ PRP<0,01) and EGF (PPP: <0,04/ PRP<0,018). Decreases in GFs after treatment of each antiplatelets agent, specially Clopidogrel, cannot ensure that clinical effect of platelet GFs would be completely affected, future clinical studies are needed.

This study was aimed at investigating the frequency of infection by Cp. psittaci and determining its genotype in individuals at potential risk of exposure to the bacteria. The study involved 170 individuals: a risk group (n= 96) and a low-risk control group (n=74). Cp. psittaci was detected and genotyped by single-tube nested PCR and ompA gene sequencing. Eight (8.3 %) positive cases were detected in the risk group and 1 (1.4 %) in the control group (p<0.04). Cp. psittaci was found in 16.7 % of pigeons' fecal samples. Cp. psittaci infection with was more frequent in symptomatic (17.7 %) than asymptomatic (6.3 %) individuals in the risk group. Analysing the genomes isolated from human and bird specimens revealed the presence of genotype B. The presence of Cp. psittaci genotype B in the population being evaluated could have been attributed to zoonotic transmission from pigeons to humans, an underestimated potential public health problem in Venezuela requiring the health authorities' involvement.