Rootstock effects on scion gene expression in maritime pine.

Pines are the dominant conifers in Mediterranean forests. As long-lived sessile organisms that seasonally have to cope with drought periods, they have developed a variety of adaptive responses. However, during last decades, highly intense and long-lasting drought events could have contributed to decay and mortality of the most susceptible trees. Among conifer species, Pinus pinaster Ait. shows remarkable ability to adapt to different environments. Previous molecular analysis of a full-sib family designed to study drought response led us to find active transcriptional activity of stress-responding genes even without water deprivation in tolerant genotypes. To improve our knowledge about communication between above- and below-ground organs of maritime pine, we have analyzed four graft-type constructions using two siblings as rootstocks and their progenitors, Gal 1056 and Oria 6, as scions. Transcriptomic profiles of needles from both scions were modified by the rootstock they were grafted on. However, the most significant differential gene expression was observed in drought-sensitive Gal 1056, while in drought-tolerant Oria 6, differential gene expression was very much lower. Furthermore, both scions grafted onto drought-tolerant rootstocks showed activation of genes involved in tolerance to abiotic stress, and is most remarkable in Oria 6 grafts where higher accumulation of transcripts involved in phytohormone action, transcriptional regulation, photosynthesis and signaling has been found. Additionally, processes, such as those related to secondary metabolism, were mainly associated with the scion genotype. This study provides pioneering information about rootstock effects on scion gene expression in conifers.

FCSlib: an open-source tool for fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy analysis for mobility, number and molecular brightness in R.

SUMMARY: FCSlib is an open-source R tool for fluorescence fluctuation spectroscopy data analysis. It encompasses techniques such as Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy, Number and Brightness, Pair Correlation Function and Pair Correlation of Molecular Brightness. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: Source code available at https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/FCSlib/ for Linux, Windows and macOS platforms. Sample data as well as a user's guide are available at https://github.com/FCSlib/FCSlib. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Peritoneal dialysis and kidney transplant. A two-way ticket in an integrated renal replacement therapy model.

BACKGROUND: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) seems to be a good option to initiate renal replacement therapy (RRT), but patients with graft failure choose PD less frequently than incident patients (de novo). OBJECTIVE: To describe patient movements between PD and kidney transplantation (TX) and risk factors for failure of the PD technique. METHOD: Multicentre observational study of patients starting PD between 2003 and 2009 with follow-up up until January 2010. Survival analysis based on switching from PD to HD as an event using Kaplan-Meier (KM) and forward, stepwise Cox proportional hazards models. Hazard ratio and 95% confidence intervals (HR [CI]) are shown. MAIN VARIABLE: Switch from PD to HD. Two-group comparison: PD post transplant (post-TX) patients (76) compared to pure incident PD (de novo-PD) patients (830). PATIENTS: 906 PD patients from 19 public hospitals with a mean age of 54.8 years (64.9% male); main ESRD aetiology: glomerulonephritis (25.4%), diabetes (16.7%), vascular-ischaemic (10.7%), interstitial (13.6%) and polycystic (11.2%). Comorbidity conditions: Charlson Index 5.1 (SD 2.4); 21.6% diabetes mellitus (DM), 24.0% cardiovascular (CV) events. RESULTS: Mean follow-up period on PD: 1.85 years (95% CI [1.68-2.02 years]). KM estimation for switching to HD due to PD failure was 5.46 years [4.42-6.50 years]. At the end of follow-up, 88 patients had died, 154 had been transferred to HD and 306 had received a graft (annual rate for patients on waiting list: 0.49 TX per year on PD). The best Cox multivariate model for switching from PD to HD includes: post-TX (HR: 1.63 [1.01-2.63]), DM (HR: 1.69 [1.19-2.40]) and age (1.01 [1.00-1.02]) per year. Post-TX patients were younger (43.8 years vs 55.3 years) and with less comorbidity conditions than de novo-PD patients (DM 18.4% vs 21.9%; CV 15.8% vs 24.7%). However post-TX patients had worse clinical evolution with a rapid decline of renal function (∆-3.88 vs -1.8 ml/min per year); a higher admission rate (0.9 vs 0.62 per year) but similar peritonitis rate (0.45 vs 0.53 episodes per year). They also needed to be transferred to HD more frequently (28.9% vs 15.8%; P<.006) and needed more time to TX (4.8 years vs 1.7 years, Kaplan-Meier). Consequently, time spent on PD was higher in the post-TX group (2.8 vs 1.8 year). LIMITATIONS: Observational study with absence of a standard protocol to switch PD-HD. CONCLUSION: PD seems to be a good first choice technique due to low mortality and high TX ratio in our area. A previous graft failure is associated with a higher rate of PD-failure but time spent on PD is enough to consider this technique as a good option.

[Abscess of the seminal vesicle. Clinico-therapeutic review apropos of a case]. / Absceso de vesícula seminal. Revisión clínico-terapéutica a propósito de un caso.

Reporting the case of a patient diagnosed with an abscess of the seminal vesicle, treated successfully through parasacral transgluteal percutaneous aspiration lead by computerized axial tomography (CAT). This represents the first case in the literature of percutaneous access to the seminal vesicles through this route. CAT is an effective diagnostic test which makes non-surgical treatment for this type of abscess simpler. A review is made of the literature with regard to the etiology, diagnosis and therapy of seminal vesicle abscesses.