The Sonozotz project: Assembling an echolocation call library for bats in a megadiverse country.

Bat acoustic libraries are important tools that assemble echolocation calls to allow the comparison and discrimination to confirm species identifications. The Sonozotz project represents the first nation-wide library of bat echolocation calls for a megadiverse country. It was assembled following a standardized recording protocol that aimed to cover different recording habitats, recording techniques, and call variation inherent to individuals. The Sonozotz project included 69 species of echolocating bats, a high species richness that represents 50% of bat species found in the country. We include recommendations on how the database can be used and how the sampling methods can be potentially replicated in countries with similar environmental and geographic conditions. To our knowledge, this represents the most exhaustive effort to date to document and compile the diversity of bat echolocation calls for a megadiverse country. This database will be useful to address a range of ecological questions including the effects of anthropogenic activities on bat communities through the analysis of bat sound.

Vitamin D increases remyelination by promoting oligodendrocyte lineage differentiation.

INTRODUCTION: Several experimental studies have suggested the potential remyelinating effects of vitamin D (VitD) supplements regardless of the presence of VitD deficiency. This study aims to analyze neurogenesis in a model of toxic demyelination in order to evaluate the effects of VitD on demyelination and remyelination. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We used 24 male Wistar rats that had received surgical lesions to the corpus callosum and were injected with lysolecithin. Rats were divided into three groups: Group 1 included eight rats with lesions to the corpus callosum but not lysolecithin injections (sham group), group 2 included eight rats with lesions to the corpus callosum that were injected with lysolecithin (lysolecithin group), and group 3 included eight rats with lesions that were injected with lysolecithin and received VitD (VitD group). We analyzed neurogenesis both in the subventricular zone and at the lesion site. RESULTS: Administration of VitD promotes the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells in the subventricular zone and the migration of these cells to the lesion site in the corpus callosum; these cells subsequently differentiate into oligodendrocyte lineage cells and produce myelin basic protein. This phenomenon was not caused by microglial activation, which was less marked in rats receiving VitD. Megalin expression did not increase at the lesion site, which suggests that VitD is internalized by other mechanisms. CONCLUSION: Our results support the hypothesis that regardless of the presence of VitD deficiency, treatment with VitD may contribute to remyelination by promoting the proliferation of oligodendrocyte precursor cells.

"Extramammary-Type" Paget Disease of the Breast.

BACKGROUND: Mammary Paget disease and extramammary Paget disease (EMPD) have different prognoses. Because they are indistinguishable on histopathological grounds, they must be distinguished on a topographical basis. OBJECTIVE: To study cases of Paget disease of the breast, which show similarities to EMPD. METHODS: Cases were selected by 2 different approaches: (1) those with an exceptionally good evolution and no evidence of subjacent tumor and (2) those expressing MUC5AC. RESULTS: Five cases were collected. All cases showed an indolent behavior with a known long clinical history in 2 cases (9 and 25 years, respectively) and a long follow-up in all cases but one (4-8 years). In all cases but one, surgery was performed, and no parenchymal tumor was found (either intraductal or infiltrating). All cases expressed cytokeratin 7 and MUC5AC without expression of MUC2, S100, or p40. LIMITATIONS: The short number of cases is a limitation of this study. In addition, case 5 is recent, so we have a very short follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Some cases of mammary Paget disease behave like EMPD with slow progression and with no underlying associated tumor. Immunoexpression of MUC5AC might be a clue to identify them.

Influence of habitat suitability and sex-related detectability on density and population size estimates of habitat-specialist warblers.

Knowledge about the population size and trends of common bird species is crucial for setting conservation priorities and management actions. Multi-species large-scale monitoring schemes have often provided such estimates relying on extrapolation of relative abundances in particular habitats to large-scale areas. Here we show an alternative to inference-rich predictive models, proposing methods to deal with caveats of population size estimations in habitat-specialist species, reed warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Acrocephalus arundinaceus). Reed warblers were only found in pure reedbeds within riparian woodlands or in riparian vegetation scattered within or around reedbed patches, as expected according to their habitat specialization. The proportion of individuals located in reedbed associated with lotic and lentic waters differed between species, and no reed warbler was recorded in reedbed located along dry streams. This indicates that microhabitat features or their effects on reedbed structure and other factors made a proportion of the apparently available habitat unsuitable for both warbler species. Most warblers detected were males performing territorial singing (females seldom sing and do not perform elaborate territorial song, and are undistinguishable from males by plumage). The regional population sizes of the warbler species (~4000 individuals of A. scirpaceus and ~ 1000 individuals of A. arundinaceus) were much smaller than those estimated for the same area by transforming relative abundance obtained at a national scale to population size through extrapolation by habitat at a regional scale. These results highlight the importance of considering the habitat actually used and its suitability, the manner of sex-related detection, population sex-ratio and their interactions in population estimates. Ideally, the value of predictive methods to estimate population size of common species should be tested before conducting large-scale monitoring, rather than a posteriori. Although logistically challenging, this can be achieved by designing monitoring programs including an intensive sampling of abundance in ad hoc reference areas of variable size.

Assessment of the efficacy and tolerance of an innovative regenerative serum on cutaneous regeneration, following fractional laser procedure using Erbium:YAG.

INTRODUCTION: Cutaneous regeneration, fractional laser, medical device, cellular proliferation cutaneous changes linked to photoaging are currently treated with physical treatments, such as fractional laser, which may induce epidermal alteration. OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of a regenerative serum (Matricium® , Laboratoire Bioderma, France) after laser procedure. METHODS: Prospective, double-blind, controlled, and randomized study in subjects with photoaged skin. The regenerative serum of treatment was used after a fractional laser session twice daily for 2 months on 1 side of the face and the placebo on the other side. The main variable to determine efficacy was the improvement of clinical signs and histological and immunological results. RESULTS: A superior quality of epidermal regeneration on the treated side compared to the placebo side was observed. Likewise, a superior and faster clinical improvement on static wrinkles was observed on the hemiface on which the regenerative serum was used. After 60 days, the investigator and the subjects observed a moderate to significant improvement of the skin on the treated side and a mild to moderate improvement on the placebo side. Histological examinations showed a superior thickness of epidermis and higher cellular proliferation rate (Ki67 markers) as well as a superior thickness of dermis with higher increase in elastin density with the regenerative serum compared to placebo. CONCLUSION: The use of the regenerative serum after fractional laser on the face accelerated and improved the cutaneous regeneration on both the clinical and histological level and maximized the benefits of the laser procedure.

Oral administration of Polypodium leucotomos delays skin tumor development and increases epidermal p53 expression and the anti-oxidant status of UV-irradiated hairless mice.

Chronic exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induces skin tumors in hairless mice. Daily oral administration of a Polypodium leucotomos (PL) extract significantly delayed tumor development in PL-treated versus non-PL-treated mice. UVR and/or PL treatment modified several oxidative stress markers. In all irradiated mice, erythrocytic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and glutathione disulphide (GSSG) content increased and in all PL-treated mice GSSG content decreased, specially in non-irradiated animals, and total plasma anti-oxidant capacity (ORAC) increased. In dorsolateral non-tumoral skin of all irradiated mice, glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities increased and GSSG decreased in non-irradiated PL-treated animals. UVR induced a steep increase of p53 expression in epidermal cells. In non-tumoral skin, this increase was significantly higher in PL-treated animals than in non-treated mice and can contribute in delaying tumor development, either by repairing the damaged DNA or by increasing apoptosis. These results reinforce the usefulness of PL as systemic photoprotective agent, especially in patients highly sensitive to UVR.

Polypodium leucotomos decreases UV-induced epidermal cell proliferation and enhances p53 expression and plasma antioxidant capacity in hairless mice.

A single dose of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induces significant changes in blood and skin of hairless mice. Oral administration of a hydrophilic extract of the fern Polypodium leucotomos (PL, 300 mg/kg during 5 days before UVR and for two additional days after irradiation) modulates some of the effects of UVR. Most significantly, PL administration reduced the number of proliferating cells by 13%, increased the number of p53(+) cells by 63%, enhanced the antioxidant plasma capacity (ORAC) by 30% and reinforced the network of dermal elastic fibres. Western blot analysis of skin antioxidant-related enzymes failed to demonstrate significant changes caused by PL. Thus, the beneficial effect of PL likely owes to its antioxidant and anti-ROS properties rather than its modulation of the expression of endogenous antioxidant systems. These data provide mechanistic clues for its efficacy as a systemic photoprotective agent with antioxidant and anti-photo-ageing properties.

Analysis of seed phorbol-ester and curcin content together with genetic diversity in multiple provenances of Jatropha curcas L. from Madagascar and Mexico.

Jatropha curcas L. has been promoted as an oilseed crop for use to meet the increased world demand for vegetable oil production, and in particular, as a feedstock for biodiesel production. Seed meal is a protein-rich by-product of vegetable oil extraction, which can either be used as an organic fertilizer, or converted to animal feed. However, conversion of J. curcas seed meal into animal feed is complicated by the presence of toxins, though plants producing "edible" or "non-toxic" seeds occur in Mexico. Toxins present in the seeds of J. curcas include phorbol esters and a type-I ribosome inactivating protein (curcin). Although the edible seeds of J. curcas are known to lack phorbol esters, the curcin content of these seeds has not previously been studied. We analyzed the phorbol ester and curcin content of J. curcas seeds obtained from Mexico and Madagascar, and conclude that while phorbol esters are lacking in edible seeds, both types contain curcin. We also analyzed spatial distribution of these toxins in seeds. Phorbol-esters were most concentrated in the tegmen. Curcin was found in both the endosperm and tegmen. We conclude that seed toxicity in J. curcas is likely to be due to a monogenic trait, which may be under maternal control. We also conducted AFLP analysis and conclude that genetic diversity is very limited in the Madagascan collection compared to the Mexican collection.

Preliminary evaluation of benign vascular lesions using in vivo reflectance confocal microscopy.

BACKGROUND: Reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM) is a novel noninvasive imaging technique for in vivo evaluation of cutaneous lesions at near-histologic resolution. The applicability of RCM for various neoplastic and inflammatory skin diseases has been shown, but a descriptive evaluation of different vascular lesions has not yet been performed. OBJECTIVES: To define specific RCM criteria for congenital and acquired vascular lesions and to determine whether these criteria may assist in their differential diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven patients with a clinical diagnosis of vascular lesion, including spider angioma, venous lake, cherry angioma, pyogenic granuloma, port wine stain, angiokeratoma, and lymphangioma, participated in this study. Skin sites were systematically analyzed using RCM, and biopsy was obtained for clinically indeterminate lesions. RESULTS: For each entity, characteristic RCM criteria could be identified and selected parameters correlated well to established histopathologic findings. The most relevant criteria included the diameter of the vessels and degree of vascular tortuosity or dilation. Additional findings such as flow velocity, inflammation, and disruption of the epidermal architecture could be documented. CONCLUSION: The findings of this preliminary evaluation indicate that RCM may aid in the noninvasive characterization of inflammatory, proliferative, and ectatic vascular malformations in vivo.

Producción científica de la revista Dermatología Peruana / Scientific production of Dermatology Peruvian magazine

OBJETIVO: Determinar las características de la producción científica de la revista Dermatología Peruana desde su aparición. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Estudio bibliométrico, se revisaron todos los volúmenes y números. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron dos periodos, de 1967 a 2009. Se publicaron 19 volúmenes con un total de 44 números. El número de artículos en total fue 532. Los artículos originales significaron el 20.11% de la producción científica, se encontró un promedio de 2.43 artículos por número. Las comunicaciones breves representan el mayor porcentaje de los artículos publicados (29.89%), con 3.61 publicaciones por número. CONCLUSIONES: Dermatología Peruana ha consolidado recientemente cuatro números por volumen. A pesar de ello el porcentaje de artículos originales no satisface aún con los requerimientos de 40% como mínimo para ser considerada de alta calidad científica. Por ello, es necesario que la calidad y periodicidad, hasta ahora conseguida, mejore con el paso de los años para lograr una mayor oportunidad de indización en bases de datos de prestigio, que aumentarán la visibilidad de los artículos y autores.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the characteristics of scientific production of Revista Dermatología Peruana since its occurrence. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bibliometric study, there was revised all volumes and numbers. RESULTS: Two periods were studied, from 1967-1971 and 1996-2009. There was published 19 volumes with a total of 44 numbers. The total number of articles was 532. The original articles meant 20.11% of the scientific production, a main of 2.43 articles per number was found. Short communications represent high percentage of articles published (29.89%), with 3.61 publications per number.CONCLUSIONS: Revista Dermatología Peruana has recently consolidated fournumbers per volume. Despite this, the percentage of originals do not still satisfies with the requeriments of 40% as minimum to be considerate of a high scientific quality. For this reason, it is necessary that the quality and periodicity, achieved until now, improve with the time in order to get a major opportunity of indexing in prestigious data base, which will increase the visibility of articles and authors.

Nucleation of breathers via stochastic resonance in nonlinear lattices.

By applying a staggered driving force in a prototypical discrete model with a quartic nonlinearity, we demonstrate the spontaneous formation and destruction of discrete breathers with a selected frequency due to thermal fluctuations. The phenomenon exhibits the striking features of stochastic resonance: a nonmonotonic behavior as noise is increased and breather generation under subthreshold conditions. The corresponding peak is associated with a matching between the external driving frequency and the breather frequency at the average energy given by ambient temperature.

Potential of Jatropha curcas as a source of renewable oil and animal feed.

Jatropha curcas (L.) is a perennial plant of the spurge family (Euphorbiaceae). Recently, it has received much attention as a potential source of vegetable oil as a replacement for petroleum, and, in particular, the production of biodiesel. Despite the interest that is being shown in the large-scale cultivation of J. curcas, genetic resources remain poorly characterized and conserved and there has been very little plant breeding for improved traits. At present, the varieties being used to establish plantations in Africa and Asia are inedible. The meal obtained after the extraction of oil cannot, therefore, be used as a source of animal feed. Naturally existing edible varieties are, however, known to occur in Mexico. The toxic components of J. curcas seeds, the potential for plant breeding to generate improved varieties, and the suitability of J. curcas oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production are discussed.

Mucinous carcinoma of the skin: evaluation of lymphatic invasion with D2-40.

Primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma is a rare adnexal sweat gland neoplasm that mainly affects elderly people. Differential diagnosis includes mammary and gastrointestinal metastatic mucinous carcinoma (MC) and secondary cutaneous involvement by underlying neoplasms. An 83-year-old woman presented with an 8-year history of slow-growing infiltrate plaque in her right hemithorax, with ulceration on supraclavicular area, right upper limb edema and palpable axillary lymphadenopathies. She underwent partial excision of the tumor and local radiotherapy. Imaging studies showed widespread cutaneous dissemination with enlargement of ipsilateral axillary lymph nodes but without evidence of underlying breast cancer. Histopathological examination showed large amounts of mucin in the dermis including small islands of epithelial cells. They stained positive for cytokeratin 7, carcinoembryonic antigen, epithelial membrane antigen, gross cystic disease fluid protein-15, and c-erbB-2. Lymphatic invasion was demonstrated by D2-40-immunostained sections. A diagnosis of primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma was made. Our aim was to reevaluate the differential clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical criteria for distinguishing primary cutaneous mucinous carcinoma from skin metastases of visceral mucinous carcinoma, especially those arising in breast. We also propose D2-40 as a reliable marker to detect lymphatic invasion that indicates a strong aggressive trend with shorter recurrence-free and predicts nodal metastases.

Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy for the treatment of unilesional mycosis fungoides: a report of two cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Unilesional mycosis fungoides (MF) is a rare variant of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), characterized clinically by a solitary lesion and by histopathological features indistinguishable from multilesional MF. The photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a new and effective treatment of precancerous lesions and non-melanoma skin cancers. In recent years it has been used successfully for the treatment of MF. METHODS: We present two cases of unilesional MF treated with 5-Aminolevulinic acid-PDT (ALA-PDT). We used twenty per cent ALA, applied topically to the lesion, and a well defined laser irradiation at 585 nm wavelength from C-Beam laser. Treatment was repeated three times at monthly intervals. Skin biopsies were taken before and after therapy. RESULTS: Both patients showed clinical remission. The biopsies confirmed a regression of the infiltrate after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: PDT is effective and can be used successfully for MF treatment, particularly for patch and plaque stage MF, including unilesional MF.