Understanding the relations between Solanaceae crops and their pollinators: a global meta-network.

Crop-pollinator interactions are essential for world food security. Studying crop pollination from a network approach allows identification of target pollinators for conservation and management, and gaps in our knowledge. Solanaceae represents the third highest ranked family based on economic value, and its production is highly improved by animal pollination. This study aimed to integrate global data on solanaceous crop pollination and analyse the interaction patterns using a meta-network approach. Our questions were: (i) how are interactions structured and what are the structuring roles of species; and (ii) what are the main gaps in our knowledge? Data were obtained through a systematic review of the main scientific databases. The network structure was described using connectivity and modularity calculations, and the role of species using centrality metrics. The 251 pollinator species reported were in seven orders, mainly Hymenoptera (84.9%). The generalists Bombus and Apis species were the most common pollinators. The meta-network was modular, and all modules mostly included bees. Most species were peripherals, around 12% were connectors, and there were no module hubs. Apis mellifera was the only network hub (supergeneralist). The most important pollinators are the most managed pollinators worldwide; however, many native species play a role in structuring the meta-network. Main gaps include species of importance to pepper pollination, lack of species-specific identification, and the need for more robust experimental studies evaluating the pollination efficiency of native, manageable bees.

Bee pollination effects on yield and chemical composition of West Indian gherkin fruits (Cucumis anguria L., Cucurbitaceae) in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

Animal pollination plays a key role in global agricultural production and especially of monoecious crops, which are essentially dependent on pollinators. The West Indian gherkin fruit (Cucumis anguria L., Cucurbitaceae) is a monoecious vegetable adaptable to adverse abiotic conditions, resistant to diseases, and rich in minerals and vitamins, thus being a relevant alternative for improving nutritional security of socioeconomically vulnerable populations. The knowledge on the influence of pollination and of specific pollinators on chemical characteristics of fruits would help pollinators' management, but it is still poorly understood. In this study we investigated the influence of pollination on quantitative and qualitative aspects of fruits fruits of West Indian gherkin fruits (Cucumis anguria L., Cucurbitaceae) in the Brazilian semi-arid region. Data on pollination biology and on fruits resulted from controlled crosses (open-OP, cross-CP and Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 pollinations) were compared among crosses: number, length, weight, number of seeds, firmness and chemical traits related to flavor and shelf life. Flowers were pollinated by four bee species, and Apis mellifera was the most frequent. followed by two native bee species. OP and A. mellifera resulted in more fruits than CP. Fruits resulting from OP were heavier than CP and had similar weight when compared to A. mellifera. The other variables did not differ between treatments. The better performance of OP and A. mellifera when compared to CP is probably related to the xenia, i.e., the influence of tissues bearing paternal genes (pollen and pollen tube) in maternal tissues. OP and A. mellifera experiments apparently resulted in the deposition of a greater genotypic diversity of the pollen loads when compared to CP. This result is also explained by the higher functional diversity of pollinators related to OP when compared to CP. This study not only elucidates immediate impacts on yield but also emphasizes the deeper connections between floral biology, pollinator diversity, and sustainable crop production, once West Indian gherkin profit was enhanced by bee pollination.

Case report of isochromosome 17q in acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes after treatment with a hypomethylating agent.

Isochromosome 17q is a relatively common karyotypic abnormality in medulloblastoma, gastric, bladder, and breast cancers. In myeloid disorders, it is observed during disease progression and evolution to acute myeloid leukemia in Philadelphia-positive chronic myeloid leukemia. It has been reported in rare cases of myelodysplastic syndrome, with an incidence of 0.4-1.57%. Two new agents have been approved for treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome/chronic myelomonocytic leukemia. These are the hypomethylating agents, 5-azacytidine and decitabine, recommended by consensus guidelines for high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome patients not eligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. We present a case of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia with normal cytogenetics at diagnosis treated with decitabine (with good response); however, the patient evolved to acute myeloid leukemia with i(17q) shortly after suspending treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes with i(17q) after the use of a hypomethylating agent.

Different visitation frequencies of native and non-native bees to vines: how much vegetation is necessary to improve fruit production?

Pollination is provided by biodiversity and maintains global food production. We investigated the effects of vegetation cover on the abundance of floral visitor and vine (Vitis labrusca Raf.) production. We expected an increase in both floral visitor frequencies and vineyard yields with an increase in native vegetation cover in the landscape. We also investigated different scenarios of visitor abundance with and without honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). We surveyed floral visitors from ten vineyard plots with different native cover surrounding them and related both visitors and native vegetation to fruit set. Considering some of these vineyards, we compared physical and chemical traits of berries to understand how they vary according to native vegetation. Floral visitor abundance was positively related to native vegetation cover. However, considering only native bee abundance, we found a dual (hyperbolic) response. Apis mellifera (L.) Africanized was the most abundant species and had the highest number of interactions; however, when removed from the network analysis, the relationship between vineyards and native bees became more specialized. The fruit size and mass of berries differed among vineyards, as did some chemical traits related to commercial quality of fruits, such as soluble solids, pH and flavonoids. Vineyards surrounded by intermediate areas of native vegetation present a balance between resource availability from vineyards and native vegetation. Apis and non-Apis (such as flies and small bees) floral visitors, known to have different effects on vine pollination, could hypothetically provide variation in vine production and quality. Considering a near 20% native vegetation increment, there was an enhancement, on average, of ten-fold more berries per bunch, the changing physical and chemical fruit traits by vegetation increment could also increase the aggregate value of vines and the value of pollination services in the economy.

Memory with emotional content, brain amygdala and Alzheimer's disease.

OBJECTIVES: A highly adaptive aspect of human memory is the enhancement of explicit, consciously accessible memory by emotional stimuli. We studied the performance of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and elderly controls using a memory battery with emotional content, and we correlated these results with the amygdala and hippocampus volume. METHODS: Twenty controls and 20 early AD patients were subjected to the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) and to magnetic resonance imaging-based volumetric measurements of the medial temporal lobe structures. RESULTS: The results show that excluding control group subjects with 5 or more years of schooling, both groups showed improvement with pleasant or unpleasant figures for the IAPS in an immediate free recall test. Likewise, in a delayed free recall test, both the controls and the AD group showed improvement for pleasant pictures, when education factor was not controlled. The AD group showed improvement in the immediate and delayed free recall test proportional to the medial temporal lobe structures, with no significant clinical correlation between affective valence and amygdala volume. CONCLUSION: AD patients can correctly identify emotions, at least at this early stage, but this does not improve their memory performance.

Isolation from natural habitat reduces yield and quality of passion fruit.

Loss and fragmentation of native vegetation negatively affect crop pollinators and productivity of several crop species. The yellow passion fruit is an excellent model to investigate this issue, because its main pollinators are sensitive to deforestation. Seasonality also influences fruit set of crop species that are pollinated by bees. Climate determines plant flowering patterns and consequently affects pollinator activity. Little is known on effects of pollinators on crop quality in general, and particularly of many tropical fruits that have multiple fruiting seasons throughout the year, such as passion fruit. Our hypothesis is that the distance to the native vegetation and climate seasonality affect the pollination and fruit production of cultivated, hermaphrodite, self-incompatible, protandrous species that depend on large-sized bees to set fruit. We observed flowers of the yellow passion fruit in eight areas at different distances (600-4,000 m) from a dry seasonal forest (Caatinga). We compared the frequency of the main floral visitor (pollinators and robbers) visits and fruit set among areas at the beginning and end of the dry and rainy seasons. Xylocopa species were pollinators, and Apis mellifera, Trigona spinipes and a hummingbird were robbers. Xylocopa visits diminished with increasing distance to native remnants, converse to what was observed for the robbers at the beginning of the dry season. Fruit set was higher at the beginning of the dry season. The distance to the forest affected quality of fruits in terms of length, diameter and skin thickness, which all decreased with increase in remnant distance. Our results show that insect pollination is higher in the dry season, increasing profitability and reducing labour costs for the producer. Considering the influence of distance to native vegetation on pollination, robbery and fruit quality, our study reinforces the necessity for conservation of native vegetation remnants.

Functional dimorphic enantiostyly in monomorphic enantiostylous species of the subtribe Cassiinae (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae).

Monomorphic enantiostylous species produce flowers with a displacement of the style to the left (L) or right (R) on the same individual, and may exhibit different dynamics for the production of these floral types, which may influence levels of selfing. We investigated the production dynamics of L and R floral types in seven species and a variety of monomorphic enantiostylous species of the genera Senna and Chamaecrista. Our hypothesis was that most species present similar proportions of floral morphs each day. Individuals were classified daily over a period of 7 days according to the functional status, i.e. the proportion of floral morphs as functionally L, R or reciprocal (REC, i.e. similar proportions of the two floral morphs), and also according to the number of consecutive days in which they exhibited the same functional status. All species presented low daily flower production. Most species had individuals classified as functionally R, L and REC, and tend to repeat the same functional status over a few days, although they may change functional status during the flowering period. All species exhibited individuals that were classified as functionally reciprocal when both the daily and total number of flowers produced over 7 days was considered. The occurrence of different functional status has not yet been reported in the literature for enantiostylous species. The distinct strategies observed in the dynamics of floral morph production seemed likely to minimise geitonogamy and to favour cross-pollination between individuals (xenogamy).

Petal micromorphology and its relationship to pollination.

The characteristics of petal epidermal conical cells affect the quality of the signals perceived by various pollinators. This study aimed to identify variations in micromorphological characteristics of flower petals and their relationship to melittophily, ornithophily and chiropterophily pollination systems. The petals of 11 species were analysed using scanning electron microscopy and optical microscopy and the micromorphological traits were described, measured and compared using Tukey's test, PCA and cluster analysis. Unlike chiropterophily, all melittophilous and some ornithophilous species possessed adaxial epidermal conical cells. Cluster grouping separated chiropterophilous flowers from melittophilous and ornithophilous. PCA analysis showed that the two morphometric profile of conical cells was the attribute that most strongly influenced the grouping of species. When considering the data set of the three pollination systems, melittophilous and ornithophilous plants were more similar to each other than they were to chriopterophilous species. The distance between conical cell apices is an important parameter in interactions with pollinators. This study facilitated recognition of smoothing pollinator resource access through petal micromorphological characteristics. Further research regarding the biometry of micromorphological traits related to pollination is required.

De Mello's Single Incision for Combined Liver-kidney Transplantation, Keeping the Kidney Retroperitoneal: A Case Report.

The combined liver-kidney transplantation (cLKT) is the procedure of choice for patients with end-stage liver and kidney disease. In cLKT we can usually accommodate the grafts in two different ways, varying the kidney placement. The retroperitoneal kidney implant has some advantages, such as the easy access or avoiding vascular complications. We propose a new single incision, not yet reported, maintaining an extraperitoneal kidney, with excellent surgical field for cLKT and possible reduction of the impact of wound complications.

Phenology, reproductive biology and growing degree days of the grapevine 'Isabel' (Vitis labrusca, Vitaceae) cultivated in northeastern Brazil.

Phenology and reproductive biology of cultivated species are important for the comprehension of the requirements for fruit and seed production and the management of pollinators. This study aimed to characterise the phenology, reproductive biology and growing degree days of the grapevine 'Isabel' (Vitis labrusca) in northeastern Brazil during January 2011 (P1), Augst 2011 (P2), April 2012 (P3) and August 2012 (P4). We recorded the duration (days) of the phenological stages, pruning (P), woolly bud (W), budburst (B), inflorescence development (ID), flowering (F), ripening (R) and harvest (H). We analysed the floral biology, the sexual system and the breeding system. We measured the growing degree days (GDD) required to reach the subperiods P-B, B-F and F-H. The periods P1, P2, P3 and P4 lasted for 116, 125, 117 and 130 days, respectively. The number of days of harvest were similar in the same dry (P1 and P3) and rainy (P2 and P4) periods. All the periods that we recorded were shorter than those observed in other regions of Brazil, which may be attributable to the mean temperature and carbohydrate metabolism. The flowers are green, hermaphroditic, with an odour of mignonette, low pollen viability and autogamous. The base temperature of 10°C was considered the most adequate for the subperiods as has been documented for other grape varieties in Brazil. Thus, temperature was also the most adequate for the cycles, presenting a smaller standard deviation (0.119, 0.147, 0.156 and 0.153 to P1, P2, P3 and P4, respectively) when compared to a base temperature of 12°C (0.122, 0.158, 0.165 and 0.160 to P1, P2, P3 and P4, respectively). The higher and the lower observed GDD were 1972.17 and 1870.05, respectively, both above the values recorded in other parts of Brazil for same variety. The phonological results, including knowledge of growing degree days, are important to the planning of cultures at the study site and in other regions that have similar climatic conditions and make it possible to pre-determine the harvest.

Strategies for the production of high-content fructo-oligosaccharides through the removal of small saccharides by co-culture or successive fermentation with yeast.

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) obtained by fermentation of sucrose may be purified at large-scale by continuous chromatography (Simulated Moving Bed: SMB). In order to improve the efficiency of the subsequent SMB purification, the optimization of the fermentative broth composition in salts and sugars was investigated. Fermentations conducted at reduced amount of salts, using Aureobasidium pullulans whole cells, yielded 0.63 ± 0.03 g of FOS per gram of initial sucrose. Additionally, a microbial treatment was proposed to reduce the amount of small saccharides in the mixture. Two approaches were evaluated, namely a co-culture of A. pullulans with Saccharomyces cerevisiae; and a two-step fermentation in which FOS were first synthesized by A. pullulans and then the small saccharides were metabolized by S. cerevisiae. Assays were performed in 100mL shaken flasks and further scaled-up to a 3 L working volume bioreactor. Fermentations in two-step were found to be more efficient than the co-culture ones. FOS were obtained with a purity of 81.6 ± 0.8% (w/w), on a dry weight basis, after the second-step fermentation with S. cerevisiae. The sucrose amount was reduced from 13.5 to 5.4% in total sugars, which suggests that FOS from this culture broth will be more efficiently separated by SMB.

Late-life depression, heart failure and frontal white matter hyperintensity: a structural magnetic resonance imaging study.

The relevance of the relationship between cardiac disease and depressive symptoms is well established. White matter hyperintensity, a bright signal area in the brain on T2-weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans, has been separately associated with cardiovascular risk factors, cardiac disease and late-life depression. However, no study has directly investigated the association between heart failure, major depressive symptoms and the presence of hyperintensities. Using a visual assessment scale, we have investigated the frequency and severity of white matter hyperintensities identified by magnetic resonance imaging in eight patients with late-life depression and heart failure, ten patients with heart failure without depression, and fourteen healthy elderly volunteers. Since the frontal lobe has been the proposed site for the preferential location of white matter hyperintensities in patients with late-life depression, we focused our investigation specifically on this brain region. Although there were no significant group differences in white matter hyperintensities in the frontal region, a significant direct correlation emerged between the severity of frontal periventricular white matter hyperintensity and scores on the Hamilton scale for depression in the group with heart failure and depression (P = 0.016, controlled for the confounding influence of age). There were no significant findings in any other areas of the brain. This pattern of results adds support to a relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and depressive symptoms, and provides preliminary evidence that the presence of white matter hyperintensities specifically in frontal regions may contribute to the severity of depressive symptoms in cardiac disease.

Enantiostylous types of Cassiinae species (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae).

Species of the subtribe Cassiinae present a wide diversity of floral types. Until recently it was considered that this diversity did not extend to their reproductive mechanisms. However, studies have recorded some variations in the enantiostylous pattern in this plant group. This study aims to investigate the morphological and functional variations of enantiostyly in species of the subtribe Cassiinae. Additionally, it proposes the recognition of enantiostylous types (ET) based on pollen deposition and capture mode. Morphological data were collected in fresh and fixed (alcohol 70%) buds and flowers, and also using photos and rehydrated material from herbarium sheets, for a total of 59 species. The parameters used to establish the ETs were pollination type, nature of pollen deposition on the pollinator body, deposition type, number of petals involved in pollen deposition, and pollen pathway. Morpho-functional features allowed the recognition of seven enantiostylous types (Flexuosa, Cana, Macranthera, Martiana, Amiciella, Repens and Ramosa) that present several levels of complexity. The type Ramosa was the most common and the Cana type was the least common. The types Repens, Martiana and Flexuosa do not have reciprocal pollen deposition, thus species with these types may be considered atypical. The groups resulting from similarity analysis partially coincide with the clades proposed in phylogenetic studies of Cassiinae. The recognition of functional ETs is important for understanding the evolution of reproductive strategies of Cassiinae species, and indicates an interesting line of investigation of enantiostyly in other plant groups.

Regional cerebral blood flow abnormalities in early-onset obsessive-compulsive disorder: an exploratory SPECT study.

OBJECTIVE: Recent epidemiological and clinical data suggest that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) may be subtyped according the age of onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) technique was used to investigate whether the pathophysiology of OCD differs between early- and late-onset OCD subjects. METHOD: Resting rCBF was measured in 13 early-onset (<10 years) and 13 late-onset (>12 years) adult OCD subjects and in 22 healthy controls. Voxel-based rCBF comparisons were performed with statistical parametric mapping. RESULTS: Early-onset OCD cases showed decreased rCBF in the right thalamus, left anterior cingulate cortex, and bilateral inferior prefrontal cortex relative to late-onset subjects (p < .0005, uncorrected for multiple comparisons). Relative to controls, early-onset cases had decreased left anterior cingulate and right orbitofrontal rCBF, and increased rCBF in the right cerebellum, whereas late-onset subjects showed reduced right orbitofrontal rCBF and increased rCBF in the left precuneus. In early-onset subjects only, severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms correlated positively with left orbitofrontal rCBF. CONCLUSIONS: rCBF differences in frontal-subcortical circuits between early-onset and late-onset OCD subjects were found, both in location and direction of changes. These results provide preliminary evidence that brain mechanisms in OCD may differ depending on the age at which symptoms are first expressed.

Diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis by magnetic resonance imaging and polymerase chain reaction assay of cerebrospinal fluid.

The early diagnosis of herpes simplex encephalitis (HSE) is essential because early introduction of antiviral therapy can significantly reduce the mortality of this disease. Herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA detection in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples is a rapid, noninvasive, specific, and highly sensitive method for HSE diagnosis. Neurodiagnostic methods have also been studied for noninvasive diagnosis of HSE. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) seems to be the most sensitive of them but it has not been compared to PCR in terms of efficacy for HSE diagnosis. In this study, 17 patients with focal encephalitis were prospectively evaluated by PCR analysis of CSF samples and MRI examination. MRI lesions involving the inferomedial region of one or both temporal lobes were observed in all PCR-positive patients but one. No PCR-negative patient presented with the same pattern of MRI lesions. MRI was also important for the establishment of an alternative diagnosis in three of eight PCR-negative patients. Both methods should be routinely applied in the evaluation of presumed HSE cases.

CT scans of cranial tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis of the central nervous system is still an important cause of death or significant neurologic disability. Prompt diagnosis and early treatment are extremely important to reduce its morbidity and mortality. The main forms of intracranial tuberculosis are represented by tuberculous meningitis, meningeal or parenchymal tuberculomas, and tuberculous abscess formation. Sequelae consist of hydrocephalus, calcifications, and areas of encephalomalacia. Less frequent manifestations include tuberculous osteitis of the skull and tuberculous otomastoiditis. Although MR imaging is in general somewhat more sensitive to the detection of cranial tuberculosis, CT is the diagnostic imaging mainstay in many clinical settings to demonstrate the various aspects of cranial tuberculosis on initial presentation and to monitor the evolution of the disease and response to therapy.