Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS) in critically ill children is associated with clinical outcomes: a prospective longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression and catabolism syndrome (PICS) has been described in critically ill adults and may contribute to unfavourable outcomes. The present study aimed to describe and characterise PICS in critically ill children (PICS-ped) and to verify its association with clinical outcomes. METHODS: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with children aged between 3 months and 15 years. PICS-ped, based on adult definition, was described. PICS-ped was defined as PICU length of stay >14 days; C-reactive protein > 10.0 mg L-1 ; lymphocytes <25%; and any reduction of mid-upper arm circumference Z-score. Clinical, demographic, nutritional status, nutrition therapy parameters and clinical outcomes were assessed. Statistical analysis comprised Mann-Whitney and Fisher's chi-squared tests, as well as logistic and Cox regression. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In total, 153 children were included, with a median age of 51.7 months (interquartile range 15.6-123.4 months), and 60.8% male. The mortality rate was 10.5%. The prevalence of PICS-ped was 4.6%. Days using vasoactive drugs and days using antibiotics were associated with PICS-ped. PICS-ped was associated with mortality in crude (odds ratio = 6.67; P = 0.013) and adjusted analysis (odds ratio = 7.14; P = 0.017). PICS-ped was also associated with PICU and hospital length of stay, as well as duration of mechanical ventilation. Similar results were found in a subset of critically ill children who required mechanical ventilation for more than 48 h. CONCLUSIONS: Children with PICS-ped required antibiotics or vasoactive drugs for a longer period. PICS-ped was associated with poor clinical outcomes in critically ill children. More studies are needed to properly define PICS-ped for this population.

Resistive switching of silicon-silver thin film devices in flexible substrates.

Novel applications for memory devices demand nanoscale flexible structures. In particular, resistive switching (RS) devices are promising candidates for wearable and implantable technologies. Here, the Pt/Si/Ag/TiW metal-insulator-metal structure was fabricated and characterized on top of flexible substrates using a straightforward microfabrication process. We also showed that these substrates are compatible with sputtering deposition. RS was successfully achieved using both commercial cellulose cleanroom paper and bacterial cellulose, and polymer (PET) substrates. The bipolar switching behavior was observed for both flat and bent (under a radius of 3.5 mm) configurations. The observed phenomenon was explained by the formation/rupture of metallic Ag filaments in the otherwise insulating Si host layer.

A novel framework for biomedical entity sense induction.

BACKGROUND: Rapid advancements in biomedical research have accelerated the number of relevant electronic documents published online, ranging from scholarly articles to news, blogs, and user-generated social media content. Nevertheless, the vast amount of this information is poorly organized, making it difficult to navigate. Emerging technologies such as ontologies and knowledge bases (KBs) could help organize and track the information associated with biomedical research developments. A major challenge in the automatic construction of ontologies and KBs is the identification of words with its respective sense(s) from a free-text corpus. Word-sense induction (WSI) is a task to automatically induce the different senses of a target word in the different contexts. In the last two decades, there have been several efforts on WSI. However, few methods are effective in biomedicine and life sciences. METHODS: We developed a framework for biomedical entity sense induction using a mixture of natural language processing, supervised, and unsupervised learning methods with promising results. It is composed of three main steps: (1) a polysemy detection method to determine if a biomedical entity has many possible meanings; (2) a clustering quality index-based approach to predict the number of senses for the biomedical entity; and (3) a method to induce the concept(s) (i.e., senses) of the biomedical entity in a given context. RESULTS: To evaluate our framework, we used the well-known MSH WSD polysemic dataset that contains 203 annotated ambiguous biomedical entities, where each entity is linked to 2-5 concepts. Our polysemy detection method obtained an F-measure of 98%. Second, our approach for predicting the number of senses achieved an F-measure of 93%. Finally, we induced the concepts of the biomedical entities based on a clustering algorithm and then extracted the keywords of reach cluster to represent the concept. CONCLUSIONS: We have developed a framework for biomedical entity sense induction with promising results. Our study results can benefit a number of downstream applications, for example, help to resolve concept ambiguities when building Semantic Web KBs from biomedical text.

Unipolar Nonvolatile Resistive Switching in Pt/MgO/Ta/Ru Structures Deposited by Magnetron Sputtering.

The recent realization of memristors, nanodevices exhibiting non-volatile resistive switching, has sparked tremendous interest for applications in fields such as nonvolatile memories. Here we report unipolar resistive switching in Pt/MgO/Ta/Ru structures, with an oxide barrier thickness of only 15 nm. No electroforming process was required to achieve resistive switching and an ohmic conduction mechanism is associated with the ON state. We observed an inverse dependence of the ON state resistance on the SET current compliance and average values of 1.61 V and 1.38 V for the SET and RESET voltages, respectively. We show the stability of the switching for over 40 cycles and a clear separation of the ON (10¹ Ω) and OFF (10² Ω) states during at least 104 s.

Expression of insulin receptor (IR) A and B isoforms, IGF-IR, and IR/IGF-IR hybrid receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells and their role in cell migration in atherosclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Abnormal proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is a major contributor to the development of atherosclerotic process. In a previous work, we demonstrated that the insulin receptor isoform A (IRA) and its association with the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) confer a proliferative advantage to VSMCs. However, the role of IR and IGF-IR in VSMC migration remains poorly understood. METHODS: Wound healing assays were performed in VSMCs bearing IR (IRLoxP+/+ VSMCs), or not (IR-/- VSMCs), expressing IRA (IRA VSMCs) or expressing IRB (IRB VSMCs). To study the role of IR isoforms and IGF-IR in experimental atherosclerosis, we used ApoE-/- mice at 8, 12, 18 and 24 weeks of age. Finally, we analyzed the mRNA expression of total IR, IRB isoform, IGF-IR and IGFs by qRT-PCR in the medial layer of human aortas. RESULTS: IGF-I strongly induced migration of the four cell lines through IGF-IR. In contrast, insulin and IGF-II only caused a significant increase of IRA VSMC migration which might be favored by the formation of IRA/IGF-IR receptors. Additionally, a specific IGF-IR inhibitor, picropodophyllin, completely abolished insulin- and IGF-II-induced migration in IRB, but not in IRA VSMCs. A significant increase of IRA and IGF-IR, and VSMC migration were observed in fibrous plaques from 24-week-old ApoE-/- mice. Finally, we observed a marked increase of IGF-IR, IGF-I and IGF-II in media from fatty streaks as compared with both healthy aortas and fibrolipidic lesions, favoring the ability of medial VSMCs to migrate into the intima. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that overexpression of IGF-IR or IRA isoform, as homodimers or as part of IRA/IGF-IR hybrid receptors, confers a stronger migratory capability to VSMCs as might occur in early stages of atherosclerotic process.

Tuning the Stoichiometry of Ag2S Thin Films for Resistive Switching Applications.

In this work silver-rich and sulfur-rich silver sulfide (Ag2S) thin films were fabricated using a diversified set of experimental methods, namely ion beam deposition and atmosphere- and solution-based sulfurizations. The composition of the Ag2S thin films was studied using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. We found that it strongly depends on the fabrication conditions, such as sulfurization time and temperature. These conditions, in turn, affect the electrical characteristics of the thin films, namely the resistivity and resistive switching. We were able to control the Ag2S stoichiometry and infer its dependence on the fabrication parameters for all the followed methods.

Theory of mind in the early course of schizophrenia: stability, symptom and neurocognitive correlates, and relationship with functioning.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have reported links between theory of mind (ToM) deficits, neurocognition and negative symptoms with functional outcome in chronic schizophrenia patients. Although the ToM deficit has been observed in first-episode patients, fewer studies have addressed ToM as a possible trait marker, neurocognitive and symptom correlations longitudinally, and associations with later functioning. METHOD: Recent-onset schizophrenia patients (n = 77) were assessed at baseline after reaching medication stabilization, and again at 6 months (n = 48). Healthy controls (n = 21) were screened, and demographically comparable with the patients. ToM was assessed with a Social Animations Task (SAT), in which the participants' descriptions of scenes depicting abstract visual stimuli 'interacting' in three conditions (ToM, goal directed and random) were rated for degree of intentionality attributed to the figures and for appropriateness. Neurocognition, symptoms and role functioning were also assessed. RESULTS: On the SAT, patients had lower scores than controls for both intentionality (p < 0.01) and appropriateness (p < 0.01) during the ToM condition, at baseline and 6 months. The ToM deficit was stable and present even in remitted patients. Analyses at baseline and 6 months indicated that for patients, ToM intentionality and appropriateness were significantly correlated with neurocognition, negative symptoms and role functioning. The relationship between ToM and role functioning was mediated by negative symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The ToM deficit was found in recent-onset schizophrenia patients and appears to be moderately trait-like. ToM is also moderately correlated with neurocognition, negative and positive symptoms, and role functioning. ToM appears to influence negative symptoms which in turn makes an impact on role functioning.

Latent structure of cognition in schizophrenia: a confirmatory factor analysis of the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB).

BACKGROUND: The number of separable cognitive dimensions in schizophrenia has been debated. Guided by the extant factor analytic literature, the NIMH Measurement and Treatment Research to Improve Cognition in Schizophrenia (MATRICS) initiative selected seven cognitive domains relevant to treatment studies in schizophrenia: speed of processing, attention/vigilance, working memory, verbal learning, visual learning, reasoning and problem solving, and social cognition. These domains are assessed in the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). The aim of this study was to conduct a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) of the beta battery of the MCCB to compare the fit of the MATRICS consensus seven-domain model to other models in the current literature on cognition in schizophrenia. METHOD: Using data from 281 schizophrenia outpatients, we compared the seven correlated factors model with alternative models. Specifically, we compared the 7-factor model to (a) a single-factor model, (b) a three correlated factors model including speed of processing, working memory, and general cognition, and (c) a hierarchical model in which seven first-order factors loaded onto a second-order general cognitive factor. RESULTS: Multiple fit indices indicated the seven correlated factors model was the best fit for the data and provided significant improvement in model fit beyond the comparison models. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the assessment of these seven cognitive dimensions in clinical trials of interventions to improve cognition in schizophrenia. Because these cognitive factors are separable to some degree, it is plausible that specific interventions may have differential effects on the domains.

On the origin of Robertsonian fusions in nature: evidence of telomere shortening in wild house mice.

The role of telomere shortening to explain the occurrence of Robertsonian (Rb) fusions, as well as the importance of the average telomere length vs. the proportion of short telomeres, especially in nature populations, is largely unexplored. In this study, we have analysed telomere shortening in nine wild house mice from the Barcelona Rb system with diploid numbers ranging from 29 to 40 chromosomes. We also included two standard (2n=40) laboratory mice for comparison. Our data showed that the average telomere length (considering all chromosomal arms) is influenced by both the diploid number and the origin of the mice (wild vs. laboratory). In detail, we detected that wild mice from the Rb Barcelona system (fused and standard) present shorter telomeres than standard laboratory mice. However, only wild mice with Rb fusions showed a high proportion of short telomeres (only in p-arms), thus revealing the importance of telomere shortening in the origin of the Rb fusions in the Barcelona system. Overall, our study confirms that the number of critically short telomeres, and not a simple reduction in the average telomere length, is more likely to lead to the origin of Rb fusions in the Barcelona system and ultimately in nature.

p53 gene discriminates two ecologically divergent sister species of pine voles.

Genes with relevant roles in the differentiation of closely-related species are likely to have diverged simultaneously with the species and more accurately reproduce the species tree. The Lusitanian (Microtus lusitanicus) and Mediterranean (M. duodecimcostatus) pine voles are two recently separated sister species with fossorial lifestyles whose different ecological, physiological and morphological phenotypes reflect the better adaptation of M. duodecimcostatus to the underground habitat. Here we asked whether the differentiation of M. lusitanicus and M. duodecimcostatus involved genetic variations within the tumour suppressor p53 gene, given its role in stress-associated responses. We performed a population-genetic analysis through sequencing of exons and introns of p53 in individuals from sympatric and allopatric populations of both the species in the Iberian Peninsula in which a unidirectional introgression of mitochondrial DNA was previously observed. We were able to discriminate the two species to a large extent. We show that M. duodecimcostatus is composed of one genetically unstructured group of populations sharing a P53 protein that carries a mutation in the DNA-binding region not observed in M. lusitanicus, raising the possibility that this mutation may have been central in the evolutionary history of M. duodecimcostatus. Our results provide suggestive evidence for the involvement of a master transcription factor in the separation of M. lusitanicus and M. duodecimcostatus during Microtus radiation in the Quaternary presumably via a differential adaptive role of the novel p53 in M. duodecimcostatus.

CD34+ circulating progenitor cells after different training programs.

Circulating progenitor cells (CPC) are bone marrow-derived cells that are mobilized into the circulation. While exercise is a powerful mediator of hematopoiesis, CPC levels increase, and reports of their activation after different types of exercise are contradictory. Moreover, few studies have compared the possible effects of different training programs on CPC concentrations. 43 physically active healthy male subjects (age 22±2.4 years) were assigned to 4 different training groups: aerobic, resistance, mixed and control. Except for the control group, all participants trained for 6 weeks. Peripheral blood samples were collected through an antecubital vein, and CPC CD34(+) was analyzed on different days: pre-training, post-training, and 3 weeks after finishing the training period. While no significant differences in CPC were observed either within or between the different training groups, there was a tendency towards higher values post-training and large intra- and intergroup dispersion. We detected an inverse linear relationship between pre-training values and % of CPC changes post-training (p<0.001). In the CPC values 3 weeks after training this inverse relationship was maintained, though to a lower extent (p<0.001). No changes in CPC CD34(+) were detected after 6 weeks of different training groups, or after 3 weeks of follow-up.

Tailoring the Ti surface via electropolishing nanopatterning as a route to obtain highly ordered TiO2 nanotubes.

Highly ordered TiO2 nanotubes (NTs) were synthesized by the electrochemical anodization of Ti foils subjected to electropolishing (EP) pre-treatment. We found that the Ti surface roughness plays an important role in the onset of pore nucleation in enhancing the local focusing effect of the electrical field. Additionally, EP induces the formation of dimple structures on the metal surface, which can work as a pre-pattern prior to anodization. These shallow ripples lead to a preferentially ordered pore nucleation, offering an organizational improvement of the anodic oxide NTs. We found that, depending on the EP applied potential, the roughness and the spatial period of the ripple-like structures varies from 8-2 nm and from 122-30 nm, respectively. Such tuning allowed us to focus on the influence of the initial Ti pre-surface topography features on the NTs' length, organization, and hexagonal arrangement quality, as well as diameter and density. Our results show that an EP under 10 V is the most suitable to obtain a small Ti surface roughness, the largest NT length (40% enhancement), and the effective improvement of the ordered hexagonal NTs' arrays over larger areas. Furthermore, the NTs' dimensions (pore diameters and density) were also found to depend on the initial Ti surface topography. The use of optimized EP allows us to obtain highly hexagonal self-ordered samples at a reduced time and cost.

The effect of coolants on the performance of magnetic micro-refrigerators.

Magnetic refrigeration is an alternative cooling technique with envisaged technological applications on micro- and opto-electronic devices. Here, we present a magnetic micro-refrigerator cooling device with embedded micro-channels and based on the magnetocaloric effect. We studied the influence of the coolant fluid in the refrigeration process by numerically simulating the heat transfer processes using the finite element method. This allowed us to calculate the cooling power of the device. Our results show that gallium is the most efficient coolant fluid and, when used with Gd5Si2Ge2, a maximum power of 11.2 W/mm3 at a working frequency of -5 kHz can be reached. However, for operation frequencies around 50 Hz, water is the most efficient fluid with a cooling power of 0.137 W/mm3.

Co nanostructures in ordered templates: comparative FORC analysis.

A comparative study on the structural and magnetic properties of highly ordered hexagonal arrays of Co nanoholes, nanowires, nanopillars and nanotubes, with tuned pore/wire/tube diameters, is here presented. The magnetic interactions and their dependence on the geometric features of the arrays were studied using first-order reversal curves (FORCs). For all nanostructures we observe an increase of the magnetostatic interactions with the templates' pore diameter, with the higher (smaller) values found for the nanowire (nanohole) arrays. For the smallest diameters studied (35 nm), all types of arrays could be considered as almost isolated nanostructures, where local interactions prevail. In particular, both nanotube and nanohole arrays exhibit considerable local magnetostatic interactions coming from the stray fields within each void or empty core. On the other hand, the coercivity is found to decrease with diameter for the elongated nanostructures, while it increases with the pore diameter for the nanohole arrays. This behavior is associated with the magnetization reversal mechanisms present in each array. This work highlights a versatile route to tailor the size, geometrical arrangement and magnetostatic interactions of ordered arrays and demonstrates their importance for the tuning of the magnetic behavior of nanometric devices.

A combined exercise and cognitive training intervention induces fronto-cingulate cortical plasticity in first-episode psychosis patients.

OBJECTIVE: Schizophrenia (SZ) is characterized by neurobiological and associated cognitive and functional deficits, including pronounced cortical thinning, that lead to acute and long-term functional impairment. Research with older adults supports the role of non-pharmacological interventions, such as exercise (E) and cognitive training (CT), for cognitive impairments. This literature influenced the development of combined CT&E treatments for individuals with SZ. However, the impact of longer combined treatment duration (6 months) on neuroanatomy has yet to be explored in patients in the early course of the illness. The impact of adding exercise to cognitive training for key brain regions associated with higher-order cognition was examined here using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in first-episode psychosis (FEP) patients. METHODS: UCLA Aftercare Research Program patients with a recent first episode of schizophrenia were randomly assigned to either combined cognitive and exercise training (CT&E) (N = 20) or cognitive training alone (CT) (N = 17) intervention. Cortical thickness was measured longitudinally and analyzed for two regions of interest using FreeSurfer. RESULTS: Compared to patients in the CT group, those in the CT&E group demonstrated an increase in cortical thickness within the left anterior cingulate cortex over the six-month treatment period (ACC: F(1, 35) = 4.666, P < .04). Directional tendencies were similar in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC: F(1,35) = 4.132, P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that exercise and cognitive training may synergistically increase fronto-cingulate cortical thickness to mitigate progressive neural atrophy in the early course of SZ. This combined intervention appears to be a valuable adjunct to standard pharmacologic treatment in FEP patients.

Cost-utility model of new intravitreous units vs. current patient journey model in Spain.

AIM: To compare the effectiveness and costs of the implementation of the Intravitreal Therapy Unit Model, endorsed by the SERV, SECA, SEO and SEDISA, compared to the usual procedure. METHOD: Analytical decision model that compares an UTI-type healthcare organization with 4 usual practice scenarios in Spain, in terms of quality-of-life results due to loss of visual acuity and the use of resources. The probability, cost, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated for each scenario proposed. A univariate sensitivity analysis was performed for each of the parameters used in the model. RESULT: The model showed that from any of the initial scenarios of the usual practice, transitioning to the UTI-type implementation improves the quality of life of patients and requires lower cost. UTI-type is dominant respect usual practice. The sensitivity analysis showed that the results would not change sign with the variation of any starting variable. CONCLUSIONS: Shorten suspicion-needle times is key to maintaining functional vision in patients requiring intravitreal treatment. The UTI-type model seeks the efficiency of ophthalmology services and can produce savings that vary between Є175 and Є85 per patient attended per year.

Spatio-temporal variation in the structure of a chromosomal polymorphism zone in the house mouse.

Several long-term temporal analyses of the structure of Robertsonian (Rb) hybrid zones in the western house mouse, Mus musculus domesticus, have been performed. Nevertheless, the detection of gradual or very rapid variations in a zone may be overlooked when the time elapsed between periods of study is too long. The Barcelona chromosomal polymorphism zone of the house mouse covers about 5000, km(2) around the city of Barcelona and is surrounded by 40 chromosome telocentric populations. Seven different metacentrics and mice with diploid numbers between 27 and 40 chromosomes and several fusions in heterozygous state (from one to seven) have been reported. We compare the present (period 2008-2010) and past (period 1996-2000) structure of this zone before examining its dynamics in more detail. Results indicate that there is not a Rb race in this area, which is consistent with the proposal that this zone was probably originated in situ, under a primary intergradation scenario. The lack of individuals with more than five metacentrics in heterozygous state in the current period suggests that selection acted against such mice. By contrast, this situation did not occur for mice with fewer than five fusions in heterozygous condition. Changes in human activity may affect the dynamics of gene flow between subpopulations, thus altering the chromosomal composition of certain sites. Although these local variations may have modified the clinal trend for certain metacentrics, the general staggered structure of the zone has not varied significantly in a decade.

Tailoring the physical properties of thin nanohole arrays grown on flat anodic aluminum oxide templates.

The introduction of voids in a magnetic thin-film alters the stray field distribution and enables the tailoring of the corresponding physical properties. Here we present a detailed study on thin magnetic nanohole arrays (NhAs) grown on top of hexagonally-ordered anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) substrates. We address the effect of AAO topography on the corresponding electrical and magneto-transport properties. Optimization of the AAO topography led to NhAs with improved resistance and magnetoresistance responses, while retaining their most important feature of enhanced coercivity. This opens new pathways for the growth of more complex structures on AAO substrates, a crucial aspect for their technological viability.

Probing the quality of Ni filled nanoporous alumina templates by magnetic techniques.

Pulsed electrodeposition prepared porous alumina templates with Ni nanowires pore filling ranged from 1 to 100%, depending on the alumina barrier-layer thickness, were probed by continuous wave ferromagnetic resonance at room temperature. For completely filled samples, a single resonance peak was observed in the whole range of angles between the applied magnetic field and normal to the sample plane. Its position was described by Kittel formula that takes into account shape anisotropy of individual Ni wires and dipolar interactions between them. For the samples with lower pore filling the effective anisotropy field decreased and the resonance linewidth in the perpendicular configuration increased. Also a quite intense second peak was observed at lower fields for these samples. These changes are associated with reduction of pore filling percentage that can lead to decrease of dipolar interactions between nanowires and to appearance of magnetic inhomogeneities inside wires.

First Report of Sexual Reproduction of Fusarium solani f. sp. piperis in Bahia, Brazil.

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is a popular spice native of India, and Brazil is one of its most important producing countries. The main disease of black pepper in Brazil is fusariosis, caused by Fusarium solani f. sp. piperis. Symptoms include leaf chlorosis and defoliation, blight of stems or stem cuttings, and root and foot decay. During surveys conducted in the south of the state of Bahia, municipalities of Taperoá (13°34'S, 39°10'W) and Valencia (13°20'S, 39°14'W), stems of diseased plants covered with red or salmon-colored perithecia were observed, while twigs showed leaf chlorosis, leading to early death of the plants. Ascomata were solitary or in groups, mostly superficial or surrounded by mycelia, globose, subglobose, ovoid, and 122 to 400 µm diameter. Microscopic examination revealed unitunicate, cylindric asci, 60 to 90 × 8.5 to 16 µm, thin-walled, containing eight ascospores arranged obliquely in two rows. Ascospores are hyaline, elliptical to oblong, one-septate, constricted at the central septum, 10 to 16 × 4 to 6.5 µm (means ± S.D.: 13.1 ± 1.4 × 5.1 ± 0.6 µm), length/width (L/W) 1.9 to 3.7. Single-spored cultures were transferred to SNA medium (incubated at 20°C for 7 days with 12-h photoperiod) and on potato dextrose agar (25°C in dark) for characterization. The anamorph is characterized by the presence of chlamydospores, canoe-shaped sporodochial macroconidia with three to four septae, and microconidia formed on long monophialidic conidiophores. Based on morphological markers, isolates were identified as F. solani. The partial fragment of the TEF-1α gene of single-spored isolates (CML 2186, 2187, 2188, 2189, 2190, and 2191) were sequenced. BLAST analysis of the sequence resulted in 94 to 99% identity with a reference strain of F. solani f. sp. piperis (NRRL 22570, CML 1888). For pathogenicity tests, cv. Bragantina was used and two isolates were inoculated as 5-mm diameter mycelial plugs on the stem of four plants each. Four control plants were treated only with sterile culture medium. Plants were maintained in the greenhouse at 25°C and 75 to 85% relative humidity under 70% shade. All inoculated plants showed initial symptoms of stem necrosis in inoculated branches 7 days after inoculation. Symptoms were not observed on stems of control plants. Isolates were successfully reisolated and identified as F. solani f. sp. piperis, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Representative isolates were deposited at the Coleção Micológica de Lavras (CML) at Universidade Federal de Lavras, Brazil. Production of perithecia of the pathogen has been previously reported only in Pará and Espírito Santo States (1,3). It is not yet confirmed if this taxon is homothallic or heterothallic. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the associated teleomorph of F. solani f. sp. piperis infecting and causing black pepper fusariosis in Bahia, Brazil. The results suggest that the spread of ascospores from perithecia is likely to be one of the main inoculum sources of the disease on adjacent vines. There is evidence that this special form of F. solani actually represents a distinct species pathogenic to black pepper (2). References: (1) F. C. Albuquerque and S. Ferraz. Experientiae 22:133, 1976. (2) K. O'Donnell. Mycologia 92:919, 2000. (3) J. A. Ventura et al. Fitopatol. Bras. 11:361, 1986.