Functional trait diversity of Cyclanthaceae and its convergent evolution with Araceae in Neotropical forests.

The Cyclanthaceae comprise a relatively small family of about 230 species and 12 genera in the Pandanales that is widespread in wet Neotropical forests. The great majority of species can be divided into three growth forms (understory herbs, epiphytes, and root-climbing hemiepiphytes) that share functional traits with similar growth forms present in the Araceae, a member of the Alismatales and not closely related. Our objectives were first to characterize the diversity, functional growth forms, and ecological traits of Cyclanthaceae at the La Selva Biological Station. Specific functional leaf and canopy traits of terrestrial herbs and epiphytes are very similar and associated with ecological success in both families. We further examined the functional traits of root-climbing hemiepiphytes, a specialized growth form that links the two families but rare in other families and argue that their specialized functional traits allow them to be considered as a distinct functional growth form. A key trait in distinguishing hemiepiphytes which are rare outside of the Cyclanthaceae and Araceae is the severance of the main stem hydraulic connection to the soil early in plant development. We used field data to examine the possible evolutionary pathways of developmental and ecological transition from terrestrial to hemiepiphyte growth forms. The broader ecological success of hemiepiphytic Araceae compared to Cyclanthaceae is hypothesized to result from the presence of heteroblasty in developing stems and leaves which allows more efficient utilization of complex canopy light environments of wet tropical forests.

Differential Species Richness and Ecological Success of Epiphytes and Hemiepiphytes of Neotropical Araceae and Cyclanthaceae.

Numerous plant functional traits of ecophysiology and morphology associated with an epiphytic life history have promoted relatively high rates of evolutionary diversification and ecological success in tropical families such as the Orchidaeae, Polypodiaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Cactaceae. Epiphytic life histories are relatively uncommon in the Araceae and rare in the Cyclanthaceae which lack key functional traits for epiphytism. Only two lineages of Neotropical Araceae, Anthurium and Philodendron, include examples of epiphyte life histories. The evolution of a hemiepiphytic life history represented an important development for tropical Araceae by providing functional traits that have greatly expanded opportunities for adaptive radiation and ecological success as indicated by species richness and frequency of occurrence. The key adaptive trait allowing the diversification of hemiepiphytic Araceae was the development of heteroblastic growth of leaves and stems. Although hemiepiphytic life histories are present in the Cyclanthaceae, the family has undergone only modest speciation and limited ecological success in both its epiphytes and hemiepiphytes. Extensive sampling of more than 4600 trees from primary forest on four soil groups in northeastern Costa Rica have found a modest diversity of 15 species of epiphytic Araceae but only two species of epiphytic Cyclanthaceae. In contrast, 38 species of hemiepiphytic Araceae and 5 species of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae were sampled, indicating relatively limited adaptive radiation of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae and lower ecological success. Using summed values of frequency of occurrence as a measure of ecological success, epiphytic Araceae were 18 to 42 times more frequent than epiphytic Cyclanthaceae in swamp, alluvial, and residual soil forests. Summed frequencies of occurrence of hemiepiphytic Araceae were 7 to 13 times higher than those of hemiepiphytic Cyclanthaceae. The four soil groups were similar in their floristic composition of epiphytic and hemiepiphytic Araceae and Cyclanthaceae, but the frequencies of occurrence of both epiphytes and hemiepiphytes were, with few exceptions, highest on swamp soil plots, with alluvial soil plots slightly less favorable.

Royal jelly extracellular vesicles promote wound healing by modulating underlying cellular responses.

Apis mellifera royal jelly (RJ) is a well-known remedy in traditional medicine around the world and its versatile effects range from antibacterial to anti-inflammatory properties and pro-regenerative properties. As a glandular product, RJ has been shown to contain a substantial number of extracellular vesicles (EVs), and, in this study, we aimed to investigate the extent of involvement of RJEVs in wound healing-associated effects. Molecular analysis of RJEVs verified the presence of exosomal markers such as CD63 and syntenin, and cargo molecules MRJP1, defensin-1, and jellein-3. Furthermore, RJEVs were demonstrated to modulate mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation and secretome, as well as decrease LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages by blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In vivo studies confirmed antibacterial effects of RJEVs and demonstrated an acceleration of wound healing in a splinted mouse model. This study suggests that RJEVs play a crucial role in the known effects of RJ by modulating the inflammatory phase and cellular response in wound healing. Transfer of RJ into the clinics has been impeded by the high complexity of the raw material. Isolating EVs from the raw RJ decreases the complexity while allowing standardization and quality control, bringing a natural nano-therapy one step closer to the clinics.

Type I collagen hydrogels as a delivery matrix for royal jelly derived extracellular vesicles.

Throughout the last decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have become increasingly popular in several areas of regenerative medicine. Recently, Apis mellifera royal jelly EVs (RJ EVs) were shown to display favorable wound healing properties such as stimulation of mesenchymal stem cell migration and inhibition of staphylococcal biofilms. However, the sustained and effective local delivery of EVs in non-systemic approaches - such as patches for chronic cutaneous wounds - remains an important challenge for the development of novel EV-based wound healing therapies. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the suitability of type I collagen -a well-established biomaterial for wound healing - as a continuous delivery matrix. RJ EVs were integrated into collagen gels at different concentrations, where gels containing 2 mg/ml collagen were found to display the most stable release kinetics. Functionality of released RJ EVs was confirmed by assessing fibroblast EV uptake and migration in a wound healing assay. We could demonstrate reliable EV uptake into fibroblasts with a sustained pro-migratory effect for up to 7 d. Integrating fibroblasts into the RJ EV-containing collagen gel increased the contractile capacity of these cells, confirming availability of RJ EVs to fibroblasts within the collagen gel. Furthermore, EVs released from collagen gels were found to inhibit Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 biofilm formation. Overall, our results suggest that type I collagen could be utilized as a reliable, reproducible release system to deliver functional RJ EVs for wound healing therapies.

El rol del psicólogo organizacional desde la psicología de la salud / The role of the organizational psychologist from the psychology of health

Para la comprensión, análisis e investigación de los fenómenos relacionados con la salud de los trabajadores, el contexto de las organizaciones y la relación de estas con sus entornos, la Psicología de la Salud se convierte entonces, en un referente para otros campos disciplinares como la Psicología Organizacional.

For the understanding, analysis and investigation of the phenomena related to the health of the workers, the context of the organizations and the relation of these with their surroundings, the Psychology of the Health becomes then, a reference for other disciplinary fields as the Organizational psychology.

La docencia universitaria, una vivencia personal / University teaching, a personal experience

En mi experiencia profesional como psicólogo, mi que hacer siempre estuvo enfocado al desarrollo de actividades en el sector privado relacionadas con la administración y potencialización del talento humano en las organizaciones, mi proyecto de vida laboral se enfocaba hacia el crecimiento en esta área particular.

In my professional experience as a psychologist, my work was always focused on the development of activities in the private sector related to the administration and potentialization of human talent in organizations, my work life project focused on growth in this particular area.

Tratamiento intercrisis en pacientes asmáticos atendidos por médicos de familia / Intercrisis treatment in asthmatic patients being cared for family physicians

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal para evaluar el cumplimiento del tratamiento intercrisis de los 173 pacientes asmáticos dispensarizados en dos consultorios del médico de la familia del Policlínico Ignacio Agramonte del municipio Camagüey, durante el año 2003. Las historias clínicas individuales y familiares constituyeron la fuente primaria de los datos, se confeccionó una encuesta al efecto con las variables estudiadas: grupos de edades, sexo, grado de severidad, cumplimiento del tratamiento intercrisis, frecuencia de síntomas, asistencia al servicio de urgencia e ingresos hospitalarios, las que fueron procesadas automatizadamente. Predominaron los asmáticos clasificados como intermitentes leves (43.4 por ciento), el 72.3 por ciento cumplieron mal el tratamiento intercrisis y de ellos, el 28 por ciento presentaron síntomas continuos. En las casi tres cuartas partes de los asmáticos que cumplieron mal el tratamiento fueron frecuentes la presencia de síntomas, la asistencia al servicio de urgencia y los ingresos hospitalarios

Asma bronquial: algunos factores asociados a su grado de severidad / Bronchial asthma: some factors associated to its degree of severity

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal para relacionar el grado de severidad del asma bronquial y algunos factores asociados en 173 asmáticos, de los consultorios 10 y 26 del Policlínico Ignacio Agramonte del municipio Camagüey, durante el año 2003. Las variables estudiadas fueron los grupos de edades, sexo, factores contribuyentes, desencadenantes y clasificación según grado de severidad, se recogieron en una encuesta y los datos se procesaron automatizadamente. Los resultados mostraron un predominio del asma bronquial en el grupo de edades de uno a nueve años (25.43 por ciento) y de 10–19 años (23.70 por ciento); de los intermitentes leves (43.35 por ciento) y persistentes leves (21.97 por ciento), del empleo del kerosene, carbón o leña (71.09 por ciento) entre los factores contribuyentes y de los cambios climáticos (82.08 por ciento) entre los desencadenantes. La exposición al tabaquismo entre los factores contribuyentes y a los cambios climáticos, los alérgenos inhalados, los ejercicios, los alimentos y los factores psicológicos entre los desencadenantes, se relacionaron con el aumento de la severidad del asma bronquial

Validez diagnóstica de la tomografía computarizada en hematomas intracraneanos / Diagnostic validity of computerized tomography in intracranial hematomas

Los hematomas intracraneales se han constituido en un común factor de morbilidad y mortalidad. Actualmente, con la tomografía computarizada, puede facilitarse su diagnóstico y hacer más eficiente y eficaz la evaluación terapéutica del paciente. Se usó diseño transversal y observacional para determinar la validez diagnóstica de la tomografía computarizada en hematomas intracraneanos. Se estudió una muestra de 48 pacientes operados de dicha patología y que contaran con estudio tomográfico previo. El diagnóstico tomográfico para hematoma intracraneal fue corroborado con el hallazgo quirúrgico en todos los casos, en cambio el diagnóstico clínico fue confirmado sólo en el 58,3 por ciento de ellos. Se encontró una sensibilidad y especificidad para la tomografía computarizada del 100 por ciento en los hematomas epidural y subdural, y del 91,7 por ciento y 97,2 por ciento respectivamente para los hematomas intracerebrales. La tomografía computarizada es un método de diagnóstico eficaz para hematomas intracraneales, incluyendo en el acortamiento del tiempo transcurrido desde el diagnóstico de la patología hasta su manejo quirúrgico y mejorando, de esta manera, la condición alta del paciente.

Tratamiento de tinea unguis con lamisil: experiencia en Venezuela / Treatment of the tinea unguium with lamisil: experience in Venezuela

Un estudio simple, abierto, multicéntrico, se enrolaron 93 pacientes (43 varones y 48 mujeres) mayores de 18 años con tinea unguis de pies, quienes recibieron terbinafina (Lamisil), 250 mg diarios por 90 días. De ellos se aislaron 71 cepas de Trichophyton rubrum, 21 de Tr. mentagrophytes y 1 de Epidermophyton floccosum. Al término de la medicación (3 meses), se presentaron 67 pacientes, 65 de los cuales (96,5 por ciento) resultaron negativos al examen micológico. A los 3 meses de seguimiento, un paciente más resultó negativo. A los 6 meses de seguimiento, se registró recaída. Cuatro pacientes mostraron leves efectos secundarios adversos; dos de ellos se retiraron del estudio. En conclusión, pensamos que, bajo las condiciones del presente ensayo, la terbinafina (Lamisil) ha mostrado rápida e intensa actividad y alta tolerabilidad