Horismenus camobiensis (Hym Eulophidae), a new hyperparasitoid of Cotesia invirae (Hym Braconidae) in Opsiphanes invirae (Lep Nymphalidae) pupae / Horismenus camobiensis (Hym Eulophidae), um novo hiperparasitóide de Cotesia invirae (Hym Braconidae) em pupas de Opsiphanes invirae (Lep Nymphalidae)

Abstract Horismenus camobiensis sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), is described based on morphological, molecular and ecological data; this new species of chalcid wasp acts as hyperparasitoid of Opsiphanis invirae (Hübner, 1818) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in its parasitoid Cotesia invirae Salgado-Neto and Whitfield, 2019 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Diagnoses with morphological and molecular characters and illustrations are provided.

Resumo Horismenus camobiensis sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) é descrita com base em dados morfológicos, moleculares e ecológicos; esta nova espécie Chalcididae atua como hiperparasitoide de Opsiphanis invirae (Hübner, 1818) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) em pupas de seu parasitoide Cotesia invirae Salgado-Neto and Whitfield, 2019 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Caracteres diagnósticos morfológicos e moleculares e ilustrações de H. camobiensis são fornecidos.

Horismenus camobiensis (Hym.: Eulophidae), a new hyperparasitoid of Cotesia invirae (Hym.: Braconidae) in Opsiphanes invirae (Lep.: Nymphalidae) pupae

Abstract Horismenus camobiensis sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), is described based on morphological, molecular and ecological data; this new species of chalcid wasp acts as hyperparasitoid of Opsiphanis invirae (Hübner, 1818) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) in its parasitoid Cotesia invirae Salgado-Neto and Whitfield, 2019 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Diagnoses with morphological and molecular characters and illustrations are provided.

Resumo Horismenus camobiensis sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) é descrita com base em dados morfológicos, moleculares e ecológicos; esta nova espécie Chalcididae atua como hiperparasitoide de Opsiphanis invirae (Hübner, 1818) (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae) em pupas de seu parasitoide Cotesia invirae Salgado-Neto and Whitfield, 2019 (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Caracteres diagnósticos morfológicos e moleculares e ilustrações de H. camobiensis são fornecidos.

Low-dose lipopolysaccharide exposure during oocyte maturation disrupts early bovine embryonic development.

Gram-negative bacteria release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin elicits robust immune responses capable of disrupting normal ovarian function contributing to female infertility. However, effects of subclinical or non-detectable infections on oocyte competence and subsequent embryo development remain to be fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exposing bovine oocytes to low LPS doses on oocyte and embryo competence. Bovine oocytes were collected from slaughterhouse-derived ovaries and matured with vehicle-control or increasing doses of LPS (0.01, 0.1, and 1 µg/mL) for 21 h. Oocytes (n = 252) were evaluated for nuclear maturation. A set of embryos from LPS-matured oocytes (n = 300) were cultured for 8 d to evaluate day 3 cleavage rates and day 8 blastocyst rates along with blastocyst cell counts. A subset of oocytes (n = 153) was fertilized and cultured for time-lapse image capture and analysis of embryo development. Results demonstrate no significant treatment differences among treatment groups in percent of oocytes at germinal vesicle (GV; P = 0.90), germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD; P = 0.13), meiosis I (MI; P = 0.26), or metaphase II (MII; P = 0.44). Likewise, treatment differences were not observed in cleavage rates (P = 0.97), or blastocyst rates (P = 0.88) evaluated via traditional microscopy. Treatment with LPS did not affect total blastocyst cell count (P = 0.68), as indicated by trophectoderm (P = 0.83), and inner cell mass (P = 0.21) cell counts. Time-lapse embryo evaluation demonstrated no differences among control or LPS matured oocytes in number of zygotes that did not cleave after fertilization (P = 0.84), or those that cleaved but arrested at the 2-cell stage (P = 0.50), 4-cell (P = 0.76), prior to morula (P = 0.76). However, embryos derived from oocytes challenged with 0.1 µg/mL LPS tended to have reduced development to the morula stage compared with vehicle-treated controls (P = 0.06). Additionally, the percentage of blastocysts derived from oocytes matured in 0.01 µg/mL LPS tended to decrease compared to vehicle-treated controls (11.38 and 25.45 %, respectively; P = 0.09). Similarly, the proportion of oocytes that developed to the blastocyst stage was greater in vehicle-treated controls (25.45 %) compared with embryos derived from oocytes matured in 0.1 and 1 µg/mL (5.92 and 6.55 %, respectively; P = 0.03) LPS. These data suggest LPS-matured oocytes that subsequently underwent in vitro fertilization, experienced decreased competence to develop to the blastocyst stage.

Treatment of pectus excavatum with vacuum bell during puberty. / Tratamiento del pectus excavatum con campana de succión durante la pubertad.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of the vacuum bell during puberty, according to the daily hours of use and treatment duration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients treated with vacuum bell during puberty in the 2010-2021 period was carried out. Several variables were collected, including baseline and final sinking, repaired sinking expressed in cm and as a percentage from baseline sinking, daily hours of use, treatment duration, and complications. Patients were categorized into groups according to the daily hours of use (≤ 3 hours; 4-5 hours; ≥ 6 hours) and treatment duration (6-12 months; 13-24 months; 25-36 months; > 36 months), and they were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 50 patients -41 male and 9 female- were studied, with a mean age of 12.5 years (range: 10-14 years). No significant differences among groups were observed in terms of baseline sinking, thoracic index, and final sinking. Repaired sinking did increase with the daily hours of use, with significant differences. Complications were mild. 3 patients withdrew from follow-up, and 5 out of the 25 patients who completed treatment achieved a good repair. CONCLUSIONS: To increase treatment efficacy, the vacuum bell should be used for 6 hours/day during puberty. This method is well-tolerated, causes mild complications, and may be an alternative to surgery in some cases.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la eficacia de la campana de succión durante la pubertad, según las horas diarias de uso y la duración del tratamiento. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Se evaluaron retrospectivamente los pacientes tratados con campana de succión durante la pubertad en el periodo 2010-2021. Se recogieron diferentes variables, incluyendo el hundimiento inicial y final, el hundimiento corregido expresado en centímetros y en porcentaje con respecto al hundimiento inicial, las horas diarias de uso, la duración del tratamiento y las complicaciones. Se categorizaron los pacientes en grupos según las horas diarias de uso (≤ 3 horas; 4-5 horas; ≥ 6 horas) y la duración del tratamiento (6-12 meses; 13-24 meses; 25-36 meses; > 36 meses), y se analizaron estadísticamente. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron un total de 50 pacientes; 41 varones y 9 mujeres, con una edad media de 12,5 años (rango 10-14 años). No se observaron diferencias significativas entre los diferentes grupos en relación con el hundimiento inicial, el índice torácico y el hundimiento final. El hundimiento corregido aumentó en relación con las horas diarias de uso, con diferencias significativas. Las complicaciones fueron leves, 3 pacientes abandonaron el seguimiento y 5 pacientes de los 25 que finalizaron el tratamiento, alcanzaron una buena corrección. CONCLUSIONES: Para aumentar la eficacia del tratamiento, el tiempo de uso de la campana de succión durante la pubertad debería alcanzar las 6 horas diarias. Este método es bien tolerado, presenta leves complicaciones y puede ser una alternativa a la cirugía en algunos casos.

Epidemiology of ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia in Spain: A cross-sectional study.

INTRODUCTION: Ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia are rare neurodegenerative syndromes. We aimed to determine the prevalence of these disorders in Spain in 2019. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, multicentre, retrospective, descriptive study of patients with ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia in Spain between March 2018 and December 2019. RESULTS: We gathered data from a total of 1933 patients from 11 autonomous communities, provided by 47 neurologists or geneticists. Mean (SD) age in our sample was 53.64 (20.51) years; 938 patients were men (48.5%) and 995 were women (51.5%). The genetic defect was unidentified in 920 patients (47.6%). A total of 1371 patients (70.9%) had ataxia and 562 (29.1%) had hereditary spastic paraplegia. Prevalence rates for ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia were estimated at 5.48 and 2.24 cases per 100 000 population, respectively. The most frequent type of dominant ataxia in our sample was SCA3, and the most frequent recessive ataxia was Friedreich ataxia. The most frequent type of dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia in our sample was SPG4, and the most frequent recessive type was SPG7. CONCLUSIONS: In our sample, the estimated prevalence of ataxia and hereditary spastic paraplegia was 7.73 cases per 100 000 population. This rate is similar to those reported for other countries. Genetic diagnosis was not available in 47.6% of cases. Despite these limitations, our study provides useful data for estimating the necessary healthcare resources for these patients, raising awareness of these diseases, determining the most frequent causal mutations for local screening programmes, and promoting the development of clinical trials.

Bacteria associated with apical periodontitis promotes in vitro the differentiation of macrophages to osteoclasts.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the possible in vitro effect of the cytokine RANKL and bacteria involved in apical periodontitis on the differentiation of macrophages into osteoclasts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Bacteria were isolated (mainly E. faecium and E. faecalis) from the root canal of fifty patients with apical periodontitis, the possible effect of these bacteria on the phagocytic activity of the monocyte cell line THP-1 was analyzed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the effect of these bacteria (alone or in combination with the cytokine RANKL) on the differentiation of THP-1 macrophages into osteoclasts was analyzed through the expression of the receptor RANK and the tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase TRAP. Finally, the release of different cytokines (IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-12p70) by THP-1 cells induced to differentiate into osteoclasts was also analyzed. RESULTS: We observed a significant proportion of THP-1 cells were able to internalize E. faecium and E. faecalis. Furthermore, these bacteria were able to induce (alone or in combination with RANKL) a significant expression of RANK by THP-1 macrophages; accordingly, E. faecium and E. faecalis induced very significant levels of TRAP in these cells. Finally, during the differentiation of THP-1 macrophages induced by RANKL or bacteria, a significant release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α was observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our data suggest that the causative agents of apical periodontitis can induce the differentiation of osteoclasts as well as the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, phenomena that may have an important role in the bone damage observed in this condition.

Inheritance of seedlessness and the molecular characterization of the INO gene in Annonaceae / Herança da ausência de sementes e a caracterização molecular do gene INO em Annonaceae

The inheritance of the seedless fruit characteristic of Annona squamosa has not yet been explained. Molecular techniques may aid breeding programs, mainly in the assisted selection of the target gene. The INO gene may be related to seed development in these fruits. The objective of the present paper was to investigate the inheritance of seedlessness in the 'Brazilian seedless' sugar apple and INO gene conservation in Annona squamosa and Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa genotypes by assessing their homology with the INO database genes. The F1 generation was obtained by crossing the mutant 'Brazilian seedless' (male genitor) (P1) with the wild-type A. squamosa with seeds (M1 and M2, female genitors). The INO gene was studied in mutant and wild-type A. squamosa (P1, M1, M2 and M3) and in the Gefner atemoya (A. cherimola x A. squamosa) (M4) cultivar. The DNA was extracted from young leaves, and four sets of specific primers flanking the INO gene were amplified. The seedless characteristic was identified as stenospermatic in the fruits of parental P1, suggesting monogenic inheritance with complete dominance. High sequence similarity of the INO gene amplifications in the sugar apple accessions (M1, M2, M3) and the atemoya cultivar Gefner (M4) reinforces the hypothesis of their conservation.

A herança da característica de fruto sem sementes de Annona squamosa ainda não foi esclarecida. Técnicas moleculares podem auxiliar em programas de melhoramento, principalmente na seleção assistida do gene de interesse. O gene INO pode estar relacionado ao desenvolvimento da semente dessas frutas. O objetivo foi investigar a herança da ausência de sementes em Annona squamosa e a conservação do gene INO nos genótipos Annona squamosa e Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa avaliando sua homologia com banco de dados de genes INO. A geração F1 foi obtida pelo cruzamento do mutante 'Brazilian seedless' (genitor masculino) (P1) com o tipo selvagem com sementes (A. squamosa) (M1 e M2, genitores femininos). O gene INO foi estudado em A. squamosa, mutante e selvagem (P1, M1, M2 e M3) e na cultivar Gefner atemoya (A. cherimola x A. squamosa) (M4). O DNA foi extraído de folhas jovens, e quatro conjuntos de primers específicos flanqueando o gene INO foram amplificados. A característica sem sementes foi identificada como estenospermática nos frutos do parental P1, sugerindo herança monogênica com dominância completa. A alta similaridade de sequência das amplificações do gene INO nos acessos de pinha (M1, M2, M3) e na cultivar de atemóia Gefner (M4) reforça a hipótese de sua conservação.

Inheritance of seedlessness and the molecular characterization of the INO gene in Annonaceae

Abstract The inheritance of the seedless fruit characteristic of Annona squamosa has not yet been explained. Molecular techniques may aid breeding programs, mainly in the assisted selection of the target gene. The INO gene may be related to seed development in these fruits. The objective of the present paper was to investigate the inheritance of seedlessness in the 'Brazilian seedless' sugar apple and INO gene conservation in Annona squamosa and Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa genotypes by assessing their homology with the INO database genes. The F1 generation was obtained by crossing the mutant 'Brazilian seedless' (male genitor) (P1) with the wild-type A. squamosa with seeds (M1 and M2, female genitors). The INO gene was studied in mutant and wild-type A. squamosa (P1, M1, M2 and M3) and in the Gefner atemoya (A. cherimola x A. squamosa) (M4) cultivar. The DNA was extracted from young leaves, and four sets of specific primers flanking the INO gene were amplified. The seedless characteristic was identified as stenospermatic in the fruits of parental P1, suggesting monogenic inheritance with complete dominance. High sequence similarity of the INO gene amplifications in the sugar apple accessions (M1, M2, M3) and the atemoya cultivar Gefner (M4) reinforces the hypothesis of their conservation.

Resumo A herança da característica de fruto sem sementes de Annona squamosa ainda não foi esclarecida. Técnicas moleculares podem auxiliar em programas de melhoramento, principalmente na seleção assistida do gene de interesse. O gene INO pode estar relacionado ao desenvolvimento da semente dessas frutas. O objetivo foi investigar a herança da ausência de sementes em Annona squamosa e a conservação do gene INO nos genótipos Annona squamosa e Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa avaliando sua homologia com banco de dados de genes INO. A geração F1 foi obtida pelo cruzamento do mutante 'Brazilian seedless' (genitor masculino) (P1) com o tipo selvagem com sementes (A. squamosa) (M1 e M2, genitores femininos). O gene INO foi estudado em A. squamosa, mutante e selvagem (P1, M1, M2 e M3) e na cultivar Gefner atemoya (A. cherimola x A. squamosa) (M4). O DNA foi extraído de folhas jovens, e quatro conjuntos de primers específicos flanqueando o gene INO foram amplificados. A característica sem sementes foi identificada como estenospermática nos frutos do parental P1, sugerindo herança monogênica com dominância completa. A alta similaridade de sequência das amplificações do gene INO nos acessos de pinha (M1, M2, M3) e na cultivar de atemóia Gefner (M4) reforça a hipótese de sua conservação.

Inheritance of seedlessness and the molecular characterization of the INO gene in Annonaceae / Herança da ausência de sementes e a caracterização molecular do gene INO em Annonaceae

Abstract The inheritance of the seedless fruit characteristic of Annona squamosa has not yet been explained. Molecular techniques may aid breeding programs, mainly in the assisted selection of the target gene. The INO gene may be related to seed development in these fruits. The objective of the present paper was to investigate the inheritance of seedlessness in the 'Brazilian seedless' sugar apple and INO gene conservation in Annona squamosa and Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa genotypes by assessing their homology with the INO database genes. The F1 generation was obtained by crossing the mutant 'Brazilian seedless' (male genitor) (P1) with the wild-type A. squamosa with seeds (M1 and M2, female genitors). The INO gene was studied in mutant and wild-type A. squamosa (P1, M1, M2 and M3) and in the Gefner atemoya (A. cherimola x A. squamosa) (M4) cultivar. The DNA was extracted from young leaves, and four sets of specific primers flanking the INO gene were amplified. The seedless characteristic was identified as stenospermatic in the fruits of parental P1, suggesting monogenic inheritance with complete dominance. High sequence similarity of the INO gene amplifications in the sugar apple accessions (M1, M2, M3) and the atemoya cultivar Gefner (M4) reinforces the hypothesis of their conservation.

Resumo A herança da característica de fruto sem sementes de Annona squamosa ainda não foi esclarecida. Técnicas moleculares podem auxiliar em programas de melhoramento, principalmente na seleção assistida do gene de interesse. O gene INO pode estar relacionado ao desenvolvimento da semente dessas frutas. O objetivo foi investigar a herança da ausência de sementes em Annona squamosa e a conservação do gene INO nos genótipos Annona squamosa e Annona cherimola x Annona squamosa avaliando sua homologia com banco de dados de genes INO. A geração F1 foi obtida pelo cruzamento do mutante 'Brazilian seedless' (genitor masculino) (P1) com o tipo selvagem com sementes (A. squamosa) (M1 e M2, genitores femininos). O gene INO foi estudado em A. squamosa, mutante e selvagem (P1, M1, M2 e M3) e na cultivar Gefner atemoya (A. cherimola x A. squamosa) (M4). O DNA foi extraído de folhas jovens, e quatro conjuntos de primers específicos flanqueando o gene INO foram amplificados. A característica sem sementes foi identificada como estenospermática nos frutos do parental P1, sugerindo herança monogênica com dominância completa. A alta similaridade de sequência das amplificações do gene INO nos acessos de pinha (M1, M2, M3) e na cultivar de atemóia Gefner (M4) reforça a hipótese de sua conservação.

Postoperative hyperlipasemia in perforated appendicitis in children. / Hiperlipasemia posoperatoria en apendicitis perforada en niños.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the hyperlipasemia cases detected in the postoperative period of perforated appendicitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the perforated appendicitis cases occurred in our institution over a 7-year period (2013-2019) was carried out. Only cases where preoperative and postoperative serum lipase levels were available were included. The variables collected were statistically assessed by means of a descriptive, univariate analysis. RESULTS: A total of 88 patients were studied. They were divided into 3 groups according to postoperative lipase levels - 57 were allocated to Group 1 (lipase: 70-194.0 U/L, normal range), 20 were allocated to Group 2 (lipase: 195-582 U/L), and 11 were allocated to Group 3 (lipase: > 582 U/L, which triples normal levels). Statistically significant differences were found in the following variables: sex, postoperative abscess, postoperative subocclusion/intestinal occlusion, preoperative lipase levels, days of parenteral nutrition, days of ICU stay, and days of hospital stay. Postoperative lipase had a moderate correlation with preoperative lipase, and none of the cases met acute pancreatitis diagnostic criteria. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperlipasemia in the postoperative period of perforated appendicitis is not associated with developing clinical pancreatitis, but it is associated with worse progression in terms of increased complications, such as subocclusion/intestinal occlusion and intra-abdominal abscess, and longer ICU stay, hospital stay, and parenteral nutrition. There is a moderate correlation between preoperative and postoperative lipase, which means they could both prove useful as prognostic markers.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo del estudio es evaluar los casos de hiperlipasemia detectados en el posoperatorio de la apendicitis perforada. MATERIAL Y METODO: Se evaluaron retrospectivamente los casos de apendicitis perforada en nuestro centro durante 7 años (2013-2019), seleccionando aquellos con mediciones preoperatorias y posoperatorias de lipasa sérica. Las diferentes variables recogidas se analizaron estadísticamente de manera descriptiva y univariante. RESULTADOS: Se estudiaron un total de 88 pacientes que se dividieron en tres grupos según el valor de la lipasa posoperatoria: 57 corresponden al grupo 1 (lipasa 70-194 U/L, rango normal), 20 al grupo 2 (lipasa 195-582 U/L) y 11 al grupo 3 (lipasa > 582 U/L, valor tres veces por encima del normal). Las variables que mostraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas fueron el sexo, el absceso posoperatorio, la suboclusión/oclusión intestinal posoperatoria, la lipasa preoperatoria, los días de nutrición parenteral, los días de ingreso en UCI y los días de estancia hospitalaria. La lipasa posoperatoria mostró una correlación moderada con la lipasa preoperatoria y ningún caso cumplió criterios diagnósticos de pancreatitis aguda. CONCLUSIONES: La hiperlipasemia en el posoperatorio de la apendicitis perforada no se asocia al desarrollo de pancreatitis clínica, pero sí se asocia a una peor evolución en relación con un aumento de complicaciones, como la suboclusión/oclusión intestinal y el absceso intraabdominal, y un mayor número de días de ingreso en UCI, de días de nutrición parenteral y de estancia hospitalaria. Existe una moderada correlación entre la lipasa preoperatoria y posoperatoria, de modo que ambas podrían ser útiles como marcadores pronósticos.