Visual acuity of the summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) captures spatial information relevant to dynamic camouflage at close range.

Dynamic camouflage is the capacity to rapidly change skin color and pattern, often for the purpose of background-matching camouflage. Summer flounder (Paralichthys dentatus) are demersal fish with an exceptional capacity for dynamic camouflage, but with eyes that face away from the substrate, it is unknown if this behavior is mediated by vision. Past studies have shown that summer flounder skin can match the pattern (i.e., spatial detail) of substrate with a high degree of precision, and for that to be achieved using sight, one testable assumption is that the resolution of vision must match the degree of detail produced in color-change performance. To test this, approaches in morphology and behavior were used to estimate visual acuity, which is the capacity of the visual system to resolve static spatial detail. Using image processing techniques, we then compared the degree of spatial detail from a relevant substrate with what may be detectable by summer flounder spatial vision. The morphological and behavioral estimates of visual acuity were calculated as 3.62 cycles per degree (CPD) ± 0.8 (s.d.) and 4.06 CPD ± 0.4 (s.d.), respectively. These estimates fall within a range of acuities known among other flatfishes and appear adequate for detecting the spatial information needed for background-matching camouflage, though only at close distances. These data provide new knowledge about summer flounder visual acuity and suggest the capacity of flounder vision to support dynamic camouflage of the skin.

Pulsed Electric Field-Assisted Extraction of Inulin from Ecuadorian Cabuya (Agave americana).

Inulin is a carbohydrate that belongs to fructans; due to its health benefits, it is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this research, cabuya (Agave americana) was employed to obtain inulin by pulsed electric field-assisted extraction (PEFAE) and FTIR analysis confirmed its presence. The influence of PEFAE operating parameters, namely, electric field strength (1, 3 and 5 kV/cm), pulse duration (0.1, 0.2 and 0.5 ms), number of pulses (10,000, 20,000 and 40,000) and work cycle (20, 50 and 80%) on the permeabilization index and energy expenditure were tested. Also, once the operating conditions for PEFAE were set, the temperature for conventional extraction (CE) and PEFAE were defined by comparing extraction kinetics. The cabuya meristem slices were exposed to PEFAE to obtain extracts that were quantified, purified and concentrated. The inulin was isolated by fractional precipitation with ethanol to be characterized. The highest permeabilization index and the lowest energy consumption were reached at 5 kV/cm, 0.5 ms, 10,000 pulses and 20%. The same extraction yield and approximately the same amount of inulin were obtained by PEFAE at 60 °C compared to CE at 80 °C. Despite, the lower amount of inulin obtained by PEFAE in comparison to CE, its quality was better because it is mainly constituted of inulin of high average polymerization degree with more than 38 fructose units. In addition, TGA analyses showed that inulin obtained by PEFAE has a lower thermal degradation rate than the obtained by CE and to the standard.

Infection-Associated Glomerulonephritis.

The nephritic syndrome has been associated with a wide variety of infections, spanning many organisms and myriad clinical presentations. Infection-associated glomerulonephritis is challenging to diagnose given the many confounding factors linking kidney injury to infection; however, urine microscopy can assist in identifying abnormal cellular elements suggestive of glomerulonephritis. Kidney biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing the underlying pathologic lesion. Treatment of infection-associated glomerulonephritis centers around aggressive and complete treatment of the underlying infectious driver. It is often hard to know exactly when immunosuppression may be required in addition to treating the infection.

Effect of hydroxyapatite nanoparticles coating of titanium surface on biofilm adhesion: An in vitro study.

AIM: To evaluate the adhesion of mono and duospecies biofilm on a commercially available dental implant surface coated with hydroxyapatite nanoparticles (nanoHA). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Titanium discs were divided into two groups: double acid-etched (AE) and AE coated with nanoHA (NanoHA). Surface characteristics evaluated were morphology, topography, and wettability. Mono and duospecies biofilms of Streptococcus sanguinis (S. sanguinis) and Candida albicans (C. albicans) were formed. Discs were exposed to fetal bovine serum (FBS) to form the pellicle. Biofilm was growth in RPMI1640 medium with 10% FBS and 10% BHI medium for 6 h. Microbial viability was evaluated using colony-forming unit and metabolic activity by a colorimetric assay of the tetrazolium salt XTT. Biofilm architecture and organization were evaluated by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: AE surface had more pores, while NanoHA had even nanoHA crystals distribution. Roughness was similar (AE: 0.59 ± 0.07 µm, NanoHA: 0.69 ± 0.18 µm), but wettability was different (AE: Θw= 81.79 ± 8.55°, NanoHA: Θw= 53.26 ± 11.86°; P = 0.01). NanoHA had lower S. sanguinis viability in monospecies biofilm (P = 0.007). Metabolic activity was similar among all biofilms. In SEM both surfaces on C. albicans biofilm show a similar distribution of hyphae in mono and duospecies biofilms. AE surface has more S. sanguinis than the NanoHA surface in the duospecies biofilm. CLSM showed a large proportion of live cells in all groups. CONCLUSIONS: The nanoHA surface reduced the adhesion of S. sanguinis biofilm but did not alter the adhesion of C. albicans or the biofilm formed by both species.

Dental implant and abutment in PEEK: stress assessment in single crown retainers on anterior region.

OBJECTIVE: Stress distribution assessment by finite elements analysis in poly(etheretherketone) (PEEK) implant and abutment as retainers of single crowns in the anterior region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five 3D models were created, varying implant/abutment manufacturing materials: titanium (Ti), zirconia (Zr), pure PEEK (PEEKp), carbon fiber-reinforced PEEK (PEEKc), glass fiber-reinforced PEEK (PEEKg). A 50 N load was applied 30o off-axis at the incisal edge of the upper central incisor. The Von Mises stress (σvM) was evaluated on abutment, implant/screw, and minimum principal stress (σmin) and maximum shear stress (τmax) for cortical and cancellous bone. RESULTS: The abutment σvM lowest stress was observed in PEEKp group, being 70% lower than Ti and 74% than Zr. On the implant, PEEKp reduced 68% compared to Ti and a 71% to Zr. In the abutment screws, an increase of at least 33% was found in PEEKc compared to Ti, and of at least 81% to Zr. For cortical bone, the highest τmax values were in the PEEKp group, and a slight increase in stress was observed compared to all PEEK groups with Ti and Zr. For σmin, the highest stress was found in the PEEKc. Stress increased at least 7% in cancellous bone for all PEEK groups. CONCLUSION: Abutments and implants made by PEEKc concentrate less σvM stress, transmitting greater stress to the cortical and medullary bone. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The best stress distribution in PEEKc components may contribute to decreased stress shielding; in vitro and in vivo research is recommended to investigate this.

A Rare Case of Hydralazine-Induced Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage.

Hydralazine-induced anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) vasculitis may occur any time after hydralazine initiation. General internists should recognize diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) as a rare complication of this condition, as early treatment reduces the associated high risk of mortality. We describe the case of an 82-year-old female with diastolic heart failure who presented with a one-month history of worsening dyspnea on exertion and a one-week history of scant hemoptysis and fatigue. Her medications included aspirin and hydralazine. She was hypoxic with bilateral expiratory wheezes on exam. Labs showed new anemia, elevated creatinine, proteinuria, and hematuria. Chest computed tomography showed asymmetric bilateral upper lobe ground-glass attenuation superimposed on interlobular septal thickening and intralobular lines. Further testing showed anti-nuclear antibody, positive ANCA, perinuclear ANCA (p-ANCA), and anti-myeloperoxidase ANCA (anti-MPO-ANCA). Renal biopsy revealed MPO-ANCA, pauci-immune, necrotizing, and crescentic glomerulonephritis. She was diagnosed with DAH secondary to hydralazine-induced ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Hydralazine is an anti-hypertensive medication with known potential for autoimmune reactions. Of these, AAV is a rare sequela mediated by anti-MPO and most commonly affects the kidneys. In rare circumstances, patients with AAV can develop pulmonary-renal syndrome, resulting in both glomerulonephritis and DAH with an associated high risk of mortality. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion in patients with acute kidney injury of unclear etiology. Early diagnosis through immune work-up and kidney biopsy should be pursued, as prompt recognition of the vasculitis, cessation of hydralazine, immunosuppression, and early plasma exchange are essential to an improved prognosis.

Trends in the Consumption of Antidepressant Drugs before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Canary Islands, Spain: The Case of the Province of Las Palmas.

The use of antidepressants (ADs) has increased significantly as a result of COVID-19 and its consequences. However, there are some notable differences in the relative levels of use between geographical areas and population groups. The aim of this work is to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the consumption of ADs in the Canary Islands, focusing on the islands of Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote, by analyzing the trends in prescriptions of ADs during the pandemic period (2020) compared to the pre-pandemic period (2016-2020). Data were extracted from the community pharmacy wholesaler at a population level. Consumption patterns are expressed as the number of defined daily doses per 1000 inhabitant/day. The overall consumption of DIDs was higher in Gran Canaria, mainly in urban areas and the capital. It was similar in both Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, but particularly localized in the capital, which are considered semi-urban areas. Lanzarote and Fuerteventura present the same pattern of prescription ADs use, whereas Gran Canaria is notably different. This finding was also observed in the more consumed active pharmaceutical ingredients, although small inter-island variations in the ranking and percentages were observed. Sertraline and escitalopram are two of the most prescribed N06AB ADs, whereas the most recent N06AX ADs such as venlafaxine, mirtazapine and desvenlafaxine are more commonly prescribed. These differences in prescription ADs can be explained by demographical characteristics, population size, the fact of living in an urban area and general medical practice. In this context, the COVID-19 pandemic did not have an impact on the overall trend of the use of ADs between 2016 and 2020 in the islands under study.

Kidney Disease Progression in Membranous Nephropathy among Black Participants with High-Risk APOL1 Genotype.

BACKGROUND: Disparity in CKD progression among Black individuals persists in glomerular diseases. Genetic variants in the apolipoprotein L1 ( APOL1 ) gene in the Black population contribute to kidney disease, but the influence in membranous nephropathy remains unknown. METHODS: Longitudinally followed participants enrolled in the Glomerular Disease Collaborative Network or Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network were included if they had DNA or genotyping available for APOL1 (Black participants with membranous nephropathy) or had membranous nephropathy but were not Black. eGFR slopes were estimated using linear mixed-effects models with random effects and adjusting for covariates and interaction terms of covariates. Fisher exact test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Kaplan-Meier curves with log-rank tests were used to compare groups. RESULTS: Among 118 Black membranous nephropathy participants, 16 (14%) had high-risk APOL1 genotype (two risk alleles) and 102 (86%) had low-risk APOL1 genotype (zero or one risk alleles, n =53 and n =49, respectively). High-risk APOL1 membranous nephropathy participants were notably younger at disease onset than low-risk APOL1 and membranous nephropathy participants that were not Black ( n =572). eGFR at disease onset was not different between groups, although eGFR decline (slope) was steeper in participants with high-risk APOL1 genotype (-16±2 [±SE] ml/min per 1.73 m 2 per year) compared with low-risk APOL1 genotype (-4±0.8 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 per year) or membranous nephropathy participants that did not identify themselves as Black (-2.0±0.4 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 per year) ( P <0.0001). Time to kidney failure was faster in the high-risk APOL1 genotype than low-risk APOL1 genotype or membranous nephropathy participants that were not Black. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of high-risk APOL1 variant among Black membranous nephropathy participants is comparable with the general Black population (10%-15%), yet the high-risk genotype was associated with worse eGFR decline and faster time to kidney failure compared with low-risk genotype and participants that were not Black.

Clinical performance of short and extrashort dental implants with wide diameter: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Rehabilitation with wide-diameter reduced-length implants has become popular for patients with minimal vertical bone. However, a consensus on the benefits of this approach is lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to evaluate the influence of wide compared with regular diameter on the clinical performance of short (<10 mm) and extrashort (≤6 mm) dental implants used for rehabilitations with single crowns, fixed partial dentures, or both, in the posterior region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A search in 6 databases was conducted to select randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and nonrandomized controlled trials (N-RCTs). Five meta-analyses were performed, where the risk ratio (RR) was evaluated. The certainty of evidence was evaluated, and the risk of bias was determined from the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist. RESULTS: Fourteen articles were included, 272 wide- and 478 regular-diameter implants. One study presented a low, 3 an unclear, and 11 a high risk of bias. Meta-analyses showed no statistical difference: implant survival, short dental implants in N-RCTs (up to 1 year - RR 1.01 [0.98; 1.03], 1 to 5 years - RR 1.01 [0.94; 1.08], more than 5 years - RR 1.01 [0.97; 1.06]), extrashort dental implants in N-RCTs (RR 1.04 [0.90; 1.20]), RCTs (RR 1.05 [0.88; 1.25]); implant success in N-RCTs (RR 1.01 [0.97; 1.05]); prosthesis success in N-RCTs (RR 1.01 [0.97; 1.05]). CONCLUSIONS: Short and extrashort dental implants with a wide and regular diameter appear to be clinically appropriate options for implant-supported posterior restorations, with high survival, success, and prosthesis success rates.

Influence of diameter in the stress distribution of extra-short dental implants under axial and oblique load: a finite element analysis

Aim: This study evaluated the influence of a wide diameter on extra-short dental implant stress distribution as a retainer for single implant-supported crowns in the atrophic mandible posterior region under axial and oblique load. Methods: Four 3D digital casts of an atrophic mandible, with a single implant-retained crown with a 3:1 crown-to-implant ratio, were created for finite element analysis. The implant diameter used was either 4 mm (regular) or 6 mm (wide), both with 5 mm length. A 200 N axial or 30º oblique load was applied to the mandibular right first molar occlusal surface. The equivalent von Mises stress was recorded for the abutment and implant, minimum principal stress, and maximum shear stress for cortical and cancellous bone. Results: Oblique load increased the stress in all components when compared to axial load. Wide diameter implants showed a decrease of von Mises stress around 40% in both load directions at the implant, and an increase of at least 3.6% at the abutment. Wide diameter implants exhibited better results for cancellous bone in both angulations. However, in the cortical bone, the minimum principal stress was at least 66% greater for wide than regular diameter implants, and the maximum shear stress was more than 100% greater. Conclusion: Extra-short dental implants with wide diameter result in better biomechanical behavior for the implant, but the implications of a potential risk of overloading the cortical bone and bone loss over time, mainly under oblique load, should be investigated

Patient-reported outcome measures and clinical performance of implant-retained mandibular overdentures with stud and ball attachments: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Evidence regarding the retention system for a mandibular overdenture is important for treatment planning. However, the clinical performance of stud and ball attachments for mandibular overdenture retainers is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the clinical performance and self-reported patient outcomes of ball and stud attachments as mandibular overdenture retainers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Randomized (RCTs) and nonrandomized (N-RCTs) controlled clinical trials were selected based on the eligibility criteria. The risk of bias was assessed by using the Cochrane Collaboration Tools, and the certainty of the evidence (COE) by using the grades of recommendation, assessment, development, and evaluation (GRADE) workshop approach. Meta-analyses according to the follow-up period were performed for implant survival, prosthetic maintenance and complications, bleeding on probing (BoP), marginal bone loss (MBL), satisfaction, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL). RESULTS: Thirteen RCTs and 4 N-RCTs were included. Twelve studies presented a high risk of bias. The stud demonstrated a lower risk ratio (RR) (P<.001) for maintenance and complications concerning the need for matrix activation (RR 7.12 [2.65, 19.15]) (very low COE) and new overdentures (RR 2.47 [1.02, 5.96]) (moderate COE), ranging from 1 to 5 years of follow-up. Mean difference (MD) for MBL after 1 (MD 0.40 [0.28, 0.52]; P<.001) and 5 years (MD 0.18 [0.16, 0.20]; P<.001) was higher for ball attachments than that for stud (very low COE) attachments. Stud attachments also improved satisfaction (P<.001) when compared with ball attachments (very low COE). Implant survival rate (high COE), BoP (very low COE), and OHRQoL (low COE) were similar for the attachments. CONCLUSIONS: Stud and ball attachments are clinically appropriate options as mandibular overdenture retainers and are capable of restoring OHRQoL. Nevertheless, the stud showed greater improvement in satisfaction and less prosthetic aftercare and MBL.

Implant-supported crowns with locking taper implant-abutment connection: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Implant-supported single crowns are more prone to screw loosening than splinted prostheses. Therefore, the locking taper system, which has a screwless abutment, may perform better when associated with this type of rehabilitation. However, systematic reviews on this system are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the clinical performance and complications of single crowns retained by the locking taper system. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This systematic review was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under CRD42020189921. An electronic search was made in 5 databases and 3 other sources up to February 2021 to select prospective clinical studies evaluating the performance of single crowns retained by the locking taper system by using the outcomes implant survival, success rate, complications, marginal bone loss (MBL), and prosthesis success rate. Four meta-analyses grouped according to the follow-up intervals were performed. The risk of bias of the selected studies was evaluated by using the RoB 2 checklist for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and Downs and Black for uncontrolled studies. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included: 9 prospective cohort studies and 3 RCTs. A survival rate of 99% (98% to 99%) and a success rate of 97% (92% to 99%) after 5 years were found. Of the total, 2.6% biological and 2.9% prosthetic complications were described. The prosthesis success rate was 97% (96% to 98%) after 5 years. An average of -0.73 mm (-0.93 to -0.52) was found for the MBL after 5 years. The risk-of-bias assessment showed 2 RCTs with high risk and 1 RCT with low risk of bias. Among uncontrolled studies, 2 were classified as poor and 7 as fair. CONCLUSIONS: Single crowns retained by locking taper implants can be safely indicated based on the high survival and success rates achieved in the long term, the maintenance of bone level stability over time, and the low incidence of complications.

NUT Carcinoma: Clinicopathologic Features, Molecular Genetics and Epigenetics.

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is a rare, highly aggressive, poorly differentiated carcinoma occurring mostly in adolescents and young adults. This tumor usually arises from the midline structures of the thorax, head, and neck, and exhibits variable degrees of squamous differentiation. NUT carcinoma is defined by the presence of a NUTM1 (15q14) rearrangement with multiple other genes. In about 70-80% of the cases, NUTM1 is involved in a balanced translocation with the BRD4 gene (19p13.12), leading to a BRD4-NUTM1 fusion oncogene. Other variant rearrangements include BRD3-NUTM1 fusion (~15-20%) and NSD3-NUTM1 fusion (~6%), among others. The diagnosis of NUT carcinoma requires the detection of nuclear expression of the NUT protein by immunohistochemistry. Additional methods for diagnosis include the detection of a NUTM1 rearrangement by fluorescence in situ hybridization or by reverse transcriptase PCR. NUT carcinoma is usually underrecognized due to its rarity and lack of characteristic histological features. Therefore, the goal of this review is to provide relevant recent information regarding the clinicopathologic features of NUT carcinoma, the role of the multiple NUTM1 gene rearrangements in carcinogenesis, and the impact of understanding these underlying molecular mechanisms that may result in the development of possible novel targeted therapies.

Evaluation of Adding Natural Gum to Pectin Extracted from Ecuadorian Citrus Peels as an Eco-Friendly Corrosion Inhibitor for Carbon Steel.

The production and use of eco-friendly corrosion inhibitors allows valuable compounds contained in plant waste to be identified and repurposed while reducing the use of polluting synthetic substances. Pectin extracted from Tahiti limes (Citrus latifolia) and King mandarin (Citrus nobilis L.) in addition to natural gums-xanthan gum and latex from the "lechero" plant (Euphorbia laurifolia)-were used to create an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor. The optimal extraction conditions for pectin were determined from different combinations of pH, temperature, and time in a 23 factorial design and evaluated according to the obtained pectin yield. The highest pectin extraction yields (38.10% and 41.20% from King mandarin and lime, respectively) were reached at pH = 1, 85 °C, and 2 h. Extraction of pectic compounds was confirmed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and thermogravimetry analyses. Subsequently, a simplex-centroid mixture design was applied to determine the formulation of extracted pectin and natural gums that achieved the highest corrosion inhibitor effect (linear polarization and weight loss methods in NACE 1D-196 saline media using API-5LX52 carbon steel). Impedance spectroscopy analysis showed that the addition of xanthan gum to pectin (formulation 50% pectin-50% xanthan gum) improved the corrosion inhibitor effect from 29.20 to 78.21% at 400 ppm due to higher adsorption of inhibitory molecules on the metal surface.

Increasing Incidence of Inadequate Kidney Biopsy Samples Over Time: A 16-Year Retrospective Analysis From a Large National Renal Biopsy Laboratory.

INTRODUCTION: Renal biopsy remains an essential tool for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with medical kidney disease. Recently, there has been a perceived change in the number of inadequate samples. The aim of this study was to determine the native renal biopsy miss rate from 2005 to 2020 at Arkana Laboratories, a nationwide kidney biopsy service. METHODS: From 2005 to 2020, a total of 123,372 native kidney biopsies were received from >2500 nephrologists practicing across 44 US states. The miss rate was determined by age and year. In a subset of biopsies received in 2005 and 2018, the biopsy operator was determined, nephrologist or radiologist. Furthermore, the miss rate, needle gauge, biopsy depth by operator, and biopsy core width by gauge were measured. RESULTS: The miss rate increased markedly from 2% in 2005 to 14% in 2020. Radiologists performed 5% of biopsies in 2005 and 95% in 2018 using smaller diameter (18g/20g) needles 92% of the time. Glomeruli per centimeter of core biopsy and mean core width were significantly lower with smaller needles. The miss rate deep was significantly lower for nephrologists and remained consistent within operator between the 2 time points. The miss rate did not correlate with the increasing age of the population who had biopsies. CONCLUSION: This increase in kidney biopsy miss rate significantly affects patient care in the management of medical kidney disease. Its correlation with the complete reversal in operators suggests an urgent need for interaction with and training of radiologists in this critical technique.

NUT Carcinoma of the Submandibular Gland: A Case at This Uncommon Site with Review of the Literature.

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is a rare, highly aggressive, undifferentiated carcinoma that harbors a characteristic rearrangement of the NUTM1 gene. The majority arise in adolescents and young adults especially from the midline structures of the thorax, head, and neck. Until the present, there have only been three reported cases of NUT carcinoma of the submandibular gland, two of which were reported in children and another one in an adult from Korea. Here, we report the first case of NUT carcinoma arising in the submandibular gland of an adult female in the United States, representing the fourth case worldwide. A fine needle aspiration and biopsy was performed, and the diagnosis was confirmed by NUT immunohistochemical staining and fusion of the BRD4 (19p13.12) and NUTM1 (15q14) gene loci by fluorescence in-situ hybridization on the resection specimen. Salivary gland is an unusual site for NUT carcinoma and is rarely described in submandibular gland. We reviewed the clinicopathologic features of this entity at this site along with role of NUTM1 gene rearrangements in NUT tumorigenesis.

Fluorescent Immunohistochemistry.

Immunofluorescence is an important immunochemical technique that utilizes fluorescence-labeled antibodies to detect specific target antigens. It is used widely in both scientific research and clinical laboratories. Immunofluorescence allows for excellent sensitivity and amplification of signal in comparison to immunohistochemistry. However, analysis of samples labeled with fluorescence-labeled antibodies has to be performed using a fluorescence microscope or other type of fluorescence imaging. There are two methods available: direct (primary) and indirect (secondary) immunofluorescence. Here, we describe the principle of immunofluorescence methods as well as the preparation of fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissues for both direct and indirect immunofluorescence labeling.

Functional recovery of secondary tropical forests.

One-third of all Neotropical forests are secondary forests that regrow naturally after agricultural use through secondary succession. We need to understand better how and why succession varies across environmental gradients and broad geographic scales. Here, we analyze functional recovery using community data on seven plant characteristics (traits) of 1,016 forest plots from 30 chronosequence sites across the Neotropics. By analyzing communities in terms of their traits, we enhance understanding of the mechanisms of succession, assess ecosystem recovery, and use these insights to propose successful forest restoration strategies. Wet and dry forests diverged markedly for several traits that increase growth rate in wet forests but come at the expense of reduced drought tolerance, delay, or avoidance, which is important in seasonally dry forests. Dry and wet forests showed different successional pathways for several traits. In dry forests, species turnover is driven by drought tolerance traits that are important early in succession and in wet forests by shade tolerance traits that are important later in succession. In both forests, deciduous and compound-leaved trees decreased with forest age, probably because microclimatic conditions became less hot and dry. Our results suggest that climatic water availability drives functional recovery by influencing the start and trajectory of succession, resulting in a convergence of community trait values with forest age when vegetation cover builds up. Within plots, the range in functional trait values increased with age. Based on the observed successional trait changes, we indicate the consequences for carbon and nutrient cycling and propose an ecologically sound strategy to improve forest restoration success.

MicroRNA Profiling of Morphologically Heterogeneous Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma.

Intratumoral heterogeneity (IH) has been recently described as an important contributor to tumor growth through a branched rather than a linear pattern of tumor evolution for renal cell carcinoma. As to whether the miRNA profiling of the different and heterogeneous areas is the same or not, it is not known. This study analyzed the differences and similarities of the miRNA profiles in histologically distinct regions within several RCC tumors. The observed differences may have great implications for the development of predictive biomarkers and the identification of druggable targets with improvement of combinatorial therapeutic approaches for the effective treatment of kidney cancer, as well as for the identification of circulating malignant cells that can be useful to detect tumor recurrences.