Application of cytochrome oxidase I sequences for phylogenetic analysis and identification of thrips species occurring on vegetable crops.

Thrips are direct pests as well as vectors of important viruses infecting crop plants. One of the major constraints in studying the relationship between thrips vectors and tospoviruses is the difficulty of identifying the vector species because of high intraspecific variation among thrips populations. Molecular approaches have been used to identify species differences. In this study, partial cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences were used to understand the phylogenetic relationship among thrips populations, and assess their usefulness to identify and classify unknown thrips species collected from different crops. In total, 29 COI variants were obtained while examining the sequence polymorphisms in COI of 182 insects analyzed in this study, which were collected from six countries on tomato, chilli, onion, cabbage, cucumber, watermelon, Ethiopian mustard, French bean, and peanut. The phylogenetic analysis showed that the insects used in this study clustered with five distinct species-groups designated as Thrips palmi group, T. tabaci group, Frankliniella occidentalis group, Scirtothrips dorsalis group and an unclassified group. Higher intraspecific genetic variation was observed in S. dorsalis and T. palmi followed by T. tabaci and F. occidentalis. Thus, it was confirmed that the COI gene could be useful in grouping different thrips species and genera that coexist in a particular cropping system.

The role of upper limb surgery in tetraplegia.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective follow-up study. OBJECTIVES: To assess the value of surgery on the tetraplegic hand to improve its function. SETTING: Spinal unit. Hospital La Fe. Valencia (Spain). METHOD: We reviewed the functional results obtained in 15 patients (10 males and 5 females) operated on at our hospital between 1988 and 1997. We performed 66 surgical procedures on 20 upper limbs. After a year or more the patients were evaluated by two independent examiners not related with the surgeons, using the questionnaire of Lamb and Chan modified by Mohammed, taking into account the change in the performance of activities of daily living (ADL), the patient's satisfaction, and the fulfillment of their expectations. RESULTS: A good or excellent result was obtained in 71.4% of our patients, 85.7% were satisfied with the operation and 57.2% said that the surgery did not meet their expectations. The bad results occurred in patients with previous joint rigidity, ocular sensibility, pain, and lack of motivation. CONCLUSION: Hand surgery improved the function of tetraplegics and should be performed more frequently. The hands should be cared for from the very beginning to keep them supple. The information given to the patients should be realistic.

Antioxidant properties of alpha-crystallin.

alpha-Crystallin is a major chaperone lens protein to which has been ascribed antioxidant functions. In the present work we have evaluated the antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties of bovine alpha-crystallin in a series of in vitro models: zimosan-induced, luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence response of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, the autoxidation of brain homogenate, bleaching of 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-derived radical cations, trapping of peroxyl radicals, and reactivity toward hypochloric acid. In all these systems, the reactivity of alpha-crystallin is higher than or similar to that of bovine serum albumin. It is concluded that, given the high concentrations of ol-crystallin in the lenses, its capacity to interact with free radicals and to remove hypochlorous acid could contribute to the maintenance of the lens functionality.

Quantitative trait loci associated with resistance to Fusarium head blight and kernel discoloration in barley.

Resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB), deoxynivalenol (DON) accumulation, and kernel discoloration (KD) in barley are difficult traits to introgress into elite varieties because current screening methods are laborious and disease levels are strongly influenced by environment. To improve breeding strategies directed toward enhancing these traits, we identified genomic regions containing quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with resistance to FHB, DON accumulation, and KD in a breeding population of F(4:7) lines using restriction fragment length polymorphic (RFLP) markers. We evaluated 101 F(4:7) lines, derived from a cross between the cultivar Chevron and an elite breeding line, M69, for each of the traits in three or four environments. We used 94 previously mapped RFLP markers to create a linkage map. Using composite interval mapping, we identified 10, 11, and 4 QTLs associated with resistance to FHB, DON accumulation, and KD, respectively. Markers flanking these QTLs should be useful for introgressing resistance to FHB, DON accumulation, and KD into elite barley cultivars.

Imaging of brain tumors in AIDS patients by means of dual-isotope thallium-201 and technetium-99m sestamibi single-photon emission tomography.

Our aim was to evaluate the use of dual-isotope thallium-201 (Tl) and technetium-99m sestamibi (sestamibi) simultaneous acquisition in brain single-photon emission tomography (SPET) for the differentiation between brain lymphoma and benign central nervous system (CNS) lesions in AIDS patients. Thirty-six consecutive patients with enhancing mass lesions on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging were included in the study. SPET of the brain was performed to obtain simultaneous Tl and sestamibi images. Regions-of-interest were drawn around the lesion and on the contralateral side to calculate uptake ratios. The final diagnosis was reached by pathologic findings in 17 patients and clinical and/or MR follow-up in 19 patients. Of the 36 patients, 11 had brain lymphoma, 1 glioblastoma multiforme, 15 toxoplasmosis and 9 other benign CNS lesions. Correlation between SPET and the final diagnosis revealed in 10 true-positive, 23 true-negative, 1 false-positive and 2 false-negative studies. All patients with toxoplasmosis had negative scans. A patient with a purulent infection had positive scans. Tl and sestamibi scans were concordant in every lesion. The same lesions that took up Tl were also visualized with sestamibi. However, sestamibi scans showed higher lesion-to-normal tissue uptake ratios (3.7 +/- 1.8) compared with those of Tl (2.3 +/- 0.8, P < 0.002). Simultaneous acquisition of Tl and sestamibi can help differentiate CNS lymphoma from benign brain lesions in AIDS patients.

MR and TL-210 spect imaging with pathologic correlation for the assessment of CNS lymphoma vs. toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients.

PURPOSE: Analyze the value of TL-201 (Tl) brain single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), to differentiate CNS lymphoma from toxoplasmosis in AIDS patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-four AIDS patients with MR enhancing lesion(s), underwent a brain Tl SPECT. Final diagnosis was established by pathology and clinical/MR follow-up. RESULTS: Nine patients had CNS tumor, 9 toxoplasmosis and 6 other non-tumorous lesions. The sensitivity of T1 to diagnose CNS tumor was 77% and the specificity 93%. Two false negative studies correspond to tumors with significant necrosis. CONCLUSIONS: T1 proved useful for differentiating brain neoplasm from toxoplasmosis. Tumors with significant necrosis, did not show the expected increase in T1 uptake. Determination of T1 uptake ratios help detect tumor with faint tracer uptake.

La técnica de la colecistectomía laparoscópica en pediatría: informe de un caso / Laparoscopic cholecystectomy technique in pediatrics. A case report

Se realizó colecistectomía laparoscópica en un niño de 8.1 años de edad que padecía dolor abdominal de 15 días de evolución debido a colelitiasis. Esto fue confirmado mediante radiografía abdominal y ultrasonografía. No tenía problemas hematológicos asociados, tal como se demostró en sus análisis. Aplicamos la técnica quirúrgica que se describe para los adultos, aunque, desde luego, se efectuaron algunas modificaciones debido al tamaño del paciente. dado que no presentaba ninguna complicación y que toleraba la vía oral, fue dado de alta 24 horas después de realizada la cirugía. Dos días después se integró a sus actividades escolares. Los beneficios de la colecistectomía laparoscópica en pacientes pediátricos son comparables a los conseguidos en adultos

¿Será útil la litotripsia en el Hospital ABC? / Is lithotripsy useful at the ABC Hospital?

La lotrotripsia por ondas de choque extracorporeas (LOCE) ha recibido atención creciente como una alternativa viable a la colecistectomía. No existen datos sobre que porciento de los pacientes actualmente tratados por patología biliar por año en el hospital ABC pueden ser elegibles para este procedimiento. Estudiamos 47 pacientes consecutivos operados de colecistectomía y aplicamos los criterios de exclusión actuales para determinar la posibilidad de ser candidatos a LOCE. En cada paciente se obtuvo historia clínica preoperatoria y hallazgos quirúrgicos. El tamaño, número y características macroscópicas de loscálculos fue evaluado. En 36 por ciento los cálculos fueron de colesterol, en 34 por ciento mixtos, en 15 por ciento de pigmento y en 15 por ciento no hubo cálculos. De los 47 pacientes únicamente 3(6.3 por ciento) no tuvieron criterios de exclusión, y por lo tanto, hubieran sido elegibles. Estos datos sugieren que aproximadamente 18 entre 300 pacientes por año podrían ser candidatos a LOCE en nuestro hospital.