Reproductive biology as a tool to elucidate taxonomic delimitation: How different can two highly specialized subspecies of Parodia haselbergii (cactaceae) be?

Reproductive isolation is one of the mechanisms of speciation. The two currently accepted subspecies of Parodia haselbergii (P. haselbergii subsp. haselbergii and P. haselbergii subsp. graessneri) were studied regarding flower traits, phenology, breeding systems and pollination. In addition, a principal component analysis with 18 floral characters and germination tests under controlled conditions were performed for both taxa. Pollination was studied in the field, in two localities of Southern Brazil. Pollinators were recorded through photos and film. Breeding system experiments were performed by applying controlled pollinations to plants excluded from pollinators. Both taxa mostly differ in asynchronous flowering periods, floral traits (including floral part measurements and nectar concentration) and pollinators. The flowers of both subspecies are functionally protogynous and perform remarkably long lifespans (≥ 15 days), both traits being novelties for Cactaceae. Whereas the reddish flowers of P. haselbergii subsp. haselbergii (nectar concentration: ca. 18%) are pollinated by hummingbirds of Thalurania glaucopis, the greenish flowers of P. haselbergii subsp. graessneri (nectar concentration: ca. 29%) are pollinated by Augochlora bees (Halictidae). Both subspecies are self-compatible, yet pollinator-dependent. The principal component analysis evidenced that both subspecies are separated, regarding flower traits. The seeds of both subspecies performed differently in the germination tests, but the best results were recovered at 20 °C and germination considerably decreased around 30 °C. In conclusion, all these results support that both taxa are in reproductive isolation, and can be treated as different species.

Reproductive Biology in the Possible Last Healthy Population of Parodia rechensis (Cactaceae): Perspectives to Avoid Its Extinction.

All 32 Brazilian species of Parodia Speg (Cactaceae) occurring in Rio Grande do Sul State are considered threatened, according to the IUCN criteria. Until 2021, Parodia rechensis (CR) was known by only two small populations. However, a new population with over 400 individuals was discovered in 2021, prompting the study of its reproductive biology as a way to promote its conservation. Anthesis, breeding system, and natural pollination were studied in the field. The breeding system was studied by applying controlled pollination treatments to plants excluded from pollinators (bagged). Germination features were studied at the Seed Bank of the Porto Alegre Botanical Garden under controlled temperatures (20, 25, and 30 °C). The anthesis is diurnal and lasts for up to four days. The flowers offer pollen as the sole resource to the pollinators. The study species is unable to set fruit and seed without the agency of pollinators and has self-incompatible (unable to set fruit and seeds when pollinated with pollen of the same individual) characteristics that can considerably restrict its reproduction. Native bees of Halictidae and Apidae (Hymenoptera) are the main pollinators, with a smaller contribution of Melyridae (Coleoptera) and Syrphidae (Diptera). Natural fruit set is moderate (≤64%, per individual), but the species presents vegetative growth, producing several branches from the mother plant. Seeds showed the optimum germination rate at 20 °C and an inhibition of 75% in germinability at 30 °C. Our findings suggest the need to manage the species' habitat to guarantee the permanency of the plants and healthy populations of pollinators as well. Our findings raise concerns about the germination and establishment of new individuals in the context of rising temperatures caused by climate change. Suggestions for the possible management of the extant populations are made.

How many patients with rheumatic diseases and TNF inhibitors treatment have latent tuberculosis?

OBJECTIVES: Spanish clinical guidelines recommend screening patients for tuberculosis (TB) before TNF inhibitors (TNFi) treatment. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of TST seroconversion as an estimation of the prevalence of latent TB in patients with rheumatic diseases and TNFi treatment that have already been screened for tuberculosis. METHODS: TST, booster and chest x-ray were performed to patients with rheumatic diseases, TNFi treatment, negative tuberculin skin tests before treatment and that were attending the rheumatology Department of three different hospitals in Barcelona. According to the Spanish Society Rheumatology guidelines, these patients had not received TB prophylaxis treatment. RESULTS: One hundred and forty patients were included in the study. The tuberculin skin test was positive in 4.28% (n=6) of the patients. 50% of the patients were undergoing TNFi ≤ 2 years, being two of the patients only one year on the TNFi when a positive TST was detected. This shows that a conversion of the TST can occur even few months or years after the TNFi is started. CONCLUSIONS: The present study observed that 4.28% of patients with rheumatic diseases on TNFi who did not have performed a pre-treatment TB prophylaxis, had a conversion of the TST. Moreover, the conversion of the TST had been within the first two years of treatment in half of the patients of our cohort. In spite of these results, false TST positives in the diagnosis of latent TB cannot be excluded as an explanation for our results.

Características clínico epidemiológicas de pacientes con síndrome coronario agudo de la unidad de cuidados intensivos del Hospital Félix Torrealva Gutiérrez. Ica, Perú / Clinical epidemiological characteristics of patients with acute coronary syndrome in the intensive care unit of the Felix Torrealva Gutierrez Hospital in Ica, Peru

Objetivo: Determinar las características clínico epidemiológicas del Síndrome Coronario Agudo (SICA) en los pacientes hospitalizados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI) del Félix Torrealva Guitierrez en el año 2010. Material y métodos: Diseño descriptivo observacional, se evaluaron 34 historias clínicas, se evaluaron variables como edad, sexo, diagnostico al ingreso, factores de riesgo coronario, complicaciones clínicas intrahospitalarias, etc. Los datos obtenidos se expusieron en tablas, se compararon los resultados son la literatura revisa. Resultados: Los resultados mostraron que el SICA, representó el 50% de las causas de ingreso en la UCI, el 85,29% de los pacientes tuvieron 60 o más, predominaron los varones (73,53%) sobre las mujeres (26,47%), la forma clínica que predominó fue el infarto agudo de miocardio, la mayoría de pacientes se hospitalizó 6 horas o más después de iniciando el cuadro clínico, el 61,77% de los pacientes presentaban hipertensión arterial como factor de riesgo coronario, la Diabetes Mellitus y las Dislipidemias constituyeron el segundo y tercer factor de riesgo de importancia (26,47 y 23,52%), las arritmias cardiacas fueron las complicaciones más frecuentes con 47,05%, la tasa de mortalidad fue de 14,71%. Conclusiones: La forma clínica predominante fue el infarto agudo de miocardio; los factores de riesgo coronarios más importantes fueron la hipertensión arterial (HTA), la Diabetes Mellitus y las Dislipidemias, las complicaciones clínicas intrahospitalarias más importantes fueron las arritmias cardíacas.

Objective: To determine the clinical epidemiological features of Acute Coronary Syndrome (SICA) in hospitalized patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Hospital Felix Torrealva Gutierrez in 2010. Material and methods: Design observational descriptive, were evaluated 34 clinical histories, were evaluated variables such as age, sex, diagnosis at admission, coronary risk factors, clinical complications hospital, etc. The data obtained are present in tables, the results were compared with the literature reviewed. Results: The results showed that the SICA, accounted for 50% of the causes of admission to the ICU, the 85.29% of the patients were 60 years or more, there was a predominance of males (73.53%) on women (26.47), the forms clinic that prevailed was the acute myocardial infarction with 67.64%, the was a predominance of males in unstable agina and acute myocardial infarction, the most patients are hospitalized 6 hours or more after the beginning of clinical picture, the 61.77% of the patients had hypertension and coronary risk factor, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia were the second and third risk factor of importance (26.47 and 23.52%), cardiarc arrhythmias were the most frequent complications with 47.05%, the mortality rate was 14.71%. conclusions: The prevailing clinical form was the acute myocardial infarction; coronary risk factors more importante were the high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, hospital clinical complications were the most importante cardiac arrhythmias.