Genetic variation in haemoglobin is associated with evolved changes in breathing in high-altitude deer mice.

Physiological systems often have emergent properties but the effects of genetic variation on physiology are often unknown, which presents a major challenge to understanding the mechanisms of phenotypic evolution. We investigated whether genetic variants in haemoglobin (Hb) that contribute to high-altitude adaptation in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) are associated with evolved changes in the control of breathing. We created F2 inter-population hybrids of highland and lowland deer mice to test for phenotypic associations of α- and ß-globin variants on a mixed genetic background. Hb genotype had expected effects on Hb-O2 affinity that were associated with differences in arterial O2 saturation in hypoxia. However, high-altitude genotypes were also associated with breathing phenotypes that should contribute to enhancing O2 uptake in hypoxia. Mice with highland α-globin exhibited a more effective breathing pattern, with highland homozygotes breathing deeper but less frequently across a range of inspired O2, and this difference was comparable to the evolved changes in breathing pattern in deer mouse populations native to high altitude. The ventilatory response to hypoxia was augmented in mice that were homozygous for highland ß-globin. The association of globin variants with variation in breathing phenotypes could not be recapitulated by acute manipulation of Hb-O2 affinity, because treatment with efaproxiral (a synthetic drug that acutely reduces Hb-O2 affinity) had no effect on breathing in normoxia or hypoxia. Therefore, adaptive variation in Hb may have unexpected effects on physiology in addition to the canonical function of this protein in circulatory O2 transport.

Subsequent malignant neoplasms in the pediatric age in retinoblastoma survivors in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Retinoblastoma survivors in low- and middle-income countries are exposed to high-intensity treatments that potentially place them at higher risk of early subsequent malignant neoplasms (SMNs). METHODS: We followed 714 (403 [56.4%] nonhereditary and 311 [43.5%] hereditary) retinoblastoma survivors diagnosed from August 1987 to December 2016, up to the age of 16 years. We quantified risk of SMNs with cumulative incidence (CI) and standardized incidence ratios (SIR) analysis. Multivariate regression Cox model was used to determine the association of treatments and risk of SMNs. RESULTS: Median follow-up was of 9 years (range: 0.18-16.9) and 24 survivors (3.36%) developed 25 SMNs (n = 22 hereditary, n = 2 nonhereditary). SMNs included sarcomas (osteosarcomas, Ewing sarcomas, rhabdomyosarcomas; n = 12), leukemias (n = 5), and central nervous system tumors (CNS; n = 3). All cases of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and most of Ewing sarcomas occurred within 5 years of retinoblastoma diagnosis. The type of SMN was the main indicator of mortality (five of five patients with leukemias, six of 12 with sarcomas, and zero of three with CNS tumors died). Compared to the general population, radiation increased the risk of Ewing sarcoma in hereditary survivors by 700-fold (95% CI = 252-2422.6) and chemotherapy increased the risk of AML by 140-fold (95% CI = 45.3-436). The CI of SMNs for hereditary survivors was 13.7% (95% CI = 8.4-22.1) at 15 years. CONCLUSION: Retinoblastoma survivors from Argentina are at higher risk of developing SMNs early in life compared to the general Argentinean population, especially those treated with radiation plus chemotherapy. AML and Ewing sarcoma presented within 5 years of retinoblastoma diagnosis are associated with chemotherapy and radiation exposure.

Medulloblastoma and Down Syndrome: An Extremely Rare Association.

Medulloblastoma has a reduced incidence in Down syndrome (DS). This protective characteristic has not been clarified yet. Here, we report the second case of SHH medulloblastoma and DS documented in the literature. A complete surgery was performed followed by reduced craniospinal irradiation dose and adjuvant chemotherapy. No evidence of tumor recurrence was observed. The overall survival was 9.1 years. No family history or physical stigma of other hereditary predisposition syndrome was found. In the elucidation of this extremely rare association, future case reports play an important role in defining the spectrum of brain tumors and their peculiar features in DS.

The adaptive benefit of evolved increases in hemoglobin-O2 affinity is contingent on tissue O2 diffusing capacity in high-altitude deer mice.

BACKGROUND: Complex organismal traits are often the result of multiple interacting genes and sub-organismal phenotypes, but how these interactions shape the evolutionary trajectories of adaptive traits is poorly understood. We examined how functional interactions between cardiorespiratory traits contribute to adaptive increases in the capacity for aerobic thermogenesis (maximal O2 consumption, V̇O2max, during acute cold exposure) in high-altitude deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). We crossed highland and lowland deer mice to produce F2 inter-population hybrids, which expressed genetically based variation in hemoglobin (Hb) O2 affinity on a mixed genetic background. We then combined physiological experiments and mathematical modeling of the O2 transport pathway to examine the links between cardiorespiratory traits and V̇O2max. RESULTS: Physiological experiments revealed that increases in Hb-O2 affinity of red blood cells improved blood oxygenation in hypoxia but were not associated with an enhancement in V̇O2max. Sensitivity analyses performed using mathematical modeling showed that the influence of Hb-O2 affinity on V̇O2max in hypoxia was contingent on the capacity for O2 diffusion in active tissues. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that increases in Hb-O2 affinity would only have adaptive value in hypoxic conditions if concurrent with or preceded by increases in tissue O2 diffusing capacity. In high-altitude deer mice, the adaptive benefit of increasing Hb-O2 affinity is contingent on the capacity to extract O2 from the blood, which helps resolve controversies about the general role of hemoglobin function in hypoxia tolerance.

A test of altitude-related variation in aerobic metabolism of Andean birds.

Endotherms at high altitude face the combined challenges of cold and hypoxia. Cold increases thermoregulatory costs, and hypoxia may limit both thermogenesis and aerobic exercise capacity. Consequently, in comparisons between closely related highland and lowland taxa, we might expect to observe consistent differences in basal metabolic rate (BMR), maximal metabolic rate (MMR) and aerobic scope. Broad-scale comparative studies of birds reveal no association between BMR and native elevation, and altitude effects on MMR have not been investigated. We tested for altitude-related variation in aerobic metabolism in 10 Andean passerines representing five pairs of closely related species with contrasting elevational ranges. Mass-corrected BMR and MMR were significantly higher in most highland species relative to their lowland counterparts, but there was no uniform elevational trend across all pairs of species. Our results suggest that there is no simple explanation regarding the ecological and physiological causes of elevational variation in aerobic metabolism.

Craniospinal irradiation as part of re-irradiation for children with recurrent medulloblastoma.

BACKGROUND: Many studies have demonstrated in the last years that once medulloblastoma has recurred, the probability of regaining tumor control is poor despite salvage therapy. Although re-irradiation has an emerging role in other relapsed brain tumors, there is a lack of strong data on re-irradiation for medulloblastoma. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients aged 18 years or under, treated at least by a second course of external beam for recurrence medulloblastoma at Garrahan Hospital between 2009 and 2020. Twenty-four patients met eligibility criteria for inclusion. All patients received upfront radiotherapy as part of the curative-intent first radiotherapy, either craniospinal irradiation (CSI) followed by posterior fossa boost in 20 patients or focal posterior fossa radiation in 4 infants. The second course of radiation consisted of CSI in 15 and focal in 9. The 3-year post first failure OS (50% vs. 0%; p = 0.0010) was significantly better for children who received re-CSI compared to children who received focal re-irradiation. Similarly, the 3-year post-re-RT PFS (31% vs. 0%; p = 0.0005) and OS (25% vs. 0%; p = 0.0003) was significantly improved for patients who received re-CSI compared to patients who received focal re-irradiation. No symptomatic intratumoral haemorrhagic events or symptomatic radionecrosis were observed. Survivors fell within mild to moderate intellectual disability range, with a median IQ at last assessment of 58 (range 43-69). CONCLUSIONS: Re-irradiation with CSI is a safe and effective treatment for children with relapsed medulloblastoma; improves disease control and survival compared with focal re-irradiation. However this approach carries a high neurocognitive cost.

Intracranial germ cells tumour: a single institution experience in Argentina.

BACKGROUND: Intracranial germ cell tumor (iGCT) represents a rare and heterogeneous group, with variable incidence and diverse treatment strategies. Although multiagent chemotherapy with reduced radiotherapy strategy has been applied by several cooperative groups in North America and Western Europe, there is a paucity of data to understand if this combined regimen is suitable in low-middle income countries (LMIC). METHODS: We evaluate the outcome in a cohort of iGCT treated by SIOP-CNS-GCT-96 strategy at hospital J.P Garrahan in Argentina over the last 20 years. Radiation field and dose included focal radiotherapy (FRT) before 2009 or focal radiotherapy plus whole ventricular radiotherapy (WVRT) after 2009 for localized germinoma and FRT or FRT plus WVRT or CSI for non germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT) RESULTS: Sixty iGCT were identified; 39 germinoma and 21 NGGCT. Median follow-up was 6.57 years (range 0.13-20.5). 5-year PFS and OS were 83.5% (95% CI [165.53-223.2]) and 88.7% (95% CI [169.84-223.2]) for the germinoma group, while for the NGGCT group were 75% (95% CI [133.27-219.96]) and 64.2% (95% CI [107.38-201.81]) respectively. The localized germinoma group showed poor results between 2000 and 2009 with 5-year PFS and OS of 69 and 75% respectively, and an excellent outcome between 2010 and 2019 with a 5-years PFS and OS of 92.8 and 100%. A univariable analysis identified this difference in survival as related to the field of radiotherapy, specifically whole ventricular radiotherapy. FRT increased the risk of recurrence in localized germinoma, involving not only ventricular relapses; but spinal cord and disseminated disease as well. There were no relapses of localized NGGCT after FRT and FRT plus WVRT. CONCLUSION: Herein we demonstrate that intensive chemotherapy followed by FRT plus WVRT for germinoma is a feasible and effective strategy, warranting further study in the developing world.

COVID-19's Clinical-Pathological Evidence in Relation to Its Repercussion on the Central and Peripheral Nervous System.

INTRODUCTION: Although respiratory symptoms predominate in the disease caused by the SARS-Cov-2, the new coronavirus, the related neurological implications increase with numbers of new infected, requiring new tools and sufficient medical apparatus to improve the patients' prognosis. The purpose of this publication is based on the need to clarify the pathophysiological process of COVID-19 from a neurological perspective. The present study aims to review and describe the main neurological aspects associated with SARS-CoV-2, in addition to presenting proposals for conducting and managing these issues. METHODS: The MEDLINE (through PubMed) and Scopus databases were used for systematic research on the correlation between COVID-19 and the nervous system. The reference period were publications between May 2005 and July 2020. The temporal delimitation was based on the objective of elucidating the pathophysiology of neurological involvement seen in the current pandemic. Thus, in 2005, we found articles that reported different etiologies and mechanisms of action of the antiphospholipid syndrome, which helped to understand its current association with COVID-19. Other articles from years prior to the current one contributed, in the same sense of linking, with description of associated processes, in articles from 2020, the SARS-CoV-2 infection. The processes described in times before 2020 and currently correlated with cerebral dysfunction of COVID-19 were distribution of angiotensin II receptors in the brain, inflammation associated with the blood-brain barrier imbalance, and brain barrier function. "SARS-CoV-2 and complications," "neurology," "pathogeny of COVID-19," "stroke," and "encephalopathy" were terms included in the research. The relevance of the articles found was based on congruence with the search terms and on availability of the full text. RESULTS: Recent articles published reported mild neurological symptoms, with, for example, headache and anosmia as part of the set of common symptoms of COVID-19, highlighting the causal link between the disease and neurological complications that may exist during its evolution. It is still unknown whether the neurological clinical expression concomitant with the new coronavirus infection is a consequence or a coincidence. In order to properly treat and monitor these patients from the neurological point of view, it is essential, in times of pandemics, to suspect primary infection by SARS-Cov-2 and diagnose it to proceed with isolation and clinical support. CONCLUSION: The neurological implications of COVID-19 range from initial symptoms, such as headache, to serious complications, such as ischemic stroke. Although the pathogenesis of neurological phenomena requires further studies, targeted management of the patient is feasible, considering agility in recognizing the infection. Therefore, medical precaution and clinical reasoning are emphasized when providing services to the patient.

Safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in patients with childhood systemic lupus erythematosus: a real-world interventional multi-centre study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus (qHPV) vaccination in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) patients. METHODS: Volunteer cSLE patients aged 9-20 years and healthy controls (HC) were enrolled to receive a two- or three-dose qHPV vaccination schedule from March 2014 to March 2016. Study visits were performed before the first dose, one month after the second and third doses and one year after the first dose. In each study visit, disease activity and adverse events following vaccination were analyzed, and a serum sample was collected for testing antibody concentrations. Participant recruitment was conducted in 15 Brazilian paediatric rheumatology units. Of the 256 cSLE patients included, 210 completed the two- or three-dose schedules; 15 had previously received one dose, and 18 had received two doses of the vaccine. The analysis was based on intention-to-treat so that participants who did not complete the entire study protocol were also included. RESULTS: No severe adverse events were related to the vaccination. Disease activity was generally low and remained stable or even improved. The HC presented 100% seropositivity to HPV16 and HPV18, whereas the two- and three-dose cSLE groups presented 93% and 83% versus 97% and 91%, respectively. One year after the first dose, seropositivity of the three-dose cSLE group was 91% to HPV16 and 84% to HPV18. CONCLUSIONS: HPV vaccination in cSLE patients is safe and immunogenic. Since the seropositivity to HPV16 and HPV18 was higher for the three-dose schedule group, this regimen should be recommended for cSLE patients.

Ovicidal in vitro activity of the fixed oil of Helianthus annus L. and the essential oil of Cuminum cyminum L. against Fasciola hepatica (Linnaeus, 1758).

The fascioliasis is a parasitic disease of importance in veterinary medicine and public health. For this parasitosis, the treatment by synthetic fasciolicides is used and due to their intense use although they have been shown less effective because of the establishment of resistant Fasciola hepatica population to these drugs, with a global concern. The use of derived products of plants with biological activity has been shown promising in the control of parasites. In this context, we evaluated the chemical composition and action of ovicidal in vitro fixed oil of Helianthus annuus L. (FOH) and essential oil of Cuminum cyminum L. (EOC), as well as their combination (FOH + EOC) of F. hepatica. In the assay in vitro of F. hepatica were submitted to different concentrations of oils, such as FOH (2.3 mg/mL + 0,017 mg/mL); EOC (2.07 mg/mL + 0,004 mg/mL) and the combination of (1.15 mg/mL + 1.03 mg/mL to 0,0085 mg/mL + 0,008 mg/mL) as well as a positive control of thiabendazole (0.025 mg/mL) and a negative control with distilled water and tween. The identification of the majority chemical compounds was performed by gas chromatography. The -cell viability of the oils was tested in MDBK cellular line by the MTT method. The majority compounds in the FOH were the linoleic (53.6%) and oleic (35.85%) unsaturated fatty acids, and the majority phytochemicals compounds in the EOC were the Cumaldehyde (26.8%) and the 2-Caren 10-al (22.17%). The EOC and the combination presented effectiveness of 99% (±1) and of 94% (±1) in the concentration of 0.03 mg/mL and 0.035 mg/mL+0.03 mg/mL, respectively, and the FOH was insufficiently active as ovicidal. The cell viability at this concentration of EOC was 93%. From the results above we could infer that the EOC is promising as a new alternative for the fascioliasis control.

Parvovirus B19-induced severe anemia in heart transplant recipients: Case report and review of the literature.

We report a case of a 64-year-old woman who developed transfusion-dependent anemia after cardiac transplantation, the etiology of which was unknown after initial comprehensive evaluation. At the suggestion of the Transplant Infectious Diseases consultant, microbial agents with red blood cell tropism pertinent to this patient such as Parvovirus B 19 (B19V) were investigated. The B19V viral load by PCR in peripheral blood was >100 000 000 copies/ml and after treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), her anemia resolved. Here, we summarize the clinical and virologic characteristics, treatment, and outcome of fifteen cases of B19V-induced anemia in heart transplant recipients. Spontaneous recovery from anemia secondary to B19V has also been reported in some heart transplant recipients, possibly due to an absence of their B19V P-antigen receptor and/or reduction in their immunosuppression. Therefore, in heart transplant patients, B19V should be suspected early as a cause of severe anemia of unknown etiology. The extent that B19V-induced anemia is underdiagnosed in heart transplant recipients is unknown.

Use of the BREAST-Q™ Survey in the Prospective Evaluation of Reduction Mammaplasty Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: BREAST-Q™ is a patient-reported outcomes survey instrument with a specific module that evaluates breast reduction surgery. It allows assessment of patient's satisfaction with received treatment and evaluates the impact of surgery on different aspects of the patient's quality of life. This article aims to assess the satisfaction and quality of life of patients who underwent reduction mammaplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Women aged between 18 and 60 years, with a body mass index ranging from 19 to 30 kg/m2, who were already scheduled for reduction mammaplasty, were included in the study. The Brazilian version of the BREAST-Q™ Reduction/Mastopexy Module (preoperative 1.0 and postoperative 1.0 versions) was self-applied preoperatively and 1 and 6 months after the operation. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients were included in the study and completed the 6-month follow-up. The median age was 33 years, and the median preoperative body mass index was 25 kg/m2. The superomedial pedicle was used in 96.3% of the cases, and the total median weight of the resected breast was 1115 g. There was a significant improvement in the scores of the scales: Psychosocial well-being, Sexual well-being, Physical well-being, and Satisfaction with the breasts compared to the preoperative assessment (p < 0.0001). The scales Satisfaction with the NAC and Satisfaction with the outcome, available only in the postoperative version, demonstrated high satisfaction rates at the two postoperative periods evaluated. CONCLUSION: Reduction mammaplasty improved the quality of life and provided high levels of patient satisfaction with outcomes 1 and 6 months postoperatively. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE IV: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Increased Capacity for Work and Productivity After Breast Reduction.

BACKGROUND: Breast hypertrophy is a prevalent condition among women worldwide, which can affect different aspects of their quality of life. The physical and emotional impact of breast hypertrophy may harm daily activities, including work. OBJECTIVES: To assess the impact of reduction mammaplasty on the ability to work and productivity of women with breast hypertrophy. METHODS: A total of 60 patients with breast hypertrophy, already scheduled for breast reduction, aged 18 to 60 years and who had formal or autonomous employment were prospectively enrolled. The Brazilian versions of two validated tools, Work Productivity and Activity Impairment - General Health (WPAI-GH) and Work Limitations Questionnaire (WLQ) were self-administered at the preoperative evaluation and six months following surgery. RESULTS: The median age was 33 years, median body mass index was 24 kg/m2, and the median total weight of resected breast tissue was 617.5 g. According to the Brazilian classification of occupation, most patients (53%) had technical, scientific, artistic and similar occupations. There was a significant improvement in work capacity and productivity six months after the reduction mammaplasty, denoted by a decrease in presenteeism, absenteeism, and WLQ Productivity Loss Score (Wilcoxon analysis of variance: P < .0001 for each of these domains). CONCLUSIONS: Reduction mammaplasty increases the work capacity and productivity of Brazilian women with breast hypertrophy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE 4.

The ICU environment contributes to the endemicity of the "Serratia marcescens complex" in the hospital setting.

Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic pathogen historically associated with sudden outbreaks in intensive care units (ICUs) and the spread of carbapenem-resistant genes. However, the ecology of S. marcescens populations in the hospital ecosystem remains largely unknown. We combined epidemiological information of 1,432 Serratia spp. isolates collected from sinks of a large ICU that underwent demographic and operational changes (2019-2021) and 99 non-redundant outbreak/non-outbreak isolates from the same hospital (2003-2019) with 165 genomic data. These genomes were grouped into clades (1-4) and subclades (A and B) associated with distinct species: Serratia nematodiphila (1A), S. marcescens (1B), Serratia bockelmannii (2A), Serratia ureilytica (2B), S. marcescens/Serratia nevei (3), and S. nevei (4A and 4B). They may be classified into an S. marcescens complex (SMC) due to the similarity between/within subclades (average nucleotide identity >95%-98%), with clades 3 and 4 predominating in our study and publicly available databases. Chromosomal AmpC ß-lactamase with unusual basal-like expression and prodigiosin-lacking species contrasted classical features of Serratia. We found persistent and coexisting clones in sinks of subclades 4A (ST92 and ST490) and 4B (ST424), clonally related to outbreak isolates carrying blaVIM-1 or blaOXA-48 on prevalent IncL/pB77-CPsm plasmids from our hospital since 2017. The distribution of SMC populations in ICU sinks and patients reflects how Serratia species acquire, maintain, and enable plasmid evolution in both "source" (permanent, sinks) and "sink" (transient, patients) hospital patches. The results contribute to understanding how water sinks serve as reservoirs of Enterobacterales clones and plasmids that enable the persistence of carbapenemase genes in healthcare settings, potentially leading to outbreaks and/or hospital-acquired infections.IMPORTANCEThe "hospital environment," including sinks and surfaces, is increasingly recognized as a reservoir for bacterial species, clones, and plasmids of high epidemiological concern. Available studies on Serratia epidemiology have focused mainly on outbreaks of multidrug-resistant species, overlooking local longitudinal analyses necessary for understanding the dynamics of opportunistic pathogens and antibiotic-resistant genes within the hospital setting. This long-term genomic comparative analysis of Serratia isolated from the ICU environment with isolates causing nosocomial infections and/or outbreaks within the same hospital revealed the coexistence and persistence of Serratia populations in water reservoirs. Moreover, predominant sink strains may acquire highly conserved and widely distributed plasmids carrying carbapenemase genes, such as the prevalent IncL-pB77-CPsm (pOXA48), persisting in ICU sinks for years. The work highlights the relevance of ICU environmental reservoirs in the endemicity of certain opportunistic pathogens and resistance mechanisms mainly confined to hospitals.

Experiential COVID-19 factors predicting resilience among Spanish adults.

BACKGROUND: The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has meant for spanish citizens a constant adaptation to health measures in order to try to stop transmission of the virus. During this adaptation process, different psychosocial aspects have caused consequences for people?s mental health to a greater or lesser extent. Makes sense of an emotional torrent who has gone through fear, anxiety, loneliness and anger. The interaction between perception and reality has given rise to situations where loneliness and social isolation have been imposed and lived with a load of emotional discomfort. In others, social isolation and measures to stop the pandemic have been accepted as a protection system and has been experienced since serenity and the feeling of self-protection fostering individual resilience. Studying the predictors of resilience is going to be key since it is the ideal antidote to stop the appearance of mental disorders associated with the pandemic (such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, social phobia, cleaning obsessions, and generalized anxiety disorder). The objective of this research is to analyze the relationship between resilience and experiential COVID-19 factors. METHODS: Sample was comprised of Spanish adults (n = 1000; age 18-79 [mean =40.43],793 female, 201 male, and 2 non binary sex). These people participating in an online study focused on the impact of COVID-19 experiences. The research has been cross-sectional, descriptive and correlational design. The instrument created for this research was a specific online questionnaire, including the "Scale of resilience" (RS, Wagnild & Young, 1993, Spanish version, Sánchez-Teruel, et al., 2015). That questionnaire has been administered during the months of April 2022 to July 2022. RESULTS: The results obtained show how people who have been able to face the pandemic in a responsive and adaptive way have high resilience. Specifically, those participants that accepting the use of masks, vaccinations and confinement obtained high resilience. CONCLUSIONS: Using public funding and allocating research to the development of programs to promote resilience, adaptative beliefs and prosocial behaviors becomes basic to live in a world in constant change.

A Case Report of Candida-Induced Emphysematous Gastritis.

Emphysematous gastritis is a rare entity that has not much literature available. It is known to manifest as a diffused wall inflammation and air within the wall of the stomach and has been associated with gas-forming organisms. We present a complex case of a middle-aged woman with a previous history of fulminant Clostridium difficile complicated with colectomy and diverting colostomy. She was admitted due to diabetic ketoacidosis, later complicated with worsening abdominal pain, and a CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis without contrast revealed findings consistent with ischemic bowel, severe pneumatosis intestinalis, and extensive portal venous gas. A stomach biopsy revealed hemorrhagic necrosis; a Gomori methenamine silver stain was compatible with fungal organisms, Candida species, correlating with Candida emphysematous gastritis. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis of this syndrome in order to provide appropriate management, and early identification, to improve survival.

Production and physicochemical properties of fungal chitosans with efficacy to inhibit mycelial growth activity of pathogenic fungi.

In order to enable the applicability of chitosan as an antifungal, soil fungi were isolated and identified, then used in its production. Fungal chitosan has several advantages, including lower toxicity, low cost, and high degree of deacetylation. These characteristics are essential for therapeutic applications. The results indicate high viability of the isolated strains to produce chitosan, obtaining a maximum yield of 40.59 mg chitosan/g of dry biomass. M. pseudolusitanicus L. was reported for the first time for production by chitosan. The chitosan signals were observed by ATR-FTIR and 13C SSNMR. Chitosans showed high degrees of deacetylation (DD), ranging from 68.8% to 88.5%. In comparison with the crustacean chitosan, Rhizopus stolonifer and Cunninghamella elegans presented lower viscometric molar masses (26.23 and 22.18 kDa). At the same time, the molar mass of chitosan Mucor pseudolusitanicus L. showed a value coincident with that assumed as low molar mass (50,000-150,000 g mol-1). Concerning the in vitro antifungal potential against the dermatophyte fungus Microsporum canis (CFP 00098), the fungal chitosans showed satisfactory antifungal activities, inhibiting mycelial growth by up to 62.81%. This study points to the potential of chitosans extracted from fungal cell walls for applications in the inhibition of the growth of (Microsporum canis) human pathogenic dermatophyte.

Non-monophyly and deep genetic differentiation across low-elevation barriers in a Neotropical montane bird (Basileuterus tristriatus; Aves: Parulidae).

Most widespread birds of Neotropical cloud forests exhibit phenotypic variation that is partitioned geographically suggesting allopatric divergence, but little is known about the extent to which such phenotypic differentiation is consistent with genetic variation. We studied geographic patterns of genetic differentiation in the Three-striped Warbler (Basileuterus tristriatus), a polytypic and widespread understory bird of the foothills and mid-elevation zone of the tropical Andes and adjacent mountains of Central and South America. We sequenced mitochondrial DNA for 196 samples covering the entire range of B. tristriatus, as well as 22 samples of its putative closest relatives: the Three-banded (B. trifasciatus) and Santa Marta (B. basilicus) warblers. We found deep genetic structure across the range of B. tristriatus, which consisted of ten major clades including B. trifasciatus, a species that was nested within B. tristriatus. In contrast, B. basilicus was not closely related to B. tristriatus but part of a clade of Myiothlypis warblers. Geographic boundaries among clades were clearly related to lowland gaps separating subspecies groups. The subspecies melanotis of the mountains of Central America was sister to a large clade including B. t. tacarcunae, and the rest of South American clades, including B. trifasciatus. Five clades are found in the northern Andes, where no signs of gene flow were found across barriers such as the Táchira Depression or the Magdalena valley. Our study highlights the importance of valleys in promoting and maintaining divergence in a lower montane forest bird. The substantial genetic and phenotypic differentiation, and the paraphyly uncovered in B. tristriatus, may call for revising its species boundaries.

Effect of oral administration of Bacillus thuringiensis var. oswaldocruzi to sheep on the development of larvae in fecal cultures.

Haemonchus contortus is one of the most important gastrointestinal nematodes infecting sheep, being a production-limiting factor in sheep herds. Biological control has been used for many years either in combination with traditional parasiticides or as an alternative treatment itself. Bacillus thuringiensis can be a promising tool for an integrate control of H. contortus in sheep herds by disrupting nematode's life cycle, thus decontaminating pasture. This study aims to evaluate the larvicidal efficacy of Bacillus thuringiensis var. oswaldocruzi (Bto) on the development of H. contortus larvae in fecal sheep cultures. Bto concentrations (~1010 colony forming units, CFU / mL) were orally administered to thirty-six ewes naturally infected with H. contortus in three different pharmaceutical forms: hard gelatin capsule, mucoadhesive gel or suspension. The different treatments were carried out in a single oral administration (SOA). All formulations were effective in inhibiting larvae development compared with control groups in all time points studied (p < 0.05). The mucoadhesive gel showed ~90% of efficacy on inhibiting larvae development during all the time points post SOA. The suspension had 85% efficacy on inhibiting larvae development at 24-48 h and 96% at 72-96 h. The hard gelatin capsule was 57%, 62%, 73% and 96% effective inhibiting larvae development at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. This study highlights that disrupting the infective larval stage in the environment Bacillus thuringiensis var. oswaldocruzi is a promising prophylactic alternative in the H. contortus control.