Bacterial community responses during a possible CO2 leaking from sub-seabed storage in marine polluted sediments.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a viable option to reduce high concentrations of CO2 and mitigate their negative effects. This option has associated risks such as possible CO2 leakage from the storage sites. So far, negative effects deriving from a CO2 release have been reported for benthic macrofauna in both polluted and nonpolluted sediments. However, bacterial communities has no considered. In this work, risk assessment was carried out in order to evaluate the possible effects in a contaminated area considering bacterial responses (total number of cells, respiring activity, changes in the bacterial community composition and diversity). Four microcosms were placed into an integrated CO2 injection system with a non-pressurized chamber to simulate four different pH treatments (pH control 7.8, 7, 6.5 and 6). Results showed an impact on bacterial communities because of the CO2 treatment. Changes in respiring activity, community composition groups and diversity were found. This study highlights the use of respiring bacteria activity not only as bioindicator for environmental risk assessment and monitoring purposes but also as a bioindicador during a CO2 leakage event or CO2 enrichment process among all the responses studied.

Depressive spectrum disorders in cancer: prevalence, risk factors and screening for depression: a critical review.

BACKGROUND: Although depression and mood-related disorders are common in persons with cancer, these conditions remain frequently overlooked in clinical practice. Negative consequences of depressive disorder spectrum have been reported (e.g. suicidal ideation, increase physical complications and somatic symptoms, negative influence on prognosis), indicating the need for routine screening, assessment and management. METHODS: A search of the major databases (Medline, Embase, PsycLIT, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library) was conducted on the reviews and meta-analyses available in order to summarize relevant data concerning depressive disorders spectrum in terms of prevalence, risk factors, and screening and assessment among patients with cancer across the trajectory of the disease. RESULTS: The data show a prevalence of depression and depressive disorders between 5% and 60% according to the different diagnostic criteria, the tools used in the studies (e.g. semi-structured psychiatric interview and psychometric questionnaires), as well as the stage and type of cancer. Furthermore, despite the significant health care resources devoted to cancer care and the importance of addressing depressive symptoms, assessment and management of depressive spectrum disorders in cancer patients remains suboptimal. CONCLUSIONS: Routine screening and adequate assessment of depressive spectrum disorders is necessary in patients with cancer in order to effectively manage the multifaceted and complex consequences on cancer care.

Cuticular hydrocarbons discriminate cryptic Macrolophus species (Hemiptera: Miridae).

Macrolophus pygmaeus is commercially employed in the biological control of greenhouse and field vegetable pests. It is morphologically undistinguishable from the cryptic species M. melanotoma, and this interferes with the evaluation of the biological control activity of M. pygmaeus. We analysed the potential of cuticular hydrocarbon composition as a method to discriminate the two Macrolophus species. A third species, M. costalis, which is different from the other two species by having a dark spot at the tip of the scutellum, served as a control. Sex, diet and species, all had significant effects in the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles, but the variability associated to sex or diet was smaller than among species. Discriminant quadratic analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons confirmed the results of previous molecular genetic studies and showed, using cross-validation methods, that M. pygmaeus can be discriminated from M. costalis and M. melanotoma with prediction errors of 6.75% and 0%, respectively. Therefore, cuticular hydrocarbons can be used to separate M. pygmaeus from M. melanotoma reliably.

Recent population decline and selection shape diversity of taxol-related genes.

Taxanes are defensive metabolites produced by Taxus species (yews) and used in anticancer therapies. Despite their medical interest, patterns of natural diversity in taxane-related genes are unknown. We examined variation at five main genes of Taxus baccata in the Iberian Peninsula, a region where unique yew genetic resources are endangered. We looked at several gene features and applied complementary neutrality tests, including diversity/divergence tests, tests solely based on site frequency spectrum (SFS) and Zeng's compound tests. To account for specific demography, microsatellite data were used to infer historical changes in population size based on an Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) approach. Polymorphism-divergence tests pointed to positive selection for genes TBT and TAT and balancing selection for DBAT. In addition, neutrality tests based on SFS found that while a recent reduction in population size may explain most statistics' values, selection may still be in action in genes TBT and DBAT, at least in some populations. Molecular signatures on taxol genes suggest the action of frequent selective waves with different direction or intensity, possibly related to varying adaptive pressures produced by the host-enemy co-evolution on defence-related genes. Such natural selection processes may have produced taxane variants still undiscovered.

Parent and teacher ratings of temperamental disposition to social anxiety: the BIS 3-6.

Behavioral inhibition (BI) discourages children from interacting, predisposing them to isolation, social anxiety, and depression. We have created the Behavioral Inhibition Scale for Children Aged 3 to 6 (BIS 3-6) to detect this trait early. Parents and teachers of 365 preschoolers completed different versions of the BIS 3-6 and provided measures of psychopathology. Both versions are structured into 1 factor that explains over 40% of total variability and displays excellent internal consistency (α = .95). The moderate correlations with measures of internalizing symptoms (r = .50) and nonexistent correlations with externalizing measures suggest adequate convergent and discriminant validity. A new scoring system is proposed.

Who should report abnormal behavior at preschool age? The case of behavioral inhibition.

Children who are behaviorally "inhibited"-a condition at the extreme of the behavioral inhibition dimension-experience distress in uncertain social situations. Although parents and teachers are in the best position to detect this condition, they rarely agree. This study aims to analyze the agreement between parents and teachers and to examine the relations between ratings made by parents and teachers and assessments made by clinicians and researchers. Parents, teachers and clinicians rated the behavioral inhibition of 365 preschoolers. Seventy-three randomly selected participants were observed using an adaptation of the Behavioral Inhibition Paradigm. Parent-teacher correlations on 34 items and different clusters were, on average, r = .3. The degree of convergence between observational measures and ratings by parents and teachers was moderate-low and did not improve when considering only subsamples from the ends of the distributions. Discriminant analysis suggests that both parents and teachers tend to have a moderate-low ability to detect "inhibited" children.

Spatial genetic structure of Taxus baccata L. in the western Mediterranean Basin: past and present limits to gene movement over a broad geographic scale.

English yew (Taxus baccata L., Taxaceae), a Tertiary relict, provides a seminal example of a widespread albeit locally endangered (often close to extinction) tree species. In order to gain detailed insights into the evolutionary dynamics of the species on a broad geographical scale, over 1000 trees from 91 populations of English yew in the western Mediterranean were analyzed using seven nuclear microsatellite markers. Our results revealed contrasting patterns of genetic structure at different spatial scales: genetic variation was highly structured at the local scale, while only a low proportion of the observed variation was attributed to regional differences. We also found a geographic gradient of decreasing diversity and increasing population divergence from northwest (central Europe and northern Iberian Peninsula) to southeast (Mediterranean Iberia and North Africa). The patterns revealed in this study probably reflect the combined effects of Quaternary climatic changes and recent impact of human activities, and potentially also more ancient events dating back to the Tertiary. Both climatic and anthropogenic factors seem to have conducted to a long history of population isolation, which may have contributed significantly to enhance population divergence through restricted gene flow and genetic drift.

Aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos, factores pronósticos y evolución en pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada como potenciales candidatos para trasplante cardíaco / Epidemiological and clinical aspects, prognostic factors and evolution in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy as potential candidates for heart transplantation

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar aspectos epidemiológicos, clínicos y evolución de pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada. Material y Método: Fueron evaluados en forma consecutiva 90 pacientes menores de 16 años que consultaron en este hospital entre Marzo 1993 y Diciembre 2007 con diagnóstico de miocardiopatía dilatada (MD). Resultados: fueron analizados 90 pacientes con diagnóstico de MD, con edad entre 1 y 166 meses, mediana= 1 5 meses. Los menores de 1 año constituyeron el 46,8 por ciento. La distribución del sexo fue: 61 por ciento mujeres y 39 por ciento varones. Miocarditis se presumió en el 43,3 por ciento de los pacientes. Al momento del ingreso se encontraban en clase funcional I -II 74 ,5 por ciento en III-IV 25,5 por ciento; estos últimos requirieron internación en Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos (UCI). En un tiempo de seguimiento con mediana de 24m presentaron mala evolución (muerte o transplante el 31,1 por ciento. Permanecieron estables en clase funcional II el 41,1 por ciento. Recuperaron función ventricular 28,8 por ciento, la mayoría con sospecha de miocarditis. La sobrevida actuarial libre de eventos fue de 77 por ciento al año y 61 por ciento a los 5 años. En el análisis multivariado la edad y el sexo no fueron factores de riesgo para muerte o trasplante El diagnóstico disminuyó el riesgo de muerte o trasplante. conclusiones: A mediano plazo la MD puede evolucionar con recuperación de la función ventricular especialmente cuando está asociada a sospecha de miocarditis. la edad y el sexo no fueron factores de riesgo. El ingreso a UCI mejoró la sobrevida de los pacientes.

Ocho años de experiencia en trasplante cardiaco infantil en el Hospital Juan P. Garrahan / Eight years of experience in heart transplantation in children at the Hospital Juan P. Garrahan

El trasplante cardíaco se ha transformado en la actualidad en la estrategia quirúrgica de elección para la insuficiencia cardíaca terminal en la infancia. Objetivo general: analizar la experiencia del Programa de Trasplante Cardíaco del Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan. Objetivos especificos: Describir diagnósticos y características de los pacientes inscriptos para transplante cardíaco. Evaluar la sobrevida en lista de espera. Identificar aquellos que requirieron corazón artificial. Evaluar el uso e impacto de esta tecnología en la sobrevida de los pacientes. Evaluar la sobrevida de los pacientes trasplantados. Material y Métodos: Con un diseño descriptivo, retrospectivo, transversal y observacional se analizó la población inscripta en lista de espera entre agosto 2000 a agosto 2008 tomando en cuenta variables como: sexo, procedencia, edad, peso, diagnóstico, categoría de ingreso, tiempo en lista de espera y evento: a) fallecido, b)trasplante, c)implante de asistencia mecánica ventricular (AMV, corazón artificial) Resultados: Se inscribieron 47 pacientes; el diagnóstico más frecuente fue la miocardiopatía en el 70 por ciento. La mediana de permanencia en lista de espera fue de 2 meses (r o-68). Dieciocho fallecieron sin haber sido trasplantados. 12 continúan en lista de espera y 16 fueron trasplantados. La sobrevida post quirúrgica inmediata fue del 75 por ciento. De los pacientes en seguimiento la sobrevida al año es del 100 por ciento y a los 5 años del 85 por ciento. En el 2006 se incorpora la AMW para pacientes terminales, la cual impacta en la mortalidad en lista de epera disminuyéndola del 43 por ciento al 22 por ciento. Conclusiones: El trasplante cardiaco en la edad pediátrica es una opción adecuada para pacientes sin otra alternativa terapéutica. Un programa de trasplante cardíaco infantil, sostenido en un hospital público facilita la accesibilidad universal al mismo. La falta de donantes adecuados para la edad pediátrica.

Past and current gene flow in the selfing, wind-dispersed species Mycelis muralis in western Europe.

The distribution of genetic diversity in Mycelis muralis, or wall lettuce, was investigated at a European scale using 12 microsatellite markers to infer historical and contemporary forces from genetic patterns. Mycelis muralis has the potential for long-distance seed dispersal by wind, is mainly self-pollinated, and has patchily distributed populations, some of which may show metapopulation dynamics. A total of 359 individuals were sampled from 17 populations located in three regions, designated southern Europe (Spain and France), the Netherlands, and Sweden. At this within-region scale, contemporary evolutionary forces (selfing and metapopulation dynamics) are responsible for high differentiation between populations (0.34 < F(ST) < 0.60) but, contrary to expectation, levels of within-population diversity, estimated by Nei's unbiased expected heterozygosity (H(E)) (0.24 < H(E) < 0.68) or analyses of molecular variance (50% of the variation found within-populations), were not low. We suggest that the latter results, which are unusual in selfing species, arise from efficient seed dispersal that counteracts population turnover and thus maintains genetic diversity within populations. At the European scale, northern regions showed lower allelic richness (A = 2.38) than populations from southern Europe (A = 3.34). In light of postglacial colonization hypotheses, these results suggest that rare alleles may have been lost during recolonization northwards. Our results further suggest that mutation has contributed to genetic differentiation between southern and northern Europe, and that Sweden may have been colonized by dispersers originating from at least two different refugia.

Neurocognitive, behavioural and neurodevelopmental correlates of schizotypy clusters in adolescents from the general population.

INTRODUCTION: Studies on the neurocognitive correlates of schizotypy dimensions have found inconsistent results. This might stem from the fact that correlational methods, in contrast to cluster analysis, do not account for the possibility that a subject presents high scores on more than one dimension simultaneously. We aimed to establish clusters of normal adolescents based on schizotypy dimensions and compare them on neurocognitive, behavioural, and neurodevelopmental markers. METHODS: Two hundred seventy normal adolescents from the general population (mean age 13.4, SD=0.72) attending obligatory education were evaluated. RESULTS: A K-means iterative cluster analysis was performed with the Perceptual Aberration, Revised Social Anhedonia and Physical Anhedonia Scales. A forced four-cluster model yielded the following clusters: 'negative schizotypy', 'high or mixed schizotypy', 'positive schizotypy', and 'normal scorers'. Comparisons with ANOVAs showed that 'high schizotypes' performed poorly on neurocognition (Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children-Revised (WISC-R) and Verbal Fluency (FAS)) and obtained the highest teacher ratings (TRF) of behavioural problems. 'Negative schizotypes' had the worst WCST results and more dermatoglyphic abnormalities. Both clusters had more neurological soft signs than 'normal scorers' and 'positive schizotypes'. CONCLUSIONS: Our results with community adolescents found the same cluster structure than the previous cluster analytic studies conducted in adult college subjects. Furthermore, we showed differences among them on neurocognitive and malneurodevelopment markers consistent with the adult literature on schizotypy.

Assessment of psychological distress in prospective bone marrow transplant patients.

Patient psychological distress is associated with many aspects of the bone marrow transplantation (BMT) process and has been linked with poor treatment outcomes. We assessed psychological distress in potential BMT candidates, and compared patient and nurse coordinator ratings of emotional distress at the time of initial BMT consultation. Fifty patients self-reported psychological distress using both the NCCN Distress Thermometer (DT) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Coordinators rated patient emotional distress using the DT and Coordinator Rating Scales that measure anxiety and depression. Fifty and 51% of patients self-reported clinically significant levels of emotional distress and anxiety, respectively, but only 20% self-reported clinically significant levels of depression. There was good correlation between ratings using the brief DT and the more comprehensive HADS. There was significant but only moderate agreement between patient and coordinator ratings of emotional distress and anxiety, with coordinators underestimating the number of patients with high levels of emotional distress. In addition, coordinator ratings of patient emotional distress primarily reflected anxiety, whereas anxiety and depression together only minimally accounted for patient self-reports of psychological distress. These findings suggest that: (1) the DT can be a useful screening device; (2) approximately half of patients at the time of initial consultation for BMT already experience significant levels of psychological distress; and (3) coordinators observe emotional distress primarily as anxiety, but patients experience psychological distress as something more than anxiety and depression.

Pheromone response inhibitors of the corn stalk borer Sesamia nonagrioides. Biological evaluation and toxicology.

The behavioral activity of some trifluoromethyl ketones (TFMKs) as inhibitors of the pheromone activity of the corn stalk borer Sesamia nonagrioides (Lef.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is reported. The most closely-related analogue to the pheromone tested, (Z)-11-hexadecenyl trifluoromethyl ketone (Z11-16:TFMK), elicited a significant decrease in the number of male catches in traps baited with mixtures with the pheromone in 1:1 and 10:1 ratios in comparison to the pheromone alone. The E isomer of the analogue as well as two highly hydrated ketones, 3-octylthio-1,1,1-trifluoropropan-2-one (OTFP) and 1,1-difluoropentadecyl trifluoromethyl ketone, were inactive. Conversely, the saturated TFMKs n-dodecyl trifluoromethyl ketone and, particularly, n-hexadecyl trifluoromethyl ketone induced a synergistic effect when mixed with the synthetic pheromone in 10:1 ratio. However, in a wind tunnel these chemicals did not elicit any differential effect on flying moths attracted to a source containing a 10:1 blend of the analogue and the pheromone. In a dual choice bioassay with two dispensers, containing the pheromone alone, and mixtures of Z11-16:TFMK and the pheromone and separated 5 cm apart, males showed no particular preference for either dispenser. The ketone mixture, however, induced moths to execute erratic flights with frequent crosswind counter-turns and intersections with plume boundaries. The total number of contacts with the source were reduced when a control dispenser was paired with a dispenser containing Z11-16:TFMK and pheromone. Z11-16:TFMK and OTFP showed little toxicity on mice with a LD50 of 1 g/kg after the 6th day of treatment. For comparitive purposes, the major component of the pheromone, Z11-16:Ac, displayed a LD50 of 5 g/kg 6 days after application. Our results provide additional information about the activity of the TFMKs, which might be useful for the utilization of these chemicals in future pest control studies.

Psychosocial characteristics of individuals with non-stage IV melanoma.

PURPOSE: Melanoma is the fastest growing solid tumor among men and women and accounts for 79% of skin cancer-related deaths. Research has identified that distress is frequently associated with a diagnosis of cancer and may slow treatment-seeking and recovery, increasing morbidity and even mortality through faster disease course. Given that the 5-year survival rates for individuals with melanoma are determined primarily by the depth and extent of spread, distress that interferes with seeking treatment has the potential to be life-threatening. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The current study was designed to identify levels of distress present in individuals seeking treatment at a large, Midwestern, multidisciplinary melanoma clinic. It also focused on determining the quality of life, level of anxiety, and coping strategies used by individuals with melanoma before treatment. Given that the course of treatment and outcome for patients with stage IV disease is vastly different from that of patients with stages I to III disease, they were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Results indicated that most individuals who are presenting to a melanoma clinic do not report a clinically significant level of distress. However, there is some variability in this, with 29% of patients reporting moderate to high levels of distress. Moreover, analyses suggest that distressed individuals are more likely to use maladaptive coping strategies, such as escape-avoidance coping, and to have poorer quality of life. CONCLUSION: Although most individuals do not present with significant levels of distress, a significant minority are distressed and rely more heavily on coping strategies that do not benefit them. Such individuals would likely benefit most from psychological intervention.