Exploring Andean High-Altitude Lake Extremophiles through Advanced Proteotyping.

Quickly identifying and characterizing isolates from extreme environments is currently challenging while very important to explore the Earth's biodiversity. As these isolates may, in principle, be distantly related to known species, techniques are needed to reliably identify the branch of life to which they belong. Proteotyping these environmental isolates by tandem mass spectrometry offers a rapid and cost-effective option for their identification using their peptide profiles. In this study, we document the first high-throughput proteotyping approach for environmental extremophilic and halophilic isolates. Microorganisms were isolated from samples originating from high-altitude Andean lakes (3700-4300 m a.s.l.) in the Chilean Altiplano, which represent environments on Earth that resemble conditions on other planets. A total of 66 microorganisms were cultivated and identified by proteotyping and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Both the approaches revealed the same genus identification for all isolates except for three isolates possibly representing not yet taxonomically characterized organisms based on their peptidomes. Proteotyping was able to indicate the presence of two potentially new genera from the families of Paracoccaceae and Chromatiaceae/Alteromonadaceae, which have been overlooked by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing approach only. The paper highlights that proteotyping has the potential to discover undescribed microorganisms from extreme environments.

Reading tea leaves worldwide: Decoupled drivers of initial litter decomposition mass-loss rate and stabilization.

The breakdown of plant material fuels soil functioning and biodiversity. Currently, process understanding of global decomposition patterns and the drivers of such patterns are hampered by the lack of coherent large-scale datasets. We buried 36,000 individual litterbags (tea bags) worldwide and found an overall negative correlation between initial mass-loss rates and stabilization factors of plant-derived carbon, using the Tea Bag Index (TBI). The stabilization factor quantifies the degree to which easy-to-degrade components accumulate during early-stage decomposition (e.g. by environmental limitations). However, agriculture and an interaction between moisture and temperature led to a decoupling between initial mass-loss rates and stabilization, notably in colder locations. Using TBI improved mass-loss estimates of natural litter compared to models that ignored stabilization. Ignoring the transformation of dead plant material to more recalcitrant substances during early-stage decomposition, and the environmental control of this transformation, could overestimate carbon losses during early decomposition in carbon cycle models.

[Judicial institutions of medical experts]. / Organismos judiciales de peritos médicos.

This article considers the evolutive process that judicial organisms of medical experts have experienced in Argentina since their creation and formulates a proposal for its adequacy and modernization. Due to multiple and various evolutive factors, judicial organisms managing medicolegal expert activities show, nowadays, signals that a structural and dynamic reform is needed. They remain as organizational units of Public Administration and their effectiveness and efficiency depends not only of a scientific criteria but a managing one. The present and future challenge will be their conceptual transformation, from "corporate scientific entities" to "public-service-providing units" within the justice administration system.

Unrecognized diversity and distribution of soil algae from Maritime Antarctica (Fildes Peninsula, King George Island).

Introduction: Eukaryotic algae in the top few centimeters of fellfield soils of ice-free Maritime Antarctica have many important effects on their habitat, such as being significant drivers of organic matter input into the soils and reducing the impact of wind erosion by soil aggregate formation. To better understand the diversity and distribution of Antarctic terrestrial algae, we performed a pilot study on the surface soils of Meseta, an ice-free plateau mountain crest of Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, being hardly influenced by the marine realm and anthropogenic disturbances. It is openly exposed to microbial colonization from outside Antarctica and connected to the much harsher and dryer ice-free zones of the continental Antarctic. A temperate reference site under mild land use, SchF, was included to further test for the Meseta algae distribution in a contrasting environment. Methods: We employed a paired-end metabarcoding analysis based on amplicons of the highly variable nuclear-encoded ITS2 rDNA region, complemented by a clone library approach. It targeted the four algal classes, Chlorophyceae, Trebouxiophyceae, Ulvophyceae, and Xanthophyceae, representing key groups of cold-adapted soil algae. Results: A surprisingly high diversity of 830 algal OTUs was revealed, assigned to 58 genera in the four targeted algal classes. Members of the green algal class Trebouxiophyceae predominated in the soil algae communities. The major part of the algal biodiversity, 86.1% of all algal OTUs, could not be identified at the species level due to insufficient representation in reference sequence databases. The classes Ulvophyceae and Xanthophyceae exhibited the most unknown species diversity. About 9% of the Meseta algae species diversity was shared with that of the temperate reference site in Germany. Discussion: In the small portion of algal OTUs for which their distribution could be assessed, the entire ITS2 sequence identity with references shows that the soil algae likely have a wide distribution beyond the Polar regions. They probably originated from soil algae propagule banks in far southern regions, transported by aeolian transport over long distances. The dynamics and severity of environmental conditions at the soil surface, determined by high wind currents, and the soil algae's high adaptability to harsh environmental conditions may account for the high similarity of soil algal communities between the northern and southern parts of the Meseta.

[Microbiological quality of water in livestock area of southern Chile and its possible implications on human health]. / Calidad microbiológica del agua de un área agrícola-ganadera del centro sur de Chile y su posible implicancia en la salud humana.

INTRODUCTION: A significant proportion of water for human consumption has an underground origin becoming 80% in Chilean rural areas where profound wells represent the only search of water for human and animal beverage. AIM: To study the microbiological quality of water from agricultural land for livestock production in the province of Valdivia (40°S), Chile and its potential impact on human health. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Water samples were collected monthly (2008 - 2009), at the entrance and exit of a water stream running through the field and in well water used for human and animal consumption. The total coliform (Tc) and Escherichia coli were determined by the confirmatory method Quanti-Tray together with other physicochemical assessments in the water and climatic variables. RESULTS: In samples from the stream water and wells, the Most Probable Number of Tc and E. coli exceeded the standard Chilean Norm of Water Quality (NCh 409/1) for human consumption. CONCLUSION: These results show the need to regulate the environmental impact of farming and cattle production and to monitor the drinking water to meet the minimum standards of health protection.

[Pontoscolex corethrurus (Annelidae: Oligochaeta) soil quality indicator in Eucalyptus grandis (Myrtacea) sites with slash and burn management]. / Pontoscolex corethrurus (Annelida: Oligochaeta) indicador de la calidad del suelo en sitios de Eucalyptus grandis (Myrtacea) con manejo tumba y quema.

Soil burning has been used in agricultural and forestry systems as a fundamental technique to clean the land and add some nutrients to the soil. In addition, earthworms are known to promote various soil functions since they contribute to aeration and organic matter and nutrients availability to other soil organisms. This study evaluated the effects of tropical forest crops management with presence-absence of Eucalyptus grandis on earthworm population in Huimanquillo, Tabasco, Mexico. Three sites (average area of 1-1.5ha each) with different management conditions were considered for soil and earthworm sampling (two depths and six replicates): without vegetation (SV) and recent slash-burned (38 days), forest crops of five years of production of E. grandis (Euc), and secondary vegetation of 15 years (Acah). Soil physico-chemical properties (apparent density, humidity, texture, pH, Ntot, OM, P, K, cationic capacity) were also evaluated, and earthworms were collected at the end of the rainy season (august-october 2007). We found that the sites soil is an acrisol acid, with pH 3.0-4.5 in the first 30cm depth. Organic matter content (OM) and total nitrogen (Ntot) in the recently burned sites were significantly lower (6-8% y 0.19-0.22%, respectively) than in sites with vegetation (OM=9-11%; el Ntot=0.27-0.33%). Only one species (P. corethrurus) was found in all the sampled areas, where most of the individuals were at juvenile stage (80%). The highest densities and biomass were found in Euc. treatment (166.4ind/m2 y 36.8g/m2) followed by Acah (138.7ind/m2 y 19.1g/m2 respectively), while the SV treatment showed of about an 80% reduced earthworm populations when compared to other treatments. Even though 15 years have passed over the secondary vegetation (Acah) still some perturbations were observed as the low abundance of the oligochaeta group. We concluded that the management used to culture E. grandis produces negative effects over the abundance and diversity of earthworms and soil nutrient availability.

[The unitary interpretation of article 34 interjection first of the Argentinean Penal Code in forensic psychiatry]. / La interpretación unitaria del artículo 34 inciso primero del Código Penal Argentino en Psiquiatría Forense.

The present essay is intended to oppose to the bipartite thesis of the capacity of penal culpability ("to be able to understand the criminality of the act or to be able to direct the actions"), a unitary thesis in which it seems biopsychologically impossible to direct the behaviour towards an object that hasn't been previously understood, nor a complete divorce of action from understanding (as it results from a maximum integration of the intellective, volitive and affective spheres of a dynamic psyche).

Interactions between DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA Polymorphism and Dietary Factors Influence Plasma Triglyceride Concentrations in Diabetic Patients from Western Mexico: A Cross-sectional Study.

This study aimed to screen relevant interactions between DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism and dietary intakes with reference to phenotypical features in patients with T2D from western Mexico. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 175 T2D patients were enrolled. Dietary intake was evaluated using 3-day food records and appropriate software. Glycemic and blood lipid profiles were measured by standardized methods. Genotyping of the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism was performed by the RFLP method. Gene-diet interactions regarding anthropometric and metabolic phenotypes were screened by adjusted multiple linear regression analyses. Genotype frequencies of the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism were A1A1 (16.0%), A1A2 (52.6%), and A2A2 (31.4%). Statistically significant interactions between the DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA genotypes and dietary factors in relation to blood triglyceride (TG) levels were found. Carriers of the A1 allele (A1A1 homozygotes plus A1A2 heterozygotes) were protected from TG increases by maltose intake (P int. = 0.023). Instead, A2A2 homozygotes were susceptible to TG rises through consumptions of total fat (P int. = 0.041), monounsaturated fatty acids (P int. = 0.001), and dietary cholesterol (P int. = 0.019). This study suggests that the interactions between DRD2/ANKK1 TaqIA polymorphism and dietary factors (sugar and fats) influence TG levels in diabetic patients.

[Cerebellar infarction: analysis of 151 patients]. / Infarto cerebelar: análise de 151 pacientes.

This report presents the treatment of 151 patients with cerebellar infarction, 98 men (65%) and 53 women (35%), mean age 62.4 years old. Occlusive hydrocephalus was diagnosed in 7.9% of the patients associated with an extensive cerebellar infarction and in all 11 surgical patients (7.2%). Four patients underwent an external ventricular drainage with 3 deaths (75%) and 7 underwent a decompressive suboccipital craniectomy with 2 deaths (28.5%). Mortality of the clinical group was 15 patients (10.7%). Vertigo, vomiting, Romberg sign and dysmetria were the signs and symptoms of cerebellar involvement that were most frequently observed. Cerebellar infarction from embolism after cardiovascular surgery occurred in 57 patients (37.7%). Cerebellar infarction, as an isolated fact, occurred in 59 patients (39%) and cerebellar plus infarction in other regions occurred in 92 patients (61%). Magnetic resonance image was the best diagnostic form for cerebellar lesions, however computerized tomography could show cerebellar infarction in 68 patients (78%).

Soil delta15N patterns in old-growth forests of southern Chile as integrator for N-cycling.

Old-growth forests of southern Chile represent an important reserve of temperate (rain) forests in the world. Wetter and colder forest ecosystems appear to be more efficient in conserving and recycling N such that mostly non-plant available N species are lost, which could be indicated by more depleted delta15N values of the soil and plants. Hydrological N loss from the old-growth forests in southern Chile occurs mainly via dissolved organic nitrogen and not via dissolved inorganic N. Forest disturbances (e.g. fire, clear-cutting or enhanced N deposition) cause (abrupt) changes in ecosystem N-cycling processes. In this study, we hypothesized that delta15N signatures of soil profiles under old-growth forests could be used as an integrator for ecosystem N-cycling, and changes of these delta15N profiles could be valuable to assess ecosystem resilience towards disturbances. Six old-growth forests were selected in the phytogeographical region of the Valdivian rain forest in southern Chile. One of the sites has been partly burned in February 2002. First, we observed that ecosystems with higher mean annual precipitation and lower mean annual temperature were relatively more depleted in 15N. Secondly, we found that a forest fire caused a 100-fold increase of the nitrate export and induced an enrichment of the soil delta15N signal in the upper 20 cm.

Surface-bound phosphatase activity in living hyphae of ectomycorrhizal fungi of Nothofagus obliqua.

We determined the location and the activity of surface-bound phosphomonoesterase (SBP) of five ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi of Nothofagus oblique. EM fungal mycelium of Paxillus involutus, Austropaxillus boletinoides, Descolea antartica, Cenococcum geophilum and Pisolithus tinctorius was grown in media with varying concentrations of dissolved phosphorus. SBP activity was detected at different pH values (3-7) under each growth regimen. SBP activity was assessed using a colorimetric method based on the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP) to p-nitrophenol phosphate (pNP) + P. A new technique involving confocal laser-scanning microscopy (LSM) was used to locate and quantify SBP activity on the hyphal surface. EM fungi showed two fundamentally different patterns of SBP activity in relation to varying environmental conditions (P-concentrations and pH). In the cases of D. antartica, A. boletinoides and C. geophilum, changes in SBP activity were induced primarily by changes in the number of SBP-active centers on the hyphae. In the cases of P. tinctorius and P. involutus, the number of SBP-active centers per µm hyphal length changed much less than the intensity of the SBP-active centers on the hyphae. Our findings not only contribute to the discussion about the role of SBP-active centers in EM fungi but also introduce LSM as a valuable method for studying EM fungi.

Diversity and growth-effects of ectomycorrhizal fungi of a Nothofagus pumilio forest in the Andes of Southern Chile / (Diversidad y efectos de crecimiento de hongos ectomicorrízicos en un bosque de Nothofagus pumilio en los andes del sur de Chile

Chilean temperate rainforests have unique climatic, edaphic and biotic conditions, constituting pre-industrial blueprint ecosystems. Mycorrhizal associations play a central role in the biogeochemical processes of these ecosystems´ functioning. Baseline forest ecology studies are necessary in order to better understand diversity patterns, specifically regarding mycorrhizal symbiosis. Therefore, here we describe the vegetation characteristics and the mycorrhizal relationships of vascular plants in a Nothofagus pumilio forest. We also describe, via morphological methods, the ectomycorrhizal diversity present in this forest. Additionally, we determined whether ectomycorrhizal inoculation confers positive growth effects on N. pumilio seedlings. We found that from 46 vascular plant species identified in this study, 42 (91%) were mycorrhizal and of these 33 (72%) were associated with arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM), two (the dominant trees N. pumilio and N. dombeyi) were forming ectomycorrhizae (EM), five were associated with ericoid mycorrhizae, two with orchid mycorrhizae, and four were nonmycorrhizal. Additionally, 26 EM species were detected of which 15 belong to Cortinarius. Finally, there were clear differences in the growth of N. pumilio seedlings inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Laccaria laccata compared to noninoculated plants. We suggest that mycorrhizal fungi play a key role in seedling colonization of harsh environments such as the Andean treeline.

Los bosques templados lluviosos de Chile tienen condiciones climáticas, edáficas y bióticas únicas, constituyendo ecosistemas preindustriales modelo. Las asociaciones micorrízicas juegan un rol central en los procesos biogeoquímicos del funcionamiento de estos ecosistemas. Por lo tanto, en este estudio describimos las características de la vegetación y las relaciones micorrízicas de las plantas vasculares de un bosque de Nothofagus pumilio. También describimos, vía métodos morfológicos, la diversidad ectomicorrízica presente en este bosque. Adicionalmente, determinamos si inoculaciones ectomicorrízicas confieren efectos de crecimiento positivos a semilleros de N. pumilio. Encontramos que, de 46 especies de plantas vasculares identificadas en este estudio, 42 (91%) son micorrízicas, y de estas, 33 (72%) están formando micorrizas arbusculares (AM), dos (los árboles dominantes N. pumilio y N. dombeyi) están asociados con ectomicorrizas (EM), cinco están asociadas con micorrizas ericoides, dos con micorrizas orquioides, y cuatro fueron nomicorrizadas. Adicionalmente, 26 especies de EM fueron detectadas, de las cuales 15 pertenecen a Cortinarius. Finalmente, hubo claras diferencias en el crecimiento de los semilleros de N. pumilio inoculados con el hongo ectomicorrízico Laccaria laccata, comparados a plantas no inoculadas. Sugerimos que los hongos micorrízicos juegan un rol clave en la colonización de ambientes severos por juveniles, como en el límite altitudinal andino.

Topical antibiotics and neurosurgery: Have we forgotten to study it?

BACKGROUND: For neurosurgery, the last decades have been a time of incredible improvement in areas such as imaging, microscopy, endoscopy, stereotactic guidance, navigation, radiosurgery and endovascular techniques. However, the efficacy of topical antibiotic prophylaxis in neurological operations remains to be established by neurosurgeons. METHODS: The authors did an historical review of the literature regarding the utilization of topical antibiotic prophylaxis in neurological operations. The Pub Med database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine / National Institutes of Health was utilized as the primary source of the literature. The authors performed the search by using the following Mesh terms: "neurosurgery" or "neurosurgical procedures" and "administration, topical" and "antibiotic prophylaxis"; "neurosurgery" or "neurosurgical procedures" and "administration, topical" and "antibacterial agents." RESULTS: In the last 70 years, we have poorly studied the use of topical antibiotics in neurosurgery. All the papers reported were Class III evidence. CONCLUSION: To the best of our knowledge, there is no publication that provided Class I or II evidence about topical antibiotic prophylaxis in neurosurgery.

Regional cooling for reducing brain temperature and intracranial pressure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of regional cooling for reducing brain temperature (BrTe) and intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients where conventional clinical treatment has failed. METHOD: Regional cooling was carried out using ice bags covering the area of the craniectomy (regional method) in 23 patients. The BrTe and ICP were determined using a fiber optic sensor. Thirteen patients (56.52%) were female. The ages ranged from 16 to 83 years (mean of 48.9). The mean APACHE II score was 25 points (11-35). The patients were submitted, on mean, to 61.7 hours (20-96) of regional cooling. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in mean BrTe (p<0.0001--from 37.1 degrees C to 35.2 degrees C) and mean ICP (p=0.0001--from 28 mmHg to 13 mmHg). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that mild brain hypothermia induced by regional cooling was effective in the control of ICP in patients who had previously undergone decompressive craniectomy.

Calidad microbiológica del agua de un área agrícola-ganadera del centro sur de Chile y su posible implicancia en la salud humana / Microbiological quality of water in livestock area of southern Chile and its possible implications on human health

Introduction: A significant proportion of water for human consumption has an underground origin becoming 80% in Chilean rural areas where profound wells represent the only search of water for human and animal beverage. Aim: To study the microbiological quality of water from agricultural land for livestock production in the province of Valdivia (40°S), Chile and its potential impact on human health. Material and Method: Water samples were collected monthly (2008 - 2009), at the entrance and exit of a water stream running through the field and in well water used for human and animal consumption. The total coliform (Tc) and Escherichia coli were determined by the confirmatory method Quanti-Tray together with other physicochemical assessments in the water and climatic variables. Results: In samples from the stream water and wells, the Most Probable Number of Tc and E. coli exceeded the standard Chilean Norm of Water Quality (NCh 409/1) for human consumption. Conclusion: These results show the need to regulate the environmental impact of farming and cattle production and to monitor the drinking water to meet the minimum standards of health protection.

Introducción: Parte importante del agua para consumo humano corresponde a agua subterránea, alcanzando un 80% en áreas rurales de Chile, donde los pozos profundos son la única fuente de agua de bebida para consumo humano y animal. Objetivo: Estudiar la calidad microbiológica del agua de un predio agrícola-ganadero en la provincia de Valdivia (40° S), Chile, y su posible impacto en la salud humana. Material y Método: Muestras de agua fueron recolectadas mensualmente (2008-2009), a la entrada y salida de un estero que atraviesa el predio y en agua de pozos usadas para consumo humano y animal. Las especies coliformes totales (Ct) y Escherichia coli se determinaron por el método confirmativo Quanti-Tray, se evaluaron variables físico-químicas del agua y climáticas del sitio. Resultados: En las muestras de agua del estero y pozos el número más probable de Ct y E. coli sobrepasaron la norma chilena de calidad del agua (NCh 409/1) para consumo humano. Conclusión: Estos resultados muestran la necesidad de regular el impacto ambiental de la actividad agrícola-ganadera y monitorear el agua de bebida para cumplir con los estándares mínimos de protección de la salud.

Cistos sinoviais espinhais causando déficit neurológico: relato dois casos distintos / Spinal synovial cists causing neurological deficit: report of two distinct cases

Cistos sinoviais da coluna são normalmente assintomáticos e raramente determinam compressão radicular ou medular. Os autores relatam dois casos de cistos sinoviais da coluna vertebral. Um paciente possuía um cisto cervical causando mielopatia, e um segundo paciente apresentava um cisto lombar, com gradual quadro de radiculopatia. Em ambos os casos, os pacientes tiveram melhora dos sintomas e boa evolução clínica após remoção cirúrgica dos cistos. Os cistos sinoviais devem ser incluídos no diagnóstico diferencial de lesões extradurais raquidianas. A literatura é revista e a etiologia, apresentação clínica, diagnóstico e tratamento são discutidos.

Regional cooling for reducing brain temperature and intracranial pressure / Resfriamento cerebral regional para redução da temperatura e pressão intracraniana

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of regional cooling for reducing brain temperature (BrTe) and intracranial pressure (ICP) in patients where conventional clinical treatment has failed. METHOD: Regional cooling was carried out using ice bags covering the area of the craniectomy (regional method) in 23 patients. The BrTe and ICP were determined using a fiber optic sensor. Thirteen patients (56.52 percent) were female. The ages ranged from 16 to 83 years (mean of 48.9). The mean APACHE II score was 25 points (11-35). The patients were submitted, on mean, to 61.7 hours (20-96) of regional cooling. RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in mean BrTe (p<0.0001-from 37.1ºC to 35.2ºC) and mean ICP (p=0.0001-from 28 mmHg to 13 mmHg). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that mild brain hypothermia induced by regional cooling was effective in the control of ICP in patients who had previously undergone decompressive craniectomy.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a eficácia do resfriamento regional na redução da temperatura cerebral (TeCe) e pressão intracraniana (PIC) após falha das medidas clínicas convencionais de tratamento. MÉTODO: O resfriamento cerebral foi realizado com bolsas com gelo, colocadas sobre a área de craniectomia (método regional) em 23 doentes. A TeCe e PIC foram verificadas com sensor de fibra óptica. Treze (56,52 por cento) eram do sexo feminino. A idade variou de 16 a 83 anos (média 48,96). A pontuação média no índice APACHE II foi 25 pontos (11-35). Os doentes foram submetidos, em média, a 61,7 horas (20-96) de resfriamento regional. RESULTADOS: Houve uma redução significativa da TeCe média (p<0,0001-de 37,1ºC para 35,2ºC) e da PIC média (p=0,0001-de 28 mmHg para 13 mmHg). CONCLUSÃO: Nossos resultados sugerem que o resfriamento regional foi eficaz no controle da PIC nos doentes submetidos, previamente, a craniectomia descompressiva.