Multiple pulmonary infantile hemangiomas responsive to oral propranolol.

Intrathoracic infantile hemangiomas (IHs) are extremely rare. They may be located in the pericardium, trachea, bronchia, diaphragm, mediastinum, or the lungs and may be associated with cutaneous IHs. We present a newborn with multiple pulmonary IHs in the absence of skin lesions that showed a dramatic response to oral propranolol.

Relative DNA content in diploid, polyploid, and multiploid species of Paspalum (Poaceae) with relation to reproductive mode and taxonomy.

It is generally accepted that polyploids have downsized basic genomes rather than additive values with respect to their related diploids. Changes in genome size have been reported in correlation with several biological characteristics. About 75 % of around 350 species recognized for Paspalum (Poaceae) are polyploid and most polyploids are apomictic. Multiploid species are common with most of them bearing sexual diploid and apomictic tetraploid or other ploidy levels. DNA content in the embryo and the endosperm was measured by flow cytometry in a seed-by-seed analysis of 47 species including 77 different entities. The relative DNA content of the embryo informed the genome size of the accession while the embryo:endosperm ratio of DNA content revealed its reproductive mode. The genome sizes (2C-value) varied from 0.5 to 6.5 pg and for 29 species were measured for the first time. Flow cytometry provided new information on the reproductive mode for 12 species and one botanical variety and supplied new data for 10 species concerning cytotypes reported for the first time. There was no significant difference between the mean basic genome sizes (1Cx-values) of 32 sexual and 45 apomictic entities. Seventeen entities were diploid and 60 were polyploids with different degrees. There were no clear patterns of changes in 1Cx-values due to polyploidy or reproductive systems, and the existing variations are in concordance with subgeneric taxonomical grouping.

Analysis of variation for apomictic reproduction in diploid Paspalum rufum.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The diploid cytotype of Paspalum rufum (Poaceae) reproduces sexually and is self-sterile; however, recurrent autopolyploidization through 2n + n fertilization and the ability for reproduction via apomixis have been documented in one genotype of the species. The objectives of this work were to analyse the variation in the functionality of apomixis components in diploid genotypes of P. rufum and to identify individuals with contrasting reproductive behaviours. METHODS: Samples of five individuals from each of three natural populations of P. rufum (designated R2, R5 and R6) were used. Seeds were obtained after open pollination, selfing, conspecific interploidy crosses and interspecific interploidy self-pollination induction. The reproductive behaviour of each plant was determined by using the flow cytometric seed screen (FCSS) method. Embryo sacs were cleared using a series of ethanol and methyl salicylate solutions and observed microscopically. KEY RESULTS: In open pollination, all genotypes formed seeds by sexual means and no evidence of apomeiotic reproduction was detected. However, in conspecific interploidy crosses and interspecific interploidy self-pollination induction, variations in the reproductive pathways were observed. While all plants from populations R2 and R6 formed seeds exclusively by sexual means, three genotypes from the R5 population developed seeds from both meiotic and aposporous embryo sacs, and one of them (R5#49) through the complete apomictic pathway (apospory + parthenogenesis + pseudogamy). Cytoembryological observations revealed the presence of both meiotic and aposporous embryo sacs in all the genotypes analysed, suggesting that parthenogenesis could be uncoupled from apospory in some genotypes. CONCLUSIONS: The results presented demonstrate the existence of variation in the functionality of apomixis components in natural diploid genotypes of P. rufum and have identified individuals with contrasting reproductive behaviours. Genotypes identified here can be crossed to generate segregating populations in order to study apomixis determinants at the diploid level. Moreover, analysis of their expression patterns, quantification of their transcript levels and an understanding of their regulation mechanisms could help to design new strategies for recreating apomixis in a diploid genome environment.

Alternative Evolutionary Pathways in Paspalum Involving Allotetraploidy, Sexuality, and Varied Mating Systems.

The genetic systems of Paspalum species have not been extensively studied. We analyzed the ploidy, reproductive mode, mating system, and fertility of four Paspalum species-Paspalum durifolium, Paspalum ionanthum, Paspalum regnellii, and Paspalum urvillei. An analysis of 378 individuals from 20 populations of northeastern Argentina was conducted. All populations of the four Paspalum species were pure tetraploid and had a sexual and stable reproductive mode. However, some populations of P. durifolium and P. ionanthum showed low levels of apospory. Populations of P. durifolium and P. ionanthum had low seed sets under self-pollination but were fertile under open pollination, showing that self-incompatibility likely caused self-sterility. In contrast, populations of P. regnellii or P. urvillei showed no evidence of apospory, and seed sets in both self- and open pollination conditions were high, suggesting that they are self-compatible due to the absence of pollen-pistil molecular incompatibility mechanisms. The evolutionary origin of the four Paspalum species could explain these differences. This study supplies valuable insights into the genetic systems of Paspalum species, which could have implications for their conservation and management.

A Plant-Specific TGS1 Homolog Influences Gametophyte Development in Sexual Tetraploid Paspalum notatum Ovules.

Aposporous apomictic plants form clonal maternal seeds by inducing the emergence of non-reduced (2n) embryo sacs in the ovule nucellus and the development of embryos by parthenogenesis. In previous work, we reported a plant-specific TRIMETHYLGUANOSINE SYNTHASE 1 (TGS1) gene (PN_TGS1-like) showing expression levels positively correlated with sexuality rates in facultative apomictic Paspalum notatum. PN_ TGS1-like displayed contrasting in situ hybridization patterns in apomictic and sexual plant ovules from premeiosis to anthesis. Here we transformed sexual P. notatum with a TGS1-like antisense construction under a constitutive promoter, in order to produce lines with reduced transcript representation. Antisense plants developed prominent trichomes on the adaxial leaf surface, a trait absent from control genotypes. Reproductive development analysis revealed occasional formation of twin ovules. While control individuals typically displayed a single meiotic embryo sac per ovule, antisense lines showed 12.93-15.79% of ovules bearing extra nuclei, which can be assigned to aposporous-like embryo sacs (AES-like) or, alternatively, to gametophytes with a misguided cell fate development. Moreover, around 8.42-9.52% of ovules showed what looked like a combination of meiotic and aposporous-like sacs. Besides, 32.5% of ovules at early developmental stages displayed nucellar cells with prominent nuclei resembling apospory initials (AIs), which surrounded the megaspore mother cell (MMC) or the MMC-derived meiotic products. Two or more concurrent meiosis events were never detected, which suggest a non-reduced nature for the extra nuclei observed in the mature ovules, unless they were generated by proliferation and misguided differentiation of the legitimate meiotic products. The antisense lines produced a similar amount of viable even-sized pollen with respect to control genotypes, and formed an equivalent full seed set (∼9% of total seeds) after self-pollination. Flow cytometry analyses of caryopses derived from antisense lines revealed that all full seeds had originated from meiotic embryo sacs (i.e. by sexuality). A reduction of 25.55% in the germination percentage was detected when comparing antisense lines with controls. Our results indicate that PN_ TGS1-like influences ovule, gametophyte and possibly embryo development.

Manifestaciones cutáneas de la diabetes mellitus y su importancia clínica / Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus: clinical meaning

Antecedentes. La diabetes mellitus como enfermedad crónica se asocia a múltiples complicaciones. Varios órganos se ven afectados; entre ellos, con diversas manifestaciones, la piel. Objetivo. Determinar el tipo de lesiones cutáneas presentes en pacientes diabéticos, analizar su frecuencia de presentación y su correlato con otras complicaciones sistemáticas y realizar un análisis estadístico comparativo entre pacientes con y sin dermopatía diabética (DD). Métodos. Se incluyeron 125 pacientes internados en el Servicio de Clínica Médica de nuestro hospital en un período de 6 meses. Diseño. Estudio protocolizado, descriptivo, transversal y observacional. Medidas de tendencia central, x2, test de Student. Criterio de significación: error alfa menor de 5%. Resultados. El 88% presentó DM tipo 2.Sexo femenino: 57%.Edad media: 58,9 años. En 88 pacientes existió alguna complicación crónica de esta enfermedad: 35% DD, 32% nefropatía, 26% retinopatía, 41% neuropatía y el 15% macroangiopatía. El número de patologías cutáneas promedio por paciente fue de 4,4. Tuvieron lesiones cutáneas el 90,4% de los pacientes y las más frecuentes fueron xerodermia (69%), dermatofitosis (52,8%), hipotriquia periférica (39%), DD (35%). Mediante el análisis comparativo entre pacientes con y sin DD se detectó como más frecuente en los primeros (p<0,05): sexo masculino, edad mayor de 50 años, presencia de retinopatía diabética, neuropatía sensitiva, macroangiopatía, pie diabético y tiña pedis. Conclusiones. Las lesiones cutáneas más encontradas en pacientes diabéticos fueron xerodermia, tiña pedis, onicomicosis, hipotriquia periférica y DD. Al detectar asociación estadísticamente significativa entre DD y otras complicaciones sistémicas de la enfermedad, proponemos utilizar esta manifestación cutánea como marcador de complicaciones internas.

Background. Diabetes mellitus as a chronic disease it is associated tomultiple complications. As other organs, skin is aff ected showing diff erentmanifestations.Objetive. The aim of this study was to determinate the diff erent types ofskin lesions in diabetes mellitus and to analyze their prevalence and theirclinical correlation with other systemic complications of this disease. Finally,to make a comparative statistical study between patients with andwithout diabetic dermopathy (DD).Methods. We included 125 diabetics in a six month period. They wereonly Internal Medicine Department’s in-patients.Design. We made a protocoled, transversal, descriptive and observablestudy.Results. The 88% had type 2 diabetes mellitus. 57% were female andthe mean age was 58.9 years.Eighty-eight patients had DM chronic complications: 35% DD, 32%nephropathy, 26% retinopathy, 41% neuropathy and 15% macroangiopathy.The average of cutaneous lesions per patient was 4,4. The90.4% had cutaneous manifestations, being the most frequent: xeroderma(69%), dermatophytosis (52.8%), peripheral hypotrichia (39%),DD (35%).After doing a comparative analyze between patients with and withoutDD, we found, in the fi rst group more frequently (p<0,05) the followingsvariants: male sex, over 50 years old, retinopathy, sensitive neuropathy,macroangiopathy, diabetic foot and tinea pedis.Conclusions. The cutaneous lesions more frequently found in diabeticpatients were xeroderma, tinea pedis, onychomycosis, peripheral hypotrichiaand DD.As we found a statistic signifi cant association between DD and some systemiccomplications of DM, we propose to use this cutaneous sign as amarker of internal complications (Dermatol Argent 2010;16(2):117-121).