Prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis in roadkill armadillos in Brazil.

To evaluate the prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis in road killed armadillos identified along Brazilian regions, samples of liver, spleen, muscle, ear, nose and tail were collected on highways from 78 animals. The armadillos were of four different species, Cabassous tatouay, Dasypus novemcinctus, Dasypus septemcinctus and Euphractus sexcinctus. After DNA extraction from two tissues, specific primers were used for the detection of each pathogen using SYBR green qualitative Real-Time PCR, and amplicons were sequenced. The species with the highest prevalence was D. novemcinctus, mainly in the Central-West, South, and Southeast regions of Brazil. We detected M. leprae DNA in 32 (41 %) of the 78 individuals and M. lepromatosis DNA was not identified in any of the examined samples. The zoonotic component of leprosy may play a role in the transmission of the disease in endemic areas in which environmental conditions and contact with reservoirs must be investigated.

Triclabendazole efficacy, prevalence, and re-infection of Fasciola hepatica in bovine and ovine naturally infected in the Andes of Ecuador.

Fasciola spp., infections are distributed worldwide including the Andes region of Ecuador, affecting cattle, sheep, porcine, humans, and other herbivores. Triclabendazole (TCBZ) is commonly used to treat animal infections. However, prospective studies on TCBZ efficacy and fascioliosis prevalence have not been studied in the highlands of Ecuador. This study was performed in a rural community at central of the Ecuadorian Andes in freely roaming bovine and ovine aimed to 1) evaluate the efficacy of TCBZ by administering a single oral dose of 12 mg/kg body weight, 2) assess the prevalence of F. hepatica infection and 3) to monitor re-infections for a follow-up period of five months. In total, 122, 86, 111, 110, 89, and 90 and 49, 34, 47, 28, 27, and 31 stool samples were collected each month from bovines and ovine, respectively. Besides, 32 stool samples from porcine were also collected at the beginning of the study. Stools were microscopically analyzed by formalin-ether concentration method to detect F. hepatica ova. The prevalence of F. hepatica infections before treatment was 55,7% and 63,3% for bovine and ovine, respectively. The infection prevalence was of 22% in porcine. The efficacity of triclabendazole was 83% and 97% in bovines and ovine, respectively, at 30 days post-treatment. The re-infection reaches to 54,4% in bovines and 61,3% in ovine after five months. TCBZ had a high efficacy and could be used for bovines and ovine Fasciola infections in the study region; however, re-infections reach the initial prevalence after five months. Therefore, we recommend integrated control strategies, including chemotherapy with a single oral dose of TCBZ, vector control, and future drug resistance studies.

Melanoma nodular amelanótico: a propósito de un caso / Amelanotic nodular melanoma: a case report

RESUMEN Introducción: El melanoma es un tumor maligno de estirpe melanocítica que constituye el sexto cáncer más frecuente en la población general y tiene una alta capacidad para producir metástasis. Aproximadamente el 95% de los melanomas primarios pertenecen a cuatro tipos clínico-patológicos: extensivo superficial, nodular, lentigo maligno y lentiginoso acral. El 5% restante corresponde a variantes menos frecuentes entre las que se encuentra el melanoma amelanótico, que representa entre el 0.4-27.5% de los casos de este subgrupo. Objetivo: Presentar un caso de un melanoma amelanótico, como una variante que puede acompañar a cualquier otro tipo clínico de melanoma, en este caso a uno de tipo nodular,lesión que, debido a su disminución o ausencia de pigmento, puede conducir a errores diagnósticos que inciden en la demora en el tratamiento y reducen la sobrevida de los pacientes que lo padecen. Caso Clínico: Se presenta el caso de un paciente de sexo masculino de 75 años que acude por presentar una lesión tumoral exofítica en la frente, de aproximadamente un año de evolución. Al examen físico se observa la lesión tumoral cupuliforme, eritematosa y brillante, que bajo dermatoscopio de luz polarizada muestra un patrón vascular polimorfo a predominio de vasos lineales gruesos. Se plantean varios diagnósticos diferenciales entre los que se destacan: carcinoma basocelular, granuloma piógeno, linfoma y metástasis cutáneas; se realiza una toma de muestra para biopsia y técnicas de tinción con inmunohistoquímica, que confirman el diagnóstico de melanoma, se decide exéresis de la tumoración con márgenes y seguimiento multidisciplinario del caso. Conclusiones: Las variantes hipo/amelanóticas del melanoma son poco frecuentes y su diagnóstico presenta dificultades que suelen generar demoras que influyen en el tratamiento y pronóstico de la enfermedad. La dermatoscopía se presenta como una herramienta sumamente útil que puede aumentar la sospecha diagnóstica de estos tumores, aunque el estudio histopatológico continúa siendo el patrón de referencia para el diagnóstico, así como para el abordaje terapéutico y seguimiento ulteriores.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Melanoma is a malignant melanocytic tumor that constitutes the sixth most frequent cancer in the general population and has a high capacity to produce metastasis. Approximately 95% of primary melanomas belong to four clinicopathological types: extensive superficial, nodular, lentigo maligna, and acral lentiginous. The remaining 5% correspond to less frequent variants, among which is amelanotic melanoma, that represents between 0.4-27.5% of the cases in this subgroup. Objective: To present a case of an amelanotic melanoma, as a variant that can accompany any other clinical type of melanoma, in this case a nodular type, a lesion that, due to its decrease or absence of pigment, can lead to diagnostic errors that affect the delay in treatment and reduce the survival of patients who suffer from it. Clinical Case: The case of a 75-year-old male patient who presents with an exophytic tumor lesion on the forehead of approximately one year of evolution. Physical examination reveals a bright, erythematous, dome-shaped tumor which shows a polymorphous vascular pattern with a predominance of thick linear vessels under a polarized light dermatoscope. Several differential diagnoses are proposed, among which the following stand out: basal cell carcinoma, pyogenic granuloma, lymphoma, and skin metastases; a sample is taken for biopsy and staining techniques with immunohistochemistry, which confirm the diagnosis of melanoma, it is decided to excise the tumor with margins and multidisciplinary follow-up of the case. Conclusions: The hypo / amelanotic variants of melanoma are rare and their diagnosis presents difficulties that usually generate delays that influence the treatment and prognosis of the disease. Dermoscopy is presented as an extremely useful tool that can increase the diagnostic suspicion of these tumors, although the histopathological study continues being the gold standard for diagnosis, as well as for the therapeutic approach and subsequent follow-up.

Knowledge acquired from Clinical Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Treatment of Acute Pancreatitis by attending physicians and residents in hospitals in Veracruz. / Conocimiento de las Guías Clínicas de Diagnóstico y Tratamiento de la Pancreatitis Aguda en médicos adscritos y residentes de los hospitales de Veracruz.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical practice guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of acute pancreatitis (CPGDTAP) have been designed in an effort to reduce the morbidity and mortality of that severe disease. AIM: To identify the knowledge acquired from CPGDTAP in hospitals in Veracruz. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive, observational, multicenter study was conducted at four hospitals in Veracruz, through the application of a survey to evaluate the knowledge of attending physicians and residents that treat patients with acute pancreatitis. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the results. RESULTS: A total of 74 physicians were surveyed: 55.41% of whom were attending physicians and 44.59% of whom were resident physicians. The majority of physicians (67.57%) were familiar with CPGDTAP from the Asociación Mexicana de Gastroenterología (AMG), followed by those of the General Health Council of the Mexican Department of Health (CENETEC, the Spanish acronym) (54.05%) and the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) (48.65%). A total of 97.30% of the physicians routinely use a nasogastric tube, 79.73% considered early enteral nutrition to be very important, as did 98.65% regarding generous fluid replacement, 85.14% did not routinely use antimicrobials, 63.51% ordered a CAT scan at 72h or later, and 87.84% answered that infected necrosis was the indication for surgery, preferably after the third week. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In our hospital environment, the CPGDTAP issued by the AMG and CENETEC were the most well-known, but their recommended measures were given importance by under 85% of the physicians surveyed. Therefore, the diffusion of the knowledge they contain is advisable to guarantee optimal results in acute pancreatitis management.

Experimental transmission of Caligus rogercresseyi between two different fish species.

Caligus rogercresseyi is the dominant sea louse parasite affecting the salmon and trout industry in southern Chile. This parasite has a wide range of native and endemic fish hosts. The Patagonian blenny Eleginops maclovinus, which is parasitized mostly by the caligid species Lepeophtheirus spp. and C. rogercresseyi, is presumably responsible for the transmission of C. rogercresseyi to salmonids. The aim of this study was to characterize the transmission of parasites between different fish species and parasite cohort development under laboratory conditions. Parasite abundances and intensities were quantified. Transmission of parasites from Patagonian blenny to Atlantic salmon Salmo salar was lower (~9%, mainly corresponding to C. rogercresseyi) than from salmon to Patagonian blenny (14.7-26.9%, where only C. rogercresseyi were observed). This suggests that the transmission of C. rogercresseyi from salmon individuals is higher than the transmission from a native fish. Parasite cohorts developed successfully on both fish species, but apparently under different developmental rates. Water temperature, oxygen, and juvenile abundances were the variables that better explained cohort development success and variation in C. rogercresseyi adult abundances over time.

Psoriasis severa en paciente con infeccion latente por tuberculosis (ltbi). estrategia terapeutica / Severe psoriasis in a patient with latent tuberculosis infection (ltbi). therapeutic strategy

RESUMEN La psoriasis es una enfermedad inflamatoria sistémica crónica, de base genética y mediada inmunológicamente. En esta oportunidad, se reporta un caso en paciente mujer de 66 años con diagnóstico de psoriasis en placa moderada a severa sin respuesta clínica favorable a diversos tratamientos tópicos y sistémicos, cursando de manera concomitante con infección latente por tuberculosis (LTBI). Se decide como estrategia terapéutica tratamiento sistémico con biológico (Secukinumab). Teniendo en cuenta la importancia de la correcta evaluación respecto a la posibilidad de Tuberculosis (TBC) debido a que representa un desafío mundial actual en la prescripción de biológicos.

ABSTRACT Psoriasis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease, genetically based and immunologically mediated. This time, a case is reported in a 66-year-old female patient with a diagnosis of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis with no favorable clinical response to various topical and systemic treatments, concurrently presenting with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Biological systemic treatment (Secukinumab) was decided as a therapeutic strategy. Taking into account the importance of the correct evaluation regarding the possibility of Tuberculosis (TBC) because it represents a current global challenge in prescribing biologicals.

Evaluation of Nanomechanical Properties of Tomato Root by Atomic Force Microscopy.

Here, different tissue surfaces of tomato root were characterized employing atomic force microscopy on day 7 and day 21 of growth through Young's modulus and plasticity index. These parameters provide quantitative information regarding the mechanical behavior of the tomato root under fresh conditions in different locations of the cross-section of root [cell surface of the epidermis, parenchyma (Pa), and vascular bundles (Vb)]. The results show that the mechanical parameters depend on the indented region, tissue type, and growth time. Thereby, the stiffness increases in the cell surface of epidermal tissue with increasing growth time (from 9.19 ± 0.68 to 13.90 ± 1.68 MPa) and the cell surface of Pa tissue displays the opposite behavior (from 1.74 ± 0.49 to 0.48 ± 0.55); the stiffness of cell surfaces of Vb tissue changes from 10.60 ± 0.58 to 6.37 ± 0.53 MPa, all cases showed a statistical difference (p < 0.05). Viscoelastic behavior dominates the mechanical forces in the tomato root. The current study is a contribution to a better understanding of the cell mechanics behavior of different tomato root tissues during growth.

Photoinduced non-adiabatic energy transfer pathways in dendrimer building blocks.

The efficiency of the intramolecular energy transfer in light harvesting dendrimers is determined by their well-defined architecture with high degree of order. After photoexcitation, through-space and through-bond energy transfer mechanisms can take place, involving vectorial exciton migration among different chromophores within dendrimer highly branched structures. Their inherent intramolecular energy gradient depends on how the multiple chromophoric units have been assembled, subject to their inter-connects, spatial distances, and orientations. Herein, we compare the photoinduced nonadiabatic molecular dynamics simulations performed on a set of different combinations of a chain of linked dendrimer building blocks composed of two-, three-, and four-ring linear polyphenylene chromophoric units. The calculations are performed with the recently developed ab initio multiple cloning-time dependent diabatic basis implementation of the Multiconfigurational Ehrenfest (MCE) approach. Despite differences in short time relaxation pathways and different initial exciton localization, at longer time scales, electronic relaxation rates and exciton final redistributions are very similar for all combinations. Unlike the systems composed of two building blocks, considered previously, for the larger 3 block systems here we observe that bifurcation of the wave function accounted by cloning is important. In all the systems considered in this work, at the time scale of few hundreds of femtoseconds, cloning enhances the electronic energy relaxation by ∼13% compared to that of the MCE method without cloning. Thus, accurate description of quantum effects is essential for understanding of the energy exchange in dendrimers both at short and long time scales.

NDM-1 carbapenemase in Acinetobacter baumannii sequence type 32 in Ecuador.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a clinical case of Acinetobacter baumannii sequence type (ST) 32 harbouring a New Delhi metallo-ß-lactamase (NDM) in Ecuador. METHODS: We used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to confirm the bacterial species and the sequence type of an A. baumannii isolate. We used synergy with the imipenem-EDTA disc method and the carbapenem inactivation method (CIM) to determine carbapenemase production; the presence of a carbapenemase gene was confirmed by PCR amplification and amplicon sequencing. RESULTS: Molecular characterization revealed the presence of A. baumannii ST32 harbouring the bla NDM-1 gene in Ecuador. The bla NDM-1 gene was isolated through PCR and amplified from a purified plasmid. CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of A. baumannii ST32 harbouring the bla NDM-1 gene.

Reduction of high-fat diet-induced liver proinflammatory state by eicosapentaenoic acid plus hydroxytyrosol supplementation: involvement of resolvins RvE1/2 and RvD1/2.

High-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice show obesity with development of liver steatosis and a proinflammatory state without establishing an inflammatory reaction. The aim of this work was to assess the hypothesis that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus hydroxytyrosol (HT) supplementation prevents the inflammatory reaction through enhancement in the hepatic resolvin content in HFD-fed mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed an HFD or a control diet and supplemented with EPA (50 mg/kg/day) and HT (5 mg/kg/day) or their respective vehicles for 12 weeks. Measurements include liver levels of EPA, DHA and palmitate (gas chromatography), liver resolvins and triglyceride (TG) and serum aspartate transaminase (AST) (specific kits) and hepatic and serum inflammatory markers (quantitative polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Compared to CD, HFD induced body weight gain, liver steatosis and TG accumulation, with up-regulation of proinflammatory markers in the absence of histological inflammation or serum AST changes; these results were accompanied by higher hepatic levels of resolvins RvE1, RvE2, RvD1 and RvD2, with decreases in EPA and DHA contents. EPA+HT supplementation in HFD feeding synergistically reduced the steatosis score over individual treatments and increased the hepatic levels of EPA, DHA and resolvins, with attenuation of proinflammatory markers. Lack of progression of HFD-induced proinflammatory state into overt inflammation is associated with resolvin up-regulation, which is further increased by EPA+HT supplementation eliciting steatosis attenuation. These findings point to the importance of combined protocols in hepatoprotection due to the involvement of cross-talk mechanisms, which increase effectiveness and diminish dosages, avoiding undesirable effects.

Energy transfer and spatial scrambling of an exciton in a conjugated dendrimer.

Photoexcitation of multichromophoric light harvesting molecules induces a number of intramolecular electronic energy relaxation and redistribution pathways that can ultimately lead to ultrafast exciton self-trapping on a single chromophore unit. We investigate the photoinduced processes that take place on a phenylene-ethynylene dendrimer, consisting of nine equivalent linear chromophore units or branches. meta-Substituted links between branches break the conjugation giving rise to weak couplings between them and to localized excitations. Our nonadiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the ultrafast internal conversion process to the lowest excited state is accompanied by an inner → outer inter-branch migration of the exciton due to the entropic bias associated with energetically equivalent conjugated segments. The electronic energy redistribution among chromophore units occurs through several possible pathways in which through-bond transport and through-space exciton hopping mechanisms can be distinguished. Besides, triple bond excitations coincide with the localization of the electronic transition densities, suggesting that the intramolecular energy redistribution is a concerted electronic and vibrational energy transfer process.

Nefropatía por mieloma múltiple / Nephropathy due to multiple myeloma

Resumen Gran parte de los pacientes con mieloma múltiple inician con signos y síntomas relacionados con la infiltración de células plasmáticas o el exceso de cadenas ligeras kappa. La enfermedad renal es común con enfermedad heterogénea que puede involucrar diferentes mecanismos. Se comunica el caso de un paciente con sospecha de mieloma múltiple debido a la existencia de lumbalgia, insuficiencia renal, anemia e hipercalcemia; con electroforesis de proteínas séricas negativa para hipergammaglobulinemia, en quien se confirmó el diagnóstico al demostrar la existencia de cadenas ligeras kappa en tejido renal; se realiza una revisión de la bibliografía actual.

Abstract Much of the patients with multiple myeloma present with signs and symptoms related to plasma cells infiltration or by the excess of kappa light chains. Kidney disease is common and has a heterogeneous pathophysiology that may involve different mechanisms. We present the case of a patient with suspected multiple myeloma because of low back pain, renal failure, anemia and hypercalcemia; without hipergammaglobulinemia in the electrophoresis, in whom the diagnosis was confirmed by the presence of kappa chains light in renal tissue; a review of current literature is made.

Phenotyping Sunflower Genetic Resources for Sclerotinia Head Rot Response: Assessing Variability for Disease Resistance Breeding.

Sclerotinia head rot (SHR) is one of the most serious constraints to sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. var. macrocarpus) production worldwide. Here, we evaluated the response to SHR in a sunflower inbred panel from a large INTA germplasm collection, consisting of 137 inbred lines (ILs). Field trials were performed over five consecutive seasons using a twice-replicated randomized complete-block design. Disease incidence, disease severity, incubation period, and area under disease progress curve for disease incidence and severity were determined after controlled inoculation with the pathogen. Statistical analysis using mixed-effect models detected significant differences among ILs for all variables (P < 0.001). In addition, principal component analysis (PCA) and distance-based methods were used to classify the ILs according to their response to SHR, with ILs ALB2/5261 and 5383 emerging as the most resistant. Broad-sense heritability estimates ranged from 20.64% for disease severity to 10.58% for incubation period. The ample phenotypic variability of our collection, along with the moderate heritability estimates, highlight the importance of molecular breeding approaches to gain new insights into the genetic basis of sunflower resistance to SHR. The exhaustive phenotypic characterization presented here provides a reliable set of variables to comprehensively evaluate the disease and identifies two new sources of resistance to SHR.

Ultrafast electronic energy relaxation in a conjugated dendrimer leading to inter-branch energy redistribution.

Dendrimers are arrays of coupled chromophores, where the energy of each unit depends on its structure and conformation. The light harvesting and energy funneling properties are strongly dependent on their highly branched conjugated architecture. Herein, the photoexcitation and subsequent ultrafast electronic energy relaxation and redistribution of a first generation dendrimer (1) are analyzed combining theoretical and experimental studies. Dendrimer 1 consists of three linear phenylene-ethynylene (PE) units, or branches, attached in the meta position to a central group opening up the possibility of inter-branch energy transfer. Excited state dynamics are explored using both time-resolved spectroscopy and non-adiabatic excited state molecular dynamics simulations. Our results indicate a subpicosecond loss of anisotropy due to an initial excitation into several states with different spatial localizations, followed by exciton self-trapping on different units. This exciton hops between branches. The absence of an energy gradient leads to an ultrafast energy redistribution among isoenergetic chromophore units. At long times we observe similar probabilities for each branch to retain significant contributions of the transition density of the lowest electronic excited-state. The observed unpolarized emission is attributed to the contraction of the electronic wavefunction onto a single branch with frequent interbranch hops, and not to its delocalization over the whole dendrimer.

Carbon nanorings with inserted acenes: breaking symmetry in excited state dynamics.

Conjugated cycloparaphenylene rings have unique electronic properties being the smallest segments of carbon nanotubes. Their conjugated backbones support delocalized electronic excitations, which dynamics is strongly influenced by cyclic geometry. Here we present a comparative theoretical study of the electronic and vibrational energy relaxation and redistribution in photoexcited cycloparaphenylene carbon nanorings with inserted naphthalene, anthracene, and tetracene units using non-adiabatic excited-state molecular dynamics simulations. Calculated excited state structures reflect modifications of optical selection rules and appearance of low-energy electronic states localized on the acenes due to gradual departure from a perfect circular symmetry. After photoexcitation, an ultrafast electronic energy relaxation to the lowest excited state is observed on the time scale of hundreds of femtoseconds in all molecules studied. Concomitantly, the efficiency of the exciton trapping in the acene raises when moving from naphthalene to anthracene and to tetracene, being negligible in naphthalene, and ~60% and 70% in anthracene and tetracene within the first 500 fs after photoexcitation. Observed photoinduced dynamics is further analyzed in details using induced molecular distortions, delocatization properties of participating electronic states and non-adiabatic coupling strengths. Our results provide a number of insights into design of cyclic molecular systems for electronic and light-harvesting applications.

Risk factors for candidemia in non-neutropenic critical patients in Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: Due to the increase in isolation of Candida spp. in critically ill patients, and the high mortality and economic costs which this infection entails, a study was made of the risk factors associated to candidemia in critically ill patients from 7 intensive care units in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter matched case-control study was conducted in 7 intensive care units of 3 university hospitals. Data on overall length of hospital stay (including both general wards and the intensive care unit) were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 243 subjects (81 cases and 162 controls) between January 2008 and December 2012 were included. In order of frequency, C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis were isolated. The main identified risk factors were: overall length of hospital stay>25 days (OR 5.33, 95% CI 2.6-10.9), use of meropenem (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.86-7.5), abdominal surgery (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.39-6.06) and hemodialysis (OR 3.35, 95% CI 1.5-7.7). No differences in mortality between patients with candidemia and controls were found (39.5 vs. 36.5%, respectively, P=.66) were found. CONCLUSIONS: In Colombia, a long hospital stay, abdominal surgery, the use of meropenem and hemodialysis were identified as risk factors for candidemia.

A Mayan founder mutation is a common cause of deafness in Guatemala.

Over 5% of the world's population has varying degrees of hearing loss. Mutations in GJB2 are the most common cause of autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing loss (ARNHL) in many populations. The frequency and type of mutations are influenced by ethnicity. Guatemala is a multi-ethnic country with four major populations: Maya, Ladino, Xinca, and Garifuna. To determine the mutation profile of GJB2 in a ARNHL population from Guatemala, we sequenced both exons of GJB2 in 133 unrelated families. A total of six pathogenic variants were detected. The most frequent pathogenic variant is c.131G>A (p.Trp44*) detected in 21 of 266 alleles. We show that c.131G>A is associated with a conserved haplotype in Guatemala suggesting a single founder. The majority of Mayan population lives in the west region of the country from where all c.131G>A carriers originated. Further analysis of genome-wide variation of individuals carrying the c.131G>A mutation compared with those of Native American, European, and African populations shows a close match with the Mayan population.