Frequency of arrhythmias detected in 9440 feline electrocardiograms by breed, age, and sex.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to describe the frequency of arrhythmias detected in unsedated feline patients from general practice settings. ANIMALS: A total 10,638 feline electrocardiograms (ECGs) were retrospectively collected of which 9440 met the inclusion criteria. METHODS: Recordings were evaluated by a board-certified cardiologist. If an arrhythmia was present in the ECG tracing, the cardiologist categorized the arrhythmia using pre-established keywords. RESULTS: At least one arrhythmia was observed in 249 cases (2.64%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.34-2.98, 249/9440), with the most common arrhythmia encountered being ventricular premature complexes (1.63%, 95% CI: 1.39%-1.91%, 154/9440). Ragdoll cats had the highest odds of arrhythmia (odds ratio (OR): 3.17, 95% CI: 1.43-6.17, P=0.036). Both geriatric (Age: 13+ years, OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.24-2.34, P=0.013) and senior (Age: 10-13 years, OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.19-2.37, P=0.003) cats had higher odds of having an arrhythmia than adult cats. The odds of male cats having an arrhythmia were slightly higher than female (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.06-1.76, P=0.018). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Of the 9440 ECGs included in this study, at least one arrhythmia was detected in 249 distinct cases. Arrhythmias were more common in older cats, male cats and the Ragdoll cat breed. While it is important to note that the presence of an arrhythmia alone does not always indicate the presence of heart disease, further research on the association between breed cardiac health is needed.

Cycloaddition between nitrogen-doped graphene (6π-component) and benzene (4π-component): a theoretical approach using density functional theory with vdW-DF correction.

The interaction between nitrogen-doped graphene defects (N3V1 and N4V2 pyridinic, and N3V1 and N3V3 pyrrolic) and benzene have been investigated by applying density functional theory (DFT), together with the vdW-DF correction. We discovered that only the N3V3 pyrrolic defect is a reactive site (6π-component), forming a cycloadduct with benzene (4π-component) that has energy barriers below 154.38 kJ mol-1 (1.60 eV). The conduction and valence bands (HOMO and LUMO) for N3V3 form a degenerate pair of orbitals at the gamma point, with the same ionization potential (IP) and electron affinity (EA). Likewise, inspection of the orbital symmetries for both systems confirms that these must undergo concerted reactions based on the Woodward and Hoffmann principles of orbital symmetry, with the appropriate orbital occupancies. This is the first time that substitutionally doped graphene has been demonstrated to participate as a 6π-component for cycloaddition reactions with benzene.

An investigation of targeted inhibition of transcription factor activity with pyrrole imidazole polyamide (PA) in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) blast crisis cells.

Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy is the standard treatment for chronic phase (CP)-chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), yet patients in blast crisis (BC) phase of CML are unlikely to respond to TKI therapy. The transcription factor E2F1 is a down-stream target of the tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL1 and is up-regulated in TKI-resistant leukemia stem cells (LSC). Pyrrole imidazole polyamides (PA) are minor groove binders which can be programmed to target DNA sequences in a gene-selective manner. This manuscript describes such an approach with a PA designed to down-regulate E2F1 controlled gene expression by targeting a DNA sequence within 100 base pairs (bp) upstream of the E2F1 consensus sequence. Human BC-CML KCL22 cells were assessed after treatment with PA, TKI or their combination. Our PA inhibited BC-CML cell expansion based on cell density analysis compared to an untreated control after a 48-hour time-course of PA treatment. However, no evidence of cell cycle arrest was observed among BC-CML cells treated with PA, with respect to their no drug control counterparts. Thus, this work demonstrates that PAs are effective in inhibiting E2F1 TF activity which results in a temporal reduction in BC-CML cell number. We envisage that PAs could be used in the future to map genes under E2F1 control in CML LSCs.

Lesión del nervio axilar asociado a luxación de hombro / Axillary nerve injury associated with shoulder dislocation: case report

Resumen: La lesión del nervio axilar (o circunflejo) aislada es poco frecuente, ésta suele presentarse asociada a una lesión del plexo braquial. En nuestra institución, en un período comprendido entre los años 2015-2017, se ha observado una frecuencia de sólo 0.4% de esta lesión. Con el presente reporte de caso se resalta la relación de la luxación de hombro con lesión del nervio axilar aislada. Caso clínico: Masculino de 31 años de edad, con trauma en hombro derecho, secundario a caída de su propia altura en accidente laboral. Radiografía de ingreso de hombro derecho muestra luxación anteroinferior de articulación glenohumeral, asociada a fractura de troquiter. Es intervenido quirúrgicamente, con reducción cerrada de articulación glenohumeral y osteosíntesis de troquiter. Posterior a ello, el paciente presenta atrofia marcada del deltoides, se ordena electromiografía que evidencia lesión completa del nervio axilar sin reinervación.

Abstract: Isolated lesion of the axillary (or circumflex) nerve is infrequent, this is usually associated with a brachial plexus injury. In our institution, in a period comprised between the years 2015-2017, a frequency of only 0.4% of this injury has been observed. Clinical case: Male patient of 31 years of age, with trauma in the right shoulder, caused by fall of his own height in work accident. The admission graph of the right shoulder shows anterior inferior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint, associated with a greater tubercle fracture. He underwent surgery, with closed reduction of the glenohumeral joint and osteosynthesis of the greater tubercle. The patient later presents marked atrophy of the deltoid, electromyography is ordered that shows complete lesion of the axillary nerve without reinnervation.

Development of an electrochemical impedimetric immunosensor for Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) using half-antibody fragments as elements of biorecognition.

An electrochemical impedimetric immunosensor was developed for the detection of the neuropeptide Corticotropin Releasing Hormone (CRH) based on the immobilization of half-antibody fragments on gold nanoparticles (AuNp). Then, the optimal conditions for the obtainment of AuNp through electroplating on a bare gold electrode were studied. The results showed that the obtainment of AuNp at a fixed potential of -0.2 V for 330 s, at 80 °C and 2·10-3 mol·L-1 of HAuCl4 generates an adequate nanostructured surface and is a highly reproducible method. Also, the optimal conditions for immobilizing the half-antibody on AuNp were studied. The interaction of the CRH with the recognition layer of the immobilized half-antibody on the nanostructured surface was carried out by incubation at 4 °C for 2 h. A dissolution of [Fe(CN)6]4-/[Fe(CN)6]3- as a redox probe was used to study the electrochemical responses of the nanostructured surface and the immobilization processes of the half-antibody and detection of CRH, using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. An immunosensor was obtained for the specific detection of CRH, within a range of 10.0-80.0 µg mL-1, with a limit of detection of 2.7 µg mL-1 and a limit of quantification of 9.2 µg mL-1. Additionally, the association constant between the CRH and the immobilized half-antibody was calculated at 1.96·105 M-1.

G protein ßγ subunits play a critical role in the actions of amphetamine.

Abnormal levels of dopamine (DA) are thought to contribute to several neurological and psychiatric disorders including drug addiction. Extracellular DA levels are regulated primarily via reuptake by the DA transporter (DAT). Amphetamine, a potent psychostimulant, increases extracellular DA by inducing efflux through DAT. Recently, we discovered that G protein ßγ subunits (Gßγ) interact with DAT, and that in vitro activation of Gßγ promotes DAT-mediated efflux. Here, we investigated the role of Gßγ in the actions of amphetamine in DA neurons in culture, ex vivo nucleus accumbens (NAc), and freely moving rats. Activation of Gßγ with the peptide myr-Ser-Ile-Arg-Lys-Ala-Leu-Asn-Ile-Leu-Gly-Tyr-Pro-Asp-Tyr-Asp (mSIRK) in the NAc potentiated amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion, but not cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion, and systemic or intra-accumbal administration of the Gßγ inhibitor gallein attenuated amphetamine-induced, but not cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion. Infusion into the NAc of a TAT-fused peptide that targets the Gßγ-binding site on DAT (TAT-DATct1) also attenuated amphetamine-induced but not cocaine-induced hyperlocomotion. In DA neurons in culture, inhibition of Gßγ with gallein or blockade of the Gßγ-DAT interaction with the TAT-DATct1 peptide decreased amphetamine-induced DA efflux. Furthermore, activation of Gßγ with mSIRK potentiated and inhibition of Gßγ with gallein reduced amphetamine-induced increases of extracellular DA in the NAc in vitro and in freely moving rats. Finally, systemic or intra-accumbal inhibition of Gßγ with gallein blocked the development of amphetamine-induced, but not cocaine-induced place preference. Collectively, these results suggest that interaction between Gßγ and DAT plays a critical role in the actions of amphetamine and presents a novel target for modulating the actions of amphetamine in vivo.

[Axillary nerve injury associated with shoulder dislocation: case report]. / Lesión del nervio axilar asociado a luxación de hombro.

Isolated lesion of the axillary (or circumflex) nerve is infrequent, this is usually associated with a brachial plexus injury. In our institution, in a period comprised between the years 2015-2017, a frequency of only 0.4% of this injury has been observed. Clinical case: Male patient of 31 years of age, with trauma in the right shoulder, caused by fall of his own height in work accident. The admission graph of the right shoulder shows anterior inferior dislocation of the glenohumeral joint, associated with a greater tubercle fracture. He underwent surgery, with closed reduction of the glenohumeral joint and osteosynthesis of the greater tubercle. The patient later presents marked atrophy of the deltoid, electromyography is ordered that shows complete lesion of the axillary nerve without reinnervation.

La lesión del nervio axilar (o circunflejo) aislada es poco frecuente, ésta suele presentarse asociada a una lesión del plexo braquial. En nuestra institución, en un período comprendido entre los años 2015-2017, se ha observado una frecuencia de sólo 0.4% de esta lesión. Con el presente reporte de caso se resalta la relación de la luxación de hombro con lesión del nervio axilar aislada. Caso clínico: Masculino de 31 años de edad, con trauma en hombro derecho, secundario a caída de su propia altura en accidente laboral. Radiografía de ingreso de hombro derecho muestra luxación anteroinferior de articulación glenohumeral, asociada a fractura de troquiter. Es intervenido quirúrgicamente, con reducción cerrada de articulación glenohumeral y osteosíntesis de troquiter. Posterior a ello, el paciente presenta atrofia marcada del deltoides, se ordena electromiografía que evidencia lesión completa del nervio axilar sin reinervación.

Synthesis and characterization of rice starch laurate as food-grade emulsifier for canola oil-in-water emulsions.

The effect of esterification on hydrolyzed rice starch was analyzed, for this aim rice starch was hydrolyzed and subsequently esterified with lauroyl chloride at three modification levels. Starch derivatives were characterized regarding their degree of substitution (DS), water solubility index, z-potential, gelatinization, and digestibility properties. DS of derivatives of rice starch laurate ranged from 0.042 to 1.86. It was determined that after esterification the water solubility index increased from 3.44 to 53.61%, the z-potential decreased from -3.18 to -11.27, and the content of slowly digestible starch (SDS) decreased from 26.22 to 5.13%. Different emulsions with starch concentrations ranging from 6 to 30 wt% were evaluated. The most stable emulsions were those having 20 and 30 wt% of rice starch laurate.

Endoscopic Treatment for Vesicoureteral Reflux in Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Kidney Transplant: Experience of One Center.

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) after renal transplantation in adult patients has been reported. In renal transplant recipients, symptomatic urinary tract infection can cause high morbidity despite improved immunosuppressive and antibiotic treatment. In our country there have been few reported cases about use of copolymer of dextranomer and hyaluronic acid (DX-HA) injection in a renal transplant. We present 3 cases of recurrent or complicated infections with evidence of high-grade VUR, which were treated with DX-HA. Only 1 case had a partial remission; however, there were no episodes of urinary tract infection in 12 months of follow-up. Suburethral injection is an endoscopic treatment modality with low morbidity in our country.

Personalized design of a hand prosthesis considering anthropometry of a real hand extracted from radiography.

Commercially available prostheses do not meet patients' expectations regarding dimensions, shape and aesthetic reasons. This paper presents the design of an anthropomorphic and anthropometric prosthesis based on dimensions and shape extracted from a digitized radiograph of the healthy hand of the patient. The mobility of the hand is guaranteed by making a design of phalanges, joints, ligaments and tendons, as closest as possible to a real hand. The kinematic model is presented and validated. A proposal of the actuation system is also described.

Infective capacity of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in a human astrocytoma cell line.

Pathogenesis of cryptococcosis in the central nervous system (CNS) is a topic of ongoing research, including the mechanisms by which this fungus invades and infects the brain. Astrocytes, the most common CNS cells, play a fundamental role in the local immune response. Astrocytes might participate in cryptococcosis either as a host or by responding to fungal antigens. To determine the infectivity of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii and Cryptococcus gattii in a human astrocytoma cell line and the induction of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. A glioblastoma cell line was infected with C. neoformans var. grubii and C. gattii blastoconidia labelled with FUN-1 fluorescent stain. The percentage of infection and expression of HLA class I and II molecules were determined by flow cytometry. The interactions between the fungi and cells were observed by fluorescence microscopy. There was no difference between C. neoformans var. grubii and C. gattii in the percentage infection, but C. neoformans var. grubii induced higher expression of HLA class II than C. gattii. More blastoconidia were recovered from C. neoformans-infected cells than from C. gattii infected cells. Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii may have different virulence mechanisms that allow its survival in human glia-derived cells.

Surgical Management of Multiple Valve Endocarditis Associated with Dialysis Catheter.

Endocarditis associated with dialysis catheter is a disease that must be suspected in every patient with hemodialysis who develops fever. Multiple valve disease is a severe complication of endocarditis that needs to be managed in a different way. There is very limited data for treatment and every case must be considered individually. We present a patient with this complication and describe the medical treatment and surgical management. We report the case of a 15-year-old patient with acute renal failure that develops trivalvular endocarditis after the hemodialysis catheter was placed, with multiple positive blood culture for Staphylococcus aureus. Transesophageal echocardiography was done and aortic and tricuspid valvular vegetations and mitral insufficiency were reported. Patient was successfully treated by surgery on the three valves, including aortic valve replacement. There is limited data about the appropriate treatment for multiple valvular endocarditis; it is important to consider this complication in the setting of hemodialysis patients that develop endocarditis and, despite the appropriate treatment, have a torpid evolution. In countries where endovenous drug abuse is uncommon, right sided endocarditis is commonly associated with vascular catheters. Aggressive surgical management should be the treatment of choice in these kinds of patients.

Prolactin mediates neuroprotection against excitotoxicity in primary cell cultures of hippocampal neurons via its receptor.

Recently it has been reported that prolactin (PRL) exerts a neuroprotective effect against excitotoxicity in hippocampus in the rat in vivo models. However, the exact mechanism by which PRL mediates this effect is not completely understood. The aim of our study was to assess whether prolactin exerts neuroprotection against excitotoxicity in an in vitro model using primary cell cultures of hippocampal neurons, and to determine whether this effect is mediated via the prolactin receptor (PRLR). Primary cell cultures of rat hippocampal neurons were used in all experiments, gene expression was evaluated by RT-qPCR, and protein expression was assessed by Western blot analysis and immunocytochemistry. Cell viability was assessed by using the MTT method. The results demonstrated that PRL treatment of neurons from primary cultures did not modify cell viability, but that it exerted a neuroprotective effect, with cells treated with PRL showing a significant increase of viability after glutamate (Glu)--induced excitotoxicity as compared with neurons treated with Glu alone. Cultured neurons expressed mRNA for both PRL and its receptor (PRLR), and both PRL and PRLR expression levels changed after the excitotoxic insult. Interestingly, the PRLR protein was detected as two main isoforms of 100 and 40 kDa as compared with that expressed in hypothalamic cells, which was present only as a 30 kDa variant. On the other hand, PRL was not detected in neuron cultures, either by western blot or by immunohistochemistry. Neuroprotection induced by PRL was significantly blocked by specific oligonucleotides against PRLR, thus suggesting that the PRL role is mediated by its receptor expressed in these neurons. The overall results indicated that PRL induces neuroprotection in neurons from primary cell cultures.

Aplicación de la Sonificación de Señales Cerebrales en Clasificación Automática / Applying Brain Signals Sonification for Automatic Classification

En años recientes la sonificación de electroencefalogramas (EEG) ha sido utilizada como una alternativa para analizar señales cerebrales al convertir el EEG en audio. En este trabajo se aplica la sonificación a señales de EEG durante el habla imaginada o habla no pronunciada, con el objetivo de mejorar la clasificación automática de 5 palabras del idioma español. Para comprobarlo, se procesó la señal cerebral de 27 sujetos sanos. Estas señales fueron sonificadas para después extraer características con dos métodos diferentes: la transformada Wavelet discreta (DWT); y los coeficientes cepstrales en la escala de Mel (MFCC). Éste último comúnmente utilizado en tareas de reconocimiento de voz. Para clasificar las señales se aplicaron tres algoritmos distintos de clasificación Naive Bayes (NB), Máquina de vectores de soporte (SVM) y Random Forest (RF). Se obtuvieron resultados usando los 4 canales más cercanos a las áreas de lenguaje de Broca y Wernicke, así como también los 14 canales del dispositivo EEG utilizado. Los porcentajes de exactitud promedio para los 27 sujetos en los dos conjuntos de 4 y 14 canales usando sonificación de EEG fueron de 55.83% y 64.14% respectivamente, con lo que se logró mejorar ligeramente los porcentajes de clasificación de las palabras imaginadas respecto a no utilizar sonificación.

In recent years sonification of electroencephalograms (EEG) has been used as an alternative to analyze brain signals after converting EEG to audio. In this paper we applied the sonification to EEG signals during the imagined speech or unspoken speech, with the aim of improving the automatic classification of 5 words of Spanish. To check this, the brain signals of 27 healthy subjects were processed. These sonificated signals were processed to extract features with two different methods: discrete wavelet transform (DWT); and the Mel-frequencies cepstral coefficients (MFCC). The latter commonly used in speech recognition tasks. To classify the signals three different classification algorithms Naive Bayes (NB), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Forest (RF) were applied. Results were obtained using the 4 channels closest to the language areas of Broca and Wernicke, as well as the 14 channels of the EEG device used. The percentages of average accuracy for the 27 subjects in the two sets of 4 and 14 channels using EEG sonification were 55.83% and 64.14% respectively, which are improvements in the classification rates of the imagined words compared with a scheme without sonification.

Evaluación del sangrado y tiempo quirúrgico en artroplastía total de rodilla con y sin torniquete: Estudio comparativo / Assessment of bleeding and operative time in total knee arthroplasty with and without tourniquet: Comparative study

Antecedentes: La utilización de torniquete neumático (TN) en la artroplastía total de rodilla (ATR) ha sido tema de controversia, describiendo ventajas, desventajas y complicaciones asociadas. Con la finalidad de evaluar los beneficios de su utilización se estudió el tiempo quirúrgico, volumen de sangrado transquirúrgico, postquirúrgico y total, así como los valores de hemoglobina y hematocrito pre y postquirúrgicos de pacientes a los que se les realizo ATR primaria utilizando TN y se compararon con un grupo control. Material y métodos: Se realizó un análisis retrospectivo de expedientes clínicos de casos sometidos a ATR; en apego a los criterios de inclusión se obtuvo un grupo de estudio (n = 19) y control (n = 19) según la utilización o no de TN. Se compararon el tiempo quirúrgico, el sangrado transquirúrgico y postquirúrgico así como el sangrado total; valores de hemoglobina y hematocrito iniciales y finales. Resultados: Se obtuvieron diferencias significativas a favor del grupo en quienes se utilizó TN en 7 de 8 variables estudiadas, siendo el tiempo empleado (t = 2.08 p < 0.050); sangrado transquirúrgico (t = -6.44, p < 0.010); postquirúrgico (t = -2.170 p < 0.050) y total (t = /7.52, p < 0.010), las más relevantes. Conclusiones: Los resultados mostraron que los sujetos a quienes se les aplicó TN durante la ATR requirieron menos tiempo quirúrgico y que el sangrado total, trans y postquirúrgico, así como la perdida sanguínea calculada fueron menores que los controles. Mayores conjeturas sobre los beneficios del TN ameritan la realización de más investigaciones prospectivas.

Background: The use of the pneumatic tourniquet (PT) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been controversial; its advantages, disadvantages and associated complications have been described. In order to assess its benefits we analyzed operative time; intraoperative, postoperative and total bleeding volume, as well as pre- and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit values in patients who had undergone primary TKA using the PT, and they were compared with a control group. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of the clinical records of cases who underwent TKA was conducted. Based on the inclusion criteria and the use or non-use of PT, two groups were formed: a study group (n = 19) and a control group (n = 19). The following variables were compared: operative time, intra and postoperative bleeding and total bleeding; initial and final hemoglobin and hematocrit values. Results: Significant differences in favor of the group with PT use were obtained in 7 out of the 8 variables studied. The most relevant ones were operative time (t = 2.08 p < 0.050); intraoperative bleeding (t = -6.44, p < 0.010); postoperative bleeding (t = -2.170 p < 0.050) and total bleeding (t = /7.52, p < 0.010). Conclusions: The results showed that patients in whom PT was used during TKA had a shorter operative time, and their total, intra- and postoperative bleeding and the estimated blood loss were lower than in controls. Additional suppositions on the benefits of PT warrant the conduction of more prospective research studies.

[Assessment of bleeding and operative time in total knee arthroplasty with and without tourniquet. Comparative study]. / Evaluación del sangrado y tiempo quirúrgico en artroplastía total de rodilla con y sin torniquete. Estudio comparative.

BACKGROUND: The use of the pneumatic tourniquet (PT) in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) has been controversial; its advantages, disadvantages and associated complications have been described. In order to assess its benefits we analyzed operative time; intraoperative, postoperative and total bleeding volume, as well as pre- and postoperative hemoglobin and hematocrit values in patients who had undergone primary TKA using the PT, and they were compared with a control group. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the clinical records of cases who underwent TKA was conducted. Based on the inclusion criteria and the use or nonuse of PT, two groups were formed: a study group (n=19) and a control group (n=19). The following variables were compared: operative time, intra and postoperative bleeding and total bleeding; initial and final hemoglobin and hematocrit values. RESULTS: Significant differences in favor of the group with PT use were obtained in 7 out of the 8 variables studied. The most relevant ones were operative time (t = 2.08 p < 0.050); intraoperative bleeding (t = -6.44, p < 0.010); postoperative bleeding (t = -2.170 p < 0.050) and total bleeding (t = /7.52, p < 0.010). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that patients in whom PT was used during TKA had a shorter operative time, and their total, intra- and postoperative bleeding and the estimated, blood loss were lower than in controls. Additional suppositions on the benefits of PT warrant the conduction'of more prospective research studies.

Pulpal and periapical response after restoration of deep cavities in dogs' teeth with Filtek Silorane and Filtek Supreme XT systems.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated, histopathologically, the pulpal and periapical response to a silorane-based resin (Filtek Silorane) and a methacrylate-based nanoparticle resin (Filtek Supreme XT) in deep cavities in dogs, having zinc oxide and eugenol-based cement (ZOE) as a control. METHODS: The tooth/bone blocks were collected after 10 and 90 days and processed for microscopic analysis of the dentin, pulp, and periapical tissues using a score system. Data were analyzed statistically by Kruskal-Wallis and Dunn post-test (α=0.05). RESULTS: At 10 days, the pulp, connective tissue, and periodontal ligament showed normal characteristics. No resorption areas were observed. Both resins caused significantly less (p<0.05) periapical and pulpal inflammatory response than ZOE. At 90 days, for all materials, the connective pulp tissue was healthy and dense, with a normal blood vessel system. The apical and periapical region had normal structure and thickness. CONCLUSIONS: The use of the Filtek Silorane and the Filtek Supreme XT resins caused no adverse pulpal and periapical reactions after restoration of deep dentin cavities in vivo.

Isolation of Cryptococcus gattii molecular type VGIII, from Corymbia ficifolia detritus in Colombia.

An environmental sampling survey was carried out in different areas of Bogotá, Colombia, to obtain isolates of members of the Cryptococcus neoformans/C. gattii species complex from Corymbia ficifolia trees. During a 6-month period in 2007, 128 samples consisting of bark, soil around trunk bases, detritus, seeds and flowers were collected from 91 trees and processed according to standard procedures. The molecular type was determined using URA5 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and the mating type was established by PCR using specific primers for Mfalpha and Mfa C. gattii was isolated from 15 of the 128 (11.7%) samples, of which three (20%) were recovered from the red flower extract and the remaining 12 from C. ficifolia detritus. URA5 RFLP analysis revealed that all 15 isolates belonged to the molecular type VGIII and mating type specific PCR revealed that all were mating type a. The isolation of C. gattii from C. ficifolia represents an important finding since this is the first report revealing C. ficifolia as a habitat for C. gattii and adds additional information to the ever growing spectrum of tree species from which C. gattii can be recovered.

Event-Related Functional Magnetic Resonance Images during the Perception of Phantom Limb. A Brushing Task.

The phantom limb phenomenon has been used in amputee patients as a paradigm to study plasticity, mainly of the sensorimotor cortex. Nevertheless, most functional studies have been done in upper limb amputee patients using magnetoencephalography and functional magnetic resonance image imaging (fMRI). In addition, the actual experience of phantom limb sensation has not been widely used to study the neural mechanism of the human brain as a conscious knowledge of the phantom limb perception like the integration of the body image in amputee patients. fMRI studies of patients with lower limb amputation have recently been published, but none of these used an event-related design to try to observe only the stimulus application, correlating images with the subject's indication of phantom perception and discarding images with no phantom perception. In this work, we used the event-related fMRI design in two right-handed patients with identical right, transfemoral amputations, performing the same sensitive stimulation in a 3.0 T MR scanner. For comparison, we applied the same paradigm to six control subjects to compare the resulting functional maps. We found areas with statistical significance in the sensorimotor cortex contralateral to the site of stimulation, in the parietal lobe in Brodmann areas 3 in both cases (Patients and Control Subjects), but we also found activation in the Brodmann areas 6, 40, and 5 with stimulation of the stump. We observed a specific activation of the frontoparietal circuit during phantom limb perception in both amputee patients.