Evolution of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 deletions in Equatorial Guinea between the pre- and post-RDT introduction.

BACKGROUND: Pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 deletions are threatening Plasmodium falciparum malaria diagnosis by rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) due to false negatives. This study assesses the changes in the frequencies of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 deletions (pfhrp2Del and pfhrp3Del, respectively) and the genes in their flaking regions, before and after RDT introduction in Equatorial Guinea. METHODS: A total of 566 P. falciparum samples were genotyped to assess the presence of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 deletions and their flanking genes. The specimens were collected 18 years apart from two provinces of Equatorial Guinea, North Bioko (Insular Region) and Litoral Province (Continental Region). Orthologs of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes from other closely related species were used to compare sequencing data to assess pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 evolution. Additionally, population structure was studied using seven neutral microsatellites. RESULTS: This study found that pfhrp2Del and pfhrp3Del were present before the introduction of RDT; however, they increased in frequency after their use, reaching more than 15%. Haplotype networks suggested that pfhrp2Del and pfhrp3Del emerged multiple times. Exon 2 of pfhrp2 and pfhrp3 genes had high variability, but there were no significant changes in amino acid sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline sampling before deploying interventions provides a valuable context to interpret changes in genetic markers linked to their efficacy, such as the dynamic of deletions affecting RDT efficacy.

A new long-read mitochondrial-genome protocol (PacBio HiFi) for haemosporidian parasites: a tool for population and biodiversity studies.

BACKGROUND: Studies on haemosporidian diversity, including origin of human malaria parasites, malaria's zoonotic dynamic, and regional biodiversity patterns, have used target gene approaches. However, current methods have a trade-off between scalability and data quality. Here, a long-read Next-Generation Sequencing protocol using PacBio HiFi is presented. The data processing is supported by a pipeline that uses machine-learning for analysing the reads. METHODS: A set of primers was designed to target approximately 6 kb, almost the entire length of the haemosporidian mitochondrial genome. Amplicons from different samples were multiplexed in an SMRTbell® library preparation. A pipeline (HmtG-PacBio Pipeline) to process the reads is also provided; it integrates multiple sequence alignments, a machine-learning algorithm that uses modified variational autoencoders, and a clustering method to identify the mitochondrial haplotypes/species in a sample. Although 192 specimens could be studied simultaneously, a pilot experiment with 15 specimens is presented, including in silico experiments where multiple data combinations were tested. RESULTS: The primers amplified various haemosporidian parasite genomes and yielded high-quality mt genome sequences. This new protocol allowed the detection and characterization of mixed infections and co-infections in the samples. The machine-learning approach converged into reproducible haplotypes with a low error rate, averaging 0.2% per read (minimum of 0.03% and maximum of 0.46%). The minimum recommended coverage per haplotype is 30X based on the detected error rates. The pipeline facilitates inspecting the data, including a local blast against a file of provided mitochondrial sequences that the researcher can customize. CONCLUSIONS: This is not a diagnostic approach but a high-throughput method to study haemosporidian sequence assemblages and perform genotyping by targeting the mitochondrial genome. Accordingly, the methodology allowed for examining specimens with multiple infections and co-infections of different haemosporidian parasites. The pipeline enables data quality assessment and comparison of the haplotypes obtained to those from previous studies. Although a single locus approach, whole mitochondrial data provide high-quality information to characterize species pools of haemosporidian parasites.

New member of Plasmodium (Vinckeia) and Plasmodium cyclopsi discovered in bats in Sierra Leone - nuclear sequence and complete mitochondrial genome analyses.

Malaria remains the most important arthropod-borne infectious disease globally. The causative agent, Plasmodium, is a unicellular eukaryote that develops inside red blood cells. Identifying new Plasmodium parasite species that infect mammalian hosts can shed light on the complex evolution and diversity of malaria parasites. Bats feature a high diversity of microorganisms including seven separate genera of malarial parasites. Three species of Plasmodium have been reported so far, for which scarce reports exist. Here we present data from an investigation of Plasmodium infections in bats in the western Guinean lowland forest in Sierra Leone. We discovered a new Plasmodium parasite in the horseshoe bat Rhinolophus landeri. Plasmodium cyclopsi infections in a member of leaf-nosed bats, Doryrhina cyclops, exhibited a high prevalence of 100%. Phylogenetic analysis of complete mitochondrial genomes and nine nuclear markers recovered a close relationship between P. cyclopsi and the new Plasmodium parasite with the rodent species Plasmodium berghei, a widely used in vivo model to study malaria in humans. The data suggests that the "rodent/bat" Plasmodium (Vinckeia) clade represents a diverse group of malarial parasites that would likely expand with a systematic sampling of small mammals in tropical Africa. Identifying the bat Plasmodium repertoire is central to our understanding of the evolution of Plasmodium parasites in mammals.

The latest freshwater giants: a new Peltocephalus (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) turtle from the Late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Amazon.

Overkill of large mammals is recognized as a key driver of Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions in the Americas and Australia. While this phenomenon primarily affected mega-mammals, its impact on large Quaternary reptiles has been debated. Freshwater turtles, due to the scarcity of giant forms in the Quaternary record, have been largely neglected in such discussions. Here we present a new giant podocnemidid turtle, Peltocephalus maturin sp. nov., from the Late Pleistocene Rio Madeira Formation in the Brazilian Amazon, that challenges this assumption. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses of the holotype, a massive partial lower jaw, reveal close affinities to extant Amazonian species and suggest an omnivorous diet. Body size regressions indicate Pe. maturin possibly reached about 180 cm in carapace length and is among the largest freshwater turtles ever found. This finding presents the latest known occurrence of giant freshwater turtles, hinting at coexistence with early human inhabitants in the Amazon.

The Genome of Plasmodium gonderi: Insights into the Evolution of Human Malaria Parasites.

Plasmodium species causing malaria in humans are not monophyletic, sharing common ancestors with nonhuman primate parasites. Plasmodium gonderi is one of the few known Plasmodium species infecting African old-world monkeys that are not found in apes. This study reports a de novo assembled P. gonderi genome with complete chromosomes. The P. gonderi genome shares codon usage, syntenic blocks, and other characteristics with the human parasites Plasmodium ovale s.l. and Plasmodium malariae, also of African origin, and the human parasite Plasmodium vivax and species found in nonhuman primates from Southeast Asia. Using phylogenetically aware methods, newly identified syntenic blocks were found enriched with conserved metabolic genes. Regions outside those blocks harbored genes encoding proteins involved in the vertebrate host-Plasmodium relationship undergoing faster evolution. Such genome architecture may have facilitated colonizing vertebrate hosts. Phylogenomic analyses estimated the common ancestor between P. vivax and an African ape parasite P. vivax-like, within the Asian nonhuman primates parasites clade. Time estimates incorporating P. gonderi placed the P. vivax and P. vivax-like common ancestor in the late Pleistocene, a time of active migration of hominids between Africa and Asia. Thus, phylogenomic and time-tree analyses are consistent with an Asian origin for P. vivax and an introduction of P. vivax-like into Africa. Unlike other studies, time estimates for the clade with Plasmodium falciparum, the most lethal human malaria parasite, coincide with their host species radiation, African hominids. Overall, the newly assembled genome presented here has the quality to support comparative genomic investigations in Plasmodium.

Percepción de la mujer con psoriasis en la planificación familiar: Estudio descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico / Family Planning Concerns Among Women With Psoriasis: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study

Antecedentes y objetivos La psoriasis afecta a un gran porcentaje de mujeres en edad fértil. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer las inquietudes de las mujeres con psoriasis en relación con la planificación familiar. Material y métodos Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico realizado entre marzo del 2020 y octubre del 2021. Se recabaron datos sociodemográficos e inquietudes relacionadas con la planificación familiar de mujeres entre 18-45 años con psoriasis en placas y candidatas a recibir tratamiento sistémico. Resultados Se reclutaron 153 pacientes de 11 centros españoles (edad media: 35,4 ± 8 años, duración media de la enfermedad: 16,7 años); 38,4% de los casos tenían una enfermedad moderada/grave para los médicos, aunque la percepción de la actividad era significativamente superior para las pacientes. En una de cada tres mujeres, la enfermedad limitaba o retrasaba el deseo gestacional. Existía preocupación de que la enfermedad empeorara al tener que retirar o cambiar un fármaco o que los tratamientos perjudicaran al bebé. Alrededor de la mitad de las pacientes no había recibido información sobre planificación familiar en la consulta, especialmente aquellas mujeres sin embarazos previos. Las mujeres con tratamiento biológico (58,7%) tenían mejor situación clínica, mejor calidad de vida y menos alteraciones en la esfera sexual que las pacientes sin tratamiento biológico. Conclusiones Las pacientes con psoriasis tienen numerosas preocupaciones relacionadas con la planificación familiar. En algunos casos, estos miedos podrían llevar a retrasar y/o limitar el deseo gestacional. Sería necesario incrementar la información que se da a las pacientes y mejorar la formación de los dermatólogos en este tema (AU)

Background and objective A significant proportion of women of childbearing age have psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine family planning concerns in this population. Material and methods Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between March 2020 and October 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and analyzed responses to a family planning questionnaire administered to women aged 18 to 45 years with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic treatment. Results We studied 153 patients (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [8.0] years; mean disease duration, 16.7 years) being treated at 11 Spanish hospitals. Overall, 38.4% of women were considered to have moderate to severe psoriasis by their physicians; perceived severity ratings were significantly higher among women. Psoriasis affected the women's desire to become pregnant or led to their delaying pregnancy in 1 in 3 respondents. They were concerned that their condition might worsen if they had to discontinue or switch treatment or that the treatment might harm the baby. Approximately half of the women had not received family planning counseling from their physicians, and this was more likely to be the case among never-pregnant women. Women on biologic therapy (58.7%) had better psoriasis control and a better quality of life than women on other treatments. Their sexual health was also less affected. Conclusions Women with psoriasis have numerous family planning concerns, which in some cases can lead them to delay pregnancy or affect their desire to become pregnant. Dermatologists need to receive better training regarding family planning in women with psoriasis so that they can provide their patients with more and better information (AU)

[Translated article] Family Planning Concerns Among Women With Psoriasis: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study / Percepción de la mujer con psoriasis en la planificación familiar: estudio descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico

Background and objective A significant proportion of women of childbearing age have psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine family planning concerns in this population. Material and methods Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between March 2020 and October 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and analyzed responses to a family planning questionnaire administered to women aged 18 to 45 years with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic treatment. Results We studied 153 patients (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [8.0] years; mean disease duration, 16.7 years) being treated at 11 Spanish hospitals. Overall, 38.4% of women were considered to have moderate to severe psoriasis by their physicians; perceived severity ratings were significantly higher among women. Psoriasis affected the women's desire to become pregnant or led to their delaying pregnancy in 1 in 3 respondents. They were concerned that their condition might worsen if they had to discontinue or switch treatment or that the treatment might harm the baby. Approximately half of the women had not received family planning counseling from their physicians, and this was more likely to be the case among never-pregnant women. Women on biologic therapy (58.7%) had better psoriasis control and a better quality of life than women on other treatments. Their sexual health was also less affected. Conclusions Women with psoriasis have numerous family planning concerns, which in some cases can lead them to delay pregnancy or affect their desire to become pregnant. Dermatologists need to receive better training regarding family planning in women with psoriasis so that they can provide their patients with more and better information (AU)

Antecedentes y objetivos La psoriasis afecta a un gran porcentaje de mujeres en edad fértil. Nuestro objetivo fue conocer las inquietudes de las mujeres con psoriasis en relación con la planificación familiar. Material y métodos Estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico realizado entre marzo del 2020 y octubre del 2021. Se recabaron datos sociodemográficos e inquietudes relacionadas con la planificación familiar de mujeres entre 18-45 años con psoriasis en placas y candidatas a recibir tratamiento sistémico. Resultados Se reclutaron 153 pacientes de 11 centros españoles (edad media: 35,4 ± 8 años, duración media de la enfermedad: 16,7 años); 38,4% de los casos tenían una enfermedad moderada/grave para los médicos, aunque la percepción de la actividad era significativamente superior para las pacientes. En una de cada tres mujeres, la enfermedad limitaba o retrasaba el deseo gestacional. Existía preocupación de que la enfermedad empeorara al tener que retirar o cambiar un fármaco o que los tratamientos perjudicaran al bebé. Alrededor de la mitad de las pacientes no había recibido información sobre planificación familiar en la consulta, especialmente aquellas mujeres sin embarazos previos. Las mujeres con tratamiento biológico (58,7%) tenían mejor situación clínica, mejor calidad de vida y menos alteraciones en la esfera sexual que las pacientes sin tratamiento biológico. Conclusiones Las pacientes con psoriasis tienen numerosas preocupaciones relacionadas con la planificación familiar. En algunos casos, estos miedos podrían llevar a retrasar y/o limitar el deseo gestacional. Sería necesario incrementar la información que se da a las pacientes y mejorar la formación de los dermatólogos en este tema (AU)

A tip-predominant distribution of villous intraepithelial lymphocytes is not specific to celiac disease in children with Marsh I lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To assess if the distribution of villous intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) in a pediatric cohort with Marsh I histopathology is specific to celiac disease (CeD). METHODS: Multicenter, retrospective case-control study between January 2001 and December 2019 in children (<18 years) with and without CeD with intraepithelial lymphocytosis and normal villous architecture. Pathology specimens were reviewed by 2 study pathologists who were blinded to the final diagnosis. Morphologic features (villous height to crypt depth ratio [Vh:Cd]) and IELs in the villous tip, top, or bottom half of the villus were quantified. RESULTS: Of the 97 children with Marsh I histopathology identified during the study period, 63 were excluded due to an insufficient number of well-oriented villous-crypt complexes or a Vh:Cd less than 2. Villous IELs were measured in 34 cases (14 CeD, 20 non-CeD controls). There was no difference between the non-CeD and CeD groups in the mean IELs at the villous tip (14.0 ± 7.1 vs 11.7 ± 6.0, P = .31), top (46.4 ± 18.4 vs 38.3 ± 10.8, P = .11), or bottom (29.8 ± 16.8 vs 28.5 ± 12.8, P = .80) half of each villus, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of IELs in Marsh I lesions is not specific for CeD.

[Incorporation of patient-reported outcomes into pharmacy and dermatology departments, in psoriasis and atopic dermatitis patients, as a tool to improve the healthcare quality and health outcomes]. / Incorporación de resultados informados por pacientes con psoriasis y dermatitis atópica en las consultas de atención farmacéutica y dermatología: herramienta que mejora la calidad asistencial y resultados en salud.

INTRODUCTION: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide subjective information about their disease, treatment, and quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To introduce a new system of work coordinated between pharmacists and dermatologists, based on the collection and analysis of PROs to assess its clinical impact as well as patients satisfaction. METHOD: A prospective single-centre observational study was conducted under clinical conditions and included adult patients diagnosed with psoriasis (PS) and atopic dermatitis (AD) between April-2021 and February-2022. Pharmacists and dermatologists agreed on this systematic work. A REDCap® database was designed to facilitate data collection and the subsequent analysis. RESULTS: A total of 288 and 41 patients with PS and AD, respectively, were included. Those who started treatment showed significant improvement with a decrease in PROs and clinical parameters (p < 0.001). The pharmacist made 168 and 7 recommendations to dermatologists for PS and AD patients, respectively, of which 66.07% and 57.1% were accepted. The most common recommendations were «consult with rheumatologist¼ (20.83%), «extend drug regimen¼ (19.64%) and «consider change in treatment¼ (11.90%). Adverse events were reported in 55 and 17 patients with PS and AD, respectively. Of 103 patients, 75% were «very satisfied¼ and 20% «satisfied¼ with the system. CONCLUSIONS: This new working system helps to evaluate the short and long-term effectiveness of treatments and also to identify adverse events, alarm symptoms and co-morbidities in order to optimize therapies. Collaboration between pharmacists and dermatologists reduces decision-making time and patients appreciate better clinical care leading to higher patient satisfaction.

[Translated article] Family Planning Concerns Among Women With Psoriasis: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A significant proportion of women of childbearing age have psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine family planning concerns in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between March 2020 and October 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and analyzed responses to a family planning questionnaire administered to women aged 18 to 45 years with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic treatment. RESULTS: We studied 153 patients (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [8.0] years; mean disease duration, 16.7 years) being treated at 11 Spanish hospitals. Overall, 38.4% of women were considered to have moderate to severe psoriasis by their physicians; perceived severity ratings were significantly higher among women. Psoriasis affected the women's desire to become pregnant or led to their delaying pregnancy in 1 in 3 respondents. They were concerned that their condition might worsen if they had to discontinue or switch treatment or that the treatment might harm the baby. Approximately half of the women had not received family planning counseling from their physicians, and this was more likely to be the case among never-pregnant women. Women on biologic therapy (58.7%) had better psoriasis control and a better quality of life than women on other treatments. Their sexual health was also less affected. CONCLUSIONS: Women with psoriasis have numerous family planning concerns, which in some cases can lead them to delay pregnancy or affect their desire to become pregnant. Dermatologists need to receive better training regarding family planning in women with psoriasis so that they can provide their patients with more and better information.

Clinical Data Do Not Reliably Predict Duodenal Histology at Follow-up in Celiac Disease: A 13 Center Correlative Study.

Validated nonbiopsy methods to assure duodenal mucosal healing in celiac disease are lacking, yet ongoing mucosal injury is associated with anemia, osteoporosis, and lymphoma. Most providers utilize clinical data as surrogates of mucosal status to avoid additional esophagogastroduodenoscopy. The reliability of such surrogates to predict mucosal recovery has been incompletely evaluated. The aim of this study was to rigorously assess patterns of histologic mucosal recovery at follow-up in celiac disease and to correlate findings with clinical data. Gastrointestinal pathologists from 13 centers evaluated initial and follow-up duodenal biopsies from 181 celiac disease patients. Marsh scores and intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs)/100 enterocytes were assessed blindly. Histology at follow-up was correlated with symptoms, immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase titers and gluten-free diet adherence. Fifty-six/181 (31%) patients had persistent villous blunting and 46/181 (25%) patients had just persistently elevated IELs at follow-up, with only 79/181 (44%) patients having complete histologic remission. IEL normalization (82/181; 45%) lagged villous recovery (125/181;69%). In a minority of patients, villous blunting was limited to proximal duodenal biopsies. No correlation was found between Marsh scores and symptoms, normalization of immunoglobulin A anti-tissue transglutaminase serology, or diet adherence. Children showed greater recovery of Marsh score ( P <0.001) and IELs ( P <0.01) than adults. Persistent mucosal injury is common in celiac disease, with discordant villous/IEL normalization. Pathologist awareness of expected findings in celiac disease follow-up biopsies, including their frequent lack of correlation with clinical data, is important for patient management, and has implications for eligibility criteria for therapeutics currently in development.

Family Planning Concerns Among Women With Psoriasis: A Descriptive, Cross-Sectional, Multicenter Study. / Percepción de la mujer con psoriasis en la planificación familiar: Estudio descriptivo, transversal y multicéntrico.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A significant proportion of women of childbearing age have psoriasis. The aim of this study was to examine family planning concerns in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, multicenter study conducted between March 2020 and October 2021. We collected sociodemographic data and analyzed responses to a family planning questionnaire administered to women aged 18 to 45 years with plaque psoriasis who were candidates for systemic treatment. RESULTS: We studied 153 patients (mean [SD] age, 35.4 [8.0] years; mean disease duration, 16.7 years) being treated at 11 Spanish hospitals. Overall, 38.4% of women were considered to have moderate to severe psoriasis by their physicians; perceived severity ratings were significantly higher among women. Psoriasis affected the women's desire to become pregnant or led to their delaying pregnancy in 1 in 3 respondents. They were concerned that their condition might worsen if they had to discontinue or switch treatment or that the treatment might harm the baby. Approximately half of the women had not received family planning counseling from their physicians, and this was more likely to be the case among never-pregnant women. Women on biologic therapy (58.7%) had better psoriasis control and a better quality of life than women on other treatments. Their sexual health was also less affected. CONCLUSIONS: Women with psoriasis have numerous family planning concerns, which in some cases can lead them to delay pregnancy or affect their desire to become pregnant. Dermatologists need to receive better training regarding family planning in women with psoriasis so that they can provide their patients with more and better information.

Considerations for liver transplantation in deoxyguanosine kinase deficiency: A case series and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Deoxyguanosine kinase (DGUOK) deficiency is a rare mitochondrial disorder characterized by early onset liver failure and varying degrees of neurologic dysfunction. Patients typically present during infancy with progressive hepatic dysfunction leading to liver failure, which can precede neurologic deterioration. Outcomes posttransplantation are historically worse than average and the role of liver transplantation remains controversial. These factors, in combination with the increasing number of patients being diagnosed via molecular genetic testing, may impede waitlist access. METHODS: We report our single-center experience with three patients with DGUOK deficiency, all of whom were considered for transplant. We review the current literature regarding management and discuss the role of liver transplantation in DGUOK deficiency-associated liver failure. RESULTS: Two patients presented with hypoglycemia, conjugated hyperbilirubinemia, and lactic acidosis within the first week of life, were diagnosed with DGUOK deficiency prior to 2 months of age and had severe neurologic involvement. The third patient presented in later infancy was diagnosed with DGUOK deficiency at 18 months of age and had minimal neurologic involvement. All three patients were considered for transplant, though only two patients were listed. All three died from complications of end-stage liver failure prior to liver transplantation between the ages of 5-20 months. CONCLUSION: Selection for liver transplantation in DGUOK deficiency is complex, requiring a multidisciplinary team approach. Recent data suggest that liver transplantation can be successful in select patients with absent or mild neurologic manifestations. National databases reporting long-term outcomes posttransplantation are needed.

Oregano Essential Oil versus Conventional Disinfectants against Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 Biofilms and Damage to Stainless-Steel Surfaces.

This study compared the effect of oregano essential oil versus sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, and benzalkonium chloride against the viability of adhered Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on 304 stainless steel. Oregano essential oil was effective in disrupting the biofilms of both bacteria at concentrations ranging from 0.15 to 0.52 mg mL-1. In addition, damage to stainless-steel surfaces following disinfection treatments was assessed by weight loss analysis and via visual inspection using light microscopy. Compared to the other treatments, oregano oil caused the least damage to stainless steel (~0.001% weight loss), whereas sodium hypochlorite caused the most severe damage (0.00817% weight loss) when applied at 0.5 mg mL-1. Moreover, oregano oil also had an apparent protective impact on the stainless steel as weight losses were less than for the control surfaces (distilled water only). On the other hand, sodium hypochlorite caused the most severe damage to stainless steel (0.00817% weight loss). In conclusion, oregano oil eliminated monoculture biofilms of two important foodborne pathogens on 304 stainless-steel surfaces, while at the same time minimizing damage to the surfaces compared with conventional disinfectant treatments.

Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. and Haemoproteus pulcher coinfection in Cariama cristata (Aves: Cariamiformes): first mitochondrial genome analysis and morphological description of a leucocytozoid in Brazil.

The distribution of avian haemosporidians of the genus Leucocytozoon in the Neotropics remains poorly understood. Recent studies confirmed their presence in the region using molecular techniques alone, but evidence for gametocytes and data on putative competent hosts for Leucocytozoon are still lacking outside highland areas. We combined morphological and molecular data to characterize a new Leucocytozoon species infecting a non-migratory red-legged seriema (Cariama cristata), the first report of a competent host for Leucocytozoon in Brazil. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. is distinguished from the Leucocytozoon fringillinarum group by its microgametocytes that are not strongly appressed to the host cell nucleus. The bird studied was coinfected with Haemoproteus pulcher, and we present a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis based on nearly complete mitochondrial genomes of these 2 parasites. Leucocytozoon cariamae n. sp. morphology is consistent with our phylogenetic analysis indicating that it does not share a recent common ancestor with the L. fringillinarum group. Haemoproteus pulcher and Haemoproteus catharti form a monophyletic group with Haemocystidium parasites of Reptilia, supporting the polyphyly of the genus Haemoproteus. We also discussed the hypothesis that H. pulcher and H. catharti may be avian Haemocystidium, highlighting the need to study non-passerine parasites to untangle the systematics of Haemosporida.

Tuning the conductance of carbon rings with impurities and electric fields.

We explore two mechanisms to tune the electronic conductance of carbon atom rings, namely, substitutional impurities and in-plane external electric fields. First-principles calculations and a tight-binding approach are used to model the systems. Two bond configurations are studied, cumulenic and polyynic, which can be relevant depending on the number of carbon atoms in the ring. We find that both impurity substitution and electric field mechanisms allow for modifying the electronic spectrum and transport characteristics. Interestingly, cumulenic and polyynic carbon rings present a different response to these perturbations, which can also be a way to elucidate the bond nature of these structures.

Origin and diversity of malaria parasites and other Haemosporida.

Symbionts, including parasites, are ubiquitous in all world ecosystems. Understanding the diversity of symbiont species addresses diverse questions, from the origin of infectious diseases to inferring processes shaping regional biotas. Here, we review the current approaches to studying Haemosporida's species diversity and evolutionary history. Despite the solid knowledge of species linked to diseases, such as the agents of human malaria, studies on haemosporidian phylogeny, diversity, ecology, and evolution are still limited. The available data, however, indicate that Haemosporida is an extraordinarily diverse and cosmopolitan clade of symbionts. Furthermore, this clade seems to have originated with their vertebrate hosts, particularly birds, as part of complex community level processes that we are still characterizing.

Computer-Based Natural Language Search Applied to the Electronic Medical Record for Tonsil Triage.

OBJECTIVES: To determine significant histologic findings in tonsils and categorize clinical settings in which they occur to identify cases benefiting from histopathologic examination using a computer-based natural language search (NLS) applied to the electronic medical record. METHODS: The pathology database was queried for tonsillectomy cases accessioned between 2002 and 2018. Tonsils with microscopic examination were reviewed, and indication for examination and diagnoses were tallied. Clinical risk of malignancy was correlated with findings. A NLS was used to interrogate preoperative clinical records of the same group of patients. The search identified cases at risk of significant histologic findings and was implemented as part of standard practice. RESULTS: Of the 18,733 bilateral tonsillectomies identified in the pathology database, 494 were palatine tonsils that underwent microscopic examination, 134 had indications concerning for malignancy, and 14 had significant findings on histologic examination. When the NLS was applied to the medical record of the same group, 223 cases were identified as having risk of malignancy, including all flagged by surgeons and pathologists and 89 additional cases. Clinical implementation resulted in identification of all cases benefiting from examination. CONCLUSIONS: A NLS applied to the electronic medical record to select tonsils for examination was superior to relying on surgeons and pathologists.