Advances in Somatic Embryogenesis in Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia Jacks.).

Somatic embryogenesis is an in vitro plant morphogenetic process due to cell totipotentiality to induce shoot regeneration. To induce this proliferation pathway, we used auxins such as 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in combination with cytokinins. There are numerous somatic embryogenesis protocols for a great diversity of plants, including orchids, but none has been yet reported in Vanilla planifolia. Vanilla (V. planifolia) is propagated mainly asexually through cuttings. Under in vitro conditions, it is propagated asexually through direct and indirect organogenesis involving the use of various plant growth regulators in different concentrations. The cell response depends on explant type, culture medium used, and incubation conditions. Direct organogenesis involves de novo formation from differentiated cells; the indirect pathway develops from cell dedifferentiation that produces an explant called "callus." In most cases, this type of cell regeneration uses Benzyladenine. The explants most used in this pathway are shoots, roots, and protocorms, although some studies report the use of other types of explants, including leaves and seeds. Somatic embryogenesis in vanilla has been poorly studied partly because of the recalcitrance of this species. This work mentioned the advances in the in vitro morphogenesis of V. planifolia, mentioning the advantages and disadvantages of each morphogenetic pathway and its characteristics.

Zoonotic Trypanosomes in Rats and Fleas of Venezuelan Slums.

Rattus spp. are reservoirs of many human zoonoses, but their role in domestic transmission cycles of human trypanosomiasis is underestimated. In this study, we report trypanosome-infected Rattus norvegicus and Rattus rattus in human dwellings in slums neighboring Maracay, a large city near Caracas, the capital of Venezuela. Blood samples of R. norvegicus and R. rattus examined by PCR and FFLB (fluorescent fragment length barcoding) revealed a prevalence of 6.3% / 31.1% for Trypanosoma lewisi (agent of rat- and flea-borne human emergent zoonosis), and 10.5% / 24.6% for Trypanosoma cruzi (agent of Chagas disease). Detection in flea guts of T. lewisi (76%) and, unexpectedly, T. cruzi (21.3%) highlighted the role of fleas as carriers and vectors of these trypanosomes. A high prevalence of rats infected with T. lewisi and T. cruzi and respective flea and triatomine vectors poses a serious risk of human trypanosomiasis in Venezuelan slums. Anthropogenic activities responsible for growing rat and triatomine populations within human dwellings drastically increased human exposure to trypanosomes. This scenario has allowed for the reemergence of Chagas disease as an urban zoonosis in Venezuela and can propitiate the emergence of atypical T. lewisi infection in humans.

Cetobacterium Is a Major Component of the Microbiome of Giant Amazonian Fish (Arapaima gigas) in Ecuador.

Arapaima gigas is a large air-breathing fish found in Amazonian rivers, a characteristic that gives this species an advantage in oxygen-deprived waters. It shows high potential for aquaculture in the Amazon region due to its fast growth rate that approaches 10⁻15 kg/year. The aim of this study was to explore the composition of the intestinal bacterial community of Arapaima gigas reared in Ecuador using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. The analysis revealed significant differences in alpha diversity indices (p < 0.05) and differential distribution of minor components of the intestinal microbiome between small and large fish. However, components with greater relative abundance, such as Cetobacterium, are found in similar proportions.

Hernioplastia inguinal: estudio descriptivo de diferentes técnicas quirúrgicas / Inguinal herniaplasty: descriptive study of several surgical techniques

El presente trabajo tiene como objetivo conocer al experiencia del Hospital San Juan de Dios en relación a las diferentes técnicas quirúrgicas utilizadas en la reparación de la hernia inguinal, evaluando sus complicaciones y ventajas. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo entre técnicas abiertas clásicas, técnica abierta libre de tensión utilizando prótesis de polipropileno (Lichtenstein) y técnica laparoscópica transabdominal pre-peritoneal (TAPP). Se intervinieron 208 hernias en 170 pacientes (38 bilaterales), de las cuales 104 corresponden a técnicas abiertas clásicas (Bassini, Mc Vay y Shouldice), 73 a técnica de Lichtenstein y 31 a técnica laparoscópica TAPP. Se operaron indistintamente pacientes primarios y recidivados. Se evaluaron resultados de acuerdo a dolor postoperatorio utilizando escala de categoría numérico (0 a 10), tipo de anestesia , alta quirúrgica, reintegro laboral y complicaciones de cada una de las diferentes técnicas