Passalidae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) from the West-Most Brazilian Amazon Region: Checklist, New Records, and Identification Key.

We present a list of Passalidae species found in the westmost Brazilian Amazon region, which is considered to be a diversity-rich area due to being a tectonic and geographic transition zone in relation to Brazilian Amazon lowlands and the Andean range. The specimens acquired in field collections and museums were analyzed. Their geographical distributions were estimated based on data from labeled specimens and the literature. Twenty-nine species belonging to two subfamilies, six genera, and four subgenera were listed. Among them, 20, 1, and 2 showed to be new records for the region, Brazilian Amazon, and Brazil, respectively. An identification key is provided for the species being listed.

Molecular characterization of endophytes isolated from Saccharum spp based on esterase and ribosomal DNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2) analyses.

This study used esterases and ribosomal DNA (rDNA) markers to determine endophytic variability in order to better understand endophyte-host interactions. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and esterase isoenzymes (EST; EC 3.1.1.3), with α-naphthyl acetate and ß-naphthyl acetate as substrates, were used to assess relationships among endophytes. ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequencing data were used as rDNA markers. Thirty-two esterases were obtained from 37 isolates of Saccharum spp, which clustered into five endophyte groups. Esterase EST-06 was observed with the highest frequency, being present in 22 of the 37 isolates analyzed, followed by esterase EST-11, which was present in 20 isolates. The esterases EST-10 and EST-14 were present in 19 isolates and EST-09 was present in 18 isolates. The esterase EST-01 was unique to isolate 33 and can, therefore, be used as a marker for this isolate. None of the esterases identified were common to all isolates tested. Similarly, phylogenetic analysis, based on rDNA sequence data, classified the isolates into 5 genus groups: 1) Curvularia with a 100% bootstrap value (BP), 2) Alternaria with 100% BP, 3) Epicoccum with 60% BP, 4) Phoma with 89% BP, and 5) Saccharicola with 100% BP. This polyphyletic analysis based on several markers, therefore, proved to be a valuable approach in determining the relationship between variation in endophytes and their associated host plants. Furthermore, both the esterase and rDNA analyses obtained similar results and were equally effective in resolving relationships.

Different effects of vertical banded gastroplasty and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass on meal inhibition of ghrelin secretion in morbidly obese patients.

A decrease in ghrelin plasma levels in morbidly obese patients subjected to bariatric surgery has been considered to help increase body weight loss. Contradictory results have been described after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP), and no study to date has compared RYGBP and vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), the two main operations performed in the United States. We investigated the effects of RYGBP (10 patients) and VBG (12 patients) on basal and postmeal ghrelin plasma levels in 22 morbidly obese patients (20 F and 2 M), mean age 42.1 +/- 3.7 years, mean weight 115 +/- 3.9 kg, mean body mass index (BMI) 43.5 +/- 1.7. Before surgery and after a 20% reduction in BMI, ghrelin concentrations (pg/mL; radioimmunoassay [RIA], DRG Diagnostics, Germany) were measured in all patients 45 min before and for 3 h after a standard liquid meal (Osmolite RTH solution, 500 mL, 504 kcal). The results were expressed as mean +/- SD. Differences between times and groups were evaluated by Student's t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). We found that basal ghrelin plasma levels were reduced after RYGBP (to 73.1 +/- 6 pg/mL, p < .05) but increased after VBG (to 172 +/- 26 pg/mL, p < .0009). After a standard liquid meal, ghrelin plasma levels decreased significantly over 1 h in VBG patients, whereas they remained unchanged in RYGBP patients. Since these results were obtained under the same metabolic and anthropometric conditions, we conclude that RYGBP acts through permanent inhibition of ghrelin secretion, whereas VBG merely restores the mechanisms of ghrelin regulation by nutrients.

Neurogenesis of GABAergic cells in the retina of malnourished rats.

The present study investigated how prenatal protein malnutrition affects the neurogenesis of GABAergic cells in the retina. Rats were treated with a multi-deficient diet, with only 8% of protein that was administered during the gestational and suckling periods. Pregnant mothers and pups from malnourished and control (fed with 22% protein) groups received a single intra-peritoneal injection of [3H]-thymidine at six developmental ages, from E14 to PN4, and the pups were sacrificed at PN18. Eyes were enucleated and cryosections of the retina were double labeled for GABA-immunocytochemistry and for autoradiography. The percentage of double labeled cells, in the retinal inner nuclear and ganglion cell layers, was determined for both groups. Qualitative and quantitative results showed that double labeled cells [GABA+/thymidine+] were present since E14, when mitotic activity for GABAergic cells starts, in both GCL and INL layers. The peak rate of GABAergic cell generation was reached in control animals injected with [3H]-thymidine at E18 in both central and peripheral sectors of the retina, but only at E20 in the malnourished group. The generation of cells of GABA phenotype showed a significant delay in both layers of the retina in the malnourished group. At PN4, close to the age that GABAergic mitotic activity ends in the control group, double labeled cells were significantly higher in the malnourished group. Our data showed a delay in GABAergic cell generation in the malnourished group when compared to the control group that might result in significant functional consequences in the developing retina.

New autosomal recessive syndrome of progressive sensorineural hearing loss and cataracts: report on two Brazilian patients.

We report on two sisters with cataracts and progressive sensorineural hearing loss, starting in infancy. They were born to consanguineous parents, and there were no similar cases in the family. To our knowledge this is the first report on this autosomal recessive condition. Clinical and genetic aspects are discussed.