High genetic diversity and low structure in an endemic long-lived tree, Yucca capensis (Asparagaceae).

Endemic species distributed in fragmented habitats are highly vulnerable to extinction because they may have low genetic diversity. However, some life-history traits can mitigate the effect of genetic drift on populations. We analysed the level and distribution of genetic variation and ancestral population size of Yucca capensis, a long-lived endemic plant of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Its populations are scattered across a habitat that is suffering accelerated transformation. We used six nuclear microsatellites to genotype 224 individuals from 17 locations across the entire species' geographic range. We estimated polymorphisms, heterozygosity and genetic structure. We also evaluated the ancestral and recent effective size and time since the population started to change. We found high heterozygosity, high polymorphism and low differentiation among locations, suggesting a panmictic population across the range. We also detected a large ancestral effective population size, which suffered a strong reduction in the Mid-Holocene. Despite changes in environmental conditions caused by habitat modification, the high diversity and low differentiation in Y. capensis may result from its large ancestral effective size and life-history traits, such as plant longevity, clonal growth and mating system, which reduce the rate of loss of genetic variation. However, the dependence on a specialist pollinator that displays short flight range can reduce gene flow among the plant populations and could, shortly, lead them into an extinction vortex.

Biological decolorization of Amaranth dye with Trametes polyzona in an airlift reactor under three airflow regimes.

In the present work, a strain of the basidiomycete fungus Trametes polyzona was used to decolorize the Amaranth dye. The decolorization was carried out in an Airlift reactor with three flow regimes: 1, 2, and 3 vvm. The results showed that the decolorization was a function of the flow regime. The decolorization times for the regimes of 1, 2, and 3 vvm were 30, 25, and 19 days, respectively. The COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) decreased from 1600 to 72 mg COD/L. The enzymatic activity kinetics of laccase (Lcc), lignin peroxidase (LiP), and manganese peroxidase (MnP) were determined. In all the treatments, the enzyme LiP was expressed during the first 6 days, at which point 80% decolorization was observed, whereas Lcc and MnP enzymes were produced from day 6 until the end of the decolorization process. The effluent generated showed no inhibitory effects on the growth of the algae Nannochloropsis salina. T. polyzona showed great versatility in the decolorization of synthetic effluents containing the Amaranth dye, and the fungus was able to use this dye as its only carbon source starting at the beginning of the process. LiP was the enzyme that contributed the most to the decolorization process, and on average, 95% decreases in color and the COD were observed.

Effect of the degree of oxidation of graphene oxide on As(III) adsorption.

The study of the interaction between graphene oxide (GO) and arsenic is of great relevance not only in the design of adsorbent materials to remove this contaminant but also in the understanding of its combined nanotoxicity. In this work, we show that As(III) adsorption, primarily H3AsO3, by graphene oxide is affected by its degree of oxidation. Three types of GO with C/O ratios between 1.35 and 1.98 were produced, resulting in important variations in the concentration of COH and COC functional groups. The less oxidized material reached a maximum As(III) adsorption capacity of 123 mg/g, whereas the GO with the highest degree of oxidation reached a value of 288 mg/g at pH 7, the highest reported in the literature. We also show that sulfates and carbonates present in water strongly inhibit As(III) adsorption. The interaction between graphene oxide and As(III) was also studied by Density Functional Theory (DFT) computer models showing that graphene oxide interacts with As(III) primarily through hydrogen bonds, having interaction energies with the hydroxyl and epoxide groups of 1508.6 and 1583.6 kJ/mol, respectively. Finally, cytotoxicity tests showed that the graphene oxide maintained cellular viability of 57% with 50 µg/ml, regardless of its degree of oxidation.

Diagnóstico ecográfico de los tumores de Krukenberg. Reporte de un caso / Ultrasound diagnosis of Krukenberg tumors. A case report

Introducción: Los tumores de Krukenberg son la presencia de nódulos metastásicos en los ovarios. El cáncer gástrico es la fuente primaria más común, responsable del 50-70% de los casos. En Estados Unidos, la incidencia de estos tumores es de alrededor del 5-10% de neoplasias ováricas, mientras que en países asiáticos se sitúa en 15-20%. Usualmente son bilaterales y sólidos. Su tamaño es variable, aunque generalmente las metástasis del cáncer gástrico son más pequeñas que los tumores metastásicos del intestino. La clínica de estos pacientes es exclusiva del ovario. Descripción del caso: Una paciente de 67 años e historia previa de cáncer gástrico, presentó 2 masas pélvicas hiperecogénicas, de 3 cm de diámetro, sólidas y encapsuladas, con un anillo hipoecogénico subcapsular. Se observaron bordes tumorales bien definidos; y con doppler color se identificó abundante vascularización ramificada hacia el centro de la lesión. La velocimetría doppler demostró una circulación intratumoral de baja resistencia. Discusión: Aproximadamente el 5-10% de los tumores ováricos malignos son tumores metastásicos. La presencia de grandes masas, asimétricas, encapsuladas, con ecogenicidad variable intratumoral y la presencia de ascitis deben hacernos sospechar la presencia de un tumor de Krukenberg. La ecoestructura de estos tumores generalmente es hiperecogénica, con abundante vascularización interna, dada por un vaso principal periférico que penetra en la lesión y se ramifica internamente. La velocimetría doppler usualmente es de baja impedancia, lo cual se atribuye a la rápida angiogénesis de estos tumores. El pronóstico de estos tumores es malo, con una tasa de supervivencia a los 5 años del 12%

Introduction: Krukenberg tumors consist of the presence of metastatic nodules in the ovaries. The most common primary source is gastric cancer, which causes 50-70% of cases. The incidence of these tumors is approximately 5-10% of ovarian neoplasms in the United States and 15-20% in Asia. These tumors are usually bilateral, solid masses. Their size varies, although metastases from gastric cancer are usually smaller than metastatic tumors from the intestine. Symptoms in patients with Krukenberg tumors are exclusively ovarian. Case report: A 67-year-old woman with a prior history of gastric cancer presented with 2 hyperechoic, solid, encapsulated pelvic masses, measuring 3-cm in diameter, and with a hypoechoic subcapsular ring. The tumoral borders were well-defined. Color doppler identified abundant vascularization branching toward the center of the lesion. Velocimetry showed intratumoral circulation of low resistance. Discussion: Approximately 5-10% of malignant ovarian tumors are metastatic lesions. The presence of large, asymmetric, encapsulated masses with variable intratumoral echogenicity and ascites should lead to suspicion of Krukenberg tumor. The echoic structure of these tumors is generally hyperechoic, with abundant internal vascularization due to a main peripheral vessel that penetrates the lesion and branches internally. Doppler velocimetry usually shows low impedance, which is attributed to the rapid angiogenesis of these tumors. Their prognosis is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of 12%

Modeling wastewater biodecolorization with reactive blue 4 in fixed bed bioreactor by Trametes subectypus: biokinetic, biosorption and transport.

A biodecolorization model that considers the simultaneous mechanism of biosorption and biodegradation of a synthetic dye by immobilized white-rot fungus Trametes subectypus B32 in a fixed bed bioreactor was developed. The model parameters (biokinetic, biosorption and macroscopic transport) were determined by independent experiments. The biodecolorization model was used to determine the effect of variables such as immobilized biomass content, volumetric flow of wastewater, dye feeding concentration and initial dye concentration. By means of the model was possible to predict in the steady state, the limits of immobilized T. subectypus to biodecolorize polluted influent, being the model predictions similar in extent to previous reports. A dimensionless module of biosorption-bioreaction (ϕ=q(max)v(z)/r(max)L) was proposed to be used like criterion whenever one of the two mechanisms controls the biodecolorization. The model could be used for the designing and scaling up of fixed bed bioreactors with immobilized white-rot fungi for the biodecolorization process.

Reduced fat and sugar vanilla ice creams: sensory profiling and external preference mapping.

The aims of this study were (1) to map sensory attributes of vanilla ice cream with reduced fat and sugar, and (2) to determine drivers of liking by applying external preference mapping and reveal the relationship between descriptive attributes and hedonic judgments using the partial least squares method. Descriptive sensory profiles (n=11) and consumer test (n=117) of 6 samples of vanilla ice cream (3 traditional and 3 with reduced fat and sugar) were determined. The attributes brightness and sweet aftertaste for sample and creaminess (appearance and texture) and sweet aroma contributed positively to the acceptance of ice cream samples. The attributes aeration, powdered milk aroma and flavor, and white chocolate aroma and flavor contributed positively to the acceptance of the ice creams. The attributes hydrogenated fat aroma and flavor were responsible for the lower acceptance of samples. The reduction in fat and sugar did not necessarily cause a decrease in acceptance. The most important factors were selection of the appropriate sweetener system and the use of good quality raw material.

Effect of the inoculation level of Lactobacillus acidophilus in probiotic cheese on the physicochemical features and sensory performance compared with commercial cheeses.

The complex metabolism of probiotic bacteria requires several technological options to guarantee the functionally of probiotic dairy foods during the shelf life. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of the supplementation of increasing amounts of Lactobacillus acidophilus (0, 0.4, or 0.8 g/L of milk) on the physicochemical parameters and sensory acceptance of Minas fresh cheese. In addition, the sensory acceptance of probiotic cheeses was assessed using a consumer test and compared with commercial cheeses (conventional and probiotic). High counts (9.11 to 9.42 log cfu/g) of L. acidophilus were observed throughout the shelf life, which contributed to the maintenance of its probiotic status and resulted in lower pH values and greater production of organic acids. The probiotic cheeses presented lower scores for appearance, aroma, and texture compared with conventional cheeses. Internal preference mapping explained almost 60% of the total variation of the data and showed a large number of consumers concentrated near the conventional cheeses, demonstrating greater preference for these samples. The findings indicated that some negative sensory effects could occur when high level of supplementation with L. acidophilus is used in probiotic cheese processing.

Manufacture of low-sodium Minas fresh cheese: effect of the partial replacement of sodium chloride with potassium chloride.

We investigated the effect of sodium reduction by partial substitution of sodium chloride (NaCl) with potassium chloride (KCl) on the manufacture of Minas fresh cheese during 21 d of refrigerated storage. Four treatments of low-sodium Minas fresh cheese were manufactured, with partial replacement of NaCl by KCl at 0, 25, 50, and 75% (wt/wt), respectively. The cheeses showed differences in the content of moisture, ash, protein, salt, and lipid contents, as well as on the extent of proteolysis and hardness throughout the storage period. However, no difference was observed among treatments within each storage day tested. The partial substitution of NaCl by KCl decreased up to 51.8% the sodium concentration of the cheeses produced. The consumer test indicated that it is possible to manufacture a low-sodium Minas fresh cheese that is acceptable to consumers by partial substitution of NaCl by KCl at 25% (wt/wt) in the salting step.

Monitoring the authenticity of low-fat yogurts by an artificial neural network.

The growing consumption of low- and reduced-fat dairy products demands routine control of their authenticity by health agencies. The usual analyses of fat in dairy products are very simple laboratory methods; however, they require manipulation and use of reagents of a corrosive nature, such as sulfuric acid, to break the chemical bounds between fat and proteins. Additionally, they generate chemical residues that require an appropriate destination. In this work, the use of an artificial neural network based on simple instrumental analyses, such as pH, color, and hardness (inputs) is proposed for the classification of commercial yogurts in the low- and reduced-fat categories (outputs). A total of 108 strawberry-flavored yogurts (48 probiotic low-fat, 36 low-fat, and 24 full-fat yogurts) belonging to several commercial brands and from different batches were used in this research. The statistical analysis showed different features for each yogurt category; thus, a database was built and a neural model was trained with the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm by using the neural network toolbox of the software MATLAB 7.0.1. Validation with unseen data pairs showed that the proposed model was 100% efficient. Because the instrumental analyses do not require any sample preparation and do not produce any chemical residues, the proposed procedure is a fast and interesting approach to monitoring the authenticity of these products.

Réplica a “¿Hasta cuándo debemos soportar el dolor agudo en nuestros hospitales? / Reply. How much longer must we put up with acute pain in our hospitals?

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[Pain in the hospital: from prevalence to quality standards]. / El dolor en el hospital: de los estándares de prevalencia a los de calidad.

OBJECTIVES: Pain diminishes the quality of life of patients and a high prevalence of pain calls into question the quality of health care being delivered. The present study analyzes the prevalence of pain in one hospital, by departments and by therapeutic approach used. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a representative sample of 309 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Information was gathered by patient interviews and by reviewing hospital records for personal characteristics, clinical situation, pain characteristics and analgesic treatment. RESULTS: The prevalence of pain was 54.7% overall. The prevalence of pain eligible for treatment (intensity >2 on a visual analog scale) was 43.5%. The prevalence of pain that was moderate to intense (>3) was 34.7%. No analgesia was prescribed for 18.7% of the patients eligible, and analgesia was effective for 47.3%. Analgesia was provided on demand (63.2%) in most clinic protocols, usually with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, acetaminophen, opioids and special techniques, administered in combination to half the patients. The prevalence and intensity of pain and the prescription protocols varied from one hospital department to another. Analgesic treatment was adequate for 67.1% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the prevalence of pain in the hospital is high and that it is possible to improve quality of clinical approach, in agreement with studies that have been appearing since the 1980s. The persistence of the problem of pain in health care centers requires action on all levels of the health care system.

El dolor en el hospital: de los estándares de prevalencia a los de calidad / Pain in the hospital: from prevalence to quality standards

OBJETIVOS: El dolor compromete la calidad de vida de los pacientes y su elevada prevalencia pone en entredicho la calidad asistencial. Este trabajo analiza la prevalencia del dolor en un hospital, en función de los bloques de servicios y del abordaje terapéutico realizado. PACIENTES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal en una muestra representativa de 309 pacientes ingresados en un hospital de tercer nivel. Mediante entrevista con el paciente y revisión de su historia clínica se recogió información de su filiación, situación clínica, dolor, características del mismo y tratamiento antiálgico. RESULTADOS: La prevalencia global del dolor fue del 54,7%; del 43,5% considerando sólo el dolor candidato a tratamiento (intensidad >2 en la escala visual analógica) y del 34,7% considerando el dolor moderado-intenso (>3). Un 18,7% de los pacientes tributarios de analgesia no tenían prescripción y la efectividad analgésica se con-siguió en el 47,3%. La mayoría de pautas fueron a demanda (63,2%), principalmente con AINE, paracetamol, opioides y técnicas especiales, administrándose de forma combinada en la mitad de los pacientes. Los bloques hospitalarios mostraron variaciones en la prevalencia e intensidad del dolor y en los patrones de prescripción. En el 67,1% de los pacientes el tratamiento analgésico fue adecuado. CONCLUSIONES: Los resultados sugieren una prevalencia elevada de dolor en el hospital y la posibilidad de mejorar la calidad de su abordaje clínico, en concordancia con los estudios publicados desde los años 80. La persistencia de este problema en los centros asistenciales exigiría una mayor actuación de todos los niveles del sistema sanitario

OBJETIVES: Pain diminishes the quality of life of patients and a high prevalence of pain calls into question the quality of health care being delivered. The present study analyzes the prevalence of pain in one hospital, by departments and by therapeutic approach used. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out in a representative sample of 309 patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital. Information was gathered by patient interviews and by reviewing hospital records for personal characteristics, clinical situation, pain characteristics and analgesic treatment. RESULTS: The prevalence of pain was 54.7%overall. The prevalence of pain eligible for treatment (intensity >2 on a visual analog scale) was 43.5%. The prevalence of pain that was moderate to intense (>3) was 34.7%. No analgesia was prescribed for 18.7% of the patients eligible, and analgesia was effective for 47.3%. Analgesia was provided on demand (63.2%) in most clinic protocols, usually with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, aceta-minophen, opioids and special techniques, administered in combination to half the patients. The prevalence and intensity of pain and the prescription protocols varied from one hospital department to another. Analgesic treatment was adequate for 67.1% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the prevalence of pain in the hospital is high and that it is possible to improve quality of clinical approach, in agreement with studies that have been appearing since the 1980s. The persistence of the problem of pain in health care centers requires action on all levels of the health care system

Interactions between bradykinin (BK) and cell adhesion molecule (CAM) expression in peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-PS)-induced arthritis.

Bradykinin (BK), a vasoactive, proinflammatory nonapeptide, promotes cell adhesion molecule (CAM) expression, leukocyte sequestration, inter-endothelial gap formation, and protein extravasation in postcapillary venules. These effects are mediated by bradykinin-1 (B1R) and-2 (B2R) receptors. We delineated some of the mechanisms by which BK could influence chronic inflammation by altering CAM expression on leukocytes, endothelium, and synovium in joint sections of peptidoglycan-polysaccharide-injected Lewis rats. Blocking B1R results in significantly increased joint inflammation. Immunohistochemistry of the B1R antagonist group revealed increased leukocyte and synovial CD11b and CD54 expression and increased CD11b and CD44 endothelial expression. B2R antagonism decreased leukocyte and synovial CD44 and CD54 and endothelial CD11b expression. Although these findings implicate B2R involvement in the acute phase of inflammation by facilitating leukocyte activation (CD11b), homing (CD44), and transmigration (CD54). Treatment with a B2R antagonist did not affect the disease evolution in this model. In contrast, when both BK receptors are blocked, the aggravation of inflammation by B1R blockade is neutralized and there is no difference from the disease-untreated model. Our findings suggest that B1R and B2R signaling show physiologic antagonism. B1R signaling suggests involvement in down-regulation of leukocyte activation, transmigration, and homing. Further studies are needed to evaluate the B1 receptor agonist's role in this model.

Detección de porphyromonas gingivalis y bacilos entéricos en pacientes con periodontitis crónica severa en una muestra de población de Bogotá / Detection of porphyromonas gingivalis and enteric bacilli in patients with severe chronic periodontitis in a sample of population of Bogota City

El propósito de este estudio fue evaluar la frecuencia de P. Gingivales en placa subgingival en una muestra de pacientes colombianos, residentes en Bogotá, con diagnóstico confirmado de periodontitis crónica severa, ppr medio de la Reacciión en Cadena de Polimerasa (PCR) y el aislamiento de bacilos entéricos por cultivo.