Growth and photosynthetic responses to copper in wild grapevine.

The present study evaluates the tolerance and accumulation potential of Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris under moderate and high external Cu levels. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effects of a range of external Cu concentrations (0-23mmolL(-1)) on growth and photosynthetic performance by measuring gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic pigments. We also measured the total copper, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulphur, calcium, magnesium, iron, potassium and sodium concentrations in the plant tissues. All the experimental plants survived even with external Cu concentrations as high as 23mmolL(-1) (1500mg Cu L(-1)), although the excess of metal resulted in a biomass reduction of 35%. The effects of Cu on growth were linked to a reduction in net photosynthesis, which may be related to the effect of the high concentration of the metal on photosynthetic electron transport. V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris survived with leaf Cu concentrations as high as 80mgkg(-1) DW and growth parameters were unaffected by leaf tissue concentrations of 35mg Cu kg(-1) DW. The results of our study indicate that plants of V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris from the studied population are more tolerant to Cu than the commercial varieties of grapevine that have been studied in the literature, and could constitute a basis for the genetic improvement of Cu tolerance in grapevine.

Genetic diversity of wild grapevine populations in Spain and their genetic relationships with cultivated grapevines.

The wild grapevine, Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi, considered as the ancestor of the cultivated grapevine, is native from Eurasia. In Spain, natural populations of V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris can still be found along river banks. In this work, we have performed a wide search of wild grapevine populations in Spain and characterized the amount and distribution of their genetic diversity using 25 nuclear SSR loci. We have also analysed the possible coexistence in the natural habitat of wild grapevines with naturalized grapevine cultivars and rootstocks. In this way, phenotypic and genetic analyses identified 19% of the collected samples as derived from cultivated genotypes, being either naturalized cultivars or hybrid genotypes derived from spontaneous crosses between wild and cultivated grapevines. The genetic diversity of wild grapevine populations was similar than that observed in the cultivated group. The molecular analysis showed that cultivated germplasm and wild germplasm are genetically divergent with low level of introgression. Using a model-based approach implemented in the software structure, we identified four genetic groups, with two of them fundamentally represented among cultivated genotypes and two among wild accessions. The analyses of genetic relationships between wild and cultivated grapevines could suggest a genetic contribution of wild accessions from Spain to current Western cultivars.

Multiple origins of cultivated grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sativa) based on chloroplast DNA polymorphisms.

The domestication of the Eurasian grape (Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa) from its wild ancestor (Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris) has long been claimed to have occurred in Transcaucasia where its greatest genetic diversity is found and where very early archaeological evidence, including grape pips and artefacts of a 'wine culture', have been excavated. Whether from Transcaucasia or the nearby Taurus or Zagros Mountains, it is hypothesized that this wine culture spread southwards and eventually westwards around the Mediterranean basin, together with the transplantation of cultivated grape cuttings. However, the existence of morphological differentiation between cultivars from eastern and western ends of the modern distribution of the Eurasian grape suggests the existence of different genetic contribution from local sylvestris populations or multilocal selection and domestication of sylvestris genotypes. To tackle this issue, we analysed chlorotype variation and distribution in 1201 samples of sylvestris and sativa genotypes from the whole area of the species' distribution and studied their genetic relationships. The results suggest the existence of at least two important origins for the cultivated germplasm, one in the Near East and another in the western Mediterranean region, the latter of which gave rise to many of the current Western European cultivars. Indeed, over 70% of the Iberian Peninsula cultivars display chlorotypes that are only compatible with their having derived from western sylvestris populations.

[Massive vesicoinguinal hernia and acute renal failure. An infrequent association]. / Hernia vesicoinguinal masiva y fracaso renal agudo. Una asociación poco frecuente.

OBJECTIVE: To report a rare complication of acute renal failure secondary to massive vesicoinguinal hernia. To our knowledge, only 4 cases have been previously reported in the literature. METHODS: Herein we describe a case of massive vesicoinguinal hernia in a patient that had presented at the emergency services with symptoms of acute renal failure. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this rare complication are discussed. RESULTS: Patient evaluation showed a left inguinal hernia and benign hyperplasia of the prostate. Blood analytical findings were compatible with acute renal failure. A left massive vesicoinguinal hernia was detected on ultrasound evaluation and confirmed by retrograde cystography. Treatment was by surgical repair of the inguinal hernia, bladder repositioning and cervicoprostatotomy plus TUR of the excrescent bladder lesions to resolve the obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: Massive vesicoinguinal hernia may go undetected if the symptoms are unremarkable and may mimick those of acute renal failure.

[Vesical bilharziasis. A report of a new case]. / Bilharziosis vesical. Aportación de un nuevo caso.

OBJECTIVE: To describe an additional case of urinary schistosomiasis, a rare disease in our setting. METHODS/RESULTS: The clinical, radiological and cystoscopic features of urinary schistosomiasis are presented. The patient responded well to treatment with praziquantel. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary schistosomiasis, a condition produced by infection with Schistosoma haematobium, is rare in our setting. However, it should be considered in patients with sporadic episodes of hematuria that have immigrated from or travelled to areas where this disease is endemic. A detailed clinical interview can provide this useful information.

[Simplified Ramírez urethropexy in the treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence in women. Multicenter study of clinical and urodynamic results]. / Uretropexia simplificada de Ramírez en el tratamiento de la incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo genuina en la mujer. Estudio multicéntrico sobre los resultados clínicos y urodinámicos.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical and urodynamic data of a multicenter study on female urinary stress incontinence undergoing surgical repair with the Ramírez simplified urethropexy. METHODS: Clinical, urodynamic and videocystographic data were analyzed in a multicenter series of 340 female patients with urinary stress incontinence (mean age 51.7 +/- 9.7 years) before and after the Ramírez urethropexy technique (mean follow-up 21.7 months). RESULTS: Post surgical urinary continence was 78.4%. Cystocele repair was demonstrated in 57.7%. Urge incontinence decreased in 17.1%. Daytime frequency statistically significantly decreased in 19%. Urinary obstructive symptoms increased in 19.3%. Bladder instability significantly decreased posturethropexy. Peak urinary flow rate and mean urinary flow rate diminished in 65% and 59%, respectively. Postvoiding residual urine increased significantly. No statistical correlation between posturethropexy continence and videocystographic bladder neck morphology was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical and urodynamic data obtained in our series indicate that the Ramírez urethropexy technique, a simple and fast procedure, may be considered an alternative treatment in female urinary stress incontinence.