Expression-Based Cell Lineage Analysis in Drosophila Through a Course-Based Research Experience for Early Undergraduates.

A variety of genetic techniques have been devised to determine cell lineage relationships during tissue development. Some of these systems monitor cell lineages spatially and/or temporally without regard to gene expression by the cells, whereas others correlate gene expression with the lineage under study. The GAL4 Technique for Real-time and Clonal Expression (G-TRACE) system allows for rapid, fluorescent protein-based visualization of both current and past GAL4 expression patterns and is therefore amenable to genome-wide expression-based lineage screens. Here we describe the results from such a screen, performed by undergraduate students of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Undergraduate Research Consortium for Functional Genomics (URCFG) and high school summer scholars as part of a discovery-based education program. The results of the screen, which reveal novel expression-based lineage patterns within the brain, the imaginal disc epithelia, and the hematopoietic lymph gland, have been compiled into the G-TRACE Expression Database (GED), an online resource for use by the Drosophila research community. The impact of this discovery-based research experience on student learning gains was assessed independently and shown to be greater than that of similar programs conducted elsewhere. Furthermore, students participating in the URCFG showed considerably higher STEM retention rates than UCLA STEM students that did not participate in the URCFG, as well as STEM students nationwide.

Insights into the evolution of the new variant rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (GI.2) and the identification of novel recombinant strains.

Rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) is a viral disease that affects the European rabbit. RHD was detected in 1984 in China and rapidly disseminated worldwide causing a severe decline in wild rabbit populations. The aetiological agent, rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV), is an RNA virus of the family Caliciviridae, genus Lagovirus. Pathogenic (G1-G6 or variants GI.1a-GI.1d) and non-pathogenic strains (GI.4) have been characterized. In 2010, a new variant of RHDV, RHDV2/RHDVb/GI.2, was detected in France. GI.2 arrived to the Iberian Peninsula in 2011, and several recombination events were reported. Here, we sequenced full genomes of 19 samples collected in Portugal between 2014 and 2016. New GI.2 recombinant strains were detected, including triple recombinants. These recombinants possess a non-structural protein p16 related to a non-pathogenic strain. Evolutionary analyses were conducted on GI.2 VP60 sequences. Estimated time to the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) suggests an emergence of GI.2 in July 2008, not distant from its first detection in 2010. This is the first study on GI.2 evolution and highlights the need of continued monitoring and characterization of complete genome sequences when studying lagoviruses' evolution.

Macular pigment optical density: repeatability, intereye correlation, and effect of ocular dominance.

PURPOSE: To evaluate short-term repeatability, intereye correlation, and effect of ocular dominance on macular pigment optical density (MPOD) measurements obtained using the QuantifEye Heterochromatic Flicker Photometer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 72 study participants were enrolled in this prospective, cross-sectional study. Participants underwent a comprehensive ocular evaluation, including visual acuity, evaluation of ocular dominance, slit lamp examination, intraocular pressure measurement, and optic nerve head and macula analysis using optical coherence tomography and fundus photography. All study participants after initial training underwent MPOD measurement twice in both eyes in a randomized sequence. The repeatability was tested using Altman and Bland plots for first measurements with the second measurements for right eye and left eye and additionally by grouping eyes as a function of ocular dominance. The Pearson correlation coefficient was performed to assess the intereye correlation of MPOD values. RESULTS: The mean age of study participants was 35.5 years (range 22-68 years). The mean MPOD measurements for OD (right eye) and OS (left eye) were 0.47 and 0.48, respectively, which followed a normal distribution (Shapiro-Wilk test, P=0.6 and 0.2). The 95% limits of agreement of Altman and Bland plots for the first and second measurements were -0.12 to +0.11 and -0.13 to +0.12 for OD and OS, respectively. The correlation coefficient of mean MPOD measurements of OD and OS was r statistic =0.94 (Pearson correlation coefficient P<0.0001; r (2) 0.89). The 95% limits of agreement of Altman and Bland plots when evaluated by laterality of eye or by ocular dominance were narrow, with limits of agreement ranging from -0.13 to +0.12. CONCLUSION: The MPOD measurements obtained using the QuantifEye show good short-term repeatability. There is excellent intereye correlation, indicating that the MPOD values of one eye data can predict the fellow eye value with 89% accuracy. The ocular dominance had no bearing on the outcome of this psychophysical test in ocular healthy eyes.

Intoxicación aguda por ingesta intencional de fenobarbital sódico / Acute poisoning whit pills of sodium phenobarbital

Se presenta una paciente femenina, de 38 años de edad, que ingirió con fines suicidas 160 tabletas de 100 mg de fenobarbital y a las 72 horas de desaparecida fue encontrada en estado de coma. La paciente presentó coma profundo, shock hemodinámico y posteriormente una neumonía por bronco aspiración. Se aplicaron medidas generales y tratamiento sintomático además de hemocarboperfusión de urgencia. El examen toxicológico se realizó mediante técnicas de cromatografía en placa fina, seguidos de test colorimétrico y el empleo de extracción en fase sólida (SPE) y cromatografía gaseosa acoplada a detector de masas utilizando monitorización de iones seleccionados (SIM). Los resultados fueron positivos a la presencia de fenobarbital en orina y contenido gástrico. Los valores en sangre de fenobarbital fueron de 479 μmol L-1 96 horas tras la ingesta. Tras el sexto día de ingreso tuvo una evolución satisfactoria debido al rápido diagnóstico toxicológico y tratamiento con los métodos de depuración renal y extra renal, a pesar de la cantidad ingerida de 16 g (AU)

A case is reported of a female patient of 38 years old, who ingested 160 pills of 100 mg of phenobarbital with the purpose of committing suicide, and who was founded in state of coma after 72 hours of being missed. The patient presented a state of deep coma, haemodynamic shock and later a pneumonia for rough aspiration. General measures and symptomatic treatment were applied, as well as urgent charcoal haemoperfusion. The toxicological examination was carried out by means of thin layer chromatographic techniques, colorimetric test and solid phase extraction (SPE) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry using selected ion monitoring (SIM). The results were positive to the presence of phenobarbital in urine and gastric content. The serum phenobarbital concentration was 479 μmol L-1 96 hours after the ingestion. After the sixth day of admission, her evolution was satisfactory because of the rapid toxicological diagnosis and the treatment with methods of renal and extra renal purification, in spite of the ingested quantity of 16 g. phenobarbital (AU)

Nocturnal sleep pattern in Native Brazilian Terena adults.

Social-economic factors influence sleep habits. This research analyzes characteristics of nocturnal sleep in Brazilian Native Terena adults. Sixty-four adults (31 M; 33 F) from 18 to 75 years, with a mean age of 37.0, from the Indian Reservation village of Córrego do Meio, in the central region of Mato Grosso do Sul, an agriculturally oriented group were evaluated. Nocturnal sleep characteristics were evaluated by means of a standard questionnaire applied to each individual. It was observed that reported nocturnal sleep was longer, sleep onset was earlier and wake up time was also earlier than usually described in urban populations. The mean total time in bed was 8.5 h or more, in every age bracket. The seven-day prevalence rate of insomnia was 4.6%, while the seven-day prevalence rate of hypnotic use was 1.5%, both remarkably less than described in urban populations. These findings stress the need to consider ethnic influences on sleep patterns and disorders.

Siestas among Brazilian Native Terena adults : a study of daytime napping.

Regular daytime napping behavior, also known as siesta culture, is influenced by circadian, cultural and environmental factors. This research analyzes characteristics of regular daytime napping in Brazilian Native Terenas. We evaluated 65 adults ( 32 M; 33 F ) from 18 to 75 years, with a mean age of 37.2, from the Indian Reservation village Córrego do Meio, in the central region of Mato Grosso do Sul. Daytime napping characteristics were evaluated by means of a standard questionnaire applied to each individual. It was observed that weekly daytime napping (at least once a week) was present in 72. 3% of the population. There was a tendency to occur in males. The effects of weekends was mild. Mean onset time of daytime sleep was 12.2 h, remarkably earlier than usually described in urban populations. This data stresses the need to consider ethnic influences in order to understand sleep habits.

[Percutaneous nephropexy in the treatment of renal ptosis]. / Nefropexia percutánea para el tratamiento de la ptosis renal.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical fixation of ptotic kidneys has been utilized since the late nineties of the last century and more than 170 techniques have been described in the literature, all of which are by open surgery. The efficacy of a new percutaneous nephropexy procedure is described herein. METHODS: The technique basically consists in the fixation of the organ in its normal position by fibrous ligation created by a nephrostomy (preferably loop nephrostomy) and a nephropyeloureteral catheter inserted percutaneously. Our technique of percutaneous nephropexy was performed in 15 female patients with marked right renal ptosis, a long history of pain, which was complicated by lithiasis in the same kidney in 5 cases, and in whom medical treatment had repeatedly failed. RESULTS: At 6-14 months' follow-up, all of the patients are asymptomatic with negative urological cultures, no calculi, kidney in normal position and ureter corrected. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrate that our percutaneous nephropexy technique is an effective alternative treatment for the old and unresolved problem of renal ptosis.

Sleep characteristics in children in the isolated rural African-Brazilian descendant community of Furnas do Dionísio, State of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Developmental and cultural factors affect sleep habits in childhood. The objective of this research was to determine sleep habits of children in the isolated rural African-Brazilian community of Furnas do Dionísio. Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The members of this community are closely related descendants of the ex-slave Dionísio, and remained in relative geographical isolation for about a century. Sleep characteristics of 55 children (35 M; 20 F), 2 to 10 year olds, were evaluated in interviews with their mothers. The results showed that cosleeping, in the same bed with family members, was present in 80.0% of the 2-3 year olds; decreasing to 25.0% of the 8-10 year olds. Only 5.4% of the children slept alone in their own bedroom. Mean number of persons per bedroom was 2.8. Only 7.0% of the bedrooms had TV; 98.1% slept in silence. The data obtained support the need to weigh cultural factors influence on sleep.

[Percutaneous nephrostomy associated with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in the treatment of renoureteral lithiasis]. / Nefrostomía percutánea asociada a litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque en el tratamiento de la litiasis renoureteral.

From a series of 5000 cases that had undergone extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy at the Hospital Clinico Quirúrgico "Hermanos Ameijeiras" from March, 1986 to April, 1988, 220 cases that required percutaneous nephrostomy due to obstructive hydronephrosis from stone fragments were studied. We analyzed the clinical, radiological and ultrasound features of these cases, as well as the criteria for performing percutaneous nephrostomy. We identified the risk factors that made the procedure necessary, particularly urinary tract infection. No important complications ascribable to the foregoing procedure were observed. Performing the procedure early improved patient clinical course and reduced cost of treatment. To eliminate stone fragments completely, percutaneous nephrostomy was combined with other procedures in 198 cases (90%). The stone fragments were passed spontaneously in 10 cases (4.5%) following diversion. At 2 months 190 cases (86%) were completely stone free, 18 (8%) had residual stones and 12 (6%) required open surgery. The foregoing results show that percutaneous nephrostomy is a very useful procedure in septic-obstructive complications following extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and acquiring the skill to perform it is essential.

[Percutaneous nephrolitholapaxy combined with extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy in the treatment of staghorn lithiasis]. / Nefrolitotricia percutánea asociada a litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque en el tratamiento de la litiasis coraliforme.

From December, 1988 to July, 1989, 41 patients with renal or juxtapyelic ureteral calculi were submitted to percutaneous litholapaxy (PCN) at the Stone Center of the Hermanos Amerijeiras Hospital in Havana. This series comprise our early experience utilizing this procedure. PCN was initially limited to pelvic and juxtapyelic ureteric calculi with dilated renal cavities. It was subsequently used in combination with extracorporeal lithotripsy (ESWL) in the treatment of staghorn stones. The present study analyzed the results achieved with PCN in 30 patients with staghorn calculi; 21 (70%) incomplete staghorns and 9 (30%) complete staghorns. Posteriorly, 6 additional borderline staghorns were completely removed by PCN and are not included in the present study. PCN was performed to reduce stone mass and for placement of a large renal drain to permit subsequent ESWL. At two months following treatment, 86.6% of the patients were completely stone-free. The remaining 13.4% with stone remnants presented anatomic and functional renal conditions that allow us to predict complete elimination within a short period of time. Since 6 months had not elapsed in these cases, these were not considered as residual fragments. One patient presented massive absorption of fluids. This was the only observed major and non-lethal complication. Episodes of fever were observed in 23% post-PCN. No patient presented severe sepsis. In our view, PCN combined with ESWL is one of the currently available therapeutic options in the treatment of staghorn calculi. This approach permits adequate resolution of cases that would have otherwise required surgery.

[Treatment of renoureteral lithiasis using extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy. Experience in Cuba]. / Tratamiento de la litiasis renoureteral mediante litotricia extracorpórea por ondas de choque. Experiencia en Cuba.

Herein we present our experience in 5,000 cases of reno-ureteral lithiasis submitted to treatment at the Extracorporeal Lithotripsy Unit of Hermanos Ameijeiras Hospital in Havana, Cuba, from April 1986 and during a period spanning 30 months. Treatment was exclusively by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) in 85.5% of the patients and in combination with other procedures in 14.5% (endoscopic maneuvers in 5.9%, percutaneous nephrostomy 4.4%, open surgery 3.6%, and percutaneous nephrolithotripsy 0.6%). Complications were observed in 7% of the cases: ureteric obstruction (6.4%) with or without infection, perirenal hematoma (0.4%), and obstructive anuria (0.2%); acute urinary infection of different clinical types, some of which were very severe, were observed concomitantly in 2.6% of these patients. Two months following treatment, 86% of the cases were completely stone-free. At 6 months 96.2% were completely stone-free; the remaining 3.8% were classed as residual lithiasis. The pathologic conditions that put patients at high therapeutic risk and the possible complications that could arise were identified. The efficacy of the Dornier HM-3 lithotripter and the health care system that permits its extensive use are highlighted.