Effects of Genetic Origin of Honeybees and Climate on Prevalence and Infestation Levels of Varroa.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of honeybee genetic origin, climate type and the interactions between these variables on the prevalence and infestation levels of Varroa in a large population of honeybee colonies (n = 1134). For each colony, the morphotype, haplotype and climate type were determined. No differences between the Africanized, European and Hybrid morphotypes were found for the prevalence and infestation levels of Varroa (p > 0.05). Differences between honeybee haplotypes were found for the prevalence of Varroa (p < 0.05), and the prevalence was higher in the African haplotype than in the European haplotype. No differences between honeybee haplotypes were found for the infestation levels of Varroa (p > 0.05). Differences were found between climate type for the prevalence and infestation levels of Varroa (p < 0.05): the temperate sub-humid climate had a higher prevalence and higher infestation levels than the semi-warm climate and the warm sub-humid climate. Correlations between the infestation levels of Varroa and mean annual temperature, mean annual precipitation, winter precipitation and Lang index were found.

Effect of Extract and Ellagic Acid from Geranium schiedeanum on the Antioxidant Defense System in An Induced-Necrosis Model.

Geranium schiedeanum has been used in traditional therapies as an antiseptic, antipyretic, and as analgesic. The present study was designed to evaluate the pretreatment with G. schiedeanum total extract (GS) and its active metabolites on stimulating the endogenous antioxidant defense system (EADS): catalase (Cat), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione reduction index (RI GSH/GSSG) in rat liver treated with a sublethal dose (6.6 mmol/Kg) of thioacetamide (TAA) in order to probe the capacity of GS and the active compounds to reduce liver injury. This was assessed by measuring aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and total bilirubin (BILT) in rats pretreated or not with TAA, and pretreated or not with GS and its metabolites. The results showed that GS was able to induce the production of EADS enzymes, increasing redox index GSH/GSSG at 24 and 48 h after intoxication, and both the extract and the ellagic acid exhibited a significant reduction of hepatic damage markers. Our data confirmed the hepatoprotective effect of GS and its metabolites, like ellagic acid, support the possible use of this extract in the treatment of liver injury.

Consequences of diverse evolutionary processes on american genetic gradients of modern humans.

European genetic gradients of modern humans were initially interpreted as a consequence of the demic diffusion of expanding Neolithic farmers. However, recent studies showed that these gradients may also be influenced by other evolutionary processes such as population admixture or range contractions. Genetic gradients were observed in the Americas, although their specific evolutionary causes were not investigated. Here we extended the approach used to study genetic gradients in Europe to analyze the influence of diverse evolutionary scenarios on American genetic gradients. Using extensive computer simulations, we evaluated the impact of (i) admixture between expansion waves of modern humans, (ii) the presence of ice-sheets during the last glacial maximum (LGM) and (iii) long-distance dispersal (LDD) events, on the genetic gradients (detected by principal component analysis) of the entire continent, North America and South America. The specific simulation of North and South America showed that genetic gradients are usually orthogonal to the direction of range expansions-either expansions from Bering or posterior re-expansions to recolonize northern regions after ice sheets melting-and we suggest that they result from allele surfing processes. Conversely, our results on the entire continent show a northwest-southeast gradient obtained with any scenario, which we interpreted as a consequence of isolation by distance along the long length of the continent. These findings suggest that distinct genetic gradients can be detected at different regions of the Americas and that subcontinent regions present gradients more sensible to evolutionary and environmental factors (such as LDD and the LGM) than the whole continent.

The follicle-stimulating hormone receptor Asn680Ser polymorphism is associated with preterm birth in Hispanic women.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, a study based on the analysis of accelerated evolution of related genes at birth identified the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) as a possible candidate for the development of preterm delivery. Additionally, FSHR expression has been described in extragonadal tissue including the placenta. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the association between the N680S polymorphism of the follicle-stimulating hormone receptor and preterm birth in a population of Hispanic women. METHODS: Placenta samples were obtained from 64 women who had preterm births and 54 control cases. DNA was extracted and genotyped for the N680S FSHR gene polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The χ2 test and t-test were used to calculate statistical significance. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in genotype frequencies for the N680S polymorphism were observed between preterm and term groups (p = .04). Based on the Akaike information criterion values, the dominant model showed that the NN genotype had a significantly increased risk of preterm birth compared with the SS + NS genotype (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.20-5.33, p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: The results herein suggest that the FSHR polymorphism N680S is significantly associated with preterm birth in the Hispanic population.

Fine-scale linkage mapping reveals a small set of candidate genes influencing honey bee grooming behavior in response to Varroa mites.

Populations of honey bees in North America have been experiencing high annual colony mortality for 15-20 years. Many apicultural researchers believe that introduced parasites called Varroa mites (V. destructor) are the most important factor in colony deaths. One important resistance mechanism that limits mite population growth in colonies is the ability of some lines of honey bees to groom mites from their bodies. To search for genes influencing this trait, we used an Illumina Bead Station genotyping array to determine the genotypes of several hundred worker bees at over a thousand single-nucleotide polymorphisms in a family that was apparently segregating for alleles influencing this behavior. Linkage analyses provided a genetic map with 1,313 markers anchored to genome sequence. Genotypes were analyzed for association with grooming behavior, measured as the time that individual bees took to initiate grooming after mites were placed on their thoraces. Quantitative-trait-locus interval mapping identified a single chromosomal region that was significant at the chromosome-wide level (p<0.05) on chromosome 5 with a LOD score of 2.72. The 95% confidence interval for quantitative trait locus location contained only 27 genes (honey bee official gene annotation set 2) including Atlastin, Ataxin and Neurexin-1 (AmNrx1), which have potential neurodevelopmental and behavioral effects. Atlastin and Ataxin homologs are associated with neurological diseases in humans. AmNrx1 codes for a presynaptic protein with many alternatively spliced isoforms. Neurexin-1 influences the growth, maintenance and maturation of synapses in the brain, as well as the type of receptors most prominent within synapses. Neurexin-1 has also been associated with autism spectrum disorder and schizophrenia in humans, and self-grooming behavior in mice.

Progesterone receptor gene polymorphisms are not associated with preterm birth in a Hispanic population.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether increased frequency of mutant alleles of the progesterone receptor gene (PGR) was associated with preterm birth in a population of Hispanic women. METHODS: Placental DNA from 64 patients who had preterm births and 54 control patients was genotyped for 4 progesterone receptor gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) restriction fragment length polymorphism. The chi(2) test and t test were used to calculate statistical significance. Linkage disequilibrium was calculated using the Linkage Disequilibrium Analyzer program. RESULTS: The genotypic frequencies of the 4 polymorphisms were not significantly different between the study and control groups. In addition, there was complete linkage disequilibrium between V660L, H770H, and PROGINS polymorphisms, but not with +331G/A polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that polymorphisms in the progesterone receptor gene are unlikely to be associated with an increased risk of preterm birth in a Hispanic population.

Confirmation of QTL effects and evidence of genetic dominance of honeybee defensive behavior: results of colony and individual behavioral assays.

The stinging and guarding components of the defensive behavior of European, Africanized, hybrid, and backcross honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) were compared and analyzed at both colony and individual levels. Hybrid and Africanized backcross colonies stung as many times as Africanized ones. European backcross colonies stung more than European bees but not as many times as Africanized or Africanized backcross colonies. The degree of dominance for the number of times that worker bees stung a leather patch was estimated to be 84.3%, 200.8%, and 145.8% for hybrid, backcross European, and backcross Africanized colonies, respectively. Additionally, both guards at the colony entrance and fast-stinging workers of one European backcross colony had a significantly higher frequency of an Africanized DNA marker allele, located near "sting1," a QTL previously implicated in stinging behavior at the colony level. However, guards and fast-stinging bees from a backcross to the Africanized parental colony did not differ from control bees in their frequency for the Africanized and European markers, as would be expected if large genetic dominance effects for sting1 exist. These results support the hypothesis that genetic dominance influences the defensive behavior of honeybees and confirm the effect of sting1 on the defensiveness of individual worker bees.

Producción de miel de colonias de abejas (Apis mellifera L) tratadas y no tratadas con fluvalinato contra Varroajacobsoni Oudemans en Valle de Bravo, Estado de México / Honey production of treated and untreated honey bee (Apis mellifera L) colonies against the mite Varrora Jacobsoni Oudemans in valle de Bravo, Mexico

En este estudio se evaluó la producción de miel de colonias de abejas melíferas Apis mellifera L., infestadas con el ácaro Varroa jacobsoni Oud, en comparación con la de colonias tratadas con fluvalinato. Se establecieron 91 colonias de abejas, a cada una de las cuales se les introdujo una reina fecundada, joven. Las reinas provinieron de siete criaderos diferentes de varios estados de la República mexicana. Todas las colonias fueron infestadas artificialmente con un número igual de ácaros adultos y fueron manejadas de manera similar hasta la temporada de cosecha de miel. Dos meses antes de la floración y uno después de haber sido infestadas, un grupo de 33 colonias fue tratado con el acaricida fluvalinato (Apistan©), mientras que otro grupo de 58 colonias no recibió tratamiento contra la parasitosis. Al final de la floración se cuantificó la producción de miel y el nivel de parasitosis de cada una de las colonias. El grupo de colonias tratadas produjo significativamente más miel (65.5 por ciento) que el grupo de colonias donde no se aplicó acaricida; además su nivel de infestación fue significativamente más bajo que el de las colonias no tratadas (t = 3.32; gl = 89; P < 0.01, para la producción de miel; t = 6.33; gl = 89; P < 0.01, para los niveles de infestación). Se recomienda que las colonias de abejas infestadas con Varroa jacobsoni, sean tratadas con acaricidas mientras se desarrollan otros métodos de control del parásito. Este es el primer estudio que sugiere que Varroa jacobsoni daña la producción de miel en el Estado de México y en la República mexicana.

Uso de prostaglandinas E2 por vía vaginal para inducción del trabajo de parto / Use of prostaglandines E2 vaginally for labor induction

Las prostaglandinas se han usado para favorecer, la maduración cervical, la expulsión del producto y diminuir el número de maniobras obstétricas quirúrgicas. En el trabajo se pretende demostrar la utilidad de este fármaco administrado por vía tópica vaginal; en 40 pacientes con embarazo a término, sin trabajo de parto, con un índice de Bishop de 2 (rango o 4) que acudieron al Servicio de Obstetricia, distribuidas en dos grupos de 20 c/u que recibieron prostaglandinas 0.70 mg. por vía intracervical, y 20 con oxitocina 2 ml. unidad por minuto hasta obtener respuesta, se realizó un estudio longitudinal prospectivo y abierto; se excluyó del grupo de pacientes de alto riesgo; en ambos grupos se registraron partogramas en forma cuidadosa, los resultados se validaron obteniendo un promedio y desviación stándar; la edad promedio 25.15 años, edad gestacional 39.4 semanas. Indice de Bishop 2, en el grupo I y en grupo testigo la edad promedio 24.9 años, edad gestacional 40.4 semans y un índice de Bishop de 3.7ñ el tiempo de inducción del ler. grupo fué de 4.65 horas; en el grupo II 7.9 horas P< 0.05, condicionando en 40% menos tiempo de inducción de la maduración cervical, y el trabajo de parto. No se presentaron accidentes fetoplacentarios. La cesárea se redujo, en el grupo de prostaglandinas, un caso contra 6 del grupo testigo, el número de fórceps fué de mayor en este ler. grupo (7 casos contra 2 casos) del testigo. El estado de los poductos no tuvo diferencias significativas. Se puede concluir que es un fármaco de gran ayuda en la práctica obstétrica manejando cuidadosamente considerándolo como un medicamento de elección para la maduración cervical.

El papel de los medios de información en la asistencia social / The role of information media in the social assitance

Análisis de la evolución social de los medios de comunicación y de la función que han desempeñado en cada fase evolutiva de las sociedades. Se describen hechos relevantes en torno a que cada forma de sociedad, con sus peculiaridades culturales y materiales, desarrollan medios de información que responden a esas formas sociales. De esta manera, entre más compleja y extensa es una sociedad más complejos son los medios de información, dado que crece la necesidad no sólo de desarrollar dichos medios sino también su alcance y cobertura. Aunque todos los medios de información cumplen una función social, ésta se realiza de manera específica, determinada por las características técnicas de cada medio informativo así como de las características concretas de la información a transmitir y del alcance de dichos medios de información; por ejemplo, la radio es de amplia cobertura, se vale de la palabra hablada; la televisión es también de amplio alcance y se vale, principalmente, de la imagen; en tanto que la prensa, de la palabra escrita. La importancia que todos los medios de comunicación tienen para la asistencia social radica en que son un vehículo eficaz, de amplia cobertura y de bajo costo, mediante los cuales se pueden y se dan a conocer programas y acciones sociales de beneficio colectivo, así como despertar el interés e inducir la participación social de los diferentes grupos sociales