MRI of Penile Prostheses: The Challenge of Diagnosing Postsurgical Complications.

Penile implants are surgically inserted devices used for the treatment of erectile disfunction. Improvements in surgical techniques and in the manufacturing of these implants have reduced the risk of intra- and postoperative complications and increased the popularity and use of this therapeutic option. Routine imaging is not recommended before penile prosthesis surgery. Malleable penile prostheses use noninflatable shafts inserted into each corpus cavernosum, which appear hypointense on T1- and T2-weighted MR images. Inflatable penile prostheses (IPPs) may consist of two or three parts and are composed of two cylinders inserted into the corpora cavernosa that are filled with a saline solution to produce rigidity. These appear homogeneously T2 hyperintense and the silicone-based covering of the cylinders appears T2 hypointense, thereby clearly delineating the cylinders. In the case of three-piece IPPs, a reservoir containing the fluid may be placed in the pelvis. The most frequent complications are related to infection and mechanical failure, the latter being more common in IPPs because more components are involved. Less common complications include malpositioning. Detection and management of postoperative complications are challenging, and MRI plays a crucial role as it permits evaluation of the positioning and configuration of the prosthesis components, as well as assists in functional evaluation of IPPs when images are obtained of both the flaccid and inflated states. ©RSNA, 2021.

Effect of 15 BMI-Associated Polymorphisms, Reported for Europeans, across Ethnicities and Degrees of Amerindian Ancestry in Mexican Children.

In Mexico, the genetic mechanisms underlying childhood obesity are poorly known. We evaluated the effect of loci, known to be associated with childhood body mass index (BMI) in Europeans, in Mexican children from different ethnic groups. We performed linear and logistic analyses of BMI and obesity, respectively, in Mestizos and Amerindians (Seris, Yaquis and Nahuatl speakers) from Northern (n = 369) and Central Mexico (n = 8545). We used linear models to understand the effect of degree of Amerindian ancestry (AMA) and genetic risk score (GRS) on BMI z-score. Northern Mexican Mestizos showed the highest overweight-obesity prevalence (47.4%), followed by Seri (36.2%) and Central Mexican (31.5%) children. Eleven loci (SEC16B/rs543874, OLFM4/rs12429545/rs9568856, FTO/rs9939609, MC4R/rs6567160, GNPDA2/rs13130484, FAIM2/rs7132908, FAM120AOS/rs944990, LMX1B/rs3829849, ADAM23/rs13387838, HOXB5/rs9299) were associated with BMI and seven (SEC16B/rs543874, OLFM4/rs12429545/rs9568856, FTO/rs9939609, MC4R/rs6567160, GNPDA2 rs13130484, LMX1B/rs3829849) were associated with obesity in Central Mexican children. One SNP was associated with obesity in Northern Mexicans and Yaquis (SEC16B/rs543874). We found higher BMI z-score at higher GRS (ß = 0.11, p = 0.2 × 10-16) and at lower AMA (ß = -0.05, p = 6.8 × 10-7). The GRS interacts with AMA to increase BMI (ß = 0.03, p = 6.08 × 10-3). High genetic BMI susceptibility increase the risk of higher BMI, including in Amerindian children.

Effect of multi-component school-based program on body mass index, cardiovascular and diabetes risks in a multi-ethnic study.

BACKGROUND: Mexico occupies one of the first places worldwide in childhood obesity. Its Mestizo and Indigenous communities present different levels of westernization which have triggered different epidemiological diseases. We assessed the effects of a multi-component school-based intervention program on obesity, cardiovascular and diabetes risk factors. METHODS: A physical activity, health education and parent involvement (PAHEPI) program was developed and applied in six urban (Mestizo ethnic group) and indigenous (Seri and Yaqui ethnic groups) primary schools for 12 weeks. A total of 320 children aged 4-12 years participated in intervention program; 203 under Treatment 1 (PAHEPI program) and 117, only from Mestizo groups, under Treatment 2 (PAHEPI+ school meals). For Body Mass Index (BMI), cardiovascular and diabetes factors, pairwise comparisons of values at baseline and after treatments were done using Wilcoxon signed rank test. Generalized linear models were applied to assess the intervention effect by age, sex and nutritional status in relation to ethnicity and treatment. RESULTS: We observed improvements on BMI in children with overweight-obesity and in triglycerides in the three ethnic groups. The Mestizo ethnic group showed the largest improvements under Treatment 2. While Seris showed improvements only in cardiovascular risk factors, Yaquis also showed improvements in diabetes risk factors, though not in BMI. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the same intervention may have positive but different effects in different ethnic groups depending on their lifestyle and their emerging epidemiological disease. Including this type of intervention as part of the school curriculum would allow to adapt to ethnic group in order to contribute more efficiently to child welfare. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was retrospectively registered under the identifier NCT03768245 .

Genetic susceptibility to pre diabetes mellitus and related association with obesity and physical fitness components in Mexican-Mestizos.

Pre diabetes mellitus (pre-DM) is considered an early-reversible condition that can progress to Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) which is the main cause of death for adult Mexican population. Gene variants influencing fasting glucose levels may constitute helpful tool for prevention purposes in pre-DM condition. Physically active Mexican-Mestizo adults (n=565) were genotyped for 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (ADIPOQ rs2241766, ACSL1 rs9997745, LIPC rs1800588, PPARA rs1800206, PPARG rs1801282 and PPARGC1A rs8192678) related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Fasting glucose was measured and values classified as pre-DM (≥100mg/dL) or normal fasting glucose. Logistic models were used to test associations between pre-DM condition and SNPs, and interaction with Body Mass Index (BMI) and physical fitness components. The A allele of ASCL1 rs9997745 conferred increased risk (OR=3.39, p=0.001) of pre-DM which is modulated by BMI. The A allele of the PPARGC1A rs8192678 showed significant SNP*BMI (OR=1.10, p=0.008) interaction effect for pre-DM risk, meaning that obese subjects showed higher pre-DM risk but normal weight subjects showed lower risk. The effect increased with age and was attenuated by higher cardiorespiratory values. We found that both ACSL1 rs9997745 and PPARGC1A rs8192678 are associated with pre-DM, and that BMI significantly modified their association.

Genetic Obesity Risk and Attenuation Effect of Physical Fitness in Mexican-Mestizo Population: a Case-Control Study.

We analyzed commonly reported European and Asian obesity-related gene variants in a Mexican-Mestizo population through each single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and a genetic risk score (GRS) based on 23 selected SNPs. Study subjects were physically active Mexican-Mestizo adults (n = 608) with body mass index (BMI) values from 18 to 55 kg/m2 . For each SNP and for the GRS, logistic models were performed to test for simple SNP associations with BMI, fat mass percentage (FMP), waist circumference (WC), and the interaction with VO2max and muscular endurance (ME). To further understand the SNP or GRS*physical fitness components, generalized linear models were performed. Obesity risk was significantly associated to 6 SNPs (ADRB2 rs1042713, APOB rs512535, PPARA rs1800206, TNFA rs361525, TRHR rs7832552 and rs16892496) after adjustment by gender, age, ancestry, VO2max , and ME. ME attenuated the influence of APOB rs512535 and TNFA rs361525 on obesity risk in FMP. WC was significantly associated to GRS. Both ME and VO2max attenuated GRS effect on WC. We report associations for 6 out of 23 SNPs and for the GRS, which confer obesity risk, a novel finding for Mexican-Mestizo physically active population. Also, the importance of including physical fitness components variables in obesity genetic risk studies is highlighted, with special regard to intervention purposes.

Sex beyond species: the first genetically analyzed case of intergeneric fertile hybridization in pinnipeds.

A species, according to the biological concept, is a natural group of potentially interbreeding individuals isolated by diverse mechanisms. Hybridization is considered the production of offspring resulting from the interbreeding of two genetically distinct taxa. It has been documented in over 10% of wild animals, and at least in 34 cases for Artic marine mammals. In Otariids, intergeneric hybridization has been reported though neither confirming it through genetic analyses nor presenting evidence of fertile offspring. In this study, we report the finding of a hybrid adult female between a South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) and a South American sea lion (Otaria byronia), and its offspring, a male pup, in Uruguay. Further based on morphological constraints and breeding seasons, sex-biased hybridization between the two species is hypothesized. Morphological and genetic (nuclear and mitochondrial) results confirm de hybrid nature of the female-pup pair. Here we discuss a genetic dilution effect, considering other hybridization events must be occurring, and how isolation mechanisms could be circumvented. Moreover, the results obtained from stable isotope analysis suggest feeding habits may be a trait transmitted maternally, leading to consider broader issues regarding hybridization as an evolutionary innovation phenomenon.

Population genetic structure and social kin associations of franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei.

We investigated population and social structure of the franciscana dolphin, Pontoporia blainvillei, an endemic and the most endangered cetacean of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. We analyzed samples from the Rio de la Plata estuary obtained in Uruguayan waters and from the Atlantic Ocean obtained in both Uruguayan and Brazilian waters. Mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA markers were used to study differentiation between the estuary and the ocean and the association between kinship and social group structure. Although multilocus analyses suggested that franciscanas are structured into 2 subpopulations (K = 2, divergence among clusters: F(ST) = 0.06, P = 0.002; R(ST) = 0.3, P = 0.001), mitochondrial markers did not support such divergence (F(ST) = 0.02, P = 0.12; Ф(ST) = 0.06, P =0.06). However, these units are not entirely segregated geographically. Regarding social structure, some groups are composed by first-order related individuals (R ≥ 0.5, P < 0.5). Overall, the data suggest that matrilines could be the social unit in this species. We argue that the divergence found could be associated to local adaptation and social structure, resulting from either feature leading to a recent divergence or reflecting equilibrium between local differentiation and gene flow. This evidence supports considering franciscanas from the Rio de la Plata estuary a discrete management unit.

Presence of Nosema ceranae in honeybees (Apis mellifera) in Uruguay.

The microsporidium Nosema ceranae is an emergent pathogen of European honeybees Apis mellifera. Using a PCR-RFLP diagnosis, 29 samples of infected honeybees obtained in 2007-2008 (N=26), 2004 (N=2) and before 1990 (N=1) were analyzed for the presence of Nosema apis and N. ceranae. Only N. ceranae was found in all samples, indicating that this species dispersed to Uruguay (and likely the region) at some time before 1990. The presence of N. ceranae in Uruguay is not associated with an increase of Nosemosis, and its role in colony loss seems to be irrelevant.