Creation of forest edges has a global impact on forest vertebrates.

Forest edges influence more than half of the world's forests and contribute to worldwide declines in biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, predicting these declines is challenging in heterogeneous fragmented landscapes. Here we assembled a global dataset on species responses to fragmentation and developed a statistical approach for quantifying edge impacts in heterogeneous landscapes to quantify edge-determined changes in abundance of 1,673 vertebrate species. We show that the abundances of 85% of species are affected, either positively or negatively, by forest edges. Species that live in the centre of the forest (forest core), that were more likely to be listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), reached peak abundances only at sites farther than 200-400 m from sharp high-contrast forest edges. Smaller-bodied amphibians, larger reptiles and medium-sized non-volant mammals experienced a larger reduction in suitable habitat than other forest-core species. Our results highlight the pervasive ability of forest edges to restructure ecological communities on a global scale.

Dielectric characterization of healthy and malignant colon tissues in the 0.5-18 GHz frequency band.

Several reports over the last few decades have shown that the dielectric properties of healthy and malignant tissues of the same body organ usually show different values. However, no intensive dielectric studies of human colon tissue have been performed, despite colon cancer's being one of the most common types of cancer in the world. In order to provide information regarding this matter, a dielectric characterization of healthy and malignant colon tissues is presented. Measurements are performed on ex vivo surgery samples obtained from 20 patients, using an open-ended coaxial probe in the 0.5-18 GHz frequency band. Results show that the dielectric constant of colon cancerous tissue is 8.8% higher than that of healthy tissues (p = 0.002). Besides, conductivity is about 10.6% higher, but in this case measurements do not have statistical significance (p = 0.038). Performing an analysis per patient, the differences in dielectric constant between healthy and malignant tissues appear systematically. Particularized results for specific frequencies (500 MHz, 900 MHz, 2.45 GHz, 5 GHz, 8.5 GHz and 15 GHz) are also reported. The findings have potential application in early-stage cancer detection and diagnosis, and can be useful in developing new tools for hyperthermia treatments as well as creating electromagnetic models of healthy and cancerous tissues.

Paracoccidioidomicosis / Paracoccidioidomycosis / Paracoccidioidomicoses

La paracoccidioidomicosis es una de las micosis profundas más prevalentes en América Latina, causada por el hongo dimófico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. La enfermedad presenta gran variabilidad clínica y se divide en dos formas de presentación. La forma aguda, que es la menos frecuente (3%-5% de los casos). Y la crónica, la más frecuente (>90% de los casos), que afecta principalmente a hombres mayores de 20-30 años. El diagnóstico se basa en la clínica, visualización microscópica de elementos fúngicos sugestivos de P. brasiliensis, cultivo del hongo de especímenes clínicos, pruebas serológicas, y otros exámenes como rayos X/tomografía axial computarizada (TAC) de acuerdo con la forma y presentación clínica. Cuando se confirma el diagnóstico, todos los pacientes deben recibir tratamiento. Los más usados son el itraconazol y el trimetropim/sulfametoxazol (TMP/SMX). La anfotericina B se reserva para casos más severos. Las tasas de recaídas son poco frecuentes en aquellos pacientes que reciben un tratamiento completo y adecuado. Sin embargo, estas aumentan si se trata de pacientes inmunocomprometidos o aquellos que suspenden el tratamiento antes de cumplir con los criterios de curación. Es importante realizar un diagnóstico oportuno para evitar las secuelas producidas por la enfermedad, las cuales son más comunes en los pacientes con paracoccidioidomicosis crónica.

Paracoccidioidomycosis is one of the most prevalent systemic mycoses in Latin America. Caused by the dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, the disease may have a broad clinical spectrum, and is divided into two forms: the acute form, the least frequent (3%-5% of cases), and the chronic form, the most common (>90% of cases), which primarily affects men aged 20-30 years. The diagnosis is based on clinical presentation, microscopic visualization of the fungus suggestive of P. brasiliensis, culture of the fungus, serology, and other tests, such as X-ray or CT scan, depending on the clinical presentation. Upon diagnosis, all patients must receive treatment. The most common treatments are itraconazole and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole; amphotericin B is reserved for severe cases. Relapse rates are infrequent in those who receive the entire treatment. However, they may increase in patients who are immunocompromised or those who stop the treatment before meeting the cure criteria. Developments of sequelae are more common in the chronic form. Thus, early diagnosis is important in order to prevent disabling sequelae caused by the disease.

A paracoccidioidomicose é uma das micoses profundas mais prevalentes na América Latina, causada pelo fungo dimórfico Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. A doença apresenta grande variação clínica e se divide em duas formas de apresentação. A forma aguda, que é a menos frequente (3%-5% dos casos). E a crônica, a mais frequente (>90% dos casos), que afeta principal¬mente a homens maiores de 20-30 anos. O diagnóstico se baseia na clínica, visualização microscópica de elementos fúngicos sugestivos de P. brasiliensis, cultivo do fungo de espécimenes clínicos, provas serológicas, e outros exames como raios X/tomografia axial computadorizada (TAC) de acordo com a forma e apresentação clínica. Quando se confirma o diagnóstico, todos os pacientes devem receber tratamento. Os mais usados são o itraconazol e o trimetoprima/sulfametoxazol (TMP/SMX). A anfotericina B se reserva para casos mais severos. As taxas de recaídas são pouco frequentes naqueles pacientes que recebem um tratamento completo e adequado. Porém, estes aumentam se se trata de pacientes vulneráveis (imunocomprometidos) ou aqueles que suspendem o tratamento antes de cumprir com os critérios de cura. É importante realizar um diagnóstico oportuno para evitar as sequelas produzidas pela doença, as quais são mais comuns nos pacientes com paracoccidioidomicoses crónica.

Síndrome de Felty: Presentación de un caso y revisión bibliográfica / Felty's syndrome: A case report and literature review

El síndrome de Felty se caracteriza por reunir la tríada compuesta por: artritis reumatoide, neutropenia y esplenomegalia. Es una enfermedad autoinmune poco frecuente, con compromiso sistémico, articular y extra articular. Se desarrolla en personas de mediana edad, con historia de artritis reumatoide crónica deformante. El diagnóstico es eminentemente clínico y el tratamiento está enfocado a disminuir el dolor articular, las altas tasas de infecciones y evitar las deformidades óseas. Presentamos una paciente de 69 años de edad, diagnosticada en nuestro hospital, motivo por el que realizamos revisión bibliográfica de la entidad.

Felty's syndrome has such as main feature the triad composed by: rheumatoid arthritis, neutropenia and splenomegaly. It is unusual autoimmune disease that compromises the nervous system as well as joint affectation and extra joint. This illness develops in middle aged subjects with arthritis rheumatoid chronic deform history. The diagnosis is clinical and the focus treatment is to diminish the articular pain, to reduce the infections high rates and to avoid the bony deformities. We report a clinical case of a patient who is 69 years-old, she was diagnosed in our hospital and we reviewed the bibliographic entity.

Síndrome de Felty: Presentación de un caso y revisión bibliográfica / Feltys syndrome: A case report and literature review

El síndrome de Felty se caracteriza por reunir la tríada compuesta por: artritis reumatoide, neutropenia y esplenomegalia. Es una enfermedad autoinmune poco frecuente, con compromiso sistémico, articular y extra articular. Se desarrolla en personas de mediana edad, con historia de artritis reumatoide crónica deformante. El diagnóstico es eminentemente clínico y el tratamiento está enfocado a disminuir el dolor articular, las altas tasas de infecciones y evitar las deformidades óseas. Presentamos una paciente de 69 años de edad, diagnosticada en nuestro hospital, motivo por el que realizamos revisión bibliográfica de la entidad.(AU)

Feltys syndrome has such as main feature the triad composed by: rheumatoid arthritis, neutropenia and splenomegaly. It is unusual autoimmune disease that compromises the nervous system as well as joint affectation and extra joint. This illness develops in middle aged subjects with arthritis rheumatoid chronic deform history. The diagnosis is clinical and the focus treatment is to diminish the articular pain, to reduce the infections high rates and to avoid the bony deformities. We report a clinical case of a patient who is 69 years-old, she was diagnosed in our hospital and we reviewed the bibliographic entity.(AU)

Subgenotype diversity of hepatitis B virus American genotype F in Amerindians from Venezuela and the general population of Colombia.

The objective of this study was the evaluation of the genetic diversity found in HBV circulating among Venezuelan Amerindians and the general population in Colombia. Phylogenetic analysis of the S region in 194 isolates showed that genotype F is highly predominant in Colombia and Venezuela. This might be related to the genetic background of the population. F3 is the main subgenotype which circulates in both countries. Phylogenetic analysis of 61 complete genome sequences of HBV American genotypes confirms the presence of two genotypes F and H, and 4 F subgenotypes. In Venezuela, subgenotypes F1, F2, and F3 circulate in East and West Amerindians, while only F3 was found among South Amerindians. Japreira community derived from Yucpa Amerindians around 150 years ago. However, several Japreira HBV sequences were forming a clade that can be classified as subgenotype 2b, differing from Yucpa sequences that belong mainly to subgenotype F3. The apparent absence of correlation between the phylogenetic groupings of HBV isolates with the ethnical origin in aboriginal populations might be suggesting a recent origin of HBV American subgenotypes, or a genetic drift effect.

Concurrent nitroglycerin administration reduces the efficacy of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of concurrent nitroglycerin administration on the thrombolytic efficacy of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rTPA) in patients with acute anterior myocardial infarction (AMI). Sixty patients (53 men, 7 women; mean age 54 +/- 7 years) with AMI entered the study. Thirty-three patients were randomized to receive rTPA alone (100 mg in 3 hours) (group A) and 27 to receive rTPA plus nitroglycerin (100 micrograms/min) (group B). Time from the onset of chest pain and delivery of rTPA was similar in the two groups of patients. Patients in group A had signs of reperfusion more often than the patients in group B (25 of 33 or 75.7% vs 15 of 27 or 55.5%, p < 0.05). Time to reperfusion was also shorter in group A than in group B (19.6 +/- 9.4 minutes vs 37.8 +/- 5.9 minutes, p < 0.05). Group B had a greater incidence of in-hospital adverse events (9 of 27 vs 5 of 33, p < 0.05) and a higher incidence of coronary artery reocclusion (8 of 15 or 53.3% vs 6 of 25 or 24%, p < 0.05). Peak plasma levels of rTPA antigen were higher in group A compared with group B (1427 +/- 679 vs 512 +/- 312 ng/ml, p < 0.01). In conclusion, concurrent nitroglycerin administration reduces the thrombolytic efficacy of rTPA in patients with AMI probably by lowering the plasma levels of rTPA antigen. The diminished efficacy of rTPA is associated with an adverse outcome.

Effectiveness of prolonged low dose recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator for refractory unstable angina.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of prolonged administration of thrombolytic therapy with low doses of recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in patients with refractory unstable angina. BACKGROUND: Intracoronary thrombosis is often the cause of instability in patients with unstable angina. Thrombolytic therapy has been tested in these patients with conflicting results. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients with unstable angina refractory to standard antianginal therapy were randomized to receive, in addition to the common antianginal therapy, either rt-PA (0.03 mg/kg body weight per h for 3 consecutive days) plus heparin (to achieve activated clotting time of 250 to 400 s) (36 patients, group A) or the same dose of heparin plus placebo (31 patients, group B). RESULTS: No major bleeding was observed in either group of patients. One patient in group A and four in group B (2.7% vs. 12.9%, p < 0.01) developed acute myocardial infarction during the hospital period. Eight patients in group B underwent emergency coronary artery surgery or angioplasty because of worsening of symptoms. Group A patients had a significant reduction in the occurrence of chest pain compared with those in group B (95% confidence interval -7.2 to -2.1 episodes/3 days, p < 0.01). Patients in group B had a greater number of episodes of transient myocardial ischemia (237 vs. 103, p < 0.01) and a longer total ischemic burden (114 +/- 23 vs. 45.6 +/- 8.9 min/day, p < 0.01) than group A patients. After a mean follow-up of 14 +/- 6 months, group A patients were more frequently angina free and had a lower incidence of readmission to the hospital than group B patients. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of heparin and protracted administration of rt-PA at low doses is effective in stabilizing and reducing in-hospital adverse events in patients with unstable angina refractory to antianginal therapy.