Endocrine Disruptors and Metabolic Changes: Impact on Puberty Control.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to explore the significant impact of environmental chemicals on disease development, focusing on their role in developing metabolic and endocrine diseases. The objective is to understand how these chemicals contribute to the increasing prevalence of precocious puberty, considering various factors, including epigenetic changes, lifestyle, and emotional disturbances. METHODS: The study employs a comprehensive review of descriptive observational studies in both human and animal models to identify a degree of causality between exposure to environmental chemicals and disease development, specifically focusing on endocrine disruption. Due to ethical constraints, direct causation studies in human subjects are not feasible; therefore, the research relies on accumulated observational data. RESULTS: Puberty is a crucial life period with marked physiological and psychological changes. The age at which sexual characteristics develop is changing in many regions. The findings indicate a correlation between exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and the early onset of puberty. These chemicals have been shown to interfere with normal hormonal processes, particularly during critical developmental stages such as adolescence. The research also highlights the interaction of these chemical exposures with other factors, including nutritional history, social and lifestyle changes, and emotional stress, which together contribute to the prevalence of precocious puberty. CONCLUSION: Environmental chemicals significantly contribute to the development of certain metabolic and endocrine diseases, particularly in the rising incidence of precocious puberty. Although the evidence is mainly observational, it adequately justifies regulatory actions to reduce exposure risks. Furthermore, these findings highlight the urgent need for more research on the epigenetic effects of these chemicals and their wider impact on human health, especially during vital developmental periods.

South America stygobiont crustaceans: a new species of Hyalellidae (Amphipoda) and new reports of Stygocarididae (Anaspidacea) and Protojaniridae (Isopoda) from Calingasta Valley, Pre-Andean region, San Juan, Argentina.

We describe one new eyeless Hyalella species, H. cuyana n. sp., from the hyporheic zone of Calingasta River, San Juan Province, Argentina. Hyalella cuyana n. sp. differs morphologically from its stygobiont congeners by characters of antennae (both antennae subequal in size; aesthetascs elongated); coxal plate 4 (posteriorly without excavation); epimeral plates 1-3 (rounded posterodistally); male gnathopod 2 propodus (almond-shaped, ovate, palm slope strongly oblique); and pleopods (inner ramus reduced to 2-3 articles). We provide a detailed morphological comparison between stygobiont and stygophile Hyalella species. We comment on the sympatry and new report of stygobiont Malacostraca species Parastygocaris andina and Cuyojanira sp. Severe environmental changes and significant decline of habitat quality recorded along the Calingasta River increase the risk of extinction for this vulnerable and endemic fauna. We recommend that the new Hyalella species should be listed as Critically Endangered (CR) in the IUCN categorization according to criteria B1a as it is only known from the type locality; and criteria B1b iii (continuing decline, observed, inferred in the quality of habitat).

A newHyalella species (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Hyalellidae) from South American Highlands (Argentina) with comments on its cuticular ultrastructure.

Hyalella Smith, 1874 includes approximately 92 species present only in the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. Hyalella is a dominant taxon in Central Andean Highland wetlands of Northwestern Argentina. We describe a new Hyalella species from Chorrillos, a cold-hyperfresh Puna peatbog in Salta province. Two other species occur in the Puna biogeographic province, namely H. kochi Gonzlez Watling, 2001 and H. puna Peralta Isa Miranda, 2019. The new species differs from H. puna mainly in having a smooth body surface; propodus of male gnathopod 1 hatchet-shaped, with nine serrate setae on inner margin; uropod 3 peduncle with two strong distal setae; and number and distribution of telson setae; from H. kochi by having the male uropod 1 without modified curved seta on inner ramus; six sternal gills on pereionites II-VII; globose peduncle of uropod 3 with two strong distal setae; long palp of maxilla 1. We also compared its external morphology with that of H. fossamancinii Cavalieri, 1959, another species recorded in the High Andes. We contribute new details on ultrastructural morphology of cuticular extensions (setae; microtrichs; denticles and pores). With this new species, the number of known Hyalella species in Argentina and Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) rises to 13.

Neuro-Ophthalmological Findings as First Manifestation of Occipital Tuberculoma.

We present a 54-year-old male garbage collector, who came to the ophthalmology department due to one-month history of bilateral blurred vision, palinopsia, headache and visual geometrical hallucinations. The examination showed a normal anterior segment, a homonymous left upper central scotoma and tilted segmental hypoplasia of the optic nerve of the left eye. Contrast-enhanced brain magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass lesion in the right occipital cortex. At biopsy, tuberculosis was found. Subsequently, anti-tuberculous treatment led to a good response with resolution of the palinopsia and visual hallucinations, and improved vision.

A new species of Hyalella (Crustacea, Amphipoda, Hyalellidae) from the Puna biogeographic province in Argentina.

A new species of freshwater amphipod belonging to genus Hyalella is described from a peatbog at high altitudes (3,650 to 4,400 m above sea level) in the Puna region (Salta province, northwestern Argentina). The new species can be distinguished from other hyalellid species by the following combination of characters: dorso-posterior flanges on pleonites I-III; palp on maxilla 1 reaching almost half of distance between base of palp and base of setae on outer plate, and two papposerrate setae on the inner margin of inner plate of maxilla 2; propodus of gnathopod 1 hammer-shaped, inner face with seven serrate setae; propodus of gnathopod 2 ovate; male uropod 1 without curved seta on inner side of inner ramus; ramus of uropod 3 shorter than peduncle; six pair of sternal gills on pereionites II-VII. A detailed morphological description and illustrations of the new species are provided. In Argentina, the new species represents the third record for the genus at altitudes greater than 2,000 m a.s.l., after H.kochi and H.fossamancinii (Dos Santos et al. 2008, González 2003), and the first record above 4,000 m a.s.l. Some comments about distributional and ecological aspects of the new species are included. With this new species, the number of Hyalella species known from Argentina and Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas) rises to 12.

Neuro-ophthalmological findings in TAFRO syndrome in a patient from South America, a variant of multicentric Castleman's disease.

BACKGROUND: To report the neuro-ophthalmological findings in the TAFRO syndrome in a South American patient. METHODS: This is a case report of a patient with TAFRO syndrome. RESULTS: We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with TAFRO syndrome and multicentric Castleman disease, who developed ophthalmic manifestations, as a rare complication, including optic disk edema and serous retinal detachment, which improved with conventional therapy. CONCLUSIONS: The optic disk edema could be present as a neuro-ophthalmological finding in TAFRO syndrome. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the ophthalmic manifestations in the TAFRO syndrome.

Macular findings in Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography and OCT Angiography in a patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome.

BACKGROUND: To report the clinical, electrophysiological and the anatomical findings in a patient with Kearns-Sayre syndrome (KSS). CASE PRESENTATION: We present the case of a 55-year-old female with KSS, who developed systemic features and ocular manifestations as ophthalmoplegia and retinal dysfunction, that were corroborated by electrophysiological test and High Definition Spectral Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (HD SD OCT) and OCT-Angiography (OCT-A). CONCLUSION: We report a patient with KSS, accompanied by some alterations of the RPE and photoreceptors observed in the external HD SD OCT and OCT-A. In the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature of HD SD OCT findings in a patient with KSS.

Cortical blindness as severe neuro-ophthalmological manifestation of tuberous sclerosis complex.

Patients with retinal lesions related to tuberous sclerous complex (TSC) commonly have no impairment of visual acuity. We present a case of a 1-year-old Hispanic girl with TSC in which bilateral cortical blindness is documented.

Síndrome del uno y medio secundario a ataque cerebrovascular isquémico vertebrobasilar / One and half syndrome after ischemic vertebrobasilar stroke

El síndrome del uno y medio es una entidad que se caracteriza por parálisis de la mirada conjugada horizontal y alteración del fascículo longitudinal medial (FLM) ipsilateral secundario a diversas etiologías, entre las que se incluye el ataque cerebrovascular (ACV). Se describen dos casos de pacientes que consultaron por hemiparesia, incapacidad para realizar movimientos horizontales en uno de los ojos y abducción forzada del ojo contralateral e imposibilidad para la aducción. En ambos casos los estudios demostraron la presencia de un ACV isquémico vertebrobasilar como origen del síndrome; el reconocimiento de la fisiología de la mirada conjugada es fundamental en el abordaje del paciente y permite realizar un diagnóstico exacto a partir de una historia clínica detallada y una evaluación física minuciosa.

The One and a Half Syndrome is a condition characterized by paralysis of the horizontal conjugate gaze and a ipsilateral internuclear ophthalmoplegia secondary to other processes such as a stroke. We describe two cases of patients that had hemiparesis, inability to perform horizontal movements in one eye and forced abduction of the contralateral eye with inability to adduct it. With the corresponding study of both cases it was possible to diagnose a vertebrobasilar ischemic stroke as the origin of the syndrome; the recognition and understanding of the physiology of the conjugate gaze is crucial in the approach of the patients and allow an accurate diagnosis using a detailed history and a thorough physical evaluation.

A new stygobitic species of Stygocarididae (Crustacea: Anaspidacea) from South America.

The only South American Anaspidacean families are the Stygocarididae Noodt and the monotipic Patagonaspididae Grosso & Peralta. I describe a new Stygocarididae, Parastygocaris luisgrossoi n. sp. from the hyporheic zone of a stream in Sierra de San Luis, Argentina. The main characters of the new species include: antennula outer flagellum with 9-10 articles, sexual dimorphism in flagella; antenna with 4-segmented peduncle and 5-articulate flagellum; maxilla with row of 8 setae along inner margin of proximal endite; uropod: inner margin of protopod with 7-8 setae and distal segment of exopod lined by 7 setae; pereopod 6 female with 1 long plumose seta on basis. The morphology and chaetotaxy of the new taxon is compared with congeneric species. The long evolutionary history of the Gondwanan Anaspidacea and the accompanying fauna of the new species, suggest the probable existence of an ancient groundwater basin in western Argentina, south of 28ºS that would have harboured interstitial fauna of great and diverse antiquity.

Establecimiento del protocolo de micropropagación para la planta medicinal Phyllanthus Niruri (Euphorbiaceae) / Establishment of the micropropagation protocol for the medicinal plant Phyllanthus Niruri (Euphorbiaceae)

Phyllanthus niruri es una planta medicinal nativa de América, bastante común en terrenos húmedos y sombreados. Esta planta es usada popularmente para la expulsión de cálculos renales y biliares, como antiespasmódico, diurético, como auxiliar en la eliminación del ácido úrico, además ha sido probada como control contra el SIDA, presentando una acción promisoria. La presente Investigación permitió analizar el efecto de diferentes tratamientos en la inducción de germinación (inmersión en AG3, KNO3, Agua destilada y escarificación con agua caliente) de la planta medicinal Phyllanthus niruri y la respuesta morfogénica de ésta a dos reguladores de crecimiento BA y ANA, en concentraciones de 1, 3 y 5 mg/L. Se determinó el porcentaje de germinación para evaluar la obtención y el desarrollo de las vitroplantas. Para valorar la respuesta morfogénica al BA y ANA se determinó la cantidad de yemas y brotes. El análisis de los datos, fue realizado mediante el programa Statistic, con un modelo linear categórico, además se realizó el estudio de medias utilizando la prueba de Tukey. Con el tratamiento de inmersión en AG3 (4h) se obtuvo el porcentaje más alto de germinación (60%). Se determinó que el tratamiento con 3mg/L de BA fue el que generó los mejores resultados en cuanto al número de yemas y brotes, siendo este significativamente diferente a los demás tratamientos, con una exactitud del 0.05 y una precisión del 95%.

Alteration of morphogenetic cell interactions by 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine in Bufo arenarum embryo

Amphibian gastrulation was used as a model system to study the action of the nucleoside 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C) on the early events of amphibian morphogenesis. Ara-C inhibits both glycoprotein and glycolipid synthesis and interferes with DNA synthesis. Thus, it is useful to investigate the importance of the cell surface and the nucleous during Bufo arenarum morphogenesis. Living embryos were incubated with Ara-C at blastula and gastrula stages. Treated-embryos undergo abnormal gastrulation, most of the embryos exogastrulate, although some do not gastrulate at all. This antimetabolite did not interfere with neural induction, as partial exogastrulae developed a small neural tube. We have proven that Area-C disturbs the typical intercellular organization and inhibits the radial intercalation of the blastocoelic roof. The mesodermal migration is the most affected morphogenetic process. The results described in this paper demonstrate that the timing of gastrulation movements strongly involves the participation of surface and extracellular molecules in cell recognition and cell interaction but does not involve a significant increase in cell division rate and can also occur in the absence of the cell division.

Alteration of morphogenetic cell interactions by 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine in Bufo arenarum embryo

Amphibian gastrulation was used as a model system to study the action of the nucleoside 1-beta-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C) on the early events of amphibian morphogenesis. Ara-C inhibits both glycoprotein and glycolipid synthesis and interferes with DNA synthesis. Thus, it is useful to investigate the importance of the cell surface and the nucleous during Bufo arenarum morphogenesis. Living embryos were incubated with Ara-C at blastula and gastrula stages. Treated-embryos undergo abnormal gastrulation, most of the embryos exogastrulate, although some do not gastrulate at all. This antimetabolite did not interfere with neural induction, as partial exogastrulae developed a small neural tube. We have proven that Area-C disturbs the typical intercellular organization and inhibits the radial intercalation of the blastocoelic roof. The mesodermal migration is the most affected morphogenetic process. The results described in this paper demonstrate that the timing of gastrulation movements strongly involves the participation of surface and extracellular molecules in cell recognition and cell interaction but does not involve a significant increase in cell division rate and can also occur in the absence of the cell division.(AU)