Statement of Foliar Fertilization Impact on Yield, Composition, and Oxidative Biomarkers in Rice.

In rice crops, fertilization is a naturalized practice, although inefficient, that could be improved by applying foliar fertilization. Phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) and phytofurans (PhytoFs) are products of α-linolenic acid peroxidation, useful as biomarkers of oxidative degradation in higher plants. The objective was to determine the effect of the foliar fertilization on the concentration of PhytoPs and PhytoFs and its relationships with modifications of yield and quality of rice productions. It was described that the concentration of biomarkers of stress decreased with the application of foliar fertilization, being the response significantly different depending the genotypes and compound monitored. Moreover, fertilization did not modify significantly the parameters of yield (961.2 g m-2), 1000 whole-grain (21.2 g), and protein content (10.7% dry matter). Therefore, this is the first work that describes the effect of fertilization on PhytoPs and PhytoFs in rice genotypes and reinforces the capacity of these compounds as biomarkers to monitor specific abiotic stress, in this case, represented by nutritional stress.

Almost 2% of Spanish breast cancer families are associated to germline pathogenic mutations in the ATM gene.

PURPOSE: There is still a considerable percentage of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) cases not explained by BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. In this report, next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques were applied to identify novel variants and/or genes involved in HBOC susceptibility. METHODS: Using whole exome sequencing, we identified a novel germline mutation in the moderate-risk gene ATM (c.5441delT; p.Leu1814Trpfs*14) in a family negative for mutations in BRCA1/2 (BRCAX). A case-control association study was performed to establish its prevalence in Spanish population, in a series of 1477 BRCAX families and 589 controls further screened, and NGS panels were used for ATM mutational screening in a cohort of 392 HBOC Spanish BRCAX families and 350 patients affected with diseases not related to breast cancer. RESULTS: Although the interrogated mutation was not prevalent in case-control association study, a comprehensive mutational analysis of the ATM gene revealed 1.78% prevalence of mutations in the ATM gene in HBOC and 1.94% in breast cancer-only BRCAX families in Spanish population, where data about ATM mutations were very limited. CONCLUSION: ATM mutation prevalence in Spanish population highlights the importance of considering ATM pathogenic variants linked to breast cancer susceptibility.

Prevalencia de Caries y Nivel de Higiene Oral en Niños de 6 años Atendidos Bajo la Norma GES y el Modelo JUNAEB / Prevalence of Dental Caries and Oral Hygiene Level in Children Aged 6 Years Attended Under GES and JUNAEB Models

El objetivo del estudio fue conocer la prevalencia de caries e índice de higiene oral en escolares de la comuna de Temuco, y comparar las diferencias del impacto entre dos modelos de atención de salud oral vigentes, bajo norma GES y JUNAEB entre los años 2007­2008. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo observacional en un consultorio del Servicio de Salud, bajo norma GES y un módulo dental JUNAEB. Se seleccionaron mediante muestreo no probabilístico por conveniencia 113 escolares de 6 años. Mediante examen de diagnóstico oral se consignó el índice COP-D, ceo-d e IHO-S al inicio del tratamiento y al control posterior del alta integral. Para los cálculos y estimaciones estadísticas se utilizó el programa Stata 9.0. El total de los estudiantes presentó una alta prevalencia de caries (COP-D 0,88 y ceo-d 3,86) e higiene oral deficiente (IHO-S 1,45). Al comparar el impacto, el modelo JUNAEB mostró mayor disminución de nuevas caries y mejores niveles de higiene oral (-0,70, p=0,0000). Considerando la alta prevalencia de caries, bajo IHO y la necesidad de controles periódicos, la aplicación del modelo JUNAEB generó menor recurrencia de lesiones cariosas y mejor IHO, gracias a su enfoque preventivo, curativo y educativo.

The aim of this work was to study the prevalence of caries and oral hygiene index among schoolchildren in Temuco, and compare the impact differences between two models of oral health care existing, under standard GES and JUNAEB model between the years 2007-2008. A descriptive observational study in an consulting health service, under standard GES and dental JUNAEB module. We selected by non-probability sampling 113 schoolchildren aged 6 years. The COP-D, ceo-d e OHI-S indexes were recorded at oral examination at the initiation of treatment and aftercare in the final integral treatment. Calculations and statistical estimates used Stata 9.0. The total number of students showed a high prevalence of caries (COP-D ceo-d 0.88 and 3.86) and poor oral hygiene (OHI-S 1.45). When comparing the impact, the JUNAEB model showed greater reduction of new dental caries and better oral hygiene levels (-0.70, p=0.0000). In conclusion, considering the high prevalence of dental caries, poor OHI and the need for periodic controls, application of the JUNAEB model generated a lower recurrence of dental caries and better OHI using a preventive, healing and educational approach.

Allergic contact dermatitis due to sensitisation to sunscreen in two infants

No disponible

Isoprostanes and phytoprostanes: Bioactive lipids.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are important constituents in all eukaryotic organisms, contributing to the structural integrity of biological membranes and serving as precursors for enzymatically-generated local hormones. In addition to these functions, PUFA can generate by a free radical-initiated mechanism, key products which participate in a variety of pathophysiological processes. In particular, free radical-catalyzed peroxidation of PUFA leads to in vivo formation of isoprostanes (IsoP), neuroprostanes (NeuroP), and phytoprostanes (PhytoP) which display a wide range of biological actions. IsoP are now the most reliable indicators of oxidative stress in humans. In this review, we will discuss some advances in our knowledge regarding two cyclic PUFA derivatives, IsoP and PhytoP, and how their biological roles may be clarified through new approaches based on analytical and synthetic organic chemistry.

Release of ischaemia prior to wound closure in total knee arthroplasty: a better method?

We included 46 total knee arthroplasties (43 patients) in a prospective, randomised study, dividing them into two groups: group A (23 knees, 21 patients) in which the ischaemia was released prior to wound closure allowing control of bleeding and group B (23 knees, 22 patients) releasing the tourniquet after suturing and bandaging. We compared the haemoglobin before surgery and at 24 and 48 h postoperatively, the total blood loss and the transfusions that were needed. Student's t-test was used to analyse the data. The results we obtained were as follows: preoperative haemoglobin in group A was 14.21 g/dl and group B 14.28 g/dl; haemoglobin at 24/48 h for group A was 10.04/10.1 g/dl and group B 10.28/10.3 g/dl; total blood loss was 743.2 cc for group A and 692.5 cc for group B; the mean number of blood units transfused were 2 in group A and 1.8 in group B. No statistical differences were found in the data analysed, but one of the complications in group B was major blood loss right after surgery that needed reintervention. We assume that this could have been avoided if the tourniquet had been released beforehand. We conclude that releasing ischaemia prior to wound closure does not demonstrate a statistical difference, but like other authors, we found clinical advantages suggesting the need of further study of this situation.

Sobreexpresión proteica y amplificación génica del oncogén HER2/neu en cáncer de mama: estudio de 125 casos / No disponible

Objetivo: estudiar una serie de 125 casos de cáncer demama procedentes de diferentes hospitales de la ComunidadValenciana, analizados de forma homogénea y protocolizadaen un mismo centro, comprobando el porcentaje real de casosamplificados para HER2/neu en los distintos grupos de expresiónproteica: sin sobreexpresión (0, 1+) y con sobreexpresión(2+, 3+). Determinar asimismo, el porcentaje de casos aneuploidespara el cromosoma 17 y la relación existente entre laaneuploidía y la amplificación HER2/neu. Comparar nuestrosresultados de inmunohistoquímica con los resultados en loscentros de origen.Pacientes y métodos: los métodos para la valoración delestado de HER2/neu utilizados fueron la determinación mediantetécnica inmunohistoquímica (kit HerceptestTM automatizado)para el análisis de la expresión proteica e hibridación insitu fluorescente (HER2 FISH pharmDxTM kit) para la amplificacióngénica.Resultados: de los casos con expresión proteica 3+(45/125), un 87% eran amplificados y un 13% no amplificados.De los casos 2+ (43/125) un 28% aparecían amplificadosy un 72% no amplificados. En los casos 1+/0 (37/125)un 3% estaban amplificados (1/7) y un 97% no amplificados.Adicionalmente se detectaron 36 casos aneuploides para elcromosoma 17 (29% del total), de los cuales un 31% estabanasimismo amplificados y un 69% no amplificados. La concordanciaen la determinación del Herceptest inter-centro presentaun coeficiente de correlación r = 0,527 (p < 0,01).Conclusiones: la técnica de hibridación in situ fluorescentese revela como técnica de referencia o gold standard para ladeterminación del estado del oncogen Her2/neu permitiendodiferenciar una sobreexpresión proteica producida por una“verdadera” amplificación génica, de la producida por unaaneuploidía...(AU)

Objectives: one hundred and twenty five breast tumors fromdifferent centers of the Valencian community were assessed bya consensus HER2/neu protocol in a single center. To determinateboth amplification and overexpression HER2/neu status,we investigate the real percentage of amplificated cases in thenon-overexpression (0, 1+) and overexpression (2+, 3+)groups. Furthermore, to determine the percentage of the chromosome17 aneusomy and its relationships with HER2/neuamplification. Finally, to compare our immunohistochemistry(IHC) results from those results obtained in the origin center.Patients and methods: all cases were assessed by IHC (HerceptestTMautomatized protocol) and fluorescence in situ hybridization(FISH) (HER2 FISH pharmDxTM kit) to detect HER2/neuexpression and HER2/neu amplification, respectively.Results: HER2/neu 3+ overexpression was observed in45/125 cases, showing amplification in 87% and 13% nonamplificated.The 2+ cases (43/125) showing amplification in28% and 72% non-amplificated. Finally, the 1+/0 cases wereobserved in 37/125 cases, showing amplification in 3% andin 97% non-amplificated. In addition, 36 (29%) cases showeda c17 aneusomy, 31% of those were amplificated and 69%non-amplificated. The inter-center IHC concordance displaysa correlation coefficient of r = 0.527 (p < 0.01).Conclusions: the FISH assay is the gold standard to determinatethe Her2/neu gene status, distinguishing between aHER2/neu protein overexpression due to a gene amplificationand those produced by an aneusomy. It is important to unify acommon criterion for the IHC classification to avoid differencesinter-observer as a consequence of different evaluation approaches(AU)

Renal donor implication in the origin of BK infection: analysis of genomic viral subtypes.

UNLABELLED: BK virus (BKV) reactivation in immunocompromised kidney transplant patients can produce a tubulointerstitial nephropathy (BKVN). Molecular tools that test for DNA-BKV provide early detection and assist in management, but some aspects of the pathogenesis of this infection, such as donor causality, remain unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between November 2004 and January 2006, 55 Spanish kidney donors were studied for BK infection. A quantitative PCR assay was performed on urine and serum to detect BKV. To determine the origin of the viral infection, a transcription control region of the BK polymorphism sequence was designed to identify the viral subtype. RESULTS: Fifteen of 55 (27%) donors were BK-PCR positive: 13 in urine and 2 in serum and urine. Moreover, monitoring of recipient pairs detected BK-PCR positivity in 14 of 73 recipients. We studied eight BK-PCR positive recipients (corresponding to four pairs) and their respective donors. The same viral genome was observed in the four pairs, namely, the A250-1-a, WW-like, AS, and JL genotypes. Interestingly, one of the four pairs showed the donor and the two recipients to display exactly the same JL genotype. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our preliminary results analyzing the molecular fingerprints of donor and recipient pairs, we have presented new data implicating the donor, in at least some cases, as the source of BK infection.

New pigments from the terrestrial cyanobacterium Scytonema sp. collected on the Mitaraka inselberg, French Guyana.

Inselbergs are hills rising abruptly from the surrounding plains where cyanobacteria are the only living organisms under conditions of intense solar radiation. A survival mechanism to prevent UV-damage has been associated with synthesis of the ultraviolet-screening, photostable sheath pigment scytonemin. The organic extract of Scytonema sp., collected on the Mitaraka inselberg, French Guyana, yielded three new pigments, tetramethoxyscytonemin (1), dimethoxyscytonemin (2), and scytonine (3), derived from the scytoneman skeleton of scytonemin. These structures were assigned mainly on the basis of (1)H and (13)C NMR and MS experiments.

New ketosteroids from the red alga Hypnea musciformis.

The dichloromethane/methanol extract from the red alga Hypnea musciformis exhibited PPE elastase inhibition. A diketosteroid, the 20-hydroxy-5alpha-cholest-22-ene-3,6-dione was responsible for this activity. Two new steroids were isolated, 2 was assigned as the 6alpha-hydroxy-cholest-4-ene-3-one and 3 as the 6alpha-hydroxy-cholest-4,22-diene-3-one. The structures were assigned mainly on the basis of 1H and 13C NMR experiments.

New bromoditerpenes from the red alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius.

The organic extract of the red alga Sphaerococcus coronopifolius, collected along the Atlantic coast of Morocco, was tested for biological activities and exhibited antibiotic and antimalarial activities. Two new bromoditerpenes have been isolated from S. coronopifolius, sphaerolabdadiene-3,14-diol (1) and bromosphaerone (2), along with the known compounds 12S-hydroxybromosphaerodiol (3) and sphaerococcenol A (4). Bromosphaerone and 12S-hydroxybromosphaerodiol showed antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacterium species Staphylococcus aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.104 and 0.146 microM, respectively. Sphaerococcenol A (4) was responsible for the antimalarial activity of the extract, against the chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falsciparum FCB1 strains with an IC(50) of 1 microM. Their structures have been assigned using 1 and 2 D NMR and HRMS.

HMR 3647 human-like treatment of experimental pneumonia due to penicillin-resistant and erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.

An experimental Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia model in rabbits was used to assess the efficacy of amoxycillin, erythromycin and a new ketolide, telithromycin (HMR 3647). The MICs of amoxycillin, erythromycin and HMR 3647 for the three clinical S. pneumoniae strains used were, respectively, (mg/L): 0.01, 16 and 0.02 (strain 195); 2, 0.25 and 0.02 (strain 16089); 8, >64 and 0.02 (strain 11724). Antibiotic therapy reproduced human serum pharmacokinetics (amoxycillin 1 g iv tds or erythromycin 500 mg qds or HMR 3647 800 mg bd). Forty-eight hours of therapy with HMR 3647 and amoxycillin resulted in significant bacterial clearance in the lungs and spleen of rabbits infected by S. pneumoniae strain 195 and strain 16089 (at least 3 log(10) cfu/g decrease, P < 0.001). Erythromycin was active against only the erythromycinsusceptible strain (3 log(10) cfu/g decrease at 48 h, P < 0.001). None of the antibiotics showed significant efficacy with strain 11724. All agents produced significant bacterial clearance when time above MBC was >33%, and microbiological failure when it was <25%, whereas MIC was not correlated with microbiological outcome with HMR 3647. Our findings suggest that pharmacodynamic data integrating MBC may be predictive of microbiological success or failure with greater accuracy than with MIC. HMR 3647 produced significant bacterial clearance in both penicillin- and erythromycin-resistant pneumonia, but was less effective against the highly erythromycin-resistant S. pneumoniae strain.

New lipids from the tunicate Cystodytes cf. dellechiajei, as PLA2 inhibitors.

Cystodytes cf. dellechiajei collected off Djerba furnished new lipids, sphingosines 1, as inhibitors of phospholipase A2, along with inactive homologous ceramides 2. Structures were determined by spectroscopic methods and chemical transformations.

Metabolites from the Sponge-Associated Bacterium Pseudomonas Species.

: Quinolones and a phosphatidyl glyceride were isolated from the sponge-associated bacterial strain Pseudomonas sp. Structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis and chemical transformations.

Metabolites from the sponge-associated bacterium Micrococcus luteus.

In an ongoing survey of the bioactive potential of microorganisms associated with marine invertebrates, the extract of the sponge-associated bacterial strain Micrococcus luteus was found to exhibit potent antimicrobial activity. The previously known synthetic 2,4,4'-trichloro-2'-hydroxydiphenylether was found to be responsible for the antimicrobial activity. The major metabolite isolated was a new acyl-1-(acyl-6'-mannobiosyl)-3-glycerol.

Infectious bronchitis: effect of viral doses and routes on specific lacrimal and serum antibody responses in chickens.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure the effect of various infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) (strain H-120) vaccine doses and routes of immunization on specific lacrimal and serum antibody responses. The results of the first trial showed that the maximum dose, 10(6) median embryo infective doses (EID50s), delivered by the ocular route elicited both a systemic and a local antibody response in the vaccinated chickens. Lower doses of vaccinal virus, 10(4) (median dose) and 10(2) (minimum dose) EID50 delivered by the same route did not induce a detectable systemic antibody response. A significant increase of IBV-specific lacrimal IgA was elicited by both the maximum and the median vaccine doses. The low vaccine dose (10(2) EID50) did not induce a detectable increase of lacrimal IgA. In a second trial approximately the same vaccine dose was administered to different chicken groups by ocular instillation, drinking water, spray, and cloaca. The results showed that all routes of vaccination tested, including the cloacal route, resulted in an increase of specific serum antibodies. Higher IgG levels were detected throughout the experimental period after vaccination by the ocular route as compared with vaccination via the drinking water. All routes of vaccination tested resulted in an increase of specific IgA in lacrimal fluid. The vaccine application methods spray, ocular instillation, and drinking water induced similar lacrimal IgA responses.