EyeChrom and CCDBcurator: Visualizing chromosome count data from plants.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: Chromosome count data are available for hundreds of plant species and can be explored in text-only format at the Chromosome Counts Database (http://ccdb.tau.ac.il). CCDBcurator and EyeChrom are an R package and a web application, respectively, that first curate and then visualize these data graphically, so that intra- and interspecific variation of chromosome numbers can be easily summarized and displayed for a given genus. METHODS AND RESULTS: We developed R code to clean, summarize, and display in several formats the chromosome count data for a selected genus or set of species present in the Chromosome Counts Database. These data and figures can be exported for use in analyses, publications, or teaching. CONCLUSIONS: Chromosome count data are critical for a number of evolutionary studies in plant biology, and their importance is underscored by the increasing appreciation of the prevalence of polyploidy in land plants. CCDBcurator and EyeChrom provide a fast, easy, and reproducible means of cleaning, curating, and then visualizing the chromosome count data currently available for plants.

Meningitis tras anestesia espinal: reporte de un caso / Meningitis after spinal anesthesia: report of a case / Meningite após raquianestesia: relato de caso

Resumen: Introducción: La meningitis asociada a los cuidados de salud es aquella que aparece en pacientes que han sido sometidos a procedimientos invasivos que involucran punción de las meninges o pacientes portadores de dispositivos intratecales. La ocurrencia de la misma luego de procedimientos de anestesia raquídea es poco frecuente con una prevalencia que oscila entre 0-2 cada 10.000 casos, aunque es una entidad subreportada y subdiagnosticada. Materiales y métodos: Se realiza un análisis retrospectivo del caso de un paciente atendido en el Instituto de Neurología en el Hospital de Clínicas de Montevideo, Uruguay. Se llevó a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica a través de pubmed utilizando los siguientes términos mesh: "meningitis", "health care associated", "spinal anesthesia" "meningitis post dural puncture". Además, se analizaron guías actualizadas en cuanto a meningitis asociada a cuidados de salud. Caso Clínico: Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 24 años que a las 24hs de un procedimiento de anestesia raquídea por cirugía de hernia inguinal comienza con cefalea, vómitos y fiebre agregando en las siguientes 72hs rigidez de nuca, afectación del nervio motor ocular común bilateral, con compromiso pupilar y abducens derecho, realizándose diagnóstico de meningitis asociada a cuidados de salud el cual se confirma mediante el estudio del LCR. Se realiza tratamiento con antibioticoterapia con buena evolución a pesar del no aislamiento de gérmenes. Conclusiones: La meningitis asociada a atención en salud es una emergencia infectológica cuyo reconocimiento y tratamiento precoz guardan relación directa con el pronóstico. Su diagnóstico etiológico no siempre se logra con las técnicas convencionales como se evidencia en este caso. Para su prevención, se destaca la necesidad de mantener estrictas condiciones de asepsia y uso correcto de máscaras de protección facial en los procedimientos invasivos para disminuir el riesgo de complicaciones infecciosas.

Abstract: Introduction: Healthcare associated meningitis occurs in patients exposed to invasive procedures with dural puncture or who carry intrathecal devices. Meningitis associated to spinal anesthesia has a low frequency, 0-2/10,000 cases, though is thought to be an underreported and underdiagnosed entity. Materials and methods: This is a case report of a patient admitted to the Neurological Institute of the Hospital de Clinicas in Montevideo, Uruguay. The team conducted a literature research trough pubmed using the terms: "meningitis", "health care associated", "spinal anesthesia", and "meningitis post dural puncture". We also reviewed updated clinical practice guidelines on health-care associated meningitis. Case presentation: We report the case of a 24 years old patient who underwent inguinal hernia surgery with spinal anesthesia, presenting with headache, vomits and fever 24hs later. 72hs hours later the patient demonstrated bilateral compromise of oculomotor nerve and right abducens nerve. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) confirmed the diagnosis of healthcare associated meningitis. Antibiotic therapy was initiated with excellent response. No germ was isolated on blood and CSF cultures. Conclusion: Health-care associated meningitis is an emergency that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment for good outcomes. Conventional techniques not always allow to reach microbiological diagnosis, as in the case reported above. We emphasize on the need to hold strict asepsia and to use facial protection masks when executing spinal puncture to prevent this potentially mortal complication.

Resumo: Introdução: A meningite associada aos cuidados de saúde é aquela que aparece em pacientes que foram submetidos a procedimentos invasivos envolvendo punção das meninges ou pacientes portadores de dispositivos intratecais. A ocorrência do mesmo depois de procedimentos de anestesia espinal é rara com uma prevalência variando entre 0-2 10000 casos, embora um underreported e pouco diagnosticada. Materiais e métodos: Uma análise retrospectiva do caso de uma paciente atendida no Instituto de Neurologia do Hospital de Clínicas de Montevidéu, Uruguai. Foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica através do PubMed, utilizando os seguintes termos de malha "meningite", "cuidados de saúde associados", "anestesia espinhal" "post meningite punção". Além disso, foram analisados guias atualizados sobre meningite associada à assistência à saúde. Caso clínico: o caso de um doente de 24 anos que 24 horas de um método de anestesia espinal para cirurgia hérnia inguinal começa com dor de cabeça, vómitos e febre adicionando nas 72 horas seguintes torcicolo, nervo oculomotor envolvimento é apresentado bilateral, com comprometimento pupilar e abducente direito, realizando diagnóstico de meningite associada à assistência à saúde, o que é confirmado pelo estudo do LCR. O tratamento com antibioticoterapia é realizado com boa evolução, apesar do não isolamento dos germes. Conclusões: A meningite associada aos cuidados de saúde é uma emergência infecciosa cujo reconhecimento e tratamento precoce estão diretamente relacionados ao prognóstico. Seu diagnóstico etiológico nem sempre é obtido com técnicas convencionais, como evidenciado neste caso. Para sua prevenção, destaca-se a necessidade de manter condições estritas de assepsia e uso correto de máscaras faciais em procedimentos invasivos para reduzir o risco de complicações infecciosas.

Employing hypothesis testing and data from multiple genomic compartments to resolve recalcitrant backbone nodes in Goodenia s.l. (Goodeniaceae).

Goodeniaceae is a primarily Australian flowering plant family with a complex taxonomy and evolutionary history. Previous phylogenetic analyses have successfully resolved the backbone topology of the largest clade in the family, Goodenia s.l., but have failed to clarify relationships within the species-rich and enigmatic Goodenia clade C, a prerequisite for taxonomic revision of the group. We used genome skimming to retrieve sequences for chloroplast, mitochondrial, and nuclear markers for 24 taxa representing Goodenia s.l., with a particular focus on Goodenia clade C. We performed extensive hypothesis tests to explore incongruence in clade C and evaluate statistical support for clades within this group, using datasets from all three genomic compartments. The mitochondrial dataset is comparable to the chloroplast dataset in providing resolution within Goodenia clade C, though backbone support values within this clade remain low. The hypothesis tests provided an additional, complementary means of evaluating support for clades. We propose that the major subclades of Goodenia clade C (C1-C3 + Verreauxia) are the result of a rapid radiation, and each represents a distinct lineage.

Protein expression of PKCZ (Protein Kinase C Zeta), Munc18c, and Syntaxin-4 in the insulin pathway in endometria of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

BACKGROUND: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine-metabolic disorder commonly associated with insulin resistance (IR). Previous studies indicate about the expression of molecules involved in the insulin pathway in endometria of women with PCOS-IR. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of insulin and testosterone in the expression of these proteins in the endometria and immortal endometrial stromal cell line (T-HESCs). METHODS: We examined the protein levels of Munc18c, PKC zeta, phospho-PKC Zeta, and Syntaxin-4. Protein levels were assessed by Western Blot and/or immunohistochemistry in proliferative endometria (NPE = 6) and in PCOS endometria with insulin resistance (PCOSE-IR = 6). We also evaluated whether high concentrations of insulin (100 nM) and/or testosterone (100 nM), during a 24 h stimulatory period, affected the expression of these proteins in an immortal endometrial stromal cell line (T-HESCs). Once stimulated, proteins were extracted from cells and were assessed by Western Blot analysis. Immunocytochemistry was performed to detect AR in T-HESC cells. RESULTS: Western Blot data showed decreased expression (p < 0,05) of Munc18c and phospho-PKC Zeta in PCOS-IR endometria (PCOSE-IR) with respect to the control (NPE). In the in vitro study, Western Blot analysis showed decreased levels of Munc18c, PKC Zeta and phospho-PKC Zeta with the different hormonal treatments when compared to the control condition (no hormonal stimulation) (p < 0,05). The AR was present in the endometrial stromal cell line (T-HESC). CONCLUSION: The conditions of hyperinsulinism and hyperandrogenism present in PCOS-IR patients modulate the expression and/or phosphorylation of the proteins involved in the insulin pathway at the endometrial level. These data extend to the T-HESCs cells results, where insulin and testosterone exert an effect on both the expression and phosphorylation of proteins present in the pathway.

Registro nacional de comisurotomía mitral percutánea. Experiencia de 8 años / National Registry of percutaneous mitral commisurotomy. An eight years experience

De abril de 1986 a junio de 1994, en un estudio multicéntrico, se realizó comisurotomía mitral percutánea a 689 pacientes con el diagnóstico de estenosis mitral de etiología reumática. La edad promedio fue de 40ñ11 años. 84.9 por ciento del sexo femenino, 2.7 por ciento con tratamiento quirúrgico previo y 1.4 por ciento cursaban con embarazo. Se utilizó el balón de Inoue en 89.4 por ciento, doble balón 9.7 por ciento y monobalón en 0.9 por ciento. El área valvular mitral (AVM) predilatación se incrementó de 0.93ñ0.20 a 1.85ñ0.37 cm² (p<0.001), la presión media de la aúricula izquierda descendió de 20.9ñ8.1 a 10.0ñ5.9 mmHg (p<0.001), el gradiente transvalvular (GTVM) descendió de 15.4ñ6.4 a 3.4ñ3.1 mmHg (p<0.001). Se completó el procedimiento sin complicaciones mayores en 93.1 por ciento. Desarrollaron insuficiencia mitral (IM) severa el 3.9 por ciento. Resultado óptimo en 82.1 por ciento, subóptimo 8.2 por ciento y se fracasó en 9.7 por ciento. Complicaciones mayores 4.7 por ciento con mortalidad de 0.9 por ciento. A 6 meses de seguimiento el área valvular disminuyó a 1.77ñ0.38 (p<0.001), manteniéndose sin cambios a 24 meses (1.78ñ0.37 p ns). El 93.3 por ciento están en clase funcional (CF) 1 a 24 meses. Los únicos predictores de resultado óptimo, fueron el AVM(> 1cm²) y la CF(I y II). La IM se desarrolló con mayor frecuencia con fibrilación auricular y puntuación ecocardiográfica >8. Nuestros resultados son comparables a lo encontrado en la literatura mundial, confirmando la seguridad de efectividad del procedimiento