An integrative approach method reveals the presence of a previously unreported species of Imparfinis Eigenmann and Norris 1900 (Siluriformes: Heptapteridae) in Argentina.

Specimens of Imparfinis were recently collected in north-western Argentina from the Bermejo River basin (Salta and Jujuy Provinces), del Valle River (Salta Province) and Horcones River (Santiago del Estero Province). An integrative approach to taxonomy, combining a detailed morphological study and molecular phylogenetic analyses, was applied to determine the species identity of these specimens. A principal components analysis of morphological data clustered the specimens from north-western Argentina and from the Amazon basin, indicating a close morphological resemblance. Also, a molecular phylogenetic analysis showed populations of I. guttatus from Argentina and Peru forming a clade. According to the conducted haplotype network analysis these populations are distinct in two mutations. Thus, in the absence of morphological or molecular data indicating the contrary, the combined method supports the identity of the specimens from the tributaries of the Paraguay River in Argentina as I. guttatus, whose type locality is in the upper Beni River basin in Bolivia. This contribution is also the first record for this species from Argentina. The disjunct distribution of I. guttatus provides new evidence reinforcing the hypothesis for the origin of the Paraguayan ichthyofauna. We also provide an approach to the phylogenetic relationships of Imparfinis in Heptapteridae.

Perpendicular duodenum jejunum anastomosis for conventional postoperative endoscopic access in biliodigestive diversions in Roux in Y.

BACKGROUND: Cholecystectomy is one of the most performed abdominal surgical procedures, with approximately 1.5 million procedures performed annually in the United States of america. Most of the biliary duct injuries during laparoscopic cholecystectomy are due to a wrong perception of the anatomy. Two thirds of postsurgical stenosis develop within two and three years after repairing and the other third in the following ten years. OBJECTIVE: To show the adequacy for postoperative endoscopic access in Roux-in-Y biliodigestive diversions. METHOD: The best technique to repair biliary duct injuries is the Roux-in-Y hepaticojejunostomy or choledochojejunostomy, from this procedure we propose a surgical technique that consists to perform a perpendicular anastomosis between the defunctionalized jejunum loop and the duodenum for later endoscopic access of the Roux-en-Y biliodigestive diversion. RESULTS: The duodenal-jejunal perpendicular anastomosis procedure was performed in four patients with Roux-Y biliodigestive diversion. CONCLUSIONS: With the technique that is proposed, we have that advantage of keeping the anastomosis permanently open due to its rhomboidal design and because of the pylorus is kept intact alkaline reflux would not be a problem.

ANTECEDENTES: La colecistectomía es una de las cirugías más frecuentes, con aproximadamente 1.2 millones de procedimientos realizados anualmente solo en los Estados Unidos de América. La mayoría de las disrupciones biliares durante la colecistectomía laparoscópica se deben a una percepción errónea de la anatomía. Dos tercios de las estenosis posquirúrgicas se desarrollan 2-3 años después de la reparación y el otro tercio en los 10 años siguientes. OBJETIVO: Mostrar la adecuación para un acceso endoscópico posoperatorio en las derivaciones biliodigestivas en Y de Roux. MÉTODO: La mejor técnica quirúrgica reportada para la reparación de las disrupciones biliares es la anastomosis hepático-yeyuno o anastomosis colédoco-yeyuno en Y de Roux. Partiendo de este procedimiento, la variante quirúrgica que proponemos consiste en realizar una anastomosis perpendicular entre el asa desfuncionalizada de yeyuno y el duodeno para el posterior acceso endoscópico de la derivación biliodigestiva en Y de Roux. RESULTADOS: Se realizó el procedimiento en cuatro pacientes con derivación biliodigestiva en Y de Roux. CONCLUSIONES: El procedimiento que proponemos tiene la ventaja de mantener abierta la anastomosis debido a su diseño romboidal, y como el píloro se encuentra indemne, el reflujo gástrico alcalino no sería ningún problema.

Is low-level laser therapy (LLLT) effective in relieving the symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMDs)? A systematic review / ¿La terapia láser de bajo nivel (LLLT) es eficaz para aliviar los síntomas de los trastornos temporomandibulares (TTM)? Revisión sistemática

ABSTRACT Introduction: LLLT is used in various clinical situations for the relief of postoperative inflammatory symptoms in TMD cases. Many treatment protocols use laser radiation, but there is still no evidence as to whether one of them is superior to all the other. The objective was to establish whether there is evidence that LLLT can reduce the main symptoms of TMDs and to determine the most effective application protocol. Methods: a systematic review of the literature was performed in the main databases: PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science, by independent researchers who evaluated studies using different LLLT protocols to treat TMD symptoms, considering specific outcomes such as pain, mouth opening and jaw movements. Results: thirteen studies fully met the eligibility criteria. The most used laser type was GaAlAg, with a wavelength of 830 nm, number of applications ranging from 8 to 10, and 4 weeks of follow-up. Conclusions: LLLT may be considered as an alternative for the relief of TMD symptoms; however, scientific evidence of one of the protocols being superior to the others could not be found.

RESUMEN Introducción: la terapia láser de bajo nivel (LLLT por sus iniciales en inglés) se utiliza en diversas situaciones clínicas para el alivio de los síntomas inflamatorios posoperatorios en casos de trastornos temporomandibulares (TTM). Hay muchos protocolos de tratamiento que utilizan radiación láser, pero todavía no hay evidencia de que alguno sea superior a los demás. El objetivo de la presente revisión sistemática consistió en determiner si hay evidencia de que la LLLT pueda reducir los principales síntomas de los TTM y determinar el protocol de aplicación más eficaz. Métodos: se realizó una revisión sistemática de la literatura en las principales bases de datos, PubMed, Scopus y Web of Science, por parte de investigadores independientes que evaluaron los estudios utilizando diferentes protocolos de LLLT para tratar los síntomas de los TTM, considerando resultados específicos como dolor, apertura de la boca y movimientos de la mandíbula. Resultados: trece estudios cumplieron plenamente los criterios de elegibilidad. El tipo de láser más utilizado fue GaAlAg, con una longitud de onda de 830 nm, número de aplicaciones que oscilan entre 8 y 10, y 4 semanas de seguimiento. Conclusiones: la LLLT puede considerarse una alternativa para el alivio de los síntomas de los TTM; sin embargo, no se pudo encontrar evidencia científica de que un protocolo sea superior a los demás.

Molecular and morphological convergence to sulfide-tolerant fishes in a new species of Jenynsia (Cyprinodontiformes: Anablepidae), the first extremophile member of the family.

Freshwater sulfide springs have extreme environmental conditions that only few vertebrate species can tolerate. These species often develop a series of morphological and molecular adaptations to cope with the challenges of life under the toxic and hypoxic conditions of sulfide springs. In this paper, we described a new fish species of the genus Jenynsia, Anablepidae, from a sulfide spring in Northwestern Argentina, the first in the family known from such extreme environment. Jenynsia sulfurica n. sp. is diagnosable by the lack of scales on the pre-pelvic area or the presence of a single row of scales, continuous or not, from the isthmus to the bases of the pelvic fins. Additionally, it presents a series of morphological and molecular characteristics that appear convergent with those seen in other fish species (e.g., Poeciliids) inhabiting sulfide springs. Most notably, J. sulfurica has an enlarged head and postorbital area compared to other fish of the genus and a prognathous lower jaw with a hypertrophied lip, thought to facilitate respiration at the air-water interface. Analyses of cox1 sequence showed that J. sulfurica has two unique mutations resulting in amino acid substitutions convergent to those seen in Poeciliids from sulfide springs and known to provide a physiological mechanism related to living in sulfide environments. A phylogenetic analysis, including molecular and morphological characters, placed J. sulfurica as sister taxa to J. alternimaculata, a species found in nearby, non-sulfide habitats directly connected to the sulfide springs. Thus, it can be inferred that the selection imposed by the presence of H2S has resulted in the divergence between these two species and has potentially served as a barrier to gene flow.

Description of a new species of the Neotropical cichlid genus Gymnogeophagus Miranda Ribeiro, 1918 (Teleostei: Cichliformes) from the Middle Paraná basin, Misiones, Argentina.

Gymnogeophagus jaryi, new species, is described from Southern tributaries of the Middle Paraná basin in Misiones. It can be distinguished from all other members of the genus, except from G. australis and G. caaguazuensis, by the presence of a hyaline to grey anterior portion of the dorsal fin. Gymnogeophagus jaryi differs from G. caaguazuensis by a longer caudal peduncle, caudal fin not lyrate, central portion of scales on dorsal portion of trunk light iridescent blue and by white spots in soft portion of dorsal fin in adult males, and from G. australis by the light iridescent blue coloration of central portion of scales on the dorsal portion of trunk and tail, and by the lack of scales on the soft portion of the dorsal fin. Additionally, it can be diagnosed by the following unique combination of characters: 10-11 dorsal-fin branched rays, 27-30 E1 scales, absence of lips thickening, and, in males, by the possession of a hump in adults, caudal fin not lyrate, presence of large white spots forming transversal stripes distally and in anterior area of the dorsal fin's soft portion, central area of scales on the dorsal portion of the trunk light iridescent blue, lack of scales on the base of the dorsal fin's soft portion, absence of a conspicuous and oblique dark band from the eye to the anterior border of the head, anterior portion of dorsal fin hyaline to grey, scales of the midlateral spot each bearing a semicircular light blue blotch, head hump starting at the horizontal through the eyes, concave anterior profile in lateral view, base of unpaired fins yellow, and whitish hyaline spots on caudal fin. The new species, based on mtDNA phylogeny, is the sister species of G. caaguazuensis from the Paraguay basin and is closely related to G. australis.

A new species of Farlowella (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the upper Bermejo River, La Plata River basin, northwestern Argentina

A new species of Farlowella is described from the Bermejo River basin, in Salta and Jujuy provinces, northwestern Argentina. The new species belongs to the Farlowella nattereri species group. The new species is diagnosed by the following combination of characters: marbled rostrum, five rows of lateral plates series, relatively short snout (snout-mouth length less than 50.0% of head length), complete half-moon shaped spot on caudal fin, and short predorsal distance (37.8-41.8% of standard length).(AU)

Se describe una nueva especie de Farlowella de la cuenca del Río Bermejo, en las provincias de Salta y Jujuy, en el noroeste de Argentina. La nueva especie pertenece al grupo de Farlowella nattereri. La nueva especie se diagnostica con la siguiente combinación de caracteres: rostro veteado, cinco hileras de placas laterales en el cuerpo, hocico relativamente corto (longitud hocico-boca menor a 50.0% longitud cabeza), mancha en forma de media luna completa en la aleta caudal, y distancia predorsal corta (37.8-41.8% longitud estándar).(AU)

An endangered new species of seasonal killifish of the genus Austrolebias (Cyprinodontiformes: Aplocheiloidei) from the Bermejo river basin in the Western Chacoan Region.

Austrolebias wichi, new species, is herein described from seasonal ponds of the Bermejo river basin in the Western Chacoan district in northwestern Argentina. This species was found in a single pond, a paleochannel of the Bermejo River, which is seriously disturbed by soybean plantations surrounding it. Despite intensive sampling in the area, this species was only registered in this pond where it was relatively scarce. Therefore, we consider this species as critically endangered. This species is the sister species of A. patriciae in our phylogenetic analyses and is similar, in a general external aspect, to A. varzeae and A. carvalhoi. It can be distinguished among the species of Austrolebias by its unique color pattern in males. Additionally, from A. varzeae by presenting a supraorbital band equal or longer than the infraorbital band (vs. shorter) and from A. patriciae by the convex dorsal profile of head (vs. concave). Further diagnostic characters and additional comments on its ecology and reproduction are provided.

Living in the waterfalls: A new species of Trichomycterus (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from Tabay stream, Misiones, Argentina.

A new species assigned to the genus Trichomycterus from the area of the waterfalls of Tabay stream, Paraná River basin, Misiones, Argentina, is described. Trichomycterus ytororo sp. nov. is distinguished from all other species in the genus by the presence of 31-35 dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays and the combination of some external characters such as: coloration, number of pectoral-fin rays and pores of the laterosensory canals. The new taxon belongs to a presumably monophyletic group of species composed of T. crassicaudatus, T. igobi, and T. stawiarski based on the presence of 24 or more thickly ossified and rigid procurrent caudal-fin rays with a slender distal tip extending along the tips of at least ten neural spines.

A new species of Astyanax (Ostariophysi: Characidae) from the headwaters of the arheic Río Sucuma, Catamarca, Northwestern Argentina

A new species of Astyanax is described from the arheic system of Río Sucuma, in Catamarca, Northwestern Argentina. The new species is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of characters including the presence of a broad vertical humeral spot, absence of maxillary teeth, and absence of circuli in posterior field of scales. Furthermore, this species is distinguished by the orbital diameter, head length, branched anal-fin rays, perforated lateral-line scales, transverse scales, dentary teeth with abrupt decrease in size. This species is, to date, the single known fish endemic of Río Sucuma basin.(AU)

Una nueva especie de Astyanax, se describe del Sistema arreico del Río Sucuma, en Catamarca, Noroeste de Argentina. Esta nueva especie se distingue de sus congéneres por una combinación de caracteres que incluyen la presencia de una gran mancha humeral, verticalmente elongada, ausencia de diente en el maxilar, ausencia de circuli en el campo posterior de las escamas, además se distingue por un ojo relativamente pequeño, longitud de la cabeza, radios ramificados en la aleta anal; escamas perforadas en la línea lateral; escamas transversas; dentario con dientes que decrecen abruptamente. Esta especie es, a la fecha, el único pez endémico para la cuenca de Río Sucuma.(AU)

Factores inmunológicos que pueden influir en la presencia de síntomas clínicos en niños con giardiasis / Immunological factors influencing the presence of clinical symptoms in children with giardiasis

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el perfil de la respuesta inmune según sintomatología intestinal en niños con giardiasis. Se realizó un estudio transversal clínico, inmunológico y parasitológico en 182 escolares (6-7 años) de la región de Barlovento, Estado Miranda. La evaluación clínica fue realizada haciendo énfasis en los síntomas intestinales y evaluación antropométrica. Se realizaron exámenes de heces seriadas. Los niveles de IgA secretora (total y específicos a G. duodenalis) así como los niveles de citocinas fueron determinados mediante ELISA. Los niveles de óxido nítrico usando el método colorimétrico de Griess. Análisis estadístico mediante Med calc Software, Versión 12.4.0. Encontramos que Los niveles plasmáticos de TNF-α y de óxido nítrico (en saliva) fueron más elevados en los niños con síntomas intestinales y giardiasis (P<0.001) mientras que los niveles de TGF-β, IL-10 y los niveles de IgA secretora total y especifica a G. duodenalis fueron más elevados (P<0.0001) en el grupo de asintomáticos. Los niveles de IL-6 fueron más elevados en los niños con giardiasis independientemente de la sintomatología. La co-infeccion con A. lumbricoides se asoció negativamente a la presencia de síntomas intestinales. Los indicadores antropométricos (Talla/edad, peso/Edad y Peso/ Talla) se asociaron positivamente a la presencia de citocinas reguladoras (P<0.005) y niveles de IgA secretora (P<0.0001). Así, Diferencias en el perfil de la respuesta inmune podrían asociarse a síntomas intestinales inducidos por giardiasis. Deficiencias en el estado nutricional se asocian a procesos inflamatorios y a la generación de síntomas mientras que la co-infección con helmintos intestinales favorece la reducción de la sintomatología.

We evaluated the immune profile associated to intestinal symptoms in children with giardiasis. A crosssectional study including clinical, immunological and parasitological aspects in 182 children (6-7 years) from the area of Barlovento, Miranda state, Venezuela was carried out. Clinical evaluation was performed with emphasis on intestinal symptoms and anthropometric parameters were also determined. Serial stool examinations were carried out. Secretory IgA levels (total and specific against G. duodenalis) and cytokine levels were determined by ELISA. Nitric oxide levels were determined using the Griess colorimetric method. Statistical analysis was performed by Med Calc Software, Version 12.4.0. We found that plasma levels of TNF-α and nitric oxide (salivary) were higher in children with intestinal symptoms and giardiasis (P<0.001) while the levels of TGF-β, IL-10 and IgA levels (total and anti-G. duodenalis) were higher (P<0.0001) in the asymptomatic group. The levels of IL-6 were higher in children with giardiasis regardless of symptoms. Coinfection with A. lumbricoides was associated negatively with the presence of intestinal symptoms. Anthropometric indicators (height / age, weight / age and weight / height) were positively associated with the presence of regulatory cytokines (P<0.005) and secretory IgA levels (P<0.0001). Therefore, differences in the immune profile may be associated with intestinal symptoms induced by giardiasis. Co-infection with intestinal helminths helps to reduce symptoms while nutritional deficiencies are associated with inflammatory processes and the generation of symptoms.

[Role of human immunodeficiency virus in leukocytes apoptosis from infected patients]. / Papel del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en 1a apoptosis de leucocitos de pacientes infectados.

The hallmark of the immunodeficiency virus infection is a progressive detriment of the immune response which has been associated to a gradual loss of its responsible components, in particularly, CD4 positive T cells. Although this cell population is considered the main target of the virus, there is a recent deal of interest in studying other components that may not be targets of the virus, but are important elements to control infectious microorganisms and that have been demonstrated to be altered during HIV infection. Neutrophils (PMN) are innate immune components that play a fundamental role against HIV infection and these cells have been described as functionally altered during AIDS. It has been suggested that such a dysfunction could be attributed to an increased susceptibility of these cells to accelerated spontaneous apoptosis. However, the underlying mechanisms that induce programmed cell death of neutrophils remain unknown. In previous works we have explored some events involved during cell death of neutrophils from HIV infected patients. It is the purpose of this work to review the current knowledge of apoptosis signals in neutrophils and to discuss our own data about some mechanisms involved in spontaneous and Fas mediated apoptosis, which may contribute to understand neutrophils dysfunction during HIV infection.

Papel del virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana en la apoptosis de leucocitos de pacientes infectados / Role of human immunodeficiency virus in leukocytes apoptosis from infected patients

La infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH) se caracteriza por el deterioro progresivo de la respuesta inmune, asociado a una pérdida gradual de los elementos que la generan, especialmente de los linfocitos T CD4+. Aunque estas células son el principal blanco del virus, en la actualidad existe gran interés por el estudio de otros elementos celulares, que se encuentran alterados y que contribuyen al deterioro del paciente. Dentro de este grupo de células se encuentran los polimorfonucleares (PMN), células fundamentales en la defensa innata contra el VIH y cuya función está alterada en el curso de la enfermedad. Probablemente la causa de este deterioro se debe, en parte, a un incremento en su susceptibilidad para sufrir apoptosis espontánea; sin embargo, no han sido dilucidados los mecanismos involucrados en generar muerte celular programada en los neutrófilos de pacientes VIH positivos. En trabajos previos, hemos explorado algunos eventos asociados con la muerte de los neutrófilos de pacientes infectados. Este artículo tiene como objetivo principal profundizar en los eventos involucrados en la apoptosis espontánea e inducida vía Fas, que pudieran estar implicados en el deterioro de los PMN durante la infección por el VIH