Gestación gemelar con feto acárdico: Presentación de un caso

Normal 0 21 false false false ES X-NONE X-NONE Introducción: la secuencia de perfusión arterial reversa (secuencia TRAP) o transfusión feto-fetal; se encuentra entre las numerosas peculiaridades de la gestación monocoriónica (univitelina) gemelar. En ella, el gemelo afectado es perfundido de forma reversa mediante anastomosis arterio-arterial y veno-venosa por el otro gemelo; resultando un feto acardio y otro normal, con consecuencias hemodinámicas en este último, debidas a la misma. Objetivo: caso de embarazo gemelar monocigótico con feto acardio-acéfalo diagnosticado por ultrasonido preparto; dada su baja frecuencia. Presentación del caso: gestante de 17 años de edad, primigrávida, con embarazo gemelar de 36.3 semanas, diagnosticado por Ultrasonido (US); con 4 controles prenatales. La misma consultó en trabajo de parto. Se le realizó un US evolutivo que encontró un feto vivo, en presentación cefálica, acompañado de una masa amorfa, que se concluyó como feto malformado en un embarazo gemelar. Se remitió la gestante al Hospital Nacional Regional de Escuintla (HNRE); donde se le practicó una cesárea; se obtuvo un recién nacido femenino de 2.37 kilogramos y una masa deforme (feto malformado). La placenta resultó ser monocoriónica, univitelina, con perfusión sanguínea feto-fetal (de normal a malformado); lo cual permitió la supervivencia del feto amorfo hasta entonces, seguido de muerte fetal intraparto. El gemelo malformado se envió al servicio de anatomía patológica para su estudio; cuyos resultados se presentan en este trabajo. Se revisa la bibliografía hasta el 2013. Conclusiones: el feto acardio-acéfalo por transfusión feto-fetal inversa es poco frecuente en nuestro país, debido al temprano y avanzado control prenatal. El diagnóstico prenatal temprano es un método valioso para evitar el desenlace fatal e incremento de la mortalidad infantil. Palabras clave: Feto acardio-acéfalo, mielocéfato, embarazo gemelar. Acardius, gestación múltiple, síndrome de transfusión feto-fetal. <!--[endif] --

Analysis of efficiency and profitability of franchise services

The present study analyses the relative efficiency of franchise services and characterises the best companies, confirming the relationship between efficiency and profit. These companies are from the trade and other services sector , the main group of service-providing companies in the Spanish economy. The methodology calls for first comparing the relative efficiency of franchisers and ownership enterprises. Second, the focus turns to the most efficient franchise services, using a super-efficiency model to rank them. The paper then goes on to cover the analysis of the main characteristics of the best franchise enterprises, the number of own establishments in a franchise business and the profitability of the company. This paper presents arguments as to why companies from the trade and other services sector are included. The main conclusion is that, whilst the number of establishments is irrelevant in achieving greater efficiency, many of the most efficient enterprises have high returns.García Martin, CJ.; Medal Bartual, A.; Peris-Ortiz, M. (2014). Analysis of efficiency and profitability of franchise services. Service Industries Journal. 34(9):796-810. doi:10.1080/02642069.2014.905921S79681034

Factors influencing citrus fruit scarring caused by Pezothrips kellyanus

[EN] Kelly s citrus thrips (KCT) Pezothrips kellyanus (Bagnall) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is a recently recorded cosmopolitan citrus pest, causing fruit scarring that results in downgrading of fruit. Due to the detrimental effects caused on fruits by KCT, we wanted to study some of the factors influencing fruit scarring. Specifically, the objectives were: (1) to determine the fruit development stage when citrus fruits are damaged by KCT and the population structure of KCT during this period, (2) to study the influence of temperature on intensity of damage, and finally, (3) to identify alternative host plants. KCT populations on flowers and fruitlets and alternate plant hosts were sampled in four citrus orchards from 2008 to 2010. The percentage of damaged fruits was also recorded. The exotic vine Araujia sericifera (Apocynaceae) was recorded as a new host for KCT. Thrips scarring started to increase at 350 650 degree-days (DD) above 10.2 C, coinciding with a peak abundance of the second instar larval stages over all 3 years of the study. The maximum percentage of larval stages of KCT was observed in the 3 years at about 500 DD, a period which corresponds to the end of May or early June. Variation in the severity of fruit scarring appeared to be related to air temperature. Temperature likely affects the synchronisation between the peak in abundance of KCT larvae, and the period when fruitlets are susceptible to thrips damage. Temperature can also influence the survival and development of KCT populations in citrus and other host plants in the citrus agro-ecosystem.The authors thank Alejandro Tena for his valuable suggestions and two anonymous referees for their careful review and helpful comments. We also extend our thanks to the owners of the commercial orchards for giving us permission to use their citrus orchards. The first author was awarded an FPI fellowship from the Polytechnic University of Valencia to obtain her PhD degree.Navarro Campos, C.; Pekas, A.; Aguilar Martí, MA.; Garcia Marí, F. (2013). Factors influencing citrus fruit scarring caused by Pezothrips kellyanus. Journal of Pest Science. (86):459-467. doi:10.1007/s10340-013-0489-7S45946786Baker GJ (2006) Kelly citrus thrips management. Fact sheet. Government of South Australia, primary industries and resources SA. http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/44875/kctfact_sheet.pdf . Accessed 16 July 2012Baker GJ, Jackman DJ, Keller M, MacGregor A, Purvis S (2002) Development of an integrated pest management system for thrips in Citrus. HAL Final Report CT97007. http://www.sardi.sa.gov.au/pestsdiseases/horticulture/horticultural_pests/kelly_citrus_thrips/research_report_1997-2000 . Accessed 16 July 2012Bedford ECG (1998) Thrips, wind and other blemishes. Citrus pests in the Republic of South Africa. In: Bedford ECG, van den Berg MA, de Villiers EA (eds) ARC-Institute for tropical and subtropical crops, Nelspruit, South Africa, pp 170–183Blank RH, Gill GSC (1997) Thrips (Thysanoptera: Terebrantia) on flowers and fruit of citrus in New Zealand. N Z J Crop Hortic Sci 25:319–332Chellemi D, Funderburk F, Hall D (1994) Seasonal abundance of flower-inhabiting Frankliniella species (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) on wild plant species. Environ Entomol 23:337–342Conti F, Tuminelli R, Amico C, Fisicaro R, Frittitta C, Perrotta G, Marullo R (2001) Monitoring Pezothrips kellyanus on citrus in eastern Sicily, Thrips and tospoviruses. In: Proceedings of the 7th international symposium on Thysanoptera, Reggio Calabria, 1–8 July 2001, Italy, pp 207–210Costa L, Mateus C, zurStrassen R, Franco JC (2006) Thrips (Thysanoptera) associated to lemon orchards in the Oeste region of Portugal. IOBC/WPRS Bull 29:285–291European Plant Protection Organisation Reporting Service [EPPO] (2006) Pezothrips kellyanus. http://www.eppo.org/QUARANTINE/Pest_Risk_Analysis/PRAdocs_insects/06-12760%20DS%20PEZTKE.doc. Accessed 18 June 2012European Plant ProtectionOrganisation Reporting Service [EPPO] (2005) Scirtothrips aurantii, Scirtothrips citri, Scirtothrips dorsalis. EPPO Bull 35:353–356Franco JC, Garcia-Marí F, Ramos AP, Besri M (2006) Survey on the situation of citrus pest management in Mediterranean countries. IOBC/WPRS Bull 29:335–346Froud KJ, Stevens PS, Steven D (2001) Survey of alternative host plants for Kelly’s citrus thrips (Pezothrips kellyanus) in citrus growing regions. N Z Plant Prot 54:15–20Gomez-Clemente F (1952) Un tisanóptero causante de daños en las naranjas de algunas zonas de Levante. Boletín de Patología Vegetal y Entomología Agrícola 19:135–146Grout TG, Morse JG, O’Connell NV, Flaherty DL, Goodell PB, Freeman MW, Coviello RL (1986) Citrus thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) phenology and sampling in the San Joaquin Valley. J Econ Entomol 79:1516–1523Horton J (1918) The citrus thrips. US Dep Agric Bull 616:1–42Kirk WDJ (1987) A key to the larvae of some common Australian flower thrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera), with a host-plant survey. Aust J Zool 35:173–185Lacasa A, Llorens JM, Sánchez JA (1996) Un Scirtothrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) causa daños en los cítricos en España. Bol San Veg Plagas 22:79–95Lewis HC (1935) Factors influencing citrus thrips damage. J Econ Entomol 28:1011–1015Lewis T (1997) Distribution, abundance and population dynamics. In: Lewis T (ed) Thrips as crop pests. CAB International, Wallingford, pp 217–258Lovatt C, Streeter S, Minter T, O’connell N, Flaherty D, Freeman M, Goodell P (1984) Phenology of flowering in Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, cv. Washington navel orange. Proc Int Soc Citric 1:186–190Marullo R (1998) Pezothrips kellyanus, un nuovo tripide parassita delle colture meridionali. Informatore Fitopatologico 48:72–75Milne JR, Milne M, Walter GH (1997) A key to larval thrips (Thysanoptera) from Granite Belt stonefruit trees and a first description of Pseudanaphothrips achaetus (Bagnall) larvae. Aust J Entomol 36:319–326Mound LA, Jackman DJ (1998) Thrips in the economy and ecology of Australia, In: Zalucki MP, RAI Drew RAI, White GG (eds) Pest Management: future challenges, Proceedings of the sixth Australian applied entomological research conference, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, pp 472–478Mound LA, Marullo R (1996) The thrips of Central and South America (Insecta: Thysanoptera): an introduction. Mem Entomol Int 6:1–487Mound LA, Walker AK (1982) Terebrantia (Insecta: Thysanoptera). Fauna N Z 1:1–113Navarro-Campos C, Marzal C, Aguilar A, GarciaMarí F (2010) Presencia del microlepidóptero Anatrachyntisbadia en cítricos: descripción, comportamiento y daños al fruto. Levante Agrícola 402:270–276Navarro-Campos C, Aguilar A, Garcia-Marí F (2011) Population trend and fruit damage of Pezothrips kellyanus in citrus orchards in Valencia (Spain). IOBC/WPRS Bull 62: 285–292Navarro-Campos C, Aguilar A, Garcia-Marí F (2012) Aggregation pattern, sampling plan and intervention threshold for Pezothrips kellyanus in citrus groves. Entomol Exp Appl 142:130–139Northfield TD, Paini DR, Funderburk JE, Reitz SR (2008) Annual cycles of Frankliniella spp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) thrips abundance on North Florida uncultivated reproductive hosts: predicting possible sources of pest outbreaks. Ann Entomol Soc Am 101:769–778Orphanides G (1997) Thrips on citrus. Annual Review for 1997. Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, CyprusPerrotta G, Conti F (2008) A threshold hypothesis for an integrated control of thrips infestation on citrus in South-Eastern Sicily. IOBC/WPRS Bull 38:204–209Reitz S, Yu-lin G, Zhong-ren L (2011) Thrips: pests of concern to China and the United States. Agric Sci China 10:867–892Rhodes AA, Morse JG (1989) Scirtothrips citri sampling and damage prediction on California navel oranges. Agric Ecosyst Environ 26:117–129Schellhorn NA, Glatz RV, Wood GM (2010) The risk of exotic and native plants as hosts for four pest thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripinae). Bull Entomol Res 100:501–510Schweizer H, Morse JG (1997) Estimating the level of fruit scarring by citrus thrips from temperature conditions prior to the end of bloom. Crop Prot 16:743–752Smith D, Beattie GAC, Broadley R (eds) (1997) Citrus pests and their natural enemies: integrated pest management in Australia. Information series Q197030. 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Moonlighting Proteins Hal3 and Vhs3 Form a Heteromeric PPCDC with Ykl088w in Yeast CoA Biosynthesis

Premi a l'excel·lència investigadora. 2010Unlike most other organisms, the essential five-step Coenzyme A biosynthetic pathway has not been fully resolved in yeast. Specifically, the gene(s) encoding the phosphopantothenoylcysteine decarboxylase (PPCDC) activity still remains unidentified. Sequence homology analyses suggest three candidates, namely Ykl088w, Hal3 and Vhs3, as putative PPCDC enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Interestingly, Hal3 and Vhs3 have been characterized as negative regulatory subunits of the Ppz1 protein phosphatase. Here we show that YKL088w does not encode a third Ppz1 regulatory subunit, and that the essential roles of Ykl088w and the Hal3/Vhs3 pair are complementary, cannot be interchanged and can be attributed to PPCDC-related functions. We demonstrate that while known eukaryotic PPCDCs are homotrimers, the active yeast enzyme is a heterotrimer which consists of Ykl088w and Hal3/Vhs3 monomers that separately provides two essential catalytic residues. Our results unveil Hal3/Vhs3 as moonlighting proteins, involved in both CoA biosynthesis and protein phosphatase regulation

Effectiveness of influenza vaccine against laboratory-confirmed influenza, in the late 2011-2012 season in Spain, among population targeted for vaccination

Background: In Spain, the influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) was estimated in the last three seasons using the observational study cycEVA conducted in the frame of the existing Spanish Influenza Sentinel Surveillance System. The objective of the study was to estimate influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza-like illness (ILI) among the target groups for vaccination in Spain in the 2011-2012 season. We also studied influenza VE in the early (weeks 52/2011-7/2012) and late (weeks 8-14/2012) phases of the epidemic and according to time since vaccination. Methods: Medically attended patients with ILI were systematically swabbed to collect information on exposure, laboratory outcome and confounding factors. Patients belonging to target groups for vaccination and who were swabbed 4 months, respectively, since vaccination. A decrease in VE with time since vaccination was only observed in individuals aged ≥ 65 years. Regarding the phase of the season, decreasing point estimates were only observed in the early phase, whereas very low or null estimates were obtained in the late phase for the shortest time interval. Conclusions: The 2011-2012 influenza vaccine showed a low-to-moderate protective effect against medically attended, laboratory-confirmed influenza in the target groups for vaccination, in a late season and with a limited match between the vaccine and circulating strains. The suggested decrease in influenza VE with time since vaccination was mostly observed in the elderly population. The decreasing protective effect of the vaccine in the late part of the season could be related to waning vaccine protection because no viral changes were identified throughout the season

A polymorphism at the 3'-UTR region of the aromatase gene defines a subgroup of postmenopausal breast cancer patients with poor response to neoadjuvant letrozole

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aromatase (<it>CYP19A1</it>) regulates estrogen biosynthesis. Polymorphisms in <it>CYP19A1 </it>have been related to the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC). Inhibition of aromatase with letrozole constitutes the best option for treating estrogen-dependent BC in postmenopausal women. We evaluate a series of polymorphisms of <it>CYP19A1 </it>and their effect on response to neoadjuvant letrozole in early BC.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed 95 consecutive postmenopausal women with stage II-III ER/PgR [+] BC treated with neoadjuvant letrozole. Response to treatment was measured by radiology at 4^thmonth by World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Three polymorphisms of <it>CYP19A1</it>, one in exon 7 (rs700519) and two in the 3'-UTR region (rs10046 and rs4646) were evaluated on DNA obtained from peripheral blood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Thirty-five women (36.8%) achieved a radiological response to letrozole. The histopathological and immunohistochemical parameters, including hormonal receptor status, were not associated with the response to letrozole. Only the genetic variants (AC/AA) of the rs4646 polymorphism were associated with poor response to letrozole (p = 0.03). Eighteen patients (18.9%) reported a progression of the disease. Those patients carrying the genetic variants (AC/AA) of rs4646 presented a lower progression-free survival than the patients homozygous for the reference variant (p = 0.0686). This effect was especially significant in the group of elderly patients not operated after letrozole induction (p = 0.009).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study reveals that the rs4646 polymorphism identifies a subgroup of stage II-III ER/PgR [+] BC patients with poor response to neoadjuvant letrozole and poor prognosis. Testing for the rs4646 polymorphism could be a useful tool in order to orientate the treatment in elderly BC patients.</p

Physical exercise, fitness and dietary pattern and their relationship with circadian blood pressure pattern, augmentation index and endothelial dysfunction biological markers: EVIDENT study protocol

Background: Healthy lifestyles may help to delay arterial aging. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship of physical activity and dietary pattern to the circadian pattern of blood pressure, central and peripheral blood pressure, pulse wave velocity, carotid intima-media thickness and biological markers of endothelial dysfunction in active and sedentary individuals without arteriosclerotic disease. Methods/Design Design: A cross-sectional multicenter study with six research groups. Subjects: From subjects of the PEPAF project cohort, in which 1,163 who were sedentary became active, 1,942 were sedentary and 2,346 were active. By stratified random sampling, 1,500 subjects will be included, 250 in each group. Primary measurements: We will evaluate height, weight, abdominal circumference, clinical and ambulatory blood pressure with the Radial Pulse Wave Acquisition Device (BPro), central blood pressure and augmentation index with Pulse Wave Application Software (A-Pulse) and SphymgoCor System Px (Pulse Wave Analysis), pulse wave velocity (PWV) with SphymgoCor System Px (Pulse Wave Velocity), nutritional pattern with a food intake frequency questionnaire, physical activity with the 7-day PAR questionnaire and accelerometer (Actigraph GT3X), physical fitness with the cycle ergometer (PWC-170), carotid intima-media thickness by ultrasound (Micromax), and endothelial dysfunction biological markers (endoglin and osteoprotegerin). Discussion: Determining that sustained physical activity and the change from sedentary to active as well as a healthy diet improve circadian pattern, arterial elasticity and carotid intima-media thickness may help to propose lifestyle intervention programs. These interventions could improve the cardiovascular risk profile in some parameters not routinely assessed with traditional risk scales. From the results of this study, interventional approaches could be obtained to delay vascular aging that combine physical exercise and diet