Floristic, ecological and ethnobotanical aspects of Mammillaria deherdtiana subsp. dodsonii (Cactaceae), an endemic and threatened plant

Antecedentes y Objetivos: En Oaxaca, México, se reportan 26 especies del género Mammillaria; siete de ellas endémicas. Mammillaria deherdtiana subsp. dodsonii está catalogada como amenazada. Los objetivos del trabajo fueron describir las características demográficas, reproductivas y aspectos etnobotánicos de su uso, así como los aspectos florísticos y bioclimáticos de las localidades estudiadas. Métodos: En enero de 2015 se encontraron dos localidades de Mammillaria deherdtiana subsp. dodsonii en la Sierra Norte. Entre enero y marzo se ubicaron cinco transectos de 5 m2 en una de ellas, en los cuales se registró el número de individuos, se establecieron categorías de tamaño y se obtuvo la estructura poblacional. Para la marcha floral se eligieron diez flores y cada dos horas se registró el diámetro de la apertura del perianto. Se registraron las especies de plantas vasculares que crecían cerca de ella y se obtuvieron datos de las variables climáticas. Se entrevistó a los pobladores para documentar el conocimiento y uso que le dan a esta cactácea.Resultados clave: La estructura poblacional es multimodal. Los individuos juveniles conforman 65% y los adultos reproductivos 33% en la localidad estudiada. La antesis dura siete horas; se observó dicogamia y hercogamia, lo cual indica un sistema de cruza xenógamo. La subespecie es reconocida con nombres en español y zapoteco y es usada de manera ocasional como alimento, medicina y ornamento. Se registraron 15 especies pertenecientes al bosque de Pinus y Abies. Las preferencias ambientales de la subespecie son temperaturas de 9.6-12.7 °C y precipitación de 1009-1405 mm.Conclusiones: El sistema de cruza xenógamo resulta preocupante por la observación de un solo visitante floral. La presencia de cerdas y espinas radiales sugiere adaptaciones morfofisiológicas de esta subespecie al frío. Se sugiere profundizar en la presencia y efectividad de los polinizadores y en la dinámica de reclutamiento de la subespecie.Background and Aims: In Oaxaca, Mexico, 26 species of the genus Mammillaria are reported, seven of them being endemic. Mammillaria deherdtiana subsp. dodsonii is listed as threatened. The objectives of this paper were to describe the demographic, reproductive and ethnobotanical aspects of its use, as well as the floristic and bioclimatic aspects of the studied localities.Methods: In January 2015, two localities of Mammillaria deherdtiana subsp. dodsonii were found in the Sierra Norte. Between January and March, five transects of 5 m2 were located in one of them, in which the number of individuals was recorded, size categories were established, and the population structure was obtained. For the flowering process, ten flowers were chosen, and the perianth diameter was recorded every two hours. The vascular plants surrounding the sampled site were recorded and data on climatic variables were obtained. The inhabitants were interviewed to document the local knowledge and uses of this cactus.Key results: The population structure is multimodal. Juvenile individuals make up 65% and reproductive adults 33% in the studied locality. Anthesis lasts seven hours; dichogamy and hercogamy were observed, indicating a xenogamous breeding system. The subspecies is recognized with names in Spanish and Zapotec and is occasionally used as food, medicine, and ornament. Fifteen species belonging to the Pinus and Abies forest were recorded. The environmental preferences of the subspecies are temperatures of 9.6-12.7 °C, and precipitation of 1009-1405 mm.Conclusions: The xenogamous breeding system is worrisome due to the observation of just one floral visitor. The presence of bristles and radial spines in this subspecies suggests morphophysiological adaptations to cold. It is advisable to delve into the presence and effectiveness of pollinators and the recruitment dynamics of the subspecies

Clinical utility of urinary gluten immunogenic peptides in the follow-up of patients with coeliac disease

[Background] Gluten-free diet (GFD) is the only treatment for patients with coeliac disease (CD) and its compliance should be monitored to avoid cumulative damage.[Aims] To analyse gluten exposures of coeliac patients on GFD for at least 24 months using different monitoring tools and its impact on duodenal histology at 12-month follow-up and evaluate the interval of determination of urinary gluten immunogenic peptides (u-GIP) for the monitoring of GFD adherence.[Methods] Ninety-four patients with CD on a GFD for at least 24 months were prospectively included. Symptoms, serology, CDAT questionnaire, and u-GIP (three samples/visit) were analysed at inclusion, 3, 6, and 12 months. Duodenal biopsy was performed at inclusion and 12 months.[Results] At inclusion, 25.8% presented duodenal mucosal damage; at 12 months, this percentage reduced by half. This histological improvement was indicated by a reduction in u-GIP but did not correlate with the remaining tools. The determination of u-GIP detected a higher number of transgressions than serology, regardless of histological evolution type. The presence of >4 u-GIP-positive samples out of 12 collected during 12 months predicted histological lesion with a specificity of 93%. Most patients (94%) with negative u-GIP in ≥2 follow-up visits showed the absence of histological lesions (p < 0.05).[Conclusion] This study suggests that the frequency of recurrent gluten exposures, according to serial determination of u-GIP, could be related to the persistence of villous atrophy and that a more regular follow-up every 6 months, instead of annually, provides more useful data about the adequate adherence to GFD and mucosal healing.This study was funded in part by Fundación Progreso y Salud, Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía (PI-0427-2017 and PI-0053-2018).Peer reviewe

Morphometry cactus seed in threat of extinction Astrophytum myriostigma Lemaire

"Se presenta un estudio morfométrico y microestructural en semillas de una población de la cactácea amenazada Astrophytum myriostigma Lem., removida en su totalidad en el sitio por saqueo. Se incluyen resultados que separan tamaños de semillas y embriones (grandes y pequeños) así como promedios para ambos. Se realizó una descripción de características en la semilla obtenidas mediante estereoscopía. Se incluye una descripción detallada de la forma y color, así como microestructural del funículo, capa funicular y otras estructuras que le acompañan.""We present a morphometric and microstructural study in seeds of a population of the threatened cactus Astrophytum myriostigma Lem., entirely removed from the location. The results are for size of seeds and embryos (large and small) and description of features in the seed using a stereoscopic microscope. We include a detailed description of the shape, color and structural micro funicle, funicular layer and other surrounding structures.

Negative predictive value of the repeated absence of gluten immunogenic peptides in the urine of treated celiac patients in predicting mucosal healing: New proposals for follow-up in celiac disease

[Background]: The treatment of celiac disease (CD) is a lifelong gluten-free diet (GFD). The current methods for monitoring GFD conformance, such as a dietary questionnaire or serology tests, may be inaccurate in detecting dietary transgressions, and duodenal biopsies are invasive, expensive, and not a routine monitoring technique.[Objectives]: Our aim was to determine the clinical usefulness of urine gluten immunogenic peptides (GIP) as a biomarker monitoring GFD adherence in celiac patients and to evaluate the concordance of the results with the degree of mucosal damage.[Methods]: A prospective observational study was conducted involving 22 de novo CD patients, 77 celiac patients consuming a GFD, and 13 nonceliac subjects. On 3 d of the week, urine samples were collected and the GIP concentrations were tested. Simultaneously, anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies, questionnaire results, clinical manifestations, and histological findings were analyzed.[Results]: Approximately 24% (18 of 76) of the celiac patients consuming a GFD exhibited Marsh II–III mucosal damage. Among this population, 94% (17 of 18) had detectable urine GIP; however, between 60% and 80% were asymptomatic and exhibited negative serology and appropriate GFD adherence based on the questionnaire. In contrast, 97% (31 of 32) of the celiac patients without duodenal damage had no detectable GIP. These results demonstrated the high sensitivity (94%) and negative predictive value (97%) of GIP measurements in relation to duodenal biopsy findings. In the de novo CD-diagnosed cohort, 82% (18 of 22) of patients had measurable amounts of GIP in the urine.[Conclusions]: Determining GIP concentrations in several urine samples may be an especially convenient approach to assess recent gluten exposure in celiac patients and appears to accurately predict the absence of histological lesions. The introduction of GIP testing as an assessment technique for GFD adherence may help in ascertaining dietary compliance and to target the most suitable intervention during follow-up.Supported by Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad and FEDER funds grant SAF2017-83700-R (to CS) and Junta de Andalucía grant PI-0427-2017 (to ÁP)

. 52 Tomo IV (1972-1973) Séptima Época (1967-1976). Anales del Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia

Publicación que recopila y difunde cien años de trabajo de la antropología en México (1877-1977), integrada por documentos y manuscritos arqueológicos, antropológicos, históricos, geológicos, botánicos y lingüísticos.- Los santuarios y peregrinaciones por Fernando Cámara Barbachano y Teófilo Reyes Couturier. - Algunas representaciones de la greca escalonada en el norte de Mesoamérica (segunda parte) por Beatriz Braniff. - La cerámica policroma de Queréndaro. (Estudio preliminar) por Augusto Molina Montes y Luis Torres Montes. - Cerámica de estilo teotihuacano en Colima por Harold W. Mc. Bride. - Pindecuaros de Santa Fe de la Laguna, Mich. por María Teresa Sepúlveda. - Monumentos y museos por Salvador Díaz-Berrio. - Variedades anatómicas en vértebras de la colección de Tlatelolco por María Teresa Jaén Esquivel. - Características de la cerámica de transición del Clásico al Posclásico en Veracruz por Jürgen Brüggemann. - Sistemas de enterramientos y notas sobre el material osteológico de La Ventilla, Teotihuacan, México por Carlos Serrano y Zaid Lagunas R. - Notas sobre la arquitectura arqueológica del centro de Chiapas por Jordi Gussinyer. - La paradoja de Weber sobre religión y economía, vista a través del concepto de necesidad en el ámbito no occidental por Jesús Ángel Ochoa Zazueta. - La determinación sexual en mandíbulas por medio de las funciones discriminantes por Zaid Lagunas R. - El grupo doméstico como estructura. Una aplicación del esquema de Nadel por Juan Jesús Arias García. - Contribución al conocimiento de los peces fósiles de Chapala y Zocoalco (Aternidos y cirpinidos) por José Álvarez del Villar. - Algunos índices cefálicos en la población juvenil del área de Cholula, Puebla por Zaid Lagunas R. - Dos artefactos de hueso en asociación con restos pleistocénicos en Los Reyes La Paz, México por Ángel García Cook. - Dos fragmentos de tejido decorado con técnica de Plangi por Alba Guadalupe Mastache de Escobar. - Chabihaú: Una comunidad campesina de pescadores por Elio Alcalá e Iván Bretón. - América: indios, indigenismo y política por Margarita Nolasco Armas. - Exploraciones en Palenque, 1970 por Jorge R. Acosta

Down syndrome as risk factor for respiratory syncytial virus hospitalization : A prospective multicenter epidemiological study

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in childhood, particularly in premature infants, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. To compare the hospitalization rates due to RSV infection and severity of disease between infants with and without Down syndrome (DS) born at term and without other associated risk factors for severe RSV infection. In a prospective multicentre epidemiological study, 93 infants were included in the DS cohort and 68 matched by sex and data of birth (±1 week) and were followed up to 1 year of age and during a complete RSV season. The hospitalization rate for all acute respiratory infection was significantly higher in the DS cohort than in the non-DS cohort (44.1% vs 7.7%, P<.0001). Hospitalizations due to RSV were significantly more frequent in the DH cohort than in the non-DS cohort (9.7% vs 1.5%, P=.03). RSV prophylaxis was recorded in 33 (35.5%) infants with DS. The rate of hospitalization according to presence or absence of RSV immunoprophylaxis was 3.0% vs 15%, respectively. Infants with DS showed a higher rate of hospitalization due to acute lower respiratory tract infection and RSV infection compared to non-DS infants. Including DS infants in recommendations for immunoprophylaxis of RSV disease should be considered

Subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin for prevention of disease in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised clinical trialResearch in context

Summary: Background: Anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin (hIG) can provide standardized and controlled antibody content. Data from controlled clinical trials using hIG for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 outpatients have not been reported. We assessed the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin 20% (C19-IG20%) compared to placebo in preventing development of symptomatic COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We did a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, in asymptomatic unvaccinated adults (≥18 years of age) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within 5 days between April 28 and December 27, 2021. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a blinded subcutaneous infusion of 10 mL with 1 g or 2 g of C19-IG20%, or an equivalent volume of saline as placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who remained asymptomatic through day 14 after infusion. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of individuals who required oxygen supplementation, any medically attended visit, hospitalisation, or ICU, and viral load reduction and viral clearance in nasopharyngeal swabs. Safety was assessed as the proportion of patients with adverse events. The trial was terminated early due to a lack of potential benefit in the target population in a planned interim analysis conducted in December 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT04847141. Findings: 461 individuals (mean age 39.6 years [SD 12.8]) were randomized and received the intervention within a mean of 3.1 (SD 1.27) days from a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. In the prespecified modified intention-to-treat analysis that included only participants who received a subcutaneous infusion, the primary outcome occurred in 59.9% (91/152) of participants receiving 1 g C19-IG20%, 64.7% (99/153) receiving 2 g, and 63.5% (99/156) receiving placebo (difference in proportions 1 g C19-IG20% vs. placebo, −3.6%; 95% CI -14.6% to 7.3%, p = 0.53; 2 g C19-IG20% vs placebo, 1.1%; −9.6% to 11.9%, p = 0.85). None of the secondary clinical efficacy endpoints or virological endpoints were significantly different between study groups. Adverse event rate was similar between groups, and no severe or life-threatening adverse events related to investigational product infusion were reported. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that administration of subcutaneous human hyperimmune immunoglobulin C19-IG20% to asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection was safe but did not prevent development of symptomatic COVID-19. Funding: Grifols

Evolution over Time of Ventilatory Management and Outcome of Patients with Neurologic Disease∗

OBJECTIVES: To describe the changes in ventilator management over time in patients with neurologic disease at ICU admission and to estimate factors associated with 28-day hospital mortality. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of three prospective, observational, multicenter studies. SETTING: Cohort studies conducted in 2004, 2010, and 2016. PATIENTS: Adult patients who received mechanical ventilation for more than 12 hours. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Among the 20,929 patients enrolled, we included 4,152 (20%) mechanically ventilated patients due to different neurologic diseases. Hemorrhagic stroke and brain trauma were the most common pathologies associated with the need for mechanical ventilation. Although volume-cycled ventilation remained the preferred ventilation mode, there was a significant (p &lt; 0.001) increment in the use of pressure support ventilation. The proportion of patients receiving a protective lung ventilation strategy was increased over time: 47% in 2004, 63% in 2010, and 65% in 2016 (p &lt; 0.001), as well as the duration of protective ventilation strategies: 406 days per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days in 2004, 523 days per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days in 2010, and 585 days per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days in 2016 (p &lt; 0.001). There were no differences in the length of stay in the ICU, mortality in the ICU, and mortality in hospital from 2004 to 2016. Independent risk factors for 28-day mortality were age greater than 75 years, Simplified Acute Physiology Score II greater than 50, the occurrence of organ dysfunction within first 48 hours after brain injury, and specific neurologic diseases such as hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, and brain trauma. CONCLUSIONS: More lung-protective ventilatory strategies have been implemented over years in neurologic patients with no effect on pulmonary complications or on survival. We found several prognostic factors on mortality such as advanced age, the severity of the disease, organ dysfunctions, and the etiology of neurologic disease