First report of the ectomycorrhizal status of boletes on the Northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico determined using isotopic methods

Despite their prominent role for tree growth, few studies have examined the occurrence of ectomycorrhizal fungi in lowland, seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTF). Although fruiting bodies of boletes have been observed in a dry tropical forest on the Northern Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, their occurrence is rare and their mycorrhizal status is uncertain. To determine the trophic status (mycorrhizal vs. saprotrophic) of these boletes, fruiting bodies were collected and isotopically compared to known saprotrophic fungi, foliage, and soil from the same site. Mean δ15N and δ13C values differed significantly between boletes and saprotrophic fungi, with boletes 8.0‰ enriched and 2.5‰ depleted in 15N and 13C, respectively relative to saprotrophic fungi. Foliage was depleted in 13C relative to both boletes and saprotrophic fungi. Foliar δ15N values, on the other hand, were similar to saprotrophic fungi, yet were considerably lower relative to bolete fruiting bodies. Results from this study provide the first isotopic evidence of ectomycorrhizal fungi in lowland SDTF and emphasize the need for further research to better understand the diversity and ecological importance of ectomycorrhizal fungi in these forested ecosystems

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Obesidade e fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis entre usuários de unidade de alimentação e nutrição Obesity and risk factors for the development of chronic non-transmissible diseases among consumers in a foodservice unit

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o estado nutricional e fatores de risco para doenças crônicas não transmissíveis entre 1.252 funcionários de uma indústria em Santa Catarina, Brasil. Foram estudadas as variáveis: estado nutricional, circunferência da cintura, pressão arterial, glicemia, idade e escolaridade. Observou-se sobrepeso e obesidade em 45% e 10% da amostra, respectivamente, com associação significativa entre o estado nutricional e sexo, mas não entre estado nutricional e escolaridade, ajustados por idade. Verificaram-se valores de circunferência da cintura elevados em 33% dos funcionários, com diferença significativa entre sexos. Observou-se pressão arterial sistólica (PAS) e pressão arterial diastólica (PAD) elevadas em 18% e 11% dos funcionários, respectivamente, com associação significativa entre sexos após ajuste por idade. Diagnosticou-se diabetes mellitus tipo II em 2% da amostra e glicemia alterada em 4%. Após ajuste por idade, as únicas variáveis associadas à circunferência da cintura foram a PAS e a PAD. Estes resultados permitiram que atividades preventivas e educacionais fossem desenvolvidas pela empresa, de modo a melhorar a qualidade de vida e a produtividade dos funcionários.<br>This study aimed to assess nutritional status and risk factors for chronic non-transmissible diseases in 1,252 factory employees in Santa Catarina State, Brazil. The following variables were studied: nutritional status, waist circumference, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, age, and schooling. Overweight and obesity were observed in 45% and 10% of the sample, respectively, with a significant association between nutritional status and gender, but not between nutritional status and schooling, adjusted for age. The proportion of high waist circumference was 33%, with a significant difference between genders. High systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were present in 18% and 11% of the employees, respectively, with a significant association between genders after adjusting for age. Type II diabetes mellitus was diagnosed in 2% of the sample and altered glucose levels in 4%. After adjusting for age, the only variables significantly associated with waist circumference were SBP and DPB. The results allowed the implementation of preventive and educational activities to improve employees' quality of life and productivity

HUMAN GENETICS The genetics of Mexico recapitulates Native American substructure and affects biomedical traits

Stanford University; Department of Genetics; Federal Government of Mexico; Ministry of Health; Mexican Health Foundation (FUNSALUD); Gonzalo Rio Arronte Foundation; George Rosenkranz Prize for Health Care Research in Developing Countries; University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Chancellor's Research Fellowship; Dissertation Year Fellowship; NIH Training Grants [T32GM007175, T32HG000044]; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Amos Medical Faculty Development Award; Sandler Foundation; American Asthma Foundation; CONACYT [129693]; BBSRC grant [BB/I021213/1]; National Institutes of Health (NIH) [R01GM090087, R01HG003229, ES015794, GM007546, GM061390, HL004464, HL078885, HL088133, HL111636, RR000083, P60MD006902, ZIA ES49019]; National Science Foundation [DMS-1201234]; Intramural Research Program of NIH, National Institute of Environmental Health Science

ESICM LIVES 2016: part two : Milan, Italy. 1-5 October 2016.

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Enhanced infection prophylaxis reduces mortality in severely immunosuppressed HIV-infected adults and older children initiating antiretroviral therapy in Kenya, Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe: the REALITY trial

Meeting abstract FRAB0101LB from 21st International AIDS Conference 18–22 July 2016, Durban, South Africa. Introduction: Mortality from infections is high in the first 6 months of antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV‐infected adults and children with advanced disease in sub‐Saharan Africa. Whether an enhanced package of infection prophylaxis at ART initiation would reduce mortality is unknown. Methods: The REALITY 2×2×2 factorial open‐label trial (ISRCTN43622374) randomized ART‐naïve HIV‐infected adults and children >5 years with CD4 <100 cells/mm3. This randomization compared initiating ART with enhanced prophylaxis (continuous cotrimoxazole plus 12 weeks isoniazid/pyridoxine (anti‐tuberculosis) and fluconazole (anti‐cryptococcal/candida), 5 days azithromycin (anti‐bacterial/protozoal) and single‐dose albendazole (anti‐helminth)), versus standard‐of‐care cotrimoxazole. Isoniazid/pyridoxine/cotrimoxazole was formulated as a scored fixed‐dose combination. Two other randomizations investigated 12‐week adjunctive raltegravir or supplementary food. The primary endpoint was 24‐week mortality. Results: 1805 eligible adults (n = 1733; 96.0%) and children/adolescents (n = 72; 4.0%) (median 36 years; 53.2% male) were randomized to enhanced (n = 906) or standard prophylaxis (n = 899) and followed for 48 weeks (3.8% loss‐to‐follow‐up). Median baseline CD4 was 36 cells/mm3 (IQR: 16–62) but 47.3% were WHO Stage 1/2. 80 (8.9%) enhanced versus 108(12.2%) standard prophylaxis died before 24 weeks (adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.73 (95% CI: 0.54–0.97) p = 0.03; Figure 1) and 98(11.0%) versus 127(14.4%) respectively died before 48 weeks (aHR = 0.75 (0.58–0.98) p = 0.04), with no evidence of interaction with the two other randomizations (p > 0.8). Enhanced prophylaxis significantly reduced incidence of tuberculosis (p = 0.02), cryptococcal disease (p = 0.01), oral/oesophageal candidiasis (p = 0.02), deaths of unknown cause (p = 0.02) and (marginally) hospitalisations (p = 0.06) but not presumed severe bacterial infections (p = 0.38). Serious and grade 4 adverse events were marginally less common with enhanced prophylaxis (p = 0.06). CD4 increases and VL suppression were similar between groups (p > 0.2). Conclusions: Enhanced infection prophylaxis at ART initiation reduces early mortality by 25% among HIV‐infected adults and children with advanced disease. The pill burden did not adversely affect VL suppression. Policy makers should consider adopting and implementing this low‐cost broad infection prevention package which could save 3.3 lives for every 100 individuals treated