Tamaño relativo del cerebro en murciélagos cubanos

Se estudia el tamaño relativo del cerebro en 22 especies de murciélagos cubanos, incluidos en seis familias: Phyllostomidae (siete), Mormoopidae (cuatro), Natalidae (una), Noctilionidae (cuatro), Vespertilionidae (cuatro) y Molossidae (cinco). Se incluyeron todos los géneros (19) presentes en el Archipiélago cubano con la excepción de Anthrozous. El exponente alométrico que describe la relación entre el volumen endocraneal y la masa corporal es considerablemente más alto que el hallado en estudios anteriores sobre el orden Chiroptera. Los filostómidos presentaron cerebros más grandes que otras especies de murciélagos insectívoros. Al examinar la relación del coeficiente de cefalización con diferentes estrategias en el uso del hábitat, se encontró la mayor relación cuando los murciélagos se agruparon de acuerdo al uso de los diferentes espacios alimentarios. El desarrollo endocraneal observado en la fauna de murciélagos de Cuba muestra la misma tendencia que en estudios previos: la utilización de hábitats y conductas más complejas determinan mayores volúmenes cerebrales.The relative brain size is described for 22 Cuban bats, seven species from the Phyllostomidae, Mormoopidae (four species), Natalidae (one species), Vespertilionidae (four species), Noctilionidae (one species) and Molossidae (five species). This study included all genera (19) recorded in Cuba, with the exception of Anthrozous. The allometric exponent describing the functional trend between the endocranial volume (brain size) and body mass, is considerably highest than the exponent value found in previous studies in Chiroptera. The phyllostomids had significantly larger brains that insectivorous species. When examining the relationship of the encephalization quotients with different strategies in the use of the habitat, it was the highest when the bats were grouped according to their foraging strategies. The endocraneal development observed in the cuban bats shows the same tendency that in previous studies of the order Chiroptera: the use of complex foraging strategy is associated with increased relative brain size

Valoración rápida de la biodiversidad en cayos al sureste de la Ciénaga de Zapata (Cuba)

Se realizó una valoración rápida de la biodiversidad en cayos y algunas zonas costeras al sureste de la Reserva de la Biosfera Ciénaga de Zapata, importante zona biodiversa de Cuba y la región caribeña. Se efectuaron dos expediciones de 6 y 9 días en el primer trimestre de 2004 para inventariar las especies que constituyen su flora y fauna (especialmente de vertebrados terrestres). Se detectaron 165 especies de plantas con flores (10 taxones endémicos), pertenecientes a 133 géneros y 64 familias. En lo concerniente a vertebrados se observaron 61 especies (8 especies endémicas): 5 mamíferos (incluyendo una especie invasora, Rattus rattus), 42 aves, 13 reptiles y un teleósteo de aguas interiores. Se comentan los impactos que están afectando actualmente a la biodiversidad de la zona. Los datos obtenidos serán de utilidad para la elaboración de posibles planes de manejos y de conservación en esta zona protegida.We carried out a rapid assessment of the biodiversity in some keys and adjacent coastal zones Southeast Ciénaga de Zapata Biosphere Reserve. This area constitutes an important biodiverse zone of Cuba and the Caribbean region. In order to prepare an inventory of its flora and fauna (especially terrestrial vertebrates), two expeditions of six and nine days were done between January and March of 2004. We detected 165 species of flowering plants (10 endemic taxa), belonging to 133 genus and 64 families. As for vertebrates, we observed 61 species (8 endemic species): 5 mammals (including an invasive species, Rattus rattus), 42 birds, 13 reptiles, and one freshwater teleost species. The impacts that are affecting the biodiversity of the zone are commented. This information will be useful to elaborate possible plans of management and conservation of this protected area

El verdadero origen histórico del trauma cardíaco penetrante

Introducción. Los traumatismos cardíacos son lesiones graves y con elevado índice de letalidad, aspecto que influye en el interés mostrado por los lectores cada vez que aparecen reportados en publicaciones científicas. En ocasiones existe cierto grado de incongruencia a la hora de establecer el origen histórico de sucesos o eventos ocurridos y relacionados con la historia de la medicina. En el caso del trauma cardíaco penetrante han sido descritos diversos orígenes en algunos de los artículos científicos publicados, lo cual puede generar un grado de duda en los lectores. Métodos. Se realizó una revisión de la literatura, médica y no médica, para buscar información que ayudara a esclarecer el verdadero origen histórico de esta entidad. Resultados. El trauma cardíaco penetrante fue descrito por primera vez en la obra griega titulada La Ilíada, escrita por Homero en el siglo VIII A.C., y no en El papiro quirúrgico de Edwin Smith, como varios autores mencionan. Conclusiones. De todos los eventos de trauma cardíaco penetrante descritos, el más irrefutable es el narrado en el canto XIII, donde se cuenta la muerte de Alcátoo, producto de una herida cardíaca ocasionada por una lanza arrojada por Idomeneo durante una batalla

Experimental-Theoretic Approach to Drug-Lymphocyte Interactome Networks with Flow Cytometry and Spectral Moments Perturbation Theory

Modelos matematicos y citometria de flujoAbstract: We can combine experimental techniques like Flow Cytometry Analysis (FCA) with Chemoinformatics methods to predict the complex networks of interactions between organic compounds and targets in the immune system. In this work, we determined experimentally the values of EC50 = 17.82 μg/mL and Cytotoxicity = 20.6 % for the antimicrobial / anti-parasite drug Dermofural over Balb/C CD9 lymphocytes using flow cytometry. After that, we developed a new Perturbation-theory model for Drug-Cell Target Interactome in Lymphocytes based on dispersion-polarization moments of drug structure. The models correctly classifies 34591 out of 42715 (Accuracy = 80.9%) cases of perturbations in assay endpoints of 11492 drugs (including both train and validation series). Each endpoint correspond to one out of 2616 assays, 38 molecular and cellular targets, 77 standard type measures, in four possible (human and rodentsCONACY

Genetic diversity of Bm86 sequences in Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus ticks from Mexico: analysis of haplotype distribution patterns

Artículo científico derivado de Tesis doctoral de Saúl Gabriel Martínez ArzateBackground: Ticks are a problem for cattle production mainly in tropical and subtropical regions, because they generate great economic losses. Acaricides and vaccines have been used to try to keep tick populations under control. This has been proven difficult given the resistance to acaricides and vaccines observed in ticks. Resistance to protein rBm86-based vaccines has been associated with the genetic diversity of Bm86 among the ectoparasite’s populations. So far, neither genetic diversity, nor spatial distribution of circulating Bm86 haplotypes, have been studied within the Mexican territory. Here, we explored the genetic diversity of 125 Bm86 cDNA gene sequences from R. microplus from 10 endemic areas of Mexico by analyzing haplotype distribution patterns to help in understanding the population genetic structure of Mexican ticks. Results: Our results showed an average nucleotide identity among the Mexican isolates of 98.3%, ranging from 91.1 to 100%. Divergence between the Mexican and Yeerongpilly (the Bm86 reference vaccine antigen) sequences ranged from 3.1 to 7.4%. Based on the geographic distribution of Bm86 haplotypes in Mexico, our results suggest gene flow occurrence within different regions of the Mexican territory, and even the USA. Conclusions: The polymorphism of Bm86 found in the populations included in this study, could account for the poor efficacy of the current Bm86 antigen based commercial vaccine in many regions of Mexico. Our data may contribute towards designing new, highly-specific, Bm86 antigen vaccine candidates against R. microplus circulating in Mexico.SIEAE UAEM FES

Taxonomic identity of invasive rabbits in Cuba: first record of Eastern Cottontail, Sylvilagus floridanus (Mammalia: Lagomorpha)

In islands of the West Indian zoogeographical region, rabbits are not native, and wild populations are the result of introductions. Oryctolagus cuniculus is the only lagomorph listed among the introduced mammals of the Cuban archipelago. We analyzed specimens of wild rabbits and we report the occurrence of Sylvilagus floridanus for the first time in Cuba. Capture data suggest that their distribution is currently limited to the west-central region of the island. However, the niche models showed high climatic suitability throughout the majority of Cuba, suggesting a high expansion probability

Model for High-Throughput Screening of drug immunotoxicity - study of the antimicrobial G1 over peritoneal macrophages using flow cytometry

Modelos matematicos y citometriaQuantitative Structure-Activity (mt-QSAR) techniques may become an important tool for prediction of cytotoxicity and High-throughput Screening (HTS) of drugs to rationalize drug discovery process. In this work, we train and validate by the first time mt-QSAR model using TOPS-MODE approach to calculate drug molecular descriptors and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) function. This model correctly classifies 8,258 out of 9,000 (Accuracy = 91.76%) multiplexing assay endpoints of 7903 drugs (including both train and validation series). Each endpoint correspond to one out of 1418 assays, 36 molecular and cellular targets, 46 standard type measures, in two possible organisms (human and mouse). After that, we determined experimentally, by the first time, the values of EC50 = 21.58 μg/mL and Cytotoxicity = 23.6 % for the anti-microbial / antiparasite drug G1 over Balb/C mouse peritoneal macrophages using flow cytometry. In addition, the model predicts for G1 only 7 positive endpoints out 1,251 cytotoxicity assays (0.56% of probability of cytotoxicity in multiple assays). The results obtained complement the toxicological studies of this important drug. This work adds a new tool to the existing pool of few methods useful for multi-target HTS of ChEMBL and other libraries of compounds towards drug discovery.Conacy

Preferencia de ovinos por las ramas de diferentes frutales

Growing-finishing sheep preference for certain species of fruit-bearing trees, i.e., Citrus paradisi; Citrus sinensis, L; Mangifera indica, L; Psidium guajava, L, and Cocus nucifera was assessed. A completely randomized experimental design comprising five treatments (fruit-bearing species) and six experimental units (two sheep each ad libitum fed with fastened together branches from the fruit-bearing species) was applied. Average consumption value of each forage by each animal pair was determined. Based on these values, a preference index was estimated, i.e., the rate of each fruit-bearing species consumed out of the total intake. The preference index for M. indica branches was highly significant (P<0,001) compared to the other fruit-bearing species; the second place of preference was shared by C. paradisi and C sinensis branches which showed very similar values; the third place was for P.guajava branches, while C. nucifera branches were less preferred. Therefore, a stable preference pattern was evident. Control upon sheep browsing on these fruit-bearing species is recommended to protect these crops, though caution concerning C,nucifera is practically unnecessary.Se evaluó la aceptación relativa de ovinos en crecimiento ceba, por las ramas de toronja marsh (Citrus paradisi), naranja Valencia (Citrus sinensis, L.), mango haden (Mangifera indica, L.), guayaba (Psidium guajava, L.) y coco (Cocus nucifera). Se empleó un diseño experimental completamente aleatorizado con cinco tratamientos (especies frutales) y seis unidades experimentales de dos ovinos cada una que tuvieron a su disposición ramas de los cinco frutales, atadas en mazos. Se determinó el consumo promedio de cada forraje realizado por el dúo de animales y con este valor se calculó el índice de preferencia, expresado como la proporción de cada frutal consumido, del total ingerido. Se encontró un índice de preferencia para las ramas de mango, significativamente superior (P<0,001) al resto de los frutales; compartieron el segundo lugar en este indicador los cítricos (naranja y toronja) con valores muy similares entre sí; el tercer lugar en preferencia fue para las ramas de guayaba, siendo las de coco las menos apetecidas. Se evidenció un patrón de preferencia estable Se recomienda controlar el ramoneo que pudiera perjudicar estos cultivos, sobre la base de los resultados de esta investigación, o sea, que la disuasión es prácticamente innecesaria en el coco, a diferencia del resto

Neoumbilicoplasty with vertical island pedicle flap for a large pigmented umbilical nevus

Introduction: The umbilicus is a unique physiologic scar of human body. Its absence leads to an unnatural abdominal appearance and can cause psychological and social complexes. Objective: To present a case of neoumbilicoplasty with vertical island pedicle flap for a large pigmented umbilical nevus. Clinical case: A healthy 50-year-old female patient with a history of a pigmentated nevus on the umbilicus since childhood that complains of changes in size and color of it. She also referred notice a lump in the upper umbilical region which was an umbilical hernia. The patient underwent an omphalectomy with oncological margins, an umbilical hernia repair and a neoumbilicoplasty with vertical island pedicle flap. Seroma was the only postoperative complication. Aesthetic results were acceptable and satisfied the patient. Conclusions: This is a rare case not only because the umbilical skin lesions are uncommon but the neoumbilicoplasty technique is rarely used