Thrombotic genetic risk factors and warfarin pharmacogenetic variants in São Miguel's healthy population (Azores)

<p>Summary</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The Azorean population presents the highest standardized mortality rate for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) when compared to mainland Portugal and other populations. Since thrombosis is a common cause of CVD, we assessed four polymorphisms in three thrombotic risk genes – <it>F5 </it>(G1691A), <it>F2 </it>(G20210A) and <it>MTHFR </it>(C677T, A1298C), in 469 healthy blood donors from São Miguel Island (Azores). We also analysed the <it>CYP2C9 </it>(C430T, A1075C) and <it>VKORC1 </it>(G1639A) variants in fifty-eight individuals with predisposition to thrombosis (possessing at least one variation in <it>F5 </it>or <it>F2 </it>genes and one in <it>MTHFR</it>) to evaluate their warfarin drug response genetic profiles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among the 469 individuals, the data showed that thrombotic risk allele frequencies – 1691A (4.9%), 20210A (1.8%), 677T (41.7%) and 1298C (24.8%) – were similar to other Caucasians, but significantly different from mainland Portuguese (χ², <it>p </it>< 0.001). The combined analysis of these variants identified twenty-two different genetic profiles (genotype order: <it>F5</it>, <it>F2</it>, <it>MTHFR </it>C677T and A1298C). Complete homozygosity for all wild-type alleles (GG GG CC AA) was present in 11.7%, being GG GG CT AA (22.4%) the most frequent profile. The results also demonstrated that 12.4% (58 out of 469) of São Miguel islanders have increased genetic predisposition to thrombosis. Subsequently, we evaluated these individuals for their warfarin response genetic profiles. The data showed that seven out of fifty-eight individuals are poor metabolizers (two with <it>CYP2C9</it>*2/*2 and five with <it>CYP2C9</it>*2/*3 genotypes). <it>VKORC1 </it>polymorphism analysis identified twelve individuals (20.7%) with AA genotype, who probably will require lower doses of warfarin. The joint analysis of <it>CYP2C9 </it>and <it>VKORC1 </it>revealed that 79.3% (46 out of 58) of the individuals carry at least one polymorphism in these genes. Within these, twenty-five individuals (43.1%) need intermediate and/or low doses of warfarin, if treatment is started.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study demonstrated, for the first time, that São Miguel, and possibly the Azores population, shows significant differences on allele frequencies of thrombotic risk factors when compared to mainland Portugal. This research constitutes a primary approach for future studies on CVD, as well as for the implementation of warfarin dosing protocols using the patient's genotypic information.</p

EVALUACIÓN DE LA ANTIBIOSIS DE CUATRO VARIEDADES DE TOMATE Lycopersicon esculentum A LA PALOMILLA Tuta absoluta ( Lepidóptera: Gelechiidae)

El experimento fue realizado en el laboratorio de la División de Entomología del Departamento de Protección Vegetal, de la Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Asunción, bajo condiciones controladas de temperatura: 25 ± 5ºC, humedad relativa de 70 ± 10% y fotoperiodo de 12 horas. El objetivo del trabajo fue evaluar la antibiosis de las variedades de tomate Santa Cruz Kada Gigante, Floradade y Jumbo, sobre la palomillaTuta absoluta. Los resultados indican que la fase larval más prolongada se observó en la variedad Jumbo, con una media de 9,636 ± 1,16 días y la fase pupal de mayor duración en Jumbo y Santa Cruz Kada Gigante. El menor peso de pupas hembras se registró en Floradade con 3,455 ± 0,99mg y el mayor porcentaje de deformación de pupas en Floradade y Santa Cruz Kada Gigante (6,7%). La menor longevidad se obtuvo en Santa Clara, con una duración de 22,2 ± 9,20 días. Las palomillas criadas con la variedad Floradade presentaron la menor fecundidad, con un total de 119,2 ± 82,99 huevos. Considerando los efectos de las diferentes variedades de tomate sobre la biología de la palomilla, se concluye que la Santa Cruz es la que presenta mayor antibiosis

Parasitismo Natural de Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), en cuatro departamentos de Paraguay

&nbsp; The impact produced by natural enemies on culture pests is a very important factor to be taken into account when evaluating control methods. In this contaxt, the characteristic fauna of a region and its influence on a particular pest are very relevant data. This paper records the occurrence of parasitoids naturally associated with the fall army worm, Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797), in Paraguay, and their percentual impact, calculated from rearing larvae of the host collected during the period 2015 – 2016 in the departments of Caaguazú, Alto Paraná, Canindeyú and Itapúa. The parasitoids recorded were: Dissomphalus spp. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), Exasticolus fuscicornis Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Ophion spp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Archytas spp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) and Winthenia spp. (Diptera: Tachinidae).&nbsp; El impacto que los enemigos naturales producen sobre las plagas de cultivos es un factor importante a tener en cuenta en el momento de evaluar los métodos de control a ser aplicados. En este contexto, la fauna propia de una región y su influencia sobre una plaga en particular son datos relevantes. Este articulo reporta la ocurrencia de parasitoides asociados de manera natural al gusano cogollero Spodoptera frugiperda (Smith, 1797), en el Paraguay, y su impacto porcentual, calculado en la base de cría de larvas del hospedero colectados durante el período 2015 - 2016 en los departamentos de Caaguazú, Alto Paraná, Canindeyú e Itapúa. Los parasitoides reportados fueron: Dissomphalus spp. (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae), Exasticolus fuscicornis Cameron (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), Ophion spp. (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), Archytas spp. (Diptera: Tachinidae) y Winthenia spp. (Diptera: Tachinidae

What's in a Sign? Trademark Law and Economic Theory

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to summarise the extant theory as it relates to the economics of trademark, and to give some suggestions for further research with reference to distinct streams of literature. The proposed line of study inevitably looks at the complex relationship between signs and economics. Trademark is a sign introduced to remedy a market failure. It facilitates purchase decisions by indicating the provenance of the goods, so that consumers can identify specific quality attributes deriving from their own, or others&apos;, past experience. Trademark holders, on their part, have an incentive to invest in quality because they will be able to reap the benefits in terms of reputation. In other words, trademark law becomes an economic device which, opportunely designed, can produce incentives for maximising market efficiency. This role must, of course, be recognised, as a vast body of literature has done, with its many positive economic consequences. Nevertheless, trademark appears to have additional economic effects that should be properly recognized: it can determine the promotion of market power and the emergence of rent-seeking behaviours. It gives birth to an idiosyncratic economics of signs where very strong protection tends to be assured, even though the welfare effects are as yet poorly understood. In this domain much remains to be done and the challenge to researchers is open