Priority questions for biodiversity conservation in the Mediterranean biome: Heterogeneous perspectives across continents and stakeholders

The identification of research questions with high relevance for biodiversity conservation is an important step towards designing more effective policies and management actions, and to better allocate funding among alternative conservation options. However, the identification of priority questions may be influenced by regional differences in biodiversity threats and social contexts, and to variations in the perceptions and interests of different stakeholders. Here we describe the results of a prioritization exercise involving six types of stakeholders from the Mediterranean biome, which includes several biodiversity hotspots spread across five regions of the planet (Europe, Africa, North and South America, and Australia). We found great heterogeneity across regions and stakeholder types in the priority topics identified and disagreement among the priorities of research scientists and other stakeholders. However, governance, climate change, and public participation issues were key topics in most regions. We conclude that the identification of research priorities should be targeted in a way that integrates the spectrum of stakeholder interests, potential funding sources and regional needs, and that further development of interdisciplinary studies is required. The key questions identified here provide a basis to identify priorities for research funding aligned with biodiversity conservation needs in this biome

Obstetric and neo-natal outcomes of ICSI cycles using pentoxifylline to identify viable spermatozoa in patients with immotile spermatozoa

Pentoxifylline (PF) represents an effective tool in stimulating motility and identifying viable spermatozoa in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) patients presenting exclusively with immotile spermatozoa. However, its use is not universally accepted for its possible detrimental effects on oocytes, embryos or newborns. To evaluate whether PF use may affect obstetrical/neo-natal outcomes, 102 patients achieving a clinical pregnancy after a PF-ICSI in four IVF units in Spain and Italy were followed up after delivery. Neo-natal malformations were classified according to the World Health Organization International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10, range Q00-Q99). Malformation rate was compared with data published by other groups regarding children conceived by conventional IVF or ICSI reporting a 5.3% and 4.4% frequency of ICD-10 codes, respectively. Of 134 clinical pregnancies, 122 babies (82 singletons and 40 twins) were registered. Among singletons, the rates of low birthweight ( 642500\u2009g) and preterm birth (<37 weeks) were 6.1% and12%, respectively. Regarding malformation rate per live births, 4/122 (3.3%, 95% confidence interval: 0.9\u20138.2%) babies with ICD-10 malformations were recorded. This is the first report on neo-natal outcomes deriving from PF-ICSI. Although based on a limited cohort, results do not suggest an increase of adverse outcomes, including malformation rates, following this procedure

Homocysteine and cognitive impairment in Parkinson's disease: a biochemical, neuroimaging, and genetic study.

8 páginas, 1 figura, 4 tablas.The role of the plasma level of homocysteine (Hcy), as a primary outcome, and the effect of silent cerebrovascular lesions and genetic variants related to Hcy metabolism, as secondary outcomes, in the cognitive decline and dementia in Parkinson's disease (PD) were studied. This case-control study focused on 89 PD patients of minimum 10 years of evolution and older than 60 years, who were neuropsychologically classified either as cognitively normal (n = 37), having mild cognitive impairment (Petersen criteria) (n = 22), or suffering from dementia (DSM-IV) (n = 30), compared with cognitively normal age-matched control subjects (n = 30). Plasma levels of Hcy, vitamins B12 and B6, folic acid, polymorphisms in genes related to Hcy metabolism (MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, and CBS) and silent cerebrovascular events were analyzed. Plasma levels of Hcy were increased in PD patients (P = 0.0001). There were no differences between the groups of patients. The brain vascular burden was similar among PD groups. There was no association between polymorphisms in the studied genes and the Hcy plasma levels or cognitive status in PD patients. We found no evidence for a direct relationship between Hcy plasma levels and cognitive impairment and dementia in PD. No indirect effect through cerebrovascular disease or genetic background was found either.This study was partially funded by a grant from the Government of Navarra (49/2004) Spain, a research grant from Novartis Pharma (Basel, Switzerland) and by the agreement between FIMA and the ‘UTE project FIMA’. Work performed at JP-T laboratory has been funded by the Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain (SAF2006-00724).Peer reviewe

Toxicidade de óleos essenciais de alho e casca de canela contra fungos do grupo Aspergillus flavus Evaluation of essential oils from Allium sativum and Cinnamomum zeilanicum and their toxicity against fungi of the Aspergillus flavus group

Diante da propriedade inibitória de óleos essenciais vegetais sobre o desenvolvimento micelial de fungos e da importância das espécies do grupo Aspergillus flavus, que apresentam potencial para síntese de aflatoxina, este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar in vitro a toxicidade de óleos essenciais vegetais contra fungos do grupo A. flavus, isolados a partir da cultura do amendoim. Inicialmente, foi avaliada a toxicidade de oito óleos essenciais vegetais no desenvolvimento micelial de dois isolados do grupo A. flavus, em comparação ao fungicida sintético benomyl. Em seguida, foi avaliada a toxicidade dos óleos de casca de canela (Cinnamomum zeilanicum Breym.) e de bulbilho de alho (Allium sativum L.) contra 37 isolados do grupo A. flavus, durante 12 meses. A maior inibição do desenvolvimento micelial de A. flavus foi obtida com o emprego dos óleos essenciais de casca de canela e de bulbilho de alho, e o efeito inibitório variou com o isolado testado.<br>Considering the inhibitory property of essential plant oils on the mycelial development of fungi, and the importance of Aspergillus flavus-like fungi which may produce aflatoxins, this research was designed to evaluate the toxicity of essential oils against fungi belonging to the group A. flavus isolated from peanut crops. The toxicity of eight essential oils against two isolates of A. Flavuslike fungi was evaluated in comparison to the synthetic fungicide benomyl. The toxicity of Cinnamomum zeilanicum Breym. and Allium sativum L. essential oils was also evaluated against 37 fungal isolates for a period of 12 months. The highest inhibition of the mycelial development of A. flavus was obtained with cinnamon and garlic essential oils. The inhibitory effect on growth was variable according to the fungal isolate