Detección de marcadores microsatélites asociados con la resistencia al añublo bacterial de la yuca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) en Colombia

Una de las principales estrategias para el manejo del Añublo Bacterial de la Yuca (CBB), causado por Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis es el uso de resistencia varietal, que implica desarrollar variedades de yuca con resistencia genética duradera. Para tal fin, es necesario conocer los genes que dominan la resistencia a la enfermedad, detectando inicialmente marcadores moleculares asociados con la respuesta fenotipica de la planta, siendo este el principal objetivo del presente estudio. Inicialmente, se evaluó la reacción a CBB de 4 familias de yuca BCI (retrocruce 1), se seleccionó la más segregante bajo presión natural de inóculo en Villavicencio (Meta, Colombia) y se confirmó la respuesta a CBB en condiciones de invernadero en CIAT (Palmira, Valle). La familia GM 315 presentó la mejor segregación, siendo la más adecuada para buscar asociación entre su reacción fenotípica y la presencia de un marcador molecular. Para esto, se evaluaron 486 cebadores microsatélites mediante análisis de grupos segregantes (BSA), encontrándose que 17 de ellos mostraron polimorfismo entre los grupos contrastantes y solo uno de ellos, el cebador SSRY 65, mostró diferencias significativas entre individuos resistentes y susceptibles. Al evaluar este cebador en toda la familia segregante se encontró asociación entre su presencia y los individuos evaluados fenotípicamente como resistentes en campo e invernadero, con una probabilidad mínima de P=0,OOl5 y P=0,OO7 respectivamente, en una prueba de Chicuadrado de independencia. Adicionalmente, a partir de los resultados obtenidos en el análisis estadístico, se calcularon los valores predictivos, especificidad y sensibilidad del marcador SSRY 65. Con base en los valores predictivos positivos generados, es posible sugerir la utilización de este marcador en pruebas diagnósticas para detectar la presencia de una banda específica en individuos resistentes de familias genéticamente relacionadas con la familia GM 315. = A major strategy for managing Cassava Bacterial blight (CBB), caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. manihotis, is to use varietal resistance, that is, to develop cassava varieties with lasting genetic resistance. A search for the genes that dominate resistance to the disease was initially conducted by seeking the molecular markers associated with the plant s phenotypic response to CBB. The response in four BC1 (backcross 1) cassava families was accordingly evaluated under natural disease pressure at Villavicencio (Meta, Colombia). The most segregating family was then selected, and its response to CBB was verified under greenhouse conditions at CIAT (Palmira, Valle). Family GM 315 presented the best segregation, so, it was the most suitable for seeking association between its phenotypic reaction and the presence of a molecular marker. Of 486 microsatellite primers evaluated by bulked segregant analysis (BSA), 17 showed polymorphism among contrasting groups. Only one primer, SSRY 65, showed significant differences between resistant and susceptible individuals. On evaluating this primer for the entire segregating family, an association was found between its presence and individuals evaluated phenotypically as resistant in the field and greenhouse (minimum P = 0.0015 and P = 0.007, respectively, in a chi-square test of independence). With the results of the statistical analysis, the predictive values, specificity, and sensibility of marker SSRY 65 were calculated. The positive predictive values generated indicate that this marker can be used in diagnostic tests to detect the presence of a specific band in resistant individuals of families genetically related to the GM 315 family

Intraoperative goal directed hemodynamic therapy in noncardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: The goal directed hemodynamic therapy is an approach focused on the use of cardiac output and related parameters as end-points for fluids and drugs to optimize tissue perfusion and oxygen delivery. Primary aim: To determine the effects of intraoperative goal directed hemodynamic therapy on postoperative complications rates. Methods: A meta-analysis was carried out of the effects of goal directed hemodynamic therapy in adult noncardiac surgery on postoperative complications and mortality using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses methodology. A systematic search was performed in Medline PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library (last update, October 2014). Inclusion criteria were randomized clinical trials in which intraoperative goal directed hemodynamic therapy was compared to conventional fluid management in noncardiac surgery. Exclusion criteria were trauma and pediatric surgery studies and that using pulmonary artery catheter. End-points were postoperative complications (primary) and mortality (secondary). Those studies that fulfilled the entry criteria were examined in full and subjected to quantifiable analysis, predefined subgroup analysis (stratified by type of monitor, therapy, and hemodynamic goal), and predefined sensitivity analysis. Results: 51 RCTs were initially identified, 24 fulfilling the inclusion criteria. 5 randomized clinical trials were added by manual search, resulting in 29 randomized clinical trials in the final analysis, including 2654 patients. A significant reduction in complications for goal directed hemodynamic therapy was observed (RR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.62-0.79, p < 0.001). No significant decrease in mortality was achieved (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.45-1.28, p = 0.30). Quality sensitive analyses confirmed the main overall results. Conclusions: Intraoperative goal directed hemodynamic therapy with minimally invasive monitoring decreases postoperative complications in noncardiac surgery, although it was not able to show a significant decrease in mortality rate

Respiratory Volume Monitoring: A Machine-Learning Approach to the Non-Invasive Prediction of Tidal Volume and Minute Ventilation

Continuous monitoring of ventilatory parameters such as tidal volume (TV) and minute ventilation (MV) has shown to be effective in the prevention of respiratory compromise events in hospitalized patients. However, the non-invasive estimation of respiratory volume in non-intubated patients remains an outstanding challenge. In this work, we present a novel approach to respiratory volume monitoring (RVM) that continuously predicts TV and MV in normal subjects. Respiratory flow in 19 volunteers under spontaneous breathing was recorded using respiratory inductance plethysmography and a temperature-based wearable sensor. Temperature signals were processed to identify features such as temperature amplitude and mean value, among others. The feature datasets were then used to train and validate three machine-learning (ML) algorithms for the prediction of respiratory volume based on temperature-related features. A model based on Random-Forest regression resulted in the lowest root mean-square error and was subsequently chosen to predict ventilatory parameters on subject test data not used in the construction of the model. Our predictions achieve a bias (mean error) in TV and MV of 16.04 mL and 0.19 L/min, respectively, which compare well with performance metrics reported in commercially-available RVM systems based on electrical impedance. Our results show that the combination of novel respiratory temperature sensors and machine-learning algorithms can deliver accurate and continuous estimates of TV and MV in healthy subjects

Surveillance for Invasive Meningococcal Disease in Children, US–Mexico Border, 2005–20081

We reviewed confirmed cases of pediatric invasive meningococcal disease in Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego County, California, USA, during 2005–2008. The overall incidence and fatality rate observed in Tijuana were similar to those found in the US, and serogroup distribution suggests that most cases in Tijuana are vaccine preventable

Dynamics of senescence-related QTLs in potato

The study of quantitative trait’s expression over time helps to understand developmental processes which occur in the course of the growing season. Temperature and other environmental factors play an important role. The dynamics of haulm senescence was observed in a diploid potato mapping population in two consecutive years (2004 and 2005) under field conditions in Finland. The available time series data were used in a smoothed generalized linear model to characterize curves describing the senescence development in terms of its onset, mean and maximum progression rate and inflection point. These characteristics together with the individual time points were used in a Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis. Although QTLs occurring early in the senescence process coincided with QTLs for onset of senescence, the analysis of the time points made it difficult to study senescence as a continuous trait. Characteristics estimated from the senescence curve allowed us to study it as a developmental process and provide a meaningful biological interpretation to the results. Stable QTLs in the two experimental years were identified for progression rate and year-specific QTLs were detected for onset of senescence and inflection point. Specific interactions between loci controlling senescence development were also found. Epistatic interaction between QTLs on chromosomes 4, 5 and 7 were detected in 2004 and pleiotopic effects of QTLs on chromosomes 3 and 4 were observed in 2005

Survival of infants born with esophageal atresia among 24 international birth defects surveillance programs

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) affects around 2.3–2.6 per 10,000 births world-wide. Infants born with this condition require surgical correction soon after birth. Most survival studies of infants with EA are locally or regionally based. We aimed to describe survival across multiple world regions. Methods: We included infants diagnosed with EA between 1980 and 2015 from 24 birth defects surveillance programs that are members of the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research. We calculated survival as the proportion of liveborn infants alive at 1 month, 1- and 5-years, among all infants with EA, those with isolated EA, those with EA and additional anomalies or EA and a chromosomal anomaly or genetic syndrome. We also investigated trends in survival over the decades, 1980s–2010s. Results: We included 6,466 liveborn infants with EA. Survival was 89.4% (95% CI 88.1–90.5) at 1-month, 84.5% (95% CI 83.0–85.9) at 1-year and 82.7% (95% CI 81.2–84.2) at 5-years. One-month survival for infants with isolated EA (97.1%) was higher than for infants with additional anomalies (89.7%) or infants with chromosomal or genetic syndrome diagnoses (57.3%) with little change at 1- and 5-years. Survival at 1 month improved from the 1980s to the 2010s, by 6.5% for infants with isolated EA and by 21.5% for infants with EA and additional anomalies. Conclusions: Almost all infants with isolated EA survived to 5 years. Mortality was higher for infants with EA and an additional anomaly, including chromosomal or genetic syndromes. Survival improved from the 1980s, particularly for those with additional anomalies

Chitosan-zein nano-in-microparticles Capable of Mediating in vivo Transgene Expression Following Oral Delivery

The oral route is an attractive delivery route for the administration of DNA-based therapeutics, specifically for applications in gene therapy and DNA vaccination. However, oral DNA delivery is complicated by the harsh and variable conditions encountered throughout gastrointestinal (GI) transit, leading to degradation of the delivery vector and DNA cargo, and subsequent inefficient delivery to target cells. In this work, we demonstrate the development and optimization of a hybrid-dual particulate delivery system consisting of two natural biomaterials, zein (ZN) and chitosan (CS), to mediate oral DNA delivery. Chitosan-Zein Nano-in-Microparticles (CS-ZN-NIMs), consisting of core Chitosan/DNA nanoparticles (CS/DNA NPs) prepared by ionic gelation with sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP), further encapsulated in ZN microparticles, were formulated using a water-in-oil emulsion (W/O). The resulting particles exhibited high CS/DNA NP loading and encapsulation within ZN microparticles. DNA release profiles in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) were improved compared to un-encapsulated CS/ DNA NPs. Further, site-specific degradation of the outer ZN matrix and release of transfection competent CS/ DNA NPs occurred in simulated intestinal conditions with CS/DNA NP cores successfully mediating transfection in vitro. Finally, CS-ZN-NIMs encoding GFP delivered by oral gavage in vivo induced the production of anti-GFP IgA antibodies, demonstrating in vivo transfection and expression. Together, these results demonstrate the successful formulation of CS-ZN-NIMs and their potential to improve oral gene delivery through improved protection and controlled release of DNA cargo

Analysis of separate training and validation radical prostatectomy cohorts identifies 0.25 mm diameter as an optimal definition for "large" cribriform prostatic adenocarcinoma.

Cribriform growth pattern is well-established as an adverse pathologic feature in prostate cancer. The literature suggests "large" cribriform glands associate with aggressive behavior; however, published studies use varying definitions for "large". We aimed to identify an outcome-based quantitative cut-off for "large" vs "small" cribriform glands. We conducted an initial training phase using the tissue microarray based Canary retrospective radical prostatectomy cohort. Of 1287 patients analyzed, cribriform growth was observed in 307 (24%). Using Kaplan-Meier estimates of recurrence-free survival curves (RFS) that were stratified by cribriform gland size, we identified 0.25 mm as the optimal cutoff to identify more aggressive disease. In univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses, size &gt;0.25 mm was a significant predictor of worse RFS compared to patients with cribriform glands ≤0.25 mm, independent of pre-operative PSA, grade, stage and margin status (p &lt; 0.001). In addition, two different subset analyses of low-intermediate risk cases (cases with Gleason score ≤ 3 + 4 = 7; and cases with Gleason score = 3 + 4 = 7/4 + 3 = 7) likewise demonstrated patients with largest cribriform diameter &gt;0.25 mm had a significantly lower RFS relative to patients with cribriform glands ≤0.25 mm (each subset p = 0.004). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in outcomes between patients with cribriform glands ≤ 0.25 mm and patients without cribriform glands. The &gt;0.25 mm cut-off was validated as statistically significant in a separate 419 patient, completely embedded whole-section radical prostatectomy cohort by biochemical recurrence, metastasis-free survival, and disease specific death, even when cases with admixed Gleason pattern 5 carcinoma were excluded. In summary, our findings support reporting cribriform gland size and identify 0.25 mm as an optimal outcome-based quantitative measure for defining "large" cribriform glands. Moreover, cribriform glands &gt;0.25 mm are associated with potential for metastatic disease independent of Gleason pattern 5 adenocarcinoma

Coupled dark energy: Towards a general description of the dynamics

In dark energy models of scalar-field coupled to a barotropic perfect fluid, the existence of cosmological scaling solutions restricts the Lagrangian of the field \vp to p=X g(Xe^{\lambda \vp}), where X=-g^{\mu\nu} \partial_\mu \vp \partial_\nu \vp /2, $\lambda$ is a constant and $g$ is an arbitrary function. We derive general evolution equations in an autonomous form for this Lagrangian and investigate the stability of fixed points for several different dark energy models--(i) ordinary (phantom) field, (ii) dilatonic ghost condensate, and (iii) (phantom) tachyon. We find the existence of scalar-field dominant fixed points (\Omega_\vp=1) with an accelerated expansion in all models irrespective of the presence of the coupling $Q$ between dark energy and dark matter. These fixed points are always classically stable for a phantom field, implying that the universe is eventually dominated by the energy density of a scalar field if phantom is responsible for dark energy. When the equation of state w_\vp for the field \vp is larger than -1, we find that scaling solutions are stable if the scalar-field dominant solution is unstable, and vice versa. Therefore in this case the final attractor is either a scaling solution with constant \Omega_\vp satisfying 0<\Omega_\vp<1 or a scalar-field dominant solution with \Omega_\vp=1.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures; minor clarifications added, typos corrected and references updated; final version to appear in JCA