Genetic studies of Agastache

Agastache is a genus of perennial plants in the mint family primarily native to North America. This genus produces aromatic oils that are used in foods, drugs, and perfumes. Agastache has also been reported to be a valuable source of nectar for honey bee forage. The genus has gained importance in America, Asia, and Europe as a component of tea mixtures and as a flavoring in confections. Because of the increasing popularity of this genus and our limited base of knowledge about it, this dissertation project was conducted to address questions of how aromatic compounds and isozymes are inherited in A. foeniculum. In addition, the genetic control of anthocyanin production and malate dehydrogenase was investigated in A. rugosa;A comprehensive review of research investigations on the genus Agastache is presented. The review covers morphologic, cytogenetic, and taxonomic studies of Agastache. It also includes references describing biochemical studies of Agastache and others describing the culinary, pharmaceutical, and ornamental applications of this genus;I conducted studies to determine the inheritance of some common aromatic compounds and of isozymes in A. foeniculum. Controlled crosses were made between individuals with different chemotypes and isozyme banding patterns and their F2 progenies were analyzed. Hypotheses describing the genetic control of the production of myrcene, limonene, and methylchavicol and of Cat, Got-2, Pgm-2, Tpi-1, and Tpi-2 were tested. In general, production of the three aromatic compounds controlled by single genes with dominant alleles. Results also revealed that Cat, Got-2, Pgm-2, Tpi-1, and Tpi-2 are each controlled by a single gene with codominant alleles;I also conducted a study to determine the inheritance of anthocyanin production and of malate dehydrogenase banding patterns in A. rugosa. These data also support the hypothesis that each of those traits is controlled by single genes. This is the first report of heritable variability in A. rugosa. In general, the genetic behavior of Agastache is that of a normal diploid species

Reporte de casos sobre el uso de ácido tranexámico para reducir el sangrado perioperatorio en liposucción y abdominoplastia

Introduction: Liposuction and abdominoplasty are two of the most common aesthetic surgeries practiced in the world. One of the most frequent complications of these procedures is the perioperative blood loss, which has negative effects on the recovery of the patients after the surgery. For this reason, it is important to search for new possibilities that reduce blood loss during this type of surgery.      Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in reducing perioperative bleeding in liposuction and abdominoplasty procedures. Methods: We present a retrospective case series report in which 1 gram of tranexamic acid was applied to a group of patients before the surgery. Later we reviewed and compared an hemogram taken before and after the surgery. Additionally, we evaluate if the patients required blood transfusion after the procedure. Results: A population of 37 female patients was studied. None of the patients presented a postsurgical hemoglobin level lower than 8 g/dl nor required blood transfusion products after surgery. A Spearman’s rank correlation was performed between the variables, in which there was no evidence of association between lipoaspirate, and hemoglobin or postoperative hematocrit. Conclusion: The tranexamic acid is a medicament that can be useful for reducing perioperative blood loss in liposuction and abdominoplasty, such results were proved since none of the patients who received the medication required transfusion of red blood cells. Key words: Tranexamic acid, liposuction, abdominoplasty, hemorrhage  Introducción: La liposucción y la abdominoplastia son dos de las cirugías estéticas más realizadas en el mundo. Una de las complicaciones más frecuentes de estos procedimientos es el sangrado perioperatorio, el cual puede conllevar a postoperatorios inadecuados y con mayores complicaciones. Por esta razón, se deben buscar nuevos métodos que permitan reducir las pérdidas sanguíneas en este tipo de cirugías. Objetivo: Evaluar la efectividad del ácido tranexámico en reducir el sangrado perioperatorio en liposucción y abdominoplastia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo consistente en un reporte de serie de casos en el que se mencionan un grupo de pacientes a las cuales se aplicó 1 gramo de ácido tranexámico previo a la realización de liposucción y abdominoplastia. En estas pacientes se revisó un hemograma pre quirúrgico y otro post quirúrgico y se comparó la disminución de la hemoglobina y hematocrito. Así mismo, se revisó si las pacientes presentaron la necesidad de transfusión de componentes sanguíneos. Resultados: Se obtuvo una población de 37 pacientes femeninas. Ninguna de las pacientes presentó una hemoglobina postquirúrgica menor de 8 g/dl ni requirió transfusión de hemoderivados después de la cirugía. Se realizó una correlación de Spearman entre las variables, en las cuales no se evidenció asociación entre el lipoaspirado y la hemoglobina o hematocrito postoperatorio. Conclusión: El ácido tranexámico es un medicamento que puede ser útil para reducir el sangrado perioperatorio en liposucción y abdominoplastia ya que ninguna de las pacientes que recibió este medicamento requirió transfusión de hemoderivados.   Palabras clave: Ácido tranexámico, liposucción, abdominoplastia, hemorragi

Acute knockdown of Kv4.1 regulates repetitive firing rates and clock gene expression in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and daily rhythms in locomotor behavior

AbstractRapidly activating and inactivating A-type K+currents (IA) encoded by Kv4.2 and Kv4.3 pore-forming (α) subunits of the Kv4 subfamily are key regulators of neuronal excitability. Previous studies have suggested a role for Kv4.1 α-subunits in regulating the firing properties of mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons. To test this, we utilized an RNA-interference strategy to knockdown Kv4.1, acutely and selectively, in the SCN. Current-clamp recordings revealed that thein vivoknockdown of Kv4.1 significantly (p&lt; 0.0001) increased mean ± SEM repetitive firing rates in SCN neurons during the day (6.4 ± 0.5 Hz) and at night (4.3 ± 0.6 Hz), compared with nontargeted shRNA-expressing SCN neurons (day: 3.1 ± 0.5 Hz; night: 1.6 ± 0.3 Hz). IAwas also significantly (p&lt; 0.05) reduced in Kv4.1-targeted shRNA-expressing SCN neurons (day: 80.3 ± 11.8 pA/pF; night: 55.3 ± 7.7 pA/pF), compared with nontargeted shRNA-expressing (day: 121.7 ± 10.2 pA/pF; night: 120.6 ± 16.5 pA/pF) SCN neurons. The magnitude of the effect of Kv4.1-targeted shRNA expression on firing rates and IAwas larger at night. In addition, Kv4.1-targeted shRNA expression significantly (p&lt; 0.001) increased mean ± SEM nighttime input resistance (Rin; 2256 ± 166 MΩ), compared to nontargeted shRNA-expressing SCN neurons (1143 ± 93 MΩ). Additional experiments revealed that acute knockdown of Kv4.1 significantly (p&lt; 0.01) shortened, by ∼0.5 h, the circadian period of spontaneous electrical activity, clock gene expression and locomotor activity demonstrating a physiological role for Kv4.1-encoded IAchannels in regulating circadian rhythms in neuronal excitability and behavior.</jats:p

Collecting Cuphea, Sanvitalia and Zinnia in Mexico

Cuphea, Sanvitalia and Zinnia germplasm collections are maintained by the North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station (NCRPIS), Ames, Iowa, as part of the National Plant Germplasm System of the United States. A cooperative project was established by the NCRPIS and the Botany Department of the Universidad Nacional Aut6noma de Mexico (UNAM), Mexico City, to organize a collecting trip for these genera. This report summarizes the reasons for, and initial products of, the resulting expedition

Beneficios de la integración sensorial aplicada a través de la ludoterapia, en niños y niñas que asisten a la Asociación Salvadoreña de Autismo, San Miguel año 2016.

La presente investigación se realizó con El Objetivo: Demostrar los beneficios de la integración sensorial aplicada a través de la ludoterapia en niños y niñas que asisten a la Asociación Salvadoreña de Autismo San Miguel, en el periodo de julio a septiembre del año 2016. El plan de tratamiento se realizó en un periodo de tres meses con tres sesiones semanales de dos horas cada una de forma individual. La Metodología: La población estuvo constituida por 7 niños y niñas de 5 a 7 años con diagnóstico de autismo. El tipo de investigación fue prospectiva y descriptiva, se realizó una evaluación inicial y final sobre los sistemas sensoriales básicos de los niños y niñas que asisten a la Asociación Salvadoreña de Autismo. Los Resultados: se comprobó que un 75% tuvo una notable mejoría en cada uno de los sentidos evaluados

Validación de la Versión Española de la Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) usando medidas autoinformadas y psicofisiológicas

Assessment of sexual response and sexual functioning through self-reported measures is of relevance in the area of sexual health. The goal was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in a sample of 1,105 individuals divided into two subsamples to examine and confirm the factorial structure. To evaluate both psychophysiological and subjective sexual arousal, we considered, from the total sample, 49 participants who took part in a second phase of the study. They were exposed to sexual films and they also answered the Spanish version of the ASEX, Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, Sexual Opinion Survey-6, and Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form. Results showed that ASEX has an unidimensional structure, good internal consistency, and construct, convergent, and discriminant validity. The scale examined it is useful measure for the assessment of sexual functioning for both clinical and research purposes.La evaluación de la respuesta sexual y el funcionamiento sexual a través de medidas autoinformadas es relevante en el área de la salud sexual. El objetivo fue analizar las propiedades psicométricas de la Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) en una muestra de 1.105 individuos, divididos en dos submuestras para explorar y confirmar la estructura factorial. Para evaluar la activación sexual subjetiva y psicofisiológica, de la muestra total se seleccionaron 49 sujetos, los cuales participaron en una segunda fase del estudio. Estos últimos participantes visualizaron un vídeo con contenido sexual explícito, completaron las versiones españolas del ASEX, Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, Sexual Opinion Survey-6 y Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form. Tras los resultados se comprueba que el ASEX tiene una estructura unidimensional, buena consistencia interna y validez de constructo, convergente y discriminante. La escala examinada es útil para la evaluación del funcionamiento sexual, tanto con fines clínicos como de investigación

Validation of the Spanish Version of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) Using Self-Reported and Psychophysiological Measures

Assessment of sexual response and sexual functioning through self-reported measures is of relevance in the area of sexual health. The goal was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) in a sample of 1,105 individuals divided into two subsamples to examine and confirm the factorial structure. To evaluate both psychophysiological and subjective sexual arousal, we considered, from the total sample, 49 participants who took part in a second phase of the study. They were exposed to sexual films and they also answered the Spanish version of the ASEX, Massachusetts General Hospital Sexual Functioning Questionnaire, Sexual Opinion Survey-6, and Sexual Inhibition/Sexual Excitation Scales-Short Form. Results showed that ASEX has an unidimensional structure, good internal consistency, and construct, convergent, and discriminant validity. The scale examined it is useful measure for the assessment of sexual functioning for both clinical and research purposes.This research has been funded through the Research Projects PSI2010-15719 (Ministry of Science and Innovation) and PSI2014-25035-R (Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness)