Vitamin D Status in Distinct Types of Ichthyosis: Importance of Genetic Type and Severity of Scaling

Data on vitamin D status of patients with inherited ichthyosis in Europe is scarce and unspecific concerning the genetic subtype. This study determined serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25(OH)D3) in 87 patients with ichthyosis; 69 patients were additionally analysed for parathyroid hormone. Vitamin D deficiency was pronounced in keratinopathic ichthyosis (n = 17; median 25(OH)D3: 10.5 ng/ml), harlequin ichthyosis (n = 2;7.0 ng/ml) and rare syndromic subtypes (n = 3; 7.0 ng/ml). Vitamin D levels were reduced in TG1-proficient lamellar ichthyosis (n = 15; 8.9 ng/ml), TG1-deficient lamellar ichthyosis (n = 12; 11.7 ng/ml), congenital ichthyosiform erythroderma (n = 13; 12.4 ng/ml), Netherton syndrome (n = 7; 10.7 ng/ml) and X-linked ichthyosis (n = 8; 13.9 ng/ml). In ichthyosis vulgaris 25(OH)D3 levels were higher (n = 10; 19.7 ng/ml). Parathyroid hormone was elevated in 12 patients. Low 25(OH)D3 levels were associated with high severity of scaling (p = 0.03) implicating scaling as a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency. Thus, this study supports our recent guidelines for ichthyoses, which recommend screening for and substituting of vitamin D deficiency

A standardized and reproducible method to measure decision-making in mice.

Abstract Progress in neuroscience is hindered by poor reproducibility of mouse behavior. Here we show that in a visual decision making task, reproducibility can be achieved by automating the training protocol and by standardizing experimental hardware, software, and procedures. We trained 101 mice in this task across seven laboratories at six different research institutions in three countries, and obtained 3 million mouse choices. In trained mice, variability in behavior between labs was indistinguishable from variability within labs. Psychometric curves showed no significant differences in visual threshold, bias, or lapse rates across labs. Moreover, mice across laboratories adopted similar strategies when stimulus location had asymmetrical probability that changed over time. We provide detailed instructions and open-source tools to set up and implement our method in other laboratories. These results establish a new standard for reproducibility of rodent behavior and provide accessible tools for the study of decision making in mice

Un historiador extraviado en Chile. Acerca de la relación entre historia y diplomacia durante la misión de Francisco Adolfo Varnhagen en el Pacífico (1863-1867)

This article studies Francisco Adolfo de Varnhagen’s residence as a diplomat in Peru, Chile and Ecuador between 1863 and 1867. The focus is on Brazil’s outstanding historian of the 19th century and beyond, analyzing the relationship between his diplomatic work in the service of the Brazilian empire and as an historian. The correspondence of these years shows that, in contrast to Varnhagen´s diplomatic missions in Europe, his fouryear stay on the Pacific shore to a large extent meant the suspension of his historiographical work. It is especially his stay in Chile that allows us to draw important conclusions about the concepts Varnhagen had about history and his own contributions in that field.El artículo trata de la misión diplomática de Francisco Adolfo de Varnhagen en Perú, Chile y Ecuador entre 1863 y 1867. En el centro de la atención está el empeño del más destacado historiador brasileño en el siglo XIX y más allá, en su servicio al imperio de Brasil, estudiando la relación entre su trabajo como diplomático y como historiador. A través del análisis de la correspondencia de esos años se deja ver que, al contrario de las otras misiones diplomáticas de Varnhagen en Europa, los cuatro años en el Pacífico significaron en gran parte una suspensión de su actividad historiográfica. Es sobre todo la estancia en Chile la que permite conclusiones importantes acerca del concepto que Varnhagen tenía de la historia y de su trabajo como historiador

Civilizando a nação

O artigo trata do conceito de «civilização» enquanto conceito básico na linguagem política e social no Brasil entre 1808 e 1871. Surgindo pela primeira vez nos finais do século XVIII, o conceito percorreu no Brasil uma carreira rápida e bem-sucedida, tornando-se o término central para o desenvolvimento futuro do país. Isso é verdade acima de tudo para o papel que o conceito ocupou em relação às ideias de desenvolvimento social. O artigo apresenta os precursores semânticos do conceito no império português da época colonial tardia e a sua introdução e desdobramento respectivamente durante a transição do Brasil a um estado independente. A seguir, examinar-se-à o seu papel vital como instrumento para projetos depois de 1822, nomeadamente a política indigenista, a luta contínua pela abolição da escravidão e os esforços de atrair imigrantes. Desse modo, o conceito de ‘civilização’ está no início do pensamento desenvolvimentista brasileiro com repercussões até hoje. Ademais, se rejeita a ideia que influências intelectuais europeias no ultramar foram meras imitações e, por isso, incapaz de superar o alegado atraso latinoamericano no século XIX