Taxonomic and geographic catalogue of the Coleoptera belonging to the family Meloidae of Mexico

94 páginas.[ES] Se presenta un catálogo taxonómico de los representantes mexicanos de la familia Meloidae que incluye un listado revisado de sinonimias, localidades típicas y registros geográficos publicados de cada una de las especies. La fauna mexicana incluye en la actualidad 255 especies vivientes y una fósil, distribuidas en 21 géneros de las subfamilias Meloinae, Nemognathinae y Tetraonycinae. En el último catálogo general, Blackwelder (1945) recogió la presencia en México de 160 especies de esta familia, casi 100 especies menos de las que se conocen en la actualidad y sin embargo, la cifra actual parece encontrarse aún lejos de la real, ya que existen muchas especies ampliamente distribuidas al norte de la frontera con los Estados Unidos cuya presencia es muy probable en territorio mexicano. En cuanto a la taxonomía y nomenclatura de las especies, en este catálogo se propone el uso de los nombres Epicauta dugesi Werner, 1957 y Tegrodera erosa extincta Beauregard, 1890; se incluyen tres sinonimias nuevas de Nemognatha chrysomeloides (Linnaeus, 1763) (N. atra Beauregard, 1890; N. pallidicollis Beauregard, 1890 y N. violacea Beauregard, 1890) y otra de E. dugesi (Epicauta tamara Adams & Selander, 1979); se designa lectotipo para Lytta koltzei var. minor Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 con el propósito de solucionar el problema taxonómico generado tras la designación inválida de lectotipo de L. k. var. cyanescens; y finalmente se consideran como especies posiblemente a excluir del listado de Meloidae de México a Cissites maculata (Swederus, 1787) y Tetraonyx (Tetraonyx) bimaculatus (Klug, 1825).[EN] A comprehensive taxonomic catalogue of the Mexican representatives of the family Meloidae is presented. The catalogue includes a revised synonymical list including type localities and published geographical records for all known species. The Mexican Fauna of Meloidae currently includes 255 extant species, plus one only known from the fossil conrecord, arranged in 21 genera within the subfamilies Meloinae, Nemognathinae and Tetraonycinae. The last comprehensive catalogue published (Blackwelder, 1945) recorded the presence of 160 species of Meloidae in México, almost 100 species less than the current known number. However the current number of species seems to be far below the actual number, since many species widely distributed along the northern border, within the United States, are likely to be found also in Mexico. Regarding taxonomic and nomenclatural changes, in this catalogue we propose the use of the names Epicauta dugesi Werner, 1957 and Tegrodera erosa extincta Beauregard, 1890; we propose three new synonymies for Nemognatha chrysomeloides (Linnaeus, 1763) (N. atra Beauregard, 1890; N. pallidicollis Beauregard, 1890 and N. violacea Beauregard, 1890) and one for E. dugesi (Epicauta tamara Adams & Selander, 1979); we designate lectotype for Lytta koltzei var. minor Haag-Rutenberg, 1880 with the goal of resolving the taxonomic problem generated by the previous invalid designation of lectotype for L. k. var. cyanescens; and finally we consider Cissites maculata (Swederus, 1787) and Tetraonyx (Tetraonyx) bimaculatus (Klug, 1825) as species to be possibly excluded from the Mexican checklist.Este trabajo ha contado para su realización con los proyectos CGL2004-04680-C10-10/BOS y CGL2007-64621 del Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, lo que nos ha facilitado el apoyo logístico necesario. La visita a la colección del Magyar Természettudomány Múzeum (HNHM) en Budapest ha sido financiada por el proyecto Synthesys «European Commission´s Research Infrastructure Action».Peer reviewe

A DATA-MINING BASED METHOD FOR THE GAIT PATTERN ANALYSIS

The paper presents a method developed for the gait classification based on the analysis of the trajectory of the pressure centres (CoP) extracted from the contact points of the feet with the ground during walking. The data acquirement is performed ba means of a walkway with embedded tactile sensors. The proposed method includes capturing procedures, standardization of data, creation of an organized repository (data warehouse), and development of a process mining. A graphical analysis is applied to looking at the footprint signature patterns. The aim is to obtain a visual interpretation of the grouping by situating it into the normal walking patterns or deviations associated with an individual way of walking. The method consists of data classification automation which divides them into healthy and non-healthy subjects in order to assist in rehabilitation treatments for the people with related mobility problems

Diversity of cancer-related identities in long-term prostate cancer survivors after radical prostatectomy

BACKGROUND: Individuals affected by cancer need to integrate this experience into their personal biography as their life continues after primary therapy, leading to substantial changes in self-perception. This study identified factors uniquely associated with 5 different cancer-related identities in order to improve the understanding of how self-perception in men affected by prostate cancer is associated with certain clinical and psychosocial characteristics. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, long-term prostate cancer survivors after radical prostatectomy were asked to choose one of 5 cancer-related identities that described them best. Associations with sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Three thousand three hundred forty-seven men (mean age 78.1 years) surveyed on average 15.6 years after prostatectomy were included. Most men favored the terms “someone who has had cancer” (43.9%) which was associated with a mild disease course, and “patient” (26.3%) which was associated with ongoing therapy and biochemical disease recurrence. The self-descriptions “cancer survivor” (16.8%), “cancer conqueror” (10.9%) and “victim” (2.1%) were less common. “Cancer survivor” was associated with high perceived disease severity (OR: 1.86 [1.44–2.40]). “Cancer survivor” and “cancer conqueror” were related to high benefit finding (OR: 1.89 [1.48–2.40], OR: 1.46 [1.12–1.89] respectively), and only “cancer conqueror” was associated with high well-being (OR: 1.84 [1.35–2.50]). Identification as “victim” was associated with a positive depression screening and low well-being (OR: 2.22 [1.15–4.31], OR: 0.38 [0.20–0.72] respectively) (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Although long-term survival is common among men affected by PCa, they display a large diversity in cancer-related identities, which are associated with unique clinical and psychological characteristics. These cancer-related identities and their distinctive properties are associated with psychological well-being even after a long follow-up

Selbstuntersuchung von Hoden und Brust – eine retrospektive Kohortenstudie an Medizinstudierenden

BACKGROUND: Regular self-examination can facilitate early detection of testicular cancer and malignancies of the breast and may ensure a curative treatment. In this analysis we explored the tendencies of medical students to perform self-examination and associated factors. METHODS: As part of their urology rotation, medical students of the Technical University of Munich were surveyed via questionnaires regarding their health and sexual behavior. In all, 98.8% of the students participated and data from 473 of 477 students were included in this analysis. Data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate regression analysis. RESULTS: In all, 64.2% (n = 177) of the male students and 72.3% (n = 296) of the female students performed regular self-examination of the testis and breast, respectively. Students who did not communicate with their partners or friends about their sex lives were less likely to preform regular self-examination (p < 0.05). Male students without sexual intercourse in the 4 weeks prior to the survey and female students who did not masturbate in the 4 weeks prior to the survey were also less likely to preform regular self-examination (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: The rate of regular self-examination is high in medical students compared to previous studies on young adults and non-medical students. This shows that knowledge about the significance of testicular cancer and breast cancer are fundamental for promoting self-examination in teenagers and young adults. A distressed sex life might hinder young adults in preforming regular self-examination. Therefore, improved education about the significance of testicular cancer and routine urological consultations for male teenagers and young men are ways to promote testicular self-examination within this age group

Fetuin-A Induces Cytokine Expression and Suppresses Adiponectin Production

BACKGROUND: The secreted liver protein fetuin-A (AHSG) is up-regulated in hepatic steatosis and the metabolic syndrome. These states are strongly associated with low-grade inflammation and hypoadiponectinemia. We, therefore, hypothesized that fetuin-A may play a role in the regulation of cytokine expression, the modulation of adipose tissue expression and plasma concentration of the insulin-sensitizing and atheroprotective adipokine adiponectin. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Human monocytic THP1 cells and human in vitro differenttiated adipocytes as well as C57BL/6 mice were treated with fetuin-A. mRNA expression of the genes encoding inflammatory cytokines and the adipokine adiponectin (ADIPOQ) was assessed by real-time RT-PCR. In 122 subjects, plasma levels of fetuin-A, adiponectin and, in a subgroup, the multimeric forms of adiponectin were determined. Fetuin-A treatment induced TNF and IL1B mRNA expression in THP1 cells (p<0.05). Treatment of mice with fetuin-A, analogously, resulted in a marked increase in adipose tissue Tnf mRNA as well as Il6 expression (27- and 174-fold, respectively). These effects were accompanied by a decrease in adipose tissue Adipoq mRNA expression and lower circulating adiponectin levels (p<0.05, both). Furthermore, fetuin-A repressed ADIPOQ mRNA expression of human in vitro differentiated adipocytes (p<0.02) and induced inflammatory cytokine expression. In humans in plasma, fetuin-A correlated positively with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, a marker of subclinical inflammation (r = 0.26, p = 0.01), and negatively with total- (r = -0.28, p = 0.02) and, particularly, high molecular weight adiponectin (r = -0.36, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: We provide novel evidence that the secreted liver protein fetuin-A induces low-grade inflammation and represses adiponectin production in animals and in humans. These data suggest an important role of fatty liver in the pathophysiology of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis

Phosphate, Calcification in Blood, and Mineral Stress: The Physiologic Blood Mineral Buffering System and Its Association with Cardiovascular Risk

Phosphate is an important cardiovascular risk factor and lowering elevated blood phosphate concentrations is a main therapeutic target in kidney patients. Phosphate is subject to the blood mineral buffering system which controls the precipitation of calcium and phosphate. Calciprotein particles (CPP), self-assembling complexes of calcium phosphate and serum proteins, are the nanomorphological correlates of this system. CPP1 are spherical, 50-100 nm in diameter, and contain amorphous mineral. CPP2 are oblongated, 100-200nm in the long axis, and they contain a crystalline mineral core. The relative abundance and biological activity of these particles are a matter of intense research, because they can cause oxidative stress, inflammation, and calcification in cellular assay. Therapeutically reducing this endogenous stressor by prolonging crystal formation time might improve patient outcome. This concise review article summarizes our current knowledge about the blood mineral buffering system and proposes Mineral Stress as a novel modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. It furthermore outlines possible implications this might have for improving patient care