Multiplicación, histodiferenciación y regeneración de suspensiones celulares embriogénicas en plátanos vianda “Navolean” (AAB)

The results obtained show that the best cell density for the multiplication of the cell suspensions in the cultivar ‘Navolean’ is 3.0% settled cell volume. In the histo-differentiation phase the greatest formation of somatic embryos in the globular stage was obtained using a density of 12.0% final cell volume in liquid culture medium. The maturation of the embryos and an increase in germination was possible on using 0.5 gFW of somatic embryos during 30 days in the maturation culture medium. Using temporary immersion systems with 0.5 gFW of mature somatic embryos, the germination value was increased to 77.40%Key words: Musa, settled cell volume (SCV), somatic embryogenesis, temporary immersionEl mejor resultado para la multiplicación de las suspensiones celulares embriogénicas en el cv. ‘Navolean’ se obtuvo al utilizar una densidad celular del 3.0% del Volumen de Células Sedimentadas. En la etapa de histodiferenciación se logró la mayor formación de embriones somáticos en etapa globular utilizando como densidad 12.0% de volumen final de células en medio de cultivo líquido. Al emplear 0.5 gMF de embriones somáticos durante 30 días de cultivo en el medio de cultivo de maduración, fue posible lograr la maduración de los embriones e incrementar la germinación. Empleando sistemas de inmersión temporal con 0.5 gMF de embriones somáticos maduros se incrementó el valor de germinación a 77.40%.Palabras clave: embriogénesis somática, inmersión temporal, Musa, volumen de células sedimentadas (VCS

Exploring the Association between Gambling-Related Offenses, Substance Use, Psychiatric Comorbidities, and Treatment Outcome

Several studies have explored the association between gambling disorder (GD) and gambling-related crimes. However, it is still unclear how the commission of these offenses influences treatment outcomes. In this longitudinal study we sought: (1) to explore sociodemographic and clinical differences (e.g., psychiatric comorbidities) between individuals with GD who had committed gambling-related illegal acts (differentiating into those who had had legal consequences (n = 31) and those who had not (n = 55)), and patients with GD who had not committed crimes (n = 85); and (2) to compare the treatment outcome of these three groups, considering dropouts and relapses. Several sociodemographic and clinical variables were assessed, including the presence of substance use, and comorbid mental disorders. Patients received 16 sessions of cognitive-behavioral therapy. Patients who reported an absence of gambling-related illegal behavior were older, and showed the lowest GD severity, the most functional psychopathological state, the lowest impulsivity levels, and a more adaptive personality profile. Patients who had committed offenses with legal consequences presented the highest risk of dropout and relapses, higher number of psychological symptoms, higher likelihood of any other mental disorders, and greater prevalence of tobacco and illegal drugs use. Our findings uphold that patients who have committed gambling-related offenses show a more complex clinical profile that may interfere with their adherence to treatment

Evaluación en campo de plantas regeneradas por embriogénesis somática a partir de ápices de brotes de yemas axilares en cv. ‘Navolean’ (Musa spp., AAB)

The use of shoots apexes from axilary buds for callus induction with embryogenic structures in plantain ‘Navolean’ (Group AAB) permitted to develop a plant regeneration method through out somatic embryogenesis. In order to know the phenotypic variants that may be produced with the previously mentioned method , 1000 plants were planted in field conditions in comparison to those coming from somatic embryos obtained from multibuds as initial explants and organogenesis-derived plants (shoot tips)and conventionally derived plants (corms), during two growing cycles. The main morphological characters and yield components were evaluated. The total frequency of somaclonal variation during the first growing cycle in plants coming from somatic embryos obtained from shoots apexes from axilary buds as initial explants were 1.1%, and 8,6% in regenerated plants from somatic embryos obtained from multi-buds as initial explants. Later, in this same growing cycle, plants regenerated from somatic embryos (both sources) showed a similar performance between them and they were significantly superior in all evaluated variants in comparison to corm-derived plants. In the second growing cycle, significant differences were not observed in yield components of suckers from evaluated plants, in spite of the propagation method used. With regard to somaclonal variation, the best performance was obtained with shoots apexes from axilary buds as explants. Finally, the feasibility of using the new method was shown.Key words: embryogenic cell suspensions, somaclonal variationEl uso de ápices de brotes de yemas axilares para la inducción de callos con estructuras embriogénicas en el cultivar de plátano vianda ‘Navolean’ (Grupo AAB), posibilitó el desarrollo de una metodología de regeneración de plantas por embriogénesis somática en el cultivar objeto de estudio. Con el objetivo de conocer la variabilidad fenotípica que se podría producir mediante la misma, se plantaron en el campo 1 000 plantas que se compararon durante dos ciclos de cultivo con otras procedentes de embriones somáticos obtenidos de scalps de multiyemas como explante inicial, con plantas obtenidas por organogénesis (ápices meristemáticos) y mediante la propagación convencional (cormos). Para ello se evaluaron los principales caracteres morfológicos de la planta y componentes del rendimiento.La frecuencia total de variación somaclonal durante el primer ciclo de cultivo en las plantas procedentes de embriones somáticos donde el explante inicial habían sido ápices de brotes de yemas axilares fue de 1.1% y de 8.6% en las plantas regeneradas de embriones somáticos scalps de multiyemas. Luego en este mismo ciclo de cultivo las plantas regeneradas de embriones somáticos (ambas procedencias) mostraron un comportamiento similar entre ellas y en todas las variables evaluadas fueron superiores en relación con las plantas procedentes de cormos con diferencias significativas. En el segundo ciclo de cultivo, al evaluar los hijos, de las plantas estudiadas no se observaron diferencias significativas en los componentes del rendimiento, independientemente del método de propagación utilizado. Referente a la variación somaclonal, se obtuvo el menor índice en las plantas obtenidas por embriogénesis a partir de ápices de yemas axilares. Finalmente se demostró la factibilidad de utilizar la nueva metodología desarrollada.Palabras clave: suspensiones celulares embriogénicas, variación somaclona

Human Rabies and Rabies in Vampire and Nonvampire Bat Species, Southeastern Peru, 2007

After a human rabies outbreak in southeastern Peru, we collected bats to estimate the prevalence of rabies in various species. Among 165 bats from 6 genera and 10 species, 10.3% were antibody positive; antibody prevalence was similar in vampire and nonvampire bats. Thus, nonvampire bats may also be a source for human rabies in Peru

Bridging the gap between molecular and elemental mass spectrometry: Higher energy collisional dissociation (HCD) revealing elemental information

Molecular mass spectrometry has been applied to simultaneously obtain molecular and elemental information from metal-containing species. Energy tuning of the higher-energy collision dissociation (HCD) fragmentation cell allows the controlled production of typical peptide fragments or elemental reporter ions informing about the metallic content of the analyzed species. Different instrumental configurations and fragmentation techniques have been tested, and the efficiency extracting the elemental information has been compared. HCD fragmentation operating at very high energy led to the best results. Platinum, lanthanides, and iodine reporter ions from peptides interacting with cisplatin, peptides labeled with lanthanides-MeCAT-IA, and iodinated peptides, respectively, were obtained. The possibility to produce abundant molecular and elemental ions in the same analysis simplifies the correlation between both signals and open pathways in metallomics studies enabling the specific tracking of metal-containing species. The proposed approach has been successfully applied to in solution standards and complex samples. Moreover, interesting preliminary MALDI-imaging experiments have been performed showing similar metal distribution compared to laser ablation (LA)-ICPMS

EDUCORE project: a clinical trial, randomised by clusters, to assess the effect of a visual learning method on blood pressure control in the primary healthcare setting

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>High blood pressure (HBP) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). European hypertension and cardiology societies as well as expert committees on CVD prevention recommend stratifying cardiovascular risk using the SCORE method, the modification of lifestyles to prevent CVD, and achieving good control over risk factors. The EDUCORE (Education and Coronary Risk Evaluation) project aims to determine whether the use of a cardiovascular risk visual learning method - the EDUCORE method - is more effective than normal clinical practice in improving the control of blood pressure within one year in patients with poorly controlled hypertension but no background of CVD;</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This work describes a protocol for a clinical trial, randomised by clusters and involving 22 primary healthcare clinics, to test the effectiveness of the EDUCORE method. The number of patients required was 736, all between 40 and 65 years of age (n = 368 in the EDUCORE and control groups), all of whom had been diagnosed with HBP at least one year ago, and all of whom had poorly controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and/or diastolic ≥ 90 mmHg). All personnel taking part were explained the trial and trained in its methodology. The EDUCORE method contemplates the visualisation of low risk SCORE scores using images embodying different stages of a high risk action, plus the receipt of a pamphlet explaining how to better maintain cardiac health. The main outcome variable was the control of blood pressure; secondary outcome variables included the SCORE score, therapeutic compliance, quality of life, and total cholesterol level. All outcome variables were measured at the beginning of the experimental period and again at 6 and 12 months. Information on sex, age, educational level, physical activity, body mass index, consumption of medications, change of treatment and blood analysis results was also recorded;</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The EDUCORE method could provide a simple, inexpensive means of improving blood pressure control, and perhaps other health problems, in the primary healthcare setting;</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01155973 [<url>http://ClinicalTrials.gov</url>].</p

Efficacy of Neoadjuvant Carboplatin plus Docetaxel in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Combined Analysis of Two Cohorts

Recent studies demonstrate that addition of neoadjuvant (NA) carboplatin (Cb) to anthracycline/taxane chemotherapy improves pathological complete response (pCR) in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Effectiveness of anthracycline-free, platinum combinations in TNBC is not well known. Here we report efficacy of NA carboplatin + docetaxel (CbD) in TNBC

Effectiveness of a strategy that uses educational games to implement clinical practice guidelines among Spanish residents of family and community medicine (e-EDUCAGUIA project):A clinical trial by clusters

This study was funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias FIS Grant Number PI11/0477 ISCIII.-REDISSEC Proyecto RD12/0001/0012 AND FEDER Funding.Background: Clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) have been developed with the aim of helping health professionals, patients, and caregivers make decisions about their health care, using the best available evidence. In many cases, incorporation of these recommendations into clinical practice also implies a need for changes in routine clinical practice. Using educational games as a strategy for implementing recommendations among health professionals has been demonstrated to be effective in some studies; however, evidence is still scarce. The primary objective of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a teaching strategy for the implementation of CPGs using educational games (e-learning EDUCAGUIA) to improve knowledge and skills related to clinical decision-making by residents in family medicine. The primary objective will be evaluated at 1 and 6months after the intervention. The secondary objectives are to identify barriers and facilitators for the use of guidelines by residents of family medicine and to describe the educational strategies used by Spanish teaching units of family and community medicine to encourage implementation of CPGs. Methods/design: We propose a multicenter clinical trial with randomized allocation by clusters of family and community medicine teaching units in Spain. The sample size will be 394 residents (197 in each group), with the teaching units as the randomization unit and the residents comprising the analysis unit. For the intervention, both groups will receive an initial 1-h session on clinical practice guideline use and the usual dissemination strategy by e-mail. The intervention group (e-learning EDUCAGUIA) strategy will consist of educational games with hypothetical clinical scenarios in a virtual environment. The primary outcome will be the score obtained by the residents on evaluation questionnaires for each clinical practice guideline. Other included variables will be the sociodemographic and training variables of the residents and the teaching unit characteristics. The statistical analysis will consist of a descriptive analysis of variables and a baseline comparison of both groups. For the primary outcome analysis, an average score comparison of hypothetical scenario questionnaires between the EDUCAGUIA intervention group and the control group will be performed at 1 and 6months post-intervention, using 95% confidence intervals. A linear multilevel regression will be used to adjust the model. Discussion: The identification of effective teaching strategies will facilitate the incorporation of available knowledge into clinical practice that could eventually improve patient outcomes. The inclusion of information technologies as teaching tools permits greater learning autonomy and allows deeper instructor participation in the monitoring and supervision of residents. The long-term impact of this strategy is unknown; however, because it is aimed at professionals undergoing training and it addresses prevalent health problems, a small effect can be of great relevance. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02210442.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe