Denitrification-derived nitric oxide modulates biofilm formation in Azospirillum brasilense

Azospirillum brasilense is a rhizobacterium that provides beneficial effects on plants when they colonize roots. The formation of complex bacterial communities known as biofilms begins with the interaction of planktonic cells with surfaces in response to appropriate signals. Nitric oxide (NO) is a signaling molecule implicated in numerous processes in bacteria, including biofilm formation or dispersion, depending on genera and lifestyle. Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 produces NO by denitrification having a role in root growth promotion. We analyzed the role of endogenously produced NO on biofilm formation in A. brasilense Sp245 and in a periplasmic nitrate reductase mutant (napA::Tn5; Faj164) affected in NO production. Cells were statically grown in media with nitrate or ammonium as nitrogen sources and examined for biofilm formation using crystal violet and by confocal laser microscopy. Both strains formed bio- films, but the mutant produced less than half compared with the wild type in nitrate medium showing impaired nitrite production in this condition. NO measurements in biofilm confirmed lower values in the mutant strain. The addition of a NO donor showed that NO influences biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner and reverses the mutant phenotype, indicating that Nap positively regulates the formation of biofilm in A. brasilense Sp245.Fil: Arruebarrena Di Palma, Andrés. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Pereyra, Cintia Mariana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Moreno Ramírez, Lizbeth. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; MéxicoFil: Xiqui Vazquez, Maria L.. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; MéxicoFil: Baca, Beatriz E.. Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla; MéxicoFil: Pereyra, María Alejandra. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lamattina, Lamattina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Creus, Cecilia Mónica. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro Regional Buenos Aires Sur. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Evaluación de un algoritmo de recocido simulado con superficies de respuestas

The solution of the geographical clustering problem includes a combinatorial classificationof the geographical units. The aggregation proposed in this work requiresan objective function that minimizes the distance between the objects that will beclustered together, in order to achieve geo-graphical compactness (a desirable goal inproblems of geographical design). Because this problem is NP hard [10], it is usuallysolved with heuristic methodologies that can proportionate satisfactory so-lutions in areasonable amount of computational time, even for large problems. The main purposeof this research, it is to propose a Box-Behnken experimental design applied into theresponse’s surface, in order to evaluate the quality of the generated solutions. Thebalance and adequacy of Simulated Annealing’s parameters would help to control anddirect the heuristic method to obtain good solutions for the partitioning problem.Keywords: Geographical Clustering, Experimental Design, Response’s Surface, SimulatedAnnealing.En la soluci´on al problema de conglomerado geogr´afico est´a impl´?cito un procesode clasificaci´on combinatorio sobre unidades geogr´aficas. La agregaci´on propuesta eneste trabajo considerara como funci´on objetivo la minimizaci´on de distancias entrelos objetos a agrupar con el fin de lograr la compacidad geogr´afica (tan deseable enproblemas de dise˜no geogr´afico). Este problema es NP duro [1], por lo que es necesarioel uso de m´etodos heur´?sticos para obtener una soluci´on satisfactoria tanto enla bondad de las soluciones como en tiempo de c´omputo en problemas grandes. Ladiscusi´on se centra en evaluar la calidad de las soluciones obtenidas bajo procedimientossistem´aticos. Este trabajo presenta la modelaci´on del problema de conglomeradogeogr´afico, el uso de un algoritmo de Recocido Simulado en el algoritmo de particionamientocon el fin de obtener soluciones aproximadas y finalmente, para evaluarla calidad de las soluciones generadas, la aplicaci´on de un Dise˜no de ExperimentosBox-Behnken y Superficies de Respuestas para encontrar un balance y adecuaci´on delos valores de los par´ametros de Recocido Simulado en el control de la obtenci´on debuenas soluciones.Palabras clave: conglomerado geogr´afico, evaluaci´on de par´ametros, superficies de respuestas

Declining Population Sizes and Loss of Genetic Diversity in Commercial Fishes: A Simple Method for a First Diagnostic

Exploited fish species may have or are experiencing declines in population sizes coupled with changes in their environmental conditions owing to global change. Declining populations might lead to a decrease in genetic diversity, which in turn may produce losses of adaptive potential to face current and future environmental changes. Thus, this study aims to answer a simple, even naive question, given the complexity of the subject: Could we use a simple method to obtain information on the loss of genetic diversity in exploited fish species? We investigated the use of the levels of genetic diversity in the widely used genetic marker Cytochrome C Oxidase subunit I (COI) mitochondrial gene. Estimates of genetic diversity in COI were obtained for populations of seven fish species with different commercial importance from the East China Sea. These estimates were contrasted against large datasets of genetic diversity in COI for fish species (East-Asian N=118, and worldwide N=1425), and six control species with known biology and history. We found that estimates of genetic diversity in COI match the expectations from theoretical predictions and known declines by fishing pressures. Thus, the answer to our question is affirmative and we conclude that estimates of genetic diversity in COI provide an effective first diagnostic of the conservation status of exploited fish species.En prens

Suicide in pregnant women : experiences and support networks for the surviving families

ABSTRACT: To describe the experiences of the families of two pregnant women who committed suicide in the Department of Antioquia (Colombia) during 2010-2011. Methodology: a qualitative study using the hermeneutic phenomenological approach, specifically the case study method. Three to four interviews were conducted with each family. These interviews were later systematized using the Atlas ti software. Results: the category “family experience in the event of suicide: on how to become a learner” was found in the family of Bella, and two categories emerged from it: 1. “Her death affected us both internally and externally.” 2. “Between deafness and the power of the support networks.” In the family of Consentida, the “family experience: how to survive pain” category emerged, and additionally, two tendencies derived from it: 1. “Expanding and breaking networks.” 2. “Tying up loose ends.” Conclusions: the studied families have overcome the event as they have earned the recognition of collaborative, empowering and linking networks, which have remained throughout time. In their experience, the families have managed to distance themselves from the choice of their pregnant relatives and have thus bravely overcome their loss.RESUMEN: Describir la vivencia que han tenido las familias de dos mujeres gestantes alrededor de su muerte por suicidio en el Departamento de Antioquia (Colombia) durante el año 2010-2011. Metodología: investigación cualitativa, método fenomenológico-hermenéutico, específicamente estudio de casos. Se realizaron entre tres y cuatro entrevistas con cada familia y posteriormente se sistematizaron bajo el software Atlas ti. Resultados: en la familia de Bella se encontró la categoría: la vivencia familiar frente al suicidio: de cómo tornarse aprendiz; de ésta surgieron dos categorías: 1). Su muerte nos afectó por dentro y por fuera; 2). entre la sordera y la potencia de las redes de apoyo. En la familia de Consentida emerge la categoría la vivencia familiar: cómo sobrevivir al dolor, a su vez de ella se derivan dos tendencias: 1). Ampliando y rompiendo redes: 2). atando cabos. Conclusiones: las familias del estudio han ido sobreponiéndose al evento en tanto han logrado reconocimiento por parte de redes colaborativas, potenciadoras y vinculantes que han permanecido a lo largo del tiempo. En su vivencia las familias han logrado tomar distancia de la elección de sus familiares gestantes y han seguido valientemente sobreponiéndose a su pérdida

Potential factors influencing the condition of demersal sharks in the Mediterranean deep sea ecosystems

The Alboran Sea and the Balearic Islands are two contrasting areas in terms of primary productivity. The former is among the most productive areas of the whole Mediterranean Sea, whereas the Balearic Islands is among the less productive ones in the western Mediterranean. The two areas also show different patterns in the bottom trawl fishing footprint. In the Alboran Sea, the fishing effort on the upper slope is much higher than in Balearic Islands. However, the opposite applies to the middle slope, the vast majority of it remaining unexploited in Alboran Sea, whereas a widespread fishery targeting blue and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus develops in Balearic Islands. Galeus melastomus is a small demersal shark species inhabiting slope bottoms, where adults and juveniles are segregated and concentrate in the middle and upper slope, respectively. It feeds intensively on mesopelagic preys which, in turn, feed on low trophic level organisms close to primary producers. In this work we aimed to study the effect of surface primary production on the condition of deep sea demersal communities. We compared the condition, diet and potential intra- and inter-species competition for feeding resources in the juveniles of G. melastomus between Alboran Sea and Balearic Islands. The comparisons of Le Cren’s relative condition factor, and hepatosomatic and digestivosomatic indices evidenced an opposite pattern to that a priori expectable: better condition in the less productive area. The analysis of stomach contents showed similar diets in both areas, but lower food ingestion in Alboran Sea than in Balearic Islands. Different abundances of potential intra- and inter-specific competitors for feeding resources in the two areas, apparently linked to the different fishing footprints, seems the most likely explanation for the better nourished individuals in Balearic Islands. Whereas juveniles of G. melastomus dominate the shark community in the Balearic Islands upper slope, where the presence of adults of this species is almost negligible, in Alboran Sea this stratum is dominated by adults and potential competitors of other small demersal shark species. All shark species together, including G. melastomus, showed abundances 38% higher in Alboran than in Balearic Islands. Our results show that condition of deep sea demersal fish is ruled by complex inter-relationships among different factors, needing the combination of biological, ecological and fisheries knowledge to understand its variability.En prensa2,42

An Unusual Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma with Maintained Complete Response to Sunitinib Treatment

Recently, metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treatment has changed dramatically with the onset of new therapies against molecular targets replacing immunotherapy as standard treatment. We report the case of a 49-year-old patient with a moderately differentiated renal clear cell carcinoma without extracapsular extension who underwent radical nephrectomy. Eight months after surgery, he developed a thyroid metastasis which was also treated surgically with a hemithyroidectomy. Seventy-five months after nephrectomy, the patient presented an upper gastrointestinal bleeding due to a duodenal metastasis that infiltrates the head of the pancreas. The treatment applied was surgery by duodenopancreatectomy, with positive surgical margins in the pathologic study. In addition to this, the extension study showed lung metastases requiring initiation of systemic treatment with sunitinib. The patient presented an excellent response to treatment, showing complete clinical and radiological response at 5 months of treatment (RECIST criteria) and a disease-free survival of 48 months until now, without evidence of toxicity. RCC has the potential to metastasize to almost any location, but thyroid and duodenal metastases in RCC are extremely rare. Moreover, this case also highlights the good responses that can be achieved in terms of disease-free survival, low toxicity and quality of life in this new era of therapies against molecular targets

Dual targeted therapy in patients with psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis: a real-world multicenter experience from Spain

Dual targeted therapy (DTT) has emerged as a promising approach in patients with refractory spondyloarthritis (SpA) or psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and extra-musculoskeletal manifestations of both diseases, but its effectiveness/safety ratio still remains unclear. This is a retrospective, real-world multicenter study in refractory SpA and PsA patients with simultaneous use of two biological or synthetic targeted agents. Effectiveness was assessed using Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score with C-reactive protein (ASDAS-CRP) and Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) Score. We identified 39 different DTT combinations in 36 patients (22 SpA; 14 PsA), 25 of them with concomitant inflammatory bowel disease. The most commonly used combinations were TNF inhibitor plus antagonist of the IL12/23 pathway, followed by TNF inhibitor plus IL-17 antagonist. During a median exposure of 14.86 months (IQR 8-20.2), DTT retention rate was 69.4% (n=25/36; 19 SpA, 6 PsA). Major clinical improvement (change in ASDAS-CRP > 2 or improvement > 85% in DAPSA) was achieved in 69.4% of patients (n=25/36 therapeutical combinations; 17/21 SpA, 8/15 PsA), with a 58.3% (n=21/36 combinations; 15/20 SpA, 6/13 PsA) low-activity/remission rate. Of the patients who were receiving glucocorticoids, 55% managed to withdraw them during follow-up. Interestingly, only four serious adverse events in three patients were observed, leading to DTT discontinuation

Alcaloides e infección fúngica en festuca : estados fenológicos y posibilidad de contaminación

p.147-154Se ha estudiado la concentración de alcaloides en los distintos estados de desarrollo de una festuca tóxica en comparación con otra innocua, y la posibilidad de que la infección con Epichloe typhina pueda ser transmitida hacia plantas próximas sanas. Los resultados indican: a) Festuca tóxica En el estado vegetativo de las plantas jóvenes, tanto los alcaloides pirrolizidínicos (Jolinas), como perlolina, se encuentran en concentraciones pequeñas, aum entando luego durante la encañazón y floración. Los niveles de infección fúngica y de alcaloides pirrolizidínicos fueron medianos o elevados en los estados vegetativos siguientes, aún durante los meses fríos. b) Festuca innocua Si bien la perlolina aum entó marcadamente desde el estado vegetativo a la floración, no fue posible detectar, en ese lapso, alcaloides pirrolizidínicos. En los estados vegetativos siguientes, durante dos años, tanto el contenido de estos alcaloides como la infección con Epichloe typhina fueron prácticamente nulos

Analytical Performance of a Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay Using TaqMan Probes for Quantification of Trypanosoma cruzi Satellite DNA in Blood Samples

Background: The analytical validation of sensitive, accurate and standardized Real-Time PCR methods for Trypanosoma cruzi quantification is crucial to provide a reliable laboratory tool for diagnosis of recent infections as well as for monitoring treatment efficacy. Methods/Principal Findings: We have standardized and validated a multiplex Real-Time quantitative PCR assay (qPCR) based on TaqMan technology, aiming to quantify T. cruzi satellite DNA as well as an internal amplification control (IAC) in a single-tube reaction. IAC amplification allows rule out false negative PCR results due to inhibitory substances or loss of DNA during sample processing. The assay has a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.70 parasite equivalents/mL and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 1.53 parasite equivalents/mL starting from non-boiled Guanidine EDTA blood spiked with T. cruzi CLBrener stock. The method was evaluated with blood samples collected from Chagas disease patients experiencing different clinical stages and epidemiological scenarios: 1- Sixteen Venezuelan patients from an outbreak of oral transmission, 2- Sixty three Bolivian patients suffering chronic Chagas disease, 3- Thirty four Argentinean cases with chronic Chagas disease, 4- Twenty seven newborns to seropositive mothers, 5- A seronegative receptor who got infected after transplantation with a cadaveric kidney explanted from an infected subject. Conclusions/Significance: The performing parameters of this assay encourage its application to early assessment of T. cruzi infection in cases in which serological methods are not informative, such as recent infections by oral contamination or congenital transmission or after transplantation with organs from seropositive donors, as well as for monitoring Chagas disease patients under etiological treatment.Fil: Duffy, Tomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones En Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Cura, Carolina Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Ramírez, Juan C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Abate, Teresa. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Instituto de Medicina Tropical; VenezuelaFil: Cayo, Nelly M.. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biologia de la Altura; ArgentinaFil: Parrado, Rudy. Universidad San Simón; BoliviaFil: Diaz Bello, Zoraida. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Instituto de Medicina Tropical; VenezuelaFil: Velazquez, Elsa Beatriz. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Parasitología; ArgentinaFil: Muñoz Calderón, Arturo. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Instituto de Medicina Tropical; VenezuelaFil: Juiz, Natalia Anahí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Basile, Joaquín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Lineth. Universidad San Simón; BoliviaFil: Riarte, Adelina. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Parasitología; ArgentinaFil: Nasser, Julio Rubén. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Ocampo, Susana B.. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Instituto de Biologia de la Altura; ArgentinaFil: Yadon, Zaida E.. Pan-American Health Organization; Estados UnidosFil: Torrico, Faustino. Universidad San Simón; BoliviaFil: Alarcón de Noya, Belkisyole. Universidad Central de Venezuela. Instituto de Medicina Tropical; VenezuelaFil: Ribeiro, Isabela. Drugs and Neglected Diseases Initiative; SuizaFil: Schijman, Alejandro Gabriel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; Argentin