Novel host report for Catadiscus uruguayensis Freitas & Lent, 1939 (Trematoda, Diplodiscidae) infecting Austrolebias Costa, 1998 species from Uruguay

The genus Catadiscus Cohn, 1904 has a total of 16 known species that infect the intestinal tract of reptiles, amphibians, and mollusks. However, Catadiscus has never been found in teleosts. The annual fish Austrolebias prognathus (Amato, 1986) and A. cheradophilus (Vaz-Ferreira, Sierra de Soriano & Scaglia de Paulete, 1965) were collected from temporary ponds in the southeast of Uruguay. The specimens found in the intestinal tract of these hosts were morphologically identified as Catadiscus uruguayensis Freitas & Lent, 1939, which until now were only known to infect amphibians. This work represents the first report of the genus Catadiscus infecting and developing in a fish host

Agronomic performance of super-sweet corn genotypes in the north of Rio de Janeiro.

We investigated the agronomic performance of super-sweet corn genotypes. Super-sweet corn genotypes were backcrossed with regionally adapted field varieties (CIMMYT 8 and Piranão 8). Eight morphological and yield-related traits were evaluated. A significant effect of interaction was observed between the five groups of genotypes (donor parents; super-sweet backcrossed parents; super-sweet intervarietal hybrids; common intervarietal corn hybrids; and field corn populations). Despite the low yield of genotype SH 2 Piranão, the hybrids resulting from interbreeding of the backcrossed parents for the improvement of super-sweet corn were promising. The agronomic performance of the super-sweet parents and their hybrids indicates the possibility of breeding lines with high genetic value to obtain single-cross hybrids and cultivars of super-sweet corn adapted to the northern region of the State of Rio de Janeiro

Dinâmica espectro-temporal MODIS em plantios de paricá (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex. Ducke) Barneby) associada a diferentes condições hídricas do solo na Amazônia brasileira.

As características de absorção e reflectâncias nas faixas do vermelho e infravermelho próximo em dosséis, tanto de plantios como de vegetação natural, auxiliam na identificação de respostas espectrais em diversas condições de tempo e clima. Objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento espectral em plantios de paricá (Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum (Huber ex Ducke) Barneby) nos períodos de maior e de menor oferta hídrica, em Dom Eliseu, Pa. Foram analisados dados meteorológicos, balanços hídricos (CAD=300 mm) e respostas em NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) extraídos do sensor MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer). As imagens-índice referentes aos meses de janeiro a dezembro foram processadas no software Envi 4.5 e retiradas amostras com base em dados de verdade terrestre. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente, aplicando-se teste de média e análise de perfil por meio de técnicas uni e multivariadas. Verificou-se que existe tendência no vigor do paricá, com decrescimento de 0,85 a 0,68, nos meses de maior deficiência hídrica, em nível de significância de 5 %. Conclui-se que o NDVI respondeu significativamente à condição hídrica do solo, em plantios de paricá, no Estado do Pará

Sistema de monitoramento e alerta de inundações e secas no Pantanal.

The regime of floods and droughts in the Pantanal wetlands determines the distribution and abundance of the wildlife, vegetation and ecological processes. Cattle ranching and fisheries, the main economic activities in this floodplain, are extremely influenced by and depend on this regime. The aim of this work is to propose a Monitoring and Alert System, denoted SISMONPAN, of floods and droughts in the Pantanal for a better management, conservation and decision making, especially in the case of extreme events. A ten years time series, from 2000 to 2009, of estimated satellite precipitation, river stages and flood mapping derived from MODIS surface reflectance bands processed by the unmixing spectral model was analyzed. The main hydrological compartments and their relationships were defined using previous knowledge in the region as well as correlation statistical models derived from upstream - downstream water fluxes. The power and time lag of the correlations between the water fluxes in the hydrological compartments were determined. These data, flood maps and obtained relationships were organized in a database to be used by the monitoring and alert system for the Pantanal region. The SISMONPAN was developed in PHP language using TerraView and TerraLib libraries in its architecture. The system will be available on the Internet, allowing any stakeholder to simulate possible scenarios of floods and droughts based both on the predetermined upstream-downstream water flux relationships and previous events stored in the database

Mastectomy rates are decreasing in the era of service screening: a population-based study in Italy (1997-2001)

We enrolled all 2162 in situ and 21 148 invasive cases of breast cancer in 17 areas of Italy, diagnosed in 1997-2001. Rates of early cancer increased by 13.7% in the screening age group (50-69 years), and breast conserving surgery by 24.6%. Advanced cancer rates decreased by 19.4%, and mastectomy rates by 24.2%. Service screening did not increase mastectomy rates in the study population

Reply: An inverse association between tumour size and overdiagnosis may explain the results by Bucchi et al

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Genetic Diagnostics in Routine Osteological Assessment of Adult Low Bone Mass Disorders

Context Many different inherited and acquired conditions can result in premature bone fragility / low bone mass disorders (LBMD). Objective We aimed at elucidating the impact of genetic testing on differential diagnosis of adult LBMD and at defining clinical criteria for predicting monogenic forms. Methods Four clinical centers broadly recruited a cohort of 394 unrelated adult women before menopause and men younger than 55 years with a bone mineral density (BMD) Z-score 2), and a high normal BMI. In contrast, mutation frequencies did not correlate with age, prevalent vertebral fractures, BMD, or biochemical parameters. In individuals without monogenic disease-causing rare variants, common variants predisposing for low BMD, e.g. in LRP5, were overrepresented. Conclusion The overlapping spectra of monogenic adult LBMD can be easily disentangled by genetic testing and the proposed clinical criteria can help to maximize the diagnostic yield

Identification of earlier predictors of pregnancy complications through wearable technologies in a Brazilian multicentre cohort : Maternal Actigraphy Exploratory Study I (MAES-I) study protocol

Introduction Non-invasive tools capable of identifying predictors of maternal complications would be a step forward for improving maternal and perinatal health. There is an association between modification in physical activity (PA) and sleep–wake patterns and the occurrence of inflammatory, metabolic, pathological conditions related to chronic diseases. The actigraphy device is validated to estimate PA and sleep–wake patterns among pregnant women. In order to extend the window of opportunity to prevent, diagnose and treat specific maternal conditions, would it be possible to use actigraphy data to identify risk factors for the development of adverse maternal outcomes during pregnancy? Methods and analysis A cohort will be held in five centres from the Brazilian Network for Studies on Reproductive and Perinatal Health. Maternal Actigraphy Exploratory Study I (MAES-I) will enrol 400 low-risk nulliparous women who will wear the actigraphy device on their wrists day and night (24 hours/day) uninterruptedly from 19 to 21 weeks until childbirth. Changes in PA and sleep–wake patterns will be analysed throughout pregnancy, considering ranges in gestational age in women with and without maternal complications such as pre-eclampsia, preterm birth (spontaneous or provider-initiated), gestational diabetes, maternal haemorrhage during pregnancy, in addition to perinatal outcomes. The plan is to design a predictive model using actigraphy data for screening pregnant women at risk of developing specific adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes

Mastectomy rates are decreasing in the era of service screening: a population-based study in Italy (1997–2001)

We enrolled all 2162 in situ and 21 148 invasive cases of breast cancer in 17 areas of Italy, diagnosed in 1997–2001. Rates of early cancer increased by 13.7% in the screening age group (50–69 years), and breast conserving surgery by 24.6%. Advanced cancer rates decreased by 19.4%, and mastectomy rates by 24.2%. Service screening did not increase mastectomy rates in the study population

Hip Morphology in Mucolipidosis Type II

Mucolipidosis type II (MLII) is a rare lysosomal storage disorder caused by defective trafficking of lysosomal enzymes. Severe skeletal manifestations are a hallmark of the disease including hip dysplasia. This study aims to describe hip morphology and the natural course of hip pathologies in MLII by systematic evaluation of plain radiographs, ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An international two-centered study was performed by retrospective chart review. All MLII patients with at least one pelvic radiograph were included. A total of 16 patients were followed over a mean of 3.5 years (range 0.2–10.7 years). Typical age-dependent radiographic signs identified were femoral cloaking (7/16), rickets/hyperparathyroidism-like changes (6/16) and constrictions of the supra-acetabular part of the os ilium (16/16) and the femoral neck (7/16). The course of acetabular and migration indexes (AI, MI) significantly increased in female patients. However, in the overall group, there was no relevant progression of acetabular dysplasia with a mean AI of 23.0 (range 5◦–41◦ ) and 23.7◦ (range 5◦–40◦ ) at the first and last assessments, respectively. Better knowledge on hip morphology in MLII could lead to earlier diagnosis, improved clinical management and enables assessment of effects of upcoming therapies on the skeletal system