Use of plumage and gular pouch color to evaluate condition of oil spill rehabilitated California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) post-release

Sublethal effects of oil spills may dampen seabird rehabilitation success due to lingering negative impacts of contamination and stress on reproduction and long-term survival. These effects can be difficult to measure while birds are in care as well as once birds are released. Expression of sexually selected traits that are sensitive to condition can provide information on physiological status of birds. We evaluated plumage molt and gular pouch skin color of California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) following oil contamination and rehabilitation to test for differences between previously oiled and rehabilitated (post-spill) and presumably uncontaminated pelicans. Post-spill pelicans released with either color leg bands alone, or bands plus harness-mounted satellite GPS tags, were relocated and visually assessed in the field at non-breeding communal roosts and compared to surrounding unmarked pelicans in the general population. Non-oiled pelicans bearing GPS tags were also included in the study. Post-spill pelicans lagged the general population in molt of ornamental yellow crown feathers but hind neck transition into white plumage was not significantly different. Both post-spill and non-oiled pelicans wearing GPS tags had lower gular redness scores than the unmarked, non-oiled population. Pre-breeding gular pouch redness of post-spill pelicans was more strongly influenced by wearing of a GPS tag than a history of oil contamination and rehabilitation. Gular pouch redness of post-spill pelicans in the first 18 months after release was positively correlated with long term survivorship. If gular pouch color is a condition-dependent sexual signal and overall health influences plumage molt progression, our results indicate that many post-spill pelicans marked with bands alone were in relatively good condition going into the next breeding season, but those released with electronic tags experienced additional stress due to wearing the equipment, introducing a confounding variable to the post-release study

Decline of large-diameter trees in a bamboo-dominated forest following anthropogenic disturbances in southwestern Amazonia.

Reduction in the aboveground biomass of larger trees is the main consequence of disturbances in open forests dominated by bamboo. Because these trees are of central importance both for ecosystem function and for the economic value of the forest for management, the impact on these trees due to the increase of bamboo abundance following anthropogenic disturbances is both an environmental and a commercial concern.Includes supplementary material

Use of plumage and gular pouch color to evaluate condition of oil spill rehabilitated California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) post-release

Sublethal effects of oil spills may dampen seabird rehabilitation success due to lingering negative impacts of contamination and stress on reproduction and long-term survival. These effects can be difficult to measure while birds are in care as well as once birds are released. Expression of sexually selected traits that are sensitive to condition can provide information on physiological status of birds. We evaluated plumage molt and gular pouch skin color of California brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis californicus) following oil contamination and rehabilitation to test for differences between previously oiled and rehabilitated (post-spill) and presumably uncontaminated pelicans. Post-spill pelicans released with either color leg bands alone, or bands plus harness-mounted satellite GPS tags, were relocated and visually assessed in the field at non-breeding communal roosts and compared to surrounding unmarked pelicans in the general population. Non-oiled pelicans bearing GPS tags were also included in the study. Post-spill pelicans lagged the general population in molt of ornamental yellow crown feathers but hind neck transition into white plumage was not significantly different. Both post-spill and non-oiled pelicans wearing GPS tags had lower gular redness scores than the unmarked, non-oiled population. Pre-breeding gular pouch redness of post-spill pelicans was more strongly influenced by wearing of a GPS tag than a history of oil contamination and rehabilitation. Gular pouch redness of post-spill pelicans in the first 18 months after release was positively correlated with long term survivorship. If gular pouch color is a condition-dependent sexual signal and overall health influences plumage molt progression, our results indicate that many post-spill pelicans marked with bands alone were in relatively good condition going into the next breeding season, but those released with electronic tags experienced additional stress due to wearing the equipment, introducing a confounding variable to the post-release study

Retinal functional changes measured by frequency-doubling technology in patients treated with hydroxychloroquine.

BACKGROUND: Antimalarial drugs such as chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are mainly used in the treatment of rheumatologic diseases, and their use may be associated with irreversible retinal toxicity. Previous studies indicate early paracentral visual field loss (Humphrey 10-2) in patients taking HCQ". These paracentral defects appear before changes in other clinical parameters as visual acuity and fundoscopy. The mechanism of CQ toxicity remains unclear. It was reported that toxic doses of CQ administered for as long as 4.5 years to Rhesus monkeys caused an initial dramatic effect on ganglion cells, followed later by photoreceptors and RPE degeneration. The purpose of this study is to explore early retinal functional changes measured by frequency-doubling technology (FDT) in patients treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). METHODS: Forty-eight eyes of 48 subjects treated with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), with no signs of retinal toxicity, and 36 eyes of 36 age and sex-matched healthy subjects were enrolled in this cross-sectional, prospective, observational, case control study. Functional testing included frequency-doubling Humphrey-matrix perimetry (FDP), white-on-white Humphrey visual field perimetry (HFA), using the 24-2 and 10-2 threshold programs, multifocal electroretinogram (mfERG, Veris 4.9) and low contrast sensitivity (CS) measurement. RESULTS: FDP mean deviation (MD) was found to be significantly reduced in HCQ-treated patients compared to controls both in the 24-2 (-1.38 ± 2.41 dB vs 0.21 ± 1.83 dB, p < 0.01) and in the 10-2 program (-0.97 ± 2.88 dB vs 0.15 ± 1.72 dB, p < 0.01). FDP pattern standard deviation (PSD) was found to be significantly worse in HCQ-treated patients compared to controls both in the 24-2 (2.70 ± 0.65 dB vs 2.41 ± 0.31 dB, p < 0.01 and in the 10-2 program (2.86 ± 0.48 dB vs 2.48 ± 0.39 dB, p < 0.01). HFA PSD and CS was also significantly reduced in HCQ patients, while response amplitude densities (RAD) were similar between patients and controls. A statistically significant difference in the ratio of the 5°-10° RAD and the 0°-2.5° RAD (0.31 ± 0.08 vs 0.36 ± 0.07 respectively, p < 0.05) was found between groups. CONCLUSION: Frequency doubling perimetry could be useful to detect early retinal impairment in patients treated with hydroxychloroquine

Citicoline in ophthalmological neurodegenerative disease: A comprehensive review

Cytidine 5'-diphosphocholine has been widely studied in systemic neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and brain ischemia. The rationale for the use of citicoline in ophthalmological neurodegenerative diseases, including glaucoma, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, and diabetic retinopathy, is founded on its multifactorial mechanism of action and the involvement in several metabolic pathways, including phospholipid homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics, as well as cholinergic and dopaminergic transmission, all being involved in the complexity of the visual transmission. This narrative review is aimed at reporting both pre-clinical data regarding the involvement of citicoline in such metabolic pathways (including new insights about its role in the intracellular proteostasis through an interaction with the proteasome) and its effects on clinical psychophysical, electrophysiological, and morphological outcomes following its use in ophthalmological neurodegenerative diseases (including the results of the most recent prospective randomized clinical trials)

Mutation profile of BBS genes in patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome : An Italian study

Background: Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is a rare inherited multisystemic disorder with autosomal recessive or complex digenic triallelic inheritance. There is currently no treatment for BBS, but some morbidities can be managed. Accurate molecular diagnosis is often crucial for the definition of appropriate patient management and for the development of a potential personalized therapy. Methods: We developed a next-generation-sequencing (NGS) protocol for the screening of the 18 most frequently mutated genes to define the genotype and clarify the mutation spectrum of a cohort of 20 BBS Italian patients. Results: We defined the causative variants in 60% of patients; four of those are novel. 33% of patients also harboured variants in additional gene/s, suggesting possible oligogenic inheritance. To explore the function of different genes, we looked for correlations between genotype and phenotype in our cohort. Hypogonadism was more frequently detected in patients with variants in BBSome proteins, while renal abnormalities in patients with variations in BBSome chaperonin genes. Conclusions: NGS is a powerful tool that can help understanding BBS patients' phenotype through the identification of mutations that could explain differences in phenotype severity and could provide insights for the development of targeted therapy. Furthermore, our results support the existence of additional BBS loci yet to be identified

Fluorescein angiography findings in eyes with lamellar macular hole and epiretinal membrane foveoschisis

PURPOSE. The purpose of this paper was to study fluorescein angiography (FA) findings in eyes with lamellar macular hole (LMH), and epiretinal membrane (ERM) foveoschisis. METHODS. In this prospective, observational case series, 46 eyes of patients affected by either LMH or ERM foveoschisis were examined using optical coherence tomography (OCT) and FA. All patients underwent a comprehensive ophthalmological examination and a general workup to exclude uveitis. Main outcome measures were: presence of FA abnormalities, measurements of the areas of vascular leakage, and intensity of pixels in the vitreous. RESULTS. Twenty-four (52.2%) eyes with LMH and 22 (47.8%) with ERM foveoschisis were studied. Overall, FA abnormalities were found in 20 (83.3%) eyes with LMH and 18 (81.8%) with ERM foveoschisis. The median areas of posterior pole and peripheral leakage were 7.52 vs. 1.07 mm2 (P = 0.03) and 21.8 vs. 3.74 mm2 (P = 0.02) in the LMH and ERM foveoschisis group, respectively. Disk hyperfluorescence was found in 8 and 4 eyes and perivascular leak in 10 and 4 eyes with LMH and ERM foveoschisis, respectively. OCT-derived measurements of vitreous intensity did not differ between the two groups, and the investigational workup for uveitis was negative in all patients. CONCLUSIONS. Discrete areas of central and peripheral leakage are commonly found in eyes with LMH and ERM foveoschisis, whereas perivascular leak and hyperfluorescence of the disc are less frequently observed. These findings suggest that breakdown of the retinal blood barrier, involving the posterior pole and the periphery, is frequently associated with these two vitreoretinal disorders

CSF parvalbumin levels reflect interneuron loss linked with cortical pathology in multiple sclerosis

INTRODUCTION AND METHODS: In order to verify whether parvalbumin (PVALB), a protein specifically expressed by GABAergic interneurons, could be a MS-specific marker of grey matter neurodegeneration, we performed neuropathology/molecular analysis of PVALB expression in motor cortex of 40 post-mortem progressive MS cases, with/without meningeal inflammation, and 10 control cases, in combination with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) assessment. Analysis of CSF PVALB and neurofilaments (Nf-L) levels combined with physical/cognitive/3TMRI assessment was performed in 110 naïve MS patients and in 32 controls at time of diagnosis. RESULTS: PVALB gene expression was downregulated in MS (fold change = 3.7 ± 1.2, P < 0.001 compared to controls) reflecting the significant reduction of PVALB+ cell density in cortical lesions, to a greater extent in MS patients with high meningeal inflammation (51.8, P < 0.001). Likewise, post-mortem CSF-PVALB levels were higher in MS compared to controls (fold change = 196 ± 36, P < 0.001) and correlated with decreased PVALB+ cell density (r = -0.64, P < 0.001) and increased MHC-II+ microglia density (r = 0.74, P < 0.01), as well as with early age of onset (r = -0.69, P < 0.05), shorter time to wheelchair (r = -0.49, P < 0.05) and early age of death (r = -0.65, P < 0.01). Increased CSF-PVALB levels were detected in MS patients at diagnosis compared to controls (P = 0.002). Significant correlation was found between CSF-PVALB levels and cortical lesion number on MRI (R = 0.28, P = 0.006) and global cortical thickness (R = -0.46, P < 0.001), better than Nf-L levels. CSF-PVALB levels increased in MS patients with severe cognitive impairment (mean ± SEM:25.2 ± 7.5 ng/mL) compared to both cognitively normal (10.9 ± 2.4, P = 0.049) and mild cognitive impaired (10.1 ± 2.9, P = 0.024) patients. CONCLUSIONS: CSF-PVALB levels reflect loss of cortical interneurons in MS patients with more severe disease course and might represent an early, new MS-specific biomarker of cortical neurodegeneration, atrophy, and cognitive decline

Hacia una reforma municipal genuina

El gobierno local es cada vez más importante en un entorno cultural de globalización. Ahí está la responsabilidad de gestar las bases de un desarrollo sustentable, de promover la igualdad de oportunidades y de educar al ciudadano en las responsabilidades políticas y cívicas congruentes con los nuevos retos. Este trabajo reúne la discusión y reflexiones de investigadores, funcionarios municipales y estatales, analistas y otros interesados en los gobiernos locales que intentan identificar los cambios administrativos, políticos, sociales y jurídicos para una reforma de los gobiernos locales capaz de resolver los problemas actuales de los municipios y conducir al desarrollo sustentable.ITESO, A.C