Ultraestructura de los acinos sudoríparos de las glándulas pelvianas de Chaetophractus villosus (Mammalia, Dasypodidae)

The acini of pelvian glands of Chaetophractus villosus (Desmarest, 1804) consisted of an inner layer of secretory cells and an outer layer of myoepithelial cells. Secretory cells have numerous secretory vacuoles. The secretion is released by exocytosis. Myoepithelial cells have numerous myofilaments that occupy much of the cytoplasm. There is a third cell type with an extremely electron-lucent cytoplasm.

A new variety of Cretaceous decapod.

v.37:no.16(1955)

Morphological characterization and sex-related differences of the mandible of the armadillos Chaetophractus vellerosus and Zaedyus pichiy (Xenarthra, Dasypodidae), with consideration of dietary aspects

The morphological characteristics of the mandible of adult Chaetophractus vellerosus (Gray, 1865) and Zaedyus pichiy (Desmarest, 1804) were studied to establish its generalized design and to identify inter- and intra- (sexual) specific differences. Morphological descriptions were complemented with the application of univariate and multivariate (analysis of correlation matrices, PCA, discriminant analysis) techniques. The mandible of both species is very similar, and is characterized by elevated condyle, well developed angular process, distinct coronoid process, tooth row which extends to the rear end of the angle between body and ramus, and unfused but firm symphysis. Although both armadillos are omnivorous, a more slender configuration of the jaw in Z. pichiy could be indicative of a better adaptation of its masticatory apparatus to insectivory. The PCA showed an almost total segregation of both species on PC1 (47.7% of the total variance), with C. vellerosus being associated to mandibles taller and with wider body and ramus. Zaedyus pichiy was characterized by heavy loadings of length parameters on PC2 (22.6% of the variance). A small degree of sexual dimorphism was found, with size-based differences in C. vellerosus (larger mandibles in females) and shape-based differences in Z. pichiy (taller mandibles in males, longer ones in females). Correlations between variables were higher in males of both species, indicating a more stable shape of the mandible than in females. The selected parameters to discriminate sexes were the body length of the mandible in C. vellerosus (correct classification: ca. 86% in males, 81% in females), and the height of the mandible at the level of the last tooth in Z. pichiy (near 85% of right assignment in both sexes). The inclusion of a new variable (body length) in the latter species improved the classification of the females to 100%. Teeth are typically 10 in C. vellerosus and 9 in Z. pichiy, but aberrancies in this basic number, such as unilateral or bilateral extra or fewer teeth, are common.

Bienestar del lechón en la fase de cebo

Los cerdos necesitan espacio para desarrollar actividades como descansar, comer, explorar o interaccionar con otros individuos del corral. En los cerdos de engorde, por tanto, el espacio disponible por individuo es un factor relevante y densidades excesivamente altas llevan a diversos problemas desde un punto de vista del bienestar. Al mismo tiempo, es importante considerar las relaciones sociales que se establecen entre los animales y el grado en que estas se ven alteradas por cuestiones de manejo como la mezcla de animales. En ocasiones, los cerdos desarrollan problemas de conducta muy importantes derivados de estos y otros factores, como la mordedura de colas. Así, los tres problemas principales de los cerdos durante la fase de cebo están relacionados con densidades demasiado altas en los corrales, mezcla de animales y conductas redirigidas como la caudofagia.

Bienestar del lechón en la fase de lactación, destete y transición

Tanto el momento del nacimiento como del destete implican para el lechón un conjunto de cambios importantes a los cuales debe responder el lechón para restablecer su equilibrio fisiológico interno (homeostasis). La capacidad de adaptación del lechón a estos cambios va a influir no sólo su bienestar en estas fases, sino otros parámetros productivos durante el engorde. A continuación se describen los fenómenos más destacables en relación al bienestar del lechón durante estas fases productivas: la mortalidad neonatal, el estrés del destete y de la formación de grupos durante la transición.

Bienestar durante el transporte

El transporte y sacrificio son las dos fases de la producción porcina más críticas desde el punto de vista del bienestar animal (Moss, 1992). Durante estas fases los animales son sometidos en un periodo de tiempo relativamente corto a un elevado número de factores estresantes. Estos factores incluyen la falta de agua y alimento, el proceso de carga y descarga, la mezcla con animales desconocidos, los movimientos del vehículo, los cambios de temperatura y humedad relativa, y la interacción con personal desconocido asociado a un manejo diferente, y a veces más brusco, que el recibido previamente (SCAHAW, 2002). Si bien cada uno de estos factores por separado tendría poco o ningún efecto negativo sobre el bienestar del animal, la combinación de varios de ellos tiene efectos aditivos, potenciando la respuesta de estrés del animal. La respuesta de estrés no solo tiene efectos sobre el bienestar animal, también puede tener efectos negativos sobre la calidad de la canal y de la carne, de forma que, en general, cuanto más intensa o duradera es dicha respuesta –y, por lo tanto, cuanto peor es el bienestar de los animales-, mayores son las repercusiones negativas sobre la calidad de la canal y de la carne. Por lo tanto, mejorar el bienestar de los animales durante su transporte y sacrificio permite responder simultáneamente a dos requisitos de mercado cada vez más importantes.

ESCMID* guideline for the diagnosis and management of Candida diseases 2012: developing European guidelines in clinical microbiology and infectious diseases.

The process to develop a guideline in a European setting remains a challenge. The ESCMID Fungal Infection Study Group (EFISG) successfully achieved this endeavour. After two face-to-face meetings, numerous telephone conferences, and email correspondence, an ESCMID task force (basically composed of members of the Society's Fungal Infection Study Group, EFISG) finalized the ESCMID diagnostic and management/therapeutic guideline for Candida diseases. By appreciating various patient populations at risk for Candida diseases, four subgroups were predefined, mainly ICU patients, paediatric, HIV/AIDS and patients with malignancies including haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Besides treatment recommendations, the ESCMID guidelines provide guidance for diagnostic procedures. For the guidelines, questions were formulated to phrase the intention of a given recommendation, for example, outcome. The recommendation was the clinical intervention, which was graded by a score of A-D for the 'Strength of a recommendation'. The 'level of evidence' received a score of I-III. The author panel was approved by ESCMID, European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, European Society of Intensive Care Medicine and the European Confederation of Medical Mycology. The guidelines followed the framework of GRADE and Appraisal of Guidelines, Research, and Evaluation. The drafted guideline was presented at ECCMID 2011 and points of discussion occurring during that meeting were incorporated into the manuscripts. These ESCMID guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Candida diseases provide guidance for clinicians in their daily decision-making process.

Systematic identification of genomic markers of drug sensitivity in cancer cells.

Clinical responses to anticancer therapies are often restricted to a subset of patients. In some cases, mutated cancer genes are potent biomarkers for responses to targeted agents. Here, to uncover new biomarkers of sensitivity and resistance to cancer therapeutics, we screened a panel of several hundred cancer cell lines--which represent much of the tissue-type and genetic diversity of human cancers--with 130 drugs under clinical and preclinical investigation. In aggregate, we found that mutated cancer genes were associated with cellular response to most currently available cancer drugs. Classic oncogene addiction paradigms were modified by additional tissue-specific or expression biomarkers, and some frequently mutated genes were associated with sensitivity to a broad range of therapeutic agents. Unexpected relationships were revealed, including the marked sensitivity of Ewing's sarcoma cells harbouring the EWS (also known as EWSR1)-FLI1 gene translocation to poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. By linking drug activity to the functional complexity of cancer genomes, systematic pharmacogenomic profiling in cancer cell lines provides a powerful biomarker discovery platform to guide rational cancer therapeutic strategies.

Preparació d'òxids mesoporosos mitjançant nanocasting

S’ha sintetitzat pel mètode de nanocasting pols nanomètrica d’In2O3, NiO i Co3O4 utilitzant diferents mesoestructures de sílice (SBA-16, SBA-15 i KIT-6) com a motlle rígid. Les rèpliques obtingudes s’han caracteritzat amb les tècniques de difracció de raigs X, microscòpia electrònica de rastreig, microscòpia electrònica de transmissió d’alta resolució i BET. L’òxid d’indi, l’òxid de níquel i l’òxid de cobalt obtinguts a partir de la sílice SBA-15 i KIT-6 conserven perfectament l’estructura mesopòrica del motlle, amb valors del diàmetre de porus al voltant dels 7-8 nm. Les rèpliques del motlle SBA-15 estan formades per nanofilaments llargs, mentre que les rèpliques de KIT-6 presenten una estructura hexagonal. A partir del motlle de tipus gàbia (SBA-16), si bé el Co3O4 obtingut és mesopòric, en els altres dos casos (In2O3 i NiO) no s’ha observat ordenament. Per a les rèpliques In2O3 KIT-6 i NiO SBA-15, la caracterització mitjançant BET ha permès corroborar el caràcter mesoestructurat de les mostres.

β-Glucan antigenemia assay for the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections in patients with hematological malignancies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies from the Third European Conference on Infections in Leukemia (ECIL-3).

BACKGROUND: Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) are life-threatening complications in patients with hemato-oncological malignancies, and early diagnosis is crucial for outcome. The compound 1,3-β-D-glucan (BG), a cell wall component of most fungal species, can be detected in blood during IFI. Four commercial BG antigenemia assays are available (Fungitell, Fungitec-G, Wako, and Maruha). This meta-analysis from the Third European Conference on Infections in Leukemia (ECIL-3) assessed the performance of BG assays for the diagnosis of IFI in hemato-oncological patients. METHODS: Studies reporting the performance of BG antigenemia assays for the diagnosis of IFI (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer and Mycoses Study Group criteria) in hemato-oncological patients were identified. The analysis was focused on high-quality cohort studies with exclusion of case-control studies. Meta-analysis was performed by conventional meta-analytical pooling and bivariate analysis. RESULTS: Six cohort studies were included (1771 adult patients with 414 IFIs of which 215 were proven or probable). Similar performance was observed among the different BG assays. For the cutoff recommended by the manufacturer, the diagnostic performance of the BG assay in proven or probable IFI was better with 2 consecutive positive test results (diagnostic odds ratio for 2 consecutive vs one single positive results, 111.8 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 38.6-324.1] vs 16.3 [95% CI, 6.5-40.8], respectively; heterogeneity index for 2 consecutive vs one single positive results, 0% vs 72.6%, respectively). For 2 consecutive tests, sensitivity and specificity were 49.6% (95% CI, 34.0%-65.3%) and 98.9% (95% CI, 97.4%-99.5%), respectively. Estimated positive and negative predictive values for an IFI prevalence of 10% were 83.5% and 94.6%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Different BG assays have similar accuracy for the diagnosis of IFI in hemato-oncological patients. Two consecutive positive antigenemia assays have very high specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Because sensitivity is low, the test needs to be combined with clinical, radiological, and microbiological findings.

Resultados de diversas alternativas a la castración quirúrgica de cerdos

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la castración quirúrgica (MC), la inmunocastración (MI), la producción de hembras (HE) y machos enteros (ME) sobre la productividad, el comportamiento y el bienestar animal. La castración quirúrgica se realizó a los siete días de edad y la inmunocastración mediante la administración a los 77 y 146 días de edad de un producto compuesto por una forma modifi cada del GnRF conjugado a una proteína capaz de inducir la formación de anticuerpos frente al GnRF. Durante el engorde, se evaluó el consumo individual, peso, espesor de grasa y lomo de 120 cerdos (36 ME, 36 MI, 24 MC y 24 hembras HE). Asimismo, se registró el comportamiento de los animales durante dos días consecutivos en las semanas 9, 11, 20, 21, 23 y 25. Los MI presentaron un crecimiento e ingestión diarias superior a los ME y un mejor índice de conversión que los MC. El espesor de lomo de los MI fue superior al de los MC, pero inferior al de los ME. La actividad se vio reducida en los MI en comparación con los ME, especialmente después de la segunda administración. Estos resultados sugieren que la inmunocastración es una alternativa a la castración quirúrgica. Result of differet alternatives to surgical castration of pigs The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of surgical castration (MC), immunocastration (MI), keeping females (HE) and entire males (ME) on performance, behaviour and welfare. The surgical castration was carried out at 7 days of age, and the immunocastration through the administration at 77 and 146 days of age of a modifi ed form of GnRF conjugated to protein to induce the formation of antibodies against GnRF. Individual consumption, weight and fat and loin depth of 120 pigs (36 ME, 36 MI, 24MC and 24 HE) was measured. Moreover, behaviour was recorded during two consecutive days in weeks 9, 11, 20, 21, 23 and 25. MI presented a higher growth and feed intake compared to ME and a better conversion ratio than MC. Loin depth was higher for MI than for MC, but lower than for ME. Activity was reduced in MI compared to ME, especially after the second administration. These results suggest that immunocastration is an alternative to surgical castration.

Detecting and measuring deprivation in primary care: development, reliability and validity of a self-reported questionnaire: the DiPCare-Q.

OBJECTIVES: Advances in biopsychosocial science have underlined the importance of taking social history and life course perspective into consideration in primary care. For both clinical and research purposes, this study aims to develop and validate a standardised instrument measuring both material and social deprivation at an individual level. METHODS: We identified relevant potential questions regarding deprivation using a systematic review, structured interviews, focus group interviews and a think-aloud approach. Item response theory analysis was then used to reduce the length of the 38-item questionnaire and derive the deprivation in primary care questionnaire (DiPCare-Q) index using data obtained from a random sample of 200 patients during their planned visits to an ambulatory general internal medicine clinic. Patients completed the questionnaire a second time over the phone 3 days later to enable us to assess reliability. Content validity of the DiPCare-Q was then assessed by 17 general practitioners. Psychometric properties and validity of the final instrument were investigated in a second set of patients. The DiPCare-Q was administered to a random sample of 1898 patients attending one of 47 different private primary care practices in western Switzerland along with questions on subjective social status, education, source of income, welfare status and subjective poverty. RESULTS: Deprivation was defined in three distinct dimensions: material (eight items), social (five items) and health deprivation (three items). Item consistency was high in both the derivation (Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR20) =0.827) and the validation set (KR20 =0.778). The DiPCare-Q index was reliable (interclass correlation coefficients=0.847) and was correlated to subjective social status (r(s)=-0.539). CONCLUSION: The DiPCare-Q is a rapid, reliable and validated instrument that may prove useful for measuring both material and social deprivation in primary care.

ESCMID* guideline for the diagnosis and management of Candida diseases 2012: prevention and management of invasive infections in neonates and children caused by Candida spp.

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is a relatively common syndrome in neonates and children and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. These guidelines provide recommendations for the prevention and treatment of IC in neonates and children. Appropriate agents for the prevention of IC in neonates at high risk include fluconazole (A-I), nystatin (B-II) or lactoferrin ± Lactobacillus (B-II). The treatment of IC in neonates is complicated by the high likelihood of disseminated disease, including the possibility of infection within the central nervous system. Amphotericin B deoxycholate (B-II), liposomal amphotericin B (B-II), amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) (C-II), fluconazole (B-II), micafungin (B-II) and caspofungin (C-II) can all be potentially used. Recommendations for the prevention of IC in children are largely extrapolated from studies performed in adults with concomitant pharmacokinetic data and models in children. For allogeneic HSCT recipients, fluconazole (A-I), voriconazole (A-I), micafungin (A-I), itraconazole (B-II) and posaconazole (B-II) can all be used. Similar recommendations are made for the prevention of IC in children in other risk groups. With several exceptions, recommendations for the treatment of IC in children are extrapolated from adult studies, with concomitant pharmacokinetic studies. Amphotericin B deoxycholate (C-I), liposomal amphotericin B (A-I), ABLC (B-II), micafungin (A-I), caspofungin (A-I), anidulafungin (B-II), fluconazole (B-I) and voriconazole (B-I) can all be used.

The genome of Laccaria bicolor provides insights into mycorrhizal symbiosis

Mycorrhizal symbioses--the union of roots and soil fungi--are universal in terrestrial ecosystems and may have been fundamental to land colonization by plants. Boreal, temperate and montane forests all depend on ectomycorrhizae. Identification of the primary factors that regulate symbiotic development and metabolic activity will therefore open the door to understanding the role of ectomycorrhizae in plant development and physiology, allowing the full ecological significance of this symbiosis to be explored. Here we report the genome sequence of the ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete Laccaria bicolor (Fig. 1) and highlight gene sets involved in rhizosphere colonization and symbiosis. This 65-megabase genome assembly contains approximately 20,000 predicted protein-encoding genes and a very large number of transposons and repeated sequences. We detected unexpected genomic features, most notably a battery of effector-type small secreted proteins (SSPs) with unknown function, several of which are only expressed in symbiotic tissues. The most highly expressed SSP accumulates in the proliferating hyphae colonizing the host root. The ectomycorrhizae-specific SSPs probably have a decisive role in the establishment of the symbiosis. The unexpected observation that the genome of L. bicolor lacks carbohydrate-active enzymes involved in degradation of plant cell walls, but maintains the ability to degrade non-plant cell wall polysaccharides, reveals the dual saprotrophic and biotrophic lifestyle of the mycorrhizal fungus that enables it to grow within both soil and living plant roots. The predicted gene inventory of the L. bicolor genome, therefore, points to previously unknown mechanisms of symbiosis operating in biotrophic mycorrhizal fungi. The availability of this genome provides an unparalleled opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of the processes by which symbionts interact with plants within their ecosystem to perform vital functions in the carbon and nitrogen cycles that are fundamental to sustainable plant productivity.