Imaging of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis of childhood first presenting with isolated primary spinal involvement

OBJECTIVE: Initial presentation with primary spinal involvement in chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis of childhood (CRMO) is rare. Our objective was to review the imaging appearances of three patients who had CRMO who initially presented with isolated primary spinal involvement. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: The imaging, clinical, laboratory and histology findings of the three patients were retrospectively reviewed. Imaging included seven spinal MR imaging scans, one computed tomography scan, nine bone scans, two tomograms and 16 radiographs. These were reviewed by two musculoskeletal radiologists and a consensus view is reported. All three patients presented with atraumatic spinal pain and had extensive bone spinal pathology. The patients were aged 11, 13 and 12 years. There were two females and one male. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The initial patient had thoracic T6 and T8 vertebra plana. Bone scan showed additional vertebral body involvement. Follow-up was available over a 3 year period. The second patient had partial collapse of T9 and, 2 years later, of C6. Subsequently extensive multifocal disease ensued and follow-up was available over 8 years. The third patient initially had L3 inferior partial collapse and 1 year later T8 involvement with multifocal disease. Follow-up was available over 3 years. The imaging findings of the three patients include partial and complete vertebra plana with a subchondral line adjacent to endplates associated with bone marrow MR signal alterations. Awareness of the imaging appearances may help the radiologist to include this entity in the differential diagnosis in children who present with spinal pathology and no history of trauma. Histopathological examination excludes tumor and infection but with typical imaging findings may not always be necessary.

Bringing high-throughput techniques to orphan crop of Africa: Highlights from the Tef TILLING Project

Orphan- or understudied-crops are mostly staple food crops in developing world. They are broadly classified under cereals, legumes, root crops, fruits and vegetables. These under-researched crops contribute to the diet of a large portion of resource-poor consumers and at the same time generate income for small-holder farmers in developing countries, particularly in Africa. In addition, they perform better than major crops of the world under extreme soil and climatic conditions. However, orphan crops are not without problems. Due to lack of scientific investigation, most of them produce low yields while others have a variety of toxins that affect the health of consumers. Here, we present some highlights on the status and future perspectives of the Tef Biotechnology Project that employs modern improvement technique in order to genetically improve tef (Eragrostis tef), one of the most important orphan crop in Africa. A reverse genetics approach known as TILLING (Targeting Induced Local Lesions IN Genome) is implemented in order to tackle lodging, the major yield limiting factor in tef.Key words: Orphan crops, underresearched crops, Eragrostis tef, TILLING, semi-dwarf.

Macular hole surgery in patients with end-stage choroideremia

OBJECTIVE To assess macular hole surgery in patients with end-stage choroideremia with regard to anatomic closure and visual outcome. DESIGN Retrospective, interventional case series. PARTICIPANTS Thirty adult male patients with a diagnosis of advanced choroideremia were reviewed and underwent spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) as part of the screening process for a gene therapy clinical trial. From within that cohort, 3 were identified as having a full-thickness macular hole (FTMH). METHODS A 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy was performed with peeling of the inner limiting membrane and gas tamponade. Preoperative best-corrected visual acuity ranged from perception of light to 6/24. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Prevalence of FTMH in advanced choroideremia, morphologic phenotype characteristics of FTMH in OCT, pre- and postoperative best-corrected visual acuity, and closure rate after surgery. RESULTS The prevalence of FTMH in advanced choroideremia in our cohort was 10%. One hole was associated with significant macular schisis, presumed to be attributable to degeneration of outer retinal layers. Anatomic closure was achieved in all 3 patients and confirmed with spectral domain OCT. Gas tamponade lasted approximately twice as long as might be expected compared with standard FTMH surgery. Objective visual acuity did not improve; however, perceived vision improved in all patients. CONCLUSIONS Although FTMH in choroideremia is a rare finding, it could potentially mask central progression of the disease. Regular screening may help to diagnose holes at an earlier stage when the visual prognosis after surgery may be better. Standard macular hole surgery seems to be effective in gaining anatomic closure, which would be significant for patients who subsequently require macula detachment for subretinal gene therapy. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S) The authors have no proprietary or commercial interest in any of the materials discussed in this article.

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography findings after severe exogenous endophthalmitis

PURPOSE To report outcomes and assess structural changes in the retina in patients with severe endophthalmitis. METHODS Retrospective, nonrandomized, interventional case series at a tertiary referral centre. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of both eyes were acquired at least 5 months after pars plana vitrectomy. OCT images were analyzed using retinal layer segmentation. RESULTS Nine patients (46-80 years of age) were included in this study. Average ETDRS visual acuity before treatment was 23 letters and improved to 74 letters. In our cohort we did not find a generalized reduction of retinal layers using automated layer segmentation. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that prompt treatment of severe endophthalmitis with intravitreal antibiotics followed by pars plana vitrectomy may lead to excellent visual outcomes with minimal damage to the retinal architecture.

Die Breslauer Politiker und ihre Politik im Jahr der Klubbs : ein Taschenspiegel für Alle

Boberach: "Einer, der sich selbst verdiente Ohrfeigen gibt", behandelt mit Ironie folgende Vereine und ihre führenden Persönlichkeiten sowie die Unruhen am 19. November 1848 und 7. Mai 1849, wobei er Sympathien für die "besseren Elemente" bei Demokraten und Konstitutionellen erkennen läßt, die zusammenfinden sollen: Demokratischer Klub (Nees v. Esenbeck, Stein, Elsner), Konstitutioneller Klub (Gräff, Ludwig Hahn), Verein für Gesetz und Ordnung (Hahn, Graf Ziethen), Deutscher Volksverein (Pflücker, Borchard, Delbrück), Katholischer Zentralverein

Rückblicke auf die Preußische National-Versammlung von 1848 und ihre Koryphäen

Boberach: In "Konterfeis" werden vor den Kammerwahlen die Abgeordneten der Linken der Nationalversammlung Waldeck, Jacoby, Stein, D'Ester, Elsner, Nees v. Esenbeck, Temme, Berends, Jung, Graf Reichenbach, Schneider, Rodbertus, v. Berg, v. Kirchmann, v. Unruh, [und] Parrisius mit ihrer Taktik vorgestellt

Drought Adaptation in Millets

Millets are major food and feed sources in the developing world especially in the semi-arid tropical regions of Africa and Asia. The most widely cultivated millets are pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.], finger millet [Eleusine coracana (L.) Gaertn], foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauvois], Japanese barnyard millet [Echinochloa esculneta (A. Braun) H. Scholz], Indian Barnyard millet [Echinochloa frumetacea Link], kodo millet [Paspalum scrobiculatum L.], little millet [Panicum sumatrense Roth.ex.Roem. & Schult.], proso millet [Panicum miliaceum L.], tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] and fonio or acha [Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf and D. iburua Stapf]. Millets are resilient to extreme environmental conditions especially to inadequate moisture and are rich in nutrients. Millets are also considered to be a healthy food, mainly due to the lack of gluten (a substance that causes coeliac disease) in their grain. Despite these agronomic, nutritional and health-related benefits, millets produce very low yield compared to major cereals such as wheat and rice. This extremely low productivity is related to the challenging environment in which they are extensively cultivated and to the little research investment in these crops. Recently, several national and international initiatives have begun to support the improvement of diverse millet types.

Gibberellin Deficiency Confers Both Lodging and Drought Tolerance in Small Cereals

Tef [Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] and finger millet [Eleusine coracana Gaertn] are staple cereal crops in Africa and Asia with several desirable agronomic and nutritional properties. Tef is becoming a life-style crop as it is gluten-free while finger millet has a low glycemic index which makes it an ideal food for diabetic patients. However, both tef and finger millet have extremely low grain yields mainly due to moisture scarcity and susceptibility of the plants to lodging. In this study, the effects of gibberellic acid (GA) inhibitors particularly paclobutrazol (PBZ) on diverse physiological and yield-related parameters were investigated and compared to GA mutants in rice (Oryza sativa L.). The application of PBZ to tef and finger millet significantly reduced the plant height and increased lodging tolerance. Remarkably, PBZ also enhanced the tolerance of both tef and finger millet to moisture deficit. Under moisture scarcity, tef plants treated with PBZ did not exhibit drought-related symptoms and their stomatal conductance was unaltered, leading to higher shoot biomass and grain yield. Semi-dwarf rice mutants altered in GA biosynthesis, were also shown to have improved tolerance to dehydration. The combination of traits (drought tolerance, lodging tolerance and increased yield) that we found in plants with altered GA pathway is of importance to breeders who would otherwise rely on extensive crossing to introgress each trait individually. The key role played by PBZ in the tolerance to both lodging and drought calls for further studies using mutants in the GA biosynthesis pathway in order to obtain candidate lines which can be incorporated into crop-breeding programs to create lodging tolerant and climate-smart crops.

Productividad del pasto llorón con riego limitado : oasis norte de Mendoza (Argentina)

Ante la realidad de la cada vez más aguda escasez de agua en el oasis norte mendocino durante la primavera, que dificulta el manejo racional de los cultivos existentes, surge la necesidad -en el ámbito de la producción forrajera- de una especie de reducido requerimiento hídrico y que compita lo menos posible con los cultivos tradicionales, en particular en la época más crítica. Se ha experimentado con el pasto llorón para averiguar su respuesta a la aplicación de riegos limitados durante el período invernal. Se presentan los resultados de producción de materia seca así como las observaciones de la dinámica vegetacional. Se concluye que para el oasis norte de Mendoza la aplicación de riegos durante el período invernal que completen 200 mm, permite la supervivencia del cultivo con una densidad de aproximadamente 60 plantas por m2 y una producción entre 3 200 y 4 000 kg de materia seca por ha y por año.

Cuicani : el virtuosismo instrumental en la música de Mario Lavista

El presente trabajo procura establecer, a partir de la obra Cuicani del compositor mexicano Mario Lavista, los diferentes aspectos estilísticos que confluyen en la noción del virtuosismo instrumental, término acuñado por el compositor. La indagación en dicha obra permite descubrir las vinculaciones del músico creador con el músico intérprete, así como en las relaciones música-poesía, música-tiempo, la alusión, la sugerencia y la ambigüedad, entre otras, que conforman su imaginario creador. El aporte de Lavista desde dicha noción, abre un campo de trabajo de grandes posibilidades a la música contemporánea.

Música contemporánea latinoamericana para flauta : desde Mendoza a la mitad del mundo

Fil: Plana, Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Artes y Diseño

Tres propuestas de aplicación de técnicas extendidas en la flauta contemporánea en Latinoamérica : : Mario Lavista, Adina Izarra y Diego Luzuriaga

El presente artículo constituye una síntesis de la tesis de la Maestría en Interpretación de Música Latinoamericana del Siglo XX, de la Facultad de Artes y Diseño de la UNCuyo. Muestra la aplicación de las técnicas extendidas en la flauta según los autores Mario Lavista, Adina Izarra y Diego Luzuriaga. Se plantea un panorama de la flauta contemporánea en sus avances técnicos y musicales, y a través del repertorio seleccionado se aplica el concepto de renacimiento instrumental propuesto por Lavista, observando el tratamiento de las técnicas en los autores seleccionados. Para analizar su contexto de producción se utiliza la categoría del a-priori compositivo y, finalmente, desde la interpretación se reflexiona sobre el intérprete integral.

Quaternary and Paleogene calcareous nannofossils of ODP Leg 115

The occurrences of ten datum events for the Quaternary and top Pliocene nannofossils are identified at nine Leg 115 sites. A quantitative investigation of Paleogene nannofossils in 470 samples selected from 11 holes at 9 sites yielded 197 taxa, including one new species and 10 unidentified taxa that are likely to be new species. Regional differences in the timing of some biostratigraphically important events are recognized, and a set of datum events useful for biostratigra- phy in the tropical Indian Ocean is presented. Biogeographical differences are minor for Paleogene cores from the tropical sites (Sites 707-716); however, the Quaternary and late early Oligocene floras observed at the two subtropical sites (Sites 705 and 706) differ significantly from the corresponding floras of the tropical sites. Bathymetrically controlled dissolution is recognized by the reduction of species diversity in the Paleogene flora. Selective dissolution of nannofossils is also evidenced by the percentage reduction of three holococcolith taxa, Lanternithus minutus, Zygrhablithus bijugatus, and Holococcolith type A as well as by the increase of Coccolithus pelagicusand Cribrocentrum reticulatumin the deeper sites.

La música académica para flauta traversa en la segunda mitad del siglo XX en Colombia

Fundado en los vestigios de una flauta prácticamente inexistente en el S. XIX, en los avatares de la flauta nacionalista de las primeras décadas del S.XX y en ulteriores y primeros indicios de una composición erudita para la flauta traversa, este trabajo intenta, en primer lugar, completar de manera exhaustiva la información ya recaudada relativa al repertorio. En segundo lugar, busca profundizar en el conocimiento de éste y de su diversidad estética, centrándose en las composiciones académicas para la flauta traversa de autores colombianos producidas a partir de 1950 hasta el 2000: La flauta se erige en la segunda mitad del S. XX en Colombia, como un instrumento afín a las corrientes contemporáneas de composición musical. Con el presente trabajo se aspira brindar a los flautistas –estudiantes o profesionales -: de un lado, una guía de referencia para acercarse a un repertorio prácticamente desconocido y de otro, un estudio detallado de siete obras que representan de algún modo, cincuenta años de producción musical vinculada a laflauta traversa. Con ello, se intenta contribuir en una mínima proporción al rescate del patrimonio musical colombiano y al reconocimiento debido a varias generaciones de autores dedicados a la composición erudita, actividad que ha sido –en general- poco valorada en Colombia. Este trabajo persigue los siguientes objetivos: 1- Elaboración de un catálogo amplio del repertorio de obras de autores colombianos para la flauta traversa en el S. XX. 2- Identificación de diversas estéticas compositivas y tendencias estilísticas en las obras escritas entre 1950 y 2000. 3- Elección, montaje e interpretación de 7 obras representativas y de interés musical a la presente investigación, dentro de las composiciones realizadas a partir de 1950 hasta el 2000 4- Presentación de un análisis y un acercamiento al estilo de cada una de estas 7 obras y sus respectivos compositores