Morfoanatomia comparada do talo de duas espécies de Parmotrema (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota liquenizados) com rizinas dimórficas

Utilizando técnicas convencionais para estudos histológicos em microscopia de luz com auxílio de luz polarizada, se descreve e compara a anatomia do talo de duas espécies de Parmotrema, Parmotrema consors e Parmotrema cf. reparatum, com rizinas dimórficas e máculas efiguradas, antigamente incluídas em Canomaculina. Os dados obtidos neste estudo mostram que as duas espécies são anatomicamente distintas em relação às características do epicórtex, córtex superior e rizinas. Parmotrema cf. reparatum é anatomicamente similar ao grupo de Parmotrema com máculas reticulares (antigamente incluídas em Rimelia) previamente estudados. Os polissacarídeos típicos do epicórtex e córtex superior do grupo de espécies de Parmotrema com rizinas dimórficas possuem diferenciação histoquímica daqueles mencionados para o epicórtex e córtex superior do grupo de Parmotrema com máculas reticulares.

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Cinco novas espécies de Cerambycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) da Região Neotropical e novos registros

New species are described: Tessaropa elongata sp. nov. from Brazil (Rondônia) has long elytra, a character that distinguishes it from the remaining species with short elytra; Hexoplon immaculatum sp. nov. from Ecuador (Pichincha) is characterized by the red-orange general color and black legs. Eburodacrys inaequalis sp. nov. from Bolivia (Santa Cruz) has elytral apices and same-color femora that cause it to be similar to E. ayri Martins & Galileo, 2006 and E. silviamariae Martins & Galileo, 2006, yet it differs from either species in the black lateral spines and dorsal tubercles of pronotum and the elongate eburneuos maculae of the elytra. Coleomethia bezarki sp. nov. (Costa Rica, Guanacaste) differs from C. australis Hovore, 1987 by male pronotum without rugosities, peduculate metafemora and metatibiae entirely pubescent. Bisaltes (B.) petilus sp. nov. (Costa Rica, Guanacaste, Alajuela) is separated from B. (B.)buquetii Thomson, 1868 and B. (B.) fuchsi Breuning, 1971 by the more slender body appearance, the absence of dark belts on pronotum, and the absence of circular macula in the anterior third of elytra. Notes and new records are provided for: Tetraibion concolor Martins, 2006 (Bolivia: La Paz); Gnomidolon ornaticolle Martins, 1960 (Panama: Colón); Mephritus apicatus (Linsley, 1935) (Brazil: Rondônia).

Novos táxons e novo registro em Hemilophini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae)

Novas espécies descritas e ilustradas: Adesmus nigrolineatus sp. nov. do México (Oaxaca). Da Costa Rica: A. moruna sp. nov. (Heredia); Corcovado bezarki sp. nov. (Guanacaste); Alampyris fuscus sp. nov. (Guanacaste), Cariua gen. nov. espécie-tipo C. sulphurea sp. nov., (Guanacaste). Da Bolívia: Phoebemima albomaculata sp. nov. (Cochabamba); Ipepo gen. nov. espécie-tipo I. dilatatus sp. nov. (Santa Cruz). Do Brasil: Adesmus facetus sp. nov. e Canarana arguta sp. nov. (Rondônia). É acrescentado novo registro na Costa Rica para Piruanycha pitilla Galileo & Martins, 2005. As três espécies novas de Adesmus distinguem-se: A. nigrolineatus sp. nov. pelas faixas longitudinais de tegumento preto nos élitros; A. moruna sp. nov. pelos élitros inteiramente pretos; A. facetus pelas faixas oblíquas de pubescência branca após o meio dos élitros além das manchas do quarto apical e das epipleuras. Phoebemima albomaculata sp. nov. caracteriza-se pela mancha basal de pubescência branca dos élitros estendendo-se sobre a sutura. Corcovado bezarki sp. nov. distingue-se pelo escapo preto e antenômeros esbranquiçados. Canarana arguta sp. nov. tem o protórax e os urosternitos I a IV cobertos por densa pubescência amarelada. Alampyris fusca sp. nov. difere de A. cretaria principalmente pelo antenômero III mais longo que o escapo. Cariua sulphurea sp. nov. separa-se pela presença de urosternitos revestidos por pubescência branca compacta e Ipepo dilatatus sp. nov. caracteriza-se pelos élitros tri-carenados.

Hedgehog signaling governs the development of otic sensory epithelium and its associated innervation in zebrafish

The inner ear is responsible for the perception of motion and sound in vertebrates. Its functional unit, the sensory patch, contains mechanosensory hair cells innervated by sensory neurons from the statoacoustic ganglion (SAG) that project to the corresponding nuclei in the brainstem. How hair cells develop at specific positions, and how otic neurons are sorted to specifically innervate each endorgan and to convey the extracted information to the hindbrain is not completely understood. In this work, we study the generation of macular sensory patches and investigate the role of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling in the production of their neurosensory elements. Using zebrafish transgenic lines to visualize the dynamics of hair cell and neuron production, we show that the development of the anterior and posterior maculae is asynchronic, suggesting they are independently regulated. Tracing experiments demonstrate the SAG is topologically organized in two different neuronal subpopulations, which are spatially segregated and innervate specifically each macula. Functional experiments identify the Hh pathway as crucial in coordinating the production of hair cells in the posterior macula, and the formation of its specific innervation. Finally, gene expression analyses suggest that Hh influences the balance between different SAG neuronal subpopulations. These results lead to a model in which Hh orients functionally the development of inner ear towards an auditory fate in all vertebrate species.

Intravitreal Dexamethasone Implant for the Treatment of Macular Edema after Retinal Vein Occlusion in a Clinical Setting.

Background: To study the efficacy and safety of a new intravitreal implant (sustained release of dexamethasone, Ozurdex®) recently approved in Switzerland for the treatment of macular edema secondary to retinal vein occlusion in a clinical setting.Patients and Methods: Prospective non-consecutive study of patients with macular edema secondary to central retinal vein occlusion or branch retinal vein occlusion treated with implant of dexamethasone 0.7 mg. Follow-up visits were performed at day 1, week 1 and monthly thereafter. ETDRS best corrected visual acuity, Goldmann tonometry and macular thickness on SD-OCT were registered. Retreatment was carried out on a pro re nata basis starting from month 3.Results: Fifteen eyes of 15 patients were included (8 branch retinal vein occlusions, 7 central retinal vein occlusions). 33 % of the patients achieved 3 lines or more of vision gain. The central retinal vein occlusion subgroup showed a mean decline in visual acuity at month 3. A reduction of 36 % of macular edema was already observed at day 1. All maculae were dry at month 1. The mean time of recurrence of macular edema for both groups was 4.6 months. A similar reduction of macular edema was obtained after a second implantation. An intraocular pressure increase of ≥ 20 % was observed after the first implantation in 53 % of patients.Conclusion: Our study showed efficacy and safety of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in the treatment of macular edema due to retinal vein occlusion. Anatomical efficacy was observed at day 1 but seems to have shorter effect than previously published data. No serious side effects were observed.

En face optical coherence tomography of foveal microstructure in full-thickness macular hole: a model to study perifoveal müller cells.

PURPOSE: To characterize perifoveal intraretinal cavities observed around full-thickness macular holes (MH) using en face optical coherence tomography and to establish correlations with histology of human and primate maculae. DESIGN: Retrospective nonconsecutive observational case series. METHODS: Macular en face scans of 8 patients with MH were analyzed to quantify the areas of hyporeflective spaces, and were compared with macular flat mounts and sections from 1 normal human donor eye and 2 normal primate eyes (Macaca fascicularis). Immunohistochemistry was used to study the distribution of glutamine synthetase, expressed by Müller cells, and zonula occludens-1, a tight-junction protein. RESULTS: The mean area of hyporeflective spaces was lower in the inner nuclear layer (INL) than in the complex formed by the outer plexiform (OPL) and the Henle fiber layers (HFL): 5.0 × 10(-3) mm(2) vs 15.9 × 10(-3) mm(2), respectively (P < .0001, Kruskal-Wallis test). In the OPL and HFL, cavities were elongated with a stellate pattern, whereas in the INL they were rounded and formed vertical cylinders. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that Müller cells followed a radial distribution around the fovea in the frontal plane and a "Z-shaped" course in the axial plane, running obliquely in the OPL and HFL and vertically in the inner layers. In addition, zonula occludens-1 co-localized with Müller cells within the complex of OPL and HFL, indicating junctions in between Müller cells and cone axons. CONCLUSION: The dual profile of cavities around MHs correlates with Müller cell morphology and is consistent with the hypothesis of intra- or extracellular fluid accumulation along these cells.

Síndrome de Peutz-Jeghers: relato de caso

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome (PJS) is a dominant autosomal inherited disorder characterized by intestinal hamartomatous polyps in association with mucocutaneous melanocytic maculae. This syndrome is rare, and the frequency reaches from 1 in 60,000 to 1 in 300,000 people in the USA. The symptom presentations vary greatly in this disease. Some patients require minor clinical treatment while others undergo many hospitalizations and surgical treatments. In addition, patients with PJS have an increased risk for developing a variety of malignant tumors. The aim of the present study was to report one case studied of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.

Anatomia comparada do talo de duas espécies de Parmotrema (Parmeliaceae, Ascomycota liquenizados) com máculas reticulares

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Cortical diversity in three species groups of Parmotrema sensu lato (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycota)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Aplicabilidade taxonômica de variações anatômicas em fungos liquenizados

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

New taxa and new record of Hemilophini (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae: Lamiinae).

New species described and illustrated: Adesmus nigrolineatus sp. nov from Mexico (Oaxaca). From Costa Rica: A, moruna sp. nov. (Heredia); Corcovado bezarki sp. nov. (Guanacaste); Alampyris fuscus sp. nov. (Guanacaste), Cariua gen. nov type species C. sulphurea sp. nov. (Guanacaste). From Bolivia: Phoebemima albomaculata sp. nov. (Cochabamba); Ipepo gen. nov type species I. dilatatus sp. nov. (Santa Cruz). From Brazil: Adesmus facetus sp. nov and Canarana arguta sp. nov. (Rondonia). A new record from Costa Rica of Piruanycha pitilla Galileo & Martins, 2005 is added. The three new species of Adesmus are recognized: A. nigrolineatus by the longitudinal black stripes on elytra; A. moruna by the elytra entirely black; A. facetus by the white belts behind the middle of the elytra and white maculae on apical quarter. Phoebemima albomaculata is characterized by the white macula on the elytral suture. Corcovado bezarki sp. nov is distinguished by the black antennal scape and whitish flagelomeres. Canarana arguta sp. nov has prothorax and urosternites I-IV covered by dense yellowish pubescence. Alampyris fusca sp. nov differs from A. cretaria by the antenomere III longer than scape. Cariua sulphurea sp. nov is distinguished by the urosternites covered by compact white pubescence and Ipepo dilatatus is characterized by the elytra with three carinae.

Differential optical densities of intraretinal spaces

PURPOSE: To test the hypothesis that hyporeflective spaces in the neuroretina found on optical coherence tomography (OCT) examination have different optical reflectivities according to whether they are associated with exudation or degeneration. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of eyes with idiopathic perifoveal telangiectasia (IPT), diabetic macular edema (DME), idiopathic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC), retinitis pigmentosa (RP), or cone dystrophy (CD) and eyes of healthy control subjects. OCT scans were performed. Raw scan data were exported and used to calculate light reflectivity profiles. Reflectivity data were acquired by projecting three rectangular boxes, each 50 pixels long and 5 pixels wide, into the intraretinal cystoid spaces, centrally onto unaffected peripheral RPE, and onto the prefoveolar vitreous. Light reflectivity in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), vitreous, and intraretinal spaces for the different retinal conditions and control subjects were compared. RESULTS: Reflectivities of the vitreous and the RPE were similar among the groups. Hyporeflective spaces in eyes with exudation (DME, RP, and CSC) had higher reflectivity compared with the mean reflectivity of the vitreous, whereas the cystoid spaces in the maculae of the eyes without exudation (CD and IPT) had a lower reflectivity than did the normal vitreous. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of the light reflectivity profiles may be a tool to determine whether the density of hyporeflective spaces in the macula is greater or less than that of the vitreous, and may be a way to differentiate degenerative from exudative macular disease.

Quantitative OCT analysis of idiopathic perifoveal telangiectasia

PURPOSE: To identify and quantitate specific changes in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of patients with type 2 idiopathic perifoveal telangiectasia (IPT). METHODS: In a prospectively designed, observational, case-control study, 28 eyes of 14 consecutive patients with IPT were examined with OCT and compared with eyes of 14 unaffected control subjects. Light reflectivity profiles of raw scan data of OCT images were quantitatively analyzed for differences in distance between different retinal reflectivity layers and their respective reflectivities. Maculae were examined in four separate regions: (1) central fovea, (2) nasal perifovea, (3) temporal perifovea, and (4) outside the fovea. RESULTS: Retinal thinning, shortening of the photoreceptor outer segments and loss of reflectivity of the photoreceptor ellipsoid region were found in the central foveal region as well as the nasal and temporal perifoveal regions in eyes with IPT. In addition, increased reflectivity of the outer nuclear layer was found in a sharply demarcated area of the inferotemporal perifoveal region in all affected eyes. Retinal tissue located more than 2000 mum away from the foveola was indistinguishable from that in normal eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative OCT analysis shows unique and specific changes in the photoreceptors of the central macula in IPT which can be detected from first clinical presentation. These changes may be of use as an additional diagnostic tool. Correlation of the findings in the outer nuclear layer with histologic studies may help identify the nature of the reflectivity increase and define more clearly the type of damage sustained by the photoreceptors in this condition.

CD8+ T cells and NK cells from blister fluid of an EEM/SJS overlap highly express Fas ligand and Granulysin

INTRODUCTION Erythema exsudativum multiforme majus (EEMM) and Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) are severe cutaneous reaction patterns caused by infections or drug hypersensitivity. The mechanism by which widespread keratinocyte death is mediated by the immune system in EEMM/SJS are still to be elucidated. Here, we characterized the blister cells isolated from a patient with EEMM/SJS overlap and investigated its cause. METHODS Clinical classification of the cutaneous eruption was done according to the consensus definition of severe blistering skin reactions and histological analysis. Common infectious causes of EEMM were investigated using standard clinical techniques. T cell reactivity for potentially causative drugs was assessed by lymphocyte transformation tests (LTT). Lymphocytes isolated from blister fluid were analyzed for their expression of activation markers and cytotoxic molecules using flow cytometry. RESULTS The healthy 58 year-old woman suffered from mild respiratory tract infection and therefore started treatment with the secretolytic drug Ambroxol. One week later, she presented with large palmar and plantar blisters, painful mucosal erosions, and flat atypical target lesions and maculae on the trunc, thus showing the clinical picture of an EEMM/SJS overlap (Fig. 1). This diagnosis was supported by histology, where also eosinophils were found to infiltrate the upper dermis, thus pointing towards a cutaneous adverse drug reaction (cADR). Analysis of blister cells showed that they mainly consisted of CD8+ and CD4+ T cells and a smaller population of NK cells. Both the CD8+ T cells and the NK cells were highly activated and expressed Fas ligand and the cytotoxic molecule granulysin (Fig. 2). In addition, in comparison to NK cells from PBMC, NK cells in blister fluids strongly upregulated the expression of the skin-homing chemokine receptor CCR4 (Fig 4). Surprisingly, the LTT performed on PBMCs in the acute phase was positive for Ambroxol (SI=2.9) whereas a LTT from a healthy but exposed individual did not show unspecific proliferation. Laboratory tests for common infectious causes of EEMM were negative (HSV-1/-2, M. pneumoniae, Parvovirus B19). However, 6 weeks later, specific proliferation to Ambroxol could no longer be observed in the LTT (Fig 4.).