Corrigendum to "Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Deep Brain Stimulation in Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Performance in Evaluation Tests for Executive Brain Functions".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2017/9641392.].

Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Deep Brain Stimulation in Patients with Parkinson's Disease and Performance in Evaluation Tests for Executive Brain Functions.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition, which compromises the motor functions and causes the alteration of some executive brain functions. The presence of changes in cognitive symptoms in PD could be due to the procedure of deep brain stimulation (DBS). We searched in several databases for studies that compared performance in executive function tests before and after the DBS procedure in PE and then performed a meta-analysis. After the initial search, there were 15 articles that specifically evaluated the functions of verbal fluency, working memory, cognitive flexibility, abstract thinking, and inhibition. It was found that there were differences in the evaluation of the cognitive functions in terms of the protocols, which generated heterogeneity in the results of the meta-analysis. Likewise, a tendency to diminish functions like verbal fluency and inhibition was found, being this consistent with similar studies. In the other functions evaluated, no difference was found between pre- and postsurgery scores. Monitoring of this type of function is recommended after the procedure.

Transcriptional and functional variation of NF-YC1 in genetically diverse accessions of Phaseolus vulgaris during the symbiotic association with Rhizobium etli.

Phaseolus vulgaris (common bean) is an agronomic important legume crop native to America, where two centres of genetic diversification (GD) are recognised, one in Mesoamerica and the other in the south Andes. Mesoamerican bean accessions have preferential and more efficient nodulation with Rhizobium etli strains carrying the allele nodC type-α, which is predominant in soils of Mesoamerica. It was previously demonstrated that the host nuclear factor NF-YC1, which is involved in nodule formation and rhizobial infection, contributes to this preferential selection and enhances nodulation in the domesticated accession NAG12 from Mesoamerica. Here, we show that both domesticated and wild Mesoamerican beans exhibit higher nodulation performance with a nodC type-α than with a nodC type-δ strain. Transcripts of NF-YC1 significantly increased in roots of these accessions 24 h post-inoculation (hpi) with the nodC type-α strain. On the other hand, accessions from the Andean GD centre formed a higher number of nodules with a strain carrying the nodC type-δ, which is predominant in Andean soils. However, NF-YC1 transcript levels did not exhibit significant changes in Andean accessions upon inoculation with the nodC type-δ strain, at least at 24 hpi. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene silencing of NF-YC1 in the domesticated Andean accession Alubia showed that NF-YC1 or a closely related member of this family is required for nodule formation and bacterial infection, in agreement with observations in Mesoamerican common beans. Isolation and sequencing of the full-length ORF of NF-YC1 from Alubia revealed that it was identical to the sequence previously identified in the Mesoamerican accession NAG12. Interestingly, overexpression of NF-YC1 had a negative impact on nodule formation in the Alubia accession, independently of the R. etli lineage. Our findings suggest that transcriptional and functional variation of NF-YC1 occurs among genetically diverse bean accessions, which might positively or negatively contribute to the fine-tuning mechanisms that regulate nodule formation in the common bean-R. etli symbiosis.

A PCR-based method that permits specific detection of Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae, the cause of American Foulbrood of honey bees, at the subspecies level.

AIMS: A reliable procedure for the identification of Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae, the causal agent of American Foulbrood disease of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subspecies - specific primers is described. METHODS AND RESULTS: By using ERIC-PCR, an amplicon of ca 970 bp was found among P. l. larvae strains but not in other closely related species. Based on the nucleotide sequence data of this amplicon, we designed the pair of oligonucleotides KAT 1 and KAT 2, which were assayed as primers in a PCR reaction. A PCR amplicon of the expected size ca 550 bp was only found in P. l. larvae strains. CONCLUSIONS: This PCR assay provides a specific detection for P. l. larvae. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The developed PCR assay is highly specific because can differentiate Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae from the closely related Paenibacillus larvae subsp. pulvifaciens. The technique can be directly used to detect presence or absence of P. l. larvae spores in honey bee brood samples and contaminated honeys.

Fluorescent Pseudomonas species causing post-harvest decay of endives in Argentina.

A post-harvest bacterial decay was observed on ready-to-use French endives in Argentina. Affected chicons showed browning and soft-rot of inner leaves and marginal necrosis. Physiological and biochemical tests allowed us to identify the isolates from endive as Pseudomonas fluorescens bv. III, Pseudomonas fluorescens bv. V, and Pseudomonas cichorii. Pathogenicity was verified on RTU healthy endives by inoculation with each bacterial species, and also with the mixture of the 3 strains. P. cichorii caused dark brown necrosis of the margins of outer leaves; both isolates of P. fluorescens caused browning and soft-rotting of inner leaves, while the mixture induced all the described symptoms, that were similar to those found in natural infection. Identity of bacterial isolates was confirmed by RFLP analysis of a PCR-DNA fragment amplified from the 16S rRNA gene. This is the first record of a post-harvest decay in endives in Argentina.

Fluorescent Pseudomonas species causing post-harvest decay of endives in Argentina

A post-harvest bacterial decay was observed on ready-to-use French endives in Argentina. Affected chicons showed browning and soft-rot of inner leaves and marginal necrosis. Physiological and biochemical tests allowed us to identify the isolates from endive as Pseudomonas fluorescens bv. III, Pseudomonas fluorescens bv. V, and Pseudomonas cichorii. Pathogenicity was verified on RTU healthy endives by inoculation with each bacterial species, and also with the mixture of the 3 strains. P. cichorii caused dark brown necrosis of the margins of outer leaves; both isolates of P. fluorescens caused browning and soft-rotting of inner leaves, while the mixture induced all the described symptoms, that were similar to those found in natural infection. Identity of bacterial isolates was confirmed by RFLP analysis of a PCR-DNA fragment amplified from the 16S rRNA gene. This is the first record of a post-harvest decay in endives in Argentina.

Fluorescent Pseudomonas species causing post-harvest decay of endives in Argentina.

A post-harvest bacterial decay was observed on ready-to-use French endives in Argentina. Affected chicons showed browning and soft-rot of inner leaves and marginal necrosis. Physiological and biochemical tests allowed us to identify the isolates from endive as Pseudomonas fluorescens bv. III, Pseudomonas fluorescens bv. V, and Pseudomonas cichorii. Pathogenicity was verified on RTU healthy endives by inoculation with each bacterial species, and also with the mixture of the 3 strains. P. cichorii caused dark brown necrosis of the margins of outer leaves; both isolates of P. fluorescens caused browning and soft-rotting of inner leaves, while the mixture induced all the described symptoms, that were similar to those found in natural infection. Identity of bacterial isolates was confirmed by RFLP analysis of a PCR-DNA fragment amplified from the 16S rRNA gene. This is the first record of a post-harvest decay in endives in Argentina.

The diversity of rhizobia nodulating beans in Northwest Argentina as a source of more efficient inoculant strains.

The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is cultivated widely in Central and South America and particularly in the Northwest of Argentina. In order to describe the diversity of the common bean nodulating rhizobial population from the bean producing area in Northwest Argentina (NWA), a collection of about 400 isolates of common beans recovered from nodules and soil samples from NWA were characterized by using nifH-PCR, analysis of genes coding for 16S rRNA and nodC, and REP-fingerprinting, respectively. It was found that species Rhizobium etli is predominant in common bean nodules although a high degree of diversity was found within the species. Other bean nodulating genotypes recovered from soils by using Leucaena sp. as the trapping host was found to have the 16S rDNA alleles of species such as Sinorhizobium fredii, Sinorhizobium saheli, Sinorhizobium teranga, Mesorhizobium loti, and Rhizobium tropici. Some of the bean genotypes that were found to be more efficient in green house experiments were selected and assayed in two successive bean-cropping seasons in the field environment in NWA, and an increase in yields with inoculation was found. The performance of strains isolated from the region indicates potential for exploiting the diversity.

Identification of a system that allows a Rhizobium tropici dctA mutant to grow on succinate, but not on other C4-dicarboxylates.

A defined insertion mutant of a gene encoding a homolog of the rhizobial C4-dicarboxylate permease (dctA) was constructed in Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899. This mutant (GA1) was unable to grow on fumarate or malate; however, in contrast with other rhizobial dctA mutants, it retained a limited ability to grow on succinate with ammonia as a nitrogen source. Our results suggest the presence of a novel succinate-specific transport system in R. tropici. Biochemical characterization indicated that this alternative transport system in GAI is active and dependent on an energized membrane. It was also induced by succinate and aspartate, and was repressed by glucose and glycerol. Bean plants inoculated with GA1 showed a reduced nitrogen-fixing ability, achieving only 29% of the acetylene reduction activity determined in CIAT899 strain nodules, 33 days after inoculation. Also, bean plants inoculated with GA1 had reduced shoot dry weight compared with plants inoculated with the wild-type strain.

Early symbiotic responses induced by Sinorhizobium meliloti iIvC mutants in alfalfa.

A mutation in the ilvC gene of Sinorhizobium meliloti 1021 determines a symbiotically defective phenotype. ilvC mutants obtained from different S. meliloti wild-type strains are able to induce root hair deformation on alfalfa roots and show variable activation of the common nodulation genes nodABC. All of these mutants are noninfective. The presence of extra copies of nodD3-syrM in an IlvC- background does not promote nod expression but allows the detection of low levels of Nod factor production. The sulphation of the Nod factor metabolites, however, is not affected. Furthermore, IlvC- strains induce a specific pattern of starch accumulation on alfalfa roots as well as of early nodulin expression. Hence, the pleiotropic action of the ilvC gene in S. meliloti may reveal novel complexities involved in the symbiotic interaction.

A guaB mutant strain of Rhizobium tropici CIAT899 pleiotropically defective in thermal tolerance and symbiosis.

Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899 displays a high intrinsic thermal tolerance, and had been used in this work to study the molecular basis of bacterial responses to high temperature. We generated a collection of R. tropici CIAT899 mutants affected in thermal tolerance using TnS-luxAB mutagenesis and described the characterization of a mutant strain, CIAT899-10T, that fails to grow under conditions of high temperature. Strain CIAT899-10T carries a single transposon insertion in a gene showing a high degree of similarity with the guaB gene of Escherichia coli and other organisms, encoding the enzyme inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. The guaB strain CIAT899-10T does not require guanine for growth due to an alternative pathway via xanthine dehydrogenase and, phenotypically, in addition to the thermal sensitivity, the mutant is also defective in symbiosis with beans, forming nodules that lack rhizobial content. Guanine and its precursors restore wild-type tolerance to grow at high temperature. Our data show that, in R. tropici, the production of guanine via inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase is essential for growth at extreme temperatures and for effective nodulation.

Glutathione is involved in environmental stress responses in Rhizobium tropici, including acid tolerance.

The isolation of rhizobial strains which exhibit an intrinsic tolerance to acidic conditions has been reported and has facilitated studies on the basic mechanisms underlying acid tolerance. Rhizobium tropici strain CIAT899 displays a high intrinsic tolerance to acidity and therefore was used in this work to study the molecular basis of bacterial responses to acid conditions and other environmental stresses. We generated a collection of R. tropici CIAT899 mutants affected in acid tolerance using Tn5-luxAB mutagenesis, and one mutant strain (CIAT899-13T2), which fails to grow under acid conditions, was characterized in detail. Strain CIAT899-13T2 was found to contain a single Tn5-luxAB insertion in a gene showing a high degree of similarity with the Escherichia coli gshB gene, encoding the enzyme glutathione synthetase. Intracellular potassium pools and intracellular pH levels were found to be lower in the mutant than in the parent. The glutathione-deficient mutant was shown to be sensitive to weak organic acids, osmotic and oxidative stresses, and the presence of methylglyoxal. Glutathione restores responses to these stresses almost to wild-type levels. Our data show that in R. tropici the production of glutathione is essential for growth in extreme environmental conditions. The mutant strain CIAT899-13T2 induced effective nodules; however, it was found to be outcompeted by the wild-type strain in coinoculation experiments.

Low molecular weight heparins.

Since its discovery, nearly 90 years, heparin has been used successfully for the treatment of thromboembolic processes. However, therapy with heparin has several important limitations. Most importantly, the poor predictability of its anticoagulant effects has led to the development of the low molecular weight heparins (LMWHs), which are derived from unfractionated heparin and appear to have pharmacologic advantages, require no laboratory monitoring and are more predictable than their parent compounds. LMWHs have been used for several years in the treatment of venous thromboembolic disorders. More recently, the LMWHs have been used to treat patients with acute coronary interventions. As the results of new studies are revealed, we will learn whether the use LMWH can be extended to all disorders where unfractionated heparin is currently the standard therapy.

Analyses of lipopolysaccharides, outer membrane proteins and DNA fingerprints reveal intraspecies diversity in Moraxella bovis isolated in Argentina.

Intra-specific diversity within Moraxella bovis was investigated analysing DNA fingerprints, outer membrane proteins (OMP) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) profiles. Three collection strains and 57 isolates of M. bovis, collected during 3 years from cattle with infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK) symptoms, from diverse geographical locations of Argentina, were examined. The LPS and OMP profiles were studied through SDS-PAGE analysis and genotype was determined by PCR-DNA fingerprinting. Genotyping identified five DNA types while analysis of LPS and OMP profiles identified three rough LPS types and three OMP types among the 60 isolates of M. bovis including the three collection strains. None of the three methods employed to assess diversity was discriminating when used alone because the degree of heterogeneity in each group of surface structures was limited, but when data of each typing method were combined, 15 distinct subgroups were determined. This subgrouping was clearly able to differentiate isolates of the same genotype. These typing methods appear to be useful to assess different aspects of the disease such as the diversity within a population of M. bovis associated to epidemic conditions, track the causal agent in an outbreak of the disease, monitoring vaccination programs and studies on virulence.

Prevalence of the Rhizobium etli-like allele in genes coding for 16S rRNA among the indigenous rhizobial populations found associated with wild beans from the Southern Andes in Argentina.

A collection of rhizobial isolates from nodules of wild beans, Phaseolus vulgaris var. aborigineus, found growing in virgin lands in 17 geographically separate sites in northwest Argentina was characterized on the basis of host range, growth, hybridization to a nifH probe, analysis of genes coding for 16S rRNA (16S rDNA), DNA fingerprinting, and plasmid profiles. Nodules in field-collected wild bean plants were largely dominated by rhizobia carrying the 16S rDNA allele of Rhizobium etli. A similar prevalence of the R. etli allele was observed among rhizobia trapped from nearby soil. Intragroup diversity of wild bean isolates with either R. etli-like or Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. phaseoli-like alleles was generally found across northwest Argentina. The predominance of the R. etli allele suggests that in this center of origin of P. vulgaris the coevolution of Rhizobium spp. and primitive beans has resulted in this preferential symbiotic association.

Characterization of isolates of Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae from diverse geographical origin by the polymerase chain reaction and BOX primers.

Ninety-nine strains of Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae, the causal agent of American Foulbrood disease (AFB) of honeybees, were isolated from different regions of Argentina and other countries. The isolates were characterized on the basis of DNA fingerprints by a polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) with BOX sequence-specific primers. Isolates from Argentina generated three groups of patterns (designated A, B, and C), while P. larvae subsp. larvae strains obtained from other countries yielded two distinguishable patterns (coincident with A and B). Strains from U.S. A. and Germany were identical and related to Group A, while all Czech and English isolates belonged to Group B. Strains from France, Poland, Italy, Sweden, and New Zealand showed two different patterns (A and B). Comparisons of the biochemical type and genotype of isolates rendered no obvious linkage between both features. These results suggest that AFB in Argentina resulted from multiple sources of contaminated material.

[Profile of patients with acute myocardial infarction from the perspective of the model of "health field"]. / Perfil de pacientes com infarto agudo do miocárdio na perspectiva do Modelo de "Campo de Saúde".

The present study aimed at finding out the profile of patients with acute myocardial infarction into University Hospital at Ribeirão Preto, from May to November, 1994. Data were collected through interviews with the patients and analysis of the medical reports. The results were analysed according to the "Health Field Model" and were the following: a) human biology: 66.7% were men; 73.2% of them were from 50 to 80 years old; 55.5% were hypertensive; 24.4% with dyslipidemia; 20% had diabetes; 51.1% had a positive family history of hypertension, 26.6% of had infarction and 24.4% had cerebral stroke; b) socioeconomic characterization: 71.1% had a monthly income lower than 6 minimum salaries; 82.2% illiterate or with incomplete primary school; 47% were economically active and 68.8% were married; c) life style: 88.8% lived a sedentary life; 55.5% smoked and 55.4% referred to daily stress; d) attention to health: 68.8% were being treated in health services: 75.5% knew about their diagnostic and 62.2% asked about informations on physiopathology, prognostic and rehabilitation. The presence of 2 or 3 risk factors to cardiac diseases was verified in 62.2% of the patients. Regarding the model, authors found the presence of risk factors to infarction in its four elements.

Tomato as a New Host of Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora in Argentina.

In 1995, fruiting tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. hybrid Tommy) from different commercial greenhouses near La Plata and near Chacabuco (Province of Buenos Aires) had symptoms similar those caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora (1,4). Stems of the infected plants were rotted and produced adventitious roots. The cortex on the basal part of the stems turned black and sloughed off easily. The pith disintegrated and stems appeared hollow. Disease incidence of 2% was common, and nearly 10% of the plants in wetter areas of greenhouses were affected. Bacteria consistently isolated from diseased stems formed white-to-cream-colored colonies on yeast dextrose calcium carbonate agar (YDC). Bacteria from purified colonies were gram negative, oxidase negative, arginine dyhidrolase negative, catalase positive, methyl red positive, and facultatively anaerobic. Tests on four strains showed all fermented glucose, reduced nitrates to nitrites, and grew at a maximum temperature of 37 to 40°C. Strains did not hydrolyse starch nor utilize Tween 80. All strains were resistant to erythromycin in an antibiotic disk (15 µg) assay. Acid was produced from D(+)-glucose, D -mannitol, sucrose, D(+)-cellobiose, L(+)-rhamnose, L(+)-arabinose, D(+)-galactose, and D(+)-trehalose, but not from D-arabinose, D-sorbitol, and maltose. Bacteria utilized maleate and citrate but not propionate, benzoate, or malonate. The strains caused soft rot of pepper fruits and carrot slices within 24 h at 25°C. Pathogenicity was confirmed by needle stab inoculation at the primary leaf node on five plants each of 6-week-old greenhouse-grown tomato hybrids Presto and Parador. Inoculum was from 24-h-old cultures on YDC. Control plants were stab inoculated with needles dampened in sterile water. All plants were covered with polyethylene bags for 48 h at 25°C. Within 24 h after inoculation, watersoak and rot were detected; and during the next 48 h, plants wilted. Controls remained healthy. The bacterium was readily isolated from inoculated plants. Tests showed physiological characteristics identical to those of the bacteria used as inoculum. The pathogen was identified as Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora based on morphological, biochemical, and physiological characteristics and on pathogenicity. Reactions were identical to those of the type strain ATCC 15713 that had been included in all tests for comparison. Further identity was shown by polymerase chain reaction utilizing ERIC primers to generate DNA profiles (3). Profiles of the pathogen or the type strain were very similar to those from bacteria recovered from inoculated plants. This is the first known occurrence of a disease caused by Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora on greenhouse-grown tomato plants in Argentina, although it has been reported as causing soft rot of vegetables after harvest (2). References: (1) B. N. Dhanvantari and V. A. Dirks. Phytopathology 77:1457, 1987. (2) L. Halperin and L. S. Spaini. Rev. Arg. Agron. 6:261, 1939. (3) F. J. Louws et al. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 60:2286, 1994. (4) D. E. Speights et al. Phytopathology 57: 902, 1967.