Integration of Maps Enables a Cytogenomics Analysis of the Complete Karyotype in Solea senegalensis.

The Pleuronectiformes order, which includes several commercially-important species, has undergone extensive chromosome evolution. One of these species is Solea senegalensis, a flatfish with 2n = 42 chromosomes. In this study, a cytogenomics approach and integration with previous maps was applied to characterize the karyotype of the species. Synteny analysis of S. senegalensis was carried out using two flatfish as a reference: Cynoglossus semilaevis and Scophthalmus maximus. Most S. senegalensis chromosomes (or chromosome arms for metacentrics and submetacentrics) showed a one-to-one macrosyntenic pattern with the other two species. In addition, we studied how repetitive sequences could have played a role in the evolution of S. senegalensis bi-armed (3, and 5-9) and acrocentric (11, 12 and 16) chromosomes, which showed the highest rearrangements compared with the reference species. A higher abundance of TEs (Transposable Elements) and other repeated elements was observed adjacent to telomeric regions on chromosomes 3, 7, 9 and 16. However, on chromosome 11, a greater abundance of DNA transposons was detected in interstitial BACs. This chromosome is syntenic with several chromosomes of the other two flatfish species, suggesting rearrangements during its evolution. A similar situation was also found on chromosome 16 (for microsatellites and low complexity sequences), but not for TEs (retroelements and DNA transposons). These differences in the distribution and abundance of repetitive elements in chromosomes that have undergone remodeling processes during the course of evolution also suggest a possible role for simple repeat sequences in rearranged regions.

Relação do índice de massa corpórea com as mudanças na geometria e função cardíaca em 5.898 pacientes valiados por Ecocardiografia Transtorácica / Relationship of Body Mass Index with Changes in Cardiac Geometry and Function in 5.898 Patients Evaluated

Introdução: Este estudo descreve a relação entre índice de massa corpórea (IMC) e a geometria e função cardíacaanalisada por ecocardiografia transtorácica. Materiais e métodos: Analisaram-se 5.898 estudos ecocardiográficos, numa faixa de idade entre 18,0 e 98,6 anos. Resultados: O IMC variou de 15,23 a 49,61 Kg/m2. O aumento do IMC teve uma associação direta estatisticamente significativa com a massa ventricular esquerda, observando-se inicialmente hipertrofia concêntrica leve, que se faz excêntrica na medida em que aumenta, especialmente quando se normaliza pela relação alométrica (altura2,7). Também observou-se aumento do volume de ejeção e do débito cardíaco e evidenciou-se associação inversa entre o índice de massa corpórea e a relação E/A de enchimento mitral, com diminuição sigificativa da velocidade de e’ doDoppler tecidual, demonstrando-se disfunção diastólica do tipo alteração do relaxamento do ventrículo esquerdono indivíduo com sobrepeso ou obeso. Observou-se aumento discreto, porém significativo, da área e do volumeindexado do átrio esquerdo para a massa corpórea. Não houve diferenças na geometria e função do ventrículo direito. Conclusões: O presente estudo evidenciou uma associação direta significativa entre o índice de massa corpórea (IMC) e a massa miocárdica ventricular esquerda. A indexação da massa do VE à altura2,7 evita artefatos relacionados à normalização pela área de superfície corpórea, principalmente em indivíduos com obesidade grau II e III.

Introduction: This study describes the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and the cardiac geometry and heart function assessed bytransthoracic echocardiography.Materials and methods: We analyzed 5,898 echocardiographic studies in an age range between 18.0 and 98.6 years.Results: The BMI ranged from 15.23 to 49.61 kg/m2 . The increased BMI had a statistically significant direct association with left ventricular mass initially observing a light concentric hypertrophy, which becomes eccentric as it increases, especially when allometric ratio is normalized (Height2.7). An increase in ejection volume and cardiac output was observed, as well as an inverse association between body mass index and the E/A ratio of mitral filling, with a significant reduction of e’ velocity of tissue Doppler, showing a relaxation-type diastolic dysfunction in overweight or obese individuals. We observed a slight yet significant increase in the left atrial area and volume indexed to body mass. There were no differences in the right ventricular geometry and function.Conclusions: The present study demonstrated a significant direct association between the increase in BMI and LV myocardial mass. IndexingLV mass to height 2.7 avoids artifacts related to body mass index, especially in subjects with grade II and III obesity.

Dexamethasone inner ear perfusion by intratympanic injection in unilateral Ménière's disease: a two-year prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized trial.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of dexamethasone inner ear perfusion by intratympanic injection in hearing loss, tinnitus, aural fullness, and vertigo in the treatment of unilateral Ménière's disease and compare it with the control group. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective, randomized, double-blind study with 2-year follow-up comparing changes secondary to dexamethasone inner ear perfusion versus placebo consisting of saline solution. PATIENTS: Twenty-two patients having definite Ménière's disease as outlined by the 1995 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Committee on Hearing and Equilibrium. All the patients were older than 18 years of age and were not receiving any other form of treatment with steroids for their Ménière's disease. METHOD: Five consecutive daily intratympanic injections of dexamethasone or placebo to the involved ear. RESULTS: In the dexamethasone group at 2-year follow-up, complete control of vertigo (class A) was achieved in 9 of 11 patients (82%) and substantial control of vertigo (class B) in the remaining 2 patients (18%.) In the control group only 7 of 11 patients (64%) finished the 2-year follow-up because in the other 4 patients (36%) we had to give another treatment for the continuing vertigo and thus they were classified as failure (class F.) From the 7 patients who have finished the follow-up of 2 years in the control group, 4 patients (57%) achieved class A, 2 patients (29%) achieved class C, and 1 patient (14%) class F. CONCLUSIONS: Dexamethasone (4 mg/mL) inner ear perfusion in a group of patients with unilateral Ménière's disease (Shea's stage III) showed 82% of complete control of vertigo over placebo (57%). There was also a subjective improvement in tinnitus (48%), hearing loss (35%), and aural fullness (48%) in the dexamethasone group compared with 20%, 10%, and 20% respectively in the control group.