Brazilian montane rainforest expansion induced by Heinrich Stadial 1 event.

The origin of modern disjunct plant distributions in the Brazilian Highlands with strong floristic affinities to distant montane rainforests of isolated mountaintops in the northeast and northern Amazonia and the Guyana Shield remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that these unexplained biogeographical patterns reflect former ecosystem rearrangements sustained by widespread plant migrations possibly due to climatic patterns that are very dissimilar from present-day conditions. To address this issue, we mapped the presence of the montane arboreal taxa Araucaria, Podocarpus, Drimys, Hedyosmum, Ilex, Myrsine, Symplocos, and Weinmannia, and cool-adapted plants in the families Myrtaceae, Ericaceae, and Arecaceae (palms) in 29 palynological records during Heinrich Stadial 1 Event, encompassing a latitudinal range of 30°S to 0°S. In addition, Principal Component Analysis and Species Distribution Modelling were used to represent past and modern habitat suitability for Podocarpus and Araucaria. The data reveals two long-distance patterns of plant migration connecting south/southeast to northeastern Brazil and Amazonia with a third short route extending from one of them. Their paleofloristic compositions suggest a climatic scenario of abundant rainfall and relative lower continental surface temperatures, possibly intensified by the effects of polar air incursions forming cold fronts into the Brazilian Highlands. Although these taxa are sensitive to changes in temperature, the combined pollen and speleothems proxy data indicate that this montane rainforest expansion during Heinrich Stadial 1 Event was triggered mainly by a less seasonal rainfall regime from the subtropics to the equatorial region.

Development of a potential probiotic yoghurt using selected anti-inflammatory lactic acid bacteria for prevention of colitis and carcinogenesis in mice.

AIMS: To evaluate the beneficial properties of a potentially probiotic yoghurt obtained by the fermentation of two selected anti-inflammatory bacterial strains using in vivo mouse models of intestinal inflammation and colon carcinogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Yoghurt was administered to mice suffering chemically induced intestinal inflammation or colon carcinogenesis. It was shown that this novel yoghurt was able to prevent local inflammation in the intestines of mice through a regulation of the immune response, prevent macroscopic and histological damages, and prevent colon carcinogenesis through an anti-inflammatory response. CONCLUSIONS: The developed yoghurt showed in vivo anti-inflammatory properties by modulation of the host immune response for the prevention of colon inflammation and carcinogenesis. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This new yoghurt could thus be considered a probiotic food and be useful as a complement to current treatment protocols for inflammatory bowel diseases and colon cancer, a first since there are no current functional foods specifically oriented for these patients.

[Blood and urine lead levels in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder]. / Niveles de plomo en niños con diagnóstico de trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad.

BACKGROUND: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most common neuropsychiatric disorder in children; symptoms can persist into adult life by 60 %. Our objective was to quantify the levels of lead in blood and urine in pediatric patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. METHODS: We did an observational study which included a captive population of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the mental health service of Hospital General, from Centro Médico Nacional La Raza. Lead levels were determined in blood and urine by atomic absorption technique. RESULTS: We included 39 patients, 932 % male, with a mean age of 9.2 ± 2.16 years. The deficit and hyperactivity disorder combined type was the most frequent (69.2 %); 49 % of patients were found with toxic lead levels in blood (above 10 mg/dL); 17.9 % with stage III and 5.12 % with stage IV, according to the Mexican Official Standard (NOM-199-SSA-2000). Significant association was found between blood lead levels and the clinical expression of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of lead exposure during early childhood have been shown to be inversely proportional to neurological development in the first seven years of life. Data results are insufficient to relate them with causality.

INTRODUCCIÓN: los síntomas del trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad pueden persistir hasta la vida adulta en 60 % de quienes la padecieron en la niñez. Nuestro objetivo fue cuantificar los niveles de plomo en la sangre y la orina en niños con diagnóstico de trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad para identificar si existe alguna relación. MÉTODOS: estudio observacional que incluyó a una muestra cautiva del Servicio de Higiene Mental del Hospital General del Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, con diagnóstico de trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad. Se cuantificaron los niveles séricos y urinarios del plomo mediante la técnica de absorción atómica. RESULTADOS: se incluyeron 39 pacientes, 92.3 % del sexo masculino, con una edad promedio de 9.2 ± 2.16 años. El trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad combinado fue el más frecuente (69.2 %). En 49 % de los pacientes se encontraron niveles de plomo en sangre superiores a 10 ?g/dL. Conforme los parámetros establecidos en la NOM-199-SSA1-2000, 17.9 % clasificaba en estadio III y 5.12 % en estadio IV. Se encontró relación significativa entre los niveles de plomo y la expresión clínica del trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad. CONCLUSIONES: los niveles de exposición al plomo durante la infancia temprana han demostrado ser inversamente proporcionales al desarrollo neurológico en los primeros siete años de vida. Los datos son insuficientes para inferir la causalidad.