Molecular detection of rickettsial agents in Amblyomma maculatum ticks (Ixodida: Ixodidae) from Ecuador.

Rickettsiales are obligate intracellular bacteria that need vertebrates and arthropods to maintain their life cycles. Some species of the genera Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia are transmitted by ticks to both animals and humans and can cause mild to severe and even fatal cases. In the Americas, there is substantial data on rickettsial agents, encompassing both clinical cases and the detection of these agents in ticks, but in Ecuador, the information about them remains poorly understood. Therefore, the objective of this study was to detect molecularly rickettsial agents in Amblyomma maculatum ticks in both parasitic and free-living phases collected from domestic animals and pasture in five localities across three coastal provinces of Ecuador. Rickettsia parkeri, Candidatus Rickettsia andeanae, and Ehrlichia sp. were recorded in A. maculatum for the first time in Ecuador. These records were made in a region where antibodies to the Spotted Fever Rickettsia Group were detected in humans. Additional studies are needed to characterize Ehrlichia sp. at a specific level. Furthermore, recognizing the specific Rickettsiales species circulating in the ticks and the hosts within a region is crucial for assessing potential contact risks.

Microencapsulation of Tecoma stans Extracts: Bioactive Properties Preservation and Physical Characterization Analysis.

Bioactive compounds from medicinal plants have applications in the development of functional foods. However, since they are unstable, encapsulation is used as a conservation alternative. This work aimed to assess the bioactive properties (antioxidant and hypoglycemic) of different extracts, including the infusion, as well as their spray-dried microencapsulates from Tecoma stans leaves. A factorial design was proposed to determine the best extraction conditions, based on ABTS and DPPH inhibition. Maltodextrin (MD), arabic gum (AG), and a 1:1 blend (MD:AG) were used as encapsulating agents. Moreover, characterization through physicochemical properties, gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the best two powders based on the bioactive properties were analyzed. The results showed that the combination of stirring, water, and 5 min provided the highest inhibition to ABTS and DPPH (35.64 ± 1.25 mg Trolox/g d.s. and 2.77 ± 0.01 g Trolox/g d.s., respectively). Spray drying decreased the antioxidant activity of the extract while preserving it in the infusion. The encapsulated infusion with MD:AG had the highest hypoglycemic activity as it presented the lowest glycemic index (GI = 47). According to the results, the microencapsulates could potentially be added in foods to enhance nutritional quality and prevent/treat ailments.

Mapping density, diversity and species-richness of the Amazon tree flora.

Using 2.046 botanically-inventoried tree plots across the largest tropical forest on Earth, we mapped tree species-diversity and tree species-richness at 0.1-degree resolution, and investigated drivers for diversity and richness. Using only location, stratified by forest type, as predictor, our spatial model, to the best of our knowledge, provides the most accurate map of tree diversity in Amazonia to date, explaining approximately 70% of the tree diversity and species-richness. Large soil-forest combinations determine a significant percentage of the variation in tree species-richness and tree alpha-diversity in Amazonian forest-plots. We suggest that the size and fragmentation of these systems drive their large-scale diversity patterns and hence local diversity. A model not using location but cumulative water deficit, tree density, and temperature seasonality explains 47% of the tree species-richness in the terra-firme forest in Amazonia. Over large areas across Amazonia, residuals of this relationship are small and poorly spatially structured, suggesting that much of the residual variation may be local. The Guyana Shield area has consistently negative residuals, showing that this area has lower tree species-richness than expected by our models. We provide extensive plot meta-data, including tree density, tree alpha-diversity and tree species-richness results and gridded maps at 0.1-degree resolution.

More than 10,000 pre-Columbian earthworks are still hidden throughout Amazonia.

Indigenous societies are known to have occupied the Amazon basin for more than 12,000 years, but the scale of their influence on Amazonian forests remains uncertain. We report the discovery, using LIDAR (light detection and ranging) information from across the basin, of 24 previously undetected pre-Columbian earthworks beneath the forest canopy. Modeled distribution and abundance of large-scale archaeological sites across Amazonia suggest that between 10,272 and 23,648 sites remain to be discovered and that most will be found in the southwest. We also identified 53 domesticated tree species significantly associated with earthwork occurrence probability, likely suggesting past management practices. Closed-canopy forests across Amazonia are likely to contain thousands of undiscovered archaeological sites around which pre-Columbian societies actively modified forests, a discovery that opens opportunities for better understanding the magnitude of ancient human influence on Amazonia and its current state.

Unraveling Amazon tree community assembly using Maximum Information Entropy: a quantitative analysis of tropical forest ecology.

In a time of rapid global change, the question of what determines patterns in species abundance distribution remains a priority for understanding the complex dynamics of ecosystems. The constrained maximization of information entropy provides a framework for the understanding of such complex systems dynamics by a quantitative analysis of important constraints via predictions using least biased probability distributions. We apply it to over two thousand hectares of Amazonian tree inventories across seven forest types and thirteen functional traits, representing major global axes of plant strategies. Results show that constraints formed by regional relative abundances of genera explain eight times more of local relative abundances than constraints based on directional selection for specific functional traits, although the latter does show clear signals of environmental dependency. These results provide a quantitative insight by inference from large-scale data using cross-disciplinary methods, furthering our understanding of ecological dynamics.

Echocardiographic indicators of fluid responsiveness in hospitalized dogs with compromised hemodynamics and tissue hypoperfusion.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy of selected echocardiographic variables used to predict fluid responsiveness in hospitalized dogs with compromised hemodynamics and tissue hypoperfusion. DESIGN: Diagnostic test study in a prospective cohort of hospitalized dogs. SETTING: Veterinary referral clinics. ANIMALS: Forty-four hospitalized dogs with compromised hemodynamics and tissue hypoperfusion were utilized in this study. INTERVENTIONS: Echocardiographic examination before and after fluid replacement with 30 ml/kg of lactated Ringer's solution. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Pre-fluid replacement measurements of velocity of transmitral E wave (E-peak), the left ventricular end-diastolic internal diameter normalized to body weight (LVIDdN), and the left ventricular end-systolic internal diameter normalized to body weight (LVIDsN) were significantly lower in fluid-responsive patients compared with nonresponders (P < 0.001). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) for each significant predictor was as follows: E-peak 0.907 (0.776-1.000, P < 0.001) and LVIDdN 0.919 (0.801-1.000, P < 0.001). The predictive capacity of LVIDsN was not significantly better than chance (AUROC, 0.753; 95% CI, 0.472-1.000, P = 0.078). A significant negative linear correlation was observed between the percentage of increase in velocity-time integral after expansion and the echocardiographic variables LVIDdN (rs  = -0.452, P = 0.023) and E-peak (rs  = -0.396, P = 0.008) pre-fluid replacement. The intraobserver and interobserver variability was very low (<5 %) for all measurements. CONCLUSIONS: In this study using critically ill dogs with compromised hemodynamics and tissue hypoperfusion, pre-fluid replacement measurements of LVIDdN and E-peak adequately predict fluid responsiveness. Because a small number of fluid nonresponders were involved in the present study (11.4%), further studies that include larger numbers of fluid-nonresponsive animals are required.

Left-dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy in a Fila Brasileiro dog.

Background: In human medicine, arrhythmogenic left ventricular cardiomyopathy was described as a primary disease of the heart characterized by fibroadipose replacement of the myocardium.. Case Description: We report the case of a dog, with history of syncope and irregular cardiac rhythm. Electrocardiogram, echocardiography, and a 24-hour Holter monitoring showed, respectively, the presence of premature ventricular complexes with right bundle branch block morphology, an increase of the left ventricle end-diastolic diameter with preserved fractional shortening and ejection fraction, and a sinus arrhythmia as baseline rhythm with supraventricular tachycardia episodes and ventricular complexes with left bundle branch block morphology. After the death of the canine, a postmortem examination showed cardiomegaly. Fibroadipose replacement of the septum and both ventricles, with left ventricle myocardial fibrosis, suggestive of previous necrosis, was observed. Conclusion: These findings are suggestive of left-dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy which, to the best of our knowledge, has not been described in veterinary medicine.

Therapy for feline secondary hypertriglyceridemia with fenofibrate.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the short-term safety and efficacy of fenofibrate in controlling secondary hypertriglyceridemia in cats. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. Seventeen adult cats with hypertriglyceridemia (serum triglycerides [TG] >160 mg/dl) were enrolled. Cats received a median dose of 5 mg/kg (range 3.2-6) fenofibrate (q24h PO) for 1 month. Serum TG, total cholesterol (TC), creatine kinase and liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) were evaluated before (t0) and after 1 month (t1) of fenofibrate treatment. RESULTS: The causes of secondary hypertriglyceridemia were diabetes mellitus (DM; 29.4%), obesity (29.4%), hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) and DM (11.7%), HAC without DM (5.9%), hypersomatotropism (HST) and DM (5.9%), hypothyroidism (5.9%), long-term treatment with glucocorticoids (5.9%) and chylothorax (5.9%). Serum TG (t0 median 920 mg/dl [range 237-1780]; t1 median 51 mg/dl [range 21-1001]; P = 0.0002) and TC (t0 median 278 mg/dl [range 103-502]; t1 median 156 mg/dl [range 66-244]; P = 0.0001) concentrations showed a significant decrease after 1 month of fenofibrate treatment. Fifteen cats normalized their TG concentration at t1 (88.2%). Of the eight cats that were hypercholesterolemic at t0, six (75%) normalized their TC concentrations at t1. One of 17 cats (5.9 %) presented with diarrhea; the remaining 16 did not show any adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: DM and obesity are the most common endocrine causes of secondary hyperlipidemia, although it can also be found in cats with HAC, HST or hypothyroidism. This study suggests that fenofibrate treatment was associated with reduction and normalization of TG and TC concentrations in cats with moderate and severe hypertriglyceridemia, regardless of the cause of secondary hypertriglyceridemia. Further work should focus on controlled studies with a greater number of cases.

Consideraciones anestésicas para el abordaje del paciente quirúrgico con COVID-19 / Anesthetic considerations for the management of the surgical patient with COVID-19

Resumen Introducción: La situación actual causada por el COVID-19 demanda la implementación de nuevas técnicas en el manejo anestésico y los riesgos preexistentes en los servicios quirúrgicos. Objetivo: Identificar las consideraciones anestésicas para pacientes con COVID-19 con el fin de sugerir intervenciones en el área quirúrgica. Metodología: Revisión integrativa de alcance descriptivo en conjunto con el cumplimiento de los pasos metodológicos de Whittemore-Knafl y los parámetros PRISMA. Se realizó la búsqueda en las bases de datos: PubMed, BVS, Coronavirus Research Database, SCOPUS, Elsevier y SAGE. Se obtuvieron 953 artículos que, junto a un análisis crítico por CASPe, cumplieron los criterios establecidos de inclusión y exclusión. Resultados: Se seleccionaron 27 artículos clasificados en: criterios de selección de técnica anestésica; anestesia general y el uso de medicamentos específicos para el manejo anestésico que disminuyan la tos y prevengan la liberación de aerosoles; manejo de la vía aérea encaminada a evitar intubaciones fallidas; anestesia regional y consideraciones de enfermería sobre la preparación de elementos y dispositivos de manera previa al ingreso del paciente al quirófano; identificación y monitorización de pacientes sintomáticos y asintomáticos durante el proceso perioperatorio. Conclusión: Con respecto a la técnica anestésica, es importante priorizar el uso, en cuanto sea posible, de la anestesia regional guiada con ultrasonido. En caso de requerirse la anestesia general, es recomendable mantener las precauciones para prevenir el contagio con el virus. Para enfermería, es destacable el rol en la preparación de un entorno quirúrgico seguro, del conocimiento sobre la técnica anestésica empleada y los cuidados individualizados según las necesidades requeridas.

Abstract Introduction: The current situation caused by COVID-19 demands the implementation of new techniques in anesthetic management and pre-existing risks in surgical services. Objective: to identify the anesthetic considerations for patients with COVID-19 to suggest interventions in the surgical area. Methodology: Integrative review of descriptive scope in conjunction with compliance with the methodological steps of Whittemore-Knafl and the PRISMA parameters. The search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, VHL, Coronavirus Research Database, SCOPUS, Elsevier, and SAGE. A total of 953 articles were obtained, which together with a critical analysis by CASPe, met the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results: Twenty-seven articles classified as: selection criteria for anesthetic techniques; general anesthesia and the use of specific medications for anesthetic management that reduce cough and prevent the release of aerosols; airway management to avoid failed intubations; regional anesthesia and nursing considerations in the preparation of elements and devices prior to the patient's admission to the operating room; identification and follow-up of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients during the perioperative process. Conclusion: Regarding the anesthetic technique, it is important to prioritize the use, as far as possible, of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia. If general anesthesia is required, it is advisable to maintain precautions to prevent infection with the virus. For nursing, the role in preparing a safe surgical environment, knowledge of the anesthetic technique used and individualized care according to the required needs stand out.

Findings suggestive of coronary microvascular dysfunction in cats with myocardial ischemia.

Background: Myocardial infarction (MI) is an important cause of death and disability among humans worldwide. Few studies have reported the occurrence of MI in small animals as well. Reports in human medicine indicate that up to 30% of patients with clinical signs compatible with myocardial ischemia suggestive of coronary disease exhibit normal epicardial arteries at angiography. These symptoms have been associated with a syndrome characterized by alterations in cardiac microvasculature, known as coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD). Aim: This study aimed to describe the necropsy findings and clinical-pathological characterization (when available) of cats with histopathological findings suggesting CMD. Methods: Necropsy records of cats presenting histopathological diagnosis compatible with acute and/or chronic MI, with normal epicardial arteries and microvascular disorders were evaluated. Results: Twenty animals met the inclusion criteria. Eight cats (40%) exhibited findings compatible with mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) without left atrial enlargement, one (5%) presented restrictive cardiomyopathy, and another one (5%) had lesions consistent with histiocytoid cardiomyopathy. The remaining cats (50%) showed alterations compatible with severe HCM with left atrial enlargement. In all cases, epicardial arteries were normal (without obstruction). All the evaluated hearts exhibited myocardial multifocal fibrosis along with replacement of cardiomyocytes by adipose tissue and blood vessels with hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the muscular layer with protrusion of the nuclei of the endothelial cells. Conclusion: These findings suggest the presence of microvascular dysplasia of the coronary arteries. Further studies are necessary to confirm and clinically characterize these results.

Biofortification quality in bananas monitored by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence and chemometrics.

Biofortification is a nutritional strategy used to enhance nutrients in a variety of staple foods. As bananas and plantains (Musa spp.) are considered staple food in many developing countries, monitoring zinc (Zn) content in biofortified bananas is crucial to ensure this mineral intake. Bananas were biofortified by injecting Zn sulfate heptahydrate (ZnSO4·7H2O) solutions into banana trees' pseudostem (1%, 2%, and 4%) compared with the control treatment. Zinc content was estimated using energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and multivariate calibration using partial least squares (PLS). The impressive result is the possibility of high throughput analysis of Zn in bananas after biofortification to guarantee the quality when eaten as a central portion of the diet.

Successful resolution of urothorax secondary to non-traumatic uroabdomen in a cat managed with peritoneal dialysis as a bridge to surgery.

CASE SUMMARY: A 9-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented for evaluation of severe hemodynamic collapse and suspected lower urinary tract disease. On admission, severe metabolic acidosis, hyperkalemia and azotemia, and electrocardiographic findings consistent with cardiotoxicity were identified. The diagnosis of uroabdomen was made based on abdominal fluid to plasma concentration ratios of creatinine and potassium. A central line catheter was placed percutaneously into the abdomen for peritoneal drainage and used for peritoneal dialysis as a bridge to surgery. Retrograde contrast cystography confirmed rupture of the urinary bladder. Point-of-care ultrasound of the chest postoperatively revealed the presence of mild pleural effusion. Echocardiography was then performed showing no evidence of cardiac disease. Pleural fluid analysis revealed a transudate with a creatinine ratio of 2.38 ([Creatinine]pleural fluid/[Creatinine]plasma), consistent with the diagnosis of urothorax. The cat recovered uneventfully from surgery and was monitored for signs of respiratory distress during the rest of its stay in hospital. The cat was discharged 4 days later and the pleural effusion resolved without further medical intervention. RELEVANCE AND NOVEL INFORMATION: There is limited information on the causes of urothorax and uroabdomen management of feline patients. Pleural effusion is a complication observed in critically ill cats secondary to fluid overload, underlying cardiomyopathy, primary thoracic pathology or a combination of these. To our knowledge, this is the first report of urothorax in a cat secondary to non-traumatic uroabdomen. Careful monitoring of respiratory signs consistent with pleural space disease is recommended in cases of uroabdomen.

Caudal vena cava collapsibility index as a tool to predict fluid responsiveness in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the caudal vena cava collapsibility index (CVCCI) as a predictor of fluid responsiveness in hospitalized, critically ill dogs with hemodynamic or tissue perfusion abnormalities. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: Private referral center. ANIMALS: Twenty-seven critically ill, spontaneously breathing dogs with compromised hemodynamics or tissue hypoperfusion. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The electronic medical records were searched for dogs admitted for any cause, from August 2016 to December 2017. We included dogs with ultrasound measurements of: CVCCI, performed at baseline; and velocity time integral (VTI) of the subaortic blood flow, carried out before and after a fluid load. CVCCI was estimated as: (maximum diameter-minimum diameter/maximum diameter) × 100. Dogs in which VTI increased ≥15% were considered fluid responders. The CVCCI accurately predicted fluid responsiveness with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.88 to 1.00). The optimal cut-off of CVCCI that better discriminated between fluid responders and nonresponders was 27%, with 100.0% sensitivity and 83.3% specificity. At baseline, fluid responders had lower VTI (5.48 [4.26 to 7.40] vs 10.61 [7.38 to 13.23] cm, P = 0.004) than nonresponders. The basal maximum diameter of the caudal vena cava adjusted to body weight was not different between responders and nonresponders (0.050 [0.030 to 0.100] vs 0.079 [0.067 to 0.140] cm/kg, P = 0.339). The increase in VTI was related to basal CVCCI (R = 0.60, P = 0.001). Bland-Altman analysis showed narrow 95% limits of agreement between measurements of CVCCI and VTI performed by different observers or by the same observer. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this small cohort study suggest that CVCCI can accurately predict fluid responsiveness in critically ill dogs with perfusion abnormalities. Further research is necessary to extrapolate these results to larger populations of hospitalized dogs.

Biased-corrected richness estimates for the Amazonian tree flora.

Amazonian forests are extraordinarily diverse, but the estimated species richness is very much debated. Here, we apply an ensemble of parametric estimators and a novel technique that includes conspecific spatial aggregation to an extended database of forest plots with up-to-date taxonomy. We show that the species abundance distribution of Amazonia is best approximated by a logseries with aggregated individuals, where aggregation increases with rarity. By averaging several methods to estimate total richness, we confirm that over 15,000 tree species are expected to occur in Amazonia. We also show that using ten times the number of plots would result in an increase to just ~50% of those 15,000 estimated species. To get a more complete sample of all tree species, rigorous field campaigns may be needed but the number of trees in Amazonia will remain an estimate for years to come.

[Hypersensitivity reactions to food additives]. / Reacciones de hipersensibilidad a aditivos alimentarios.

Food additives are ingredients that are intentionally added to food in order to modify its physical, chemical, biological, or sensorial characteristics. Food additives may act as allergens and generate IgE-mediated immune reactions, or they may act as pseudo allergens and generate non-IgE-mediated immune reactions. Such reactions can generate diverse clinical pictures or they may exacerbate diseases as diverse as eosinophilic esophagitis, bronchial asthma, atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, chronic urticaria, or anaphylaxis. Thousands of food additives are being used daily in industrialized countries and, although their use has been globalized, there is not much science information about their adverse effects; especially about their hypersensitivity reactions that, despite being reported in literature as rare, it is probably because they are under-diagnosed due to the fact that they require a high level of clinical suspicion by the physician, and the proof of a causal connection between the symptomatology and the food additive. Hypersensitivity reactions to food additives must be suspected in patients who report symptoms with the intake of multiple commercially prepared foods or to a commercially prepared food without presenting symptoms with the intake of the natural or homemade version of the same food or with the presence of idiopathic reactions. The diagnostic role of the in vivo or in vitro test against IgE (Skin Tests or RAST) is limited to some natural food additives. The gold standard diagnosis that shows causality between the additive and the symptoms is the oral food challenge. The treatment shall always be the elimination of the food additive from the patient's diet.

Los aditivos alimentarios son ingredientes agregados intencionalmente para modificar las características físicas, químicas, biológicas o sensoriales de los alimentos; pueden actuar como alérgenos y generar reacciones inmunológicas mediadas por IgE o como pseudoalérgenos y generar reacciones inmunológicas no mediadas por IgE. Dichas reacciones pueden provocar diversos cuadros clínicos o exacerbar diferentes enfermedades: esofagitis eosinofílica, asma bronquial, dermatitis atópica, dermatitis de contacto, urticaria crónica o anafilaxia. Diariamente, miles de aditivos alimentarios son utilizados en países industrializados y aunque su uso se ha globalizado, se dispone de poca información científica sobre sus efectos adversos, particularmente sobre las reacciones de hipersensibilidad, las cuales son raras en la literatura, muy probablemente porque son infradiagnosticadas debido a que requieren un alto grado de sospecha clínica por parte del médico y la demostración de una relación de causalidad entre la sintomatología y el aditivo alimentario. Las reacciones de hipersensibilidad a aditivos alimentarios deben ser sospechadas en paciente con reporten síntomas a múltiples alimentos o a un alimento de preparación comercial sin sintomatología ante la ingesta natural o casera del mismo o ante reacciones idiopáticas. El papel diagnóstico de la prueba in vivo o in vitro contra IgE (pruebas cutáneas o RAST) está limitado a algunos aditivos alimentarios naturales. La prueba diagnóstica que demuestra causalidad entre el aditivo y la sintomatología es el reto oral alimentario. El tratamiento deberá ser siempre la eliminación del aditivo de la dieta.

Rarity of monodominance in hyperdiverse Amazonian forests.

Tropical forests are known for their high diversity. Yet, forest patches do occur in the tropics where a single tree species is dominant. Such "monodominant" forests are known from all of the main tropical regions. For Amazonia, we sampled the occurrence of monodominance in a massive, basin-wide database of forest-inventory plots from the Amazon Tree Diversity Network (ATDN). Utilizing a simple defining metric of at least half of the trees ≥ 10 cm diameter belonging to one species, we found only a few occurrences of monodominance in Amazonia, and the phenomenon was not significantly linked to previously hypothesized life history traits such wood density, seed mass, ectomycorrhizal associations, or Rhizobium nodulation. In our analysis, coppicing (the formation of sprouts at the base of the tree or on roots) was the only trait significantly linked to monodominance. While at specific locales coppicing or ectomycorrhizal associations may confer a considerable advantage to a tree species and lead to its monodominance, very few species have these traits. Mining of the ATDN dataset suggests that monodominance is quite rare in Amazonia, and may be linked primarily to edaphic factors.

Scaling issues of neutral theory reveal violations of ecological equivalence for dominant Amazonian tree species.

Neutral models are often used as null models, testing the relative importance of niche versus neutral processes in shaping diversity. Most versions, however, focus only on regional scale predictions and neglect local level contributions. Recently, a new formulation of spatial neutral theory was published showing an incompatibility between regional and local scale fits where especially the number of rare species was dramatically under-predicted. Using a forward in time semi-spatially explicit neutral model and a unique large-scale Amazonian tree inventory data set, we show that neutral theory not only underestimates the number of rare species but also fails in predicting the excessive dominance of species on both regional and local levels. We show that although there are clear relationships between species composition, spatial and environmental distances, there is also a clear differentiation between species able to attain dominance with and without restriction to specific habitats. We conclude therefore that the apparent dominance of these species is real, and that their excessive abundance can be attributed to fitness differences in different ways, a clear violation of the ecological equivalence assumption of neutral theory.

Relationship between malaria epidemiology and the human development index in Colombia and Latin America.

Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis includes three clinical entities: tuberculous meningitis, intracranial tuberculoma, and spinal tuberculous arachnoiditis. All three categories are encountered frequently in regions of the world where the incidence of TB is high. Meningeal tuberculosis is a medical emergency: it is the most severe, lethal and disabling form of tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and treatment can be lifesaving. Even, in developed countries the diagnosis of tuberculous meningitis is difficult, frequently delayed or missed, and is often not microbiologically confirmed. Here I report a case of miliary tuberculosis, in a patient with diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, but without HIV infection. Although the patient had regular contact with healthcare staff (hemodialysis), miliary tuberculosis diagnosis was considerably delayed. This patient, subsequently evolved into tuberculous meningitis. In spite of quadruple anti-tuberculosis treatment, corticosteroids, and general supportive care, this case resulted in death.

Identification of Receptor Ligands in Apo B100 Reveals Potential Functional Domains.

LDL, VLDL and other members of the low-density lipoparticles (LLPs) enter cells through a large family of receptors. The actual receptor ligand(s) in apolipoprotein B100, one of the main proteins of LLP, remain(s) unknown. The objective of this study was to identify true receptor ligand(s) in apo B100, a molecule of 4563 residues. Apo B100 contains 33 analogues of Cardin-Weintraub arginine/lysine-based receptor ligand motifs and shares key lysine motifs and sequence similarity with the LDL receptor-associated protein, MESD, and heat shock proteins. Eleven FITC-labeled synthetic peptides of 21-42 residues, with at least one ligand, were tested for binding and internalization using HeLa cells. All peptides bind but display different binding capacities and patterns. Peptides B0013, B0582, B2366, and B2932 mediate endocytosis and appear in distinct sites in the cytoplasm. B0708 and B3181 bind and remain on the cell surface as aggregates/clusters. Peptides B3119 (Site A) and B3347 (Site B), the putative ligands, showed low binding and no cell entry capacity. Apo B100 regions in this study share similarities with related proteins of known function including chaperone proteins and Apo BEC stimulating protein, and not directly related proteins, e.g., the DNA-binding domain of interferon regulatory factors, MSX2-interacting protein, and snake venom Zinc metalloproteinase-disintegrin-like proteins.

Sizing the lung in dogs: the inspiratory capacity defines the tidal volume. / Avaliação do tamanho do pulmão em cães: a capacidade inspiratória define o volume corrente.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate a novel physiological approach for setting the tidal volume in mechanical ventilation according to inspiratory capacity, and to determine if it results in an appropriate mechanical and gas exchange measurements in healthy and critically ill dogs. METHODS: Twenty healthy animals were included in the study to assess the tidal volume expressed as a percentage of inspiratory capacity. For inspiratory capacity measurement, the mechanical ventilator was set as follows: pressure control mode with 35cmH2O of inspired pressure and zero end-expiratory pressure for 5 seconds. Subsequently, the animals were randomized into four groups and ventilated with a tidal volume corresponding to the different percentages of inspiratory capacity. Subsequently, ten critically ill dogs were studied. RESULTS: Healthy dogs ventilated with a tidal volume of 17% of the inspiratory capacity showed normal respiratory mechanics and presented expected PaCO2 values more frequently than the other groups. The respiratory system and transpulmonary driving pressure were significantly higher among the critically ill dogs but below 15 cmH2O in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: The tidal volume based on the inspiratory capacity of each animal has proven to be a useful and simple tool when setting ventilator parameters. A similar approach should also be evaluated in other species, including human beings, if we consider the potential limitations of tidal volume titration based on the calculated ideal body weight.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar uma nova abordagem fisiológica para a determinação do volume corrente em ventilação mecânica, de acordo com a capacidade inspiratória, e determinar se isso resulta em medidas mecânicas e de troca gasosa adequadas em cães saudáveis e em estado crítico. MÉTODOS: Incluíram-se, neste estudo, 24 animais para avaliar o volume corrente expresso como porcentagem da capacidade inspiratória. Para mensuração da capacidade inspiratória, o ventilador mecânico foi regulado como segue: modo controle de pressão, com 35cmH2O de pressão de inspiração e pressão expiratória final de zero, por 5 segundos. Subsequentemente, estudaram-se dez cães em condições clínicas críticas. RESULTADOS: Cães saudáveis ventilados com volume corrente que correspondia a 17% da capacidade inspiratória demonstraram mecânica respiratória normal e apresentaram os valores previstos de PaCO2 mais frequentemente do que os animais nos demais grupos. A pressão no sistema respiratório e a pressão transpulmonar foram significantemente mais elevadas nos cães em condição crítica, porém em todos os casos, estiveram abaixo de 15cmH2O. CONCLUSÕES: O volume corrente calculado com base na capacidade inspiratória de cada animal comprovou ser uma ferramenta útil e simples para o estabelecimento dos parâmetros do ventilador. Convém também realizar abordagem semelhante em outras espécies, inclusive no ser humano, quando se consideram as potenciais limitações da titulação do volume corrente, com base no peso corpóreo ideal calculado.