Isolation and characterization of microsatellite marker loci in the Wagner's mustached bat Pteronotus psilotis (Chiroptera: Mormoopidae) and crossamplification in other related species.

Pteronotus psilotis, a mormoopid bat, is an insectivorous, gregarious and strict cave-dwelling species that is found areas between the sea level and an elevation of about 1000 masl. This species is present in diverse habitats ranging from rain forest to dry deciduous forest. Nine microsatellite loci were developed for Wagner's mustached bat, Pteronotus psilotis using the next-generation sequencing approach, and their utility for population genetics studies was assessed. All loci were polymorphic (7-15 alleles) and characterized in 30 individuals from three P. psilotis populations, with the levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.280 to 0.867 and 0.584 to 0.842, respectively. One locus showed significant departures from Hardy-Weinberg expectations after Bonferroni correction. Cross-amplification in 11 other bat species was tested, for which eight microsatellites were successfully amplified, and of these seven were polymorphic. The development of these new microsatellite loci will contribute to investigations of genetic population structure, genetic diversity and gene flow in P. psilotis populations, as well as in other closely related bat species.

Nitric oxide release from a cucurbituril encapsulated NO-donor.

Controlling S-nitrosothiol decomposition, with the consequent release of nitric oxide, is a topic of great research interest. The incorporation of nitrosomercaptopyridine (SNO+) into the cucurbit[7]uril cavity results in a large increase of its nitrosation equilibrium constant. This effect being a consequence of the preferential stabilization of organic cations by the formation of host : guest complexes with CB7 results in a drastic reduction of the SNO+ denitrosation rate constant. Moreover, SNO+ encapsulation also prevents its decomposition yielding disulfide and nitric oxide. The expulsion of SNO+ from the cucurbituril cavity through the application of a chemical stimulus (competitive binding) results in controlled nitric oxide release as was confirmed by using a NO selective electrode.

Revisión del tratamiento rehabilitador en la distonía cervical: una puesta al día / Review of rehabilitation treatment for cervical dystonia: an update

Objetivo. El objetivo de este trabajo es realizar una actualización sobre el tratamiento rehabilitador de la distonía cervical (DC), tanto de su eficacia como de las estrategias utilizadas. Búsqueda y selección de estudios. Se identificaron 21 estudios mediante la búsqueda en bases de datos electrónicas de los artículos científicos publicados tanto en inglés como en castellano entre enero de 2000 y febrero de 2016, con las palabras clave: distonía cervical, tratamiento, rehabilitación, fisioterapia, tortícolis espasmódica. Los criterios de inclusión fueron: ensayos clínicos con pacientes diagnosticados de DC en tratamiento rehabilitador y con una calidad metodológica aceptable según la escala de Jadad. Resultados y conclusiones. Se han seleccionado 5 estudios. En líneas generales se aconseja: ejercicios de relajación, estiramientos, reeducación motora, equilibrio, coordinación y propiocepción. Los ejercicios deben ser inicialmente tutelados y una vez aprendidos deben realizarse en sesiones cortas y frecuentes de autorrehabilitación con el objetivo de inducir neuroplasticidad. Parece claro que la asociación de un programa fisioterápico al tratamiento con toxina botulínica es beneficioso (AU)

Objective. The aim of this study was to provide an update on rehabilitation treatment for cervical dystonia (CD), in terms of both its effectiveness and the strategies used. Study search and selection strategy. A total of 21 studies were identified by a search in electronic database for scientific articles published in English or Spanish from January 2000 to February 2016, with the keywords: cervical dystonia, treatment, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and spasmodic torticollis. Inclusion criteria were: clinical trials of patients diagnosed with CD receiving rehabilitation treatment and with an adequate methodological quality according to the Jadad scale. Results and conclusions. Five studies were selected. In general, we recommend: relaxation exercises, stretching, motor re-education, balance, coordination and proprioception. The exercises should initially be supervised and, once learned, should be made in short and frequent self-rehabilitation sessions in order to induce neuroplasticity. It seems clear that the combination of a physiotherapeutic program and botulinum toxin treatment is beneficial (AU)

Synthesis of vinyl-terminated Au nanoprisms and nanooctahedra mediated by 3-butenoic acid: direct Au@pNIPAM fabrication with improved SERS capabilities.

Here we describe the first seedless synthesis of vinyl-terminated Au nanotriangular prisms (AuNTPs) and nanooctahedra (AuNOC) in aqueous media. This synthesis is performed by chemical reduction of chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) with 3-butenoic acid (3BA) in the presence of benzyldimethylammonium chloride (BDAC). The principal novelties of the presented method are the use of a mixture of 3BA and BDAC, the synthesis of gold prisms and octahedra with controllable size, and the presence of terminal double bonds on the metal surface. Initially this method produces a mixture of triangular gold nanoprisms and octahedra; however, both morphologies are successfully separated by surfactant micelle induced depletion interaction, reaching percentages up to ∼90%. Moreover, the alkene moieties present on the gold surface are exploited for the fabrication of hybrid core@shell particles. Gold octahedra and triangular prisms are easily encapsulated by free radical polymerization of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM). Finally, in order to obtain a gold core with the most number of tips, AuNTP@pNIPAM microgels were subjected to gold core overgrowth, thus resulting in star-shaped nanoparticles (AuSTs@pNIPAM). We use 4-amino-benzenethiol as the model analyte for SERS investigations. As expected, gold cores with tips and high curvature sites produced the highest plasmonic responses.

Multilocus phylogeny and species delimitation within the Natterer's bat species complex in the Western Palearctic.

Delimiting species is a crucial issue for many biological disciplines and is of primary importance for designing effective conservation plans. Traditional taxonomy based on morphological characters can be misled by the presence of phenotypic plesiomorphism or adaptative convergence. The use of multiple locus genetic data appears thus as a powerful tool for recognizing species boundaries. In this study, we used six nuclear introns and two mitochondrial markers to conduct a phylogenetic study of the Myotis nattereri species complex in the Western Palearctic. We combined tree-based and non-tree-based analyses, and also used concatenated phylogenetic methods of the separated nuclear and mitochondrial dataset as well as a recent coalescence-based multilocus approach. The strong concordance between the results of the analyses conducted confirms that M. nattereri is a paraphyletic group that is composed of four well-differentiated lineages in the study area. In the framework of the unified species concept, these four clades can be confidently considered as four valid species. This recognition of new cryptic species in the Western Mediterranean region shows that the biodiversity of this well-studied area is still not fully understood.

Reorientación de la actividad asistencial en un servicio de Medicina Física y Rehabilitación: análisis de costes. Evidencia y medicina coste-efectiva / Assistance activity reorientation in a physical medicine and rehabilitation service: costs analyses. Evidence and cost-efectiveness medicine

Introducción: El continuo aumento del gasto sanitario, en un medio con recursos limitados, obliga a potenciar la función gestora de los servicios utilizando criterios de efectividad y eficiencia. Material y métodos: Realizamos una revisión de todas las patologías atendidas en fisioterapia en el hospital durante el año 2007, analizando las prescripciones de tratamiento más habituales. Solicitamos a Control de Gestión información de los costes del área terapéutica del mismo año, realizando un cálculo aproximado del coste que supuso la patología dolorosa osteoarticular y el programa de rehabilitación cardiaca. Revisamos información de medicina basada en la evidencia (MBE) en rehabilitación y consultamos la base de datos Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, buscando información coste-efectividad de las patologías revisadas. Resultados: Del total de patologías atendidas en el área terapéutica del hospital el 42% correspondieron a algias de origen osteoarticular, que fueron tratadas de forma individual, con prescripciones terapéuticas de dudosa eficacia, según la revisión de la MBE y con un coste similar, en el caso de la cervicalgias y lumbalgias al coste por paciente del grupo de rehabilitación cardiaca, siendo este programa, en nuestro departamento, de desarrollo hospitalario y avalado por la MBE y la medicina coste-efectiva. Conclusiones: El desarrollo de la función gestora del servicio precisa reorientar nuestra actividad asistencial: descentralizar la patología dolorosa osteoarticular, modificar nuestras prescripciones terapéuticas con pautas más acordes a la MBE, teniendo en cuenta los costes de los procedimientos empleados y mejorar la atención de la patología más compleja a nivel hospitalario (AU)

Introduction: The continuous increase of health expense in an enviroment of scant resources makes necessary the reinforcement of the services management function using efficiency and effectiveness criteria. Material and methods: We carried out a revision of each pathology attended in physiotherapy at our hospital in 2007, analyzing the most habitual treatment prescriptions. We asked Management Control for information about therapeutic area costs during the same year in order to make an estimate calculation of the cost of osteoarticular painful pathology and the cardiac rehabilitation programme. Information about medicine based on evidence (MBE) in rehabilitation is revised and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination data base is consulted looking for information on cost-effectiveness in the pathologies revised. Results: From the total of the pathologies attended in the hospital therapeutic area, 42% correspond to pain with an osteoarticular origin. These were treated in an individual way, with therapeutic prescriptions of questionable effectiveness, according to the MBE revision and with a similar cost, in the case of neck and back pain, to the cost per patient in the heart rehabilitation group, this programme being, in our department, developed in hospital and guaranteed by the MBE and the cost-effective medicine. Conclusion: The development of the services management function needs to reorientate assistance activity by decentralizing osteoarticular painful pathology, by modifying our therapeutic prescriptions with patterns more in agreement with the MBE, taking into account the cost of the procedures used, and finally by improving the treatment of more complex pathologies at hospital level (AU)

Field gradient imaging of nanoparticle systems: analysis of geometry and surface coating effects.

In this work we compare the standard imaging of various types of nanoparticles deposited on surfaces by atomic force microscopy (AFM) with a complementary analysis of the same samples by either electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) or magnetic force microscopy (MFM). Experiments were carried out on gold nanoparticles (decahedrons and stars) and two different iron oxide systems: goethite (alpha-FeOOH) and hematite (alpha-Fe(2)O(3)). Regardless of the particular geometry, the EFM signal appears to be stronger on edges or tips of pure gold nanoparticles. Both EFM and MFM experiments were also carried out on iron oxide particles. Apart from the structural analysis, we analyzed the influence of a shell layer deposited on the gold and iron oxide particles, the shell being amorphous SiO(2). Although the silica layer was found to have an insulating effect around the particles, in all cases EFM/MFM measurements could still be performed by the proper choice of the scan lift height (with an eventual slight increase of the sample bias, where applicable).

Fully uncomplexed cyclodextrin in mixed systems of vesicle-cyclodextrin: solvolysis of benzoyl chlorides.

In this contribution the influence of beta-cyclodextrin (CD) on the behavior of aqueous systems containing vesicles of dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl choline (DPPC) has been studied by determining the kinetics of the solvolysis reaction of substituted benzoyl chlorides whose solvolysis reactivity entails a high sensitivity on media properties. The application of the pseudophase formalism allowed us to obtain the thermodynamic and kinetic coefficients characteristic of the reaction, which are essentially independent of the concentration of CD. We were able to determine the percentages of uncomplexed cyclodextrin in equilibrium with the vesicular system which were in all cases compatible with 100%. The obtained results led us to conclude that the properties of DPPC vesicles are not affected by the presence of CD in the medium and there is no type of interaction between the CD and the vesicular surfactant monomers and, therefore, all cyclodextrin is present in the mixed system as uncomplexed cyclodextrin.

Mitochondrial DNA signatures at different spatial scales: from the effects of the Straits of Gibraltar to population structure in the meridional serotine bat (Eptesicus isabellinus).

The meridional serotine bat Eptesicus isabellinus is found in North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula. We analyzed the genetic structure of E. isabellinus at two different geographic scales to reveal the historical and ecological patterns that have shaped its populations. The role of the Straits of Gibraltar as an isolating barrier between African and Iberian populations is evaluated and the degree of genetic structure and female-mediated gene flow was assessed at a local scale between neighboring colonies. Populations of E. isabellinus from Iberia and northern Morocco show little genetic divergence and share mtDNA haplotypes, indicating that the Straits of Gibraltar are neither an impediment to dispersal nor a cause of genetic differentiation. Our results also suggest that E. isabellinus may have dispersed from western Andalusia into northern Morocco after the last glacial period. At a smaller geographic scale, the colonies studied showed high variation in genetic variability and structure, indicating that no female-mediated gene flow is present. This pattern is consistent with a described pattern of independent endemic viral circulation of the bat rabies virus EBLV-1, which was found when studying rabies dynamics in the same serotine bat colonies.

Síndrome de Cornelia de Lange / Cornelia de Lange syndromeque

El síndrome de Cornelia de Lange es un trastorno del desarrollo hereditario con transmisión dominante que se caracteriza por un fenotipo facial peculiar, anomalías en extremidades superiores y retraso del crecimiento y psicomotor. La prevalencia es variable oscilando entre 1:62.000-1:45.000 nacimientos. En la actualidad, se conocen tres genes causales: NIPBL, SMCIA Y SMC3, que codifican proteínas reguladoras o estructurales del complejo de cohesinas. Las bases patogénicas del síndrome no están aún aclaradas, pero parecen relacionarse con problemas de regulación de la expresión génica y/o de la cohesión cromosómica. Clínicamente se distinguen tres fenotipos: grave, moderado y leve, pero el primero solo ha sido descrito en pacientes conmutaciones en el gen NIPBL. En muchos de estos niños el reflujo gastroesofágico es un problema médico importante que puede dar lugar a alteraciones del comportamiento, y puede requerir tratamiento quirúrgico. El retraso mental es de grado variable, siendo más importante en pacientes con mutación en NIPBL (AU)

Cornelia de Lange Syndrome is a clinically heterogeneous dominant disorder characterized by distinctive features including facial dysmorphia, limb malformations and growth and cognitive impairment. Prevalence estimate range from 1:62.000 to 1:45.000 live births. Three causative genes are currently known: NIPBL, SMC1A and SMC3, which codify structural or regulatory proteins, form the Cohesion Complex. Although the pathogenic bases of the syndrome remain unclear, it has been hypothesized that is related to anomalies in gene expression regulation and/or chromosome cohesion. Clinically, three phenotypes can be distinguished: severe, moderate and mild. The severe one has been only reported in patients carrying mutations in N1PBL. Gastroesophageal reflux is a common medical problem in these patients, who may develop unexplained behavioral changes and may need surgical repair. Mental retardation is almost a constant feature of variable degree and the more severe cases are associated with mutations in N1PBL as well (AU)

Polymorphic microsatellite markers for the critically endangered Balearic shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus.

Ten novel polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), a critically endangered seabird. The developed loci revealed a relatively low number of alleles per locus, as well as low levels of polymorphism (H(O)  = 0.377 ± 0.241). One of the loci appeared to be W-linked. All polymorphic loci were successfully amplified in its closely related species, the Yelkouan shearwater (Puffinus yelkouan). These microsatellite markers would be useful for assessing population structure in the Balearic shearwater and the possible hybridization process between both shearwaters species.

Asymptomatic rhabdovirus infection in meridional serotine bats (Eptesicus isabellinus) from Spain.

Different rhabdoviruses have been found in healthy bats, suggesting asymptomatic infection. The aim of this study was to focus on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of EBLV1 infection in the meridional serotine bat (Eptesicus isabellinus), as well as to search for other rhabdoviruses in this bat, which is the responsible for more than 95% of cases of human exposure to lyssaviruses in Europe. RT-PCR on oropharyngeal swabs was used together with antibody detection by the Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT) to investigate EBLV1 circulation in 19 natural colonies of meridional serotine bats in Andalusia (Spain) from 1998 to 2003. The survey was based on 1,227 different captures of 1,033 individuals that were ring banded, sampled and released. Individuals that were repeatedly captured were always found in the same colony, despite the fact that some colonies were less than five km apart. Viral circulation was detected in ten colonies either by RT-PCR, serology or both. Each colony showed a different temporal pattern of viral circulation suggesting independent endemic circulation. Some positive individuals were captured healthy in following campaigns providing evidence for survival after viral infection. RNA from two apparently new Dimarhabdoviruses was also found in the pharyngeal cavity of two healthy bats.

In search of fully uncomplexed cyclodextrin in the presence of micellar aggregates.

The chemical behavior of beta-cyclodextrin/nonionic surfactant mixed systems has been investigated using the basic hydrolysis of N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide as a chemical probe. The experimental results prove that at the cmc, there are significant quantities of uncomplexed beta-CD in equilibrium with the micellar aggregates. In contrast to the expected situation, the percentage of uncomplexed beta-CD in equilibrium with the micellar system increases on increasing the hydrophobicity of the surfactant molecule. This behavior is due to the existence of two simultaneous processes: complexation of surfactant monomers by cyclodextrin and the process of self-assembly to form micellar aggregates. The autoaggregation of surfactant monomers is expected to be more important than the complexation process in this mixed system. Varying the hydrophobicity of the surfactant monomer enabled us to determine that the percentages of uncomplexed cyclodextrin in equilibrium with the micellar system were in the range of 5-95%.

EBLV1 circulation in natural bat colonies of Eptesicus serotinus: a six year survey.

The serotine bat (Eptesicus serotinus) accounts for 95 % of cases of human exposition to EBLV1. The aim of this study was to focus on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of EBLV1 infection in the serotine bat. Our first objective was the development of an RT-PCR technique for the specific detection of EBLV1 RNA in oro-pharyngeal swabs. This technique showed better performance than the classical immunofluorescence (IF) on brain in detecting EBLV1 in healthy flying bats. We have used this technique together with antibody detection by the fluorescent focus inhibition test (FFIT) to investigate EBLV1 circulation in 19 natural colonies of serotine bats in Andalusia (Spain) from 1998 to 2003. The survey was based on 1223 different captures of 1080 individuals that were ring banded, sampled and released. Individuals that were repeatedly captured were always found in the same colony even though some colonies were less than five Km apart. Viral circulation was detected in nine colonies either by RT-PCR, serology or both. Each colony showed a different temporal pattern of viral circulation suggesting independent endemic circulation. Some positive individuals were captured healthy in following campaigns evidencing survival after viral infection.

Effects of zwitterionic vesicles on the reactivity of benzoyl chlorides.

A systematic study on the solvolysis reaction of substituted benzoyl chlorides in the presence of zwitterionic vesicles of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) has been performed. Size, shape, surface charge, and polarity of the interface of the vesicular aggregates were determined using various techniques. The application of the pseudophase formalism allowed us to obtain the thermodynamic and kinetic coefficients characteristic of the reaction. The effects of vesicular aggregates on the solvolysis of benzoyl chlorides, which are known to be sensitive to the physical properties of the medium, depend on the nature of the substrate. For benzoyl chlorides with electron-donating groups, which react predominantly through a dissociative mechanism which is strongly affected by medium properties, the rate constant decreases as the vesicle concentration increases. On the other hand, for benzoyl chlorides with electron-withdrawing groups, which react mainly via an associative pathway, DPPC vesicles catalyze the solvolysis reaction.

Evidence for complexes of different stoichiometries between organic solvents and cyclodextrins.

The influence of the organic solvent on the acid and basic hydrolysis of N-methyl-N-nitroso-p-toluenesulfonamide (MNTS) in the presence of alpha- and beta-cyclodextrins has been studied. The observed rate constant was found to decrease through the formation of an unreactive complex between MNTS and the cyclodextrins. In the presence of dioxane, acetonitrile or DMSO, the inhibitory effect of beta-CD decreased on increasing the proportion of organic cosolvent as a result of a competitive reaction involving the formation of an inclusion complex between beta-CD and the cosolvent. The disparate size of the organic solvent molecules resulted in stoichiometric differences between the complexes; the beta-CD-dioxane and beta-CD-DMSO complexes were 1 : 1 whereas the beta-CD-acetonitrile complex was 1 : 2. The basic and acid hydrolysis of MNTS in the presence of alpha-CD showed a different behavior; thus, the reaction gave both 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 alpha-CD-MNTS complexes, of which only the former was reactive. This result was due to the smaller cavity size of alpha-CD and the consequent decreased penetration of MNTS into the cavity in comparison to beta-CD. The acid hydrolysis of MNTS in the presence of alpha-CD also revealed decreased penetration of MNTS into the cyclodextrin cavity, as evidenced by the bound substrate undergoing acid hydrolysis. In addition, the acid hydrolysis of MNTS in the presence of acetonitrile containing alpha-CD gave 1 : 1 alpha-CD-acetonitrile inclusion complexes, which is consistent with a both a reduced cavity size and previously reported data.

Reactivity of benzoyl chlorides in nonionic microemulsions: potential application as indicators of system properties.

The solvolysis reactivity of benzoyl chlorides entails a high sensitivity on medium properties. A systematic study of the reaction of a series of these substrates, varying the electron-withdrawing character of the substituent, has been performed in nonionic microemulsions. The kinetic effects due to variation of microemulsion compositions can be assigned to modifications in system properties, to be precise, to modifications in interface properties. Microemulsion properties that are obtained from kinetic analysis of solvolysis show a good agreement with the characterization of the microemulsion that was made via 1H NMR and solvatochromic fluorescence probes. Benzoyl chlorides with electron-donating groups react through a dissociative mechanism, whereas electron-withdrawing groups favor an associative mechanism. A comparative analysis of reactivity between the different substrates at the interface shows a variation in the contributions of both reaction pathways, associative and dissociative, to the whole reaction mechanism. The confined media shift the point where the mechanism changes from an associative to a dissociative pathway, far away from the turning point in water. Furthermore, the change in mechanism can be modulated by modification of the microemulsion composition.

Mitochondrial phylogeography of the long-eared bats (Plecotus) in the Mediterranean Palaearctic and Atlantic Islands.

Long-eared bats of the genus Plecotus are widespread and common over most of the western Palaearctic. Based on recent molecular evidence, they proved to represent a complex of several cryptic species, with three new species being described from Europe in 2002. Evolutionary relationships among the different lineages are still fragmentary because of the limited geographic coverage of previous studies. Here we analyze Plecotus mitochondrial DNA sequences from the entire Mediterranean region and Atlantic Islands. Phylogenetic reconstructions group these western Palaearctic Plecotus into two major clades which split at least 5 Myr ago and that are each subdivided into further subgroups. An 'auritus group' includes the traditional P. auritus species and its sister taxon P. macrobullaris (=P. alpinus) plus related specimens from the Middle East. P. auritus and P. macrobullaris have broadly overlapping distributions in Europe, although the latter is apparently more restricted to mountain ranges. The other major clade, the 'austriacus group,' includes the European species P. austriacus and at least two other related taxa from North Africa (including P. teneriffae from the Canary Islands), the Balkans and Anatolia (P. kolombatovici). The sister species of this 'austriacus group' is P. balensis, an Ethiopian endemic. Phylogenetic reconstructions further suggest that P. austriacus reached Madeira during its relatively recent westward expansion through Europe, while the Canary Islands were colonized by a North African ancestor. Although colonization of the two groups of Atlantic Islands by Plecotus bats followed very distinct routes, neither involved lineages from the 'auritus group.' Furthermore, the Strait of Gibraltar perfectly segregates the distinct lineages, which confirms its key role as a geographic barrier. This study also stresses the biogeographical importance of the Mediterranean region, and particularly of North Africa, in understanding the evolution of the western Palaearctic biotas.