Genetic differentiation of Liparus glabrirostris (Curculionidae: Molytinae) populations from the fragmented habitats of the Alps and Carpathian Mountains.

Populations of Liparus glabrirostris (Curculionidae: Molytinae), a weevil inhabiting higher altitudes of Central Europe, were sampled from 24 localities in the Alps and Carpathian Mountains, and the geographical structuring of genetic variation was analyzed. Comparison of the concatenated mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I and subunit II sequences revealed consistent genetic divergence between the populations of L. glabrirostris from different mountain ranges. In phylogenetic analysis using maximum parsimony and median-joining networks, concatenated mitochondrial haplotypes from the Alps and Carpathians clustered as separate lineages, with high bootstrap support. Substantial genetic distances determined between the separated groups ranged from 2.6 to 3.0%, with divergence estimated to have initiated approximately 0.85-0.98 million years ago. The nuclear elongation factor 1α gene was additionally amplified and haplotype analysis showed very low evolutionary divergence (0.2%), with separate clustering as well. The observed divergence suggests that the populations have been isolated for a long time, as a consequence of environmental changes resulting in varying fragmentation of habitats in the Alps and Carpathians, interrupting genetic exchange events and altering the genetic structure of L. glabrirostris populations. On the other hand, comparison of morphological characteristics showed no differences to confirm genetically well differentiated groups of populations. A polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism-based method was therefore developed to discriminate between the Alpine and Carpathian lineages.

Intra-amnial methotrexate in cervical pregnancy treatment.

Cervical pregnancy is an extremely rare condition with potential devastating consequences if not diagnosed and treated early enough. The authors present a case with ultrasound images of early cervical ectopic pregnancy in a woman with a history of previous cesarean section who was successfully treated with intra-amnial methotrexate (MTX).

Malestar psicológico en familiares de pacientes con daño neurológico durante la fase subaguda de NeuroRehabilitación / Psychological distress in relatives of patients with neurological damage during the subacute phase of NeuroRehabilitation

Durante la última década la Neurorehabilitación ha comenzado a prestar mayor atención a las familias de personas que adquieren un daño neurológico. Este giro parece responder a un creciente número de estudios describiendo importantes niveles de malestar psicólogico en dichas familias y advirtiendo de su impacto en el proceso de rehabilitación. En Chile, lamentablemente, no contamos con estudios que exploren el estado emocional de familiares en ninguna de las etapas de rehabilitación, esto, a pesar de existir guías clínicas que sugieren el abordaje familiar como meta central. Dicha falta de información limita tanto la capacidad diagnóstica como interventiva de los equipos de rehabilitación. El objetivo de este artículo es describir, y comparar, el perfil de malestar psicológico en familiares de personas con lesión cerebral y medular en etapa subaguda de rehabilitación. Método. 89 familiares de personas con daño neurológico (Lesión Cerebral Adquirida = 50; Trauma Raquimedular = 39) respondieron el General Health Questionnaire-28 como medida de malestar psicológico. Este instrumento que se compone de cuatro subescalas: síntomas somáticos, ansiedad e insomnio, disfunción social y depresión grave. Resultados. En ambas poblaciones el puntaje total del GHQ-28 se observó por encima de los estándares poblacionales, sugiriendo niveles clínicos de malestar psicológico en 90 por ciento de la muestra. No se observaron diferencias entre ambas poblaciones en términos de puntaje total o puntaje de subescalas, sugiriendo similares perfiles de malestar psicólogico. Dicho perfil se caracterizó por altos niveles de ansiedad e insomnio, seguido en menor grado de síntomas somáticos...

During the last decade NeuroRehabilitation has begun to pay more attention to the families of people with neurological damage. This shift seems to respond to a growing number of studies describing significant levels of psychological distress in families, and warning professionals of its potential impact in the process of rehabilitation. In Chile, unfortunately, we have no studies that explore the emotional state of families in any stage of the rehabilitation process, this, despite the existence of clinical guidelines suggesting to address family needs as a central goal. This lack of information limits rehabilitation teams’ ability as well as their capacity to develop interventions. The aim of this article is to describe, and compare, the profile of psychological distress in relatives of people with brain damage and spinal cord injuries, during the sub-acute phase of rehabilitation. Method. 89 relatives of people with neurological damage (Acquired Brain Injury = 50; Spinal Cord Injury = 39) completed the General Health Questionnaire-28, a self-report measure of psychological distress. This instrument has four subscales, each of them screening for different types of symptoms: somatic, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction and severe depression. Results. Both neurological groups presented GHQ-28 total scored above population standards, thus suggesting clinical levels of psychological distress in 90 percent of the sample. No differences were observed between the two groups in terms of GHQ-28 total score or subscale score, thus, suggesting similar profiles of psychological distress. High levels of anxiety and insomnia, followed to a lesser degree by somatic symptoms, characterized this profile...

Levels of plant cell wall structural organization revealed by atomic force microscopy.

We used an atomic force microscope to image cell wall isolated from needles of Serbian spruce tree and that synthesized from cell wall components. We also observed the structure of lignin model polymer (DHP), as a best substitute for the natural lignin. A tendency of aggregate formation was observed in all samples. Cell wall was revealed as a laminated fibrous structure. General organization is similar in both isolated and synthesized cell wall samples, with dominating globular motifs arranged regularly as rods and forming cavities. The synthesized cell wall has a more regular structural organization than isolated cell wall. The dimensions of individual globular aggregates and pores differed between the two samples. DHP showed a similar, regular organization, with globular aggregates and holes. Globules and pores are smaller in size than the corresponding structures in both the isolated and synthesized cell walls. Such modular organization of cell walls may have a physiological role in response to the external mechanical stress caused to plant cells.

Influence of substrate orientation on the morphology and orientation of LaNiO3 thin films.

LaNiO(3) thin films were successfully prepared by a chemical method from citrate precursors. The LNO precursor solution was spin-coated onto Si (100) and Si (111) substrates. To obtain epitaxial or highly oriented films, the deposited layers were slowly heated in a gradient thermal field, with a heating rate of 1 degrees min(-1), and annealed at 700 degrees C. The influence of different substrate orientations on the thin film morphology was investigated using atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. Well-crystallized films with grains aligned along a certain direction were obtained on both substrates. Films deposited on both substrates were very smooth, but with a different grain size and shape depending on the crystal orientation. Films deposited on Si (100) grew in the (110) direction and had elongated grains, whereas those on Si (111) grew in the (211) direction and had a quasi-square grain shape.

The effect of an Ni-Cr protective layer on cyclic oxidation of TiAl.

The effect of an 80Ni-20Cr (at.%) metallic coating on the cyclic oxidation behaviour of a Ti(3)Al-based alloy with the composition Ti-25Al-11Nb (at.%) was investigated in this study. Cyclic oxidation tests were carried out in air at 600 degrees C and 900 degrees C for 120 h. For one cycle test, the specimens were held for 24 h at test temperature and then furnace-cooled to room temperature. The oxidation rate was determined by plotting the mass gain per unit surface area of the specimen vs. exposure time. The morphology and composition of the oxidation products were characterized on the cross-section of the specimens by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. The oxidation scale forms during exposure at both 600 degrees C and 900 degrees C. TiO(2) is the main oxide component, whereas the Al(2)O(3) layer appears only discontinuously. The remarkable improvement in oxidation resistance at 900 degrees C was attributed to the chemical composition and structure of the scale formed on the 80Ni-20Cr coating.

[Prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in aged persons]. / Prevalencija faktora rizika od kardiovaskularnih bolesti kod starih osoba.

The prevalence study comprised randomly selected sample of 131 females and 109 males aged 70 years and over in the urban area of Kragujevac community. The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, as well as the prevalence of factors important for the onset of cardiovascular diseases. Ischaemic heart disease was found in 36.6% of females, and in 25.7% of males. Six patients (two males--1.8% and five females--3.1% were with cerebrovascular disorders. The majority of the participants in the study (70.6% of males and 80.9% of females) were hypertensive. The mean value of systolic blood pressure was 166.2 mmHg, and the mean value of diastolic blood pressure was 93.3 mmHg. The mean values systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, serum level of total cholesterol, high density and low density cholesterol and glucose were relatively high and higher in women than in men. Serum triglycerides were the same for both sexes--1.5 mmol/l. The majority of patients included in the study had normal body mass index and frequently were the low-fat diet and physically active. Only 13.2% were active smokers. It could be concluded that some of main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases were not frequent in this population of the elderly.