Grado de cobertura del muestreo de escarabajos coprófagos (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) en Colombia / Estimation of the sampling cover for dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) in Colombia

The promotion of biodiversity conservation strategies must address the lack of information and the difficulty of identifying knowledge gaps that may facilitate our knowledge of different taxonomic groups. Dung beetles constitute one of those groups, despite having been proposed as an efficient bioindicator of environmental disturbance processes. In this work, we aimed to prepare a diagnosis on the state of knowledge of the subfamily Scarabaeinae, focusing on the cover sampling degree of this group in Colombia, with the purpose of identifying high-priority areas that will allow the completion of a national inventory. The work consisted of a bibliographical compilation using 12 referential databases and the examination of specimens deposited in 26 national collections. A total of 16 940 individuals were examined, finding registers for 232 species from 386 localities. The respective distribution cover maps were presented, and the cover at a national level was 10.62%. A historical analysis demonstrated a proliferation in the number of studies for the last three decades; nevertheless, a great proportion of unpublished works persists, resulting in only 64 sampled localities with published records. The localities with the greatest sampling efforts were RN La Planada, Lloro, AUN Los Estoraques, PNN Tinigua and Mariquita. Registries for all departments were available, and the best sampled ones were Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca and Boyaca. The ecosystems with the greatest number of publications are the Andean pre mountain humid forest, followed by the Andean mountain humid forest and the Pacific humid forest. Other ecosystems with few studies included mangroves, desert zones, natural savannahs, palm swamps, paramos, flooding forests and agroforestry systems. The biogeographic region with the greatest number of localities was the Andean region, followed by Choco-Magdalenense and Amazonia. Our results showed that high levels of subsampling persist and that some zones lack registries, as in the case of some parks of the national system of protected areas. It is imperative that the sampling cover is extended at a national level, focusing all possible efforts on collecting in those subsampled regions that have high conservation importance, with the main goal of completing the listing of species and their distribution. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (1): 97-125. Epub 2015 March 01.

Una de las principales limitantes para generar estrategias para la conservación, es la falta de información y la dificultad para identificar vacíos de conocimiento, que faciliten el entendimiento de un grupo taxonómico. En este trabajo desarrollamos el diagnóstico sobre el grado de cobertura del muestreo de escarabajos coprófagos en Colombia. Se recopiló la bibliografía, utilizando 12 bases de datos y se revisaron 16 940 especímenes depositados en 26 colecciones. Se encontraron 232 especies, en 386 localidades, con un porcentaje de cobertura del 10.62%. Se evidencia en los últimos años un incremento en el número de estudios, sin embargo solo 64 localidades tienen publicaciones. Se encontraron registros para todos los departamentos, siendo los mejor muestreados: Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Valle del Cauca y Boyacá. Los ecosistemas con mayor número de publicaciones son el bosque húmedo premontano Andino, el bosque húmedo montano Andino y el bosque húmedo del Pacífico. Sin embargo, existen muchos ecosistemas con muy pocos estudios como los manglares, zonas desérticas, savanas naturales, morichales, páramos, bosques inundables y sistemas agrícolas. La región biogeográfica con mayor número de localidades es la Andina, seguida del Chocó-Magdalenense y la Amazonía. A nivel general, persiste un alto nivel de submuestreo. Se evidencia la necesidad de ampliar la cobertura del muestreo a nivel nacional, enfocando los esfuerzos en aquellas áreas submuestreadas con importancia a nivel de conservación.

A comparison of caveolae and caveolin-1 to folate receptor alpha in retina and retinal pigment epithelium.

Caveolae are flask-shaped membrane invaginations present in most mammalian cells. They are distinguished by the presence of a striated coat composed of the protein, caveolin. Caveolae have been implicated in numerous cellular processes, including potocytosis in which caveolae are hypothesized to co-localize with folate receptor alpha and participate in folate uptake. Our laboratory has recently localized folate receptor alpha to the basolateral surface of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). It is present also in many other cells of the retina. In the present study, we asked whether caveolae were present in the RPE, and if so, whether their pattern of distribution was similar to folate receptor alpha. We also examined the distribution pattern of caveolin-1, which can be a marker of caveolae. Extensive electron microscopical analysis revealed caveolae associated with endothelial cells. However, none were detected in intact or cultured RPE. Laser scanning confocal microscopical analysis of intact RPE localized caveolin-1 to the apical and basal surfaces, a distribution unlike folate receptor alpha. Western analysis confirmed the presence of caveolin-1 in cultured RPE cells and laser scanning confocal microscopy localized the protein to the basal plasma membrane of the RPE, a distribution like that of folate receptor alpha. This distribution was confirmed by electron microscopic immunolocalization. The lack of caveolae in the RPE suggests that these structures may not be essential for folate internalization in the RPE.

Severe Yellowing Outbreaks in Tomato in Spain Associated with Infections of Tomato chlorosis virus.

Since 1997, yellowing disease outbreaks have occurred in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) crops in southern Spain. The outbreaks were associated with high populations of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. Symptoms consisted mainly of interveinal yellowing that developed initially on lower leaves and then progressed to the upper part of the plant. Affected plants were less vigorous and yielded less due to reduced fruit growth and delayed ripening. During 1998 and 1999, the yellowing disease was widespread and occurred at high incidences in the Málaga province. The disease agent was readily transmissible from tomato to tomato by B. tabaci biotype Q. Samples from symptomatic tomato plants were analyzed and shown to be infected with Tomato chlorosis virus (ToCV) (genus Crinivirus, family Closteroviridae). This is the first report of ToCV epidemics in Europe.

Displacement of Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (TYLCV)-Sr by TYLCV-Is in Tomato Epidemics in Spain.

ABSTRACT A progressive displacement of tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV)-Sr by TYLCV-Is was observed in tomato epidemics in southern Spain based on incidence data of both virus species obtained during surveys conducted between 1996 and 1998. Ecological factors that might be involved in such a displacement, such as competition of TYLCV-Sr and TYLCV-Is in tomato, transmission by local biotypes (B and Q) of Bemisia tabaci, and presence in weeds and alternate crops, have been analyzed. No selective advantage is observed for TYLCV-Sr or TYLCV-Is in tomato plants either infected via Agrobacterium tumefaciens or via B. tabaci. However, TYLCV-Is is more efficiently vectored by local biotypes of B. tabaci; and common bean, a bridge crop between tomato crops, is a host for TYLCV-Is but not TYLCV-Sr. Therefore, common bean acts as a reservoir for TYLCV-Is. These two factors are probably responsible for the displacement of TYLCV-Sr by TYLCV-Is as the causative agent of epidemics in tomato in southern Spain.

[Comparison of the sensitivity and specificity of the electrocardiography criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy according to the methods of Romhilt-Estes, Sokolow-Lyon, Cornell and Rodríguez Padial]. / Comparación de la sensibilidad y especificidad de los criterios electrocardiográficos para la hipertrofia ventricular izquierda según métodos de Romhilt-Estes, Sokolow-Lyon, Cornell y Rodríguez Padial.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Because left ventricular mass is associated with an increase in the risk of morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular diseases in the general population having the electrocardiogram as an accessible and inexpensive method for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy, we decided to calculate the sensitivity and specificity of 5 electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy and to compare the results of the original authors to ours. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 135 patients were evaluated; 46 patients were excluded by the following criteria: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, complete left or right bundle branch block, cardiovascular ischemic disease or Wolf-Parkinson-White Syndrome. 89 patients remained and had an electrocardiogram performed applying the following criteria: Romhilt-Estes Point-Score system. Sokolow-Lyon (SV1 + RV5 or V6 > 3.5 mV) and (RaVL > 1.1 mV), Cornell and Rodríguez Padial. Left ventricular hypertrophy was defined by the Penn Convention Criteria. RESULTS: In our study we obtained the following results: a) Romhilt-Estes had a sensitivity of 12% and a specificity of 87%; b) Sokolow-Lyon (SV1 + RV5 or V6) had a sensitivity of 22% and a specificity of 79%; c) Sokolow-Lyon (RaVL) has a sensitivity of 18% and a specificity of 92%; d) Cornel had a sensitivity of 31% and a specificity of 87%, and e) Rodríguez Padial had a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 8%. There are similarities between our results and the authors's original ones. However, there are significant statistical differences between them (p < or = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our conclusion is that these criteria have a low diagnostic value in the isolated interpretation of patients with left ventricular hypertrophy, and we need to integrate them with the whole medical history and physical examination.

Role of stress in the exacerbation of chronic illness: effects of clonidine administration on blood pressure and plasma norepinephrine, cortisol, growth hormone and prolactin concentrations.

Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and plasma norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (CRT), growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) were studied before and after clonidine (2.5 micrograms/kg i.m.) administration in 193 chronic severely ill patients and 193 normal subjects matched by age and sex. During exacerbation periods (positive manifestations of impairment and progressive disease), the patients showed higher NE, CRT and DBP than the normals or when they were investigated during non-exacerbation periods (92 of the 193). Clonidine induced sharp, marked reductions of NE, CRT and DBP, plus a sudden increase of GH, in all the patients during exacerbation periods. Non-significant reductions of NE, CRT and DBP were observed in normals and in patients during non-exacerbation periods. On the other hand, the GH increase registered during exacerbation periods was of an order of magnitude higher than that registered in normals and in patients during non-exacerbation periods. Significant reduction of SBP was registered both in normals and patients (exacerbation and non-exacerbation periods). Some tendency to PRL lowering was observed during exacerbation periods only. A high positive correlation between NE and DBP (pre- and post-clonidine values) was obtained during exacerbation periods in patients, but not in normals or during non-exacerbation periods in the patients. Similarly, a close negative correlation was obtained between CRT and GH (postclonidine values) during exacerbation periods, but not in normals or during non-exacerbation periods. No significant correlation was found between NE and SBP in any group of subjects. The clonidine-induced changes in GH and CRT observed in the patients during exacerbation periods were in striking contrast to the absence of these changes in depressed patients. This finding is consistent with the low rate of depression (6.7%) registered among our patients during exacerbation periods. The high plasma NE and CRT levels registered in chronic severely ill patients during exacerbation periods reflect a central and peripheral sympathetic hyperactivity, accompanied by an overactivity of the pituitary--adrenocortical axis. The strong reduction of DBP, NE and CRT, along with the sharp and great increase of GH, might be useful as indicators in assessing the exacerbation and progression of severe chronic illnesses.

Effects of clonidine on blood pressure, noradrenaline, cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin plasma levels in high and low intestinal tone depressed patients.

Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), norepinephrine (NE) plasma levels, cortisol (CRT), growth hormone (GH), and prolactin (PRL) plasma levels were investigated in 26 high intestinal tone (high-IT) and 24 low intestinal tone (low-IT) depressed patients, before and after the intramuscular injection of clonidine (2.5 micrograms/kg). A positive correlation was found between NE, DBP, and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HRS) values in low-IT depressed patients, while a negative correlation was found between HRS/IT and NE in high-IT depressed patients. Although clonidine induced significant reduction of SBP in both groups, the drug reduced DBP and NE in the low-IT group, only. CRT mean level was greater in the high-IT than in the low-IT depressed group. However, clonidine was unable to induce changes in CRT, GH, and PRL mean levels in any depressed group. Our results suggest that the clonidine-induced DBP reduction is a reliable index of sympathetic activity in depressed patients and that both parameters (DBP and IT) are useful physiological markers to differentiate two types of depressive syndromes.

Effects of clonidine on blood pressure, noradrenaline, cortisol, growth hormone, and prolactin plasma levels in high and low intestinal tone subjects.

Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), norepinephrine (NE), cortisol (CRT), growth hormone (GH), and prolactin (PRL) plasma levels were investigated in 46 normal subjects, 28 high intestinal tone (high IT) and 18 low intestinal tone (low IT), before and after the administration of a single intramuscular dose of clonidine (2.5 micrograms/kg). High IT subjects had lower mean values of DBP than low IT subjects, and basal NE was significantly greater in low IT than in high IT subjects. A negative correlation between NE and IT values was found for the high IT, but not for the low IT group, during the preclonidine periods. The drug reduced SBP in high IT, whereas it reduced SBP plus DBP and NE in low IT subjects. Clonidine induced significant reductions of CRT and increases of GH in both groups; furthermore, a slight but significant reduction of PRL was registered in high IT group. The drug also induced increase of distal colon tone in high IT subjects and suppressed phasic activity (waves) in low IT subjects. While a significant positive correlation was found between NE and DBP in low IT subjects during postclonidine periods, no correlation was found between the two parameters in high IT subjects. Other significant positive (+) and negative (-) correlations during postclonidine periods were: CRT/GH (-), CRT/PRL (+), and GH/PRL (-) in high IT subjects; NE/CRT (+), NE/GH (-), CRT/GH (-), CRT/DBP (+), and GH/DBP (-) in low IT subjects. Finally, significant negative correlation was found between NE and distal colon tone during postclonidine periods in high IT subjects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)