Abiotic Stress Effect on Agastache mexicana subsp. mexicana Yield: Cultivated in Two Contrasting Environments with Organic Nutrition and Artificial Shading.

Research on medicinal plants is essential for their conservation, propagation, resistance to environmental stress, and domestication. The use of organic nutrition has been demonstrated to improve soil fertility and plant quality. It is also important to study the effects of the Basic Cation Saturation Ratio (BCSR) approach, which is a topic where there is currently controversy and limited scientific information. Evaluating the growth and yields of Agastache mexicana subsp. mexicana (Amm) in different environments is crucial for developing effective propagation and domestication strategies. This includes examining warm and subhumid environments with rain in summer in comparison to mild environments with summer rain. Significant differences were observed in the effects of cold, waterlogging, and heat stresses on the plant's biomass yield and the morphometric-quantitative modeling by means of isolines. The biomass yield was 56% higher in environment one compared to environment two, 19% higher in environment one with organic nutrition, and 48% higher in environment two with organic nutrition compared to using only BCSR nutrition. In the second harvesting cycle, the plants in environment one did not survive, while the plants in environment two managed to survive without needing additional nutrition. Statistical and mathematical analyses provided information about the population or sample. Additionally, further analysis using isolines as a new approach revealed new insights into understanding phenology and growth issues.

Estimating the impact of label design on reducing the risk of medication errors by applying HEART in drug administration.

Medication errors are one of the biggest problems in healthcare. The medicines' poor labelling design (i.e. look-alike labels) is a well-recognised risk for potential confusion, wrong administration, and patient damage. Human factors and ergonomics (HFE) encourages the human-centred design of system elements, which might reduce medication errors and improve people's well-being and system performance. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study is twofold: (i) to use a human reliability analysis technique to evaluate a medication administration task within a simulated scenario of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and (ii) to estimate the impact of a human-centred design (HCD) label in medication administration compared to a look-alike (LA) label. METHOD: This paper used a modified version of the human error assessment and reduction technique (HEART) to analyse a medication administration task in a simulated NICU scenario. The modified technique involved expert nurses quantifying the likelihood of unreliability of a task and rating the conditions, including medicine labels, which most affect the successful completion of the task. RESULTS: Findings suggest that error producing conditions (EPCs), such as a shortage of time available for error detection and correction, no independent checking of output, and distractions, might increase human error probability (HEP) in administering medications. Results also showed that the assessed HEP and the relative percentage of contribution to unreliability reduced by more than 40% when the HCD label was evaluated compared to the LA label. CONCLUSION: Including labelling design based on HFE might help increase human reliability when administering medications under critical conditions.

LaDEP: A large database of English pseudo-compounds.

The Large Database of English Pseudo-compounds (LaDEP) contains nearly 7500 English words which mimic, but do not truly possess, a compound morphemic structure. These pseudo-compounds can be parsed into two free morpheme constituents (e.g., car-pet), but neither constituent functions as a morpheme within the overall word structure. The items were manually coded as pseudo-compounds, further coded for features related to their morphological structure (e.g., presence of multiple affixes, as in ruler-ship), and summarized using common psycholinguistic variables (e.g., length, frequency). This paper also presents an example analysis comparing the lexical decision response times between compound words, pseudo-compound words, and monomorphemic words. Pseudo-compounds and monomorphemic words did not differ in response time, and both groups had slower response times than compound words. This analysis replicates the facilitatory effect of compound constituents during lexical processing, and demonstrates the need to emphasize the pseudo-constituent structure of pseudo-compounds to parse their effects. Further applications of LaDEP include both psycholinguistic studies investigating the nature of human word processing or production and educational or clinical settings evaluating the impact of linguistic features on language learning and impairments. Overall, the items within LaDEP provide a varied and representative sample of the population of English pseudo-compounds which may be used to facilitate further research related to morphological decomposition, lexical access, meaning construction, orthographical influences, and much more.

Cecidomyiidae (Diptera) on Myrtaceae in Brazil: richness and geographic distribution.

Myrtaceae have a wide geographical distribution in Brazil and host a great richness of Cecidomyiidae galls. However, the number of cecidomyiid species on them has not yet been established and the knowledge of their geographic distribution is deficient. We provide the first list of cecidomyiid species on Myrtaceae and analyze their distribution in Brazilian biomes. A literature review was performed and new data were obtained from herbarium specimens of the Jardim Botânico do Rio de Janeiro. In Brazil, 13 species of Myrtaceae of five genera shelter described species of gall midges. Eugenia hosts the greatest richness of gall-inducers. All plant species have human uses and are native to Brazil, being seven endemic. Myrtaceae shelter 25 cecidomyiid species of 13 genera in 25 gall morphotypes. Sixteen species occur on endemic hosts, highlighting the peculiarity of the Brazilian fauna. These Cecidomyiidae occur collectively in five biomes, but most species (92%) are known from the Atlantic Forest, where 72% appear exclusively. Sixty per cent are restricted to a single Brazilian state, indicating their still poorly known distribution.

Longitudinal large-scale changes in maternal circulating microRNAs associated with gestation-related compartments, fetal sex, and growth during and post-pregnancy.

Circulating microRNAs (c-miRNAs) during pregnancy could provide information regarding the functional status of the mother and fetus. However, it remains unclear which pregnancy-related processes are actually reflected by changes c-miRNAs. Here, we used large-scale c-miRNA profiling of maternal plasma during and post-pregnancy, and compared it with that of non-pregnant women. Fetal growth measurements and fetal sex data were used to identify associated changes in these transcripts. Surprisingly, c-miRNA subpopulations with prominent expression in maternal/fetal compartments (placenta, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord plasma and breast milk) were found to be under-expressed in circulation throughout pregnancy relative to non-pregnant plasma profiles. Furthermore, we found a bias in global c-miRNA expression in association with fetal sex right from the first trimester, in addition to a specific c-miRNA signature of fetal growth. Our results demonstrate the existence of specific temporal changes in c-miRNA populations associated with specific pregnancy-related compartments and processes, including fetal sex, and growth.

Activation-induced marker assays for identification of Trypanosoma cruzi-specific CD4 or CD8 T cells in chronic Chagas disease patients.

Antigen-specific T cells are central to the adaptive immune response against T. cruzi infection and underpin the efficacy of on-going vaccine strategies. In this context, the present study focuses on T-cell assays that define the parasite-specificity on the basis of upregulation of TCR stimulation-induced surface markers. For this purpose, we tested different dual marker combinations (OX40, CD25, CD40L, CD137, CD69, PD-L1, CD11a, CD49d, HLA-DR, CD38) to reliably identify activated CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations from PBMCs of chronic Chagas disease (CCD) patients after 12 or 24 h of stimulation with T. cruzi lysate. Results demonstrated that activation-induced markers (AIM) assays combining the expression of OX40, CD25, CD40L, CD137, CD69 and/or PD-L1 surface markers are efficient at detecting T. cruzi-specific CD4+ T cells in CCD patients, in comparison to non-infected donors, after both stimulation times. For CD8+ T cells, only PD-L1/OX40 after 24 h of antigen exposure resulted to be useful to track a parasite-specific response. We also demonstrated that the agnostic activation is mediated by different T. cruzi strains, such as Dm28c, CL Brener or Sylvio. Additionally, we successfully used this approach to identify the phenotype of activated T lymphocytes based on the expression of CD45RA and CCR7. Overall, our results show that different combinations of AIM markers represent an effective and simple tool for the detection of T. cruzi-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cells.

Conformational stability of SARS-CoV-2 glycoprotein spike variants.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome spread worldwide, causing a pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 mutations have arisen in the spike, a glycoprotein at the viral envelope and an antigenic candidate for vaccines against COVID-19. Here, we present comparative data of the glycosylated full-length ancestral and D614G spike together with three other transmissible strains classified by the World Health Organization as variants of concern: beta, gamma, and delta. By showing that D614G has less hydrophobic surface exposure and trimer persistence, we place D614G with features that support a model of temporary fitness advantage for virus spillover. Furthermore, during the SARS-CoV-2 adaptation, the spike accumulates alterations leading to less structural stability for some variants. The decreased trimer stability of the ancestral and gamma and the presence of D614G uncoupled conformations mean higher ACE-2 affinities compared to the beta and delta strains. Mapping the energetics and flexibility of variants is necessary to improve vaccine development.

Chapare Hemorrhagic Fever and Virus Detection in Rodents in Bolivia in 2019.

BACKGROUND: In June 2019, the Bolivian Ministry of Health reported a cluster of cases of hemorrhagic fever that started in the municipality of Caranavi and expanded to La Paz. The cause of these cases was unknown. METHODS: We obtained samples for next-generation sequencing and virus isolation. Human and rodent specimens were tested by means of virus-specific real-time quantitative reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction assays, next-generation sequencing, and virus isolation. RESULTS: Nine cases of hemorrhagic fever were identified; four of the patients with this illness died. The etiologic agent was identified as Mammarenavirus Chapare mammarenavirus, or Chapare virus (CHAPV), which causes Chapare hemorrhagic fever (CHHF). Probable nosocomial transmission among health care workers was identified. Some patients with CHHF had neurologic manifestations, and those who survived had a prolonged recovery period. CHAPV RNA was detected in a variety of human body fluids (including blood; urine; nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and bronchoalveolar-lavage fluid; conjunctiva; and semen) and in specimens obtained from captured small-eared pygmy rice rats (Oligoryzomys microtis). In survivors of CHHF, viral RNA was detected up to 170 days after symptom onset; CHAPV was isolated from a semen sample obtained 86 days after symptom onset. CONCLUSIONS: M. Chapare mammarenavirus was identified as the etiologic agent of CHHF. Both spillover from a zoonotic reservoir and possible person-to-person transmission were identified. This virus was detected in a rodent species, O. microtis. (Funded by the Bolivian Ministry of Health and others.).

Mathematical Model for Describing Corn Grain Dehydration Kinetics after a Nixtamalization Process.

In this research, the mathematical model associated with the hydrothermal dehydration process of Nixtamalized Corn Grains (NCG) with different Steeping Time (ST) values, allows the fitting of experimental data with initial moisture M0 and the equilibrium moisture ME as a function of Isothermal Dehydration Time (IDT). The moisture percentage for any time t and dehydration rate (isolines M(t) and isolines vI respectively) of the NCG is shown by means of matrix graphics as a simultaneous function of IDT and ST. The relationship between initial dehydration rate v0 and initial moisture M0 establishes as a function of ST. Also, the mathematical model associated with the solution of the second Fick's law allows calculating the diffusivity rate vk (H2O molecules out of NCG) and verify that the rate of change in moisture and the dynamical proportionality constant k has a non-linear dependence on the IDT and that k is directly proportional to Deff. The k values strongly relate to ST and the calcium ions percentage into NCG according to solubility lime values into cooking water (or nejayote) as a function of decreasing temperature when ST increases.

The relationship between vocal fatigue and voice-related quality of life in university professors. / Relação entre fadiga vocal e qualidade de vida relacionada à voz em professores universitários.

PURPOSE: To identify and correlate vocal fatigue and voice-related quality of life in university professors and verify possible differences between genders. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the institution under number 1,708,786. The Voice Fatigue Index (VFI) and the Voice Related Quality of Life (VRQOL) were applied to 126 university professors, 71 women and 55 men, with an average age of 43 years. Scores were calculated using the formula for each protocol and statistical analysis was performed using Spearman's Correlation. RESULTS: Regarding the VFI, the average score found for factors 1, 2 and 3 were 13.78, 4.05 and 7.93, respectively. As for VRQOL, professors had an average global score of 91.90; 88.49 for the physical domain and 97.02 for the socioemotional domain. There was a negative weak to strong correlation between the protocols. There was no statistical difference between genders for both VFI and VRQOL. CONCLUSION: University professors have good levels of voice related quality of life, but self-reported vocal fatigue, with no differences between genders. The lower the vocal fatigue is, the higher is the voice related quality of life, and vice versa.

OBJETIVO: Identificar e correlacionar fadiga vocal e qualidade de vida em voz de professores universitários e verificar possíveis diferenças entre os sexos. MÉTODO: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, observacional e analítico aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da instituição sob parecer n. 1.708.786. Foram aplicados os protocolos Índice de Fadiga Vocal (IFV) e Qualidade de Vida em Voz (QVV) em 126 professores universitários, sendo 71 mulheres e 55 homens, com média de idade de 43 anos. Foram calculados os escores pela fórmula de cada protocolo e a análise estatística foi realizada por meio da Correlação de Spearman. RESULTADOS: Em relação ao IFV, o escore médio encontrado para os fatores 1, 2 e 3 foram 13,78; 4,05 e 7,93, respectivamente. Quanto ao QVV, os professores apresentaram escore médio global de 91,90; 88,49 para o domínio físico e 97,02 para do domínio socioemocional. Houve correlação negativa de fraca a forte entre os protocolos. Não houve diferença estatística entre os sexos tanto para o IFV quanto para o QVV. CONCLUSÃO: Professores universitários apresentam bons índices de qualidade de vida em voz, mas autorreferiram fadiga vocal, sem diferenças entre os sexos. Quanto menor é a fadiga vocal, maior é a qualidade de vida em voz e vice-versa.

Os impactos da pandemia no exercício profissional de professores de dança em academias de Campo Grande (MS) / The impacts of the pandemic on the professional activity of dance teachers in gyms in Campo Grande (MS / Los impactos de la pandemia en el ejercicio profesional de los profesores en las academias de danza de Campo Grande (MS)

A pandemia provocada pela covid-19 afetou todo o mercado brasileiro de forma abrupta. A dança foi uma das áreas que obteve grande perda financeira e o presente artigo tem como objetivo avaliar o impacto na atuação de professores de dança em Campo Grande (MS) causado pelo covid-19. Trata-se de um estudo quanti-qualitativo, em que foi disponibilizado um questionário on-line para 23 docentes. Para as perguntas quantitativas, realizou-se uma análise descritiva dos dados, os quais serão apresentados em tabelas. Nas questões qualitativas o estudo compreendeu três etapas: organização e leitura dos documentos; codificação dos materiais e categorização. De maneira geral, a pandemia diminuiu a renda dos profissionais pesquisados, devido à suspensão das aulas e à redução na quantidade de alunos. Além disso, muitos foram forçados a mudar sua maneira de trabalhar e a buscar meios de complementação salarial, até mesmo por auxílios do governo.

The pandemic caused by covid-19 affected the entire Brazilian market abruptly. The dance was one of the areas that obtained significant financial loss, and this article has the objective of evaluating the impact on teachers' of dance performance in Campo Grande (MS) caused by covid-19. It is a quanti-qualitative study in which an online questionnaire was made available to 23 teachers. For the quantitative questions, a descriptive analysis of the data was carried out, which will be presented in tables, and concerning the qualitative questions, the study comprised three stages: organization and reading of documents; the codification of materials and categorization. In general, the pandemic has reduced the professionals' income due to the suspension of classes and the reduction in the number of students. In addition, many were forced to change their way of working and seek means to supplement their wages, even by government aid.

La pandemia causada por el covid-19 afectó abruptamente a todo el mercado brasileño. La danza fue una de las áreas que tuvo grandes pérdidas financieras, y este artículo tiene como objetivo evaluar el impacto en el desempeño de los profesores de danza en Campo Grande (MS) causado por el covid-19. Se trata de un estudio cuantitativo y cualitativo, en el que se puso a disposición de 23 profesores un cuestionario en línea. En cuanto a las preguntas cuantitativas, se realizó un análisis descriptivo de los datos, que se presentará en gráficos y preguntas cualitativas. El estudio comprendió tres etapas: organización y lectura de documentos; codificación de materiales y categorización. En general, se percibió que la pandemia redujo los ingresos de los profesionales investigados debido a la suspensión de las clases y la reducción del número de estudiantes. Además, muchos se vieron obligados a cambiar su forma de trabajar y a buscar formas de complementar sus sueldos, incluso con ayuda del gobierno.

Delirium en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva: Diagnóstico preco y oportuno ¿lo hacemos? / Delirium in the Intensive Care Unit: Early and timely diagnosis, shall we do it?

El desarrollo de la Medicina Critica y la proliferación de las áreas de Terapia Intensiva han mejorado el pronóstico y la evolución del enfermo critico grave. Sin embargo, los problemas psiquiátricos como el delirium no son lo suficientemente conocidos incluso por el médico intensivista, por lo que no es oportunamente diagnosticado y tratado, siendo de esta manera un factor que podría incrementar la estadía de los pacientes en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva e incluso la mortalidad. Conclusiones: El delirium es un síndrome frecuente en la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva del Instituto Nacional de Tórax, además es un síndrome subdiagnosticado por la falta de aplicación de instrumentos de evaluación de este síndrome. El delirium puede presentarse a cualquier edad, en los pacientes críticos internados en las Unidades de Terapia Intensiva. Es de origen multifactorial prevenible y tratable.

Megacolon Toxico y Colitis seudomembranos a: reporte de caso / Toxic Megacolon and Pseudomembrane Colitis a: Case Report

La colitis pseudomembranosa es una patología relacionada con el uso de antibióticos. En raras ocasiones, evoluciona a megacolon tóxico que podría recurrir resolución quirúrgica. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 77 años, que recibió antibioticoterapia de amplio espectro unos días antes de la consulta. Presente diarrea, fiebre y vómitos. Radiografía computarizada de abdomen distensión de colon derecho.

Relação entre fadiga vocal e qualidade de vida relacionada à voz em professores universitários / The relationship between vocal fatigue and voice-related quality of life in university professors

RESUMO Objetivo Identificar e correlacionar fadiga vocal e qualidade de vida em voz de professores universitários e verificar possíveis diferenças entre os sexos. Método Trata-se de um estudo transversal, observacional e analítico aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da instituição sob parecer n. 1.708.786. Foram aplicados os protocolos Índice de Fadiga Vocal (IFV) e Qualidade de Vida em Voz (QVV) em 126 professores universitários, sendo 71 mulheres e 55 homens, com média de idade de 43 anos. Foram calculados os escores pela fórmula de cada protocolo e a análise estatística foi realizada por meio da Correlação de Spearman. Resultados Em relação ao IFV, o escore médio encontrado para os fatores 1, 2 e 3 foram 13,78; 4,05 e 7,93, respectivamente. Quanto ao QVV, os professores apresentaram escore médio global de 91,90; 88,49 para o domínio físico e 97,02 para do domínio socioemocional. Houve correlação negativa de fraca a forte entre os protocolos. Não houve diferença estatística entre os sexos tanto para o IFV quanto para o QVV. Conclusão Professores universitários apresentam bons índices de qualidade de vida em voz, mas autorreferiram fadiga vocal, sem diferenças entre os sexos. Quanto menor é a fadiga vocal, maior é a qualidade de vida em voz e vice-versa.

ABSTRACT Purpose To identify and correlate vocal fatigue and voice-related quality of life in university professors and verify possible differences between genders. Methods This is a cross-sectional, observational, and analytical study approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the institution under number 1,708,786. The Voice Fatigue Index (VFI) and the Voice Related Quality of Life (VRQOL) were applied to 126 university professors, 71 women and 55 men, with an average age of 43 years. Scores were calculated using the formula for each protocol and statistical analysis was performed using Spearman's Correlation. Results Regarding the VFI, the average score found for factors 1, 2 and 3 were 13.78, 4.05 and 7.93, respectively. As for VRQOL, professors had an average global score of 91.90; 88.49 for the physical domain and 97.02 for the socioemotional domain. There was a negative weak to strong correlation between the protocols. There was no statistical difference between genders for both VFI and VRQOL. Conclusion University professors have good levels of voice related quality of life, but self-reported vocal fatigue, with no differences between genders. The lower the vocal fatigue is, the higher is the voice related quality of life, and vice versa.

Laminin-derived peptide C16 regulates Tks expression and reactive oxygen species generation in human prostate cancer cells.

Laminin peptides influence cancer biology. We investigated the role of a laminin-derived peptide C16 regulating invadopodia molecules in human prostate cancer cells (DU145). C16 augmented invadopodia activity of DU145 cells, and stimulated expression Tks4, Tks5, cortactin, and membrane-type matrix metalloproteinase 1. Reactive oxygen species generation is also related to invadopodia formation. This prompted us to address whether C16 would induce reactive oxygen species generation in DU145 cells. Quantitative fluorescence and flow cytometry showed that the peptide C16 increased reactive oxygen species in DU145 cells. Furthermore, significant colocalization between Tks5 and reactive oxygen species was observed in C16-treated cells. Results suggested that the peptide C16 increased Tks5 and reactive oxygen species in prostate cancer cells. The role of C16 increasing Tks and reactive oxygen species are novel findings on invadopodia activity.

Intoxicación aguda por piretroides: reporte de caso / ACUTE PYRETHROID POISONING: CASE REPORT

Paciente masculino de 21 años de edad, procedente y residente de la provincia de Chulumani, acudió al servicio de Emergencias del Hospital de Chulumani tras la ingesta accidental de insecticida que tenía como principal componente "cipermetrina" que es un piretroide sintético, presento paro respiratorio rápidamente, asociado a deterioro de estado de conciencia por lo que fue intubado y requirió asistencia ventilatoria mecánica, y posteriormente transferido a la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva del Hospital Juan XXIII del departamento de La Paz, tras su internación se pudo evidenciar las características clínicas propias de intoxicación por piretroides, que no es una entidad común en nuestro medio, entre los síntomas presentes en el paciente encontramos: deterioro de estado de conciencia, pupilas puntiformes, fasciculaciones fasciales, temblores e hiperexcitabilidad en extremidades superiores e inferiores frente a estímulos externos, hipotermia, sialorrea, diaforesis profusa y persistente, bradicardia, diarrea y debilidad proximal de extremidades con perdida de la fuerza muscular, lo que llevo a una estadía prolongada en la UTI, destete prolongado y fracaso de extubación en una oportunidad. Se logró el retiro definitivo de ventilador mecánico después de 20 días de internación e intubación. Ante síntomas semejantes a la intoxicación por organofosforado recibió tratamiento en base a atropina y medidas de soporte vital propias de la Unidad de Terapia Intensiva, optimizando la rehabilitación integral y respiratoria del paciente.

A 21-years-old male patient, dweller from Chulumani province, went to the Hospital of Chulumani Emergency Service after accidental intake of cypermethrin which is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide. Patient presented respiratory arrest associated to deterioration of his state of consciousness, intubation and mechanical ventilation was performed. Subsequently, patient was transferred to the intensive care unit of Hospital Juan XXIII in La Paz city. After hospital admission, clinical proper characteristics of a pyrethroid intoxication, which is not a common entity in our environment, were observed. Signs such as deterioration in the state of consciousness, pinpoint pupils, fascial fasciculation, tremors and hyperexcitability in upper and lower limbs to external stimuli, hypothermia, sialorrhea, profuse and persistent diaphoresis, bradycardia, diarrhea and proximal weakness of limbs with loss of muscle strength were evidenced. This leaded to patient's prolonged staying in ICU and weaning as well as extubation failure at an opportunity. Definitive removal of mechanical ventilator was achieved after 20 days of hospitalization and intubation. Given symptoms similar to organophosphate poisoning patient received a treatment based on atropine and life support measures of the Intensive Care Unit, optimizing in this way patient's respiratory and integral rehabilitation.

A metabolic control analysis approach to introduce the study of systems in biochemistry: the glycolytic pathway in the red blood cell.

Metabolic control analysis (MCA) is a promising approach in biochemistry aimed at understanding processes in a quantitative fashion. Here the contribution of enzymes and transporters to the control of a given pathway flux and metabolite concentrations is determined and expressed quantitatively by means of numerical coefficients. Metabolic flux can be influenced by a wide variety of modulators acting on one or more metabolic steps along the pathway. We describe a laboratory exercise to study metabolic regulation of human erythrocytes (RBCs). Within the framework of MCA, students use these cells to determine the sensitivity of the glycolytic flux to two inhibitors (iodoacetic acid: IA, and iodoacetamide: IAA) known to act on the enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate-dehydrogenase. Glycolytic flux was estimated by determining the concentration of extracellular lactate, the end product of RBC glycolysis. A low-cost colorimetric assay was implemented, that takes advantage of the straightforward quantification of the absorbance signal from the photographic image of the multi-well plate taken with a standard digital camera. Students estimate flux response coefficients for each inhibitor by fitting an empirical function to the experimental data, followed by analytical derivation of this function. IA and IAA exhibit qualitatively different patterns, which are thoroughly analyzed in terms of the physicochemical properties influencing their action on the target enzyme. IA causes highest glycolytic flux inhibition at lower concentration than IAA. This work illustrates the feasibility of using the MCA approach to study key variables of a simple metabolic system, in the context of an upper level biochemistry course. © 2018 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 46(5):502-515, 2018.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumor of infancy: A rare pediatric head and neck lesion.

Melanotic neuroectodermal tumors of infancy are rare tumors arising from the neural crest and typically present during the first 12 months of life. The majority involve the facial bones, although melanotic neuroectodermal tumors of infancy of the skull and extremities have been observed with less frequency, as in the present case. This entity may initially be presented to the dermatologist as a scalp mass and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of infants with rapidly growing head and neck lesions.