Corrigendum: Human gut microbiome across different lifestyles: from hunter-gatherers to urban populations.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.843170.].

Omission of Axillary Dissection Following Nodal Downstaging With Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.

Importance: Data on oncological outcomes after omission of axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in patients with breast cancer that downstages from node positive to negative with neoadjuvant chemotherapy are sparse. Additionally, the best axillary surgical staging technique in this scenario is unknown. Objective: To investigate oncological outcomes after sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) with dual-tracer mapping or targeted axillary dissection (TAD), which combines SLNB with localization and retrieval of the clipped lymph node. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study that was conducted at 25 centers in 11 countries, 1144 patients with consecutive stage II to III biopsy-proven node-positive breast cancer were included between April 2013 and December 2020. The cumulative incidence rates of axillary, locoregional, and any invasive (locoregional or distant) recurrence were determined by competing risk analysis. Exposure: Omission of ALND after SLNB or TAD. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary end points were the 3-year and 5-year rates of any axillary recurrence. Secondary end points included locoregional recurrence, any invasive (locoregional and distant) recurrence, and the number of lymph nodes removed. Results: A total of 1144 patients (median [IQR] age, 50 [41-59] years; 78 [6.8%] Asian, 105 [9.2%] Black, 102 [8.9%] Hispanic, and 816 [71.0%] White individuals; 666 SLNB [58.2%] and 478 TAD [41.8%]) were included. A total of 1060 patients (93%) had N1 disease, 619 (54%) had ERBB2 (formerly HER2)-positive illness, and 758 (66%) had a breast pathologic complete response. TAD patients were more likely to receive nodal radiation therapy (85% vs 78%; P = .01). The clipped node was successfully retrieved in 97% of TAD cases and 86% of SLNB cases (without localization). The mean (SD) number of sentinel lymph nodes retrieved was 3 (2) vs 4 (2) (P < .001), and the mean (SD) number of total lymph nodes removed was 3.95 (1.97) vs 4.44 (2.04) (P < .001) in the TAD and SLNB groups, respectively. The 5-year rates of any axillary, locoregional, and any invasive recurrence in the entire cohort were 1.0% (95% CI, 0.49%-2.0%), 2.7% (95% CI, 1.6%-4.1%), and 10% (95% CI, 8.3%-13%), respectively. The 3-year cumulative incidence of axillary recurrence did not differ between TAD and SLNB (0.5% vs 0.8%; P = .55). Conclusions and Relevance: The results of this cohort study showed that axillary recurrence was rare in this setting and was not significantly lower after TAD vs SLNB. These results support omission of ALND in this population.

Safety and Outcomes in Multiplane Facial Rejuvenation with Tranexamic Acid: A Cohort Study.

Background: Tranexamic acid (TXA) has demonstrated promising outcomes in plastic surgery. Our aim was to assess the effect of TXA in intraoperative bleeding, operative time, and complications among patients undergoing facial surgical procedures. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent multiplane facial rhytidectomy from January 2018 to September 2022 at the Clinica Ziegler, Lima, Peru. Patients were divided into two groups according to the use of intravenous plus local infiltration of TXA. We performed the chi square test to assess associations among categorical variables, the Student t test and Mann-Whitney U test for categorical with continuous variables, and Pearson correlation for quantitative variables. Results: A total of 100 patients were included with 50 patients in each group. The median age was 59.5 years and the majority were women (88%). The median operative time was 288.5 minutes. The TXA group presented less intraoperative bleeding (40 versus 90 mL, P < 0.05) and shorter operative time (237 versus 353 minutes, P < 0.05); no differences in the development of hematoma (2% versus 12%, P = 0.11), less ecchymosis (2% versus 36%, P < 0.05), edema (2% versus 100%, P < 0.05), and time to drain removal (3 versus 6 days, P < 0.05). Conclusions: TXA improves the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who undergo multiplane facial rhytidectomy. It also decreases intraoperative bleeding by more than half and reduces the operative time by one third. Moreover, patients receiving TXA presented significantly less ecchymosis, edema, and time to drain removal.

Calidad de vida y satisfacción posterior a cirugía oncoplástica unilateral. Experiencia de un hospital oncológico de Latinoamérica / Quality of life and satisfaction after unilateral oncoplastic surgery. Experience of a Latin American cancer hospital

Introducción: la cirugía oncoplástica (COP), ha tenido un gran desarrollo, permitiendo resecciones oncológicas seguras y previniendo potenciales deformidades y asimetrías. Evaluamos el impacto en la calidad de vida en pacientes con COP nivel I y II, mediante el cuestionario BREAST Q BCT y el deseo de simetrización posterior a la terapia adyuvante. Metodología: se estudiaron 50 pacientes, con diagnóstico de cáncer de mama, tratadas con COP (nivel I y nivel II) unilateral, durante el periodo entre octubre de 2017 y mayo de 2022, a quienes se les aplicó el cuestionario BREAST Q BCT postoperatorio, además de una encuesta sobre el deseo de simetrización. Resultados: en los dominios del BREAST Q estudiados se registraron: «bienestar psicosocial» (mediana de 83) «bienestar sexual» (mediana de 66), «bienestar físico» (mediana de 76), «satisfacción con la mama operada» (mediana de 80), «satisfacción con la información recibida» (mediana de 76) y «satisfacción con el equipo de salud» (mediana de 100). No se encontró relación estadística entre las variables estudiadas y las puntuaciones de la mediana del dominio «satisfacción de mama operada». Solo el 10% de las pacientes expresaron el deseo de simetrización. Conclusión: los resultados demuestran niveles altos de satisfacción en COP nivel I y II unilateral, teniendo un impacto en la calidad de vida de las pacientes; expresando el deseo de simetrización, predominante en mamoplastias de nivel II y COP extrema. (AU)

Introduction: Oncoplastic surgery (COP) has had a great development, allowing safe oncological resections, preventing potential deformities and asymmetries. We evaluated the impact on quality of life in patients with COP level I and II, using the BREAST Q BCT questionnaire and the desire for symmetrization after adjuvant therapy. Methodology: 50 patients diagnosed with breast cancer, treated with unilateral COP (Level I and Level II), were studied during the period between October 2017 and May 2022, to whom the BREAST Q BCT postoperative questionnaire was applied, in addition to survey on the desire for symmetrization. Results: In the domains of the BREAST Q studied, they recorded: "psychosocial well-being" (median of 83), "sexual well-being" (median of 66), "physical well-being" (median of 76), "satisfaction with the operated breast" (median of 80), "satisfaction with the information received" (median of 76) and "satisfaction with the health team" (median of 100). No statistical relationship was found between the variables studied and the median scores of the "satisfaction of operated breast" domain. Only 10% of the patients expressed the desire for symmetrization. Conclusion: The results show high levels of satisfaction in COP level I and II unilateral, having an impact on the quality of life of the patients; expressing the desire for symmetrization, predominant in level II mammoplasties and extreme COP. (AU)

Descripción de un caso de adenomatosis erosiva del pezón: tratamiento quirúrgico / Case report of erosive adenomatosis of the nipple: Surgical treatment

La adenomatosis erosiva es una neoplasia benigna poco frecuente que afecta al pezón. Caracterizado por erosión, telorrea, telorragia, nodularidad, prurito y eritema, ocasionando un proceso destructivo progresivo del pezón, el cual puede ser confundido con la enfermedad de Paget; motivo por el cual el conocimiento de esta enfermedad es fundamental para evitar el sobretratamiento quirúrgico. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 35 años diagnosticada y tratada con cirugía, así como la revisión de la literatura de esta entidad. (AU)

Erosive adenomatosis is a rare benign neoplasm that affects the nipple. Characterized by erosion, telorrhoea, telorrhagia, nodularity, pruritus and erythema, causing a progressive destructive process of the nipple, which can be confused with Paget's disease; which is why knowledge of this pathology is essential to avoid surgical overtreatment. We present the case of a 35-year-old patient diagnosed and treated with surgery, as well as a review of the literature on this entity. (AU)

The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with chronic kidney disease with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus on cardiovascular and renal outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors have shown a favorable effect on cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, their efficacy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) with or without T2DM has not yet been analyzed. OBJECTIVE: To assess the cardiovascular and renal effects of SGLT-2 inhibitors in patients with CKD with and without T2DM, including all CKD patients in the current literature. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Scopus for randomized controlled trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors that evaluated cardiovascular and kidney outcomes in patients with CKD, or trials in which these patients were a subgroup. We defined 2 primary outcomes: a composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure, and a composite renal outcome. For each outcome, we obtained overall hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals by using a random effects model. RESULTS: We included 14 randomized controlled trials. SGLT-2 inhibitors decreased the hazard for the primary cardiovascular outcome (HR 0.76; [95% CI 0.72-0.79]) and the primary renal outcome (HR 0.69; [95% CI 0.61-0.79]) in patients with CKD with or without T2DM. We did not find significant differences in the subgroup analyses according to diabetes status, baseline eGFR values or the type of SGLT-2 inhibitor used. CONCLUSION: In patients with CKD, treatment with SGLT-2 inhibitors in addition to standard therapy conferred protection against cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Further research on patients with non-diabetic CKD should be done to confirm the utility of these medications in this population. (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021275012).

Tumor phyllodes: reporte de un caso tratado con cirugía oncoplástica extrema y revisión de la literatura / Phyllodes tumor: Case report treated with extreme oncoplastic surgery and literature review

El tumor phyllodes representa el 1% de los tumores primarios de la mama, es una rara neoplasia fibroepitelial que tiene a la cirugía como piedra angular en el tratamiento: la resección con márgenes amplios (mayores o iguales a 1 cm) y la mastectomía son los tratamientos recomendados. Tomando en cuenta el impacto de los bordes quirúrgicos en la recurrencia local, el gran volumen de resección, la velocidad de crecimiento y la dificultad de predecir el comportamiento tumoral con el estudio preoperatorio de biopsia percutánea; la cirugía de conservación es un reto en muchos casos. Presentamos el caso de una paciente tratada con cirugía oncoplástica extrema, así como la revisión de la literatura de esta entidad. (AU)

The phyllodes tumor represents 1% of the primary tumors of the breast, it is a rare fibroepithelial neoplasia that has surgery as a cornerstone in the treatment: resection with wide margins (greater than or equal to 1 cm) and mastectomy are the recommended treatments; considering the impact of the surgical edges on local recurrence, the large resection volume, growth speed and the difficulty of predicting tumor behavior with the pre-operative percutaneous biopsy study; Conservation surgery is challenging in numerous instances. We present the case of a patient treated with extreme oncoplastic surgery, as well as a review of the literature on this entity. (AU)

Human Gut Microbiome Across Different Lifestyles: From Hunter-Gatherers to Urban Populations.

Human lifestyle and its relationship with the human microbiome has been a line of research widely studied. This is because, throughout human history, civilizations have experienced different environments and lifestyles that could have promoted changes in the human microbiome. The comparison between industrialized and non-industrialized human populations in several studies has allowed to observe variation in the microbiome structure due to the population lifestyle. Nevertheless, the lifestyle of human populations is a gradient where several subcategories can be described. Yet, it is not known how these different lifestyles of human populations affect the microbiome structure on a large scale. Therefore, the main goal of this work was the collection and comparison of 16S data from the gut microbiome of populations that have different lifestyles around the world. With the data obtained from 14 studies, it was possible to compare the gut microbiome of 568 individuals that represent populations of hunter-gatherers, agricultural, agropastoral, pastoral, and urban populations. Results showed that industrialized populations present less diversity than those from non-industrialized populations, as has been described before. However, by separating traditional populations into different categories, we were able to observe patterns that cannot be appreciated by encompassing the different traditional lifestyles in a single category. In this sense, we could confirm that different lifestyles exhibit distinct alpha and beta diversity. In particular, the gut microbiome of pastoral and agropastoral populations seems to be more similar to those of urban populations according to beta diversity analysis. Beyond that, beta diversity analyses revealed that bacterial composition reflects the different lifestyles, representing a transition from hunters-gatherers to industrialized populations. Also, we found that certain groups such as Bacteoidaceae, Lanchospiraceae, and Rickenellaceae have been favored in the transition to modern societies, being differentially abundant in urban populations. Thus, we could hypothesize that due to adaptive/ecological processes; multifunctional bacterial groups (e.g., Bacteroidaceae) could be replacing some functions lost in the transition to modern lifestyle.

Ansiedad y nivel de conocimiento en cuidados paliativos en estudiantes de Guerrero / Anxiety and level of knowledge in palliative care in students from Guerrero / Ansiedade e nível de conhecimento em cuidados paliativos em alunos de Guerrero

Objetivo: Identificar el nivel de conocimiento en cuidados paliativos y ansiedad ante la muerte en estudiantes de las escuelas de enfermería, de la Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero. Ma-teriales y métodos: estudio mixto, comparativo y fenomenológico mediante la narrativa tes-timonial. La selección se realizó con un muestreo aleatorio simple con reemplazo, teniendo como referencia el listado de estudiantes legalmente inscritos en cuarto año de licenciatura en Enfermería de tres escuelas. La población total fue de 380 encuestados de ambos sexos para el estudio cuantitativo. También, se utilizó un instrumento autoaplicado adaptado y validado por los investigadores, integrado por tres apartados: datos sociodemográficos, nivel de conocimien-to de cuidados paliativos (Palliative Care Knowledge Test (-PCKT) y el miedo a la muerte (Escala de Miedo a la Muerte de Collett-Lester). Para el estudio cualitativo se incluyeron seis participantes de cada escuela, dando un total de 18 seleccionados al azar, a quienes que se les realizó una entrevista a profundidad (25 a 40 minutos) con ocho preguntas abiertas y grabadas; además, se efectuaron notas en un diario de campo para identificar el estado emocional de los participantes. Resultados: El 78.7% de los estudiantes tiene un nivel de conocimientos en cuida-dos paliativos malo. Según la escala de ansiedad y miedo a la muerte de Collett-Lester, el 66.3% percibe un nivel muy ansioso/a. Por otro lado, de los cuatro panoramas de muerte se encontró que: el 55.3% le tenía miedo a la propia muerte y era moderadamente ansioso/a; al propio proceso de morir 57.1% muy ansioso/a; a la muerte de otros 75.5% muy ansioso/a y al proceso de morir de otros 60% muy ansioso/a. Ante el proceso de la muerte describieron sentimientos de: tristeza, ansiedad, vacío profundo, desesperación, temor, frustración, enojo, actitud de auto-control y aceptación. Las intervenciones que emplearían con el paciente hospitalizado en etapa terminal y con los familiares serían técnicas y procedimientos para prevenir otras patologías y el alivio del dolor. Conclusión: los estudiantes tienen un nivel de conocimiento malo en cuidados paliativos, porque el plan de estudios no integra ninguna unidad de aprendizaje específica para este cuidado. El nivel de ansiedad ante la muerte tuvo una representación muy alta y los estudi-antes se perciben muy ansiosos/as ante los procesos de la muerte

Objetivo: Identificar o conhecimento em cuidados paliativos e ansiedade perante a morte em alunos de escolas de enfermagem da Universidade Autônoma de Guerrero. Materiais e métodos: estudo misto, comparativo e fenomenológico usando narrativa testemunhal. A seleção realizou-se de forma aleatória simples com substituições, usando como referência o listado de alunos matriculados no quarto ano da licenciatura em enfermagem de três escolas. A amostra do estudo quantitativo foi de 380 sujeitos de ambos os sexos. Empregou-se um instrumento auto aplicado, adaptado e validado pelos pesquisadores, integrado por três componentes: informação demográfica; nível de conhecimento em cuidados paliativos (Palliative Knowledge Test-PCKT ) e medo da morte (escala de medo da morte de Collet-Lester). Para a pesquisa qualitativa incluíram-se 6 alunos de cada escola, completando 18 participantes escolhidos ao azar e aplicou-se uma entrevista a profundidade com 8 perguntas abertas. Além disso, empregaram-se anotações do diário de campo para identificar o estado emocional dos participantes. Resultados: o 78,7% dos alunos têm maus conhecimentos sobre cuidados paliativos. Segundo a escala de Collet-Lester, o 66,3% dos alunos se percebe muito ansioso. Por outro lado, dos quatro panoramas da morte encontrou-se que 55,3% têm medo da própria morte e era moderadamente ansioso/a; ao próprio processo de morrer de outros 57,1% muito ansioso/a; a morte dos outros 75,5% muito ansioso/a e ao processo de morrer outros 60% muito ansioso/a. Perante o processo da morte descreveram sentimentos de tristeza, ansiedade, vazio profundo, desesperação, medo, frustração, raiva, atitude de autocontrole e aceitação. As intervenções que teriam com o paciente em etapa terminal e com os seus familiares seriam técnicas e procedimentos par prever outras patologias e o alivio da dor. Conclusão: Os alunos têm maus conhecimentos de cuidados paliativos, porque o plano de estudos não contém nenhuma unidade de aprendizagem específica para esse tema. O nível de ansiedade perante a morte e os processos da mesma, tiveram representações elevadas.

The duo Clostridium and Lactobacillus linked to hydrogen production from a lignocellulosic substrate.

The study aimed to identify interspecies interactions within a native microbial community present in a hydrogen-producing bioreactor fed with two wheat straw cultivars. The relationships between the microbial community members were studied building a canonical correspondence analysis and corroborated through in vitro assays. The results showed that the bioreactor reached a stable hydrogen production of ca. 86 mL/kg·d in which the cultivar change did not affect the average performance. Lactobacillus and Clostridium dominated throughout the whole operation period where butyric acid was the main metabolite. A canonical correspondence analysis correlated positively Lactobacillus with hydrogen productivity and hydrogen-producing bacteria like Clostridium and Ruminococaceae. Agar diffusion testing of isolated strains confirmed that Lactobacillus inhibited the growth of Enterococcus, but not of Clostridium. We suggest that the positive interaction between Lactobacillus and Clostridium is generated by a division of labor for degrading the lignocellulosic substrate in which Lactobacillus produces lactic acid from the sugar fermentation while Clostridium quickly uses this lactic acid to produce hydrogen and butyric acid. The significance of this work lies in the fact that different methodological approaches confirm a positive association in the duo Lactobacillus-Clostridium in a bioreactor with stable hydrogen production from a complex substrate.

Host genotype explains rhizospheric microbial community composition: the case of wild cotton metapopulations (Gossypium hirsutum L.) in Mexico.

The rhizosphere provides several benefits to the plant host being a strong determinant for its health, growth and productivity. Nonetheless, the factors behind the assembly of the microbial communities associated with the rhizosphere such as the role of plant genotypes are not completely understood. In this study, we tested the role that intraspecific genetic variation has in rhizospheric microbial community assemblages, using genetically distinct wild cotton populations as a model of study. We followed a common garden experiment including five wild cotton populations, controlling for plant genotypes, environmental conditions and soil microbial community inoculum, to test for microbial differences associated with genetic variation of the plant hosts. Microbial communities of the treatments were characterized by culture-independent 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing with Illumina MiSeq platform. We analyzed microbial community diversity (alpha and beta), and diversity structure of such communities, determined by co-occurrence networks. Results show that different plant genotypes select for different and specific microbial communities from a common inoculum. Although we found common amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) to all plant populations (235), we also found unique ASVs for different populations that could be related to potential functional role of such ASVs in the rhizosphere.

Tumor miofibroblástico inflamatorio de la mama: presentación de caso y revisión de la literatura / Inflammatory miofibroblastic tumour of the breast: presentation of a case and review of the literature

El tumor miofibroblástico inflamatorio (TMI), forma parte del grupo de seudotumores inflamatorios compuesto de células fusiformes mezcladas con células plasmáticas maduras y células inflamatorias. Frecuentemente descritos en la región abdominal, pélvica, pulmonar y retroperitoneal, en pacientes pediátricos y adolescentes. La presentación en la glándula mamaria es extremadamente rara (27 casos descritos en la literatura), motivo por el cual su historia natural, recurrencia y potencial metastásico permanecen en estudio. Se trae a presentación un caso de una paciente posmenopáusica la cual fue tratada con cirugía de conservación, así como la revisión de la literatura de esta entidad

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumour (IMT) belongs to the group of pseudo inflammatory tumours, composed of fusiform cells mixed with mature plasma cells and inflammatory cells. It is frequently described in the abdomen, pelvis, lung and retroperitoneum in paediatric and adolescent patients. Presentation in the mammary gland is extremely rare (27 cases described in the literature), which is why its natural history, recurrence and metastatic potential remain under study. We present the case of a postmenopausal patient, who was treated with conservation surgery, as well as a review of the literature of this entity

Plasmocitoma de mama: presentación de un caso clínico y revisión de la literatura / Breast plasmocitoma: case report and literature review

El plasmocitoma es una neoplasia de células plasmáticas infrecuente, cuyo escenario clínico se presenta como evidencia de diseminación del mieloma múltiple o como una tumoración solitaria extramedular, siendo el compromiso mamario extremadamente raro (63 casos reportados a partir de 1928). Presentamos el caso de una paciente mujer de 37 años con plasmocitoma en mama derecha multifocal, describiendo las características clínicas, imagenológicas, anatomopatológicas, así como el tratamiento y el seguimiento

Plasmacytoma is an uncommon plasma cell neoplasm, whose clinical behaviour is taken as evidence of disseminated multiple myeloma or an extramedullary solitary tumour. Breast involvement is extremely rare (63 cases reported since 1928). We present the case of a 37-year-old woman with a multifocal right breast plasmacytoma and describe the clinical, imaging and histologic findings, as well as treatment and follow-up

Trastornos Específicos del Lenguaje / Specific Language Disorders

Los TEL son trastornos muy heterogéneos y no son estáticos. A menudo cambian en el tiempo, por lo tanto es necesario reclasificarlos. La clasificación es difícil y un grupo importante de ellos no son clasificables. La importante comorbilidad hace necesario un equipo multidiscipliario para su diagnóstico y manejo. Su detección temprana y rehabilitación es básica para evitar futuras dificultades escolares.

Specific language disorders (SLDs) are very heterogeneous and not static conditions. Often SLDs change over time and need to be reclassified. Classification of these disorders is challenging, and an extensive group of them are unclassifiable. The significant comorbidity implies a need for a multidisciplinary team for diagnosis and management. Early detection and rehabilitation are essential to prevent further school difficulties.

Análisis psicométrico preliminar de la Escala de Trauma de Davidson en adolescentes chilenos / Preliminary psychometric examination of the Davidson Trauma Scale: a study on Chileans adolescent

La escala de Trauma de Davidson (DTS) mide la frecuencia y gravedad del Estrés Postraumático. Dado que en Chile existe escasez de datos respecto de la validez y confiabilidad de instrumentos para medir este trastorno, se examinan las propiedades psicométricas de la escala. Participaron 130 adolescentes de entre 13 y 18 años (M= 15,78; DT= 1,40). Participaron pacientes traumatizados y adolescentes de la población general. Los participantes respondieron la DTS, una escala de depresión y otra de ansiedad. La DTS obtuvo adecuada consistencia interna, mostró validez convergente (correlacionó de forma moderada, directa y significativa con escalas de depresión y ansiedad) y discriminó entre la muestra clínica y general. La DTS parece ser un instrumento válido y confiable en adolescentes chilenos.

Davidson Trauma Scale (DTS) measures the frequency and severity of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder PTSD. Since Chile has limited data about validity and reliability of instruments to measure PTSD, this study evaluated psychometric properties of the scale in a sample of 130 adolescents between 13 and 18 years (M= 15,78; DT= 1,40). Some of them were traumatized patients and others were from general population. They answered the DTS, a depression and an anxiety scale. The scale obtained adequate internal consistency scores, showed convergent validity (DTS score was associated moderately, directly and significantly with depression and anxiety scores), and discriminated between clinical sample and general population. DTS seems to be a valid and reliable instrument in Chilean adolescents.

Spectral sensitivities of photoreceptors and their role in colour discrimination in the green-backed firecrown hummingbird (Sephanoides sephaniodes).

We studied the photopic spectral sensitivity in the green-backed firecrown, Sephanoides sephaniodes, a South American hummingbird, and its possible ecological relationship with preferred flowers and body colouration. Avian colour vision is in general tetrachromatic with at least four types of cones, which vary in sensitivity from the near ultraviolet (UV) to the red wavelength range. Hummingbirds represent an important family of birds, yet little is known about their eye sensitivity, especially about the role of photoreceptors and their oil droplet complements. The photopic electroretinogram shows a main sensitivity peak at 560 nm and a secondary peak in the UV, and may be explained by the presence of four single cones (lambda max at approximately 370, 440, 508 and 560 nm), and a double cone (lambda max at 560 nm) screened by oil droplets. The flowers preferred by the firecrown are those in which the red-green wavelength region predominates and have higher contrast than other flowers. The crown plumage of males is highly iridescent in the red wavelength range (peak at 650 nm) and UV; when plotted in a high-dimensional tetrachromatic space, it falls in a "red + UV" purple hue line, suggesting a potential significant communication signal for sexual differentiation.

Expression of nitric oxide synthase isoforms in the dorsal horn of monoarthritic rats: effects of competitive and uncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate antagonists.

Chronic pain is associated with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation and downstream production of nitric oxide, which has a pivotal role in multisynaptic local circuit nociceptive processing in the spinal cord. The formation of nitric oxide is catalyzed by three major nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms (neuronal, nNOS; inducible, iNOS; endothelial, eNOS), which are increased in the spinal cord of rodents subjected to some tonic and chronic forms of experimental pain. Despite the important role of NOS in spinal cord nociceptive transmission, there have been no studies exploring the effect of NMDA receptor blockade on NOS expression in the dorsal horn during chronic pain. Furthermore, NOS isoforms have not been fully characterized in the dorsal horn of animals subjected to arthritic pain. The aim of this work was therefore to study the expression of nNOS, iNOS and eNOS in the dorsal horns of monoarthritic rats, and the modifications in NOS expression induced by pharmacological blockade of spinal cord NMDA receptors. Monoarthritis was produced by intra-articular injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the right tibio-tarsal joint. At week 4, monoarthritic rats were given either the competitive NMDA antagonist (+/-)-3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP) or the uncompetitive NMDA antagonist ketamine. After 6 and 24 hours, animals were killed and posterior quadrants of the lumbar spinal cord were dissected. Sample tissues were homogenized and subjected to immunoblotting with anti-nNOS, anti-iNOS or anti-eNOS monoclonal antibodies. The nNOS isoform, but not the iNOS and eNOS isoforms, were detected in the dorsal horns of control rats. Monoarthritis increased the expression of nNOS, iNOS and eNOS in the dorsal horns ipsilateral and contralateral to the inflamed hindpaw. Intrathecal administration of CPP and ketamine reduced nNOS expression in monoarthritic rats but increased the expression of iNOS and eNOS. Results suggest that blockade of spinal cord NMDA receptors produces complex regulatory changes in the expression of NOS isoforms in monoarthritic rats that may be relevant for nitridergic neuronal/glial mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of monoarthritis and in the pharmacological response to drugs interacting with NMDA receptors.