Microbes, the 'silent third partners' of bee-angiosperm mutualisms.

While bee-angiosperm mutualisms are widely recognized as foundational partnerships that have shaped the diversity and structure of terrestrial ecosystems, these ancient mutualisms have been underpinned by 'silent third partners': microbes. Here, we propose reframing the canonical bee-angiosperm partnership as a three-way mutualism between bees, microbes, and angiosperms. This new conceptualization casts microbes as active symbionts, processing and protecting pollen-nectar provisions, consolidating nutrients for bee larvae, enhancing floral attractancy, facilitating plant fertilization, and defending bees and plants from pathogens. In exchange, bees and angiosperms provide their microbial associates with food, shelter, and transportation. Such microbial communities represent co-equal partners in tripartite mutualisms with bees and angiosperms, facilitating one of the most important ecological partnerships on land.

Características epidemiológicas de los traumatismos oculares en un instituto oftalmológico de referencia regional, Trujillo Perú, 2016 - 2017 / Epidemiological characteristics of eye injuries at one ophthalmological institute of regional reference, Trujillo Perú, 2016 - 2017

Objetivo: Describir las características epidemiológicas de los traumatismos oculares atendidos en el Instituto Regional de Oftalmología (IRO). Materiales y métodos: Estudio descriptivo y prospectivo, en el cual se aplicó un protocolo estandarizado de registro de datos demográficos y clínicos de pacientes con traumatismos oculares que acudieron al servicio de emergencia del IRO, entre enero 2016 y abril 2017. Resultados: Un total de 1 288 pacientes cumplieron los criterios de selección, la edad promedio fue de 37 años, en su mayoría los afectados fueron varones (84,7 %) y el grupo etario más afectado fue el de 21 a 40 años (46,7 %). Los accidentes laborales fueron la causa más frecuente (63,7 %), ocurriendo principalmente en trabajadores de metalmecánica, construcción y albañilería; seguido de los accidentes domésticos (19,2 %). El 95,4 % fueron traumatismos cerrados, predominantemente con compromiso unilateral, ocupando el primer lugar los cuerpos extraños corneales (73,4 %), seguido de las contusiones (16,2 %). El 56,2 % de traumatismos abiertos fueron penetrantes restringiéndose el daño principalmente a la córnea (64,9 %). El 52,6 % de pacientes con traumatismo abierto terminaron con agudeza visual entre 4/200 y no percepción de luz. Conclusiones: Los traumatismos oculares cerrados fueron los más frecuentes y afectaron a pacientes jóvenes, de sexo masculino que laboraban en industria metalmecánica y construcción; siendo los cuerpos extraños corneales metálicos el principal tipo. La mayoría de los traumatismos abiertos tuvieron un pobre pronóstico visual luego de su reparación quirúrgica.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological characteristics of eye injuries treated at Regional Ophthalmology Institute (IRO). Material and Methods: A descriptive and prospective study, in which a standardized protocol was developed to obtain and record demographic and clinical data of patients with ocular trauma who attended the emergency department of IRO between January 2016 and April 2017. Results: 1 307 patients with eye injuries were evaluated, 19 were excluded due to incomplete information, resulting in a sample of 1 288 patients, aged between 5 and 70 years, mostly of male gender (84.7 %), being more frequent patients from 21 to 40 years (46.7 %). Occupational accidents were the most frequent cause (63.7 %), occurring mainly in metal-mechanic workers, welders and workers, followed by domestic accidents (19.2 %). A total of 95.4 % were closed injuries, mostly unilateral. Corneal foreign bodies accounted of 73.4 % of cases, followed by contusions (16.2 %). 56.2 % of open-globe injuries were penetrating, restricting damage mainly to the cornea (64.9 %). 52.6 % of patients with open-globe injury ended up with visual acuity between 4/200 and no light perception). Conclusions: Closed eye injuries were the most prevalent, mainly affecting young, male patients who working in metal-mechanical and construction industry. Metallic corneal foreign bodies were the main type. The majority of open-globe trauma had a poor visual prognosis after surgical repair.

Dendritic cells in immunosenescence: [review]

The term immunosenescence usually refers to the aging of the immune system. Aging isassociated with the progressive decline in immune function, resulting in an increasing susceptibility of the bodyto infection, taking into account the specific changes in T- cells, macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells.Dendritic cells (DCs) are play a key role in the induction of both innate and adaptive immunity. There areimmature and mature forms located in the non-lymphatic organs and lymph nodes, respectively. DCs initiateand regulate the highly pathogen-specific adaptive immune responses, and are central to the development ofimmunologic memory and tolerance. In this text, we will briefly review DCs and changes associated withhuman aging, such as cytokine secretion, antigen capture, migration and priming of T cells. This functionaldecline would lead to major morbidity associated with infections such as influenza and pneumonia, whichaffect mucosal surfaces; in addition the increased incidence of cancer in the elderly is associated with thepotential role of DCs.

Solid-phase dynamic extraction for the enrichment of polar volatile organic compounds from water.

Headspace solid-phase dynamic extraction coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (HS-SPDE-GC/MS) was evaluated for the trace determination of polar volatile organic compounds (PVOC) from aqueous matrices. The target compounds included 3 ethers and 12 alcohols. Four SPDE needle coatings with different phase polarities and sorption properties (WAX, 1701, PDMS, PDMS/AC) were tested. The effects of extraction temperature, number of extraction cycles, and ionic strength on partitioning of the target compounds have been investigated in detail, including the determination of salting-out constants for the investigated compounds. Lowest method detection limits (MDLs) were obtained with the WAX and the PDMS/AC phase. The WAX phase showed MDLs for ethers in the range of 0.06 microg/L (MTBE) to 0.8 microg/L (1,4-dioxane) and for alcohols between 0.02 microg/L (3-methyl-1-pentanol) and 3.5 microg/L (1-propanol). The evaluated MDLs for ethers with the PDMS/AC were in the range 0.06 microg/L (MTBE) to 1.2 microg/L (1,4-dioxane) and for alcohols between 0.004 microg/L (1-hexanol) and 4.9 microg/L (ethanol). Using either of these two phases, SPDE provides comparable or better sensitivities for the investigated compounds than other enrichment techniques, high sample throughput because of full automation, and short extraction times as well as a high robustness of the extraction phase because of its protection inside the steel needle. SPDE applicability has been demonstrated for the determination of fusel oils in different alcoholic beverages.

Acute quadriplegic myopathy with thick filament loss spares moving muscles: an autopsy study.

Acute Quadriplegic Myopathy with selective Thick Filament Loss (AQM-TFL) is likely an under-recognized cause of acquired areflexic quadriplegia in the ICU setting. An autopsy study of a patient with AQM-TFL revealed widespread limb thick filament loss, but with complete diaphragmatic and cardiac sparing and relative intercostal muscle sparing, was observed. Due to increased lipid accumulation, biochemical studies were performed and showed an increased free carnitine percentage, suggesting possible impaired carnitine esterification. These findings suggest that moving muscles might be resistant to the deleterious effects of AQM-TFL. These findings may have therapeutic implications.

Paraoxonase-1 and linoleic acid oxidation in familial hypercholesterolemia.

Serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) is a high-density lipoprotein-associated enzyme that can inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in vitro. The role of PON1 in vivo still remains to be clarified. We investigated the effect of PON1 genotype (-107C > T and 192Q > R), concentration, paraoxonase activity, and arylesterase activity on the early phase of lipid peroxidation in plasma samples of 110 patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. The degree of lipid oxidation was assessed by quantitation of oxidized-linoleic acid (the most abundant fatty acid present in LDL) using high performance liquid chromatography. We found a significant inverse correlation between paraoxonase activity and the oxidized-linoleic acid concentration (r = -0.22, P = 0.03), independent of baseline linoleic acid levels. These findings support an anti-oxidative role for PON1 in patients with FH, and thus may give insight into the functioning of PON1 in vivo.

Glicemia em jejum como critério diagnóstico para o Diabetes mellitus correlacionada com o perfil lipídico / Fasting glycemia as diabetes mellitus diagnostic criterion and the correlation with the lipid profile

Patologias como diabetes mellitus que alteram o metabolismo da glicose também interferem com o metabolismo lipídico. Foram selecionados ao acaso 1000 pacientes, os quais foram classificados pela glicemia em jejum em 4 grupos: G-1 (60 - 110 mg/dL), G-2 (111 - 125 mg/dL); G-3 (126 - 139 mg/dL), and G-4 (> ou = 140 mg/dL). A glicemia e o perfil lipídico foram medidos utilizando reagentes enzimáticos (Labtest) em sistema automatizado (Selectra II/Bayer). A comparaçäo entre os grupos foi realizada através de análise de variância (Anova/Manova). Os dados da análise mostraram: 1)o grupo normoglicêmico (G-1) apresentou valores significativamente menores (p<0,001) para colesterol total, HDL-C e triglicérides em relaçäo aos demais grupos; 2)näo houve diferença significativa nos níveis de LDL-C (p<0,05) entre os grupos estudados; 3)os níveis de colesterol total e triglicérides foram significativamente diferentes (p=0,042 e p=0,015, respectivamente) nos grupos G-3 e G-4. Os dados sugerem que a reduçäo nos valores de discriminaçäo para o diabetes mellitus preconizados pela Associaçäo Americana de Diabetes (> ou = 126 mg/dL) permitem a detecçäo de indivíduos diabéticos com níveis menores de colesterol total e triglicérides quando comparados com o critério anterior, recomendado pela Organizaçäo Mundial da Saúde (> ou = 140 mg/dL)