Species composition and abundance of Brevipalpus spp. on different citrus species in Mexican orchards.

We studied the abundance of Brevipalpus spp. in citrus orchards in the Mexican states of Yucatan, Quintana Roo and Campeche. Mites were collected from 100 trees containing a mixture of citrus species where sweet orange was always the main species. Eight collections were made at each location from February 2010 to February 2011. Mites from the genus Brevipalpus were separated from other mites surveyed and their abundance and relationships with the different citrus species were quantified throughout the collection period. A subsample of 25% of the total Brevipalpus mites collected were identified to species level and the interaction of mite species and citrus species were described. Brevipalpus spp. were present on all collection dates and their relative abundance was similar on all citrus species studies. The smallest number of mites collected was during the rainy season. Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) and Brevipalpus californicus (Banks) were the only two species present and they were found in all locations except Campeche, where only B. phoenicis was present. Yucatan and Campeche are at greater risk of leprosis virus transmission than Quintana Roo because the main vector, B. phoenicis, was more abundant than B. californicus. The implications of our results for the design of more accurate sampling and control methods for Brevipalpus spp. are discussed.

Study of KRAS new predictive marker in a clinical laboratory

BACKGROUND: The presence of somatic mutations in the KRAS gene has been identified as a reliable strong negative predictor for the response to targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer and the use of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibodies such as Cetuximab and Panitumumab is now restricted to patients with no detectable KRAS mutations. Between 30 and 40 % of colorectal cancers contain a mutated KRAS oncogene. The aim of this study was to evaluate concordance between three methods to analyze KRAS mutational status in regard to clinical testing. METHODS: We analyzed KRAS mutations in codons 12 and 13 of exon 2 in one hundred formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) colorectal cancer samples by three different methods: Direct Sequencing and two commercial kits on allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization (KRAS StripAssay, Vienna Lab.) and Amplification Refractory Mutation System/Scorpions (ARMS/S; TheraScreen KRAS Mutation kit DxS) based on q-PCR. RESULTS: We have found similar frequencies of KRAS mutations by TheraScreen and Strip-Assay (44 and 48 %), with a κ value of 0.90, indicating almost perfect agreement between methods. The frequency by direct sequencing was much lower (26 %) and the κ values were 0.67 (compared to TheraScreen) and 0.57 (compared to Strip-Assay) indicating low sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: On analyzing KRAS mutation in FFPE tumor samples, direct sequencing sensitivity is too low to be used in a clinical setting. Choosing between ARMS/S; TheraScreen KRAS Mutation kit DxS and KRAS StripAssay, Vienna Lab, will depend on laboratory facilities and expertise (AU)

[Analysis of high frequency and low amplitude late potentials in the body surface electrocardiogram, in acute and chronic stages of ischemic cardiopathy]. / Análisis de los potenciales tardíos de alta frecuencia y baja amplitud del electrocardiograma de superficie, en las fases aguda y crónica de la cardiopatía isquémica.

A study to evaluate late potentials (LP) was carried out in 50 patients diagnosed as suffering from coronary heart disease. All the patients were divided into two groups: Group A, was made of 25 patients in the acute period of myocardial infarction, and group B, was made of other 25 patients in the chronic phase, with more of 3 months of evolution from the acute event. Average age in group A was 54.2 years, and 58.1 years in group B. Twenty normal volunteer subjects (group C) were also studied as a reference group. All the subjects in the 3 groups were in normal sinus rhythm, and no one of them showed bundle branch block in the basal ECG. Analysis of the vector magnitude was made for each point of the averaged wave, as the result of the mean root square of the addition of bipolar leads X, Y and Z, using a LP-3000 Fidelity Medical Inc. equipment, with a four poles Butterworth filter. LP were detected in 32% of the patients in group A, and in 56% of the group B (p less than 0.001). No LP was observed in patients of the group C. Concerning the localization of myocardial infarction, maximum CPK value, or Lown's grade of ventricular arrhythmias observed in coronary care unit, or in the 3rd week Holter monitoring, did not show significant statistical correlationship with the presence of LP in group A.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Anomalous bands of the left ventricle. Study with echocardiography and Doppler ultrasound]. / Bandas anómalas del ventrículo izquierdo. Estudio con ecocardiografía y Doppler.

Of a total of 3654 echocardiographic and Doppler studies, found 95 left ventricular bands. We described the different Echo-patterns. Color-flow Doppler mapping demonstrated normal left ventricular inflow and outflow, and also lack of turbulence around the band. We conclude left ventricular bands are an abnormal but not Pathological finding.