Molecular analysis of genetic diversity among vine accessions using DNA markers.

Viticulture presents a number of economic and social advantages, such as increasing employment levels and fixing the labor force in rural areas. With the aim of initiating a program of genetic improvement in grapevine from the State University of the state of Rio de Janeiro North Darcy Ribeiro, genetic diversity between 40 genotypes (varieties, rootstock, and species of different subgenera) was evaluated using Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) molecular markers. We built a matrix of binary data, whereby the presence of a band was assigned as "1" and the absence of a band was assigned as "0." The genetic distance was calculated between pairs of genotypes based on the arithmetic complement from the Jaccard Index. The results revealed the presence of considerable variability in the collection. Analysis of the genetic dissimilarity matrix revealed that the most dissimilar genotypes were Rupestris du Lot and Vitis rotundifolia because they were the most genetically distant (0.5972). The most similar were genotypes 31 (unidentified) and Rupestris du lot, which showed zero distance, confirming the results of field observations. A duplicate was confirmed, consistent with field observations, and a short distance was found between the variety 'Italy' and its mutation, 'Ruby'. The grouping methods used were somewhat concordant.

Electroconvulsive therapy as a treatment for refractory neuropsychiatric lupus with catatonia: three case studies and literature review.

Neuropsychiatric disorders associated with systemic lupus erythematosus are very common. Treatment generally consists of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy; however, some cases are unresponsive. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a recognized treatment modality in psychiatry and is an option for refractory cases of neuropsychiatric lupus. This report describes three cases of neuropsychiatric lupus that improved with ECT after failure of antipsychotics and immunosuppressive therapy. All cases met DSM-5 criteria for catatonia (case 1: agitation, stereotypies, and grimacing; case 2: stupor, mutism, and grimacing; case 3: agitation, mutism, and stereotypies); therefore, ECT was indicated. This case series shows that ECT can be a therapeutic option in patients with neuropsychiatric lupus, especially when associated with catatonia and unresponsive to conventional treatment.

CA15.3, CEA and LDH in dogs with malignant mammary tumors.

BACKGROUND: Presence of tumor markers in serum might be connected to the number of secreting cells and with the stage of the neoplasm. However, there are few studies regarding these markers in veterinary clinical oncology. OBJECTIVES: To determine the serum concentrations of cancer antigen 15.3 (CA 15.3), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in female dogs with different stages of mammary cancer. ANIMALS: Ninety female dogs, including 30 that were healthy, 40 that had nonmetastatic cancer, 12 with regional metastasis, and 8 with distant lymph node metastasis. METHODS: Prospective case-controlled observational study. Serum samples were collected to measure CA15.3, CEA, and LDH from 60 female dogs with mammary cancer during mastectomy and 30 healthy female dogs during routine check-up. CA15.3 and CEA were determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay and LDH by ultraviolet kinetic method. Western blotting analysis was performed to confirm the specificity and possible cross-reactivity of human CA15.3 and CEA antibodies with canine serum. Group data were compared by ANOVA followed by Student-Newman-Keuls and Tukey's tests. Correlations were investigated by Pearson and Spearman tests. RESULTS: CEA, CA15.3, and LDH were measurable in all groups. Higher serum concentration of CA15.3 and LDH was associated with regional and distant metastases. There was a significantly higher serum CA15.3 concentration in animals with lymph node metastasis when compared with animals without metastasis. There were no significant differences in CEA among groups. Expression of CA15.3 and CEA in canine serum was confirmed by Western blotting. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Serum CA15.3 can be used to distinguish nonmetastatic from metastatic carcinomas.

Pathogenicity for onion and genetic diversity of isolates of the pathogenic fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides (Phyllachoraceae) from the State of Pernambuco, Brazil.

Onion anthracnose, caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, is one of the main diseases of onions in the State of Pernambuco. We examined the pathogenicity of 15 C. gloeosporioides strains and analyzed their genetic variability using RAPDs and internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of the rDNA region. Ten of the strains were obtained from substrates and hosts other than onion, including chayote (Sechium edule), guava (Psidium guajava), pomegranate (Punica granatum), water from the Capibaribe River, maracock (Passiflora sp), coconut (Cocus nucifera), surinam cherry (Eugenia uniflora), and marine soil; five isolates came from onions collected from four different regions of the State of Pernambuco and one region of the State of Amazonas. Pathogenicity tests were carried out using onion leaves and bulbs. All strains were capable of causing disease in leaves, causing a variable degree of lesions on the leaves; four strains caused the most severe damage. In the onion bulb tests, only three of the above strains caused lesions. Seven primers of arbitrary sequences were used in the RAPD analysis, generating polymorphic bands that allowed the separation of the strains into three distinct groups. The amplification products generated with the primers ITS1 and ITS4 also showed polymorphism when digested with three restriction enzymes, DraI, HaeIII and MspI. Only the latter two demonstrated genetic variations among the strains. These two types of molecular markers were able to differentiate the strain from the State of Amazonas from those of the State of Pernambuco. However, there was no relationship between groups of strains, based on molecular markers, and degree of pathogenicity for onion leaves and bulbs.