Background and aims: Sierras de Famatina are an important area of endemism, where two representatives of Trichocereus coexist, whose taxonomic identity is discussed. Trichocereus. pseudocandicans is endemic, with colorful, diurnal flowers; while, T. candicans has a wider distribution, with white and nocturnal flowers. Taking these differences into account, we carried out a morpho-anatomical study of perigonium, gynoecium and fruit, making qualitative and quantitative comparisons. The objective is to generate new information for the genus, provide reliable taxonomic traits, and make inferences about its reproductive biology. M&M: We made temporary and permanent histological preparations of flowers and fruits, using classical techniques. In addition, we analyzed 43 morpho-anatomical variables, which were statistically compared. Results: The entities present similar morpho-anatomical traits but are differentiated by the color of the perigonium and the total size of the flowers. The following characters stand out: the style presents a stilar canal and transmitter tissue, the receptacle and the ovary wall are notoriously different but intimately fused, even after fertilization, circinate ovules, among others. Only 27.9% of the variables analyzed resulted in statistically significant differences, the flowers of T. candicans being slightly larger than those of T. pseudocandicans. Conclusions: The similarity found between the taxa reaffirms their high degree of kinship, and it is possible that T. pseudocandicans is a subspecies or hybrid of T. candicans. On the other hand, the different floral traits could be due to a high phenotypic variability, influenced by the particular characteristics of the Famatina Sierras.

Introducción y objetivos: Las Sierras de Famatina son un área importante de endemismo, allí conviven dos representantes de Trichocereus, de los que se discute su identidad taxonómica. T. pseudocandicans es endémica, con flores coloridas y diurnas; mientras que, T. candicans presenta distribución más amplia, con flores blancas y nocturnas. Teniendo en cuenta estas diferencias, llevamos a cabo un estudio morfo-anatómico del perigonio, gineceo y fruto, realizando comparaciones cualitativas y cuantitativas. El objetivo es generar información novedosa para el género, aportar caracteres taxonómicos confiables y realizar inferencias sobre su biología reproductiva. M&M: Se realizaron preparados histológicos temporarios y permanentes de flores y frutos, utilizando técnicas clásicas. Se analizaron y compararon estadísticamente 43 variables morfo-anatómicas. Resultados: Las entidades presentan características morfo-anatómicas similares, pero se diferencian por el color del perigonio y el tamaño de las flores. Se destacan los siguientes caracteres: el estilo presenta canal estilar y tejido transmisor, el receptáculo y la pared del ovario son notoriamente diferentes pero íntimamente fusionados, incluso luego de la fecundación, óvulos circinótropos, entre otros. Solo el 27,9% de las variables analizadas resultaron con diferencias estadísticamente significativas, siendo las flores de T. candicans levemente mayores que las de T. pseudocandicans. Conclusiones: La similitud encontrada entre los taxones reafirma su alto grado de parentesco, siendo posible que T. pseudocandicans sea una subespecie o híbrido de T. candicans. Por otro lado, los rasgos florales diferentes podrían deberse a una alta variabilidad fenotípica, influenciada por las características particulares que presentan las Sierras de Famatina.

En este trabajo se implementaron las condiciones para la separación de proteomas de plasma sanguíneo por electroforesis bidimensional. En muestras de plasma de infante y adulto se evaluaron dos sistemas de pretratamiento de la muestra para reducir el rango dinámico de las proteínas: inmunodepleción de proteínas abundantes y enriquecimiento de proteínas de baja abundancia. Los proteomas se separaron por electroforesis bidimensional y las imágenes se analizaron con el programa Melanie 7.0. Se encontró que ambos métodos de pretratamiento fueron reproducibles y permitieron ver las diferencias en los proteomas de infante y adulto, como muestran los análisis de componentes principales y de clasificación jerárquica tipo heatmap. El porcentaje de recuperación de proteínas fue mayor con la inmunodepleción en comparación con el enriquecimiento proteico. Estos resultados permitieron concluir que con la inmunodepleción, se tiene mayor control de las proteínas eliminadas y por tanto menor pérdida de información, lo que permite su aplicación en estudios exploratorios para la identificación de potenciales biomarcadores de enfermedad.

The conditions to separate blood plasma proteomes by two-dimensional electrophoresis were implemented. In plasma samples from infant and adult two sample pretreatment systems to reduce the proteins dynamic range were evaluated: Immunodepletion of abundant proteins and protein-enrichment of low abundance proteins. Proteomes were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and the images were analyzed using Melanie 7.0. It was found that both pretreatment methods were reproducible and allowed to see the differences in the proteomes of infant and adult, as evidenced by the principal component analysis and heatmap, a type of hierarchic classification. The percent recovery of proteins was greater with the immunodepletion method, compared to the protein enrichment system. With these results, we conclude that reducing the complexity of plasma by immunoaffinity showed better control of unrecovered proteins and therefore less loss of information, which allows its application on exploratory studies to identify potential biomarkers of disease.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi otimizar as condições para a separação de proteomas do plasma sanguíneo por eletroforese bidimensional para sua aplicação na procura de potenciais biomarcadores. Trabalhou-se com amostras de plasma de crianças e adultos, avaliando dois sistemas de pre-tratamento da amostra para diminuir o espectro dinâmico das proteínas, imunodepleção de proteínas abundantes e enriquecimento de proteínas de baixa abundância. Os proteomas foram separados por eletroforese bidimensional e as imagens foram analisadas com o programa Melanie 7.0. Foi encontrado que ambos métodos de pre-tratamento foram reprodutíveis e permitiram observar as diferenças nos proteomas de crianças e adultos, como foram evidenciadas com as análises de componentes principais e de classificação hierárquica tipo heatmap. A porcentagem de recuperação de proteínas foi maior na imunodepleção do que obtido pelo enriquecimento proteico. Estes resultados permitiram concluir que com a imunodepleção há um controle mais eficiente das proteínas eliminadas e assim uma menor perda de informação, isto permite sua aplicação em estudos exploratórios orientados na identificação de potenciais biomarcadores da doença.

Fresh blue shrimp (Litopenaeus stylirostris) muscle was stored with antioxidants under different conditions: ANTIOX 2%, packed in bilayer film of polyamide-low density polyethylene film (PA-LDPE) with 2% α-tocopherol; ANTIOX 4%, packed in PA-LDPE film with 4% α-tocopherol; and ANTIOX-GLAZED, samples stored glazed with 2% α-tocopherol. Shrimps packed in PA-LDPE without α-tocopherol were used as CONTROL. All samples were stored at –20 °C for 120 days. As compared to the CONTROL, the shrimp stored with the antioxidant showed lower lipid oxidation (0.10-0.14 vs 1.58 mgMA/kg of muscle), lost less firmness and astaxanthin content. ANTIOX 2% and ANTIOX-GLAZED showed the lowest concentrations of formaldehyde (0.081-0.083 μM/g). There were no significant differences in color and sensory properties, but differences in the integrity of the muscle fibers were observed. The treatments with α-tocopherol maintained the shrimp muscle quality during frozen storage. However, no significant differences were found between these treatments.

A atividade colinesterásica foi medida no plasma e em eritrócitos de 32 indivíduos. Em 16 pacientes, seguramente portadores de megacolo chagásico, os níveis de colinestera- se no plasma (1.540 ±318 Ul/L) e nos eritrócitos (53,2 ±9,1 Ul/g Hb) estavam significativamente diminuídos, quando comparados com os níveis enzimáticos no plasma (2.554 ± 826 Ul/L) e nos eritrócitos (63,6 ±11 Ul/g Hb) do grupo controle (n=16). Os resultados mostram um paralelismo entre a atividade colinesterásica sistêmica e os achados histopato lógicos.

Cholinesterase activity was measured in the plasma and erythrocytes from 32 individuals. The 16patients, in whon the diagnosis of Chagasic megacolon confirmed, hada significantly lower concentration of the enzyme both in plasma (1.540 ± 318 Yl/L) and erythrocytes (53.2 ± 9.1 Ul/g Hb) when compared with the 16 Controls in whom, the plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase leveis were, respectively, 2.554 ± 823and 63.6 ± 11 Ul/g Hb. The results show a correlation between the systemic cholinesterase activity and the histopathological findings.