Abstract Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris is a weed native to the Mediterranean basin that causes yield losses in both winter and summer crops in southern Spain. Modeling its emergence is crucial for developing appropriate management strategies. Currently, the predominant technique for predicting weed emergence is non-linear parametric regression, but this approach has some statistical limitations. The Weed Biology and Agroecology Group (BAMh) conducted a study to describe and predict the emergence pattern of R. segetum using a non-parametric regression with a Gaussian distribution. For its development, emergence was studied in five experimental plots in Barcelona, Lleida, Madrid, Seville, and Zaragoza during the 2016/17 season, and the trial was repeated in the following season in Barcelona, Madrid, and Zaragoza. In each plot, 100 seeds from an experimental farm in Seville were sown in 25 x 25 cm grids (4 replicates). For the model, a cumulative kernel density curve was used to relate emergence to a hydrothermal integral based on a two-segment equation. A base, optimal, and maximum temperature of -1.0 ºC, 8.1 ºC, and 26.0 ºC, respectively, and a base water potential of -0.6 MPa were established. This model reaches 10 %, 50 %, and 90 % of cumulative emergence at 43.2, 74.7, and 97.4 hydrothermal degrees, respectively. On average, the model exhibited a root mean square error of 16.81%, ranging between 9.1 % and 32.5 %.

Resumen Ridolfia segetum (L.) Moris es una mala hierba originaria de la cuenca mediterránea que causa pérdidas de rendimiento en cultivos de invierno y de verano en el sur de España. Modelizar su emergencia es crucial para desarrollar estrategias de manejo adecuadas. Actualmente, la técnica predominante para predecir la emergencia de malas hierbas son las regresiones paramétricas no lineales pero este enfoque tiene algunas limitaciones estadísticas. El grupo de Biología y Agroecología de las Malas Hierbas (BAMh) llevó a cabo un estudio para describir y predecir el patrón de emergencia de R. segetum mediante una regresión no paramétrica con una distribución gaussiana. Para su desarrollo, se estudió la emergencia en cinco parcelas experimentales en Barcelona, Lleida, Madrid, Sevilla y Zaragoza durante la campaña 2016/17 y se repitió el ensayo en la campaña siguiente en Barcelona, Madrid y Zaragoza. En cada parcela se sembraron 100 semillas procedentes de una finca experimental de Sevilla en cuadriculas de 25 x 25 cm (4 repeticiones). Para el modelo se utilizó una curva acumulada de la densidad de Kernel que relacionó la emergencia con una integral hidrotérmica basada en una ecuación de dos segmentos. Se estableció una temperatura base, óptima y máxima de -1,0 ºC, 8,1 ºC y 26,0 ºC, respectivamente y un potencial hídrico base de -0,6 MPa. Este modelo alcanza el 10 %, 50 % y 90 % de la emergencia acumulada a 43,2, 74,7 y 97,4 grados hidrotérmicos, respectivamente. En promedio, el modelo presentó un RMSE (root mean square error) de 16,81 %, oscilando entre 9,1 % y 32,5 %.

Background Hypoglycemia is the main limitation for the achievement of glycemic goals in the treatment of diabetes. Aim To assess the incidence of hypoglycemia in an emergency department. To characterize and identify which patients are at higher risk of having it. Material and Methods We reviewed the electronic records of patients discharged from an adult emergency room with the diagnosis of hypoglycemia between May 2011 and December 2014. Age, sex, diagnosis of diabetes (DM), antidiabetic therapy, glycosylated hemoglobin, creatinine, destination at time of discharge, blood glucose, impairment of conscience, treatment of the event and predictions were recorded. Results Of 175,244 attentions analyzed, 251 in patients aged 69 ± 17 years (54% women) consulted for hypoglycemia (0.14%). Eighty one percent had a type 2 diabetes, 6% a type 1 diabetes and 12% were non-diabetic. Mean blood glucose was 44.1 mg/dl. In diabetic patients, mean glycosylated hemoglobin was 6.5%. Ninety seven percent had impairment of conscience and 77% were admitted to the hospital. Among patients without diabetes, the main comorbidity was the history of a gastric bypass surgery. In type 2 diabetes, glibenclamide used alone or with other medications was involved in 59% of the events, 87% of patients were older than 65 years with a mean glycosylated hemoglobin of 6.3% and 32% had renal failure. Conclusions The incidence of hypoglycemia was low. There were a significant number of events in older patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and renal failure, who were treated with glibenclamide. Most of these patients had a glycosylated hemoglobin below accepted recommendations.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o ganho de peso de novilhos suplementados com probióticos e aminoácidos, por meio da análise de identidade de modelos. Foram utilizados 64 novilhos castrados da raça Canchim e cruzados Canchim x Nelore com 24 ± 1,8 meses de idade e peso corpóreo inicial de 395,4 ± 10,5 kg, mantidos em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha em sistema de pastejo contínuo. Foram testados quatro tratamentos: Testemunha (Test); Probiótico líquido (ProbL); Probiótico líquido mais aminoácidos em pó (ProbL+AAsPó); e Probiótico líquido mais aminoácido injetável (ProbL+AAsInj), em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com 16 animais por tratamento. Os tratamentos foram comparados através do Teste de Identidade de Modelos, utilizando o software R. O modelo logístico de três parâmetros (L3p) foi o selecionado para representar o ganho de peso médio diário em função do tempo. As estimativas dos parâmetros do modelo foram significativas em todos os tratamentos, apresentando coeficiente de determinação (R2)elevado e raiz quadrada do erro quadrático médio (RMSE) baixa. De acordo com o teste de identidade de modelos não houve diferença significativa entre os modelos para os tratamentos utilizados, não havendo diferença no ganho de peso dos animais com a utilização de probióticos e/ou de aminoácidos.

SUMMARY The goal of this study was to analyze the weight gain of calves supplemented with probiotics and amino acids, through model identity analysis. There were utilized 64 catrated Canchin and Canchin x Nelore calves at 24 ± 1,8 months of age and initial average weight of 395,4 ± 10,5 Kg. The calves were kept on continuous grazing system in a Brachiária brizantha pasture. Four treatments were evaluated: witnesses (test); probiotic liquid (ProbL); probiotic liquid plus amino acids powder (ProbL+AAsPó); and probiotic liquid plus injectable amino acids, in a randomized experimental design with 16 animals by each treatment. The treatments, in turn, were compared trough identity model test, on R software. In order to represent the daily average weight gain over time, the logistic model with three parameters (L3p) was selected. The parameter’s estimates of the model were significant in every treatment, with high coefficient of determination (R2)and low root mean square error (RMSE). There was not significant difference between the models for the treatments, based on the identity model test. Therefore, there was no difference in weight gain by probiotics and/or amino acids utilization.

Abstract Approximately 5-10% of breast cancers are caused by germline mutations in high penetrance predisposition genes. Among these, BRCA1 and BRCA2, which are associated with the Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) syndrome, are the most frequently affected genes. Recent studies confirm that gene rearrangements, especially in BRCA1, are responsible for a significant proportion of mutations in certain populations. In this study we determined the prevalence of BRCA rearrangements in 145 unrelated Brazilian individuals at risk for HBOC syndrome who had not been previously tested for BRCA mutations. Using Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) and a specific PCR-based protocol to identify a Portuguese founder BRCA2 mutation, we identified two (1,4%) individuals with germline BRCA1 rearrangements (c.547+240_5193+178del and c.4675+467_5075-990del) and three probands with the c.156_157insAlu founder BRCA2 rearrangement. Furthermore, two families with false positive MLPA results were shown to carry a deleterious point mutation at the probe binding site. This study comprises the largest Brazilian series of HBOC families tested for BRCA1 and BRCA2 rearrangements to date and includes patients from three regions of the country. The overall observed rearrangement frequency of 3.44% indicates that rearrangements are relatively uncommon in the admixed population of Brazil.

Resumo: Rhodococcus equi é um patógeno intracelular facultativo, o qual causa pneumonia piogranulosa severa em potros e lesões semelhantes à tuberculose em humanos. A sua capacidade de formar biofilme foi descrita em cepas humanas, isoladas a partir de doenças crônicas associadas a falhas de tratamento. Este estudo teve como objetivo verificar a formação de biofilme por 113 cepas de R. equi, isoladas a partir de amostras de equinos (clínicas e fecais), utilizando-se dois diferentes métodos (biofilme em cultura - com e sem adição de glicose - e microscopia de epifluorescência). Além disso, buscou-se determinar a eficácia da azitromicina, claritromicina e eritromicina sobre biofilme consolidado de R. equi. Verificou-se 80,5% (26/41) e 63% dos isolados (58/72) positivos para formação de biofilme, em amostras fecais e clínicas, respectivamente. A adição de glicose amentou a formação de biofilme em amostras fecais, mas não em amostras clínicas. Os antimicrobianos aqui testados não foram capazes de erradicar R. equi em biofilme consolidado, mesmo em concentrações elevadas. Este é o primeiro estudo a demonstrar a formação de biofilme por cepas de R. equi isoladas a partir de amostras de equinos. Os resultados indicam que os isolados de R. equi produtores de biofilme podem ser mais resistentes aos antimicrobianos avaliados. Estudos adicionais são necessários para testar essa hipótese.

Abstract: Rhodococcus equi is a facultative intracellular pathogen, which cause severe pyogranulomatous pneumonia in foals and tuberculosis-like lesions in humans. Its ability to form biofilm was described in strains isolated from chronic diseases associated to treatment failures in humans. This study aimed to verify the biofilm formation by 113 R. equi isolated from equine samples (clinical and fecal) using two different methods (biofilm-culturing with and without additional glucose and epifluorescence microscopy). We also aimed to determine the efficacy of azithromycin, clarithromycin and erythromycin on R. equi in established biofilm. We found 80.5% (26/41) and 63% (58/72) biofilm-positive isolates, in fecal and clinical samples, respectively. The additional glucose increased the biofilm formation by R. equi fecal samples, but not by clinical samples. The antimicrobials tested herein were not able to eradicate R. equi in biofilm even at higher concentrations. This is the first study showing the biofilm formation by R. equi isolated from equine samples. Our findings indicate that R. equi biofilm-producers may be more resistant to the antimicrobials evaluated. Further studies are warranted to test this hypothesis.

The most frequent epigenetic alterations in Wilms tumor (WT) occur at WT2, assigned to 11p15. WT2 consists of two domains: telomeric domain 1 (DMRH19) that contains the IGF2 gene and an imprinted maternally expressed transcript (H19) and centromeric domain 2 (KvDMR) that contains the genes KCNQ1, KCNQ1OT1 and CDKN1C. In this work, we used pyrosequencing and MS-MLPA to compare the methylation patterns of DMRH19/KvDMR in blood and tumor samples from 40 WT patients. Normal constitutional KvDMR methylation indicated that most of the epigenetic alterations in WT occur at DMRH19. Constitutional DMRH19 hypermethylation (HM DMRH19) was observed in two patients with Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Pyrosequencing and MS-MLPA showed HM DMRH19 in 28/34 tumor samples: 16/34 with isolated HM DMRH19 and 12/34 with concomitant HM DMRH19 and KvDMR hypomethylation, indicating paternal uniparental disomy. With the exception of one blood sample, the MS-MLPA and pyrosequencing findings were concordant. Diffuse or focal anaplasia was present in five tumor samples and was associated with isolated somatic HM DMRH19 in four of them. Constitutional 11p15 methylation abnormalities were present in 5% of the samples and somatic abnormalities in the majority of tumors. Combined analysis of DMRH19/KvDMR by pyrosequencing and MS-MLPA is beneficial for characterizing epigenetic anomalies in WT, and MS-MLPA is useful and reliable for estimation of DNA methylation in a clinical setting.

Caracterización molecular y germinación de semillas de maíces criollos azules con envejecimiento acelerado. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar el efecto del envejecimiento acelerado en semillas de variedades criollas de maíz azul. En los laboratorios de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México y del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, semillas de cuatro variedades criollas de maíz azul (Cuijingo, Cocotitlán, Puebla y Oaxaca), se sometieron a dos tipos de envejecimie nto acelerado: calor húmedo (41°C, 72 horas y 100% h. r.) y calor seco (60°C, 48 horas). Se evaluaron: protrusión radicular de 0 a 72 horas de imbibición y, a los siete días de incubación a 25°C, plántulas normales, anormales y semillas muertas. Se obtuvo la caracterización molecular de los tratamientos mediante la RAPD y se construyeron los dendogramas respectivos. En plántulas normales provenientes de semillas sin envejecimiento acelerado, las variedades Oaxaca y Puebla fueron significativamente superiores. El peso seco en las plántulas disminuyó con el deterioro, siendo exigua con calor seco. La presencia de plántulas anormales se incrementó con ambos tipos de deterioro en el orden: Oaxaca, Puebla, Cocotitlán y Cuijingo. La diferenciación de los perfiles de bandeo entre semillas testigo y deterioradas ocurrió con la secuencia: Oaxaca (31,6%), Cocotitlán (25,8%), Puebla (19,6%) y Cuijingo (18,6%). Estos valores de similitud, a los cuales se ramificaron los perfiles genómicos, se asociaron de manera inversa con el nivel de vigor de las semillas, y directamente con la presencia de anormalidades en las plántulas obtenidas.

Molecular characterization and seed germination of blue corn landraces with accelerated aging. The objective of this work was to determine the effect of accelerated aging on seeds of blue corn landraces. The study was conducted in the laboratorie s of National Polytechnic Institute and National University of México. See ds of four blue corn landraces (Cuijingo, Cocotitlán, Puebla and Oaxaca), were subjected to accelerated aging treatments: humid heat (HH, 41°C, 72 h, and 100% r. h.), and dry heat (DH, 60°C, 48 h. The parameters measured were: radicle protrusion (RP) in at 0 to 72 h of imbibition, and after seven days of incubation at 25°C, normal seedlings (NS), abnormal seedlings (AS), and dead seeds (DS) were counted. The molecular characterization by RAPD was also performed and the respective dendrograms were constructed. In normal seedlings obtained from seeds without accelerated ageing, the varieties Oaxaca and Puebla were significantly superior. Seedling dry weight diminished with deterioration, being minimum under dry heat. The number of abnormal seedlings increased under both deterioration treatments, in the order Oaxaca, Puebla, Cocotitlán and Cuijingo. Differentiation of the band profiles among control and deteriorated seeds occurred in the sequence: Oaxaca (31,6%), Cocotitlán (25,8%), Puebla (19,6%) and Cuijingo (18,6%). These similarity values were inversely related to seed vigour, and irectly related to the presence of abnormalities in seedlings.

BRCA1 mutations are known to be responsible for the majority of hereditary breast and ovarian cancers in women with early onset and a family history of the disease. In this paper we present a mutational survey conducted in 47 Brazilian patients with breast/ovarian cancer, selected based on age at diagnosis, family history, tumor laterality, and presence of breast cancer in male patients. All 22 coding exons and intron-exon junctions were sequenced. Constitutional mutations were found in seven families, consisting of one insertion (insC5382) in exon 20 (four patients), one four base-pair deletion (3450-3453delCAAG) in exon 11 resulting in a premature stop codon (one patient), one transition (IVS17+2T> C) in intron 17 affecting a mRNA splicing site (one patient), and a C> T transition resulting in a stop-codon (Q1135X) in exon 11 (one patient). The identification of these mutations which are associated to hereditary breast and ovarian cancers will contribute to the characterization of the mutational spectrum of BRCA1 and to the improvement of genetic counseling for familial breast/ovarian cancer patients in Brazil.

Information on the distribution and synanthropic behaviour of triatomines is essential for Chagas disease vector control. This work summarises such information from northern Peru, and presents new data on Rhodnius ecuadoriensis - an important local vector infesting 10-35% of dwellings in some zones. Three species are strongly synanthropic and may be suitable targets for chemical control of domestic/peridomestic bug populations. Panstrongylus herreri, the main domestic vector in the area, is probably present in sylvatic ecotopes in the Marañón river system. R. ecuadoriensis and Triatoma dimidiata seem exclusively domestic; biogeographical and ecological data suggest they might have spread in association with humans in northern Peru. Confirmation of this hypothesis would result in a local eradication strategy being recommended. Presence of trypanosome natural infection was assessed in 257 R. ecuadoriensis; Trypanosoma rangeli was detected in 4% of bugs. Six further triatomine species are potential disease vectors in the region (T. carrioni, P. chinai, P. rufotuberculatus, P. geniculatus, R. pictipes, and R. robustus), whilst Eratyrus mucronatus, E. cuspidatus, Cavernicola pilosa, Hermanlentia matsunoi, and Belminus peruvianus have little or no epidemiological significance. A strong community-based entomological surveillance system and collaboration with Ecuadorian public health authorities and researchers are recommended.

Previous studies showed that two groups of Trypanosoma cruzi clonal genotypes named clonet 20 and clonet 39 were predominant in Triatoma infestans, the unique vector of Chagas disease in Bolivia. These groups of clones correspond to distinct genetic clusters. These clonets were detected in T. infestans and Rhodnius pictipes fecal samples before isolation and after culture by kDNA PCR (polymerase chain rreaction) and hybridization of the amplified products with clonet specific kDNA probes named 20 and 39 as previously reported. Forty eight T. infestans and three R. pictipes infected insects captured at random in different Bolivian departments were proceeded. As previously reported the direct identification of the two major clonets in fecal samples allowed the detection of abundant mixed infections: 41% in the original sample, however after culture, only 6% of mixed infections were detected. Among the 21 parasite stocks isolated from digestive tracts where mixed infections were initially detected (clonet 20 + 39) clonet 20 alone was detected in 81% of them. This result clearly showed that the culture step selected clonet 20 parasites over those belonging to clonet 39. The taxonomic status of the isolated stocks was also confirmed by isoenzyme typing, and correlation was observed between clustering topology and hybridization patterns with the probes 20 and 39.