Search

Detailed knowledge of a regional avifauna provides a useful baseline to examine temporal trends in species richness and population sizes, which is useful to update bird conservation status and to develop management programs. Our aim is to update the list of birds inhabiting the city of Xalapa and to provide specific information on recently added records as previously published by González-García et al. (2014). Here, we add twelve new records for Xalapa city, for which we present detailed information; we further include 48 species with information relevant to the urban area of Xalapa city. All new records are of two resident and ten neotropical migrant species (i.e., Anas clypeata, Aythya collaris, Aythya americana, Podiceps nigricollis, Botaurus lentiginosus, Elanoides forficatus, Laterallus ruber, Porzana carolina, Tringa solitaria, Chlidonias niger, Ridgwayia pinicola, Setophaga nigrescens). Considering the species reported here, the total number of bird species reported for the city of Xalapa in the last three decades increases from 329 to 341. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines the etiology of esophageal symptoms in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients failing antifungal treatment. Common occurrence of esophageal disorders in HIV patients; Absence of endoscopic abnormalities in some patients; Most common cause of esophageal symptoms in HIV patients; Test of choice for the nonresponders.

Evaluates the cytomegalovirus (CMV) esophagitis' response to ganciclovir therapy. Relapse rate without maintenance therapy; Cause of morbidity in patients with AIDS; Calculation of confidence intervals for response and relapse.

Se informa el primer registro visual y vocal fuera de su área actual de distribución en Veracruz, del Picogordo cuello rojo (Rhodothraupis celaeno), especie endémica del noreste de México. El nuevo registro en Chavarrillo, representa la localidad más sureña en la distribución de esta especie en el estado de Veracruz y en México. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new prototype common rail injector featuring a complete new nozzle design concept was exhaustively characterized both from the hydraulic and spray formation point of view. A commercial injection rate meter together with a spray momentum test rig were used to determine the flow characteristics at the nozzle exit. A novel high pressure and high temperature chamber (up to 15 MPa and 1000 K) was used to determine liquid length and vapor penetration. Using these tools, three different pintle nozzle designs, with specific features in the outlet section, were studied. The test matrix included a sweep of injection pressure up to 2000 bar and a sweep of ambient temperature up to 950 K. The results obtained show that pintle nozzles offer great potential in terms of fuel mass flux controlled by variable nozzle geometry. Effects in the hydraulic measurements and spray images due to the variable geometry were observed and characterized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular tumors are among the most common neoplasms in infants and children; 5%–10% of newborns present with or develop lesions within the first 3 months of life. Most are benign infantile hemangiomas that typically regress by 5 years of age; other vascular tumors include congenital tufted angiomas (TAs), kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas (KHEs), and childhood lobular capillary hemangiomas (LCHs). Some of these lesions can become locally invasive and unresponsive to pharmacologic intervention, leading to significant complications. Recent investigation has revealed that activating mutations in HRAS , KRAS , NRAS , GNAQ , and GNA11 can cause certain types of rare childhood vascular tumors, and we have now identified causal recurrent somatic activating mutations in GNA14 by whole-exome and targeted sequencing. We found somatic activating GNA14 c.614A>T (p.Gln205Leu) mutations in one KHE, one TA, and one LCH and a GNA11 c.547C>T (p.Arg183Cys) mutation in two LCH lesions. We examined mutation pathobiology via expression of mutant GNA14 or GNA11 in primary human endothelial cells and melanocytes. GNA14 and GNA11 mutations induced changes in cellular morphology and rendered cells growth-factor independent by upregulating the MAPK pathway. Our findings identify GNA14 mutations as a cause of childhood vascular tumors, offer insight into mechanisms of oncogenic transformation by mutations affecting Gaq family members, and identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on whole-exome sequencing (WES) of 213 melanomas. Our analysis established NF1, encoding a negative regulator of RAS, as the third most frequently mutated gene in melanoma, after BRAF and NRAS. Inactivating NF1 mutations were present in 46% of melanomas expressing wild-type BRAF and RAS, occurred in older patients and showed a distinct pattern of co-mutation with other RASopathy genes, particularly RASA2. Functional studies showed that NF1 suppression led to increased RAS activation in most, but not all, melanoma cases. In addition, loss of NF1 did not predict sensitivity to MEK or ERK inhibitors. The rebound pathway, as seen by the induction of phosphorylated MEK, occurred in cells both sensitive and resistant to the studied drugs. We conclude that NF1 is a key tumor suppressor lost in melanomas, and that concurrent RASopathy gene mutations may enhance its role in melanomagenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess two zona drilling methods in terms of blastocyst development rates using sister embryos. Design: Prospective, randomized study. Sister embryos of 14 patients were randomly assigned on day 3 to acidified Tyrode’s zona drilling or to laser zona drilling. After biopsy, subsequent embryo culture until the blastocyst stage (day 5) was performed. Setting: Private fertility center. Patient(s): Patients undergoing IVF–preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Intervention(s): Embryo biopsy using either laser-assisted hatching or acidified Tyrode’s hatching on sibling embryos and subsequent blastocyst development evaluation. Main Outcome Measure(s): Evaluation of blastocyst development in terms of degree of expansion and cell number in the inner cell mass and trophectoderm. Result(s): Blastocyst development rates (and blastocyst quality) were similarly high in both the acidified Tyrode’s hatching group and the laser-assisted hatching group. Conclusion(s): Laser hatching does not impair embryonic development to the blastocyst stage, demonstrating that laser-assisted hatching is a suitable alternative to the use of acidified Tyrode’s solution for zona drilling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The objective of the present study was to compare a traditionally used bovine-derived hyaluronidase (Hyase) with the newly developed recombinant human-derived enzyme product (Cumulase) in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) procedures using a sibling oocyte model in a prospective randomized design. The results of the study demonstrate that Cumulase is safe and effective in an ICSI treatment program and can provide comparable if not improved parameters, including fertilization and embryo developmental rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]