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In September 2022, symptoms of leaf anthracnose were observed on desert rose (Adenium obesum) plants distributed in parks and gardens in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. Two morphotypes of Colletotrichum isolates were obtained from symptomatic tissues. Based on morphological characterization in combination with multilocus phylogenetic analyses including data from internal transcribed spacer, actin, glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase, and β‐tubulin, and pathogenicity tests, it was confirmed that C. siamense and C. truncatum are the causal agents of the disease. This is the first report of C. siamense and C. truncatum causing leaf anthracnose in desert rose worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Faunal remains from archeological sites worldwide, especially feces and regurgitated pellets, are usually subjected to paleoparasitological examination, allowing the identification of past animal parasites. In this study, we analyzed 10 samples of South American camelid dung, which played an important role for the ancient human groups in the South‐Central Andes, dated between 341 and 1635 calCE, from the Iluga Túmulos site (Pampa del Tamarugal, Tarapacá region, Atacama Desert, Chile). Microscopy examination revealed parasite remains in seven samples, in which oocysts of Eimeria macusaniensis and eggs of Lamanema chavezi/Nematodirus lamae, Trichuris sp., Moniezia sp., capillariids, strongylids, and unidentified nematodes were found. Although some of these species pose a potential health risk to camelids, most are not considered to be of major zoonotic importance, which could explain the absence of these parasites on human coprolites from this site analyzed previously. This first paleoparasitological study on camelid fecal remains from northern Chile sheds light on the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites and its relationship with Andean ancient human populations and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: We explore physical activity in early farming societies of Central Chile during the Early Ceramic and Late Intermediate Periods (200–1450 CE), a time of technological changes and intensification of food production. The existence of differences in entheseal changes (EC) between females and males is evaluated in two periods with different subsistence strategies. Material and methods: EC were recorded with method in the upper and lower limbs of 56 male and female adult individuals from the Early Ceramic Period (ECP) and Late Intermediate Period (LIP). Hierarchical multiple factor analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal components were performed using an exploratory approach. Results: In all the analyzed limbs, the EC scores are higher in males than females, which may be explained by sexual dimorphism. A constant overlap in the variability of the EC among males and females is observed. However, the EC scores show a different pattern of variability when comparing ECP females with LIP females. The results show that the scores increase in the latter. In contrast, when comparing ECP males with LIP males scores decrease in the later period. Discussion: Physical activity in the societies of Central Chile with incipient agriculture did not vary by sex or during the timeframe studied. Nevertheless, the interaction between sex‐period and the variability pattern of the EC from one period to another suggests different ways of doing similar physical activities or different emphases for similar biomechanical actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The left ventricle (LV) journey in their transition from hypertrophy to heart failure is marked by many subcellular events partially understood yet. The moment in which the structural abnormalities reach the umbral to induce myocardial dysfunction remains elusive. Aims: To evaluate the anatomic‐functional relationship between LV wall thickness and longitudinal systolic dysfunction. Material and methods: We prospectively performed clinical assessment and transthoracic echocardiogram on healthy individuals and hypertensive patients with left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥50% and absence of heart failure symptoms. Results: A total of 226 patients and 101 healthy individuals were recruited. The distribution for sex was similar between groups. The mean age was 67±13 years old in the patients, and 44% had concentric LV hypertrophy. LVEF was identical in both groups (63±6%); in contrast, global longitudinal strain (GLS) (‐18.8±2.5% vs ‐20.4±2%) and mitral annulus plane systolic excursion (MAPSE) (13.8±2.8 vs 15.5±2 mm) were lower. ROC curve optimally classified decreased GLS with LV septum thickness ≥13 mm and decreased MAPSE with thickness ≥14 mm. Multivariable logistic regression found that LV septum thickness is the only variable associated with longitudinal systolic dysfunction (OR = 1.1, CI95% = 1.05 – 1.15, P = 0.001, R squared =.38). Discussion: A progressive increase in LV wall thickness due to myocyte hypertrophy and interstitial expansion is associated with LV systolic longitudinal dysfunction. Conclusions: : Patients with moderate or severe ventricular hypertrophy (septum ≥13 mm) had longitudinal systolic dysfunction, GLS decreases with minor structural change than MAPSE, and LVEF is insensitive in detecting longitudinal myocardial dysfunction in patients with hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The clinical evolution of solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) remains unclear. Although various clinical, morphological and molecular criteria may indicate increased risk of malignancy, some SFT can still progress despite having a clearly benign appearance. Various risk stratification systems have been proposed, but unfortunately they are not sufficient to precisely determine the malignant potential. In this review, we discuss current knowledge on SFT, focusing on the following controversial issues: (i) the diverse morphologic spectrum: 'the great simulator;' (ii) malignant transformation or dedifferentiation; (iii) current risk stratification systems; and (iv) molecular factors associated with clinical evolution. The morphological spectrum of SFT and the list of differential diagnoses continue to expand. Both have increased considerably since the first descriptions of specific molecular alterations. A classification of malignant SFT should not be based on histology alone. The correlation of all pathological and molecular factors is recommended; its inclusion in risk stratification systems may help to improve diagnosis and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/aim: As reported in the literature by several authors, there is a great variation between countries in terms of etiology and patterns of mandibular fractures. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of mandibular fractures at the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Unit, "Dr. Domingo Luciani" Hospital, Venezuela, during the period January 2010 to March 2013.Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted to assess the etiology of trauma, age group, gender, anatomic distribution of injury, and combination patterns by reviewing patients records.Results: There were 334 patients with 522 mandibular fractures averaging 1.56 fractures per patient. Eighty-five percent of the patients were males with an overall male: female ratio of 6.15:1. The highest occurrence of trauma was in the 20-29 years (43.4%) age group. The etiology most frequently observed was motorcycle traffic accidents in 94 patients (28.1%), and the parasymphysis region was the most common location with 144 (27.6%) fractures. Almost half (48.8%) of the injuries were combined mandibular fractures with 29 different combinations, and the most common was a mandibular body fracture + parasymphysis fracture (22.1%).Conclusion: Mandibular fracture is a common facial injury with variable incidence and etiology across gender and age range. The findings of this study are similar to other studies and provide important clinical information that will assist in the treatment planning of these types of injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Surface motility and biofilm formation are behaviours which enable bacteria to infect their hosts and are controlled by different chemical signals. In the plant symbiotic alpha‐proteobacterium Sinorhizobium meliloti, the lack of long‐chain fatty acyl‐coenzyme A synthetase activity (FadD) leads to increased surface motility, defects in biofilm development and impaired root colonization. In this study, analyses of lipid extracts and volatiles revealed that a fadD mutant accumulates 2‐tridecanone (2‐TDC), a methylketone (MK) known as a natural insecticide. Application of pure 2‐TDC to the wild‐type strain phenocopies the free‐living and symbiotic behaviours of the fadD mutant. Structural features of the MK determine its ability to promote S. meliloti surface translocation, which is mainly mediated by a flagella‐independent motility. Transcriptomic analyses showed that 2‐TDC induces differential expression of iron uptake, redox and stress‐related genes. Interestingly, this MK also influences surface motility and impairs biofilm formation in plant and animal pathogenic bacteria. Moreover, 2‐TDC not only hampers alfalfa nodulation but also the development of tomato bacterial speck disease. This work assigns a new role to 2‐TDC as an infochemical that affects important bacterial traits and hampers plant–bacteria interactions by interfering with microbial colonization of plant tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UV-B is a high-energy component of the solar radiation perceived by the plant and induces a number of modifications in plant growth and development, including changes in flowering time. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these changes are largely unknown. In the present work, we demonstrate that Arabidopsis plants grown under white light supplemented with UV-B show a delay in flowering time, and this developmental reprogramming is mediated by the UVR8 photoreceptor. Using a combination of gene expression analyses and UV-B irradiation of different flowering mutants, we gained insight into the pathways involved in the observed flowering time delay in UV-B-exposed Arabidopsis plants. We provide evidence that UV-B light downregulates the expression of MSI1 and CLF, two of the components of the polycomb repressive complex 2, which in consequence drives a decrease in H3K27me3 histone methylation of MIR156 and FLC genes. Modification in the expression of several flowering time genes as a consequence of the decrease in the polycomb repressive complex 2 activity was also determined. UV-B exposure of flowering mutants supports the involvement of this complex in the observed delay in flowering time, mostly through the age pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The cardiovascular manifestations of Marfan syndrome (MFS) are the main causes of morbidity and mortality. This study describes the clinical and echocardiographic findings in a Mestizo-Mexican population affected by the disease. Methods: A total of 166 patients previously diagnosed with MFS were recruited for the study, 114 of them underwent complete clinical history, with emphasis on Ghent nosology criteria, and transthoracic echocardiography, with 68 patients also undergoing transesophageal study. Results: Major cardiovascular criteria from the Ghent nosology predominated in adults (P < 0.0001), minor criteria in children (P = 0.007). Among pediatric patients, 83% had a New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class of I; however, 64% of the adult patients had an NYHA class ≥II, (P < 0.0001). Corrected aortic echocardiographic measurements of both groups demonstrated statistically significant differences. Children had a greater prevalence of mitral valve prolapse, while adults more frequently presented with aortic complications. Seven patients died during follow-up from aortic complications, one child and six adults. Conclusions: Based on the data, we can conclude that MFS in the Mestizo-Mexican population has a distinctly different clinical pattern in children and adults, and a graver prognosis in adults. Adult patients with MFS are significantly more likely, than children, to have aortic dilation, aortic aneurysm, aortic regurgitation, aneurysm rupture, aortic dissection, and fatal outcome. Children with MFS are more likely, than adults, to present with asymptomatic mitral and tricuspid prolapse and mitral valve regurgitation. (Echocardiography 2010;27:923-930) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) and tuberculosis (TB) have been associated with major histocompatibility complex genes, especially HLA-B alleles. However, different HLA-B alleles have been detected in these diseases. The aim of the study was to compare the distribution of the residues 63 and 67 on the HLA-B molecule in patients with TA and TB in order to establish a genetic relationship between these two diseases. HLA-B sequences obtained in 30 patients with TB were compared to those previously reported in TA and healthy controls. 8 out of 30 TB patients studied (26.6%) presented at least one allele with glutamic acid at position 63 and serine at position 67. This was observed in 73% of the TA patients ( p = 0.0005). Ten TB (10/30 = 33.3%) and two TA patients (2/26 = 7.7%) did not show similarity at the mentioned positions ( p = 0.019). This preliminary study suggests a difference in the distribution of the residues 63 and 67 of the HLA-B alleles in patients with TA and TB. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a primary vasculitis that causes stenosis or occlusion, rarely aneurysm and distal ischemia. This study was undertaken to examine cardiovascular damage using echocardiography and determine the causes of morbid-mortality in Mexican Mestizo patients with TA. Seventy-six patients were studied by transthoracic echocardiography. Left ventricular diameters, parietal thickness, systolic function, and wall motion were analyzed, also, valvular lesions and aorta features were assessed. Thickness of the interventricular septum was 12 mm ± 3 (8–19), and that of posterior wall was 12 mm ± 2 (9–18). The average left ventricular diastolic diameter was 47 mm ± 7 (33–68) and the left ventricular systolic diameter 32 mm ± 8 (16–64). The left ventricular ejection fraction was of 57 ± 11%. Left ventricular concentric hypertrophy was found in 28 (50%) of the 56 hypertensive patients. The five-year survival of patients with left ventricular concentric hypertrophy was 80%, compared to 95% in patients without hypertrophy (P = 0.00). Abnormal wall motion was found in 15 patients. Thirty-one patients had aortic regurgitation, 19 had mitral regurgitation, 13 had tricuspid regurgitation, and 10 and pulmonary hypertension. Six patients had aneurysms of ascending aorta and 7 stenosis of descending aorta. Thirteen of 76 patients died (17%), 85% were hypertensive, and 9% also had a cute myocardial infarction (AMI). Echocardiography, a noninvasive technique, shows a great utility in detection and follow-up of cardiovascular manifestations in patients with TA. New techniques, more sensitive toward detecting the early stages of left ventricular dysfunction, are promising to limit left ventricular hypertrophy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The incidence of coronary arteries lesion in Takayasu's arteritis varies from 9% to 10% and is usually discovered at autopsy. Recent studies have demonstrated the value of echocardiography in noninvasive detection of significant coronary stenosis. Aim: The aim of our study was to evaluate coronary reserve in 15 patients with Takayasu's arteritis using contrast transesophageal echocardiography (Optison). Methods: Transesophageal echocardiogram under basal conditions and in the hyperemic phase with dipyridamole challenge, myocardial perfusion studies and coronary angiography were performed on all patients. Seventy-three percent of them had histories of systemic hypertension, and the most frequent cardiovascular symptoms were shortness of breath (80%), headache (46%), angina (40%), and dizziness (33%). Results: The transthoracic echocardiogram showed left ventricular systolic dysfunction in 6% and diastolic dysfunction in 53%. Aortic regurgitation was found in 67% of the patients, and 60% had mitral and/or tricuspid regurgitation. Coronary reserve was diminished in 3 patients with significant coronary lesions and in 2 patients with coronary dilation (33%). In the 3 patients with obstructive lesions and diminished coronary reserve, reversible perfusion defects were found with thallium-201 single-photon emission computed tomography. One patient with coronary dilation had normal perfusion, while the other demonstrated reversible and irreversible perfusion defects. One patient without coronary lesions and with normal coronary reserve had an irreversible fibrotic changes and the other reversible defects due to abnormal microcirculation. Conclusions: Transesophageal echocardiography is a feasible and promising technique for assessing coronary reserve in patients with Takayasu's arteritis. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 22, August 2005) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data obtained, using a polygraphic technique, on the characteristics of the motor and genital copulatory responses of male rabbits, rats, mice, hamsters, and guinea pigs are reviewed. This methodology provided detailed information, not accessible to other analyses, on the frequency and dynamic organization of copulatory pelvic thrusting trains of the species studied. This comparative analysis showed that: (1) The male rat may display two types of ejaculatory responses, differing in the dynamic organization of the pelvic thrusting train, and in the duration of the intravaginal thrusting period preceding ejaculation. (2) In the guinea pigs and small rodents, but not in rabbits, pelvic thrusting at ejaculatory responses persists during intromission, and a period of fast intravaginal thrusting is associated with ejaculation. (3) The motor copulatory pattern of the rabbit, but not of the rat, hamster, or guinea pig, is affected by castration and hormone treatment, suggesting that, in rabbits, androgen acts both on motivation and on the spinal neural systems related to copulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Swarming is a form of bacterial translocation that involves cell differentiation and is characterized by a rapid and co-ordinated population migration across solid surfaces. We have isolated a Tn5 mutant of Sinorhizobium meliloti GR4 showing conditional swarming. Swarm cells from the mutant strain QS77 induced on semi-solid minimal medium in response to different signals are hyperflagellated and about twice as long as wild-type cells. Genetic and physiological characterization of the mutant strain indicates that QS77 is altered in a gene encoding a homologue of the FadD protein (long-chain fatty acyl-CoA ligase) of several microorganisms. Interestingly and similar to a less virulent Xanthomonas campestris fadD(rpfB) mutant, QS77 is impaired in establishing an association with its host plant. In trans expression of multicopy fadD restored growth on oleate, control of motility and the symbiotic phenotype of QS77, as well as acyl-CoA synthetase activity of an Escherichia coli fadD mutant. The S. meliloti QS77 strain shows a reduction in nod gene expression as well as a differential regulation of motility genes in response to environmental conditions. These data suggest that, in S. meliloti , fatty acid derivatives may act as intracellular signals controlling motility and symbiotic performance through gene expression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: • The involvement of lipoxygenase and antioxidant enzyme activities as well as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation are reported during early infection steps in alfalfa (Medicago sativa) roots inoculated either with a wild type Sinorhizobium meliloti or with a mutant defective in Nod‐factor synthesis (Nod C−).• Compatibility between M. sativa and Rhizobium correlates, at least in part, with an increase in the activities of these enzymes, particularly catalase and lipoxygenase, during the preinfection period (up to 12 h). The mutant strain, defective in Nod‐factor biosynthesis, showed a decrease in all enzyme activities assayed, and an increase in H2O2 accumulation.• Enhancement of scavenging activities for several reactive oxygen species correlated with compatibility of the S. meliloti–alfalfa symbiosis, whereas the Nod C− strain triggered a defence response. Nod factors were essential to suppress this response.• Increase in lipoxygenase and lipid hydroperoxide decomposing activities, observed during the first hours after inoculation with a compatible strain, could be related to tissue differentiation and/or the production of signal molecules involved in autoregulation of nodulation by the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND RESULTS CONCLUSION Extrusion cooking of cereal‐legume flour mixture is an innovative strategy to introduce nutrient‐enriched ready‐to‐eat snacks to the market. However, this thermal process triggers the formation of compounds that could impact safety aspects of these products. Maillard reaction markers and the end products known as melanoidins were evaluated to assess the toxicological and bioactive profiles of extruded snacks from corn‐plus‐common‐bean‐flour combinations. Different molecular weight fractions were isolated and purified to analyze their antioxidant activity and to investigate the role of melanoidins.The snack formulated with an 84:16 ratio of corn:common bean flours exhibited an enhanced toxicological profile. It displayed the lowest levels of acrylamide and furanic compounds, along with reduced blockage of lysine residues in the protein. Extrusion increased the antioxidant activity of uncooked flours (30 to 64%) and total phenolic compounds (26 to 50%), and decreased the available lysine (−72.7 to −79.5%). During the fractionation process, it was established that compounds within the range of 3–10 kDa made the greatest contribution to antioxidant activity. The fraction greater than 10 kDa, which included melanoidins, displayed 7 to 33% lower antioxidant activity. The purification of the fraction greater than 10 kDa revealed that pure melanoidins represented approximately one‐third of the antioxidant activity in that fraction. Non‐covalent adducts linked to the melanoidin core therefore had a relevant role in the antioxidant action of formulated snacks.This investigation illustrates the importance of considering both potential risks and associated benefits of compounds formed during the Maillard reaction while developing new extruded snacks. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Ultrasonography of the peripheral nervous system in the early stage of Guillain-Barré syndrome" by A. Grimm, B. Decard, and H. Axer published in a 2014 issue of the "Journal of Peripheral Nervous System."