Conservation of oceanic island floras: Present and future global challenges

Currentthreatstotheplanet’sbiodiversityareunprecedented,andtheyparticularlyimperilinsular floras.Inthisinvestigation,weusethethreatfactorsidentifiedbytheMillenniumEcosystem Assessmentasthemaindriversofbiodiversitylossonislandstodefineandrank13current,continuing threatstotheplantdiversityofninefocalarchipelagoswherevolcanicorigin(orintheSeychellesa prolongedisolationafteracontinentalorigin)hasproducedahighdegreeofendemicityandfragilityin the faceofhabitatalteration.Wealsoconductaglobalendangermentassessmentbasedonthe numbersofinsularendemicplantsintheendangered(EN)andcriticallyendangered(CR)IUCN categoriesfor53islandgroupswithanestimated9951endemicplantspecies,providinga representativesampleoftheworld’sinsularsystemsandtheirfloristicrichness.Ouranalysesindicate that isolationdoesnotsignificantlyinfluenceendangerment,butplantendemicsfromverysmall islandsaremoreoftencriticallyendangered.Weestimatethatbetween3500and6800oftheestimated 70,000 insularendemicplantspeciesworldwidemightbehighlythreatened(CR+EN)andbetweenca. 2000 and2800ofthemincriticaldangerofextinction(CR).Basedontheseanalyses,andona worldwideliteraturereviewofthebiologicalthreatfactorsconsidered,weidentifychallenging questionsforconservationresearch,asking(i)whatarethemosturgentprioritiesfortheconservation of insularspeciesandfloras,and(ii)withtheknowledgeandassetsavailable,howcanweimprovethe impactofconservationscienceandpracticeonthepreservationofislandbiodiversity?Ouranalysis indicatesthatthesynergisticactionofmanythreatfactorscaninducemajorecologicaldisturbances, leadingtomultipleextinctions.Wereviewweaknessesandstrengthsinconservationresearchand managementintheninefocalarchipelagos,andhighlighttheurgentneedforconservationscientiststo shareknowledgeandexpertise,identifyanddiscusscommonchallenges,andformulatemulti- disciplinaryconservationobjectivesforinsularplantendemicsworldwide.Toourknowledge,thisisthe mostup-to-dateandcomprehensivesurveyyettoreviewthethreatfactorstonativeplantsonoceanic islandsanddefinepriorityresearchquestions

Nabgwana Burba (La espiritualidad de la madre tierra o de la mola)

Objetivo general - Analizar los diferentes diseños de la mola kuna como medio de expresión del arte. - Crear o ilustrar diversos diseños de la mola como proceso creativo de los pueblos gunas. - Animar a los jóvenes gunas, hacia la investigación y para que conserven el tesoro que es la mola. Objetivo específicos - Elaborar los diferentes diseños de la mola guna como proceso artístico. - Aplicar diversos diseños de la mola guna en técnicas de impresiones. - Estimular a los jóvenes gunas para crear nuevos diseños y confecciones

Nabgwana Burba (La espiritualidad de la madre tierra o de la mola)

Objetivo general - Analizar los diferentes diseños de la mola kuna como medio de expresión del arte. - Crear o ilustrar diversos diseños de la mola como proceso creativo de los pueblos gunas. - Animar a los jóvenes gunas, hacia la investigación y para que conserven el tesoro que es la mola. Objetivo específicos - Elaborar los diferentes diseños de la mola guna como proceso artístico. - Aplicar diversos diseños de la mola guna en técnicas de impresiones. - Estimular a los jóvenes gunas para crear nuevos diseños y confecciones

Estímulo no crescimento e na hidrólise de ATP em raízes de alface tratadas com humatos de vermicomposto: i - efeito da concentração.

O vermicomposto contém uma concentração elevada de substâncias húmicas e já é bem conhecido o efeito do seu uso sobre as propriedades do solo. No entanto,a ação direta das substâncias húmicas sobre o metabolismo das plantas é menos conhecida. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o uso de humatos extraídos de vermicomposto de esterco de curral com KOH 0,1 mol L-1 sobre o desenvolvimento e metabolismo de ATP em plântulas de alface. Após a germinação, plântulas de alface foram tratadas com os humatos em concentrações que variaram de 0 a 100 mg L-1 de C, durante quinze dias. Foram avaliados o crescimento da raiz e a atividade das bombas de H+ isoladas da fração microssomal do sistema radicular. Foi observado aumento na matéria fresca e seca do sistema radicular, bem como no número de sítios de mitose, raízes emergidas do eixo principal, na área e no comprimento radiculares, com o uso do humato na concentração de 25 mg L-1 de C. Também foi observado, nessa concentração, aumento significativo na hidrólise de ATP pelas bombas de H+, responsáveis pela geração de energia necessária à absorção de íons e pelo crescimento celular

Antimicrobial consumption and resistance in adult hospital inpatients in 53 countries:results of an internet-based global point prevalence survey

Summary: Background: The Global Point Prevalence Survey (Global-PPS) established an international network of hospitals to measure antimicrobial prescribing and resistance worldwide. We aimed to assess antimicrobial prescribing and resistance in hospital inpatients. Methods: We used a standardised surveillance method to collect detailed data about antimicrobial prescribing and resistance from hospitals worldwide, which were grouped by UN region. The internet-based survey included all inpatients (adults, children, and neonates) receiving an antimicrobial who were on the ward at 0800 h on one specific day between January and September, 2015. Hospitals were classified as primary, secondary, tertiary (including infectious diseases hospitals), and paediatric hospitals. Five main ward types were defined: medical wards, surgical wards, intensive-care units, haematology oncology wards, and medical transplantation (bone marrow or solid transplants) wards. Data recorded included patient characteristics, antimicrobials received, diagnosis, therapeutic indication according to predefined lists, and markers of prescribing quality (eg, whether a stop or review date were recorded, and whether local prescribing guidelines existed and were adhered to). We report findings for adult inpatients. Findings: The Global-PPS for 2015 included adult data from 303 hospitals in 53 countries, including eight lower-middle-income and 17 upper-middle-income countries. 86 776 inpatients were admitted to 3315 adult wards, of whom 29 891 (34·4%) received at least one antimicrobial. 41 213 antimicrobial prescriptions were issued, of which 36 792 (89·3%) were antibacterial agents for systemic use. The top three antibiotics prescribed worldwide were penicillins with β-lactamase inhibitors, third-generation cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones. Carbapenems were most frequently prescribed in Latin America and west and central Asia. Of patients who received at least one antimicrobial, 5926 (19·8%) received a targeted antibacterial treatment for systemic use, and 1769 (5·9%) received a treatment targeting at least one multidrug-resistant organism. The frequency of health-care-associated infections was highest in Latin America (1518 [11·9%]) and east and south Asia (5363 [10·1%]). Overall, the reason for treatment was recorded in 31 694 (76·9%) of antimicrobial prescriptions, and a stop or review date in 15 778 (38·3%). Local antibiotic guidelines were missing for 7050 (19·2%) of the 36 792 antibiotic prescriptions, and guideline compliance was 77·4%. Interpretation: The Global-PPS showed that worldwide surveillance can be accomplished with voluntary participation. It provided quantifiable measures to assess and compare the quantity and quality of antibiotic prescribing and resistance in hospital patients worldwide. These data will help to improve the quality of antibiotic prescribing through education and practice changes, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries that have no tools to monitor antibiotic prescribing in hospitals. Funding: bioMérieux

The circulation of the lower Capibaribe Estuary (Brazil) and its implications for the transport of scalars

The Capibaribe Estuary is a water body that crosses the Recife Metropolitan Area (RMA), one of the largest population centers in Brazil, and causes large pollutant loads and poor water quality. The fresh water inflow of wastewater from the RMA can account for three times the volume of the river discharge during the low discharge period. This article assesses the hydrodynamics and potential transport of particulate and dissolved scalars in this estuary. A field experiment was conducted to record the water level, current velocity, salinity, temperature and suspended particulate matter (SPM) contents during a full semi-diurnal tidal cycle. This experiment was performed during low river discharge and spring tide conditions. The estuary showed a partially mixed circulation pattern. The residual transport of water and salt were up estuary, while the SPM residual transport was down estuary. The former were understood as the effect of the residual circulation around the islands, while the latter was interpreted as a morphological factor inducing greater resuspension during the ebb, despite the symmetrical ebb and flood currents. This mechanism may transport SPM to the inner shelf, even under tide-dominated conditions when the opposite would be expected.O estuário do Rio Capibaribe é um corpo de água que atravessa a Região Metropolitana de Recife (RMR), um dos maiores centros populacionais do Brasil, o que causa grande quantidade de carga de poluentes e baixa qualidade da água. A entrada de água doce a partir das águas residuais da RMR pode contabilizar mais de três vezes a contribuição fluvial durante o período de baixa descarga. Este artigo investiga a hidrodinâmica e o potencial transporte de escalares particulados e dissolvidos neste estuário. Um experimento de campo foi realizado para registrar nível da água, velocidade de corrente, salinidade, temperatura e material particulado em suspensão (MPS) durante um ciclo de maré semidiurno completo. O experimento foi realizado em condições de baixa descarga e em condições de maré de sizígia. O estuário apresentou padrão de circulação parcialmente estratificado. O transporte residual de água e sal foi estuário acima, enquanto que o transporte residual de MPS foi estuário abaixo. Os primeiros são entendidos como o efeito da complexa circulação ao redor das ilhas que formam o baixo estuário, enquanto que o último foi interpretado como devido a efeitos morfológicos que induzem à ressuspensão durante a vazante, a despeito da simetria entre correntes de enchente e vazante. Este mecanismo pode produzir transporte para a plataforma adjacente, mesmo durante períodos dominados pela maré, quando o oposto seria esperado

Discovery of host-directed modulators of virus infection by probing the SARS-CoV-2-host protein-protein interaction network

The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the need to better understand virus-host interactions. We developed a network-based method that expands the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2)-host protein interaction network and identifies host targets that modulate viral infection. To disrupt the SARS-CoV-2 interactome, we systematically probed for potent compounds that selectively target the identified host proteins with high expression in cells relevant to COVID-19. We experimentally tested seven chemical inhibitors of the identified host proteins for modulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in human cells that express ACE2 and TMPRSS2. Inhibition of the epigenetic regulators bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), along with ubiquitin-specific peptidase (USP10), enhanced SARS-CoV-2 infection. Such proviral effect was observed upon treatment with compounds JQ1, vorinostat, romidepsin and spautin-1, when measured by cytopathic effect and validated by viral RNA assays, suggesting that the host proteins HDAC2, BRD4 and USP10 have antiviral functions. We observed marked differences in antiviral effects across cell lines, which may have consequences for identification of selective modulators of viral infection or potential antiviral therapeutics. While network-based approaches enable systematic identification of host targets and selective compounds that may modulate the SARS-CoV-2 interactome, further developments are warranted to increase their accuracy and cell-context specificity.Peer reviewe

May Measurement Month 2019: An analysis of blood pressure screening results from Argentina

The Argentinean Society of Hypertension, in agreement with the May Measurement Month (MMM) initiative of the International Society of Hypertension, implemented for the third consecutive year a hypertension screening campaign. A volunteer cross-sectional survey was carried out in public spaces and health centres during the month of May 2019 across 33 cities in Argentina. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥140 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg based on the mean of the second and third BP measurements, or in those on treatment for high BP. A total of 94 523 individuals (53.9 ± 17.8 years old, 55 231women and 39 292 men), were evaluated. The age and sex standardized mean BP was 124.7/77.2 mmHg. Among participants, 34.7% were overweight (25-29.9 m/kg2) and 28.7% had obesity (≥30 m/kg2). Individuals identified as being overweight had BP 3/2 mmHg higher and individuals with obesity 6/4 mmHg higher than those with normal weight. The prevalence of hypertension was 52.5%. Although 81.1% were aware and 77.7% were on antihypertensive treatment, only 46.0% of all individuals with hypertension had their BP controlled. Moreover, 19.8% of those not on any antihypertensive medication were found with raised BP. The low level of control of hypertension generates the critical need for the development of community-based prevention strategies reinforcing strategies to increase the awareness and control of hypertension.Fil: Salazar, Martin Rogelio Enrique. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Garcia Vazquez, Fortunato. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Espeche, Walter. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Marquez, Diego. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Becerra, Pedro. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Martinez Marissi, Evangelina. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Sorasio, Viviana B.. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Staffieri, Gustavo J.. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Kalbermatter, Arnoldo. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: De Cerchio, Alejandro E.. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Beaney, Thomas. Imperial College London; Reino UnidoFil: Partington, Giles. Imperial College London; Reino UnidoFil: Poulter, Neil R.. Imperial College London; Reino UnidoFil: Marín, Marcos. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; ArgentinaFil: Ennis, Irene Lucia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Dr. Horacio Eugenio Cingolani". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Centro de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares "Dr. Horacio Eugenio Cingolani"; Argentina. Sociedad Argentina de Hipertensión Arterial; Argentin

Infección por Helicobacter pylori en pacientes sintomáticos con patología gastroduodenal benigna: Análisis de 5.664 pacientes

Infection with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is highly prevalent in Chile, but there are no systematic studies in patients with upper gastrointestinal symptoms. Aim: To determine the prevalence of H. pylori infection, according to age, gender and endoscopic pathology in a large sample of patients. Methods: We studied 7,893 symptomatic patients submitted to upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between July 1996 and December 2003 in the context of a screening program of gastric cancer in a high risk population. H. pylori infection was determined by rapid urease test (RUT) in antral mucosa. We excluded 158 patients with gastric cancer (2%) and 2,071 patients without RUT. Results: We included 5,664 patients, mean age 50.7 ± 13.9 years, women 72.1%. Endoscopic diagnoses were normal in 59.3%, erosive esophagitis in 20%, gastric ulcer (GU) in 8.1%, duodenal ulcer (DU) in 6.4%, and erosive gastropathy in 6.2%. RUT was positive in 78% of patients. After adjusting for age and sex and with respect to patients with normal endoscopy, frequency of H. pylori infection was 86.6% in DU (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-2.8, p < 0.001); 81.4% in GU (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.4-2.4; p < 0.001 ); 79.9% in erosive gastropathy (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.03-1.8; p = 0.03) and 77.4% in erosive esophagitis (OR 1.1, 95% CI: 0.9-1.3; p = NS). The probability of H. pylori infection decreased significantly with age, more markedly in men with normal endoscopy. Conclusions: Prevalence of H. pylori infection is very high in symptomatic Chilean patients and even higher in those with gastroduodenal ulcer or erosions, while in patients with erosive esophagitis is similar to those with normal endoscopy. The frequency of infection decreases with age, probably as a consequence of rising frequency of gastric mucosal atrophy

Linear and non-linear dependencies between copy number aberrations and mRNA expression reveal distinct molecular pathways in breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Elucidating the exact relationship between gene copy number and expression would enable identification of regulatory mechanisms of abnormal gene expression and biological pathways of regulation. Most current approaches either depend on linear correlation or on nonparametric tests of association that are insensitive to the exact shape of the relationship. Based on knowledge of enzyme kinetics and gene regulation, we would expect the functional shape of the relationship to be gene dependent and to be related to the gene regulatory mechanisms involved. Here, we propose a statistical approach to investigate and distinguish between linear and nonlinear dependences between DNA copy number alteration and mRNA expression.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We applied the proposed method to DNA copy numbers derived from Illumina 109 K SNP-CGH arrays (using the log R values) and expression data from Agilent 44 K mRNA arrays, focusing on commonly aberrated genomic loci in a collection of 102 breast tumors. Regression analysis was used to identify the type of relationship (linear or nonlinear), and subsequent pathway analysis revealed that genes displaying a linear relationship were overall associated with substantially different biological processes than genes displaying a nonlinear relationship. In the group of genes with a linear relationship, we found significant association to canonical pathways, including purine and pyrimidine metabolism (for both deletions and amplifications) as well as estrogen metabolism (linear amplification) and BRCA-related response to damage (linear deletion). In the group of genes displaying a nonlinear relationship, the top canonical pathways were specific pathways like PTEN and PI13K/AKT (nonlinear amplification) and Wnt(B) and IL-2 signalling (nonlinear deletion). Both amplifications and deletions pointed to the same affected pathways and identified cancer as the top significant disease and cell cycle, cell signaling and cellular development as significant networks.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This paper presents a novel approach to assessing the validity of the dependence of expression data on copy number data, and this approach may help in identifying the drivers of carcinogenesis.</p