Phenology of five tree species of a tropical dry forest in Yucatan, Mexico: effects of environmental and physiological factors

In order to relate phenological responses of trees to environmental variables we recorded the phenological patterns and select morphological and physiological traits (wood density and water potentials) of five tree species (Acacia gaumeri, Apoplanesia paniculata, Bursera simaruba, Gymnopodium floribundum, and Diospyros cuneata) in the tropical dry deciduous forest of the National Park of Dzibilchaltún, Yucatan, Mexico, over a period of 2 years (2004 and 2005). We chose two sites: one close to a permanent water source, locally known as ‘cenote’ (the CC site, ground water table was found at 2 m) and the other far from the cenote (FC site ground water table was at a depth of 10 m). Sites mainly differed in soil depth (FC site having greater soil depth) and soil nutrient characteristics (FC site more potassium, CC site more phosphorous). Our results indicated significant differences in phenology within species between sites and years, with leaf, flower and fruit production tending to be higher at the CC site and in the year 2004. Wood density and xylem water potentials were negatively related to each other, and midday water potentials were higher at the CC site. Differences in phenology found among years suggest that the timing of rainfall as well as the duration of periods without rain may play a more important role in phenology than total annual precipitation. Also differences inter-sites suggest a strong effect of site on tree phenology. Proximity to superficial bodies of water, such as cenotes, coupled with a greater concentration of available phosphorus in the soil may modify the effect of drought in this tropical dry deciduous forest.     

Psychological status and coping with illness in patients with malignant melanoma

Melanoma patients are subject to different degrees of psychosocial distress. The emotional impact of malignant melanoma can be long lasting and profound, with the most common reactions to melanoma being depression, anxiety and deterioration in quality of life. Coping styles have been shown to have a significant influence on patients' quality of life and their emotional reaction to the illness. The aim of this paper was to investigate the quality of life, emotional status and coping styles in patients with melanoma. 31 patients suffering from malignant melanoma were included in the study. Results of this study show that melanoma has a medium influence on patients' psychological status and quality of life. The most "constructive" coping style--problem focused coping is the mostly used style by the patients, which might be one of the reasons why the illness didn't have a more severe influence on patients' psychological status.     

Thrombin causes the Enrichment of Rat Brain Primary Cultures with Ependymal Cells Via Protease-Activated Receptor 1

Ependymal cell culture models from rat have been developed over the last 20 years to facilitate biochemical studies on this least-studied glial cell type. The cell culture protocol calls for the presence of thrombin, which is essential for obtaining a high proportion of multiciliated ependymal cells. The serine protease appears to act via protease-activated receptor 1 to prevent the apoptosis of ependymal precursors and enhance their proliferation without affecting contaminating cells. Unciliated precursors differentiate into polyciliated ependymocytes by passing through a stage of monociliation. The message for protease-activated receptor (PAR) 1 is initially abundant in the cultures, but its level declines as the cells differentiate. Besides PAR 1, signalling through PAR 2 also promotes ciliation in rat brain primary cultures, albeit to a lesser degree than the thrombin receptor. Thrombin and other proteases may be involved in the regulation of ventricular wall development. This action would be mediated mainly by PAR1.     

Effect of indole-3-butyric acid on phytoplasmas in infected Catharanthus roseus shoots grown in vitro

Phytoplasmas are noncultivable bacteria usually maintained in Catharanthus roseus shoots grown in vitro on MS medium with benzylaminopurine. The aim of our research was to examine the influence of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) on C. roseus shoots infected with three different phytoplasma strains. Supplement of IBA in the medium supported plant growth, photosynthesis and remission of symptoms in all phytoplasma-infected shoots, but had no effect on the presence of EY-C and SA-I phytoplasma strains in tested tissue. However, HYDB phytoplasma was undetectable in approximately half of the tested shoots grown on the medium with IBA. After 1 year of IBA treatment, HYDB-infected periwinkle shoots were retransferred to the medium supplemented with benzylaminopurine. Some of the shoots showing remission of symptoms during the IBA treatment permanently escaped the infection and remained negative when tested for phytoplasma presence. This is the first report on the differential influence of plant growth regulators on phytoplasma-infected C. roseus shoots.     

Complexity and integration in the control of inner-eardevelopment

A report on the Sixth Molecular Biology of Hearing and Deafness Conference, Hinxton, UK, 11-14 July 2007.     

Isolation of Brazilian marine fungi capable of growing on DDD pesticide

The fungi Aspergillus sydowii Ce15, Aspergillus sydowii Ce19, Aspergillus sydowii Gc12, Bionectria sp. Ce5, Penicillium miczynskii Gc5, Penicillium raistrickii Ce16 and Trichoderma sp. Gc1, isolated from marine sponges Geodia corticostylifera and Chelonaplysylla erecta, were evaluated for their ability to grow in the presence of DDD pesticide. Increasing concentrations of DDD pesticide, i.e., 5.0 mg (1.56 × 10⁻¹² mmol), 10.0 mg (3.12 × 10⁻² mmol) and 15.0 mg (4.68 × 10⁻² mmol) in solid and liquid culture media were tested. The fungi Trichoderma sp. Gc1 and Penicillium miczynskii Gc5 were able to grow in the presence of up to 15.0 mg of DDD, suggesting their potential for biodegradation. A 100% degradation of DDD was attained in liquid culture medium when Trichoderma sp. Gc1 was previously cultivated for 5 days and supplemented with 5.0 mg of DDD in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. However, the quantitative analysis showed that DDD was accumulated on mycelium and biodegradation level reached a maximum value of 58% after 14 days.     

Increased incidence of choroid plexus carcinoma due to the germline TP53 R337H mutation in southern Brazil

Background

Choroid plexus carcinomas (CPC) are rare tumors predominantly found in children. Given the high frequency of the germline R337H mutation in the TP53 gene in southern Brazil, we have evaluated the frequency of the R337H mutation in families with CPC in children.

Methodology/Principal Findings

The present series included 29 patients that were admitted to the same institution from 1992 to 2010, including 22 children with CPC (0.08–13.6 years of age at diagnosis) and 7 children with papilloma of the choroid plexus (Pp; 0.5–9.8 years of age). Surgical resection was possible in 28 children. Blood and/or tumor DNA was extracted and analyzed using PCR-RFLP and results were confirmed by sequencing 240 bp of the TP53 exon 10. The patients, all parents, and some relatives submitted samples for blood DNA analysis. In addition, we have also examined the presence of the mutation in DNA from paraffin-embedded tumor samples to evaluate loss of heterozygosity. We found 63.3% (14/22) of the CPC patients positive for the germline R337H mutation; CPC samples were either heterozygous (n = 7), lost only the wild-type (n = 4), or only the R337H copy (n = 2). One CPC sample was not available. All Pp cases (7/7, 100%) were negative for R337H. Cure (>5 years survival free of disease) was observed in 18.1% of the CPC cases with the R337H mutation (2/11), 71.4% of the Pp (5/7), and 25% of CPC cases negative for the R337H mutation (2/8). Family history of cancer (with 2 or more cancer cases) was exclusively identified on the parental side segregating the R337H mutation, and 50% (7/14) of them were compatible with Li-Fraumeni-like syndrome.

Significance

Our results show for the first time that the R337H TP53 mutation is responsible for 63% of the CPC cases in children, suggesting a higher incidence of CPC in southern Brazil.     

Cystitis cystica and recurrent urinary tract infections in children

The pathogenesis of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in preschool children with anatomically correct urinary tract (UT) is rather obscure. In girls, the bladder wall changes of cystitis cystica (CC) may be per se responsible for UTIs recurrence. During the 20-year period, 127 preschool children (125 girls; median age: 6.1 years) with CC, in whom UT anomalies were excluded, were diagnosed. The mean duration of UTIs symptoms prior to diagnosis was 3.31 +/- 2.51 years. Cystoscopical findings were labelled as mild, moderate and severe in 22.8%, 39.4% and 37.8% of patients, respectively. Following the confirmation of CC, long-term chemoprophylaxis with sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim/nitrofurantoin was administered. A one year UTI-free period after chemoprophylaxis discontinuation was defined as therapeutic success. With 2.5 years median duration of regular chemoprophylaxis this goal was achieved in 58 children mainly with mild/ moderate CC. Thirty children from "improved/unchanged" group taking regular prophylaxis had significant reduction of UTIs ("improved"). Only 12 children belonging to the same group taking regular prophylaxis and all children with irregular prophylaxis had approximately the same number of UTIs as before treatment ("unchanged"). The "improved/unchanged" outcomes were predominantly found in children with severe form of CC. Although urodynamic disturbances detected in more than 50% of patients in whom urodynamics was performed were not found influential on the disease outcome, they could be responsible for its development. The results of our study suggest that regular and long-lasting chemoprophylaxis remains a basis for successful treatment for majority of patients with CC, even those with severe forms. If not treated properly with chemoprophylactic agents and without fair compliance in taking drugs, the disease is prone to recurrent UTIs.     

Multiple primary melanoma: epidemiological and prognostic implications; analysis of 36 cases

Patients who are already diagnosed with cutaneous melanoma are at increased risk of developing another primary melanoma. The occurrence of multiple primary melanoma is a rare phenomenon, varying in frequency, with an estimated incidence ranging from 0.2% to 8.6%. The authors are presenting data on the patients with multiple primary melanoma from the Croatian Referral Melanoma Centre. The clinical, histological and epidemiological characteristics of 36 (3.6%) patients, identified from 991 patients with histologically confirmed melanoma, are analyzed in this study. Twenty-eight of the patients (78%) had two primary melanomas, six had three melanomas (16.7%) and two (5,6%) had four melanomas. Diagnosis was established synchronously in 11 patients (30%) and, in the rest of the patients, time interval between the diagnosis of the first and second melanoma varied from 1 month to the longest interval of 16 years. However, the majority of subsequent melanomas were removed within 2 years of the initial operation. The mean Breslow's thickness of the first melanoma was significantly higher than the mean Breslow's thickness of the second primary melanoma. The proportion of in situ to invasive melanomas was greater for the second melanomas compared with the first melanomas. Therefore, we emphasize the importance of regular follow-up as well as the education in regular self--skin examinations in melanoma patients in order to detect subsequent primary melanomas in the early phase.