Visualization of elusive structures using intracardiac echocardiography: Insights from electrophysiology

Echocardiography has the ability to noninvasively explore hemodynamic variables during pharmacologic or exercise stress test in patients with heart failure. In this review, we detail some important potential applications of stress echocardiography in patients with heart failure. In patients with coronary artery disease and chronic LV dysfunction, dobutamine stress echocardiography is able to distinguish between viable and fibrotic tissue to make adequate clinical decisions. Exercise testing, in combination with echocardiographic monitoring, is a method of obtaining accurate information in the assessment of functional capacity and prognosis. Functional mitral regurgitation is a common finding in patients with dilated and ischaemic cardiomyopathy and stress echocardiography in the form of exercise or pharmacologic protocols can be useful to evaluate the behaviour of mitral regurgitation. It is clinical useful to search the presence of contractile reserve in non ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy such as to screen or monitor the presence of latent myocardial dysfunction in patients who had exposure to cardiotoxic agents. Moreover, in patients with suspected diastolic heart failure and normal systolic function, exercise echocardiography could be able to demonstrate the existence of such dysfunction and determine that it is sufficient to limit exercise tolerance. Finally, in the aortic stenosis dobutamine echocardiography can distinguish severe from non-severe stenosis in patients with low transvalvular gradients and depressed left ventricular function.     

Intraguild Predation by Anthocoris nemorum (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) on the Aphid Parasitoid Aphidius colemani (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

The magnitude of intraguild predation by adult females of the predator Anthocoris nemorum on immature larvae of the aphid parasitoid Aphidius colemani inside mummies of peach-potato aphids Myzus persicae was investigated under laboratory conditions in a preference experiment. Each predator consumed a mean (95% confidence limits) of 2.8 (2.1; 3.8) immature parasitoids within mummies and 3.6 (2.7; 4.6) unparasitised aphid nymphs. Thereby A. nemorum engaged in intraguild predation with A. colemani and did not exhibit prey preference between mummies and unparasitised aphids.     

Specializations of the chorioallantoic placenta in the Brazilian scincid lizard,Mabuya heathi: a new placental morphotype for reptiles

New World skinks of the genus Mabuya exhibit a unique form of viviparity that involves ovulation of tiny (1 mm) eggs and provision of virtually all of the nutrients for embryonic development by placental means. Studies of the Brazilian species M. heathi reveal that the chorioallantoic placenta is unlike those reported in any other squamate genus and exhibits striking specializations for maternal-fetal nutrient transfer. The uterine lining is intimately apposed to the chorioallantois, with no trace of an intervening shell membrane or of epithelial erosion; thus, the placenta is epitheliochorial. The uterus exhibits multicellular glands that secrete organic material into the uterine lumen. Opposite the openings of these glands, the chorion develops areolae, invaginated pits that are lined by absorptive, columnar epithelium. A single, mesometrial placentome develops, formed by radially oriented uterine folds that project into a deep invagination of the chorion. Uterine epithelium of the placentome appears to be syncytial and secretory and overlies a rich vascular supply. The apposed chorionic epithelium is absorptive in morphology and contains giant binucleated cells that bear microvilli. Several specializations of the placental membranes of M. heathi are found among eutherian mammals, signifying evolutionary convergence that extends to histological and cytological levels. The chorioallantoic placenta of M. heathi and its relatives warrants recognition as a new morphotype for reptiles, defined here as the "Type IV" placenta. This is the first new type of chorioallantoic placenta to be defined formally for reptiles in over half a century.     

Spectroscopic characterization of nanoErythrosomes in the absence and presence of conjugated polyethyleneglycols: an FTIR and (31)P-NMR study

We have recently developed from red blood cells a new delivery system called nanoErythrosomes. These nanovesicles offer a high degree of versatility for the encapsulation of biological or nonbiological compounds and for the binding of targeting agents. In particular, polyethyleneglycols can be conjugated by a covalent link to the basic amino acid residues constitutive of the different proteins. The binding of polyethyleneglycols to the nanoErythrosome membrane could be interesting for the therapeutic use of this delivery system since it could overcome heterologous immunogenicity and reduce rapid clearance from circulation. In the present study, we have investigated the effect of temperature on the nanoErythrosome behavior in the absence and presence of conjugated polyethyleneglycols. More specifically, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy has been used to evaluate the lipid order and dynamics, the hydration and the degree of protein aggregation of the nanoErythrosomes after covalent binding of polyethyleneglycols having molecular weights of 2000 and 5000 g mol(-1). The results indicate that the nanoErythrosome lipid chain order is not significantly affected by heating the nanoErythrosomes at temperatures up to 50 degrees C. They also indicate that the nanoErythrosome proteins aggregate irreversibly at temperatures above 37 degrees C, this effect being abolished in the presence of polyethyleneglycols. The presence of polyethyleneglycols decreases the accessibility of water to the lipid head groups. On the other hand, 31P-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron microscopy results reveal that the presence of polyethyleneglycols prevents the aggregation of the nanoErythrosome structures.     

Juxtaposition and Disturbance: Disentangling the Determinants of Lizard Community Structure

Disturbance alters the structure and dynamics of communities. Here, we examined the effects of seasonal flooding on the lizard community structure by comparing two adjacent habitats, a seasonally flooded and a non‐flooded forest, in a Cerrado–Amazon ecotone area, the Cantão State Park, Tocantins state, Brazil. Despite the strong potential impact of seasonal flooding, the only significant environmental difference detected was more termite mounds in non‐flooded forests. Species richness was significantly higher in the non‐flooded forest. Colobosaura modesta, followed by Mabuya frenata and Anolis brasiliensis, were the only species that differed in number of captures between sites. Colobosaura modesta was exclusively found in the non‐flooded forest, while Anolis brasiliensis was the most captured in the flooded forest. Mabuya frenata is indicated as an indicator species in the flooded forest, and Colobosaura modesta in the non‐flooded forest. We found a significant association between lizard abundances and habitat characteristics, with flooding, canopy cover, and logs being the best predictors. A phylogenetic community structure analysis indicated a lack of structure in both lizard assemblages. Overall, we show that seasonal flooding can strongly impact species richness and species occurrence patterns, but not phylogenetic community structure. The Amazon–Cerrado transition is undergoing pronounced transformations due to deforestation and climate change. Despite being species‐poor compared with central areas in Amazon or Cerrado, this ecotone harbors species with important adaptations that could hold the key to persistence in human‐disturbed landscapes or during periods of climate change.     

Discovery of a moss family Schistostegaceae in Changbai Mountain,China

The luminous moss, Schistostega pennata (Hedw.)Web. et Mohr belonging to the family Schistostegaceae was discovered from Changbai Mountain, Northeast China. The morphological characteristics, ecology and distribution of this species are described and dis-cussed.     

Niche expansion and the niche variation hypothesis: does the degree of individual variation increase in depauperate assemblages?

The niche expansion and niche variation hypotheses predict that release from interspecific competition will promote niche expansion in depauperate assemblages. Niche expansion can occur by different mechanisms, including an increase in within-individual, among-individual, or bimodal variation (sexual dimorphism). Here we explore whether populations with larger niche breadth have a higher degree of diet variation. We also test whether populations from depauperate lizard assemblages differ in dietary resource use with respect to variation within and/or among individuals and sexual dimorphism. We found support for the niche expansion and niche variation hypotheses. Populations in assemblages with low phylogenetic diversity had a higher degree of individual variation, suggesting a tendency for niche expansion. We also found evidence suggesting that the mechanism causing niche expansion is an increase in variation among individuals rather than an increase in within-individual variation or an increase in bimodal variation due to sexual dimorphism.     

Role of HLA DRB1*15 and HLA DRB1*16alleles in the genetic susceptibility to develop systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) after Chikungunya and Zika viruses infection in México

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous disease particularly prevalent in Mexico. Althoughits etiology is unknown, genetic factors strongly influence its presenceas well as triggering factors, such as viral infections, including Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus. Here,the study presents the appearance of de novoSLE (patients who did not present SLE before de virus infection, corroborated by serological analysis and negative for antinuclear antibodies) cases in Mexicans who live near the southern border of Mexico, who presented clinical symptoms of arthritic, hematological, mucocutaneous and renal SLE, after Zika and/ or Chikungunya virus infection. Low resolution class Ⅱ HLA typing was performed, which found a significantly increased frequency of HLA DRB1*02 (15 and 16)when compared to a group of 99 healthy individuals (P =0.001, OR=4.5, IC95% 1.8~11.0). All the patients were diagnosed with SLE 1 to 3 years after being confirmed with the Zika, and/or Chikungunya infection. At the point of acute viral infection, none of the patients presented clinical signs or symptoms of autoimmunity or were negative for antinuclear antibodies. In genetically susceptible individuals, Zika and Chikungunya viral infection can trigger SLE.     

Tracking of Female Conspecific Odor Trails by Male Broad-headed Skinks (Eumeces laticeps)

The ability of the broad-headed skink (Eumeces laticeps) to follow conspecific odor trails on paper substrates was investigated in y-maze experiments. Adult males enter the trail-containing arm at much greater than chance frequency when the odor source is female. The data support the hypothesis that males can follow odor trails of females. The often-repeated direct contact with the trail made by tongue-flicking as the lizard passed through the maze provided evidence that males could follow the scent. There was no evidence that males followed male odors or that females followed trails laid by either sex. It is suggested that the major selective force leading to evolution by males of the ability to trail females was an increase in reproductive success accruing to males able to locate females and guard them during a temporally limited period of sexual receptivity.