A comparative study in ancestral range reconstruction methods: retracing the uncertain histories of insular lineages.

Island systems have long been useful models for understanding lineage diversification in a geographic context, especially pertaining to the importance of dispersal in the origin of new clades. Here we use a well-resolved phylogeny of the flowering plant genus Cyrtandra (Gesneriaceae) from the Pacific Islands to compare four methods of inferring ancestral geographic ranges in islands: two developed for character-state reconstruction that allow only single-island ranges and do not explicitly associate speciation with range evolution (Fitch parsimony [FP; parsimony-based] and stochastic mapping [SM; likelihood-based]) and two methods developed specifically for ancestral range reconstruction, in which widespread ranges (spanning islands) are integral to inferences about speciation scenarios (dispersal-vicariance analysis [DIVA; parsimony-based] and dispersal-extinction-cladogenesis [DEC; likelihood-based]). The methods yield conflicting results, which we interpret in light of their respective assumptions.

Rationale and design of a community-based double-blind randomized clinical trial of an HPV 16 and 18 vaccine in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.

We report the rationale, design, methods and details of participation of a community-based, double-blind, randomized clinical trial of an HPV 16 and 18 vaccine conducted in two provinces of Costa Rica to investigate the efficacy and population impact of the vaccine in the prevention of cervical cancer precursors. More than 24,000 women between 18 and 25 years of age were invited to participate and pre-screened for eligibility, with recruitment of 7466 women (30% of those pre-screened, 59% of those eligible) who were randomized to receive 3 doses of the HPV vaccine or hepatitis A vaccine as control. A complex protocol of data and specimen collection was applied, including an interview, pelvic exam for sexually active women, blood for serology and cell-mediated immunity, cervical secretions for local immunity and cells for HPV, Chlamydia trachomatis and gonorrhea testing.

Phylogenetic relationships and the evolution of regulatory gene sequences in the parrotfishes.

Regulatory genes control the expression of other genes and are key components of developmental processes such as segmentation and embryonic construction of the skull in vertebrates. Here we examine the variability and evolution of three vertebrate regulatory genes, addressing issues of their utility for phylogenetics and comparing the rates of genetic change seen in regulatory loci to the rates seen in other genes in the parrotfishes. The parrotfishes are a diverse group of colorful fishes from coral reefs and seagrasses worldwide and have been placed phylogenetically within the family Labridae.

Morphological convergence as a consequence of extreme functional demands: examples from the feeding system of natricine snakes.

Despite repeated acquisitions of aquatic or semi-aquatic lifestyles revolving around piscivory, snakes have not evolved suction feeding. Instead, snakes use frontally or laterally directed strikes to capture prey under water. If the aquatic medium constrains strike performance because of its physical properties, we predict morphological and functional convergence in snakes that use similar strike behaviours.

Evaluation of 'nuez de barinas' (caryodendron orinocense) oil for possible use in cosmetic.

Caryodendron orinocense, Karst., is a tree that grows along the eastern base of the Andes mountains in Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia. It is known in Venezuela as 'Nuez de Barinas, nuez or nogal de Barquisimeto' and in other countries as 'inchi', 'taque', 'abay' or 'palo de nuez'.

Caryodendron orinocense ('nuez de Barinas') oil: tocopherol content and use in cosmetics.

Preliminary studies showed the possibility of using the oil extracted from the 'nuez de Barinas' (Caryodendron orinocense Karst.) (also known as 'taque nut'), in cosmetic formulation, due to its UV absorbance spectrum as well as other physical, chemical and toxicological characteristics. Some Amerindians have used this oil as unction.

Activation of neurokinin-1 receptors during ozone inhalation contributes to epithelial injury and repair.

We investigated the importance of neurokinin (NK)-1 receptors in epithelial injury and repair and neutrophil function. Conscious Wistar rats were exposed to 1 ppm ozone or filtered air for 8 hours, followed by an 8-hour postexposure period. Before exposure, we administered either the NK-1 receptor antagonist, SR140333, or saline as a control.

Phylogeny, evolutionary history, and biogeography of Oriental-Australian rear-fanged water snakes (Colubroidea: Homalopsidae) inferred from mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences.

Homalopsid snakes are widely distributed throughout Southeast Asia and form the ecologically dominant component of the herpetofauna over much of their range. Although they are considered well differentiated from other colubrid lineages, several aspects of their radiation including within-family relationships, temporal patterns of species diversification, and biogeographic history remain under studied. We analyzed sequence data from four genes (three mitochondrial and one nuclear) for 22 species of the Homalopsidae to generate the most comprehensive phylogeny of the family to date.

Comparison of a radiofrequency-based wireless pressure sensor to swan-ganz catheter and echocardiography for ambulatory assessment of pulmonary artery pressure in heart failure.

Objectives: The goal of this work was to evaluate the accuracy of a new heart failure (HF) sensor (HFS) (Heart Failure Sensor, CardioMEMS Inc., Atlanta, Georgia) pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) monitoring compared with Swan-Ganz (SG) (Hospira, Inc., Lake Forest, Illinois) catheterization and echocardiography (ECHO) in ambulatory HF patients.

Integrated diversification of locomotion and feeding in labrid fishes.

An organism's performance of any ecological task involves coordination of multiple functional systems. Feeding performance is influenced by locomotor abilities which are used during search and capture of prey, as well as cranial mechanics, which affect prey capture and processing. But, does this integration of functional systems manifest itself during evolution? We asked whether the locomotor and feeding systems evolved in association in one of the most prominent and diverse reef fish radiations, the Labridae.

[Atopy and autoimmunity -- a case report].

Atopy, immunodeficiency and autoimmunity are manifestations of immune system dysfunction. Classically atopy and autoimmunity are referred as distinct immunological reactions. Recent studies suggest the existence of common pathogenic mechanisms.

Induction of immunosuppressive molecules and regulatory T cells counteracts the antitumor effect of interleukin-12-based gene therapy in a transgenic mouse model of liver cancer.

Background/aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) often lacks curative treatment; therefore new efficient therapies are needed. In this work we aimed at evaluating the antitumor effect of interleukin-12 (IL-12)-based gene therapy on HCC occurring spontaneously in mice.

Methods: A plasmid-vector expressing IL-12 in a liver-specific and doxycycline (Dox)-inducible manner was transferred by hydrodynamic injection to the liver of L-PK/c-myc mice with HCC.

Do reefs drive diversification in marine teleosts? Evidence from the pufferfishes and their allies (Order Tetraodontiformes).

A major challenge in evolutionary biology lies in explaining patterns of high species numbers found in biodiversity hot spots. Tropical coral reefs underlie most marine hot spots and reef-associated fish faunas represent some of the most diverse assemblages of vertebrates on the planet. Although the standing diversity of modern reef fish clades is usually attributed to their ecological association with corals, untangling temporal patterns of codiversification has traditionally proved difficult.

Phylogenetic concordance analysis shows an emerging pathogen is novel and endemic.

Distinguishing whether pathogens are novel or endemic is critical for controlling emerging infectious diseases, an increasing threat to wildlife and human health. To test the endemic vs. novel pathogen hypothesis, we present a unique analysis of intraspecific host-pathogen phylogenetic concordance of tiger salamanders and an emerging Ranavirus throughout Western North America.

High load for most high risk human papillomavirus genotypes is associated with prevalent cervical cancer precursors but only HPV16 load predicts the development of incident disease.

Cervicovaginal human papillomavirus (HPV) viral load has been purported as a potential marker for the detection of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cancer (>/=CIN2). To examine disease association with type-specific viral load for the full-range of anogenital HPV infections, we conducted cross-sectional and prospective analyses of approximately 2,000 HPV-infected women from a 10,000-woman population-based study in Guanacaste, Costa Rica with 7 years of follow-up. Cervical specimens were tested for >40 HPV types using a MY09/MY11 L1 consensus primer PCR method with type-specific dot blot hybridization and PCR signal intensity as a measure of viral load.

[Effectiveness of the "Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking" in a city in Argentina].

Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of the "Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking" at the end of the intervention and after one year in a sample of participants in the city of Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina.

Methods: The quasi-experimental, longitudinal, prospective cohort, comparative study was based on the evaluation of the effectiveness of the "Five-Day Plan to Stop Smoking" in Rosario, Argentina, with eight groups of participants. Each session of the five-night course included presentations on medical aspects of smoking, an emphasis on group support in quitting, and relaxation techniques.

Harmonization of internal dosimetry procedures in Latin America--ARCAL/IAEA project.

Under the auspices of the Regional Coordination Agreement for Latin America, representatives of the eight member states have participated in a project to improve radiological protection for workers exposed to unsealed sources of radiation. The design of the project was based on information obtained from a questionnaire circulated among the participants, from which the initial status of internal dosimetry services in each country was characterised. The objective of the project is to harmonize internal dosimetry procedures, with reference to International Atomic Energy Agency recommendations.

A protocol for the calibration of gamma cameras to estimate internal contamination in emergency situations.

The concern about accidents involving radioactive materials has led to the search of alternative methods to quickly identify and quantify radionuclides in workers and in the population. One of the options to face up an eventual demand for mass monitoring of internal contamination is the use of a nuclear medicine diagnostic equipment known as gamma camera, a device used to scan patients who have been administered specific amounts of radioactive materials for medical purposes. Although the gamma camera is used for image diagnosis, it can be calibrated with anthropomorphic phantoms or point sources for the quantification of radionuclide activities in the human body.

Breath condensate levels of 8-isoprostane and leukotriene B4 after ozone inhalation are greater in sensitive versus nonsensitive subjects.

Ozone (O3) inhalation induces pulmonary function decrements and inflammation. The present study was designed to determine if a relationship exists between O3 induced pulmonary function changes and the presence of inflammatory markers as measured in exhaled breath condensates (EBCs) obtained from O3-sensitive and nonsensitive human subjects. Eight healthy adult volunteers (4 males/4 females, age 18 to 30 years) were studied, characterized as to their ozone sensitivity and placed into 2 groups (sensitive and nonsensitive) with each group having 2 males and 2 females.

Nutrition provided to Mexican-American preschool children on the Texas-Mexico border.

The purpose of this study was to assess whether nutrients offered to border Mexican-American preschool children met the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Nutrient contents of two dietary patterns were examined in this study, one composed exclusively of home foods and one containing a combination of both home and school foods. The sample consisted of 198 Mexican-American preschoolers living on the Texas-Mexico border, who were recruited using a convenience sampling technique.

The natural history of human papillomavirus infection and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia among young women in the Guanacaste cohort shortly after initiation of sexual life.

Objective: Cross-sectional analyses of our 10,000-woman, population-based Guanacaste cohort suggest a lag of > or =10 years between the peak of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and the later peak of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN 3). We wanted to explore early HPV natural history and CIN 3 prospectively.

Study Design: As part of the Guanacaste cohort, we followed 206 initially virginal women aged 18 to 26 semiannually for a median of 3.

A wireless pressure sensor for monitoring pulmonary artery pressure in advanced heart failure: initial experience.

Hemodynamic goals have been used in the past to guide therapy in patients with heart failure (HF). For HF patients whose signs and symptoms of congestion do not resolve with initial therapy it appears reasonable to consider hemodynamic monitoring at experienced sites. It has been suggested that implantable hemodynamic sensors may enable frequent monitoring of hemodynamic changes in HF patients and be used in tailoring vasodilator.

Wnt/beta-catenin mediates radiation resistance of Sca1+ progenitors in an immortalized mammary gland cell line.

The COMMA-Dbeta-geo cell line has been shown to contain a permanent subpopulation of progenitor cells that are enriched in outgrowth potential. Using the COMMA-Dbeta-geo cell line as a model, we sought to study the radioresistance of mammary progenitor cells. Using the putative progenitor cell marker stem cell antigen 1 (Sca1), we were able to isolate a discrete subpopulation of Sca1(+) multipotent cells from the immortalized COMMA-Dbeta-geo murine mammary cell line.

WNT/beta-catenin mediates radiation resistance of mouse mammary progenitor cells.

Recent studies have identified a subpopulation of highly tumorigenic cells with stem/progenitor cell properties from human breast cancers, and it has been suggested that stem/progenitor cells, which remain after breast cancer therapy, may give rise to recurrent disease. We hypothesized that progenitor cells are resistant to radiation, a component of conventional breast cancer therapy, and that that resistance is mediated at least in part by Wnt signaling, which has been implicated in stem cell survival. To test this hypothesis, we investigated radioresistance by treating primary BALB/c mouse mammary epithelial cells with clinically relevant doses of radiation and found enrichment in normal progenitor cells (stem cell antigen 1-positive and side population progenitors).

Right-sided ectocervical lesions may be associated with false-negative cytology among women with histologic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or 3.

Background: The association between the location of an ectocervical lesion and the sensibility of cytologic screening has not been adequately evaluated.

Methods: We evaluated the proportion of false-negative cytologic interpretations using three independent cytologic interpretations (conventional, PapNet, and ThinPrep) according to lesion location in 111 women with histologic cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2 or 3 of a population-based study of cervical neoplasia conducted in Guanacaste, Costa Rica. Semiquantitative measures of human papillomavirus viral load were also considered.