Strategies for the prevention of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a common morbidity affecting preterm infants and is associated with substantial long-term disabilities. The pathogenesis of BPD is multifactorial, and the clinical phenotype is variable. Extensive research has improved the current understanding of the factors contributing to BPD pathogenesis.

Coastal dunes as drivers of genetic differentiation in the honeypot ant Myrmecocystus baja (Formicidae: Formicinae).

Coastal dunes are unique habitats, threatened by human activities. In biogeographical terms, coastal dunes are habitat islands, being discrete and distinct patches of similar habitat among themselves, separated from each other by a different type of habitat. Furthermore, coastal dunes harbor endemic species, adapted to living solely in the habitats found on specific dune systems.

Meconium aspiration syndrome: from pathophysiology to treatment.

Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS) is a clinical condition characterized by respiratory distress in neonates born through meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF). Despite advances in obstetric practices and perinatal care, MAS remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in term and post-term newborns. Since the 1960s, there have been significant changes in the perinatal and postnatal management of infants born through MSAF.

Following the aridity: Historical biogeography and diversification of the Philodromidae spider genus Petrichus in South America.

Aridity conditions and expansion of arid biomes in South America are closely linked to the onset of Andean orogeny since at least 30 Mya. Among arid-associated taxa, spiders belonging to the genus Petrichus are found along the Andes mountains and across the diagonal of open formations of the Chaco and Cerrado domains. In this contribution, we asked whether Petrichus originated prior to the central Andean uplift and what historical processes have promoted their diversification.

Testing the Accuracy of Vegetation-Based Ecoregions for Predicting the Species Composition of Blow Flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae).

To properly define ecoregions, specific criteria such as geology, climate, or species composition (e.g., the presence of endemic species) must be taken into account to understand distribution patterns and resolve ecological biogeography questions.

Phylogeny, genetics, and the partial life cycle of in the Gulf of Mexico.

Despite the diversity and ecological importance of cestodes, there is a paucity of studies on their life stages (i.e., complete lists of intermediate, paratenic, and definitive hosts) and genetic variation.

Climate change and forest plagues: assessing current and future impacts of diprionid sawflies on the pine forests of north-western Mexico.

The imminent threat of climate change lies in its potential to disrupt the balance of ecosystems, particularly vulnerable areas such as mountain-top remnant forests. An example of such a fragile ecosystem is the Sierra San Pedro Mártir (SSPM) National Park of Mexico's Baja California state, where high levels of endemism can be found, and which is home to one of the country's few populations of the emblematic Jeffrey pine (). Recent outbreaks of pine-feeding sawfly larvae in SSPM increase the vulnerability of this forest ecosystem, calling for immediate assessments of the severity of this threat.

The Grass was Greener: Repeated Evolution of Specialized Morphologies and Habitat Shifts in Ghost Spiders Following Grassland Expansion in South America.

While grasslands, one of Earth's major biomes, are known for their close evolutionary ties with ungulate grazers, these habitats are also paramount to the origins and diversification of other animals. Within the primarily South American spider subfamily Amaurobioidinae (Anyphaenidae), several species are found living in the continent's grasslands, with some displaying putative morphological adaptations to dwelling unnoticed in the grass blades. Herein, a dated molecular phylogeny provides the backbone for analyses revealing the ecological and morphological processes behind these spiders' grassland adaptations.

Light from dark: A relictual troglobite reveals a broader ancestral distribution for kimulid harvestmen (Opiliones: Laniatores: Kimulidae) in South America.

A new troglobitic harvestman, Relictopiolus galadriel gen. nov et sp. nov.

Multiple approaches to understanding the taxonomic status of an enigmatic new scorpion species of the genus Tityus (Buthidae) from the biogeographic island of Paraje Tres Cerros (Argentina).

Tityus curupi n. sp., belonging to the bolivianus complex, is described from the biogeographically distinct area of Paraje Tres Cerros in north-eastern Argentina.

Physiological and ultrastructural effects of acute ozone fumigation in the lichen Xanthoria parietina: the role of parietin and hydration state.

The physiological and ultrastructural effects induced by acute exposure to ozone (O) were investigated in the lichen Xanthoria parietina. Our working hypothesis was that parietin content and hydration of the thalli may play a role in the modulation of the effects of O exposure. Four batches of X.

Focal adhesion kinase depletion reduces human hepatocellular carcinoma growth by repressing enhancer of zeste homolog 2.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer in humans. The focal adhesion tyrosine kinase (FAK) is often over-expressed in human HCC and FAK inhibition may reduce HCC cell invasiveness. However, the anti-oncogenic effect of FAK knockdown in HCC cells remains to be clarified.

Dated phylogenetic studies of the southernmost American buthids (Scorpiones; Buthidae).

A dated molecular phylogeny of the southernmost American species of the family Buthidae, based on two nuclear and two mitochondrial genes, is presented. Based on this study, analyzed species of the subgenus Tityus (Archaeotityus) are neither sister to the remaining species of the genus Tityus, nor are they closely related to the New World microbuthids with decreasing neobothriotaxy. Analyzed species of the subgenus Tityus do not form a monophyletic group.

Human B-cell memory is shaped by age- and tissue-specific T-independent and GC-dependent events.

Switched and IgM memory B cells execute different and noninterchangeable functions. We studied memory B cells in children of different ages, in peripheral blood and spleen and compared them with those of children born asplenic or unable to build germinal centers. We show that, whereas switched memory B cells are mostly generated in the germinal centers at all ages, IgM memory B cells can be distinct in three types with different developmental history.

The life and adventures of an eight-legged castaway: Colonization and diversification of Philisca ghost spiders on Robinson Crusoe Island (Araneae, Anyphaenidae).

Oceanic archipelagoes, by their young origin and isolation, provide privileged settings to study the origin and diversification of species. Here, we study the anyphaenid spider genus Philisca, endemic to the Valdivian temperate rainforest, which includes species living both on the mainland as well as on the Robison Crusoe Island in the Juan Fernández archipelago. Anyphaenids, as many spiders, are potentially good colonizers due their ability for ballooning, an airborne dispersal mediated by strands of silk that are caught in the wind.

Around the World in Eight Million Years: Historical Biogeography and Evolution of the Spray Zone Spider Amaurobioides (Araneae: Anyphaenidae).

Closely related organisms with transoceanic distributions have long been the focus of historical biogeography, prompting the question of whether long-distance dispersal, or tectonic-driven vicariance shaped their current distribution. Regarding the Southern Hemisphere continents, this question deals with the break-up of the Gondwanan landmass, which has also affected global wind and oceanic current patterns since the Miocene. With the advent of phylogenetic node age estimation and parametric bioinformatic advances, researchers have been able to disentangle historical evolutionary processes of taxa with greater accuracy.

LPS-induced TNF-α factor mediates pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic pattern in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is currently considered one of the major players in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) pathogenesis and progression. Here, we aim to investigate the possible role of LPS-induced TNF-α factor (LITAF) in inducing a pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrogenic phenotype of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).We found that children with NAFLD displayed, in different liver-resident cells, an increased expression of LITAF which correlated with histological traits of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.

Increased serum IgM, immunodeficiency, and autoimmunity: A clinical series.

Background: Primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs) are generally characterized by recurrent infections; however they may be complicated by other clinical disorders such as allergy, autoimmunity, and lymphoproliferation. In particular, autoimmunity may be the first manifestation of the disease in patients with low serum immunoglobulins (Ig) levels. Here we describe a group of patients that share features of immunodeficiency and autoimmunity.

Phylogeny, species delimitation and convergence in the South American bothriurid scorpion genus Brachistosternus Pocock 1893: Integrating morphology, nuclear and mitochondrial DNA.

A phylogenetic analysis of the scorpion genus Brachistosternus Pocock, 1893 (Bothriuridae Simon, 1880) is presented, based on a dataset including 41 of the 43 described species and five outgroups, 116 morphological characters and more than 4150 base-pairs of DNA sequence from the nuclear 18S rDNA and 28S rDNA gene loci, and the mitochondrial 12S rDNA, 16S rDNA, and Cytochrome c Oxidase Subunit I gene loci. Analyses conducted using parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference were largely congruent with high support for most clades. The results confirmed the monophyly of Brachistosternus, the nominal subgenus, and subgenus Ministernus Francke, 1985, as in previous analyses based only on morphology, but differed in several other respects.

Serum Bile Acid Levels in Children With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Objective: Because the prevalence of obesity in children is increasing, the frequency of pediatric nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is growing. A reliable noninvasive biomarker for monitoring progression of liver fibrosis would be useful. In cirrhotic persons serum bile acid (BA) levels are significantly elevated.

Toll-like receptor-mediated signaling cascade as a regulator of the inflammation network during alcoholic liver disease.

Chronic abuse of alcohol leads to various histological abnormalities in the liver. These are conditions collectively known as alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Currently, ALD is considered to be one of the major causes of death worldwide.

Plasma levels of homocysteine and cysteine increased in pediatric NAFLD and strongly correlated with severity of liver damage.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a spectrum of metabolic abnormalities ranging from simple triglyceride accumulation in the hepatocytes to hepatic steatosis with inflammation, ballooning and fibrosis. It has been demonstrated that the pathogenesis of NAFLD involves increased oxidative stress, with consumption of the major cellular antioxidant, glutathione (GSH). Liver has a fundamental role in sulfur compound metabolism, although the data reported on plasma thiols status in NAFLD are conflicting.

MicroRNAs as controlled systems and controllers in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a multi-faceted condition including simple steatosis alone or associated with inflammation and ballooning (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis) and eventually fibrosis. The NAFLD incidence has increased over the last twenty years becoming the most frequent chronic liver disease in industrialized countries. Obesity, visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, and many other disorders that characterize metabolic syndrome are the major predisposing risk factors for NAFLD.

Preliminary results on clinical effects of probiotic Lactobacillus salivarius LS01 in children affected by atopic dermatitis.

Goals: The goal of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of an intake of Lactobacillus salivarius LS01 (DSM 22775) for the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) in children.

Background: AD is an inflammatory and pruritic chronic relapsing skin disorder with multifactorial etiopathology. Some evidence suggests that probiotics may improve AD by modulating the immune system and the composition of intestinal microbiota.