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BACKGROUND: Jubaea chilensis (Molina) Baillon, is a uniquely large palm species endemic to Chile. It is under threatened status despite its use as an ornamental species throughout the world. This research seeks to identify the phyllotaxis of the species based on an original combination of non-destructive data acquisition technologies, namely Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in saplings and young individuals and Terrestrial Laser Scanning (TLS) in standing specimens, and a novel analysis methodology. RESULTS: Two phyllotaxis parameters, parastichy pairs and divergence angle, were determined by analyzing specimens at different developmental stages. Spiral phyllotaxis patterns of J. chilensis progressed in complexity from parastichy pairs (3,2) and (3,5) in juvenile specimens and (5,3), (8,5) and (8,13) for adult specimens. Divergence angle was invariable and averaged 136.9°, close to the golden angle. Phyllotactic pattern changes associated with establishment phase, the adult vegetative and the adult reproductive phases were observed. Both technologies, MRI and TLS proved to be adequate for the proposed analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding phyllotactic transitions may assist identification of developmental stages of wild J. chilensis specimens. The proposed methodology may also be useful for the study of other palm species.

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Adequate sagittal balance (SB) is essential to maintain an upright, efficient, and painless posture. It has been shown that sagittal profile alterations affect quality of life of patients with a similar or even greater impact than chronic disease. Evaluation of the SB has gained much relevance in recent years, with recognition of its importance in the evaluation of spinal pathology. This review summarizes the basic principles of SB, aiming to obtain a practical, simple and understandable evaluation of the sagittal profile of a patient. SB is a dynamic process that involves a varying degree of energy expenditure. Distinguishing between a balanced, compensated imbalance or decompensated imbalanced patient, is relevant to diagnosis and therapeutic decision-making.

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BACKGROUND: Mycobacterial diseases are very important both clinically and epidemiologically. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBc) infections confer higher morbidity and mortality rate than non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections. Traditional species identification techniques are based on phenotypic characteristics which take a long time by laborious processes and in occasions are no conclusive. Currently, most used techniques are based on molecular methods, which are accurate but are expensive and complex. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a simple, cheap and fast identification method based on comparing protein spectra with a reference database. AIM: To assess the performance of MALDI-TOF MS in the identification of MTBc and NTM, compared with molecular methods. METHODS: For that purpose, 28 isolates of 9 different species were analyzed through MALDI-TOF MS. RESULTS: 78.5% (22/28) of isolates were correctly identified, 100% (9/9) of rapidly growers NTM, 60% (9/15) of slow growing NTM and 100% (4/4) of MTBc. Every unidentified isolate (6/6) corresponded to M. avium/intracellulare complex. CONCLUSION: MALDI-TOF MS is fast, simple and cheaper than molecular methods and also has adequate accuracy.

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Resumen Introducción: Las enfermedades producidas por micobacterias son de gran importancia clínica y epidemiológica presentando el complejo Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTBc) una morbi-mortalidad mayor que la producida por micobacterias no tuberculosas (MNTB). La identificación tradicional está basada en sus características fenotípicas mediante procesos laboriosos e incapaces en algunos casos de distinguir entre especies. Actualmente, la mayoría de las técnicas utilizadas se basan en métodos moleculares que tienen alta veracidad, pero son complejas y de alto costo. La espectrometría de masas con desorción/ionización láser asistida por una matriz asociada a tiempo de vuelo (MALDI-TOF MS) se basa en la comparación del espectro proteico producido con respecto al de una base de datos de referencia. Objetivo: Evaluar el rendimiento de MALDI-TOF MS en la identificación de micobacterias comparado con métodos moleculares: Material y Métodos: Se analizaron 28 aislados de nueve especies distintas mediante MALDI-TOF MS. Resultados: Se identificó correctamente 78,5% de las aislados (22/28), concordante en 100% (9/9) de MNTB de crecimiento rápido, 60% (9/15) en las MNTB de crecimiento lento y 100% (4/4) de MTBc. Todas las especies no identificadas (6/6) pertenecen al complejo M. avium/intracellulare. Conclusión: MALDI-TOD MS es una metodología rápida, fácil y de bajo costo, con adecuada veracidad respecto a los métodos moleculares.

Abstract Background: Mycobacterial diseases are very important both clinically and epidemiologically. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBc) infections confer higher morbidity and mortality rate than non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections. Traditional species identification techniques are based on phenotypic characteristics which take a long time by laborious processes and in occasions are no conclusive. Currently, most used techniques are based on molecular methods, which are accurate but are expensive and complex. Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a simple, cheap and fast identification method based on comparing protein spectra with a reference database. Aim: To assess the performance of MALDI-TOF MS in the identification of MTBc and NTM, compared with molecular methods. Methods: For that purpose, 28 isolates of 9 different species were analyzed through MALDI-TOF MS. Results: 78.5% (22/28) of isolates were correctly identified, 100% (9/9) of rapidly growers NTM, 60% (9/15) of slow growing NTM and 100% (4/4) of MTBc. Every unidentified isolate (6/6) corresponded to M. avium/intracellulare complex. Conclusion: MALDI-TOF MS is fast, simple and cheaper than molecular methods and also has adequate accuracy.

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Sludges, as biosolids, are organic soil amendments commonly used in assisted phytostabilitation. Extensive studies on their environmental impacts exists, particularly for improper land application and contents of trace elements, organic compounds and pathogens, but not for their content of cationic polyacrylamide polymers (C-PAMs). Direct toxicity of C-PAMs on aquatic organisms has been demonstrated but scarce information about plant toxicity is available. In this study, the effect of C-PAMs on early plant growth was evaluated by means of standard toxicity assays. Firstly, increasing doses of C-PAMs were applied as solutions to seeds of Avena sativa, Lactuca sativa and Solanum lycopersycum to evaluate germination and root elongation. Secondly, the effect of increasing doses of C-PAMs spiked in pig manure and mixed with sand (75 t ha-1 dry base) was evaluated on the emergence, radicle elongation and biomass of A. sativa. Results showed high phytotoxicity of C-PAMs in solutions above 1,000 mg L-1, but no effect was detected when spiked into experimental substrate; a significant effect was only observed above 5,000 mg L-1 for radicle elongation, aerial biomass, and radicle biomass. Results demonstrate direct phytotoxic effects of C-PAMs, which can be mitigated when spiked into an organic (pig manure) and mineral (sand) matrix.

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Phytoremediation is a promising technology to tackle boron toxicity, which restricts agricultural activities in many arid and semi-arid areas. Puccinellia frigida is a perennial grass that was reported to hyperaccumulate boron in extremely boron-contaminated sites. To further investigate its potential for phytoremediation, we determined its response to boron stress under controlled conditions (hydroponic culture). Also, as a first step towards understanding the mechanisms underlying its extreme tolerance, we evaluated the presence and expression of genes related with boron tolerance. We found that P. frigida grew normally even at highly toxic boron concentrations in the medium (500mg/L), and within its tissues (>5000mg/kg DW). We postulate that the strategies conferring this extreme tolerance involve both restricting boron accumulation and an internal tolerance mechanism; this is consistent with the identification of putative genes involved in both mechanisms, including the expression of a possible boron efflux transporter. We also found that P. frigida hyperaccumulated boron over a wide range of boron concentrations. We propose that P. frigida could be used for boron phytoremediation strategies in places with different soil characteristics and boron concentrations. Further studies should pave the way for the development of clean and low-cost solutions to boron toxicity problems.

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INTRODUCCIÓN: La hemivértebra es la causa de 50 por ciento de las cifoescoliosis congénitas y en general requiere tratamiento quirúrgico. OBJETIVO: evaluar los resultados clínicos y radiológicos de la resección de hemivértebra con técnica de eggshell en niños entre uno y siete años. DISEÑO DEL ESTUDIO: análisis retrospectivo de pacientes sometidos a resección de hemivértebra con técnica de eggshell. MÉTODOS: entre Enero del 2006 y Junio del 2008, siete hemivértebras fueron resecadas en siete pacientes consecutivos, entre uno y siete años de edad. Se revisó retrospectivamente las fichas clínicas y radiografías. La edad promedio al momento de la cirugía fue 3,2 años (rango de uno a siete años) y el seguimiento promedio fue de 17 meses (rango 7 a 35 meses). Se registró ángulo de Cobb de la escoliosis y cifosis en el preoperatorio y al término del seguimiento, tiempo operatorio, transfusión de glóbulos rojos y complicaciones. RESULTADOS: el ángulo preoperatorio promedio de la escoliosis fue 35º y 19º al término del seguimiento, con un 40 por ciento de corrección. El ángulo preoperatorio promedio de la cifosis fue 42º y 25º al término del seguimiento, con un 33 por ciento de corrección. Cuatro pacientes necesitaron transfusión de glóbulos rojos, promedio 1,25 unidades. El tiempo quirúrgico promedio fue 225 minutos. Dos pacientes presentaron complicaciones, una rotura dural y una fractura pedicular. No se presentaron complicaciones neurológicas. Todos los pacientes presentaban fusión sólida al término del seguimiento. CONCLUSIÓN: la resección de hemivértebra con técnica de eggshell es un procedimiento seguro, que permite una excelente e inmediata corrección de la cifoescoliosis congénita, la que se mantiene en el corto plazo.

INTRODUÇÃO: A hemivértebra associa-se a 50 por cento das cifoescolioses congênitas e geralmente requer tratamento cirúrgico. OBJETIVO: avaliar os resultados clínicos e radiológicos da ressecção da hemivértebra, utilizando a técnica de eggshell em crianças entre um e sete anos. FORMA DO ESTUDO: análise retrospectiva dos pacientes submetidos à ressecção de hemivértebra com a técnica eggshell. MÉTODOS: Entre Janeiro de 2006 e Junho de 2008, sete hemivértebras foram ressecadas em sete pacientes consecutivos, entre um e sete anos de idade. Realizou-se análise retrospectiva dos prontuários e exames radiográficos. A média de idade no momento da cirurgia foi de 3,2 anos (variação entre um a sete anos) e o seguimento médio foi de 17 meses (variação de 7 a 35 meses). Registrou-se ângulo de Cobb na escoliose e cifose no pré-operatório e no término do seguimento, o tempo operatório, transfusão de glóbulos vermelhos e complicações. RESULTADOS: o ângulo pré-operatório médio da escoliose foi de 35º e 19º no término do seguimento, com um 40 por cento de correção. O ângulo pré-operatório médio da cifose foi de 42º e 25º no término do seguimento, com 33 por cento de correção. Quatro pacientes precisaram de transfusão de glóbulos vermelhos, 1,25 unidades como média. O tempo cirúrgico médio foi de 225 minutos. Dois pacientes apresentaram complicações, uma rotura dural e uma fratura pedicular. Não houve complicações neurológicas. Todos os pacientes apresentaram sólida fusão no término do seguimento. CONCLUSÃO: a ressecção de hemivértebra utilizando a técnica de eggshell é um procedimento seguro que permite uma excelente e imediata correção da cifoescoliose congênita, a qual é mantida no curto prazo.

INTRODUCTION: Hemivertebrae is associated with 50 percent of the congenital kyphoscoliosis and surgical treatment is usually required. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate clinical and radiographic results of hemivertebra resection with an eggshell procedure in children aged from one to seven years old. STUDY DESIGN: retrospective review of patients who underwent hemivertebrae resection with an eggshell procedure. METHODS: from January 2006 to June 2008, seven hemivertebrae were resected in seven consecutive patients aged one to seven years old. A retrospective chart and a radiographic review were performed. The mean age at surgery was 3,2 years (range from one to seven years). The mean follow-up was 17 months (range from 7 to 35 months). Cobb's angle in the coronal and sagittal planes preoperative and at follow-up, operating time, transfusion requirements and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: the mean pre-operative scoliosis Cobb's angle was 35º and the average at follow-up was 19º. The mean correction at follow-up was 40 percent. The average of the pre-operative kyphosis Cobb's angle was 42º and average at follow-up was 25º. Rate of correction at follow-up was 33 percent. Four patients required transfusion, with an average of 1,25 blood units. The average of operating time was 225 minutes. Complications were encountered in two patients; one dural tear and one pedicular fracture. No neurological complications. All patients achieved solid fusion at follow-up. CONCLUSION: hemivertebra resection with the eggshell procedure is a safe surgical technique and provides an excellent and immediate correction of congenital kyphoscoliosis at short term follow-up.

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