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The topographical, geological, climatic and biodiversity complexity of Mesoamerica has made it a primary research focus. The Mesoamerican highlands is a region with particularly high species richness and within-species variation. The Cinnamon-bellied Flowerpiercer, Diglossa baritula (Wagler, 1832), is a species endemic to the Mesoamerican highlands, with three allopatric subspecies currently recognized. To characterize divergence within this species, we integrated genomics, morphology, coloration and ecological niche modeling approaches, obtained from sampling individuals across the entire geographic distribution of the species. Our results revealed a clear genomic divergence between the populations to the east versus the west of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec. In contrast to the genomic results, morphology and coloration analyses showed intermediate levels of differentiation, indicating that population groups within D. baritula have probably been under similar selective pressures. Our morphology results indicated that the only sexually dimorphic morphological variable is the wing chord, with males having a longer wing chord than females. Finally, ecological data indicated that there are differences in ecological niche within D. baritula. Our data suggest that D. baritula could contain two or more incipient species at the intermediate phase of the speciation continuum. These results highlight the importance of the geographical barrier of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and Pleistocene climatic events in driving isolation and population divergence in D. baritula. The present investigation illustrates the speciation potential of the D. baritula complex and the capacity of Mesoamerican highlands to create cryptic biodiversity and endemism.

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Factors such as the Andean uplift, Isthmus of Panama, and climate changes have influenced bird diversity in the Neotropical region. Studying bird species that are widespread in Neotropical highlands and lowlands can help us understand the impact of these factors on taxa diversification. Our main objectives were to determine the biogeographic factors that contributed to the diversification of Euphoniinae and re-evaluate their phylogenetic relationships. The nextRAD and mitochondrial data were utilized to construct phylogenies. The ancestral distribution range was then estimated using a time-calibrated phylogeny, current species ranges, and neotropical regionalization. The phylogenies revealed two main Euphoniinae clades, Chlorophonia and Euphonia, similar to previous findings. Furthermore, each genus has distinctive subclades corresponding to morphology and geography. The biogeographic results suggest that the Andean uplift and the establishment of the western Amazon drove the vicariance of Chlorophonia and Euphonia during the Miocene. The Chlorophonia lineage originated in the Andes mountains and spread to Central America and the Mesoamerican highlands after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama. Meanwhile, the ancestral area of Euphonia was the Amazonas, from which it spread to trans-Andean areas during the Pliocene and Pleistocene due to the separation of the west lowlands from Amazonas due to the Northern Andean uplift. Chlorophonia and Euphonia species migrated to the Atlantic Forest during the Pleistocene through corridors from the East Andean Humid Forest and Amazonas. These two genera had Caribbean invasions with distinct geographic origins and ages. Finally, we suggested taxonomic changes in the genus Euphonia based on the study's phylogenetic, morphological, and biogeographic findings.

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Social networks, particularly Facebook, influence romantic relationships, as they can generate jealousy and conflict between members of the couple. The Facebook Jealousy Scale (FJS) is an instrument that assesses jealousy about using Facebook, but no similar instrument is available in Colombia. The main aim was to examine the psychometric properties of the FJS in a Colombian sample of 485 men and 727 women. Participants answered the socio-demographic questionnaire, the adaptation of the Facebook Jealousy Scale, Romantic Partner Conflict Scale, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Romantic Jealousy Scale. The final version of the FJS was made up of 15 items which were distributed across three dimensions: Partner's Activity, Partner's Surveillance, Partner's Romantic and Sexual relationship. Ordinal's alpha values from its three factors ranged between .90 and .95. Concurrent validity was also provided, as the measure was associated with dimensions from partner conflict, self-esteem, and romantic jealousy. An invariance test by gender was also performed, resulting in compliance with metric invariance. Therefore, the FJS is a useful tool for clinicians and researchers who work on issues related to romantic relationships. Research analyzing Facebook jealousy provides an interesting indicator of couple's monitoring and controlling behaviors, which are features of psychological abuse, a subtype of intimate partner violence.

Las redes sociales, particularmente Facebook, influyen en las relaciones sentimentales, ya que pueden generar celos y conflictos entre los miembros de la pareja. La Escala de Celos de Facebook (FJS) es un instrumento que evalúa los celos por el uso de Facebook, y no hay ningún instrumento similar disponible en Colombia. El objetivo principal fue examinar las propiedades psicométricas del FJS en una muestra colombiana de 485 hombres y 727 mujeres. Los participantes completaron un cuestionario sociodemográfico, la adaptación de la Escala de Celos de Facebook, la Escala de Conflicto de Pareja Romántica, la Escala de Autoestima de Rosenberg y la Escala de Celos Románticos. La versión final de la FJS estuvo conformada por 15 ítems que, a su vez, conformaron tres dimensiones: Actividad de la pareja, Vigilancia de la pareja, Relación romántica y sexual de la pareja. Los valores de alfa ordinal de los tres factores oscilaron entre .90 y .95. También se demostró validez concurrente con otras dimensiones relacionadas con conflicto en la pareja, autoestima y celos románticos. El análisis de invarianza según género resultó en un nivel de invarianza métrica. El FJS es una medida que puede ser útil para la práctica clínica y los investigadores que trabajan en temas relacionados con las relaciones románticas. La investigación que analice los celos asociados al Facebook ofrecerá un interesante indicador de la supervisión en el contexto de pareja y las conductas de control, elementos clave del abuso psicológico, un subtipo de la violencia de pareja.

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The aim of this study was to validate the Interpersonal Sexual Objectification Scale-Perpetration Version (ISOS-P), a measure that assesses sexual objectification perpetration. The sample consisted of 356 heterosexual men of Spanish nationality. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed. The Spanish validation of the ISOS-P comprises 15 items and showed a trifactorial structure. McDonald's omega values ranged from 0.71 to 0.80, and evidences of validity are shown by positive correlations with the endorsement of a positive attitude toward rape and having perpetrated several sexual aggression types. The Spanish validation of the ISOS-P is a valid and reliable scale.

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An increase in plasma high glucose promotes endothelial dysfunction mainly through increasing mitochondrial ROS production. High glucose ROS-induced has been implicated in the fragmentation of the mitochondrial network, mainly by an unbalance expression of mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins. Mitochondrial dynamics alterations affect cellular bioenergetics. Here, we assessed the effect of PDGF-C on mitochondrial dynamics and glycolytic and mitochondrial metabolism in a model of endothelial dysfunction induced by high glucose. High glucose induced a fragmented mitochondrial phenotype associated with the reduced expression of OPA1 protein, high DRP1pSer616 levels and reduced basal respiration, maximal respiration, spare respiratory capacity, non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption and ATP production, regarding normal glucose. In these conditions, PDGF-C significantly increased the expression of OPA1 fusion protein, diminished DRP1pSer616 levels and restored the mitochondrial network. On mitochondrial function, PDGF-C increased the non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption diminished by high glucose conditions. These results suggest that PDGF-C modulates the damage induced by HG on the mitochondrial network and morphology of human aortic endothelial cells; additionally, it compensates for the alteration in the energetic phenotype induced by HG.

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Lack of consent is an essential characteristic of sexual violence. The present study was conducted to analyze the relation between sexual consent and the risk of perpetrating sexual aggression by men and victimization suffered by women in more depth. The sample consisted of 1681 heterosexual Spanish men and women aged 18-66 years. The participants completed an online survey containing the Spanish versions of the Sexual Consent Scale Revised and the Sexual Experiences Survey. The results showed that 70.2% of the women had been sexual victims, and 20.8% of men reported having perpetrated sexual violence. On the one hand, sexual aggressors, unlike non aggressors, underestimated the relevance of obtaining sexual consent, and more aggressors reported lack of perceived behavioral control for requesting sexual consent and endorsed less positive attitudes to obtain sexual consent than non aggressors. On the other hand, sexual victims, compared to non victims, considered requesting explicit sexual consent relevant, but held certain ideas, attitudes, and behaviors that did not go along with obtaining sexual consent, which leaves women in a position of vulnerability.

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People living with HIV/AIDS not only suffer in terms of physical and/or psychological health, but also frequently experience violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Although there are international treaties and a regulatory framework that legally protects people with HIV/AIDS, it is essential to determine the effectiveness of the regulatory framework in Colombia. Therefore, our main goal was to examine the legislation on HIV/AIDS in Colombia with the purpose of understanding the decrees and laws, and describing the main obstacles and barriers that people with HIV/AIDS encounter. For this purpose, we employed the method of legal interpretation and reviewed the legal regulations on HIV/AIDS, as well as the judgments of guardianship of the Constitutional Court. It is verified that there is a specific regulation on HIV/AIDS, specifically decree 559 of 19,991, decree 1543 of 1997, Law 599 of 2000, Law 972 of 2005, and Law 1220 of 2008. Although at the legislative level Colombia shows an evolution in the norm, patients with HIV/AIDS continue to be victims of human rights violations. As a result, and through the analysis of tutela judgments, it was found that the Constitutional Court recognized the violation of rights and ordered the necessary measures to be taken to guarantee the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the defendants.

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Background: Upper limb motor impairment is one of the main complications of stroke, affecting quality of life both for the patient and their family. The aim of this systematic review was to summarize the scientific evidence on the safety and efficacy of Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) on upper limb motor recovery after stroke. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that have evaluated the efficacy or safety of VNS in stroke patients was performed. The primary outcome was upper limb motor recovery. A search of articles published on MEDLINE, CENTRAL, EBSCO and LILACS up to December 2021 was performed, and a meta-analysis was developed to calculate the overall effects. Results: Eight studies evaluating VNS effects on motor function in stroke patients were included, of which 4 used implanted and 4 transcutaneous VNS. It was demonstrated that VNS, together with physical rehabilitation, increased upper limb motor function on average 7.06 points (95%CI 4.96; 9.16) as assessed by the Fugl-Meyer scale. Likewise, this improvement was significantly greater when compared to a control intervention (mean difference 2.48, 95%CI 0.98; 3.98). No deaths or serious adverse events related to the intervention were reported. The most frequent adverse events were dysphonia, dysphagia, nausea, skin redness, dysgeusia and pain related to device implantation. Conclusion: VNS, together with physical rehabilitation, improves upper limb motor function in stroke patients. Additionally, VNS is a safe intervention.

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Endothelial dysfunction is an early marker for cardiovascular diseases. Hyperglycemia induces endothelial dysfunction, increasing the production of reactive oxygen species. Platelet-derived growth factor C stimulates angiogenesis and revascularization in ischemic tissues of diabetic mice and promotes the migration of progenitors and mature ECs to injury sites; however, the molecular mechanisms of its actions are not described yet. Here, we evaluated the effect of PDGF-C on oxidative stress induced by HG. Human aortic endothelial cells were grown in glucose concentrations ranging from 5 mmol/L to 35 mmol/L for 1 to 24 h. Treatment with 50 ng/mL PDGF-C was done for 1 to 3 h. Cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS were measured by fluorometry, and the expression of antioxidant enzymes was evaluated by Western blot. Nrf2 and Keap1 expression was assessed by real-time PCR. High glucose induced mitochondrial ROS production. PDGF-C diminished the oxidative stress induced by high glucose, increasing SOD2 expression and SOD activity, and modulating the Keap1 expression gene. These results give new evidence about the mitochondrial antioxidant effect that PDGF-C could exert on endothelial cells exposed to high glucose and its considerable role as a therapeutic target in diabetes.

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Animals derive their coloration from a variety of pigments as well as non-pigmentary structural features. One of the most widespread types of pigments are carotenoids, which are used by all invertebrate taxa and most vertebrate orders to generate red, pink, orange and yellow coloration. Despite their widespread use by diverse animal groups, animals obligately obtain carotenoid pigments from diet. Carotenoid-based coloration is therefore modulated by evolutionary and ecological processes that affect the acquisition and deposition of these pigments into tegumentary structures. The Flame-colored Tanager (Piranga bidentata) is a highland songbird in the cardinal family (Cardinalidae) that is distributed from Mexican sierras through Central America up to western Panama. While female plumage throughout its entire range is predominantly yellow, males exhibit a noticeable split in ventral plumage color, which is bright orange on the West slope and the Tres Marias Islands and blood red in Eastern Mexico and Central America. We used Multiple Regression on Matrices (MRM) to evaluate the relative contributions of geographic distance, climate and genetic distance on color divergence and body differences between geographically disjunct populations. We found that differentiation in carotenoid plumage coloration was mainly explained by rainfall differences between disjunct populations, whereas body size differences was best explained by variation in the annual mean temperature and temperature of coldest quarter. These results indicate that climate is a strong driver of phenotypic divergence in Piranga bidentata.

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The present research aimed to identify and discuss the social representations of trans women related to gender identity and transphobia in Brazil and Colombia. In this study participated 43 Trans women, 22 from Brazil, aged between 18 and 55 years (M=29.09, SD=8.53) and 21 from Colombia, aged between 21 and 41 years (M=28.19, SD=7.63). This study adopted a qualitative approach in which semi-structured interviews were used. The data were analyzed by the Iramuteq software, which identified the social representations in classes. The results showed what the participants understood about transphobia and how they regarded their experiences with this gender identity. The participants presented negative social representations, aiming at their personal experiences related to their social context. Themes related to violence, discrimination, prejudice, denial of rights and family support emerged from both the Brazilian and Colombian sample. Implications for Tran´s quality of life are discussed.

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Abstract The present research aimed to identify and discuss the social representations of trans women related to gender identity and transphobia in Brazil and Colombia. In this study participated 43 Trans women, 22 from Brazil, aged between 18 and 55 years (M=29.09, SD=8.53) and 21 from Colombia, aged between 21 and 41 years (M=28.19, SD=7.63). This study adopted a qualitative approach in which semi-structured interviews were used. The data were analyzed by the Iramuteq software, which identified the social representations in classes. The results showed what the participants understood about transphobia and how they regarded their experiences with this gender identity. The participants presented negative social representations, aiming at their personal experiences related to their social context. Themes related to violence, discrimination, prejudice, denial of rights and family support emerged from both the Brazilian and Colombian sample. Implications for Tran´s quality of life are discussed.

Resumo A presente pesquisa teve como objetivo identificar e discutir as representações sociais de mulheres trans relacionadas à identidade de gênero e transfobia no Brasil e na Colômbia. Neste estudo participaram 43 mulheres trans, 22 do Brasil, com idade entre 18 e 55 anos (M=29,09, DP=8,53) e 21 da Colômbia, com idade entre 21 e 41 anos (M=28,19, DP=7,63). Este estudo adotou uma abordagem qualitativa na qual foram utilizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas. Os dados foram analisados pelo software Iramuteq, que identificou as representações sociais. Os resultados mostraram o que os participantes entenderam sobre transfobia e como eles encararam suas experiências com essa identidade de gênero. Os participantes apresentaram representações sociais negativas, visando suas experiências pessoais relacionadas ao seu contexto social. Temas relacionados à violência, discriminação, preconceito, negação de direitos e apoio familiar emergiram da amostra brasileira e colombiana. Espera-se que este estudo possa contribuir para compreensão deste fenômeno biopsicossocial.

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Child and adolescent sexual abuse (CSA) is an international public health problem. Despite the importance of CSA, there is no consensus definition, and the lack of consensus is related to difficulties in conducting prevalence studies as well as research in other areas. To establish a consensual definition, legal aspects such as the age of sexual consent and the difference in age or power between victim and aggressor as well as aspects related to sexual freedom and sexual indemnity must be considered. Therefore, the main goal of this research was to analyze the age of sexual consent in the legal systems of Spanish-speaking countries and to examine whether the Romeo and Juliet clause is established. To achieve the proposed aims, we employed the legal interpretation method, and we analyzed the current Criminal Codes of the 21 Spanish-speaking countries. From the results, it is found that the age of sexual consent varies between countries, establishing valid sexual consent between 13 and 18 years. In addition, only six countries have the Romeo and Juliet clause that protects sexual freedom in adolescents. Finally, we discussed the lack of consensus on the age of sexual consent and the limitations presented by the Romeo and Juliet clause.

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Sexual violence is a type of gender-based violence (GBV), as it is one of the different types of violence that is exerted against women. Sexual violence infringes fundamental human rights, and denies women's dignity and self-determination, personal development, and well-being. Despite international treaties and a regulatory framework that legally protects Colombian women against sexual violence, it is necessary to know the effectiveness of this regulatory framework in Colombia. Therefore, the main objective of this research is to examine criminal legislation on crimes of sexual violence in Colombia with a dual purpose: first, to analyze procedural guarantees for women victims of sexual violence; second, to determine obstacles for victims of sexual violence in accordance with the legal framework. We used a legal interpretation method to perform an analysis and interpret the law. The results found that, although sexual violence is considered a type of crime, procedural guarantees are not effective as victims encounter serious obstacles with negative consequences, such as the violation of fundamental human rights.

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The integration of genetic, morphological, behavioral, and ecological information in the analysis of species boundaries has increased, allowing integrative systematics that better reflect the evolutionary history of biological groups. In this context, the goal of this study was to recognize independent evolutionary lineages within Euphonia affinis at the genetic, morphological, and ecological levels. Three subspecies have been described: E. affinis godmani, distributed in the Pacific slope from southern Sonora to Guerrero; E. affinis affinis, from Oaxaca, Chiapas and the Yucatan Peninsula to Costa Rica; and E. affinis olmecorum from Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi east to northern Chiapas (not recognized by some authors). A multilocus analysis was performed using mitochondrial and nuclear genes. These analyses suggest two genetic lineages: E. godmani and E. affinis, which diverged between 1.34 and 4.3 My, a period in which the ice ages and global cooling fragmented the tropical forests throughout the Neotropics. To analyze morphometric variations, six morphometric measurements were taken, and the Wilcoxon Test was applied to look for sexual dimorphism and differences between the lineages. Behavioral information was included, by performing vocalization analysis which showed significant differences in the temporal characteristics of calls. Finally, Ecological Niche Models were estimated with MaxEnt, and then compared using the method of Broennimann. These analyses showed that the lineage distributed in western Mexico (E. godmani) has a more restricted niche than the eastern lineage (E. affinis) and thus we rejected the hypotheses of niche equivalence and similarity. Based on the combined evidence from genetic, morphological, behavioral, and ecological data, it is concluded that E. affinis (with E. olmecorum as its synonym) and E. godmani represent two independent evolutionary lineages.

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AIM: The effects of geographic and environmental variables on patterns of genetic and phenotypic differentiation have been thoroughly studied. Ecological speciation involves reproductive isolation due to divergent natural selection that can result in a positive correlation between genetic divergence and adaptive phenotypic divergence (isolation by adaptation, IBA). If the phenotypic target of selection is unknown or not easily measured, environmental variation can be used as a proxy, expecting positive correlation between genetic and environmental distances, independent of geographic distances (isolation by environment, IBE). The null model is that the amount of gene flow between populations decreases as the geographic distance between them increases, and genetic divergence is due simply to the neutral effects of genetic drift (isolation by distance, IBD). However, since phenotypic differentiation in natural populations may be autocorrelated with geographic distance, it is often difficult to distinguish IBA from the neutral expectation of IBD. In this work, we test hypotheses of IBA, IBE, and IBD in the Red-crowned Ant tanager (Habia rubica). LOCATION: Mesoamerica (Mexico-Central America) and South America. TAXON: Habia rubica (Aves: Cardinalidae). METHODS: We compiled genetic data, coloration, and morphometric data from specimens from collections in Mexico and the United States. We used the Multiple Matrix Regression with Randomization (MMRR) approach to evaluate the influence of geographic and environmental distances on genetic and phenotypic differentiation of H. rubica at both phylogroup and population levels. RESULTS: Our results provide strong evidence that geographic distance is the main driver of genetic variation in H. rubica. We did not find evidence that climate variation is driving population differentiation in this species across a widespread geographic region. MAIN CONCLUSIONS: Our data point to geographic isolation as the main factor structuring genetic variation within populations of H. rubica and suggest that climate is not playing a major role in genetic differentiation within this species.

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Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas, 1909 is reported to increase the production of reactive oxygen species in patients with Chagas disease. Mitochondria dysfunction, host inflammatory response and inadequate antioxidant response are described as the main factors leading to oxidative stress during acute and chronic stages of the disease. The Seahorse XFe24 extracellular flux platform allows energy metabolism determination through mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis measurements. XFe24 platform can be used in in vitro models of T. cruzi-infected cells, which allow the assessment and even modulation of endogenous conditions of infected cells, generating readouts of real-time cellular bioenergetics changes. In this protocol, we standardised the use of XFe24 technology in T. cruzi infected AC16 cardiomyocytes and SGHPL-5 trophoblasts. In addition, we provide a list of optimised assay specifications, advantages and critical steps to be considered during the process. Cardiomyocytes and trophoblasts are attractive target cells to evaluate the metabolic environment in acute, chronic and congenital Chagas transmission scenarios.

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Resumen Introducción. La malaria continúa siendo una de las enfermedades que causa mayor morbi-mortalidad a nivel mundial. Por esta razón es importante desarrollar herramientas diagnósticas eficaces que se implementen como estrategias para el control de la enfermedad. Objetivos. Estandarizar las condiciones del inmunoensayo enzimático (ELISA), para la detección de IgG específica contra Plasmodium falciparum en sueros de pacientes diagnosticados por gota gruesa con malaria no complicada por P. falciparum, empleando como antígeno un extracto proteico obtenido a partir de cultivo de P. falciparum o un péptido sintético derivado de la proteína de superficie de merozoito GLURP (del inglés: glutamate rich protein). Materiales y métodos. Para la estandarización de la técnica, se utilizaron 22 sueros de pacientes positivos para malaria por P. falciparum y 11 diagnosticados positivos para malaria por P. vivax utilizando la técnica de gota gruesa. Como controles negativos se utilizaron 44 sueros de individuos sanos. Los sueros fueron probados contra extracto de proteínas del parásito y el péptido sintético IMT 94 derivado de la proteína GLURP, para evaluar las concentraciones y las diluciones óptimas de cada componente del sistema. Para la validación de la técnica se utilizaron 251 sueros de pacientes positivos para P. falciparum y 44 sueros de individuos sanos, diagnosticados utilizando la técnica de gota gruesa. Resultados. La técnica estandarizada con el péptido sintético permitió observar diferencia significativa en el reconocimiento de sueros de pacientes, controles positivos y negativos por los antígenos (extracto de proteínas y péptidos sintéticos). Conclusiones. La metodología usada permite identificar la respuestas inmune específica contra P. falciparum.

Abstract Introduction. Malaria continues being one of the diseases causing the greatest morbi-mortality around the world. For that reason, effective diagnostic tools must thus be developed which can be used in strategies for controlling the disease. Objectives. To standardise enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) conditions for detecting Plasmodium falciparum specific IgG in sera from patients diagnosed by thick smear as suffering non-complicated malaria caused by P. falciparum. A protein extract obtained from P. falciparum culture or a synthetic peptide derived from glutamate rich protein (GLURP) merozoite surface protein would be used as antigen. Materials and Methods. 22 serum samples from patients diagnosed as suffering from P. falciparum malaria, 11 serum samples from patients diagnosed as suffering from P. vivax and 44 from healthy donors, diagnosed by using the thick smear tecnique were used for standarising the technique. Serum samples were tested against parasite protein extract and GLURP- derived IMT 94 synthetic peptide for standardisign optimum dilutions and concentrations for each component in the system. 251 serum samples from patients diagnosed as suffering from P. falciparum malaria and 44 from healthy donors diagnosed by using the thick smear tecnique were used to validate the technique. Results. The technique led to significant differences being observed in antigens (protein extract and synthetic peptides) recognising serum from positive and negative patients and controls. Conclusions. The methodology used led to identifying specific immune response against P. falciparum.

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Many neotropical species have a complex history of diversification as a result of the influence of geographical, ecological, climatic, and geological factors that determine the distribution of populations within a lineage. Phylogeography identifies such populations, determines their geographic distributions, and quantifies the degree of genetic divergence. In this work we explored the genetic structure of Habia rubica populations, a polytypic taxon with 17 subspecies described, in order to obtain hypotheses about their evolutionary history and processes of diversification. We undertook multilocus analyses using sequences of five molecular markers (ND2, ACOI-I9, MUSK, FGB-I5 and ODC), and sampling from across the species' distribution range, an area encompassing from Central Mexico throughout much of South America. With these data, we obtained a robust phylogenetic hypothesis, a species delimitation analysis, and estimates of divergence times for these lineages. The phylogenetic hypothesis of concatenated molecular markers shows that H. rubica can be divided in three main clades: the first includes Mexican Pacific coast populations, the second is formed by population from east of Mexico to Panama and the third comprises the South American populations. Within these clades we recognize seven principal phylogroups whose limits have a clear correspondence with important geographical discontinuities including the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico, the Talamanca Cordillera, and the Isthmus of Panama in North America. In South America, we observed a marked separation of two phylogroups that include the populations that inhabit mesic forests in western and central South America (Amazon Forest) and those inhabiting the seasonal forest from the eastern and northern regions of the South America (Atlantic Forest). These areas are separated by an intervening dry vegetation "diagonal" (Chaco, Cerrado and Caatinga). The geographic and genetic structure of these phylogroups describes a history of diversification more active and complex in the northern distribution of this species, producing at least seven well-supported lineages that could be considered species.

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Preeclampsia is a maternal hypertensive disorder that affects up to 1 out of 12 pregnancies worldwide. It is characterized by proteinuria, endothelial dysfunction, and elevated levels of the soluble form of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1, known as sFlt-1). sFlt-1 effects are mediated in part by decreasing VEGF signaling. The direct effects of sFlt-1 on cellular metabolism and bioenergetics in preeclampsia, have not been established. The goal of this study was to evaluate whether sFlt-1 causes mitochondrial dysfunction leading to disruption of normal functioning in endothelial and placental cells in preeclampsia. Endothelial cells (ECs) and first-trimester trophoblast (HTR-8/SVneo) were treated with serum from preeclamptic women rich in sFlt-1 or with the recombinant protein. sFlt-1, dose-dependently inhibited ECs respiration and acidification rates indicating a metabolic phenotype switch enhancing glycolytic flux. HTR-8/SVneo displayed a strong basal glycolytic metabolism, remaining less sensitive to sFlt-1-induced mitochondrial impairment. Moreover, results obtained in ECs exposed to serum from preeclamptic subjects demonstrated that increased sFlt-1 leads to metabolic perturbations accountable for mitochondrial dysfunction observed in preeclampsia. sFlt-1 exacerbated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and mitochondrial membrane potential dissipation in ECs and trophoblasts exposed to serum from preeclamptic women. Forcing oxidative metabolism by culturing cells in galactose media, further sensitized cells to sFlt-1. This approach let us establish that sFlt-1 targets mitochondrial function in ECs. Effects of sFlt-1 on HTR-8/SVneo cells metabolism were amplified in galactose, demonstrating that sFlt-1 only target cells that rely mainly on oxidative metabolism. Together, our results establish the early metabolic perturbations induced by sFlt-1 and the resulting endothelial and mitochondrial dysfunction in preeclampsia.