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ABSTRACTGenetic variability is crucial for the choice of genitors in any plant breeding programme. Open-pollinated tomato varieties (OPV) present particular and little explored characteristics that can be used in breeding for organic production. This study aimed to characterise the morphological and molecular variability of seventeen OPVs grown under organic management, using morphological descriptors and SSR-type molecular markers. The experiment was conducted under field conditions, in a randomised complete block design, with four replications. Morphological characterisation was performed of 35 descriptors of the fruit and plants and by physical-chemical analyses of the fruit. Furthermore, the molecular variability of the OPVs was analysed using 20 SSR molecular markers. In the characterisation of fruit quality, 85.03% of the variability was composed of the chromatic descriptors b* (44.43%) and L* (7.21%), together with the width of pedicel scar (16.78%), number locules (8.59%), and fruit length (8.02%). The average similarity of genotypes obtained from the polymorphic SSR fragments was 0.59. The evaluated genotypes presented genetic variability to facilitate crosses focused on tomato breeding programmes for organic agriculture. Crosses including the yellow-orange-coloured genotypes, BGT_3 and BGT _1, could be explored for market niches such as for the gourmet type.

The majority of the melanocytic neoplasms are considered malignant and highly metastatic. However, a subset of the melanocytic tumors has a more favorable prognosis and the identification of precise prognostic markers for this neoplasm may be useful to guide treatment. The collagen architecture and density have been shown to correlate with tumor progression in human breast cancer and canine mast cell tumors. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prognostic value of the intratumoral collagen index (ICI) as an indicator of postsurgical survival and its relation with other prognostic markers for canine oral melanomas (OMs). Twenty-two cases were tested for intratumoral collagen density using Masson's trichrome stain and morphometry. No differences were found between dogs regarding survival. The ICI was not correlated with proliferative activity or nuclear atypia. The results presented herein indicate that the quantity of intratumoral collagen in canine OMs is not an efficient indicator of postsurgical survival. Complementary studies about the expression and activity of enzymes that are capable of degrading extracellular matrix (ECM) components are necessary.

Prurigo pigmentosa (PP) is a rare inflammatory disease of the skin of uncertain etiology first reported in Japan. It is typified by recurrent eruptions of itching urticarial macules, papules, vesicopapules, and plaques with a reticular arrangement that quickly resolve leaving a net-like pigmentation. The disease presents specific histopathological features. Herein, 3 cases of PP in Brazilians with no Japanese ancestry are reported and a revision of all previous English-language case reports indexed on PubMed is provided. Two articles with original case reports not listed on PubMed were also included. Our patients are 2 women and 1 man at the ages of 39, 33, and 22 years, respectively. All 3 presented findings in consonance with previous cases of PP and were diagnosed based on clinicopathological correlation. They were successfully treated with oral minocycline or doxycycline. In our literature review, a total of 210 previously reported cases were included. Although PP seemed to be restricted to Japanese patients in the first years after its recognition, the geographic boundaries of the disease are continuously expanding. Korea responded for 83 previous cases and Japan for 53. The mean age was 24.4 years, with 84.3% of the cases occurring between 11 and 30 years of age. The female/male rate was 2.6 and the most affected anatomical sites were back, chest, and neck. We do believe that the rarity of case reports in western countries may represent lack of awareness about the disease by dermatologists and dermatopathologists in these regions.