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Shifts in species distribution, or 'range shifts', are one of the most commonly documented responses to ocean warming, with important consequences for the function and structure of ecosystems, and for socio-economic activities. Understanding the genetic signatures of range shifts can help build our knowledge of the capacity of species to establish and persist in colonised areas. Here, seven microsatellite loci were used to examine the population connectivity, genetic structure and diversity of Octopus tetricus, which has extended its distribution several hundred kilometres polewards associated with the southwards extension of the warm East Australian Current along south-eastern Australia. The historical distribution and the range extension zones had significant genetic differences but levels of genetic diversity were comparable. The population in the range extension zone was sub-structured, contained relatively high levels of self-recruitment and was sourced by migrants from along the entire geographic distribution. Genetic bottlenecks and changes in population size were detected throughout the range extension axis. Persistent gene flow from throughout the historical zone and moderate genetic diversity may buffer the genetic bottlenecks and favour the range extension of O. tetricus. These characteristics may aid adaptation, establishment, and long-term persistence of the population in the range extension zone.

The epidemiology of classical Hodgkin lymphoma varies significantly in populations with different socioeconomic conditions. Among other changes, improvement in such conditions leads to a reduction in the association with EBV infection and predominance of the nodular sclerosis subtype. This study provides an overview of the epidemiology of 817 cases of classical Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosed in five reference hospitals of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, over 54 years (1954-2008). The cases were distributed in 3 periods (1954-1979; 1980-1999; and 2000-2008). EBV-positive cases decreased from 87% to 46%. In children and adolescents (<15 years) and in young adults (15-45 years), EBV-positive cases decreased respectively from 96% to 64%, and from 85% to 32%. The percentage of male patients declined from 80% to 58%. In older patients (>45 years), the decrease in EBV infection was not significant. Nodular Sclerosis was the most common subtype in all periods. These results support the hypothesis that, in the Brazilian State of Sao Paulo, classical Hodgkin lymphoma has changed and now shows characteristics consistent with Pattern III observed in populations that experienced a similar socioeconomic transition.

Double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq) and target capture sequencing methods are used to explore population and phylogenetic questions in non-model organisms. ddRADseq offers a simple and reliable protocol for population genomic studies, however it can result in a large amount of missing data due to allelic dropout. Target capture sequencing offers an opportunity to increase sequencing coverage with little missing data and consistent orthologous loci across samples, although this approach has generally been applied to conserved markers for deeper evolutionary questions. Here, we combine both methods to generate high quality sequencing data for population genomic studies of all marine lobster species from the genus Jasus. We designed probes based on ddRADseq libraries of two lobster species (Jasus edwardsii and Sagmariasus verreauxi) and evaluated the captured sequencing data in five other Jasus species. We validated 4,465 polymorphic loci amongst these species using a cost effective sequencing protocol, of which 1,730 were recovered from all species, and 4,026 were present in at least three species. The method was also successfully applied to DNA samples obtained from museum specimens. This data will be further used to assess spatial-temporal genetic variation in Jasus species found in the Southern Hemisphere.

The pig, Sus scrofa, is a foreign species to the American continent. Although pigs originally introduced in the Americas should be related to those from the Iberian Peninsula and Canary islands, the phylogeny of current creole pigs that now populate the continent is likely to be very complex. Because of the extreme climates that America harbors, these populations also provide a unique example of a fast evolutionary phenomenon of adaptation. Here, we provide a genome wide study of these issues by genotyping, with a 60k SNP chip, 206 village pigs sampled across 14 countries and 183 pigs from outgroup breeds that are potential founders of the American populations, including wild boar, Iberian, international and Chinese breeds. Results show that American village pigs are primarily of European ancestry, although the observed genetic landscape is that of a complex conglomerate. There was no correlation between genetic and geographical distances, neither continent wide nor when analyzing specific areas. Most populations showed a clear admixed structure where the Iberian pig was not necessarily the main component, illustrating how international breeds, but also Chinese pigs, have contributed to extant genetic composition of American village pigs. We also observe that many genes related to the cardiovascular system show an increased differentiation between altiplano and genetically related pigs living near sea level.

The aim of this study was to evaluate taste perception, salivary flow rate and oral pathologies in three different groups of patients undergoing hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) classified according to time post transplant. Group I (n=20) up to 150 days after HSCT, group II (n=20) between 151 and 1095 days and group III (n=21) more than 1095 days. Taste acuity was measured by four basic tastes of four solutions, in three concentrations (M): NaCl, sucrose, citric acid and caffeine. Patients classified flavors as sweet, sour, salty, bitter and without flavor. The intensity was considered high, medium and low. Unstimulated saliva was collected and salivary flow rates (ml/min) were determined. Of 61 patients, 31 had chronic GVHD. For the sweet solution, the high and low concentrations represented a challenge for those patients. No patients were sensitive to the low concentration of caffeine solution (P=0.05). Saliva flow rate was diminished in 10 of 61 (16%) patients and hyposalivation was more intense in groups II/III (P=0.007). There was no correlation between taste dysfunction and oral chronic GVHD. The results indicated taste alterations only for the sweet and salty tastes even in patients up to 3 years after HSCT and may not correlate with oral chronic GVHD and with hyposalivation.

We report here the first six cases of leprosy associated with HLA-identical allogeneic SCT in different phases and with different findings and outcomes. Skin and peripheral nerves may be sites of leprosy associated with SCT, stressing the importance of differential diagnosis between leprosy and GVHD or drug reactions. Clinical manifestations of leprosy before or after transplantation did not influence the outcome of SCT in our cases.

The incidence of Gram-negative bacteremia has increased in hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. We prospectively collected data from 13 Brazilian HSCT centers to characterize the epidemiology of bacteremia occurring early post transplant, and to identify factors associated with infection due to multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative isolates. MDR was defined as an isolate with resistance to at least two of the following: third- or fourth-generation cephalosporins, carbapenems or piperacillin-tazobactam. Among 411 HSCT, fever occurred in 333, and 91 developed bacteremia (118 isolates): 47% owing to Gram-positive, 37% owing to Gram-negative, and 16% caused by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (22%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (19%) and Escherichia coli (17%) accounted for the majority of Gram-negative isolates, and 37% were MDR. These isolates were recovered from 20 patients, representing 5% of all 411 HSCT and 22% of the episodes with bacteremia. By multivariate analysis, treatment with third-generation cephalosporins (odds ratio (OR) 10.65, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.75-30.27) and being at one of the hospitals (OR 9.47, 95% CI 2.60-34.40) were associated with infection due to MDR Gram-negative isolates. These findings may have important clinical implications in the decision of giving prophylaxis and selecting the empiric antibiotic regimen.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the frequency and clinical characteristics of ocular complications and their risk factors, as well as autologous serum tears (AST) for the treatment of dry eye in these patients. Data from the files of 124 patients who had undergone allogeneic haematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT) were evaluated. In addition, 33 HPCT patients were examined and their data were compared with controls. Analysis of tears and AST was performed. Dry eye manifestation occurred in 32% of patients and was positively correlated with age over 27 years (P = 0.05), peripheral blood progenitor cell transplant (P = 0.002), chronic graft-versus-host disease (P = 0.0027), and chronic or acute myeloid leukaemia (P = 0.001). Dry mouth and Schirmer test < 5 mm were predictive factors for dry eye in HPCT patients (P = 0.002 and odds ratio 3.9 and P = 0.007, odds ratio = 5.9, respectively). Microbiological analysis revealed that six of 11 AST samples were contaminated after 30 days of use. The present study supports the role of potential risk factors for ocular complications and key elements to detect alterations in the tear film from HPCT patients. In addition, AST contamination must be considered after longer periods of use.

Salivary gland dysfunction is a common sequela of hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation (HPCT). The investigation of major salivary gland dysfunction with sodium pertechnetate scintigraphy is a non-invasive method that provides images of the parotid and submandibular glands. In this prospective trial, 20 HPCT patients were submitted to scintigraphic study with 99mTc-pertechenate and 67Ga in order to evaluate the major salivary glands early involvement following HPCT. Major salivary glands were evaluated prior to HCPT as well as at Days +30, +60 and +100 post transplant. Major salivary glands uptake and clearance of 99mTc-pertechenate results did not demonstrate any functional differences between pre- versus post transplant periods. Results of the 67Ga scan revealed inflammatory infiltration following HPCT, primarily in submandibular glands, suggest a persistent involvement of major salivary glands up to Day +100 after HPCT.

Busulfan was added at the dose of 4 mg/kg to 200 mg/kg cyclophosphamide in 81 patients (3-53 years, median 24) with aplastic anemia to reduce graft rejection. Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis comprised cyclosporine-methotrexate. The number of prior transfusions was 0-276 (median 26), and 48% had received prior immunosuppressive therapy. Two patients experienced primary graft failure, and 10 secondary rejection at 28-1001 days (median 317 days). The cumulative incidence of rejection was 22%; for heavily transfused patients (>/=50 U) it was 43% compared to 16% for the rest (P=0.06). Overall survival rate at 8 years was 56%; patients who received 15 transfusions was 78 and 50%, respectively (P=0.01), whereas it was 67 and 28% for 50 transfusions, respectively (P=0.002). In multivariate analysis, higher number of prior transfusions, shorter period of immunosuppression with cyclosporine and GVHD were associated with inferior survival; moreover, a higher risk of graft rejection were associated with a higher number of prior transfusions and a trend was observed for a shorter cyclosporine administration. Low-dose busulfan is feasible and may be helpful in patients exposed to <50 transfusions. However, rejection remains a significant problem, mainly in heavily transfused patients.

In order to assess the effect of delaying G-CSF administration after autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation on the duration of neutropenia, 87 patients were randomized to receive G-CSF 5 microg/kg/day starting on day +1 (n = 45) or +5 (n = 42) following PBPC transplantation, until recovery of the neutrophils. The duration of neutropenia (<0.5 x 10(9)/l) was shorter in the day +1 group (7 vs 8 days; P = 0.02), especially in patients receiving melphalan 200 mg/m(2) and CD34(+) cell doses >3.0 x 10(6)/kg. These patients had a later onset of neutropenia after transplant. There were no differences in time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment, or in the incidence of fever and documentation of infection. Although the duration of antibiotic therapy (7 vs 10.5 days; P = 0.01) and time to hospital discharge (13 vs 15 days; P = 0.02) were shorter in the day +1 group, these differences could not be predicted by the day of G-CSF initiation in multivariate analysis. Starting G-CSF on day +1 does not result in faster neutrophil engraftment but in later onset and consequently, slightly shorter duration of neutropenia in patients who receive melphalan 200 mg/m(2) and CD34(+) cell doses >3.0 x 10(6)/kg.

Two cases of GVHD with severe dry eyes are reported where conventional therapy failed to control ocular signs and symptoms. Autologous serum tears, however, resulted in a beneficial clinical effect with marked attenuation of the symptoms. This therapy proved to be safe during 10 months of treatment. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2000).

We present the results of a prospective, randomised study comparing PBPC and BM focusing on engraftment, acute and chronic GVHD and survival. Forty patients with haematological malignancies received HLA-identical sibling BM (group A) or PBPC (group B). Evaluable patients were 19 (A) and 18 (B). Median age was 35 (17-56) in A and 29.5 (9-51) in B. Conditioning was mainly Bu-Cy2; GVHD prophylaxis was CSA-MTX. PBPC were harvested after 5 days of G-CSF 10 microg/kg/day. Median days for an ANC >0.5 x 10(9)/l was 18 (13-30) in A and 16 (11-25) in B (P = 0.10). Platelets >20 x 10(9)/l occurred at +17 (10-40) in A and +12 (9-36) in B (P = 0.01). The probability of > or =2 grade a-GVHD was 19% (A) and 27% (B) (P = 0.53). The probability of all grade c-GVHD was 70% with BM. In spite of the small number of patients in group B (PBPC), our data suggest the great majority of them will have c-GVHD (P = 0.08); extensive disease was present in 50 and 100%, respectively (P = 0.05). The estimates of overall survival for A and B at 1000 days are 51 and 47%, respectively (P = 0.67); DFS at 1000 days are 52 and 58%, respectively (P = 0.50). PBPC resulted in faster platelet engraftment. The incidence of acute and chronic GVHD was similar in both groups, but the severity of c-GVHD was higher with PBPC. No differences in survival and DFS have been observed to date.

Allogeneic blood stem cell (BSC) transplantation has been performed experimentally in some patients with success. Wider application of this therapeutic modality has been hampered ultimately by many factors, mainly the concern that infusion of large numbers of donor T cells could result in an increased incidence and severity of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). We report the short-term results of 17 allogeneic BSC transplants in patients with hematologic malignancies. When compared to standard BMT results, BSC transplants showed the advantages of faster engraftment, shorter hospital stay and fewer antibiotic needs. The incidence and severity of GVHD, as well as the general BMT-associated morbidity, was comparable between the two groups. BSC collection by apheresis was well tolerated and associated with less morbidity for donors, probably reducing the cost of the treatment. The collection of BSC was a single apheresis procedure and yielded adequate numbers of stem cells to ensure engraftment. Although this was not a prospective randomized study, the data obtained are encouraging and warrant more prospective and controlled studies.