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Abstract Background Aortic stenosis (AS) is characterized by inflammation, fibrosis, osteogenesis and angiogenesis. Men and women develop these mechanisms differently. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a pro-inflammatory and pro-osteogenic lectin in AS. In this work, we aim to analyse a potential sex-differential role of Gal-3 in AS. Methods 226 patients (61.50% men) with severe AS undergoing surgical aortic valve (AV) replacement were recruited. In AVs, Gal-3 expression and its relationship with inflammatory, osteogenic and angiogenic markers was assessed. Valve interstitial cells (VICs) were primary cultured to perform in vitro experiments. Results Proteomic analysis revealed that intracellular Gal-3 was over-expressed in VICs of male AS patients. Gal-3 secretion was also higher in men’s VICs as compared to women’s. In human AVs, Gal-3 protein levels were significantly higher in men, with stronger immunostaining in VICs with myofibroblastic phenotype and valve endothelial cells. Gal-3 levels in AVs were positively correlated with inflammatory markers in both sexes. Gal-3 expression was also positively correlated with osteogenic markers mainly in men AVs, and with angiogenic molecules only in this sex. In vitro, Gal-3 treatment induced expression of inflammatory, osteogenic and angiogenic markers in male’s VICs, while it only upregulated inflammatory and osteogenic molecules in women-derived cells. Gal-3 blockade with pharmacological inhibitors (modified citrus pectin and G3P-01) prevented the upregulation of inflammatory, osteogenic and angiogenic molecules. Conclusions Gal-3 plays a sex-differential role in the setting of AS, and it could be a new sex-specific therapeutic target controlling pathological features of AS in VICs. Graphical Abstract

Background: diabetic retinopathy and diabetic kidney disease are highly feared microvascular complications. In our province, there are insufficient studies that address the possible association between these comorbidities. Objective: to characterize clinical and epidemiological variables in patients with diabetic retinopathy and altered values of microalbuminuria, treated at the ophthalmological center of Las Tunas, from October 2020 to May 2023. Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed in a universe of 138 patients with diabetic retinopathy who attended the retinal consultation in the place and during the time period defined in the objective. The sample consisted of 67 patients older than 18 years, with values of microalbuminuria in the range of 30-300 mg/L. The variables evaluated were: type of diabetic retinopathy, age, sex, personal and family history of disease, time of evolution of diabetes, visual acuity, classification of diabetes according to alterations in the retina, microalbuminuria value. The data were analyzed according to descriptive statistics. Results: females predominated (64.2 %), ages 60-79 years (50.7 %) and patients with more than 10 years of diabetes evolution (53.7 %). The most frequent personal pathological history was arterial hypertension (43.3 %). 41.8 % of the eyes had a better corrected visual acuity of 0.6-0.4. Microalbuminuria values were more frequent between 60-90 in cases of non-proliferous diabetic retinopathy and 100-300 in those diagnosed with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Conclusions: characteristics of patients with diabetic retinopathy and elevated levels of microalbuminuria were described.

Highlights NGAL is expressed by inflammatory infiltrates and active VICs in the stenotic AV, being predominantly associated to inflammation, osteogenesis, and calcification. The levels of NGAL are higher in VICs and AVs from men than women’s and are associated with pathological features of AS. Intracellular NGAL is specifically down-regulated in calcifying male-derived VICs and is associated with inflammation, matrix remodelling and calcification. The pharmacological blockade of extracellular NGAL in calcifying male-derived VICs partly prevents from inflammation and matrix remodelling.

Introducción: la ozonoterapia es la aplicación de ozono médico mediante mínimas punciones o aplicación directa con fines terapéuticos para mejorar el funcionamiento de órganos y tejidos. El uso de la ozonoterapia en niños como tratamiento complementario está totalmente validado en enfermedades como: asma bronquial, bronquitis, alergia, síndrome de Down, parálisis cerebral infantil, trastornos del espectro autista, y se añadió a la lista el COVID-19. Objetivo: determinar los resultados obtenidos a través de la aplicación de la ozonoterapia en pacientes pediátricos positivos a la COVID-19 el año 2021. Método: se realizó un estudio documental donde se consultó la bibliografía publicada en formato web y disponible en ScieELO, artículos publicados en la Revista Cubana de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Revista Cubana de Farmacia, Revista Elsevier, así como los periódicos Granma, Juventud Rebelde y Venceremos. Se utilizó el método análisis de síntesis. Desarrollo: los principales resultados de los estudios a nivel mundial indican que el ozono en los niños disminuye los índices de inflamación y el tiempo de respiración asistida, mejora la saturación de oxígeno y negativiza la PCR en períodos más cortos. Y podría reducir la mortalidad. Conclusiones: la ozonoterapia es capaz de mejorar variables clínicas, de laboratorio como a las que se hicieron referencia anteriormente, debido a sus propiedades antinflamatorias, antivíricas e inmunomoduladoras. Resulta indudable que representa una opción coadyuvante o compasiva, en el manejo de pacientes pediátricos positivos a la COVID-19.

Introduction: Ozone therapy is the application of medical ozone through minimal punctures or direct application for therapeutic purposes to improve the functioning of organs and tissues. The use of ozone therapy in children as a complementary treatment is fully validated in diseases such as: bronchial asthma, bronchitis, allergies, Down syndrome, infantile cerebral palsy, autism spectrum disorders, and COVID-19 was added to the list. Objective: To determine the results obtained through the application of ozone therapy in pediatric patients positive for COVID-19 in 2021. Material and Methods: A documentary study was carried out where the bibliography published in web format and available in ScieELO, articles published in the Cuban Journal of Biomedical Research, Cuban Journal of Pharmacy, Elsevier Journal, as well as the newspapers Granma, Juventud Rebelde and Overcome. The synthesis analysis method was used. Development: The main results of studies worldwide indicate that ozone in children decreases inflammation indices and assisted breathing time, improves oxygen saturation, and renders CRP negative in shorter periods. And it could reduce mortality. Conclusions: : Ozone therapy is capable of improving clinical and laboratory variables such as those referred to above, due to its anti-inflammatory, antiviral and immunomodulatory properties. It is undoubtedly an adjuvant or compassionate option in the management of pediatric patients positive for COVID-19.

It has been recommended that all penetrating trauma to the head, neck and torso, and to the extremities proximal to the elbow and knee, should be managed in specialised trauma centres. We present two cases of penetrating trauma that presented to Pietersburg Hospital, part of the Limpopo Academic Complex. Both of them were the result of interpersonal violence.

Abstract The elusive crystal structure of the so-called ‘antimonic acid’ has been investigated by means of robust and state-of-the-art techniques. The synergic results of solid-state magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and a combined Rietveld refinement from synchrotron X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data reveal that this compound contains two types of protons, in a pyrochlore-type structure of stoichiometric formula (H3O)1.20(7)H0.77(9)Sb2O6. Some protons belong to heavily delocalized H3O+ subunits, while some H+ are directly bonded to the oxygen atoms of the covalent framework of the pyrochlore structure, with O–H distances close to 1 Å. A proton diffusion mechanism is proposed relying on percolation pathways determined by bond-valence energy landscape analysis. X-ray absorption spectroscopy results corroborate the structural data around Sb5+ ions at short-range order. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry endorsed the conclusions on the water content within antimonic acid. Additional 0.7 water molecules per formula were assessed as moisture water by thermal analysis.

Introduction: in the teaching-learning process for the students of Stomatology, it is necessary to verify the mastery of knowledge, actions, operations and attitudes for the prevention of oral cancer. Objective: performing a methodological instrument that allows the evaluation of the development of the skill of early diagnosis of oral cancer in fifth year Stomatology students. Method: an educational, descriptive research with a mixed approach was carried out at the University of Medical Sciences in Guantánamo. The universe was constituted by the teachers and students of the fifth year of stomatology, from which a probability sample of 95 students and 20 teachers was chosen. For gathering the information some theoretical methods were used: historical-logical, analysis and synthesis, inductive-deductive, whereas empirical methods were also used: documentary analysis and the criteria of specialists to validate the proposal. Results: this methodological instrument showed a clear and flexible design for the evaluation of the development of the skill of early diagnosis of oral cancer in fifth year Stomatology students. Specialists as a whole considered it to be relevant, useful and feasible. Conclusions: the proposal will allow to evaluate the acquired ability of the fifth year Stomatology students for the early diagnosis of oral cancer, being considered a contribution for increasing the quality of the training process, and to guarantee that once they graduated they fulfill their social task according to the objectives of the Program for the Early Detection of Oral Cancer.

The protective human antibody response to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) focuses on the spike (S) protein, which decorates the virion surface and mediates cell binding and entry. Most SARS-CoV-2 protective antibodies target the receptor-binding domain or a single dominant epitope (“supersite”) on the N-terminal domain (NTD). Using the single B cell technology called linking B cell receptor to antigen specificity through sequencing (LIBRA-Seq), we isolated a large panel of NTD-reactive and SARS-CoV-2–neutralizing antibodies from an individual who had recovered from COVID-19. We found that neutralizing antibodies against the NTD supersite were commonly encoded by the IGHV1-24 gene, forming a genetic cluster representing a public B cell clonotype. However, we also discovered a rare human antibody, COV2-3434, that recognizes a site of vulnerability on the SARS-CoV-2 S protein in the trimer interface (TI) and possesses a distinct class of functional activity. COV2-3434 disrupted the integrity of S protein trimers, inhibited the cell-to-cell spread of the virus in culture, and conferred protection in human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2–transgenic (ACE2-transgenic) mice against the SARS-CoV-2 challenge. This study provides insight into antibody targeting of the S protein TI region, suggesting this region may be a site of virus vulnerability.

Objectives Studies have demonstrated high rates of mortality in people with proximal femoral fracture and SARS-CoV-2, but there is limited published data on the factors that influence mortality for clinicians to make informed treatment decisions. This study aims to report the 30-day mortality associated with perioperative infection of patients undergoing surgery for proximal femoral fractures and to examine the factors that influence mortality in a multivariate analysis.Setting Prospective, international, multicentre, observational cohort study.Participants Patients undergoing any operation for a proximal femoral fracture from 1 February to 30 April 2020 and with perioperative SARS-CoV-2 infection (either 7 days prior or 30-day postoperative).Primary outcome 30-day mortality. Multivariate modelling was performed to identify factors associated with 30-day mortality.Results This study reports included 1063 patients from 174 hospitals in 19 countries. Overall 30-day mortality was 29.4% (313/1063). In an adjusted model, 30-day mortality was associated with male gender (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.68 to 3.13, p80 years (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.31, p=0.013), preoperative diagnosis of dementia (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.16, p=0.005), kidney disease (OR 1.73, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.55, p=0.005) and congestive heart failure (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.06 to 2.48, p=0.025). Mortality at 30 days was lower in patients with a preoperative diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 (OR 0.6, 95% CI 0.6 (0.42 to 0.85), p=0.004). There was no difference in mortality in patients with an increase to delay in surgery (p=0.220) or type of anaesthetic given (p=0.787).Conclusions Patients undergoing surgery for a proximal femoral fracture with a perioperative infection of SARS-CoV-2 have a high rate of mortality. This study would support the need for providing these patients with individualised medical and anaesthetic care, including medical optimisation before theatre. Careful preoperative counselling is needed for those with a proximal femoral fracture and SARS-CoV-2, especially those in the highest risk groups.Trial registration number NCT04323644

Background: the injuries of the solid craniofacial exist from evolution of the man, which has brought therefore the need to create means to mask defects or to restore the lost organ. Objective: to characterize the patients with oral-maxillofacial defects. Methods: an observational, descriptive and transverse study was carried out from January, 2015 to May, 2018, in patients with oral-maxillofacial defects attended in the department dentistry prosthesis of the University Polyclinic Julio Antonio Mella of the city of Camagüey. The universe was constituted by 13 patients older than 20 years of age of both sexes cross-referred of the University Hospital Manuel Ascunce Domenech and Provincial University Oncological Hospital María Curie. Results: in relation to the patients with maxillofacial defects rehabilitated according to age and sex, prevailed the group 60 to 79 years, as well as the masculine sex. According to type and etiology of the defect, the nasal and the oncological was a superior with 7 patients respectively. According to type of defect oral-maxillofacial and prosthetic experience, the type of nasal defect had priority as well as the prosthetic favorable experience in 8 patients. Conclusions: the masculine patients predominated along with the older than 60 years old. The oral-maxillofacial defects most rehabilitated were the nasal and those of oncological causes. There was a tall index of favorable experience with the use of the prostheses. DeCS: MAXILLOFACIAL ABNORMALITIES/rehabilitation; MAXILLOFACIAL ABNORMALITIES/etiology; NOSE DEFORMITIES, ACQUIRED/rehabilitation; DENTAL PROSTHESIS; OBSERVATIONAL STUDIES AS TOPIC.

Introducción: la COVID-19 constituye una enfermedad emergente que por su complejidad sanitaria ha generado significativas modificaciones en el funcionamiento psicológico y social. Como consecuencia de las medidas tomadas para su contención y por las características propias de las etapas del desarrollo ontogenético, los niños y jóvenes han sido uno de los grupos más vulnerables. Objetivo: caracterizar el impacto psicológico que la COVID-19 ha generado en un grupo de niños y adolescentes cubanos. Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal con metodología cualicuantitativa en el período de mayo a septiembre de 2020. El universo estuvo constituido por los dibujos recibidos en el concurso de creación artística “La COVID-19 en nuestras vidas”, con la técnica de muestreo intencionado se escogieron 31 dibujos enviados por niños y/o adolescentes cubanos. Se empleó la técnica proyectiva “Dibujo libre”, para el análisis de contenido se emplearon los indicadores: contenido, estructura, uso del color, ejecución de la figura humana, representación del nuevo coronavirus y de las medidas de prevención, del aislamiento social y el reflejo de la actividad del personal sanitario. Resultados: se evidenció la presencia de ansiedad, inseguridad, irritabilidad, se reconoce la importancia de cumplir con las medidas preventivas ante el COVID-19, la pertinencia de las acciones de la salud pública cubana y el lugar primordial que ocupa la familia en esta etapa. Se constató la ponderación de los valores unidad y solidaridad. Conclusiones: la COVID-19 ha tenido un impacto psicológico negativo en los niños y adolescentes estudiados, con predominio de alteraciones emocionales.

The development of nanotechnology-enabled health products offers innovative therapeutic and diagnostic opportunities to address medical needs. At the moment, no specific regulatory framework exists for such products since they can be covered by the existing frameworks for medicinal products and medical devices. However, these frameworks do require additional guidance to fully cover the particularities of nanotechnology-enabled products. After a detailed analysis of regulatory guidance documents, standards, and scientific publications originating mainly from Europe and the US, the European project “REFINE” has released a White Paper summarising the main needs in the field. The selection of the regulatory pathway, the identification of regulatory information needs, as well as the availability of standardised testing methods are among the identified regulatory challenges. Furthermore, additional guidance is needed on how the similarity of follow-on medicinal products can be demonstrated. Also, challenges related to the classification and assessment of nanotechnology-enabled medical devices are presented. The project consortium is now collecting feedback on the identified challenges through a dedicated survey and published comments on this manuscript. The resulting discussions within the scientific community should help to understand how essential knowledge, methods, tools, and approaches can be obtained with to advance the regulatory science in the area of nanotechnology-enabled health products.

Abstract Aldosterone (Aldo) contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac oxidative stress. Using a proteomic approach, A-kinase anchor protein (AKAP)-12 has been identified as a down-regulated protein by Aldo in human cardiac fibroblasts. We aim to characterize whether AKAP-12 down-regulation could be a deleterious mechanism which induces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in cardiac cells. Aldo down-regulated AKAP-12 via its mineralocorticoid receptor, increased oxidative stress and induced mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by decreased mitochondrial-DNA and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) expressions in human cardiac fibroblasts. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-down of AKAP-12 produced similar deleterious effects in human cardiac fibroblasts. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated activation of AKAP-12 blunted Aldo effects on mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in human cardiac fibroblasts. In Aldo-salt-treated rats, cardiac AKAP-12, mitochondrial-DNA and PGC-1α expressions were decreased and paralleled increased oxidative stress. In myocardial biopsies from patients with aortic stenosis (AS, n = 26), AKAP-12, mitochondrial-DNA and PGC-1α expressions were decreased as compared to Controls (n = 13). Circulating Aldo levels inversely correlated with cardiac AKAP-12. PGC-1α positively associated with AKAP-12 and with mitochondrial-DNA. Aldo decreased AKAP-12 expression, impairing mitochondrial biogenesis and increasing cardiac oxidative stress. AKAP-12 down-regulation triggered by Aldo may represent an important event in the development of mitochondrial dysfunction and cardiac oxidative stress.

Introducción: se recomienda la predicción del riesgo de sangrado durante la anticoagulación terapéutica. Objetivo: diseñar un modelo predictivo del control de la anticoagulación en pacientes tratados con warfarina sódica. Método: se realizó un estudio explicativo y prospectivo en 50 pacientes tratados con warfarina sódica en el Hospital General Docente “Dr. Agostinho Neto” durante el período 2015-2016. Estos se agruparon en un grupo control (n=25, aquellos con adecuada anticoagulación, INR entre 2.0 – 3.0) y un grupo estudio (n=25, con inadecuada anticoagulación, INR < 2.0). Resultados: Los factores más predictivos del efecto anticoagulante insatisfactorio fueron: vivir solo y el uso de fármacos que interfieren con más constancia e intensidad en el efecto del fármaco. Conclusiones: se diseñó un modelo predictivo del control de la anticoagulación con warfarina, ajustado a los servicios del Hospital “Dr. Agostinho Neto”.

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares constituyen la principal causa de Muerte, con un gran gasto en recursos en el mundo. La ateroesclerosis, alteración subyacente de la mayoría de las enfermedades cardiovasculares, se desarrolla en forma lenta y progresiva desde la niñez, siendo los factores de riesgo clásicos fundamentales en su génesis. Conocer el riesgo cardiovascular del individuo, permite definir estrategias preventivas, determinar tratamientos y fijar políticas públicas. Existen diferentes herramientas para medir el riesgo cardiovascular, siendo las tablas de estratificación las más utilizadas para estos fines. Existen marcadores de riesgo que añaden poco a la estratificación y se recomiendan solo en evaluaciones del especialista. Algunas imágenes como Score de Calcio, son una nueva herramienta de evaluación del riesgo de presentar un evento cardiovascular en los próximos años. Esta revisión analiza diversas herramientas para la prevención cardiovascular

La inmunogenicidad es un parámetro importante en estudios de inmunógenos. En la leptospirosis la respuesta inmune humoral es vital para la resistencia a la infección, de ahí que este trabajo se haya propuesto evaluar la inmunogenicidad y la capacidad protectora homóloga de un candidato tetravalente que incluye al serogrupo Ballum en su formulación. Se trabajó con la cepa 245-12 clasificada como L. borgpetersenii serovar Ballum, aislada a partir de un caso confirmado de leptospirosis. Con esta cepa previamente caracterizada desde el punto de vista de su virulencia, se formularon 5 lotes de una preparación vacunal tetravalente, la cual contiene además las cepas Canicola, Icterohaemorrhagiae y Pomona contenidas en la vacuna Polivalente-Leptospira, de uso veterinario. Se evaluó la inmunogenicidad de esta preparación, mediante microaglutinación y la capacidad de protección homóloga en hámster sirio dorado, frente al reto con 100 DL50. Los animales se inmunizaron con dos dosis de la vacuna (0,1mL) con un intervalo de 15 días, el reto se llevó a cabo a los 14 días de concluido el esquema de inmunización. Los resultados obtenidos se compararon con los de la vacuna Polivalente-Leptospira. Todos los lotes de preparación tetravalente formulados cumplieron satisfactoriamente con los controles de calidad. Los lotes formulados en este estudio mostraron una significativa inmunogenicidad y capacidad de protección homologa frente al serogrupo Ballum, y lograron eliminar el estado de portador en los animales inmunizados. El presente trabajo, por primera vez, sienta las bases para formulaciones vacunales novedosas, en animales, conteniendo el serogrupo Ballum.

Uno de los criterios más importantes para el desarrollo de inmunógenos de Leptospira es contar con cepas bien caracterizadas por su virulencia y representativa de los serogrupos circulantes desde el punto de vista clínico y veterinario. Todo lo cual permite garantizar inmunógenos capaces de proteger contra los serovares presente en la formulación y que afectan a los animales en riesgo. Este trabajo se realizó a partir de aislamientos del agente causal de cinco casos clínicos autóctonos de Leptospira en la provincia de Holguín, Cuba, mediante métodos convencionales: crecimiento a 13ºC, medio suplementado con 8-azaguanina y en presencia de cloruro de sodio. Además, los aislamientos se clasificaron hasta nivel de serogrupo mediante la técnica de microaglutinación. A partir de estos aislamientos fue seleccionada y caracterizada una cepa del serogrupo Ballum como candidato vacunal. Los aislamientos no mostraron crecimiento a 13ºC, ni cuando se le añadió al medio 8-azaguanina (2,25 mg/mL), mientras que todas las cepas mostraron conversión a forma esférica en presencia de cloruro de sodio (1M). La clasificación de los aislamientos permitió disponer de dos cepas pertenecientes al serogrupo Ballum y dos a Pomona. La cepa seleccionada mostró alta virulencia y patogenicidad en el biomodelo Hámster Sirio, además de buena estabilidad en los medios de cultivos. Su clasificación hasta el nivel de serovar mediante el uso de anticuerpos monoclonales determinó su pertenencia al serovar Ballum. El presente trabajo, por primera vez, sienta las bases para formulaciones vacunales novedosas en animales, conteniendo el serogrupo Ballum.

Ticks and the vast array of pathogens they transmit, including bacteria, viruses, protozoa, and helminths, constitute a growing burden for human and animal health worldwide. In Cuba, the major tropical island in the Caribbean, ticks are an important cause of vector-borne diseases affecting livestock production, pet animal health and, to a lesser extent, human health. The higher number of tick species in the country belong to the Argasidae family and, probably less known, is the presence of an autochthonous tick species in the island, Ixodes capromydis. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of the ticks and tick-borne pathogens (TBPs) affecting animal and human health in Cuba. The review covers research results including ecophysiology of ticks, the epidemiology of TBPs, and the diagnostic tools used currently in the country for the surveillance of TBPs. We also introduce the programs implemented in the country for tick control and the biotechnology research applied to the development of anti-tick vaccines.

En las dèc)cadas pasadas la enfermedad cardiovascular fue considerada propia de los hombres, sin embargo hoy es la principal causa de muerte en la mujer. Su fisiopatología es diferente en ambos sexos, lo que ayuda a entender las distintas manifestaciones clínicas que tiene en hombres y mujeres. Si bien los factores de riesgo coronarios son muy importantes en la gèc)nesis, no explican todo el mecanismo patogèc)nico de la enfermedad isquèc)mica en la mujer, jugando un rol destacado las hormonas femeninas. El riesgo cardiovascular de la mujer está subvalorado en las tablas de estratificación derivadas de la función de Framingham, por lo que otras tèc)cnicas no invasivas son recomendadas para evaluar el riesgo y llegar al diagnóstico de cardiopatía isquèc)mica en la mujer. En este artículo se revisa la fisiopatología, cuadro clínico y el diagnóstico de la enfermedad cardiovascular en la mujer.

Linkage maps are valuable tools in genetic and genomic studies. For sweet cherry, linkage maps have been constructed using mainly microsatellite markers (SSRs) and, recently, using single nucleotide polymorphism markers (SNPs) from a cherry 6K SNP array. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), a new methodology based on high-throughput sequencing, holds great promise for identification of high number of SNPs and construction of high density linkage maps. In this study, GBS was used to identify SNPs from an intra-specific sweet cherry cross. A total of 8,476 high quality SNPs were selected for mapping. The physical position for each SNP was determined using the peach genome, Peach v1.0, as reference, and a homogeneous distribution of markers along the eight peach scaffolds was obtained. On average, 65.6% of the SNPs were present in genic regions and 49.8% were located in exonic regions. In addition to the SNPs, a group of SSRs was also used for construction of linkage maps. Parental and consensus high density maps were constructed by genotyping 166 siblings from a 'Rainier' x 'Rivedel' (Ra x Ri) cross. Using Ra x Ri population, 462, 489 and 985 markers were mapped into eight linkage groups in 'Rainier', 'Rivedel' and the Ra x Ri map, respectively, with 80% of mapped SNPs located in genic regions. Obtained maps spanned 549.5, 582.6 and 731.3 cM for 'Rainier', 'Rivedel' and consensus maps, respectively, with an average distance of 1.2 cM between adjacent markers for both 'Rainier' and 'Rivedel' maps and of 0.7 cM for Ra x Ri map. High synteny and co-linearity was observed between obtained maps and with Peach v1.0. These new high density linkage maps provide valuable information on the sweet cherry genome, and serve as the basis for identification of QTLs and genes relevant for the breeding of the species.