Dynamics of free and H-3-labelled glutamine concentrations during zygotic and somatic embryogenesis of Feijoa [Acca sellowiana (O. Berg.) Burret]

Amino acids play fundamental roles in plant morphogenesis. Among sources of organic nitrogen (N), glutamine has frequently been used during the establishment and maintenance of cell and tissue cultures. The aim of this study was analyse endogenous levels of glutamine during somatic and zygotic embryogenesis of Acca sellowiana (Feijoa or pineapple guava). The in vitro absorption of H-3-labelled glutamine was investigated. Zygotic embryos and embryogenic cultures (EC) were evaluated at 30 d and 70 d after explant inoculation onto the medium. Endogenous levels of glutamine were similar during zygotic and somatic embryogenesis, and showed a gradual decline until day-24 in culture. The highest rates of H-3-labelled glutamine uptake were observed during the first 2 h of incubation, resulting in values of 6.29 mu mol g(-1) fresh weight (FW) for zygotic embryos, 14.43 mu mol g(-1) FW for EC after 30 d, and 13.85 mu mol g(-1) FW for EC after 70 d. These results showed that the decreased levels of glutamine observed during the initial phase of development may be related to de novo protein synthesis and mobilisation during embryo maturation. The absorption of glutamine in the first 2 h of incubation also emphasises its involvement as an important source of N during morphogenesis of somatic and zygotic embryos.

White paper sobre Open Source, Open Access, open Standards e o futuro da catalogação

The discussions on the future of cataloging has received increased attention in the last ten years, mainly due to the impact of rapid development of information and communication technologies in the same period, which has provided access to the Web anytime, anywhere. These discussions revolve around the need for a new bibliographic framework to meet the demand of this new reality in the digital environment, ie how libraries can process, store, deliver, share and integrate their collections (physical, digital or scanned), in current post-PC era? Faced with this question, Open Access, Open Source and Open Standards are three concepts that need to receive greater attention in the field of Library and Information Science, as it is believed to be fundamental elements for the change of paradigm of descriptive representation, currently based conceptually on physical item rather than intellectual work. This paper aims to raise and discuss such issues and instigate information professionals, especially librarians, to think, discuss and propose initiatives for such problems, contributing and sharing ideas and possible solutions, in multidisciplinary teams. At the end is suggested the effective creation of multidisciplinary and inter-institutional study groups on the future of cataloging and its impact on national collections, in order to contribute to the area of descriptive representation in national and international level

THE DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF SOFTWARE TO VERIFY DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY

This article describes the development and evaluation of software that verifies the accuracy of diagnoses made by nursing students. The software was based on a model that uses fuzzy logic concepts, including PERL, the MySQL database for Internet accessibility, and the NANDA-I 2007-2008 classification system. The software was evaluated in terms of its technical quality and usability through specific instruments. The activity proposed in the software involves four stages in which students establish the relationship values between nursing diagnoses, defining characteristics/risk factors and clinical cases. The relationship values determined by students are compared to those of specialists, generating performance scores for the students. In the evaluation, the software demonstrated satisfactory outcomes regarding the technical quality and, according to the students, helped in their learning and may become an educational tool to teach the process of nursing diagnosis.

Comparison between endoscopic and open surgery in 37 patients with nasopharyngeal angiofibroma

Juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma is a rare benign vascular tumor of the nasopharynx. Although the treatment of choice is surgery, there is no consensus on what is the best approach. Aim: To compare surgical time and intraoperative transfusion requirements in patients undergoing endoscopic surgery versus open / combined and relate the need for transfusion during surgery with the time between embolization and surgery. Material and Methods: Study descriptive, analytical, retrospective study with a quantitative approach developed in the Otorhinolaryngology department of a teaching hospital. Analyzed 37 patients with angiofibroma undergoing surgical treatment. Data obtained from medical records. Analyzed with tests of the Fisher-Freeman-Halton and Games-Howell. Was considered significant if p <0.05. Study design: Historical cohort study with cross-sectional. Results: The endoscopic approach had a shorter operative time (p <0.0001). There is less need for transfusion during surgery when the embolization was performed on the fourth day. Conclusion: This suggests that the period ahead would be ideal to perform the process of embolization and endoscopic surgery by demanding less time would be associated with a lower morbidity. This study, however, failed to show which group of patients according to tumor stage would benefit from specific technical.

Removal from the plasma of the free and esterified forms of cholesterol and transfer of lipids to HDL in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: The aim was to investigate new markers for type 2 diabetes (T2DM) dyslipidemia related with LDL and HDL metabolism. Removal from plasma of free and esterified cholesterol transported in LDL and the transfer of lipids to HDL are important aspects of the lipoprotein intravascular metabolism. The plasma kinetics (fractional clearance rate, FCR) and transfers of lipids to HDL were explored in T2DM patients and controls, using as tool a nanoemulsion that mimics LDL lipid structure (LDE). Results: C-14- cholesteryl ester FCR of the nanoemulsion was greater in T2DM than in controls (0.07 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.05 +/- 0.01 h(-1), p = 0.02) indicating that LDE was removed faster, but FCR H-3- cholesterol was equal in both groups. Esterification rates of LDE free-cholesterol were equal. Cholesteryl ester and triglyceride transfer from LDE to HDL was greater in T2DM (4.2 +/- 0.8 vs. 3.5 +/- 0.7%, p = 0.03 and 6.8 +/- 1.6% vs. 5.0 +/- 1.1, p = 0.03, respectively). Phospholipid and free cholesterol transfers were not different. Conclusions: The kinetics of free and esterified cholesterol tended to be independent in T2DM patients and the lipid transfers to HDL were also disturbed. These novel findings may be related with pathophysiological mechanisms of diabetic macrovascular disease.