(+)-Abscisic Acid Metabolism, 3-Ketoacyl-Coenzyme A Synthase Gene Expression, and Very-Long-Chain Monounsaturated Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Brassica napus Embryos1

Microspore-derived embryos of Brassica napus cv Reston were used to examine the effects of exogenous (+)-abscisic acid (ABA) and related compounds on the accumulation of very-long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids (VLCMFAs), VLCMFA elongase complex activity, and induction of the 3-ketoacyl-coenzyme A synthase (KCS) gene encoding the condensing enzyme of the VLCMFA elongation system. Of the concentrations tested, (+)-ABA at 10 μm showed the strongest effect. Maximum activity of the elongase complex, observed 6 h after 10 μm (+)-ABA treatment, was 60% higher than that of the untreated embryos at 24 h. The transcript of the KCS gene was induced by 10 μm (+)-ABA within 1 h and further increased up to 6 h. The VLCMFAs eicosenoic acid (20:1) and erucoic acid (22:1) increased by 1.5- to 2-fold in embryos treated with (+)-ABA for 72 h. Also, (+)-8′-methylene ABA, which is metabolized more slowly than ABA, had a stronger ABA-like effect on the KCS gene transcription, elongase complex activity (28% higher), and level of VLCMFAs (25–30% higher) than ABA. After 24 h approximately 60% of the added (+)-[3H]ABA (10 μm) was metabolized, yielding labeled phaseic and dihydrophaseic acid. This study demonstrates that (+)-ABA promotes VLCMFA biosynthesis via increased expression of the KCS gene and that reducing ABA catabolism would increase VLCMFAs in microspore-derived embryos.

Células-tronco de membrana amniótica de cão como terapia alternativa para o tratamento de ceratoconjuntivite seca em cães

A Ceratoconjuntivite Seca (KCS Keratoconjunctivitis Sicca) é uma desordem imunomediada e resulta de alterações do componente aquoso do filme lacrimal e da deficiência dos componentes lipídicos e mucoso.Seu diagnóstico é baseado no Teste Lacrimal de Schirmer (TLS) e no Teste de Ruptura do Filme Lacrimal (TRFL) e tem como sinais clínicos: secreção mucopurulenta, hiperemia conjuntival, blefaroespasmos, fotofobia, incômodo, dor, vascularização, opacidade corneana e pigmentação, além de cegueira em casos avançados. O tratamento convencional consiste em aplicações diárias de Ciclosporina 0,2% ou Tacrolimus 0,03% (pomada ou colírio oftálmicos), que apesar de controlar a doença, são custosos, não curativos e exigem alto comprometimento da interação paciente-proprietário. A terapia celular usando células-tronco (CT) traz uma nova esperança para doenças sem tratamento efetivo. Neste trabalho utilizamos CT mesenquimais (CTM) obtidas a partir de membrana amniótica (CTMA) de cães obtidas a partir do descarte destes tecidos em campanhas de castrações em diferentes tempos gestacionais, sem formação tumoral quando submetidas ao teste tumorigênico durante 60 dias. Dois animais com KCS crônica foram tratados com duas injeções de CTMA com intervalo de 30 dias, sendo a primeira de 0,5x106 células e a segunda de 1x106 células em cada glândula. Na segunda semana após a terapia foi observado aumento da TLS sugerindo um benéficio da terapia que foi diminuindo com o passar das semanas. O TRFL oscilou durante os testes e não apresentou diferenças significativas. A terapia celular utilizando CTMA de cães melhorou a condição ocular nos dois casos em momentos e parâmetros variados, com repercussão na melhoria da superfície, mas não houve regressão do quadro clínico. Investigações futuras em estágios menos avançados da doença podem ajudar a elucidar os mecanismos pelos quais esse efeito foi obtido

Gene codon composition determines differentiation-dependent expression of a viral capsid gene in keratinocytes in vitro and in vivo

By establishing mouse primary keratinocytes (KCs) in culture, we were able, for the first time, to express papillomavirus major capsid (L1) proteins by transient transfection of authentic or codon-modified L1 gene expression plasmids. We demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that gene codon composition is in part responsible for differentiation-dependent expression of L1 protein in KCs. L1 mRNA was present in similar amounts in differentiated and undifferentiated KCs transfected with authentic or codon-modified L1 genes and had a similar half-life, demonstrating that L1 protein production is posttranscriptionally regulated. We demonstrate further that KCs substantially change their tRNA profiles upon differentiation. Aminoacyl-tRNAs from differentiated KCs but not undifferentiated KCs enhanced the translation of authentic L1 mRNA, suggesting that differentiation-associated change to tRNA profiles enhances L1 expression in differentiated KCs. Thus, our data reveal a novel mechanism for regulation of gene expression utilized by a virus to direct viral capsid protein expression to the site of virion assembly in mature KCs. Analysis of two structural proteins of KCs, involucrin and keratin 14, suggests that translation of their mRNAs is also regulated, in association with KC differentiation in vitro, by a similar mechanism

Reliability modelling and verification of manufacturing processes based on process knowledge management

Reliability modelling and verification is indispensable in modern manufacturing, especially for product development risk reduction. Based on the discussion of the deficiencies of traditional reliability modelling methods for process reliability, a novel modelling method is presented herein that draws upon a knowledge network of process scenarios based on the analytic network process (ANP). An integration framework of manufacturing process reliability and product quality is presented together with a product development and reliability verification process. According to the roles of key characteristics (KCs) in manufacturing processes, KCs are organised into four clusters, that is, product KCs, material KCs, operation KCs and equipment KCs, which represent the process knowledge network of manufacturing processes. A mathematical model and algorithm is developed for calculating the reliability requirements of KCs with respect to different manufacturing process scenarios. A case study on valve-sleeve component manufacturing is provided as an application example of the new reliability modelling and verification procedure. This methodology is applied in the valve-sleeve component manufacturing processes to manage and deploy production resources.

A novel algorithm of posture best fit based on key characteristics for large components assembly

Measurement and variation control of geometrical Key Characteristics (KCs), such as flatness and gap of joint faces, coaxiality of cabin sections, is the crucial issue in large components assembly from the aerospace industry. Aiming to control geometrical KCs and to attain the best fit of posture, an optimization algorithm based on KCs for large components assembly is proposed. This approach regards the posture best fit, which is a key activity in Measurement Aided Assembly (MAA), as a two-phase optimal problem. In the first phase, the global measurement coordinate system of digital model and shop floor is unified with minimum error based on singular value decomposition, and the current posture of components being assembly is optimally solved in terms of minimum variation of all reference points. In the second phase, the best posture of the movable component is optimally determined by minimizing multiple KCs' variation with the constraints that every KC respectively conforms to its product specification. The optimal models and the process procedures for these two-phase optimal problems based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) are proposed. In each model, every posture to be calculated is modeled as a 6 dimensional particle (three movement and three rotation parameters). Finally, an example that two cabin sections of satellite mainframe structure are being assembled is selected to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach, models and algorithms. The experiment result shows the approach is promising and will provide a foundation for further study and application. © 2013 The Authors.

An elevated systolic blood pressure response at 8 minutes in full contact exercise may identify hypertensive subjects

The aim of this study was to identify hypertension (HT) in karate competitors (KCs) in high intensity exercise. Values were compared with an exercise control group (EC). The 84 subjects were randomly divided into two groups: KC and EC. Resting blood pressure (BP) was measured the day before and immediately precompetition. A further three measurements were taken postexercise for all subjects at 1-, 2-, and 8- minute intervals. At rest, day one, mean BP of KC was 134/84 ± 3/2 mmHg vs. EC, 124/72 ± 1/2 mmHg and on day 2, was 141/79 ± 3/2 mmHg vs. EC, 125/72 ± 1/2 mmHg, respectively. Eight minutes postcompetition, BP of KCs was 140/77 ± 2/1 mmHg vs. EC 135/75 ± 2/1 mmHg. High blood pressure (HBP) was recorded in 60.5% of KCs on day 2, and essential HT that required medical therapy was subsequently diagnosed in 5% of KCs. Five percent of EC also had HBP, but subsequent medical examination reported normal values.

Nurses’ clinical communication skills

Abstract Background: Providing nursing care involves an interpersonal relationship between the nurse and the patient which is created through communication. The importance of clinical communication skills is a current priority when it comes to health care workers’ education and training and has been attracting more and more attention. As a consequence clinical communication skills are now present in more and more academic programmes. Objectives: To assess nurses’ clinical communication skills; to identify the variables that might inluence the clinical communication skills; to analyse nurses’ perspective regarding the training in the clinical communication ield. Material and methods: Quantitative, non-experimental, descriptive and correlational and crosssectional study. We used the questionnaire to collect socio-demographic and professional data, and the Clinical Communication Skills Scale based on the Kalamazoo Consensus Statement (KCS)1,2 and which had already been used in Portugal.3 The sample was formed by 275 practitioner nurses who have been working in health care institutions located in the center of Portugal. Results: The Scale we used presents 5 factors that explain 64.33% of the total variation: To in‑ volve the patient; To facilitate dialogue; To understand concerns; To communicate in an asser‑ tive way; To carry out the interview. The majority of the nurses consider that the training they had in the communication skills ield during their nursing course was good or very good, however we could see that 23.3% think it was mediocre. Almost all of them (98.9%) agree that there should be a better and more speciic training in the ield of clinical communication skills as far, as nurses as concerned. Nurses who had training in this area, older nurses, those who work directly with patients and those who have been working for a longer period of time show better communication skills. Conclusion: Although they think that the training they has was good, we could conirm that there was a deicit in nurses’ clinical communication skills and that nurses themselves refer they need more training in this area. Data point out to a more signiicant investment in clinical communication as far as nurses’ training is concerned and they suggest the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities in this area.

Caracterización y prevalencia del compromiso ocular en pacientes con enfermedad autoinmune y autoinflamatoria en un centro de referencia reumatológica en Colombia entre los años 2000 a 2015

RESUMEN Objetivo: Estimar la prevalencia de las diferentes enfermedades oftalmológicas que aparecen en el contexto de una enfermedad autoinmune (EAI) en pacientes de un centro de referencia reumatológica en Colombia, según características clínicas y sociodemográficas durante un período de 15 años, comprendido entre los años 2000 a 2015. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, observacional de prevalencia. El tipo de muestreo fue aleatorio estratificado con asignación proporcional en el programa Epidat 3.4. Los datos se analizaron en el programa SPSS v22.0 y se realizó análisis univariado de las variables categóricas, para las variables cuantitativas se realizaron medidas de tendencia central. Resultados: De 1640 historias clínicas revisadas, se encontraron 634 pacientes (38,65%) con compromiso ocular. Si excluimos los pacientes con SS, que por definición presentan ojo seco, 222 pacientes (13,53%) presentaron compromiso oftalmológico. Del total de pacientes, el 83,3% fueron mujeres. La AR fue la enfermedad autoinmune con mayor compromiso oftalmológico con 138 pacientes (62,2%), y en último lugar la sarcoidosis con 1 solo paciente afectado. La QCS fue la manifestación más común en todos los grupos diagnósticos de EAI, con 146 pacientes (63,5%). De 414 pacientes con Síndrome de Sjögren (SS) y QCS 8 presentaron compromiso ocular adicional, siendo la uveítis la segunda patología ocular asociada en pacientes con SS y la primera causa en las espondiloartropatias (71,4 %). Los pacientes con catarata (4,1%) presentaron la mayor prevalencia de uso de corticoide (88.8%). De 222 pacientes, 28 (12,6%) presentaron uveítis. Del total de pacientes, 16 (7,2%) presentaron maculopatía por antimalaráricos y 6 (18,75%) de los pacientes con LES. Los ANAS se presentaron en el 100% los pacientes con trastorno vascular de la retina. Los pacientes con epiescleritis presentaron la mayor proporción de positivización de anticuerpos anti-DNA. La EAI que más presentó epiescleritis fue LES con 4 pacientes (12,5%) El 22% de paciente con anticuerpos anti-RNP presentaron escleritis y 32,1% de los pacientes con uveítis presentaron HLA-B27 positivo. Las manifestaciones oftalmológicas precedieron a las sistémicas entre un 11,1% y un 33,3% de los pacientes. Conclusión: Las enfermedades oculares se presentan con frecuencia en los pacientes colombianos con EAI (38.65%), siendo la AR la enfermedad con mayor compromiso ocular (62,2%) y la QCS la enfermedad ocular con mayor prevalencia en todas las EAI (63,5%). La uveítis se presentó en 28 pacientes (12,6%). Las manifestaciones oftalmológicas pueden preceder a las sistémicas. El examen oftalmológico debe ser incluido en los pacientes con EAI, por ser la enfermedad ocular una comorbilidad frecuente. Adicionalmente, los efectos oftalmológicos de las medicaciones sistémicas utilizadas en EAI deben ser estrechamente monitorizados, durante el curso del tratamiento.