Watermelon transformation with Zucchini yellow mosaic virus coat protein gene and comparison with parental cultivar

The objective of this work was to transfer Zucchini yellow mosaic virus coat protein (ZYMV-CP) and neomycin phosphotransferase II (NPT II) genes to the watermelon 'Crimson Sweet'(CS) genome, and to compare the transgenic progenies T1 and T2 with the nontransformed parental cultivar for morphological, pomological, growth and yield characteristics. The ZYMV-CP gene was transferred by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The presence of the gene in transgenic T0, T1 and T2 plants was determined by polymerase chain reaction, and the results were confirmed by Southern blot. Two experiments were performed, one in the winter-spring and the other in the summer-autumn. In both experiments, the hypocotyl length of transgenic seedlings was significantly higher than that of nontransgenic parental ones. In the second experiment, the differences between transgenic and nontransgenic individuals were significant concerning fruit rind thickness, flesh firmness, fruit peduncle length, size of pistil scar, and a* values for fruit stripe or flesh color. Transferring ZYMV-CP gene to CS genome affected only a few characteristics from the 80 evaluated ones. The changes in rind thickness, flesh firmness and flesh color a* values are favorable, while the increase in the size of pistil scar is undesirable. The transgenic watermelon line having ZYMV-CP gene and the parental cultivar CS are very similar.

Fever of unknown origin in a Swiss-born child: don't miss tuberculosis!

Tuberculosis incidence is low in Switzer land. We report here on a Swiss-born toddler. Tuberculosis manifested with a fever of unknown origin, mimicking an inflammatory or autoimmune disorder triggering a high dose of corticosteroid treatment. The disease went unrecognized for several weeks until development of a miliary tuberculosis with advanced central nervous system involvement. This case highlights the difficulties encountered in diagnosing tuberculosis and in identifying the origin of this case. It reminds us that this disease must never be forgotten when facing a child with persistent fever who must be screened for, before starting immunosuppressive therapy.

Initial experience with hybrid surgery in congenital heart disease in a single center : P171

Introduction: A hybrid intervention is a joint procedure involving the interventional cardiologist and the cardiac surgeon. At our institution we have opted for this type of approach in congenital heart disease since 2005. We report here our initial experience. Cases: 1. A 3 year old boy with double aortic arch and multiple muscular ventricular septal defects (VSD),was readdressed for pulmonary band (PAB) removal and residual VSD closure after previous palliation. After surgical removal of the PAB, the surgeon provided a minimal transventricular access for placement of a 6mm Amplatzer® muscular VSD occluder by the cardiologist under transoesophageal guidance. The patient was extubated the same day and discharged after 5 days. 2. An 8 year old girl with Williams syndrome was followed for two large VSDs and severe peripheral pulmonary arteries (PA) stenosis. The membranous VSD was closed surgically, the muscular VSD during the same operation by direct placement of a 12 mm Amplatzer® muscular VSD occluder. During rewarming, balloon angioplasty of peripheral PA stenosis was achieved under fluoroscopy. Patient was extubated the following day and discharged after 8 days. 3. A 9 year old boy post tetralogy of Fallot repair had severe distal stenosis of the right ventricular to PA conduit.With patient on partial cardiopulmonary bypass, an incision was made on the conduit and a CP 8 Zig 16 stent placed on the stenosis. The child passed on full bypass and the definitive placement of the stent achieved. The child was extubated at the end of the intervention and discharged after 6 days. 4. A newborn presented at 2 days life with complex aortic arch anatomy: left aortic arch and right descending thoracic aorta perfused directly from a right arterial duct and left PA atresia. The arterial duct was stented with a Genesis XD stent dilated at 7mm. Two days later the cardiac surgeon made banded the right PA. The child was extubated after the operation and discharged a week later. Conclusion: Hybrid approach opens new ways of correction or palliation in congenital heart disease with encouraging results and less morbidity.

Bactericidal synergism between daptomycin and the phage lysin Cpl-1 in a mouse model of pneumococcal bacteraemia.

Combination therapy may improve the outcome of Streptococcus pneumoniae-induced bacteraemia. Here we tested the combination of two antipneumococcal agents, daptomycin and Cpl-1 (the pneumococcal Cp-1 bacteriophage lysin), in a mouse model of pneumococcal bacteraemia. Mice were challenged intraperitoneally (i.p.) with 10(6)CFU of the extremely virulent serotype 2 S. pneumoniae D39 isolate. Subtherapeutic doses of daptomycin (0.4mg/kg) and Cpl-1 (0.4mg/kg and 1mg/kg) were administrated i.p. either alone or in combination by a single bolus injection 1h after bacterial challenge. Survival rates of animals were followed over a period of 7 days. Daptomycin (0.4mg/kg) in combination with Cpl-1 (0.4mg/kg) significantly increased the percentage of surviving mice at Day 7 (80%) compared with the untreated control (0%) and daptomycin or Cpl-1 monotherapy (35% and 0%, respectively). Whilst increasing the concentration of Cpl-1 to 1.0mg/kg did not improve survival when injected alone, its combination with 0.4mg/kg daptomycin further increased the survival rate to 95%. Thus, it was found that the combination of daptomycin with Cpl-1 was synergistic and bactericidal against S. pneumoniae in a mouse model of pneumococcal bacteraemia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of synergism between daptomycin and a phage lysin demonstrated in vivo. Such a combination could represent an interesting alternative therapy for the treatment of pneumococcal bacteraemia/sepsis and possibly other severe pneumococcal infections.

Telomere length dynamics in normal individuals and in patients with hematopoietic stem cell-associated disorders.

The telomere length in nucleated peripheral blood (PB) cells indirectly reflects the mitotic history of their precursors: the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The average length of telomeres in PB leukocytes can be measured using fluorescence in situ hybridization and flow cytometry (flow FISH). We previously used flow FISH to characterize the age-related turnover of HSCs in healthy individuals. In this review, we describe results of recent flow FISH studies in patients with selected hematopoietic stem cell-associated disorders: chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) and several bone marrow failure syndromes. CML is characterized by a marked expansion of myeloid Philadelphia chromosome positive (Ph+) cells. Nevertheless, nonmalignant (Ph-) HSCs typically coexist in the bone marrow of CML patients. We analyzed the telomere length in > 150 peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and bone marrow samples of patients with CML as well as samples of Ph- T-lymphocytes. Compared to normal controls, the overall telomere fluorescence in PBLs of patients with CML was significantly reduced. However, no telomere shortening was observed in Ph- T-lymphocytes. Patients in late chronic phase (CP) had significantly shorter telomeres than those assessed earlier in CP. Our data suggest that progressive telomere shortening is correlated with disease progression in CML. Within the group of patients with bone marrow failure syndromes, we only found significantly shortened telomeres (compared to age-adjusted controls) in granulocytes from patients with aplastic anemia (AA). Strikingly, the telomere length in granulocytes from AA patients who had recovered after immunosuppressive therapy (recAA) did not differ significantly from controls, whereas untreated patients and nonresponders with persistent severe pancytopenia (sAANR) showed marked and significant telomere shortening compared to healthy donors and patients with recAA. Furthermore, an inverse correlation between age-adjusted telomere length and peripheral blood counts was found in support of a model in which the degree of cytopenia and the amount of telomere shortening are correlated. These results support the concept of extensive proliferation of HSCs in subgroups of AA patients and suggest a potential use of telomere-length measurements as a prognostic tool in this group of disorders as well.

Fish oil replacement by soybean oil in the diet of fat snook juveniles

The objective of this work was to evaluate fish oil replacement by soybean oil in diets, as for the effects on the performance and body composition of juveniles of fat snook (Centropomus parallelus). The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design, with three treatments (lipid sources) and six replicates, in a 60-day period. Fat snook juveniles (24.17±0.28g) were distributed in 18 experimental tanks of 200 L each, equipped with aeration and heating systems, under continuous water renovation (800% per day). Three isoproteic (44% CP) and isoenergetic (4,635 kcal CE kg-1) diets were formulated to comprise three replacement rates (0, 50, and 100%) of fish oil by soybean oil. Biometric analyses were done to evaluate fish performance, and two entire specimens from each replicate were used for body composition analyses. The zootechnical indices of weight gain (38.68±5.41 g), feed conversion (1.38±0.10), and specific growth at 1.70±0.18% weight gain per day were considered satisfactory. Lipid source substitution does not affect the performance and body composition of fat snook juveniles, which suggests that soybean oil can replace fish oil in diet formulation.

Protein contamination on Klason lignin contents in tropical grasses and legumes

The objective of this work was to evaluate the extent of protein contamination on Klason lignin (KL) in tropical grasses and legumes, and to propose an equation to estimate the protein-free content of Klason lignin (KLp). Five grass (30 samples) and 12 legume species (31 samples) were evaluated. Legumes had higher KL contents. Protein contamination was significant in both grasses and legumes, but greater in legume samples. The model to predict KLp was based on KL and crude protein (CP) contents, as follows: KLp = 0.8807KL - 0.0938KL x D - 0.00338CP (R2=0.935), in which D=0, for grasses, and D=1 for legumes.

Screening of papaya accessions resistant to Papaya lethal yellowing virus and capacity of Tetranychus urticae to transmit the virus

The objective of this work was to produce a polyclonal antiserum against the coat protein (CP) of Papaya lethal yellowing virus (PLYV) and to determine its specificity and sensibility in the diagnosis of the virus, as well as to evaluate the genetic resistance to PLYV in papaya (Carica papaya) accessions and to investigate the capacity of the two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae to acquire and transmit PLYV to the plants. Sixty-five papaya accessions were evaluated. For each accession, ten plants were mechanically inoculated using PLYV-infected plant extracts, and three plants were mock inoculated with phosphate buffer alone and used as negative controls. Ninety days after inoculation, newly-emerging systemic leaves were collected from the inoculated plants, and viral infection was diagnosed by indirect Elisa, using polyclonal antiserum sensible to the in vitro-expressed PLYV CP. Viral transmission by T. urticae was evaluated in greenhouse. The experiments were repeated twice. Polyclonal antiserum recognized the recombinant PLYV CP specifically and discriminated PLYV infection from infections caused by other plant viruses. Out of the 65 papaya accessions evaluated, 15 were considered resistant, 18 moderately resistant, and 32 susceptible. The two-spotted spider mite T. urticae was capable of acquiring PLYV, but not of transmitting it to papaya.

Effect of Tocopherol Extract, Staphylococcus carnosus Culture, and Celery Concentrate Addition on Quality Parameters of Organic and Conventional Dry-Cured Sausages

The effects of the addition to sausage mix of tocopherols (200 mg/kg), a conventional starter culture with or without Staphylococcus carnosus, celery concentrate (CP) (0.23% and 0.46%), and two doses of nitrate (70 and 140 mg/kg expressed as NaNO(3)) on residual nitrate and nitrite amounts, instrumental CIE Lab color, tocol content, oxidative stability, and overall acceptability were studied in fermented dry-cured sausages after ripening and after storage. Nitrate doses were provided by nitrate-rich CP or a chemical grade source. The lower dose complies with the EU requirements governing the maximum for ingoing amounts in organic meat products. Tocopherol addition protected against oxidation, whereas the nitrate dose, nitrate source, or starter culture had little influence on secondary oxidation values. The residual nitrate and nitrite amounts found in the sausages with the lower nitrate dose were within EU-permitted limits for organic meat products and residual nitrate can be further reduced by the presence of the S. carnosus culture. Color measurements were not affected by the CP dose. Product consumer acceptability was not affected negatively by any of the factors studied. As the two nitrate sources behaved similarly for the parameters studied, CP is a useful alternative to chemical ingredients for organic dry-cured sausage production.

Incidence of Garlic common latent virus in Argentina, and phylogenetic and recombination analyses of isolates

The objective of this work was to estimate the incidence and prevalence of Garlic common latent virus (GarCLV) in the main production regions of garlic (Allium sativum) in Argentina, and to perform phylogenetic and recombination analyses in isolates from these regions. Leaf samples (3,050) were taken from four garlic commercial types, in 13 departments of the four main garlic-producing provinces of Argentina, in a 1,175-ha sampling area. Virus infection was evaluated with DAS-Elisa test using specific antiserum, and the phylogenetic and recombination analyses were done with capsid protein (CP) nucleotide sequence of seven GarCLV isolates from the provinces. The incidence of GarCLV in the evaluated provinces varied between 6.7 and 22% of the samples, whereas the prevalence varied between 52.6 and 70%. In the analysis of garlic commercial types, Morado showed the highest incidence of the virus, in the province of San Juan, whereas Rosado Paraguayo had the lowest incidence, in the province of Cordoba. Nucleotide identity in the CP sequences ranged between 80.3 and 97.6%. The phylogenetic analysis shows the presence of two main groups of GarCLV and of a possible third group that would include only a German isolate. The recombination analysis between isolates from different parts of the world evidences the presence of recombinant isolates from Poland and Australia.

Systems medicine and integrated care to combat chronic noncommunicable diseases

We propose an innovative, integrated, cost-effective health system to combat major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular, chronic respiratory, metabolic, rheumatologic and neurologic disorders and cancers, which together are the predominant health problem of the 21st century. This proposed holistic strategy involves comprehensive patient-centered integrated care and multi-scale, multi-modal and multi-level systems approaches to tackle NCDs as a common group of diseases. Rather than studying each disease individually, it will take into account their intertwined gene-environment, socio-economic interactions and co-morbidities that lead to individual-specific complex phenotypes. It will implement a road map for predictive, preventive, personalized and participatory (P4) medicine based on a robust and extensive knowledge management infrastructure that contains individual patient information. It will be supported by strategic partnerships involving all stakeholders, including general practitioners associated with patient-centered care. This systems medicine strategy, which will take a holistic approach to disease, is designed to allow the results to be used globally, taking into account the needs and specificities of local economies and health systems.

Breeding objectives for a Nellore cattle rearing system

Abstract:The objective of this work was to define the traits that should be included as breeding objectives for Nellore cattle, according to simulations with a bio-economic model for rearing systems. The economic values (EVs) of the traits were calculated as the differences between the profits due to an increased performance of 1% in each trait, with the others traits remaining constant. To determine the impact of each selection on the revenue system, two scenarios were simulated based on the traits being selected. In the first scenario, the adopted selection criteria were: weaning weight (WW), weaning rate (WR), yearling weight (YW), and mature cow weight (MCW). In the second scenario, the cumulative productivity (CP) of dams was used as an indirect evaluation of the performance of calves, with all the other traits included, except WW. In the first scenario, an EV of R$ 1.44 kg-1 was obtained for WW. In the second scenario, an EV of R$ 2.91 kg-1 was obtained for CP. The trait with the highest EV in both scenarios was WR, which enhanced the profits by R$ 3.21 for each 1% increased performance. The meat price paid to the producer is the factor with the greatest impact on the EVs of all examined traits.

APLICAÇÃO DA METODOLOGIA DE MODELOS MISTOS (REML/BLUP) NA ESTIMAÇÃO DE COMPONENTES DE VARIÂNCIA E PREDIÇÃO DE VALORES GENÉTICOS EM PUPUNHEIRA (Bactris gasipaes)

No Brasil, a pupunheira é uma planta muito útil na alimentação, seja como fonte de frutos ou de palmito. O interesse pela pupunheira, além de ser uma cultura perene, são: crescimento a pleno sol, precocidade, rusticidade, perfilhamento, palatabilidade e não-escurecimento do palmito após o corte. Estimativas de parâmetros genéticos em pupunheira são escassas e se constituem em ferramenta de suma importância para orientar os programas de melhoramento. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar a variabilidade genética e estimar o valor genético individual como critério de seleção, usando o procedimento BLUP/REML (Melhor predição linear não viciada/máxima verossimilhança restrita). Adotaram-se duas estratégias de seleção para o caráter produção de palmito: simulando programa de melhoramento a curto prazo (CP- seleção das 9 famílias com 31 indivíduos de maior valor genético) e a longo prazo (LP- seleção das 15 famílias com 53 indivíduos). As progênies foram avaliadas em experimento delineado em blocos ao acaso com três repetições, parcelas lineares de cinco plantas, espaçadas de 2,0 m x 1,0 m e bordadura composta por uma fileira em torno do experimento no Campo Experimental do Matapí, Município de Porto Grande, Estado do Amapá. A avaliação foi realizada aos 26 meses pós- plantio (2ª avaliação), coletando-se dados de altura da planta (AP), diâmetro da planta à altura do colo (DPC), tamanho do palmito (TP), diâmetro do palmito (DP), peso do resíduo apical (PRA), basal (PRB) e do palmito líquido (PP) (tipo exportação). Os dados de AP, DPC, TP e DP corresponderam às médias das touceiras que apresentavam mais de uma haste. Já para os caracteres PRA, PRB e PP corresponderam à soma das hastes na touceira. De maneira geral, a população estudada apresenta baixa variabilidade genética. As herdabilidades no sentido restrito em nível de indivíduos foram: AP (18,44%), DPC (3,16%), TP (42,47%), DP (10,54%), PP (5,70%), PRB (6,15%). Os ganhos genéticos preditos em relação à média da população para PP foram de 7,18% na situação de LP e 8,40% para CP, com tamanho efetivo de 30,38 e 19,00, respectivamente.

Influência da irrigação na produção de pedúnculo e de castanha em clones de cajueiro-anão-precoce

Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar a influência da irrigação na produção de pedúnculo e na relação peso de pedúnculo:peso de castanha em cajueiro-anão-precoce (Anacardium occidentale L.). Foram avaliados três clones (CP 09, CP 76 e CP 1001), submetidos a quatro regimes hídricos (A: testemunha sem irrigação; B: intervalo de irrigação de 1 dia; C: intervalo de irrigação de 3 dias; e D: intervalo de irrigação de 5 dias). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, em parcelas subdivididas, com quatro repetições, tendo-se os regimes hídricos nas parcelas e os clones nas subparcelas, cada uma com 4 plantase 3 anos de avaliação. A quantidade de água aplicada nos três tratamentos irrigados baseou-se na evaporação do tanque classe A. Os resultados levaram às seguintes conclusões: a resposta do cajueiro-anão-precoce à irrigação é genótipo-dependente; o CP 76 apresenta a maior relação peso de pedúnculo:peso de castanha, constituindo-se num clone mais apto para o consumo in natura; o CP 1001 apresenta-se como o mais promissor para o cultivo sob condições de sequeiro.