Araka Tarouben (1) : kassidas ; Araka Tarouben (2) : kassidas / Ahmed Ellouz, chant [acc. instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Tunisie]

Ilah Mouhaïaki (1) : kassidas ; Ilah Mouhaïaki (2) : kassidas / Ahmed Ellouz, chant [acc. instr.]

[Traditions. Afrique du Nord. Tunisie]

Marine benthic algae of Namibia

The first comprehensive study of the marine algal flora of Namibia including descriptions and illustrations of most species is presented. The main objective of this work is to report a flora that, until now, has scarcely been studied. The work compiles all the available information on the marine benthic flora of Namibia and provides new data about it composition and biogeography, as well as detailed descriptions and remarks of most of its species. The samples on which this study is based were collected between 1986 and 1989 in the eulittoral and the upper sublittoral zones of the north half of the Namibian coast. According to the present data, the marine benthic flora of Namibia comprises 196 taxa (147 Rhodophyceae, 20 Phaeophyceae, 15 Ulvophyceae, 6 Cladophorophyceae and 8 Bryopsidophyceae), 21 of which has not been recorded from this coasts. This temperate flora is mainly characterized by a low number of species, a low proportion of Phaeophyceae and a high degree of endemism. Concerning the species number, the flora is quite poor due to both the scarce availability of colonizable substratum and the low diversity of habitats. On the other hand, the low proportion of Phaeophyceae is the reason for which the R/P and (R+C)/P ratios take disproportionately high values and so they are not useful in this geographical area. As regards the degree of endemism, the marine benthic flora of Namibia includes quite a high number of taxa endemic to southern Africa (55 taxa; 28.1% of the flora); 25 of these 55 taxa (12.8% of the flora) are endemic to the biogeographic Benguela Marine Province and only Acrosorium cincinnatum is endemic to the Namibian coasts.

Friday Facts, January 3, 2014, Vol. 197

Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion part of the Iowa Department of Public Health produces of weekly newsletter about the Iowa WIC Program for the State of Iowa citizen.

Expression of O⁶-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase in childhood medulloblastoma.

Medulloblastomas (MB) are the most common malignant brain tumors in childhood. Alkylator-based drugs are effective agents in the treatment of patients with MB. In several tumors, including malignant glioma, elevated O(6)-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) expression levels or lack of MGMT promoter methylation have been found to be associated with resistance to alkylating chemotherapeutic agents such as temozolomide (TMZ). In this study, we examined the MGMT status of MB and central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) cells and two large sets of primary MB. In seven MB/PNET cell lines investigated, MGMT promoter methylation was detected only in D425 human MB cells as assayed by the qualitative methylation-specific PCR and the more quantitative pyrosequencing assay. In D425 human MB cells, MGMT mRNA and protein expression was clearly lower when compared with the MGMT expression in the other MB/PNET cell lines. In MB/PNET cells, sensitivity towards TMZ and 1-(2-chloroethyl)-3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) correlated with MGMT methylation and MGMT mRNA expression. Pyrosequencing in 67 primary MB samples revealed a mean percentage of MGMT methylation of 3.7-92% (mean: 13.25%, median: 10.67%). Percentage of MGMT methylation and MGMT mRNA expression as determined by quantitative RT-PCR correlated inversely (n = 46; Pearson correlation r (2) = 0.14, P = 0.01). We then analyzed MGMT mRNA expression in a second set of 47 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded primary MB samples from clinically well-documented patients treated within the prospective randomized multicenter trial HIT'91. No association was found between MGMT mRNA expression and progression-free or overall survival. Therefore, it is not currently recommended to use MGMT mRNA expression analysis to determine who should receive alkylating agents and who should not.

[Pise. Camposanto monumentale, fresques]

Référence bibliographique : Weigert, 356

Fungicidal synergism of fluconazole and cyclosporine in Candida albicans is not dependent on multidrug efflux transporters encoded by the CDR1, CDR2, CaMDR1, and FLU1 genes.

The combination of fluconazole (FLC) and cyclosporine (CY) is fungicidal in FLC-susceptible C. albicans (O. Marchetti, P. Moreillon, M. P. Glauser, J. Bille, and D. Sanglard, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 44:2373-2381, 2000). The mechanism of this synergism is unknown. CY has several cellular targets including multidrug efflux transporters. The hypothesis that CY might inhibit FLC efflux was investigated by comparing the effect of FLC-CY in FLC-susceptible parent CAF2-1 (FLC MIC, 0.25 mg/liter) and in FLC-hypersusceptible mutant DSY1024 (FLC MIC, 0.03 mg/liter), in which the CDR1, CDR2, CaMDR1, and FLU1 transporter genes have been selectively deleted. We postulated that a loss of the fungicidal effect of FLC-CY in DSY1024 would confirm the roles of these efflux pumps. Time-kill curve studies showed a more potent fungistatic effect of FLC (P = 0.05 at 48 h with an inoculum of 10(3) CFU/ml) and a more rapid fungicidal effect of FLC-CY (P = 0.05 at 24 h with an inoculum of 10(3) CFU/ml) in the FLC-hypersusceptible mutant compared to those in the parent. Rats with experimental endocarditis were treated for 2 or 5 days with high-dose FLC, high-dose CY, or both drugs combined. FLC monotherapy for 5 days was more effective against the hypersusceptible mutant than against the parent. However, the addition of CY to FLC still conferred a therapeutic advantage in animals infected with mutant DSY1024, as indicated by better survival (P = 0.04 versus the results obtained with FLC) and sterilization of valves and kidneys after a very short (2-day) treatment (P = 0.009 and 0.002, respectively, versus the results obtained with FLC). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments consistently showed that the deletion of the four membrane transporters in DSY1024 did not result in loss of the fungicidal effect of FLC-CY. Yet, the accelerated killing in the mutant suggested a "dual-hit" mechanism involving FLC hypersusceptibility due to the efflux pump elimination and fungicidal activity conferred by CY. Thus, inhibition of multidrug efflux transporters encoded by CDR1, CDR2, CaMDR1, and FLU1 genes is not responsible for the fungicidal synergism of FLC-CY. Other cellular targets must be considered.

Reações do algodoeiro CNPA-ITA 90 ao cloreto de mepiquat

Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses de cloreto de mepiquat aplicadas parceladamente no algodoeiro (Gossypium hirsutum L.) cv. CNPA-ITA 90, dois experimentos foram conduzidos durante os anos agrícolas de 1993/94 e 1994/95, na Fazenda Itamarati, Ponta Porã, MS. As doses estudadas foram: 1) 0,0; 2) 12,5+12,5+25,0 (50,0); 3) 25,0+25,0+25,0 (75,0); 4) 0,0+ 50,0+50,0 (100,0) e 5) 12,5+62,5+50,0 (125,0) g ha-1 de cloreto de mepiquat. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. As aplicações foram efetuadas aos 34, 47 e 62 dias após a emergência (DAE), em 1993/94, e aos 42, 60 e 73 DAE no ano de 1994/95, quando as plantas apresentavam altura média de 51, 84 e 93 cm e 61, 79 e 97 cm, respectivamente. Com o aumento da dose de cloreto de mepiquat, verificou-se redução da altura de plantas, da matéria seca foliar, do caule e do total da parte vegetativa, do número de nós, de ramos, do comprimento de ramos, do número de frutos danificados e do número de maçãs, e aumento do número de capulhos totalmente abertos.

Seleção de clones de cajueiro-anão para o plantio comercial no estado do Ceará

O principal problema da cajucultura no Brasil é a baixa produtividade dos pomares, atualmente menos de 220 kg ha-1,de castanha, razão pela qual a prioridade é a obtenção de novas cultivares. Neste trabalho são apresentados os resultados da avaliação de 30 clones de cajueiro (incluindo quatro testemunhas), em regime de sequeiro, efetuada entre abril de 1990 e fevereiro de 1997, na Estação Experimental de Pacajus, CE, Brasil. O delineamento experimental foi o de blocos ao acaso, com quatro repetições e quatro plantas/parcela, com espaços de 7 x 7 m. Os resultados mostraram que os clones CAP 01, CAP 05 e CAP 12, com altura mais de 70% superior aos 2,4 m médios das testemunhas, são de porte intermediário entre os tipos comum e anãoprecoce. O diâmetro da copa dos clones CAP 10, CAP 06 e CAP 26 foi superior em mais de 63% aos 4,8 m médios das testemunhas; os clones CAP 02, CAP 07, CAP 24 e CAP 25 foram os de menor envergadura. A produção dos clones CAP 12, CAP 18 e CAP 26 foi, respectivamente, de 1.510, 1.281 e 1.262 kg ha-1 de castanhas, no quinto ano, ou seja, 175% maior do que a testemunha mais produtiva, e o CAP 12 e o CAP 18 foram os mais regulares quanto a este caráter. O peso da amêndoa variou de 1,9 a 3,2 g, com 16 clones apresentando amêndoas superiores a 2,5 g (as de maior preço no mercado internacional de nozes). Quatro clones apresentaram rendimento de amêndoa acima dos 28% da melhor testemunha (são obtidos 22% na indústria brasileira), e os clones CAP 11, CAP 06 e CAP 05 apresentaram menos de 2% de amêndoas quebradas. Os resultados apontaram os clones CAP 26 e CAP 06 como os mais promissores.

CD8(+) T cells specific for tumor antigens can be rendered dysfunctional by the tumor microenvironment through upregulation of the inhibitory receptors BTLA and PD-1.

Cytotoxic T cells that are present in tumors and capable of recognizing tumor epitopes are nevertheless generally impotent in eliciting tumor rejection. Thus, identifying the immune escape mechanisms responsible for inducing tumor-specific CD8(+) T-cell dysfunction may reveal effective strategies for immune therapy. The inhibitory receptors PD-1 and Tim-3 are known to negatively regulate CD8(+) T-cell responses directed against the well-characterized tumor antigen NY-ESO-1. Here, we report that the upregulation of the inhibitory molecule BTLA also plays a critical role in restricting NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) T-cell expansion and function in melanoma. BTLA-expressing PD-1(+)Tim-3(-) CD8(+) T cells represented the largest subset of NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) T cells in patients with melanoma. These cells were partially dysfunctional, producing less IFN-γ than BTLA(-) T cells but more IFN-γ, TNF, and interleukin-2 than the highly dysfunctional subset expressing all three receptors. Expression of BTLA did not increase with higher T-cell dysfunction or upon cognate antigen stimulation, as it does with PD-1, suggesting that BTLA upregulation occurs independently of functional exhaustion driven by high antigen load. Added with PD-1 and Tim-3 blockades, BTLA blockade enhanced the expansion, proliferation, and cytokine production of NY-ESO-1-specific CD8(+) T cells. Collectively, our findings indicate that targeting BTLA along with the PD-1 and Tim-3 pathways is critical to reverse an important mechanism of immune escape in patients with advanced melanoma.

Severidade da podridão-radicular de Rhizoctonia do feijoeiro influenciada pela calagem, e pelas fontes e doses de nitrogênio

Avaliou-se o efeito da calagem e de doses e fontes de N na severidade da podridão-radicular de Rhizoctonia (PRR) em feijoeiro em condições controladas. No primeiro ensaio, utilizaram-se as doses de 0, 1,75, 2,25, 2,75, 3,25 e 3,75 g de calcário dolomítico por quilograma de solo. No segundo ensaio, os tratamentos constituíram um fatorial 2x6, ou seja: duas fontes de N (sulfato de amônio e nitrato de sódio) e seis doses de N (0, 11, 16, 21, 26 e 31 mg kg-1 de solo). A acidez do material de solo usado no segundo ensaio foi corrigida com 1,75 g de calcário por quilograma de solo. Foram colocados 16 g de grãos de arroz infestados por R. solani em cada vaso com 1 kg de material de solo. Utilizou-se, em ambos os ensaios, o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições. A severidade da PRR foi avaliada 25 dias após a emergência das plantas, atribuindo-se nota para cada planta de acordo com o tamanho das lesões formadas no hipocótilo. Os dados obtidos foram usados para calcular o índice de doença (ID, %). Foram obtidas equações lineares significativas que permitiram descrever as relações entre a calagem e fontes de N com a severidade da PRR. Houve um acréscimo de 32% no ID, em virtude das doses crescentes de calcário. Após a calagem, a aplicação de sulfato de amônio reduziu em 22% o ID, enquanto o nitrato de sódio o aumentou em 18%, com relação ao controle.

Extratores para avaliação da disponibilidade de metais pesados em solos adubados com vermicomposto de lixo urbano

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram selecionar extratores químicos para avaliação da disponibilidade de metais pesados em solos tratados com vermicomposto de lixo urbano e calcário, e verificar os efeitos destes insumos nos teores disponíveis de metais pesados em solos. Foram realizados dois ensaios em casa de vegetação. Em um deles, foi usado um Latossolo Vermelho distroférrico e, no outro, um Argissolo Vermelho-Amarelo eutrófico, e, em ambos, a alface foi utilizada como planta-teste. O delineamento experimental de cada experimento foi em blocos ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 5x5, com quatro repetições, combinando-se doses de corretivos da acidez para elevar a saturação por bases a 40%, 50%, 60%, 70% e 80%, e o equivalente a 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 t ha-1 de vermicomposto. Os extratores DTPA e Mehlich 3 detectam aumento nos teores de Ni, Pb, Cu e Zn em solos argiloso e arenoso adubados com vermicomposto de lixo urbano. O DTPA é mais eficiente que os extratores Mehlich 1 e Mehlich 3 na avaliação das alterações nos teores disponíveis dos metais pesados provocadas pelas mudanças no pH no solo argiloso. O Mn é o único elemento cuja disponibilidade é avaliada eficientemente tanto no solo argiloso como no arenoso, pelo DTPA.

Vitamin D deficiency and a CYP27B1-1260 promoter polymorphism are associated with chronic hepatitis C and poor response to interferon-alfa based therapy.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Vitamin D is an important immune modulator and preliminary data indicated an association between vitamin D deficiency and sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 patients. We, therefore, performed a comprehensive analysis on the impact of vitamin D serum levels and of genetic polymorphisms with functional relevance within the vitamin D cascade on chronic hepatitis C and its treatment. METHODS: Vitamin D serum levels, genetic polymorphisms within the vitamin D receptor and 1α-hydroxylase were determined in a cohort of 468 HCV genotype 1, 2, and 3 infected patients who were treated with interferon-alfa based regimens. RESULTS: Chronic hepatitis C was associated with a high incidence of severe vitamin D deficiency compared to controls (25(OH)D(3)<10 ng/ml in 25% versus 12%, p<0.00001). 25(OH)D(3) deficiency correlated with SVR in HCV genotype 2 and 3 patients (50% and 81% SVR for patients with and without severe vitamin D deficiency, respectively, p<0.0001). In addition, the CYP27B1-1260 promoter polymorphism rs10877012 had substantial impact on 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D serum levels (72, 61, and 60 pmol/ml for rs10877012 AA, AC, and CC, respectively, p=0.04) and on SVR rates in HCV genotype 1, 2, and 3 infected patients (77% and 65% versus 42% for rs10877012 AA, AC, and CC, respectively, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is associated with vitamin D deficiency. Reduced 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and CYP27B1-1260 promoter polymorphism leading to reduced 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels are associated with failure to achieve SVR in HCV genotype 1, 2, and 3 infected patients.

Conservation of 'Pedro Sato' guavas under treatment with 1-methylcyclopropene

The search for techniques that extend shelf life of guava (Psidium guajava) fruits, and reduce its postharvest losses is desirable. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of concentrations of competitive ethylene antagonist 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on conservation of 'Pedro Sato' guava fruits. Treatments consisted of 0, 100, 300 or 900 nL L-1 of 1-MCP for 3 hours followed by storage at 25ºC, and 10ºC with 90±5% RH. The application of 900 nL L-1 1-MCP for 3 hours was efficient in delaying loss of skin color, and in keeping fruit firmness at both storage temperatures. The 300 nL L-1 of 1-MCP concentration was efficient in delaying skin color loss only when fruits were stored at 10ºC. The effect of 1-MCP was quite significant on the reduction of rot incidence at both storage temperatures. The respiratory rate was lower in fruits treated with 300 and 900 nL L-1 of 1-MCP during storage at 25ºC. The product was efficient in delaying the ripening of fruits, and the concentration of 900 nL L-1 showed the best effect.