Over 40,000 sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) consensus sequences assembled from 237,954 expressed sequence tags were compared with the protein and DNA sequences from other angiosperms, including the ...genomes of Arabidopsis and rice (Oryza sativa). Approximately two-thirds of the sugarcane transcriptome have similar sequences in Arabidopsis. These sequences may represent a core set of proteins or protein domains that are conserved among monocots and eudicots and probably encode for essential angiosperm functions. The remaining sequences represent putative monocot-specific genetic material, one-half of which were found only in sugarcane. These monocot-specific cDNAs represent either novelties or, in many cases, fast-evolving sequences that diverged substantially from their eudicot homologs. The wide comparative genome analysis presented here provides information on the evolutionary changes that underlie the divergence of monocots and eudicots. Our comparative analysis also led to the identification of several not yet annotated putative genes and possible gene loss events in Arabidopsis.
Batch fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) production by fructosyltransferase from
Aspergillus sp. N74 in a mechanically agitated airlift reactor was investigated. Two biomass concentrations (6 and 9.5
g
L
...−1 in biomass dry weight) of
Aspergillus sp. N74 were used for the evaluation of fructosyltransferase activity. The enzymatic reactions were carried out at the following conditions: initial sucrose concentration 70% (w/v), pH 5.5, 60
°C, 350
rpm, and superficial aeration rate 0.012
m
s
−1; the reactor was operated in batch for 26
h. A biomass concentration and time reaction effect on FOS production and composition was observed. The obtained FOS yield (
Y
FOS) for 6
g
L
−1 of biomass dry weight was 69% (43% 1-kestose and 26% nystose), while for 9.5
g
L
−1 of biomass dry weight a peak in the
Y
FOS of 70% was observed (43% 1-kestose, 25% nystose and 2% 1-β-fructorianosyl nystose) after 4
h of reaction, which was reduced to the 57% (18% 1-kestose, 33% nystose and 6% 1-β-fructofuranosyl nystose) at the end of the reaction time. These results present the designed reactor and the native strain
Aspergillus sp. N74 as an industrial alternative for the fructooligosaccharides production.
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder caused by mutations in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes. Patients with TSC may suffer from a wide range of clinical manifestations; ...however, the burden of TSC and its impact on healthcare resources needed for its management remain unknown. Besides, the use of resources might vary across countries depending on the country-specific clinical practice. The aim of this paper is to describe the use of TSC-related resources and treatment patterns within the TOSCA registry. A total of 2,214 patients with TSC from 31 countries were enrolled and had a follow-up of up to 5 years. A search was conducted to identify the variables containing both medical and non-medical resource use information within TOSCA. This search was performed both at the level of the core project as well as at the level of the research projects on epilepsy, subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA), lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), and renal angiomyolipoma (rAML) taking into account the timepoints of the study, age groups, and countries. Data from the quality of life (QoL) research project were analyzed by type of visit and age at enrollment. Treatments varied greatly depending on the clinical manifestation, timepoint in the study, and age groups. GAB Aergics were the most prescribed drugs for epilepsy, and mTOR inhibitors are dramatically replacing surgery in patients with SEGA, despite current recommendations proposing both treatment options. mTOR inhibitors are also becoming common treatments in rAML and LAM patients. Forty-two out of the 143 patients (29.4%) who participated in the QoL research project reported inpatient stays over the last year. Data from non-medical resource use showed the critical impact of TSC on job status and capacity. Disability allowances were more common in children than adults (51.1% vs 38.2%). Psychological counseling, social services and social worker services were needed by <15% of the patients, regardless of age. The long-term nature, together with the variability in its clinical manifestations, makes TSC a complex and resource-demanding disease. The present study shows a comprehensive picture of the resource use implications of TSC.
Complications under anticoagulant treatment in patients with COVID-19-associated venous thromboembolism (VTE) have not been consistently reported.
This study aimed to compare the 90-day rates of VTE ...recurrences and major bleeding in patients with COVID-19-associated VTE versus those with VTE without COVID-19.
We used the RIETE registry to compare the 3-month outcomes in patients with COVID-19-associated VTE versus those with VTE without COVID-19.
The study included 1,747 patients with COVID-19-associated VTE and 8,711 with VTE without COVID-19. Patients with COVID-19-associated VTE were more likely to be hospitalized at baseline and to present with pulmonary embolism. During the first 90 days, 123 patients (1.17%) developed VTE recurrences, and 266 (2.54%) experienced major bleeding. Patients with COVID-19-associated VTE had a similar rate of VTE recurrences (0.9% vs 1.2%) but a higher rate of major bleeding (4.6% vs 2.1%; P < .001) than those without COVID-19. Multivariable analysis adjusted for competing risks showed that patients with COVID-19-associated VTE had an increased risk of major bleeding (subhazard ratio, 1.395; 95% confidence interval, 1.037-1.877). The 30-day mortality after major bleeding was 26.3% in patients with COVID-19-associated VTE and 17.7% in those without COVID-19.
Patients with COVID-19-associated VTE had a 5-fold higher rate of major bleeding than VTE recurrences during the first 90 days of anticoagulation. In VTE patients without COVID-19, both rates were similar. These findings highlight the importance of carefully monitoring and optimizing anticoagulation in these patients.
•Complications of anticoagulation in COVID-19-venous thromboembolism (VTE) have not been reported.•Patients with COVID-19-VTE versus patients with VTE without COVID-19 from the RIETE registry were included.•In COVID-19-associated VTE, the risk of major bleeding far outweighed the risk of VTE recurrences.•COVID-19–associated VTE had increased rates of hemoptysis, retroperitoneal, or muscular bleeding.
O déficit hídrico gerado pelo manejo inadequado da irrigação pode afetar o desenvolvimento e produção das culturas. Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos de níveis de tensão da água no solo sobre o ...desenvolvimento da beterraba, foi conduzido um experimento em casa de vegetação em Botucatu-SP, entre abril e junho de 2012, em delineamento em blocos casualizados com 4 repetições. Os tratamentos compreenderam seis níveis de tensões de água no solo (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65 KPa) e duas cultivares de beterraba (Early Wonder e Itapuã 202), totalizando 48 parcelas experimentais. Foram avaliadas a massa fresca e seca da parte aérea e da raiz, altura das plantas, diâmetro da raiz, produtividade total e a relação entre a raiz e a parte aérea das plantas. O aumento da tensão da água no solo levou à redução da produção e crescimento das plantas. De acordo com os tratamentos utilizados, o melhor desenvolvimento da cultura da beterraba, foi obtido com irrigações realizadas sob valores de tensão da água no solo em torno de 15 KPa e profundidade de 20 cm do solo. A cultivar Itapuã 202 apresentou menor crescimento das plantas e rendimento das raízes do que a Early Wonder, porém a redução percentual em função da tensão de água no solo foi equivalente para ambas as cultivares. Plantas submetidas à tensão de 65 KPa apresentaram menores valores de produção e crescimento.
The water deficit generated by inadequate irrigation management can affect directly the crop development and yield. Hence, to evaluate the effects of water deficit on sugarbeet crop, an experiment was carried out in Botucatu, São Paulo state, Brazil, from April to June 2012, in a randomized block design with four replications. The treatments were six levels of soil water tension (15, 25, 35, 45, 55, 65 KPa) and two sugar beet cultivars (Early Wonder and Itapuã 202), making a total of 48 plots. Shoot and root fresh mass, shoot and root dry mass, plant height, root diameter, total productivity and the relationship between the root and aboveground parts of plants were measured. The increase in the soil water tension (lower soil water content) led to a reduction in plant growth and yield. Cultivar Itapuã 202 presented lower plant growth and root yield than cv. Early Wonder, but the percentage of reduction depending on soil water tension was the same for both, whereas plants subjected to tension of 65 KPa presented lower levels of income and crop growth
The seasonal climate drivers of the carbon cycle in tropical forests remain poorly known, although these forests account for more carbon assimilation and storage than any other terrestrial ecosystem. ...Based on a unique combination of seasonal pan-tropical data sets from 89 experimental sites (68 include aboveground wood productivity measurements and 35 litter productivity measurements), their associate canopy photosynthetic capacity (enhanced vegetation index, EVI) and climate, we ask how carbon assimilation and aboveground allocation are related to climate seasonality in tropical forests and how they interact in the seasonal carbon cycle. We found that canopy photosynthetic capacity seasonality responds positively to precipitation when rainfall is < 2000 mm.yr.sup.−1 (water-limited forests) and to radiation otherwise (light-limited forests); on the other hand, independent of climate limitations, wood productivity and litterfall are driven by seasonal variation in precipitation and evapotranspiration respectively. Consequently, light-limited forests present an asynchronism between canopy photosynthetic capacity and wood productivity. Precipitation first-order control indicates an overall decrease in tropical forest productivity in a drier climate.
Survival is a key measure of the effectiveness of a healthcare system. European Latin countries have some similarities in their health systems; it is thus interesting to examine their differences in ...survival from cancer, here, lung cancer. The aim of the SUDCAN collaborative study was to compare the trends in the 1- and 5-year net survival from lung cancer and the trends in the excess mortality rates between six European Latin countries (Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland). The data were extracted from the EUROCARE-5 database. First, the net survival was studied over the 2000–2004 period using Pohar-Perme estimator. For trend analyses, the study period was specific to each country. The results are reported from 1992 to 2004 in France, Italy, Spain and Switzerland and from 2000 to 2004 in Belgium and Portugal. The analyses were carried out using a flexible excess rate modelling. Overall, the 1-year net survival from lung cancer ranged between 36 (Spain) and 43% (Belgium and Switzerland) and the 5-year net survival ranged between 11 (Spain) and 15% (Belgium and Switzerland). Between 1992 and 2004, the age-standardized survival increased considerably at 1 year, but increased less at 5 years after diagnosis. This increase was observed at ages 60 and 70, but was less obvious at age 80. There was little difference in net survival from lung cancer between European Latin countries, particularly in the more recent years. However, survival was slightly lower in Spain and Portugal than in France, Italy, Belgium and Switzerland. High-resolution studies with data on treatment, stage at diagnosis and comorbidities are needed to understand the reasons for these differences.
Since new molecules that normally would accelerate regeneration can also be potentialized by light, the use of new substances combined with laser therapy seems to be a natural type of experiment. ...Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the effects of Hyptis pectinata leaves on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy (PH) associated with laser therapy. Twenty-four rats were divided into four groups--PH(control), PHL (laser therapy), PH200 (200 mg/kg of Hyptispectinata), and PHL200 (200 mg/kg of the plant and laser)--which were submitted to 67% hepatectomy. Laser treatment consisted of focusing the light on the remaining liver after hepatectomy. The data analyzed were serum levels of aminotransferases, liver regeneration, and mitochondrial function. Group PH200 showed a statistically significant decrease in AST levels, and PHL200 disclosed an augmentation in ALT levels. The liver regeneration index was significantly increased in group PHL200. Concerning liver mitochondrial respiratory assay, groups PH200 and PHL200 showed lower state 3 levels than groups PH and PHL. Group PHL showed an increase in state 4 levels and a reduction in membrane potential and RCR. The present study shows that the association of the aqueous extract of Hyptis pectinata leaves at 200 mg/kg with intraoperative laser therapy can stimulate liver regeneration and cause a reduction in liver mitochondrial respiratory function without altering its phosphorylative activity.
Background: According to current American Association of Orthodontists guidelines, two-dimensional lateral and posteroanterior cephalometric radiographs are recognized as essential components of ...diagnostic imaging records in orthodontics. Cephalometry is defined as the discipline that analyzes the craniofacial complex in a segmented way, to study the interrelationships between its structures and understand how the growth or alteration of one of these structures can compromise the whole. Through cephalometry, it is possible to indicate the clinical approach for patients, involving dental therapy with intraoral appliances and physical therapy with continuous positive pressure in the upper airway. Objectives: Investigate possible differences in cephalometric anatomical patterns between genders. Methods: This study protocol follows the STROBE - Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. A convenience sample will be used, consisting of teleradiography (cephalograms) of adult patients of both genders, carried out in a private Dental Clinic, located in the city of São José dos Campos (SP), Brazil, by the established inclusion and exclusion criteria. Six angular and nine linear measurements will be used in the analysis of cephalometric measures according to the study protocol. The exams will be distributed into three groups and paired according to the value of the angle formed between point A nasion and point B nasion (ANB). Groups will be formed by exams with class 1 skeletal relationship (0o < ANB angle ≤ 4º), group 2 with class 2 exams (ANB angle > 4°), and group 3 formed by class 3 exams (ANB angle ≤ 0°). Considerations: In some cases, craniofacial changes may predict the risk of sleep-disordered breathing, such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Increased length and thickness of the soft palate and hyoid bone in the mandibular plane and retrognathia are associated with the pathogenesis of OSA. Therefore, the etiology of sleep-disordered breathing may vary in patients according to gender, according to cephalometric analysis.
Rotavirus vaccination was introduced in Brazil in March 2006. We describe the distribution of rotavirus genotypes in children with acute gastroenteritis in a hospital in Recife, Brazil, during pre- ...and post-vaccination periods. There was a 43.8% reduction in the proportion of diarrhea episodes due to rotavirus. Nevertheless, we observed a sustained predominance of G2P4 as the main genotype identified in the post-vaccination period.
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