Safety of growth hormone replacement in survivors of cancer and intracranial and pituitary tumours: a consensus statement

Growth hormone (GH) has been used for over 35 years, and its safety and efficacy has been studied extensively. Experimental studies showing the permissive role of GH/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) in carcinogenesis have raised concerns regarding the safety of GH replacement in children and adults who have received treatment for cancer and those with intracranial and pituitary tumours. A consensus statement was produced to guide decision-making on GH replacement in children and adult survivors of cancer, in those treated for intracranial and pituitary tumours and in patients with increased cancer risk. With the support of the European Society of Endocrinology, the Growth Hormone Research Society convened a Workshop, where 55 international key opinion leaders representing 10 professional societies were invited to participate. This consensus statement utilized: (1) a critical review paper produced before the Workshop, (2) five plenary talks, (3) evidence-based comments from four breakout groups, and (4) discussions during report-back sessions. Current evidence reviewed from the proceedings from the Workshop does not support an association between GH replacement and primary tumour or cancer recurrence. The effect of GH replacement on secondary neoplasia risk is minor compared to host- and tumour treatment-related factors. There is no evidence for an association between GH replacement and increased mortality from cancer amongst GH-deficient childhood cancer survivors. Patients with pituitary tumour or craniopharyngioma remnants receiving GH replacement do not need to be treated or monitored differently than those not receiving GH. GH replacement might be considered in GH-deficient adult cancer survivors in remission after careful individual risk/benefit analysis. In children with cancer predisposition syndromes, GH treatment is generally contraindicated but may be considered cautiously in select patients

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits - the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants - determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits - almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Cultivo de beterraba em ambientes protegido e natural na época de verão

Objetivou-se neste trabalho avaliar as respostas produtivas de beterraba cultivada em ambiente natural e sob túnel com malha de sombreamento durante a época de verão. O delineamento experimental foi blocos ao acaso com quatro repetições e os tratamentos arranjados em parcela sub-subdividida tendo, como fator primário, os ambientes de cultivo (protegido e natural), como fator secundário, as cultivares (Itapuã 202 e Tall Top Early Wonder) além das épocas de colheita (13, 26, 39, 52 e 65 dias após o transplante) como fator terciário. Foram avaliados número de folhas, fitomassas fresca e seca da parte aérea, fitomassa fresca da raiz tuberosa, índice de área foliar, altura da planta e presença ou não de aneis esbranquiçados na raiz tuberosa. Em cada ambiente de cultivo foram instalados sensores para medidas da radiação fotossinteticamente ativa e temperatura do ar. O cultivo de beterraba sob túnel resultou em menor fitomassa fresca da raiz tuberosa e maior fitomassa fresca da parte aérea quando comparadas àquelas do cultivo em ambiente natural. O cultivo de beterraba sob túnel coberto com telado preto 70% não apresentou vantagens em relação ao cultivo em ambiente natural no que diz respeito às características de produção e à qualidade da raiz de beterraba

Discrimination of Shark species by simple PCR of 5S rDNA repeats

Sharks are suffering from intensive exploitation by worldwide fisheries leading to a severe decline in several populations in the last decades. The lack of biological data on a species-specific basis, associated with a k-strategist life history make it difficult to correctly manage and conserve these animals. The aim of the present study was to develop a DNA-based procedure to discriminate shark species by means of a rapid, low cost and easily applicable PCR analysis based on 5S rDNA repeat units amplification, in order to contribute conservation management of these animals. The generated agarose electrophoresis band patterns allowed to unequivocally distinguish eight shark species. The data showed for the first time that a simple PCR is able to discriminate elasmobranch species. The described 5S rDNA PCR approach generated species-specific genetic markers that should find broad application in fishery management and trade of sharks and their subproducts.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

A Importância da Leitura Feita pelo Professor Para as Crianças na Formação de Alunos Leitores e Produtores de Texto

Percebemos que nosso sistema de ensino, ultimamente tem voltado o olhar exclusivamente em algumas direes, e uma delas a formao de alunos leitores e produtores de textos. Cabe a escola to importante papel, pois, l que se forma alunos. Espera-se, que o trabalho do bom docente, determine o conceito de sociedade que queremos, a ele quem est determinada to prazerosa misso, a de formar leitores crticos e responsveis. A sociedade passa por constantes mutaes, e preciso que as prticas pedaggicas tambm acompanhem essa evoluo. preciso formar leitores para vida, leitores do mundo, capazes de viver em sociedade. atravs da leitura que aluno pode conhecer a si mesmo e desenvolver suas habilidades, no atravs da obrigatoriedade, mas, do infindvel prazer do ato de ler e descobrir

Safety of growth hormone replacement in survivors of cancer and intracranial and pituitary tumours: a consensus statement.

Growth hormone (GH) has been used for over 35 years, and its safety and efficacy has been studied extensively. Experimental studies showing the permissive role of GH/insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) in carcinogenesis have raised concerns regarding the safety of GH replacement in children and adults who have received treatment for cancer and those with intracranial and pituitary tumours. A consensus statement was produced to guide decision-making on GH replacement in children and adult survivors of cancer, in those treated for intracranial and pituitary tumours and in patients with increased cancer risk. With the support of the European Society of Endocrinology, the Growth Hormone Research Society convened a Workshop, where 55 international key opinion leaders representing 10 professional societies were invited to participate. This consensus statement utilized: (1) a critical review paper produced before the Workshop, (2) five plenary talks, (3) evidence-based comments from four breakout groups, and (4) discussions during report-back sessions. Current evidence reviewed from the proceedings from the Workshop does not support an association between GH replacement and primary tumour or cancer recurrence. The effect of GH replacement on secondary neoplasia risk is minor compared to host- and tumour treatment-related factors. There is no evidence for an association between GH replacement and increased mortality from cancer amongst GH-deficient childhood cancer survivors. Patients with pituitary tumour or craniopharyngioma remnants receiving GH replacement do not need to be treated or monitored differently than those not receiving GH. GH replacement might be considered in GH-deficient adult cancer survivors in remission after careful individual risk/benefit analysis. In children with cancer predisposition syndromes, GH treatment is generally contraindicated but may be considered cautiously in select patients