Simulated global warming affects endophytic bacterial and fungal communities of Antarctic pearlwort leaves and some bacterial isolates support plant growth at low temperatures

Antarctica is one of the most stressful environments for plant life and the Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis) is adapted to the hostile conditions. Plant-associated microorganisms can contribute to plant survival in cold environments, but scarce information is available on the taxonomic structure and functional roles of C. quitensis-associated microbial communities. This study aimed at evaluating the possible impacts of climate warming on the taxonomic structure of C. quitensis endophytes and at investigating the contribution of culturable bacterial endophytes to plant growth at low temperatures. The culture-independent analysis revealed changes in the taxonomic structure of bacterial and fungal communities according to plant growth conditions, such as the collection site and the presence of open-top chambers (OTCs), which can simulate global warming. Plants grown inside OTCs showed lower microbial richness and higher relative abundances of biomarker bacterial genera (Allorhizobium-Neorhizobium-Pararhizobium-Rhizobium, Aeromicrobium, Aureimonas, Hymenobacter, Novosphingobium, Pedobacter, Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas) and fungal genera (Alternaria, Cistella, and Vishniacozyma) compared to plants collected from open areas (OA), as a possible response to global warming simulated by OTCs. Culturable psychrotolerant bacteria of C. quitensis were able to endophytically colonize tomato seedlings and promote shoot growth at low temperatures, suggesting their potential contribution to plant tolerance to cold condition

Caring for cancer survivors: perspectives of oncologists, general practitioners and patients in Italy.

Aim: The present survey investigates the views of medical oncologists, general practitioners (GPs) and patients about the various surveillance strategies. Methods: An online survey was conducted in Italy on a population of 329 medical oncologists, 380 GPs and 350 patients. Results: Most of GPs (n = 291; 76%) claim that follow-up should be provided by the collaboration between GPs and medical oncologists. Most medical oncologists report to have a poor relationship with GPs (n = 151; 46%) or no relationships at all (n = 14; 4%). Most patients believe there is no real collaboration between medical oncologists and GPs (n = 138; 54%). Conclusion: GPs, medical oncologists and patients share the idea that the collaboration between oncologists and GPs for surveillance of cancer survivors is poor and should be improved

Soft Fruit Traceability in Food Matrices using Real-Time PCR

Food product authentication provides a means of monitoring and identifying products for consumer protection and regulatory compliance. There is a scarcity of analytical methods for confirming the identity of fruit pulp in products containing Soft Fruit. In the present work we have developed a very sensible qualitative and quantitative method to determine the presence of berry DNAs in different food matrices. To our knowledge, this is the first study that shows the applicability, to Soft Fruit traceability, of melting curve analysis and multiplexed fluorescent probes, in a Real-Time PCR platform. This methodology aims to protect the consumer from label misrepresentation

Plant organ and sampling time point determine the taxonomic structure of microbial communities associated to apple plants in the orchard environment

Plant-associated microbial communities interact with their host and are important components of the biodiversity of natural and agro-ecosystems. Scarce knowledge is available on the establishment of plant microbiota in perennial woody plants. In this work the variability in bacterial and fungal communities in aboveground organs was analysed in leaves, bark, flowers and fruits on three apple cultivars (Gala, Fuji and Golden), in order to understand changes of the microbiota community structure from orchard planting to the first year of fruit production. Our results indicate that Proteobacteria, Bacterioidetes, Actinobacteria and Firmiculites were the dominant bacterial phyla across all samples. The majority of fungal sequences were assigned to Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. The bacterial genera Pseudomonas and Sphingomonas, and the fungal genera Aureobasidium and Filobasidium, represented a major component of the aboveground microbiota. Different parts of the apple plant harboured a specific microbiota and the effect of plant organ on the bacterial and fungal taxonomic structure exceeded the influence of sampling time and plant genotype. This work highlights the specificity of the microbiota associated with aboveground apple organs, changes of the microbiota composition during the plant development from orchard planting to the first year of fruit production, and the negligible effects of apple cultivar

Estado nutricional e consumo alimentar de adolescentes da rede pública de ensino da cidade de São Mateus do Sul, Paraná, Brasil The nutritional status and dietary intake of adolescents in public schools in the city of São Mateus do Sul, in the State of Paraná, Brazil

OBJETIVOS: caracterizar o estado nutricional e consumo alimentar de adolescentes da rede pública de ensino de São Mateus do Sul, Paraná, Brasil. MÉTODOS: o Índice de Massa Corporal foi calculado e classificado pela proposta da Organização Mundial da Saúde. O consumo alimentar foi obtido pelo Questionário de Freqüência de Consumo Alimentar. Foi utilizada análise descritiva, de freqüência e teste t de Student com p<0,05. RESULTADOS: a maioria dos indivíduos apresentou estado nutricional normal (84% eutróficos, 12% sobrepeso/obesidade e 4% baixo peso). A dieta caracterizou-se por consumo energético adequado, com distribuição de macronutrientes de acordo com as recomendações, sendo maior nos meninos do que nas meninas. Noventa por cento dos adolescentes consumiam ácidos graxos em excesso. Verificou-se consumo adequado de vitamina C (287 mg meninos e 328 mg meninas) e ferro (27 e 21 mg, respectivamente). O consumo de ferro diferiu estatisticamente entre os sexos (t=3,765; p<0,001). CONCLUSÕES: as anormalidades encontradas na alimentação evidenciam a necessidade de conhecer e avaliar o tipo de alimentação oferecida aos alunos, a fim de elaborar estratégias de intervenção dentro e fora das escolas, além de auxiliar a prevenção de problemas de saúde relacionados à alimentação.<br>OBJECTIVES: to characterize the nutritional status and dietary intake of adolescents attending public schools in the city of São Mateus do Sul, in the State of Paraná, Brazil. METHODS: the Body Mass Index was calculated and classified as proposed by the World Health Organization. Dietary intake was calculated using the Survey of Consumer Food Frequency. Analysis was carried out using descriptive and frequency analysis, and Student's t test with p<0.05. RESULTS: most individuals presented a normal nutritional status (84% being eutrophic, 12% overweight/obese and 4% underweight). The diet was characterized by adequate energy intake, with a distribution of nutrients in accordance with recommendations and higher in boys than in girls. Ninety percent of the adolescents had an excessive intake of fatty acids. There was adequate intake of vitamin C (287 mg and 328 mg for boys and girls respectively) and iron (27 and 21 mg respectively). The consumption of iron differed significantly between the genders (t=3.765; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: the abnormalities found in dietary intake demonstrate the need for better understanding and evaluation of the type of food offered to students, as a way of developing strategies for intervention both within and outside of schools, and of helping prevent health problems related to nutrition