Síndrome de Hanhart – caso clínico

Introdução: Em 1950 Hanhart descreveu três casos de aglossia e deformidades dos membros. A associação de malformações oromandibulares e dos membros é rara, veriÞcando -se grande variabilidade fenotípica entre os casos descritos. Caso Clínico: Gravidez com diagnóstico pré -natal ecográ-Þ co (24 semanas) de agenesia do pé direito, ausência do primeiro dedo do pé esquerdo e presença apenas da primeira falange do primeiro e quinto dedos da mão esquerda. Às 38 semanas de gestação nasce um recém -nascido, sexo masculino, com hipotonia generalizada e diÞ culdade respiratória com necessidade de manobras de reanimação. Ao exame físico destacava -se a presença de microretrognatia, microstomia e várias malformações ósseas a nível das mãos e pés. Desde as primeiras horas de vida que apresentou quadro de apneias com dessaturações recorrentes vindo a falecer na decorrência de um desses episódios. Discussão: A associação de microstomia, microretrognatia, hipoglossia, malformações dos membros e atingimento dos pares cranianos, permite -nos estabelecer o diagnóstico clínico de Síndrome de Hanhart. O seu diagnóstico nem sempre é fácil,dada a grande variabilidade fenotípica

Dilated fetal bowel as indication for prenatal diagnosis of cystic fibrosis

Dilated fetal bowel is a sonographic fi nding that is associated to meconium ileus, a feature of cystic fi brosis (CF). Prenatal diagnosis of CF is possible through analysis of the cystic fi brosis transmembrane regulator gene mutations. A male infant is described, who was referred to our Prenatal Diagnosis Center a 17th week of gestation with a dilated bowel loop on a prenatal scan. Amniocentesis was performed at 23rd week gestation and a homozygous F508del mutation was found. He was born at 38 weeks gestation, after an otherwise unremarkable pregnancy, and admitted to Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. He showed progressive abdominal distension without stools and was transferred to another Hospital to surgery. A total occlusion of terminal ileum with meconium and a microcolon were found, and resection of 8 cm of ileum and an ileostomy were performed. The characteristic sonographic fi nding of a dilated bowel is an indication to search for CF mutations

Implications for Quality and Wine Production

UID/FIS/04559/2020Nowadays, there is a growing concern about micronutrient deficits in food products, with agronomic biofortification being considered a mitigation strategy. In this context, as Zn is essential for growth and maintenance of human health, a workflow for the biofortification of grapes from the Vitis vinifera variety Fernão Pires, which contains this nutrient, was carried out considering the soil properties of the vineyard. Additionally, Zn accumulation in the tissues of the grapes and the implications for some quality parameters and on winemaking were assessed. Vines were sprayed three times with ZnO and ZnSO4 at concentrations of 150, 450, and 900 g ha−1 during the production cycle. Physiological data were obtained through chlorophyll a fluorescence data, to access the potential symptoms of toxicity. At harvest, treated grapes revealed significant increases of Zn concentration relative to the control, being more pronounced for ZnO and ZnSO4 in the skin and seeds, respectively. After winemaking, an increase was also found regarding the control (i.e., 1.59-fold with ZnSO4-450 g ha−1). The contents of the sugars and fatty acids, as well as the colorimetric analyses, were also assessed, but significant variations were not found among treatments. In general, Zn biofortification increased with ZnO and ZnSO4, without significantly affecting the physicochemical characteristics of grapes.publishersversionpublishe

Tpc1 is an important Zn(II)(2)Cys(6) transcriptional regulator required for polarized growth and virulence in the rice blast fungus

The establishment of polarity is a critical process in pathogenic fungi, mediating infection-related morphogenesis and host tissue invasion. Here, we report the identification of TPC1 (Transcription factor for Polarity Control 1), which regulates invasive polarized growth in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. TPC1 encodes a putative transcription factor of the fungal Zn(II)(2)Cys(6) family, exclusive to filamentous fungi. Tpc1-deficient mutants show severe defects in conidiogenesis, infection-associated autophagy, glycogen and lipid metabolism, and plant tissue colonisation. By tracking actin-binding proteins, septin-5 and autophagosome components, we show that Tpc1 regulates cytoskeletal dynamics and infection-associated autophagy during appressorium-mediated plant penetration. We found that Tpc1 interacts with Mst12 and modulates its DNA-binding activity, while Tpc1 nuclear localisation also depends on the MAP kinase Pmk1, consistent with the involvement of Tpc1 in this signalling pathway, which is critical for appressorium development. Importantly, Tpc1 directly regulates NOXD expression, the p22(phox) subunit of the fungal NADPH oxidase complex via an interaction with Mst12. Tpc1 therefore controls spatial and temporal regulation of cortical F-actin through regulation of the NADPH oxidase complex during appressorium re-polarisation. Consequently, Tpc1 is a core developmental regulator in filamentous fungi, linking the regulated synthesis of reactive oxygen species and the Pmk1 pathway, with polarity control during host invasion

A new sprout inhibitor of potato tuber based on carvone/ß-cyclodextrin inclusion compound

Abstract A monoterpene, D-carvone or (4S)-(+)-carvone, present in the essential oil of caraway seeds (Carum carvi L.), acts as a sprouting inhibitor agent for potato tubers in storage. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possibility of using carvone/ß-cyclodextrin inclusion compound as a sprout inhibitor agent for potato tubers. A Raman study of the interactions between ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) and included carvone molecule in solid state is also reported; the results confirm the synthesis of inclusion compound at pilot scale level

Metabolic profiling of maternal urine can aid clinical management of gestational diabetes mellitus

International audienc

Hanhart syndrome – clinical report

RESUMO Introdução: Em 1950 Hanhart descreveu três casos de aglossia e deformidades dos membros. A associação de malformações oromandibulares e dos membros é rara, verificando-se grande variabilidade fenotípica entre os casos descritos. Caso Clínico: Gravidez com diagnóstico pré-natal ecográfico (24 semanas) de agenesia do pé direito, ausência do primeiro dedo do pé esquerdo e presença apenas da primeira falange do primeiro e quinto dedos da mão esquerda. Às 38 semanas de gestação nasce um recém-nascido, sexo masculino, com hipotonia generalizada e dificuldade respiratória com necessidade de manobras de reanimação. Ao exame físico destacava-se a presença de microretrognatia, microstomia e várias malformações ósseas a nível das mãos e pés. Desde as primeiras horas de vida que apresentou quadro de apneias com dessaturações recorrentes vindo a falecer na decorrência de um desses episódios. Discussão: A associação de microstomia, microretrognatia, hipoglossia, malformações dos membros e atingimento dos pares cranianos, permite-nos estabelecer o diagnóstico clínico de Síndrome de Hanhart. O seu diagnóstico nem sempre é fácil, dada a grande variabilidade fenotípica.ABSTRACT Introduction: In 1950, Hanhart described three cases of aglossia and limb malformations. The association of congenital oromandibular and limb malformations is rare and has a wide phenotypic variability among the cases described. Case Report: Pregnancy with prenatal ultrasound diagnosis (24 weeks) of agenesis of the right foot, absence of the first finger of the left foot and presence of only the first phalange of the first and fifth fingers of the left hand. At 38 weeks of gestation, a male newborn was born with generalized hypotonia and respiratory distress requiring resuscitation. Physical examination showed microretrognathia, microstomy and several bone malformations of the hands and feet. From the first hours of life he presented progressive apneas with dessaturation, dying as result of one of those episodes. Discussion: The association of microstomy, microretrognathia, hypoglossia, limb malformations and signs suggestive of cranial nerve compromise, allows us to establish the clinical diagnosis of Hanhart Syndrome. The diagnosis is not always easy, given the wide phenotypic variability

Development of low-cost colourimetric and pH sensors based on PMMA@Cyanine polymers

Cyanine derivatives 1–3 were successfully characterized and their sensorial ability studied against Zn2+, Co2+, Cd2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Hg2+ and Ag+ metal ions. All dyes revealed a colourimetric selectivity towards Cu2+ metal ions, with the formation of mononuclear species. Cyanine 2 can detect and quantify the lowest concentrations of Cu2+ in aqueous media, 0.3 and 0.6 μM. With the aim of exploring the optical properties of these dyes, solid-supported devices were designed by the synthesis of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) polymers doped with dyes 1, 2, and 3 and their copper complexes. All PMMA_doped polymers were tested as temperature and low-pH sensors. PMMA_1 and PMMA_1@Cu2+ showed to be reversible fluorimetric thermoresponsive polymers, while PMMA_2, PMMA_3, PMMA_2@Cu2+ and PMMA_3@Cu2+ irreversible colourimetric and fluorimetric thermoresponsive polymers. From all acids tested, HCl, HBr, HClO4, H3PO4, HCOOH and CH3SO3H, the best results were obtained for PMMA_3 and PMMA_3@Cu2+ with HCl. After activation in 12 M HCl, both polymers were capable of sensing 8 M, 10 M, 11 M and 12 M HCl: their color changed from green to yellow and they showed an increase in their emission maxima at 805 nm in seconds. The capability to reversibly sense higher acid concentrations in seconds, after activation, for more than 10 cycles, make PMMA_3 and PMMA_3@Cu2+ good candidates for superacid sensing, allowing for a real-time follow up of contaminated affluents, or their incorporation in quality control in industrial processes

Impact of fetal chromosomal disorders impact on maternal blood metabolome: toward new biomarkers?

International audienceThis study aimed at determining the relationship between fetal chromosomal disorders (CDs), including trisomy 21 (T21), and on first- and second-trimester maternal blood plasma, to identify the time-course metabolic adaptations to the conditions and the possible new plasma biomarkers. Furthermore, a definition of a joint circulatory (plasma) and excretory (urine) metabolic description of second-trimester CDs was sought