Expression of a barley cystatin gene in maize enhances resistance against phytophagous mites by altering their cysteine-proteases

Phytocystatins are inhibitors of cysteine-proteases from plants putatively involved in plant defence based on their capability of inhibit heterologous enzymes. We have previously characterised the whole cystatin gene family members from barley (HvCPI-1 to HvCPI-13). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of barley cystatins on two phytophagous spider mites, Tetranychus urticae and Brevipalpus chilensis. The determination of proteolytic activity profile in both mite species showed the presence of the cysteine-proteases, putative targets of cystatins, among other enzymatic activities. All barley cystatins, except HvCPI-1 and HvCPI-7, inhibited in vitro mite cathepsin L- and/or cathepsin B-like activities, HvCPI-6 being the strongest inhibitor for both mite species. Transgenic maize plants expressing HvCPI-6 protein were generated and the functional integrity of the cystatin transgene was confirmed by in vitro inhibitory effect observed against T. urticae and B. chilensis protein extracts. Feeding experiments impaired on transgenic lines performed with T. urticae impaired mite development and reproductive performance. Besides, a significant reduction of cathepsin L-like and/or cathepsin B-like activities was observed when the spider mite fed on maize plants expressing HvCPI-6 cystatin. These findings reveal the potential of barley cystatins as acaricide proteins to protect plants against two important mite pests

The time-dependent rearrangement of the epithelial basement membrane in human skin wounds

In 62 human skin wounds (surgical wounds, stab wounds and lacerations after surgical treatment) we analyzed the immunohistochemical localization of collagen IV in the epithelial basement membrane. In 27 of these wounds the distribution of collagen VII, which represents a specific component of the basement membrane of stratified epithelia, was also analyzed. We were able to demonstrate a virtually identical co-distribution of both collagen IV and VII in the wound area with no significant time-dependent differences in the appearance of both collagen types. Fragments of the epithelial basement membrane could be detected in the wound area from as early as 4 days after wounding and after 8 days a complete restitution of the epithelial basement membrane was observed. In all cases with a wound age of more than 21 days the basement membrane was completely reformed over the former lesional area. The period between 8 and 21 days after wounding was characterized by a wide variability ranging from complete restitution to deposition of basement membrane fragments or total lack of the epidermal basement membrane

Impressões de pacientes, médicos e estudantes de Medicina quanto a aparência dos médicos

ResumoObjetivoInvestigar as impressões causadas em pacientes, estudantes de Medicina e médicos brasileiros por diferentes estilos de vestimenta e aparência adotados pelos médicos.MétodosParticiparam da pesquisa 259 pacientes, 119 estudantes e 99 médicos, respondendo questões relativas a um painel de fotos de médico e médica vestidos nos seguintes estilos: roupa branca, avental branco, avental social, formal, informal, casual e centro cirúrgico. Eles ainda registraram seu grau de desconforto frente uma lista de 20 itens de aparência para profissionais de ambos os sexos.ResultadoA maioria das respostas dos voluntários envolveu o uso de roupa branca ou avental branco, e em muitas questões os percentuais de preferência referidos para esses estilos foram muito próximos. Médicos e estudantes preferiram profissionais em traje de centro cirúrgico para consultas de urgência, e o estilo informal para discutir problemas psicológicos com profissional masculino. Os pacientes escolheram mais frequentemente a roupa branca em resposta às questões. No tocante aos profissionais masculinos, os três grupos referiram elevado grau de incômodo para o uso de shorts e bermudas, muitos anéis, piercing facial, sandálias, cabelos de cor extravagante, cabelos compridos e brincos. Para o sexo feminino, níveis elevados de desconforto foram assinalados para shorts, blusas mostrando a barriga, piercing facial, bermudas, muitos anéis, cabelos de cor extravagante e maquiagem carregada.ConclusãoPacientes, médicos e estudantes de Medicina brasileiros desenvolvem melhor impressão inicial de médicos que utilizam trajes tradicionalmente associados com a profissão e de aparência mais convencional. O uso da vestimenta inteiramente branca parece ser opção satisfatória no Brasil.AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the impressions made by different styles of dress and appearance adopted by physicians on patients, medical students and other physicians in Brazil.MethodsTwo hundred fifty nine patients, 119 students, and 99 physicians answered questions related to a panel of male and female physicians’ pictures covering the following styles: white clothing; white coat; formal, informal, and casual garments; and surgical scrubs. They also reported their level of discomfort with a list of 20 items for professional appearance of both genders.ResultsMost of the answers of the volunteers involved using white clothes or white coat, and in many situations the percentages of preference referred for these styles were close. Physicians and students preferred physicians wearing surgical scrubs for emergency visits, and doctors with informal style for discussing psychological problems with male professionals. Patients most often chose white clothing in response to questions. Regarding male professionals, all three groups reported high degree of discomfort for the use of shorts and bermuda shorts, multiple rings, facial piercing, sandals, extravagant hair color, long hair, and earrings. For females, high levels of discomfort were reported to shorts, blouses exposing the belly, facial piercing, multiple rings, extravagant hair color, and heavy makeup.ConclusionBrazilian patients, physicians, and medical students form a better initial impression of physicians using clothing traditionally associated with the profession and exhibiting more conventional appearance. The use of entirely white garments appears to be a satisfactory option in this country

Perceptions of patients, physicians, and medical students on physicians’ appearance*

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the impressions made by different styles of dress and appearance adopted by physicians on patients, medical students, and other physicians in Brazil.MethodsTwo hundred fifty nine patients, 119 students, and 99 physicians answered questions related to a panel of male and female physicians’ pictures covering the following styles: white clothing; white coat; formal coat; formal, informal, and casual garments; and surgical scrubs. They also reported their level of discomfort with a list of 20 items for professional appearance of both genders.ResultsMost of the answers of the volunteers involved using white clothes or white coat, and in many situations the percentages of preference referred for these styles were close. Physicians and students preferred physicians wearing surgical scrubs for emergency visits, and doctors with informal style for discussing psychological problems with male professionals. Patients most often chose white clothing in response to questions. Regarding male professionals, all three groups reported a high degree of discomfort for the use of shorts and bermuda shorts, multiple rings, facial piercings, sandals, extravagant hair color, long hair, and earrings. For females, high levels of discomfort were reported for shorts, blouses exposing the belly, facial piercings, multiple rings, extravagant hair color, and heavy makeup.ConclusionBrazilian patients, physicians, and medical students form a better initial impression of physicians using clothing traditionally associated with the profession and exhibiting a more conventional appearance. The use of entirely white garments appears to be a satisfactory option in this country

ME3CA - Monitoring environment exercise and emotion by a cognitive assistant

The elderly population has increased dramatically in today’s society. This fact implies the need to propose new policies of attention to this group but without increasing social spending. Currently, there is a need to promote the care of elderly people in their own homes, avoiding being transferred to saturated residences. Bearing this in mind, in recent years numerous approaches have tried to offer solutions in this sense using the continuous advances in new information and communication technologies. In this way, this article proposes the employment of a personal assistant to help the elderly in the development of their daily life activities. The proposed system, called ME3CA, is a cognitive assistant that involves users in rehabilitating exercise, consisting of a sensorization platform and different integrated decision-making mechanisms. The system tries to plan and recommend activities to older people trying to improve their physical activity. In addition, in the decision making process the assistant takes into account the emotions of the user. In this way, the system is more personalized and emotionally intelligent.- (undefined

Telomere Length Shows No Association with BRCA1 and BRCA2 Mutation Status

This study aimed to determine whether telomere length (TL) is a marker of cancer risk or genetic status amongst two cohorts of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers and controls. The first group was a prospective set of 665 male BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and controls (mean age 53 years), all healthy at time of enrolment and blood donation, 21 of whom have developed prostate cancer whilst on study. The second group consisted of 283 female BRCA1/2 mutation carriers and controls (mean age 48 years), half of whom had been diagnosed with breast cancer prior to enrolment. TL was quantified by qPCR from DNA extracted from peripheral blood lymphocytes. Weighted and unweighted Cox regressions and linear regression analyses were used to assess whether TL was associated with BRCA1/2 mutation status or cancer risk. We found no evidence for association between developing cancer or being a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation carrier and telomere length. It is the first study investigating TL in a cohort of genetically predisposed males and although TL and BRCA status was previously studied in females our results don't support the previous finding of association between hereditary breast cancer and shorter TL

The HY5-PIF regulatory module coordinates light and temperature control of photosynthetic gene transcription

The ability to interpret daily and seasonal alterations in light and temperature signals is essential for plant survival. This is particularly important during seedling establishment when the phytochrome photoreceptors activate photosynthetic pigment production for photoautotrophic growth. Phytochromes accomplish this partly through the suppression of phytochrome interacting factors (PIFs), negative regulators of chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis. While the bZIP transcription factor long hypocotyl 5 (HY5), a potent PIF antagonist, promotes photosynthetic pigment accumulation in response to light. Here we demonstrate that by directly targeting a common promoter cis-element (G-box), HY5 and PIFs form a dynamic activation-suppression transcriptional module responsive to light and temperature cues. This antagonistic regulatory module provides a simple, direct mechanism through which environmental change can redirect transcriptional control of genes required for photosynthesis and photoprotection. In the regulation of photopigment biosynthesis genes, HY5 and PIFs do not operate alone, but with the circadian clock. However, sudden changes in light or temperature conditions can trigger changes in HY5 and PIFs abundance that adjust the expression of common target genes to optimise photosynthetic performance and growth