Anatomy of the fruit of the halophyte Crithmum maritimum L. with emphasis on the endosperm structure and histochemistry

The halophytes are plants that can survive and reproduce under high salinity. They show high potentiality as new crops plant for biosaline agriculture. Crithmum maritimum L. (Apiaceae) is one of the promising halophytes. In this paper, the endosperm structure of the fruit of this oilseeds halophyte was investigated using scanning electrons microscopy (SEM), light microscopy (LM) and fluorescence microscopy (FM). The fruit was composed of a spongy outer coat, a secretory envelope, a thin endocarp reduced to a unicellular layer delimiting the endosperm and an embryo. The endosperm cell appeared limited by thick cell wall and filled with numerous reserve globoids. The histochemical test showed that the cell wall of the endosperm was rich of carbohydrates as revealed by PAS (periodic acid-schiffs). Within the endosperm cells, there were mainly lipid bodies and protein bodies. The starch grains were less abundant. The protein bodies enclose crystal globoids. The x-ray microanalysis revealed that the reserve globoids accumulated mostly Mg, K, Ca, S and P. Taken together, these results highlight the structural features, the biochemical composition and confirm the nutritional quality of C. maritimum L. fruit.Keys words: C. maritimum L., crystal globoids, the endosperm cells, histochemical test, protein bodies, x-ray microanalysis

Cross-tolerance to abiotic stresses in halophytes: Application for phytoremediation of organic pollutants

International audienceHalopytes are plants able to tolerate high salt concentrations but no clear definition was retained for them. In literature, there are more studies that showed salt-enhanced tolerance to other abiotic stresses compared to investigations that found enhanced salt tolerance by other abiotic stresses in halophytes. The phenomenon by which a plant resistance to a stress induces resistance to another is referred to as cross-tolerance. In this work, we reviewed cross-tolerance in halophytes at the physiological, biochemical, and molecular levels. A special attention was accorded to the cross-tolerance between salinity and organic pollutants that could allow halophytes a higher potential of xenobiotic phytoremediation in comparison with glycophytes

Epidemiology of heart failure and long-term follow-up outcomes in a north-African population: Results from the NAtional TUnisian REgistry of Heart Failure (NATURE-HF)

International audienceThe NATURE-HF registry was aimed to describe clinical epidemiology and 1-year outcomes of outpatients and inpatients with heart failure (HF). This is a prospective, multicenter, observational survey conducted in Tunisian Cardiology centers. A total of 2040 patients were included in the study. Of these, 1632 (80%) were outpatients with chronic HF (CHF). The mean hospital stay was 8.7 ± 8.2 days. The mortality rate during the initial hospitalization event for AHF was 7.4%. The all-cause 1-year mortality rate was 22.8% among AHF patients and 10.6% among CHF patients. Among CHF patients, the older age, diabetes, anemia, reduced EF, ischemic etiology, residual congestion and the absence of ACEI/ ARBs treatment were independent predictors of 1-year cumulative rates of rehospitalization and mortality. The female sex and the functional status were independent predictors of 1-year all-cause mortality and rehospitalization in AHF patients. This study confirmed that acute HF is still associated with a poor prognosis, while the mid-term outcomes in patients with chronic HF seems to be improved. Some differences across countries may be due to different clinical characteristics and differences in healthcare systems