Effects of different culture conditions (photoautotrophic, photomixotrophic) and the auxin indole-butyric acid on the in vitro acclimatization of papaya (Carica papaya L. var. Red Maradol) plants using zeolite as support

Plant regeneration of papaya via organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis has been successful;  however, the biggest problem of in vitro culture of this species is the acclimatization of regenerated  plants, where over 70% of the plants are lost before being planted in the field. Decreasing the relative humidity inside the culture vessel and thus increasing the ventilation, appears to have a greater effect on  the adaptation of papaya plants, strengthening the function of the stomata and with this, allowing better  control of water loss from the leaves. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different  concentrations of sucrose and indole-butyric acid (IBA) on rooting and in vitro acclimatization of plants  using sterile zeolite as support and culture vessels with increased ventilation. Three concentrations of  sucrose (0, 10 and 20 g L-1) were studied with and without auxin and as the control treatment, the  rooting culture medium with agar during 17, 27 and 37 culture days. The highest percentage of rooting  was recorded at 37 culture days in the treatment without sucrose and IBA with 80.0% and zeolite as  support. The best photosynthetic values were achieved when in vitro shoots were grown in culture  medium with auxin and different concentrations of sucrose, even though they were also high in the  treatment without the presence of IBA and without sucrose at 17 days of culture. The combined effect of the zeolite, auxin (IBA), without sucrose in the culture medium and increased ventilation allowed   photoautotrophic culture conditions which had effect of the increasing plant survival under ex vitro  acclimatization conditions.Key words: Carica papaya, photosynthesis, roots formation

Dysglycemias in pregnancy: from diagnosis to treatment. Brazilian consensus statement

There is an urgent need to find consensus on screening, diagnosing and treating all degrees of DYSGLYCEMIA that may occur during pregnancies in Brazil, considering that many cases of DYSGLYCEMIA in pregnant women are currently not diagnosed, leading to maternal and fetal complications. For this reason the Brazilian Diabetes Society (SBD) and the Brazilian Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Societies (FEBRASGO), got together to introduce this proposal. We present here a joint consensus regarding the standardization of clinical management for pregnant women with any degree of Dysglycemia, on the basis of current information, to improve medical assistance and to avoid related complications of Dysglycemia in pregnancy to the mother and the fetus. This consensus aims to standardize the diagnosis among general practitioners, endocrinologists and obstetricians allowing the dissemination of information in basic health units, public and private services, that are responsible for screening, diagnosing and treating disglycemic pregnant patients

Downregulation of MIP-1α/CCL3 with praziquantel treatment in Schistosoma haematobium and HIV-1 co-infected individuals in a rural community in Zimbabwe

The results of our study show that the MIP-1alpha/CCL3 levels were positively associated with S. haematobium egg counts at baseline but not with HIV-1 infection status. MIP-1alpha/CCL3 levels were significantly reduced at three months post treatment with praziquantel. We therefore conclude that MIP-1alpha/CCL3 is produced during infection with S haematobium. S. haematobium infection is associated with increased MIP-1alpha/CCL3 levels in an egg intensity-dependent manner and treatment of S. haematobium is associated with a reduction in MIP-1alpha/CCL3

Bioengineering horizon scan 2020.

Horizon scanning is intended to identify the opportunities and threats associated with technological, regulatory and social change. In 2017 some of the present authors conducted a horizon scan for bioengineering (Wintle et al., 2017). Here we report the results of a new horizon scan that is based on inputs from a larger and more international group of 38 participants. The final list of 20 issues includes topics spanning from the political (the regulation of genomic data, increased philanthropic funding and malicious uses of neurochemicals) to the environmental (crops for changing climates and agricultural gene drives). The early identification of such issues is relevant to researchers, policy-makers and the wider public

Influence of iodide ingestion on nitrate metabolism and blood pressure following short-term dietary nitrate supplementation in healthy normotensive adults

This paper was accepted for publication in the journal Nitric Oxide and the definitive published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.niox.2016.12.008Uptake of inorganic nitrate (NO3−) into the salivary circulation is a rate-limiting step for dietary NO3− metabolism in mammals. It has been suggested that salivary NO3− uptake occurs in competition with inorganic iodide (I−). Therefore, this study tested the hypothesis that I− supplementation would interfere with NO3− metabolism and blunt blood pressure reductions after dietary NO3− supplementation. Nine healthy adults (4 male, mean ± SD, age 20 ± 1 yr) reported to the laboratory for initial baseline assessment (control) and following six day supplementation periods with 140 mL·day−1 NO3−-rich beetroot juice (8.4 mmol NO3−·day−1) and 198 mg potassium gluconate·day−1 (nitrate), and 140 mL·day−1 NO3−-rich beetroot juice and 450 μg potassium iodide·day−1 (nitrate + iodide) in a randomized, cross-over experiment. Salivary [I−] was higher in the nitrate + iodide compared to the control and NIT trials (P < 0.05). Salivary and plasma [NO3−] and [NO2−] were higher in the nitrate and nitrate + iodide trials compared to the control trial (P < 0.05). Plasma [NO3−] was higher (474 ± 127 vs. 438 ± 117 μM) and the salivary-plasma [NO3−] ratio was lower (14 ± 6 vs. 20 ± 6 μM), indicative of a lower salivary NO3− uptake, in the nitrate + iodide trial compared to the nitrate trial (P < 0.05). Plasma and salivary [NO2−] were not different between the nitrate and nitrate + iodide trials (P > 0.05). Systolic blood pressure was lower than control (112 ± 13 mmHg) in the nitrate (106 ± 13 mmHg) and nitrate + iodide (106 ± 11 mmHg) trials (P < 0.05), with no differences between the nitrate and nitrate + iodide trials (P > 0.05). In conclusion, co-ingesting NO3− and I− perturbed salivary NO3− uptake, but the increase in salivary and plasma [NO2−] and the lowering of blood pressure were similar compared to NO3− ingestion alone. Therefore, increased dietary I− intake, which is recommended in several countries worldwide as an initiative to offset hypothyroidism, does not appear to compromise the blood pressure reduction afforded by increased dietary NO3− intake

Factors associated to infection by Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women attended in Basic Health Units in the city of Rolândia, Paraná, Brazil

The aim of the present work was to determine the prevalence of IgG and IgM anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and the factors associated to the infection in pregnant women attended in Basic Health Units in Rolândia, Paraná, Brazil. The sample was divided in two groups: group I (320 pregnant women who were analyzed from July 2007 to February 2008) and group II (287 pregnant women who were analyzed from March to October 2008). In group I, it was found 53.1% of pregnant women with IgG reactive and IgM non-reactive, 1.9% with IgG and IgM reactive, 0.3% with IgG non-reactive and IgM reactive and 44.7% with IgG and IgM non-reactive. In group II, it was found 55.1% with IgG reactive and IgM non-reactive and 44.9% with IgG and IgM non-reactive. The variables associated to the presence of IgG antibodies were: residence in rural areas, pregnant women between 35-40 years old, low educational level, low family income, more than one pregnancy, drinking water which does not originate from the public water supply system and the habit of handling soil or sand. Guidance on primary prevention measures and the quarterly serological monitoring of the pregnant women in the risk group are important measures to prevent congenital toxoplasmosis