Proteomic profiling of quality protein Maize kernels using mass spectrometry

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the third most crucial crop worldwide and is of paramount importance in both humansand livestock diets. Conventional maize varieties have less than half of the amino acids recommended for humannutrition, and this deficiency results in an imbalance of amino acids and low protein content, which has been associatedwith several pathologies, including malnutrition. Thus, different countries have focused on research onfortified foods, such as quality protein maize (QPM) noting that these improved varieties may contain up to 100%more essential amino acids residues than conventional maize. Hence, this study aimed to characterize throughtandem mass spectrometry and bioinformatics analysis, relative expression of polypeptides contained in a hybridvariety of QPM, which allow to identify potential markers with implications in the management and improvementof this crops maintaining their intrinsic characteristics. We identify 262 polypeptides, highlighting those related tomolecular function (catalytic activity, structural molecule activity, and binding) and biological process (cellular andmetabolic process). These results provide the necessary information, not only for the characterization of the QPMproteome through novel tools such as proteomics, but also to describe mechanisms related to different biologicalprocesses such as the embryogenesis, development and growth of grains and eventually plants. PotentiallyIt promotes the discovery of molecular markers (biomarkers) that would allow the improvement of agronomicalprocesses

Association Between Preexisting Versus Newly Identified Atrial Fibrillation and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) may exist before or occur early in the course of pulmonary embolism (PE). We determined the PE outcomes based on the presence and timing of AF. Methods and Results Using the data from a multicenter PE registry, we identified 3 groups: (1) those with preexisting AF, (2) patients with new AF within 2 days from acute PE (incident AF), and (3) patients without AF. We assessed the 90-day and 1-year risk of mortality and stroke in patients with AF, compared with those without AF (reference group). Among 16 497 patients with PE, 792 had preexisting AF. These patients had increased odds of 90-day all-cause (odds ratio [OR], 2.81; 95% CI, 2.33-3.38) and PE-related mortality (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.37-4.14) and increased 1-year hazard for ischemic stroke (hazard ratio, 5.48; 95% CI, 3.10-9.69) compared with those without AF. After multivariable adjustment, preexisting AF was associated with significantly increased odds of all-cause mortality (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.57-2.32) but not PE-related mortality (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.85-2.66). Among 16 497 patients with PE, 445 developed new incident AF within 2 days of acute PE. Incident AF was associated with increased odds of 90-day all-cause (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.75-2.97) and PE-related (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.01-6.59) mortality but not stroke. Findings were similar in multivariable analyses. Conclusions In patients with acute symptomatic PE, both preexisting AF and incident AF predict adverse clinical outcomes. The type of adverse outcomes may differ depending on the timing of AF onset.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Incompatibilidad gametofítica en las razas mexicanas de maíz

Sporophytic and gametophytic incompatibility avoids self-fecundation or cross-fertilization, and it is a form of reproductive isolation. The cross-incompatibility genes in maize from loci ga1 and tcb1, cause recognition or reject between stigma and pollen, and from them depends presence or absence of grain in maize ear. The aim of this study was to detect alleles of cross-incompatibility of ga1 and tcb1 in collections representing maize breeds groups from Mexico. The work was made at Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias from Universidad de Guadalajara, located in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico during agricultural spring-summer 2007 to 2009 cycles. Under rainfall conditions 184 accessions of Mexican maize breeds were assessed based in percentage of grain filling in ear in their crosses with recessive male testers (without incompatibility factors) and dominant female testers (with incompatibility factors). The analysis of variance suggested highly significant differences as well between breeds as between accessions within breeds for locus ga1. With regards locus tcb1 there were found only highly significant differences between breeds. Allele Ga1-S, responsible of non-reciprocal incompatibility, was detected in 53.8% of accessions, while neutral allele Ga1-m and recessive allele ga1 was identified in 55.43 and 15.76%, respectively. Allele Tcb1-S was detected at very low rates, mainly found in breeds Elotes-Occidentales and Maíz-DulceLa incompatibilidad esporofítica y gametofítica evitan la autofecundación o la fecundación cruzada, y es una forma de aislamiento reproductivo. Los genes de incompatibilidad-cruzada en maíz de los loci ga1 y tcb1, son causantes del reconocimiento o rechazo entre el estigma y el polen, y de ellos depende la presencia o ausencia de grano en la mazorca del maíz. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo detectar alelos de incompatibilidad-cruzada de ga1 y tcb1 en colecciones representativas de grupos raciales de maíz de México. El trabajo se realizó en el Centro Universitario de Ciencias Biológicas y Agropecuarias de la Universidad de Guadalajara, ubicado en Zapopan, Jalisco, México durante los ciclos agrícolas de primavera-verano 2007 a 2009. Se evaluaron, en condiciones de temporal, 184 accesiones de razas mexicanas de maíz con base en porcentaje de llenado de grano de mazorca en sus cruzas con probadores macho recesivos (sin factores de incompatibilidad) y probadores hembra dominantes (con factores de incompatibilidad). En el análisis de varianza hubo diferencias altamente significativas tanto entre razas como entre accesiones dentro de razas para el locus ga1. Con relación al locus tcb1 sólo se encontraron diferencias altamente significativas entre razas. El alelo Ga1-S, responsable de la incompatibilidad no-recíproca, se detectó 53.8% de las accesiones, mientras que el alelo neutro Ga1-m y el alelo recesivo ga1 se identificaron 55.43 y 15.76%, respectivamente. El alelo Tcb1-S fue detectado en muy bajas proporciones, concentrado principalmente en las razas de Elotes-Occidentales y Maíz-Dulc

Risk of recurrence after discontinuing anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19- associated venous thromboembolism: a prospective multicentre cohort studyResearch in context

Background: The clinical relevance of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) after discontinuing anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19-associated VTE remains uncertain. We estimated the incidence rates and mortality of VTE recurrences developing after discontinuing anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19-associated VTE. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, non-interventional study was conducted between March 25, 2020, and July 26, 2023, including patients who had discontinued anticoagulation after at least 3 months of therapy. All patients from the registry were analyzed during the study period to verify inclusion criteria. Patients with superficial vein thrombosis, those who did not receive at least 3 months of anticoagulant therapy, and those who were followed for less than 15 days after discontinuing anticoagulation were excluded. Outcomes were: 1) Incidence rates of symptomatic VTE recurrences, and 2) fatal PE. The rate of VTE recurrences was defined as the number of patients with recurrent VTE divided by the patient-years at risk of recurrent VTE during the period when anticoagulation was discontinued. Findings: Among 1106 patients with COVID-19-associated VTE (age 62.3 ± 14.4 years; 62.9% male) followed-up for 12.5 months (p25-75, 6.3–20.1) after discontinuing anticoagulation, there were 38 VTE recurrences (3.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5–4.7%), with a rate of 3.1 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: 2.2–4.2). No patient died of recurrent PE (0%, 95% CI: 0–7.6%). Subgroup analyses showed that patients with diagnosis in 2021–2022 (vs. 2020) (Hazard ratio [HR] 2.86; 95% CI 1.45–5.68) or those with isolated deep vein thrombosis (vs. pulmonary embolism) (HR 2.31; 95% CI 1.19–4.49) had significantly higher rates of VTE recurrences. Interpretation: In patients with COVID-19-associated VTE who discontinued anticoagulation after at least 3 months of treatment, the incidence rate of recurrent VTE and the case-fatality rate was low. Therefore, it conceivable that long-term anticoagulation may not be required for many patients with COVID-19-associated VTE, although further research is needed to confirm these findings. Funding: Sanofi and Rovi, Sanofi Spain

Risk of recurrence after discontinuing anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19- associated venous thromboembolism: a prospective multicentre cohort studyResearch in context

Summary: Background: The clinical relevance of recurrent venous thromboembolism (VTE) after discontinuing anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19-associated VTE remains uncertain. We estimated the incidence rates and mortality of VTE recurrences developing after discontinuing anticoagulation in patients with COVID-19-associated VTE. Methods: A prospective, multicenter, non-interventional study was conducted between March 25, 2020, and July 26, 2023, including patients who had discontinued anticoagulation after at least 3 months of therapy. All patients from the registry were analyzed during the study period to verify inclusion criteria. Patients with superficial vein thrombosis, those who did not receive at least 3 months of anticoagulant therapy, and those who were followed for less than 15 days after discontinuing anticoagulation were excluded. Outcomes were: 1) Incidence rates of symptomatic VTE recurrences, and 2) fatal PE. The rate of VTE recurrences was defined as the number of patients with recurrent VTE divided by the patient-years at risk of recurrent VTE during the period when anticoagulation was discontinued. Findings: Among 1106 patients with COVID-19-associated VTE (age 62.3 ± 14.4 years; 62.9% male) followed-up for 12.5 months (p25-75, 6.3–20.1) after discontinuing anticoagulation, there were 38 VTE recurrences (3.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.5–4.7%), with a rate of 3.1 per 100 patient-years (95% CI: 2.2–4.2). No patient died of recurrent PE (0%, 95% CI: 0–7.6%). Subgroup analyses showed that patients with diagnosis in 2021–2022 (vs. 2020) (Hazard ratio [HR] 2.86; 95% CI 1.45–5.68) or those with isolated deep vein thrombosis (vs. pulmonary embolism) (HR 2.31; 95% CI 1.19–4.49) had significantly higher rates of VTE recurrences. Interpretation: In patients with COVID-19-associated VTE who discontinued anticoagulation after at least 3 months of treatment, the incidence rate of recurrent VTE and the case-fatality rate was low. Therefore, it conceivable that long-term anticoagulation may not be required for many patients with COVID-19-associated VTE, although further research is needed to confirm these findings. Funding: Sanofi and Rovi, Sanofi Spain

Timing and characteristics of venous thromboembolism after noncancer surgery

International audienc