Selection of rice cultivars resistant to some pathogens using seed health testing

Trinta e seis progênies de arroz (Oryza sativa L) irrigado foram testadas, em campo, objetivando-se determinar os fungos mais importantes de sementes e o desempenho das progênies com relação a esses patógenos, dando-se ênfase especial à descoloração e consequente perda de peso de sementes. Observaram-se diferenças significativas entre progênies quanto à presença de sete fungos de sementes. Entretanto, considerando-se a descoloração e a consequente perda de peso de sementes, Rhynchosporium oryzae, Phoma spp., Trichoconis padwickii e Helminthosporium oryzae se apresentaram como patógenos mais nocivos. Em todos os parâmetros analisados, sete progênies suplantaram a cultivar comercial IAC-899, usada como controle. Conclui-se que, apesar de trabalhoso, o teste de sanidade de sementes é um instrumento muito eficaz na seleção de novos germoplasmas de arroz com baixa incidência de fungos de sementes.Thirty-six lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.) progenies have been tested in yield trials aiming at determining the most important seed-borne fungi and the progeny performance as to each of the pathogens found in seeds, with special emphasis on seed discoloration and consequent seed weight loss. Significant progeny differences as to seven seed-born fungi have been found; however, as far as seed discoloration and consequent seed weight loss are concerned, Rhynchosporium oryzae, Phoma spp., Trichoconis padwickii and Helminthosporium oryzae have been the most important pathogens. Seven progenies outperformed IAC-899 (commercial variety used as control) regarding all the parameters analysed. It is concluded that seed health testing is an effective complementary 1001 in selecting rice germplasms with lower seed-borne fungal incidence

Recuperação de pastagens no sudeste paraense com cultivo sequenciado de arroz e milho mecanizado.

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Sistema de fertirrigação na cultura da bananeira no sudeste paraense.

Publicado também: FRAZÃO, D. A. C.; HOMMA, A. K. O; VIÉGAS, I. de J. M. (Ed.). Contribuição ao desenvolvimento da fruticultura na Amazônia. Belém, PA: Embrapa Amazônia Oriental, 2006. p. 183-189

Antigen-Specific IgG Subclasses in Primary and Malignancy-Associated Membranous Nephropathy

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is an autoimmune disease caused by binding of circulating antibodies to podocyte antigens in the kidney. For decades and still today primary MN has been considered to have an unspecified IgG4-driven autoimmune genesis, while secondary MN has been associated with other diseases, most notably cancer, and not linked to IgG4. Immunologic mechanisms of primary and malignancy-associated MN are assumed to be different, however, this has never been systematically evaluated. The identification of Phospholipase A2 Receptor 1 (PLA2R1) and Thrombospondin Type-1 Domain-Containing 7A (THSD7A) as target antigens in MN allows a pathogenesis-driven differential diagnosis. Recent data showing a molecular link between increased THSD7A-expression in tumors and THSD7A-antibody positive MN suggest a similar pathogenesis of malignancy-associated and primary MN. In order to better define the underlying immunologic processes, we systematically analyzed circulating antigen-specific IgG subclasses in the serum of 76 patients with PLA2R1-associated MN and 41 patients with THSD7A-associated MN in relationship to concurrent malignancy and disease outcome. Twenty-three patients in the study had malignancy-associated MN. We analyzed antigen-specific IgG subclasses in the serum of all patients at baseline and in 55 patients during follow-up by Western blot applying antigens derived from human kidney and lung. At baseline all 117 patients were positive for IgG4-antibodies against either PLA2R1 or THSD7A, while IgG3, IgG1, and IgG2-antibodies were found in 87, 72, and 26% of patients, respectively. There were no differences in the IgG subclass distribution between patients with primary vs. cancer-associated MN and no association with disease outcome. Moreover, levels of antigen-specific IgG4-antibodies were not different between primary and malignancy-associated MN and levels of all IgG subclasses did not differ between these groups. Both podocytes and lung bronchioles showed expression of both PLA2R1 and THSD7A when analyzed by immunofluorescence and Western blot. Every antigen-specific IgG subclass showed identical binding in both organs and autoantibodies bound the respective antigen only under non-reducing conditions. We conclude that antigen-specific IgG subclasses do not differentiate primary from malignancy-associated MN or predict disease prognosis. These data support the view that one common pathway may lead to primary and cancer-associated MN induced by PLA2R1- or THSD7A-antibodies

The definitive management of Hirschsprung's disease with the endorectal pull-through procedure

From 1 July 1974 to 31 August 1985, 99 patients with Hirschsprung's disease were treated at the University of Michigan Mott Children's Hospital; 75 were initially diagnosed and treated at our institution. Of these 75 patients, 55 had standard rectosigmoid disease and 20 had long-segment disease. The endorectal pull-through (ERPT) procedure was used consecutively in 73 of the 75 patients; the other two children died, one because of total intestinal aganglionosis and the other due to severe congenital anomalies, prior to a definitive procedure. Of the 24 patients referred by other institutions, 12 underwent repeat pull-through procedures and 12 required lesser operations to deal with the complications of prior procedures. There were no postoperative deaths and no permanent enterostomies among the 73 consecutive ERPT patients. The follow-up in this series ranges from 4 months to 10 years, and all patients have fecal continence with an average of 3–4 stools daily. Our treatment plan involves the use of suction rectal biopsy for diagnosis and leveling colostomy in the neonatal period. An endorectal pull-through procedure is then carried out between 8 months and 1 year of age. The excellent functional results, 0% operative mortality, low morbidity, and technical ease of performing the ERPT underscore our enthusiasm for continued use of this procedure in Hirschsprung's disease.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47147/1/383_2004_Article_BF00166867.pd

Depression, anxiety, and the risk of cancer: An individual participant data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety have long been hypothesized to be related to an increased cancer risk. Despite the great amount of research that has been conducted, findings are inconclusive. To provide a stronger basis for addressing the associations between depression, anxiety, and the incidence of various cancer types (overall, breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, alcohol-related, and smoking-related cancers), individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses were performed within the Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence (PSY-CA) consortium. METHODS: The PSY-CA consortium includes data from 18 cohorts with measures of depression or anxiety (up to N = 319,613; cancer incidences, 25,803; person-years of follow-up, 3,254,714). Both symptoms and a diagnosis of depression and anxiety were examined as predictors of future cancer risk. Two-stage IPD meta-analyses were run, first by using Cox regression models in each cohort (stage 1), and then by aggregating the results in random-effects meta-analyses (stage 2). RESULTS: No associations were found between depression or anxiety and overall, breast, prostate, colorectal, and alcohol-related cancers. Depression and anxiety (symptoms and diagnoses) were associated with the incidence of lung cancer and smoking-related cancers (hazard ratios [HRs], 1.06–1.60). However, these associations were substantially attenuated when additionally adjusting for known risk factors including smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index (HRs, 1.04–1.23). CONCLUSIONS: Depression and anxiety are not related to increased risk for most cancer outcomes, except for lung and smoking-related cancers. This study shows that key covariates are likely to explain the relationship between depression, anxiety, and lung and smoking-related cancers

Psychosocial factors and cancer incidence (PSY-CA): Protocol for individual participant data meta-analyses

Objectives: Psychosocial factors have been hypothesized to increase the risk of cancer. This study aims (1) to test whether psychosocial factors (depression, anxiety, recent loss events, subjective social support, relationship status, general distress, and neuroticism) are associated with the incidence of any cancer (any, breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, smoking-related, and alcohol-related); (2) to test the interaction between psychosocial factors and factors related to cancer risk (smoking, alcohol use, weight, physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep, age, sex, education, hormone replacement therapy, and menopausal status) with regard to the incidence of cancer; and (3) to test the mediating role of health behaviors (smoking, alcohol use, weight, physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep) in the relationship between psychosocial factors and the incidence of cancer. Methods: The psychosocial factors and cancer incidence (PSY-CA) consortium was established involving experts in the field of (psycho-)oncology, methodology, and epidemiology. Using data collected in 18 cohorts (N = 617,355), a preplanned two-stage individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis is proposed. Standardized analyses will be conducted on harmonized datasets for each cohort (stage 1), and meta-analyses will be performed on the risk estimates (stage 2). Conclusion: PSY-CA aims to elucidate the relationship between psychosocial factors and cancer risk by addressing several shortcomings of prior meta-analyses