Delivering of Proteins to the Plant Vacuole-An Update

Trafficking of soluble cargo to the vacuole is far from being a closed issue as it can occur by different routes and involve different intermediates. The textbook view of proteins being sorted at the post-Golgi level to the lytic vacuole via the pre-vacuole or to the protein storage vacuole mediated by dense vesicles is now challenged as novel routes are being disclosed and vacuoles with intermediate characteristics described. The identification of Vacuolar Sorting Determinants is a key signature to understand protein trafficking to the vacuole. Despite the long established vacuolar signals, some others have been described in the last few years, with different properties that can be specific for some cells or some types of vacuoles. There are also reports of proteins having two different vacuolar signals and their significance is questionable: a way to increase the efficiency of the sorting or different sorting depending on the protein roles in a specific context? Along came the idea of differential vacuolar sorting, suggesting a possible specialization of the trafficking pathways according to the type of cell and specific needs. In this review, we show the recent advances in the field and focus on different aspects of protein trafficking to the vacuoles

Gastroschisis: preterm or term delivery?

AIM: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the association between prematurity and the time to achieve full enteral feeding in newborns with gastroschisis. The second objective was to analyze the associations between length of hospital stay and time to achieve full enteral feeding with mode of delivery, birth weight and surgical procedure. METHODS: The medical records of newborns with gastroschisis treated between 1997 and 2007 were reviewed. Two groups were considered: those delivered before 37 weeks (group A) and those delivered after 37 weeks (group B). The variables of gestational age, mode of delivery, birth weight, time to achieve full enteral feeding, length of hospital stay and surgical approach were analyzed and compared between groups. RESULTS: Forty-one patients were studied. In Group A, there were 14 patients with a mean birth weight (BW) of 2300 g (range=1680-3000) and a mean gestational age (GA) of 36 weeks (range=34-36). In group B, there were 24 patients with a mean BW of 2700 g (range=1500-3550) and a mean GA of 38 weeks (range=37-39). The mean time to achieve full enteral feeding was 30.1±6.7 days in group A and 17.0±2.5 days in group B (p=0.09) with an OR of 0.82 and a 95% CI of 0.20-3.23 after adjustment for sepsis and BW. No statistical difference was found between low BW (<2500 g), mode of delivery and number of days to achieve full enteral feeding (p=0.34 and p=0.13, respectively). Patients with BW over 2500 g had fewer days in the hospital (22.9±3.1 vs. 35.7±5.7 days; p=0.06). CONCLUSION: The results of this study do not support the idea of anticipating the delivery of fetuses with gastroschisis in order to achieve full enteral feeding earlier

Respiratory outcomes and atopy in school-age children who were preterm at birth, with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia

OBJECTIVE: To assess pulmonary function and the prevalence of atopy in school-age children who were very low birth weight as infants and to compare those who had bronchopulmonary dysplasia to those who did not. METHOD: We studied 85 (39 male and 46 female) at a mean age of 84 (range, 62 to 107) months who were very low birth weight infants. Bronchopulmonary dysplasia was defined as oxygen dependency at 36 weeks gestational age. We excluded 8 patients (4 for cerebral palsy and 4 for no collaboration). Detailed perinatal and clinical data were collected. Lung function was evaluated using conventional spirometry. Atopy (assessed by the allergy skin-prick test) was considered when at least one positive skin test occurred in a panel of the most common environmental allergens in the local region. Comparisons between the bronchopulmonary dysplasia and no bronchopulmonary dysplasia groups were performed using the Mann-Whitney, x2 and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: We compared the bronchopulmonary dysplasia (n = 13) and no bronchopulmonary dysplasia (n = 64) groups. Atopy was observed in 4 (30.8%) of the bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients and in 17 (26.6%) of the no bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients (p = 0.742). Two (15.4%) patients with bronchopulmonary dysplasia had a family history of atopy vs. 17 (26.6%) in the no bronchopulmonary dysplasia group (p = 0.5). Lung function tests showed airway obstruction in 2 (15.4%) of the bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients and in 10 (15.6%) of the no bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients (p = 1.0). Four (33.3%) of the bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients had small airway obstruction vs. 14 (22.2%) of the no bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients (p = 0.466). CONCLUSION: Our data showed no significant differences in lung function between bronchopulmonary dysplasia and no bronchopulmonary dysplasia patients at school age and no evidence of an association between atopy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Dissect the PSIs' Interaction Network Involved in Conventional and Unconventional Sorting Routes

In plants, there are several thousands of different types of proteins with different functions that must be correctly located to a specific subcellular compartment. The conventional vacuolar sorting route is already well described and research teams are now more interested in understanding mechanisms behind how unconventional sorting routes work. Our laboratory has been studying the plant-specific insert (PSI), a domain shown to be both sufficient and necessary for correct vacuolar sorting, for a long time. Even though different PSI domains (PSI A and PSI B) present high similarity, they mediate different routes: PSI A has Golgi bypass ability, directly delivering proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum to the vacuole; while PSI B mediates a conventional ER–Golgi–vacuole pathway. The main goal of this study was to identify intermediate players in PSI sorting processes. We purified both PSIs and several endomembrane reporters involved in specific events of protein transport and tested their interactions through pulldown assays. Furthermore, purified PSIs were also used as bait for co-immunoprecipitation in tobacco and Arabidopsis extracts. The data obtained will set the basis for a broader objective aimed at mapping the PSI network of interactions, which will help the characterization of unconventional trafficking

Reorganization of the Endomembrane System and Protein Transport Pathways under Abiotic Stress

Stress compromises protein trafficking in plants, which often results in modifications to the endomembrane system and trafficking pathways. Proteins travel in unexpected ways during stress, and cell compartments alter their appearance, activity, and content to cope with the difficulties that stress brings. We will piece together material on the issue in this chapter, emphasizing how the endomembrane system processes such changes and how it reacts to a dynamic environment. The intricate dynamics of protein transport pathways and how they maintain cellular homeostasis under challenging circumstances is illustrated

Guidelines for Neonatal Parenteral Nutrition: 2019 Update by the Portuguese Neonatal Society. Part I. General Aspects, Energy, and Macronutrients

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From Flower to Seed Germination in Cynara cardunculus: A Role for Aspartic Proteinases.

Cardosins are plant aspartic proteinases (APs) isolated from the flowers of Cynara cardunculus L. (cardoon) and are responsible for their milk-clotting activity used to manufacture ewe's cheese. Cardosin A is mainly accumulated in protein storage vacuoles of the stigmatic papillae being suggested a possible role in pollen-pistil interaction. Cardosin B has been localized to the extracellular matrix of stylar transmitting tissue and a role in the remodelling or degradation of pistil extracellular matrix, during pollen tube growth, has been suggested. Also, cardosin B localization is closely correlated with programmed cell death (PCD) events in the nucellus of C. cardunculus, suggesting involvement in ovule and embryo sac development. Therefore, both cardosin A and B may fulfil important roles during sexual reproduction of the plant. In seeds APs may participate in protein hydrolysis, but, as they are present since early seed maturation they may take part both in zymogen activation and localised PCD in seed tissues, having a crucial role in the regulation of protein degradation and embryo nourishing. In the embryo cardosin A precursor form is accumulated in protein bodies and cell walls, a different localization from the described in cardoon flowers, suggesting a tissue-dependent pattern of accumulation of the protein. Furthermore, APs Plant Specific Insert seems to have a preponderant role in membrane reorganisation events and during water uptake and solute leakage, which supports the recently proposed bifunctional role of the AP precursor molecule. In this review, we intend to characterise cardosins developmental regulation in organs of C. cardunculus from the flower to post embryonic development and explore the putative roles assigned to these APs

Flavanol-anthocyanin condensed pigments in plant extracts

Pigments resulting from the direct condensation of anthocyanins and flavanols are usually associated with reactions taking place during processing and storage of plant-derived foods and beverages and have been particularly studied in aged red wines. In this paper, small amounts of flavanol-anthocyanin condensed pigments are found in different plant extracts. Structures are suggested for 10 such condensed pigments detected in extracts of strawberry, runner beans, purple corn and grape skins, based on their MS" fragmentation patterns, following analyses by electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. All of them correspond to dimers containing a flavan-3-ol [either (epi)afzelechin, (epi)catechin or (epi)gallocatechin] as the upper unit carbon-carbon linked to a lower anthocyanin unit consisting of different delphinidin, cyanidin, pelargonidin, peonidin or malvidin derivatives. The detection of these pigments in plant extracts may suggest that they are natural pigments and not products exclusively formed during storage and ageing of processed foods and beverages, as was previously assumed.Comissão Europeia (Fundo Social Europeu) e Governo Português através do Programa PRODEP (III) - ref.ª 5.3/N/199.006/00-Doutoramento

Literacia em saúde mental positiva da puérpera

Enquadramento: O Plano de Ação para a Saúde Mental para 2013-2020 refere que uma boa saúde mental é uma condição fundamental para o aumento do potencial, da capacidade de lidar com o stress da vida, do aumento da produtividade e do bem-estar, priorizando, a literacia em saúde mental, como um objetivo de saúde pública a atingir no século XXI. Assim, uma adequada literacia no puerpério é essencial para promover a transição para a parentalidade incluindo o desenvolvimento de competências, poder de decisão e autonomia que possibilitem decisões livres e esclarecidas que promovam a saúde, a qualidade de vida e o bem-estar. Objetivos: Determinar o nível de literacia em saúde mental da puérpera, identificar as variáveis sociodemográficas, obstétricas e as alterações psicoemocionais associadas ao nível de literacia em saúde mental da puérpera. Métodos: Estudo transversal, quantitativo, descritivo-correlacional com amostra não probabilística, intencional por conveniência de 208 puérperas, com uma média de idades de 32 anos e desvio padrão 4,79. O instrumento de colheita de dados foi o questionário constituído por questões sociodemográficas, obstétricas, pela escala de avaliação das alterações psicoemocionais do puerpério – EAAPP (Sousa & Leal, 2010) e escala de conhecimento para uma Boa Saúde Mental – EBSM (Bjørnsen, Eilertsen, Ringdal, Espnes, & Moksnes, 2017). Resultados: Relativamente aos conhecimentos para uma boa saúde mental, as puérperas apresentam com igual percentagem (35,1%), conhecimentos suficientes e fracos. Já 29,8% têm bons conhecimentos. A literacia em saúde mental positiva da puérpera é influenciada: para o fator exigências ou vivencias externas pelas variáveis obstétricas, informação fornecida pelos médicos e tipo de ajuda; para o fator património interno da puérpera, pelas variáveis sociodemográficas, local de residência, habilitações literárias e pelas variáveis obstétricas, acompanhante no parto, curso de preparação para o parto/parentalidade, esclarecimento de dúvidas sobre o puerpério, informação fornecida pelos enfermeiros e pessoa que ajuda; para o fator global boa saúde mental, pelas variáveis sociodemográficas situação laboral, internet na residência e pelas variáveis obstétricas planeamento da gravidez, acompanhante no parto, curso de preparação para o parto/parentalidade, esclarecimento de dúvidas sobre o puerpério, informação fornecida pelos médico e tipo de ajuda. As variáveis alterações psicoemocionais, nomeadamente, a ansiedade tem significância marginal na literacia em saúde mental da puérpera para o património interno. Conclusões: Obteve-se um nível global de literacia em saúde mental positiva problemático, que se associou a variáveis sociodemográficas, obstétricas e psicológicas. A melhoria deste resultado, no puerpério, é essencial para uma boa transição para a parentalidade, permitindo o desenvolvimento de competências e conhecimentos para que a puérpera tenha poder de decisão e autonomia para tomar decisões livres e esclarecidas. Neste âmbito, o enfermeiro deve promover a literacia em saúde mental durante as consultas pré-concecionais e pré-natais.Abstract Background: The Mental Health Action Plan for 2013-2020 states that good mental health is a key condition for increasing the potential, coping with life stress, increasing productivity and well-being, prioritizing, mental health literacy as a public health goal to be achieved in the 21st century. Thus, adequate puerperium literacy is essential to promote the transition to parenthood including the development of competencies, decision-making power and autonomy that enable free and informed decisions that promote health, quality of life and well-being. Objectives: To determine the level of mental health literacy in the puerpera, to identify the sociodemographic, obstetric variables and the psychoemotional changes associated with the level of mental health literacy in the puerperium. Methods: Cross-sectional, quantitative, descriptive-correlational study with a non-probabilistic sample, intentional for the convenience of 208 puerperae, with a mean age of 32 years and standard deviation 4,79. The data collection instrument consisted of sociodemographic and obstetric questions, the evaluation scale of puerperal psychoemotional changes - EAAPP (Sousa & Leal, 2010) and knowledge scale for Good Mental Health - EBSM (Bjørnsen, Eilertsen, Ringdal, Espnes, & Moksnes, 2017). Results: With regard to knowledge for good mental health, the puerperas present with an equal percentage (35.1%), sufficient and weak knowledge. Already 29.8% have good knowledge. Positive mental health literacy in the puerperium is influenced: to the factor requirements or external experiences by obstetric variables, information provided by physicians and type of help; for the internal patrimony of the puerpera, socio-demographic variables, place of residence, literary qualifications and obstetric variables, accompanying childbirth, preparation course for childbirth / parenting, clarification of doubts about the puerperium, information provided by nurses, and person help; for the global factor, good mental health, socio-demographic variables employment status, internet at home and by obstetric variables pregnancy planning, birth attendant, childbirth / parenting course, clarification of doubts about the puerperium, information provided by the doctor and kind of help. The variables psychoemotional changes, namely, anxiety have marginal significance in the mental health literacy of the puerpera to the internal patrimony. Conclusions: There was a global level of problematic positive mental health literacy, which was associated with sociodemographic, obstetric and psychological variables. The improvement of this outcome in the puerperium is essential for a good transition to parenthood, allowing the development of skills and knowledge so that the puerpera has decision-making power and autonomy to make free and informed decisions. In this context, nurses should promote mental health literacy during pre-natal and prenatal consultations