Adsorption and incorporation of the zinc oxide nanoparticles in seeds of corn: germination performance and antimicrobial protection

The treatments of the seeds are important procedures applied by the agronomical area to improve the culture yield. From these procedures the micronutrients are available for the seeds before and during the germination stages. One high challenge is make efficient these treatment processes and to ensure the adsorption and the incorporation of these micronutrients in the seeds and to improve its performance in the germination phase. In this work studies explored the optimization of the incorporation process and the characteristics of the zinc oxide clusters adsorbed on the surface of the seed. The results were associated with the agronomic responses during the germinations stages of the seeds of corn. The seeds were treated in suspensions containing different concentrations of nanoparticles of zinc oxide and during different treatment times. The adsorptions in the corn surface and the absorption of the nanoparticles for the inner of the seeds were studied together with its antibacterial characteristics and correlated with the germinations indicators. The results showed that is possible to incorporate nanoparticles of zinc oxide in inner of the seeds of corn and improve the germinations indicators. Antibacterial protection was aggregated on the seeds of corn. It´s possible to incorporate 0.280 mg of zinc oxide nanoparticle per seed mass in inner of seeds with the optimal treatment conditions with nanoparticle concentration of 50 mg/L in the suspension and with treatment time of 180 minutes. With the optimal treatment concentration the normal plant percentage increase of 2.70% in relationship to the seeds not treated

Reduced mortality in COVID-19 patients treated with colchicine: Results from a retrospective, observational study

Objectives Effective treatments for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are urgently needed. We hypothesized that colchicine, by counteracting proinflammatory pathways implicated in the uncontrolled inflammatory response of COVID-19 patients, reduces pulmonary complications, and improves survival. Methods This retrospective study included 71 consecutive COVID-19 patients (hospitalized with pneumonia on CT scan or outpatients) who received colchicine and compared with 70 control patients who did not receive colchicine in two serial time periods at the same institution. We used inverse probability of treatment propensity-score weighting to examine differences in mortality, clinical improvement (using a 7-point ordinary scale), and inflammatory markers between the two groups. Results Amongst the 141 COVID-19 patients (118 [83.7%] hospitalized), 70 (50%) received colchicine. The 21-day crude cumulative mortality was 7.5% in the colchicine group and 28.5% in the control group (P = 0.006; adjusted hazard ratio: 0.24 [95%CI: 0.09 to 0.67]); 21-day clinical improvement occurred in 40.0% of the patients on colchicine and in 26.6% of control patients (adjusted relative improvement rate: 1.80 [95%CI: 1.00 to 3.22]). The strong association between the use of colchicine and reduced mortality was further supported by the diverging linear trends of percent daily change in lymphocyte count (P = 0.018), neutrophilto- lymphocyte ratio (P = 0.003), and in C-reactive protein levels (P = 0.009). Colchicine was stopped because of transient side effects (diarrhea or skin rashes) in 7% of patients. Conclusion In this retrospective cohort study colchicine was associated with reduced mortality and accelerated recovery in COVID-19 patients. This support the rationale for current larger randomized controlled trials testing the safety/efficacy profile of colchicine in COVID-19 patients. Copyright

Produção de biomassa, composição química e atributos químicos do solo do consórcio milho-leguminosas forrageiras na comunidade Boqueirão, Sobral-CE.

Objetivou-se avaliar a produção de biomassa, composição química e os atributos químicos do solo do consórcio milho-leguminosas forrageiras numa comunidade do município de Sobral, CE. Foram avaliados os consórcios milho-cunhã e milho-crotalária num delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com quatro repetições. As parcelas experimentais foram constituídas de seis fileiras, com 5 m de comprimento, espaçadas entre si de um metro entre milho. O plantio do milho foi realizado no dia 01 de março de 2019, enquanto que o plantio das leguminosas foi realizado no dia 14 de março de 2019. Foram observadas diferenças de teores de matéria seca entre os consórcios cunhã-milho e crotalária-milho. Observou-se que a produção do consórcio crotalária-milho foi superior em relação ao consórcio cunhã-milho, com média de 2806 kg ha-1 MS e produção superior em 45,8% em relação ao consórcio cunhã-milho. Não foram observadas diferenças de tores de proteína bruta (PB) entre os consórcios testados, com média de 12,7% de PB. Não foram observadas diferenças de tores de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e de ligninas (LIG) entre os consórcios testados, com médias de 43,7 e 6,7%, respectivamente. Para a fertilidade do solo, houve diferença para o emprego dos consórcios com as diferentes leguminosas para os atributos K, Cu e B. Observaram-se maiores concentrações de Cu e B no consórcio cunhã-milho, justificadas pela maior concentração desses micronutrientes na matéria seca da cunhã. O consórcio crotalária-milho apresenta maior produção e melhor qualidade do material em caso de uso para produção de volumoso no semiárido, enquanto que, para o uso como cobertura morta superficial no solo, ambos os consórcios podem ser utilizados como estratégias para ciclagem de nutrientes no solo. [Biomass production, chemical composition and soil chemical attributes of maize-legumes intercropping in boqueirão community, Sobral, CE]. Abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass production, chemical composition and soil chemical attributes of the forage maize-legume consortium in a community of Sobral, CE. The corn-cunha and corn-crotalaria intercropping were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with four replications. The experimental plots consisted of 6 rows, 5 m long, spaced 1.0 meter apart between maize. The maize was planted on March 1, 2019, while leguminous plants were planted on March 14, 2019, in the rows of maize crop through furrows. Differences in dry matter contents were observed between the maize-cunha and maize-crotalaria intercropping. It was observed that the production of the maize-crotalaria intercropping was higher than the maizecunha, with an average of 2806 kg ha-1 DM and 45.8% higher production compared to the maize-cunha. No differences in crude protein (CP) contents were observed between the treatments, with an average of 12.7% of CP. There were no differences in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and lignins (LIG) contents between the treatments, with means of 43.7 and 6.7%, respectively. For soil fertility there was difference for the use of intercropping with different legumes for attributes K, Cu and B. Higher concentrations of Cu and B were observed in the maize-cunha intercopping, justified by the higher concentration of these micronutrients in the dry matter of cunha. Maize-crotalaria intercropping presents higher yield and better quality of material in case of use for roughage production in the semiarid, while for use as soil mulch, both intercropping can be used as strategies for nutrient cycling in the soil.bitstream/item/208407/1/CNPC-2019-BPD-12.pd

Hemodialysis in children: general practical guidelines

Over the past 20 years children have benefited from major improvements in both technology and clinical management of dialysis. Morbidity during dialysis sessions has decreased with seizures being exceptional and hypotensive episodes rare. Pain and discomfort have been reduced with the use of chronic internal jugular venous catheters and anesthetic creams for fistula puncture. Non-invasive technologies to assess patient target dry weight and access flow can significantly reduce patient morbidity and health care costs. The development of urea kinetic modeling enables calculation of the dialysis dose delivery, Kt/V, and an indirect assessment of the intake. Nutritional assessment and support are of major importance for the growing child. Even if the validity of these “urea only” data is questioned, their analysis provides information useful for follow-up. Newer machines provide more precise control of ultrafiltration by volumetric assessment and continuous blood volume monitoring during dialysis sessions. Buffered bicarbonate solutions are now standard and more biocompatible synthetic membranes and specific small size material dialyzers and tubing have been developed for young infants. More recently, the concept of “ultrapure” dialysate, i.e. free from microbiological contamination and endotoxins, has developed. This will enable the use of hemodiafiltration, especially with the on-line option, which has many theoretical advantages and should be considered in the case of maximum/optimum dialysis need. Although the optimum dialysis dose requirement for children remains uncertain, reports of longer duration and/or daily dialysis show they are more effective for phosphate control than conventional hemodialysis and should be considered at least for some high-risk patients with cardiovascular impairment. In children hemodialysis has to be individualized and viewed as an “integrated therapy” considering their long-term exposure to chronic renal failure treatment. Dialysis is seen only as a temporary measure for children compared with renal transplantation because this enables the best chance of rehabilitation in terms of educational and psychosocial functioning. In long term chronic dialysis, however, the highest standards should be applied to these children to preserve their future “cardiovascular life” which might include more dialysis time and on-line hemodiafiltration with synthetic high flux membranes if we are able to improve on the rather restricted concept of small-solute urea dialysis clearance

Ubiquitous LEA29Y Expression Blocks T Cell Co-Stimulation but Permits Sexual Reproduction in Genetically Modified Pigs

We have successfully established and characterized a genetically modified pig line with ubiquitous expression of LEA29Y, a human CTLA4-Ig derivate. LEA29Y binds human B7.1/CD80 and B7.2/CD86 with high affinity and is thus a potent inhibitor of T cell co-stimulation via this pathway. We have characterized the expression pattern and the biological function of the transgene as well as its impact on the porcine immune system and have evaluated the potential of these transgenic pigs to propagate via assisted breeding methods. The analysis of LEA29Y expression in serum and multiple organs of CAG-LEA transgenic pigs revealed that these animals produce a biologically active transgenic product at a considerable level. They present with an immune system affected by transgene expression, but can be maintained until sexual maturity and propagated by assisted reproduction techniques. Based on previous experience with pancreatic islets expressing LEA29Y, tissues from CAG-LEA29Y transgenic pigs should be protected against rejection by human T cells. Furthermore, their immune-compromised phenotype makes CAG-LEA29Y transgenic pigs an interesting large animal model for testing human cell therapies and will provide an important tool for further clarifying the LEA29Y mode of action

Reimbursement and economic factors influencing dialysis modality choice around the world

The worldwide incidence of kidney failure is on the rise and treatment is costly; thus, the global burden of illness is growing. Kidney failure patients require either a kidney transplant or dialysis to maintain life. This review focuses on the economics of dialysis. Alternative dialysis modalities are haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Important economic factors influencing dialysis modality selection include financing, reimbursement and resource availability. In general, where there is little or no facility or physician reimbursement or payment for PD, the share of PD is very low. Regarding resource availability, when centre HD capacity is high, there is an incentive to use that capacity rather than place patients on home dialysis. In certain countries, there is interest in revising the reimbursement structure to favour home-based therapies, including PD and home HD. Modality selection is influenced by employment status, with an association between being employed and PD as the modality choice. Cost drivers differ for PD and HD. PD is driven mainly by variable costs such as solutions and tubing, while HD is driven mainly by fixed costs of facility space and staff. Many cost comparisons of dialysis modalities have been conducted. A key factor to consider in reviewing cost comparisons is the perspective of the analysis because different costs are relevant for different perspectives. In developed countries, HD is generally more expensive than PD to the payer. Additional research is needed in the developing world before conclusive statements may be made regarding the relative costs of HD and PD