Prioritizing quantitative trait loci for root system architecture in tetraploid wheat

Optimization of root system architecture (RSA) traits is an important objective for modern wheat breeding. Linkage and association mapping for RSA in two recombinant inbred line populations and one association mapping panel of 183 elite durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. var. durum Desf.) accessions evaluated as seedlings grown on filter paper/polycarbonate screening plates revealed 20 clusters of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for root length and number, as well as 30 QTLs for root growth angle (RGA). Divergent RGA phenotypes observed by seminal root screening were validated by root phenotyping of field-grown adult plants. QTLs were mapped on a high-density tetraploid consensus map based on transcript-Associated Illumina 90K single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) developed for bread and durum wheat, thus allowing for an accurate cross-referencing of RSA QTLs between durum and bread wheat. Among the main QTL clusters for root length and number highlighted in this study, 15 overlapped with QTLs for multiple RSA traits reported in bread wheat, while out of 30 QTLs for RGA, only six showed co-location with previously reported QTLs in wheat. Based on their relative additive effects/significance, allelic distribution in the association mapping panel, and co-location with QTLs for grain weight and grain yield, the RSA QTLs have been prioritized in terms of breeding value. Three major QTL clusters for root length and number (RSA-QTL-cluster-5#, RSA-QTL-cluster-6#, and RSA-QTL-cluster-12#) and nine RGA QTL clusters (QRGA.ubo-2A.1, QRGA.ubo-2A.3, QRGA.ubo-2B.2/2B.3, QRGA.ubo-4B.4, QRGA.ubo-6A.1, QRGA.ubo-6A.2, QRGA.ubo-7A.1, QRGA.ubo-7A.2, and QRGA.ubo-7B) appear particularly valuable for further characterization towards a possible implementation of breeding applications in marker-Assisted selection and/or cloning of the causal genes underlying the QTLs

A non-invasive approach to monitor chronic lymphocytic leukemia engraftment in a xenograft mouse model using ultra-small superparamagnetic iron oxide-magnetic resonance imaging (USPIO-MRI).

This work was supported by: Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro (AIRC) [Grant 5 x mille n.9980, (to M.F., F.M. and A. N.)]; AIRC I.G. [n. 14,326 (to M.F.)], [n.10136 and 16,722 (A.N.)], [n.15426 (to F.F.)]. AIRC and Fondazione CaRiCal co-financed Multi Unit Regional Grant 2014 [n.16695 (to F.M.)]. Italian Ministry of Health 5 × 1000 funds (to F.F). A.G R. was supported by Associazione Italiana contro le Leucemie-Linfomi-Mielomi (AIL) Cosenza - Fondazione Amelia Scorza (FAS). S.M. C.M., F.V., L. E., S. B., were supported by AIRC.Peer reviewedPostprin

Qualidade do sono e percepção da qualidade de vida de estudantes de graduação em enfermagem

During graduation, students face several situations that, although promoting personal growth, can compromise well-being, sleep, health and quality of life. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between individual characteristics, sleep quality and the perception of quality of life of undergraduate nursing students. This is a cross-sectional study with a quantitative, analytical and comparative approach, carried out with 187 nursing students at a private institution in the city of Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The data collection instruments were an individual characterization questionnaire, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and the WHOQOL-Bref instrument for quality of life analysis. There was a predominance of women, adults, young, without children, who worked, and who did not practice physical activity. Work, cost of study and female gender were associated with shorter sleep duration and worse quality of life. The worst perception in the physical domain of quality of life was related to the worst quality of sleep. Bad sleep quality was obtained for all years of the course, sleep duration of less than 7 hours a day and complaints of daytime sleepiness. Therefore, sleep alterations with impairments in quality of life were observed. Educational strategies are suggested for sleep hygiene and stimulation of health-promoting behaviors to improve general health, academic health and quality of life in this population.Durante la graduación, los estudiantes enfrentan varias situaciones que, sin embargo promueven el crecimiento personal, pueden comprometer el bienestar, el sueño, la salud y la calidad de vida. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo analizar la relación entre las características individuales, la calidad del sueño y la percepción de la calidad de vida de los estudiantes de graduación en enfermería. Se trata de un estudio transversal con enfoque cuantitativo, analítico y comparativo, realizado con 187 estudiantes de enfermería de una institución privada de la ciudad de Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Los instrumentos de recolección de datos fueron un cuestionario de caracterización individual, el Índice de Calidad del Sueño de Pittsburgh y el instrumento de calidad de vida WHOQOL-Bref. Hubo predominio de mujeres, adultas, jóvenes, sin hijos, que trabajaban y que no practicaban actividad física. El trabajo, el costo de los estudios y el género femenino se asociaron con menor duración del sueño y peor calidad de vida. La peor percepción en el dominio físico de la calidad de vida se relacionó con la peor calidad del sueño. Se obtuvo mala calidad del sueño para todos los años del curso, duración del sueño inferior a 7 horas diarias y quejas de somnolencia diurna. Por lo tanto, se observaron alteraciones del sueño con deterioro de la calidad de vida. Se sugieren estrategias educativas para la higiene del sueño y la estimulación de conductas promotoras de salud para mejorar la salud académica y general, y la calidad de vida de esta población.Durante a graduação, os estudantes enfrentam diversas situações que, embora, promovam o crescimento pessoal, podem comprometer o bem-estar, o sono, a saúde e a qualidade de vida. Este estudo objetivou analisar a relação entre as características individuais, a qualidade do sono e a percepção da qualidade de vida de estudantes de graduação em enfermagem. Trata-se de um estudo transversal de abordagem quantitativa, analítica e comparativa, desenvolvido com 187 graduandos de enfermagem numa instituição particular, na cidade de Poços de Caldas, Minas Gerais, Brasil. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados foram um questionário de caracterização individual, o Índice de Qualidade do Sono de Pittsburgh e o instrumento para análise de qualidade de vida WHOQOL-Bref. Houve predomínio de mulheres, adultas, jovens, sem filhos, que trabalhavam, e que não praticavam atividade física. Trabalho, custeio dos estudos e gênero feminino associaram-se à menor duração do sono e pior qualidade de vida. A pior percepção no domínio físico da qualidade de vida esteve relacionada à pior qualidade do sono. Obteve-se qualidade de sono ruim para todos os anos do curso, duração do sono inferior a 7h por dia e queixas de sonolência diurna. Constatou-se, portanto, alterações do sono com prejuízos na qualidade de vida. Sugere-se estratégias educativas para a higiene do sono e estímulo de comportamentos promotores de saúde para melhorias na saúde geral, acadêmica e de qualidade de vida nesta população

ALTERNATIVAS SAUDÁVEIS NA MELHOR IDADE

Este projeto teve como objetivo proporcionar alternativas saudáveis para a melhor idade   através de uma atenção integrada a saúde da pessoa idosa. O projeto foi realizado em três etapas. Na primeira etapa, os bolsistas juntamente com a coordenadora do Curso de Enfermagem- Unoesc Xanxerê – SC, foram até o Lar do Idoso para conversar com a diretora da instituição onde foi feita a entrega do convite com o intuito de proposta de adesão ao projeto. Na segunda etapa realizou-se o jogo das sombras, com os idosos utilizando desenhos coloridos de alimentos como frutas, legumes e doces, cada idoso escolheu o alimento que se encaixava na sombra do mesmo. E a última etapa foi artesanal confeccionando-se um boneco com alimentos saudáveis, onde os participantes demostraram suas habilidades artísticas e capacidades cognitivas pintando e colando as figuras dos alimentos formando um brinquedo colorido e atrativo. Obtemos resultados satisfatórios, pois cada idoso desenvolveu a atividade, apesar de suas limitações, demonstrando o entendimento da atividade e buscando inserir no seu dia a dia as alternativas saudáveis propostas na alimentação para a melhoria da qualidade de vida. Palavras- chave: Alimentação. Idoso. Qualidade de vida

Preliminary study of water origin in the Uspallata valley and its contribution to the Mendoza river with isotopic and hydrochemical techniques: Mendoza, Argentina

El Valle de Uspallata está situado en la Provincia de Mendoza (Argentina), a unos 1900 m snm. Con dirección norte-sur y unos 20 km de longitud, constituye un valle intermontano localizado entre la Precordillera y la Cordillera Frontal. En su extremo sur descarga al río Mendoza, principal recurso hídrico que abastece al oasis socio-productivo de mayor importancia de la provincia de Mendoza. Desde hace dos décadas se observa un crecimiento urbano significativo en la zona sur del valle, con desarrollos de actividades agrícolas, turísticas y emprendimientos inmobiliarios, sin planes de ordenamiento adecuados tendentes a preservar la calidad del recurso hídrico. En este contexto, el objetivo del trabajo es establecer un modelo conceptual sobre la procedencia del agua del acuífero a lo largo del valle y sobre la magnitud del aporte de esta cuenca al río Mendoza. El propósito último es generar información de base que contribuya a la toma de decisión de los organismos de gestión en referencia a la adecuada gestión del recurso agua y el ordenamiento territorial. Para conocer las características y la procedencia del agua del acuífero del valle se han aplicado técnicas isotópicas e hidroquímicas. Además de recopilar datos de los pocos estudios anteriores existentes, se realizaron dos campañas de monitoreo en las cuales se midieron parámetros físico-químicos e isótopos estables en 39 sitios, comprendiendo pozos, manantiales, arroyos y el río Mendoza. Los balances isotópicos preliminares indican que alrededor del 70% del agua subterránea del valle procede de Cordillera Frontal. Además, la interpretación integrada de datos nuevos e información geológica y geoeléctrica previa permitió establecer un modelo conceptual preliminar que diferencia tres sectores respecto a la procedencia del agua en la Cordillera Frontal. El trabajo forma parte del proyecto internacional ARG/7/008 “Uso de Técnicas isotópicas para la mejora de la gestión del recurso hídrico subterráneo”, financiado por el Organismo Internacional de Energía Atómica.The Uspallata Valley is located in Mendoza Province (Argentina), at an average altitude of 1,900 m asl. With a north-south direction and a length of around 20 km, it is an intermountain valley placed between the Pre-cordi-llera (to the east) and the Frontal Cordillera (to the west).The valley discharges to the Mendoza River, the main Andean course that irrigates the largest socio-productive oasis in Mendoza Province. For the last 20 years there has been a significant increase in urban growth and a disordered development of agricultural, touristic, and real estate activities in the southern part of the valley. The objective of this study is to use isotopic and hydrochemical techniques to develop a geohydrological conceptual model, in order to contribute to decision making processes of the provincial management that deals with water and land-use planning. Hydrochemical and isotopic techniques have been used to understand groundwater characteristics and provenance along the valley. Beyond compiling the scarce previous existing data, two monitoring surveys were carried out where physical-chemical parameters and stable isotopes were measured in 39 sites (wells, springs, creeks, and the Mendoza River). The preliminary isotopic balances performed suggest that around 70% of the groundwater comes from the Cordillera Frontal. Moreover, the integrated analysis of new data and existing geological and geoelectric information has allowed the development of a preliminary conceptual model identifying three zones relating to the origin of the water along the Frontal Cordillera. The study is part of the project “Use of isotopic techniques for improving the management of groundwater resources” ARG/7/008, which is funded by the International Atomic Energy.Fil: Ibañez, Sandra Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Lana, Nerina Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Manzano, Marisol. Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; EspañaFil: Rovira, Susana Teresa. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ingeniería; ArgentinaFil: Montero, Enrique. Provincia de Mendoza. Departamento General de Irrigación; ArgentinaFil: Salvi, Natalia. Ministerio del Interior, Obras Públicas y Vivienda. Secretaría de Obras Públicas. Subsecretaría de Recursos Hídricos. Instituto Nacional del Agua y del Ambiente (Ezeiza); ArgentinaFil: Segal, Héctor. Provincia de Mendoza. Departamento General de Irrigación; ArgentinaFil: Tognoli, Pabla Natalia. Provincia de Mendoza. Departamento General de Irrigación; ArgentinaFil: Grizas, Pablo. Provincia de Mendoza. Departamento General de Irrigación; ArgentinaFil: Salvioli, Leandro. Ministerio del Interior, Obras Públicas y Vivienda. Secretaría de Obras Públicas. Subsecretaría de Recursos Hídricos. Instituto Nacional del Agua y del Ambiente (Ezeiza); ArgentinaFil: Márquez, Diego. Ministerio del Interior, Obras Públicas y Vivienda. Secretaría de Obras Públicas. Subsecretaría de Recursos Hídricos. Instituto Nacional del Agua y del Ambiente (Ezeiza); ArgentinaFil: Pina, Juan. Provincia de Mendoza. Departamento General de Irrigación; ArgentinaFil: Cicerone, Daniel. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; Argentin

Alloxan-Induced Diabetes Triggers the Development of Periodontal Disease in Rats

BACKGROUND: Periodontal disease in diabetic patients presents higher severity and prevalence; and increased severity of ligature-induced periodontal disease has been verified in diabetic rats. However, in absence of aggressive stimuli such as ligatures, the influence of diabetes on rat periodontal tissues is incompletely explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the establishment and progression of periodontal diseases in rats only with diabetes induction. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Diabetes was induced in Wistar rats (n = 25) by intravenous administration of alloxan (42 mg/kg) and were analyzed at 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after diabetes induction. The hemimandibles were removed and submitted to radiographical and histopathological procedures. A significant reduction was observed in height of bone crest in diabetic animals at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months, which was associated with increased numbers of osteoclasts and inflammatory cells. The histopathological analyses of diabetic rats also showed a reduction in density of collagen fibers, fibroblasts and blood vessels. Severe caries were also detected in the diabetic group. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The results demonstrate that diabetes induction triggers, or even co-induces the onset of alterations which are typical of periodontal diseases even in the absence of aggressive factors such as ligatures. Therefore, diabetes induction renders a previously resistant host into a susceptible phenotype, and hence diabetes can be considered a very important risk factor to the development of periodontal disease

Genetic risk and a primary role for cell-mediated immune mechanisms in multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis is a common disease of the central nervous system in which the interplay between inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes typically results in intermittent neurological disturbance followed by progressive accumulation of disability. Epidemiological studies have shown that genetic factors are primarily responsible for the substantially increased frequency of the disease seen in the relatives of affected individuals, and systematic attempts to identify linkage in multiplex families have confirmed that variation within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) exerts the greatest individual effect on risk. Modestly powered genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have enabled more than 20 additional risk loci to be identified and have shown that multiple variants exerting modest individual effects have a key role in disease susceptibility. Most of the genetic architecture underlying susceptibility to the disease remains to be defined and is anticipated to require the analysis of sample sizes that are beyond the numbers currently available to individual research groups. In a collaborative GWAS involving 9,772 cases of European descent collected by 23 research groups working in 15 different countries, we have replicated almost all of the previously suggested associations and identified at least a further 29 novel susceptibility loci. Within the MHC we have refined the identity of the HLA-DRB1 risk alleles and confirmed that variation in the HLA-A gene underlies the independent protective effect attributable to the class I region. Immunologically relevant genes are significantly overrepresented among those mapping close to the identified loci and particularly implicate T-helper-cell differentiation in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis

The HFE p.H63D (p.His63Asp) Polymorphism Is a Modifier of ALS Outcome in Italian and French Patients with SOD1 Mutations

Background: Data from published studies about the effect of HFE polymorphisms on ALS risk, phenotype, and survival are still inconclusive. We aimed at evaluating whether the p.H63D polymorphism is a modifier of phenotype and survival in SOD1-mutated patients. Methods: We included 183 SOD1-mutated ALS patients. Mutations were classified as severe or mild according to the median survival of the study population. Patients were screened for the HFE p.H63D polymorphism. Survival was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier modeling, and differences were measured by the log-rank test. Multivariable analysis was performed with the Cox proportional hazards model (stepwise backward). Results: SOD1 severe mutation carriers show more frequent familial history for ALS and shorter survival compared to mild mutation carriers. Carriers and non-carriers of the p.H63D polymorphism did not differ in terms of sex ratio, frequency of positive familial history, age at onset, and bulbar/spinal ratio. In univariate and in Cox multivariable analysis using sex, age at onset, site of onset, family history, country of origin, and mutation severity as covariates, p.H63D carriers had a longer survival (p = 0.034 and p = 0.004). Conclusions: We found that SOD1-mutated ALS patients carrying the p.H63D HFE polymorphism have a longer survival compared to non-carriers, independently of sex, age and site of onset, family history, nation of origin, and severity of mutations, suggesting a possible role as disease progression modifier for the p.H63D HFE polymorphism in SOD1-ALS

Erratum to: Analysis of in vitro ADCC and clinical response to trastuzumab: possible relevance of Fc\u3b3RIIIA/Fc\u3b3RIIA gene polymorphisms and HER-2 expression levels on breast cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND: Trastuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAb) currently used for the treatment of breast cancer (BC) patients with HER-2 overexpressing tumor subtype. Previous data reported the involvement of FcγRIIIA/IIA gene polymorphisms and/or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) in the therapeutic efficacy of trastuzumab, although results on these issues are still controversial. This study was aimed to evaluate in vitro the functional relationships among FcγRIIIA/IIA polymorphisms, ADCC intensity and HER-2 expression on tumor target cells and to correlate them with response to trastuzumab. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients with HER-2 overexpressing BC, receiving trastuzumab in a neoadjuvant (NEO) or metastatic (MTS) setting, were genotyped for the FcγRIIIA 158V>F and FcγRIIA 131H>R polymorphisms by a newly developed pyrosequencing assay and by multiplex Tetra-primer-ARMS PCR, respectively. Trastuzumab-mediated ADCC of patients’ peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was evaluated prior to therapy and measured by (51)Chromium release using as targets three human BC cell lines showing different levels of reactivity with trastuzumab. RESULTS: We found that the FcγRIIIA 158F and/or the FcγRIIA 131R variants, commonly reported as unfavorable in BC, may actually behave as ADCC favorable genotypes, in both the NEO (P ranging from 0.009 to 0.039 and from 0.007 to 0.047, respectively) and MTS (P ranging from 0.009 to 0.032 and P = 0.034, respectively) patients. The ADCC intensity was affected by different levels of trastuzumab reactivity with BC target cells. In this context, the MCF-7 cell line, showing the lowest reactivity with trastuzumab, resulted the most suitable cell line for evaluating ADCC and response to trastuzumab. Indeed, we found a statistically significant correlation between an increased frequency of patients showing ADCC of MCF-7 and complete response to trastuzumab in the NEO setting (P = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Although this study was performed in a limited number of patients, it would indicate a correlation of FcγR gene polymorphisms to the ADCC extent in combination with the HER-2 expression levels on tumor target cells in BC patients. However, to confirm our findings further experimental evidences obtained from a larger cohort of BC patients are mandatory. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-015-0680-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Elite Suppressor–Derived HIV-1 Envelope Glycoproteins Exhibit Reduced Entry Efficiency and Kinetics

Elite suppressors (ES) are a rare subset of HIV-1–infected individuals who are able to maintain HIV-1 viral loads below the limit of detection by ultra-sensitive clinical assays in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. Mechanism(s) responsible for this elite control are poorly understood but likely involve both host and viral factors. This study assesses ES plasma-derived envelope glycoprotein (env) fitness as a function of entry efficiency as a possible contributor to viral suppression. Fitness of virus entry was first evaluated using a novel inducible cell line with controlled surface expression levels of CD4 (receptor) and CCR5 (co-receptor). In the context of physiologic CCR5 and CD4 surface densities, ES envs exhibited significantly decreased entry efficiency relative to chronically infected viremic progressors. ES envs also demonstrated slow entry kinetics indicating the presence of virus with reduced entry fitness. Overall, ES env clones were less efficient at mediating entry than chronic progressor envs. Interestingly, acute infection envs exhibited an intermediate phenotypic pattern not distinctly different from ES or chronic progressor envs. These results imply that lower env fitness may be established early and may directly contribute to viral suppression in ES individuals