Cell-derived microvesicles in infective endocarditis: Role in diagnosis and potential for risk stratification at hospital admission

Objectives: To characterize the plasmatic profile of cell-derived microvesicles (MVs) at diagnosis and during the treatment of patients with infective endocarditis (IE). Methods: Blood samples from 57 patients with IE were obtained on 3 consecutive moments: upon admission (T0), at 2 weeks (T1), and at the end of treatment (T2), and were compared with 22 patients with other bacterial infections. MPs were measured by flow cytometry and labeled for specific cell markers of CD45 (leukocytes), CD66b (neutrophils), CD14 (monocytes), CD41a (platelets), CD51 (endothelial cells), CD3 (T lymphocyte) and CD235a (erythrocytes). Results: MVs from platelets (pltMVs), leukocytes (leukMVs), neutrophils (neutMVs), monocytes (monoMVs) and lymphocytes (lymphMVs) were significantly more elevated in the patients with IE, compared to the patients with other bacterial infections, despite comparable age, sex, blood counts and C-reactive protein levels. MVs values revealed a relatively stable pattern over time in IE, except for a significant increase in leukMVs and neutMVs in T1. LeukMVs (p = 0.011), neutMVs (p = 0.010), monoMVs (p = 0.016) and lymphMVs (p = 0.020), measured at admission, were significantly higher in IE patients that died during hospitalization in comparison with those that survived. In a multivariable analyses, the levels of neutMVs remained as an independent factor associated with mortality (odds ratio 2.203; 95% confidence interval 1.217 - 3.988; p = 0.009), adjustment for heart failure during the treatment. Conclusions: Plasma levels of pltMVs, leukMVs, neutMVs, monoMVs and lymphMVs were significantly more elevated in patients with IE than in patients with other bacterial infections at hospital admission. Furthermore, neutMVs at admission have been identified as an independent predictor of mortality in patients with IE. Thus, cell derived MPs may become an important tool in the differential diagnosis and mortality risk assessment early in the course of IE suspected cases

Revisão sobre produção e tecnologia de sementes de espécies medicinais

Trabalhos relacionados com a qualidade de sementes de plantas medicinais ainda são incipientes, uma vez que a maioria era considerada planta daninha. Estudos básicos do desenvolvimento das culturas medicinais ainda são necessários, principalmente na área de recurso genético, devido a sua rica diversidade vegetal. Segundo autores de diversos trabalhos, apenas 5% das plantas medicinais foram, de alguma forma, objetos de pesquisa. O objetivo do trabalho foi conduzir um levantamento bibliográfico onde se reuniu o maior número de informações sobre assuntos ligados ao processo de produção e tecnologia de sementes. Os tópicos abordados foram germinação, dormência, secagem, beneficiamento, armazenamento, e patologia de sementes. As metodologias para análise de sementes de muitas espécies medicinais estão definidas pelas Regras para Análise de Sementes (RAS), o que é comprovado pela maioria dos autores. ABSTRACT: Revision about seed production and technology of medicinal species. Papers connected with medicinal seeds quality are very rare because the most of species were consider harmful plants. Basic studies of medicinal species development are still necessary, mostly for genetics resources due to its rich vegetal diversity. According to many authors, only 5% of medicinal plants were motives to researches. The object of the revision was guide a bibliography study with the most number of useful information to people related with medicinal seeds production and technology. The topics studied were germination, dormancy, drying, improvement, storage, and seeds pathology. The methodologies to analyze many of medicinal plants seeds are defined for Regras para Análise de Sementes (RAS), what is proved by some authors of the revision.Publishe

Tempo de armazenamento e temperatura na porcentagem e velocidade de germinação das sementes de camomila Packing time and temperature on the percentage and germination speed of chamomile seeds

A camomila é uma planta herbácea e anual. Suas flores são usadas na medicina popular como droga vegetal e também como aromatizante. Realizaram-se dois experimentos com o objetivo de avaliar o tempo de armazenamento e a temperatura na porcentagem e velocidade de germinação das sementes de camomila. O primeiro experimento utilizou sementes de camomilas produzidas no Horto Medicinal da Universidade Estadual de Londrina, PR. Elas foram beneficiadas, acondicionadas em sacos de papel e armazenadas em câmara fria por um, dois, três e quatro anos. O teste de germinação foi realizado em temperatura alternada 15-25&deg;C e fotoperíodo de 8 horas. Avaliou-se a porcentagem e o índice de velocidade de germinação (IVG), em oito repetições de 100 sementes cada uma. As sementes de camomila utilizadas no segundo experimento foram comerciais. Os tratamentos foram: temperaturas constantes de 10&deg;C e 15&deg;C e temperaturas alternadas de 10-15&deg;C e 10-20&deg;C, com fotoperíodo de 12 horas. As avaliações foram realizadas no sétimo e no décimo quarto dia após a semeadura (DAS). O potencial de germinação e o índice de velocidade de germinação das sementes foram mantidos nos dois primeiros anos de armazenamento. A germinação das sementes foi reduzida para 3,3% com a temperatura de 10oC ao sétimo DAS. As temperaturas constantes de 10oC e 15oC e alternadas de 10-15&deg;C e 10-20&deg;C proporcionaram germinação das sementes superior a 80% ao final do décimo quarto DAS.<br>Chamomile is an annual herbaceous species. Its flowers are used in popular medicine and as a vegetable flavour. It propagates for seeds. The objective of these trials was to evaluate the ideal temperature, packing time on the percentage and germination speed of chamomile. The first trial used seeds from a medicinal vegetable garden from Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Paraná, Brazil. They were treated, packed in paper bags and kept in refrigerate chamber during one, two, three and four years. In germination test it was used 25&deg;C with 10 hours of light and 14 hours of dark. It was evaluated the percentage and germination speed index (GSI) in 8 replicates with 100 seeds each one. The seeds used in the second trial were commercial ones. The tested treatments were: constant temperatures of 10&deg;C and 15&deg;C with 12 hours of photoperiod, and alternated temperatures of 10&deg;C/15&deg;C and 10&deg;C/20&deg;C with 10 hours of photoperiod. The evaluations were made at 7th and 14th days after seeding. The seeds packed until 2 years showed greatest percentage and germination speed index. The temperature of 10&deg;C reduced the germination for 3.3% at 7 DAS. The constant temperature of 10&deg;C and 15&deg;C, and alternated in 10&deg;C/15&deg;C and 10&deg;C/20&deg;C provided germination of the seeds superior to 80% in the end of 14th day