Hepatitis C virus micro-elimination in vulnerable populations before and during a global pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: to analyze a hepatitis C virus (HCV) microelimination strategy targeting vulnerable populations and the influence of the pandemic on its maintenance and outcomes. METHODS: in 2018, the Hepatology Unit implemented an HCV microelimination strategy for patients attending drug addiction care centers and Psychiatry Units such as the Alcoholism Treatment Unit. These centers reported suspected or confirmed cases of HCV infection directly to the hepatologists, who, after reviewing the clinical records, cite those patients if necessary. RESULTS: from June 2018 to February 2020, hepatologists were consulted on 37 anti-HCV positive patients, 31 of them were from Drug Addiction Care Centers, 5 from the Alcoholism Disorders Unit and 1 from the Department of Psychiatry. Fibrosis stage: F0-F1, 18 (50%); F2, 9 (25%); F3, 2 (4.2%); F4, 8 (20.8%). Female sex, 6 (16.7%). Required attending: Yes, 27 (73%). 25 (92.6%) went. Outpatient consultation: 10 (27%). Required treatment: 19 (51.3%). Sustained virological response: 19 (100%). Fibrosis stage of treated patients: F0-F1, 13 (68%); F2, 2 (11%); F3, 1 (5%); F4, 3 (16%). Patients from the Psychiatry Department during 2021: 11. 9 (82%) do not need to attend; 2 (18%): their situation is unknown. CONCLUSIONS: sustained communication with centers that care for populations at risk of active HCV infection is needed to detect cases, increase adherence to treatment, and rescue patients who require screening for hepatocarcinoma.

Eleven biosynthetic genes explain the majority of natural variation in carotenoid levels in maize grain.

Vitamin A deficiency remains prevalent in parts of Asia, Latin America, and sub-Saharan Africa where maize (Zea mays) is a food staple. Extensive natural variation exists for carotenoids in maize grain. Here, to understand its genetic basis, we conducted a joint linkage and genome-wide association study of the US maize nested association mapping panel. Eleven of the 44 detected quantitative trait loci (QTL) were resolved to individual genes. Six of these were correlated expression and effect QTL (ceeQTL), showing strong correlations between RNA-seq expression abundances and QTL allelic effect estimates across six stages of grain development. These six ceeQTL also had the largest percentage of phenotypic variance explained, and in major part comprised the three to five loci capturing the bulk of genetic variation for each trait. Most of these ceeQTL had strongly correlated QTL allelic effect estimates across multiple traits. These findings provide an in-depth genome-level understanding of the genetic and molecular control of carotenoids in plants. In addition, these findings provide a roadmap to accelerate breeding for provitamin A and other priority carotenoid traits in maize grain that should be readily extendable to other cereals.

Genome-Wide Association Study and Pathway-Level Analysis of Kernel Color in Maize.

Rapid development and adoption of biofortified, provitamin A-dense orange maize (Zea mays L.) varieties could be facilitated by a greater understanding of the natural variation underlying kernel color, including as it relates to carotenoid biosynthesis and retention in maize grain. Greater abundance of carotenoids in maize kernels is generally accompanied by deeper orange color, useful for distinguishing provitamin A-dense varieties to consumers. While kernel color can be scored and selected with high-throughput, low-cost phenotypic methods within breeding selection programs, it remains to be well established as to what would be the logical genetic loci to target for selection for kernel color. We conducted a genome-wide association study of maize kernel color, as determined by colorimetry, in 1,651 yellow and orange inbreds from the Ames maize inbred panel. Associations were found with y1, encoding the first committed step in carotenoid biosynthesis, and with dxs2, which encodes the enzyme responsible for the first committed step in the biosynthesis of the isoprenoid precursors of carotenoids. These genes logically could contribute to overall carotenoid abundance and thus kernel color. The lcyE and zep1 genes, which can affect carotenoid composition, were also found to be associated with colorimeter values. A pathway-level analysis, focused on genes with a priori evidence of involvement in carotenoid biosynthesis and retention, revealed associations for dxs3 and dmes1, involved in isoprenoid biosynthesis; ps1 and vp5, within the core carotenoid pathway; and vp14, involved in cleavage of carotenoids. Collectively, these identified genes appear relevant to the accumulation of kernel color.

Novel Loci Underlie Natural Variation in Vitamin E Levels in Maize Grain.

Tocopherols, tocotrienols, and plastochromanols (collectively termed tocochromanols) are lipid-soluble antioxidants synthesized by all plants. Their dietary intake, primarily from seed oils, provides vitamin E and other health benefits. Tocochromanol biosynthesis has been dissected in the dicot Arabidopsis thaliana, which has green, photosynthetic seeds, but our understanding of tocochromanol accumulation in major crops, whose seeds are nonphotosynthetic, remains limited. To understand the genetic control of tocochromanols in grain, we conducted a joint linkage and genome-wide association study in the 5000-line U.S. maize (Zea mays) nested association mapping panel. Fifty-two quantitative trait loci for individual and total tocochromanols were identified, and of the 14 resolved to individual genes, six encode novel activities affecting tocochromanols in plants. These include two chlorophyll biosynthetic enzymes that explain the majority of tocopherol variation, which was not predicted given that, like most major cereal crops, maize grain is nonphotosynthetic. This comprehensive assessment of natural variation in vitamin E levels in maize establishes the foundation for improving tocochromanol and vitamin E content in seeds of maize and other major cereal crops.

Determining the order of resistance genes against Stagonospora nodorum blotch, Fusarium head blight and stem rust on wheat chromosome arm 3BS.

BACKGROUND: Stagonospora nodorum blotch (SNB), Fusarium head blight (FHB) and stem rust (SR), caused by the fungi Parastagonospora (synonym Stagonospora) nodorum, Fusarium graminearum and Puccinia graminis, respectively, significantly reduce yield and quality of wheat. Three resistance factors, QSng.sfr-3BS, Fhb1 and Sr2, conferring resistance, respectively, to SNB, FHB and SR, each from a unique donor line, were mapped previously to the short arm of wheat chromosome 3B. Based on published reports, our hypothesis was that Sr2 is the most distal, Fhb1 the most proximal and QSng.sfr-3BS is in between Sr2 and Fhb1 on wheat chromosome arm 3BS. RESULTS: To test this hypothesis, 1600 F2 plants from crosses between parental lines Arina, Alsen and Ocoroni86, conferring resistance genes QSng.sfr-3BS, Fhb1 and Sr2, respectively, were genotyped and phenotyped for SNB along with the parental lines. Five closely linked single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were used to make the genetic map and determine the gene order. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that QSng.sfr-3BS is located between the other two resistance genes on chromosome 3BS. Knowing the positional order of these resistance genes will aid in developing a wheat line with all three genes in coupling, which has the potential to provide broad-spectrum resistance preventing grain yield and quality losses.

A foundation for provitamin A biofortification of maize: genome-wide association and genomic prediction models of carotenoid levels.

Efforts are underway for development of crops with improved levels of provitamin A carotenoids to help combat dietary vitamin A deficiency. As a global staple crop with considerable variation in kernel carotenoid composition, maize (Zea mays L.) could have a widespread impact. We performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of quantified seed carotenoids across a panel of maize inbreds ranging from light yellow to dark orange in grain color to identify some of the key genes controlling maize grain carotenoid composition. Significant associations at the genome-wide level were detected within the coding regions of zep1 and lut1, carotenoid biosynthetic genes not previously shown to impact grain carotenoid composition in association studies, as well as within previously associated lcyE and crtRB1 genes. We leveraged existing biochemical and genomic information to identify 58 a priori candidate genes relevant to the biosynthesis and retention of carotenoids in maize to test in a pathway-level analysis. This revealed dxs2 and lut5, genes not previously associated with kernel carotenoids. In genomic prediction models, use of markers that targeted a small set of quantitative trait loci associated with carotenoid levels in prior linkage studies were as effective as genome-wide markers for predicting carotenoid traits. Based on GWAS, pathway-level analysis, and genomic prediction studies, we outline a flexible strategy involving use of a small number of genes that can be selected for rapid conversion of elite white grain germplasm, with minimal amounts of carotenoids, to orange grain versions containing high levels of provitamin A.

[Validation: reliable instruments needed. Attitude scale and an opinion poll]. / Validación: se necesitan instrumentos fiables.

The use of the scientific method in research and investigation in nursing requires avoiding subjectivity at all times. Professionals obtain data by means of instruments which must be operative, valid and reliable. The authors develop and verify two instruments: a nine question opinion poll which uses tests and retests, having a 93-40% concordance proportion. A Likert type attitude scale, applying the "t" in Student to 59 initial propositions, obtaining a definitive scale having 7 positive items and 7 negative ones which gave a 95% confidence level of statistical meaning for a bilateral test and which had 22 degrees of liberty. This study took place using a pilot group of 43 nurses, it was a practical shop exercise on research in nursing occurred in the Hospital, organized by the Nursing Administration and taught by the group coordinator.

Targeted mapping of ESTs linked to the adult plant resistance gene Lr46 in wheat using synteny with rice.

The gene Lr46 has provided slow-rusting resistance to leaf rust caused by Puccinia triticina in wheat (Triticum aestivum), which has remained durable for almost 30 years. Using linked markers and wheat deletion stocks, we located Lr46 in the deletion bin 1BL (0.84-0.89) comprising 5% of the 1BL arm. The distal part of chromosome 1BL of wheat is syntenic to chromosome 5L of rice. Wheat expressed sequence tags (ESTs) mapping in the terminal 15% of chromosome 1BL with significant homology to sequences from the terminal region of chromosome 5L of rice were chosen for sequence-tagged site (STS) primer design and were mapped physically and genetically. In addition, sequences from two rice bacterial artificial chromosome clones covering the targeted syntenic region were used to identify additional linked wheat ESTs. Fourteen new markers potentially linked to Lr46 were developed; eight were mapped in a segregating population. Markers flanking (2.2 cM proximal and 2.2 cM distal) and cosegregating with Lr46 were identified. The physical location of Lr46 was narrowed to a submicroscopic region between the breakpoints of deletion lines 1BL-13 [fraction length (FL)=0.89-1] and 1BL-10 (FL=0.89-3). We are now developing a high-resolution mapping population for the positional cloning of Lr46.