A genome resource for green millet Setaria viridis enables discovery of agronomically valuable loci.

Wild and weedy relatives of domesticated crops harbor genetic variants that can advance agricultural biotechnology. Here we provide a genome resource for the wild plant green millet (Setaria viridis), a model species for studies of C4 grasses, and use the resource to probe domestication genes in the close crop relative foxtail millet (Setaria italica). We produced a platinum-quality genome assembly of S. viridis and de novo assemblies for 598 wild accessions and exploited these assemblies to identify loci underlying three traits: response to climate, a 'loss of shattering' trait that permits mechanical harvest and leaf angle, a predictor of yield in many grass crops. With CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, we validated Less Shattering1 (SvLes1) as a gene whose product controls seed shattering. In S. italica, this gene was rendered nonfunctional by a retrotransposon insertion in the domesticated loss-of-shattering allele SiLes1-TE (transposable element). This resource will enhance the utility of S. viridis for dissection of complex traits and biotechnological improvement of panicoid crops.

The anatomy of abscission zones is diverse among grass species.

PREMISE: Abscission zones (AZ) are specialized cell layers that separate plant parts at the organ junction upon developmental or environmental signals. Fruit or seed abscission has been well studied in model species because of its crucial role for seed dispersal. Previous work showed that AZ localization differs among species of Poaceae and that AZ formation is histologically and genetically distinct in three distantly related grass species, refuting the idea of a broadly conserved module. However, whether AZ structure is consistent within subfamilies is unknown. METHODS: Eleven species were selected from six subfamilies of Poaceae, and their AZ was investigated using paraffin-embedded, stained material. Observations were added from the literature for an additional six species. Data were recorded on AZ location and whether cells in the AZ were distinguishable by size or lignification. Characteristics of the AZ were mapped on the phylogeny using maximum likelihood. RESULTS: Abscission zone anatomy and histology vary among species, and characteristics of the AZ do not correlate with phylogeny. Twelve of the seventeen studied species have an AZ in which the cells are significantly smaller than surrounding cells. Of these, eight have differential lignification. Differential lignification is often associated with differential cell size, but not vice versa. CONCLUSIONS: Neither smaller cells in the AZ nor differential lignification between the AZ and surrounding cells is required for abscission, although differential cell size and lignification are often correlated. Abscission zone anatomy does not correlate with phylogeny, suggesting its rapid change over evolutionary time.

Socioeconomic profile of couples seeking the public healthcare system (SUS) for infertility treatment.

OBJECTIVE: The number of couples seeking assisted reproduction services in pursuit of the dream of conceiving a child is growing. In developing countries 10 to 15% of couples of childbearing age cannot bear a child by natural means and the impossibility of conceiving a child has a significant impact on the health and well-being of the couple. The aim of this study was to evaluate the socioeconomic profile and the main causes of infertility of couples seeking assisted reproduction treatment through the public healthcare system. METHODS: We analyzed 600 medical records of couples who sought infertility treatment at the public healthcare system, and we divided them into three groups according to age: 35 years, 35 to 39, and 40 years or more. In each group we analyzed the cause of infertility, the number of children of the spouses, the education level and family income. RESULTS: The main cause of infertility was male-related in 34%, followed by tubal factor in 31.5%. We found that 56% of the women were less than 35 years old and 58% of the couples earned less than 3 minimum wages. CONCLUSION: The profile of the couples was: low-income, low education and less than 35 years of age. The cost of assisted reproductive treatment is still high, being restricted to couples of higher socioeconomic statuses. An effective public healthcare policy could minimize this problem by improving the quality of care for couples seeking infertility treatment at the public healthcare system.

Os efeitos do desidroepiandrosterona na resposta ovariana de más respondedoras submetidas à reprodução humana assistida / Effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on ovarian response of poor responders undergoing assisted human reproduction

Os androgênios, por agirem de forma positiva no desenvolvimento folicular, estão sendo atualmente utilizados na reprodução humana assistida como uma alternativa para melhorar a resposta ovariana de mulheres consideradas más respondedoras. Esta revisão sistemática avalia o efeito do desidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) na resposta à estimulação ovariana de mulheres más respondedoras submetidas às técnicas de reprodução assistida. Os artigos para este estudo foram pesquisados no PubMed e publicados entre 1999 e 2013. Vinte e sete artigos foram avaliados e 18 deles foram selecionados, incluindo estudos experimentais e observacionais. O DHEA foi associado a um maior número de folículos recrutados, de oócitos selecionados e melhor qualidade embrionária, à diminuição do risco de aneuploidias e à maior taxa de gravidez clínica e nascidos vivos. Apesar de o DHEA apresentar efeito positivo na resposta ovariana de mulheres más respondedoras, os resultados obtidos foram pouco consistentes. Mais estudos controlados e randomizados devem ser realizados antes de se implantar o DHEA de rotina no tratamento de más respondedoras submetidas à reprodução humana assistida.(AU)

Androgens are currently being used in assisted human reproduction as an alternative to improve ovarian response of women considered poor responder by acting positively in follicular development. This systematic review evaluates the effects of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in response to ovarian stimulation of poor responder women undergoing assisted reproductive techniques. All articles for this study were searched in PubMed and published between 1999 and 2013. Twenty seven articles were evaluated and 18 of them were selected, including experimental and observational studies. DHEA was associated with a greater number of follicles, oocyte selected and better embryo quality, the decreased risk of aneuploidy and higher rates of clinical pregnancy and live birth. Although DHEA has positive effect on the ovarian response of poor responder women, the results were inconsistent. More randomized controlled trials should be conducted before using DHEA in routine treatment of poor responders undergoing assisted reproduction.(AU)

Acute acalculous cholecystitis in a teenager with hepatitis a virus infection: a case report.

Acute viral hepatitis A is a common systemic infection in children, especially in developing countries. Acute acalculous cholecystitis in the course of this infection is a rare and poorly reported event that needs to be diagnosed because of the possibility of complications, such as gangrene and perforation of the gallbladder wall. We present the case of a 16-year-old teenager with clinical and ultrasonographic findings of acalculous cholecystitis during an episode of hepatitis A virus infection, which took place December 2007 in Plantadores de Cana Hospital.