RESUMO
The RNA-binding protein Arabidopsis thaliana glycine-rich RNA-binding protein 7 (AtGRP7) regulates the steady-state abundance of numerous target transcripts in A. thaliana. Here we show that the GA1 and GA2 transcripts encoding the first enzymes of the gibberellin biosynthetic pathway are expressed at reduced levels in transgenic plants ectopically over-expressing AtGRP7 (AtGRP7-ox plants). Furthermore, the levels of the bioactive phytohormone GA4 as well as of several intermediates of the GA biosynthetic pathway are reduced in AtGRP7-ox plants. The transgenic plants show a reduced length of the vegetative stem. The application of exogenous GA largely reverses the phenotype by increasing the number of vegetative internodes. AtGRP7-ox plants flower with fewer leaves than wt plants, suggesting that the floral promotive effect of AtGRP7 bypasses the effect of a reduced GA level in AtGRP7-ox plants. Upon GA treatment, AtGRP7-ox plants flower only slightly earlier than wild type plants. Thus, exogenous GA has only a small additional effect in reducing the number of leaves at the onset of flowering in AtGRP7-ox plants.
Assuntos
Proteínas de Arabidopsis/fisiologia , Arabidopsis/metabolismo , Giberelinas/biossíntese , Proteínas de Ligação a RNA/fisiologia , Arabidopsis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Vias Biossintéticas , Flores/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Flores/metabolismo , Regulação da Expressão Gênica de Plantas , Fenótipo , Reguladores de Crescimento de Plantas/biossíntese , Caules de Planta/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Caules de Planta/metabolismo , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismoAssuntos
Técnicas de Laboratório Clínico/métodos , Infecções Oculares Virais/sangue , Infecções Oculares Virais/diagnóstico , Infecções Oculares Virais/terapia , Infecções por Herpesviridae/diagnóstico , Infecções por Herpesviridae/terapia , Antivirais/administração & dosagem , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Medicina Baseada em Evidências , Infecções por Herpesviridae/sangue , Humanos , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
An investigation of the diversity and distribution of wild crucifer species and their importance for cultivated crucifers was conducted during 2005 and 2006 in the highland and mid-altitude semi-arid areas of Kenya. Thirteen species of wild crucifers in nine genera were recorded: Raphanus raphanistrum, Erucastrum arabicum, Sisymbrium officinale, Crambe kilimandscharica, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Rorippa nudiuscula, Ro. micrantha, Ro. microphylla, Lepidium bonariense, Coronopus didymus, Brassica rapa, B. juncea and an unidentified Brassica species. Highland areas had significantly higher species diversity and species richness than mid-altitude semi-arid areas. Species richness, diversity and evenness varied with season and location. Raphanus raphanistrum was the dominant non-cultivated species in the highlands followed by E. arabicum, which was also present and dominant in the semi-arid study sites. Diamondback moth (DBM) was recorded from ten wild crucifer species and R. raphanistrum and E. arabicum were the preferred host plant species. Overall, four larval, one larval-pupal and one pupal parasitoid of DBM were recorded: Diadegma semiclausum, D. mollipla, Apanteles sp., Cotesia plutellae, Oomyzus sokolowskii and Brachymeria species, respectively. Diadegma semiclausum was the most dominant species on all crucifers. We conclude that wild crucifers act as alternative hosts for DBM and provide refugia for DBM parasitoids, which risk local extinction through pesticide application or competition from introduced exotic parasitoid species. The wild crucifers also act as recolonization sites for DBM parasitoids.
Assuntos
Biodiversidade , Brassicaceae/fisiologia , Brassicaceae/parasitologia , Demografia , Ecossistema , Mariposas/fisiologia , Altitude , Análise de Variância , Animais , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita , Quênia , Estações do Ano , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
To date, relatively little is known about the economic and medical impact of Lyme borreliosis (LB) on European health care systems, especially for the inpatient sector. This retrospective analysis is based on data provided for the years 2007-2011 by a German statutory health insurance company (DAK-Gesundheit) covering approximately 6 million insured. Total cost was calculated for a 1-year period both from the third-party payers and from the societal perspective, respectively. In our cohort the incident diagnosis of LB was coded for 2163 inpatient cases during the years 2008-2011. The median inpatient time was 9 days resulting in a median direct medical cost per hospital stay of 3917 for adolescents and 2843 for adults. Based on extrapolation of our findings to the German population, we would expect an average hospital admission of 5200 adults and 2300 adolescents (<18 years) for LB treatment incurring direct medical costs of more than 23 million Euro annually. The annual indirect costs due to loss of productivity would add up to more than 7 million Euro as assessed by the human capital method. Cases tended to accumulate between June and September with remarkable changes in disease manifestations in the course of the year documented in the coded secondary diagnoses. Also specific differences in the disease pattern of adolescents and adults became obvious. Age-specific incidence showed male predominance and a bimodal distribution. Incidence was highest in children aged between 3 and 17 (highest mean incidence of 29 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 6-9 year olds) with a second peak in 60-79 year old individuals. During the study period the nationwide inpatient incidence was 9/100,000 with marked regional variability. In summary, our study is one of the first European investigations on hospital care for LB inpatients and identifies LB as a possibly underestimated socioeconomic factor for health care in Germany.
Assuntos
Borrelia burgdorferi/fisiologia , Doença de Lyme/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Estudos de Coortes , Feminino , Alemanha/epidemiologia , Hospitalização/economia , Humanos , Incidência , Doença de Lyme/economia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos Retrospectivos , Estações do Ano , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Although famciclovir is efficacious in feline herpesvirus type 1 (FHV-1)-infected cats, effects of a single dose early in disease course have not been reported. In this two part, randomized, masked, placebo controlled study, cats received a single dose of 125 mg famciclovir (n = 43) or placebo (n = 43; pilot study), or 500 mg famciclovir (n = 41) or placebo (n = 40; clinical trial) on entering a shelter. FHV-1 PCR testing was performed, bodyweight and food intake were recorded, and signs of respiratory disease were scored prior to and 7 days following treatment. FHV-1 DNA was detected in 40% of cats in both parts at study entry. In the pilot study, ocular and nasal discharge scores increased from days 1 to 7 in famciclovir and placebo treated cats. Sneezing scores increased and bodyweight decreased in famciclovir-treated cats. The proportion of cats in which FHV-1 DNA was detected increased over time in all cats in the pilot study. In the clinical trial, food intake and median clinical disease scores for nasal discharge and sneezing increased from days 1 to 7 in both groups and demeanor scores worsened in famciclovir-treated cats. The proportion of cats shedding FHV-1 DNA was greater on day 7 than on day 1 in cats receiving 500 mg famciclovir. A single dose of famciclovir (125 or 500 mg) administered at shelter intake was not efficacious in a feline population in which 40% were already shedding FHV-1.
Assuntos
2-Aminopurina/análogos & derivados , Antivirais/uso terapêutico , Doenças do Gato/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Herpesviridae/veterinária , Infecções Respiratórias/veterinária , Varicellovirus/efeitos dos fármacos , 2-Aminopurina/uso terapêutico , Animais , Doenças do Gato/virologia , Gatos , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Famciclovir , Feminino , Infecções por Herpesviridae/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções por Herpesviridae/virologia , Masculino , Projetos Piloto , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase em Tempo Real/veterinária , Infecções Respiratórias/tratamento farmacológico , Infecções Respiratórias/virologia , Carga Viral/veterinária , Eliminação de Partículas ViraisRESUMO
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) has emerged as a significant nosocomial pathogen in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). We wished to test the hypothesis that the use of selective digestive tract decontamination (SDD) in the SICU affects the frequency of VRE isolation. A retrospective review of hospital records and the SICU database was performed using patients admitted to the SICU service for three or more days from January 1, 1996 to December 31, 1999 at our large tertiary-care teaching hospital. During this time use of SDD in selected patient populations decreased due to physician preference. Information gathered included length of SICU stay, presence of VRE infection or colonization, and use and duration of SDD protocol, vancomycin, and ceftazidime. There were 110 newly diagnosed VRE cases in the SICU during this time period. During the same time period 54 patients received SDD. Eight patients who received SDD had positive VRE cultures and seven had the initial positive culture after receiving SDD. Overall, 9.1% of eligible SICU patients received SDD, 18.5% of patients in the SICU for over 3 days had VRE, 7.3% of VRE patients received SDD, and 13.0% of the SICU patients who received SDD subsequently developed VRE. SDD use was not associated with VRE in univariate analysis. Logistic regression analysis showed higher odds ratios for SDD use in combination with vancomycin than for vancomycin use alone (OR=4.3 vs. 10.9). Odds ratios were over three times higher for SDD plus vancomycin plus ceftazidime use when compared to vancomycin plus ceftazidime use alone (OR=70.5 vs. 19.8). We conclude that administration of SDD alone did not correlate with increased VRE isolation, but that SDD use in conjunction with vancomycin and ceftazidime was associated with VRE isolation.
Assuntos
Antibioticoprofilaxia , Sistema Digestório/microbiologia , Enterococcus/isolamento & purificação , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva , Resistência a Vancomicina , Ceftazidima/uso terapêutico , Enterococcus/efeitos dos fármacos , Enterococcus/fisiologia , Humanos , Análise Multivariada , Cuidados Pós-Operatórios , Estudos Retrospectivos , Vancomicina/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
A new method of operation for stiffening the tracheal back wall in cases of prolapse of the pars membranacea is reported; it has been applied with success on 22 cases. The advantages of this technically demanding operation starting from the neck over the method using transthoracic access with insertion of bone chips, fascia graft, or plastic prostheses are discussed.
Assuntos
Doenças da Traqueia/cirurgia , Adulto , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Métodos , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Respiração , Técnicas de Sutura , Doenças da Traqueia/diagnósticoRESUMO
In the present experiments it was tested whether omega-agatoxin-IVA, a peptide blocking P-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, inhibits the evoked release of newly synthesized [3H]acetylcholine from the rat phrenic nerve. Release of [3H]acetylcholine was evoked by electrical stimulation of the isolated phrenic nerve (100 or 750 pulses at 5 Hz). omega-Agatoxin-IVA inhibited evoked [3H]acetylcholine release in a concentration-related manner; inhibition started at a concentration of 30 nM with complete block occurring at 500 nM. In conclusion, the present experiments demonstrate that omega-agatoxin-IVA-sensitive P-type Ca2+ channels are critically involved in the regulation of stimulus-induced transmitter release at mammalian motor endplates.
Assuntos
Acetilcolina/metabolismo , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Cálcio/farmacologia , Canais de Cálcio/fisiologia , Placa Motora/metabolismo , Venenos de Aranha/farmacologia , Animais , Bloqueadores dos Canais de Cálcio/administração & dosagem , Estimulação Elétrica , Feminino , Marcação por Isótopo , Masculino , Placa Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Nervo Frênico/efeitos dos fármacos , Nervo Frênico/metabolismo , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-Dawley , Venenos de Aranha/administração & dosagem , Transmissão Sináptica/efeitos dos fármacos , Trítio/metabolismo , ômega-Agatoxina IVARESUMO
Sexual arousal to erotic stimuli depicting various levels of force were examined among college men. Study 1 used phallometric indices to measure penile circumferential change during combined audio-tape and slide presentations varying in degree of force. The results indicated that the sexually coercive group exhibited more penile tumescence than controls to scenes involving verbal pressure and verbal threats. Analyses across time blocks suggested that control participants inhibited sexual arousal with the introduction of force cues but that the sexually coercive group did not. Study 2 was a replication of Study 1 without slides. Both groups showed increases in penile tumescence in response to the consent scenario. Only the sexually coercive men demonstrated significant tumescence in response to force scenarios. The results indicated that the sexually coercive males had a lower threshold for arousal to sexual cues and did not inhibit sexual arousal when force cues were introduced.
Assuntos
Agressão/psicologia , Coerção , Libido , Adolescente , Adulto , Literatura Erótica , Humanos , Masculino , Ereção Peniana/psicologia , Inventário de Personalidade , Estupro/psicologia , Estudantes/psicologiaRESUMO
The authors investigated the role of homosexual arousal in exclusively heterosexual men who admitted negative affect toward homosexual individuals. Participants consisted of a group of homophobic men (n = 35) and a group of nonhomophobic men (n = 29); they were assigned to groups on the basis of their scores on the Index of Homophobia (W. W. Hudson & W. A. Ricketts, 1980). The men were exposed to sexually explicit erotic stimuli consisting of heterosexual, male homosexual, and lesbian videotapes, and changes in penile circumference were monitored. They also completed an Aggression Questionnaire (A. H. Buss & M. Perry, 1992). Both groups exhibited increases in penile circumference to the heterosexual and female homosexual videos. Only the homophobic men showed an increase in penile erection to male homosexual stimuli. The groups did not differ in aggression. Homophobia is apparently associated with homosexual arousal that the homophobic individual is either unaware of or denies.
Assuntos
Identidade de Gênero , Homossexualidade Masculina/psicologia , Libido , Transtornos Fóbicos/psicologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Conscientização , Negação em Psicologia , Feminino , Homossexualidade Feminina/psicologia , Humanos , Masculino , Ereção Peniana/psicologia , Inventário de Personalidade , Transtornos Fóbicos/diagnósticoRESUMO
Thresholds for detecting alterations in the timbre and harmonicity of complex harmonic signals were measured in zebra finches, budgerigars, and humans. The stimuli used in this experiment were designed to have particular salience for zebra finches by modeling them after natural zebra finch calls. All 3 species showed similar abilities for detecting an amplitude decrement in a single component of a harmonic complex. However, zebra finches and budgerigars were extraordinarily sensitive to the mistunings of single harmonics and exhibited significantly lower thresholds compared with humans at 2 different fundamental frequencies, 570 Hz and 285 Hz. Randomizing relative phases of components in a harmonic stimulus resulted in a significant increase in threshold for detecting mistunings in zebra finches but not in humans. Decreasing the duration of mistuned harmonic stimuli resulted in higher thresholds for both birds and humans. The overall superiority of birds in discriminating inharmonicity suggests that birds and mammals may use different strategies in processing these complex harmonic sounds.
Assuntos
Aves , Papagaios , Discriminação da Altura Tonal , Adulto , Animais , Limiar Auditivo , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Psicoacústica , Espectrografia do Som , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
The treatment of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) has received little empirical attention despite evidence that BDD is a debilitating mental health problem. This open case series provides data on a new cognitive-behavioral treatment for BDD. Participants diagnosed with BDD were treated in small groups that met for 12 weekly 90-minute sessions. Patients improved significantly over the course of treatment, with reductions in both BDD and depression symptoms. This finding adds to a nascent literature documenting the potential efficacy of short-term cognitive-behavior therapy for patients suffering from BDD.
Assuntos
Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental/métodos , Psicoterapia de Grupo/métodos , Transtornos Somatoformes/terapia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Depressão/psicologia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Escalas de Graduação Psiquiátrica , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The early development of sleep-wake and food-intake rhythms in human infants is reviewed. The development of a 24 h day-night rhythm contains two observable developmental processes: the alterations in the periodic structure of behavior (decreased ultradian, increased circadian components) and the process of synchronization to external time (entrainment). The authors present the results of their studies involving 26 German children and compare them with previous investigations. In their research, it became evident that, during the first weeks of life, the time pattern of sleep-wake and food-intake behavior is characterized by different ultradian periodicities, ranging from 2 h to 8 h. In the course of further ontogenesis, the share of ultradian rhythms in the sleep-wake behavior decreases, while it remains dominant for food-intake behavior. The circadian component is established as early as the first weeks of life and increases in the months that follow. Besides, the authors' study supports the notion of broad interindividual variation in ultradian rhythms and in the development of a day-night rhythm. Examples of free-running rhythms of sleep-wake and food-intake behavior by various authors are strong indicators of the endogenous nature of the circadian rhythms in infants and show that the internal clock is already functioning at birth. It is still uncertain when the process of synchronization to external and social time cues begins and how differences in the maturation of perceptive organs affect the importance of time cues for the entrainment. Prepartally, the physiological maternal entrainment factors and mother-fetus interactions may be most important; during the first weeks of life, the social time cues gain importance, while light acts as a dominant "zeitgeber" at a later time only.
Assuntos
Ciclos de Atividade , Ritmo Circadiano , Comportamento do Lactente , Estudos Transversais , Comportamento Alimentar , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Gravidez , Sono , VigíliaRESUMO
This article is a short review of newer findings concerning the physiological and biochemical bases of the heart's tolerance to ischemia. The following themes are discussed. I. Energy-pool, energy-demand, and efficiency of anaerobic metabolism, the essential determinants of reanimation time and the heart's tolerance to ischemia. II. Experimental results of ischemic heart arrest and the heart arrest induced by a sodium-poor calcium-free, procaine-containing cardioplegic solution, developed by the author. III. Equivalents of function, metabolism and structure during the anaerobic period of the myocardium. IV. The myocardium's capability to recover in dependence on the metabolic state of ischemia and summary of the most important points of gaining a long time of tolerated ischemia. V. Survey and prospects.
Assuntos
Doença das Coronárias , Coração/fisiopatologia , Miocárdio/metabolismo , Difosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Monofosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Trifosfato de Adenosina/metabolismo , Anaerobiose , Animais , Temperatura Corporal , Doença das Coronárias/metabolismo , Doença das Coronárias/patologia , Doença das Coronárias/fisiopatologia , Creatinina , Cães , Glicólise , Parada Cardíaca Induzida , Concentração de Íons de Hidrogênio , Miocárdio/ultraestrutura , Consumo de Oxigênio , Fosfocreatina/metabolismo , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
The psychology of sports injury rehabilitation is a relatively new field, even in comparison with the relatively youthful disciplines from which it has evolved. Although the psychology of sports injury has made a significant impact on the sports medicine team, the practical aspects of how and when to refer patients to psychologists need to be better understood. A recent survey of 20 sports medicine physicians indicated a high degree of psychological or behavioral concerns occurring in conjunction with sport injuries, and an increased interest in the services of clinical sports psychologists. An appreciation of mind-body interactions and how they function regarding stress, sports performance, and injury is fundamental to the acceptance of psychological techniques in the medical arena. Teaching these fundamental issues to those in sports and medicine is essential. Furthermore, the psychology of sports injury needs continuing development of a base of theory, empirical research, and clinical practice that is sensitive to the needs of the individual athlete. Research on the assessment of psychosocial factors influencing sports injury and performance, as well as the efficacy of treatment modalities, is warranted. The psychology of sports injury has emerged from several previously established areas of psychology including behavioral medicine, rehabilitation, and sport psychology. As the techniques derived from these arenas are modified to suit the special needs of injured athletes, a set of principles and practices can be-established to better assist the sports medicine team in rehabilitation and prevention of sports injury.
Assuntos
Traumatismos em Atletas/psicologia , Traumatismos em Atletas/fisiopatologia , Traumatismos em Atletas/prevenção & controle , Traumatismos em Atletas/reabilitação , Atitude Frente a Saúde , Terapia Cognitivo-Comportamental , Humanos , Psicologia , Psicofisiologia , Encaminhamento e Consulta , Fatores de Risco , Assunção de Riscos , Medicina Esportiva , Estresse Fisiológico/fisiopatologia , Estresse Psicológico/fisiopatologiaAssuntos
Hospitais Religiosos/organização & administração , Enfermagem/organização & administração , Instituições Acadêmicas , Adolescente , Orçamentos , Criança , Educação em Saúde/organização & administração , Trabalhadores Voluntários de Hospital , Humanos , Indiana , Serviços Preventivos de Saúde/economia , Serviços Preventivos de Saúde/organização & administraçãoRESUMO
Interspecific competition between an introduced parasitoid species aimed at controlling a herbivorous pest species and a native parasitoid parasitising the same host may influence the success of classical biological control programmes. In Kenya, interspecific competition between an introduced and a local parasitoid on two diamondback moth populations (DBM, Plutella xylostella) was investigated on two different host plants. We tested simultaneous and delayed competition of the local parasitoid Diadegma mollipla Holmgren and its exotic congenus D. semiclausum Hellen on a newly aquired DBM host plant (snowpea) in the laboratory. Under simultaneous competition, D. mollipla produced more progeny than D. semiclausum on snowpea. A head start of D. Mollipla, of four and eight hours before its congenus was introduced, resulted in a similar number of progeny of both species. In delayed competition (time intervals of 24 h, 48 h and 72 h), progeny production was similar for both parasitoids when the time interval was 24 h, irrespective of which species parasitized first. More progeny was produced by the species which attacked first, when the time interval was greater than 24 h, although it was only significant at 72 h. Competitive abilites of both parasitoids on the new host plant differed largely between laboratory and semi-field conditions. The influence of two host plants (snowpea and cabbage) on competition was studied in the greenhouse with different host and parasitoid densities. Parasitism levels of D. semiclausum were significantly higher than those of D. mollipla, regardless of host plant, host and parasitoid densities, but progeny production of D. mollipla on snowpea was still slightly higher than on cabbage. As compared to the confinement of parasitoids and larvae to small containers, D. mollipla parasitized very few larvae in the cages. Competitive ability of the two parasitoid species tested was influenced both by the density of the searching females and by parameters related to either the host plant and/or the herbivorous hosts.