Various tomato cultivars display contrasting morphological and molecular responses to a chronic heat stress.

Climate change is one of the biggest threats that human society currently needs to face. Heat waves associated with global warming negatively affect plant growth and development and will increase in intensity and frequency in the coming years. Tomato is one of the most produced and consumed fruit in the world but remarkable yield losses occur every year due to the sensitivity of many cultivars to heat stress (HS). New insights into how tomato plants are responding to HS will contribute to the development of cultivars with high yields under harsh temperature conditions. In this study, the analysis of microsporogenesis and pollen germination rate of eleven tomato cultivars after exposure to a chronic HS revealed differences between genotypes. Pollen development was either delayed and/or desynchronized by HS depending on the cultivar considered. In addition, except for two, pollen germination was abolished by HS in all cultivars. The transcriptome of floral buds at two developmental stages (tetrad and pollen floral buds) of five cultivars revealed common and specific molecular responses implemented by tomato cultivars to cope with chronic HS. These data provide valuable insights into the diversity of the genetic response of floral buds from different cultivars to HS and may contribute to the development of future climate resilient tomato varieties.

Evaluation of an educational programme with workshops for families of children with food allergies.

BACKGROUND: When a child is diagnosed with a food allergy, prevention and patient education are the key interventions for maintaining the child's health and quality of life and that of his or her whole family. However, health education activities for the families of children with food allergies are very limited, and most of these activities have not been evaluated. Therefore, the objectives of the present study were to develop an educational programme, to empower its participants through workshops, and to evaluate its results. METHODS: Several types of educational materials were created specifically for the programme, called "Proyecto CESA" ("STOP-FAR Project: Stop Food-Induced Allergic Reactions"). The programme was carried out in seven Spanish cities and was attended by parents and caregivers. The workshops were led by physicians specialising in allergies and by expert patients. Afterwards, participant learning and satisfaction were evaluated based on questionnaires that were completed both before and after the workshops. RESULTS: A significant improvement was observed in 29 items out of 40 (McNemar's test). Participant satisfaction with the programme was also very high: 90% rated the course between 8 and 10 points out of a possible 10 (41% rated it as a 10). CONCLUSION: The face-to-face workshops, which included utilisation of educational materials, had positive results in terms of learning as well as in levels of satisfaction in participating families.

[Increased stability in osteosynthesis of osteoporotic distal humerus with standard implants]. / Aumento de la estabilidad en la osteosíntesis de húmero distal osteoporótico con implantes convencionales.

UNLABELLED: Surgery has proven to be the treatment of choice for distal humerus fractures if one wants to obtain the best results. However, this involves a high degree of complexity and therefore there are poor results. OBJECTIVE: Is it possible to improve the stability of osteosynthesis for osteoporotic distal humerus fractures using standard plates placed together using a screw 4.5 mm in diameter? MATERIAL AND METHODS: In an eight-month period a total of six female patients with distal humerus fractures underwent surgery at IMSS Trauma Emergencies Hospital. TECHNIQUE: A 1/3 tubular lateral plate was fixed to a reconstruction plate 3.5 mm medially using a 4.5 mm cortical screw going from lateral to medial. ASSESSMENT: The Mayo Scale was used to assess the elbow. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 23.3 months; three right and three left elbows were operated; mean age of females was 78.83 years; three excellent, one good and two fair results were reported, and no poor results. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to achieve adequate stability with standard implants; good results are obtained.

Prenatal brachial plexus paralysis.

An 18-day-old child with a history of difficult breech delivery presented with wasting and weakness of C5-6-innervated muscles. The EMG examination performed the same day showed high-voltage polyphasic motor unit potentials without abnormal spontaneous activity. Both the EMG pattern and the clinical features suggest an injury taking place several weeks before delivery. This presumption seems confirmed when compared with findings in our series of 100 EMG examinations in 78 children with diagnosis of Erb's palsy. Because of both clinical and medicolegal implications, early EMG testing is advisable in all patients with congenital brachial paralysis.

Effect of hydrophobic sulphydryl reagents on the uncoupling protein and inner-membrane anion channel of brown-adipose-tissue mitochondria.

The effects of three sulphydryl reagents of differing hydrophobicity (N-ethylmaleimide, N-benzylmaleimide and N,N'-o-phenylenedimaleimide) on ion permeation through the inner membrane of brown-adipose-tissue mitochondria are investigated. GDP-sensitive permeation of chloride and protons (hydroxyl ions) through the uncoupling protein is increased exponentially with time by all three reagents. With increasing hydrophobicity of the reagents, modification is enhanced and an initial inhibited state becomes apparent. Results are interpreted in terms of a two-stage modification via a non-transporting intermediate, which does not bind GDP, to a final highly conducting product. The reagents also react with a hydrophilic sulphydryl group on an independent protein to induce a GDP-insensitive pathway which allows chloride, phosphate and sulphate to cross the membrane. The use of different sulphydryl reagents allows the two pathways to be clearly distinguished.