Multi-trait BLUP model indicates sorghum hybrids with genetic potential for agronomic and nutritional traits.

The breeding of sorghum, Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench, aimed at improving its nutritional quality, is of great interest, since it can be used as a highly nutritive alternative food source and can possibly be cultivated in regions with low rainfall. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential and genetic diversity of grain-sorghum hybrids for traits of agronomic and nutritional interest. To this end, the traits grain yield and flowering, and concentrations of protein, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, and zinc in the grain were evaluated in 25 grain-sorghum hybrids, comprising 18 experimental hybrids of Embrapa Milho e Sorgo and seven commercial hybrids. The genetic potential was analyzed by a multi-trait best linear unbiased prediction (BLUP) model, and cluster analysis was accomplished by squared Mahalanobis distance using the predicted genotypic values. Hybrids 0306037 and 0306034 stood out in the agronomic evaluation. The hybrids with agronomic prominence, however, did not stand out for the traits related to the nutritional quality of the grain. Three clusters were formed from the dendrogram obtained with the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean method. From the results of the genotypic BLUP and the analysis of the dendrogram, hybrids 0577337, 0441347, 0307651, and 0306037 were identified as having the potential to establish a population that can aggregate alleles for all the evaluated traits of interest.

Influence of Isolation Method of the Operative Field on Gingival Damage, Patients' Preference, and Restoration Retention in Noncarious Cervical Lesions.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the retention rates, gingival damage, and patients' preferences for adhesive restorations in noncarious cervical lesions (NCCL) associated with the use of rubber dam vs cotton rolls/retraction cord isolation. METHODS: Thirty patients having one pair of similar NCCL on opposing sides of the same arch were enrolled in this study. A total of 60 restorations were placed. In each patient one restoration was placed under rubber dam isolation (RD) using dental retainers, and the other one was placed using cotton rolls/retraction cord (CR/RC) isolation. Dental residents with more than 10 years of clinical experience restored all NCCL using the same adhesive (GO!, SDI Limited, Bayswater, Australia) and composite resin (Ice, SDI). The patients' preferences were recorded. The gingival condition (bleeding, gingival laceration, and gingival insertion level) was evaluated immediately after the restorative procedure and after one week. Gingival sensitivity was also assessed one week after the end of the restorative procedures. The clinical time required to perform each restoration was recorded. The performance of the restorations was assessed using the FDI criteria at baseline and six, 12, and 18 months after clinical service. All criteria evaluated were submitted to appropriate statistical analysis (α=0.05). RESULTS: The retention rates of the restorations at each recall time were not affected by the isolation method (p>0.05). No significant difference between isolation methods was found in regard to patients' preferences (p=0.86), gingival bleeding (p=0.57), laceration (p=0.64), insertion (p>0.52), gingival sensitivity (p=0.52), or chairside time (p=0.77). CONCLUSIONS: The use of CR/RC was shown to be similar to the use of RD in terms of retention rates, patient's preference, gingival damage, and chairside time for adhesive restorations in NCCL.

Insulin mediated improvement in glycemic control in elderly with type 2 diabetes mellitus can improve depressive symptoms and does not seem to impair health-related quality of life.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is very prevalent among the elderly. Insulin therapy is often required for glycemic control. The association of starting this therapy with depressive symptoms as well the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is unknown among the elderly patients. AIMS: Evaluate the association of starting insulin therapy depressive symptoms as well with HRQoL of elderly people with T2D. METHODS: 36 T2D participants (67.9 % females, age 66.5 years ± 5.1) were recruited, 26 of whom completed the follow-up. Generic (Short-Form 36 Health Survey - SF-36) and specific (Problem Areas in Diabetes - PAID) HRQoL questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), clinical, laboratorial and socio-demographic data were recorded on baseline and 6 months after the beginning of insulin treatment. RESULTS: There was a reduction in the BDI score after the use of insulin, which means an improvement in depressive symptoms (Before/After: median - 10.5 / 7; p = 0008). There were no statistically significant differences in HRQoL scores between the two time periods There was also a reduction in HbA1c (Before/After: median - 8.7/7.9). Otherwise, there were no statistically significant differences in: BMI (28.1/28.3); Abdominal circumference:(100.5/99.5) and chronic complications status. CONCLUSION: Insulin therapy in elderly people with type 2 diabetes can lead to an improvement of depressive symptoms and does not seem to affect negatively HRQoL of the participants.