SUPERMAN genes: uncovering a new function in the development of complex inflorescences.

The Arabidopsis SUPERMAN (SUP) gene and its orthologs in eudicots are crucial in regulating the number of reproductive floral organs. In Medicago truncatula, in addition to this function, a novel role in controlling meristem activity during compound inflorescence development was assigned to the SUP-ortholog (MtSUP). These findings led us to investigate whether the role of SUP genes in inflorescence development was legume-specific or could be extended to other eudicots. To assess that, we used Solanum lycopersicum as a model system with a cymose complex inflorescence and Arabidopsis thaliana as the best-known example of simple inflorescence. We conducted a detailed comparative expression analysis of SlSUP and SUP from vegetative stages to flower transition. In addition, we performed an exhaustive phenotypic characterisation of two different slsup and sup mutants during the plant life cycle. Our findings reveal that SlSUP is required for precise regulation of the meristems that control shoot and inflorescence architecture in tomato. In contrast, in Arabidopsis, SUP performs no meristematic function, but we found a role of SUP in floral transition. Our findings suggest that the functional divergence of SUP-like genes contributed to the modification of inflorescence architecture during angiosperm evolution.

MtSUPERMAN plays a key role in compound inflorescence and flower development in Medicago truncatula.

Legumes have unique features, such as compound inflorescences and a complex floral ontogeny. Thus, the study of regulatory genes in these species during inflorescence and floral development is essential to understand their role in the evolutionary origin of developmental novelties. The SUPERMAN (SUP) gene encodes a C2H2 zinc-finger transcriptional repressor that regulates the floral organ number in the third and fourth floral whorls of Arabidopsis thaliana. In this work, we present the functional characterization of the Medicago truncatula SUPERMAN (MtSUP) gene based on gene expression analysis, complementation and overexpression assays, and reverse genetic approaches. Our findings provide evidence that MtSUP is the orthologous gene of SUP in M. truncatula. We have unveiled novel functions for a SUP-like gene in eudicots. MtSUP controls not only the number of floral organs in the inner two whorls, but also in the second whorl of the flower. Furthermore, MtSUP regulates the activity of the secondary inflorescence meristem, thus controlling the number of flowers produced. Our work provides insight into the regulatory network behind the compound inflorescence and flower development in this angiosperm family.

SUPERMAN strikes again in legumes.

The SUPERMAN (SUP) gene was described in Arabidopsis thaliana over 30 years ago. SUP was classified as a cadastral gene required to maintain the boundaries between reproductive organs, thus controlling stamen and carpel number in flowers. We summarize the information on the characterization of SUP orthologs in plant species other than Arabidopsis, focusing on the findings for the MtSUP, the ortholog in the legume Medicago truncatula. M. truncatula has been widely used as a model system to study the distinctive developmental traits of this family of plants, such as the existence of compound inflorescence and complex floral development. MtSUP participates in the complex genetic network controlling these developmental processes in legumes, sharing conserved functions with SUP. However, transcriptional divergence between SUP and MtSUP provided context-specific novel functions for a SUPERMAN ortholog in a legume species. MtSUP controls the number of flowers per inflorescence and the number of petals, stamens and carpels regulating the determinacy of ephemeral meristems that are unique in legumes. Results obtained in M. truncatula provided new insights to the knowledge of compound inflorescence and flower development in legumes. Since legumes are valuable crop species worldwide, with high nutritional value and important roles in sustainable agriculture and food security, new information on the genetic control of their compound inflorescence and floral development could be used for plant breeding.

Pentoxifylline and Oxypurinol: Potential Drugs to Prevent the "Cytokine Release (Storm) Syndrome" Caused by SARS-CoV-2?

BACKGROUND: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a potentially lethal, rapidly-expanding pandemic and many efforts are being carried out worldwide to understand and control the disease. COVID-19 patients may display a cytokine release syndrome, which causes severe lung inflammation, leading, in many instances, to death. OBJECTIVE: This paper is intended to explore the possibilities of controlling the COVID-19-associated hyperinflammation by using licensed drugs with anti-inflammatory effects. HYPOTHESIS: We have previously described that pentoxifylline alone, or in combination with oxypurinol, reduces the systemic inflammation caused by experimentally-induced pancreatitis in rats. Pentoxifylline is an inhibitor of TNF-α production and oxypurinol inhibits xanthine oxidase. TNF-α, in turn, activates other inflammatory genes such as Nos2, Icam or IL-6, which regulate migration and infiltration of neutrophils into the pulmonary interstitial tissue, causing injury to the lung parenchyma. In acute pancreatitis, the anti-inflammatory action of pentoxifylline seems to be mediated by the prevention of the rapid and presumably transient loss of PP2A activity. This may also occur in the hyperinflammatory -cytokine releasing phase- of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, it may be hypothesized that early treatment of COVID-19 patients with pentoxifylline, alone or in combination with oxypurinol, would prevent the potentially lethal acute respiratory distress syndrome. CONCLUSION: Pentoxifylline and oxypurinol are licensed drugs used for diseases other than COVID-19 and, therefore, phase I clinical trials would not be necessary for the administration to SARS-CoV-2- infected people. It would be worth investigating their potential effects against the hyperinflammatory response to SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Safety and Quality Assessment of Smallholder Farmers' Maize in the Western Highlands of Guatemala.

Maize ( Zea mays) is a staple in many developing countries but is known to be prone to pest (insects, birds, and rodents) and fungal infestation. In Guatemala, mycotoxin contamination of cultivated products may occur owing to such factors as environmental conditions and the use of traditional agriculture operations. To assess the current maize conditions in Guatemala, a small-scale study was performed. Mold and insect counts and mycotoxin (aflatoxin and fumonisin) concentrations were determined on 25 farms in two townships (Chiantla and Todos Santos) of the Huehuetenango Department. Total fungal counts were 3.6 to 6.83 log CFU/g with no significant differences ( P > 0.05) across farms at different altitudes. Farms where maize was not produced but was purchased were at higher risk of fumonisin contamination, whereas local producers were mostly affected by aflatoxins. Aflatoxin was present in maize from 100% of farms at 1.0 to 85.3 ppb, and fumonisin was detected on 52% of farms at 0.4 to 31.0 ppm. Average mycotoxin consumption amounts were above the recommended maximum intake for aflatoxin in both produced and purchased maize and above the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake for fumonisin in purchased maize. Estimated daily intake was 0.01 to 0.85 µg/kg of body weight per day for aflatoxin and 2.9 to 310.0 µg/kg of body weight per day for fumonisin. An entomological analysis revealed overall 32% prevalence of Ephestia kuehniella (flour moth), 16% prevalence of Sitophilus zeamais (maize weevil), and 8% prevalence of Tribolium sp. (flour beetle) on the analyzed farms. This study highlighted poor agricultural practices used in the highlands of Guatemala. Current practices should be revised for the production of maize that is safe for consumption by the population in this region.

Drug and alcohol use and treatment for Australian Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners: demand reduction strategies.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to compare the use of drugs and alcohol by Indigenous and non-Indigenous prisoners and examine relevant treatment in Australian prisons. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Prison authorities were surveyed about alcohol and drug use by prisoners prior to and during imprisonment and drug and alcohol treatment programs in prison. The literature was review for information on alcohol and drug use and treatment in Australian prisons. FINDINGS: In 2009, over 80 percent of Indigenous and non-Indigenous inmates smoked. Prior to imprisonment, many Indigenous and non-Indigenous inmates drank alcohol at risky levels (65 vs 47 percent) and used illicit drugs (over 70 percent for both groups). Reports of using heroin (15 vs 21 percent), ATS (21 vs 33 percent), cannabis (59 vs 50 percent) and injecting (61 vs 53 percent) were similarly high for both groups. Prison-based programs included detoxification, Opioid Substitution Treatment, counselling and drug free units, but access was limited especially among Indigenous prisoners. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Drug and alcohol use was a significant issue in Australian prisons. Prisoners were over five times more likely than the general population to have a substance use disorder. Imprisonment provides an important opportunity for rehabilitation for offenders. This opportunity is especially relevant to Indigenous prisoners who were more likely to use health services when in prison than in the community and given their vast over representations in prison populations. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Given the effectiveness of treatment in reducing re-offending rates, it is important to expand drug treatment and especially culturally appropriate treatment programs for Indigenous inmates. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: Very little is known about Indigenous specific drug and alcohol programs in Australian prisons.

16S-ARDRA, a tool for identification of lactic acid bacteria isolated from grape must and wine.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are found in a great variety of habitats, including grape must and wines. There is a close relationship between the species of LAB which develop during fermentation and the eventual quality of the wine. For these reasons analytical techniques allowing fast and reliable identification of wine LAB are needed. In this work a simple and accurate protocol for identifying species of LAB isolated from grape must and wine is presented. This protocol is based on the amplification, directly from colony, of 16S rDNA and later digestion with one of the following restriction enzymes BfaI, MseI and AluI. A sequential use of the three enzymes is proposed to simplify LAB wine identification, first MseI, then BfaI and finally, if necessary, AluI digestion. The technique was able to discriminate 32 of the 36 LAB reference species tested and allowed the identification of 342 isolates from musts and wines. The isolates belonged to the species: Lactobacillus brevis, L. collinoides, L. coryniformis, L. bilgardii, L. mali, L. paracasei, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Oenococcus oeni, Pediococcus parvulus and P. pentosaceus.

Detection of drugs in Australian prisons: supply reduction strategies.

PURPOSE: Prisoners have a high level of drug use prior to imprisonment. Many inmates report having injected drugs and using cannabis. Prison authorities employed a range of strategies to detect drugs and drug use in prison. However, it was unclear which supply reduction strategies operated, and the prevalence and types of drugs detected in Australian prisons. The purpose of this paper is to examine supply reduction strategies in Australian prisons. Information on searches for drugs, and from inmate urinalysis was collected. The study focussed on adults in fulltime custody in Australia in 2009. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: A representative of all corrective services departments and justice health services was asked to complete a questionnaire on supply reduction strategies, including searches for drugs and drug testing of inmates. FINDINGS: The two main supply reduction strategies identified in all Australian prisons were the use of drug detection dogs and urinalysis programs. Despite an extensive use of drug searches and urinalysis, the detection of drugs was modest for both strategies. The most commonly used drug was cannabis with the detection of drugs such as amphetamines and heroin being very low. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: Prison inmates have a history of high levels of drug use prior to imprisonment. However, the supply reduction measures of drug detection dogs and urinalysis indicate that drug use was low in Australian prisons. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The paper recommends that urinalysis comprises targeting testing regimes and that random testing ceases in order to be a more cost effective use of resources for drug detection. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: The study is the first report on the range of supply reduction measures in Australian prisons and, possibly in the world. Both measures were employed extensively across the country and finds of drugs and drug use were relatively low. Two possible conclusions can be drawn; that either drug use was very low in prison or that it was well concealed from the authorities. A comparison of random testing with targeted testing of inmates, where the former yields fewer positive results shows drug use was likely to be low rather than well concealed.

Lactobacillus bobalius sp. nov., a lactic acid bacterium isolated from Spanish Bobal grape must.

A Lactobacillus strain, designated 203(T), previously isolated from Bobal grape must was characterized phylogenetically, genotypically and phenotypically in order to establish whether it represents a novel species. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain 203(T) was shown to belong to the genus Lactobacillus, falling within the Lactobacillus alimentarius-Lactobacillus farciminis group and being closely related to the type strains of L. alimentarius, Lactobacillus kimchii and Lactobacillus paralimentarius. DNA-DNA hybridization results confirmed the separate status of strain 203(T) at the species level. To establish the similarities and differences between 203(T) and the three aforementioned closest species, the following methods were used: amplified rDNA restriction analysis, analysis of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region, random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiling, ribotyping, carbohydrate fermentation and physiological tests. Strain 203(T) could be differentiated genetically using RAPD analysis and ribotyping. Phenotypically, it can be distinguished from its closest relatives by its ability to grow at pH 3.3, by gas production from gluconate and by certain carbohydrate fermentations. On the basis of these data, strain 203(T) represents a novel species of the genus Lactobacillus, for which the name Lactobacillus bobalius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 203(T) (=CECT 7310(T) =DSM 19674(T)).

Lactobacillus vini sp. nov., a wine lactic acid bacterium homofermentative for pentoses.

Six strains with more than 99.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, identical internal spacer region profiles and restriction analysis of the amplified 16S rRNA gene patterns were isolated from fermenting grape musts during independent studies carried out in France and Spain many years apart. Strains are Gram-positive, motile, facultatively anaerobic rods that do not exhibit catalase activity and have the ability to utilize pentose sugars (ribose and/or l-arabinose), although they are homofermentative bacteria. Strains ferment pentoses exclusively yielding lactic acid as the end product. A broad set of molecular techniques has been applied to characterize these strains and the results show a high degree of genotypical congruence, sharing identical profiles with 16S rRNA-based techniques. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences placed these strains within the genus Lactobacillus, closely related to Lactobacillus mali, Lactobacillus nagelii and Lactobacillus satsumensis (with approximately 95 % sequence similarity). DNA-DNA hybridization experiments confirmed the independent status at the species level of these fermenting grape-musts strains. Phenotypically they can be distinguished from the closest relatives by several traits such as growth temperatures and fermentation of carbohydrates. The name Lactobacillus vini sp. nov. is proposed, with strain Mont 4T (= DSM 20605T = CECT 5924T) as the type strain.

Complicaciones obstétricas y transmisión vertical en el embarazo de la mujer VIH positiva en el Hospital Roosevelt durante el año 2010 / Obstetric complications and vertical transmission in HIV-positive pregnant women in the Roosevelt Hospital in 2010

Objetivo: Describir las complicaciones obstétricas más frecuentes y la tasa de transmisión vertical en los recién nacidos de embarazos de las mujeres VIH positivas que se atienden en la Clínica de Enfermedades infecciosas del Hospital Roosevelt. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estrudio retrospectivo, observacional, transversal, en el cual se revisó la base de datos de casos obstétricos y pediátricos que se atendieron regularmente desde el año 2003 de la Clínica de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Hospital Roosevelt...

Plan de atención de enfermería al anciano intitucionalizado en hogares de ancianos según grado de dependencia para autocuidado

Se seleccionarón tres hogares de ancianos pertecientes al sector público, donde el total esta constituidos por 305 ancianos. se realizo por medio de examenes fisicos donde 30 por ciento (9) ancianos son clasificados como dependiente para la atención de enfermería, 25 por ciento (9) ancianos son clasificado con dependencia mínima. Tambien se realizó la categorización del personal de enfermería y otros disponible para la atención directa integral del anciano

Plan de atencion de enfermeria al anciano institucionalizado en hogares de ancianos segun grado de dependencia para el autocuidado / Plan of attention of old infirmary to the institutionalized one in homes of old according to degree of dependency for the self medication

Objetivo: La realización del presente estudio seleccionaron tres hogares de ancianos pertenencientes al sector público, donde el total del universo está constituido por 305 ancianos. Se utilizó el muestreo al azar, de un total de 30 ancianos lo que representa el 10% del total del universo. El metodo de observacion directa intermitente donde se clasifica al anciano segun grado de dependencia: Dependiente, Semi- Dependiente, y Dependencia Mínima. Esta clasificación se realiza por medio del exámen fisico donde se tiene un 30% (9) ancianos son clasificados como dependientes para la atencion de enfermeria. Tambien se realizó la categorizacion del personal de enfermeria y otro disponible para la atención directa integral del anciano. De las 17 actividades utilizadas en el estudio, representan el modelo de atención de enfermería basadas en las necesidades humanas universales.