Lipid production in aquatic plant Azolla at vegetative and reproductive stages and in response to abiotic stress.

The aquatic plant Azolla became increasingly popular as bioenergy feedstock because of its high growth rate, production of biomass with high levels of biofuel-producing molecules and ability to grow on marginal lands. In this study, we analysed the contribution of all organs of Azolla to the total yield of lipids at vegetative and reproductive stages and in response to stress. Triacylglycerol-containing lipid droplets were detected in all (vegetative and reproductive) organs with the highest level in the male microsporocarps and microspores. As a result, significantly higher total yields of lipids were detected in Azolla filiculoides and Azolla pinnata at the reproductive stage. Starving changed the yield and composition of the fatty acid as a result of re-direction of carbon flow from fatty acid to anthocyanin pathways. The composition of lipids, in regard the length and degree of unsaturation of fatty acids, in Azolla meets most of the important requirements for biodiesel standards. The ability of Azolla to grow on wastewaters, along with their high productivity rate, makes it an attractive feedstock for the production of biofuels.

OUTCOMES AFTER PARS PLANA VITRECTOMY FOR EPIRETINAL MEMBRANES ASSOCIATED WITH TOXOPLASMOSIS.

PURPOSE: To evaluate outcomes and complications of pars plana vitrectomy in patients with epiretinal membrane secondary to toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of the records of 14 patients who underwent pars plana vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane secondary to toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. The best-corrected visual acuity, intraoperative and postoperative complications, and macular optical coherence tomography were analysed. All patients received postoperative prophylactic treatment with trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. RESULTS: Fourteen patients, 5 men and 9 women, were included. Mean follow-up period after surgery was 6.07 ± 2.64 months. Preoperative mean best-corrected visual acuity was 20/200, and postoperative mean best-corrected visual acuity was 20/60. There were no intraoperative complications. Three patients developed posterior capsule opacification, and one patient developed cataract. CONCLUSION: Pars plana vitrectomy is a safe and effective procedure in patients with epiretinal membrane secondary to toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis, improving both visual acuity and anatomical result on macular optical coherence tomography. The most frequent postoperative complications were posterior capsule opacification and cataract. No recurrences of the disease were recorded.