The physiological quality of Vigna unguiculata L. seeds shows tolerance to salinity.

Salinity reduces feijão-caupi production, and the search for tolerant varieties becomes important within the agricultural context, as, in addition to being used in the field, they can be used in genetic improvement. The objective was to for a identify variety that is tolerant to salinity considering the physiological quality of seeds and seedling growth. A 2 × 4 factorial scheme was used, referring to the varieties Pingo-de-ouro and Coruja, and four electrical conductivities of water (0; 3.3; 6.6 and 9.9 dS m-1). The physiological quality of seeds and the growth of seedlings were analyzed, in addition to the cumulative germination. The Pingo-de-ouro variety showed no germination, length of the shoot and root, dry mass of the shoot and root compromised up to electrical conductivity of 6 dS m-1 in relation to 0.0 dS m-1. On the other hand, the Coruja variety showed reduced germination, increased shoot and root length. The creole variety Pingo-de-ouro proved to be tolerant to salinity.

Distinct tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte landscapes are associated with clinical outcomes in localized non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite the importance of tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TILs) in cancer biology, the relationship between TIL phenotypes and their prognostic relevance for localized non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has not been well established. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fresh tumor and normal adjacent tissue was prospectively collected from 150 patients with localized NSCLC. Tissue was comprehensively characterized by high-dimensional flow cytometry of TILs integrated with immunogenomic data from multiplex immunofluorescence, T-cell receptor sequencing, exome sequencing, RNA sequencing, targeted proteomics, and clinicopathologic features. RESULTS: While neither the magnitude of TIL infiltration nor specific TIL subsets were significantly prognostic alone, the integration of high-dimensional flow cytometry data identified two major immunotypes (IM1 and IM2) that were predictive of recurrence-free survival independent of clinical characteristics. IM2 was associated with poor prognosis and characterized by the presence of proliferating TILs expressing cluster of differentiation 103, programmed cell death protein 1, T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing protein 3, and inducible T-cell costimulator. Conversely, IM1 was associated with good prognosis and differentiated by an abundance of CD8+ T cells expressing cytolytic enzymes, CD4+ T cells lacking the expression of inhibitory receptors, and increased levels of B-cell infiltrates and tertiary lymphoid structures. While increased B-cell infiltration was associated with good prognosis, the best prognosis was observed in patients with tumors exhibiting high levels of both B cells and T cells. These findings were validated in patient tumors from The Cancer Genome Atlas. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that although the number of infiltrating T cells is not associated with patient survival, the nature of the infiltrating T cells, resolved in distinct TIL immunotypes, is prognostically relevant in NSCLC and may inform therapeutic approaches to clinical care.

Isolation and analysis of bacteria associated with spores of Gigaspora margarita.

AIMS: The aim of this work was to observe bacteria associated with the spores of Gigaspora margarita, an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF). METHODS AND RESULTS: First, a direct analysis of DNA from sterilized spores indicated the bacteria belonging to the genus Janthinobacterium. In the second assay, two bacterial strains were isolated by osmosis from protoplasts, which were derived from spores by using two particular enzymes: lysing enzymes and yatalase. After isolation, cultivation and identification by their DNA as performed in the first experiment, the species with the closest relation were Janthinobacterium lividum (KCIGM01) and Paenibacillus polymyxa (KCIGM04) isolated with lysing enzymes and yatalase respectively. Morphologically, J. lividum was Gram negative and oval, while P. polymyxa was also oval, but Gram positive. Both strains had antagonistic effects to the pathogenic fungi Rosellimia necatrix, Pythium ultimum, Fusarium oxysporum and Rhizoctonia solani. In particular, J. lividum was much stronger in this role. However, in phosphorus (P) solubilization P. polymyxa functioned better than J. lividum. CONCLUSIONS: This experiment had revealed two new bacteria species (P. polymyxa and J. lividum), associated with AMF spores, which functioned to suppress diseases and to solubilize P. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: AMF spores could be a useful source for bacterial antagonists to soil-borne diseases and P solubilization.

Cytotoxicity, antitumoral and antimycobacterial activity of tetrazole and oxadiazole derivatives.

In this study, the antimycobacterial activity of mono and di-substituted tetrazole and oxadiazole derivatives and their precursors was assayed on Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv, and cytotoxicity was evaluated on J774 macrophages and on tumoral cell lines. Structure Activity Relationship (SAR) analysis was performed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to determine the relationship between these compounds and their biological activities.

Rapid detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) system.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has increased the need for rapid drug susceptibility tests, which are needed for adequate patient treatment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) system to detect multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. The MGIT system was compared with two standard methods (proportion and resistance ratio methods). One hundred clinical M. tuberculosis isolates [25 susceptible to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), 20 resistant to INH, 30 resistant to INH-RIF, and 25 resistant to INH-RIF and other drugs] obtained in the State of S o Paulo were tested for INH and RIF susceptibility. Full agreement among the tests was found for all sensitive and all INH-resistant strains. For RIF-resistant strains results among the tests agreed for 53 (96.4%) of 55 isolates. Results were obtained within 6 days (range, 5 to 8 days), 28 days and 12 days when using MGIT, the proportion method and the resistance ratio methods, respectively. The MGIT system presented an overall agreement of 96% when compared with two standard methods. These data show that the MGIT system is rapid, sensitive and efficient for the early detection of multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis.

Rapid detection of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis using the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) system

The emergence of multidrug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis has increased the need for rapid drug susceptibility tests, which are needed for adequate patient treatment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) system to detect multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis strains. The MGIT system was compared with two standard methods (proportion and resistance ratio methods). One hundred clinical M. tuberculosis isolates [25 susceptible to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF), 20 resistant to INH, 30 resistant to INH-RIF, and 25 resistant to INH-RIF and other drugs] obtained in the State of Säo Paulo were tested for INH and RIF susceptibility. Full agreement among the tests was found for all sensitive and all INH-resistant strains. For RIF-resistant strains results among the tests agreed for 53 (96.4 percent) of 55 isolates. Results were obtained within 6 days (range, 5 to 8 days), 28 days and 12 days when using MGIT, the proportion method and the resistance ratio methods, respectively. The MGIT system presented an overall agreement of 96 percent when compared with two standard methods. These data show that the MGIT system is rapid, sensitive and efficient for the early detection of multidrug-resistant M. tuberculosis

Pattern- and growth-linked cell cycles in Drosophila development.

During Drosophila development the cell cycle is subject to diverse regulatory inputs. In embryos, cells divide in stereotypic patterns that correspond to the cell fate map. There is little cell growth during this period, and cell proliferation is regulated at G2/M transitions by patterned transcription of the Cdk1-activator, Cdc25/String. The string locus senses pattern information via a > 40 kb cis-regulatory region composed of many cell-type specific transcriptional enhancers. Later, in differentiated larval tissues, the cell cycle responds to nutrition via mechanisms that sense cellular growth. These larval cell cycles lack mitoses altogether, and are regulated at G/S transitions. Cells in developing imaginal discs exhibit a cycle that is regulated at both G1/S and G2/M transitions. G2/M progression in disc cells is regulated, as in the embryo, by string transcription and is thus influenced by the many transcription factors that interact with string's 'pattern-sensing' control region. G1/S progression in disc cells is controlled, at least in part, by factors that regulate cell growth such as Myc, Ras and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase. Thus G1/S progression appears to be growth-coupled, much as in the larval endocycles. The dual control mechanism used by imaginal disc cells allows integration of diverse inputs which operate in both cell specification and cell metabolism.

The Drosophila cyclin D-Cdk4 complex promotes cellular growth.

Mammalian cyclin D-Cdk4 complexes have been characterized as growth factor-responsive cell cycle regulators. Their levels rise upon growth factor stimulation, and they can phosphorylate and thus neutralize Retinoblastoma (Rb) family proteins to promote an E2F-dependent transcriptional program and S-phase entry. Here we characterize the in vivo function of Drosophila Cyclin D (CycD). We find that Drosophila CycD-Cdk4 does not act as a direct G(1)/S-phase regulator, but instead promotes cellular growth (accumulation of mass). The cellular response to CycD-Cdk4-driven growth varied according to cell type. In undifferentiated proliferating wing imaginal cells, CycD-Cdk4 caused accelerated cell division (hyperplasia) without affecting cell cycle phasing or cell size. In endoreplicating salivary gland cells, CycD-Cdk4 caused excessive DNA replication and cell enlargement (hypertrophy). In differentiating eyes, CycD-Cdk4 caused cell enlargement (hypertrophy) in post-mitotic cells. Interaction tests with a Drosophila Rb homolog, RBF, indicate that CycD-Cdk4 can counteract the cell cycle suppressive effects of RBF, but that its growth promoting activity is mediated at least in part via other targets.

Coordination of growth and cell division in the Drosophila wing.

In most tissues, cell division is coordinated with increases in mass (i.e., growth). To understand this coordination, we altered rates of division in cell clones or compartments of the Drosophila wing and measured the effects on growth. Constitutive overproduction of the transcriptional regulator dE2F increased expression of the S- and M-phase initiators Cyclin E and String (Cdc25), thereby accelerating cell proliferation. Loss of dE2F or overproduction of its corepressor, RBF, retarded cell proliferation. These manipulations altered cell numbers over a 4- to 5-fold range but had little effect on clone or compartment sizes. Instead, changes in cell division rates were offset by changes in cell size. We infer that dE2F and RBF function specifically in cell cycle control, and that cell cycle acceleration is insufficient to stimulate growth. Variations in dE2F activity could be used to coordinate cell division with growth.

Crystal structures of CheY from Thermotoga maritima do not support conventional explanations for the structural basis of enhanced thermostability.

The crystal structure of CheY protein from Thermotoga maritima has been determined in four crystal forms with and without Mg++ bound, at up to 1.9 A resolution. Structural comparisons with CheY from Escherichia coli shows substantial similarity in their folds, with some concerted changes propagating away from the active site that suggest how phosphorylated CheY, a signal transduction protein in bacterial chemotaxis, is recognized by its targets. A highly conserved segment of the protein (the "y-turn loop," residues 55-61), previously suggested to be a rigid recognition determinant, is for the first time seen in two alternative conformations in the different crystal structures. Although CheY from Thermotoga has much higher thermal stability than its mesophilic counterparts, comparison of structural features previously proposed to enhance thermostability such as hydrogen bonds, ion pairs, compactness, and hydrophobic surface burial would not suggest it to be so.

High plasma levels of endothelin-1 and atrial natriuretic peptide in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

The plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) have been measured in 37 patients with acute ischemic stroke, on admission and 3 and 7 days thereafter. The plasma ET-1 levels at the onset of symptoms were about two-fold those observed in age-matched normal volunteers (3.5 +/- 2.26 v 1.54 +/- 0.9 pg/mL, respectively; P < .001). These levels remained significantly elevated during the 7-day study period. The neurologic deficit was assessed daily by Mathew's modified scale (MS). A significant correlation was found between neurologic status on admission and ET-1 plasma values; patients with worse neurologic status (MS < 45 points) had higher ET-1 plasma values than those with better neurologic status (MS > 45 points) (5.4 +/- 2.34 v 3.05 +/- 2.04 pg/mL, respectively, P < .05). The plasma ET-1 values did not correlate either with the site of the infarction or with its primary cause (cardioembolic, lacunar, or atherothrombotic). No significant differences were seen in plasma ET-1 concentrations between patients who eventually died and those who survived the acute event. The plasma ANP were about 18-fold higher in ischemic stroke patients on admission than in controls at admission (110.9 +/- 29.5 v 5.84 +/- 3.96 pg/mL, respectively, P < .01). These values remained significantly elevated on days 3 and 7. There was no correlation between the ANP plasma values and the neurologic status, the site or mechanism of the stroke, or the plasma ET-1 levels. In conclusion, ischemic stroke is associated with marked acute and long-duration increases of ET-1 and ANP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Current study of Cushing's syndrome, apropos of 3 cases]. / Exploración actual del síndrome de Cushing; a propósito de tres casos

The authors describe three cases of Cushing' syndrome, due to nodular hyperplasia, simple hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma respectively, and the most useful approaches (dexamethasone, metopirona, insulinic hypoglycemia, cortisol rhythm, catheterism and assessment of urinary free cortisol) for diagnosis and etiology of Cushing's syndrome.