Expression of Sucrose Transporters from Vitis vinifera Confer High Yield and Enhances Drought Resistance in Arabidopsis.

Sucrose is the predominant form of sugar transported from photosynthetic (source) to non-photosynthetic (sink) organs in higher plants relying on the transporting function of sucrose transporters (SUTs or SUCs). Many SUTs have been identified and characterized in both monocots and dicots. However, the function of sucrose transporters (SUTs or SUCs) from Vitis is not clear. As the world's most planted grape species, Vitis vinifera owns three sucrose transport activity verified SUTs. In this study, we constructed three kinds of VvSUC (Vitis vinifera SUC)-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis. VvSUC-overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis was cultured on sucrose-supplemented medium. VvSUC11- and VvSUC12-overexpressing lines had similar thrived growth phenotypes, whereas the size and number of leaves and roots from VvSUC27-overexpressing lines were reduced compared with that of WT. When plants were cultured in soil, all SUT transgenic seedlings produced more number of leaves and siliques, resulting in higher yield (38.6% for VvSUC12-transformants) than that of WT. Besides, VvSUC27-transformants and VvSUC11-transformants enhanced drought resistance in Arabidopsis, providing a promising target for crop improvement.

Cost-effectiveness of TLC-sucrose octasulfate versus control dressings in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: Diabetes is one of the most widespread diseases in Germany. Common complications are diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), which are associated with a cost-intensive treatment and serious adverse events, such as infections, amputations. This cost-effectiveness analysis compares two treatment options for patients with DFU: a TLC-NOSF dressing versus a neutral dressing, assessed through a European double-blind randomised controlled trial (RCT), Explorer. METHODS: The evaluation of the clinical outcomes was associated to direct costs (costs for dressings, nursing time, hospitalisation etc.) of both dressings, from the perspective of the statutory health insurance in Germany. Due to the long mean healing time of a DFU, the observation period was extended from 20 to 100 weeks in a Markov model. RESULTS: After 20 weeks, and with complete closure as a primary endpoint, the model revealed direct treatment costs for DFU of €2,864.21 when treated with a TLC-NOSF dressing compared with €2,958.69 with the neutral control dressing (cost-effectiveness: €6,017.25 versus €9,928.49). In the Markov model (100 weeks) the costs for the TLC-NOSF dressing were €5,882.87 compared with €8,449.39 with the neutral dressing (cost-effectiveness: €6,277.58 versus €10,375.56). The robustness of results was underlined by several sensitivity analyses for varying assumptions. The frequency of weekly dressing changes had the most significant influence in terms of parameter uncertainty. CONCLUSION: Overall, the treatment of DFU with a TLC-NOSF dressing is supported from a health economic perspective, because both the treatment costs and the cost-effectiveness were superior compared with the neutral wound dressing.

Cost Effectiveness of Sucroferric Oxyhydroxide Compared with Sevelamer Carbonate in the Treatment of Hyperphosphataemia in Patients Receiving Dialysis, from the Perspective of the National Health Service in Scotland.

BACKGROUND: Hyperphosphataemia is common and harmful in patients receiving dialysis. Treatment options include noncalcium-based phosphate binders such as sevelamer carbonate (SC) and sucroferric oxyhydroxide (PA21). OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the health economic impact of PA21-based strategies compared with SC-based strategies, from the perspective of the Scottish National Health Service (NHS). METHODS: A Markov model was constructed based on data from a randomised clinical trial comparing PA21 and SC. Model input parameters were derived from published literature, national statistics and unpublished sources. Costs (price year 2012) and effects were discounted at 3.5 %. Analysis with a lifelong time horizon yielded the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), expressed as cost or savings per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained or forgone. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to explore uncertainties around assumptions and model input parameters. RESULTS: In the base-case analysis, phosphorus reductions for PA21 and SC were 1.93 and 1.95 mg/dL. Average undiscounted survival was estimated to be 7.61 years per patient in both strategies. PA21 patients accrued less QALYs (2.826) than SC patients (2.835), partially due to differential occurrence of side effects. Total costs were £ 13,119 and £ 14,728 for PA21 and SC, respectively (difference per patient of £ 1609). By using PA21 versus SC, one would save £ 174,999 (or £ 123,463 when including dialysis and transplantation costs) for one QALY forgone. A scenario modelling the nonsignificant reduction in mortality (relative risk 0.714) observed in the trial yielded an ICER for PA21 of £ 22,621 per QALY gained. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis of the base-case, PA21 was dominant in 11 %, and at least cost-effective in 53 %, of iterations, using a threshold of £ 20,000 per QALY gained. CONCLUSIONS: The use of PA21 versus SC in hyperphosphataemic patients being intolerant of calcium-based phosphate binders may be cost saving and yields only very limited disadvantages in terms of quality-adjusted survival. PA21 appears to be cost-effective from the perspective of the Scottish NHS.

The sugar industry, political authorities, and scientific institutions in the regulation of saccharin: Valencia (1888-1939).

In the late-nineteenth century food production and trade were greatly transformed. Changes in the food chain gave rise to new problems connected with food safety and food quality, which caused new controls to be introduced throughout Europe. In this paper I will contribute to ongoing debates by focusing on the regulation of saccharin in an agrarian city in the south of Europe, Valencia. The laboratory-made sweetener was introduced into the food market at the turn of the century, becoming highly controversial shortly afterwards. Several local groups of players got involved in this dispute. The sugar industry was not only an important stakeholder in the passing of some specific laws that were to constrain the use of saccharin, but also the main driver of regulation, primarily in periods when saccharin could become a serious competitor and reduce the sector's profit. Furthermore, the combined work of the sugar industry and the municipal laboratories was essential for the implementation of regulations. It was in such municipal laboratories that scientists played a main role in regulation. My paper will address the commercial disputes linked to the use of saccharin and the limited role of science and scientists in its control.

Biotechnological valorization of low-cost sugar-based media for bacteriocin production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides E131.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of low-cost carbon sources for bacteriocin production by Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain E131. For this purpose, inexpensive sugars derived from a sugar refinery plant (glucose, fructose and sucrose) as well as waste molasses were utilized as carbon sources in submerged shake-flask experiments and the kinetic response of the microorganism was evaluated. Interestingly, in the case of molasses, non-negligible decolorization-detoxification (up to ∼27%) of the residue was performed together with the production of bacteriocin. In all instances the initial concentration of sugars employed was adjusted at 20 and 30 g/L, therefore the effect of both the nature and the initial quantity of sugar upon the growth of the microorganism was assessed. All media proved to be suitable for both biomass and bacteriocin production by L. mesenteroides, whereas variable quantities of lactate, acetate and ethanol were detected into the medium. Employment of fructose, sucrose or molasses as carbon sources resulted in the accumulation of mannitol (in some cases in significant quantities) into the medium; remarkable portion thus of the available or released fructose acted as electron acceptor instead of carbon source by the microorganism. The highest bacteriocin production achieved (=640 AU/mL) was obtained when initial glucose at 30 g/L was used as substrate. Finally, utilization of waste molasses as carbon source by L. mesenteroides resulted in satisfactory bacteriocin production (up to 320 AU/mL) besides the decolorization of the residue.

Iron replacement therapy: assessing today's options to prepare for bundling.

New Medicare rules that set forth a revised reimbursement scheme for dialysis services will introduce significant changes for providers. The new rules will abandon the current system of separate reimbursement for drugs associated with the hemodialysis services, including erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and intravenous (i.v.) iron. These rules will "bundle" these agents and related laboratory tests into a single, case-mix adjusted composite rate. These bundling rules will be gradually phased-in, beginning in 2011. One of the primary effects of the new reimbursement policy will be to discourage over-utilization of ESAs that comprise nearly one-quarter of hemodialysis-related Medicare expenditures. As a result, hemodialysis providers will be challenged to make hemodialysis services more cost-effective, while ensuring that Medicare clinical performance measures are met and patient care is not compromised. i.v. iron has an integral role in making anemia care more cost-effective in the hemodialysis setting by improving measures of iron-deficiency anemia, maintaining necessary iron balance, and reducing the utilization of ESAs. This review discusses the potential benefits of i.v. iron in the management of hemodialysis patients with iron-deficiency anemia. It also focuses on the available i.v. iron options, particularly the established efficacy and safety profile of i.v. iron dextran compared with other i.v. iron formulations as well as cost considerations.

Intravenous iron in chronic kidney disease: haemoglobin change shortly after treatment of patients neither on dialysis nor on erythropoietin.

Anaemia is a common in chronic kidney disease. Although erythropoietin and iron supplementation are established treatments, knowledge on the use of IV iron alone in patients not on dialysis or erythropoietin is incomplete. The responses of 82 patients referred to the renal anaemia service with haemoglobin of 11.5 g/dl or less were assessed 1 week after completing four once weekly doses of 200 mg of venofer. No patients were on dialysis or erythropoietin. The haemoglobin rise 1 week after treatment was 0.53 g/dl. Ferritin levels improved from 110.8 to 410.2 ng/l and transferrin saturation from 17.7 to 27.3%. Ferritin levels remained below our target range (200-500 ng/l) in 7.7% while 25.6% had levels above this. Ferritin levels remained less than 800 ng/l in nearly all patients. Intravenous iron is cost effective and should be considered for use in patients with renal anaemia. Patients with CKD stage 5 appeared to respond less well.

[Use of venofer for iron deficiency correction in patients undergoing programmed hemodialysis]. / Primenenie preparata "Venofer" dlia korrektsii defitsita zheleza u patsientov, nakhodiashchikhsia na programmnom gemodialize.

AIM: To study iron metabolism in patients on programmed hemodialysis (PH) in oral and intravenous administration of iron drugs; to compare clinical and financial results of using such drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A two-stage trial studied iron metabolism in 158 PH patients on replacement therapy with erythropoetin. They received correction of iron deficiency with oral drugs (stage I) and venofer (stage II). RESULTS: The study of iron metabolism has found its deficiency in 2/3 patients receiving oral iron: absolute (48%) and relative (20%). Administration of venofer led to a 2-fold increase in the number of patients with normal iron metabolism. The target Hb and Ht were achieved in 2.5 times more patients than before venofer treatment. The dose of erythpoetin in such cases was reduced by 40%. Side effects were not observed. The week cost of venofer treatment per patient was lower by 22.5$ than the cost of treatment with oral iron drugs. CONCLUSION: Venofer correction of iron deficiency in PH patients is more effective both clinically and financially than use of oral iron preparations.