ABSTRACT
The scoring system for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) used in Brazil has already been validated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative tuberculous children. Here we studied HIV-positive children. The individuals were divided into four groups: 1) tuberculous infection; 2) other pulmonary diseases; 3a) pulmonary TB and 3b)pulmonary TB and HIV. Group 3a had a significantly higher score than Groups 1 and 2, and Group 1 had a higher score than Group 2. Scores for Group 3b were lower than for Group 3a, although they were still >30 points, which is enough to establish a TB diagnosis (P = 0.0005). The system was useful for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB in HIV-negative and -positive children.
Subject(s)
HIV Infections/epidemiology , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis , Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/epidemiology , Adolescent , Brazil , Child , Child, Preschool , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Infant , MaleABSTRACT
The texture of corn grains is a fundamental characteristic for the industry as well as for grain producers and processors. To further understand the mechanisms involved in grain hardness, contrasting corn cultivars for grain hardness and protein quality were evaluated. The cultivars were Cateto L237/67 (hard endosperm and low protein value), QPM BR 451 (semi-hard endosperm and high protein value); Bolivia-2 (floury endosperm and low protein value), and Opaque-2 (floury endosperm and high protein value). Evaluations were carried out at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days after pollination in developing corn grains and in the mature grain. In developing grains, evaluation consisted in the determination of the area, percentage of starch granules, distribution of starch granules, and protein bodies in the endosperm. In mature corn grains, the parameters evaluated were: density, percentage of total proteins, levels of lysine and tryptophan, and banding pattern of zeins. The results indicate that the higher physical resistance of corn grains from the cultivars analyzed is influenced by the high percentage of total proteins, high synthesis of 27-kDa zeins, presence of protein bodies, and perfect organization of starch granules in the endosperm, independent of their sizes.
Subject(s)
Edible Grain/metabolism , Zea mays/metabolism , DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism , Edible Grain/growth & development , Edible Grain/standards , Molecular Weight , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Seeds/metabolism , Starch/metabolism , Transcription Factors/metabolism , Zea mays/growth & development , Zea mays/standards , Zein/chemistry , Zein/metabolismABSTRACT
The texture of corn grains is a fundamental characteristic for the industry as well as for grain producers and processors. To further understand the mechanisms involved in grain hardness, contrasting corn cultivars for grain hardness and protein quality were evaluated. The cultivars were Cateto L237/67 (hard endosperm and low protein value), QPM BR 451 (semi-hard endosperm and high protein value); Bolivia-2 (floury endosperm and low protein value), and Opaque-2 (floury endosperm and high protein value). Evaluations were carried out at 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days after pollination in developing corn grains and in the mature grain. In developing grains, evaluation consisted in the determination of the area, percentage of starch granules, distribution of starch granules, and protein bodies in the endosperm. In mature corn grains, the parameters evaluated were: density, percentage of total proteins, levels of lysine and tryptophan, and banding pattern of zeins. The results indicate that the higher physical resistance of corn grains from the cultivars analyzed is influenced by the high percentage of total proteins, high synthesis of 27-kDa zeins, presence of protein bodies, and perfect organization of starch granules in the endosperm, independent of their sizes.