RESUMEN
Maize is the most in-demand staple crop globally. Its production relies strongly on the use of fertilizers for the supply of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which the plant absorbs through its roots, together with water. The architecture of maize roots is determinant in modulating how the plant interacts with the microbiome and extracts nutrients and water from the soil. As such, attempts to use synthetic biology and modulate that architecture to make the plant more resilient to drought and parasitic plants are underway. These attempts often try to modulate the biosynthesis of hormones that determine root architecture and growth. Experiments are laborious and time-consuming, creating the need for simulation platforms that can integrate metabolic models and 3D root growth models and predict the effects of synthetic biology interventions on both, hormone levels and root system architectures. Here, we present an example of such a platform that is built using Mathematica. First, we develop a root model, and use it to simulate the growth of many unique 3D maize root system architectures (RSAs). Then, we couple this model to a metabolic model that simulates the biosynthesis of strigolactones, hormones that modulate root growth and development. The coupling allows us to simulate the effect of changing strigolactone levels on the architecture of the roots. We then integrate the two models in a simulation platform, where we also add the functionality to analyze the effect of strigolactone levels on root phenotype. Finally, using in silico experiments, we show that our models can reproduce both the phenotype of wild type maize, and the effect that varying strigolactone levels have on changing the architecture of maize roots.
RESUMEN
Objetivo: describir un caso de megacolon Chagásico, como una patología poco frecuente en nuestro medio y la resolución quirúrgica adecuada de sus complicaciones. Sede: hospital de tercer nivel, Dr. Teodoro Maldonado Carbo. Diseño: presentación de caso. Informe del caso: hombre de 73 años con antecedentes de constipación crónica. Acude al servicio de emergencia por constipación, dolor, distensión abdominal, alza térmica y nauseas de 10 días de evolución. Presentaba abdomen distendido, doloroso a la palpación superficial y profunda; se palpa masa, dura, móvil, en flanco derecho; ruidos hidroaéreos disminuidos en intensidad y frecuencia. Ingresa con diagnóstico de obstrucción intestinal. En el trasnquirúrgico se encuentra colon dilatado en su totalidad y masa de contenido fecal a nivel del colon descendente. Se detecta la presencia de anticuerpos anti Tripanosoma Cruzi. Posteriormente se programa operación de Duhamel-Haddad modificada.
Objective: To describe a case of chagasic megacolon, as a little frequent pathology in our environment and the accurate surgical approach for its complications. Seat: Third level Hospital, Dr. Teodoro Maldonado Carbo. Design: case report. Report of the case: 73 year-old male patient with past medical history of chronic constipation. He went to ER with complaints of constipation, abdominal pain and distension, fever and nauseas with an evolution of 10 days. On the physical exam he presented abdominal tenderness on superficial and deep palpation; a hard and mobile mass was felt on the right flank; bowel sounds are diminished in intensity and frequency. He was admitted with a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction. During the surgery we found a thoroughly dilated colon and a mass of fecal content at level of descending colon. Positive titers of anti Trypanosoma Cruzii antibodies were detected. Subsequently the patient underwent a new surgery using a modified Duhamel-Haddad technique.